FLASH NEWS
Analysis/ The Strait of Hormuz remains at the center of the conflict in the Middle East
2026-04-18 20:56:01 / BOTA
Two armed naval vessels of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have opened fire on a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the UK Merchant Marine Operations Centre (UKMTO), according to the BBC.
The crew is reported to be safe. A container ship was also hit by "an unknown projectile" about 25 miles northeast of Oman, causing damage to several containers.
Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) declared that it is "determined" to exercise control over the strait until the end of the war.
This reaction comes after the IRGC announced that the strait would be returned "to its previous state," with armed forces controlling the area.
US President Donald Trump declared that the US would not allow Iran to "blackmail" Washington.
Meanwhile, the US has announced that it has returned 23 ships since the start of the naval blockade on April 13, while Iran's SNSC described this action as a violation of the terms of the ceasefire.
A French soldier serving with the UN peacekeeping mission has been killed, according to President Emmanuel Macron, who suggested Hezbollah may be responsible. The latter has denied involvement in the incident.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that they have established a security perimeter called the "yellow line" in southern Lebanon and have struck "terrorists who violated the ceasefire" by approaching Israeli troops.
Reports from the field indicate that residents in the border town of Khiam are trying to return to their homes, while the Lebanese army has erected barriers to stop them, at a time when loud explosions continue to be heard in areas under Israeli control.
It is suspected that the explosions are related to Israeli army operations to destroy structures.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) stated that a preliminary assessment indicated that the fire was caused by non-state actors, "suspected to be Hezbollah," and an investigation has been launched into the matter.
Hezbollah has reacted by denying involvement and expressing "surprise" at the hasty accusations, emphasizing the need for coordination between the Lebanese army and UNIFIL, especially in these delicate conditions.
The UKMTO announced that a tourist ship has reported a "near miss" about three nautical miles east of Oman, following reported attacks on a tanker and a container ship in recent hours.
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