Middle East tensions escalate with Iran's Strait of Hormuz strikes and US accusations

Tensions in the Middle East escalated further as Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) claimed to have struck ships in the Strait of Hormuz, following new US military strikes. US Central Command stated its actions were "self-defense strikes" in response to Iran. Concurrently, US President Donald Trump accused Iran of shooting down an American helicopter near the Strait, from which two crew members were rescued, and vowed a response. Trump reiterated that Iran had taken "too long to negotiate a deal" and would "pay the price," while Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi maintained his country would "leave" if conditions were not met. Elsewhere, Pakistan conducted air strikes in Afghanistan, reporting 26 militant deaths, though the Taliban government claimed 13 fatalities, including 11 children. Israeli forces also carried out strikes across southern Lebanon, resulting in eight deaths and new evacuation orders. Analysts suggest the region faces a "permacrisis" as Iran has proven resilient.

Sources: BBC News