Tehran, Iran —(Map)
Today, NewsForKids.net looks at the war in Iran and Cuba’s oil shortage. The US and Israel’s war on Iran has now been going on for more than a month. There are signs that the war is growing. And Cuba, which has nearly run out of oil, is expecting a delivery from a large Russian oil tanker.
One Month of Fighting, and the Iran War is Growing
Over a month after the US and Israel attacked Iran, the conflict has continued to grow. Iran still controls the Strait of Hormuz. Roughly 20% of the world’s oil and gas pass through this important waterway.
(Source: Masoud Shahrestani, Tasnim [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons.)
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 US military says it has hit over 11,000 targets in Iran. Thousands of buildings there have been destroyed, including some that were historically important.
Over 2,000 people in Iran have been killed, many of them civilians. Fifteen US soldiers have died, and Israel has lost seven soldiers. At least 10 other countries have also lost soldiers and civilians.
Israel has also been steadily attacking Lebanon, where over 1,200 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 over a million people – roughly 20% of Lebanon’s people – from their homes.
Prices continue to rise around the world because of the fuel shortage created by the war.
(Source: Original image: NASA/MODIS/TERRA [Public Domain], via Wikimedia Commons.)
On March 21, US President Donald Trump gave Iran 48 hours to open the Strait of Hormuz. He said that if Iran didn’t, he would attack Iran’s power stations. Attacking power plants isn’t allowed under international law. Later, Mr. Trump extended his deadline twice, giving Iran until April 6 to meet his demands.
Pakistan is hoping to lead peace talks between the US and Iran. Mr. Trump claims the two sides have been talking and that the talks are going well. The US has presented Iran with a 15-point peace plan, which Iran has rejected. Iran says there hasn’t been much progress on peace talks. Iran claims Mr. Trump is really using the time to prepare for an invasion of Iran.
There are signs that Mr. Trump is considering a serious attack. Mr. Trump has said he wants to “take the oil in Iran.” Yesterday he again threatened to destroy all of Iran’s power plants, oil wells, and Kharg Island – the heart of Iran’s oil-producing business.
US Military Buildup Near Iran
Over 50,000 members of the US military are now in place near Iran. Among them are soldiers trained in fighting on the ground, and others specially trained in parachuting into a country. Iran says any US soldiers who come into Iran on the ground will be “set on fire”.
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On March 28, the Houthis, a militant Islamist group supported by Iran, joined the war. The Houthis, who are based in Yemen, fired ballistic missiles at Israel. Above, a Houthi soldier stands at a machine gun mounted on a police vehicle on March 27.
On March 28, the Houthis, a militant Islamist group supported by Iran, joined the war. The Houthis, who are based in Yemen, fired ballistic missiles at Israel. Because of their location, it’s possible the Houthis could also limit shipping near the Red Sea.
Russian Ship to Bring Oil to Cuba
The US seems to be allowing a Russian oil tanker to reach Cuba. It will be the first oil to reach Cuba since the US began blocking fuel shipments in January.
The blockade has caused a fuel shortage for the island nation. The shortage has led to many serious problems, including nationwide power outages. The United Nations and several outside countries have criticized the US blockade.
Mr. Trump’s government is hoping to change Cuba’s leadership. Mr. Trump has even suggested that he might use military force to attack Cuba. Cuba’s leaders say the country will fight to defend itself.
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The US seems to be allowing a Russian oil tanker to reach Cuba. It will be the first oil to reach Cuba since the US began blocking fuel shipments in January. Above, the port of Matanzas, Cuba, where the Russian tanker is expected to arrive.
Now it appears that a Russian oil tanker will be allowed to deliver 730,000 barrels of oil to Cuba, as early as Tuesday. Russia has long been a strong supporter of Cuba.
It’s not clear why the US has decided to let the Russian ship through. It’s also not clear if future oil deliveries will be allowed. Some people believe the shipment was allowed because Mr. Trump didn’t want a conflict with Russia.
The oil delivery will provide important – but temporary – help for Cuba’s fuel crisis. The oil from the shipment is only expected to last a few weeks.
Did You Know…?
The oil the tanker is delivering is “crude oil”. It will take Cuba a few weeks to convert the crude oil into usable products, like diesel.
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