A new war front opens in the Gulf
The United States and Israel have opened an astonishing new chapter in war. This Saturday they launched a massive attack against targets throughout Iran, including near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
From Dubai, where columns of smoke are already visible, the situation is developing at breakneck speed.
“When we’re done, take control of your government. It will be yours. This will probably be your only chance for generations,” Donald Trump said in a video announcing the operations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed the ambitious goal: to create conditions for “the brave Iranian people to take the reins of their destiny.”
The response was immediate
Iran responded as it had threatened for months. First with a wave of missiles and drones against Israel. Then with attacks against US military installations in Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar.
The state agency IRNA reported the death of 40 students at a girls’ school in the south of the country. At least 45 others were injured in Minab, Hormozgán province.
In a defiant statement, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said it “will not hesitate” in its response. “The time has come to defend the homeland,” they said.
The attack is the second time in eight months that the Trump administration has used military force against the Islamic Republic. It comes weeks after the operation to capture the then president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro.
Trump justified the action by alleging that Iran continues to develop its nuclear program and plans missiles capable of reaching US territory.
“They have rejected every opportunity to give up their nuclear ambitions, and we can no longer stand it,” declared the Republican president.
But the reasons seem to go beyond the nuclear program. Trump listed grievances dating back to the 1979 revolution, when Iran went from ally to “fierce enemy.”
The regional board is overheating
Iranian retaliation has set off alarms throughout the region. Bahrain reported a missile attack against the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet. In Kuwait, explosions were heard near US Army Central Command.
The United Arab Emirates and Iraq closed their airspace immediately. In Jordan, air raid sirens were activated.
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels have vowed to resume attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and on Israel.
The economic impact could be enormous if the Strait of Hormuz is endangered. More than 14 million barrels per day of oil pass through this area, around a third of the world’s total transported by sea.
US embassies in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Israel told their staff to take cover. They advised all US citizens to “do the same until further notice.”
Meanwhile, Khamenei has not made any public appearances in recent days. During the 12-day war in June, he was believed to have been moved to safety away from Tehran.
Iranian state television reported explosions near its offices, but did not indicate the cause or offer information on casualties.
An official on condition of anonymity confirmed that Israeli targets included the Iranian military, government symbols and intelligence targets.
The international community observes with concern how this coordinated attack redefines the rules of the game in an already turbulent region.
