[50472] Escalation in the Persian Gulf: Exchange of fire between the US and Iran and first attack against the UAE

Peak tension in the Persian Gulf: US and Iran on the verge of a full-scale confrontation

The Middle East is facing an unprecedented escalation after the US warships USS Truxtun and USS Mason managed to cross the Strait of Hormuz under air cover, as part of the American "Project Freedom" operation. According to the 'Boris Aplechuk' Telegram channel, American forces destroyed at least 6 boats of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in response to an Iranian attack. However, Iranian officials, as reported by 'TASS', deny any damage to their boats and claim that the US attacked civilian vessels, which led to the deaths of five civilians.

At the same time, the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Defense confirmed that Iran launched 12 ballistic missiles, 3 cruise missiles, and 4 UAVs toward the country, which caused a fire at the Port of Fujairah. The 'AviaNews' channel reports that the incident led to the suspension of air operations in the area. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was quoted by 'AZfront' as warning that "there is no military solution to the political crisis" and calling on the US and the Emirates to be wary of "malicious actors" trying to drag them into a confrontation.

Against this background, Donald Trump issued sharp threats and declared that "Iran will be wiped off the face of the earth" if it continues to attack American ships. His remarks come alongside unusual air activity in the region; the 'Mignews' channel and other sources report the detection of approximately 20 to 30 American refueling aircraft in the Gulf area, which indicates preparations for a major aerial operation. According to CNN, as cited by '🔴 Узел связи', estimates are that an American-Israeli strike against Iran could occur within 24 hours.

While Russian agencies such as TASS and SOLOVIEV emphasize Iranian success or criticism of the US, Israeli and pro-Western sources like IntelliNews highlight the protection of security interests in the region. At the same time, the 'Khmuroe Utro' channel reports on IDF activity in Lebanon, but notes that security attention is now primarily focused on policy decisions in Washington.