International News: U.S.-Iran conflict escalates as strikes spread across Gulf

By Zoila Palma:  The conflict between the United States and Iran intensified today as U.S. forces launched another round of airstrikes against Iranian military targets, while Iran retaliated with attacks targeting American allies Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet. The escalation came after Washington announced the death of another American service member, further raising tensions in the region, AP reports. According to the U.S. Central Command, the latest strikes marked the ninth consecutive night of attacks and targeted Iranian military command centers, air defense systems, missile and drone launch sites, coastal surveillance facilities and communications networks. Iranian state media reported at least one death near the northwestern city of Tabriz, while additional strikes were reported in several southern provinces. The renewed fighting has also heightened concerns over global energy supplies. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil transit routes, has largely stalled, while Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen threatened to block Saudi Arabian oil shipments through the Red Sea. The uncertainty has driven Brent crude oil prices above US$88 per barrel, with gasoline prices in the United States averaging US$4 per gallon. The post International News: U.S.-Iran conflict escalates as strikes spread across Gulf appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.