Day 171 | Trump welcomes defense pact between Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan

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Read more: Day 172 | Trump threatens Oman: latest developments in US-Iran war

US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires to Yemen Neil Hope voiced support for Yemen’s internationally recognized government in its fight against the Iran-backed Houthi movement during a meeting with Presidential Leadership Council Vice President Abdulrahman al-Mahrami in Riyadh.

Hope discussed recent Houthi attacks, describing them as “deliberate attacks targeting Yemeni civilians.”

The US diplomat described al-Mahrami as leading “one of the most effective forces in the fight for freedom against Iranian hegemony through its proxies in Yemen.”

Hope also highlighted al-Mahrami’s support for Yemen’s unity, saying this would help Yemenis build a better future.

Hope took over as the US Embassy’s Chargé d’Affaires earlier this month, with the mission identifying Red Sea security, counterterrorism and support for US partners as key priorities.

‘Israeli’ forces stormed the courtyards of the Arab Society for Rehabilitation Hospital in Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, frightening patients and visitors and assaulting some of them, according to the Palestinian news agency WAFA.

The report said the incident took place in the hospital courtyard, with patients and visitors affected by the military raid.

The Palestinian Health Ministry condemned what it described as a serious violation of the sanctity of hospitals and medical centers.

The ministry stressed that medical facilities and healthcare workers are protected under international law, amid continued ‘Israeli’ military raids across the occupied West Bank.

The US Navy has redirected 64 commercial vessels since mid-July while enforcing its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Monday.

CENTCOM said three vessels had also been disabled and two boarded “to ensure compliance.”

Two ships redirected in three days
On Friday, CENTCOM reported that 62 commercial vessels had been redirected, while three were disabled and two boarded.

The latest figures mean US forces redirected two additional commercial ships over the past three days, with no change in the number of disabled or boarded vessels.

Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fell sharply last week amid continued regional tensions, according to maritime data firm Kpler. Confirmed crossings dropped 19.5% to 95 vessels during the week of August 10, with only three crossings recorded on August 16.

Kpler said vessels continued using the Iranian side of the strait or unidentified routes, while no crossings were recorded through the Hormuz traffic separation scheme or Omani routes.

Traffic through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait moved in the opposite direction. Crossings increased 6.7% to 254 vessels, while vessels operating without visible tracking signals fell from 40 to 16, Kpler said.

The figures highlight shifting shipping patterns as security risks continue to disrupt major maritime routes linking the Gulf with global markets.

‘Israeli’ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Monday that Netanyahu and the Board of Peace agreed to establish two working groups focused on Gaza.

The first will address the disarmament and demilitarization of Gaza, with Netanyahu’s office saying both sides want the process completed before reconstruction begins.

A second working group will address sanitation, clean water and other public health issues affecting Palestinians in Gaza, which Netanyahu’s office said also affect people in ‘Israel’.

The announcement followed a meeting between Netanyahu, Trump’s envoy Jared Kushner and senior Board of Peace officials as Washington seeks to revive the stalled Gaza roadmap. Reuters reported that the talks ended without a major breakthrough, with significant differences remaining over the timing of disarmament and an ‘Israeli’ withdrawal from Gaza.

An unnamed official with the Board of Peace said an agreement had been reached with Israel to give the Gaza roadmap a chance following a lengthy meeting between US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The official described the meeting as “lengthy, in-depth, and very productive,” according to Al Jazeera Arabic.

The official said the delegation and Netanyahu had “agreed on a way forward in Gaza,” adding that it was now up to Hamas to demonstrate whether it was prepared to fulfill its commitments.

The US Navy has awarded weapons manufacturer RTX, formerly known as Raytheon, a $22.9 billion contract to significantly increase production of Tomahawk cruise missiles.

The seven-year contract will raise annual Tomahawk production to more than 1,000 missiles, up from about 60 currently, according to RTX.

US media have reported that American forces significantly depleted key munitions stockpiles during the US-Israel war on Iran, including long-range Tomahawk missiles.

“We called on industry to rapidly scale up munitions output, and RTX is delivering,” Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao said on X.

RTX said the contract is intended to rapidly expand production capacity and replenish US missile inventories.

Iran has decided to shift its policy from defensive to “fully offensive” as efforts to reach a permanent end to its war with the United States have stalled, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Monday.

The official said Tehran was prepared to escalate tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and the wider region, adding that Iran could launch a “timely and precise” military attack to break the US naval blockade if diplomacy fails.

The official said Washington would have only a few weeks, under a deadline set by Tehran, to implement all provisions of an agreement. Meeting the conditions would be required before Iran agrees to further negotiations with the US.

Mediators are expected to convey Tehran’s deadline to Washington and regional governments.

Efforts to revive peace talks and restore oil tanker traffic through the strategic Strait of Hormuz have stalled. A June memorandum of understanding gave Iran and the US 60 days to reach a broader agreement, including on Iran’s nuclear program.

The agreement declared an immediate and permanent halt to military operations, but quickly unraveled over a dispute about control of the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran says the agreement allows it to manage the waterway, while Washington rejects that interpretation. Hostilities resumed after Tehran began targeting vessels it said were using an unauthorized route through the strait.

US President Donald Trump declared the pact “over” on July 7.

Both sides have intensified their rhetoric in recent days, with Trump warning of continued high fuel prices and saying he could declare the Strait of Hormuz US territory after defeating Iran.

Trump also reiterated Monday that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon remained his “number one Goal.”

Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said the group welcomed US President Donald Trump’s calls for Israel to halt its attacks on the Gaza Strip.

Qassem said Trump’s remarks reaffirmed what Hamas described as his commitment to the ceasefire process.

Hamas also called on Trump to pressure the Israeli government to honor the agreements reached and implement the second phase of his Gaza peace plan.

Iran’s First Vice President has accused the country’s adversaries of waging a “hybrid war” aimed at triggering social unrest through economic pressure.

According to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, the vice president said the enemy, following what he described as defeats in the past two wars, was seeking to increase economic pressure to create a “social collapse.”

He said preserving and strengthening Iran’s resilience was the government’s top priority amid what he described as a state of “neither war nor peace.”

The vice president also accused Iran’s adversaries of exploiting rising prices as part of efforts to destabilize the country.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has dismissed claims by US President Donald Trump that Washington is engaged in backchannel talks with the Iranian military force, describing the allegations as “delusions” stemming from defeat and failure in the war.

Speaking to Iran’s Tasnim news agency, an IRGC spokesperson said there are no talks between IRGC officials and US representatives, adding that diplomatic matters fall under the authority of other Iranian institutions.

“Based on our information and confirmation from Foreign Ministry officials, there are currently no talks with the Americans,” the spokesperson said.

The IRGC attributed the absence of negotiations to what it described as Washington’s repeated breaches of its commitments and Iran’s “bitter experiences” with US violations of its promises.

The spokesperson also accused Trump of using his statements about negotiations to temporarily influence global oil and energy prices.

The comments come after Trump claimed that talks with Iran were taking place behind the scenes, amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran.

Iran has repeatedly criticized the United States for what it describes as broken commitments, while Washington has continued to press Tehran over its nuclear program and broader regional policies.

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis said Monday they had attacked a Saudi military ship and four escort vessels in the Red Sea with ballistic missiles.

Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree said the vessels were targeted off Yemen’s port city of Mokha, where attacks have intensified in recent days. The claim could not be independently verified, and Saudi authorities did not immediately comment.

The claimed attack comes amid growing clashes near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a key maritime chokepoint. The Houthis recently declared a blockade of Saudi shipping in the Red Sea.

The group also launched several ballistic missiles toward Mokha on Friday, according to Yemen’s internationally recognized government, prompting the port to suspend operations, Reuters reported.

The Yemeni government’s armed forces said Sunday they had carried out nearly 200 attacks against the Houthis over the previous 24 hours.

The Houthis said Monday they would continue monitoring “Saudi enemy movements” and vowed to target military movements and mobilization “whether on land or at sea.”

• Trump keeps Iran backchannel open despite threats.
• Trump says Iran is “dying” under pressure.

US President Donald Trump issued a blunt warning to Oman regarding potential interference in Middle Eastern shipping lanes and security arrangements, delivering a stark ultimatum during an interview with Fox News.

Directly addressing Muscat's stance amid ongoing regional tensions, Trump warned: "If Oman gets in the way, we'll bomb the sh*t out of them."

Despite the explicit warning toward Oman, Trump emphasized that he remains in "no hurry" to escalate military operations further.

BREAKING: President Trump tells @TreyYingst he's in "no hurry" as a backchannel with Iranian Revolutionary Guard officials remains open despite Tehran's public defiance.

Trump says Iran is dying and playing its hand like a good poker player, projecting strength publicly while… pic.twitter.com/zCuxVTXSdd

— Fox News (@FoxNews) August 17, 2026

He disclosed that an active backchannel between Washington and officials from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) remains open, even as Tehran continues to display public defiance.

Iran as 'dying' poker player

Assessing Tehran's diplomatic and strategic leverage during the interview, President Trump argued that the Iranian leadership is attempting to project confidence despite suffering severe internal and structural damage.

Trump asserted that Iran is "dying" and merely playing its hand like a "good poker player," maintaining a tough public demeanor while encountering mounting pressure behind the scenes.

Framing the trajectory of the standoff, Trump reiterated his view that Iran has exhausted its strategic options and signaled that Tehran ought to wave the white flag.

• Lebanese President calls UNIFIL vital for southern stability.
• Lebanon opposes 'Israeli' pressure to remove force.
• Beirut considers alternative framework if extension fails.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to retaining international peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, calling the extension of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mandate the country's primary diplomatic path.

Speaking during a meeting with a parliamentary delegation, President Aoun emphasized the vital role played by international forces in sustaining regional calm.

He stated that UNIFIL’s deployment in southern towns is essential for assisting local residents to remain on their lands and reinforcing security in direct cooperation and coordination with the Lebanese Army.

According to the presidency statement, Aoun directly addressed contrasting international stances regarding the UN mission:

"The UNIFIL presence in the south is important in many respects, and helps keep residents in their villages and towns, and strengthens stability in cooperation and coordination with the Lebanese army," President Aoun stated. "Israel rejects UNIFIL's presence and has been pressing in that direction while we, meanwhile, continue to demand UNIFIL to stay."

Addressing potential roadblocks at the UN Security Council, President Aoun outlined contingency plans to guarantee that international security guarantees remain intact along the southern border.

The president affirmed that if a direct extension of UNIFIL’s existing mandate proves unattainable, Lebanon's immediate alternative is to adopt a formula that guarantees the continuous presence of international forces.

He stressed that any such alternative structure must incorporate Lebanon as an active participant alongside the Lebanese Army to safeguard national sovereignty and support regional peace.

US President Donald Trump emphasized that stopping Tehran’s nuclear ambitions remains the primary objective of his administration, declaring on Truth Social

"The number one Goal is, and always will be, that Iran cannot have, in any way, shape, or form, a Nuclear Weapon." Trump posted.

The statement underscores Washington's uncompromising stance on Iranian nuclear capabilities amid heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

CENTCOM footage of what it says is a US Air Force F-35A fighter jet being refueled by a KC-135 Stratotanker while “patrolling regional waters over the Middle East”. 

Residents of Marib describe scenes of destruction after Houthi strikes hit residential areas of the city on August 15, shattering windows and damaging buildings and homes.

Former US Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene alleged on Sunday that American officials are discussing the use of nuclear weapons against Iran during strategy meetings, describing the talks as “pure evil” and urging the public to demand an immediate end to the war.

In a lengthy post on X, Greene wrote: “They are discussing using nuclear weapons on Iran in strategy meetings. Yes you read that correctly. It’s real. I’m not speculating, I know.”

She referenced the 1945 atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which killed more than 200,000 people by year’s end and caused long-term radiation effects, arguing that humanity had vowed “never again.”

They are discussing using nuclear weapons on Iran in strategy meetings.

Yes you read that correctly. It’s real. I’m not speculating, I know.

And it’s pure evil.

The last time a nuclear weapon was used was August 6th and 9th of 1945 on two cities in Japan, Hiroshima and…

— Former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@FmrRepMTG) August 16, 2026

Greene, a vocal critic of the Trump administration’s Iran policy, accused the government of considering lowering the nuclear threshold despite President Donald Trump’s repeated claims of victory in the war and US control of the Strait of Hormuz.

She said US intelligence had assessed Iran was not close to a nuclear weapon before strikes began, yet the United States proceeded with the bombing campaign.

Iran has since disrupted shipping through the vital waterway.

Trump has frequently stated Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon and claimed multiple victories, while Iranian forces have targeted shipping and regional assets.

The commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), Adm. Brad Cooper, described his recent visit to the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln as “awe-inspiring,” praising the crew’s “camaraderie, teamwork and resilience” amid reports of mental health strains and difficult living conditions during one of the Navy’s longest modern deployments.

Cooper visited the ship on Saturday as part of a 10-day trip across the Middle East that included stops in Bahrain, Iraq, ‘Israel’, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The Lincoln, with roughly 5,000 sailors and Marines aboard, has been at sea for more than 250 consecutive days without a port call after deploying from San Diego in November and later supporting the war and the naval blockade against Iran.

In a statement posted by CENTCOM, Cooper noted that “of the U.S. Navy’s 11 active aircraft carriers, the Lincoln currently has among the lowest number of cases related to mental health.”

He added that this “doesn’t mean that all is perfect,” acknowledging difficulties of the long sea duty.

“Find any of the nearly 4 million Navy veterans in America today and they will likely tell you that service at sea for long periods isn’t for everyone,” Cooper said.

“It is uniquely challenging and tough, and every single one of us, including me, reacts to stressors in different ways.”

He emphasized that “I’ve long believed that mental health is another aspect of individual health and requires our attention just like physical health and spiritual health.”

The comments come after family members and lawmakers raised alarms about supply shortages, plumbing and water issues, low morale, and reports of sailors attempting to jump overboard.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao have pushed back, calling some media accounts “completely misrepresented” or “dishonest,” while acknowledging a small number of mental health cases were treated with no loss of life.

The Navy has said it is sending additional resiliency counselors and social workers to the ship.

Officials have confirmed the Lincoln will return home soon as part of a planned rotation, with the USS George Washington set to replace it in the region.