Accord to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) the massive 7.5 magnitude earthquake in Venezuela was felt by millions and across a wide range of Venezuelan territory. Projected injuries and deaths are in the thousands, per USGS updates. Landslides have also been triggered by the earthquake.

Severe disruptions and damage has now been reported at Simon Bolivar International Airport in Venezuela, following a 7.5 magnitude earthquake.

Utter devastation seen across the Northern Venezuelan coastal city of La Guaira, following tonight’s pair of major earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude with an epicenter just to the west of Caracas.

Search-and-rescue operations are fully underway across the Venezuelan capital of Caracas, with dozens of collapsed buildings from tonight’s twin earthquakes being reported throughout the city and across areas of Northern Venezuela.

Iran’s IRGC-N has rejected the Omani-International Maritime Organization transit framework announced earlier. Per the release, in what is seemingly a veiled threat to resume the targeting of commercial shipping and/or limit mine clearance efforts, the IRGC-N said “The proposed route is unacceptable and poses serious safety risks.”

Following the twin 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes that rocked Venezuela today, acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez has declared a state of emergency and announced the full mobilization of emergency services and medical personnel. Additionally, President Rodríguez announced that Simón Bolívar International Airport will remain closed due to the damages caused.

According to a release from the U.S. Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, the U.S. is “closely monitoring” the k going situation in Venezuela, following twin 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes that devastated Northern Venezuela.

Following the twin earthquakes that devastated Northern Venezuela, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Foreign Assistance, Humanitarian Affairs & Religious Freedoms Jeremy Lewin has said that State Department disaster assistance teams, search and rescue teams, medical and humanitarian assistance, and additional recourses and enablers are in the process of being sent to Venezuela.

The death toll from Wednesday’s “double-event” major earthquake in Northern Venezuela has risen to 164, according to the Associated Press.

French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that the French military intercepted the Russian "shadow fleet" tanker 'Deliver' on Tuesday as it transited off the coast of Sicily in violation of maritime law.

According to new video of communications on Marine VHF channel 16 (the international hailing/calling channel for ships) from @_MartinKelly_, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Navy (IRGC-N), also known as the 'Sepah Navy' has announced:

"Transiting the Strait of Hormuz is only possible with Sepah Navy permission and on designated route. If any vessel attempts to transit with out permission, with AIS off or outside of designated route, it is responsible for any consequences of any danger."

Source: https://x.com/_MartinKelly_/status/2070084396418248728?s=20

Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz appears to be increasing despite Iranian announcements attempting to regulate passage.

MarineTraffic data shows at least 50 vessels transited the strait over the past 24 hours, with 39 utilizing the U.S.-recommended traffic separation scheme through Omani waters.

The actual number is likely higher, as some vessels continue to transit with their AIS transponders switched off and are not publicly visible.

For comparison, 130+ vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on an average day before the conflict.

The Pentagon announced Wednesday that basic trainings for all military services will once again require the flu vaccination for all recruits after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made the shot optional for the military at the end of April, this follows a several weekslong flu outbreak at the basic training base for the U.S. Air Force at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

As additional imagery becomes available, the magnitude of yesterday's earthquakes in Venezuela is becoming increasingly apparent.

New video shows extensive structural damage and the collapse of numerous residential buildings, with the full extent of the destruction still unfolding.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has issued an attack advisory after receiving a report that a vessel was struck on its starboard (right) side by an unidentified projectile 7.5NM off Oman, causing damage to the bridge.

No casualties or pollution have been reported.

The incident comes hours after Iran warned that vessels transiting the region without its authorization could face "consequences."

Aerial footage filmed from a helicopter early Thursday morning shows the scale of damage caused to the Northern Venezuelan coastal cities of Maiquetía and La Guaira, following yesterday’s pair of major earthquakes, which each measured a 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude and struck just to the west of Caracas. Most if not all multistory buildings appear to have suffered severe structural damage, with many having collapsed, likely leaving tens if not hundreds of thousands without shelter, food, and water across Northern Venezuela.

This is the current U.S. Air Force aerial picture over the Strait of Hormuz following the attack on a vessel in Omani waters earlier today, showing at least 5 KC-135 "Stratotankers" active.

The UN’s shipping agency, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has stated that it is temporarily halting efforts begun last Tuesday to evacuate stranded sailors and ships in the Strait of Hormuz, following an Iranian drone attack earlier today on a commercial shipping vessel off the coast of Oman.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that according to two senior U.S. officials, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Navy attacked a Singapore-flagged cargo ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz today, damaging the vessel's bridge. No casualties were reported.

The attack comes just one week after the U.S. and Iran reached an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and ensure the safe passage of commercial shipping.

In response to today's attack, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has paused its evacuation operation for ships waiting to leave the Persian Gulf while it reassesses security guarantees.

The incident also follows Iran's warning earlier today that vessels transiting without its authorization could face "consequences."

Source: https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/iran-attacks-cargo-ship-testing-trumps-deal-to-reopen-strait-d3cf454c?mod=hp_lead_pos2

The vessel identified in the Wall Street Journal report appears to be the Singapore-flagged container ship Ever Lovely, which appears to have been the only Singapore-flagged vessel in the area at the reported time of the attack (~1410 UTC).

According to the UKMTO advisory, the vessel was struck on the starboard (right) side of the bridge.

Based on the ship's outbound track through the Strait of Hormuz, the starboard side would have been facing Oman, while the stern was oriented toward Iran—a notable detail as investigators work to determine the origin and trajectory of the projectile.