South Korea anti-piracy mission may expand south of Oman amid Strait of Hormuz tensions

Iran’s state television reported on Thursday that two oil tankers and a towboat caught fire. The report said the vessels struck mines in the Strait of Hormuz. It gave no information on casualties or the ships’ flags. The account could not be independently confirmed.

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The same report, citing a Revolutionary Guard statement, said the Guard seized two US drones. The report said the drones were in airspace over the strait. The Guard has often made similar claims about targeting vessels. It has also claimed damage to oil tankers there.

Strait of Hormuz conflict and Revolutionary Guard claims

Tehran closed the Strait of Hormuz after the US and Israel attacked Iran in February. The closure followed the start of the war, according to the report. The Strait of Hormuz is a key route for energy shipments. The latest claim added to concerns over shipping risks in the area.

South Korea’s military proposed widening the operating area for an anti-piracy naval unit. The unit is deployed near Somalia. The proposal would add waters south of Oman, South Korea said. The Defence Ministry linked the idea to higher pirate activity. It said Middle East conflict had contributed to the rise.

South Korea anti-piracy mission and Strait of Hormuz tensions

Defence Ministry spokesperson Chung Binna said on Thursday that the possible change would not pull South Korea into the US war with Iran. Chung Binna also said South Korea would not directly join military operations. Those operations would involve ensuring freedom of navigation near the Strait of Hormuz. Chung Binna said it could happen only under allowable circumstances.

Chung Binna said those conditions included an end to the war. Another condition was an agreement to stop the fighting. South Korea did not announce a timeline for any shift. The proposal focused on counter-piracy tasks. Officials framed it as a response to changing security patterns at sea.

Jordan security officer killed amid wider regional conflict

In Jordan, an assailant attacked and killed a security officer on Thursday. The incident happened near the Sri Lankan Embassy in Amman. Jordanian authorities described it as a terrorist act. Jordan’s Public Security Directorate said one of its members died. The Directorate said the person was assaulted with a sharp object.

Jordan’s state-run Al-Mamlaka TV said the assailant was arrested. The report said the assailant tried to seize the officer’s weapon. Al-Mamlaka said a second security officer stepped in. It said both the assailant and the second officer were injured during the confrontation.

Gaza Strip deaths reported as violence continues

Health officials said three Palestinians were killed in separate parts of the Gaza Strip on Thursday. Awda Hospital said Israeli gunfire killed a boy in Bureij. Nasser Hospital said a woman was fatally shot in Khan Younis. Another person died in Deir al-Balah after an Israeli airstrike.

The Israeli military said it was aware of the airstrike in Deir al-Balah. The army did not immediately answer a request about the gunfire reports. That request covered incidents in Bureij and Khan Younis. The reports came as multiple flashpoints remained active across the region.

With inputs from PTI