'Total lie’: US rejects Iran’s claim of hitting American vessel in Strait of Hormuz

The US military has rejected Iran’s claim that it struck an unmanned American military vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, calling the report a “total lie”, as tensions continued to escalate across the Middle East.State-run Iranian media had claimed that the US vessel was attempting to enter an area that Tehran considers restricted in the strategically important waterway.“The report came from Iranian state media and it’s a total lie,” said Capt. Tim Hawkins, spokesman for US Central Command.The claim came a day after the US said it had struck Iranian oil tankers in retaliation for Iran launching ballistic missiles at US Navy warships. Fighting resumed last week following roughly a month of relative calm.The wider conflict began with US and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28. Although a ceasefire agreement was announced in June, intermittent fighting has continued as efforts to negotiate a lasting settlement have faltered.Iranian Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said the era of “proportionate responses” was over, warning that Iran's retaliation would now be “faster, heavier and more painful.”Israeli strikes kill four in LebanonIsraeli strikes in southern Lebanon killed at least four people and destroyed an empty hospital, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry, in an area that has emerged as a flash point between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah.Two people were killed in strikes on the village of Arabsalim, while two others died in Nabatiyeh, near a strategic hill that Israel said its forces took control of on Thursday.At least 20 people were wounded, including three children and five women, according to Lebanese authorities.The Israeli military said the strikes were carried out in response to a Hezbollah drone attack against Israeli troops in southern Lebanon earlier Sunday. It alleged that Hezbollah had been using the hospital as a command centre.Fighting has declined across much of Lebanon since a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect more than two months ago, but sporadic clashes and Israeli strikes have continued.More than 110 bodies recovered in GazaIn Gaza City, dozens of Palestinians gathered for a mass funeral after rescue crews recovered the remains of more than 110 people from rubble in the Zeitoun neighbourhood.The victims included at least 70 children, according to reports. Rescue teams spent several days recovering bodies from three families whose homes were destroyed in Israeli strikes earlier in the war.“We are witnessing a painful, heartbreaking scene,” said Mustafa Quzghat, a relative.The bodies were wrapped in white shrouds and laid out in rows, with Palestinian flags placed over them. Some shrouds carried photographs of the deceased.Gaza's Health Ministry says more than 73,650 Palestinians have been killed since the war began. The ministry is part of the Hamas-run government and does not distinguish between civilian and militant deaths in its overall figures.Father, daughter killed in Gaza strikeAn Israeli strike on a civilian vehicle in western Gaza City killed a father and his daughter and wounded at least six others, according to health officials at Shifa Hospital.The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the strike, and it was not immediately clear what the intended target was.Gaza's Health Ministry said Israeli strikes have killed at least 1,344 Palestinians in Gaza since a ceasefire agreement with Hamas was reached in October.Israel maintains that it targets Hamas and other militants it considers threats and says some strikes are carried out in response to violations of ceasefire arrangements.The Gaza war began after Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 others hostage.Muslim nations reject proposal to remove PalestiniansForeign ministers from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and five other governments condemned proposals to remove Palestinians from Gaza, saying any such action would violate international law and undermine a US-backed plan aimed at winding down the war.The statement followed a proposal by Israel's national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to encourage Palestinian migration from Gaza. He said the plan would involve Israel paying countries to help cover services for those who leave.Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has also said Israel is prepared to facilitate the removal of Palestinians by sea, air or other means, while discussions over the proposals continue.The governments described the statements as “inflammatory” and said they threatened the “legitimate and inalienable rights” of Palestinians and prospects for establishing a Palestinian state.Israel issues holiday travel warningIsrael has also issued a security warning ahead of the Jewish High Holiday season, which begins Friday and is expected to be a busy travel period.Authorities advised Israeli citizens against travelling to Muslim-majority countries including Jordan and Egypt, despite both countries maintaining peace agreements with Israel.Travellers abroad were also urged to exercise caution, including avoiding displaying Jewish symbols such as skullcaps and refraining from speaking Hebrew publicly in certain circumstances.The warnings come as security tensions remain elevated across the region, with fighting and retaliatory strikes continuing despite efforts to contain the wider conflict.Catch the latest World News and Live updates. 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