Iran's military warns it will attack US forces entering Strait of Hormuz

Iran's military unified command warned US and other foreign forces they will be attacked if they enter the Strait of Hormuz.

Maj. Gen. Ali Abdollahi, head of the Khatam al-Anbiya central headquarters, said Iranian forces would respond harshly to any threat. He told commercial ships and oil tankers to avoid movement without coordination with Iran's military. "We have repeatedly said the security of the Strait of Hormuz is in our hands and that the safe passage of vessels needs to be coordinated with the armed forces," Abdollahi said in a statement quoted by Reuters. "We warn that any foreign armed forces, especially the aggressive US army, will be attacked if they intend to approach and enter the Strait of Hormuz."

"We will maintain and vigorously manage the security of the Strait of Hormuz with all our might, and we inform all commercial ships and tankers to refrain from any attempt to transit without the coordination of the armed forces stationed in the Strait of Hormuz, so as not to jeopardise their security," he added.

The warning came after President Donald Trump announced the US would start an effort Monday to free ships stranded in the strait as a humanitarian gesture. Trump said the operation would guide ships of neutral countries safely out of the restricted waterway, where crews face low supplies. He threatened forceful action against any interference. US Central Command said it would involve guided-missile destroyers, more than 100 aircraft and 15,000 service members.

A tanker reported being hit by unknown projectiles 78 nautical miles north of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates soon after Trump's announcement. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said all crew were safe and advised vessels to transit with caution.

The Joint Maritime Information Centre reported the strait's security threat level remains critical due to regional military operations. Mariners should coordinate with Omani authorities and consider routing south of the traffic separation scheme, where the US has an enhanced security area. Transit near the scheme is hazardous due to unmitigated mines.

Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei confirmed officials are reviewing a US counterproposal to end the US-Israeli war, received via Pakistan. "The US message was received through Pakistan, and I will not discuss the details of the issues raised at this time because these issues are still under review," he said, according to Al Jazeera. Baghaei called for the US to abandon excessive demands. Iran's priority is ending the war, he said on state television.

Iran's latest peace proposal called for opening the Strait of Hormuz, US withdrawal from near its borders, compensation for the attack on Iran and Israel ending its war on Lebanon. Trump called talks very positive but said Iran's proposal was unacceptable.

Iran has blocked nearly all Gulf shipping except its own for over two months. The US imposed a blockade on Iranian ports last month.

Iran's internet blackout entered its 66th day, according to NetBlocks. The censorship has lasted over 1,560 hours with no restoration for the public, though some journalists, businesses and politicians have access.

In Lebanon, Israel established a yellow line covering at least 55 villages in the south, demolishing homes in a security zone. The war began when Hezbollah launched missiles at Israel on March 2 after the US-Israeli bombing of Iran. Lebanon's health ministry reported 2,679 deaths since then, including many women and children. Israeli evacuation orders displaced over a million people.

The IDF launched airstrikes on Hezbollah sites in southern Lebanon after warnings for four villages. A ceasefire took effect April 17 at US request, but both sides accuse each other of violations. Hezbollah says it will keep attacking Israeli troops in Lebanon and northern Israel towns as long as Israel breaches the deal.

The US evacuated 22 crew from a seized Iranian container vessel to Pakistan as a confidence-building measure. Pakistan's foreign ministry said the ship would return to Iranian owners after repairs.