For the previous edition of our coverage of US-Iran tensions daily updates, see this link March 22-May 1, 2020.
May 1
Mysterious explosion during the day also blamed on Israel.
Satellite photos of April 20 strike near Palmyra and April 27 strike at Mazzeh Airport in Damascus.
May 2
After series of ISIS attacks in Iraq Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba claims US reviving the group. Others also blame US for opposing PMU. ‘Nujaba spokesman says U.S., sensing its imminent withdrawal, “has played the terror card,” apparently interpreting past U.S. warnings of the Islamic State’s return as veiled threats.’ See Nasral Shammari’s tweets.
Bagheri says Iran ready to help region with Covid-19.
May 3
IRGC navy warns US to leave Gulf.
Khatami praises IRGC launch of military satellite.
ISIS attacks increase in Iraq, Press TV notes “the US and Israel have repeatedly attacked the positions of the PMU and its affiliated groups and killed dozens of their members.
The PMU has long rejected Washington’s military presence in the country as an obstacle impeding long-lasting security and stability in Iraq.”
Social media shows Hezbollah missiles.
Rumors that IRGC Hajizadeh killed are not true, Iran reports say.
Iraqi MP “ from Defense & Security Parliamentary Committee: the ISIS attacks on the PMF in Salah ad-Din Province is proof there is cooperation between ISIS & those calling the PMF to withdraw from liberated areas.”;
Lawk Ghafuri: “Secretary General of Asaib Ahl al-Haq, Qais al-Khazali accuses US for yesterday’s ISIS in multiple locations in Saladin province. He claims that US is pushing ISIS to conduct those attacks prior to the strategic dialogue that Washington plans to conduct with Baghdad in mid-June”; Part of several Khazali comments about US working with ISIS. Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba also blames US.
Iran complains that Israel provided Germany info to ban Hezbollah. Iran angry about the ban. “Front page of hardline Vatan-e Emrouz, which describes Angela Merkel as the “Maid of Zionism” and decorates her with Hitler’s mustache.” Lebanese pro-Hezbollah officials also angry.
US Treasury designates a Amir Dianat, an #Iran#IRGC-QF operative, & Taif Mining Services LLC.
“A Syrian military source told the Russian outlet that the radar used on the S-300 and the Pantsir-S systems has proven to be incapable of detecting and hitting Israeli cruise missiles on numerous occasions.” – Middle East Monitor. Tom Cat notes “Not this shit again. Not only is Avia Pro an unreliable source, but the people who consistently spew this garbage about AD systems being ineffective have never stopped to realize that the SAA is dealing with saturation attacks. The defenses are overwhelmed by quantity alone.”
Content retrieved from: https://www.mideastcenter.org/post/iran-us-tensions-may-2020.