Day 71 | Despite renewed attacks, US looks for breakthrough proposal from Iran today
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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.
Day 72 of the US-‘Israeli’ war on Iran
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Read more: Day 72 | US awaits Iran’s response to proposal, despite exchange of fire
Iran threatens US sites if its tankers are attacked: Iranian media
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard on Saturday threatened to target US sites in the region and "enemy ships" if its tankers come under fire, Iranian media reported.
"Any attack on Iranian tankers and commercial vessels will result in a heavy attack on one of the American centres in the region and enemy ships," it said, a day after US attacks against two Iranian tankers in the Gulf of Oman.
'Israeli' officer, two soldiers injured in Hezbollah drone explosion in southern Lebanon
An 'Israeli' officer and two soldiers were injured, including one seriously, after a drone launched by Lebanon’s Hezbollah exploded near 'Israeli' forces operating in southern Lebanon, according to the 'Israeli' army.
The military said the seriously wounded soldier was evacuated for treatment, while a reserve officer and another soldier sustained moderate injuries.
Hezbollah announced several operations targeting 'Israeli' troop gatherings, military vehicles and positions in southern Lebanon, and also claimed it intercepted an 'Israeli' drone.
The group said the attacks were carried out in response to what it described as continued 'Israeli' violations of the ceasefire agreement and ongoing strikes on towns in southern Lebanon.
CENTCOM says naval blockade of Iran continues, 58 vessels redirected
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its naval blockade on Iran is ongoing, claiming that 58 commercial vessels have been redirected and four disabled since April 13 to prevent movement to and from Iranian ports amid escalating tensions over Iran’s nuclear programme.
Lebanon says 'Israeli' strike on south kills seven including girl
Lebanon's health ministry said an 'Israeli' strike on the southern town of Saksakiyeh killed at least seven people, including a girl, in the latest attack during a ceasefire in the 'Israel'-Hezbollah war.
In a statement, the ministry said that "the Israeli enemy raid on the town of Saksakiyeh, in the Sidon district, resulted in an initial toll of seven martyrs, including a girl, and 15 wounded, including three children".
Hezbollah says targeted troops in northern 'Israel' with drone
Hezbollah on Saturday said it targeted northern 'Israel' with a drone in response to repeated 'Israeli' attacks on Lebanon despite an ongoing truce between the two sides.
In a statement, the group said that it "targeted a gathering of 'Israeli' enemy army soldiers near Misgav Am" with a drone in response to "the 'Israeli' enemy’s violation of the ceasefire".
Sirens sound in northern 'Israel' over suspected drone infiltration
'Israel’s' Home Front Command said warning sirens were activated in Arab al-Aramshe, a town near the Lebanon border in northern 'Israel', amid fears of a drone infiltration.
'Israeli' airstrike targets car in Saadiyat south of Beirut
An 'Israeli' airstrike targeted a vehicle in the coastal town of Saadiyat today, located approximately 20 kilometers south of the capital, marking a significant ceasefire violation, brokered by the US.
Three bodies recovered from rubble in Beirut Suburb following 'Israeli' strike
Lebanese Civil defense teams in the southern suburbs of Beirut recovered three bodies from the wreckage of an apartment building in Haret Hreik today, following a targeted 'Israeli' airstrike earlier this week that broke the regional ceasefire and reportedly aimed at a senior Hezbollah commander.
'Israeli' military reports drone breach from Lebanon
'Israeli' military report confirmed that a "suicide" drone launched from Lebanon crossed the border and crashed today without causing injuries, marking the fifth aerial penetration of 'Israeli' airspace since the fragile truce began.
Russia will not support UN resolution regarding Iran
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister confirmed that Moscow will not support a draft resolution proposed by the United States and Bahrain at the UN Security Council.
Injured supreme leader directing Iran’s strategy from the shadows, US intel says
US intelligence agencies have assessed that Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is playing a "crucial role" in directing the country’s wartime strategy and diplomatic negotiations, despite remaining entirely out of the public eye due to significant injuries.
According to a CNN report citing sources familiar with the intelligence, Mojtaba Khamenei has not been visually confirmed by US agencies since taking power. Officials describe a clandestine command structure that avoids all electronic communication to prevent tracking.
Hezbollah claims over two dozen attacks on Israeli forces in southern Lebanon
Hezbollah says it carried out 26 attacks on 'Israeli' forces in southern Lebanon since Thursday afternoon, as 'Israeli' strikes across the region intensified and were reported to have killed more than 30 people.
The group said its operations included a missile strike on a tank near Deir Siryan, shelling against an 'Israeli' advance toward Haddatha, and an attack on soldiers gathered in Labbouneh village, claiming to have inflicted casualties but without giving figures.
The escalation comes amid some of the deadliest airstrikes on southern Lebanon since fighting began on March 2, with 'Israeli' operations reportedly causing more than 2,700 deaths and at least 8,500 injuries in Lebanon.
Trump says US may revive “Project Freedom” maritime operation in Strait of Hormuz
US President Donald Trump said Friday that Washington could resume a short-lived maritime operation known as “Project Freedom,” which was intended to guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing tensions in the region.
“I think Project Freedom is good, but I think we have other ways of doing it also. We may go back to Project Freedom if things don’t happen, but it’d be Project Freedom plus, meaning Project Freedom, plus other things,” Trump told reporters as he departed the White House.
Trump says expecting Iran response to latest proposal 'tonight'
US President Donald Trump said Friday that he was expecting Iran's response to Washington's latest proposal on a deal to ending the Middle East war by "tonight."
"I'm getting a letter supposedly tonight, so we'll see how that goes," Trump told reporters outside the White House.
