The United States military says it has eliminated 16 Iranian mine-laying ships in the Strait of Hormuz, after President Trump warned Iran against mining the strait.
Meanwhile, three commercial ships have been damaged by “unknown projectiles” in the area, while Iran continues its strikes across the region, including in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait.
Four people were injured when two drones fell near Dubai airport, even though air traffic has not been affected.
Earlier, Iran’s police chief said any Iranian thinking of protesting against the government would be dealt with “in the same way we deal with the enemy.”
In a related development, seven people have been killed and 23 injured following strikes in the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon, the state-run National News Agency reports, citing the health ministry.
It reported that the seven deaths and 18 of the injuries occurred in the village of Temnine Et Tahta, 45km (28 miles) east of Beirut, with a further five injured in an attack on the nearby village of Ali al-Nahri.
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In the last couple of hours, the IDF has issued a warning to six villages in southern Lebanon telling people to evacuate their homes immediately.
The military’s Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee says “Hezbollah activities are forcing the IDF to act against them” and tells people in the six affected areas to move north of the Litani River.
Also, US President Donald Trump has said Iran is “welcome” to play in the upcoming World Cup in North America, despite the war in the Middle East, according to FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
In a post on Instagram, the FIFA chief said he had a meeting with Trump to discuss preparations for the competition later this year, which the Iranian team has qualified for.
Infantino said: “During the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States.”
