Kuwait says Iran attacked an island hosting China-funded port
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Kuwait accused Iran of launching a failed assault earlier this month on an island the place China helps construct a port within the Middle East nation.
The accusation introduced Tuesday got here simply earlier than US President Donald Trump was to department for Beijing the place he’ll meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in a high-stakes visit over the warfare and different points.
Iran didn’t instantly acknowledge the allegation by Kuwait, which got here underneath assault by Iran in the war and throughout the shaky ceasefire nonetheless holding. But that allegation and ongoing assaults all through the area have threatened to reignite open warfare.
The slender Strait of Hormuz stays in Iran’s chokehold, the US is sustaining a blockade towards Iran and negotiations between the 2 international locations seem at a standstill.
With the chance of the battle breaking out once more, Israel has despatched Iron Dome air-defense weapons and personnel to function them within the United Arab Emirates to defend the nation throughout the warfare, the US ambassador to Israel stated.
That underlined the rising relationship between Israel and the UAE, each lengthy suspicious of Iran. It additionally represents the primary publicly acknowledged deployment of Israel’s army to the Emirates, house to Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Kuwait alleges Iran deliberate assault
Kuwait stated a paramilitary Revolutionary Guard crew tried to infiltrate Bubiyan Island within the northwest nook of the Persian Gulf close to Iraq and Iran on May 1.
He accused the planning crew of finishing up “hostile acts,” with out elaboration.
Kuwait stated it detained 4 males, and that two escaped when its forces disrupted the assault. Kuwait stated considered one of its safety officers was wounded.
Bubiyan Island is house to Mubarak Al Kabeer Port, which is underneath development as a part of China’s “Belt and Road” initiative. That mission additionally got here underneath Iranian assault throughout the warfare.
Kuwait offered no purpose for why it delayed linking the assault to Iran after initially saying it on May 3 with none particulars. Trump is touring this week to China for a summit the place Iran will probably be a predominant subject. Beijing has lengthy been a purchaser of sanctioned Iranian crude oil and has been harm by the Strait’s closure, which has sparked a worldwide vitality disaster.
Huckabee says Israel deployed to UAE
US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabeea one-time presidential candidate, revealed at a convention in Tel Aviv, Israel, that Israel has despatched Iron Dome air-defense to the UAE.
The United Arab Emirates diplomatically recognized Israel in 2020. That drew criticism from Iran, lengthy Israel’s predominant regional enemy. Iran didn’t instantly reply to Huckabee’s remarks, though it has repeatedly advised over time that Israel maintained a army and intelligence presence within the Emirates.
The Israeli army declined to touch upon Huckabee’s assertion concerning the Iron Dome whereas the UAE didn’t instantly reply.
The US ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, was quoted as making feedback just like Huckabee’s throughout an occasion on the Israeli mission — suggesting the discharge of the data was intentional, probably with the Emiratis’ and Israelis’ blessing.
The UAE has confronted Iranian missile and drone hearth even after the ceasefire was reached final month. It has been making an attempt to sign to nervous traders and the general public that it stays open for enterprise and protected.
Huckabee urges different Gulf states to acknowledge Israel
Huckabee added that he was “very optimistic” that further international locations within the area will quickly be part of the Abraham Accords, the 2020 diplomatic recognition deal that additionally included the Gulf Arab kingdom of Bahrain, for formal relations with Israel.
However, many Arab states stay incensed by Israel’s wide-ranging army campaigns after Hamas’ 2023 assault on the nation. The Gaza Strip has been leveled and Iran’s allies have been attacked throughout the area.
Huckabee sought to shore up US help for the current warfare, suggesting that “Israel is the appetizer, America has always been the entree” for Iran’s theocracy.
“The Gulf states now understood they will have to make a choice — is it more likely they will be attacked by Iran or Israel?” Huckabee requested. “They see that Israel helped us and Iran attacked us. Israel is not trying to take over your land, and is not sending missiles to you.”
Hegseth tells Congress: ‘We have a plan’
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth advised members of Congress Tuesday that the army was not operating low on bombs and missiles amid issues about its stockpiles.
“We know exactly what we have, we have plenty of what we need,” he stated whereas going through powerful questions from Republican and Democratic lawmakers who oversee protection spending.
Hegseth averted going into specifics concerning the subsequent steps in Iran. “We have a plan to escalate if necessary. We have a plan to retrograde if necessary. We have a plan to shift assets,” Hegseth stated.
The Pentagon’s prime funds official advised Congress that the price of the warfare is near $29 billion thus far — that is up from an estimate of $25 billion simply two weeks in the past.
Bahrain sentences two dozen over alleged Iran ties
Prosecutors in Bahrain stated Tuesday that not less than two dozen folks had been handed jail sentences on fees together with espionage and conspiring with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. They stated three had been sentenced to life. Others acquired shorter Iran-related sentences.
Bahrain — an island nation dominated by a Sunni Muslim monarchy with a Shiite-majority inhabitants — has sentenced dozens on Iran-related fees because the begin of the warfare. Prosecutors and the Interior Ministry have alleged that Iran maintains cells that perform espionage and assist determine targets there. Rights teams say the island nation has expanded a crackdown on dissidents throughout the warfare, in addition to on Shiites.
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Lidman reported from Tel Aviv, Israel. Associated Press reporters Sam Metz in Ramallah, West Bank, and Konstantin Toropin in Washington contributed.
