A container ship off the northern coast of the United Arab Emirates was struck by a suspected but unidentified object, according to a report from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) released on Wednesday. The incident caused damage to the vessel, though the extent of the damage is still being assessed.

UKMTO stated that the ship was located northwest of Ras Al Khaimah at the time of the incident. All crew members on board were reported safe. The organization did not provide further details about the nature of the object or the source of the attack.

The report highlights ongoing maritime security concerns in the region, though no party has been identified as responsible for the strike.

Fresh tensions have emerged over the Strait of Hormuz, a key Middle Eastern maritime route, after the US President issued a social media warning to Iran. He stated that if any mines had been placed in the strait, they must be removed immediately, though he acknowledged that the United States had no confirmed evidence of such activity. The warning followed media reports citing US military sources suggesting Iran might be laying or preparing to lay mines in the area.

The US Central Command later announced on social media that it had attacked around 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels near the strait. Analysts noted that the narrow 34-kilometer-wide waterway, partly controlled by Iran, has become a major concern for the United States and Gulf nations. The strait is the only maritime route for oil exports from Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, giving Iran significant strategic leverage.

Experts cautioned that Iran could disrupt tanker traffic using small submarines or fast boats rather than large warships. Earlier, the US energy secretary deleted a post claiming such attacks had already begun after the information proved unverified.

Iran has claimed that United States and Israeli forces have carried out bombings on nearly 10,000 civilian installations across the country since the war began eleven days ago. According to Iranian sources, more than 1,300 civilians have been killed in these attacks. A large explosion was reported near Tehran’s Mehrabad International Airport, with CNN verifying the location of a video showing the incident.

The video, posted on social media early Wednesday local time, captured multiple loud explosions and flashes of fire. Additionally, a new airstrike hit a residential area in Tehran at dawn on Wednesday, prompting rescue operations by the Iranian Red Crescent Society.

The report cites Al Jazeera as the source of information, but further details about the scale of destruction or international responses were not provided.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced it has begun what it described as its most intense and powerful operation since the start of the ongoing war. According to Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB, missiles were launched overnight at various targets in Israel and at US installations in the region.

The IRGC stated that it will continue its attacks with precision and determination until the enemy fully surrenders, declaring that the war will end only when the shadow of conflict is removed from Iran. In a Pentagon briefing on Tuesday, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the United States would not retreat until the enemy is completely and finally defeated.

Early Wednesday morning, air raid sirens sounded across central Israel as the Israel Defense Forces warned of missile launches from Iran. No casualties were reported, according to initial information.

North Korea has expressed support for Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and condemned what it called “illegal” attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel. The statement was released through the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on behalf of North Korea’s Foreign Ministry. A ministry spokesperson said Pyongyang respects Iran’s right and choice in appointing Khamenei as its new Supreme Leader, following the succession from his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

According to the KCNA report, North Korea declared its backing for Khamenei’s appointment and voiced strong criticism of the US and Israel for their military actions against Iran. The spokesperson accused both countries of undermining regional peace and security and increasing instability in the international arena.

The statement underscores North Korea’s alignment with Iran amid heightened tensions involving Western powers, reflecting continued solidarity between the two nations against perceived external aggression.

France has declared that it will not support or participate in the joint United States and Israeli attack on Iran. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said on Tuesday that the assault violates international law and lacks a clear strategic purpose. In an interview with France-2, he emphasized that France is not involved in the conflict and does not approve of the military action.

Barrot called for an immediate reduction of tensions in the Middle East and urged Iran to reconsider its regional stance. He stated that France hopes Iran will stop acting as a destabilizing and dangerous force. The minister added that Tehran must commit to a fundamental change in its position and make significant concessions to pave the way for a lasting regional solution.

According to the report, regional tensions have sharply escalated since the joint US-Israel offensive began on February 28, leaving more than 1,200 people dead and 10,000 injured. Iran has since launched drone and missile attacks targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets.

Israeli airstrikes on the southern Lebanese city of Jouya have killed six people, including Mayor Fawzi Fawaz and council member Abbas Balbeki, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency. The report said several deadly attacks occurred across Lebanon within a few hours, marking a surge in violence in the region.

Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health confirmed that in Tyre district’s Hanaway city, two Israeli airstrikes killed three civilians, including a paramedic. Another strike in Tyre’s Al-Haoush area left one person dead and eight injured. In Zawtar al-Sharqiya, two more people were reported killed in separate Israeli attacks. The repeated strikes on Jouya caused multiple casualties, with local officials reportedly staying in the city to assist residents before being killed.

The series of attacks underscores the intensifying conflict between Israel and armed groups operating in southern Lebanon, with civilian areas increasingly affected by the violence.

More than 43,000 US citizens have left the Middle East for the United States since February 28, following the outbreak of conflict with Iran, according to a spokesperson for the US Department of State. Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said a special task force was formed to assist citizens, helping at least 30,000 Americans return home.

The State Department reported that over two dozen chartered flights were operated to evacuate citizens from the region. However, these flights carried less than 40 percent of their capacity on average, as many Americans preferred to travel on commercial flights. The evacuation process by air and land remains ongoing.

The department added that any US citizen seeking assistance to return home can still apply for support through the ongoing evacuation program.

An airstrike struck a residential area in Tehran early Wednesday, prompting rescue operations by the Iranian Red Crescent Society. The organization confirmed on social media that another residential area in the capital had been hit, and rescue and fire service teams were working at the scene. Video footage released by the Red Crescent showed rescuers entering a damaged building with a search dog amid scattered debris. The exact location of the strike within the city has not yet been confirmed.

According to Al Jazeera, at least one bank employee was killed in a separate airstrike on a Tehran bank. The report added that explosions were heard across the city overnight following new large-scale attack announcements by Israel and the United States. Tehran Governor Mohammad Sadegh Motamedian said that, in addition to residential areas, critical infrastructure such as electricity, water, gas, and communication networks had also been targeted, as reported by Iranian state media.

The extent of the damage and the total number of casualties remain unclear as rescue efforts continue.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that it carried out its 37th round of attacks targeting several Israeli cities and US military installations across the Middle East. According to a statement published by Iran’s Fars News Agency, the operation lasted more than three hours and involved the use of new-generation “super-heavy Khorramshahr” missiles in a multi-layered coordinated strike.

The IRGC said it struck the Hayela satellite communication center south of Tel Aviv for the second time, as well as military sites in Bir Ya’akov, western Jerusalem, and Haifa. The statement also claimed that Iranian forces attacked a US base in Erbil, Iraq, and the headquarters of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Manama, Bahrain. Israeli media Channel 12, cited by Al Jazeera, reported that one of the Iranian missiles hit an area near Tel Aviv, injuring several people.

The report, sourced from Reuters, did not include official responses from Israel, the United States, or Iran beyond the IRGC statement.

A senior Iranian security official told Iran’s Press TV that the country’s forces are fully prepared to resist any potential sabotage or ground operation by the United States. The official stated that Iran has been preparing for such a scenario for 20 years, drawing on experiences from conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, and other regions to strengthen its readiness.

According to the source, Iranian forces view any confrontation as an opportunity to neutralize or capture enemy personnel. The official warned that the United States should pay closer attention to the deadly risks ahead and learn from past bitter experiences.

The statement came in response to claims from the United States and Israel about possible airstrikes or ground operations targeting Iran’s sensitive facilities, particularly its nuclear capabilities. Iranian security forces reiterated that they are ready to face any situation that may arise.

A wave of drone and missile attacks targeting Saudi Arabia early Wednesday has intensified instability across the Middle East. According to international media reports, Saudi Arabia’s defense ministry said its air defense systems intercepted two drones over Hafar al-Batin and six ballistic missiles aimed at Prince Sultan Air Base, all destroyed midair with no casualties reported. The attacks came amid heightened military activity in Iran, Lebanon, Kuwait, Bahrain, and the Strait of Hormuz.

Inside Iran, police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan warned that protesters responding to foreign calls would be treated as enemies, following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s social media appeal urging Iranians to rise against their government. Hours later, Iranian missiles struck near Tel Aviv, injuring several people, while Israel launched fresh airstrikes in southern Beirut. Kuwait and Bahrain also reported drone incursions and raised alert levels.

The United States claimed its forces destroyed ten Iranian boats in the Strait of Hormuz to prevent mine-laying. The escalating exchanges of airstrikes, drone attacks, and maritime confrontations have spread tension throughout the region, with no sign of de-escalation.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned Iran not to place mines in the Strait of Hormuz, saying that if Tehran does so, it will face an unprecedented situation. Speaking on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump stated that there is no evidence Iran has mined the key shipping route but urged that any such mines be immediately removed. He added that removing already placed mines would be seen as a major step in the right direction.

The warning came after Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation discussing the Iran conflict and prospects for peace in Ukraine. Following their call, Trump told reporters in Florida that U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran were nearing completion and progressing faster than planned. Separately, Putin also spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, urging Iran to reduce tensions and seek a political resolution to the ongoing war.

The exchanges highlight growing diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation in the Gulf region while maintaining pressure on Iran to avoid actions that could disrupt global shipping routes.

Iran is pursuing a strategy to prolong its conflict with the United States and Israel rather than seeking a direct military victory. According to the report, Tehran aims to exhaust its adversaries through sustained warfare, using drone and missile strikes to spread fear and disrupt global energy supply routes. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has taken full control of the battlefield, directing attacks and overall strategy after the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in initial strikes. His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, has since been installed as the new supreme leader with IRGC backing.

Experts cited in the report describe Iran’s approach as an existential struggle, with some warning that the country has become more dangerous after suffering heavy losses. Iran has expanded its attacks across the Gulf region, targeting energy facilities in countries from Qatar to Saudi Arabia to pressure global markets and test Washington’s resolve.

U.S. President Donald Trump told Republican lawmakers that the war would continue until Iran is “completely and finally defeated,” though he predicted it would end soon.

Iran launched a new missile attack on Israel late Tuesday night, Bangladesh time, after a period of relative calm. The missiles triggered warning sirens across Tel Aviv, Israel’s commercial capital. According to reports, the assault was part of Iran’s ongoing campaign named “Operation True Promise-4.”

A spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Armed Forces Headquarters stated that the latest strikes targeted Israel’s energy infrastructure. The attacks reportedly hit oil and gas refineries and storage tanks in the northern city of Haifa, as well as a satellite communication center near Tel Aviv. The Iranian military described the operation as a retaliatory move following an earlier attack on its own oil depots.

The renewed hostilities mark the 33rd phase of Iran’s “Operation True Promise-4,” signaling continued escalation between the two countries. The situation has heightened alert levels in Israel’s major cities as both sides exchange strikes.