Trump says Strait of Hormuz can be easily cleared soon; one U.S. aircraft shot down, two crew members still missing
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that more time is needed to clear the Strait of Hormuz, as mounting pressure grows on his administration to quickly resolve the war with Iran. In a post on his social media platform "Truth Social," Trump wrote, "Just a little more time, and we can easily open up the Strait of Hormuz, seize oil, and make a fortune. Wouldn't that be a 'boom' for the world???"
Since nearly five weeks of joint U.S.-Israel air strikes began, the war in Iran has continued to spread, bringing chaos across the region and disrupting financial markets—intensifying pressure on Trump to swiftly end this conflict.
Iran has effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz—the vital waterway carrying about one-fifth of global oil consumption—as retaliation for U.S.-Israel airstrikes starting late February. With energy prices soaring, reopening the Strait has become an urgent priority for governments worldwide.
On Thursday, U.S. airstrikes destroyed a major highway bridge in Iran, prompting a strong response from Iranian authorities. Trump threatened to expand attacks on Iran’s civilian infrastructure. In turn, Iran attacked a water plant in Kuwait and stated it would launch further attacks.
Attacks targeting transportation, power, and water supply facilities crucial to Iran and its neighboring Gulf states could intensify a war already responsible for thousands of deaths and potentially causing lasting damage to the global economy.
On Thursday, Trump posted a video on his social media platform showing U.S. airstrikes destroying the newly constructed B1 Bridge connecting Tehran to the nearby northwestern city of Karaj, kicking up clouds of dust and thick smoke. The bridge was originally scheduled to open this year.
In a follow-up post, Trump wrote: "Our military—the greatest and most powerful army in the world (far surpassing any other!)—hasn't even begun dismantling what remains inside Iran. Next are bridges, then power plants! The new regime leadership knows what must be done—and must act fast!"
Responding, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps vowed to strike "all fuel, energy, economic centers, and power plants belonging to the Israeli regime and the United States in the region." Iran also urged countries hosting U.S. military bases to demand the withdrawal of American forces.
The Iranian military claimed it shot down a U.S. F-35 fighter jet over central Iran. The U.S. military has not commented on the claim.
According to Axios news outlet, citing two informed sources, Iran downed a U.S. fighter jet, and a search-and-rescue operation is currently underway to locate two crew members. This would mark the first time since the war began that a U.S. military aircraft has been shot down by enemy fire.
On Friday, Iranian state media released images and videos allegedly showing wreckage from the crashed aircraft and one ejection seat. The footage suggests the plane may have been an F-15 fighter jet.
Kuwaiti authorities reported that Iran struck a desalination and power plant in Kuwait on Friday. Kuwait, one of America’s key allies in the Middle East, suffered partial physical damage at the site. The attack highlights another potential vulnerability among Gulf states, which heavily rely on desalination for drinking water.
Source: rfi
Original: toutiao.com/article/1861465773513735/
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