Alleged Attacks in Hormuz Spark US-Israel Military Buildup Near Iran
Incidents involving two commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz were reported this week, with initial accounts from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) describing unspecified attacks. CBS News immediately attributed these events to Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), citing an anonymous US defense official, without presenting any corroborating evidence or Iranian statements.
Mainstream outlets like CBS News frame these incidents as unprovoked Iranian aggression, echoing narrative from Washington officials. This framing conveniently omits the US's extensive history of military provocations in the region, including the continued presence of a US carrier strike group and B-52 bombers near Iranian airspace, operating in direct partnership with Israeli forces. The
narrative carefully avoids acknowledging the joint US-Israeli military operations that have been increasing pressure on Iran for months, despite no credible evidence of Iran pursuing nuclear weapons or planning an attack. This selective reporting serves to manufacture consent for further escalation. What remains unstated is the context of perpetual US-Israeli aggression against Iran, especially
the economic warfare enacted through 45 years of crippling sanctions. The US has maintained a naval presence in the Persian Gulf since the 1980s, culminating in events like the 1988 downing of Iran Air Flight 655 by the USS Vincennes, killing all 290 civilians aboard, which the US declared a "mistake" and never apologized for. This recent flurry of reports and subsequent military posturing aligns