A US Navy surveillance drone, the MQ-4C Triton, went missing over the Strait of Hormuz area on Friday after issuing an emergency alert during flight. The aircraft, valued at more than $200 million, disappeared shortly after transmitting a 7700 emergency code and beginning a rapid descent. The drone had been conducting a three-hour surveillance mission over the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz and was reportedly returning to its base when contact was lost.

According to the report, the drone was seen losing altitude quickly after turning slightly toward Iran before vanishing. It remains unclear whether the aircraft crashed or was shot down. The incident occurred shortly after a ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, adding to the sensitivity of the situation.

The disappearance raises questions about the stability of the ceasefire and the security of aerial operations in the region, though no official explanation has yet been provided.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for the protection of hospitals in Lebanon as Israeli airstrikes continued overnight across the southern regions, including Sidon and Nabatieh. Surveillance drones were reported over Beirut, and the Israeli military issued new forced evacuation orders for the southern suburbs, extending to the Janah area where thousands of displaced people had taken refuge.

WHO expressed deep concern that two major hospitals in Janah, currently operating at full capacity, are at risk. The facilities are treating around 450 patients, and with other hospitals already overcrowded, transferring these patients elsewhere is nearly impossible. The pressure on Lebanon’s health system has intensified since last Wednesday’s attacks, which injured more than a thousand people.

Many of those ordered to leave Janah had previously fled from other conflict zones, facing displacement for a second time. Israel claims its operations target Hezbollah positions, but the proximity of evacuation orders to civilian infrastructure and hospitals has drawn widespread international criticism.

The United States and Israel jointly launched an invasion of Iran on February 28, 2026. US President Donald Trump attempted to justify the operation by portraying it as a moral struggle between good and evil, but the American public has largely viewed the war as unnecessary. Evangelical Christian leaders in the United States have intensified efforts to present the invasion as a religious war, seeking to rally support among believers.

A two-week ceasefire was announced on Tuesday, following rising domestic dissatisfaction over the conflict. The war has negatively affected Trump’s popularity, driven by higher fuel prices and American military casualties. Despite this, Trump continues to emphasize the war’s spiritual significance, describing a recent pilot rescue as an “Easter miracle” and claiming divine blessing for the joint US-Israeli campaign.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and several conservative evangelical pastors, including Trump ally Robert Jeffress, have cited biblical verses to justify the invasion and highlight Israel’s role in Christian prophecy. They argue that the existence of modern Israel is essential for the prophesied return of Jesus Christ.

The fragile two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran is on the verge of collapse following renewed accusations from both sides just hours before a planned high-level meeting in Islamabad. According to AFP, tensions have escalated over disagreements involving the Strait of Hormuz and Lebanon, with both nations refusing to compromise on key issues.

US President Donald Trump accused Iran of failing to uphold its commitment to ensure oil supply through the Strait of Hormuz, warning against any collection of fees from oil tankers. Meanwhile, Tehran insists that continued Israeli attacks in Lebanon violate the ceasefire terms, while Washington and Tel Aviv maintain that the truce applies only to direct US-Iran hostilities, not to Hezbollah.

Diplomatic analysts cited by AFP said that the Islamabad meeting, attended by US Vice President JD Vance and senior Iranian leaders, will determine whether peace can be restored or if the region will slide back into conflict. If no progress is made on reopening the strait and resolving the Lebanon issue, the ceasefire could formally end at any moment.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has warned that the country will avenge every martyr killed in the joint attack by the United States and Israel. In a statement broadcast on state television, he declared that Iran is determined to seek retribution for all killings, including that of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was reportedly killed on the first day of the war. The statement emphasized Iran’s resolve to demand compensation for all losses, the blood of martyrs, and the injuries sustained in the conflict.

The statement also mentioned that Iran would take the management of the Strait of Hormuz to a new stage, though no further details were provided about what that would entail. Meanwhile, discussions between the United States and Iran on a possible ceasefire are scheduled to take place in Islamabad on Friday, with Pakistan preparing to host the talks.

The developments come amid heightened regional tensions and uncertainty about the next steps in the ongoing conflict.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has stated that the country’s armed forces have not launched any missiles toward any nation since the start of the ongoing ceasefire. The statement was published by Iran’s Fars News Agency and came in response to reports of a drone attack on a facility of Kuwait’s semi-military National Guard.

In its statement, the IRGC said that if the reports of the drone attack were true, the incident was undoubtedly the work of what it called the Zionist enemy or the United States. The IRGC further emphasized that if Iran’s armed forces were to strike any target, the action would be officially announced with courage through an official statement.

The clarification appears aimed at distancing Iran from responsibility for the reported drone strike amid heightened regional tensions and ongoing ceasefire conditions.

Pakistan has pledged full cooperation and support to the United States and Iran to help achieve a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir held a meeting in Islamabad ahead of planned peace talks. The meeting reviewed progress in Pakistan’s mediation efforts and emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and ceasefire by all parties.

According to a government statement released on Thursday, both leaders praised the restraint shown by the United States and Iran and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to assist both sides in reaching a peaceful settlement through dialogue. The statement highlighted Islamabad’s continuing role as a mediator in the region.

The meeting took place just before Pakistan was set to host delegations from the United States and Iran following the announcement of a temporary ceasefire brokered by Islamabad.

Iran has set a new condition allowing no more than 15 ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz each day. The restriction is part of a 10-point proposal Iran sent to the United States, according to Russia’s state news agency TASS. The report said Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire with the US on the condition that daily ship movements remain under this limit and that all vessel activity be subject to Iranian authorization and regulation.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) will oversee and monitor maritime traffic under the new rules. Iran has also informed other Gulf nations about the restriction. A senior Iranian official told TASS that all foreign commercial vessels must now comply with Iranian approval and a specific protocol for passage. The official added that the decision has been formally communicated to regional parties and that returning to pre-war conditions is no longer possible.

The move signals Iran’s intent to maintain strict control over maritime routes during the ceasefire period, emphasizing its strategic leverage in the region.

U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a warning to Iran over its activities in the Strait of Hormuz. In a social media post on April 10, 2026, he accused Iran of behaving 'very badly' regarding the passage of oil tankers, saying such actions violate existing agreements. Trump claimed that Iran was reportedly charging fees from tankers passing through the strait and urged Tehran to stop immediately.

His remarks have heightened tensions just two days after a ceasefire between the United States and Iran took effect. Earlier, Trump had announced that if Iran fully, immediately, and safely reopened the Strait of Hormuz, the United States would suspend military operations for two weeks.

The Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global energy supply, has not yet returned to normal operations. Since the conflict began on February 28, shipping through the area has remained limited, raising concerns about stability in the region.

Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif called Israel a “devil” and a “curse for humanity” in a post on social media platform X, accusing it of continuing to kill civilians in Lebanon despite ongoing ceasefire discussions. He alleged that Israel was committing genocide in Lebanon following its actions in Gaza and Iran, and said those who created Israel on Palestinian land should “burn in hell.”

In response, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned Asif’s comments, describing them as a call for Israel’s destruction. The statement said such remarks were intolerable, particularly from a government that claims to act as a neutral mediator for peace.

The exchange comes as Israel continues airstrikes in Lebanon despite diplomatic efforts led by Pakistan to broker a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran. Lebanese authorities reported intensified Israeli attacks since Wednesday, killing at least 303 people and injuring 1,150, while the health ministry said 1,888 have been killed and 6,092 injured since March 2.

South Korea has decided to send a new special envoy to Tehran to safeguard its citizens and commercial vessels amid the ongoing Iran-Israel war. The decision was confirmed by South Korea’s official news agency Yonhap. Former ambassador to Kuwait, Chung Byung-ha, has been appointed to the post and is expected to depart for Tehran soon.

According to Yonhap, Chung’s primary responsibility will be to coordinate the safe passage of South Korean ships and ensure the security of nationals in the Middle East during the conflict. He will particularly focus on resolving issues related to South Korean commercial ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz. The appointment came a day after a phone conversation between South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

The Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s key energy supply routes, has seen severe disruption due to the Iran–United States–Israel conflict. Yonhap reported that at least 26 South Korea-linked commercial vessels are currently stranded there, posing a major challenge for the new envoy.

U.S. President Donald Trump has accused Iran of acting in violation of existing international agreements by imposing fees on tankers passing through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump warned that Iran should immediately stop collecting such fees if reports are accurate. The Strait of Hormuz is a key global energy route, carrying about 20 percent of the world’s oil and LNG shipments.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans to begin direct talks with Lebanon aimed at disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations. The U.S. State Department is expected to host a meeting in Washington next week to discuss a possible ceasefire. However, Netanyahu told northern Israeli residents that no ceasefire is currently in effect.

Recent Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have caused heavy casualties, with the Lebanese Health Ministry reporting at least 303 deaths and 1,150 injuries. The World Health Organization warned that evacuation orders in southern Beirut threaten hospitals treating hundreds of patients, calling the situation nearly impossible to manage.

More than 60 countries have jointly condemned recent Israeli attacks on United Nations peacekeepers stationed in Lebanon. The coordinated statement, initiated by Indonesia, described the assaults as unacceptable and called for immediate measures to ensure the safety of peacekeeping personnel. The joint declaration followed a series of incidents that left peacekeepers from France, Ghana, Indonesia, Nepal, and Poland injured.

The coalition of nations also expressed deep concern over Lebanon’s worsening humanitarian situation, citing widespread civilian casualties, infrastructure destruction, and the displacement of over one million people. The United Nations reported that preliminary findings indicated one peacekeeper was killed by Israeli tank fire on March 29, while two others died the following day from an explosive device that the UN assessed was likely planted by Hezbollah.

The statement urged all parties involved to respect international law and take immediate steps to protect UN personnel operating in the conflict zone.

Iran and the United States agreed to a temporary ceasefire late Tuesday, 39 days after their conflict began, with Pakistan mediating the deal. A key goal was reopening the strategic Strait of Hormuz, but Iran has kept it closed after Israel, backed by the U.S., continued attacks in Lebanon. Tehran has instead released an alternative shipping route to avoid mines and requires vessels to coordinate with its navy. Iranian officials insist the strait’s reopening depends on U.S. restraint and regional stability.

Disagreement persists over whether Lebanon is covered by the ceasefire. Israel’s airstrikes in Lebanon have killed at least 303 people and injured over 1,165, prompting condemnation from Lebanese and Iranian leaders. Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian warned that continued Israeli attacks would render talks meaningless, while Hezbollah retaliated with rocket fire into northern Israel. U.S. and Iranian delegations are set to meet in Islamabad on Saturday to discuss the truce.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard imposed a one-dollar-per-barrel toll on oil shipments through Hormuz, payable in cryptocurrency or Chinese yuan, during the ceasefire period. The situation remains tense as both sides prepare for further negotiations.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said it would be “dumb” for the United States to let Israel jeopardize the regional ceasefire by continuing its attacks on Lebanon, which have killed hundreds since the truce began. Araghchi linked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s actions to his upcoming corruption trial, suggesting the Israeli leader has personal motives for prolonging the conflict. He warned that if Washington allows Netanyahu to “kill diplomacy,” it would harm the US economy, adding that Tehran is prepared for such an outcome.

The dispute over whether Lebanon is covered by the ceasefire has become a major threat to the truce’s survival. Iranian officials and media have hinted at possible military responses or even blocking the Strait of Hormuz if the ceasefire is not enforced in Lebanon. Meanwhile, US officials, including Vice President JD Vance, have urged restraint, and former President Donald Trump said he told Israel to scale back operations.

Despite these calls, Israeli strikes have intensified, killing more than 300 people in Lebanon, including rescuers in Borj Qalaouiye, and prompting displacement orders in Beirut’s Jnah area.