by Francesco Matera
Following the killing of three American soldiers in Jordan by an Iranian-backed Iraqi militias drone, the United States responded with major military action. The Pentagon has authorized strikes on more than 85 strategic targets in Syria and Iraq, including commands, intelligence centers, rocket and drone arsenals, as well as ammunition depots.
US Central Command has specified that the attacks are primarily aimed at Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards Quds Force and to affiliated militia groups. The use of numerous aircraft, including long-range fighter-bombers taken off from the United States involved the use of over 125 precision missiles. Official information on the toll of the attacks is still limited. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has reported at least 13 pro-Iran fighters killed in the American strike.
President Joe Biden announced that the US response will continue in the coming days, underlining that Americans will react to any further threats or retaliation.
On the Red Sea side theItaly will assume operational command of the EU mission called Aspides. The Minister of Defense Guido Crosettor revealed that the European Union has officially asked Italy to provide the Force Commander for this mission, with direct responsibilities for the management of naval assets and responses to attacks by the Yemeni Houthi rebel group. The Italian Navy will also take command of the Atlanta anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden, thus further strengthening Italy's role in crisis management in this strategic region.
As regards the conflict in Gaza Hamas raises the bar and asks for the release of Marwan Barghouti, detained since 2002 in an Israeli prison. A request that chills the ongoing negotiations. Information sources suggest different versions of the agreement under discussion between the parties, including an initial phase of 35-day truce in exchange for 35 hostages, with a gradual progression of release based on specific categories of prisoners.
The situation in the Middle East is becoming more complicated day by day. Now we await Iran's response to the American retaliation. Meanwhile in Italy two Molotov cocktails were thrown at the American consulate in Florence.
After the two Molotov cocktails, a video claiming responsibility also arrived, glorifying Hamas and promising further actions against Italy and Europe if: "they continue to support the crimes of Israel and the USA". The origin of the video is judged by the investigators to be reliable and the threat to be serious, even if there is a tendency to attribute its paternity to a lone wolf.
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