menu_open Columnists
We use cookies to provide some features and experiences in QOSHE

More information  .  Close

US, Iran appear to halt strikes after 13 days of mutual attacks

45 0
yesterday

Iran reported no strikes overnight into Saturday, an apparent break from nearly two consecutive weeks of US nighttime attacks, but tensions remain high following a recent escalation over control of the strategic Strait of Hormuz and an exchange of fire reported between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Iranian Health Ministry spokesperson Hossein Kermanpour posted on X, saying that “Iran had a peaceful night,” without any attacks reported. The US Central Command didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. However, unlike the previous 13 nights, it did not announce new strikes.

Sirens sounded multiple times early Saturday in Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu and Jizan provinces, which house crucial oil facilities on the Red Sea, according to the Saudi Civil Defense. It said the sirens were because of a “potential danger” that was later lifted, without providing further details. Those sirens appear to have been caused by missile fire from Yemen.

Bahrain also sounded missile alerts early Saturday, but no casualties have been reported.

A tenuous ceasefire that appeared to halt major operations in the conflict that started with American and Israeli attacks on Iran seemed to unravel in early July. Iran was accused of striking three ships in the strait. The US responded by striking dozens of targets in Iran, which retaliated by firing at Arab states in the region.

The Strait of Hormuz, a crucial passage for world energy supplies effectively shut down by Iranian attacks, has been at the center of the conflict. The US military fired Friday on a merchant vessel in the Gulf of Oman that was trying to breach its renewed blockade of Iran’s ports, while Iran targeted US-allied Gulf Arab countries.

It was not immediately clear whether the quiet signalled a return to diplomacy or if it was just a pause before a return to conflict.

US President Donald Trump said Friday that he had not decided whether to launch major strikes on Iran yet, as Tehran was now getting “serious” in talks with Washington.

His comments came after reports that an increasingly frustrated Trump was meeting senior advisors to discuss launching a large-scale military operation against Iran.

“No I........

© The Times of Israel