US and Iran Engage in Fresh Clashes in Strait of Hormuz as Middle East Truce Falters
The fragile Middle East truce appeared to falter as the UAE accused Iran of launching a drone attack, while the US reported fresh clashes in the Strait of Hormuz. US-Iran war latest news — Here are the latest developments on May 5. US Embassy in Iraq warned Americans not to take flights within Iraq after the country reopened its airspace following closures during the US-Israel war on Iran. The embassy cited ongoing risks from missiles, drones and rocket-propelled grenades, warning that Iran-aligned militias continue to plan attacks on US citizens and interests. “Do not travel to Iraq for any reason. Depart now if you are there,” the advisory said. US officer General Dan Caine said US forces are prepared to resume major combat operations against Iran if ordered by the president. He said US Central Command launched “Project Freedom” to ensure safe passage for international commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Caine accused Iran of firing at commercial vessels nine times, seizing two container ships and attacking US forces more than 10 times, though below the threshold for renewed large-scale war. He also said Iran attacked Oman once and the UAE three times yesterday, including an attempted strike on the Fujairah oil terminal, while US helicopters intercepted Iranian drones and cruise missiles targeting shipping routes. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the US naval mission “Project Freedom” is separate from “Operation Epic Fury” and is focused on protecting commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. “This operation is defensive in nature, focused in scope, and temporary in duration — with one mission: protecting innocent commercial shipping from Iranian aggression,” Hegseth said. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Iran it would face heavy retaliation if commercial vessels are attacked during the US military’s “Project Freedom” operation in the Strait of Hormuz. “As a direct gift from the United States to the world, we have established a powerful red, white, and blue dome over” the strait, Hegseth said. “Iran will face overwhelming firepower if it attacks commercial shipping,” he added. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the US military’s “Project Freedom” operation seeks “to break Iran’s illegal stranglehold” over the Strait of Hormuz. “US aims to protect shipping from Iranian aggression,” Hegseth told reporters at the Pentagon, adding the operation would not require entering Iranian airspace or territorial waters. “We’re not looking for a fight. They said they control the strait, they do not,” he said. USS George HW Bush (CVN-77) is assisting US naval forces in enforcing “Project Freedom,” an initiative aimed at guiding allied-flagged ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz to safety, according to US Central Command. CENTCOM said the carrier is operating with more than 60 aircraft onboard. The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran has triggered sharp rises in global fuel prices and renewed fears over the world economy. The US-led Joint Maritime Information Center is now advising stranded vessels to transit through Omani waters, where it has established an “enhanced security area” to reduce risks to commercial shipping, reported Al Jazeera. Israel is coordinating with the United States on potential renewed strikes against Iran as tensions in the Strait of Hormuz threaten the fragile ceasefire, according to a source cited by CNN. The reported plans could target Iranian energy infrastructure and senior officials if diplomacy collapses, with any final decision expected to rest with US President Donald Trump. Sudan has accused the United Arab Emirates and Ethiopia of “direct aggression” following drone strikes on Khartoum Airport, claiming evidence from a downed drone linked the aircraft to the UAE and said it was launched from Ethiopia. Sudan has recalled its ambassador to Ethiopia amid the escalating dispute. Sudan's Foreign Minister Mohi El-Din Salem said Sudan is “ready to enter into an open confrontation with Ethiopia” and retains the legal right to respond “through any necessary means.” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to have a “frank” meeting with Pope Leo XIV during a Vatican visit this week, US ambassador to the Holy See Brian Burch said. The comments came after US President Donald Trump criticised the pope over his remarks on the US war in Iran. “Nations have disagreements, and I think one of the ways that you work through those is … through fraternity and authentic dialogue,” Burch said. An Israeli air strike has targeted the town of Zrarieh al-Sharqiya in southern Lebanon, reported Al Jazeera. Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi will travel to Beijing later today for talks with Wang Yi, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said. The discussions will focus on bilateral relations and regional and international developments as US-Iran negotiations remain deadlocked over ending the conflict launched on February 28. Oil prices have fallen after a jump in prices on Monday following escalations in the Strait of Hormuz. Brent Crude futures fell more than 1 percent to $112 a barrel as US oil futures dipped to just below $104 a barrel, reported Al Jazeera. United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has hit out at China for "funding the largest state sponsor of terrorism" by maintaining energy ties with Iran, asserting that Beijing must support Washington's initiatives to "reopen the Strait of Hormuz", according to a report by Fox News. In a series of new updates, the Lebanese group Hezbollah said it targeted Israeli soldiers and artillery in the coastal area of Biyyada. They also said their forces struck a tank with a drone in the town of Al-Qaouzah in Lebanon. Other attacks hit Israeli bulldozers in the towns of Deir Siryan and Rashaf as well despite a formally declared ceasefire. European shares dipped lower amid rising anxieties linked to new US-Iran strikes, while global oil prices continued to surge. The pan-European STOXX 600 was down 0.1 percent at 604.68 points as of 07:04 GMT, after experiencing its biggest drop in a month a day earlier. Major regional bourses also traded lower, as London's FTSE 100 was down 1%. According to Iran's IRIB news agency, an unnamed Iranian military official blamed the fire at Fujairah port on the US. “The Islamic Republic had no pre‑planned programme to attack the mentioned oil facilities, and what happened was the result of US military adventurism aimed at creating a passage for the illegal transit of ships through the restricted waterways of the Strait of Hormuz,” the official told Iran’s IRIB news agency. “The US military must be held accountable for this. US officials must put an end to the improper practice of using force in the diplomatic process and stop military adventurism in this sensitive oil region, which affects the economies of countries around the world.” President Trump declined to say if the ceasefire between the US and Iran was still in place, as both sides continue to target each other in the Strait of Hormuz. When asked by conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt if the ceasefire was "over," and if the strikes could resume, Trump said, "Well, I can't tell you that." “You wouldn’t — if I answered that question, you’d say this man is not smart enough to be president,” Trump said. Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif has also condemned the attacks on UAE. Taking to X, he wrote, "It is absolutely essential that the ceasefire be upheld and respected to allow necessary diplomatic space for dialogue leading to enduring peace and stability in the region." A top adviser to the UAE president, Anwar Gargash, has welcomed the strong “messages of solidarity” from different countries after an attack that the UAE has blamed on Iran. In a post on social media, Gargash said the UAE deeply appreciates the support coming from Gulf countries, Arab nations, and the international community. “We appreciate and value the messages of solidarity from the Gulf, Arab, and international communities with the United Arab Emirates, which condemn and denounce the treacherous Iranian attack,” he said. He also said these reactions show who is responsible for the escalation in the region. “These positions affirm that Iran is the aggressor party, responsible for exacerbating the crisis in the Arabian Gulf, and the source of danger and threat to its security and stability,” he added. Iranian state media has reported that a fire broke out on several commercial ships at a dock in the southern port of Dayyer. Fire officials said teams are working to bring the blaze under control, but the cause of the fire is still unknown. South Korea’s presidential office held a high-level meeting after a fire broke out on a South Korean-operated vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. Authorities are still trying to confirm what caused the explosion and fire. The ship, operated by HMM Co, was anchored near the UAE coast when the incident happened. Earlier reports also said missiles and drones had targeted areas in the UAE, including an oil facility in Fujairah, which caught fire. "Strongly condemn the attacks on the UAE that resulted in injuries to three Indian nationals. Targeting civilians and infrastructure is unacceptable. India stands in firm solidarity with the UAE and reiterates its support for the peaceful resolution of all issues through dialogue and diplomacy. Ensuring safe and unimpeded navigation through the Strait of Hormuz is vital for enduring regional peace, stability and global energy security." - PM Narendra Modi European Council President Antonio Costa has expressed strong support for the United Arab Emirates after reports of missile and drone strikes on civilian infrastructure. Writing on X, Costa said he stands in “full solidarity” with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed and the people of the country following what he called “unjustified missile and drone attacks on civilian infrastructure.” He said such actions violate sovereignty and international law and must stop immediately. Costa also called on Iran to return to negotiations to help maintain a fragile ceasefire in the region involving the US and Israel. He added that the European Union is ready to work with regional partners to reduce tensions, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and push for a long-term diplomatic solution. The Israeli military has issued new evacuation orders for people living in two towns in southern Lebanon, Jabsheet and Sarafand. Residents have been told to leave their homes immediately and move at least 1,000 metres (about 0.62 miles) away from the villages into open areas. The military warned that anyone staying close to what it called “Hezbollah elements, facilities and combat” could be putting their lives in danger. In Sarafand, Lebanese Army Intelligence members were seen inspecting an army position that had earlier been damaged in an Israeli airstrike in 2024. The Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important shipping routes, has once again become a flashpoint between Iran and the United States. Both sides are presenting very different versions of what happened. The US says it acted to protect shipping and keep the waters safe. Iran says civilians were killed in what it calls an unjustified attack. New Delhi has said the attack in Fujairah, which left three Indian nationals injured, is completely unacceptable. India has urged all sides to immediately stop hostilities and avoid targeting civilian infrastructure and innocent people. Reaffirming its stand, India said it continues to support dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward to restore peace and stability across West Asia. It also stressed the need for free and safe movement of trade and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, in line with international law. New Delhi added that it remains ready to support all efforts aimed at a peaceful resolution of the ongoing tensions. An Iranian military official described the strike as an overreaction. The official said the US response showed fear of Iran’s naval presence in the region. The official was quoted as saying the action came from “the excessive fear and nightmare of the US military regarding the IRGC’s fast-boat operations.” Iran also said the boats were not part of any military activity and were simply moving goods and people across the water. State media in Iran reports that five people died in the incident. This directly conflicts with the US version, which described the action as a security step taken during a maritime mission. Iranian officials say an investigation was carried out after the US statement. The findings, shared through the Tasnim news agency, say the strike hit two small cargo boats carrying civilians. These boats were reportedly travelling from Khasab, a coastal area in Oman, toward Iran when they were attacked. Iranian state media has strongly denied the United States’ account of a recent military operation in the Strait of Hormuz. Washington had said its forces targeted Iranian small boats, but Tehran insists the vessels were not military at all. According to Iranian reports, the boats hit in the strike on Monday were civilian craft, not linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), as the US claims. Iran says these were ordinary boats carrying passengers and commercial goods.
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