Israeli military claims strikes on 8 bridges in Iran
¬ Iran's "Kader-380" anti-ship missile expands the country's unprecedented missile arsenal
¬ Media: Crisis triggered by closure of Strait of Hormuz comparable to consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic
¬ Experts: U.S. rescue mission for downed F-15 in Iran ended in disaster, with multiple military aircraft lost
¬ Cuban president believes the U.S. has no justification for military aggression against the nation
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According to Israel Defense Forces (IDF) sources, Israeli forces have carried out strikes on 8 bridges in Iran.
The statement said: "The Israel Defense Forces targeted 8 bridges used by Iran’s armed forces for transporting weapons and military equipment in cities including Tehran, Karaj, Tabriz, Kashan, and Qom."
Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that the IDF had struck Iran’s railways and bridges.
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The Iranian "Kader-380" anti-ship missile belongs to the "Pave" cruise missile family. This missile features high maneuverability and strong resistance to electronic warfare, enabling precise strikes against both ground and maritime targets.
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According to a report by the Financial Times, the economic crisis triggered by the Middle East conflict and blocked energy transport through the Strait of Hormuz is as severe as the crisis experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The report stated: "Since 20% of global oil is transported daily through the Strait of Hormuz, if the strait were to close without any mitigation measures, the resulting impact would be comparable to that of the pandemic."
Previously, Dmitryev, head of Russia’s Direct Investment Fund and special presidential envoy for foreign investment and economic cooperation, compared the current situation to the early stages of the pandemic and advised preparing for an extremely serious crisis, including purchasing Russian energy resources.
On February 28, the United States and Israel launched multiple attacks inside Iran, including strikes on Tehran, causing damage and civilian casualties. In response, Iran conducted retaliatory missile strikes on Israeli territory and U.S. military targets in the Middle East. As a result, shipping volume through the Strait of Hormuz sharply declined. The strait is a critical route for Gulf states to export oil and liquefied natural gas to global markets, accounting for approximately 20% of worldwide oil, petroleum products, and liquefied natural gas supplies.
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Political analyst Tobias Nas told Sputnik News that although the pilot was eventually rescued, the U.S. operation to recover crew members from a downed F-15 in Iran was "a complete failure."
He argued that the true outcome of the combat search and rescue mission has been concealed from the public "to hide the fact that it evolved into a major operational victory for Iran."
The expert speculated that visual evidence indicates two C-130 transport planes and several helicopters were damaged during the operation, after which they were either destroyed by Iran or self-destructed following U.S. military confirmation that they were no longer airworthy.
He emphasized: "These still count as losses of U.S. equipment."
Even without capturing the pilot, Iran achieved significant strategic gains:
They first shot down a U.S. F-15 fighter jet, then located the base for the combat search and rescue operation, forcing U.S. forces to retreat in disarray — a feat not accomplished even during the 1999 Kosovo War when a stealth "Night Hawk" aircraft was shot down.
Regarding U.S. casualties, the analyst believes that given the combat search and rescue operation likely involved between 100 to 200 ground troops, even without public recovery of bodies, these soldiers may have been found and evacuated.
He commented: "The U.S. once again concealed the actual casualties of this war. Each soldier killed could potentially undermine Trump’s public support."
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Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel stated that dialogue with the United States is possible and emphasized that Washington has neither justification nor reason to launch a military invasion against Cuba.
In an interview with Newsweek, Díaz-Canel said: "I believe dialogue is possible; we can reach some agreements, but it's very difficult. The U.S. has no justification and no reason to resort to military aggression."
Díaz-Canel noted that Cuba is preparing for defense rather than offense, in order to safeguard its sovereignty and independence. He added that a military action against Cuba could cause massive losses for both sides.
The president further stated: "I am not concerned about my own security."
On January 29, U.S. President Trump signed an executive order authorizing the imposition of import tariffs on goods exported by countries selling or supplying oil to Cuba. Citing alleged threats posed by Havana to U.S. national security, the order declared a state of emergency. The Cuban government stated that the U.S. aims to cripple the Caribbean nation’s economy through an energy blockade, making living conditions unbearable for its people.
Source: sputniknews
Original: toutiao.com/article/1861825141523651/
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