Iran targets American bases in retaliatory attack

A fire broke out in the engine room of a tanker off the coast of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, leaving two crew missing and one person injured, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said.

“Local authorities have reported that a fire has broken out in the engine room of a tanker and they are attending the scene to assist in the evacuation of the crew,” it said.

“1 casualty on board and 2 crew members reported missing. No environmental impacts reported,” it said. It said the incident occurred 20 nautical miles (37 kilometers) northeast of Sohar in Oman.

Earlier, British maritime security company Vanguard Tech said the Palau-flagged tanker Setebelo had “transmitted a distress call stating that her engine room had been struck by a missile while taking off from Sohar in the Gulf of Oman” and that the ship was on fire.

UKMTO did not reveal the cause of the fire.

The Strait of Hormuz, a waterway through which about 20% of the world’s oil and about 25% of global liquefied natural gas (LNG) normally passes, has been virtually closed since the US-Israeli war over Iran began on February 28.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghai said on Wednesday that diplomatic efforts with the United States cannot move forward if Washington continues to undermine them with contradictory messages and repeated violations of a ceasefire agreed in April.

“After the events of overnight, we need to re-evaluate (the diplomatic path with Washington). … Any diplomatic process
A minimum stable environment is required,” he said, referring to the recent US attacks on Iran.

“Unfortunately, the United States is harming this diplomatic process through its contradictory messages, repeated changes in positions and demands, and worst of all, repeated violations of the ceasefire,” Baghai said in a video message carried by Iranian media.

“Any diplomatic process is undermined by resorting to the use of force and illegal actions on the ground,” he said.

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly reiterated that a peace deal with Iran is possible, without providing evidence to support his claims.

So far, Tehran and Washington have held several rounds of indirect talks brokered by Pakistan and Qatar, but the two sides still appear to be far apart on key issues such as the Strait of Hormuz and reopening of Iran’s nuclear program.

US strikes on two reservoirs near the southern Iranian port city of Sirik have cut off water supplies to thousands of people in the region, Iranian state media reported on Wednesday.

The attacks reportedly damaged two reservoirs providing drinking water for the Bemani and Kauhestak areas of Sirik.

“Unfortunately, following this attack, 20,000 residents of the area have lost access to safe drinking water, and with temperatures between 45 and 50C (113 and 122F), conditions have become extremely difficult and severe for local residents,” Iran’s state television quoted local water company officials as saying.

“The destruction of these reservoirs has posed a major problem to the water supply network of the region,” it said.

The US hit out at Iran after an American attack helicopter crashed near the Strait of Hormuz, an incident Washington blamed on Tehran.

Tehran condemned the attacks, calling them carried out “under false pretenses”.

China’s government said on Wednesday it was “deeply concerned” about an increase in conflict in the Middle East following attacks by the United States on Iran following the crash of a helicopter, which US officials blamed on Tehran.

“All relevant parties should maintain calm and exercise restraint, stop escalating the conflict and escalating the situation, and take concrete steps to de-escalate and defuse tensions,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told a news briefing.

Lin said the disputes should be resolved through political and diplomatic means and called for a “complete and permanent” ceasefire to be agreed upon “as soon as possible.”

American media have reported that the Pentagon now considers Israel a major espionage threat.

The governments of the United States and Israel, which are, at least superficially, staunch allies, have denied the reports.

But there are many examples in recent history that show that spying among allies is by no means unusual.

Read the full story here.

Security guards on a cargo ship 88 nautical miles (163 kilometers) south-west of the Yemeni port city of Balhaf have exchanged gunfire with armed men aboard a smaller vessel, the British military said Wednesday.

According to United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a maritime security organization sponsored by the Royal Navy, a small boat carrying six armed men had approached the cargo ship before the incident.

It said that the vehicle overturned after the firing.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

However, Yemen’s Houthi rebels have said they will resume attacks on Israeli-allied ships, while Somali pirates have also stepped up their activities.

Jordan said on Wednesday that it had shot down five missiles launched by Iran.

Iran said the missiles targeted Mouffafaq Salti Air Base, where US F-35 fighter jets and other aircraft are stationed.

No one was injured in the attack, according to a Jordanian army statement carried by the state-run Petra news agency.

The current escalation of hostilities between the United States and Iran is highlighting the fragility of the ceasefire that has been in place since April 8. The renewed attacks follow the first exchanges of force by Iran and Israel.

Here are the main recent events:

• US Central Command announces attack on Iran after American Apache helicopter was downed in the Strait of Hormuz
• US President Donald Trump had earlier threatened to attack Iran over the helicopter shooting.
• After several rounds of attacks, the US military said that it has completed its operation
• Fresh Iranian attacks have been reported on US military facilities in Kuwait, Jordan, Bahrain
• Iran’s foreign minister in response to US attacks: ‘Leave our territory if you want to be safe’

You join our coverage of events in the Middle East as an April ceasefire between the US and Iran becomes more fragile in more than three months of conflict.

The US launched strikes against Iran overnight after a US military AH-64 Apache attack helicopter crashed near the Strait of Hormuz, although it is not clear whether Iran deliberately shot down the plane.

Two crew members were rescued safely.

Iran has responded by carrying out airstrikes in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan.

It comes as Israel says it launched several strikes in southern Lebanon on Tuesday in response to attacks on northern Israel by the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia.

Read on to stay up to date on the latest developments in the fourth month of the Middle East conflict.