ABOARD THE RFA LYME BAY (AP) — Positioned off Gibraltar’s coastline, the RFA Lyme Bay stands ready, with a full contingent of British sailors poised for a potential mine-clearing mission in the Strait of Hormuz, though its commencement remains uncertain.

U.S. President Donald Trump has criticized allies for their lack of support in the U.S. initiative against Iran, whose control over the strategic strait has significantly disrupted global shipping routes and driven up energy costs. Trump, in March, urged NATO partners to independently secure their oil supplies and manage the strait’s security themselves.

In Gibraltar, a British Overseas Territory situated at the southern extremity of the Iberian Peninsula, the U.K. Royal Navy is gearing up for action, contingent upon the finalization of a peace accord. According to Trump, a tentative agreement with Iran has been reached following discussions with Israel and other regional partners, though details are still being ironed out.

During a recent visit to the RFA Lyme Bay, Britain’s Armed Forces Minister, Al Carns, escorted a select group of journalists to observe preparations for a possible multinational mission spearheaded by the U.K. and France to secure the strait. The amphibious vessel, stationed at the entrance to the Mediterranean, was in the midst of being outfitted with ammunition and sonar-equipped mine-hunting sea drones.

The RFA Lyme Bay, manned by a crew of several hundred, is set to leave Gibraltar shortly. It will rendezvous with the U.K. destroyer HMS Dragon and other allied vessels for air cover, before navigating through the Suez Canal en route to the Persian Gulf.

After the U.S. and Israel launched the war on Feb. 28, Tehran retaliated by effectively closing the strait, a key waterway for the region’s oil, natural gas and fertilizer, causing global economic pain. The U.K. in particular has drawn the ire of Trump, who has described Britain’s navy as “toys” and Prime Minister Keir Starmer as “not Winston Churchill.”

At least 6,000 ships have been blocked from passing through the strait since the conflict began, Carns said.

There could be a range of threats from Iran’s mines

Iran could have a “huge” variety of mines throughout strait, said Cmdr. Gemma Britton, who is in charge of the Royal Navy’s Mine and Threat Exploitation Group. Mines could be rocket-propelled, cabled or sit on the seabed and be triggered by sound, movement or light.

AP was shown autonomous systems that can scan the seabed and the water with sonar in about half the time it takes for a crewed vessel to enter and map potential dangers. The sea drones equipped with sonar produce a picture of objects under the water, from fishing traps to pipelines. The picture is used to identify mines that can be explored with advanced acoustic systems and cameras, Britton said.

Some of the systems on the RFA Lyme Bay can be loaded onto a smaller vessel that can be launched and piloted autonomously from the ship, which acts as a mother ship, waiting outside any potential minefield, Britton said. That reduces the number of people needed to enter, she said.

Once a mine has been located, a diver with explosives normally places a charge on the mine before swimming away to detonate it. But RFA Lyme Bay is trialing a remotely operated vehicle that dives and drops a charge by a mine before setting it off, Britton said.

The priority, she said, will be to clear a transit lane in the strait to allow around 700 ships to leave. A lane flowing in the opposite direction will then be cleared, allowing ships to enter, she said, but added that clearing the entire strait could take months or years.

It’s still not clear if the UK and its allies will be deployed

It’s still not clear if any mines are in the strait — or if the U.K. and its allies will be deploying to remove them.

When asked by AP if the British effort was partly for show, to curry favor with the U.S., Carns said he was sure some mines had been blown up or floated away but that assurance is not good enough for commercial insurance companies. He said those companies need “absolute certainty” to get vessels traveling through the strait again.

“That’s what this capability will provide,” he said.

The international effort to secure the strait would happen only once hostilities are over.

“Final aspects and details of the Deal are currently being discussed, and will be announced shortly,” Trump said Saturday on social media, with no details on timing.

This is not the first time in recent weeks that a deal has been described as close.

“We don’t know when the Americans, Iranians and Israelis are going to come up with a suitable solution,” Carns said.

In the meantime, the RFA Lyme Bay and its crew will be waiting and will be “really, really ready,” Carns said.

——

A tragic incident at the Great Barrier Reef on Sunday resulted in the death of a 39-year-old man following a shark attack, as reported by police. This marks the second deadly shark encounter in Australia this month.

The victim was quickly transported to shore after being bitten near Kennedy Shoal, a shallow area located approximately 28 miles from Queensland’s northeastern coastline, according to a representative from the Queensland Police Service.

Upon reaching the shore, medical personnel were on standby, but sadly, the man succumbed to his injuries shortly thereafter. His identity has not been disclosed by the authorities.

This incident comes shortly after another fatal attack on May 16, when a 38-year-old was killed by a shark near an island close to Perth in Western Australia.

Although Australia experiences about 20 shark attacks annually, the majority are not fatal, as indicated by data from conservation organizations.

Far more people drown on the country’s beaches.

Dozens of beaches along Australia’s east coast, including in Sydney, were closed in January after four shark attacks in two days.

Those attacks came as heavy rains created murky water that attracts sharks and reduces their visibility.

A fervent supporter of Luigi Mangione, who recently made headlines for mocking the family of the murdered UnitedHealthcare CEO, Brian Thompson, outside a courthouse, has been identified as the daughter of a prominent healthcare industry figure.

Lena Weissbrot, one of three individuals who call themselves ‘Mangionistas’ and faced public outrage for celebrating Thompson’s demise outside the Manhattan Supreme Court, is the daughter of Reina Natero, a senior executive in medical affairs at CVS Health.

This revelation follows closely on the heels of Weissbrot’s provocative statements at Mangione’s evidence suppression hearing in New York, where he is set to face trial for Thompson’s murder.

Weissbrot, along with her friends Ashley Rojas and Abril Rios, managed to acquire official press credentials and conducted interviews with the media outside the courthouse, expressing their support for the accused shooter.

Commenting on Thompson’s death, Weissbrot remarked, “I liked it. His children are better off without him. They need to learn not to emulate their father. And enjoy the blood money, kids!”

The comments triggered outrage online and renewed scrutiny of the growing subculture of Mangione supporters who view the alleged killer as a vigilante-style hero taking on the medical insurance industry.

Weissbrot and her acolytes have become fixtures around the sensational murder case, which has drawn an increasingly fervent online following since Mangione was arrested in Pennsylvania days after Thompson’s killing.

Thompson, a father of two, was shot dead on December 4, 2024, outside a UnitedHealthcare investor conference in Manhattan. Prosecutors allege Mangione used a 9mm ‘ghost gun’ in the ambush-style slaying.

Lena Weissbrot, pictured, one of Luigi Mangione’s most outspoken supporters, was identified through public records as the daughter of a senior medical affairs employee at CVS Health

Weissbrot sparked outrage outside Manhattan Supreme Court when she said slain UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s children were ‘better off without him’

Julie Keyser, left, Abril Rios and Lena Weissbrot describe themselves as the ‘Mangionistas’ – a trio of women who emerged as some of the most vocal public supporters of Luigi Mangione

Bullets recovered at the scene allegedly carried the words ‘Delay, Deny, Defend’ – language viewed as a reference to criticisms often leveled against the health insurance industry.

Outside Monday’s hearing, Weissbrot repeatedly defended Mangione and framed the accused killer as a symbol of public rage against corporate America.

She argued Thompson ‘was responsible for more deaths than Osama bin Laden’ because of his role in the healthcare industry.

‘And I remember Americans celebrating when Osama bin Laden was killed,’ Weissbrot said. ‘Our government and these health insurance companies, they’re literally stealing our money and using it to kill us.

‘Like, come on – the American people need to stand up for themselves. It’s about time. It’s beyond time.’

Rojas was equally blunt: ‘I’m saying f*** Brian Thompson. I don’t give a flying f*** he died,’ she told the Daily News outside court. ‘F*** Brian Thompson. F*** his mom.’

Meanwhile, Rios questioned the meaning of the Second Amendment as the group spoke outside the courthouse.

‘I mean, why do we protect the Second Amendment so much?’ Rios said. ‘Is it to allow people to shoot up schools? Or is it to protect democracy?’

CEO Brian Thompson, then 50, was gunned down on December 4, 2024, while attending  UnitedHealthcare’s annual investor day convention

Lena Weissbrot is the daughter of Reina Natero, who oversees prescription drug insurance coverage rules at CVS Health, according to a review of public records and Natero’s online resume

One of the strangest twists in the Luigi Mangione saga involved a provocative music video tied to supporter Lena Weissbrot, who performs online under the rap persona ‘Fellatia G’

Supporters of Mangione have also flooded social media with fan art portraying him as everything from a revolutionary folk hero to a romantic anti-establishment icon

Luigi Mangione appears for a hearing in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan Criminal Court last December

Weissbrot interjected: ‘It is to kill tyrants!’

The trio’s comments quickly went viral, but scrutiny intensified further after details emerged about Weissbrot’s family background.

According to public records and archived online profiles, Natero has spent more than two decades working across the pharmaceutical and insurance sectors, including positions tied to prescription coverage decisions.

Records also indicate Weissbrot and Natero previously shared an address in St. Petersburg, Florida, before Weissbrot attended Florida State University.

When confronted about the apparent connection by the New York Post, Weissbrot denied that Natero was her mother, while also describing the relationship as estranged.

Investigators and social media users also unearthed a provocative music video posted online earlier this year featuring Weissbrot performing under the name ‘Fellatia G.’

In the video, she raps lines attacking CEOs and billionaires while imagery of firearms and guillotines flashes onscreen.

One lyric references CEOs ‘getting shot up,’ while another calls for ‘billionaires in body bags.’

The so-called ‘Mangionistas’ are seen outside the hearing in Manhattan on Monday. Pictured from left, Ashley Rojas, Abril Rios and Lena Weissbrot

Lena Weissbrot is seen in some of her Instagram photose.

Lena Weissbrot often appears wearing a green beret emblazoned with an ‘L’ linked directly to Luigi from Nintendo’s Super Mario Bros franchise, whose character is famously associated with a green hat 

Weissbrot describes herself online as a game developer, artist and musician. She previously received a Fulbright-mtvU fellowship tied to research involving feminist hip-hop artists in South Africa.

Her emergence as one of the loudest Mangione supporters has baffled observers across the political spectrum – particularly given her apparent family ties.

The other members of the so-called ‘Mangionista’ trio have also faced growing scrutiny.

Rios, who has worked in visual effects and modeling, has posted extensively online about Mangione and progressive political causes. 

Public records indicate her father works in enterprise cybersecurity, while her stepfather has credits in the film industry.

Rojas, meanwhile, previously worked retail and bakery jobs before pursuing journalism studies in New York, according to publicly available profiles.

The controversy erupted as Mangione scored a mixed legal victory during Monday’s hearing.

Judge Gregory Carro ruled prosecutors can introduce a notebook and the alleged ghost gun recovered during Mangione’s arrest as evidence at trial.

Mangione has pleaded not guilty. His trial remains scheduled for October.

The Daily Mail reached out to Weissbrot for coment 

Democrats and media commentators are under scrutiny for what some are calling an “inappropriate” reaction to Tulsi Gabbard’s decision to step down from her role as Director of National Intelligence. Her resignation follows the troubling news of her husband’s cancer diagnosis.

Tony Kinnett, a national correspondent for The Daily Signal, expressed his concerns about the way many have responded to Gabbard’s announcement during his appearance on “Fox & Friends Weekend.” He criticized what he described as an immediate shift to political discourse.

“The social media ecosystem, along with many analysts and pundits, seems to be driven by the urge to make the most provocative comments as soon as news breaks,” Kinnett remarked. He suggested that such reactions reveal “how appalling the character of many individuals can be.”

Gabbard is expected to serve until June 30, marking her final day in office. Fox News Digital has acquired her resignation letter, where she expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to serve. She also revealed her husband’s recent diagnosis with an extremely rare form of bone cancer, prompting her decision to resign.

Fox News Digital obtained her formal resignation letter in which she stated she is “deeply grateful” for the opportunity but noted that her husband, Abraham, “has recently been diagnosed with an extremely rare form of bone cancer.”

But some members of the media and Democratic Party criticized Gabbard following her decision to leave her post.

Guests on CNN took aim at Gabbard’s tenure, with former Deputy DNI Beth Sanner offering condolences before jabbing that her DNI title stood for “Do Not Invite.”

Democratic lawmakers offered similar sentiments. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., took to social media to say the resignation was her only positive contribution to the role.

“While the circumstances around her departure are deserving of our sympathy, let’s be clear: Tulsi Gabbard’s only positive contribution to our nation’s national security is her resignation,” Schiff wrote on X.

But Kinnett argued that the quick jump to politics on a deeply personal issue reflects what he described as a troubling shift in political commentary.

“The most principled thing you can do as a wife is to leave something behind, as a spouse in general, is to leave your career behind,” Kinnett said.

He added that the negative reaction reflected what he called a “lack of character” from critics.

Gabbard assumed office in February 2025 and is a US Army Reserve officer and combat veteran. She previously served in Congress for multiple terms as a Democrat before leaving the party to become an independent and later joining the Republican Party. 

In her resignation letter, Gabbard noted that her husband has been her “rock” throughout their 11 years of marriage and during difficult deployments overseas.

She wrote that she “cannot in good conscience ask him to face this fight alone while I continue in this demanding and time-consuming position.”

President Trump responded to the resignation on Truth Social, writing that she “rightfully” wants to support her husband during a tough battle.

“I have no doubt he will soon be better than ever. Tulsi has done an incredible job, and we will miss her,” he wrote.