Middle East Tensions Flare Again: Iran Fires On Four Ships, Claims Enemy Aircraft Shot Down

Tehran: Iran has admitted firing "as a warning" at four commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian Navy claims that these ships were trying to cross the strait without permission. According to Mehr news agency, Iranian forces fired warning shots at 4 ships. In response, US Central Command said that the US shot down 4 Iranian drones and attacked a ground control station in Bandar Abbas that was about to launch a 5th drone.

 How true is the claim of downing the plane?

Iranian state TV claimed early Friday that an "enemy aircraft" had been shot down in the Jam area of  Bushehr province. Bushehr Governor Masoud Tangestani was quoted as saying that "the incident that took place tonight was related to the destruction of an enemy aircraft". But US Central Command immediately refuted. CENTCOM wrote on X, "No US aircraft downed. All US air assets accounted for".

What did Iran claim about the attack on US base?

Iranian media and the IRGC said Iran targeted a US airbase in response to the US attack. The report said that the attack was on Kuwait's Ali Al-Salem airbase and the missile was intercepted. Kuwait's military also said it faced "enemy missile and drone attacks." Kuwait and UAE condemned it as "Iranian aggression".

What is America's stance?

The US has described it as a "purely defensive" action. The US said Iranian drones were targeting a US commercial ship. Apart from this, the US has started "Project Freedom" to restore commercial shipping from Hormuz. Admiral Brad Cooper said that US helicopters destroyed 6 Iranian small boats.

What will be the impact on the world?

About 20% of the world's oil passes through Hormuz. Crude oil prices rose after the tension. US crude futures rose nearly 2% to 90.38 dollars a barrel. About 2000 ships are stranded on both sides of the strait. Defense experts believe that if the news of the downing of the US plane turns out to be true, there could be a major military conflict in the Gulf. At present the ceasefire which has been going on since April 8 is still intact.

What is the situation at present?

 America has said that its action was only to maintain the ceasefire. Pentagon has rejected Iran's claim of downing the plane.