Iran’s IRGC threaten to hit US bases in retaliation for Hormuz escorts
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Thursday threatened to strike American bases across the Middle East if the US military continues to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz. “The US military must know that if this trend continues, the conflict will extend to its bases in the region,” the IRGC, the ideological arm of Iran’s military, said in a statement on their Sepah News website. For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
“This is a serious warning,” they added. Iran claims control over Hormuz, a strategic shipping route through which one-fifth of the world’s oil supplies passed before war broke out in February. It regularly attacks ships that attempt to navigate the strait without its authorization. But the US military has been escorting vessels through the waterway in increasing numbers, with Iran responding by stepping up attacks. Four ships were hit in the area overnight as they attempted to pass through the wider Gulf, Iranian forces said on Thursday.
Left out here: Leaves out what changes the picture
The article never says that the reported ship hits have not been independently confirmed, or that the US president disputes them. Without this, a reader takes the IRGC's account of the attacks as the only version of events.
How we know
- Antiwar.com reported“So far, the attacks haven’t been confirmed by other sources”Iran’s IRGC Navy Says Seven Oil Tankers Struck in the Strait of Hormuz (opens in a new tab)
- Antiwar.com reported“President Trump is accusing Iran of making up attacks on ships”Iran’s IRGC Navy Says Seven Oil Tankers Struck in the Strait of Hormuz (opens in a new tab)
Washington has also been maintaining a naval blockade on Iranian ports in an attempt to squeeze the country’s economy, while negotiations to end the conflict are deadlocked. Hormuz, bordered to the north by Iran and to the south by Oman, is only about 30 kilometers (19 miles) wide at its narrowest point and is a critical route for ships carrying oil and gas from Gulf countries. Read more: Iran’s IRGC Navy says seven vessels hit, warns US of wider response Advertisement Advertisement
Read the original article on english.alarabiya.net (opens in a new tab)