The fragile truce in the Middle East is faltering under Israeli bombing in Lebanon. And Iran decides to close Hormuz again . It's not the first time this has happened. But immediately afterward, Netanyahu ordered a ceasefire in Lebanon .
"It is hereby announced that the Strait of Hormuz will be closed to maritime traffic. This initial measure is a response to the enemy's violation of its commitments. If the aggression continues, further measures will be planned and implemented to force the enemy to comply with its obligations," the Central General Staff (Khamtam-al Anbiya) said in a statement broadcast on Iranian state television.
"We have taken this measure due to the clear failure of the United States to comply with its commitments – set forth in the first article of the Iran-US Memorandum of Understanding – as well as the Zionist regime's continued violation of the ceasefire in southern Lebanon, the merciless killing and displacement of hundreds of Lebanese, and also in light of the fact that the forces of the Zionist occupation regime have not withdrawn from southern Lebanon," the statement read.
The decision came following IDF raids in southern Lebanon, which caused dozens of casualties last night and this morning . The Israeli army claims these strikes were a response to "over 50 explosive devices" launched by Hezbollah against Israeli forces overnight.
This afternoon, after a day of escalation, "on the instructions of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, and in coordination with the United States, the IDF received the order to ceasefire in Lebanon," Channel 12 reported.
In any case, US Vice President J.D. Vance said in an interview with Fox that "there is no evidence at this time" that Iran is closing Hormuz . However, he added, there are many mines in the Strait and it will take time to return to pre-war navigation levels .
(Unioneonline/L)
