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The US military struck a rocket launcher on an island in the Strait of Hormuz at the weekend, days after US President Donald Trump announced that American troops had cleared all mines from the vital trade route.
The US said the weekend attack was aimed at preventing Iran from laying new mines.
After an Iranian missile launched at Jordan in retaliation was intercepted, the US attacked targets it claimed were linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
According to Iranian authorities, a US strike hit a wedding party in Kuhestak on Wednesday, killing at least four people and wounding 68 others.
The US military said it was investigating the incident and never targeted civilians.
The latest exchange marks a major escalation in the conflict that began in February, when the US and Israel launched military operations against Iran.
Condemnation from Guterres
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres expressed grave concern over the escalation and reported increases in civilian casualties, including at wedding parties.
“The Secretary-General condemns all attacks on civilians,” said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric.
“He reminded that all parties must respect their obligations under international humanitarian law, including the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution.”
Guterres strongly encouraged the US and Iran to return to diplomacy to avoid the “bad consequences” of further escalation against civilians in the Middle East.
UN launches aid transportation service in Myanmar
United Nations World Food Program (WFP) has been launched emergency cargo transportation services to help humanitarian partners in Myanmar provide life-saving assistance to flood-stricken areas.
The logistics service – free for use by UN partners – is initially focused on the towns of Lemyethna, Yegyi and Ngathaingchaung, which have been hit by severe flooding in recent months. which has displaced thousands of families.
“When floods isolate entire communities, logistics can be the difference between the success and failure of an operation,” said WFP Myanmar Director Michael Dunford.
“In addition to providing food assistance, WFP also acts as a logistics provider for the broader humanitarian response.”
Collective effort
For at least two weeks, WFP will send food and nutritional assistance; water supply, sanitation and hygiene; drug; and emergency shelter materials for civilians in hard-to-reach areas.
“By opening up transportation routes for our partners, we can collectively ensure that food, medicine and shelter materials can reach those who need it most quickly and safely,” Dunford said.
WFP has also launched an emergency food response in Myanmar’s Sagaing Region, which hit very hard was hit by an earthquake earlier this year and is already facing conflict, widespread access restrictions and connectivity challenges.
The agency has reached 15,000 people with emergency rations in the Ayeyarwady and Sagaing regions.
Russian attacks kill more civilians in Ukraine
Russian attacks in Ukraine between Tuesday and Wednesday morning killed at least 12 civilians and injured more than 65 others, causing casualties in six regions, according to the UN humanitarian aid office (Ocha).
The attacks damaged houses, schools, shopping centers and postal centers. Strikes against energy facilities led to power outages in several areas.
Power-generating equipment at a power plant in Kherson was destroyed, raising fears that families unable to move to safer areas will lack heat and electricity next winter.
“This escalation is having a devastating and growing impact on civilians by destroying livelihoods, exacerbating psychological burdens and disrupting daily life,” said Matthias Schmale, UN humanitarian coordinator in Ukraine. “We should not normalize this.”
Meanwhile, German officials accused Russia of authorizing an attempted drone attack on Leipzig Airport on August 4. Russian officials denied involvement.
Humanitarian facilities were destroyed
A humanitarian repository contracted by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) was destroyed in a Russian attack on August 27 in Chubynske, Kyiv region, destroying life-saving supplies intended for children and families.
“This is hampering the delivery of vital assistance to the most vulnerable groups, especially ahead of the harsh winter,” UNICEF said.
In recent days, missile attacks also destroyed humanitarian warehouses and vehicles of UN partner NGOs in Sumy, and other attacks damaged NGO-operated evacuation buses in Donetsk.
These attacks are part of a broader pattern of Russian attacks. At least six warehouses belonging to humanitarian organizations – including UN agencies, the Ukrainian Red Cross and NGOs – were affected by Russian attacks in August.
“Our partners continue to provide medical and psychological assistance, hot meals and shelter materials to support the humanitarian response,” Dujarric said.
