US uses hundreds of Tomahawk missiles on Iran, alarming some at Pentagon: Report

The U.S. military has fired over 850 Tomahawk cruise missiles in four weeks of war with Iran, burning through the precision weapons at a rate that has alarmed some Pentagon officials and prompted internal discussions about how to make more available, the Washington Post reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Reuters could not immediately verify the report. The U.S. Department of Defense and the White House did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment. 

Iran's IRGC: Shipping to and from ports of US-Israeli allies is prohibited, state media says

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said on Friday that shipping "to and from ports of allies and supporters of the Israeli-American enemies" is prohibited through any corridor or to any destination, Iranian state media reported.

The IRGC added that the Strait of Hormuz is closed and any transit through the waterway will face "harsh measures".

Three container ships of various nationalities were turned back from the Strait of Hormuz after warnings from the IRGC revolutionary guards' navy, media also reported.

Iran forbids its sports teams from traveling to 'hostile' countries

Iran has banned its sports teams from traveling to countries it considers "hostile," Iranian state TV reported Thursday ahead of Tractor FC's scheduled soccer game in Saudi Arabia.

The ban announced by Iran's Ministry of Sports in Tehran didn't mention the World Cup which starts June 11 in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The ministry's statement singled out the Tractor game against Shabab Al Ahli of Dubai that was set to be played in Saudi Arabia. It's a playoff game in the Asian Champions League Elite.

"The presence of national and club teams in countries that are considered hostile and are unable to ensure the security of Iranian athletes and team members is prohibited until further notice," it said.

The Iran war has impacted the region, with nearly every country in the Middle East sustaining damage from missile hits, drone strikes or shrapnel.

Tractor's playoff game in Saudi Arabia was the result of the Asian Football Confederation's draw Wednesday to determine the quarterfinal pairings, a day after announcing that the western zone playoffs that were postponed because of the war in the Middle East have been rescheduled for April 13-14 in Jeddah.

The Saudi city is also slated to host the tournament quarterfinals, semifinals and final from April 16-25, with organizers setting the dates and hoping for peace in the region.

The Iranian ministry added that the soccer federation and clubs "will be responsible for notifying the Asian Football Confederation of this matter in order to relocate the games."

Iran's stance on the World Cup

The Iranian ambassador in Mexico City has said the country was negotiating with FIFA to move Iran's three group-stage matches from the United States to Mexico after U.S. President Donald Trump discouraged the team from attending the 48-nation tournament, citing safety concerns.

Last week, however, FIFA President Gianni Infantino further dampened Iran's attempts to move its World Cup matches, saying global soccer's governing body wants the tournament "to go ahead as scheduled."

Iranian government and soccer officials have said they do not want to boycott the World Cup but that it is not possible for the national team to come to the U.S. because of military attacks on the country by Israel and U.S. since Feb. 28.

Kuwait's Shuwaikh port hit by drones causing material damage, no injuries reported, ports authority says

Kuwait's Shuwaikh port was hit by drones, causing material damage with no injuries reported, Kuwait ports authority said on Friday.

UAE willing to join international force to reopen Strait of Hormuz: Report

The United Arab Emirates has told the U.S. and other Western allies it would participate in a multinational maritime taskforce to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the Financial Times reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The UAE is trying to push dozens of countries to create a “Hormuz Security Force” to defend the strait from Iranian attacks and escort shipping, the report added.

The UAE has faced more Iranian attacks than any other country in the region, including Israel.

Several U.S. allies have said they have no immediate plans to send ships to unblock the Strait of Hormuz, rebuffing a Trump request for military support to keep the ​vital waterway open.

France said on Thursday it had held talks with around 35 countries seeking partners and ‌proposals for a mission to reopen the strait, but only once the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran ends.

Iran has effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz, which carries about 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas, spiking energy prices and fuelling global inflation fears.

The UAE is also working on a U.N. Security Council resolution with Bahrain to provide any future taskforce with a mandate, but Russia and China could oppose the move, the report added.

U.N. Security Council members have begun negotiating resolutions to protect commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz, including a Bahraini draft that would authorise the use of "all necessary means", Reuters reported earlier this week.

Last week, a senior Emirati official said UAE may join a U.S.-led effort to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz after Iran all but shut the waterway to ships.

The waterway is vital to the economy of the UAE, a major oil exporter and trade hub. Iran has repeatedly attacked an Emirati port located outside the Gulf that is used to load oil exports.

Reuters could not immediately verify the report.

Airstrike hits building in Beirut's southern suburbs, security sources say

An airstrike with three missiles targeted a building in Beirut's southern suburbs early on Friday, security sources said.

No further details were immediately available. Israel launched an offensive against Hezbollah after the group opened fire on Israel on March 2, with Hezbollah saying it was acting in retaliation for the killing of Iran's supreme leader.

Trump weighs sending another 10,000 ground troops to the Middle East: Report

The Pentagon is looking at sending up to 10,000 additional ground troops to the Middle East to give President Donald Trump more military options even as he weighs peace talks with Tehran, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing Department of Defense officials with knowledge of the planning.

Thai ship hit in Hormuz runs aground off Iran's Qeshm Island, Iran's Tasnim says

A Thai-flagged cargo ship that was hit by unknown projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this month has run aground off Iran's Qeshm Island, Iran's Tasnim news agency said on Friday.

Thailand said 20 crew members were rescued by the Omani navy, while three were missing after an explosion in the stern of the ship, Mayuree Naree, caused a fire in the engine room.

Mediators say Iran has not requested pause on energy-site strikes: Report

Iran has not requested a 10-day pause on strikes on its energy plants and has yet to deliver a final response to a 15-point plan to end the war, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing peace talk mediators.

US President Donald Trump said earlier on Thursday he was pausing attacks on Iran's energy plants for 10 days at what he cast as the Iranian government's request, and said talks with Tehran were going "very well."