President Trump urges Western allies to send ships to help secure Strait of Hormuz

The US president has called on the UK and other allies to join the United States in sending ships to help secure the Strait of Hormuz. His comments come after he said US forces had “obliterated” military targets on Iran’s key Kharg Island - a commercial lifeline for the Iranian regime. Should Western allies send ships to support that effort? We discuss it with Mark Kimmitt, former US Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs under George W. Bush.Also on today’s programme: an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon has killed twelve medical workers. We speak to Nada Homsi from The National’s Beirut bureau.Plus, we head to Cuba, where protesters have attacked a Communist Party office. And a British scientific charity is seeking volunteers from around the world to support its work in Antarctica - but only for those willing to brave the extreme climate.(Photo: Kharg Island - a military target on Kharg Island, that was struck by the US forces. Source: U.S. Central Command on social media / X / @CENTCOM)