Severe confusion and disruption have gripped maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, leaving thousands of ships stranded. Live tracking data shows most vessels turning westward despite Iran’s announcement that the route is open for commercial navigation. Yesterday, at least 12 ships attempted to approach Larak Island, where Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps monitors movement, but all turned back midway. About 10 ships managed to cross into the Gulf of Oman today, five of which are reportedly under U.S. sanctions.

The situation has created major uncertainty for international shipping companies, most of which are avoiding risk. Gulf states have strongly protested the disruption, calling it unacceptable and reiterating that free passage through the Strait of Hormuz is a universal right. They maintain that Iran cannot impose restrictions on this vital maritime route.

The unfolding situation raises questions about how long the blockage will persist and whether U.S. naval forces will intervene to enforce sanctions or ensure freedom of navigation.

Iran has reopened six airports and allowed limited flights in its airspace after several weeks of suspension. The move comes just days before the end of a two-week ceasefire period, signaling a possible easing of restrictions in the country’s eastern skies. Flight tracking data showed at least two aircraft operating in Iranian airspace in recent hours. The reopened airports include Tehran’s Imam Khomeini and Mehrabad, along with Mashhad, Birjand, Gorgan, and Zahedan.

Mehrabad Airport had suffered severe infrastructure damage during 40 days of conflict, when U.S. and Israeli forces carried out heavy bombings in nearby areas. Despite the destruction, the airport’s reopening is being viewed as a significant step toward restoring normal operations. Local sources indicated that airlines are preparing to resume both domestic and international services.

However, the overall situation remains fragile, and observers are closely monitoring whether the resumption of air traffic can continue under current conditions.

Iran has withdrawn its earlier decision to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, accusing the United States of breaching trust. The announcement came through a statement from Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya military headquarters, which said the country had previously allowed limited oil and commercial vessel movement under a prior agreement. However, it claimed that the United States violated that understanding by continuing actions described as maritime piracy and theft under the pretext of sanctions.

The statement added that the strategic waterway is now under strict control of Iran’s armed forces. It warned that the situation would remain tense until the United States removes obstacles to the free movement of ships to and from Iran. Analysts cited in the report noted that Iran has been using control over this vital route as a key bargaining tool amid regional security and economic pressures.

The development underscores ongoing tensions between Tehran and Washington, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining a focal point of geopolitical friction in the region.

The Iranian Navy has announced the renewed closure of the Strait of Hormuz, according to shipping sources cited by Al Jazeera. The declaration was reportedly made through a radio message informing merchant vessels that the waterway is now closed and no ships are permitted to pass through. The announcement marks a sudden reversal, as Iran had previously declared the strait open for commercial navigation.

The abrupt decision has created significant confusion among international shipping companies, which are now waiting for clarity on the actual status of the vital maritime route. The Strait of Hormuz is a key passage for global trade, and uncertainty over its accessibility has raised concerns within the shipping community.

The situation remains unclear as companies and observers await further confirmation or updates from Iranian authorities regarding the duration and scope of the closure.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGC) announced on Saturday that the Strait of Hormuz is closed and any vessel attempting to pass through will be targeted. The decision reverses an earlier reopening of the vital waterway less than 24 hours prior. The IRGC said the closure will remain until the United States lifts its naval blockade on Iranian vessels and ports, calling the blockade a violation of the ceasefire in the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran. The statement warned that any ship approaching the strait would be considered cooperating with the enemy.

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the strait is under Iran’s control and criticized the US blockade as “clumsy and ignorant.” The reversal came after Iran briefly reopened the strait in line with a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, which had led to a temporary drop in global oil prices. Reports from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations and India’s Ministry of External Affairs indicated that Iranian gunboats fired on two commercial ships.

US President Donald Trump warned that Washington would not be blackmailed and threatened to end the ceasefire if no deal is reached before its expiry. Analysts said the renewed closure signals a return to heightened tensions and competing blockades in the region.

An Israeli soldier was killed in southern Lebanon despite a ceasefire currently in effect between Israel and Lebanon, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The IDF stated that the soldier died from injuries sustained during fighting on Friday, and three other soldiers were wounded in the same incident. The report was carried by the BBC, citing the IDF statement.

The ceasefire between the two countries has been in place since April 16 and is set for ten days, but tensions remain high. The IDF said it continues to operate across southern Lebanon between the Israeli border and the designated demarcation line to eliminate threats, asserting that these actions are consistent with the terms of the ceasefire. Lebanese state media reported that one person was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Friday.

Details about the specific circumstances of the clashes and the identities of those involved have not been released, leaving uncertainty about the scale of the confrontation.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has expressed strong outrage after two water truck drivers contracted to supply clean water to families in Gaza were shot dead by Israeli forces. The incident occurred at the Mansura water filling station in northern Gaza, the only operational truck filling point on the Mekorot line supplying Gaza City. UNICEF confirmed that two others were injured during the attack, which took place while regular water supply operations were underway without any procedural changes.

Following the incident, all operations at the filling point have been suspended. UNICEF has called on Israeli authorities to conduct an immediate investigation and hold those responsible accountable. The agency emphasized that humanitarian workers, emergency service providers, and civilian infrastructure—especially essential water supply systems—must never be targeted.

UNICEF reiterated that under international humanitarian law, civilians and life-saving aid providers must be protected at all times.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, accusing the United States of violating a ceasefire agreement. According to a statement reported by Al Jazeera, the IRGC said the closure would take effect from Saturday evening and remain in place until further notice. The group alleged that while several ships had crossed the strait the previous day, the U.S. failed to lift its naval blockade on Iranian vessels and ports, which it described as a breach of the ceasefire terms.

The IRGC warned all ships in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman not to leave their anchorages, cautioning that any vessel approaching the Strait of Hormuz would be considered as cooperating with the enemy and could be targeted. It instructed ship operators to follow only official IRGC Navy communications and Channel 16 directives. The statement also dismissed the U.S. president’s remarks on the region as unreliable and unacceptable.

The closure raises immediate concerns for maritime traffic and regional stability, though no timeline for reopening was provided.

The Israeli military has acknowledged carrying out several artillery and air strikes in southern Lebanon even after a ceasefire took effect. In an official statement, the army said its troops remain stationed in the region and launched the attacks when Lebanese fighters approached their positions. The military described those fighters as an 'imminent threat' and claimed the actions were taken in self-defense.

According to the statement, Israel argued that measures taken for self-defense and to remove immediate threats do not fall under the ceasefire’s restrictions. Earlier reports indicated that Israeli shells struck the Lebanese towns of Beit Lif, Qantara, and Tulin, while Israeli forces continued demolishing residential structures in several areas of southern Lebanon.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, highlights ongoing tensions along the border despite the declared ceasefire, suggesting that the situation remains fragile and prone to renewed escalation.

US President Donald Trump has warned that Iran cannot 'blackmail' the United States by threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz. According to Al Jazeera, Iran announced it was tightening control over the vital waterway in response to a US naval blockade of Iranian ports that began on April 14. Tehran claims the blockade violates ceasefire terms, while Trump stated that although discussions with Iran are going well, any attempt to shut down the strategic oil corridor would not succeed in pressuring Washington.

Commercial ships in the region reported receiving radio messages from Iran’s navy warning that no vessels would be allowed to pass through the strait. This has raised uncertainty about whether the Strait of Hormuz remains open and safe for navigation.

The situation underscores rising tensions in the Gulf, with both sides maintaining firm positions over maritime control and sanctions enforcement.

An Indian commercial vessel named Sanmar Herald came under attack while crossing the Strait of Hormuz, according to a senior Indian government source cited by Reuters on Saturday. The ship, which was carrying crude oil, was fired upon by two gunboats belonging to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. Despite the assault, all crew members and the vessel were reported safe.

The incident forced the Sanmar Herald and at least one other Indian ship, including a supertanker carrying about two million barrels of Iraqi oil, to alter their routes and return. The attack occurred shortly after Iran reimposed restrictions and sanctions on the vital waterway amid heightened tensions with the United States.

In response, New Delhi summoned Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Fatali to lodge a strong protest and demanded assurances for the safety of Indian vessels navigating international sea routes.

Bangladesh on April 18 observed Borai Bari Day, commemorating the 2001 border battle in Roumari upazila of Kurigram, where the then Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) repelled an incursion by India’s Border Security Force (BSF). The clash began around 4 a.m. when about 400 Indian commandos, soldiers, and BSF personnel crossed the border fence into Bangladesh. Local farmer Minhaj Uddin alerted the BDR, prompting a rapid response. Fighting intensified after reinforcements arrived under Lt. Col. Zaman, lasting two days and resulting in the deaths of three BDR soldiers and 16 BSF members, with two BSF personnel captured alive.

The confrontation followed a long-standing dispute over the Padua area, which had been under BSF control since the 1971 Liberation War. After BDR retook Padua on April 15, 2001, BSF launched the Borai Bari attack three days later. The battle caused civilian casualties and forced about 40,000 villagers from 25 border villages to flee temporarily.

Even after 25 years, residents recall the fear and destruction but regard the event as a symbol of Bangladesh’s courage and sacrifice at the frontier.

Israel intends to implement a so-called 'yellow line' in Lebanon, mirroring a strategy previously used in Gaza, according to senior officials of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The officials said residents of 55 Lebanese villages located within this designated area would not be allowed to return. The measure was discussed during a Saturday briefing where IDF officers confirmed that the model used in Gaza would be replicated in Lebanon.

The 'yellow line' concept was originally introduced in Gaza as part of a ceasefire arrangement, creating zones that local residents were prohibited from entering. IDF officials stated that even during a ceasefire, the military would continue to destroy infrastructure within the restricted area. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz also said the IDF would maintain control over all territories it had captured.

The report noted that many residents of southern Lebanon had begun returning home following the implementation of a ceasefire, but the new restrictions could prevent those living within the designated zone from doing so.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has permitted limited ship movement through the Strait of Hormuz despite U.S. sanctions. The decision, made within the past hour, is being described as a gesture of goodwill, though the overall situation remains tense. Iran has allowed passage only for vessels it does not consider hostile and has announced plans for a new control system in the strategic waterway.

A recently released IRGC map labels southern waters near Oman as a “danger zone” while marking Iran’s coastal routes as “safe zones,” signaling Tehran’s intent to assert greater authority over the strait. Iran is also considering a toll collection system, which it views as a means to recover war-related losses. Broader negotiations remain unresolved, with Iran demanding an end to regional conflict, security guarantees, sanctions relief, the return of frozen assets, and improved regional ties.

The situation remains fragile, and uncertainty continues to dominate, making near-term diplomatic progress difficult according to the report.

Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shama Obaid Islam, has traveled to Senegal to attend the Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she left Dhaka on Saturday to participate in the high-level international conference scheduled to take place in Dakar from April 19 to 22, 2026.

The Dakar International Forum, launched in 2014, serves as a major platform for discussions on peace and security issues across Africa and globally. It brings together African leaders, global policymakers, defense experts, and international partners to exchange views on pressing security challenges. The forum regularly addresses topics such as terrorism, extremism, maritime security, climate change risks, and transnational crime.

During the event, Shama Obaid Islam is also expected to hold several bilateral and side meetings, where she will highlight Bangladesh’s commitment to global peace, multilateralism, and international security cooperation. She is scheduled to return home on April 24, 2026.