The Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most critical oil chokepoint is once again at the center of a rapidly escalating geopolitical confrontation. In a dramatic escalation of the Iran crisis, US President Donald Trump has called on major global powers to deploy warships alongside the United States in the Strait of Hormuz to ensure the strategic waterway remains open. The move comes after Iran’s leadership signaled plans to shut down the strait, a vital corridor through which nearly a fifth of the world’s oil supply moves every day. Trump announced the push for a multinational naval presence, urging countries including China, France, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom to send ships to the region. WATCH

A major aviation incident has unfolded in the West Asia after a US Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker crashed in western Iraq during an active military mission. The aircraft, a Boeing-built KC-135 aerial refueling tanker, was operating as part of Operation Epic Fury, supporting long-range combat aircraft with critical mid-air refueling capability when the crash occurred. According to US military officials, the tanker was flying in formation with another aircraft during the mission when the incident happened. The second aircraft in the formation reportedly landed safely, while the KC-135 went down in a remote area of western Iraq. The fate of the crew remains unclear, and search and rescue teams have been deployed to the crash site as the US military works urgently to determine whether any survivors are present. WATCH