United States President Donald Trump on Monday vowed a forceful response after Iran launched a missile attack on US forces in West Asia overnight. He called
Iran a "failed nation," and accused the country's leadership of war crimes. He alleged that the Iranian authorities have killed over 100,000 protesters. "We're going to hit them hard," Trump told Fox News. "There will be a response," the US President added. Trump's remarks come after Iran launched strikes on US air bases in Jordan in retaliation to strikes on Larak Island. In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump said, "Iran is officially a Failed Nation. IT IS DEAD! They have no Navy, they have no Air Force, they have no currency, they are not paying their soldiers or police, Inflation is at 300%, and their leadership is in total disarray and incapable of properly representing the country." The US President alleged that Iran relies on disinformation. "The only thing they have is FAKE NEWS from the USA, a willingness to kill their protesters (now over 100,000 people dead. They must be tried for war crimes against humanity!), and a good line of "BULLSHIT." Thank you for your attention to this matter!" he wrote.
US, Iran Trade Attacks: The First Major Military Escalation In A Month
The US and Iran traded attacks for the first time in over a month overnight into Monday. The US Central Command said that it struck Iranian launchers after observing forces with Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps preparing to launch rockets with sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz.
The US strike on Sunday targeted two Iranian rocket launchers on Iran’s Larak Island, where it observed Iranian forces preparing to launch rockets with mines into the strait, said Capt. Tim Hawkins, spokesperson for US Central Command (CENTCOM). The US military said last week that it had completed clearing sea mines from the waterway's international shipping routes.
However, Iran termed the American strikes an "act of aggression" and said that two people were killed and several others were wounded.
Iran Attacks Jordan, UAE Says It Intercepted Iranian Drone
In retaliation, Iran said that its forces fired ballistic missiles at American bases in Jordan. Jordan's military said that it intercepted eight such missiles that had entered its airspace.
Separately, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) said it intercepted an Iranian drone over its waters during the day. While the Iranian Army claimed that it targeted Al Minhad Air Base in Dubai, the UAE's defence ministry said it was false.
Iran Says It Has Right To Defend Itself
Before heading to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s summit in Kyrgyzstan with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who has favoured a negotiated end to the conflict, stressed that Iran wasn’t seeking war. "But," he said, "we will respond decisively to aggressors."
