Trump calls Strait of Hormuz 'something that we don't need'

A Thai carrier was one of at least three ships struck by "unknown" projectiles in separate incidents as they traveled through the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, according to Thailand, Oman and the U.K. Maritime Trade Operations, a monitoring agency.

One ship was struck about 25 nautical miles northwest of Ra's al Khaymah in the United Arab Emirates, another was about 50 nautical miles northwest of Dubai, also in the UAE, and a third was about 11 nautical miles north of Oman, the UKMTO said on social media.

Oman’s Maritime Security Center said that the ship struck nearest Oman was the "Mayuree Naree," a bulk carrier sailing under the Thai flag. Photos released by the Royal Thai Navy showed the carrier engulfed in heavy smoke.

"The attack ignited a fire within the main engine room," the Oman News Agency, an official state media, said in an update. "In response, a vessel from the Royal Navy of Oman successfully evacuated 20 crew members, all of Thai nationality, who sustained injuries of varying severity."

The carrier's route was altered significantly at about 7:30 a.m. local time, when the ship slowed and veered off course about 11 nautical miles from Kumzar Port in Oman, according to Marine Traffic, a site that tracks vessels.

An "explosion occurred at the stern of the ship, resulting in a fire in the engine room," the Thai Marine Department said in an update. "The captain decided to abandon ship and evacuate the crew to lifeboats."

Twenty-three crew members had been onboard the ship when it departed the UAE, the department said, adding that a search-and-rescue operation was underway for three missing crew members, who were believed to have been in the engine room at the time of the strike.

-ABC News' Helena Skinner and Kevin Shalvey

Thousands of people gathered on Wednesday in Tehran’s Enqelab Square, where funerals were being held for several Iranian commanders and others killed amid the U.S.-Israeli strikes.

Video broadcast by Iranian state TV appeared to show floats carrying the photos and coffins of the deceased, including young children, to the square.

Photos taken by wire services showed huge crowds of people, including many who were holding Iranian flags, swarming the square.

Among those who will be buried are Mohammad Pakpour, who headed the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps; Lt. Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi, who was chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces; Adm. Ali Shamkhani, who led the Supreme National Security Council; the former defense minister, Maj. Gen. Aziz Nasirzadeh; and Mohammad Shirazi, who headed the military bureau.

-ABC News’ Joe Simonetti and Helena Skinner

Air defenses in Saudi Arabia intercepted seven ballistic missiles and 24 drones overnight and into Wednesday morning, the country's Ministry of Defense said in a series of posts on social media.

Drone and missile interceptions happened across several regions, the ministry said.

Six ballistic missiles launched toward the Prince Sultan Air Base were intercepted, the ministry said. Seven drones heading towards an oil field in the southeast of the country near the border with the United Arab Emirates were intercepted.

"Two drones heading towards the Shaybah oil field were intercepted and destroyed," the ministry said.

Another five drones were intercepted and destroyed, the ministry said in separate posts.

-ABC News' Ayat Al-Tawy

The Israel Defense forces on Wednesday said it had begun a "wide-scale wave" of attacks against Iranian targets, as well as Hezbollah-related targets in Beirut, Lebanon.

"The IDF has begun a wide-scale wave of strikes targeting Iranian terror regime infrastructure across Iran," the Israeli military said. "Simultaneously, the IDF has begun striking Hezbollah infrastructure in Beirut."

-ABC News' Joe Simonetti and Jordana Miller