6:34 a.m. – The Christian quarter in Tire emptied of its inhabitants
For the first time since the start of clashes between Israel and the Shiite movement, the Israeli army called on all residents to evacuate Tyre, including those from the Christian quarter. “The Christian quarter is now 99% empty,” reported Walid al-Tawil of the municipal council.
In southern Lebanon, Tire and its surroundings are relentlessly shelled by the Israeli army. The bombings left at least 11 dead on Tuesday, according to Lebanese authorities.
Iran demands that any agreement with Washington to end the war in the Middle East include an end to hostilities on the Lebanese front.
6:20 a.m. – Jordanian military says it shot down five Iranian missiles
The Jordanian army announced Wednesday morning that it had destroyed five Iranian missiles that targeted Azraq, where a US base is located. “We intercepted and shot down five missiles fired from Iran towards Azraq (…) There were no casualties or material damage,” the army said.
6:17 a.m. – Tehran responds after American strikes
Iran announced on Wednesday that it had targeted American bases in the Gulf in retaliation for strikes by Washington against Iranian targets along the Strait of Hormuz, in a new regional conflagration after the destruction of an American helicopter attributed to Tehran.
Iran has announced attacks on American bases sheltered by Bahrain and Jordan. And in Kuwait, the army said it was facing “hostile air targets” without specifying their origin. In Jordan, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards said they had “targeted and destroyed four major targets, including groups of F35 fighters at an air base and the US military command center” in Azraq.
In Bahrain, fighters from this Iranian ideological army announced that they had carried out “a drone attack against the American Fifth Fleet”. Shortly after, warning sirens sounded in this Gulf country.
The night’s news
– The American army announced Tuesday evening that it had carried out a series of strikes against Iran. US forces “strike Iranian air defense installations, ground control posts and surveillance radar sites near the Strait of Hormuz,” the statement said, “in response to the downing of a US Army Apache helicopter the day before.”
– Several Iranian media outlets reported a new series of attacks attributed to the United States on Wednesday morning. Explosions were reported on the island of Qeshm and the port city of Bandar Abbas, both bordering the Strait of Hormuz.
– Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi promised a response from Iranian forces after a series of American strikes in response to the attack on an Apache helicopter.
