Morning update

Good morning Middle East Eye readers. Today's updates from the Middle East are manifold. US Vice President JD Vance emphasized the importance of free commerce through the Strait of Hormuz. He criticized Tehran's leadership for their actions which, in his view, lacked strategic wisdom in attempts to restrict oil and gas exports.

Israeli forces reportedly made significant gains in Syria's Daraa province. This advance was confirmed by Al Jazeera, and was marked by the presence of at least ten military vehicles and reconnaissance aircraft near the village of Jumla in the province's western outskirts.

US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has submitted his resignation, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. This decision comes after months of tension with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth over the recent removal of several top army generals. This move was part of a controversial effort to reduce the number of high-ranking generals in the US army.

A tanker sailing out of the Strait of Hormuz was struck by three projectiles. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency confirmed the incident, which occurred 17 nautical miles east of Oman's Khasab. Fortunately, no casualties or environmental damage were reported.

Yemen's military has launched drone attacks targeting Houthi positions in various locations. Footage from the Yemeni army's media center shows drones dropping bombs in the Baqam district, north of Yemen's Saada governorate. The Yemeni navy also reported the destruction of four Houthi drone boats near the islands of Hanish and Zaqar in the Red Sea.

The US State Department approved a $800 million military sale of helicopters to Iraq. Bell-Textron, located in Fort Worth, Texas, is the principal contractor for this deal.