Day 69 | Trump threatens ‘much higher level’ attacks if no deal

Iran’s Speaker of the Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf mocked Thursday US President Donald Trump’s decision to suspend an operation to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, dubbed “ Project Freedom”.

“Operation Trust Me Bro failed. Now back to routine with Operation Fauxios,” Ghalibaf said on X.

Operation Trust Me Bro failed. Now back to routine with Operation Fauxios.

— محمدباقر قالیباف | MB Ghalibaf (@mb_ghalibaf) May 6, 2026

US President Donald Trump suspended "Project Freedom," a short-lived US military initiative aimed at escorting commercial vessels through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, after pressure from Gulf allies, according to NBC News citing sources.

The decision, announced on Tuesday, followed significant opposition from key Gulf allies, particularly Saudi Arabia, which restricted American access to critical bases and airspace.

Trump announced the operation via social media on Sunday, surprising regional partners and angering Saudi leadership, the report continues.

The plan sought to guide stranded ships through the waterway, which Iran had effectively restricted amid ongoing tensions and a fragile ceasefire. The United States maintains a blockade on Iranian ports while pursuing diplomatic progress.

In response, Saudi Arabia informed US officials that American military aircraft would not be permitted to operate from Prince Sultan Airbase, southeast of Riyadh, or transit Saudi airspace in support of the mission, the sources said to NBC News.

A subsequent telephone conversation between President Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman failed to resolve the impasse.

“The problem with that premise is that things are happening quickly in real time,” a Saudi source said when asked whether “Project Freedom” caught the Gulf kingdom by surprise.

Saudi Arabia was “very supportive of the diplomatic efforts” by Pakistan to broker a deal between Iran and the US, the source adds.

Facing the loss of essential regional access, the Trump administration chose to pause Project Freedom.

The reversal occurred roughly 36 to 48 hours after the operation's launch. Reports indicate that only a limited number of vessels successfully transited under US escort during this brief period. Other Gulf allies were also reportedly caught off guard by the unilateral announcement.

In his Truth Social post announcing the pause, Trump cited requests from Pakistan and other nations, recent military successes against Iran, and advancing negotiations toward a comprehensive agreement.

He emphasized that the US blockade on Iranian ports would remain in effect during the temporary halt.

Iran denied that it was behind an explosion that damaged a South Korean ship in the Strait of Hormuz this week.

Tehran's embassy in Seoul said Thursday it "firmly rejects and categorically denies any allegations regarding the involvement of the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the incident involving damage to a Korean vessel in the Strait of Hormuz".

In a post on social media, US President Donald Trump said Iran fired shots at a Korean-operated ship ‌and other targets as the US launched its operation to ‌open the strait.

The Panama-flagged cargo ship operated by South Korean shipper HMM was empty and at anchor when the explosion and fire occurred.

Korea’s foreign ministry said there were ‌no casualties and the fire had been extinguished. The ship, called ​HMM ‌Namu, would be ​towed to a nearby port for a damage assessment and repairs, it said.

An HMM spokesperson said the 24 crew remained on board the 35,000-tonne general cargo vessel.

The fire had broken out in the engine room and surveillance camera footage showed it had ‌been extinguished, the spokesperson said.

The ‘Israeli’ military said Thursday morning four soldiers were injured by a Hezbollah drone attack on Wednesday in southern Lebanon.

One soldier is seriously wounded and three others are lightly hurt, according to the statement.

A senior commander from Hezbollah's elite force was killed in an ‘Israeli’ strike on Beirut's southern suburbs on Wednesday, the first on the area in nearly a month, a source close to the group said.

At least 11 other people were killed in strikes across the south and east, according to the Lebanese health ministry.

‘Israeli’ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his military had targeted "the commander of Hezbollah's Radwan force".

The source close to Hezbollah told AFP on condition of anonymity that "Malek Ballout, the operations commander in the Radwan force" was killed.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency had reported that "Israeli warplanes launched an attack, targeting Ghobeiri" in the southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold.

Many of the southern suburbs' residents had already left after Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle East war in March, and have not returned despite the truce in force since April 17.

A Lebanese security source told AFP on condition of anonymity that the strike hit an apartment in which Radwan leaders were holding a meeting.

Beirut and its southern suburbs had been spared ‘Israeli’ attacks since April 8, when massive ‘Israeli’ strikes across the country killed more than 350 people.

Wednesday's attack came as US President Donald Trump said there was "a very good chance" of sealing a peace deal with Iran.

‘Israel’ has repeatedly bombed Lebanon, particularly the south, since the truce, with Hezbollah retaliating by launching attacks on ‘Israeli’ troops.

The ‘Israeli’ military said in a statement Thursday that an "explosive drone impact" wounded four soldiers -- one severely -- in southern Lebanon the previous day.

Continued attacks

At least 11 people were killed in earlier ‘Israeli’ strikes on southern and eastern Lebanon, the Lebanese health ministry said.

In Saksakiyeh, four people were killed and 33 wounded, including six children and four women.

The NNA also reported strikes across the south, including several on the town of Yater.

‘Israeli’ strikes on Lebanon have killed more than 2,700 people and displaced more than a million, particularly from southern and eastern Lebanon and Beirut's southern suburbs, since March 2.

World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday it had "verified 152 attacks on healthcare that resulted in 103 deaths and 241 injuries".

"These attacks have resulted in the closure of three hospitals and 41 primary health centres and caused damage to a further 16 hospitals."

The terms of the ceasefire allow ‘Israel’ to act against "planned, imminent or ongoing attacks" by Hezbollah.

Visiting troops in southern Lebanon, where ‘Israel’ has established a "yellow line", ‘Israeli’ army chief Eyal Zamir said they will "seize every opportunity to deepen the dismantling of Hezbollah and continue weakening it".

US crude oil futures climbed in early Thursday trading as investors assessed reports of a possible US-Iran peace agreement, while analysts warned markets remain focused on security risks in the Strait of Hormuz.

Japan's Nikkei index of shares surged more than four percent on Thursday on hopes of a deal between Iran and the United States and on the back of gains in tech stocks on Wall Street.

At 9:31 am, the Nikkei 225 was up 4.1 percent at 61,937.78 points. Investors were also closely watching the yen after speculation of intervention by the Japanese government to prop up the beleaguered currency.

A regional source told CNN that Iran is expected to deliver its reply to mediators on the US proposal to end the war on Thursday, as discussions continue and both sides reportedly move closer to a potential agreement.

The 'Israeli' military said it intercepted a “suspicious aerial target” launched from Lebanon after sirens sounded in Manara, Margaliot, and Kiryat Shmona. No injuries or damage were reported.

'Israel’s' Home Front Command reported air raid sirens in Kiryat Shmona and surrounding areas following a suspected drone infiltration.

Qatar’s prime minister and the UAE’s deputy prime minister co-chaired the seventh Joint Higher Committee session in Abu Dhabi, discussing regional developments.

Qatar condemned Iran’s attacks on the UAE and reaffirmed its support for measures protecting Emirati sovereignty.

For coverage of the previous day, visit the link below.

Read more: Day 68 | Trump halts Hormuz escorts to push for deal with Iran