söndag 12 juli 2026
Commanders ignored warnings – soldiers died
During the second day of the Iran-Iran war, several American soldiers were killed in an Iranian attack on Kuwait. Now commanders are accused of ignoring warnings.
The drone attack on the industrial port of Shuaiba in Kuwait on March 1 took the lives of six Americans. It could have been prevented, reports The Washington Post.
The newspaper has spoken to 17 witnesses, including survivors of the attack that caused a deadly fire in an American command center in the port. Many of them state that the facility's two commanders ignored warnings that the port was a likely Iranian target.
In addition, the center is said to have lacked adequate defenses against drones.
Soldiers injured in the attack also express disappointment with the military's healthcare system. The attack is considered one of the most costly of the Iran war for the US military and President Donald Trump's administration.
Iran attacks neighboring countries – Strait of Hormuz closed
"Unauthorized route"
The Iranian attacks are described as a response to last night's US attack wave, which was the third this week. On the orders of President Donald Trump, the military command Centcom claims to have targeted 140 Iranian military targets, which in turn is said to be a response to a Cyprus-flagged ship being damaged in the Strait of Hormuz and Iran subsequently declaring the waterway closed.
"Iran made a bad decision. Now they will pay," wrote US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on X on Sunday night.
According to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, the waterway was closed after a ship that had taken an “unauthorized route” was stopped with warning shots. The strait will remain closed until “the American interventions in the region are ended,” state Iranian media reported.
American deadline
“The time for unilateral agreements is over. We warned you: keep your word or pay the price. Reality is knocking,” writes chief negotiator and speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on X, referring to point five of the US agreement, which stipulates that Iran will be responsible for the “arrangements” in the Strait of Hormuz.
Ahead of the weekend, American media reported that the US had demanded a public statement from Iran, in which the regime in Tehran would declare the strategic strait open and promise to refrain from further attacks on ships in the area.
According to sources, the US had set Saturday as the deadline for such a statement.
Expert: Graham's death weakens support for Ukraine in the US
The death of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham means that Ukraine loses one of its defenders in Washington. His passing may also give Democrats a new opportunity in the midterm elections this fall.
As recently as Friday, Graham made a quick visit to Ukraine, met with Ukrainian President Zelensky and gave the thumbs up for an agreement between the Senate and the White House to increase sanctions against Russia.
– It is a weakened voice within the Republican Senate family for internationalism, especially on the Ukraine issue, says US expert Jan Hallenberg, professor emeritus of political science at the Swedish National Defense University, about Graham's death.
He mentions that Graham also tried to find some kind of solution in the Middle East, where he also collaborated with former President Joe Biden.
– It is clear that if you support Ukraine, it is a loss with Graham. On the Republican side, he has been the one who has driven this more than anyone else, says Jan Hallenberg.
But his importance should not be exaggerated, according to Hallenberg. The Senate has not been as important in foreign affairs in recent years compared to the president and the secretary of state.
Turned around on Trump
Lindsey Graham was originally a Republican of the conservative, traditional tribe and criticized Donald Trump harshly before the 2016 presidential election, but turned around to be staunchly loyal. In this way, and through rounds of golf with Trump, he managed to maintain his influence in foreign policy. When Trump went to war with Iran, he received dividends, as a former open and enthusiastic advocate of the United States using military force in foreign policy.
– He played an important role in foreign policy, says Dag Blanck, professor of North American studies at Uppsala University.
Chose power
According to Blanck, Graham is a telling example of the choice of path that Republicans have made under Trump. He and many other former Trump critics, including current Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have chosen power instead of holding on to ideals.
According to Dag Blanck, it will be the governor of South Carolina who appoints Graham's successor in the Senate until the candidate who wins the midterm elections in November is sworn in.
Middle East crisis Iran war
Iran: Strait of Hormuz closed to all ships again
Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz again, and no ships are allowed to pass until further notice, the Revolutionary Guard announced according to Reuters.
This after a ship that tried to pass via an “unapproved route” was fired upon and stopped, they stated according to the state news agency Irib.
Furthermore, the Revolutionary Guard writes that the “enemy” will be met with a strong response if they make any “slips” in response to this.
Yesterday, US government sources told several media outlets that the US demands that Iran declare the Strait of Hormuz open again after Saturday’s meeting with Oman.
– Otherwise, it will be bad for them, said one of them.
Minister warns of new night of attacks: “Now they will pay”
New fighting flared up in Iran overnight, CNN reports, citing information from the US military command Centcom. The US is said to have carried out targeted attacks in several places in the country. Explosions were heard along Iran’s southern coast, but also further inland.
Iran is said to have responded by sending missiles and drones against military bases in the Gulf states. Several countries in the region say they have stopped the Iranian attacks.
The attacks began shortly after the Iranian Revolutionary Guard announced that the Strait of Hormuz would be closed “until further notice”. According to the Revolutionary Guard, this happened after a ship in the strait was hit by an American warning shot.
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced shortly afterwards that a third wave of attacks this week was on the way.
"Iran made a bad decision. Now they have to pay," he wrote in a post on X on Sunday night.
Indian citizen missing after attacks off Oman
An Indian crew member on the merchant ship GFS Galaxy is missing after last night's attacks off the coast of Oman, several media outlets report.
According to the US Central Command, the ship was hit in the stern by Iranian attacks, which caused a fire and damage to the engine room. India's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is cooperating with local authorities in the search effort, it writes in a statement.
"The attacks on merchant ships and civilian infrastructure in the region must stop," it further writes.
Iran and the US have attacked each other again during the night, after Iran announced late last night that it had closed the Strait of Hormuz to traffic again.
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