Morning update

Good morning Middle East Eye readers,

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reported that two oil tankers and a tugboat exploded in the Strait of Hormuz. The statement indicated these incidents transpired while the vessels were navigating an unauthorized route.

South Korea's anti-piracy unit, Cheonghae, plans to expand its operations into areas close to the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report by Yonhap News Agency. The Yonhap source referenced the Korean Defence Ministry. The government intends to propose extending the unit's deployment to the region, with the extension likely to conclude at the year's end.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog cautioned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other key officials about a "highly explosive and dangerous reality" in the West Bank due to escalating settler violence. Herzog attributed this to a confluence of factors, including the upcoming elections in Israel, the United States, and the Palestinian Authority (postponed), coupled with the olive harvest season, which may create a volatile and hazardous situation.

The United States imposed sanctions on two individuals and another entity allegedly assisting Iran in acquiring man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS). The sanctions statement stated that these measures "narrow down the avenues Tehran uses to attempt to rebuild its arsenal and heighten the risk for third-country brokers and suppliers."

On Wednesday, a ballistic missile strike in Yemen's Taiz governorate claimed the lives of four family members, including three children, in Hayfan. Houthi-affiliated media reported that Saudi-led coalition assaults in the preceding 24 hours resulted in approximately 20 casualties across Yemen, encompassing the provinces of al-Jawf, al-Bayda, Saada, and Taiz.