LIVE | CENTCOM claims it destroyed key Iranian bunker loaded with weapons
The Middle East conflict enters its third week. Trump is contemplating "winding down" military operations in the region.
War in the Middle East. File image
The war in the Middle East enters its third week, and the attacks perpetrated by both sides continue unabated.
President Donald Trump said he is contemplating "winding down" military operations in the region, due to the fact that, he claimed, "We are getting very close to meeting our objectives," hours before the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched offensives against Tehran, Iran, and Beirut, Lebanon.
The Iranian regime launched two ballistic missiles towards the British-American Diego Garcia base, located in the Indian Ocean.
On the sidelines of the armed conflict, the Trump administration authorized the sale and delivery of Iranian oil that was already loaded on ships before March 20 with the aim of reducing energy prices.
All times are Eastern Standard Time (EST).
CENTCOM claims it destroyed Iranian bunker loaded with weapons
(AFP) The U.S. military said Saturday that it had destroyed an Iranian bunker equipped with weapons that threatened oil and gas shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
The head of the U.S. military command (CENTCOM), Admiral Brad Cooper, said Saturday that warplanes had “destroyed” an underground facility off the coast of Iran that stored anti-ship cruise missiles, mobile missile launchers, and other equipment.
“We not only took out the facility, but we also destroyed intelligence support sites and missile radar relays that were used to monitor ship movements,” Cooper said.
More than 20 countries say they are "ready to contribute" to reopening the Strait of Hormuz
(AFP) On Saturday, more than 20 countries condemned Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and said they were ready to help ensure safe navigation through this crucial waterway for hydrocarbon trade.
"We express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait," said this group of 22 countries, mostly European, but which also includes the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.
"We condemn in the strongest terms recent attacks by Iran on unarmed commercial vessels in the Gulf, attacks on civilian infrastructure including oil and gas installations, and the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces," they stated in a joint statement.
CENTCOM: "We’ve struck over 8,000 military targets"
The head of Central Command (CENTCOM), Admiral Brad Cooper, stated that the military has managed to strike “over 8,000 military targets” since the war against Iran began three weeks ago.
“So far, we’ve struck over 8,000 military targets, including 130 Iranian vessels, constituting the largest elimination of a navy over a 3-week period since World War II,” Admiral Cooper said.
“My operational assessment continues to be: Iran’s combat capability is on a steady decline as our offensive strikes ramp up,” he added.
Israel to intensify attacks on Iran
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that, this coming week, the IDF will “significantly” increase its attacks on the Islamist regime.
“This week, the intensity of the attacks that the Israel Defense Forces and the U.S. military will carry out against the Iranian terrorist regime and the infrastructure on which it depends will increase significantly,” Katz said during a meeting with Israeli military leaders.
“The Israel Defense Forces are strong, and the Israeli home front is strong, and we will not stop until all war objectives are achieved,” he added.
Putin reaffirms support for Iran
(AFP) Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his best wishes to the Iranian leadership and people on the occasion of the Persian New Year, Noruz, assuring them of Moscow's support in the midst of the war against Israel and the United States.
"Congratulations on the occasion of Noruz (...) were sent to the Iranian leadership, the supreme leader of the Islamic Republic, Mojtaba Hoseini Khamenei, and the country's president, Masud Pezeshkian," the Kremlin said in a statement.
U.S. and Israel strike Iran's Natanz nuclear power plant
(AFP) The United States and Israel attacked Iran's Natanz nuclear complex on Saturday, the Islamic republic's atomic energy organization said.
"Following the criminal attacks by the U.S. and the usurper Zionist regime against our country, the Natanz enrichment complex was targeted this morning," the organization said in a statement carried by the Tasnim news agency.
The agency added that "no leakage of radioactive materials has been detected" in the area, located in central Iran.
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