In the midst of escalating tensions in the Middle East, US President Donald Trump has intensified pressure on Washington's allies to join an international effort to secure navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global trade. Trump, speaking from the White House, indicated that "some countries are on their way to helping" and some are "very enthusiastic" about participating, but he did not conceal his dissatisfaction with other nations' reluctance to join the endeavor.
Washington Asserts Military Capability, Reveals Casualties
The US President stressed that Washington possesses full military capability to reopen the strait if it were to be closed, confirming that US forces had targeted all thirty Iranian vessels designated for mine-laying. However, Trump warned that Tehran might resort to using other boats to carry out potential mining operations. In a related development, the US military announced that the number of wounded American soldiers in the war against Iran has risen to approximately 200, as the conflict enters its third week. US Central Command reported that the vast majority of these injuries were minor, with 180 soldiers already returned to duty, while 13 US soldiers have died since Iran's retaliatory strikes on American bases began on February 28.
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Israeli Escalation and Iranian Response
On the seventeenth day of the war, intense Israeli airstrikes targeted military sites and critical infrastructure in Tehran and across Iran, including a complex for developing offensive satellite capabilities. In response, the Iranian army announced that it had carried out drone attacks on Israeli military industrial facilities, indicating a mutual escalation in military operations. Israeli army spokesperson, Colonel Nadav Shoshani, confirmed that Israel has plans to continue the war with Iran for at least three more weeks, and that the army has also prepared plans beyond that, underscoring readiness for a protracted conflict.
For his part, Israeli President Isaac Herzog considered the war on Iran a "historic turning point," stating: "We are at a historic turning point, a moment when, after endless wars for more than a generation, bloodshed and terrorism, the deep cause of all that, which comes from Tehran, will be disrupted and stopped, and the course of the entire region will be transformed."
Iranian Stance and Regional Repercussions
On the Iranian side, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf affirmed that Iran has prepared itself for a long war and possesses a sufficient stockpile of missiles and drones to confront any escalation. In a move reflecting internal preparations, the new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei appointed the former commander of the Revolutionary Guard, Mohsen Rezaee, as his military advisor, while retaining officials appointed by his father in their positions.
The repercussions of the direct conflict have extended beyond the two countries' borders, with Iranian attacks also targeting diplomatic missions, hotels, and airports in Gulf states, widening the circle of tension. The region has also witnessed other security incidents linked to the conflict, including the killing of Abu Ali al-Askari, the security official for Iraq's Kataib Hezbollah, part of the Popular Mobilization Forces, in raids targeting his headquarters in the Al-Qaim district.
In the context of regional diplomatic efforts, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi discussed the dangerous military escalation in the region, underscoring international concern over the widening scope of the conflict. Additionally, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant linked the return of hundreds of thousands of southern Lebanese residents displaced from their homes south of the Litani River to ensuring the security of northern residents in Israel, indicating broad humanitarian and security implications for neighboring countries.
