Ships are anchored off the coast of Khasab, in the Musandam Governorate of Oman, near the Strait of Hormuz, on Oct. 2, 2026. (Credit: AFP)
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General Mohammad Reza Naqdi, an adviser to the top commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, said several channels in the Strait of Hormuz, which "opened as a result of explosions and the destruction of rock formations," would soon be closed. He said Iran "totally controls" the strait, while U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday that Tehran had "lost complete control" of it. Naqdi also said the Strait would remain closed until Iran’s "legitimate demands" were met.
Why it matters
The statement comes amid a showdown between Washington and Tehran over effective control of the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s ability to regulate maritime traffic. The strategic passage between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman saw about 20.9 million barrels of oil and petroleum products pass through it each day before the war, nearly a fifth of the world’s daily oil consumption. While Rubio says Iran has “lost total control” of the strait and argues that oil flows have returned to near prewar levels, the Revolutionary Guards say the opposite, maintaining that they can still control access. Naqdi’s announcement that the newly opened passages will soon be closed is part of this show of force, intended to demonstrate that, despite the partial resumption of traffic, Tehran still has the ability to disrupt or restrict movement through this key chokepoint for global energy trade.
What to watch
- Hezbollah reportedly received $200 million from Iran to aid the displaced. Two sources cited Wednesday by Reuters said the group plans to initially distribute $3,000 to around 50,000 families, prioritizing those from villages destroyed or made inaccessible due to Israeli occupation. A Shia party official confirmed that a sum had been set aside and that a distribution plan would be announced in the coming days, without specifying its source.
- Houthis claim to have fired a missile at Riyadh airport. The Houthis claimed Wednesday to have fired a ballistic missile at Riyadh International Airport, while Saudi Arabia said it intercepted a missile north of the capital. Air traffic there is regularly disrupted, as the Houthis have warned airlines that Saudi skies are “not safe.” Since the resumption of hostilities in Yemen in July, more than 201,000 people have been forced to leave their homes, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), while more than 330 militants have been killed since Monday.
In other news
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- 'Four years displaced': A cry for help from border villages. As an Israeli military source told Sky News Arabia that Israeli forces might remain in south Lebanon “for years,” the Assembly of Residents of Southern Border Localities denounced what it described as an unbearable situation. In a statement, the group said it was entering its “fourth year” of displacement, with no prospect of return or compensation. It specifically called for financial support, coverage of housing costs, access to health care and education, and the creation of a national fund for displaced people and border village residents. “We don’t need crumbs ... We need financial support that preserves our dignity,” the statement said.
- A Nabatieh district official reportedly arrested in the United Arab Emirates. Aazzeh's mayor (Nabatieh district), Moustafa Jammoul, has allegedly been held in Dubai by Emirati authorities since last Friday, according to his family. He left his hotel to meet people waiting for him, and his family has been unable to contact him since. The reason for his detention and the identity of those holding him remain unknown. His family, which is calling for clarification of his situation and guarantees of his rights, including access to a lawyer, said he holds both Lebanese and Canadian citizenship.
- Syrian gunfire targets two smuggling trucks on the Lebanese border. Amid earlier reports of clashes between the Lebanese and Syrian armies at the border, security sources told our correspondent in the Bekaa that a patrol from Syrian General Security opened fire on two trucks carrying smuggled vegetables from Syria to Lebanon in the Ersal area. The two trucks were later intercepted by the Lebanese Army at a checkpoint. One man suspected of trafficking was arrested, and both vehicles and their cargo were handed over, along with the suspect, to the competent judiciary.
