US fires missile at tanker attempting to reach Iran amid Strait of Hormuz standoff

U.S. forces fired a Hellfire missile to disable a Botswana-flagged tanker, the M/T Lexie, which was attempting to break through an American blockade and reach Iran. The vessel's engine room was targeted as it traveled through international waters toward Kharg Island, north of the Strait of Hormuz.

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The Lexie is the sixth ship that the US military has disabled since its blockade of Iran began on 13 April.

U.S. Central Command (Centcom) stated that the aircraft disabled the engine room after the crew ignored repeated warnings over a 24-hour period. This marks the sixth ship disabled by the U.S. military since its blockade of Iran began on April 13. Centcom reported that 122 vessels seeking to enter or exit Iranian ports have been redirected so far.

The incident unfolds against a backdrop of stalled efforts to secure a new ceasefire agreement between Washington and Tehran. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed optimism about reaching a deal, claiming Iran had agreed to negotiate aspects of its nuclear program. However, Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, indicated a potential suspension of peace talks in protest against Israel's offensive in Lebanon, threatening the collapse of negotiations.

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Kuwait’s military said its air defences were intercepting missile and drone attacks and urged the public “not to approach or touch any debris, shrapnel, or unidentified objects that may result from intercepting hostile aerial targets”.

Adding to the regional tension, Kuwait's military announced it was intercepting missile and drone attacks. This follows recent U.S. strikes on Iranian radar and drone sites, to which Tehran responded by targeting a military base in Kuwait. The situation highlights the precarious state of Middle East diplomacy, with ongoing conflict in Lebanon also contributing to the instability.

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The ceasefire between Iran and the US is unequivocally a ceasefire on all fronts, including in Lebanon. Its violation on one front is a violation of the ceasefire on all fronts. The US and Israel are responsible for the consequences of any violation.