live U.S.-Iran standoff continues as Hormuz shipping and diplomacy remain uncertain
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to res...
A drone strike by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) killed two civilians and wounded four in South Kordofan state, the Sudan Doctors Network said on Thursday (12 February).
The group said the attack targeted the al-Kurqal area, which links the cities of Dilling and Kadugli, using an unmanned aerial vehicle. Some of the wounded are in critical condition, according to preliminary information from medical teams on the ground.
The network said the strike hit a civilian-populated area amid deteriorating humanitarian and health conditions, describing the attack as a “fully constituted crime” and accusing the RSF of showing “grave disregard for civilian lives.”
It held the RSF leadership responsible for the attack, calling it part of a broader pattern of repeated violations against civilians across multiple regions of Sudan, which it said is worsening civilian suffering and undermining any efforts to protect lives or ensure minimal stability.
The organisation urged the international community, the UN and human rights and humanitarian organizations to take firm action to halt the violations and increase pressure to protect civilians.
There was no immediate comment from the RSF.
Authorities and human rights groups have accused the RSF of targeting civilian facilities.
The conflict, which began in April 2023, has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions of people, creating one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises and famine conditions.
The collective-defence agreement between Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signals that regional powers no longer want to rely solely on external security guarantees. Whether it becomes a stabilising deterrent or another axis of rivalry remains unresolved.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed, according to the latest data, as uncertainty over the waterway’s reopening kept most shipowners away. Six commodity vessels crossed the strait on Tuesday, down from nine the day before and below the 10-day daily average of 11.
Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the U.S. fulfils the terms of an interim deal, including lifting the maritime blockade and sanctions and releasing Iran’s frozen assets.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 19th of August, covering the latest developments.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
Australia on Thursday condemned Israel’s decision to close its criminal investigation into the deaths of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and six World Central Kitchen colleagues killed in Gaza in April 2024.
North Korea has fired more than 10 short-range ballistic missiles after U.S. President Donald Trump reduced American participation in joint military exercises with South Korea in an effort to revive dialogue with Pyongyang.
Georgia’s foreign trade data for January-July 2026 shows Kyrgyzstan, China and Russia as its top three export markets, highlighting its Middle Corridor ambitions and complex economic ties with Moscow.
Kazakhstan will vote on 23 August in its first parliamentary election under the new Constitution, choosing 145 members of the new Kurultai under a fundamentally changed electoral system based entirely on party lists.
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