The US and Iran have exchanged strikes in the Middle East for a ninth consecutive night, The Insider reported, citing sources in The Washington Post. According to the newspaper, the White House is discussing the possibility of launching a “larger-scale war” against Iran. What such an operation might look like remains unclear; experts interviewed by the Post consider a ground operation ineffective.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it struck Iranian command centers, air defense systems, missile and drone launch sites, and communication nodes on Sunday evening. On Monday morning, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it had struck US aircraft at Jordan’s Aqaba airport, as well as military facilities in Kuwait and Syria.
Amid the escalation, Brent crude on the London ICE exchange rose 2.8% on the morning of July 20 to $90.8 per barrel. It last traded above $90 in mid-June, Meduza noted. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose 2.2% to $84.7. The increase is linked to the war in the Middle East, during which Iran has attacked oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, and the US has retaliated against Iranian military infrastructure.
On Monday, the IRGC said two oil tankers exploded and lost power while attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz via an “unsafe southern route.” Iran accused US military personnel of recommending that route to the vessels. According to LSEG, four ships passed through the strait on Sunday — half the number that did so on Saturday.
The attacks are hitting critical infrastructure in the region. As The Insider reported, desalination plants in Kuwait came under fire on Sunday. Iran had previously accused the US of striking a water desalination station. According to CNN, such plants are vital to the Middle East: in Kuwait and Oman, desalination provides about 90% of freshwater needs; in Bahrain, 85%; and in Saudi Arabia, about 70%.
US military forces in the region are running low on air defense missiles, according to the Post, and infrastructure damage is limiting their ability to move troops and weapons.