Iran: US hits 3 IRGC-linked oil tankers

The US military struck and destroyed three oil tankers that it said were linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said.

“Following Iran’s failed attacks, CENTCOM permanently disabled the IRGC crude oil carriers M/T Downy off the coast of Kharg Island and M/T Stark 1 near Jask,” CENTOM posted on their X account.

“American forces also completely destroyed the unladen crude oil carrier M/T Kylo… in the Gulf of Oman, striking the vessel in multiple critical locations to render it inoperable after the crew was directed to abandon ship.”
 

US Ambassador Mike Huckabee said on a visit with Palestinian-Americans on the West Bank that Israel had no plans to forcibly displace people from Gaza just two days after the government laid out a plan to do so.

“I can tell you categorially there is no plan of the Israelis to displace people out of Gaza against their will,” Huckabee told journalists.

However, on Thursday, far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir announced his proposal to have 250,000 Palestinians leave Gaza in the first year of his plan, followed by the rest of two million some residents over the next six years.

A day earlier, Defense Minister Israel Katz had said that the Israeli government was ready to remove Palestinians from Gaza, but was waiting for discussions with the United States over where displaced people should go.

Despite a ceasefire that went into effect over two months ago, flare-ups are continuing between Israel and Hezbollah over one strategic hill in southern Lebanon.

Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, a Shiite political party and paramilitary group supported by Iran, intensified once again earlier this year in the wider context of the US-Iran war. The US, Germany and several Arab countries consider Hezbollah a terrorist organization, whereas the EU only deems Hezbollah’s armed wing a terror group.

While the fiercest battles are over, the two sides are still in conflict over the Ali Taher hill, which overlooks the city of Nabatiyeh. According to the Lebanese Health Ministry, at least five people have died and 24 have been injured in the fighting since Friday.

The United States, which has mediated peace talks, has wanted Hezbollah to hand the hill over the Lebanese government, but the militant group has refused to withdraw from certain positions north of the Litani river where Ali Taher sits.

There are fears that the fighting could escalate into an all-out battle for Nabatiyeh and lead to more violence across Lebanon, complicating efforts to resolve the war in Iran.

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee was in the occupied West Bank on Saturday to meet with Palestinian-Americans who have faced violent attacks from Israeli settlers in recent months.

“Our clear message is that crime is crime, terror is terror. When people do it they should have an expectation that they will have severe consequences,” Huckabee told reporters from the town of Turmus Ayya. He declined to directly criticize Israeli policy but said that Israel “has responsibility” to protect West Bank Palestinians.

This year has seen a significant uptick in Israeli settlers attacking Palestinian homes in the West Bank, including shootings and arson attacks.

Official Iranian news agencies reported a strike near the fuel hub of Kharg Island that appeared to target an oil tanker.

However, they also reported that no smoke could be seen rising from the area.

Neither the US nor the Iranian government have commented on the strikes

After a lull in fighting, the US began striking Iranian targets again last Sunday. The war has now entered its seventh month.  

As the US risks sliding into another “forever war,” Iranian broadcasters have reported strikes of unknown origin on Kharg Island.

Meanwhile, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee is due to visit Palestinian-Americans in West Bank towns that have come under Israeli settler attacks.

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