Hezbollah has launched rockets at Israel, escalating tensions despite a recent ceasefire in the Iran war. The attack comes as the United States and Iran prepare for talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Saturday.
Meanwhile, a Botswana-flagged liquefied natural gas tanker, the Nidi, turned around in the Strait of Hormuz early Friday after attempting to follow a route ordered by Iran's Revolutionary Guard. Ship-tracking data shows at least 12 vessels have passed through the strait since the ceasefire, down from over 100 daily in peacetime.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard denied launching attacks on Gulf states on Thursday, after Kuwait accused Tehran and its proxies of drone strikes targeting vital facilities. The IRGC blamed the attacks on "the Zionist enemy or America."
Australia's defence minister, Richard Marles, rejected former prime minister Tony Abbott's call for offensive air force involvement in the Iran war, stating Australia is "not part of this conflict against Iran." The US has reportedly summoned Iraq's ambassador over Iran-backed militia attacks on American diplomats.
The White House warned government staff against using nonpublic information for financial gain, following reports of well-timed bets on prediction markets and crude oil futures ahead of major policy decisions, including the ceasefire announcement.
