Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says three “rogue oil tankers traveling an unauthorized route” in the Strait of Hormuz have been hit by “explosions and severe fires”.
The US military announces a new plan to block Iran’s land-based supply routes, expanding its months-long naval blockade on Iranian ports in Hormuz.
Iranian media say explosions have been heard on Qeshm Island and in the cities of Jask, Sirik, and Bandar Abbas though the cause of the blasts remain unclear.
15m ago
(11:30 GMT)
Nearly 165,000 children displaced in Yemen: UNICEF spokesperson
More than 300,000 people, including nearly 165,000 children, have been displaced in Yemen, says UNICEF regional spokesperson Salim Oweis.
The children have been “uprooted from normalcy and their day-to-day life and security”, he said. “Their days are just exposed to elements and dangers, outside of safe spaces of their homes and schools.”
Oweis said families faced difficult choices between their children’s safety and education, with schools caught up in the crossfire.
“Some schools are being hit, some are on the front lines, some schools are being used for other purposes, including as safety and displacement shelters.”
30m ago
(11:15 GMT)
Israel’s ‘mission’ in Iran still incomplete: Defence Minister Katz
Defence Minister Israel Katz says Israel’s “mission” against Iran is not yet complete, accusing Tehran of seeking to obtain nuclear weapons.
“With regard to Iran, the mission is still not complete,” Katz said at a ceremony. “Iran is trying to renew its efforts to obtain nuclear weapons – alongside other grave efforts that place the state of Israel in real danger.”
Iran has long denied seeking nuclear weapons.
Defence Minister Israel Katz has long promoted attacking Iran [File: Abir Sultan/EPA]
35m ago
(11:10 GMT)
IRGC says third tanker ablaze in Strait of Hormuz
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps says since the early hours “three rogue oil tankers traveling an unauthorized route in the Strait of Hormuz have been hit by explosions and severe fires”.
Smoke is blanketing the sky over the critical trade waterway, the IRGC’s navy said in a statement on Telegram.
“These tankers are burning because they turned off their navigation and identification systems and because of the aggression of the American invading military,” it said.
“The Iranian regulations for the Strait of Hormuz have been repeatedly announced to all vessels, and defiance of these regulations … will have no other fate.”
An IRGC boat chases a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz [Meysam Mirzadeh/Tasnim via Reu
45m ago
(11:00 GMT)
IRGC pledges to ‘hit harder’ against US as ‘war continues’
We can now bring you more lines from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) spokesman Mohebi.
“The war continues between us and the enemy, both militarily and economically,” Mohebi told Fars news agency. “Naturally, in a war, they might hit one of our vessels. But we’ll hit harder.”
Turning to the US military’s newly announced “Iron Gate” blockade of Iran’s land borders, the spokesman added: “America can never achieve the type of economic blockade it’s after, whichever iteration it takes.”
The US military has announced it will create a 20-member task force to find ways to disrupt land routes into Iran that it says are used for shipments of weapons and illicit materials.
The restrictions would expand on a US naval blockade of Iranian ports during the two countries’ eight-month war, in which Tehran has also restricted passage through the critical Strait of Hormuz trade route, choking global energy supplies.
A queue on a road to the Gurbulak border crossing on the Turkish-Iranian border [File: Serra Yedikardes/AP]
59m ago
(10:45 GMT)
Prominent Palestinian activist freed from Israeli police custody after 5 days in jail
Israeli police have released Palestinian journalist and political activist Abed Abu Shehadeh from the Petah Tikva station after five days in detention.
Speaking to the Arab48 news outlet following his release, Abu Shehadeh described his arrest as “politically motivated” and vowed to continue his work.
“We must not be afraid. We are on the right path fighting for equality and justice for all.”
He thanked international supporters, his legal team, and the Adalah legal centre for their efforts to free him.
Abu Shehadeh was arrested on Wednesday after Israeli police and Shin Bet officers raided his home in Jaffa on alleged “contact with a foreign agent”.
Israeli activists protest the arrest of Abed Abu Shehadeh in Tel Aviv last week [AFP]
1h ago
(10:45 GMT)
Saudi Arabia intercepts Houthi missiles targeting Riyadh, Eastern province
The Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen’s Houthis says air defences have destroyed three ballistic missiles launched by the Iran-aligned armed group towards the kingdom.
Two of the missiles were launched towards the kingdom’s capital, Riyadh, Major-General Turki al-Maliki, the coalition’s spokesperson, said in a post on X.
Later, the coalition said it intercepted and destroyed two cruise missiles fired at Riyadh and the southern region. Earlier, al-Maliki also confirmed another interception of a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis towards the kingdom’s Eastern province.
We don’t have any official statements since these explosions were reported by local media. We’re waiting for clarification from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) or any other branch of the Iran’s government.
Blasts we reportedly heard in Jask, Sirik, Bandar Abbas, and Qeshm. Witnesses were unable to explain what happened – whether it was strikes from the American side or what they call here “the management of the Strait of Hormuz”, when the IRGC or the army take action to prevent ships from crossing.
This happened as there are also reports of two tankers that hit sea mines because they took “unauthorized” routes, according to the IRGC.
It’s difficult to nail down details about vessels attacked in Hormuz, and there’s a lot of ambiguity about what’s happening there on a daily basis.
1h ago
(10:15 GMT)
The anti-Netanyahu: Can Gadi Eisenkot give the world a different Israel?
Gadi Eisenkot has been tasked with assembling a new Israeli government – but can he give the world a different Israel?
The challenges are myriad. He only has 28 days to form a government. He doesn’t have a majority on his own, so he may have to rely on the support of at least one of the two parties representing the ultra-Orthodox community.
And even if he manages to get into power, it’s not clear whether Israel’s widely criticized regional actions will really change.
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