USS Truxtun, a destroyer deployed in the Strait of Hormuz during the US-Israel War on Iran (File)
EA-CEO Retort VideoCast: The Disorder of the “Global Royal Rumble”
UPDATE 0623 GMT:
The Israel Defense Forces have issued evacuation warnings for 12 villages in southern Lebanon ahead of airstrikes.
Israel is continuing attacks across the south despite a ceasefire, claiming that it is targeting Hezbollah.
Residents of Kaouthariyet al-Saiyad, Ghassaniyeh, Mazraat al-Daoudiyeh, Bedias, Rihan, Zellaya, Bazouriye, Harouf, Habboush, Ansariyeh, Qalaouiyeh, and Deir ez-Zahrani were instructed this morning to evacuate at least a kilometer away.
Most of the villages are located north of the Litani River, 30 km (19 miles) inside Lebanon.
Lebanon’s National News Agency reported Israeli airstrikes on the towns of Reshknanay and Safad al-Battikh. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
Israel said Hezbollah launched several rockets, mortars, and explosive drones at Israeli troops. The projectiles struck near the forces, but did not cause any injuries.
UPDATE 0539 GMT:
The US price of regular unleaded gasoline passed $4.50 a gallon for the first time since July 2022.
The price is up more than 50% from its level of $2.98 when the US-Israel War on Iran started on February 28.
The cost of premium unleaded $5.34 a gallon.
ORIGINAL ENTRY: Donald Trump has halted “Project Freedom”, seeking to break Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz amid the US-Israel War, after only 36 hours.
In a social media post, Trump abruptly paused the operation, which would guide vessels out of the waterway, for “a short period…on the request of Pakistan and other Countries”. He claimed, without evidence, “Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran.”
Hours earlier, both Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared that Project Freedom was rapidly developing.
Hegseth claimed hundreds of commercial ships were lining up for passage. Rubio said the US was carrying out the operation as a “favor to the world … because we’re the only ones that can”.
In fact, only two American-flagged vessels was confirmed to have transited the Strait under US guidance. Iran struck several, including a cargo ship as Rubio was speaking.
More than 800 vessels have been bottled up in the Strait and Persian Gulf since the US-Israel War started February 28. Iran declared its closure of the waterway, through which around 20% of the world’s maritime oil and gas passes, four days later.
The Secretary of State turned to China for assistance, asking it to press Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi during his visit to Beijing on Wednesday.
“It is in China’s interest that Iran stop closing the strait,” Rubio said.
