Iranseizestwo ships in Strait of Hormuz. President Donald TrumpextendsU.S.-Iran ceasefire indefinitely. EU Energy Commissionerwarnswar will affect prices for years. Israelcontinuesattacks in Lebanon despite ceasefire. Hezbollahfiresrockets and drones at Israeli artillery. Israelcommits220 violations in ceasefire’s first three days, report says. Lebanese presidentsaystalks to extend ceasefire are ongoing, ahead of meeting with Israel. Israeli attackscontinuein Gaza.Raidsand detentions in the occupied West Bank. Four Palestinian members of Board of Peace committeeofferto resign in protest. Israeli militaryconductsoperations in Syria’s Golan. Israelhonorsrabbi accused of war crimes as Independence Day torchbearer. Virginiavotersapprove Democratic redistricting map. Florida Democratic Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormickresignsfrom Congress. Pollshowslikely Democratic primary voters in N.J. district souring on U.S. support for Israel. Eleven Democratic senatorsaccuseHegseth of violating U.S. and international law. Treasurysanctions14 targets across Iran, Turkey, and UAE. Justice DepartmentindictsSouthern Poverty Law Center on federal fraud charges. Trump administrationblocks$500 million to Iraq, stops security cooperation programs. Paraguayagreesto accept 25 U.S. deportees with no ties to country. Russian dronesstrikeOdesa port and Zaporizhia railway, killing train driver. U.K. parliamentpasseslifetime tobacco ban for anyone born after 2008.
From Drop Site:Trump Blinks First, Extending Ceasefire with Iran as Hormuz Deadlock Continues.Rare Survivors of Pacific Boat Strikes Allege U.S. Forces Kidnapped and Tortured Them.
Drop Site is now live on WhatsApp. Get our latest reporting, podcasts, and breaking news, delivered directly.Join the channel here.
Iranian Revolutionary Guard seizes two ships:Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corpsfiredon a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, damaging the vessel without causing casualties or environmental harm, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, which said a Guard gunboat opened fire without warning. Iran’s state-linked Nour News disputed that account, saying the ship had ignored warnings and suffered extensive damage, framing the attack as enforcement of Iranian control over the strait. In addition to this, the Iranian Navycapturedtwo foreign commercial vessels on Wednesday and had moved them to the Iranian coast, according to Iranian state media. The move came a day after U.S. forces boarded and seized an oil tanker linked to Iran, the second one intercepted by the U.S.
Trump extends U.S.-Iran ceasefire indefinitely:President Donald TrumpannouncedTuesday that the United States would extend its ceasefire with Iran indefinitely at the request of Pakistani Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. In a Truth Social post, Trump said he has directed the military to maintain the naval blockade and remain on full readiness for the duration of the extension. The ceasefire will hold, Trump said, “until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded—one way or the other.” This follows reporting fromDrop Site’s Jeremy Scahill, who right before this announcementconfirmedthat Iran would not attend a second round of talks, primarily because Pakistan had promised that Trump would lift the blockade and he did not. Thisremainsthe position of the Iranian government after the announcement of the extension, according to Iran’s Permanent Representative to the UN. “As soon as [the U.S.] breaks the naval blockade, the next round of negotiations will take place in Islamabad.”Read the latest on the state of the ceasefire from Jeremy Scahillhere.
EU Energy Commissioner warns war will affect prices for years:European Union Energy Commissioner Dan JørgensensaidWednesday the Iran war was costing Europe around 500 million euros (approx. $585 million) each day and would affect prices for years to come. “This is not a short-term, small increase in prices. This is a crisis that is probably as serious as the 1973 and the 2022 crises combined,” he said on Wednesday according to AP.
CNN: Oil spills from Iran war visible from space:Multiple oil spills spreading across the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz are visible from space after Iranian and U.S.-Israeli strikes hit oil facilities and vessels in the region,accordingto CNN, with environmental experts warning of an impending ecological disaster. One image, taken on April 7, shows a spill spanning more than five miles in the Strait of Hormuz near Iran’s Qeshm Island. An Iranian vessel leaked oil in the same area after U.S. forces struck it on February 28, Greenpeace Germany spokesperson Nina Noelle told CNN.
UK and France to lead multinational Hormuz conference:Britain is hosting military planners from more than 30 countries for two days of talks starting Wednesday on a UK- and France-led multinational mission aimed at protecting navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. The defense ministrysaidthe meeting will “advance detailed planning” to reopen the strait when conditions allow. UK Defense Minister John Healey said the goal is to “translate diplomatic consensus into a joint plan to safeguard freedom of navigation in the Strait and support a lasting ceasefire,” adding he is confident “real progress can be made.” The initiative follows a Paris meeting co-chaired by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Emmanuel Macron, with both countries stressing the force would be strictly defensive and deployed only once a lasting regional peace agreement is reached.
Israel continues attacks in Lebanon despite ceasefire:
An Israeli drone strike on the village of Jabbourkilledone person and wounded two others Wednesday, according to the National News Agency (NNA).
Source: Drop Site News: Drop Site Daily
