Iran Says It Struck Oil Tanker in Latest Middle East Developments

Iran says it has attacked an oil tanker attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz. South Korea, meanwhile, is weighing an expanded role for its naval mission in the Gulf of Aden off the Arabian Peninsula to safeguard its ships and energy supply routes, while ruling out sending troops to take part in the Iran war.

Here are the latest developments from the Middle East on Friday. Full coverage can be found here.

Iran says it attacked an oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz

Iran said it struck the Togo-flagged oil tanker Trend over what it described as an “illegal attempt” to transit the Strait of Hormuz, according to state television, which cited the Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The Associated Press was not immediately able to independently verify the report.

The Guard’s navy said unauthorized vessels trying to pass through the strait would face “destruction,” state television reported. Tehran has claimed control of the strategic waterway since the U.S. and Israel began the war on Feb. 28.

In a separate development, a maritime monitor reported a “security incident” involving a ship 16 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman, across the strait. United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said the crew was safe and that no environmental damage had been confirmed.

As concerns over further Iranian attacks persist, the U.S. military has been escorting some commercial vessels through the waters off Oman.

South Korea considers expanding its regional naval mission

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said his government is considering broadening the mission of a naval unit stationed in the Gulf of Aden, off Yemen and Somalia, to protect South Korean vessels and the country’s oil shipping routes.

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But he stressed that South Korea would not take action drawing it into the U.S.-Iran conflict, pushing back on recent pressure from the Trump administration to get more involved. South Korea has deployed the anti-piracy Cheonghae Unit for years.

The growing threat by Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen to shipping in the region has alarmed countries and markets, even though the rebels have said they are only targeting the assets of neighboring Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter.

Lee noted the threat to South Korea’s economy and the need to protect its ships but said “there will be no troop deployment that involves or intervenes in the war. I can state that clearly.”

Deadly collapse in Gaza draws attention to poor shelter

The deadly collapse this week of a multistory building in Gaza has drawn new attention to the hardships facing Palestinians nearly a year after a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas promised to kickstart reconstruction.

Many displaced residents have moved back into some of the hundreds of thousands of homes damaged by the fighting despite the risk of weakened foundations and unstable walls suddenly giving way.

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This piece will be updated throughout the day as new developments emerge.