US Navy MH-60 helicopter.
Day 166 | US helicopter fired on ship that tried to break Iran ports blockade
A US helicopter on Tuesday fired missiles into the engine room of a Panama-flagged cargo ship that attempted to break the American blockade of Iran’s ports, the United States military said.
The US Navy MH-60 helicopter fired on and disabled the M/V Vela Nova “after the ship’s civilian crew ignored repeated warnings from American forces,” US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on X, adding that the vessel “is no longer transiting to Iran in violation of the US blockade.”
It was the third time the United States, in a months-long war against Iran, has forcibly halted a vessel since reinstating the ports blockade on July 14.
CENTCOM said it has redirected 55 ships that tried to run the blockade and boarded two others as of Tuesday.
US forces previously blockaded Iranian ports from April 13 to June 18, during which time they disabled nine ships and redirected more than 140, according to CENTCOM.
Iran has demanded that the United States end the ports blockade as part of its conditions to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key conduit for oil and gas shipments before the war that has seen traffic plummet due to Tehran’s attacks on ships in the area.
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Read more: Day 167 | Trump says US will “keep” Hormuz strait control
"Iran can do nothing": Trump claims total control of Hormuz
- Calls naval blockade a “Wall of Steel.”
- Trump claims Iran's military has been decimated.
- He describes Iran as economically “shot.”
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the United States has established full military dominance over the Strait of Hormuz.
He signaled that American forces intend to maintain their posture in the vital maritime passage.
In a public message shared on his Truth Social platform, Trump praised the effectiveness of the ongoing US naval operation, describing the American presence as an insurmountable barrier against Iranian forces.
"The U.S.A. has total control over the Strait of Hormuz. I THINK WE WILL KEEP IT! Our Naval Blockade is being called, by everyone, “A WALL OF STEEL,” and there is nothing Iran can do about it," Trump wrote.
Iranian military, economy has collapsed
Continuing his post, Trump levied broad criticisms against Iran's military capabilities, state finances, and leadership structure, asserting that Tehran's defensive and offensive capabilities have been rendered ineffective.
"They have no Navy, they have no Air Force, their remaining soldiers are unpaid, the IRGC is decimated and fleeing, and their “Leadership” is uncertain, at best!" the statement continued.
Addressing Iran's internal economic state, Trump claimed the nation's financial system is severely compromised and plagued by spiraling price increases.
"They have No Money - Their country is “shot.” All they have is FAKE NEWS and 300% INFLATION, and getting worse! Iran is all talk and no action, the Bully of the Middle East No Longer. Praise be to Allah! President DONALD J. TRUMP," the post concluded.
Only 84 ships cross Strait of Hormuz this week
Only 84 ships crossed the Strait of Hormuz this week, including nine on Sunday, according to data from Kpler cited by CNN.
The figure represents a sharp decline from more than 100 crossings per day before the war, CNN reported.
Citing JPMorgan, the network also reported that oil continues to move through the Strait of Hormuz, but at a rate closer to four million barrels per day.
Of the 84 ships that crossed the strait last week, 17 belonged to an unofficial fleet and 10 were carrying sanctioned cargoes, according to shipping data firm Windward Intelligence.
Pakistan interior minister meets Iranian foreign minister in Tehran
Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Tehran on Wednesday as Islamabad seeks to help mediate a resolution to the ongoing Middle East war.
The meeting focused on regional security, stability and the latest developments in the conflict, according to Pakistani officials.
Naqvi’s visit comes as Pakistan seeks to facilitate diplomatic efforts aimed at easing tensions and finding a resolution to the war.
The talks in Tehran are part of Islamabad’s broader diplomatic engagement with regional parties as efforts continue to address the conflict and its wider security implications.
Iran’s borders ‘completely secure’: Border Guards commander
Iranian Border Guards Commander Brigadier General Ali Akbar Javidan dismissed claims that the US could launch a ground attack on Iran as “illusory,” according to Iran’s Tasnim news agency.
“The actions of the enemies can never undermine the authority and security of the country,” Javidan said.
He added that Iran’s borders are currently “completely secure and impenetrable,” attributing this to the vigilance of border guards and the support of local residents.
Iran says no talks with US on extending ceasefire, Reuters reports
An Iranian senior source told Reuters that there are no discussions with the US on extending the ceasefire, saying Tehran does not recognize a start date for the truce and therefore sees nothing to extend.
The source claimed the US violated the interim agreement 48 hours after it was reached and withdrew from it several days later.
According to the source, discussions are focused on Washington returning to the memorandum of understanding and establishing a timeline for fulfilling its commitments. He said there has been no progress on either issue.
Houthis launch new attack on Yemen’s al-Makha port
Yemen’s Houthi rebels launched new ballistic missile attacks on the strategic port of al-Makha, also known as Mocha, near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait in southwestern Yemen, according to state media.
Saba TV reported the attacks but provided no further details. The Houthis did not immediately comment.
The latest strikes came a day after Yemeni government forces said the Houthis launched 10 ballistic missiles and four drones toward al-Makha.
Oil spill reported from tanker off Oman coast
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) said an oil spill occurred from a tanker drifting northeast of Al Qibliyah Island off the coast of Oman.
The organization said some of the oil from the tanker Caroline Bzangy is expected to reach Oman’s mainland.
An emergency response plan has been put in place to address the spill off the Omani coast, the IMO said.
Pakistan says three of its nationals killed in Red Sea strike, condemns Houthi attack
Three Pakistani nationals were killed and another was wounded in a Houthi attack on a commercial vessel in the Red Sea, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said.
Dar condemned the attack, saying it endangered civilian lives and threatened freedom of navigation, maritime security, and commercial shipping.
Yemen’s internationally recognized government previously said four crew members and two rescue workers were killed in what it described as a “double-tap” strike on a Saudi-owned vessel transiting the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack through their Saba news agency, saying the vessel was carrying military equipment. Saudi Arabia has not immediately commented on the claim.
The attack comes after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey signed a mutual defense pact under which an attack on any one of the three countries would be treated as an attack on all.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Islamabad is “ready and willing to assist Saudi Arabia and other coalition partners” in maintaining the security of maritime traffic.
Andrabi added that Pakistan is in contact with the Saudi and Yemeni governments to gather further information about the attack.
Oil spills seen off Iran's Qeshm Island
Thick, black oil has washed ashore on Iran’s Qeshm Island near the Strait of Hormuz, covering stretches of coastline along the island’s southeast coast.
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Pools of oil were seen extending along the beach, with the pollution affecting more than one kilometer of coastline, according to Shahmorad Jafari, head of the Qeshm Island Department of Environment.
State broadcaster IRIB reported Jafari as saying the pollution had affected "over 1 kilometer" of the beach.
Iranian authorities are investigating the source of the oil, Fars News Agency reported, while a clean-up operation was underway.
The state-affiliated agency said a marine source was among the possibilities being considered, but officials have not yet identified the origin of the pollution.
Qeshm Island lies in the Strait of Hormuz, a major global energy transit route connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman.
WATCH: 'Israeli’ military patrols broadcast mocking messages in West Bank
'Israeli' military vehicles were captured broadcasting sarcastic messages in Arabic over loudspeakers to local Palestinian residents during a morning patrol, saying: "Good morning, guys... Have a good day."
'Israeli' forces frequently conduct military patrols and raids across towns and cities in the occupied West Bank.
Pakistan says it is working to bring parties to negotiating table
Pakistan is making continued efforts to bring the parties to the dispute to the negotiating table and prevent those seeking to undermine the peace process, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said at a press conference.
Andrabi said Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s visit to Tehran provides an opportunity to discuss bilateral relations in a way that supports peace and stability in the region.
He also described the Mecca Defense Pact as reflecting the desire of the three countries to strengthen their capabilities in support of regional peace and to address shared security challenges.
Andrabi said the agreement is “historic,” echoing the Pakistani foreign minister’s description, and added that Pakistan played a central role in reaching the deal.
Multiple 'Israeli' explosions reported in southern Lebanese towns
‘Israeli’ forces carried out several large explosions in southern Lebanon overnight, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency.
The agency reported two major explosions in the town of Haddatha, as well as a “massive explosion” in Beit Yahoun in the Bint Jbeil district.
US has fewer than 1,700 Patriot interceptors left after Iran war use: NYT
The Pentagon has fewer than 1,700 Patriot interceptors remaining after expending more than 1,500 in the war with Iran, according to sources briefed on stockpile levels who spoke to The New York Times.
The reported figure underscores the heavy toll of defending US bases and troops against Iranian ballistic missiles, drones, and related threats since the conflict intensified earlier this year.
The United States produced only about 600 of the interceptors in all of 2025, highlighting a persistent gap between consumption and replenishment.
Patriot systems, particularly the PAC-3 variants, have formed a cornerstone of US and partner air defenses in the Middle East.
They have achieved high interception rates in engagements, including what officials described as the largest single Patriot engagement in US military history during earlier phases of the fighting.
Yet episodic exchanges have continued to draw down stocks even after major combat intensity eased, with dozens of interceptors sometimes expended in a given week.
Independent analysis from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) has painted an even tighter picture in some estimates, placing remaining Patriot interceptors in the range of roughly 759 to 827—down from a pre-war inventory near 2,200–2,330—after use of about two-thirds of the stockpile.
CSIS analysts Mark Cancian and Chris Park noted that “diminished stockpiles may force the United States and its coalition partners to take more risks with interceptions” and that “there are no good alternatives to Patriot and THAAD for ballistic missile defense.”
THAAD inventories have also fallen sharply, with some assessments indicating declines of around 38 percent or more from pre-war levels of about 452 interceptors.
Senior military commanders have privately warned of “dangerously low” overall munitions stocks in recent inventory reviews, according to sources cited by CNN, though Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has publicly rejected characterizations of the situation as untrue.
The Pentagon and administration have maintained that the force retains sufficient capabilities for current operations.
President Trump has dismissed shortage concerns earlier, stating that the US has “far more munitions than anyone in the world, and far more than we need.”
Officials have also pointed to expanded production agreements, including multi-year contracts with Lockheed Martin aimed at raising annual Patriot interceptor output toward 2,000 units from recent levels around 600, though full recovery of inventories is projected to take years—potentially until 2029 or beyond under current trajectories.
The strain has broader implications, limiting flexibility for other contingencies such as support to Ukraine or potential Indo-Pacific scenarios, while allies in the Gulf have similarly drawn down their own Patriot holdings.
VIDEO - Trump confirms switching planes after NATO summit due to alleged Iranian threats
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday confirmed that he switched aircraft when departing the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, last month on the advice of the Secret Service and military amid a credible threat.
Trump confirms switching planes after NATO summit due to alleged Iranian threats
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday confirmed that he switched aircraft when departing the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, last month on the advice of the Secret Service and military amid a credible threat, saying he routinely faces such risks and follows protective guidance without seeking extensive details.
In remarks given to journalists, Trump said: “I go by Secret Service and the military. They wanted me to go on a different flight, a different plane… I do what they say… I guess there was a threat out there. I didn’t really ask too much about it. I get a lot of threats.”
.@POTUS: "I go by Secret Service and the military. They wanted me to go on a different flight, a different plane... I do what they say... I guess there was a threat out there. I didn't really ask too much about it. I get a lot of threats." pic.twitter.com/Q5SgBpU1n1
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 12, 2026
The comments followed reports detailing an elaborate security operation on July 8. Trump had arrived in Turkey aboard a new Boeing 747-8 donated by Qatar and recently retrofitted for presidential use.
Amid heightened US-Iran tensions, intelligence indicated a credible plot by Iranian proxy forces to target the president or his aircraft with a missile.
Officials directed a switch. Trump publicly boarded the older, traditional Air Force One (a VC-25A) in view of cameras, stating at the time that he was flying it “for old time’s sake” while sending the Qatari jet ahead to RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom so service members could tour it.
In reality, according to reports citing officials, he was then transferred via an airport catering truck—elevated to a door on the opposite side of the plane—to a smaller Air Force C-32A (a modified Boeing 757).
The older Air Force One, carrying journalists and some White House staff who were unaware of the full arrangement and instructed to close window shades, departed as a decoy under the Air Force One call sign.
Trump flew secretly to Mildenhall on the C-32A. There, he was moved back to the older plane before transferring to the Qatari jet for the final leg home.
The episode occurred against a backdrop of Trump repeatedly stating during the summit that he ranked high on Iranian target lists, with the new aircraft’s defensive systems also drawing scrutiny relative to the older fleet’s capabilities.
VIDEO - Trump says US has “total control” of Hormuz Strait
US President Donald Trump claims they have “total control” over the Strait of Hormuz.
"I don't trust Iran. Why — are you saying I trust Iran!? I'm the last person to trust Iran. They've lied to me constantly,” he adds.
Trump claims US has “total control” over Strait of Hormuz
US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the US military has “total” control over the Strait of Hormuz.
“We have total control over the Strait of Hormuz right now. They don't have control. We have total control, we own it,” Trump told reporters.
“And at some point, maybe they'll do something, and then they get blown away”.
“[Iran is] no longer the bully of the Middle East,” he added.
Hormuz to stay closed until US meets Iran’s demands, says news security chief
Iran’s newly appointed secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaee, declared on Tuesday that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States ends the ongoing war and naval blockade, releases Iran’s frozen assets, and agrees to a region-wide ceasefire that includes Lebanon and Gaza.
In a post on X, Rezaee, a former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander and close ally of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, stated: “IRAN’s message is clear: the Strait of Hormuz will not reopen until the U.S. ends the war and blockade, releases Iran’s frozen assets, and agrees to a region-wide ceasefire, including in Lebanon and Gaza. Until all conditions are met, the Strait will remain closed.”
‘Israeli’ military mistakenly fires missile at its own troops in southern Lebanon
The ‘Israeli’ military said that it mistakenly launched an interceptor missile toward its own troops in southern Lebanon.
The missile was launched at a target that was later determined by gunfire by ‘Israeli’ troops operating in an area in southern Lebanon.
No injuries were reported, the statement said.
