Iran-USA war and tensions in the Middle East: attacks in the Strait of Hormuz and raids in Lebanon

The Sky TG24 special on the war in Iran

The Pasdaran, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, announced it, specifying that the device was trying to enter the Strait of Hormuz. A few hours earlier Tehran and Washington had exchanged a series of attacks in the area. At least four people have died in Israeli raids in southern Lebanon, according to the Beirut Health Ministry. Among the victims there are two women. The toll also speaks of around 20 injured, including women and three children

Very high tension in the Strait of Hormuz. The Pasdaran attacked a US naval drone that was attempting to enter the Strait of Hormuz, a few hours after Tehran and Washington exchanged a series of attacks.

American forces had struck three Iranian oil tankers after the Revolutionary Guard Corps had launched ballistic missiles against two US ships patrolling the waters in the region and the Pasdaran responded in a continuous exchange of fire, announcing the attack of several boats in retaliation.

At least four people have died in Israeli raids in southern Lebanon, according to the Beirut Health Ministry. Among the victims there are two women. The toll also speaks of around 20 injured, including women and three children.

Tehran: "The US blockade and economic pressure cost Washington more than us"

The economic pressure and the blockade imposed by the United States on Iran "are imposing heavier costs on Washington than on Tehran": this is what was claimed by the spokesman of the Guardians of the Revolution, Hossein Mohebbi, who added that "Iran will not surrender to pressure or sanctions". "If the United States aims to inflict economic damage on Iran, they themselves will suffer losses amounting to several dollars," he told the Mehr agency. US President Donald Trump "believed that the United States was capable of bringing Iran to its knees through its military might and naval fleet, but recent developments have shown that such calculations were far from reality," Mohebbi stressed. “The United States, faced with enormous debt and economic competition from China and other great powers, will not be able to prevail in its attacks and sanctions against Iran.”

Tehran: "'Faster and more incisive' responses to US attacks"

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran's chief negotiator, has threatened quicker and more incisive responses to US attacks, after Tehran targeted American warships in retaliation for US actions against some oil tankers. “The Americans must have understood that the era of proportionate responses is over,” Ghalibaf said in a speech carried by state media, adding that “any aggression against Iran's interests and security will receive a quicker, more intense and more painful response.”

Pasdaran: "The blockade could cost the US more than Tehran"

“If the United States wants to inflict a dollar of economic damage on Iran, it could end up incurring costs and losses amounting to several dollars.” The spokesman for the Guardians of the Revolution, General Hossein Mohibi, declared this to the Iranian Mehr agency, claiming that the economic and maritime blockade imposed by Washington on Tehran could end up costing the United States much more than Iran.

Iran, opposition flags waved in video: arrested

Iranian authorities have arrested several people accused of having appeared in a video, circulated online in recent days, while waving the flags of the People's Mujahideen (MEK), an opposition organization banned in Iran. This was reported by state television, according to which the authorities identified and arrested "all the people who appeared in the video", defining them as "associated" with the Mek, without specifying their number. The images show some people on motorbikes on deserted roads displaying the group's red and white flags near Karaj, west of Tehran. It is unclear when the video dates back to.

Beirut: "At least 4 dead with 2 women in Israeli raids in southern Lebanon"

The Lebanese Health Ministry reported the deaths of four people, including two women, in raids in the south of the country blamed on Israeli forces after an eviction order. Meanwhile, Israel said it had conducted raids after a drone attack by Hezbollah against its soldiers. The ministry reported two people killed in Nabatiyé el-Faouqa and two others (both women) in Arabsalim, a nearby town, specifying that another 20 people were injured in different places, including women and three children.

Lebanon, the IDF destroys a deserted hospital in Nabatieh

An Israeli air strike destroyed the Ghandour hospital this morning, in the town of Nabatieh al-Fawqa, in southern Lebanon. The Lebanese media reported that there were neither patients nor staff in the facility. The IDF said they conducted attacks on Hezbollah positions in response to a drone offensive against troops operating in southern Lebanon in the early hours of this morning, but did not comment on the attack on the hospital in particular.

Iran, GB media: "Khamenei's London apartments for sale near the Israeli embassy"

Two luxury apartments in London believed to be linked to Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and located less than 50 meters from the Israeli embassy have been put up for sale. The Sunday Times reports. The properties, purchased through various intermediaries in 2014 and 2016, are located on the sixth and seventh floors of a building at 3a Palace Green, in the exclusive Kensington neighborhood, on the same street as the Israeli diplomatic headquarters.

Al Jazeera: "At least two dead in Israel's raid in southern Lebanon"

At least two people were killed in the village of Arab Salim, in southern Lebanon, in Israeli air strikes which were preceded by an urgent forced evacuation warning to the population. Al Jazeera writes this, citing Lebanese civil protection sources.

Media: "Oil exports from the Middle East -39% in August"

Crude oil exports from the Middle East fell 39% in August compared to January and February, before the US-Iran war, when around 18.5 million barrels a day were exported, according to tracking firm TanketTrackers, cited by Al Jazeera.

Media: "7 injured in Gaza, including two children, in Israeli raids"

According to reports from the Turkish Anadolu agency, which cites Palestinian medical sources, Israeli attacks in Gaza have injured at least 7 Palestinians, including 2 children. Al Jazeera sums it up.

Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi consults with Saudi and Turkish counterparts

Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, held telephone talks late in the evening with his Turkish counterparts, Hakan Fidan, and Saudi counterparts, Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, according to Al Jazeera, citing Iranian state broadcaster Irib.