·      A container ship off the UAE was hit by an unidentified projectile; damage unknown but all crew are safe, according to a British maritime security agency.

·      Iran launched new strikes toward Israel: Israel detected missiles heading toward it from Iran and activated air defenses. This followed a three-hour attack targeting Israeli cities including Tel Aviv, Haifa, and West Jerusalem. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards described the barrage as the era’s most intense since the war began.

·      Saudi Arabia intercepted multiple threats: six ballistic missiles aimed at Prince Sultan Air Base and one toward the east, plus seven drones targeting a southeast oil field and eight more in the east.

·      Iran reportedly targeted a US base in Kuwait with at least two missiles, per Iranian state media; Kuwaiti authorities have not commented.

·      US action near Hormuz: the US military said it destroyed 16 mine-laying Iranian boats near the Strait of Hormuz after President Trump warned of escalation if Iran mined the waterway.

·      Oil markets and reserve narrative: Brent crude fell to about $87.06 and WTI to $82.60 as reports circulated that the IEA proposed its largest-ever reserves release to curb prices amid the Iran war.

·      Iran’s domestic and asylum news: Iran’s women’s football team saw asylum-seekers in Australia after protests; the rest of the team left for Malaysia. Iran’s parliament speaker stated there would be no ceasefire, arguing the US and Israel should be deterred.

·      Israeli-Lebanese/Beirut dimension: Israel conducted strikes in Lebanon, including Beirut’s southern suburbs and south Lebanon, with authorities reporting massive displacement (around 760,000 people registered as displaced). This follows Iran-backed Hezbollah’s escalation in response to regional actions.

·      US-ship/escort dynamics questioned: The White House claimed the US has not escorted oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, despite earlier statements from energy officials that created market volatility.

·      US military toll: About 140 US personnel wounded in attacks connected to the Iran war, adding to seven US service members killed earlier in the conflict.

·      Iran’s stance on ceasefire and espionage: Iran’s parliament speaker signaled no ceasefire, urging deterrence. Iran announced the arrests of 30 alleged spies accused of working for two Persian Gulf countries in the name of Western enemies. Israel warned of Iranian breaches into security cameras and urged people to update passwords.

·      Regional security and diplomacy: Ukrainian drone-defense experts will visit Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia to bolster defenses against Iranian attacks.

·      Industrial impact: One of the world’s largest refineries, UAE’s Ruwais, halted operations as a precaution after a drone attack on the facility. (Bssnews)