Trump Informed of UK Sanctions on Israeli Settlements, Did Not Object

President Donald Trump was aware of and did not object to the United Kingdom's plans to impose sanctions on Israeli settlements, according to a Western official speaking to Israel Hayom. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham reportedly informed Trump of London's intention to ban imports from settlements and implement other measures aimed at curbing Israeli expansion in the West Bank during a phone call earlier this week. The official, who was briefed on the conversation, confirmed that there was "no request to delay the move." This aligns with a statement made by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who, when asked about the sanctions, indicated that Washington did not oppose them, though the U.S. would not join the initiative. Rubio stated that the U.S. understood the reasoning behind the British decision and shared the goal of stability, expressing a desire to avoid increased violence or tension in the West Bank during a sensitive regional period.

However, a different message was conveyed by U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, a known supporter of the settlement movement. Huckabee told the BBC that if Britain proceeded with sanctions, there would be "significant consequences," implying potential U.S. retaliation against London. A White House official later clarified to Axios that Huckabee's remarks were not coordinated with the White House or the State Department and did not reflect the administration's actual policy. The Western official noted that a stronger U.S. response might still emerge, though likely not as severe as Huckabee suggested.

In a separate incident, Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps announced they had attacked two American ships and eight oil tankers in the Persian Gulf, claiming it was retaliation for a U.S. strike on five Iranian tankers. Iranian state media, citing the Revolutionary Guard, reported that the vessels were targeted while attempting to cross a section of the Strait of Hormuz designated by Iran as "forbidden and unsafe." The Revolutionary Guard also claimed to have captured an unmanned U.S. submarine, identified as an Anduril Dive-LD, at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz. They described it as one of the most advanced U.S. military unmanned submarines, equipped with the latest technologies.

The Pentagon responded by stating that the underwater drone had "malfunctioned more than 24 hours ago" and was an older model that did not collect sensitive information or carry classified sonar or radar equipment. Anduril confirmed the loss of one of its vessels, characterizing the Dive-LD as a "expendable autonomous system" designed to operate in hazardous environments where loss is a possibility. The U.S. military is investing heavily in unmanned maritime systems, including underwater vehicles like the Dive-LD, which costs approximately $2.5 million, to monitor vast sea areas, gather intelligence, and track adversaries' vessels more affordably and without risking sailors.