Qatar's former Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani dies at 74

Egypt condemns Iranian attacks on Gulf states as Strait of Hormuz closure announced

Egypt has condemned Iranian missile and drone attacks targeting several Gulf states, following retaliatory strikes by Tehran after US military attacks on Iranian targets. The Iranian attacks reportedly targeted Jordan, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain. Iran also announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, stating it fired a warning shot at a vessel and disabled another, and that the strategic waterway would remain closed until "the end of US interference in this region." However, the US Central Command CENTCOM reported that commercial vessel traffic continues through the strait. CENTCOM stated that US forces carried out a third round of strikes against Iran this week in response to Iranian attacks on the Cyprus-flagged container ship M/V GFS Galaxy, which resulted in a missing crew member and significant damage. The US forces targeted approximately 140 military sites, including missile and drone sites, naval capabilities, and ammunition storage facilities, aiming to degrade Iran's ability to attack commercial shipping. Kuwait reported intercepting hostile aerial targets, and the UAE Ministry of Defense detected missile threats outside its borders. Egypt's Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the Iranian attacks as a dangerous escalation that violates sovereignty and risks undermining regional security, reaffirming solidarity with Gulf states. This escalation further jeopardizes the interim US-Iran agreement to end the war and reopen the Strait of