What Happened
Tensions Escalate in Middle East Amid Conflicting Claims
The US military has denied claims by Iran that it struck an uncrewed American military vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, calling the claim a ’total lie’. The incident is the latest in a series of escalating tensions between the US and Iran, with the US having struck Iranian oil tankers in retaliation for ballistic missile launches. The situation in the Middle East remains volatile, with Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon and ongoing conflict in Gaza. This report was first published by the Orlando Sentinel.