US and Iran trade strikes for first time in weeks
6 minutes ago
Ruth Comerford and
Ghoncheh Habibiazad
Reuters
Vessels in the Strait of Hormuz are visible near the beach of Bandar Abbas, close to Larak Island
Iran and the US have traded strikes after American forces attacked two rocket launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz.
The first known US strikes on Iran since late July killed two people and injured two others, according to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which vowed "response and punishment".
US Central Command (Centcom) said its had taken "limited, precise action" against "minelaying forces posing an imminent threat in the Strait of Hormuz".
Iran said it had struck US military bases in Jordan in response. Jordan's army said it had intercepted eight missiles early on Monday morning. Separately, Iran's state TV said the Iranian army had targeted an air base in the UAE with drones. The UAE said it shot down a drone.
The US strike is the first known attack on Iran since President Donald Trump paused a renewed military campaign in late July.
Larak Island is just offshore from the key port of Bandar Abbas and sits right on the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global shipping. Some 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas used to travel through before the war began.
Iran is currently demanding that tanker traffic pass by this island for checking and reportedly forcing vessels to pay $2m (£1.5m) to cross.
Iran's Tasnim news agency, which is affiliated with the IRGC, said earlier that the attack on Larak was carried out by drones.
Hours later, Iranian media carried a statement by the IRGC saying it had attacked the US bases of King Hussein and al-Azraq in Jordan with ballistic missiles in response to the Larak Island attack.
Iran's foreign ministry said on Monday it "strongly condemned the American military aggression on Larak", saying the strikes on bases in Jordan were a "legitimate defence".
Meanwhile Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a statement quoted by state TV: "We are not seeking war, but we will deliver a decisive response to the aggressors," according to AFP.
Hours after the US strike, Trump posted apparent AI videos on Truth Social showing oil infrastructure exploding.
One was captioned "Kharg Island being blown to smithereens!!!" in reference to a major oil terminal off the coast of Iran which Trump has threatened to take. His post did not elaborate.
Trump said last week that all mines placed in the Strait of Hormuz by Iran as part of its efforts to blockade the route had been detonated or removed. He said Iran had been warned that any ship or boat deploying new mines would be destroyed.
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi described Trump's claim as a "propaganda" deception.
Iran is facing renewed economic pressure after Washington announced a fresh sanctions campaign on 24 August aimed at further isolating Tehran and expanding secondary sanctions against its allies.
Iranian officials and state media have largely dismissed the campaign as a continuation of previous US economic measures, which they argue followed Washington's military failure in the recent conflict.
The US is also continuing a naval blockade of Iran, which has affected Iran's ability to export oil. On Saturday Centcom said it had disabled three vessels, boarded two and redirected 82 as part of the blockade.
The US and Israel launched wide-ranging strikes on Iran on 28 February, with Iran responding by attacking Israel, US bases and allied states in the Gulf, and effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz to marine traffic. The Iran war has now crossed its six-month mark.
Vessels in the Strait of Hormuz are visible near the beach of Bandar Abbas, close to Larak Island
Iran and the US have traded strikes after American forces attacked two rocket launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz.
The first known US strikes on Iran since late July killed two people and injured two others, according to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which vowed "response and punishment".
US Central Command (Centcom) said its had taken "limited, precise action" against "minelaying forces posing an imminent threat in the Strait of Hormuz".
Iran said it had struck US military bases in Jordan in response. Jordan's army said it had intercepted eight missiles early on Monday morning. Separately, Iran's state TV said the Iranian army had targeted an air base in the UAE with drones. The UAE said it shot down a drone.
The US strike is the first known attack on Iran since President Donald Trump paused a renewed military campaign in late July.
Larak Island is just offshore from the key port of Bandar Abbas and sits right on the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global shipping. Some 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas used to travel through before the war began.
Iran is currently demanding that tanker traffic pass by this island for checking and reportedly forcing vessels to pay $2m (£1.5m) to cross.
Iran's Tasnim news agency, which is affiliated with the IRGC, said earlier that the attack on Larak was carried out by drones.
Hours later, Iranian media carried a statement by the IRGC saying it had attacked the US bases of King Hussein and al-Azraq in Jordan with ballistic missiles in response to the Larak Island attack.
Iran's foreign ministry said on Monday it "strongly condemned the American military aggression on Larak", saying the strikes on bases in Jordan were a "legitimate defence".
Meanwhile Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a statement quoted by state TV: "We are not seeking war, but we will deliver a decisive response to the aggressors," according to AFP.
Hours after the US strike, Trump posted apparent AI videos on Truth Social showing oil infrastructure exploding.
One was captioned "Kharg Island being blown to smithereens!!!" in reference to a major oil terminal off the coast of Iran which Trump has threatened to take. His post did not elaborate.
Trump said last week that all mines placed in the Strait of Hormuz by Iran as part of its efforts to blockade the route had been detonated or removed. He said Iran had been warned that any ship or boat deploying new mines would be destroyed.
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi described Trump's claim as a "propaganda" deception.
Iran is facing renewed economic pressure after Washington announced a fresh sanctions campaign on 24 August aimed at further isolating Tehran and expanding secondary sanctions against its allies.
Iranian officials and state media have largely dismissed the campaign as a continuation of previous US economic measures, which they argue followed Washington's military failure in the recent conflict.
The US is also continuing a naval blockade of Iran, which has affected Iran's ability to export oil. On Saturday Centcom said it had disabled three vessels, boarded two and redirected 82 as part of the blockade.
The US and Israel launched wide-ranging strikes on Iran on 28 February, with Iran responding by attacking Israel, US bases and allied states in the Gulf, and effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz to marine traffic. The Iran war has now crossed its six-month mark.
Even With Illegal Discounted Oil From IRGC Still Cannot Make Profit?
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China’s three biggest airlines post heavy first-half losses as fuel shock bites
4 HOURS AGO
Reuters
Air China, China Eastern and China Southern posted combined losses of US$1.22 billion, with a lacklustre summer clouding the outlook.
Air China
Flag carrier Air China reported a 2.3 billion yuan net loss as fuel costs at each of the three state-owned airlines rose 35%-38%. (Reuters pic)
BEIJING: China’s three biggest state-owned airlines reported first-half losses for the seventh consecutive year, battered by surging jet fuel prices, with the outlook for the rest of the year clouded by a lacklustre summer season.
Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines posted combined first-half net losses of about 8.2 billion yuan (US$1.22 billion), having warned last month the figure could reach as high as 9 billion yuan.
The losses were a sharp reversal from their combined first-quarter profit of 4.82 billion yuan, which was boosted by strong Lunar New Year demand, and sent their shares lower in mainland China and Hong Kong trading on Monday.
Flag carrier Air China reported a net loss of 2.3 billion yuan, widening from a 1.81 billion yuan loss a year earlier. China Eastern posted a loss of 2.2 billion yuan, versus a 1.43 billion yuan loss in the same period of 2025. China Southern reported a loss of 3.7 billion yuan, compared with a loss of 1.53 billion yuan a year earlier.
The weak results underscored the post-pandemic fragility of China’s aviation sector, as the trio confronted what China Eastern described as a profit environment “severely undermined” by disrupted international routes and persistently elevated jet fuel prices linked to the Middle East conflict.
Fuel costs at each of the carriers rose between 35% and 38% in the first half.
Unlike many Asian and European rivals, Chinese airlines hedge little of their fuel purchases, leaving them more exposed to oil price swings. China Southern said in its filing there was currently “no effective means available” to manage its exposure to jet fuel price fluctuations.
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/business/2026/08/31/china-s-three-biggest-airlines-post-heavy-first-half-losses-as-fuel-shock-bites