Washington: The United States launched military strikes inside Iran following an attack on a Singapore-registered commercial ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Central Command (CENTCOM). The strikes targeted Iranian missile and drone storage sites, along with coastal radar facilities. In response, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched attacks against US military installations in the region, further escalating tensions between the two countries.
According to Anadolu Agency, the incident has reignited hostilities in the region, with the Thursday attack on the commercial vessel serving as a catalyst. The ongoing confrontation underscores the fragile geopolitical situation in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime passage for global oil transportation.
In other news, Venezuela is grappling with the aftermath of two powerful earthquakes that have claimed 920 lives and injured 3,360 people. National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez confirmed the rising death toll and highlighted the severe damage in La Guaira state. The earthquakes have displaced over 3,000 individuals, who are now being accommodated in temporary shelters and field hospitals.
Meanwhile, Lebanon and Israel have signed a US-sponsored "framework deal" in Washington, marking the conclusion of the fifth round of negotiations. The agreement aims to foster lasting peace and security between the two nations. However, Hezbollah has rejected the deal, signaling potential challenges ahead.
Additionally, the UN has pledged full cooperation to support relief efforts in Venezuela, while tensions persist in Burkina Faso, where diplomatic ties with France have been severed. Trkiye and Canada are working on elevating their bilateral relations, and the US has lifted its block on Anthropic's AI model, Claude Mythos 5, enabling its distribution across American institutions.
In sports, Cape Verde made history by advancing to the next round in their FIFA World Cup debut after a draw against Saudi Arabia. Cape Verde's advancement marks them as the smallest nation to progress beyond the group stage in the tournament, aided by Spain's victory over Uruguay.
In business news, all Turkish-owned ships have safely departed the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf. Turkish Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu confirmed that 15 ships, carrying 99 Turkish personnel, have left the region, which was closed for over 100 days due to clashes between Iran, the US, and Israel.