EU balks at Trump call to join Hormuz mission, Lebanese displacement tops 1M

Germany, Spain and Greece on Monday said they would not participate in military operations in the strait, while the United Kingdom said it would not be drawn into the “wider war.” Italy said that “diplomacy needs to prevail.” Australia, France and Japan have also said they have no plans to send warships.

On Monday, Trump said he would report to the US House and Senate the “one or two” countries “we’ve been protecting for 40 years” that have refused to participate.

“Numerous countries have told me they’re on the way,” he said at the White House. Asked later which countries he was referring to, Trump said he would “rather not say, but we’ll be announcing.”

The comments came after an Iranian drone struck a fuel tank near Dubai airport and amid an Iranian attack on Israel, during which shrapnel from intercepted missiles lightly injured one person in Jerusalem’s Old City. Meanwhile, Lebanon faces a worsening humanitarian crisis.

Israel continued striking Lebanon Monday, targeting Beirut’s southern suburbs and regions as its forces pushed deeper into Lebanese territory. Lebanese media reported clashes in the south between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters.

Lebanon’s government said Monday that more than 1 million people have been displaced since March 2 and at least 850 people have been killed.