Overview
- U.S. and Israeli forces struck Iran’s Bandar Lengeh and at least 16 docked vessels and hit a defense‑industrial site, while Israel launched new raids near the Caspian coast around Nur and Bandar Anzali.
- Britain authorized U.S. use of UK bases for defensive operations to suppress Iranian launch sites threatening shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, after initially hesitating over legal grounds.
- Washington is weighing limited ground options, including securing Iranian ports, islands or enriched‑uranium stockpiles, as a 2,200‑strong Marine expeditionary unit redeploys to the Middle East with amphibious and air assets.
- Major European governments continue to reject offensive participation but signal readiness to support maritime protection, and the IMO Council adopted a resolution demanding Iran cease threats to navigation in Hormuz.
- Energy and security fallout deepened as Qatar reported 17% of LNG export capacity offline with about $20 billion in annual revenue at risk, Gulf states announced Hezbollah‑linked cell arrests, and Egypt affirmed Gulf security as part of its national security.