US Destroys Six Iranian Ships In Straight Of Hormuz During ‘Project Freedom’

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U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) head Adm. Brad Cooper told reporters on Monday that the United States destroyed six Iranian boats that were threatening commercial ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

President Donald Trump launched “Project Freedom” on Sunday, an effort by the U.S. Navy to help guide commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz. On a press call with reporters, Cooper said the U.S. returned fire and destroyed Iranian forces who emerged to threaten the commercial ships.

“We have defeated each and every one of those threats,” Cooper told reporters.

“We defended this, both ourselves and consistent with our commitment, we defended all the commercial ships,” Cooper added. “We had drone launches against commercial ships, all of which were defended against consistent with our commitment, and then the small boats were all going against commercial ships, and all were sunk by Apaches and [inaudible] helicopters.”

Cooper told the Daily Caller that the U.S. has cleared an “effective pathway” through the strait. Two U.S. ships have passed through the strait in the last 24 hours. Following the exchange of fire, Cooper declined to speak about whether the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran was now over.

(Read more from “US Destroys Six Iranian Ships In Straight Of Hormuz During ‘Project Freedom’” HERE)

Report: Somali Pirates Team Up with Houthi Terrorists to Attack Key Oil Trade Route

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A report published this week suggests pirates from Somalia are once again threatening commercial shipping in the Red Sea, reportedly working with the Iran-backed Houthi insurgents of Yemen to menace a trillion-dollar flow of seaborne oil.

“Somali and Houthi-linked groups are teaming up — using skiffs and new tech to strike ships with coordination not seen in a decade — while Saudi crude rerouted from the Strait of Hormuz has created a target-rich environment for them,” RTCOM Defense CEO Ido Shalev told Fox News Digital.

“There is an opportunistic alignment, with the Houthis providing geopolitical cover and advanced GPS and surveillance, and Somali groups providing the boots on the ground or skiffs on the water,” he said.

Shalev said it was a return to the “Somali model” of piracy that grew prevalent in the 1990s after the collapse of Somalia’s central government. The Somalis had two thousand miles of coastline and a huge fleet of small fishing boats, which criminals quickly realized could be employed for swarming attacks against large commercial vessels as depicted in the 2013 film Captain Phillips.

The age of Somali piracy supposedly ended when the government in Mogadishu regained control over the coastline, but two new hijackings over the past ten days have revived the pirate menace, to the great embarrassment of the Somali government. (Read more from “Report: Somali Pirates Team Up with Houthi Terrorists to Attack Key Oil Trade Route” HERE)

Iran Tortures Dad to Death for Using Internet, Executes Karate Champ in Regime’s Latest Bloody Crackdowns

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The barbaric Iranian regime reportedly tortured a dad to death for the high crime of using the internet and abused and executed a 21-year-old karate champ for merely attending a protest.

Father of two Hesam Alaeddin, 40, was beaten to death after being arrested for using Starlink to access the internet — which has been banned in the country since the US-Iran war started Feb. 28.

News of Alaeddin’s death was reported by Reza Pahlavi — the exiled son of the last shah of Iran — and spread across shocked posts on social media.

“The brutal and criminal regime of the Islamic Republic killed Hesam Alaeddin under torture after he was reportedly arrested for using Starlink,” Pahlavi wrote on X on Friday. “For 62 days, this regime has shut down the internet and continues to massacre Iranian people. The world cannot stay silent.”

Alaeddin was detained sometime in the past two weeks after being accused of connecting to the internet with Starlink, IranWire reported.

Iranian regime police searched his home, and when they found the Starlink device, they beat him in the family’s residence until he died, according to IranWire. (Read more from “Iran Tortures Dad to Death for Using Internet, Executes Karate Champ in Regime’s Latest Bloody Crackdowns” HERE)

Photo credit: Flickr

Strait of Hormuz Crisis Sparks Fears of Global Famine

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The crisis in the Strait of Hormuz caused immediate shocks to the world oil market, but analysts are also afraid that rising food prices and fertilizer shortages could increase the risk of famine in struggling nations.

Vespucci Maritime CEO Lars Jensen told Fox News Digital on Thursday that the “worst-case” scenario would resemble “the eight-year closure of the Suez Canal from 1967 to 1975.”

“Best case, there is an agreement between the U.S. and Iran within the next few weeks, and the Strait reopens — and it has to be a deal where there is trust that Iran is sufficiently satisfied with the deal such that they do not suddenly close the strait again,” Jensen said.

“Even in that case, it will still take months for the supply chains to revert back to normality,” he added.

The Suez Canal was shut down by Egypt at the beginning of the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. The Egyptians blocked one of the world’s most important shipping lanes by laying minefields and sinking ships to create physical barriers. The canal remained closed until 1975. It was actually the second time the canal was closed by Egypt, after a much shorter shutdown in 1956-1957. (Read more from “Strait of Hormuz Crisis Sparks Fears of Global Famine” HERE)

Photo credit: Flickr

Mystery Deepens over Mojtaba Khamenei’s Condition after Iran Unveils ‘Martyr’ Mural

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A viral mural showing the Islamic Republic’s new ayatollah among dead Iranian leaders has deepened speculation he was killed or gravely wounded in the 28 February strikes on Tehran.

A mural depicting Mojtaba Khamenei alongside dead Iranian commanders and officials has gone viral in Iran, fueling speculation that the country’s new ayatollah may be dead or gravely wounded nearly two months after he was last seen in public.

The mural, unveiled in Mashhad Ardehal west of Kashan and titled “Martyrs of the Epic Struggle,” depicts deceased top Iranian military and political leaders, including Qassem Soleimani, former President Ebrahim Raisi and Islamic Republic founder Ruhollah Khomeini.

The footage of the mural spread rapidly on social media, sparking questions over the fate of the new supreme leader and the son of late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the initial US-Israeli strikes on Tehran on 28 February. Iranian authorities have not commented.

This was not the only slip-up by the Tehran regime in recent days. Tasnim News Agency, tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), referred to Khamenei in a recent post as the “martyred leader of the revolution.” The Islamic Republic officials later said it was an error. (Read more from “Mystery Deepens over Mojtaba Khamenei’s Condition after Iran Unveils ‘Martyr’ Mural” HERE)

Top Iranian Negotiator Arrives Back in Pakistan — while Trump Orders Chief US Aides to Phone it in

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Iran’s foreign minister was back in Islamabad on Sunday reportedly hoping to work on a peace plan — while President Trump said his top aides will only participate by phone at this point because Pakistan is too far to go to again.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi did the quick turnaround after leaving Pakistan’s capital without meeting with US officials Saturday, a move that prompted Trump to then swiftly cancel American negotiators’ intended return trip to Islamabad.

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were expected to leave for Pakistan’s capital Saturday before being called off.

Trump on Sunday doubled down on his refusal to send the US negotiators back to Islamabad, telling Fox News that the 18-hour trip is too far to travel if Iran continues to refuse his nuclear demands.

“Great respect for Pakistan, because they’ve been terrific. They’ve really tried, and they’ll stay involved, but we’re going to do it by telephone, so if they want, they can call us,” Trump said of Tehran. (Read more from “Top Iranian Negotiator Arrives Back in Pakistan — while Trump Orders Chief US Aides to Phone it in” HERE)

Country Bans Social Media for Children Under 15

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The Turkish parliament on Wednesday passed the latest national ban on social media for children, joining a trend that began with Australia’s landmark ban in December 2025.

Turkey banned social media for children under 15, requiring all platforms to implement strict age verification procedures. The law also covers online gaming platforms, which often have a social media element.

In addition to burdening social media and gaming platforms with creating age verification systems, Turkey also requires them to explain the intricacies of the new law to their users, create “user-friendly” tools for parental control, and avoid running “deceptive ads.”

Online game companies will be required to appoint “representatives” to Turkey to serve as compliance officers. Violations of the new law can be punished by fines and restrictions on Internet bandwidth.

Turkey’s legislation avoids terms like “ban,” instead framing the legislation as an order for social media companies to create “safe digital spaces” for children. (Read more from “Country Bans Social Media for Children Under 15” HERE)

Iran Fires On 3 Ships In Strait Of Hormuz

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By Daily Caller. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, complicating ongoing negotiations.

The IRGC fired on three vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, according to information from the British military’s UKMTO. The action took place a day after President Donald Trump announced an indefinite ceasefire in a Truth Social post until the Iranian government would agree to resume in-person negotiations that were originally slated to take place in Pakistan.

The IRGC seized two of the vessels, according to reporting from The Associated Press. Iranian state media claimed the Iranian military was allegedly taking the ships back to Iran.

The ships that were hit were the Panama-flagged MSC Francesca, Liberia-flagged Epaminondas and the Liberia-flagged Euphoria, according to Reuters.

“Based on the fact that the Government of Iran is seriously fractured, not unexpectedly so and, upon the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of Pakistan, we have been asked to hold our Attack on the Country of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal. I have therefore directed our Military to continue the Blockade and, in all other respects, remain ready and able, and will therefore extend the Ceasefire until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other,” Trump said in the Truth Social post on Tuesday. (Read more from “Iran Fires On 3 Ships In Strait Of Hormuz” HERE)

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Iran’s military more capable than Trump administration is publicly acknowledging, sources say

By CBS News. The Islamic Republic of Iran maintains more military capabilities than the White House or Pentagon has publicly admitted, according to multiple U.S. officials with knowledge of intelligence on the matter.

About half of Iran’s stockpile of ballistic missiles and its associated launch systems were still intact as of the start of the ceasefire in early April, three of the officials told CBS News.

Roughly 60% of the naval arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is still in existence, the officials said, including fast-attack speed boats. On Wednesday, Iranian gunboats attacked several commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, shortly after President Trump announced he was unilaterally extending a ceasefire to allow more time for peace talks.

Iranian air power has been significantly degraded but not erased, said the officials, who requested anonymity from CBS News because they were not authorized to discuss the matters publicly.

About two-thirds of Iran’s air force is still believed to be operational, the officials said, after an intensive U.S. and Israeli campaign that struck thousands of targets, including storage and production facilities. (Read more from “Iran’s military more capable than Trump administration is publicly acknowledging, sources say” HERE)

Iran’s Maimed Supreme Leader Khamenei Issues New Military Threats Against US, Israel Amid Truce

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A gravely injured Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei issued a chilling message on Saturday amidst an uneasy truce with Israel, threatening that “Iran’s navy is ready to inflict new bitter defeats on enemies.”

The Iranian Armed Forces Day message comes from the newly minted Ayatollah who has not been seen since he took control of the regime after being maimed and losing a leg in the Feb. 28 US-Israeli airstrike that killed his father, Ali Khamenei.

Now, despite Iran negotiating a truce with Israel, the absentee Ayatollah is threatening to flex Iran’s heavily depleted military.

“Just as Iran’s drones strike like lightning against the US and Zionist criminals, Israel, the brave navy is also prepared to inflict new bitter defeat on enemies,” a post from Khamanei’s Telegram account read.

“The Army is like the nation’s child, which arises from within the heart of the people’s homes,” the shadowy cleric boasted in another post. (Read more from “Iran’s Maimed Supreme Leader Khamenei Issues New Military Threats Against US, Israel Amid Truce” HERE)

Islamic Guard Takes Full Control of Iran, Sidelines Moderates: Analysts

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Iran’s hardline Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps leader has effectively taken control of Tehran’s military and negotiation team over the weekend, analysts said.

IRGC Commander Maj. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi and members of his inner circle have allegedly taken charge of the Islamic republic, as evident by Iran’s attacks on ships trying to sail through the Strait of Hormuz and Tehran’s refusal to join peace talks with the US this week, the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) think tank said.

The sudden shift to a hardline stance also shows that more moderate members of Iran’s leadership, including Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister Abbas Araghchi, have been sidelined.

Araghchi had initially agreed to open the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend after reaching a consensus with the Trump administration, but the IRGC demanded it remain shut in the face of the American blockade on Iranian ports.

Vahidi reportedly received the backing of Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council secretary and an IRGC veteran, to control the strait — further cementing Vahidi’s grip on Iran. (Read more from “Islamic Guard Takes Full Control of Iran, Sidelines Moderates: Analysts” HERE)