US Strikes Seven Iranian Boats: Tensions Spike in Strait of Hormuz

US strikes seven Iranian boats, Trump says, as tensions spike in Strait of Hormuz

BBC News

Summary

President Donald Trump says the US struck seven Iranian "fast boats" after vowing to help stranded vessels out of the Strait of Hormuz

A shipping company says a commercial vessel has now left the strait, accompanied by the US military

Meanwhile, Iran's military says it has fired warning shots at American warships. US Central Command denies a claim in Iranian state media that Iranian missiles hit a US destroyer - here's what we've heard: 

Tensions spike in the Strait of Hormuz - what's the latest?

It's been a day of back-and-forth claims and denials between the US and Iran over action in the Strait of Hormuz, as tensions have reignited in the vital waterway.

It can be difficult to track vessels' movement in the key shipping route - our colleagues at BBC Verify explain why.

We've taken a brief look back at what we've heard about incidents in the strait today:

Fast boats sunk: Trump has said the US struck seven Iranian "small boats" in the Strait of Hormuz - Iran is yet to respond. 

Crossing the strait: Earlier, the US Central Command claimed US-flagged merchant ships and US navy destroyers had crossed the strait. Iran called this claim "entirely false".

Warning shots: The Iranian Army Navy said it fired warning shots at US destroyers. Separately, Iranian media reported Iran had hit one US warship - a claim Washington denies.

A serious warning: The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has, according to Iranian state media, shared a warning with vessels in the strait that any who pass through the "closed" waterway will be "struck and destroyed".

UAE vessel reportedly hit: The United Arab Emirates reported a tanker affiliated with its state-owned oil company Adnoc has been hit. Iran has not commented.

'Suspected strike': Meanwhile, South Korea said it is investigating a "suspected strike" on a cargo vessel anchored in the strait after a reported explosion in the vessel's engine room. In his latest Truth Social, Trump blames Iran. Tehran has not commented.

Elsewhere, the UAE says it is defending itself against "missile and drone attacks originating from Iran" - Tehran has not yet officially commented

• Officials say a drone attack has sparked a large fire at the UAE's biggest oil port

US-flagged commercial vessel exits Strait of Hormuz 'accompanied by US military' - shipperpublished at 16:52

16:52BREAKING

Shipping company Maersk has told the BBC that one of its US-flagged commercial vessels has successfully exited the Strait of Hormuz under US military protection.

Maersk says the transit was "completed without incident, and all crew members are safe and unharmed".

The Alliance Fairfax, it says, had been unable to leave the Gulf since February 2026, when conflict between Iran and the US began.

Maersk says it was contacted by the US military and offered support. After the "development of a comprehensive security plan", the vessel was cleared to leave, according to the statement.

The shipping company says the ship then exited the Gulf "accompanied by US military assets" and thanks them for their "professionalism and effective coordination" in making the operation possible.

Earlier, US Central Command said two US-flagged merchant vessels had “successfully transited through the Strait of Hormuz”. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has called the US claim “outright lies”.

US used helicopters to destroy Iranian small boats - Centcompublished at 16:40

16:40

US Central Command (Centcom) says it has used helicopters to destroy Iranian small boats.

It follows US President Donald Trump's suggestion that the US has struck seven Iranian small boats as it works to open the Strait of Hormuz.

"Earlier today, Sea Hawk and U.S. Army AH-64 Apache helicopters were used to eliminate Iranian small boats threatening commercial shipping", Centcom writes in a social media update.

Iran is yet to respond to the claims.

UAE says defences engaged 15 Iranian missiles and four drones on Mondaypublished at 16:03

16:03

The United Arab Emirates has published a summary of its defence actions today.

The Ministry of Defense says its air defence systems have engaged "12 ballistic missiles, 3 cruise missiles, and 4 UAVs launched from Iran, resulting in 3 moderate injuries".

This follows several reports of attacks in the UAE earlier today, including a reported drone strike in Fujairah, where three Indian nationals are said to be injured.

The ministry says this brings the total number of people injured in the country since the start of the conflict to 227, with three killed.

Iranian state TV has quoted an unnamed "senior military official" saying that "Iran has had no plans to target the UAE". No officials have responded further.

More...

Logged And Tracked: How License Plate Readers Could Map Your Entire Life

Logged And Tracked: How License Plate Readers Could Map Your Entire Life

PNW STAFF

What began as a tool to catch criminals is quietly becoming something far more powerful-and far more dangerous. Across the United States, more than 80,000 automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras-many deployed by Flock Safety--are scanning, recording, and storing the movements of millions of vehicles every single day. 

These systems promise safety. But increasingly, they are revealing something else: how easily surveillance infrastructure can be turned inward on the very people it was meant to protect.

A recent report highlighted a disturbing reality--law enforcement officers have used these systems not just for investigations, but to track romantic partners, exes, and even strangers. At least 14 documented cases uncovered by the Institute for Justice show officers allegedly abusing access to track individuals for personal reasons. In nearly every case, consequences followed. But the deeper issue remains: if individuals with limited authority can misuse such tools, what happens when institutions decide to use them systematically?

This is where the conversation shifts from misconduct... to potential.

Because ALPR systems don't just capture license plates--they capture patterns, routines, and lives.

License plate readers don't just see individuals--they see gatherings.

Protests, political rallies, community meetings--all of them generate traffic patterns that are easily captured. A few cameras placed strategically can log nearly every vehicle attending an event. Over time, that data can identify repeat participants.

This raises a critical question: what happens when dissent becomes trackable?

Even if never acted upon, the mere existence of such a capability can have a chilling effect. People may begin to ask themselves: Is attending this event worth being tracked?

Freedom doesn't always disappear with force. Sometimes it erodes quietly, through awareness that someone is watching.

It would not take sophisticated artificial intelligence to build a database of regular churchgoers. Patterns would emerge almost instantly: who attends weekly, who comes occasionally, who stopped coming altogether. Cross-reference that with other data--home addresses, workplaces--and suddenly, you don't just have a list of cars. You have a map of religious life.

Today, that may sound hypothetical. But the underlying capability already exists.

And history offers a sobering reminder: governments have not always treated religious populations with neutrality. In less stable times, such data could be used to monitor, pressure, or even target communities of faith. What begins as passive observation can become active scrutiny.

More...

Pressure Points - Converging Events Will Soon Force Next Steps With Iran

Pressure Points - Converging Events Will Soon Force Next Steps With Iran

ODED AILAM

Tehran authorities are increasing internal security measures, deploying elite units, restricting communication channels and using advanced monitoring to suppress potential protests. They are also relying more on external militias and vulnerable populations to bolster enforcement capacity.

Economic vulnerability, especially tied to oil production and sanctions, poses a major risk to sustaining control. A convergence of leadership uncertainty, economic strain and infrastructure disruption could undermine the regime’s ability to maintain authority.

Recently, the Iranian Supreme National Security Council convened an emergency meeting. The issues on the agenda were the most urgent: operational readiness and internal suppression. They discussed several topics, first and foremost:

In recent days, there have been reports of a massive deployment of Sarallah units, the elite Revolutionary Guard forces responsible for securing Tehran, at central squares and strategic intersections.

There is no internet. The public has shifted to using SMS. However, the regime is operating advanced monitoring systems to detect keywords in text messages to arrest protest organizers before they take to the streets.

One of the clearest signs of the regime’s concern about losing loyalty among local policing forces is its growing reliance on external actors. Reports from recent days indicate the arrival of “advisers” and special units from Hashd al-Shaabi/Popular Mobilization Forces (the Shi’ite militias from Iraq) to the provinces of Khuzestan and Sistan-Baluchistan, as well as to Tehran and Mashhad.

The Fatemiyoun Division: The regime continues to recruit stateless Afghan refugees. There are approximately half a million refugees within Iran’s borders, lured by promises of dollar salaries and Iranian identification documents, to serve as cannon fodder on the front lines of confrontations with protesters.

The regime is operating under a geographically based risk management approach. In core cities such as Tehran, Mashhad and Isfahan, the emphasis is on visible presence (show of force) to deter the middle class.

In Kurdish areas such as Mahabad, Ilam and Sanandaj, and in Balochi regions, repression is far more lethal. There, the regime employs light artillery and surveillance drones, out of concern that armed resistance groups may exploit the civil unrest for military activity.

The elimination of Ali Khamenei undoubtedly marks the beginning of the regime’s collapse. Historically, centralized regimes rely on a cult of personality and a hierarchy in which all decisions converge on a single individual. When that figure disappears suddenly, an internal succession struggle begins, weakening the regime’s ability to suppress.

A historical example is the Soviet Union after Joseph Stalin’s death in 1953. Although the regime did not collapse immediately, the death of the centralized dictator led to internal power struggles, including the elimination of Lavrentiy Beria, head of the secret police, and initiated the process of “de-Stalinization” that undermined the foundations of the Communist Party over time.

In the Iranian case, such a vacuum would prevent the Basij and the Revolutionary Guards from receiving clear orders at a critical moment.

Closing the Strait of Hormuz turns against Iran. Within a few weeks of an American blockade, there would be a technical collapse of resources. The issue of water infiltration into oil wells is critical. In the oil industry, once drilling stops and reservoir pressure changes, the damage can be irreversible or extremely costly to repair.

A historical example is Venezuela from 2019 to the present. The combination of heavy American sanctions and mismanagement of the national oil company led to a situation in which Venezuela, despite having the largest oil reserves in the world, could not produce oil for sale. The result was a total collapse of the electricity grid, hyperinflation and shortages of basic food that drove millions to flee. In Iran, oil is not just money. It is the channel through which the regime pays its security apparatus.

When a state loses $500 million a day, it loses the ability to subsidize essential goods such as bread, fuel and electricity. History shows that as long as the public is hungry but the regime remains well-resourced and unified, it can survive. But when the economy collapses to the point where the ordinary soldier cannot feed his family, loyalty breaks.

More....

Hezbollah chief rejects direct talks with Israel, says move would 'serve Netanyahu and Trump'

Hezbollah chief rejects direct talks with Israel, says move would 'serve Netanyahu and Trump'

TOBIAS SIEGAL

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem on Monday dismissed again the notion of direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, warning that such a step would amount to a political concession benefiting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump ahead of elections.

“We support indirect negotiation diplomacy,” Qassem said, but added that “as for direct negotiation, it is a free concession without fruits, and it serves Netanyahu […] and serves Trump before the midterm elections.”

In a lengthy statement, Qassem accused Israel of systematically violating the ceasefire, claiming it had breached the agreement “more than ten thousand times,” while describing the situation not as a truce but as “continuing Israeli-American aggression.”

He further argued that “Lebanon is the one being aggressed against” and insisted that any diplomatic track must first halt hostilities, stressing that “the solution will not be surrender” and rejecting what he described as efforts to impose political or military arrangements on Lebanon under pressure.

Separately, Lebanon's parliament speaker, who is the most senior Shi'ite politician and a close ally of Hezbollah, said later on Monday there could be no negotiations with Israel without a halt to the war.

The IDF said earlier in the day that it had begun carrying out strikes on Hezbollah infrastructure in several areas across southern Lebanon over what it said were repeated ceasefire violations by Hezbollah.

The announcement came shortly after the military issued an urgent warning to residents in several areas of southern Lebanon, calling for immediate evacuation due to anticipated military activity against Hezbollah targets.

U.S. Fast-Tracks $8 Billion in Arms as Second Phase of Iran War Could Begin Within Days

U.S. Fast-Tracks $8 Billion in Arms as Second Phase of Iran War Could Begin Within Days

Emmitt Barry

The United States is fast-tracking more than $8 billion in arms sales to key Middle East allies, signaling that a second phase of the Iran war could begin within days as regional tensions reach a critical tipping point.

The sweeping military package includes major defense agreements with Israel, Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates—nations increasingly aligned with Washington as Iran faces growing isolation. The accelerated approval process underscores the urgency felt in Washington, where officials appear to be preparing allies for a rapid escalation in hostilities.

The largest portion of the package is directed toward Qatar, which is set to receive roughly $4 billion in Patriot missile defense systems, along with nearly $1 billion in Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems. Qatar hosts the strategically vital Al Udeid Air Base, making it a central hub for U.S. operations in the region.

Kuwait is also receiving a substantial upgrade, with a $2.5 billion Integrated Battle Command System designed to enhance coordination across missile defense and battlefield operations. Additional weapons and military support are being directed to Israel and the United Arab Emirates as part of a broader regional security framework.

This surge in arms comes as Israel continues to receive massive resupply shipments. In recent days, more than 6,500 tons of munitions and military equipment arrived at Israeli ports, part of an ongoing air and sea bridge that has delivered over 115,000 tons of materiel since the launch of “Operation Roaring Lion” earlier this year. The scale of these deliveries reflects a military posture shifting from preparation to readiness.

At the same time, the broader region remains on edge. Iran’s pressure on key shipping lanes—particularly the Strait of Hormuz—has disrupted global energy flows and heightened fears of a wider conflict. Gulf nations, many of which host U.S. military installations, are now reinforcing their defenses as the threat environment intensifies.

Diplomatic efforts appear to be faltering, with both sides showing little sign of compromise. Analysts warn that the convergence of military buildup, economic pressure, and stalled negotiations has created conditions ripe for a renewed and potentially more aggressive phase of the conflict.

Taken together, these developments point to a sobering reality: the region is not de-escalating—it is positioning for what may come next. The fast-tracking of billions in arms, combined with unprecedented logistical support and strategic alignment, suggests that the coming days could mark a decisive turning point in the Iran war.

Israel Fast-Tracks New Fighter Jet Squadrons After Iran War Lessons