italy and spain, among others. this is notjust a us issue, this is an international problem and it deserves an international response. and that s why i m convening a meeting tomorrow, a ministerial meeting, with fellow ministers in the region and beyond, to address this threat. for more on what the shipping disruption might mean for the global economy, i m joined from washington by hung tran, a senior fellow at the atlantic council and former deputy director at the international monetary fund or imf. thank you so much forjoining us on the programme. firstly, if you can explain how important this area is to global trade? important this area is to global trade ? important this area is to global trade? important this area is to ulobaltrade? , ., ., ., global trade? this area of the red sea leading global trade? this area of the red sea leading to global trade? this area of the red sea leading to the - global trade? this area of the red sea leading to the suez l red sea le
World. Nate foy in lewiston, maine, but we begin with mike tobin in tel aviv. Striking two bases in Eastern Syria near the border with iraq, bases used by the revolutionary corps for firing at u. S. Forces. We have seen 19 strikes against u. S. Forces, mostly drone and missile attacks. 21 Service Members had injuries. A u. S. Contractor was up in years and when he ran to shelter, he died from a heart attack. This is the u. S. Respondings to menacing attacks from iranian proxies. Not the iranians getting their hands dirty in the conflict. Secretary defense secretary lloyd austin thought was important to mention in the statement twice, this does not represent a shift in u. S. Policy toward support of israel in this war with hamas. The u. S. Has supplied israel with artillery, with interceptors for the iron dome battery and adding an additional one. U. S. Is bolstering numbers, providing iron dome missile and the thad missiles, as well. In addition to the u. S. Getting involved in the reg