US President Donald Trump has ordered the US military to “shoot and kill” Iranian small boats choking the Strait of Hormuz.In a social media post Thursday morning, he said the military is intensifying its mine clearing efforts in the critical waterway. The move intensified the US-Iran standoff in the Persian Gulf and raised questions about efforts to end the war.Meanwhile, the US military said it seized another tanker Thursday associated with smuggling Iranian oil, the Majestic X, in the Indian Ocean, deepening confusion over efforts to end the war.The seizure comes a day after Iran attacked three cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz, capturing two of them. Ship-tracking data showed the Majestic X in the Indian Ocean between Sri Lanka and Indonesia.The standoff between the US and Iran has effectively choked off nearly all exports through the Strait of Hormuz, where 20 per cent of the world’s traded oil passes in peacetime, with no end in sight. — with AgenciesNext UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon could be smaller than the current oneApril 23, 2026 8:35 pmThe head of the UN’s peacekeeping operations says he expects the possible replacement for its force in southern Lebanon will “probably be smaller” than the current one that’s been in place for nearly a half-century. Jean-Pierre Lacroix said the UNIFIL operation, which has inhabited a tense zone where militants from Hezbollah and Israeli forces have battled repeatedly, has recently faced pressure from funding cuts. The force’s mandate ends at the end of the year. UN officials are facing a June 1 deadline to present a proposal for the force that could replace it.Trump claims leadership rift is confounding IranApril 23, 2026 8:35 pm”Iran is having a very hard time figuring out who their leader is! They just don’t know!,” Trump said in a social media post. “The infighting is between the Hardliners,’ who have been losing BADLY on the battlefield, and the Moderates,’ who are not very moderate at all (but gaining respect!), is CRAZY!” Trump has repeatedly said over the course of the ceasefire that began April 8 that his team is dealing with Iranian officials who want to make a deal, while acknowledging his decision to kill several top leaders has come with some complications.Hezbollah says it attacked Israeli positions in southern LebanonApril 23, 2026 8:35 pmThe group said in a statement that it targeted Israeli soldiers in the southern village of Taybeh and downed a drone in Majdal Zone on Thursday. Earlier, the Israeli army said it intercepted an “aerial target” in southern Lebanon. The group reiterated that its attacks, which resumed Tuesday, were in retaliation for Israeli violations of the 10-day ceasefire that took effect Friday. The Israeli army has been launching near-daily strikes on southern Lebanon since the ceasefire. Israel has also been accusing Hezbollah of breaching the ceasefire.US stocks edge back from their records and oil prices yo-yoApril 23, 2026 8:35 pmThe US stock market is edging back from its all-time high following mixed profit reports from Tesla and other big companies. Oil prices are yo-yoing on continued uncertainty about what will happen next in the war with Iran. The S&P 500 slipped 0.3 per cent in the early going Thursday following a big rally that erased all its losses because of the war. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 193 points, and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.4 per cent. Oil prices wavered as uncertainty continues about what will happen with the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude rose 0.5 per cent to USD 102.43 a barrel.Chinese envoy calls on Pak PM Shehbaz, discusses West Asia situationApril 23, 2026 7:00 pmChinese envoy to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong on Thursday called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and discussed the West Asia situation and Islamabad’s peace efforts to end the US-Iran war. Ambassador Jiang paid a courtesy call on PM Shehbaz. Deputy Prime Minister & Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal and Minister for Information Ataullah Tarar were also present at the meeting. The meeting comes amid stepped-up diplomatic engagements by Pakistan aimed at bringing Tehran and Washington to the negotiating table for the second round of talks. According to a statement by the PM Office, the regional situation in West Asia and Pakistan’s peace efforts also came under discussion during the meeting.Trump orders US military to ‘shoot and kill’ Iranian small boats choking Strait of HormuzApril 23, 2026 6:52 pmUS President Donald Trump in a morning social media post ordered the US military to “shoot and kill” Iranian small boats choking the Strait of Hormuz. Trump also said the military is intensifying its mine clearing efforts in the critical waterway. “I have ordered the United States Navy to shoot and kill any boat, small boats though they may be… that is putting mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump posted. “There is to be no hesitation. Additionally, our mine “sweepers” are clearing the Strait right now. I am hereby ordering that activity to continue, but at a tripled up level!”CENTCOM says more than 30 ships affected by US blockadeApril 23, 2026 10:10 amWashington: The US military’s Central Command said on Thursday its forces in the Mideast had “directed 31 vessels to turn around or return to port as part of the US blockade against Iran”. AP