The United Arab Emirates said Iran launched four cruise missiles early Monday, three of which were intercepted, while an Iranian drone struck an oil facility in Fujairah, sparking a fire. The UAE Defence Ministry confirmed the attacks, marking the first direct assault since a fragile ceasefire took hold in early April, as regional tensions surged over the strategic Strait of Hormuz. British military monitors reported two cargo vessels ablaze off the UAE coast, while a South Korean-operated ship also caught fire in the strait, though no injuries were reported.

U.S. Central Command confirmed two American-flagged merchant ships transited the strait safely under naval escort, part of a new U.S. initiative dubbed 'Project Freedom' to restore shipping through the waterway. Navy guided-missile destroyers also passed through the strait, the U.S. military said, following President Donald Trump's warning that Iranian attempts to block shipping would be met 'forcefully.' Iran's military responded, vowing to target any U.S. forces approaching the strait, calling the American operation a violation of the ceasefire and labeling it 'delirium.'

The Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil supplies, has been effectively closed since late February when Iran gained control following the U.S.-Israel war. The disruption has driven up fuel prices worldwide and stranded hundreds of vessels. The U.S.-led Joint Maritime Information Center now advises ships to use Oman's territorial waters, warning that the usual shipping lanes remain hazardous due to unmitigated mine threats.

Shipping industry officials, including the Baltic and International Maritime Council, expressed concern over the lack of formal guidance on the U.S. operation and warned the move risks reigniting full-scale conflict. The UAE's pipeline-linked oil terminal in Fujairah, a key alternative export route bypassing the strait, was targeted in the drone attack, underscoring the strategic stakes. The court will resume hearing on Tuesday.