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 stated on his platform Truth Social that among the destroyed units were large and strategically important warships. He also announced that the attacks would continue until all military objectives were achieved. According to the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, the order to expand the operations followed a detailed assessment of the situation at the White House.
Amidst these heavy clashes, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has arrived in Washington. He is the first European head of government to meet with Trump since the start of Operation 'Epic Fury'. Merz emphasized beforehand the need for transatlantic unity and stated that in this hour, the goal was not to lecture allies but to stand together for security. Nevertheless, the German government stressed that Germany would only participate in defensive measures.
Meanwhile, resistance against the President's actions is forming in the US Congress. 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 contrary to 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 blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on all shipping in the region.
