Morning update

Good morning Middle East Eye readers, today's updates cover a range of events across the region. US President Donald Trump expressed his distrust of Iran, asserting that the US maintains full control over the Strait of Hormuz. He criticized Iran's history of lying, stating, "We have total control over the Hormuz Strait right now; they don't have control."

In the Red Sea, a strike on a commercial vessel resulted in at least three Pakistani deaths and one injury. Pakistan's foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, condemned the Houthi attack, emphasizing that the incident targeted a non-combatant vessel. Kurdish news outlets reported that Iranian missiles and drones had targeted multiple locations in Iraq's Erbil, including Soran, Khalifan, and Harir districts. Israeli forces continued their attacks in southern Lebanon, with one drone incident leaving several wounded.

Large explosions were also reported in Haddatha and Beit Yahoun, though the extent of casualties and damage remains unknown. In Libya, a targeted attack on the South Zawiya substation caused a widespread power outage in southern Zawiya. The company managing the electricity infrastructure warned of further delays in restoration efforts due to these attacks.

Several nations, including Qatar, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Palestine, and Turkey, have voiced their disapproval of Colombia's backing of Israel's claims over the occupied Syrian Golan Heights. Meanwhile, Israeli forces conducted another agricultural land strike in Syria's Quneitra province and established a temporary military checkpoint in Kudna.

Lastly, the Pentagon disclosed to Congress that US attacks against Houthi forces in Yemen last year resulted in 153 civilian deaths and 243 injuries, according to a 12-page report sent to the Senate Armed Services Committee.