Main developments
Donald Trump said the US military could begin escorting oil and gas tankers transiting the Gulf “if necessary” and “as soon as possible”.
Iraq’s crude production is on the cusp of collapse as its biggest fields including Rumaila and West Qurna 2 are shut down because of a lack of transport vessels and storage capacity.
Trump said he “might have forced Israel’s hand” in launching offensive against Iran.
US stock markets ended the day slightly lower, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq both down roughly 1 per cent.
The US consulate in Dubai was targeted in a drone attack. The US had earlier closed embassies in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Beirut, with the state department telling Americans to leave the Middle East.
Israel’s military issued a 24-hour deadline for all Iranian government personnel to leave Lebanon, after which they would be targeted.
US military identifies 4 US troops killed in Kuwait from drone attack
The US military on Tuesday identified four of the six US troops killed since the start of the American war against Iran, confirming that they died in Kuwait from a drone attack.
The Pentagon said Cody Khork, 35, of Florida, Noah Tietjens, 42, of Nebraska, Nicole Amor, 39, of Minnesota, and Declan Coady, 20, of Iowa, died on Sunday.
Carney backs US-Israeli strikes on Iran but questions legality
Prime Minister Mark Carney has said Canada is supportive of Israel and the US’s war on Iran despite the strikes appearing inconsistent with international law.
“We take this position with regret because the current conflict is another example of the failure of the international order,” Carney said, adding that Israel and the US acted without consulting the UN or allies such as Canada.
Carney would not say if the war was one of choice or necessity, but said Iran was the principal source of instability and terror in the Middle East. Still, he warned that Israel and the US’s “actions are not consistent with international law”.