IRGC intercepts, averts 'hostile fighter jet' over Qeshm Island, according to local reports

The explosions over the water may have been warning shots fired at ships violating international agreements in the Strait of Hormuz, IRNA added, citing unofficial sources. 

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Air Force intercepted and warded off a "hostile" fighter jet over Qeshm Island in the early hours of Friday morning, according to Iran's semi-official Tasnim News Agency.

No official statement has been released regarding this incident yet, per the Tasnim report.

Around the same time, Iran's official Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported that residents of Qeshm -- including an IRNA correspondent -- heard explosions, as well as unidentified lights and sounds, in the sky and over the water surrounding the island. Some local Qeshm sources also told IRNA that the air defense systems on the island had been activated.

The explosions over the water may have been warning shots fired at ships violating international agreements in the Strait of Hormuz, IRNA added, citing unofficial sources.

Tanker in Strait of Hormuz hit by explosives attached to small boat, crew reported safe

A vessel transiting outbound in the Strait of Hormuz caught fire after two explosive devices attached to its hull detonated on Thursday, 25 nautical miles northeast of Oman's Khasab, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said.

According to UKTMO, the vessel was approached by a smaller ship that attached the explosives to the hull above the waterline.

Earlier on Thursday, UKMTO reported that it had received a report from a company security officer that a tanker was struck by an unknown projectile while transiting outbound through the Strait of Hormuz.

Also on Thursday, IRNA reported that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) claimed three oil tankers had caught fire after hitting mines in the Strait of Hormuz while "attempting to pass through the unauthorized southern route of the Strait of Hormuz."

CENTCOM chief briefs Trump on Iran military options in meeting, source tells 'Post'

US Central Command (CENTCOM) chief Adm. Brad Cooper, the top US commander in the Middle East, briefed US President Donald Trump on military options for Iran, a source with knowledge of the briefing told The Jerusalem Post on Thursday.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the briefing earlier on Thursday, citing US officials and others with direct knowledge of the meeting. 

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, and other cabinet members were also present, according to the report.  

 This comes a day after the military leaders met with US Vice President JD Vance, one of the people told the WSJ. 

Vance has reportedly reached out to Iran to revive peace negotiations, although Trump dismissed the reports, saying Vance had communicated with the Iranians only to discuss shortages of medical equipment.

Reuters, Jerusalem Post Staff, Danya Saperstein and Amichai Stein contributed to this report.