Just now! Strait of Hormuz, breaking news! France, UK, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, and Japan issue joint statement

Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, multiple countries have taken action.

On March 19, local time, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Japan issued a joint statement announcing their readiness to take appropriate measures together to ensure the safety of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. According to Xinhua News Agency, citing U.S. media reports, the U.S. is deploying additional troops to the Middle East and may seize Iran’s key oil export hubs to force Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz.

Currently, the conflict in the Middle East continues to escalate. On March 19, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced it hit a U.S. F-35 stealth fighter jet, causing serious damage. Additionally, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu stated on March 19 that one of Israel and the U.S.’s goals for military action against Iran is regime change, hinting at the possibility of ground operations.

Multiple Countries Issue Joint Statement

According to CCTV News, on March 19, local time, France, the UK, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Japan issued a joint statement expressing their readiness to take appropriate measures to safeguard navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Recently, U.S. President Trump has repeatedly urged European and other regional allies to participate in escorting ships through the Strait of Hormuz, complaining that some allies are not enthusiastic about assisting the U.S. Trump posted on social media on March 17 that most NATO allies have informed the U.S. they are unwilling to participate in military actions against Iran by the U.S. and Israel, and that the U.S. no longer needs help from NATO countries and others.

According to Xinhua News Agency, Dinesh Kumar, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), said on March 19 that naval escort is not a long-term sustainable solution to the current crisis in the Strait of Hormuz. Only when the conflict ends will shipping no longer be sacrificed as collateral damage.

The 36th special session of the IMO Council concluded at its headquarters in London, UK. Dinesh Kumar stated at a press conference after the meeting that naval escort is not a 100% safe arrangement; ships can still be targeted, and risks remain. It is not a solution that can completely eliminate the pressure and risks faced by sailors today.

Regarding the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, the IMO Council said that considering the large number of trapped merchant ships, it encourages establishing a framework such as a maritime safety corridor as an emergency temporary measure. This would facilitate the voluntary and peaceful evacuation of ships from high-risk and affected areas to safe locations.

Data provided by the IMO shows that since the large-scale military operations launched by the U.S. and Israel against Iran on February 28, at least seven sailors have been killed in attacks on merchant ships in the Strait of Hormuz area, with several others seriously injured. Currently, about 20,000 sailors remain on ships in the Persian Gulf.

U.S. Reinforcing Forces in the Middle East

Xinhua News Agency, citing The Wall Street Journal on March 19, reported that the U.S. is deploying additional troops to the Middle East and may seize Iran’s key oil export hubs to force Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz.

The report states that approximately 2,200 members of the U.S. 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit are aboard amphibious assault ships heading from Japan to the Middle East, expected to arrive in about a week. The U.S. may use this force to seize Halek Island as leverage to pressure Iran into opening the Strait of Hormuz.

Former U.S. Central Command Commander Frank McKenzie said, “(U.S. forces) could destroy its (Halek Island’s) oil infrastructure, which would cause irreversible damage to Iran and the global economy. Or they could occupy it as bargaining leverage.”

Additionally, islands near the Strait of Hormuz, such as Gasham Island, Kish Island, and Hormuz Island, could also become targets for seizure. Retired U.S. Navy Vice Admiral John Miller said that the U.S. military would be in a “favorable strategic position” from which it could intercept Iranian speedboats and shoot down missiles threatening the strait’s traffic.

Halek Island is located in the northwest Persian Gulf, about 25 kilometers from the Iranian coast. It is approximately 6 kilometers long and 3 kilometers wide, and is Iran’s largest crude oil export base, with 90% of Iran’s oil exports passing through here. The U.S. conducted military strikes on the island on the 13th.

According to CCTV News, at least five E-2D “Advanced Hawkeye” early warning aircraft have arrived at the U.S. military’s usual transit station en route to the Middle East.

On March 18, U.S. officials reported that the Department of Defense has requested White House approval for a budget exceeding $200 billion. A senior government official said the funds would be used to “urgently increase the production of key weapons systems” to replenish munitions consumed during military operations against Iran. The request will be submitted to Congress after White House approval, though some officials believe congressional approval is unlikely.

Iran: Hit an F-35 Fighter Jet

According to Xinhua News Agency, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced on March 19 that it hit a U.S. F-35 stealth fighter jet, causing serious damage. Iranian media reported that this shows Iran’s air defense has not been destroyed and still has the capability to counter the world’s most advanced military equipment.

Early morning on March 20, Iran’s IRGC issued a statement saying that Iran launched the “Real Commitment-4” 66th military operation that day, using various heavy multi-warhead missiles and drones to attack targets in central and southern Israel, as well as U.S. military bases in the Middle East.

Reports say that around 2:50 a.m. that day, Iran’s IRGC’s new advanced air defense system shot down the U.S. F-35 fighter jet in Iranian airspace. Earlier, CNN reported that a U.S. F-35 was suspected to have been hit by Iranian fire and made an emergency landing at a U.S. base in the Middle East.

U.S. Central Command spokesperson Tim Hawkins said the stealth fighter was forced to make an emergency landing while “conducting operations over Iran,” and it landed safely. The pilot’s condition is stable, and the incident is under investigation.

Mehr News Agency quoted reports questioning how the F-35, one of the world’s most advanced and expensive fighters, could be hit and forced to retreat if Iran’s air defenses were truly “destroyed” as President Trump claimed. This is not just a simple military incident but a demonstration of Iran’s deterrence capability.

The report pointed out that Iran has the ability to significantly increase the costs of any “military adventure.”

Layout: Wang Lulu

Proofreading: Zhu Tianting