DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The United States Navy sent a nuclear-powered guided-missile submarines through the strategically vital waterway between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula on Monday. On Wednesday evening, President Trump used his Twitter account to put Iran on notice.
"Our embassy in Baghdad got hit Sunday by several rockets. Three rockets failed to launch. Guess where they were from: IRAN. Now we hear chatter of additional attacks against Americans in Iraq."
"Some friendly health advice to Iran: If one American is killed, I will hold Iran responsible. Think it over," the President wrote.
Monday's rare maneuver and the President's comments come amid rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran. The Navy’s 5th Fleet based in Bahrain said the Ohio-class guided-missile submarine USS Georgia passed through the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil supplies travel.
The unusual transit in the Persian Gulf’s shallow waters aims to underscore American military might in the region. It follows the killing last month of an Iranian scientist named by the West as the leader of the Islamic Republic’s disbanded military nuclear program.
Iraq's military reported a barrage of eight rockets targeted the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone. The attack sparked fears of renewed unrest as next month’s anniversary of the U.S. killing of an Iranian general draws near.
The Iraqi military statement says one Iraqi security person manning a checkpoint was injured. The U.S. Embassy says there was some minor damage to the embassy compound. It says the C-RAM defense system that's used to destroy missiles in mid-air was activated.