Canada expresses solidarity with UAE after Iranian attacks

Two US Navy destroyers transited the Strait of Hormuz and entered the Persian Gulf after facing what US officials described as a coordinated Iranian barrage, according to CBS News.

The USS Truxtun and the USS Mason were supported by Apache helicopters and other aircraft during the passage, defense officials said.

Iranian forces launched small boats, missiles and drones in what officials described as a sustained attack.

Despite the intensity of the encounter, neither vessel was struck, according to the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Saudi Arabia called for de-escalation after Iran and the United States traded fire, shaking a fragile ceasefire in the region.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s concern regarding the current military escalation in the region, and calls for the need to de-escalate,” the foreign ministry said in a statement posted on X.

The ministry also condemned Iran’s targeting of civilian and economic facilities in the United Arab Emirates and voiced support for “diplomatic efforts to reach a political solution” to the conflict.

French President Emmanuel Macron condemned Iran’s strikes on the United Arab Emirates as “unjustified and unacceptable,” pledging continued support for France’s regional allies.

“As it has done since the start of the conflict, France will continue to support its allies in the Emirates and in the region for the defence of their territory,” Macron said in a post on X.

He called for a lasting resolution to the conflict based on two conditions: reopening the Strait of Hormuz to ensure free maritime traffic, and reaching a robust agreement that provides security guarantees to regional states.

Macron also pointed to what he described as threats posed by Iran in three areas—its nuclear activities, ballistic capabilities and regional actions—underscoring the need for a comprehensive diplomatic framework.

Danish shipping and logistics company Maersk said one of its vessels has exited the Persian Gulf under US military protection, with all crew members “safe and unharmed.”

The ship, Alliance Fairfax, had been stranded on sea since the war broke out in February 28 and was “unable to depart,” the company said in a statement.

Maersk said it was contacted “recently” by the US military, which offered the vessel an opportunity to leave the Middle East under its protection.

Iran has paired a sharp escalation on the water with increasingly explicit threats, signaling what appears to be a deliberate move to deter further US attempts to reopen shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Missile and drone activity reported around the Strait and in the United Arab Emirates on Monday—alongside disputed encounters at sea—suggest Tehran is beginning to act on warnings it had issued only hours earlier.

But the more revealing shift may be in tone.

Iranian military and affiliated voices have moved quickly to frame the moment not as a clash, but as enforcement.

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