Iran Conflict Escalates, Targets Shipping

The ongoing conflict involving Iran, the U.S., and Israel intensified with new attacks on commercial shipping and infrastructure, as Iran warned of targeting U.S.-linked banks. Overnight, suspected Iranian drones struck at least three vessels in and around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping lane. Concurrently, drones hit Dubai's airport, injuring four people, though the facility remained operational. The United Arab Emirates reported intercepting Iranian drones and missiles.

The Pentagon disclosed that approximately 140 U.S. service members sustained injuries within the first 10 days of the conflict. Separately, a U.S. submarine attack resulted in the deaths of 84 Iranian soldiers aboard the IRIS Dena warship off Sri Lanka's coast, with a Sri Lankan court ordering the return of the bodies to Iran. Iran's state media reported "massive turnout" at a funeral in Tehran for military commanders and civilians killed in the conflict.

In a related development, London's Metropolitan Police banned a pro-Palestinian protest, citing its origins and organization by groups supportive of the Iranian regime, marking the first such ban since 2012. This decision was based on assessed risks of disorder and extreme tensions, considering the volatile situation in the Middle East.