Trump Threatens Naval Action Against Iranian Mines as Israel-Lebanon Talks Resume at White House
President Trump ordered the U.S. Navy to shoot Iranian boats laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz while Israel and Lebanon hold a second round of ceasefire talks at the White House. A Lebanese journalist was killed in an Israeli airstrike Wednesday, highlighting ongoing tensions despite the ceasefire.
Middle East Tensions Escalate Amid Ceasefire Efforts
US President Donald Trump ordered the Navy to "shoot and kill" any Iranian boats placing mines in the Strait of Hormuz. The directive underscores mounting tensions in the vital shipping corridor despite a U.S.-Iran ceasefire extension.
Israel-Lebanon Diplomatic Push
Israel and Lebanon are set to hold a second round of ambassador-level talks at the White House on Thursday, as both sides explore extending the fragile 10-day ceasefire that took effect last week. The talks follow the first high-level contact between the two countries in decades and come as Lebanon seeks to stop the fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. Talks planned for Thursday between Israel and Lebanon will now be held at the White House, where President Trump will greet the countries' ambassadors.
Journalist Killed in Israeli Strike
Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon on Wednesday killed at least five people, including Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil. Lebanese officials said Khalil and another journalist took shelter in a house after a nearby vehicle was targeted, but the building was then struck as well. The Committee to Protect Journalists regional director said "The repeated strikes on the same location, the targeting of an area where journalists were sheltering, and the obstruction of medical and humanitarian access constitute a grave breach of international humanitarian law."
Naval Blockade and Shipping Disputes
The US Navy currently has 19 ships in the Middle East, including two aircraft carriers, and seven ships in the Indian Ocean. The US military began enforcing a blockade of Iranian ports on April 13 and has redirected at least 33 ships as of Thursday. Officials in Iran say they've collected the first revenue from tolls imposed on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Analysts say the tolls could generate up to $20 million in daily revenue for Iran from oil tankers alone.