Monthly Archives: June 2026

30, June 2026

Iran: Over 90 countries declare readiness to attend funeral ceremony of Ayatollah Khamenei ⁰

Representatives from more than 90 countries, along with religious leaders, scholars and prominent figures from across the world, have expressed their readiness to attend the funeral ceremonies of martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, according to an Iranian official.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Ali Akbar Pourjamshidian, Iran’s Deputy Interior Minister for Security affairs and secretary of the funeral organizing committee, said that more than 30 countries have already submitted formal requests to send high-ranking delegations to the ceremonies.

Pourjamshidian went on to say that the funeral had been postponed to allow sufficient time for organizing a major national and international event amid the country’s recent circumstances.

He also noted that, in accordance with decisions by the office of the late leader and the guidance of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei, the ceremonies will be held over several days.

The official said the events have been planned under the supervision of the Supreme National Security Council, the Office of the Leader and a national headquarters established by the administration under First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref.

Specialized committees covering security, logistics, infrastructure, cultural affairs, media, universities and international relations have also been formed to oversee the ceremonies.

Funeral and farewell ceremonies will take place in Tehran, Qom, Mashhad and Iraq. Provincial headquarters have been established in Tehran, Qom and Khorasan Razavi Province, while coordinating committees have also been formed across the country to facilitate public participation.

Source: Presstv

30, June 2026

CDC left 14,300 hectares of mature plantations idle in 2025 ⁰

The Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC), the country’s second-largest employer after the state, was unable to exploit a significant share of its agricultural assets in 2025. According to the company’s financial statements, 14,349 hectares of mature oil palm and rubber plantations remained unexploited during the year, significantly affecting its agricultural performance.

The company reported that 9,423 hectares of mature rubber plantations were left unexploited, representing about 51% of its 18,595 hectares of mature rubber estates. In the oil palm business, 4,926 hectares remained idle, or nearly 36% of the company’s 13,690 hectares of mature plantations.

The large amount of idle farmland highlights the operational difficulties facing the state-owned agribusiness, whose operations are concentrated mainly in the Southwest and Littoral regions. According to CDC, it was one of the main reasons the company failed to meet its 2025 production targets.

Insecurity continues to disrupt production

CDC attributed the weak performance to reduced cultivated areas, insufficient agricultural inputs, and ongoing security challenges in some production zones. In its rubber operations, the company said it lost two months of peak harvesting because of lockdowns imposed during the school reopening period and ahead of the election campaign. The disruptions affected tapping operations, which depend on regular access to plantations.

The company also reported several serious security incidents, including the killing of senior field staff in Ekona, Mungo, and Sonne/Likomba. According to CDC, the attacks disrupted operations across several plantations and continue to limit the company’s recovery efforts.

CDC said the socio-political crisis affecting Cameroon’s Northwest and Southwest regions since 2016 continues to weigh on its operations. Since 2018, the conflict has forced the company to suspend activities on several estates, led to the deterioration and loss of assets, and contributed to accumulated losses that weakened shareholders’ equity between 2019 and 2024.

Lower spending on farm inputs

Operational difficulties were also reflected in procurement. Spending on agricultural inputs fell 12% in 2025, mainly because of lower purchases of fertilizers, crop protection products, and other farming supplies. The reduction limited the company’s ability to improve yields on the plantations that remained in production and constrained efforts to gradually restore operations on mature estates that are still idle.

Purchases of other supplies, including spare parts, banana packaging materials, irrigation equipment, lubricants, and construction materials, declined by 1%, reflecting efforts to maintain a minimum level of industrial and logistics activity despite the challenging operating environment.

CDC also generated CFA74.5 million from the disposal of fixed assets. This included CFA58.5 million from the sale of oil palm and coconut seedlings produced at its Bota nursery and CFA16.1 million from the sale of rubber stumps used for grafting.

While these revenues provided some additional income, they remain modest compared with the scale of the idle plantations and the investment needed to revive operations.

The 2025 financial statements show that CDC’s main challenge remains restoring production on its mature plantations. Until a significant share of these estates returns to operation, the company’s financial recovery is likely to remain fragile.

Source: Business in Cameroon

30, June 2026

Spain: undocumented migrant amnesty scheme draws more than a million applicants ⁰

More than one million undocumented migrants in Spain have sought legal status under a scheme that has defied a wider European crackdown on irregular immigration, the government said on Tuesday, the final day for submissions.

The vast scheme was predicted to benefit around 500,000 people, most from Latin America, when the left-wing government launched it in April.

“The more than one million applications submitted… show how necessary this recognition of rights and responsibilities was,” Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told an event in Madrid.

Sanchez has become a standard bearer of more open immigration policies as his European neighbours – including some Socialist peers – toughen measures in response to pressure from ascendant far-right parties.

He has long argued that immigrants are needed to sustain the economy, the welfare state and pensions amid Spain’s ageing population and depopulation in rural regions.

The number of applications submitted does not necessarily indicate the number of migrants who will secure their legal status.

Applicants must prove they have a clean criminal record and spent at least five consecutive months in Spain before January 1.

The authorities have three months to process their paperwork and decide whether to issue a work and residence permit only valid in Spain.

“When we condemn a person to invisibility, I think we make our country a worse country. We all lose,” Sanchez explained, saying his government aimed to “offer an opportunity and future” to migrants.

“We want the world to view Spain as a country that respects, protects and upholds human rights.”

Economic boost

For Juana Hernandez, a 59-year-old Cuban who has lived in Spain for two and a half years and whose application was recently approved, the plan “is a huge opportunity”.

She told AFP she had paid a lawyer roughly €200 ($225) to handle the administrative formalities “to be on the safe side”, as well as receiving help from a migrant aid association.

Although she was “a little worried” at the start, the English degree holder now aims to work at Madrid’s airport.

A land of emigrants for centuries, Spain is a key entry point into the European Union for tens of thousands of undocumented asylum seekers and migrants, alongside Italy and Greece.

Many come via a long and perilous Atlantic route from West Africa to the Canary Islands, although numbers dropped last year after peaking in 2024.

Since April, streams of men, women and children have queued in the streets to obtain documents and attend appointments for their regularisation, in addition to online applicants.

Although fears arose of a saturation of the services handling the scheme, Mohamed, a Moroccan who lives in the northern region of Cantabria, felt the administrative journey was “relatively easy”.

The 23-year-old jobseeker, who declined to give his surname, has been in Spain irregularly for about four years and hopes “to be able to work legally, to pay contributions”.

Gaining legal status will also spare him from unscrupulous employers who “take advantage” of irregular migrants “by paying low salaries, without any rights or… don’t pay at all,” he told AFP.

Sanchez, who has presided over one of the world’s fastest-growing developed economies in the last few years, has touted the benefits of immigration for sectors such as construction that need to boost their workforce.

Spanish business leaders have welcomed the regularisation drive but the conservative and far-right opposition are furious about a policy they claim will encourage more irregular immigration.

While accepting “tensions” and “challenges” linked to immigration and integration, Sanchez on Tuesday accused the right of “fuelling fear (and) stirring up xenophobic discourse that does not solve any problem”.

Source: AFP

30, June 2026

World Cup: Morocco beat Netherlands on penalties to reach round of 16 ⁰

Morocco defeated the Netherlands on penalties after a dramatic 1-1 draw following extra time in Monterrey to book their place in the World Cup round of 16. Cody Gakpo’s second-half opener looked set to send the Dutch through before Issa Diop headed home deep into stoppage time.

The Atlas Lions’ goalkeeper Yassine Bounou made the crucial save to block the Netherlands’ fifth penalty from Crysencio Summerville before striker Ismael Saibari stepped up to blast home the winning spot-kick that sealed a 3-2 shootout win.

The victory sends Morocco into a last 16 clash with Canada in Houston on Saturday.

An enthralling match had gone to extra time after Issa Diop had glanced in a dramatic equaliser for Morocco in the first minute of stoppage time as the Netherlands closed in on victory.

Advertising

The Dutch had taken the lead midway through the second half with a goal from Cody Gakpo, playing just days after his partner had confirmed the death of the couple’s unborn son.

Liverpool forward Gakpo sank to the turf and appeared overcome with emotion as he was surrounded by team-mates in a prolonged group embrace.

But Morocco forced extra time when an unmarked Diop headed home from substitute Chemsdine Talbi’s cross in injury time.

Morocco had created the better chances of a fractious encounter, which saw players from both sides flying into tackles to test the patience of Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio.

The Atlas Lions almost took the lead on 20 minutes when Neil al-Aynaoui glanced an Achraf Hakimi corner goalwards only to be denied by a superb reflex save from Netherlands goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen.

Verbruggen was pressed into action moments later, this time doing well to tip a vicious strike from Hakimi over the bar.

The fierce nature of the contest was on full display midway through the half when Saibari was lucky to escape sanction after elbowing Jan Paul van Hecke in the face.

The Dutch continued to enjoy plenty of possession but were unable to convert it into goalscoring chances.

2-hour drama

Their best effort came on 44 minutes when Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven uncorked a ferocious shot from the edge of the area that was tipped over by Bounou.

Van Hecke continued to find himself in the thick of the action, and after bloodying his head in a collision in the penalty area, made his presence felt with a crunching tackle that upended el-Aynaoui just before half-time.

As the half ended Saibari just failed to connect with a cross that flashed across the Dutch goal before going behind.

The drama continued into an end-to-end second half, but appeared to have tilted in the Netherlands’ favour when coach Ronald Koeman brought on forward Wout Weghorst in a flurry of substitutions after the hydration break.

Weghorst made an immediate impact flicking on a long ball to send Summerville bearing in on goal. Summerville crossed to Gakpo, who hurled himself at the ball to score.

The Netherlands, superbly marshalled by Gakpo’s Liverpool team-mate Virgil van Dijk, appeared to be heading for victory but Diop’s late header sent it to extra-time.

Morocco looked to have made the breakthrough when Soufiane Rahimi went through on goal in the 96th minute, only to be denied by a jaw-dropping save from Verbruggen.

The Netherlands held on for penalties but despite Morocco missing their first when El-Aynaoui hit the bar, the north Africans recovered to win.

Source: AFP

29, June 2026

La Francophonie: Rwanda seeks Yaoundé backing for Mushikiwabo ⁰

Eight years after winning Cameroon’s backing for Louise Mushikiwabo’s successful bid to lead the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF), Rwanda has returned to Yaoundé seeking support for her re-election.

With President Paul Biya currently abroad, Secretary General of the Presidency Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh received former African Development Bank President Donald Kaberuka at the Unity Palace on June 25.

Kaberuka delivered a sealed letter from President Paul Kagame to his Cameroonian counterpart. While the visit was officially presented as a goodwill mission between the two countries, it also had a clear diplomatic objective: securing Cameroon’s support for Mushikiwabo’s campaign for another term as OIF Secretary General.

Speaking after the meeting, Kaberuka confirmed that Rwanda was actively campaigning for Mushikiwabo’s re-election.

“I brought a message of friendship and brotherhood from President Paul Kagame to his brother and friend, President Paul Biya. Cameroon and Rwanda have long enjoyed deep ties. We came to strengthen those relations and deliver the sealed letter to the Secretary General of the Presidency,” he told reporters.

The former AfDB president added that Kigali is seeking a new mandate for Mushikiwabo so she can continue the reforms launched since taking office in 2018 and further strengthen multilateral cooperation.

A Familiar Diplomatic Strategy

The latest diplomatic effort echoes Rwanda’s campaign eight years ago. Ahead of the 17th Francophonie Summit in Yerevan, Armenia, Kigali launched an extensive diplomatic campaign to rally support for Mushikiwabo’s candidacy. Cameroon was among the countries approached before the former Rwandan foreign minister was elected Secretary General.

While the political context has changed since then, Rwanda’s strategy remains largely the same: secure the backing of influential African and French-speaking member states before the election. Cameroon once again appears to be one of Kigali’s priority partners.

A Key Stop Ahead of the Vote

Kaberuka’s visit also comes amid heightened diplomatic activity at the Unity Palace. Only days earlier, Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh received an envoy from Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, who was promoting the candidacy of Coumba Bâ for the same position.

Those successive visits underscore Cameroon’s importance in the upcoming election. As an influential OIF member and a leading diplomatic player in Central Africa, the country has become an essential stop for candidates seeking support ahead of the decisive summit. The election is scheduled for November during the 20th Francophonie Summit in Cambodia.

Four candidates are officially in the race: incumbent Secretary General Louise Mushikiwabo, backed by Rwanda; Coumba Bâ of Mauritania; Juliana Amato Lumumba, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s former foreign minister and daughter of Patrice Lumumba; and former Romanian Prime Minister Dacian Cioloș. With several months still to go before heads of state and government cast their votes, bilateral lobbying is expected to intensify.

In a race where diplomatic alliances may prove just as important as campaign platforms, Rwanda appears to be relying on the same strategy that worked in 2018: securing the support of key African partners early. By returning to Yaoundé, Kigali is signaling that it still views Cameroon as one of the most influential voices in the contest for the leadership of the OIF.

Source: Sbbc

29, June 2026

Biya regime begins implementation of €184.9m SEWASH Water Project ⁰

Cameroon has formally launched the operational phase of the Water Security Project (SEWASH), a €184.9 million program designed to strengthen water security, expand access to drinking water and improve sanitation services across several regions of the country.

The launch was marked by the first Steering Committee meeting of the project, chaired on Monday, June 29, 2026, in Yaounde by the Minister of Water and Energy, Gaston Eloundou Essomba. According to information released by the Ministry of Water and Energy, the meeting brought together senior officials from the ministry, the General Manager of CAMWATER, Dr. Blaise Moussa, representatives of the World Bank, government administrations and technical partners involved in the program’s implementation.

The project, financed through World Bank funding under IDA Credit No. 7785-CM, represents one of the largest recent investments in Cameroon’s water and sanitation sector. Scheduled to run from 2025 to 2030 during its first phase, SEWASH aims to strengthen institutional capacity, promote integrated water resources management and improve sustainable access to drinking water and sanitation services. The program is expected to support infrastructure development while establishing planning and governance mechanisms intended to guide future investments in the sector.

Infrastructure Program targets rural service expansion

During the meeting, members of the Steering Committee reviewed and validated key implementation instruments, including the Annual Work Plan and Budget and the Procurement Plan. These documents outline priority activities, resource allocation and implementation timelines for the project’s various components.

Project coordinators from the Ministry of Water and Energy and CAMWATER presented the project framework, intervention areas, institutional arrangements and progress achieved since the beginning of the first phase. They also outlined implementation challenges and priorities for the coming months.

A significant share of the investment will be directed towards water infrastructure in the Adamawa, North and Far North regions. The project plans to construct 103 mini drinking-water supply systems powered by solar pumping technology. The facilities will include productive boreholes, water towers, distribution networks, public standpipes and connections serving community infrastructure.

The program also provides for the construction of 2,900 ecological institutional latrines in schools, health centers, markets, churches and mosques. According to the ministry, these facilities are intended to improve sanitation coverage and strengthen public hygiene conditions in beneficiary communities.

Beyond physical infrastructure, SEWASH includes a series of strategic studies aimed at guiding future sector investments. These include the preparation of a Rural Drinking Water Supply Master Plan, a Liquid Sanitation Master Plan, studies for fecal sludge treatment facilities in northern regions and additional assessments linked to hillside dams intended to improve water resource mobilization.

The Ministry of Water and Energy stated that the project is expected to contribute to stronger sector governance, enhanced climate resilience and reduced incidence of water-related diseases. The program also supports Cameroon’s efforts towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 on universal access to safe water and sanitation.

Closing the Steering Committee session, Minister Gaston Eloundou Essomba called for effective coordination among stakeholders, adherence to implementation schedules and transparent management of project resources. According to the ministry, he stressed that the success of the program would depend on collective mobilization and efficient execution to ensure that communities benefit from the planned investments as quickly as possible.

Source: Business in Cameroon

29, June 2026

Iran Foreign Minister says only Tehran in charge of reopening Hormuz Strait ⁰

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says only Iran is in charge of reopening the Strait of Hormuz under the Tehran-Washington Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), warning that any foreign interference will complicate the process.

Araghchi made the remarks on Sunday during a press conference with his Iraqi counterpart, Fuad Hussein, in Baghdad amid renewed tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, which has remained under Iranian control after the illegal US-Israeli war of aggression against the Islamic Republic.

“According to the MoU, the strait will return to its pre-war capacity within 30 days under the management that Iran will adopt and after the removal of obstacles by the Islamic Republic,” he said.

“These arrangements are being implemented, and the responsibility for them lies with the Islamic Republic … Any interference in this matter and any attempt to adopt new or separate arrangements compared to what is underway by Iran will only lead to more complicated situations and delays in the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and will fuel tensions.”

Referring to fresh tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, the top Iranian diplomat called on all parties not to meddle in the arrangements that are being adopted by Iran for the reopening of the strategic waterway, and ensure that the MoU does not deviate from its intended course.

Iran has restricted transit through the Strait of Hormuz, responsible for a fifth of global oil demand, since the early days of the unprovoked US-Israeli aggression on the country that began on February 28 and came to a halt under a ceasefire on April 8.‌

On July 17, Iran and the US signed the Pakistan-brokered MoU, which calls for a permanent end to hostilities across all fronts, including Lebanon, as well as the removal of the naval blockade on Iran within 30 days, and the restoration of commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

Additionally, in his remarks, Araghchi voiced regret that Israel continues its attacks on Lebanon, saying under the MoU, the US should stop the Zionist regime’s strikes.

He further expressed his gratitude to the Iraqi government and nation for their solidarity with Iranians as victims of the illegal US-Israeli war of aggression.

Source: Press TV

29, June 2026

Stocks mixed and oil rises as US, Iran call end to latest attacks ⁰

Investor confidence remains shaky after last week’s rollercoaster ride that saw markets whipsaw on the Middle East crisis and growing concerns about a tech bubble fuelled by the AI boom.

While there is an expectation that Washington and Tehran will finalise a deal to end their conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the process has been fraught with tensions between the long-time foes.

The two have traded strikes in recent days, disrupting shipping through the vital waterway and fanning concerns Iran will shut it down again.

The US Central Command said it had attacked 10 Iranian military targets over “continued Iranian aggression against commercial shipping”.

Iran said it retaliated with strikes against US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain. Both Kuwait and Bahrain denounced the Iranian attacks.

Tehran has been angered by Oman’s announcement of an alternative route through the strait that hugged the Omani shoreline, which Muscat said was in conjunction with the International Maritime Organization.

Iran insists on controlling passage through the vital strait, something it did not enjoy before the war.

Both countries agreed to stop attacking each other, US media outlets reported late Sunday citing senior US officials, and plan to meet Tuesday in Qatar for more talks.

US President Donald Trump has repeated past threats of military action if the Iranian strikes continue, saying on Saturday that Iran would “no longer exist” if the US is “forced” to resume the war.

Iran’s top diplomat warned Sunday that any attempt by ships to bypass its preferred route would “increase tensions”.

A US official said Sunday: “Technical talks are slated to continue on all areas of the MOU (memorandum of understanding). Both sides will stand down for now and vessels can move freely” in and around the strait.

Oil prices, which last week fell to pre-war levels, rose Monday, with West Texas Intermediate adding more than one percent.

Equity markets fluctuated, with Hong Kong, Sydney, Wellington, Taipei and Manila up but Tokyo, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore and Jakarta down.

Tech firms were again in the spotlight after leading hefty losses last week, with South Korean chip makers SK hynix and Samsung taking the brunt of the selling.

The sector has been hammered by concerns that valuations have gone too far and questions about when firms will see a return on the trillions of dollars pumped into AI.

The tech rally has sent Seoul, Tokyo and Wall Street’s three main indexes to record highs this year, with SK hynix alone soaring 300 percent in the first six months of the year.

The Bank for International Settlements — considered the central bank of central banks — warned Sunday of a possible bust following a long-running investment boom by companies looking to keep ahead in the AI race.

“Disappointment in returns could trigger a sudden pullback in financing and turn the capex boom into a protracted investment bust, with potential knock-on effects on financial conditions,” it said in its annual report.

It added that “a major equity-market correction could have larger macroeconomic consequences today than in the past”.

Investors are looking ahead to the release of US jobs data, which could have a bearing on the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy plans.

The bank has taken a more hawkish turn amid concerns over surging inflation that has been caused by the Iran war.

“Last month, the strong data triggered a four percent sell-off on the Nasdaq, its worst single-day decline in over a year, as higher-for-longer fears weighed heavily on the AI trade,” said IG market analyst Fabien Yip.

“A repeat beat on Thursday could trigger a similar rotation; a miss, by contrast, may dampen hike expectations and lift rates-sensitive equities.”

Key figures around 0230 GMT

Seoul – Kospi: DOWN 1.9 percent at 8,254.35

Tokyo – Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.7 percent at 68,869.43 (break)

Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: UP 1.7 percent at 23,048.81

Shanghai – Composite: UP 0.1 percent at 4,032.52

West Texas Intermediate: UP 1.1 percent at $70.00 a barrel

Brent North Sea Crude: UP 0.7 percent at $72.47 a barrel

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1391 from $1.1388 on Friday

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3208 from $1.3200

Dollar/yen: UP at 161.79 yen from 161.75 yen

Euro/pound: DOWN at 86.25 pence from 86.28 pence

New York – Dow: DOWN 0.1 percent at 51,876.11 (close)

London – FTSE 100: DOWN 0.2 percent at 10,508.02 (close)

Source: AFP

28, June 2026

Samuel Eto’o: some critics only find their voice when they have someone to attack ⁰

The relentless attacks on the President of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) Samuel Eto’o have begun to resemble a familiar pattern: Cameroonians who seem to derive their relevance not from building something of their own, but from constantly tearing someone else down.

Recent scathing attacks on Samuel Eto’o remind one of those imaginary musicians who only found inspiration while Nelson Mandela was imprisoned. Every song they wrote revolved around his captivity. Every performance fed off that single story. Then, the day Mandela walked free, so did their creativity. Without that convenient subject, the music stopped because there was nothing genuine driving it.

That is how some of Eto’o’s loudest critics like Professor Owona Nguini and Dr Laziz Nchare appear. Their public identity has become so intertwined with criticizing him that one wonders what remains if President Samuel Eto’o is removed from the FECAFOOT equation. Would there still be speeches? Headlines? Interviews? Or would the silence be deafening?

As we of the Cameroon Concord Group noted earlier, constructive criticism is healthy and necessary in football business. No leader, be it in politics or in the entertainment industry should be beyond scrutiny.

But there is a profound difference between accountability and obsession. When every development—good or bad is filtered through the lens of attacking one individual, criticism loses credibility and begins to look like a personal campaign.

Cameroonian football deserves debates about infrastructure, youth development, governance, financial transparency, coaching standards and long-term planning. These are the conversations that move the game forward. Endless personal attacks do not.

Those who genuinely care about football should ensure that their legacy is measured by the solutions they offer, not merely by the names they oppose. Criticism should illuminate a path forward, not become a permanent performance sustained by hostility.

In both English and French Cameroun, history remembers builders longer than perpetual critics. That is why Cameroonians speak regularly of the late Samuel Eboa and not Joseph Owona (both men were Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republic) If someone’s political or public relevance depends entirely on Samuel Eto’o remaining the target, perhaps the problem is not Samuel Eto’o—it is the absence of an independent vision worth talking about.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

28, June 2026

Iran strikes eight US military installations after renewed American attacks ⁰

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says it launched a large-scale missile and drone operation against eight US military installations in the region, describing the strikes as a “decisive response” to renewed American aggression against Iranian territory.

In a statement, the IRGC said its Navy and Aerospace Force jointly carried out the operation between “2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. on Sunday (local time),” targeting eight “key US military installations,” including the “Ali Al Salem Airbase in Kuwait” and the “US Fifth Fleet headquarters at Salman Port in Bahrain.”

The Corps said the operation involved ballistic missiles and drones and said the targeted facilities were destroyed.

According to the statement, the operation followed attacks carried out by the enemy against five Iranian coastal outposts earlier in the day.

“The aggressor enemy, whose very nature is characterized by breaking commitments and violating agreements, attacked five coastal outposts of the Islamic Republic in the early hours of today under the pretext of responding to the IRGC Navy’s confronting a trespassing vessel [in the Strait of Hormuz],” the statement read.

Warning over Strait of Hormuz enforcement

The IRGC said maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz falls under Iran’s responsibility pursuant to a Pakistan-mediated memorandum of understanding that was recently signed between Iran and the United States.

It added, “Henceforth, vessels found to be in violation will be dealt with more firmly than before.”

The statement also warned that “any future aggression by the enemy, regardless of the pretext and even if, as last night and tonight, it targets objectives deemed to be of minor importance, will be met with a crushing response.”

The IRGC further said, “The enemy should understand that violating the ceasefire constitutes a breach of Clause One of the Islamabad understanding and will result in the complete suspension of all related processes.”

The statement followed an announcement by the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) that it had staged new aggression against targets inside Iran.

Source: Presstv