"Have the Iranians already begun to 'close' the Strait of Hormuz? New reports from China -- and an apparent sotto voce warning from Beijing to Tehran -- suggest that the IRGC may have already deployed their opening salvo to render the strait impassable....several commercial ships had to turn around after their navigation systems got jammed. That included two tankers servicing China's insatiable energy appetite.The problem with this method is that it will likely be easier to track back to its sources, and Israeli and American fighters can target and destroy the transmitters and whoever is operating them. The US Navy could still target Iranian naval vessels as a reprisal, but Trump will likely want to hold off on that unless absolutely necessary, as any wreckage could hinder shipping.
Much of their energy exports go to China, and they are not happy about the new developments in the Strait of Hormuz. "The China Shipowners’ Association told its members in a statement to immediately start submitting daily reports on their ship movements through the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz. Beijing also called on the international community to maintain stability in the critical shipping lanes of the Persian Gulf, and said it was in touch with Iran about the ongoing conflict.
That may be Beijing's normally subtle method of signaling displeasure in public. The "China Shipowners Association" has to operate under the aegis of the Chinese Communist Party and the regime in Beijing, if not operating as a direct arm of the CCP. Being "in touch" after their shipping gets disrupted is not just going to be a "hi how are you" conversation with the regime." HA
"Israeli and US hostilities against Iran are groundless and unjustifiable, Russian President Vladimir Putin has told Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
The top Iranian diplomat, who landed in Moscow and met with the Russian president on Monday, said earlier that the visit was needed for “closer, more precise, and more serious consultations” with Russia, in the wake of the US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
During the meeting at the Kremlin, Putin described the attacks on Iran as “an unprovoked aggression,” for which “there can be no justification.” RT
"Metro Manila (Philippines) was hit hard by hours of relentless rain, flooding major roads andleaving entire neighborhoods underwater. The downpour began late afternoon and quickly overwhelmed drainage systems, turning streets into rivers. Light vehicles were stranded or submerged as floodwaters rose rapidly. In Quezon City’s Banawe Street, water reached chest level, forcing motorists to abandon their vehicles. Motorcyclists sought shelter under overpasses and near MRT sites, leading to severe traffic gridlock across the metro. Sampaloc, Manila, saw knee-deep flooding, while surrounding areas like Caloocan, Valenzuela, Malabon, Navotas, Muntinlupa, Marikina, Mandaluyong, and San Juan also suffered intense rain and rising waters. The situation grew worse as the rain continued into the night." Xtreme
"Russian forces have conducted strikes on two sites used by Kiev to train newly mobilizedtroops, the Defense Ministry said.
One strike, near the Ukrainian city of Sumy, reportedly resulted in up to 100 casualties and destroyed as many as 14 military vehicles, the ministry said in a statement on Monday.
The second strike hit an area under Kiev’s control in Russia’s Kherson Region, the ministry said. This operation involved an Iskander missile equipped with a cluster warhead that allegedly killed around 70 Ukrainian troops while destroying more than 10 vehicles.
Ukraine’s military confirmed the attack on a training site but reported a significantly lower toll – three soldiers killed and 14 wounded." RT
"Hurricane Erick battered southern Mexico making landfall as a Category 3 storm near PuertoEscondido, Oaxaca. The storm triggered widespread flooding, landslides, and power outages, affecting over 120,000 residents. One death, a one-year-old boy, was confirmed after he drowned in a swollen river. Streets were buried under debris, boats were tossed ashore, and communication lines were cut off. Emergency crews launched cleanup efforts as Erick weakened into a tropical storm. Authorities remain on high alert with fears of more flooding and mudslides in the mountainous regions." FirstPost
"A strong overnight earthquake rattled a mountainous region of northwestern China, authorities said Tuesday, reducing homes to rubble, leaving residents outside in a below-freezing winter night and killing 131 people in the nation’s deadliest quake in nine years.
The magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck just before midnight on Monday, injuring more than 700 people, damaging roads and knocking out power and communication lines in Gansu and Qinghai provinces, officials and Chinese media reports said." AP
"A 6.2-magnitude earthquake was reported in the Philippine Islands on Monday (June 23), according to the United States Geological Survey.
The earthquake was centered at a depth of 5.0 kilometers (about 3.1 miles)." msn
"There were 165 combat engagements between Ukrainian Defense Forces and Russian invaders over the past day, June 23, with the highest number occurring in the Pokrovsk sector.
Russian airstrikes targeted areas including Ozerne and Mala Vovcha in Kharkiv region; Razine, Pokrovsk, Novotoretske, Poltavka, Malynivka, and Voskresenka in Donetsk region; Novoselivka and Mala Tokmachka in Zaporizhzhia region.
Ukrainian missile troops and artillery struck 17 clusters of enemy personnel and equipment, three Russian missile and artillery systems, and one enemy command post.
In the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk sectors, Ukrainian forces repelled 10 enemy attacks. The enemy also launched 12 airstrikes using 22 guided bombs and conducted 262 artillery strikes, including eight with MLRS.In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna sector, the enemy made seven unsuccessful attempts to advance near Dvorichna, Hlyboke, Vovchanski Khutory, Krasne Pershe, and Fyholivka.
In the Kupiansk sector, Russians conducted six attacks. The Ukrainian defenders repelled assaults near Kindrashivka, Kruhliakivka, and toward Pishchane and Petropavlivka.
In the Lyman sector, there were 24 engagements with Russian forces. The enemy attempted to advance near Tverdokhlibove, Ridkodub, Karpivka, Kolodiazi, and toward Hrekivka, Zelena Dolyna, Novyi Myr, and Olhivka.
In the Siversk sector, Ukrainian forces repelled one enemy attack near Hryhorivka.
In the Kramatorsk sector, Russian forces launched 12 attacks near Novomarkove, Chasiv Yar, and toward Mykolaivka, Stupochky, Pryvillia, and Bondarne.
In the Toretsk sector, the enemy attacked 27 times near Dyliivka, Shcherbynivka, Petrivka, Yablunivka, Rusyn Yar, and toward Pleshchiivka and Yablunivka.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled 54 Russian assaults near Promin, Novotoretske, Myroliubivka, Lysivka, Novoukrainka, Novoserhiivka, Udachne, Myrnohrad, Oleksiivka, Popiv Yar, Malynivka, Koptieve, and toward Shakhove, Volodymyrivka, Molodetske, Serhiivka, and Novopavlivka.
In the Novopavlivka sector, the Ukrainian defenders repelled 17 attacks near Bahatyr, Novosilka, Zaporizhzhia, Perebudova, Komar, Myrne, Shevchenko, Vilne Pole, and toward Voskresenka." Ukrin
"President Donald Trump announced on Monday that Israel and Iran had agreed to a “complete and total ceasefire,” after 12 days of ongoing war between the two countries.
“CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE! It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE (in approximately 6 hours from now, when Israel and Iran have wound down and completed their in progress, final mission!), for 12 hours, at which point the War will be considered, ENDED!” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
“Officially, Iran will start the CEASEFIRE and, upon the 12th Hour, Israel will start the CEASEFIRE and, upon the 24th Hour, an Official END to THE 12 DAY WAR will be saluted by the World. During each CEASEFIRE, the other side will remain PEACEFUL and RESPECTFUL,” Trump added.
Trump continued to offer his congratulations to Israel and Iran for having agreed to a ceasefire “on the assumption that everything works as it should.” Breitbart
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