US Secretary of State Rubio said the US is taking defensive action and will respond if its forces in the region are threatened.

TASNIM NEWS cited a Sirik source saying a few minutes ago three gunshots were fired from Sirik toward the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian media earlier said the shooting was linked to an operation targeting non-compliant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

NHK reported today that, in the context of revising Japan’s three security documents, Japan defence minister KOIZUMI said a shrinking population makes securing adequate Self-Defense Forces personnel difficult. He said he wants to study breaking down organizational barriers between the Ground, Maritime and Air Self-Defense Forces and explore a new organizational structure to strengthen Japan’s defence capability.