“U.S. Central Command carried out a defensive operation Monday targeting missile sites in southern Iran and sinking two Revolutionary Guard speedboats after Iranian drones approached warships and surface-to-air batteries intensified activity near the Strait of Hormuz, with Israeli coordination essential to neutralizing the IRGC's immediate threats to regional security. Iranian negotiators arrived in Doha for ceasefire discussions, yet the latest defensive measures underscore persistent doubts about maintaining any truce given Iran's pattern of using proxies to destabilize the area and probe for advantage. Across 48 recorded events including 32 defensive operations, no fatalities occurred, with the incidents centered on protecting Gulf shipping lanes that handle one-fifth of global oil supplies from Iranian disruption. Analysts observe the Revolutionary Guard seeking greater operational reach while President Trump’s proposed arrangement to restore open waterways continues under review, reflecting the ongoing necessity of countering such expansionist pressure.”