The United States is moving closer to restarting large-scale military operations against Iran, senior officials told Fox News on Monday, as US Iran tensions intensified in the Gulf.
The development follows incidents in the Strait of Hormuz, where a fragile ceasefire came under pressure during the launch of “Operation Freedom”, according to the US network.
Reports of attacks raise alarm
Senior officials said Iran fired at US vessels and targeted the United Arab Emirates with missiles, drones and fast boats.
“We are closer to the resumption of major military operations than we were 24 hours ago,” officials told Fox News chief national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin.
The officials added that the decision to resume military action rests with President Donald Trump and Iranian leadership. No orders have been issued to end the ceasefire, they noted.
US military on standby
The US military “is ready to respond” and has been “re-armed and repositioned”, officials said, stressing preparedness amid rising US Iran tensions.
At present, American forces remain focused on defensive operations to protect vessels in the Gulf.
A US defence official stated that commanders in the field have full authority to act if threats emerge, including targeting missile launchers or other imminent dangers to commercial shipping.
“We retain the right to eliminate these threats. We do not need to wait,” the official said, adding that forces can act pre-emptively when necessary.
Strikes and incidents in the Gulf
The United Arab Emirates reported that more than a dozen Iranian missiles and drones were launched on Monday, injuring three people. A drone strike also caused a fire at an oil facility, injuring three Indian nationals.
The British military reported that two cargo ships caught fire off the UAE coast, while the United States said it had sunk six Iranian vessels targeting commercial shipping.
Officials highlighted the difference between escorting individual ships and deploying a broader defensive “umbrella”, describing the latter as a more effective, layered approach using air and naval capabilities.
“Operation Freedom” underway
President Trump launched “Operation Freedom” on Monday, aimed at guiding ships stranded for weeks through the Strait of Hormuz.
Sources said escorting each vessel individually would be inefficient, while a coordinated defence system offers greater protection and flexibility.
As US-Iran tensions continue to rise, attention now turns to whether diplomatic channels can hold or if military confrontation will resume.
Also read: Fars: Iran hit US warship; US denies
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