US, Israel preparing for Iran response to raid on consulate in Damascus
Just one simple word: “Don’t.” Biden has used that word before. It’s not the first time he’s actually warned Iran in that kind of language.
But he’s also a realist. He also understands that Iran is going to have to mount a serious response. This was Iranian sovereign territory that was attacked in Damascus. It was a consulate. And therefore, Iran has to respond in some sort of way.
The Americans are actually bringing in a lot more assets, perhaps more than we’ve seen since October 7, into the region. Erik Kurilla, who’s the senior commander of CENTCOM, effectively the man in charge of US forces in the region, is actually spending an extra day in Israel talking to his counterparts, talking to the Ministry of Defense. They’ll be getting a joint coordination effort ready in case things escalate.
Iranian state media says IRGC seized vessel near Strait of Hormuz
Iranian state media says the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps seized a cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz. The report quotes sources saying the vessel was from the Zodiac Maritime shipping company owned by Israeli tycoon Eyal Ofer. It was sailing under the Portuguese flag.
Earlier, we reported that UK Maritime Trade Operations said a vessel had been seized 50 nautical miles (93 km) northeast of Fujairah, an Emirati city close to the Strait of Hormuz, which forms the entrance to the Gulf.
25 crew members on board vessel seized by IRGC
Italian-Swiss Shipping group MSC says there are 25 crew members on board a container ship seized by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in the Gulf.
“We regret to confirm that MSC Aries … has been boarded by Iranian authorities via helicopter as she passed the Strait of Hormuz,” the group said in a statement. “She has 25 crew on board, and we are working closely with the relevant authorities to ensure their wellbeing and safe return of the vessel.”
Iranian official says Israel ‘in complete panic and alert’
A senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said Israel is panicking over a possible response from Iran after the deadly strike on the Iranian consulate building in Syria earlier this month.
“It has been a week that the Zionists are in complete panic and are on alert,” Yahya Rahim Safavi was quoted as saying by the ISNA news agency. “They don’t know what Iran wants to do, so they and their supporters are terrified,” ISNA quoted him as saying.
Iran has blamed Israel and pledged to avenge the air strike that killed seven IRGC members, including two generals. The Israeli army has since announced a leave suspension and also said officials decided to increase manpower and draft reserve soldiers to operate air defences.
“This psychological, media and political war is more terrifying for them than the war itself, because they are waiting for an attack every night and many of them have fled and gone to shelters,” Safavi said.
