Project Freedom

US President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s latest ceasefire response as “totally unacceptable,” while Hezbollah launched multiple loitering glider attacks on IDF vehicles in southern Lebanon. EU foreign ministers approved sanctions on violent Israeli settlers and settler groups, and Prime Minister Netanyahu convened an urgent security meeting amid the diplomatic impasse.

President Trump suspended Project Freedom naval escorts in the Strait of Hormuz after Saudi Arabia denied US access to its airspace and bases, while the IDF struck Beirut’s Dahieh suburb targeting a senior Hezbollah commander and a Hezbollah drone seriously wounded an Israeli soldier in southern Lebanon. Israel-Lebanon talks are set to resume in Washington, and France moved its aircraft carrier to the Red Sea for a potential Hormuz mission.

President Trump suspended Project Freedom naval escorts in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, citing “great progress” toward a US-Iran agreement, while Hezbollah explosive drones wounded three Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon and the IDF struck 25 Hezbollah targets. A Washington Post satellite analysis revealed Iranian strikes have damaged or destroyed at least 228 US military assets across 15 Middle East bases, far exceeding official US acknowledgments. A joint World Bank-UN-EU report priced Gaza reconstruction at $71 billion.

Iran launched 15 missiles and 4 drones at the UAE on Monday, hitting a Fujairah oil facility and wounding three, in the first major attack since the April 8 ceasefire. The US sank six Iranian small boats and intercepted missiles and drones as it began escorting commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz under 'Project Freedom.' Hezbollah fired mortars and anti-tank missiles at Israeli forces in southern Lebanon overnight, with no IDF injuries reported. Oil prices surged nearly 6% and global markets slid as the US-Iran truce teetered.

Iran launched cruise missiles and drones at the United Arab Emirates on Monday, striking a petroleum facility in Fujairah and triggering air defense alerts in Dubai, in a major ceasefire violation. The US said two American-flagged merchant vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz under Navy escort as part of 'Project Freedom,' while Iran claimed it fired warning shots at US destroyers and hit a warship with missiles, a claim CENTCOM denied. Israel elevated its military alertness to the maximum level and convened its expanded security cabinet for Wednesday.

President Trump announced ‘Project Freedom,’ a US-led initiative to guide stranded commercial vessels out of the Strait of Hormuz starting Monday, while Iran warned the mission would violate the ceasefire. The US delivered its response to Iran’s 14-point peace proposal via Pakistan, with Trump calling the latest terms unacceptable. Hezbollah claimed a rocket and artillery attack on Israeli forces in Al-Bayyada, and Israel canceled the annual Meron Lag Ba’omer celebration due to security concerns.