Strait Of Hormuz Tensions Ease Slightly As Trump Signals Pause In Naval Escorts, Progress With Iran

<p>US President Donald Trump said Tuesday he would temporarily halt a mission aimed at escorting vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, pointing to progress in negotiations with Iran. The announcement marks a potential turning point in a crisis that has rattled global energy markets and heightened military tensions in the Gulf.</p> <p>&ldquo;We have mutually agreed that, while the Blockade will remain in full force and effect, Project Freedom &hellip; will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalised and signed,&rdquo; Trump wrote on social media. Tehran has yet to respond publicly.</p> <h2>Military Campaign Winds Down, But Tensions Persist</h2> <p>Just hours before Trump&rsquo;s statement, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio briefed reporters on efforts to assist stranded tankers navigating the strategically vital waterway. A day earlier, the U.S. military said it had destroyed several Iranian small boats, along with cruise missiles and drones.</p> <p>Rubio stressed that Washington would not allow Iran to dictate maritime traffic through the strait. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s no shooting unless we&rsquo;re shot at first,&rdquo; he said at the White House, adding that US objectives had been met. &ldquo;Operation Epic Fury is concluded. We&rsquo;re not cheering for an additional situation to occur.&rdquo;</p> <p>Despite the pause, the Strait of Hormuz remains largely inaccessible. Since the conflict began on February 28, the passage, responsible for roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas shipments, has been effectively shut down, driving up commodity prices worldwide.</p> <p><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://ift.tt/7PHr9lD" target="_blank" rel="noopener">'We Don&rsquo;t Want A Fight, But&hellip;': US Issues Open Warning To Iran Over Strait Of Hormuz</a></strong></p> <h2>Global Shipping Disrupted As Risks Escalate</h2> <p>Iran has restricted access by threatening to deploy mines, drones, missiles and fast-attack vessels. In response, the United States imposed a blockade on Iranian ports and organised escorted transits for commercial ships.</p> <p>During Rubio&rsquo;s briefing, Britain&rsquo;s Maritime Trade Operations agency reported that a cargo vessel had been hit by a projectile in the strait. Details of the incident were not immediately available.</p> <p>Earlier in the day, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said American forces had secured a navigable route through the waterway, with hundreds of commercial vessels waiting to pass. He also noted that the four-week-old truce with Iran remained intact, for now.</p> <p>&ldquo;Right now the ceasefire certainly holds, but we&rsquo;re going to be watching very, very closely,&rdquo; Hegseth said.</p> <p>Meanwhile, regional tensions showed no clear signs of easing. The United Arab Emirates said its air defences intercepted missile and drone attacks it attributed to Iran, though Tehran denied involvement. The UAE called the incident a serious escalation and asserted its &ldquo;full and legitimate right&rdquo; to respond.</p> <p>Iran rejected those claims, insisting its military actions were aimed solely at countering U.S. aggression. In a further warning, Iran&rsquo;s Revolutionary Guards issued an updated map expanding their claimed control over the strait and cautioned vessels to remain within designated corridors or face a &ldquo;decisive response.&rdquo;</p> <p><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://ift.tt/A9t5eXV" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Iran Rules Out 'Military Solution' To Hormuz Crisis, Warns US, UAE Against &lsquo;Quagmire&rsquo; As Tensions Soar</a></strong></p>

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Lake Chad Attack: Boko Haram Kills 23, Injures Dozens Of Soldiers

<p><em>Edited by: Alex Berry</em></p> <p>Boko Haram militants killed at least 23 security personnel in an attack on a military base, officials from Chad said on Tuesday.</p> <p>The attack took place on Monday night against a military base on the shores of Lake Chad, which sits on the tripoint of Chad, Niger, Nigeria and Cameroon.</p> <p>Dozens more Chadian soldiers were injured in the attack, which was eventually repelled.</p> <p>"Once again, the nebulous Boko Haram terrorist group carried out a cowardly attack last night on our military base at Barka Tolorom," Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno said in a Facebook post on Tuesday.</p> <p>"We will continue the fight with renewed determination until this threat is completely eradicated."</p> <h2>Boko Haram Active Around Lake Chad</h2> <p>Although the jihadist group was started in northern Nigeria, Boko Haram has expanded into Lake Chad and beyond over the past decade.</p> <p>According to the United Nations, the group has killed several thousand people and displaced millions.</p> <p>Boko Haram has ramped up kidnappings as well as attacks on soldiers around Lake Chad in recent years, including an October 2024 attack that killed around 40 Chadian troops.</p> <p>Deby responded with a counter-offensive that he vowed to "personally" lead on the ground for two weeks.</p> <p>The offensive ended in February 2025, with the Chadian army claiming at the time that Boko Haram had "no more sanctuary on Chadian territory."</p> <p>The islands and marshes of Lake Chad also serve as a haven for other armed groups, including Boko Haram's rival splinter group, the so-called Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).</p> <p><em>Disclaimer: This report first appeared on <strong>Deutsche Welle</strong>, and has been republished on <strong>ABP Live</strong> as part of a special arrangement. Apart from the headline, no changes have been made in the report by <strong>ABP Live.</strong></em></p>

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/lake-chad-attack-boko-haram-kills-23-injures-dozens-of-soldiers-1841632

'We Don’t Want A Fight, But…': US Issues Open Warning To Iran Over Strait Of Hormuz

<p data-start="0" data-end="377">Amid a fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran, Washington has said it is taking steps to protect commercial shipping while avoiding escalation. US Defence Secretary <span class="hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline"><span class="whitespace-normal">Pete Hegseth</span></span> said, &ldquo;We do not want a fight. Iran claims control over the strait, but that is not the case,&rdquo; he said, describing Iran as the primary aggressor in the situation.</p> <p data-start="0" data-end="377">He also said that the US does not seek a broader or direct conflict but warned that any attempt by Iran to disrupt &ldquo;Project Freedom&rdquo; would be met with military force.</p> <h2 data-start="379" data-end="766">What is &lsquo;Project Freedom&rsquo;?</h2> <p data-start="379" data-end="766">Hegseth said &ldquo;Project Freedom&rdquo; is a naval mission launched during the tenure of <span class="hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline"><span class="whitespace-normal">Donald Trump</span></span>. Its objective is to ensure safe passage for vessels through one of the world&rsquo;s busiest oil shipping routes. He added that the operation is limited in scope and does not require US forces to enter Iranian airspace or territorial waters.</p> <h2 data-start="1037" data-end="1404">&lsquo;Defensive And Temporary Mission&rsquo;</h2> <p data-start="1037" data-end="1404">The Pentagon chief described &ldquo;Project Freedom&rdquo; as a purely defensive and time-bound operation aimed at protecting commercial vessels from potential threats. He said two US ships have already passed safely through the route under this mission, though some vessels were forced to turn back due to restrictions at Iranian ports.</p> <h2 data-start="1406" data-end="1668">Separate From Ceasefire</h2> <p data-start="1406" data-end="1668">Hegseth clarified that the operation does not signal the end of the ongoing ceasefire between the US and Iran. &ldquo;The ceasefire remains in place. This is a separate and independent mission,&rdquo; he said, urging Iran to act with restraint.</p> <p data-start="1670" data-end="1984">Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff <span class="hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline"><span class="whitespace-normal">Dan Caine</span></span> alleged that Iran has carried out multiple attacks on commercial vessels and US forces in recent weeks. He accused Tehran of attempting to disrupt global supply chains and exert economic pressure.</p> <h2 data-start="1986" data-end="2355">Incidents Since Ceasefire</h2> <p data-start="1986" data-end="2355" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">According to US officials, Iran has fired at commercial ships nine times and seized two container vessels since the ceasefire. More than ten attacks on US forces have also been reported. The military, however, described these as &ldquo;low-level provocations&rdquo;, adding that any decision on a wider conflict would rest with political leadership.</p>

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BREAKING NEWS: Firing incident near White House in Washington DC

<section class="text-token-text-primary w-full focus:outline-none [--shadow-height:45px] has-data-writing-block:pointer-events-none has-data-writing-block:-mt-(--shadow-height) has-data-writing-block:pt-(--shadow-height) [&amp;:has([data-writing-block])&gt;*]:pointer-events-auto [content-visibility:auto] supports-[content-visibility:auto]:[contain-intrinsic-size:auto_100lvh] R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id="request-WEB:67f84081-495d-4ae0-bea2-f3dae887f492-4" data-testid="conversation-turn-10" data-scroll-anchor="false" data-turn="assistant"> <div class="text-base my-auto mx-auto pb-10 [--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-xs,calc(var(--spacing)*4))] @w-sm/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-sm,calc(var(--spacing)*6))] @w-lg/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-lg,calc(var(--spacing)*16))] px-(--thread-content-margin)"> <div class="[--thread-content-max-width:40rem] @w-lg/main:[--thread-content-max-width:48rem] mx-auto max-w-(--thread-content-max-width) flex-1 group/turn-messages focus-visible:outline-hidden relative flex w-full min-w-0 flex-col agent-turn"> <div class="flex max-w-full flex-col gap-4 grow"> <div class="min-h-8 text-message relative flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 text-start break-words whitespace-normal outline-none keyboard-focused:focus-ring [.text-message+&amp;]:mt-1" dir="auto" tabindex="0" data-message-author-role="assistant" data-message-id="5cbe4562-4327-4308-93b1-221e3bf35a01" data-message-model-slug="gpt-5-3" data-turn-start-message="true"> <div class="flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden"> <div class="markdown prose dark:prose-invert w-full wrap-break-word light markdown-new-styling"> <p data-start="0" data-end="719" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">A firing incident near the White House in Washington, DC triggered panic and heightened security across the area. Gunshots caused chaos as people rushed to safety. The US Secret Service responded swiftly and apprehended the suspected shooter, preventing further escalation. Following the incident, security agencies increased vigilance, and the National Guard was deployed on the streets to maintain law and order. Authorities sealed off nearby areas and launched an investigation into the motive behind the attack. The situation is now under control, but the incident has raised concerns about security near one of the most sensitive locations in the United States. Officials continue to monitor the situation closely.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="z-0 flex min-h-[46px] justify-start">&nbsp;</div> <div class="mt-3 w-full empty:hidden"> <div class="text-center">&nbsp;</div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <div class="pointer-events-none -mt-px h-px translate-y-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom)-14*var(--spacing))]" aria-hidden="true">&nbsp;</div>

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US, Iran Launch Fresh Attacks As Tension Over Hormuz Control Intensifies

<p>The United States and Iran carried out fresh military strikes across the Gulf on Monday, intensifying their contest over control of the Strait of Hormuz and unsettling a tenuous ceasefire.</p> <p>Missile and drone exchanges marked a significant escalation, following efforts by US President Donald Trump to facilitate the passage of stranded vessels through the strategic waterway. The strait, a critical global energy corridor, has remained largely shut since US and Israeli strikes on Iran began in February, a conflict that has resulted in thousands of casualties across the region.</p> <p>By the end of the day, multiple merchant vessels reported explosions or onboard fires. US officials said six Iranian military boats had been destroyed, while Iranian missile strikes reportedly ignited a major oil facility in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which hosts a substantial American military presence, Reuters reported.</p> <h3>Trump Announces &lsquo;Project Freedom&rsquo;&nbsp;</h3> <p>Trump announced a new initiative, &ldquo;Project Freedom,&rdquo; aimed at escorting ships through the strait. However, he provided limited operational details. The announcement came after a statutory deadline requiring congressional authorization for military engagement had already passed.</p> <p>Trump maintained that the conflict was &ldquo;terminated,&rdquo; rendering the deadline irrelevant, an assertion challenged by several lawmakers, the report said.</p> <p>The move appeared to mark the first significant military effort since last month&rsquo;s ceasefire declaration to reopen the vital shipping route. Iran&rsquo;s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has insisted that any transit through the strait requires its approval. Meanwhile, maritime insurance costs have surged, reflecting heightened risks in the region.</p> <h3>Shipping Paralysis and Rising Risks Amid Hormuz Tensions</h3> <p>Despite US efforts, commercial shipping traffic showed no immediate recovery. Major shipping firms signaled reluctance to resume transit until a formal cessation of hostilities is secured.</p> <p>Iran&rsquo;s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi suggested diplomacy remained the only viable path forward, noting ongoing talks mediated by Pakistan. He cautioned both the US and UAE against deeper involvement, warning of a "quagmire by ill-wishers."</p> <p>"Project Freedom is Project Deadlock," he wrote on social media.</p> <p>US officials reported that two American merchant vessels successfully transited the strait under naval escort, though Iran disputed these claims. Shipping company Maersk confirmed that the US-flagged vessel Alliance Fairfax exited the Gulf under military protection.</p> <h3>Conflicting Claims and Maritime Incidents</h3> <p>The commander of US forces in the region stated that six Iranian boats had been destroyed, a claim denied by Tehran. He also warned Iranian forces to avoid interference with US naval operations.</p> <p>Iran, in turn, released a map indicating an expanded maritime control zone extending beyond the Strait of Hormuz and along large sections of the UAE coastline.</p> <p>Elsewhere, South Korea reported an explosion aboard its vessel HMM Namu in the strait, though no injuries were recorded. The cause of the incident remains unclear. The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency also reported two vessels struck off the UAE coast, while Abu Dhabi National Oil Company confirmed a drone strike on one of its empty tankers.</p> <h3>UAE Oil Infrastructure Targeted</h3> <p>Iranian missile and drone strikes during the day triggered fires in multiple locations within the UAE, including the strategic oil port of Fujairah. The port, located outside the Strait of Hormuz, is a key alternative route for regional oil exports.</p> <p>UAE authorities condemned the attacks as a serious escalation and stated that they reserve the right to respond. As a precautionary measure, the government announced remote learning for school students.</p> <p>Iranian state television reported that the strikes were carried out in response to what it described as &ldquo;the "U.S. military's adventurism."&rdquo;</p> <p>Earlier in the day, Iran said it had fired upon a US warship nearing the strait, forcing it to withdraw. While initial reports claimed the vessel was hit, US officials denied any damage. Iranian authorities later clarified that the action consisted of warning shots.</p>

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/us-iran-launch-fresh-attacks-as-tension-over-hormuz-control-intensifies-1841402

Trump Unveils ‘Project Freedom’ For Stranded Ships In Gulf Amid 'Very Positive' Talks With Iran

<p>US President Donald Trump on Sunday said Washington would move to &ldquo;guide&rdquo; hundreds of vessels stranded in the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, unveiling a plan he described as a humanitarian effort amid ongoing tensions with Iran.</p> <p>Posting on his social media platform, Trump said the initiative, dubbed &ldquo;Project Freedom&rdquo;, aims to secure safe passage for ships and their crews caught in the conflict-linked disruption, adding that discussions with Tehran were showing &ldquo;very positive&rdquo; signs.</p> <h2>Humanitarian Push Amid Rising Tensions</h2> <p>Trump framed the operation as a coordinated effort involving the United States and regional partners, with a particular emphasis on Iran. He said American representatives had been instructed to communicate that Washington would make its &ldquo;best efforts&rdquo; to help vessels exit the strait safely.</p> <p>He added that ship operators had indicated they would not resume normal routes until the waterway is deemed secure for navigation, underscoring the scale of disruption in one of the world&rsquo;s most critical shipping lanes.</p> <p><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://ift.tt/TbAqP3H" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Iran War: Trump Reviewing New Tehran Proposal With Doubt</a></strong></p> <h2>Unclear Logistics, Sharp Warning From Tehran</h2> <p>Despite the announcement, the president did not outline how more than 850 stranded vessels would be moved. US media reports, citing an official, suggested the plan does not currently involve naval escorts. Instead, it may rely on coordination among shipping stakeholders to manage transit through the narrow passage.</p> <p>The proposal drew a swift response from Tehran. A senior Iranian official warned that any US interference in the Strait of Hormuz would be viewed as a violation of the ceasefire, raising concerns over potential escalation.</p> <p>Iran had blocked foreign shipping through the strait shortly after the conflict began with a US-Israeli strike on February 28. In response, Trump imposed a counter-blockade on vessels using Iranian ports on April 13, further tightening maritime restrictions.</p> <p><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://ift.tt/ZhT3LfG" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ukrainian Drones Hit Russia's Primorsk Oil Terminal</a></strong></p> <h2>Iran's 14-Point Peace Plan</h2> <p>Sunday&rsquo;s announcement came days after Iran presented a 14-point peace plan, reportedly including provisions to reopen the strait. Iran&rsquo;s foreign ministry confirmed it had received a response from Washington and would review it.</p> <p>While the direct link between the proposal and &ldquo;Project Freedom&rdquo; remains unclear, Trump signalled optimism, saying ongoing talks could &ldquo;lead to something very positive for all&rdquo;.</p> <p>At the same time, he issued a firm warning: any attempt to obstruct the humanitarian effort would be met with a &ldquo;forceful&rdquo; response.</p> <p>So far, communication between Washington and Tehran has been indirect, reportedly facilitated by Pakistan, with no confirmed direct contact between the two sides.</p>

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/donald-trump-project-freedom-us-to-guide-stranded-ship-from-gulf-amid-iran-talks-1841062

Harmeet Dhillon traces journey from immigrant child to leading lawyer

<p>Washington, May 3 (PTI): US Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon traced her journey from the child of immigrants to becoming a leading lawyer, presenting it as an American success story.</p><p>Addressing the Moms for Liberty event in New York, Dhillon termed coming to the US as the “greatest gift” her parents gave to her.</p><p>“My dad was an orthopaedic surgeon. Mom and Dad left India in the 1970s because it was a Russian client state. They had a dictated two-child policy, and a planned economy, and Mom and Dad didn't want to raise their kids in that kind of an environment, so they came to America,” Dhillon, who rose to fame as a civil rights attorney and as US President Donald Trump’s lawyer.</p><p>“Besides life, the greatest gift that Mom and Dad gave me was bringing me here to America and allowing me to be sworn in as a naturalised American citizen when I was 10 years old,” she said.</p><p>Dhillon said her parents came to the US when there was a shortage of doctors here, and Washington was inviting medical professionals during the Vietnam War.</p><p>“We didn't come through Ellis Island in 1970. We flew to JFK (airport),” she said. Ellis Island, located in the New York harbour, was the federal immigration station of the US from 1892 to 1954, processing over 12 million immigrants.</p><p>It is estimated that nearly 40 per cent of all current US citizens can trace at least one ancestor through this facility Dhillon said her dad, who passed away 15 months ago, was proud of her and got to see his daughter become the lawyer for the former and the future president of the United States.</p><p>“My mom and my brother got to sit behind me during my Senate confirmation hearing, and see me shoot down a lot of very dumb and obnoxious questions from several Democrat senators,” Dhillon said.</p><p>“And before I took this job and when the president and Pam Bondi called me in November, I had become well known for representing moms and kids, and American citizens against the tyranny of the state,” she said.</p><p>“All over the United States, including my home state of California. And standing up for young girls who the state and the doctors tried to take away their womanhood. And standing up for moms and dads who were being denied the right to control their children's education by the state,” Dhillon said.</p><p>“And today I get to do that job for the United States. So this is an American success story. I'm very proud to be an American, and I'm very grateful to be here with you tonight on Ellis Island, the symbol of all that is great with this country,” Dhillon said. PTI SKU AMS</p><p><i>(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)</i></p>

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