US and Iran Temporarily Halt Mutual Attacks Amid Escalating Tensions
After nearly two weeks of mutual attacks between the US and Iran, there appears to be a temporary halt in strikes. According to Iranian Health Ministry spokesperson Hossein Kermanpour, Iran reported no strikes overnight into Saturday, marking an apparent break from the previous 13 nights of US nighttime attacks. The US Central Command did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Sirens sounded multiple times early Saturday in Saudi Arabia's Yanbu and Jizan provinces, which house crucial oil facilities on the Red Sea, due to a 'potential danger' that was later lifted without further details. Missile fire from Yemen is suspected to be the cause of these sirens. Bahrain also sounded missile alerts early Saturday, but no casualties have been reported.
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for world energy supplies effectively shut down by Iranian attacks, has been at the center of the conflict. The US military fired on a merchant vessel in the Gulf of Oman that was trying to breach its renewed blockade of Iran's ports, while Iran targeted US-allied Gulf Arab countries.
US President Donald Trump said Friday he had not decided yet whether to launch major strikes on Iran, but stated that they were 'getting more and more serious' in talks with Washington. He warned that if a deal is not reached, the US will unleash a 'much higher level' of strikes. Tensions remain high following an exchange of fire between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.