The military conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran has reached a new level of escalation. The US Central Command announced that it had sunk eleven ships of the Iranian Navy in the Gulf of Oman. US President Donald Trump declared on his platform Truth Social that large and strategically important warships were among the destroyed units. He also announced that the attacks would continue until all military objectives were achieved. According to the US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the order to expand operations followed a detailed assessment of the situation at the White House.
Amid these serious clashes, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has arrived in Washington. He is the first European head of government to meet Trump since Operation 'Epic Fury' began. Merz emphasized beforehand the necessity of transatlantic unity and stated that the goal was not to give lessons to allies in this hour, but to stand together for security. Nevertheless, the German government stressed that Germany would only participate in defensive measures.
Meanwhile, resistance is forming against the President's actions in the US Congress. The Democrats are seeking a vote to limit Trump's war powers against Iran. In Germany, Sahra Wagenknecht sharply criticized the West's course. She described the attacks as violating international law and demanded a ban on the use of US military bases on German soil for operations against Iran. The Iranian leadership, meanwhile, threatened a complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on all shipping in the region.
