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LAST UPDATE | 27 Mar
IRAN’S MILITARY HAS warned that hotels housing US soldiers across the region would be targets in its war with the United States and Israel.
“When all the Americans (forces) go into a hotel, then from our perspective that hotel becomes American,” armed forces spokesman Abolfazl Shekarchi told state television yesterday.
“Should we just stand by and let the Americans strike us? When we respond, naturally we have to strike wherever they are.”
On 28 February, Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iran, killing its supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and triggering a war that spread across the Middle East.
The war has since spread across the Middle East, with Iran responding with drone and missile attacks on Israel and US interests in the region.
There are already around 50,000 US troops taking part in the Trump administration’s operation “Epic Fury” but there has not been any ground invasion by the US.
However, the US is reportedly weighing sending up to 10,000 extra troops to the Middle East, as speculation grows that Washington a ground operation may take place.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the move would aim to provide Trump with “more military options”.
The troops would join thousands of paratroopers and Marines who have already been ordered to the region.
Trump has repeatedly said he does not plan to send ground troops into combat with Iran.
“It is unclear where precisely forces will go in the Middle East, but they will likely be within striking distance of Iran and Kharg Island, a crucial oil export hub off Iran’s coast,” the Wall Street Journal said.
Beirut
Meanwhile, Israel’s military says it conducted a wave of strikes “in the heart of Tehran” while smoke was seen billowing in the Beirut skyline after US President Donald Trump delayed his threat to obliterate Iran’s energy plants over its effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Israel has moved thousands of troops across the border into Lebanon, where Israeli officials said they want to take control of the entire area south of the Litani River – some 20 miles north of the border.
Facing a convulsing stock market, Trump yesterday extended a deadline for reopening the Strait of Hormuz until 6 April, saying Iran asked for the grace period and that talks were going “very well”, despite the fact Iran continues to publicly insist it is not negotiating with the White House on a 15-point proposal to end the conflict
The war has killed more than 1,900 people in Iran and nearly 1,100 in Lebanon. Eighteen people have died in Israel, while three Israeli soldiers have also been killed in Lebanon.
Thirteen US military members have died, as well as a number of civilians on land and sea in the Gulf region. Millions of people in Lebanon and Iran have been displaced.
With reporting by PA
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