In a severe blow to the newly brokered diplomatic truce, the Strait of Hormuz has been closed once again by Iranian authorities, just hours after it was briefly reopened. The move comes as a direct response to a massive wave of Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon, which resulted in a devastating humanitarian toll.
Despite the 14-day ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously clarified that the truce did not extend to military operations against Hezbollah.
Escalation in Lebanon: Operation “Eternal Darkness”
On Wednesday, April 8, Israel launched what it termed “Operation Eternal Darkness,” a series of intensive airstrikes and artillery shelling targeting Beirut and Southern Lebanon. The fallout has been catastrophic:
- Casualties: The Lebanese Ministry of Health confirmed at least 112 deaths and 837 injuries in the initial reports, though some sources suggest the death toll has since risen significantly.
- Impacted Areas: Strikes hit residential neighborhoods in Beirut, including Khayyat Hill, as well as several villages in Mount Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley.
- Hezbollah’s Response: Hezbollah military units retaliated by firing rockets toward Israel, citing a violation of the spirit of the regional ceasefire.
Iran Re-Imposes the Blockade
Labeling the strikes on Lebanon “barbaric” and “inhumane,” the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced the immediate suspension of all maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
The Iranian government issued a stern warning:
“A ceasefire must be implemented on all fronts. If Lebanon is not safe, no international waterway will be safe.”
Economic and Diplomatic Fallout
The re-closure of the world’s most vital oil transit point has immediately reversed the brief stabilization in global energy markets.
- Oil Prices: After a short dip toward $90, crude oil prices are surging once again due to the renewed blockade.
- Fragile Truce: U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance described the current situation as a “fragile truce,” while the White House called the re-closure of the Strait “completely unacceptable.”
- Islamabad Summit: The upcoming peace talks scheduled for April 10 in Pakistan are now in jeopardy as both sides trade accusations of violating the terms of the mediation.
