LiveLive Updates August 01, 2026Share to FacebookShare to XArticle printing is available to subscribers onlyPrint in a simple, ad-free formatSubscribeComments: Zen reading is available to subscribers onlyAd-free and in a comfortable reading formatSubscribeAugust 01, 2026UpdatesTanker reports explosion near vessel in Strait of Hormuz, UKMTO says⁠The ‌United Kingdom ‌Maritime Trade Operations ⁠said on ⁠Saturday it received a report of an incident 21 nautical ‌miles ‌northeast of Oman's Khasab, where the master of a tanker saw a large ⁠splash and an explosion in ‌close proximity ⁠to ‌the vessel.No damage to the ⁠vessel had been reported, UKMTO ‌said.Oil tanker struck by unidentified drone in Strait of Hormuz, maritime security agency saysA tanker has been struck by an "unknown projectile" in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre said Saturday.Vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, Friday. Credit: Stringer/ REUTERSVessels in the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, Friday. Credit: Stringer/ REUTERSThe vessel's engine room was damaged, the agency said, adding that there were no injuries or environmental damage.The incident occurred around 20 kilometres north-east of the Omani town of Lima, according to UKMTO.Iran has demanded that ships use a route along its coastline through the Strait of Hormuz and has repeatedly said only the route designated by Tehran is safe.The dispute over navigation through the strategic waterway, a key transit route for global oil, gas and fertilizer shipments, has become a central flashpoint in the escalating conflict between the United States and Iran.Yemen's Houthis deny plans to impose fees on ships sailing through Red SeaVessels transit the Bab el-Mandeb Strait off the coast of southern Yemen in July. Credit: AFP/KHALED ZIADVessels transit the Bab el-Mandeb Strait off the coast of southern Yemen in July. Credit: AFP/KHALED ZIAD⁠Yemen's Houthi-run ‌maritime coordination body ‌denied on Saturday reports ⁠that it planned ⁠to impose fees on commercial ships transiting the Bab el-Mandeb strait, ‌saying no such decision ‌had been taken and that passage through the strategic waterway remained free.The statement follows a Reuters report on Wednesday, ⁠citing regional sources, that the Iran-aligned Houthis ‌were ⁠considering imposing fees ‌on commercial ships sailing through the southern Red ⁠Sea, after declaring a maritime blockade on Saudi ‌Arabia the previous week.3 hours agoReport: U.S. and Israel are preparing to bombard energy-related targets in Iran as soon as this weekendThe U.S. and Israel are preparing to launch a bombing campaign against Iranian energy infrastructure targets as soon as this weekend, CBS News reported Friday, citing multiple sources.A water tower is silhouetted against smoke rising from a fire following a reported strike in Behbahan, Khuzestan Province, Iran, in this still image obtained from a social media video released in July. Credit: SOCIAL MEDIA/ REUTERSA water tower is silhouetted against smoke rising from a fire following a reported strike in Behbahan, Khuzestan Province, Iran, in this still image obtained from a social media video released in July. Credit: SOCIAL MEDIA/ REUTERSAccording to the report, Israeli officials have been made aware of the plans and are coordinating with the U.S., multiple U.S. sources told CBS News. U.S. President Donald Trump has not yet decided to order the strikes, the report said.Speaking to Iran's Tasnim News Agency, a senior security official said Iran would respond by striking critical infrastructure in Israel and U.S. energy facilities in the region."We consider reports of potential U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran's infrastructure to be a form of recklessness," the official said. "Iran has prepared a comprehensive plan to respond."Earlier Friday, Trump said the U.S. would be hitting Iran "very hard over the next 4 to 8 weeks. "At some point they're going to say, we just can't take it anymore."Speaking to reporters at a cabinet meeting, Trump added the U.S. would "do an amazing job in Iran." White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told CBS News that Iran would not acquire nuclear weapons "under [Trump's] watch."On Thursday, CBS News reported Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu briefed the president on three options for the path forward to the war, including strikes on land-based military supply lines and tightening the naval blockade.Lebanon president, PM condemn earlier Israeli strikes in Beaufort areaThis photograph taken from the southern area of Marjayoun on Friday shows silica dust covering the hills in the areas of Arnoun and Al Shaqif near the Beaufort castle, after Israeli forces carried out a series of detonations. Credit: AFPThis photograph taken from the southern area of Marjayoun on Friday shows silica dust covering the hills in the areas of Arnoun and Al Shaqif near the Beaufort castle, after Israeli forces carried out a series of detonations. Credit: AFPLebanese President Joseph Aoun on Friday condemned explosions at Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon as a "highly dangerous escalation" and a violation of existing commitments, warning they threaten diplomatic efforts ahead of talks in Rome next week on implementing the tripartite framework involving Israel, Lebanon and the United States.Aoun said the blasts generated seismic waves equivalent to a magnitude 3.8 earthquake, citing Lebanon's National Center for Geophysics.Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also condemned what he called ongoing Israeli assaults in southern Lebanon, including explosions, shelling and "systematic destruction," saying they constitute violations of the cease-fire, Lebanon's sovereignty and international law.Salam said the actions threaten residents in southern Lebanon and damage archaeological landmarks listed on UNESCO's World Heritage List.Earlier Friday, the IDF said that it had destroyed a Hezbollah tunnel network in the Beaufort area on Thursday night, dismantling an underground stronghold built over two decades.The military said the complex served as a central headquarters for the organization's Bader Unit, which used the infrastructure to launch drones, UAVs and missiles toward Israel. According to the military, the strategic network "was planned and funded by the Iranian terrorist regime."RECAP: Drone reportedly strikes tanker in Strait of Hormuz; U.S. reportedly planning Iran strikes this weekend Here are Saturday's updates:■ U.S. President Donald Trump's Board of Peace released a roadmap for implementing its Gaza peace plan, calling for an end to military operations.■ Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned explosions at Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon as a "highly dangerous escalation" and a violation of existing commitments, warning they threaten diplomatic efforts ahead of talks in Rome next week on implementing the tripartite framework involving Israel, Lebanon and the United States.■ The U.S. and Israel are preparing to launch a bombing campaign against Iranian energy infrastructure targets as soon as this weekend, CBS News reported, citing multiple sources.■ Yemen's Houthi-run ‌maritime coordination body ‌denied reports ⁠that it planned ⁠to impose fees on commercial ships transiting the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, ‌saying no such decision ‌had been taken and that passage through the strategic waterway remained free.■ The U.K. Maritime Trade Operations agency said a tanker was reportedly struck by an unidentified drone off the coast of Oman.In the NewsU.S. and Israel Reportedly Planning New Strikes on Iran Energy TargetsHe Confessed to a Murder He Didn't Commit. It Took 32 Years to Believe HimLast Israeli Election, 9 Percent of Votes Were Trashed. Will It Happen Again?Kuwait Army Says Air Defenses Currently Intercepting Hostile Iranian MissilesHow Hip-hop Ended Up as the Soundtrack of the Israeli Far RightRemembering and rebuilding two years laterICYMINetanyahu Says Israel Has 'Special Forces' Ready if He's Arrested on NY VisitAl Jazeera Reportedly Ends Contracts of Over 20 Gazan JournalistsTwo Female Israeli Soldiers Die by Suicide as IDF Mental Health Crisis DeepensDozens of IDF Soldiers Desert Sde Teiman Base in Protest of CommanderTrump's Irritation, Netanyahu's Desperation: Oval Office Smiles Mask RiftsIsrael's De Facto Strategy Is Exposed in Latest West Bank Settler Violence