★U.S.A.
U.S. Campaign Expands Across Six Provinces Into Iran’s Interior
The U.S. campaign expanded from Iranian naval forces, coastal defenses, radars, missile launchers, and drone facilities to transportation, communications, logistics, and military targets deeper inside the country. Iranian state media reported missile and drone strikes across Isfahan, Khuzestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Hormozgan, and Gilan, extending the campaign from Iran’s southern coast to the Caspian Sea. Separate attacks damaged roads, bridges, rail links, communications infrastructure, IRGC bases, missile-production facilities, and military installations in central Iran and near Tehran. A Gilan official said a missile damaged equipment at an IRGC Navy facility in Zibakenar without causing casualties, while Iranian authorities reported four people killed and five injured near Ahvaz.
U.S. Disables Second Merchant Vessel Enforcing Iranian Port Blockade
U.S. forces disabled the merchant vessel M/T Lavine in the Gulf of Oman after it allegedly attempted four times to breach the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports. According to a U.S. official, American forces warned the vessel repeatedly before firing into its engine room, making it the second commercial ship disabled since the blockade resumed.
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★ IRAN
Jordan Downs Seven Iranian Missiles And Six Drones Overnight
Jordan’s military said it intercepted seven Iranian missiles and six drones that entered its airspace during the latest Iranian attack wave, stating the interceptions were conducted to protect national sovereignty and civilian safety. The announcement highlights Jordan’s continuing role as a key regional air-defense buffer as Iranian strikes and U.S. operations intensify.
Indian-Crewed LPG Tanker Attacked Inside Iranian Waters, Twenty-Eight Safe
A Mozambique-flagged LPG tanker, DISHA, came under attack in Iranian territorial waters while carrying 28 Indian crew members. India’s Embassy in Tehran confirmed that all crew were safe and remained in contact with Iranian authorities. Reuters reported the vessel was struck by an unknown missile near the Strait of Hormuz while en route to the Persian Gulf, although the cause of the attack has not been independently confirmed.
Pezeshkian Says Supreme Leader Secretly Approved U.S. Talks, TV Censored
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the Supreme Leader privately instructed officials to negotiate with the United States after publicly rejecting talks, describing the decision as necessary to end the country’s “neither war nor peace” condition. Pezeshkian’s office then accused state broadcaster IRIB of censoring those remarks before broadcast, highlighting growing public tensions between the administration and hardline-controlled state media over negotiations with Washington.
Lloyd’s Clause Threatens Vessel Coverage Over Hormuz Transit Payments
The Lloyd’s Market Association issued a new model clause allowing marine hull insurers to terminate coverage when shipowners make financial or non-financial payments to secure passage through Iranian territorial waters or the Strait of Hormuz. Insurers would not reimburse the payments, while coverage could cease if they expose insurers to U.S., British, or European sanctions and terrorism laws. The clause is optional model wording rather than an automatic market-wide cancellation of coverage.
Oman, Iran Continue Hormuz Talks Without Announcing Navigation Agreement
An Omani diplomatic delegation visited Tehran as the Iranian and Omani foreign ministers separately discussed maritime security and commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian media said the consultations concerned mechanisms for managing navigation, but neither side identified the delegation members or announced a new agreement.
BRICS Sidesteps Iranian Appeal To Condemn U.S. Military Campaign
Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni urged BRICS members meeting in New Delhi to collectively condemn the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran as violations of sovereignty and international law. India’s official account of the meeting reported no endorsement of his appeal, however, and said the unanimously adopted statement focused exclusively on disaster resilience, infrastructure, training, and emergency cooperation. No participating government publicly joined Iran’s call.
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★ GULF STATES
Strikes Hit Hodeidah As Houthis Accuse Saudi Arabia Of Attack
Multiple airstrikes struck Yemen’s Red Sea port of Hodeidah, with Houthi-affiliated Al Masirah accusing Saudi Arabia of carrying out the attacks. Witnesses cited by Reuters confirmed several strikes across the city, while Al Arabiya reported explosions at Houthi weapons depots. The Saudi-led coalition said it carried out a proportionate strike on Houthi military targets used to threaten Red Sea shipping, denied targeting Hodeidah Port, and warned of a stronger response if Houthi attacks continue.
Third Saudi-Linked Commercial Vessel Attacked Since Houthi Blockade Declaration
The Saudi vessel NCC Masa sustained minor hull damage in a Red Sea attack Friday, becoming the third Saudi-linked commercial vessel reported attacked since the Houthis declared their blockade four days earlier. Saudi authorities confirmed the vessel and crew were safe and that it continued toward its destination but did not identify the attacker. Of the three reported incidents, Saudi authorities confirmed attacks on NCC Masa and Encelia, while the Houthis separately claimed they struck Layla.
Bahrain And Kuwait Launch First Secret Airstrikes Against Iran
Bahrain and Kuwait secretly launched fighter jet strikes on Iranian drone, missile, and military sites earlier this month, marking their first direct attacks on Tehran, the Wall Street Journal reported. Saudi Arabia previously joined UAE strikes but is reassessing its role. The UAE reportedly provided intelligence and defensive air cover, while Oman and Qatar maintained their neutral policy.
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★ IRAQ
Iran-Linked Oil Smuggling Networks Finance Hamas, Houthis Through Iraqi Operations
An Asharq Al-Awsat investigation revealed that Iraqi faction-linked economic offices built vast networks of contractors and shell companies to control oil revenues, influence markets, and shape elections. The report alleges Iran benefits from oil smuggling proceeds to support Iraqi political allies and finance Hamas and the Houthis, with senior officials implicated in northern refinery smuggling operations.
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★ Disclaimer: This publication is a digest of various news sources compiled by the Early Phoenix team and edited by Rania Kisar. The items are curated, concise summaries of news items hyperlinked within each story. The items and summaries presented do not necessarily represent the views of the American Center for Levant Studies.
