United News of Bangladesh

Jordanian air defenses intercepted five missiles launched from Iran early Thursday, the state-run Petra news agency reported, hours after the US military said it had carried out a major new wave of strikes against Iran. No casualties were reported in Jordan following the missile interceptions, Petra quoted a spokesman for the Jordanian armed forces as saying. The US Central Command said in a social media post that American forces had spent more than two hours striking “dozens” of targets linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The targets included military command centers, missile and drone facilities, and coastal surveillance and defense sites, according to the command. The strikes came hours after US President Donald Trump vowed to hit Iran “very hard” after Iranian forces targeted a US military base in Jordan. Iranian state media reported that two people were injured in attacks on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. Explosions were also reported in Khuzestan province in southwestern Iran. The latest escalation followed US and Saudi strikes on Iran-backed militias in neighboring Iraq on Wednesday. At least 20 fighters and six Iranian advisers were reportedly killed in those attacks. In another development, drone strikes set fire to two natural gas vessels at Egypt’s port of Damietta, British maritime security company Ambrey said. It was not immediately known who carried out the attacks on a US-owned floating storage facility and a Greek-owned tanker. No injuries were reported. The renewed violence on several fronts after days of relative calm raised fears that the conflict could again escalate into a full-scale war. The developments also highlighted the challenges of ending a five-month conflict that has disrupted the global economy and become increasingly unpopular among Americans. The continued fighting could also increase concerns that the US is using up its already limited stocks of advanced weapons needed to protect its military bases and allies.

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels said early Thursday they attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, while the United States carried out a 12th consecutive night of airstrikes on Iran, further escalating tensions in the region. The latest developments have raised fears of a wider conflict that could further disrupt global shipping and energy supplies, with no signs of progress in diplomatic efforts to ease the crisis. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the overnight strikes were aimed at weakening Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping and civilian vessels in regional waters as Washington seeks to restore safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Earlier on Wednesday, President Donald Trump warned that the US would target one Iranian bridge or power plant every time Iran attacked a ship in the Strait of Hormuz. "From this point forward, any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz... the United States will bomb and destroy one bridge or power plant," Trump wrote on social media. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking at a regional summit in the Philippines, said Iran had expressed interest in negotiations but questioned its willingness to honour any agreement. "The problem is making a deal with people who don't keep their commitments," Rubio said. Houthis claim tanker attacksThe Houthi-run SABA news agency said the rebels targeted the Saudi-linked oil tankers Encelia and Layla in the Red Sea, claiming both vessels caught fire. If confirmed, the attacks would be the Houthis' first reported strike on commercial ships since they announced a blockade of Saudi-linked shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait earlier this week. The group said the move was in retaliation for Saudi Arabia's blockade of Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen and a recent attack on Sanaa's international airport. Bab el-Mandeb is one of the world's busiest maritime routes, linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Around 12% of global trade, including roughly one-quarter of the world's container shipping, passes through the waterway. A senior Houthi official said the blockade would continue until Saudi Arabia lifted its restrictions on Yemen. Saudi Arabia's state news agency confirmed that the tanker Encelia was attacked and caught fire while sailing in the Red Sea, but said there were no casualties. It did not mention the Layla. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) also reported that a tanker had been struck by an unidentified projectile southwest of Saudi Arabia's Al Shuqaiq area. No casualties were reported. Rubio urged the Houthis to avoid further escalation, saying continued attacks would only worsen the situation. Strait of Hormuz tensions continueThe US air campaign comes as tensions remain high over the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important oil shipping routes. The waterway, through which about one-fifth of globally traded oil and gas normally passes, has been severely disrupted by the conflict. Iran says it has the right to regulate shipping through the strait and has targeted vessels using routes protected by US forces. In response, Washington has tightened its blockade on Iranian ports and expanded military operations across Iran. Trump also indicated this week that US forces could target an Iranian nuclear facility currently under construction. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf dismissed the US threats, saying conditions in the Strait of Hormuz would not return to how they were before the conflict. Overnight strikes and regional concernsIranian state media reported that US missiles hit areas near Ahvaz, Ramshir and Andimeshk in western Iran overnight. Two people were reportedly killed in a strike near the Iraqi border town of Shalamcheh. Iran has responded to US attacks by targeting energy facilities and desalination plants in neighbouring Gulf countries. Kuwait's military said its air defence systems intercepted hostile drones, while Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi warned that Tehran would respond forcefully to any further attacks. "Any aggression against Iran, including our infrastructure, will receive a strong and decisive response," he wrote on X. Diplomatic efforts remain stalledIranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni recently held talks in Pakistan, which has been trying to mediate between the parties, but there has been little indication of any diplomatic breakthrough. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attacks on the Saudi oil tankers. Meanwhile, Iran's Interior Ministry said diplomatic contacts were continuing despite the ongoing fighting. An Arab diplomat, speaking anonymously, said Gulf countries were becoming increasingly pessimistic about the chances of reducing tensions and remained deeply concerned about the latest escalation in the region.

The United States has carried out another wave of military strikes against Iran, with President Donald Trump pledging retaliation following the deaths of three American service members in recent attacks blamed on Tehran. The latest operation marked the 10th consecutive night of US strikes targeting what the military described as Iranian capabilities that could threaten shipping in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the strikes targeted military command centres, missile and drone launch sites, maritime assets and air defence systems in an effort to further weaken Iran’s offensive capabilities. Trump said Iran had been hit “very hard” during the previous night’s attacks, describing the operation as a response carried out in honour of three US soldiers killed in recent incidents in Jordan and Iraq. Iran, meanwhile, claimed it had retaliated by attacking two oil tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz and striking US military assets in Bahrain and Kuwait, according to the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA). Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the country was now engaged in a “full-scale war” with the United States. Despite the escalating conflict, Iranian officials said indirect diplomatic contacts between Tehran and Washington were continuing through intermediaries, even after the collapse of a ceasefire. CENTCOM said commercial shipping was continuing through the Strait of Hormuz despite the latest military exchanges. Iranian authorities said rescue teams were evacuating the crews of the two damaged oil tankers after the attacks. Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz had reported being struck by an unidentified projectile, forcing its crew to abandon the vessel and take to lifeboats. It was not immediately clear whether the ship was one of the two vessels cited by Iran. The US Department of Defense identified two of the three American service members killed in an Iranian strike on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan as Private Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Texas, and Lieutenant Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Hawaii. CENTCOM said another service member had initially been reported missing after the attack, with unidentified remains later recovered from the area. Regional tensions also spread beyond the Gulf. Jordan’s military said it intercepted three Iranian missiles after air raid sirens warned of incoming attacks, while Kuwait’s armed forces reported shooting down Iranian drones. Bahrain said Iranian drones targeted its air navigation systems, although authorities said air traffic operations were not disrupted. Iranian media reported that several cities, including Tabriz, Chabahar, Konarak, Bandar Mahshahr and Bandar Imam Khomeini, were hit during overnight US strikes. State media also reported explosions involving two oil tankers attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed the vessels had been using what it described as an “unsafe and hazardous” southern route through the waterway and said they exploded before coming to a halt. The US military disputed that account, maintaining that its operations were directed at military targets rather than commercial shipping.  Source: BBC  

The United States and Iran stepped up their military campaign across the Middle East on Friday, exchanging attacks on key infrastructure and military sites as tensions over the Strait of Hormuz continued to escalate. The United States broadened its offensive by striking additional bridges, energy facilities, and a surveillance tower at Iran’s strategic Chabahar port. The attacks align with President Donald Trump’s pledge to increase pressure on Tehran over its control of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route for oil and gas. Iran responded by launching missile attacks against U.S.-aligned countries, including Qatar and Kuwait. In Kuwait, a missile strike damaged a desalination plant, a critical source of the country’s drinking water, while Qatar reported injuries from falling debris after its air defenses intercepted incoming missiles. After days of escalating exchanges, the conflict remains centered on control of the Strait of Hormuz. An earlier ceasefire has collapsed, leaving little indication that the war—now more than four months old—will end soon. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said Friday’s operation marked the seventh consecutive night of strikes targeting Iran’s military infrastructure. According to the military, the attacks struck surveillance facilities, logistics hubs, underground weapons depots, and maritime assets. Iranian officials said recent U.S. airstrikes have killed dozens of civilians and injured hundreds, while the U.S. military acknowledged additional injuries among American service members. Early Saturday, Iran claimed two oil tankers exploded after entering a mined section of the Strait of Hormuz. The country offered no evidence, and CENTCOM rejected the allegation, calling it false. Since the conflict began in late February, Iran has effectively restricted shipping through the strait, pushing global oil prices above $86 a barrel and significantly reducing maritime traffic. Shipping activity has fallen to its lowest level in three weeks, according to international tracking data. In a televised address Thursday, President Trump said U.S. operations were succeeding and predicted the results would soon become evident. Before the war, Washington and Tehran had been negotiating over Iran’s nuclear program, but Trump now faces growing political pressure to end the conflict and avoid a prolonged military engagement. Bridges and Power Infrastructure TargetedIranian state media reported that overnight U.S. airstrikes struck bridges in Hormozgan province, including routes connecting Bandar Abbas—Iran’s largest port—to the country’s interior. The attacks also affected Bandar Khamir along the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s Energy Ministry acknowledged attacks on electrical infrastructure for the first time, urging residents in southern provinces to conserve electricity during extreme summer temperatures, although officials did not specify the damaged facilities. Authorities said at least 46 people have died and more than 400 have been injured in recent U.S. strikes, including eight fatalities in Friday’s bridge attack. Meanwhile, the Pentagon confirmed 13 additional U.S. service members were wounded this week, bringing total American casualties since the war began to 14 killed and 427 injured. Strategic Port Tower DestroyedFriday’s strikes also brought down a surveillance tower at Iran’s Chabahar port on the Gulf of Oman, an important commercial gateway serving Afghanistan and regional trade. Iranian officials described the structure as part of the port’s commercial operations, while CENTCOM said it supported Iran’s Revolutionary Guard by monitoring commercial shipping and identifying potential maritime targets. Iranian media later reported explosions in several provinces, including Khuzestan, Fars, Yazd, and Hormozgan, though authorities provided few details. Iran Expands Retaliatory AttacksIran broadened its retaliation by firing missiles toward Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait. Qatar activated air defenses twice, with one child reportedly injured by falling debris. Kuwait said a missile strike damaged a power and desalination facility, temporarily disrupting a key source of drinking water. Kuwaiti officials also reported Iranian drone attacks on military installations that wounded several personnel. Jordan’s military intercepted three incoming Iranian missiles, while explosions were reported in northern Iraq’s Kurdish region. Local officials said an attack targeting the Iranian Kurdish opposition group Komala killed at least nine people. Separately, British maritime authorities reported that a commercial tanker sustained minor damage while sailing through the Strait of Hormuz near Oman. No injuries were reported, and Iran did not comment on the incident. Strait of Hormuz Remains the Conflict’s FocusIran continues to insist that the Strait of Hormuz falls under its exclusive authority and has argued that ships passing through should pay transit fees, despite the waterway being internationally recognized as open to global navigation. President Trump has repeatedly threatened further attacks on Iranian infrastructure—including bridges and power facilities—to pressure Tehran into loosening its grip on the strait. The United States has also reinstated a naval blockade on Iranian ports in an effort to restrict the country’s oil exports. Although some regional energy exports have shifted to pipelines, analysts say alternative routes cannot fully replace the shipping capacity of the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas trade normally passes. Recent data show vessel traffic through the waterway has dropped to its lowest level in weeks, underscoring the conflict’s growing impact on global energy markets.   

A tanker caught fire early Tuesday after being hit by a projectile while sailing through the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman, according to the British military, in the latest attack on commercial shipping in the strategic waterway. The incident took place in the narrow entrance to the Persian Gulf, a key global shipping route through which about one-fifth of the world's traded oil and natural gas has traditionally passed during peacetime. Iranian state television reported that the liquefied natural gas tanker was attacked after it ignored warnings from Iranian authorities, but it stopped short of officially claiming responsibility. Iran has repeatedly said that only shipping routes approved by Tehran are safe for vessels using the strait. The country has also been suspected of carrying out previous attacks on ships that used an alternative route closer to Oman's coastline. The latest incident comes as the United States is seeking to continue negotiations with Iran aimed at fully reopening the Strait of Hormuz, curbing Tehran's disputed nuclear programme and securing a lasting end to the war that began on Feb. 28. However, earlier attacks in the waterway have triggered U.S. retaliatory strikes, followed by Iranian attacks on Gulf Arab states, raising fears of wider regional conflict. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the tanker was struck near Limah, Oman, while heading south through the strait toward the Gulf of Oman. According to the agency, the projectile hit the vessel's port side. UKMTO said there was no environmental damage from the attack and that authorities were investigating the incident. Iranian state television, citing unnamed sources, suggested that Iran was behind the strike on what it described as a tanker carrying natural gas from Qatar. However, the Iranian government has not officially claimed responsibility. Last Thursday, Iran's joint military command warned that all oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz must use routes approved by Tehran. It also cautioned that any interference by U.S. forces in the waterway would face a "rapid and decisive reaction." Speaking at the White House on Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran to reach an agreement with Washington. "We'd rather make a deal because I don't want to affect 91 million people," Trump said. "We can knock down their bridges in one hour. We can knock out their energy supply." Under an interim agreement, Iran and the United States had agreed to allow ships to pass through the strait without fees for 60 days. However, Tehran later insisted it should control shipping routes and eventually collect transit fees, challenging long-standing international practice. The United States and several Gulf Arab countries have rejected Iran's proposal to charge vessels for using the strait. Earlier efforts by Oman and a United Nations agency to establish an alternative route near Oman's coast also triggered attacks across the Middle East, underscoring tensions in the region. According to shipping data firm Kpler, at least 108 vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend using different routes. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of mourners gathered Tuesday near the Jamkaran Mosque south of Qom for funeral ceremonies for Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to live footage broadcast by Iranian state television. The mosque holds special religious significance for Shiite Muslims, who believe it was once visited by Muhammad al-Mahdi, the 12th and last Shiite imam, who disappeared in the ninth century and is expected to return one day to establish justice. Images of Khamenei and his son, Iran's new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, were displayed on banners carried by mourners. Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared publicly during the multi-day funeral ceremonies and is believed to be in hiding after reportedly being wounded in the airstrike that killed his father. Before the April ceasefire, Israel targeted several senior Iranian leaders during the conflict, in some cases reportedly using their public appearances to identify their locations. Israel has also threatened to target Mojtaba Khamenei. Iranian authorities have closed roads, restricted airspace and suspended normal daily activities during the mourning period, which began on Saturday and will continue until Thursday. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who died at the age of 86, will be buried at the Imam Reza shrine in his birthplace of Mashhad.

Iran is preparing for a dayslong funeral and burial ceremony for its late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, months after he was killed during the war involving Iran, the United States and Israel. The ceremonies, beginning Saturday in Tehran, are expected to draw large crowds as authorities seek to demonstrate public support for the country's leadership. Khamenei, who led Iran for nearly 40 years, was killed on Feb. 28 after the United States and Israel jointly launched military strikes. His funeral was postponed because of the ongoing conflict. The event is seen as a major test for Iran's leadership following months of unrest and a nationwide crackdown on anti-government protests. Officials are expected to encourage government workers, supporters and paramilitary groups to participate in the funeral processions. However, large crowds also raise concerns about possible stampedes, similar to deadly incidents during previous state funerals in Iran. The ceremonies will also take place during a fragile ceasefire and an interim agreement between Iran and the United States, which has reduced tensions enough for senior Iranian officials to appear publicly. It remains unclear whether Iran's new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, the late leader's son, will attend the ceremonies. He is believed to have been injured in the attack that killed his father and has not appeared in public since. Khamenei's body will lie in state at Tehran's Grand Mosalla on Saturday and Sunday. On Monday, it will be carried through the streets of Tehran before being taken to the holy city of Qom, about 120 kilometers south of the capital, where ceremonies will continue on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the body will be taken to Karbala in neighboring Iraq, home to the shrine of Imam Hussein, an important religious site for Shiite Muslims. The same day also marks the anniversary of the nationwide protests against Khamenei's rule, during which thousands of people were reportedly killed in a security crackdown. The final stop will be Mashhad, Iran's second-largest city, where Khamenei will be buried at the Imam Reza shrine. The shrine, dedicated to Imam Reza, the eighth imam in Shiite Islam, is one of the religion's holiest sites and attracts millions of pilgrims every year. Several prominent Shiite clerics, including former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash in 2024, are also buried there. Authorities are taking precautions to avoid a repeat of deadly crowd crushes seen at previous high-profile funerals. During the funeral of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, founder of the Islamic Republic, in 1989, millions gathered in Tehran. The crowd overwhelmed security, causing Khomeini's coffin to fall into the crowd. Reports at the time said at least eight people were killed and around 11,000 were injured. A similar tragedy occurred during the funeral of Revolutionary Guard General Qassem Soleimani in 2020, when a stampede killed at least 56 people and injured more than 2,000. Meanwhile, efforts to reach a permanent agreement to end the Iran war continue. An interim deal reached in June opened a 60-day period for negotiations covering Iran's nuclear programme and the future of the Strait of Hormuz. Technical-level talks began in Qatar this week, but progress has been slowed by major differences between the two sides and renewed exchanges of fire involving Iran and the United States over the strategic waterway.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Sunday that the Strait of Hormuz remains under Tehran's full control for the next 30 days, warning that continued US military action would further aggravate the already fragile security situation in the region. His remarks came as the United States reportedly carried out a second day of airstrikes on Iranian targets, hitting Qeshm Island and the southern cities of Sirik and Bandar-e Lengeh following a drone attack on a commercial vessel near the strategic waterway. Iran said it had launched retaliatory strikes against US forces stationed in Bahrain and Kuwait in response to the attacks and warned of a "crushing response" if further military action is taken against the country. The latest escalation has raised fears of a broader regional conflict, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important oil shipping routes through which a significant share of global energy supplies passes. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump accused Iran of violating the memorandum of understanding reached between Washington and Tehran and threatened to "militarily complete the job" if Tehran continued its actions. There was no immediate independent confirmation of the reported strikes or casualties, and both sides appeared to be hardening their positions amid growing international concern over the rapidly deteriorating security situation in the Gulf region. Source: Al Jazeera

A Liberian-flagged oil tanker successfully sailed through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday despite fresh warnings from Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard against vessels using a newly designated shipping route near Oman’s coastline. The passage of the Stoic Warrior comes amid growing tensions between Iran and the United States over the implementation of a recently signed interim agreement aimed at bringing a permanent end to the Iran war. Under the memorandum of understanding reached last week, Washington and Tehran have agreed to a 60-day period to resolve key issues, including maritime security and the future of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium. While negotiations continue behind closed doors, officials from both sides have also been publicly debating aspects of the deal, raising concerns about the stability of the fragile ceasefire. The situation has been further complicated by renewed violence in Lebanon. On Wednesday, an Israeli airstrike killed two people in southern Lebanon, according to the country’s state-run news agency. The strike marked Israel’s first attack on Lebanon since the latest ceasefire took effect on Saturday. The Stoic Warrior departed early Thursday and followed a route close to the coasts of the United Arab Emirates and Oman before rounding Oman’s Musandam Peninsula. The route was developed by Oman in coordination with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the UN agency responsible for maritime safety. The new route lies south of the long-established Traffic Separation Scheme, the main shipping lane through the Strait of Hormuz that handles roughly one-fifth of global oil and natural gas shipments. The alternative path has gained attention after reports that naval mines may have been placed in parts of the strait during the conflict that began on Feb. 28 with US and Israeli strikes on Iran. The Revolutionary Guard has previously claimed responsibility for mining the waterway, prompting safety concerns for commercial shipping. Responding to the new route, the Guard’s naval arm issued a warning on Thursday through Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency. “A few hours ago, without notice or coordination with the Islamic Republic of Iran, some authorities announced a new route for ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, which is unacceptable and completely dangerous,” the statement said. “It is hereby notified to all that the only authorized route for passing through the Strait of Hormuz is the one declared by the Islamic Republic of Iran,” it added, warning that vessels operating outside those routes would be violating regulations. The statement further cautioned that “violators will be dealt with,” though it did not specify what actions might be taken. Despite the warning, there were no immediate reports of disruptions or incidents as the Stoic Warrior completed its transit. Ship-tracking data showed several vessels following the same route. Meanwhile, senior Emirati diplomat Anwar Gargash criticized any attempt by Iran to restrict navigation or impose fees on ships using the strategic waterway. Writing on X, Gargash said new geopolitical realities could not be forced upon Gulf Arab states and warned that such moves could fuel future tensions and instability in the region. At the same time, Lebanon remains a key point of contention in wider regional negotiations. Israel’s military said Thursday that one reservist soldier was killed and another wounded in southern Lebanon, where Israeli forces continue to hold positions. Since the latest conflict began, at least 37 Israeli soldiers and one civilian defense contractor have been killed, along with two civilians in northern Israel. Lebanese authorities say more than 4,000 people have been killed in Israeli attacks since the latest Israel-Hezbollah conflict erupted in March, shortly after the Iran war began. Iran has maintained that a lasting agreement with the United States will require an end to hostilities in Lebanon and a withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied areas. Israel, however, argues that it must retain freedom of action against Hezbollah as international pressure over its military operations continues to grow.

More than 1,200 cargo ships carrying goods worth an estimated $125 billion remain stranded following the closure of the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, citing a report by insurance company Allianz. According to the report, the disruption has significantly altered how insurers assess risks in major maritime chokepoints. “We used to discuss possible disaster scenarios, but now we are dealing with a real one,” Justus Heinrich, Allianz’s head of marine underwriting, told the newspaper. Shipping activity has started to recover after the United States and Iran announced an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's busiest oil and trade routes. Data from Lloyd’s List Intelligence showed that 69 vessels departed the Gulf during the week ending June 21, compared with just 24 ships the previous week. It was the highest weekly shipping volume since the US-Iran conflict began in February. The conflict has also taken a heavy human and economic toll. The International Maritime Organization said at least 14 seafarers have been killed and more than 40 vessels, most of them oil tankers, have come under missile attack since the fighting erupted. Despite signs of improvement in shipping traffic, industry experts warn that the impact of the crisis on global trade, maritime security and crew safety could continue for some time.

The Iranian central military command announced on Saturday that it was closing the strategic Strait of Hormuz in response to Israel's deadly attacks in Lebanon, while the death toll from Israeli strikes across the country climbed to at least 32 amid renewed hostilities. In a statement carried by Iranian state television, the Khatam-al Anbiya Central Headquarters said the closure of the Strait of Hormuz was a response to what it described as Israel's violation of commitments under Iran's agreement with the United States. "It is hereby announced that the Strait of Hormuz will be closed to vessel traffic," the statement said, warning that further measures could follow if the attacks continued. The latest development came as Israel continued airstrikes across Lebanon despite international efforts to secure a ceasefire. According to Lebanon's National News Agency, an Israeli strike hit a house in Sohmor in the western Bekaa Valley, killing four members of a family and injuring another person. Rescue teams were continuing efforts to rescue a child trapped beneath the rubble. Lebanon's Health Emergency Operations Centre said another Israeli strike on Qanarit, in the Sidon district, killed at least seven people and wounded 13 others in a preliminary toll. The overall death toll from Israeli attacks across Lebanon since dawn has risen to at least 32, according to Lebanese authorities. Meanwhile, the Israeli military said Hezbollah had fired more than 50 projectiles overnight toward Israeli forces operating in southern Lebanon. The military also said its forces had struck dozens of Hezbollah targets, including rocket-launch positions, weapons storage sites and command centres in southern Lebanon. The renewed violence has heightened fears of a broader regional escalation and raised fresh concerns over the implementation of the recently signed US-Iran agreement aimed at ending hostilities across the region. Source: Al Jazeera