Day 70 | US military strikes sites in Iran as countries exchange fire
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The fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran is facing growing strain after both sides exchanged fire in the Strait of Hormuz.
Tensions deepened further after the United Arab Emirates, a key US ally, announced that its air defenses intercepted 19 Iranian missiles and drones on Monday.
The US will pause escorting commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz barely a day after it began doing so, US President Donald Trump said Tuesday, citing a desire to reach a peace deal with Iran.
Despite an uptick in military activity in recent days, Trump said "great progress has been made" toward a deal with Tehran and that the ship-guiding operation "will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed."
The announcement came hours after Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States had completed its offensive operations against Iran, while withholding the right to unleash a "devastating" response to any new attacks on shipping in the narrow shipping lanes.
Rubio echoed Washington's top military officer who earlier in the day said that US forces were ready to resume combat operations if ordered.
And Trump added that the blockade of Iranian ports "will remain in full force and effect."
Meanwhile, tensions are also intensifying on another front. In Lebanon, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem declared that “there is no ceasefire,” as the Iranian-backed group continued exchanging fire with Israeli forces, raising concerns that the conflict could widen beyond the Gulf.
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Read more: Day 71 | Despite renewed attacks, US looks for breakthrough proposal from Iran today
Iranian Military: 8 cruise missiles, 24 drones struck US destroyers
The Iranian Army announced today that its overnight operations targeting US Navy destroyers in the Strait of Hormuz utilized a coordinated strike package consisting of 8 cruise missiles and 24 "suicide" drones, marking one of the most significant direct engagements of the conflict.
Qatar condemns Iranian strikes on UAE
The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement condemning the latest Iranian missile and drone attacks on the United Arab Emirates, describing them as a blatant violation of sovereignty and a threat to regional stability while pledging full solidarity with Abu Dhabi's security measures.
US VP meets Qatari PM at White House for Iran backchannel talks
US Vice President JD Vance is currently meeting with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani to discuss a sensitive mediation route managed by Qatar, as the two nations attempt to finalize an agreement to end the ongoing conflict with Iran, according to Axios Correspondent sources, citing a senior US official.
Calm returns to Hormuz after intense naval exchange
The Tasnim News Agency, quoting an Iranian military source, reports that clashes have currently ceased and "calm has returned to the region" following a period of direct fire exchange between forces in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian ports operating normally despite US blockade: Interior ministry
Iran’s Assistant Interior Minister announced that all land and sea borders remain fully operational, asserting that the "enemy's blockade" will have no impact on the country's ability to manage imports and exports.
Gunfire and explosions rock Strait of Hormuz, Sirik
The Iranian Tasnim News Agency reports that active gunfire is echoing across the Strait of Hormuz while a series of powerful explosions has struck the coastal city of Sirik.
Sporadic clashes break out between Iranian and US forces in Strait of Hormuz
Intermittent military engagements have been reported in the Strait of Hormuz over the last hour as Iranian armed forces and US naval vessels exchange fire.
US strikes empty supertankers attempting to break Iran blockade
A US official told Fox News that the American military launched strikes today against several massive, empty oil tankers that were attempting to bypass the naval blockade and return to Iranian ports.
Iran says response to US proposal still under review
The Iranian Foreign Ministry announced that its response to the US proposal remains under active study, stating that an official decision will be disclosed only once a final conclusion has been reached.
Rubio says expecting Iran response to US proposal on Friday
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington was expecting a response from Iran on Friday to US proposals for a deal to end the conflict.
"We're expecting a response from them today at some point... I hope it's a serious offer, I really do," Rubio told reporters during a visit to Rome.
‘Israeli’ strike kills 4 in south Lebanon: health ministry
An ‘Israeli’ strike on Friday killed four people including two women in the southern Lebanon town of Toura, the health ministry said, as state media reported ‘Israel’ was conducting widespread strikes.
Despite a truce in the war between ‘Israel’ and Hezbollah, fighting has not stopped in south Lebanon, where an ‘Israeli’ strike killed a civil defence rescuer earlier in the day.
VIDEO - Iron Dome working to intercept Hezbollah rocket barrage
The ‘Israeli’ military said that Hezbollah fired a barrage of rockets at the Western Galilee and Haifa Bay.
It said one of the rockets was intercepted, while the others struck “open areas”.
UAE says air defenses engaged Iranian missiles, drones
The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Defense said Friday that its air defenses “engaged” two ballistic missiles and three drones launched from Iran.
It resulted in three moderate injuries, the statement added.
The Ministry did not clarify how many projectiles were intercepted.
Iran says seized oil tanker was carrying Iranian oil
Iran said on Friday it redirected a US-sanctioned oil tanker carrying Iranian oil back to its shores, though it was unclear from its statement why it would have returned it.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran's navy, through a specially planned operation in the Sea of Oman, seized the offending tanker Ocean Koi," the army said in a statement carried by state television, adding that the oil belonged to the "Islamic republic".
It said the ship was redirected to Iran's southern shores after it sought "to damage and disrupt Iran's oil exports," without elaborating.
Three ‘Israeli’ soldiers wounded, one seriously, from Hezbollah drones: army
The ‘Israeli’ military said Friday morning that three soldiers were injured, including one seriously, by Hezbollah drone attacks today.
One drone exploded inside ‘Israel’ close to the border injuring one moderately, and the other seriously.
Another soldier was moderately injured when several drones exploded near ‘Israeli’ soldiers in southern Lebanon, according to the statement.
Iran seizes oil tanker in Gulf of Oman
Iran’s state television reported Friday that the Iranian navy seized the oil tanker “Ocean Koi” in the Gulf of Oman.
According to the report, “special forces from the army carried out the operation based on a judicial order.”
The tanker was then escorted to Iran’s southern coast, it added.
