The Islamic Republic of Iran managed to launch a major attack on Qatar’s oil fields that will take years to repair. It is promising to step up its attack on the oil infrastructures of its neighbors. Israel has responded by striking some of their oil fields, a move President Trump appears to disapprove of. As leaders are appointed, they are killed, with two top leaders killed this week alone. The new Supreme Leader is reported to be effectively non-functioning.
While Iranian street soldiers continue to kill and intimidate citizens, they themselves are coming under increasing drone attacks. The pressure to finish the war mounts as the continued shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz is leading to spikes in oil prices and other knock down effects. A coalition of 6 nations has committed to join America’s efforts to open and police the Strait of Hormuz. The nations include Japan, the United Kingdom, and France.
The most alarming news may be the return of the aircraft Gerald R Ford to Greece after a laundry fire broke out that took 30 hours to put out and destroyed 600 bunks. This means the Iran operation is now only supported by one U.S. aircraft carrier. The extent of the damage has not been reported by the Pentagon. The length of its repair was not given, nor was it made clear if the carrier’s escort ships will remain in theater.
Allies Flip, Issue Statement on Strait of Hormuz – RedState
President Donald Trump let allies have it when some rejected sending ships to help with a coalition effort to ensure the safety of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. His last take showed how exasperated he was with our “allies” who weren’t stepping up when he said that maybe the U.S. should just step back and not protect the Strait for others.
That called the allies’ bluff. You then had NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announce that yes, the allies were talking about how they could contribute. What a little pressure from Trump can get. It isn’t just about the Strait itself; it’s about sending a message to Iran and indicating that they are on the wrong side of countries condemning their actions.