Iran has maintained control over the Strait of Hormuz despite suffering naval losses from joint U.S. and Israeli strikes. Using small, fast boats collectively known as the “Mosquito Fleet,” Tehran continues to pressure U.S. forces in the region. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) deploys these vessels separately from Iran’s regular navy, capable of launching drones and missiles from hidden coastal bases. On Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced via social media that the strait had been fully reopened, a move welcomed by U.S. President Trump, who said American port blockades would remain until a peace deal is reached.

Experts describe the IRGC’s naval tactics as guerrilla-style, relying on surprise attacks rather than conventional warfare. Analysts note that many of the small boats are difficult to detect by satellite and can be deployed within minutes from concealed bases along Iran’s rocky coast. The IRGC’s maritime force, numbering around 50,000 personnel, operates across five sectors and maintains at least ten secret bases along the Gulf.

U.S. naval officials and analysts warn that these small, fast attack boats, along with drones and missiles, continue to pose a serious threat to commercial shipping in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry confirmed on Thursday that the United States and Iran remain in contact through Islamabad to arrange a second round of negotiations aimed at ending their nearly seven-week war. The ministry said no date has been set for the next meeting, though Pakistan continues to push for dialogue as the fragile ceasefire it brokered on April 8 nears expiration. Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi emphasized confidentiality and said nuclear issues remain central to the discussions.

The announcement coincided with Pakistan’s broader diplomatic outreach, dubbed the “Islamabad Process.” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is touring regional capitals, including Jeddah, Doha, and Antalya, while Chief of Defence Forces Asim Munir leads talks in Tehran. Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan reaffirmed Tehran’s trust in Islamabad as the sole venue for talks. Meanwhile, Turkiye is preparing to host a separate regional security platform meeting involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and possibly Egypt.

The ceasefire, still holding but under strain, is set to expire on April 22. Analysts cited in the report said extending the truce remains likely, though unresolved disputes over Lebanon and Iran’s nuclear program continue to complicate progress toward a lasting peace.

Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, has concluded a three-day visit to Tehran, according to a statement from Pakistan’s military. The visit was described as part of ongoing efforts to end the war involving the United States. During his stay, Munir met with Iran’s top leadership and negotiators, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and Major General Ali Abdollahi, commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters.

The military statement emphasized that the visit reflected Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to facilitating a dialogue-based resolution to the Middle East conflict. It also underscored Islamabad’s desire to promote peace, stability, and prosperity across the region.

The trip highlighted Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement with Iran at a time of heightened regional tensions, signaling Islamabad’s interest in supporting negotiated solutions to ongoing conflicts.

The United Nations women's agency has reported that Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip have killed an average of at least 47 women and girls every day. The report, released in Geneva, warns that this deadly trend has continued even six months after a fragile ceasefire. According to the agency, more than 38,000 women and girls were killed in Gaza between October 2023 and December 2025.

The report notes that despite the ceasefire halting two years of full-scale war, large parts of Gaza remain under Israeli military control, while Hamas maintains a presence in coastal areas. Local medical sources said more than 750 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire. UNICEF also reported that at least 214 children have died in the past six months, describing the rate of child casualties as alarming.

The UN estimates that around one million women and girls have been displaced in Gaza, with widespread infrastructure damage severely limiting access to health services. The World Health Organization said over half a million women are deprived of essential care, including maternal and reproductive health services. Agencies warned that the humanitarian crisis could worsen if current conditions persist.

A BBC report and eyewitness accounts have revisited the 2001 border clash between Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) and India’s Border Security Force (BSF) at Boraibari in Kurigram. The conflict began after BSF built a road through the Bangladesh border near Padua in Sylhet, despite BDR objections. Following an earlier confrontation where BSF troops surrendered, BSF forces allegedly planned to seize the Boraibari BDR camp. On April 18, 2001, hundreds of BSF soldiers advanced toward the camp, but eight BDR members and local villagers, including trained Ansar volunteers, mounted a defense that forced the BSF to retreat after intense fighting lasting two days.

The clash left two BDR soldiers dead and 16 BSF bodies recovered inside Bangladesh territory, though the exact casualty figures remain unconfirmed. India expressed strong protest, and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina assured an investigation. BBC reports also mentioned claims that the incident might have been intended to strain Bangladesh-India relations. Then BDR Director General Major General (Retd.) A.L.M. Fazlur Rahman was later removed and forced into retirement, though he denied any wrongdoing.

The event remains noted as Bangladesh’s only direct border victory against India, achieved through tactical ingenuity and local cooperation.

Japan and Australia have signed a major defense agreement worth 10 billion Australian dollars, equivalent to about 7 billion US dollars, for the supply of advanced warships. The memorandum of understanding was signed in Melbourne on Saturday by Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles and Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, reaffirming both governments’ commitment to the successful implementation of the project.

Under the agreement, Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will deliver three advanced Mogami-class multi-role frigates to the Royal Australian Navy starting in 2029. An additional eight frigates will later be built at the Henderson Shipyard near Perth in Western Australia. Japan’s defense ministry said the deal strengthens bilateral defense relations and formalizes the process of supplying general-purpose frigates.

According to the report, Australia plans to deploy the new warships to protect key maritime trade routes and access points in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Analysts noted that the agreement adds a new dimension to regional security strategy amid China’s growing military presence.

Many vessels are still avoiding the Strait of Hormuz despite Iran’s announcement that the key waterway is open to all commercial shipping. Maritime transport expert Jean-Paul Rodrigue of Texas A&M University told Al Jazeera that contradictory information from multiple sides has kept many ships from using the route. He said that although some vessels have attempted to pass through since the announcement, many have turned back due to ongoing uncertainty.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi earlier declared the strait fully open to commercial traffic. However, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that if the United States continues to impose blockades on Iranian ports, the strait would not remain open. Rodrigue noted that major shipping companies such as Maersk would only feel comfortable resuming transit once all Iranian restrictions or controls are completely lifted.

The situation underscores the fragile security and trade environment in one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, with uncertainty still shaping global shipping decisions.

Within a 24-hour period, both the United States and Iran issued a series of major and often contradictory statements concerning the Hormuz Strait. On Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced on X that the strait would remain fully open for the remainder of the ceasefire period. Minutes later, Donald Trump responded on Truth Social, thanking Iran but confirming that the US naval blockade on Iranian ports would continue until all transactions with Iran were fully completed.

Following a virtual meeting with about 40 countries, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron said they would lead an international mission to safeguard freedom of navigation once conditions allowed. Hours later, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf dismissed Trump’s claims as false and warned that the strait would not remain open if the blockade persisted.

By Saturday, maritime tracking data showed some ships passing through the strait, but Iran’s military later announced it was reasserting control, citing US noncompliance. Shortly afterward, several vessels reportedly reversed course, signaling renewed uncertainty over the waterway’s status.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan praised Pakistan’s efforts to promote peace in the Middle East during a meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The meeting took place on Friday on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey, a day after Sharif arrived in the country as part of his three-nation tour following visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

According to a statement from the Pakistani Prime Minister’s Office, Erdogan warmly welcomed Sharif and thanked him for attending the diplomacy forum. The two leaders discussed recent regional developments, particularly the evolving situation in the Middle East. Sharif expressed gratitude for Erdogan’s strong support and encouragement for Pakistan’s peace initiatives.

Both leaders emphasized the importance of seizing current opportunities to advance a sustainable and lasting regional peace process. They reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the strategic partnership between Pakistan and Turkey, grounded in their shared vision of peace, prosperity, and brotherhood.

The world’s largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald Ford, has re-entered Middle Eastern waters, according to two unnamed US defense officials cited by the Associated Press. The carrier, accompanied by destroyers USS Mahan and USS Winston Churchill, crossed the Suez Canal and is now positioned in the Red Sea. It had previously been stationed in the eastern Mediterranean but returned to port for repairs following a fire in one of its laundry rooms.

The redeployment of the Gerald Ford marks a renewed show of US naval strength in the region. The USS Abraham Lincoln is already deployed in the Arabian Sea, while another carrier, the USS George Bush, is reportedly moving toward the area and currently near the coast of South Africa. Officials also noted that the Gerald Ford recently set a record for the longest deployment of a US aircraft carrier since the Vietnam War.

The carrier last anchored at Croatia’s Split port on March 28, 2026, before resuming operations toward the Middle East.

The US Navy has dismissed reports circulating on social media that claimed severe food shortages aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli, both currently deployed in the Middle East. Images showing nearly empty food trays had fueled speculation that sailors were facing inadequate meals on the vessels.

In a statement posted on X, the Chief of Naval Operations said that both ships have sufficient and healthy food supplies for all personnel. He emphasized that the health and well-being of sailors and marines remain his top priority, and that all crew members are receiving nutritionally balanced meals.

The clarification came after widespread online discussion about the alleged shortages, which the Navy described as false information. The statement aimed to reassure the public and families of service members about the conditions on board.

The first Hajj flight from Bangladesh for the 2026 pilgrimage has arrived in Saudi Arabia. Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG-3001 landed at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah at 4:20 a.m. local time, carrying 419 pilgrims. The flight marks the beginning of this year’s official Hajj operations from Bangladesh.

Upon arrival, the Bangladeshi pilgrims were welcomed by Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Md. Delwar Hossain, and Hajj Counselor Md. Kamrul Islam. They were greeted with flowers and provided with refreshment kits. Other officials present included Consul General Md. Sakhawat Hossain, Assistant Seasonal Hajj Officer Md. Ruhul Amin, Jeddah Hajj Terminal Head of Operations Yahya Radi, and Raed Bakshaun, Manager of Saudi firm Nusuk Marhaba.

Prime Minister Tarek Rahman inaugurated the 2026 Hajj flight operations the previous night at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, officially launching Bangladesh’s Hajj travel season for the year.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has accused Israel of attempting to seize more land under the pretext of security. Speaking at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Fidan said that Israel is not pursuing genuine security concerns but is instead engaged in a broader effort to expand its territorial control. He specifically criticized the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for using security as an excuse to justify further land occupation.

The comments came as Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that Israel would maintain its positions in southern Lebanon, which it has taken and now controls, despite a ceasefire with Lebanon. Katz also warned that Israel’s military operations in Lebanon are not yet over and vowed to disarm the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah by any means necessary.

The exchange of statements highlights ongoing regional tensions following the ceasefire, with Turkey voicing strong opposition to Israel’s continued military and territorial actions.

The United Kingdom has called on Iran to fully reopen maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper made the appeal during a meeting on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey. She noted that while discussions to end the war are ongoing and a ceasefire is in effect, normal navigation through the strait has not yet resumed. Cooper emphasized that restoring maritime operations is essential for the global economy and urged that the current ceasefire be turned into lasting peace.

In response, Iran announced renewed restrictions over the Strait of Hormuz. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Joint Military Command stated that due to continued U.S. naval blockades, the situation in the strait has reverted to its previous state. The IRGC also accused the United States of engaging in piracy-like activities under the guise of a blockade.

The developments highlight ongoing geopolitical friction in one of the world’s most critical maritime routes, with implications for global trade and regional stability.

Iran has announced renewed restrictions on navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, citing continued U.S. naval blockades. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) joint military command stated that the situation in the strategic waterway has reverted to its previous state due to what it described as ongoing U.S. obstruction. According to Iran’s state media, the IRGC accused the United States of engaging in piracy and maritime theft under the guise of a blockade.

The IRGC declared that the Strait of Hormuz is now under the armed forces’ strict management and control, with vessel movement limited as before. It warned that these restrictions will remain until full freedom of navigation for Iran-bound ships is restored. The announcement signals a renewed phase of tension in one of the world’s most critical energy supply routes.

Observers note that the situation raises concerns about potential disruptions to global energy flows, as the Strait of Hormuz remains a vital passage for international oil transport.