What we’re covering
- The US currently expects that Iran will carry out strikes against multiple targets inside Israel and that Iranian proxies could also be involved in attacks, according to a senior administration official and a source familiar with the intelligence. Asked what his message was to Tehran, US President Joe Biden said: “Don’t.”
- This comes after Israel’s deadly strike on Iran’s consulate in Damascus last week.
- At least one Palestinian was killed after hundreds of armed Israeli settlers stormed a village in the occupied West Bank, setting fire to homes and cars in one of the largest attacks by settlers this year, according to local officials.
- Israel said its warplanes targeted “military buildings” used by Hezbollah fighters in parts of southern Lebanon on Friday. Hezbollah subsequently fired about 40 rockets toward northern Israel.
- Here’s how to help humanitarian efforts in Gaza and Israel.
Iranian navy seizes container ship reportedly linked to Israel, state media report
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy has seized a container ship in a helicopter operation near the Strait of Hormuz, state news agency IRNA reported on Saturday.
IRNA reported that the IRGC seized the Portuguese-flagged MSC Aries, which is now being “directed back to Iranian territorial waters.”
According to IRNA, the vessel is managed by the Zodiac Maritime, a company linked to Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer.
CNN has reached out to Zodiac Maritime and Eyal Ofer for comment.
United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) earlier reported on a seizure near the Strait of Hormuz, an important route for global shipping, saying “regional authorities” were responsible. UKMTO did not provide further details about the boarding.
The region is on high alert after Iran vowed retaliation for a suspected Israeli strike on its consulate in the Syrian capital Damascus. The Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have also been targeting shipping in the Red Sea area.
