Iran tanker strikes and the waiting game in Qatar
Two oil tankers hit mines in the Strait of Hormuz as a source in Doha says both sides know war is coming.
Iran tanker strikes and the waiting game in Qatar — Two oil tankers exploded after hitting Iranian mines while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, the IRGC Navy spokesperson said, claiming the vessels were traveling on an unauthorized route and had switched off their navigation and identification systems.[^1] The incident, which follows President Trump's Saturday statement that the US had largely destroyed Iran's nuclear capabilities but still had 'one or two sites' to deal with, sharpens the military-diplomatic dilemma facing Washington.[^2] In Doha, an anonymous source present at a closed discussion described the mood bluntly: 'Both sides know where this is going. The only question is when Trump will decide – and how.'[^3] The Jerusalem Post editorial criticized the electoral timetable as making the decision seem like a scheduling matter, arguing the public deserves to know the objectives and risks of any renewed campaign.[^3] Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Trump hasn't made a decision and still prefers a diplomatic solution, but the source assessed that military confrontation is inevitable.[^3] The Iranian army pushed back against assumptions of a quick campaign, stating that war could be longer than previous ones and that Trump won't dictate its duration.[^4] Meanwhile, the UAE hopes to avert a new Iran conflict but is preparing for the worst-case scenario.[^5] The contrast between Rubio's public diplomacy and the sense of inevitability in Doha leaves a gap that only a presidential decision can close. IDF widens operations: haredi recruitment, Lebanon cache, and weapon retrieval — Sunday morning, the IDF opened its winter recruitment cycle for haredi men in combat support roles at the Meitav recruitment center in Tel Hashomer. [^1] The target for 2026 is 4,800 recruits, up from approximately 4,300 in 2025 and 2,800 in 2024. [^2] The numbers climb each year—but the political debate around conscription remains unresolved. In southern Lebanon, troops from the 769th Brigade located weapons and a children's room adorned with Hezbollah symbols inside a civilian home in Al-Khiam. [^3] The find is a concrete example of the dual-use infrastructure the