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Gulf War Flare-Up: What the Latest U.S.–Iran Strikes Mean for Your Wallet

  The three-month-old war between the U.S.–Israel coalition and Iran escalated again this morning. Here's a plain-English breakdown of what happened — and what it means for your gas tank and grocery bill. What Happened on June 6? U.S. forces struck Iranian coastal radar sites on Saturday, June 6, after shooting down drones launched by Iran toward the Strait of Hormuz, according to the U.S. military. The U.S. military believes the four Iranian drones were targeting regional maritime traffic. U.S. Central Command said it struck Iran's surveillance sites in Goruk and Qeshm Island, both located on the Strait of Hormuz. Iran did not take that lying down: Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had targeted U.S. bases in Kuwait and Bahrain in retaliation and fired on four tankers attempting to cross the strait without its permission. U.S. forces also helped shoot down incoming Iranian missiles and drones directed at Kuwait and Bahrain — a barrage of seven ballistic missiles in t...

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Israel’s Expanding Offensive in Central Rafah: A Closer Look

 

The Israeli military has officially confirmed that its forces are operating in central parts of Rafah as part of an expanding offensive in the southern Gaza city. This development comes after Israel launched a ground assault into Rafah on May 6, triggering an exodus of approximately 1 million Palestinians from the city and disrupting U.N. humanitarian operations in the area.

Key Points:

  1. Citywide Operations: The Israeli military statement suggests that its forces have been operating in most parts of Rafah, including both eastern districts and areas close to the border with Egypt. Israeli troops seized the Rafah crossing into Egypt on the first day of the offensive and have since claimed control over the Philadelphi Corridor, a road running along the Gaza-Egypt border on the Gazan side.
  2. Recent Developments: Earlier this week, Israeli troops also moved into Rafah’s western district of Tel al-Sultan, where heavy clashes with Hamas fighters have been reported by witnesses.
  3. Hamas Presence: The offensive aims to uproot Hamas fighters, following the group’s October 7 attack on southern Israel. In central Rafah, Israeli troops have uncovered Hamas rocket launchers, tunnels, and dismantled a weapons storage facility.
  4. Humanitarian Impact: The exodus of Palestinians from Rafah has led to a scattered population across southern and central Gaza. Most of them now live in squalid tent camps, with up to around 300,000 people believed to remain in the area. Some still reside in the central urban parts of Rafah, while others have sought refuge in rural areas near the coast, which have also been targeted by Israeli strikes and shelling.

Despite the ongoing offensive, U.S. President Joe Biden has emphasized that Israel has not crossed the “red lines” of a full-fledged invasion that he had urged them against. The situation remains tense, and humanitarian organizations continue to grapple with the challenges posed by the conflict.



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