US strikes kill at least nine Iranian soldiers in southern Iran

At least nine Iranian military personnel were killed in US airstrikes early Wednesday on the cities of Bushehr, Bandar Mahshahr, and Bandar Abbas in southern Iran, according to Iranian security sources Source: infobae. The attacks mark a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions between the two countries over the Strait of Hormuz.

The attacks

Eight members of the Iranian Army's Air Force and Navy died in Bandar Abbas and Bushehr "while defending the country," the army said in a statement Source: infobae. Separately, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported one member killed in Bandar Mahshahr "in a confrontation with enemy invading drones" Source: diariolibree. The US strikes were described as a response to Iranian aggression against three commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

The fallout

• US President Donald Trump revoked the authorization for Iran to sell oil internationally and declared the June 17 memorandum of understanding with Iran effectively dead, warning of possible further attacks Source: diariolibree.
• Iran's Foreign Ministry stated that the US attacks, the revocation of oil sales authorization, and "the violation of the agreements" on Hormuz "have nullified key and fundamental parts" of the memorandum, adding that responsibility for "dangerous consequences" rests with the "renegade US regime" Source: diariolibree.

Tensions have been escalating in recent weeks, with Iran attacking several ships and the US bombing military targets along Iran's southern coast in a power struggle over the strategically vital strait.