Tehran, Iran —(Map)
As the US and Israel’s war on Iran enters its third week, there is no clear path out of the conflict. The attackers have used their great military strength to try to overpower Iran. But Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz and the nuclear material it holds are making it hard for the attackers to claim victory.
Impacts of the War
Since the US and Israel began their attack on Iran on February 28, the two countries have continued to pound Iran with heavy daily attacks. The countries have used huge amounts of weapons in these attacks. The US military says that it spent over $11 billion in just the first six days of the war.
Thousands of people in Iran have been killed, many of them civilians. Thirteen US soldiers have died, and Israel has lost two soldiers.
Israel has also been steadily attacking Lebanon, where around 850 people have been killed. Israel’s target in Lebanon is the militant group Hezbollah, which is based there. But the attacks have killed many civilians and forced thousands of others from their homes.
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Iran has continued to strike out at nearby countries that it believes are helping the US and Israel. On Saturday, Iranian attacks hit an important port and oil storage area in the United Arab Emirates (above). Another attack struck the airport in Dubai.
Iran has continued to strike out at nearby countries that it believes are helping the US and Israel. Iranian attacks hit an important port and oil storage area in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Another attack struck the airport in Dubai, UAE – one of the world’s busiest airports.
On Friday, the US attacked military targets on Iran’s Kharg Island. The island is hugely important to Iran. It handles 90% of Iran’s oil exports, and is a source of much of its money. US President Donald Trump said the US was careful not to bomb any locations important for producing oil. Taking control of Kharg could give the attackers a lot of power over Iran.
(Source: [Public Domain], via Wikimedia Commons.)
The steady attacks by the US and Israel have had a huge impact on Iran. The country has lost most of its navy and much of its ability to stop planes from flying over it. Iran has also used up many of its missiles and drones.
Even so, it’s difficult for the US to declare victory and end the war. One problem is that Iran is still believed to have nuclear material that could be very dangerous.
A second problem is Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz. Twenty percent of the world’s oil passes through this narrow waterway. Currently, Iran is blocking ships belonging to the US and its allies from using the Strait of Hormuz.
(Source: Original image: NASA/MODIS/TERRA [Public Domain], via Wikimedia Commons.)
The war and the blockade have driven up oil and gas prices around the world. Because gas and oil are so important for transportation, the prices of most other products are expected to go up as well.
After Russia attacked Ukraine four years ago, the US and other countries put sanctions on Russia’s oil businesses. Now Mr. Trump has removed some US sanctions on Russian oil to try to prevent a larger worldwide oil shortage.
Blocked ships in the Middle East could also cause problems for the world’s food supply. Much of the world’s fertilizers come from the Middle East. If fertilizer supplies run low, it could have a big effect on how much food farmers can produce.
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The war and the blockade have driven up oil and gas prices around the world. Because gas and oil are so important for transportation, the prices of most other products are expected to go up as well. Above, people line up to buy gas (petrol) in Dhaka, Bangladesh, where the government is limiting fuel sales.
A week ago, Mr. Trump said that the US did not need the help of any other country. But now Mr. Trump is trying to find other countries to help open up shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Mr. Trump has encouraged countries in Europe and Asia to send warships to help.
So far, no countries have agreed to join the effort. Many countries are concerned about getting drawn into the war. The leaders of countries around the world are calling for an end to the fighting. It’s still unclear when or how that might happen.
Did You Know…?
The US and Israel’s war on Iran is not the only war to have broken out recently. Nearby Pakistan and Afghanistan went to war on February 26, just days before the attack on Iran. Pakistan claims Afghanistan has been supporting a militant group that has launched terrorist attacks on Pakistan. Dozens of soldiers and over 100 civilians have been killed. Over 115,000 have been forced from their homes. So far, there are no signs of the war slowing down.
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