Category: World News

Uganda’s top military commander has sparked international attention with a series of social media declarations promising to deploy troops alongside Israel in its conflict with Iran.

General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who leads Uganda’s armed forces and is the son of President Yoweri Museveni, made the bold statements across multiple posts this past week, calling for Middle East peace while simultaneously threatening military intervention.

“We want the war in the Middle East to end now. The world is tired of it. But any talk of destroying or defeating Israel will bring us into the war. On the side of Israel!” Kainerugaba declared in his posts.

The general justified his position through religious conviction, stating in follow-up messages: “We stand with Israel because we are Christians,” and “Uganda is the David that was forgotten and neglected by the world. We will defeat the giant, Goliath.”

Kainerugaba went further by encouraging Israel to conduct a ground offensive against Iran, suggesting Ugandan military personnel could participate in such operations.

When faced with backlash over his comments, the general defended his stance by pointing to historical cooperation between the nations. “Israel stood with us when we were nobodies in the 1980s and 1990s. Why wouldn’t we defend her now that our GDP is $100 billion? One of the largest in Africa,” he responded.

The relationship between Uganda and Israel has deep military and intelligence connections, with Israeli forces having provided training to Ugandan personnel, including Kainerugaba himself.

However, ties between the countries haven’t always been positive. Under the brutal dictatorship of Idi Amin, Uganda became the location of a dramatic 1976 hijacking incident involving Air France Flight 139, which had originated in Tel Aviv bound for France before being redirected to Entebbe Airport.

Israeli commandos executed a daring long-distance rescue operation on July 3, 1976, successfully liberating 106 hostages, most of whom were Israeli citizens.

The mission’s sole fatality was Yonatan “Yoni” Netanyahu, the brother of current Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who received posthumous recognition for his heroism during the operation.

Kainerugaba also posted an image of a memorial statue honoring Yoni Netanyahu, accompanied by the message: “This is a sneak peek of the ‘Yoni’ statue that will soon be unveiled at Entebbe International Airport. Godbless Uganda and Israel.”

Demonstrators filled the streets of Al-Suqaylabiyah, a Christian-majority city in Syria’s Hama province, on Saturday March 28, calling for justice following security incidents that disrupted the community the previous evening. Citizens demanded official investigations into Friday’s events and stricter weapon regulations to prevent future disturbances.

According to The Media Line’s Syria correspondent, the unrest began when a dispute between young men quickly grew into larger confrontations before internal security forces stepped in to restore order. The incident has raised broader concerns about community safety, weapon availability, and authorities’ capacity to prevent similar occurrences.

During Saturday’s demonstration, participants chanted slogans rejecting religious divisions while emphasizing citizenship values and national unity. Their specific demands included removing weapons from the city, providing compensation to victims, conducting transparent investigations, and prosecuting those who damaged public and private property. These calls highlight community concerns that isolated events could develop into wider social and religious conflicts.

Friday’s troubles started when a group attacked a General Security officer from Qalaat al-Madiq, causing severe head trauma. Tensions escalated when residents from the officer’s hometown became involved, leading to weapon use and vandalism of several businesses. Authorities subsequently detained multiple suspects connected to the incident.

Local officials responded by organizing emergency meetings with community leaders, religious representatives, and security personnel to analyze the situation’s causes and develop response strategies. They announced plans to establish a committee for damage assessment and case monitoring from both legal and social angles, promising comprehensive solutions to prevent recurrence.

The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East released a significant statement condemning the Al-Suqaylabiyah events. The religious authority argued the incident couldn’t be dismissed as merely isolated, citing accompanying violence, threats, and gunfire that affected religious symbols and property. The Patriarchate demanded official investigations, accountability for perpetrators, victim compensation, and guarantees against future attacks.

This response demonstrates the incident’s impact beyond local boundaries, reaching religious and social organizations, particularly given the city’s sensitive position in Hama’s countryside. The widespread mobilization reflects growing recognition that security breaches can rapidly escalate into major crises without firm, fair, and transparent handling.

The Al-Suqaylabiyah protests represent more than reactions to a fight that became a security matter – they express deeper concerns about local security management, weapon control, and civil peace protection. While officials promise accountability and de-escalation, focus remains on investigation outcomes and concrete ground-level actions, which will truly test authorities’ ability to restore confidence and prevent renewed tensions.

A violent assault by paramilitary fighters and their rebel allies claimed the lives of at least 14 civilians in Sudan’s central Kordofan region, medical officials reported Sunday, marking another tragic chapter in the nation’s devastating civil conflict.

The Rapid Support Forces, working alongside Sudan People’s Liberation Movement–North fighters, launched a massive assault Saturday targeting Dilling, which serves as the capital of South Kordofan province. Among the victims were five children and two women, according to reports. Military forces, who had recently ended a prolonged blockade of the city, successfully repelled the offensive.

Medical professionals with the Sudan Doctors Network, an organization monitoring the conflict, reported that paramilitary forces bombarded civilian neighborhoods during the extended battle. The prolonged assault left at least 23 additional people wounded, with seven more children among the injured beyond those who died.

The city of Dilling had endured severe food shortages resembling famine conditions following more than two years under paramilitary siege, during which fighters blocked essential supplies and regularly conducted bombing campaigns. Government forces successfully ended the blockade earlier this year.

Medical officials expressed concern about a potential “catastrophic scenario” similar to what occurred in el-Fasher, a city in the Darfur region. Paramilitary forces invaded that area in October during an offensive that United Nations experts described as showing “hallmarks of genocide.”

The el-Fasher assault resulted in over 6,000 deaths across three days when paramilitary forces unleashed what the U.N. Human Rights Office characterized as “a wave of intense violence … shocking in its scale and brutality.”

Sudan descended into widespread turmoil in April 2023 following a power dispute between government military forces and the Rapid Support Forces that erupted into active combat in the capital city of Khartoum.

United Nations statistics indicate the conflict has claimed more than 40,000 lives, though humanitarian organizations believe the actual death toll could be significantly higher.

Recent combat has concentrated in the Darfur and Kordofan regions, where fatal attacks, primarily involving drone strikes, occur on a daily basis. The U.N. Human Rights Office reported that drone attacks alone killed more than 500 civilians through mid-March of this year.

The conflict has been characterized by widespread atrocities including mass executions, sexual violence, and other serious crimes currently under investigation by the International Criminal Court as potential war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Authorities in Derby, England have taken a 36-year-old local resident into custody on attempted murder charges following a vehicle incident that sent seven pedestrians to area hospitals Saturday evening.

The collision happened around 9:30 p.m. on Friar Gate, a bustling entertainment district in Derby’s downtown core. The city, home to approximately 275,000 residents, sits northeast of Birmingham.

Officers apprehended the suspect within a short distance of where the incident occurred, and he continues to be held by Derbyshire Police.

During a Sunday press briefing, Chief Superintendent Emma Aldred of the Derbyshire Constabulary confirmed that counterterrorism specialists are working alongside local investigators, which she noted follows standard protocol for such events.

“I would like to clarify that this does not mean the incident is currently being treated as terrorism,” Aldred stated. She emphasized that investigators are “keeping an open mind” regarding what may have motivated the attack.

CAIRO (AP) — Foreign ministers from across the Arab world selected seasoned Egyptian diplomat Nabil Fahmy on Sunday to serve as secretary-general of the 22-nation Arab League, during a period of escalating regional tensions involving Iran.

The veteran diplomat secured backing from Arab foreign ministers during an online conference, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry confirmed.

Beginning in July, Fahmy will serve a five-year tenure, replacing Ahmed Aboul Gheit, who has led the Arab League since taking office in 2016.

The selection occurs while Middle Eastern nations face ongoing threats from Iran and allied groups, following extensive military operations conducted by American and Israeli forces starting February 28.

No other candidates competed for the position, following established tradition where Egypt, as the Arab League’s host nation, nominates the organization’s leader since its founding in 1945. The sole exception occurred in 1979 when Tunisian official al-Shazly al-Qalibi assumed the role after Egypt’s membership was temporarily revoked due to its peace agreement with Israel.

Following Egypt’s return to the organization in 1989, the Arab League’s main offices moved back to Cairo, and an Egyptian secretary-general was installed in 1990.

The 75-year-old Fahmy previously held Egypt’s foreign minister position from July 2013 through June 2014, during a period of domestic upheaval after military forces removed an elected Islamist leader whose controversial presidency had divided the nation. From 1999 to 2008, he represented Egypt as ambassador to the United States.

Fahmy established and currently serves as dean emeritus of the School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at The American University in Cairo.

His father, Ismail Fahmy, held Egypt’s foreign minister role from 1973 to 1977. The senior Fahmy stepped down in opposition to President Anwar Sadat’s groundbreaking Jerusalem visit, which led to Egypt becoming the first Arab nation to forge diplomatic relations with Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Sunday that he has directed military commanders to widen an existing security buffer zone along the Lebanese border, declaring his intent to dramatically alter the security landscape in the region.

Speaking in a video message from the Northern Command, Netanyahu stated: “I have just instructed to further expand the existing security buffer zone. We are determined to fundamentally change the situation in the north.”

The prime minister indicated that this directive is designed to bolster Israel’s defensive capabilities along its northern boundary, as escalating cross-border conflicts continue to fuel concerns about the potential for wider regional conflict.

The announcement comes as tensions remain high along Israel’s northern frontier, where recent hostilities have intensified fears of a broader military escalation spreading throughout the region.

BERLIN (AP) — A fire at a nightclub in southwestern Germany forced 750 patrons to evacuate during the early morning hours on Sunday.

Emergency officials confirmed that no injuries occurred during the evacuation at the venue in Kehl, a community located close to the French border.

Authorities reported that three individuals received on-site medical attention for shock-related symptoms.

Local media identified the establishment as K Club Kehl, known as a favored destination for hip-hop music enthusiasts.

Officials are currently examining what sparked the blaze.

According to the German news agency dpa, more than 80 emergency responders including firefighters, law enforcement officers, and paramedics responded to the scene.

The incident brings to mind a deadly nightclub fire that occurred on New Year’s Eve at a Swiss ski resort in Crans-Montana, where investigators determined that champagne bottle sparklers caused a blaze that claimed dozens of lives.

BASRA, Iraq — Recent photographs capture how residents of this southern Iraqi city continue their everyday activities while ongoing conflict with Iran disrupts regional commerce and daily life.

The images reveal workers continuing to handle freight at Umm Qasr Port, though operations have been affected by the regional tensions. Meanwhile, activity at the neighboring Zubair oil facility has experienced reduced operations due to the continuing hostilities.

At the Shalamcheh border checkpoint, the photographs show primarily Iranian citizens crossing into Iraqi territory under enhanced security measures, providing insight into conditions along the international boundary during wartime.

The photo collection was assembled by Associated Press photography staff to document life in the border region during the conflict.

KABUL, Afghanistan — Devastating weather conditions across Afghanistan have resulted in 17 fatalities and 26 injuries within a single 24-hour period, with forecasters warning of additional dangerous storms approaching, officials announced Sunday. This marks the most recent tragedy in what has been a particularly deadly weather season for the war-torn nation.

According to Yousuf Hammad, spokesperson for Afghanistan’s National Disaster Management Authority, the death toll may climb higher as emergency response teams continue assessing damage across impacted regions. The catastrophic weather struck 13 of the country’s 34 provinces, primarily affecting western, central, and northwestern territories.

“The severe weather also left 147 homes either completely or partially destroyed, wiped out 80 kilometers (about 50 miles) of roads and destroyed agricultural land and irrigation canals and businesses,” Hammad said. He reported that 530 families have been impacted by the destruction.

Weather forecasters predict additional heavy rainfall will strike eastern and central regions Monday, prompting Hammad to caution about potential flooding in these areas. Emergency management officials have issued warnings for residents to stay away from riverbanks and flood-prone zones, while directing local authorities to prepare immediate assistance.

Afghanistan experienced similar deadly weather events earlier this year when heavy snowfall and flash flooding resulted in multiple fatalities nationwide.

The mountainous country faces extreme vulnerability to severe weather patterns, including snow and torrential rains that create deadly flash floods, frequently claiming dozens or hundreds of lives. Spring flooding alone killed more than 300 people in 2024.

Years of warfare, combined with inadequate infrastructure, economic hardship, widespread deforestation, and worsening climate change impacts have made such disasters increasingly catastrophic, especially in isolated communities where mud-brick homes provide little defense against sudden flooding or heavy snow.

LONDON – Authorities in Derby, England have taken a 36-year-old man into custody following a vehicle attack that left seven pedestrians injured Saturday evening, with counter-terrorism specialists now supporting the investigation.

The collision happened around 9:30 p.m. local time on Friar Gate, a typically crowded downtown thoroughfare. Emergency responders treated seven victims at the scene for severe injuries before transporting them to area hospitals. Officials report none of the injuries are considered life-threatening.

Law enforcement officers apprehended the suspect and his black Suzuki Swift within seven minutes of the incident. The driver, an Indian national who has resided in Britain for several years, faces multiple charges including attempted murder, dangerous driving, and intentionally causing grievous bodily harm.

Derbyshire Constabulary officials stated they are “keeping an open mind” regarding the suspect’s motivations. While counter-terrorism experts have joined the probe, investigators are not currently classifying the incident as a terrorist act.

Police emphasized that involving counter-terrorism specialists represents “common practice for an incident of this nature.”

“Although we know this will be alarming, we would like to reassure people that we do not believe there is an ongoing risk to the public,” authorities announced, describing the incident as isolated with no continuing public threat.

Regional diplomats gathered in Islamabad on Sunday as Pakistan worked to mediate discussions aimed at resolving the ongoing Iran conflict, with particular attention given to plans for reopening the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lane, according to sources with knowledge of the negotiations.

Top diplomats from Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia arrived in Pakistan’s capital for the diplomatic session, occurring as Iran issued warnings against potential U.S. ground operations and global energy prices continued climbing due to persistent military actions involving Iran, the United States and Israel.

The nations convening in Pakistan have presented various proposals to Washington regarding maritime commerce and restoring access through the Strait of Hormuz, five informed sources told Reuters, as part of broader initiatives to stabilize international shipping routes.

Before the current crisis, the Strait of Hormuz served as a critical passage for approximately 20 percent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, but Iran has essentially blocked maritime traffic through the waterway following U.S. and Israeli aerial bombardments that commenced one month ago.

Pakistan has utilized its diplomatic relationships with both Tehran and Washington to become a central mediating force in the dispute, while Turkey and Egypt have also contributed to peace efforts, given Pakistan’s shared border with Iran similar to Turkey’s position.

One Pakistani source revealed that various proposals, including suggestions from Egypt, had been transmitted to the White House through Pakistani channels prior to Sunday’s gathering, incorporating fee arrangements similar to those used for the Suez Canal.

Additional Pakistani sources indicated that Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia were considering establishing a joint consortium to oversee petroleum transit through the strategic waterway, and had requested Pakistan’s participation in such an arrangement.

The consortium concept had been presented to both American and Iranian officials, according to the sources. The initial Pakistani source noted that the nation’s military leader Asim Munir had maintained ongoing communications with U.S. Vice President JD Vance.

Neither Egypt’s nor Pakistan’s foreign ministry offices provided responses to requests for statements. Saudi government representatives and White House officials also did not immediately reply to comment requests.

A Turkish diplomatic official stated that Ankara’s main objective remained achieving a cessation of hostilities.

“Ensuring the safe passage of ships could serve as an important confidence-building measure in this regard,” the person said, requesting anonymity.

Earlier Sunday, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar conducted individual bilateral discussions with his counterparts from Turkey and Egypt, emphasizing the importance of continued diplomatic dialogue and engagement, the foreign office reported.

In a separate development, Dar announced through a social media post that Iran had consented to permit 20 additional Pakistani-registered vessels to transit through the Strait of Hormuz.

CAIRO – Foreign ministers from across the Arab world reached a unanimous decision Sunday to select Egyptian diplomat Nabil Fahmy as the next leader of the Arab League, according to reports from Egyptian government media sources.

The ministers made their choice during a virtual meeting, selecting Fahmy to replace current Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit when his second term concludes in June 2026.

According to the Arab League’s governing charter, selecting a secretary-general requires support from at least two-thirds of member nations. Though the charter doesn’t specify which country the leader must come from, Egypt has traditionally filled the role, with the notable exception of Tunisia’s Chedli Klibi, who led the organization from 1979 through 1990. This pattern reflects Egypt’s position as home to the League’s main offices.

Fahmy brings significant diplomatic experience to the position, having served as Egypt’s top diplomat from June 2013 through July 2014. His international experience includes nearly a decade as Egypt’s representative to the United States from 1999 to 2008, and he also served as ambassador to Japan from 1997 to 1999.

The incoming secretary-general comes from a family with deep diplomatic roots – his father, Ismail Fahmy, held Egypt’s foreign minister position under President Anwar Sadat from 1973 to 1977, ultimately stepping down in protest of Sadat’s historic trip to Jerusalem.

Established in 1945, the Arab League serves as a coordinating body for 22 member nations, working to align their political, economic, and cultural initiatives throughout the region.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy touched down in Jordan on Sunday, continuing his diplomatic mission across Middle Eastern nations as he works to build stronger defense relationships in the region during heightened tensions involving Iran.

The Ukrainian leader is actively pursuing military support from Gulf nations as his country’s war with Russia continues, particularly as Western assistance becomes more uncertain and Ukraine faces challenges funding its defense budget and domestic weapons manufacturing.

“Today in Jordan. Security is the top priority, and it is important that all partners make the necessary efforts toward it,” Zelenskyy posted on social media platform X. “Ukraine is doing its part. Important meetings ahead.”

During his regional tour, Zelenskyy successfully secured defense cooperation agreements with both the United Arab Emirates and Qatar on Saturday, following his earlier visit to Saudi Arabia last week.

Ukraine has been promoting its specialized air-defense knowledge and unmanned aircraft technology to regional partners who are looking for ways to defend against Iran’s drone offensive capabilities.

ZURICH – An overwhelming majority of Swiss citizens are calling for enhanced safeguards to shield young people from harmful content on social media platforms, according to polling data released Sunday. The findings emerge as lawmakers and legal systems around the globe increase pressure on major technology companies regarding their effects on youth.

Earlier this week, a jury in Los Angeles determined that Meta and Google’s parent company Alphabet acted negligently by creating social media platforms that cause harm to young users. This landmark ruling is expected to influence many similar legal proceedings currently underway.

The research, conducted by GfS Bern polling organization for the Mercator Foundation, revealed that 94% of those surveyed believe young people require enhanced protection from social media’s negative impacts. Additionally, 78% of respondents expressed concern that major tech corporations wield excessive power over public discourse.

Elisabeth Baume-Schneider, Switzerland’s Interior Minister, has indicated receptiveness to potentially prohibiting social media access for minors. The Swiss government is currently developing new regulations targeting major online platforms with goals of increasing transparency requirements.

These poll results, featured in SonntagsZeitung newspaper, come just days after neighboring Austria announced Friday its intention to implement a social media prohibition for children younger than 14.

The GfS Bern research surveyed approximately 1,000 Swiss citizens ages 16 and older during the period from December 1 through 12. The study carries a margin of error of plus or minus 3.2 percentage points, according to the publication.

BERLIN — Marine biologists are growing increasingly concerned about a humpback whale that remains trapped in Germany’s Baltic Sea, as the massive creature displays troubling signs of declining health following unsuccessful rescue operations this week.

German officials established a 500-meter safety zone around the distressed whale near the coastal community of Wismar on Sunday, hoping the marine mammal might recover enough strength to free itself from its predicament.

“He would be able to do so if he regains his strength, and that is why we decided to leave him alone, allowing him to actually set off and then successfully leave this area,” said Till Backhaus, the environment minister of the state of Mecklenburg-Pomerania, where Wismar is located.

However, Backhaus acknowledged the grim reality facing the creature. “But we also have to assume that he is weakened. And he is also sick,” he explained, noting the humpback whale may have sustained injuries from entanglement with fishing equipment.

Earlier rescue operations involving heavy machinery and watercraft attempted to create powerful waves that might help the 39-to-49-foot whale escape from shallow waters at Timmendorfer Strand beach and Wismar Bay. These dramatic efforts captured nationwide attention in Germany, with news outlets providing continuous coverage and live video feeds of the unfolding situation.

The whale’s plight became a widespread topic of discussion throughout the country, with citizens sharing updates about the rescue mission via text messages and social media.

Unfortunately, optimism for the whale’s survival continues to diminish as experts observe its deteriorating condition and question whether it possesses sufficient energy to navigate back to the Atlantic Ocean through German and Danish waterways.

“It is very noticeable that the animal is showing significantly less activity,” said Stefanie Groß from the Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research at the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover. “Its respiratory rate has dropped considerably. The animal is not moving. It did not react even when we drove closer.”

Scientists remain uncertain about what led the whale into Baltic waters initially. Some researchers theorize the animal may have become disoriented while pursuing a school of herring or during its natural migration pattern, particularly since it appears to be male.

The Baltic Sea environment poses serious threats to the whale’s survival due to insufficient salt levels in the water. The creature has already developed skin complications, and while whales can survive weeks without eating, it cannot locate appropriate food sources in these waters.

For any chance of survival, the whale must successfully return to Atlantic Ocean waters by way of the North Sea.

“When you consider how narrow the straits are and that there are still about 500 kilometers (310 miles) to go, you realize that it’s a real bottleneck you have to navigate, and naturally, the chances of success are relatively slim,” said Burkard Baschek, the director of the German Maritime Museum in Stralsund.

Marine observers first documented the whale swimming in Baltic waters on March 3, though reports of it becoming stranded only emerged last week.

Defense experts are closely examining the changing military tactics employed by the United States and Iran following four weeks of active conflict in the region.

NPR’s Don Gonyea conducted an interview with Kelly Grieco, a defense analyst from the Stimson Center, to discuss the tactical adjustments both nations have implemented during the ongoing hostilities.

The analysis comes as military strategists on both sides appear to be adapting their approaches based on battlefield experiences from the past month of fighting that began with coordinated strikes by American and Israeli forces targeting Iranian positions.

Grieco’s insights shed light on how prolonged military engagement is forcing both the U.S. and Iranian forces to modify their operational strategies in real time.

French law enforcement officials have taken two additional suspects into custody in connection with a prevented bombing attack targeting Bank of America’s Paris location, according to the nation’s anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office on Sunday.

“Two further individuals were taken into police custody last night as part of the investigation launched on March 28, 2026 into the offences committed against Bank of America,” the prosecutor’s office said in a statement to Reuters. Officials also confirmed that the initial suspect, a juvenile apprehended on Saturday, remains in extended custody.

French terrorism laws permit authorities to detain suspects for up to 96 hours, with potential extensions available through court approval.

On Saturday, the anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office initiated an investigation focusing on attempted destruction by fire or other dangerous means, as well as the manufacture, possession and transport of an explosive or incendiary device.

When questioned about potential foreign involvement, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez suggested Iranian connections while emphasizing that no definitive conclusions have been drawn.

“In this type of conflict, you have a number of Iranian services that are likely to carry out actions such as these through proxies… There is a significant suspicion, but it is for the investigation to determine,” he said.

The Iranian embassy in France chose not to respond to Nunez’s statements.

The investigation has been handed over to the Paris police judicial unit and France’s domestic intelligence agency.

According to Nunez, law enforcement officers responded during the early morning hours Saturday in Paris’ 8th arrondissement after a security patrol monitoring sensitive locations observed two people positioning and attempting to detonate a homemade explosive device near the bank.

Security forces intervened and captured one suspect on location while the other escaped, Nunez informed BFM TV late Saturday.

“One individual was trying to light an improvised explosive device made with a container likely containing hydrocarbons and a crude ignition system, while another was filming,” Nunez said.

The minister noted that despite its basic construction, the device posed a deadly threat, and officers successfully prevented its detonation.

Nunez characterized the suspects as “common-law” criminals working as hired intermediaries, describing this as a familiar pattern involving proxy agents recruited for such operations.

He reported that investigators have found connections to similar incidents across multiple European nations, including the Netherlands, Belgium, Britain and Norway, where makeshift devices have targeted locations associated with U.S. interests.

HELSINKI – Defense officials in Finland announced Sunday that unmanned aircraft may have illegally crossed into the country’s airspace in its southeastern region.

The Nordic nation’s defense ministry issued a statement regarding the potential airspace breach by the unidentified drones.

No additional details were immediately available about the suspected incursion or the origin of the unmanned vehicles.

BEIJING – Chinese forces launched coordinated naval, air and coast guard operations around Scarborough Shoal on Sunday, according to statements from Beijing’s military and maritime authorities.

The contested shoal sits within Philippine territorial waters, though Beijing maintains its own sovereignty claims over the area.

Sunday’s military activity followed the resumption of high-level diplomatic discussions between China and the Philippines last week, focusing on the disputed maritime region and potential energy development partnerships.

According to the Philippine foreign ministry on Saturday, these negotiations marked the first comprehensive bilateral dialogue since March 2023, designed to build mutual trust and reduce tensions.

Maritime clashes have escalated friction between the two nations recently, with Philippine officials condemning Beijing for what they call “dangerous manoeuvres” and water cannon attacks against Filipino supply operations in disputed zones.

China’s Southern Theater Command defended the military presence in a Sunday statement, saying “Such patrols serve as an effective countermeasure to cope with all sorts of rights-violation and provocative acts.”

Philippine diplomatic representatives in Beijing have not yet responded to requests for comment on the latest patrol operations.

BEIJING – A high-ranking Chinese diplomat in Hong Kong confronted the top US official in the territory this week over America’s public warning regarding Hong Kong’s updated security enforcement measures, according to Beijing’s Foreign Ministry.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Hong Kong office announced late Saturday that Commissioner Cui Jianchun held a meeting with US Consul General Julie Eadeh on March 27. During the discussion, Cui conveyed Beijing’s “strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition” and demanded that the United States cease meddling in Hong Kong matters and China’s domestic issues “in any form.”

The diplomatic tension arose after Hong Kong recently modified its national security enforcement procedures earlier this month. Under the revised regulations, individuals involved in national security cases now face criminal charges if they decline to surrender passwords or refuse to help authorities decrypt electronic devices.

Following these regulatory changes, the US Consulate General in Hong Kong released a security advisory on March 26. The alert instructed American citizens to reach out to the Consulate if they face arrest or detention under the new security enforcement measures.

The US Consulate General has not yet provided a response to requests for comment regarding the diplomatic meeting.

The ancient streets of Jerusalem echo with an unusual quiet as the holy city prepares for Easter and Passover celebrations unlike any in recent memory. Five weeks into the conflict with Iran, the normally bustling religious center faces its most somber spring season, with sacred sites closed and families weary from constant alerts.

The Old City’s characteristic energy has vanished, replaced by shuttered storefronts and empty stone walkways where pilgrims and tourists typically crowd during the spring religious season. The contrast is striking compared to previous years when these holy days brought throngs of visitors and joyful family reunions.

While Jerusalem has historically been spared from direct attacks in past conflicts, this war has brought unprecedented danger to the sacred city. Since joint Israeli and American military operations against Iran began on February 28, Jerusalem has faced repeated missile strikes.

The most sobering reminder came when an Iranian missile, shot down by defense systems, scattered debris across the rooftop of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate. The damage occurred mere steps from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Christianity’s most revered site marking the location where many believe Jesus was crucified, buried, and rose again. The historic church now sits empty, closed under military restrictions that prohibit gatherings exceeding 50 people.

Additional missile fragments struck near the Western Wall, Judaism’s holiest prayer site, underlining how the conflict has reached the heart of the city’s spiritual center.

Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, whose office provides a view of the Western Wall plaza, now sees only vacant stones where thousands usually gather. “The heart aches greatly, it bleeds, seeing the Western Wall as it looks now,” he said.

The traditional massive priestly blessing ceremony for Passover, which typically attracts tens of thousands of worshippers, will proceed with just 50 participants, Rabinowitz explained. This represents the maximum number permitted in the Western Wall’s enclosed prayer area under current wartime safety protocols, reminiscent of restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic.

Christian communities face similar disruptions. The Latin Patriarchate has called off Sunday’s Palm Sunday procession, which commemorates Jesus’ celebrated arrival in Jerusalem. In typical years, tens of thousands of Christians from across the globe would march through the narrow, sloping streets toward the Old City, carrying palm branches and singing hymns.

Father Rami Asakrieh, who serves Jerusalem’s Catholic community, acknowledged the deep disappointment over losing the procession, describing it as an emotionally and spiritually significant tradition. However, he emphasized that the cancellation serves as a reminder that true faith originates from within rather than external ceremonies.

“We are celebrating resurrection, resurrection is from death and winning the pain and the war,” he said. “It will not come by having fear, but by having faith.”

Asakrieh noted that a local Catholic high school, currently empty due to class cancellations, was also damaged by debris from an intercepted Iranian missile. Despite the restrictions, he continues conducting Mass for up to 50 congregants at the Saint Savoir monastery’s spacious marble hall, located near the Magnificat Institute music school. The school operates from what was formerly the convent’s basement, now approved by military officials as an adequate shelter.

Smaller houses of worship throughout Jerusalem – synagogues, mosques, and churches – remain open for groups of 50 or fewer, provided they sit near designated shelters or safe areas.

The Al Aqsa Mosque compound, Islam’s third-holiest location adjacent to the Western Wall, has remained vacant since the war’s onset. This closure eliminated prayers during most of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month that concluded ten days ago.

Fayez Dakkak, whose family has operated a shop serving Christian pilgrims since 1942, expressed heartbreak over Al Aqsa’s closure during the Islamic holy period. “It’s like there was no Ramadan for us,” Dakkak said. While he attended prayers at a neighborhood mosque, he explained that the experience cannot match worshipping at Al Aqsa.

Police directives have forced the closure of his business along with all non-essential stores in the Old City, part of comprehensive safety measures during the conflict. Dakkak revealed that declining pilgrim and tourist numbers in recent years had already made survival difficult. Still, he longed to open his shop for some normalcy and conversation with fellow merchants.

Israeli citizens have grown exhausted after nearly a month of daily air raid sirens, with 16 civilian fatalities and dozens of serious injuries reported.

Jewish families are scaling back their seder plans, organizing smaller, simpler ceremonial Passover meals that honor the Jewish departure from Egypt. This marks a significant change from previous celebrations featuring large family gatherings that often included relatives visiting from overseas. Ben Gurion airport has maintained severely limited operations throughout the war. Many note the irony that as Passover approaches, Israelis are departing the country through the land border with Egypt to reach the Sinai desert, while the holiday celebrates ancient Israelites’ journey from Egypt through Sinai to reach Israel.

Religious Jewish families are rushing to complete Passover preparations, removing all traces of leavening from their homes, which requires “turning the house upside-down in between running for the shelter,” explained Jamie Geller, a cookbook author working in Jerusalem’s Old City.

From her workplace at Aish, a Jewish educational organization headquartered near the Western Wall plaza, Geller can observe where shrapnel damaged and destroyed rooftops, streets, and parking areas in the vicinity.

“It’s shocking,” she said. “The Old City has always been a bit off limits for international terror and war, but not this time.”

Trade negotiations between Switzerland and the United States will extend past their original March deadline, Swiss President Guy Parmelin announced this weekend.

The Alpine nation faced Europe’s steepest U.S. tariffs after former President Donald Trump implemented a 39% duty on Swiss imports last August. Switzerland successfully negotiated a preliminary agreement in November that reduced those tariffs to 15%.

Washington had pushed for finalizing this preliminary arrangement by March’s end, but recent developments have complicated the timeline. The U.S. Supreme Court overturned Trump’s global tariff system in February, leading to new 10% worldwide duties.

Additional uncertainty emerged in March when the United States initiated fresh trade investigations targeting key trading partners, including Switzerland.

Speaking to state broadcaster RSI over the weekend, Parmelin, who serves dual roles as Swiss president and economy minister, stated the March deadline was “de facto” no longer viable and negotiations would proceed beyond that timeframe.

Sources close to the discussions indicate the next phase of Swiss-American trade talks will likely occur in April.

BRUSSELS — The European Union has begun implementing stricter migration enforcement measures that closely resemble policies previously used by the Trump administration, drawing criticism from human rights organizations across the 27-member bloc.

Following electoral gains by right-wing political parties in several countries during 2024, the EU has moved to strengthen its migration control policies. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, representing the center-right European People’s Party coalition, has defended these new measures as necessary to avoid repeating the 2015 migration crisis triggered by Syria’s civil war, which brought approximately one million asylum seekers to Europe.

“We have learnt the lessons of the past. And today, we are better equipped,” von der Leyen stated. The comprehensive policy changes, called the Pact on Migration and Asylum, will take effect June 12.

Far-right European political movements have openly endorsed President Donald Trump’s deportation strategies and advocated for the EU to implement comparable approaches. Human rights organizations caution that border authorities are already conducting illegal migrant pushbacks at EU frontiers while undermining existing legal safeguards.

The EU currently invests substantial funds to discourage migration before individuals reach European borders and has facilitated the return of tens of thousands of Africans to their home countries, both voluntarily and through forced deportation.

The current expansion builds upon Italy’s model under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s hardline immigration policies. Italy operates two migrant detention facilities for asylum seekers whose applications have been rejected in Albania. According to lawmaker Rachele Scarpa, who recently visited one facility housing at least 90 migrants, she encountered individuals who appeared bewildered and frightened.

Additionally, Meloni’s administration has enacted anti-immigration legislation permitting the navy to detain vessels in international waters for up to six months if considered threats to public safety, return intercepted migrants to their origin countries or third nations, and accelerate deportation procedures for foreign nationals with criminal convictions.

According to Bernd Parusel, a researcher with the Swedish Institute for European Policy Studies, an unofficial coalition of EU countries including Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Denmark and Greece are pursuing agreements for deportation centers.

Dutch European Parliament member Tineke Strik indicated that Kenya is among the nations being approached for such arrangements. She noted that whether intentional or not, these plans mirror Trump’s agreements with countries like El Salvador to accept deported migrants.

Additional nations are considering similar approaches. Sweden’s migration minister has indicated the conservative governing coalition supports establishing processing hubs outside Europe, particularly for Afghan and Syrian asylum seekers.

During Italy’s Winter Olympics, demonstrations occurred regarding the deployment of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents for U.S. delegation security. However, other European voices have commended ICE operations and advocated for creating specialized deportation police units.

The EU border agency Frontex started deploying officers to accompany Belgian police on raids targeting migrants for detention and deportation in 2024. It remains unclear whether similar operations are occurring in other member states.

The European Commission has refused to comment on U.S. federal immigration policies when requested.

In Britain, which departed the EU several years ago, the center-left Labour Party administration has prioritized reducing unauthorized immigration.

The Home Office reported in February that nearly 60,000 individuals had been deported since the government took office in July 2024. Officials said 9,000 arrests were made for unauthorized employment in 2025, representing an increase of more than 50 percent from the previous year.

The principle of non-refoulement under EU and international law prohibits returning individuals to countries where they would face persecution.

However, European immigration enforcement includes pushback operations, where people attempting to enter the EU are forcibly returned across borders without access to asylum processes.

European authorities conduct an average of 221 pushbacks daily, according to a February report from humanitarian organizations. The report documented more than 80,000 pushbacks in 2025, primarily in Italy, Poland, Bulgaria and Latvia.

“Men, women and children — including individuals in critical medical condition — are routinely subjected to beatings, attacks by police dogs, forced stripping, forced river crossings and theft of personal belongings,” the report stated.

Flor Didden, migration policy specialist with Belgian human rights organization 11.11.11, said European agents are brutalizing migrants similar to practices in the U.S., with some agents in Greece even wearing masks.

“The images are shocking and the outrage is justified,” he said regarding the U.S. situation. “But where is that same moral clarity when European border authorities abuse, rob and let people die?”

The organizations have also documented increased use of surveillance technology including drones, thermal cameras and satellites to track migrant movements.

Additional human rights groups warn of deteriorating legal protections.

The EU’s updated migration rules permit expanded police raids in private residences and public areas, along with increased surveillance and racial profiling, according to a February letter to EU institutions from 88 nonprofit organizations, including the Brussels-based Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants.

“We cannot be outraged by ICE in the United States while also supporting these practices in Europe,” said Michele LeVoy, the platform’s director.

Olivia Sundberg Diez, EU migration advocate for Amnesty International, explained that Europe maintains stronger protections for vulnerable migrants compared to the United States but shares similar political momentum toward stricter policies.

“There’s a level of institutions’ and courts’ independence and human rights compliance in Europe that you can’t disregard,” she said. “But the fundamental political impulse is the same, and I worry that the human consequences will be the same.”

A Ukrainian drone strike ignited a fire at Russia’s Ust-Luga petroleum facility on Sunday, causing damage to one of Moscow’s most significant oil export terminals, according to regional leadership.

Leningrad region Governor Alexander Drozdenko announced via Telegram that the facility sustained damage during the aerial assault, which also resulted in a blaze at the strategic location.

Defense forces intercepted 36 unmanned aircraft over the area during the attack, Drozdenko reported.

The Ust-Luga terminal, which operates under Russian pipeline giant Transneft, processes approximately 700,000 barrels of oil exports daily. Industry data indicates the facility moved 32.9 million metric tons of petroleum products in 2025.

The strike represents part of Ukraine’s ongoing campaign targeting Russian energy infrastructure and refineries in an effort to weaken Moscow’s wartime economic foundation.

Oman’s foreign ministry announced Sunday that officials are investigating recent attacks within the country’s borders, with no organization stepping forward to claim responsibility for the incidents.

Government officials stated they are examining the “sources and motives” behind the attacks but declined to provide additional details or identify specific incidents under investigation.

On Saturday, a drone strike at Oman’s Salalah port left one worker injured, prompting Danish shipping giant Maersk to temporarily suspend its operations at the facility following the attack.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards reported Saturday that they had targeted an American support vessel at a “considerable” distance from the Salalah port, according to Iranian media outlets.

“As we have previously stated, the national sovereignty of our brotherly and friendly country Oman is respected by the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Iranian officials stated.

This follows an earlier incident on March 11, when drone attacks hit oil storage facilities at the same Salalah port. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian assured Oman’s sultan during a telephone conversation that the March incident would be thoroughly investigated.

International trade negotiations in Cameroon reached a critical juncture Sunday as diplomats struggled to resolve a standoff between the United States and India over digital commerce policies, according to sources familiar with the discussions.

The World Trade Organization meeting entered its final day without progress on extending a moratorium that prevents countries from imposing customs duties on digital downloads and electronic transmissions. The current ban expires this month.

Three diplomatic sources told reporters that trade ministers are attempting to bridge the divide between Washington and New Delhi on this crucial issue. The outcome is being viewed as a measure of the WTO’s continued importance after a turbulent year marked by trade conflicts and disruptions from Middle Eastern tensions.

According to diplomatic sources, India has signaled willingness to accept a two-year extension of the digital commerce moratorium. However, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has stated that America seeks only a permanent ban, rejecting any temporary measures.

Corporate executives emphasize that continuing the moratorium is essential for maintaining market stability, warning that without it, new tariffs could be implemented on digital services.

One Western diplomat suggested the United States might consider what’s being called a “pathway to permanence” involving a decade-long extension. Another source indicated discussions around a five to ten-year timeframe, though a third diplomat expressed doubt that all WTO members would support anything beyond two years.

A draft proposal reviewed Saturday evening includes provisions for supporting developing nations along with review mechanisms.

U.S. Ambassador to the WTO Joseph Barloon previously stated that making the moratorium permanent would ensure America remains “fully engaged” with the international trade organization.

“If the moratorium does not get extended, the U.S. will use it as an excuse to beat the WTO on the head,” warned a senior diplomatic source.

The digital commerce debate occurs alongside broader efforts to overhaul WTO regulations, including making subsidy practices more transparent, streamlining decision-making processes, and potentially revising the Most-Favoured-Nation principle that requires equal treatment of all trading partners.

American and European officials argue that China has exploited existing regulations to gain unfair advantages.

The organization’s consensus-based approach has frequently been hampered by individual nations blocking proposals.

Several countries are resisting a comprehensive reform agenda that most members support, according to two senior diplomatic sources.

“We are frustrated that we are spending a lot of time talking about process, when we want to get on with the real work, reforming the WTO,” commented a Western diplomat.

India continues to block efforts to incorporate an investment agreement for developing countries into WTO rules, arguing that such regional deals undermine the organization’s core principles.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi militants joined the ongoing Middle East conflict on Saturday by launching two missile strikes toward Israel, as approximately 2,500 U.S. Marines deployed to the region. Pakistan announced that regional leaders will convene Sunday to discuss ending the hostilities.

The conflict has disrupted global oil and natural gas supplies, created fertilizer shortages, and interfered with international air travel. Iran’s control over the critical Strait of Hormuz has rattled markets and driven up prices. The United States and Israel have continued striking Iranian targets, while Iran has retaliated with attacks on Israel and neighboring Gulf nations. The death toll has exceeded 3,000 people.

The Houthis’ participation threatens to further damage international shipping if they resume targeting vessels in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait near the Red Sea, a waterway that handles approximately 12% of global commerce.

Some relief may come after Iran agreed Friday to permit humanitarian aid and agricultural shipments through the strait following United Nations appeals. President Donald Trump has set an April 6 deadline for Iran to reopen the strait.

Residents in Tehran reported intense bombardment late Saturday. Israel’s military previously announced it was targeting Iran’s naval weapons manufacturing facilities and stated it would complete attacks on crucial weapons production sites within “a few days.” The U.S. reported striking over 11,000 Iranian targets during the conflict.

Iran launched missiles at Israel, while air defense systems intercepted missiles and drones across Gulf nations early Sunday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy toured Gulf states Saturday as his nation offers drone defense assistance.

Houthi Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree announced on the group’s Al-Masirah satellite network that they fired missiles at “sensitive Israeli military sites” in southern Israel.

Should the Houthis escalate attacks on commercial vessels, as they have previously, it would drive oil prices higher and threaten “all of maritime security,” according to Ahmed Nagi, a senior Yemen analyst at the International Crisis Group. “The impact would not be limited to the energy market.”

The Bab el-Mandeb strait, located at the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula, serves as a vital passage for ships traveling to the Suez Canal via the Red Sea. Saudi Arabia has been transporting millions of barrels of crude oil daily through this route due to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Between November 2023 and January 2025, Houthi fighters targeted over 100 commercial ships with missiles and drones, sinking two vessels. The organization claimed it was acting in support of Palestinians in Gaza during the Israel-Hamas conflict.

The Houthis’ recent entry complicates plans for the USS Gerald R. Ford, the aircraft carrier that docked in Croatia Saturday for maintenance. Deploying the vessel to the Red Sea could provoke attacks similar to those experienced by the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in 2024 and the USS Harry S. Truman in 2025.

The Houthis have controlled Yemen’s capital city, Sanaa, since 2014. Saudi Arabia initiated military action against the Houthis in 2015 on behalf of Yemen’s government in exile, and the parties now maintain an unstable ceasefire.

Pakistan announced that senior diplomats from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt will travel to Islamabad for discussions aimed at ending the war, arriving Sunday for a two-day conference. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian conducted “extensive discussions” about regional conflicts.

However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi expressed skepticism about recent diplomatic initiatives during a phone conversation with his Turkish counterpart. Iranian state media reported that Araghchi criticized the U.S. for making “unreasonable demands” and showing “contradictory actions.”

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar subsequently spoke with Araghchi and called for “an end to all attacks and hostilities.”

Trump envoy Steve Witkoff revealed that Washington presented a 15-point “action list” to Iran for a potential ceasefire, including proposals to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and limit Iran’s nuclear program, which remains central to tensions with the U.S. and Israel.

Tehran rejected the proposal and offered a five-point counterproposal that included reparations and acknowledgment of its control over the waterway.

U.S. vessels carrying approximately 2,500 Marines trained in amphibious operations have arrived, joining what represents the largest American military presence in the region in over two decades. At least 1,000 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division, specialized in hostile territory landings to secure strategic positions and airfields, have been ordered to the Middle East.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Washington “can achieve all of our objectives without ground troops.”

More than two dozen American troops sustained injuries in Iranian strikes on Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan Air Base during the past week, according to two sources briefed on the situation who requested anonymity because they lacked authorization for public comment.

Iran launched six ballistic missiles and 29 drones at the facility Friday, wounding at least 15 troops, with five suffering serious injuries. The base, located approximately 96 kilometers (60 miles) from Saudi capital Riyadh, endured two previous attacks this week, including one that injured 14 U.S. personnel, according to the briefed sources.

Over 300 U.S. service members have been wounded in the conflict. At least 13 deaths have been confirmed.

Iranian officials report more than 1,900 fatalities in the Islamic Republic, while 19 deaths have been confirmed in Israel.

In Lebanon, where Israel has begun a southern invasion while targeting the Hezbollah militant organization, authorities report over 1,100 deaths since the conflict began.

In Iraq, where Iranian-supported militia groups have joined the fighting, 80 security force members have died.

Gulf states have recorded 20 fatalities. Four deaths have occurred in the occupied West Bank.

Key Middle Eastern nations are scheduled to convene Sunday in Pakistan’s capital for diplomatic discussions aimed at halting the ongoing regional conflict, as approximately 2,500 American Marines deploy to the area and Iranian-backed Houthi forces join the monthlong warfare.

According to Pakistani officials, senior diplomats from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt will participate in the Islamabad discussions. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif revealed he conducted “extensive discussions” with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian regarding the regional conflicts.

The ongoing conflict has created significant disruptions to worldwide oil and natural gas supplies, caused fertilizer shortages, and interfered with international air travel. Iran’s control over the critical Strait of Hormuz has caused market volatility and price fluctuations.

American and Israeli forces continue launching strikes against Iran, while Iranian counterattacks have hit Israel and surrounding Gulf Arab nations. The death toll has exceeded 3,000 people.

The Houthis’ involvement in the conflict could create additional problems for international shipping if they resume targeting ships in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait near the Red Sea, a waterway that handles approximately 12% of global trade.

Throughout Saturday night, residents in Irbil, the capital of Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region, heard continuous interceptions and drone activity for several hours, including drones that were destroyed while attempting to strike the U.S. consulate and nearby military installations.

Associated Press reporters in the region documented constant loud explosions and witnessed at least one drone flying toward American facilities, marking one of the most severe attack periods since the conflict started.

Iranian-allied militias operating in Iraq have intensified their repeated drone and missile strikes against U.S. military bases, including facilities in Irbil.

On Saturday, U.S. officials issued a statement condemning what they described as “despicable terrorist attacks” carried out by Iranian militant organizations, characterizing the strikes on Kurdish regional President Nechirvan Barzani’s residence in Irbil as “a direct assault on Iraq’s sovereignty, stability and unity.” The attack resulted in property damage but no injuries, as the residence was unoccupied during the incident.

Lebanese health officials reported that a Saturday evening strike on Hanniyeh town in Tyre province resulted in the deaths of six Syrian nationals and one Lebanese citizen, with nine additional people wounded.

In Nabatiyeh province, an attack on Deir al-Zahrani left seven people dead and eight injured, while another strike on Kfartabnit killed three individuals and wounded four others, according to health ministry reports.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The continuing conflict between U.S. and Israeli forces against Iran has triggered massive price increases, darkened global economic forecasts, caused worldwide stock market turmoil and forced developing nations to implement fuel rationing and energy subsidies to shield their most vulnerable citizens.

Continued military strikes targeting Persian Gulf energy infrastructure including refineries, pipelines, natural gas facilities and shipping terminals threaten to extend worldwide economic hardship for months or potentially years ahead.

“A week ago or certainly two weeks ago, I would have said: If the war stopped that day, the long-term implications would be pretty small,” said Christopher Knittel, an energy economist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “But what we’re seeing is infrastructure actually being destroyed, which means the ramifications of this war are going to be long-lived.”

Iranian forces targeted Qatar’s Ras Laffan liquefied natural gas facility, which handles 20% of global LNG production. The March 18 attack eliminated 17% of Qatar’s natural gas export capabilities, with state-owned QatarEnergy estimating repairs could require up to five years.

Energy markets faced immediate disruption when the conflict began. Following U.S. and Israeli military action on Feb. 28, Iran retaliated by essentially blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route for one-fifth of global oil supplies, by threatening vessels attempting passage.

Regional oil producers including Kuwait and Iraq reduced output because their petroleum had no viable export route without strait access. The elimination of 20 million daily oil barrels created what the International Energy Agency describes as the “largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market.”

Brent crude oil prices increased 3.4% Friday, closing at $105.32 per barrel, up from approximately $70 before hostilities commenced. U.S. benchmark crude jumped 5.5% to close at $99.64 per barrel.

“Historically, oil price shocks like this have led to global recessions,” Knittel said.

The conflict has also revived concerning economic parallels to the 1970s oil crises and stagflation.

“You’re raising the risk of higher inflation and lower growth,” said the Harvard Kennedy School’s Carmen Reinhart, a former World Bank chief economist.

Gita Gopinath, former chief economist at the International Monetary Fund, recently wrote that global economic growth, expected before the war to register 3.3% this year, would be 0.3 to 0.4 percentage points lower if oil prices averaged $85 a barrel in 2026.

The Persian Gulf region exports significant quantities of two essential fertilizers, accounting for one-third of global urea and one-quarter of ammonia production. Regional manufacturers benefit from convenient access to inexpensive natural gas, the primary component for nitrogen-based fertilizers.

As much as 40% of worldwide nitrogen fertilizer exports travel through the Strait of Hormuz.

With the waterway now inaccessible, urea costs have risen 50% since fighting began, while ammonia prices increased 20%. Major agricultural nation Brazil faces particular vulnerability since it imports 85% of its fertilizer needs, Alpine Macro commodity strategist Kelly Xu wrote in a commentary. Egypt, despite being a significant fertilizer manufacturer, requires natural gas for production and struggles when supplies become inadequate.

Eventually, elevated fertilizer costs will likely increase food prices and reduce availability as farmers use less and achieve lower crop yields. Food supply constraints will impact families in poorer nations most severely.

The war has also disrupted global helium supplies, a natural gas byproduct essential for semiconductor manufacturing, rocket production and medical imaging equipment. Qatar produces helium at the Ras Laffan complex and supplies one-third of world helium needs.

“No country will be immune to the effects of this crisis if it continues to go in this direction,” International Energy Agency head Fatih Birol said on March 23.

Developing countries will suffer the most severe impacts and face the greatest energy shortages “because they will be outbid when competing for the remaining oil and natural gas,” said Lutz Kilian, director of the Center for Energy and the Economy at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.

Asian nations face particular exposure since more than 80% of oil and LNG transiting the Strait of Hormuz reaches that region.

In the Philippines, government facilities now operate only four days weekly, with officials required to limit air conditioning to temperatures no lower than 75°F (24°C). Thai public employees have been instructed to use stairs rather than elevators.

India ranks as the world’s second-largest liquefied petroleum gas importer for cooking purposes. The Indian government prioritizes household allocation over commercial use while absorbing most price increases to maintain affordability for low-income families.

However, LPG shortages have compelled some restaurants to reduce operating hours, temporarily close or eliminate energy-intensive menu items like curries and fried foods.

South Korea, heavily reliant on energy imports, has restricted government employee vehicle use and reinstated fuel price controls abandoned during the 1990s.

The United States, as the world’s largest economy, enjoys some protection from these impacts.

As an oil exporter, American energy companies benefit from elevated prices. Additionally, domestic LNG costs remain lower than international markets because U.S. export facilities operate at full capacity. Since America cannot increase LNG exports beyond current levels, natural gas remains domestically available, maintaining stable supplies and prices.

Nevertheless, rising gasoline costs burden American consumers already dealing with high living expenses. AAA reports average gasoline prices have climbed to nearly $4 per gallon from $2.98 one month earlier.

“Nothing weighs more heavily on consumers’ collective psyche than having to pay more at the pump,” Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, and his colleagues wrote in a commentary.

The U.S. economy already showed weakness, growing at just 0.7% annually from October through December, down from a robust 4.4% from July through September. Employers unexpectedly eliminated 92,000 positions in February and added only 9,700 monthly in 2025, representing the weakest hiring outside recession since 2002.

Gregory Daco, chief economist at EY-Parthenon, has increased U.S. recession probability over the next year to 40%. Normal-times risk stands at just 15%.

The global economy has demonstrated resilience against repeated challenges including the pandemic, Russia’s Ukraine invasion, renewed inflation and the elevated interest rates required to control it.

Initial optimism suggested the world could overcome Iran war damage as well. However, those expectations diminish as threats to Gulf energy infrastructure persist.

“Some of the damage to LNG facilities in Qatar done will likely take years to repair,” said the Dallas Fed’s Kilian, who also noted necessary repairs to refineries in countries like Kuwait and tankers in the Gulf that must be re-provisioned and stocked up with marine fuel. “The process of recovery will be slow even under the best circumstances.”

“There is no economic upside to the conflict with Iran,” Zandi and his colleagues wrote. “At this point, the questions are how much longer the hostilities will continue and how much economic damage they will cause.”

WASHINGTON — During recent Iranian missile attacks, Israeli civilians fleeing for safety received deceptive text messages on their Android devices promising real-time bomb shelter locations. However, clicking the link installed malicious software that granted hackers complete access to phone cameras, location data, and personal information.

Cybersecurity researchers have linked this sophisticated operation to Iranian forces, marking an unprecedented level of coordination between physical military strikes and digital espionage efforts. The incident highlights how cyber warfare has become deeply embedded in modern conflicts involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.

According to Gil Messing, chief of staff at Check Point Research, a cybersecurity company operating in both Israel and America, the timing of these fraudulent messages represented a groundbreaking fusion of digital and conventional attacks.

“This was sent to people while they were running to shelters to defend themselves,” Messing said. “The fact it’s synced and at the same minute … is a first.”

Security analysts predict these digital battles will continue regardless of any potential ceasefire agreements, as cyber operations cost significantly less than traditional military campaigns while serving different objectives focused on surveillance, data theft, and psychological intimidation rather than territorial conquest.

Although the majority of cyber incidents connected to the ongoing conflict have caused relatively limited damage to critical infrastructure or defense networks, they have forced numerous American and Israeli businesses into defensive positions, requiring rapid security updates to address vulnerabilities.

DigiCert, a Utah-based cybersecurity company, has documented approximately 5,800 digital attacks launched by nearly 50 Iranian-affiliated organizations. While most targets were American or Israeli entities, researchers also discovered strikes against networks in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and additional regional nations.

Most attacks can be easily prevented with current cybersecurity measures, but they can cause significant harm to organizations using outdated protection systems and create resource burdens even when unsuccessful.

The psychological effects on companies conducting military-related business add another layer of concern.

“There are a lot more attacks happening that aren’t being reported,” said Michael Smith, DigiCert’s field chief technology officer.

Last Friday, a pro-Iranian hacking collective claimed they had breached FBI Director Kash Patel’s account, publishing what appeared to be dated photographs along with his professional resume and personal documents. Most of these materials seemed to be over ten years old.

This incident mirrors many cyberattacks attributed to Iran-supporting hackers: flashy operations designed to energize supporters while undermining opponent confidence, but with minimal impact on actual military objectives.

Smith described these high-frequency, low-damage attacks as “a way of telling people in other countries that you can still reach out and touch them even though they’re on a different continent. That makes them more of an intimidation tactic.”

Iran appears focused on exploiting America’s most vulnerable cybersecurity points: supply chains supporting economic and military operations, plus critical infrastructure including ports, railway systems, water treatment facilities, and medical centers.

Iranian forces are also targeting data storage facilities with both cyber and conventional weapons, demonstrating these centers’ growing importance to economic operations, communications, and military information security.

Earlier this month, Iranian-supporting hackers claimed responsibility for infiltrating Stryker, a Michigan-based medical technology corporation. The group calling itself Handala stated the attack was retaliation for alleged American strikes that killed Iranian students.

Cybersecurity researchers at Halcyon recently released findings about another recent cyberattack against a healthcare organization. While Halcyon kept the company’s identity confidential, they reported hackers used tools that American authorities have connected to Iran for installing destructive ransomware that locked the company out of its own systems.

The attackers never requested payment, indicating their motivation centered on causing destruction and disorder rather than financial gain.

Combined with the Stryker incident, “this suggests a deliberate focus on the medical sector rather than targets of opportunity,” said Cynthia Kaiser, senior vice president at Halcyon. “As this conflict continues, we should expect that targeting to intensify.”

Artificial intelligence technology enables hackers to increase both the frequency and speed of cyberattacks while automating much of the process.

However, disinformation campaigns represent where AI has shown its most damaging impact on public confidence. Supporters from all sides have circulated false images depicting fabricated atrocities or fictional military victories. One manipulated image showing sunken American warships has accumulated over 100 million views.

Iranian officials have restricted internet access while working to influence how Iranian citizens perceive the conflict through propaganda and false information. Iranian government media has begun labeling genuine war footage as fabricated, sometimes replacing it with their own altered images, according to research from NewsGuard, an American company monitoring disinformation.

Growing concerns about risks from AI and hacking led the State Department to establish a Bureau of Emerging Threats last year, concentrating on new technologies and their potential use against America. This effort joins existing programs at agencies including the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the National Security Agency.

AI also supports defense against cyberattacks by automating and accelerating protective measures, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard recently informed Congress.

The technology, she explained, “will increasingly shape cyber operations with both cyber operators and defenders using these tools to improve their speed and effectiveness,” Gabbard said.

While Russia and China are considered more significant cyber threats, Iran has still conducted multiple operations targeting Americans. In recent years, Tehran-affiliated groups have penetrated President Donald Trump’s campaign email systems, targeted American water treatment plants, and attempted to breach military and defense contractor networks. They have also impersonated American activists online to secretly promote anti-Israel demonstrations.

Activists in Mexico City staged an unusual demonstration Saturday, converting a busy highway into an improvised soccer field to voice opposition to World Cup preparations they believe are neglecting the city’s fundamental needs.

The demonstration occurred on the painted asphalt of a major ring road, where participants donned Mexico national team uniforms and jerseys from clubs including Pumas, Chivas, and Italy’s Juventus. An event coordinator delivered live play-by-play commentary through a sound system as the games unfolded.

Organizers labeled their action a protest against what they called the “World Cup of Dispossession,” highlighting shortages in housing, water supply, public transportation, and electrical services throughout the capital.

The Mexico City government has been contacted for their response to the demonstration.

The highway takeover happened just hours before Mexico’s scheduled World Cup preparation game against Portugal, prompting authorities to deploy more than 4,000 emergency response workers for public safety.

Demonstrators conducted an informal match, known locally as a “cascarita,” down the highway’s center lane, creating significant traffic congestion that lessened when participants relocated to an outer lane for their second game.

The second match included a political element featuring a soccer ball decorated with U.S. President Donald Trump’s image, though the meaning behind this choice remained unclear. Additional political symbols appeared throughout the protest, including Ukrainian flags and chants supporting Palestine.

“The unity this sport creates among people – when a ball appears, everyone wants to play, you set aside your disagreements and simply enjoy the game and the experience,” said Roman, a demonstrator who provided only his first name to Reuters.

“Soccer represents community; it’s about much more than financial gain,” Roman explained, emphasizing that urgent needs exist while officials concentrate on tournament preparations. “We’re seeking attention. We need reliable transportation. We need water access. We need electrical power. We need safe passage home. We need street lighting.”

The players, surrounded by law enforcement officers, maintained their focus on the competition while expressing their political message. When the ball rolled toward traffic, they paused their play and waited for its retrieval while some passing motorists honked their horns in solidarity.

Protest banners displayed during the event included one stating “Global event, local eviction,” expressing participants’ concerns that World Cup-related construction projects are causing widespread displacement throughout the metropolitan area.

“There’s a contradiction here, specifically because I’m a huge soccer fan. I follow the sport closely, but that doesn’t mean I endorse this approach. I don’t believe Mexico is managing this properly,” said Julian, another demonstrator wearing a “Lucha Libre” wrestling mask, speaking to Reuters.

Mexico will serve as a co-host for the World Cup along with the United States and Canada. The tournament is scheduled to run from June 11 through July 19, with games planned for Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un personally witnessed testing of an upgraded solid-fuel rocket engine and praised it as a major advancement for the nation’s strategic defense capabilities, according to state-controlled media reports released Sunday.

The demonstration suggests Kim remains focused on expanding and improving a missile arsenal with the range to strike American territory.

Sunday’s announcement from Korean Central News Agency followed Kim’s recent address to North Korea’s Parliament, where he vowed to permanently establish his nation as a nuclear power and criticized the United States for what he called worldwide “state terrorism and aggression,” seemingly referencing Middle Eastern conflicts.

Kim observed the ground-based testing of the newly enhanced engine, which incorporates composite carbon fiber materials, KCNA stated. The engine’s peak thrust capacity reached 2,500 kilotons, representing an increase from approximately 1,971 kilotons recorded during comparable solid-fuel engine testing in September.

Efforts to boost engine capabilities likely connect to plans for installing multiple nuclear warheads on individual missiles, which would improve odds of penetrating American defense systems, according to military analysts.

KCNA’s report did not specify the exact timing or location of the testing.

The demonstration occurred within North Korea’s five-year military expansion initiative. This strategy aims to enhance “strategic strike means,” KCNA stated.

Military experts interpret this language as referring to nuclear-armed intercontinental ballistic missiles designed to target the continental United States.

Kim described the recent engine testing as having “great significance in putting the country’s strategic military muscle on the highest level,” according to KCNA.

Over recent years, North Korea has launched various ICBMs showing potential range to reach American territory, including missiles using solid fuel that make pre-launch detection more challenging. The nation’s earlier liquid-fuel missiles require fueling before launch and have limited operational duration.

Certain international analysts believe North Korea continues facing technical challenges before achieving a fully operational ICBM, including guaranteeing warhead survival during atmospheric reentry. However, other experts question this view considering the extensive time the country has devoted to nuclear and missile development.

North Korea has aggressively pursued nuclear arsenal expansion following the breakdown of Kim’s diplomatic negotiations with former U.S. President Donald Trump in 2019. During a Workers’ Party meeting in February, Kim indicated openness to renewed discussions with Trump while calling on Washington to abandon demands for North Korean nuclear disarmament as a prerequisite for negotiations.

BEIJING – A devastating blaze swept through a structure in northern China’s Shanxi province on Sunday, claiming three lives and leaving 23 people injured, with nine victims in critical condition, according to China’s official Xinhua news agency.

The deadly incident occurred in the northern region of the country, though specific details about the cause of the blaze or the type of building involved have not yet been released by authorities.

Emergency responders worked to contain the fire and treat the injured victims, with the most seriously hurt individuals receiving urgent medical care.

SYDNEY – More than a week after Storm Narelle battered Australia’s northwest coast, energy production facilities continue struggling to resume normal operations while thousands of residents remain in the dark, according to Sunday reports.

The weather system, which was downgraded from tropical cyclone status on Saturday, has caused significant interruptions at major liquefied natural gas facilities operated by energy giants Chevron and Woodside. These disruptions are adding pressure to an already tight global energy market strained by supply shortages linked to the ongoing Iran conflict that began a month ago.

Following damage from Iranian attacks that forced Qatar to suspend its LNG operations, Australia has stepped up as the world’s second-largest exporter of liquefied natural gas.

Woodside Australia reported Sunday that conditions at their operations remained unchanged. Storm Narelle continued affecting output at the company’s Karratha gas processing plant on Saturday, which handles production for the North West Shelf project. However, the company’s Macedon and Pluto operations were running normally.

Chevron had not provided updated information by Sunday. The company stated Saturday that crews were working to bring their Gorgon and Wheatstone gas plants back online after Narelle forced production shutdowns.

The Gorgon facility stands as Australia’s biggest LNG export operation, featuring three processing units that generate 15.6 million metric tons annually. Meanwhile, Wheatstone operates two processing units with an annual capacity of 8.9 million tons.

Electrical service remained cut off late Saturday in Exmouth, a community of 2,800 residents located approximately 1,100 kilometers north of Perth, Western Australia’s capital city, emergency services officials confirmed.

Horizon Power, the government-owned utility company, announced that additional repair teams were heading to Exmouth “to support local crews to restore power to affected properties as soon as it is safe to do so.”

The town of Exmouth, which serves as an access point to the UNESCO World Heritage-designated Ningaloo Reef, sustained considerable damage during the cyclone, though no injuries were reported, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Storm Narelle first reached land as a severe tropical cyclone in Queensland on March 20, then moved across the Northern Territory before striking Western Australia.

U.S. military officials are developing strategies for potential ground operations in Iran that could last several weeks, according to a Saturday report from the Washington Post citing government sources.

The proposed military strategies would include missions conducted by both Special Operations forces and regular infantry units, the newspaper reported. However, it remains unclear whether President Donald Trump would give his approval for any such operations, the Post noted.

The current administration has already sent U.S. Marines to the Middle East region as the Iranian conflict enters its fifth week of fighting, and military leaders are also making arrangements to deploy thousands of soldiers from the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne division to the area.

Medical officials in Gaza report that Israeli aircraft targeted two Hamas police checkpoints in the southern city of Khan Younis, resulting in the deaths of six Palestinians, including a young girl.

According to local health authorities, the attacks claimed the lives of three police officers and three civilians, with four additional people sustaining injuries. The strikes occurred on Friday despite an ongoing U.S.-mediated ceasefire agreement that has been in effect for more than five months.

Israeli military officials have not yet provided a response regarding these latest attacks. Local health officials report that Israeli forces have killed more than 680 Palestinians in Gaza since the November ceasefire agreement with Hamas took effect.

The death toll since fighting began in October 2023 has exceeded 72,000 people. Israel is currently engaged in military operations against Iran with U.S. support, while also conducting a separate campaign against Hezbollah that includes ground operations in southern Lebanon.

Fighting continues in Gaza despite the ceasefire arrangement and Israel’s ongoing conflict with Iran. Palestinian health authorities report that Israeli forces have killed at least 50 Palestinians since the Iran conflict started one month ago.

Middle East tensions intensified Saturday when Yemen’s Houthi militants carried out their inaugural strikes against Israel since regional hostilities commenced, coinciding with the arrival of additional American military forces in the area.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated before the assault that the United States anticipated wrapping up combat activities in the coming weeks, though thousands of U.S. Marines began deploying to the region. Houthi leaders declared they would persist with operations until what they termed “aggression” across all battlefronts ceased.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian conducted discussions with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose administration will host diplomatic talks Sunday featuring Turkish and Saudi foreign ministers aimed at reducing regional hostilities.

However, immediate diplomatic progress remains elusive as the conflict, which began with American and Israeli operations against Iran on February 28, has expanded throughout the Middle East, claiming thousands of lives and creating unprecedented disruptions to global energy markets.

The Pentagon confirmed Saturday that the initial wave of Marines reached the region Friday aboard an amphibious assault vessel, representing the first of two major troop contingents being sent to the area.

While Rubio suggested Friday that American objectives could be met without ground forces, he acknowledged deploying personnel to provide President Trump with “maximum” strategic flexibility. Military officials also expect deployment of thousands of soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division.

MEDIA WORKERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS TARGETED

Israeli forces conducted extensive operations against Tehran Saturday, striking what military officials described as Iranian government infrastructure facilities.

Concurrent attacks in Lebanon resumed hostilities against Iran-supported Hezbollah, resulting in the deaths of three Lebanese media personnel when their vehicle was hit, according to Lebanon’s Al Manar TV, along with one Lebanese soldier. A subsequent strike targeting rescue personnel responding to assist the victims also produced casualties.

Israeli military officials stated they had specifically targeted one journalist, labeling him a “terrorist” and alleging his involvement with Hezbollah intelligence operations, claiming he had disclosed Israeli troop positions.

Iranian forces maintained their offensive against Israel and multiple Gulf nations following Friday’s assault on a Saudi Arabian air installation that injured 12 American military personnel, with two suffering serious wounds in one of the most significant breaches of U.S. air defenses to date.

Early Sunday, defense systems intercepted an unmanned aircraft near the home of Iraqi Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani in Erbil, according to security officials. Saturday reports indicated drone strikes had targeted the residence of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region president.

YEMEN-BASED GROUP DEMONSTRATES LONG-RANGE CAPABILITIES

Israeli authorities, who previously experienced regular Houthi missile attacks before the current war, confirmed a projectile had been launched from Yemen. No injuries or property damage were reported.

The assault highlighted potential new risks to international maritime traffic, already impacted by the effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which handles approximately one-fifth of global petroleum and liquefied natural gas shipments.

Houthi military representative Yahya Saree subsequently announced the organization had executed a second Israeli attack within 24 hours and promised additional strikes.

The militants have demonstrated capabilities to hit distant targets and disrupt shipping corridors around the Arabian Peninsula and Red Sea, as they previously did supporting Hamas during Gaza fighting.

FINANCIAL MARKETS REACT TO EXTENDED CONFLICT PROSPECTS

With U.S. midterm elections scheduled for November, the increasingly unpopular conflict has impacted President Donald Trump’s Republican Party, leading him to appear eager for swift resolution while simultaneously threatening escalation.

Anti-Trump protesters gathered in American cities Saturday during rallies organizers characterized as opposition to Iranian military action.

Financial markets have responded negatively to indications the war may continue indefinitely. Brent crude oil prices have surged over 50% since hostilities began.

Trump has warned of potential strikes against Iranian electrical facilities and energy infrastructure unless Iran reopens the Strait of Hormuz. However, he extended his original deadline for this week, providing Iran an additional 10-day response period.

Iranian warnings about attacking vessels in the waterway have deterred most oil tankers from attempting passage. Several ships have successfully navigated the strait, including Pakistani and Indian-flagged vessels, following Iranian guarantees of safe transit.

Iran has approved 20 additional Pakistani-flagged ships for strait passage, permitting two daily transits, according to Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

Israeli operations have focused on Iranian nuclear facilities, prompting concerns from Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom leadership, which evacuated personnel from the Bushehr coastal nuclear facility, citing threats to atomic safety.

Pezeshkian warned Iran would “retaliate strongly if our infrastructure or economic centers are targeted.”

Iranian attacks occurred across multiple Gulf locations, including Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Oman.

An Iranian air assault struck the Israeli community of Eshtaol near Jerusalem. Israel’s emergency medical services reported seven hospitalizations.

Within Iran, media outlets reported at least five fatalities from U.S.-Israeli strikes on residential areas in northwestern Zanjan city and Tehran, where Iran University of Science and Technology sustained damage.

Iran’s leadership has distributed new military orders preparing for a possible United States ground invasion, according to exclusive information obtained by The Media Line.

A well-informed source revealed that Iranian authorities have issued fresh instructions to military and security forces across the country, particularly focusing on southern and northwestern regions. The orders aim to counter potential American ground operations and disruptive activities in Tehran and other major cities.

The instructions come from Iran’s General Staff of the Armed Forces, working under direction from the Commander-in-Chief and key defense councils. Military and security units nationwide have received these orders to maintain readiness, protect sensitive locations, and prepare for possible “intervention of hostile field elements across different regions.”

Most significantly, the directive gives these units permission to act on their own initiative without waiting for orders from higher command – what Iranian officials call “fire at will” authority. This approach resembles “Operation Valkyrie” from Nazi Germany and suggests Iran expects major conflict escalation, including possible U.S. ground forces entering Iranian territory or seizing strategic islands.

The orders also indicate Iranian leaders are preparing for scenarios where central command structures or communication networks could be severely damaged, requiring individual units to operate independently.

Iranian military commanders view armed groups in Tehran, other major cities, and Iranian Kurdistan as serious threats. Additionally, tribal populations in western and southwestern Iran often possess firearms, primarily hunting weapons, while armed Baloch groups remain active in eastern regions.

Concerns have grown due to propaganda from the Mojahedin-e Khalq organization regarding their “Liberation Army” and “Rebel Units,” along with rumors about an “Immortal Guard” connected to monarchist supporters recently mentioned by Reza Pahlavi before Chaharshanbe Suri celebrations.

Recent American military movements, including Marine and airborne unit deployments to the region, plus repeated statements by Donald Trump and other U.S. officials about possible ground operations, have increased fears within Iran’s leadership. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has publicly warned the United States against any ground attack on Iranian islands, despite having no formal military authority.

Farzin Nadimi, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute who analyzes Iranian military affairs, told The Media Line that temporary U.S. control of certain islands or coastal positions overlooking the Strait of Hormuz seems realistic.

“What appears more likely in the near term is not a full-scale ground invasion, but rather limited, selective, and complementary ground operations—such as special forces missions and efforts to temporarily control certain islands or strategic coastal positions overlooking the Strait of Hormuz,” he said.

“Such a scenario differs fundamentally from an all-out ground war, yet remains costly and high-risk. Entering mainland Iran for occupation or deep advances would require a large force, substantial logistical support, and sustained political will—factors that could quickly turn the conflict into a prolonged and attritional war,” he added.

Despite such developments potentially weakening Iran’s position, Nadimi explained that the war’s ultimate outcome would still depend on continued air campaigns and their ability to decisively destabilize the Islamic Republic.

The Media Line previously published audio recordings attributed to a Basij commander in Tehran, where he explicitly instructed forces to “clear the area” during drone attacks, retreat to surrounding alleys, and position themselves “so that if any hostile armed force activated, they can engage.”

Iranian armed forces believe the conflict’s next phase could involve ground warfare and urban combat. On Thursday, the state-affiliated Tehran Times, citing “an Iranian security analyst,” reported that Iran would seize UAE and Bahrain coastlines if the U.S. launched a ground attack.

With reports suggesting U.S. military preparation for a “final strike,” Iranian authorities apparently consider scenarios including military invasion, seizure of Kharg Island or other strategic islands, and even parts of southern Iran near the Strait of Hormuz as entirely possible.

The new directive suggests that with Mojtaba Khamenei—the nominal leader who has largely disappeared from public view—absent, Iran’s leadership is preparing for war escalation and direct ground combat possibilities.

VERACRUZ, Mexico — The bustling fish markets of Veracruz typically see overwhelming crowds of shoppers preparing for Holy Week celebrations each year. This season tells a starkly different story, with vendors calling out to virtually no customers in nearly deserted marketplaces.

A massive petroleum spill covering more than 373 miles across Gulf waters has contaminated seven protected natural areas, delivering a devastating financial hit to Mexico’s fishing communities during what should be their most profitable period of the year.

The coastal states of Veracruz, Tabasco and Tamaulipas have all seen dramatic decreases in fishing activity since the environmental disaster began. Market stalls that would normally be packed with buyers stood largely abandoned Friday, as desperate sellers shouted promotions trying to draw in the few remaining customers.

“This is our livelihood,” expressed Miguel López Rojas, who operates a seafood stand in one of the area’s popular markets.

Government officials report the contamination stems from a ship moored near the port city of Coatzacoalcos in Veracruz state, combined with two naturally occurring oil seeps from the ocean floor.

Cleanup crews have recovered approximately 430 tons of petroleum products from shorelines across the three affected states, according to official estimates. While authorities maintain the spill hasn’t caused major environmental harm, local news outlets have documented dead sea turtles, eels and fish washing ashore and floating in coastal waters.

López Rojas explained the crisis extends beyond reduced fish availability, noting that customer purchases have plummeted as people actively avoid seafood products out of safety concerns.

Federal health officials have dismissed reports of any illnesses connected to eating potentially contaminated fish or shellfish, but public anxiety continues to spread nationwide.

“You have to be careful with the pollution because we still don’t know what this spill could lead to,” said Susana Gutiérrez, a 67-year-old seamstress shopping at a Mexico City market.

While government agencies at both federal and state levels work to control the spill and restore affected beaches, fishing crews face severe financial hardship after being forced to suspend nearly all operations to protect their boat motors and equipment from oil contamination, eliminating their primary income source.

“This year has been very disastrous for us, because in all my years of life we had never experienced something of this magnitude,” said Norma González Pérez, who fishes from the town of Salinas in southwestern Veracruz.

Veracruz ranks among Mexico’s leading seafood-producing regions. Official data shows the eastern state contributed roughly 2.76% of the nation’s total fish, oyster and seafood output in 2024. Seafood forms a cornerstone of many traditional regional dishes throughout the state.

Officials have not yet released figures on how many fishing workers the spill has impacted, though advocacy groups estimate several hundred people may be affected. González Pérez said the situation has become so dire that some fishermen have turned to bank loans to survive financially.

Holy Week traditionally represents a celebratory time for fishing communities, marked by abundant catches due to seasonal fish migrations through Gulf waters. This year carries a much darker mood, she noted.

“This year there will be no celebration or anything,” González Pérez said. “This year we will basically have nothing.”

Weekend attacks from Iran resulted in casualties across multiple Israeli cities, with warning sirens sounding throughout Friday night and Saturday as missiles and drones struck populated areas.

Security guard Viacheslav Vidment lost his life during an Iranian cluster bomb attack in Ashdod while completing his work shift at a building previously damaged during the ongoing conflict.

At the scene, Tel Aviv District Police Commander Superintendent Haim Sargrof addressed the incident, stating: “The deceased is someone who works here in the area. He did not enter a protected space. I remind everyone, you must follow instructions and reach protected areas.”

Another Iranian cluster missile attack targeted Tel Aviv directly, activating emergency warning systems throughout central Israel.

The city of Beit Shemesh sustained damage to multiple residences and a synagogue from Iranian missile impacts. Medical service Magen David Adom confirmed 19 individuals suffered shrapnel wounds, while additional victims received treatment for anxiety and psychological trauma.

Near Israel’s southern border, defense forces successfully intercepted an unmanned aircraft detected over Eilat. The drone originated from Yemen’s Iran-supported Houthi faction, which had previously launched multiple rocket attacks against Israel during the Hamas conflict before stopping operations following last October’s ceasefire agreement.

Houthi representative Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for the assault in a social media statement, declaring: “The Yemeni Armed Forces … have carried out the first military operation using a barrage of ballistic missiles targeting sensitive Israeli military sites.”

Military analysts suggest this renewed Houthi involvement could signal the emergence of an additional battlefront in the broader regional conflict involving the United States and Israel against Iran, particularly following Hezbollah’s entry into combat in early March after the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Yemen’s Houthi militants announced they executed another strike against Israel using both missiles and unmanned aircraft, marking their second assault within a 24-hour period, according to the group’s military spokesman Yahya Saree during a broadcast statement.

The Iranian-backed rebel group pledged to maintain their military campaigns in the days ahead, intensifying concerns about widening regional conflict. Their involvement in the broader Middle East crisis heightens tensions due to their demonstrated capability to hit distant targets and interfere with maritime commerce throughout the Red Sea and Arabian Peninsula waters, similar to their previous actions supporting Hamas following the October 7, 2023 attacks on Gaza.

Iranian forces launched missiles and drones against Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, wounding a dozen American service members with two sustaining serious injuries, military officials announced Friday. The assault marks one of the most substantial compromises of U.S. air defense systems since the month-long conflict with Iran began.

The Iranian strike was part of Tehran’s wider offensive targeting American military personnel throughout the Middle East region. Two defense officials, who requested anonymity as they lacked authorization for public statements, verified the casualty figures and reported that no fewer than two KC-135 refueling aircraft suffered extensive damage.

Tehran has repeatedly fired volleys of ballistic missiles and unmanned aircraft at U.S. military installations throughout the ongoing hostilities, seeking to strike back against American attacks and hamper operational activities.

U.S. Central Command reported Friday that 303 American military personnel have sustained injuries since U.S. and Israeli operations against Iran commenced. Navy Captain Tim Hawkins, serving as spokesperson, indicated that most wounds were not severe, with 273 service members already back on active duty. Through Saturday, 13 U.S. military personnel have lost their lives while participating in Operation Epic Fury.

According to The Wall Street Journal, a high-ranking defense official revealed that Pentagon leadership is considering the deployment of an additional 10,000 troops to the Middle East region to support the continuing Operation Epic Fury against Iran, supplementing the 1,500 personnel already activated from the 82nd Airborne Division.

The son of Iran’s former shah delivered a stark warning to American conservatives on Saturday, arguing that any peace negotiations with Tehran’s current government would merely postpone security threats rather than eliminate them.

Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Grapevine, Texas, Reza Pahlavi received an enthusiastic welcome from Republican activists and lawmakers attending the annual political gathering. The exiled opposition leader earned a standing ovation upon taking the stage and drew repeated applause from both conservative attendees and Iranian Americans present.

Pahlavi referenced President Donald Trump’s recent statements about pursuing military action against Iran to avoid facing recurring security challenges from the nation every few years. The opposition figure cautioned that diplomatic engagement with Iran’s existing leadership would create precisely that scenario.

“The only thing that the remnants of this regime can be relied on to do is to buy time, to cheat and to steal. They will never be honest or true partners for peace,” Pahlavi declared.

“It will buy time, it will pretend to negotiate, and then it will return to its old jihadist ways of threatening America, its security and its interests,” he added.

The 65-year-old has positioned himself as the leading candidate to head a transitional government and has expressed willingness to return to his homeland immediately, ending nearly five decades of exile from Iran.

However, Iran’s opposition movement remains divided across competing groups and ideological differences. Trump has also voiced doubts about Pahlavi’s leadership potential, suggesting that an internal Iranian figure might prove more effective.

As global energy costs climb and approval ratings decline, Trump faces difficult decisions following a month of conflict with Iran: pursue a potentially unstable agreement and withdraw, or increase military pressure while risking an extended war.

Pahlavi worked to connect his movement with American security and economic interests. He generated loud cheers when he asked attendees to envision Iran transitioning from “Death to America” chants to “God bless America,” and promised that a liberated Iran would create significant economic opportunities for the United States.

Throughout his remarks, Iranian Americans in attendance repeatedly chanted “long live the king.”

Pahlavi, who previously urged widespread demonstrations across Iran in January, indicated that “when the right moment arrives” he would “call on them to rise up again” in an effort to “reclaim their homeland, their dignity and their future.”

BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of Congo (AP) — Congo’s highest court has officially validated the presidential election victory of 82-year-old Denis Sassou-N’Guesso on Saturday, securing his fifth term in office after capturing 94.90% of votes cast.

Constitutional Court President Auguste Iloki announced the final results during a hearing, stating: “The president Denis Sassou-N’Guesso is elected with 94.90% of the vote, representing an absolute majority.”

The official tally showed a slight increase from preliminary figures released March 17 by Interior Minister Raymond Zephirin Mboulou, which had given Sassou-N’Guesso 94.82% of ballots.

Seven candidates total competed for leadership of the Central African nation, which holds some of sub-Saharan Africa’s most substantial oil reserves.

Following last week’s preliminary announcement, two opposition candidates disputed the outcome. Challenger Uphrem Mafoula had petitioned the constitutional court to void the entire election, but judges dismissed his appeal on Saturday.

This victory continues a pattern across Africa where leaders in their 80s maintain their grip on power. Among African presidents, only Cameroon’s Paul Biya and Equatorial Guinea’s Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo have served longer than Sassou N’Guesso.

The Congolese Party of Labor candidate initially assumed power in 1979, governing until 1992 when he conducted the nation’s inaugural multi-party democratic vote. Following a brief civil conflict lasting four months in 1997, he regained control as head of armed forces.

During the recent campaign, a stark disparity emerged between Sassou N’Guesso and his rivals, as the sitting president was the sole candidate conducting nationwide campaign tours. Throughout Brazzaville, the capital, streets were lined with the incumbent’s campaign imagery.

Electoral participation was reduced when two significant opposition parties refused to participate, citing concerns over biased election procedures.

Presidential age restrictions and term limits were eliminated through a 2015 constitutional amendment, enabling N’Guesso’s continued candidacy.

The nation faces severe economic challenges, with foreign debt reaching 94.5% of gross domestic product according to World Bank data, while youth unemployment continues climbing. Poverty affects more than half of Congo’s 5.7 million citizens, and nearly half the population is younger than 18.

Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen fired missiles toward Israel on Saturday, marking their first assault since the Iran conflict began five weeks ago, escalating fears that the regional war could spread even further across the Middle East.

Prior to the missile launch, Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated the United States anticipated wrapping up military operations within weeks. However, the Houthis declared they would persist with their operations until what they called the “aggression” on all fronts ceased.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian held discussions with Pakistan’s prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, whose administration is hosting a Sunday meeting with Turkish and Saudi foreign ministers aimed at reducing regional tensions.

Despite diplomatic efforts, no immediate breakthrough appeared likely in a conflict that has engulfed much of the Middle East, claiming thousands of lives and causing unprecedented disruption to worldwide energy supplies.

Israeli forces reported conducting strikes against more than 100 Iranian targets since Friday, targeting ballistic missile manufacturing and storage sites along with government infrastructure in Tehran.

Iranian state media confirmed casualties from the Israeli strikes, reporting nine deaths in the western city of Borujerd and five fatalities in northwestern Zanjan, describing both incidents as attacks on residential neighborhoods.

Israel also announced hitting over 170 targets in Lebanon, where fighting has resumed against Iran-backed Hezbollah forces. Lebanon’s Al Manar TV reported that three Lebanese journalists died when their media vehicle was struck, and a Lebanese soldier was also killed.

Iran continued its attacks on Israel and several Gulf nations after striking a Saudi Arabian air base Friday, injuring 12 U.S. military personnel, with two seriously wounded, in one of the most significant breaches of American air defenses to date.

Drone strikes damaged radar systems at Kuwait’s International Airport, while fires erupted near the Khalifa container port in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, after a missile was intercepted. In Israel, seven people required hospitalization when an Iranian missile struck the village of Eshtaol, close to Jerusalem.

Israel, which had regularly faced Houthi missile attacks before the war began, confirmed a missile was launched from Yemen. No casualties or damage were reported from this latest strike.

The Houthi involvement signals a potential new danger to global shipping, already severely impacted by the effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which handles approximately one-fifth of worldwide oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.

The Houthis have demonstrated their capability to hit targets well beyond Yemen’s borders and disrupt shipping routes around the Arabian Peninsula and Red Sea, as they previously did while supporting Hamas during the Gaza conflict.

Should the Houthis establish a new battlefront, they could target the Bab al-Mandab Strait off Yemen’s coast, a critical passage for maritime traffic heading toward the Suez Canal.

With November midterm elections approaching, the increasingly unpopular conflict, which began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, has become a political burden for President Donald Trump’s Republican Party. Trump appears anxious to conclude the war quickly while simultaneously threatening escalation.

Protesters gathered in cities across America on Saturday for the third wave of “No Kings” demonstrations, which organizers characterized as a call to action against the war.

Rubio stated Friday that military operations were expected to conclude in “weeks, not months” and repeated Trump’s appeals for European and Asian nations to help ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

American allies have shown reluctance to become involved in a war that could intensify if Trump chooses to deploy ground forces to reopen the strait.

While Rubio said the U.S. could accomplish its objectives without ground troops, he acknowledged deploying some forces to the region “to give the president maximum optionality and maximum opportunity to adjust the contingencies, should they emerge.”

Washington has sent two groups of thousands of Marines to the region, with the first arriving Friday aboard a massive amphibious assault vessel, according to a U.S. military social media post Saturday. The Pentagon also plans to deploy thousands of elite airborne troops.

Financial markets have responded with concern over signs the war may continue longer than expected.

Brent crude oil prices have surged more than 50% since the conflict began, and in the United States, where Trump faces political vulnerability from rising fuel costs, California diesel reached a record average high, according to the American Automobile Association.

Trump has threatened to strike Iranian power plants and other energy infrastructure if Iran refuses to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. However, he has extended his original deadline for this week, giving Iran an additional 10 days to respond.

Israeli forces have targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities, prompting the head of Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom to warn that the attacks threaten nuclear safety. Rosatom has evacuated personnel from the Bushehr nuclear power plant on the Gulf coast.

Pezeshkian warned that Iran would “retaliate strongly if our infrastructure or economic centers are targeted.”

“To the countries of the region: If you want development and security, don’t let our enemies run the war from your lands,” he stated.

Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey have served as intermediaries between the opposing sides, though Tehran has denied engaging in negotiations with Washington. Two sources familiar with the behind-the-scenes efforts expressed skepticism that direct talks would occur soon.

The World Health Organization announced Saturday that emergency medical personnel have come under deadly attack in southern Lebanon, resulting in nine paramedic deaths and seven injuries across multiple incidents.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus revealed through social media that the fatal attacks occurred in five different villages, targeting medical response teams.

“The repeated strikes have severely disrupted health services in southern Lebanon,” Ghebreyesus stated, noting the widespread impact on regional healthcare infrastructure.

The ongoing violence has forced the closure of four hospitals and 51 primary healthcare facilities, according to the WHO chief. He also reported that remaining medical centers in the area are struggling to maintain normal operations, with many functioning at reduced capacity due to the security situation.

A massive chocolate heist has left Swiss confectionery giant Nestlé missing more than 400,000 KitKat bars after thieves intercepted a delivery truck bound for Poland from Italy this week.

The Vevey, Switzerland-based company announced Friday that the entire vehicle carrying 12 tons of the popular waffle-and-chocolate treats has vanished without a trace. “The vehicle and its load are still nowhere to be found,” Nestlé stated.

The stolen shipment, containing exactly 413,793 chocolate bars, disappeared during transport between manufacturing and distribution facilities. These particular KitKats were destined for markets throughout Europe.

Nestlé warns that the pilfered confections may surface through black market sales channels across European countries. However, the company has a tracking system in place – each candy bar carries a distinct batch code that allows for identification.

Company representatives explained that shoppers, store owners, and distributors can verify whether they’ve encountered stolen merchandise by checking the batch numbers printed on packaging. Anyone who discovers a match will receive specific guidance on reporting the find to Nestlé, which will then forward evidence to proper authorities.

The chocolate manufacturer acknowledged the irony of the situation while highlighting a serious business concern. “Whilst we appreciate the criminals’ exceptional taste, the fact remains that cargo theft is an escalating issue for businesses of all sizes,” the company declared.

Nestlé added that they chose to publicize this incident to shed light on increasingly sophisticated theft operations. “With more sophisticated schemes being deployed on a regular basis, we have chosen to go public with our own experience in the hope that it raises awareness of an increasingly common criminal trend,” their statement concluded.

CAIRO (AP) — Iranian-backed rebels in Yemen launched missiles targeting Israel over the weekend, marking their first strike since Middle East hostilities erupted a month ago and sparking worries about potential disruptions to critical Red Sea shipping lanes.

Yemen’s Houthi forces claimed they launched multiple missiles aimed at what they called “sensitive Israeli military sites” in Israel’s southern region. Israeli defense forces confirmed they successfully intercepted a projectile launched from Yemeni territory.

The Houthis represent a key component of Iran’s “Axis of Resistance,” a network that encompasses armed factions across Lebanon, Iraq and Palestinian areas. From their stronghold in Yemen’s capital Sanaa, they govern much of the nation’s northern territory and have waged civil war against the internationally backed government since 2014, facing opposition from a Saudi-led military alliance.

While other Iranian-allied groups like Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Iraqi militants have been active, Yemen’s Houthis remained on the sidelines for weeks following U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran on February 28.

Their entry into the conflict through Saturday’s missile launch has intensified fears they may resume maritime attacks in the Red Sea. Such actions could severely impact shipping and the worldwide economy, particularly as the Strait of Hormuz closure has already rattled markets and driven up energy costs. The group also possesses the ability to target Persian Gulf oil infrastructure, as demonstrated during Yemen’s ongoing civil conflict.

Houthi leadership declared they will not permit American and Israeli forces to utilize Red Sea waters for Iranian operations. “Our fingers are on the trigger,” declared Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, speaking for the Houthis’ military wing, in Friday remarks.

Maritime attacks by the Houthis would drive oil costs higher while undermining “all of maritime security,” according to Ahmed Nagi, who analyzes Yemen for the International Crisis Group. “The impact would not be limited to the energy market.”

Following the Strait of Hormuz shutdown, Saudi Arabia has been transporting millions of daily oil barrels through Bab el-Mandeb, located at the Arabian Peninsula’s southern point.

This 32-kilometer (20-mile) waterway ranks among the world’s most vital oil transit routes. Additionally, one-quarter of global container shipping passes through this strait en route to and from the Suez Canal. When Bab al-Mandab becomes impassable, shipping companies must redirect vessels around the Cape of Good Hope, as occurred in 2024 and 2025, dramatically raising transportation expenses.

Approximately 12% of worldwide commerce normally travels through Suez, encompassing petroleum, natural gas, grain and consumer goods ranging from toys to electronics.

“It would be devastating for so many countries,” Nagi explained. “If we see more pressure on the Iranians, or there’s any escalation, the Houthis will jump in harshly.”

Additional attacks would intensify energy supply challenges for the 27-member European Union, which depends on imported natural gas for industrial operations, power generation and residential heating. Ships transporting liquefied natural gas — supercooled for maritime transport rather than pipeline delivery — regularly traverse Red Sea waters.

Between November 2023 and January 2025, Houthis targeted more than 100 commercial ships using missiles and drones, destroying two vessels and causing four sailor deaths, while also firing projectiles toward Israel. They claimed these operations supported Hamas throughout the Gaza conflict.

American and Israeli forces responded with extensive airstrikes across Houthi-controlled Yemeni territory, resulting in numerous casualties including most of the Houthi-aligned government officials in Sanaa. President Donald Trump suspended U.S. military operations against the Houthis following an agreement that ended rebel attacks on Red Sea shipping.

PARIS — Authorities in the French capital successfully prevented what officials believe was a terrorist bombing attempt targeting a Bank of America facility, law enforcement announced Saturday. Officers arrested one individual involved in the plot, though a second suspect remains at large.

France’s national anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office, known as PNAT, confirmed to The Associated Press that investigators have launched a formal terrorism probe into the incident.

The charges being considered include attempting to cause destruction through fire or dangerous methods, creating incendiary or explosive materials, possessing and transporting such devices with intent to cause harm, and participating in a terrorist organization.

One individual has been taken into police custody in connection with the incident.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez praised law enforcement’s swift response, stating: “Well done to the rapid intervention of a Paris police prefecture unit, which made it possible to thwart a violent act of a terrorist nature overnight in Paris.”

The minister emphasized continued security concerns, adding: “Vigilance remains at a very high level. I commend all security and intelligence forces, fully mobilized under my authority in the current international context.”

According to RTL radio, which cited law enforcement sources, the incident unfolded in the early morning hours Saturday when officers observed two individuals carrying a shopping bag near the Bank of America location in Paris’s 8th district.

RTL reported that one suspect was seen with a lighter, trying to set fire to a device, while the accomplice successfully fled the area. Paris police officials have not provided additional comment on the details.

Earlier this week, Nuñez revealed that French security forces have enhanced protection for certain Iranian opposition figures and increased surveillance at potential targets, including locations connected to American interests and Jewish community sites, following the outbreak of conflict involving Iran.

WASHINGTON — American military casualties in the ongoing conflict with Iran have surpassed 300, with more than two dozen service members injured this week during strikes on a Saudi Arabian air installation.

On Friday, Iranian forces launched six ballistic missiles and 29 drones targeting the Prince Sultan air base in Saudi Arabia, wounding at least 15 troops with five sustaining serious injuries, according to sources familiar with the incident. Military officials initially confirmed that a minimum of 10 American service members were hurt, with two suffering severe wounds.

Additional U.S. military assets are now deploying to the Middle East region, including approximately 2,500 Marines aboard a Navy vessel that arrived Saturday, according to U.S. Central Command. The amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli, along with components of the Japan-based 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, was redirected from training operations near Taiwan nearly two weeks ago.

Central Command reported that the Tripoli deployment includes transport helicopters, strike fighter jets, and amphibious assault capabilities for the region. The USS Boxer and two additional vessels carrying another Marine Expeditionary Unit have received orders to deploy from San Diego.

During Friday remarks, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated America could achieve its goals “without any ground troops.” However, he emphasized that Trump “has to be prepared for multiple contingencies” and that military personnel are positioned “to give the president maximum optionality and maximum, opportunity to adjust to contingencies should they emerge.”

The Saudi installation had previously been targeted twice earlier this week, including one assault that wounded 14 American troops, according to anonymous sources not authorized for public comment.

Located approximately 60 miles from Riyadh, the Saudi capital, the facility operates under Royal Saudi Air Force control while hosting U.S. personnel. The base has faced repeated attacks since the conflict began one month ago Saturday.

Army Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, age 26, sustained injuries during a March 1 strike on the installation and died several days afterward. He represents one of 13 military personnel killed during the war.

Pentagon officials did not immediately respond to Saturday inquiries regarding American casualties at the Saudi facility.

Central Command confirmed Friday that more than 300 service members have sustained injuries throughout the conflict. The majority have resumed their duties, though 30 remain unable to serve and 10 are classified as seriously injured.

Tehran has retaliated against American and Israeli operations with counterstrikes targeting Israel and nearby Gulf Arab nations. The warfare has disrupted international aviation, interrupted petroleum exports, and driven fuel costs higher. Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping channel, has intensified economic consequences.

As economic impacts spread globally, President Donald Trump faces mounting pressure to break Iran’s control of the strategic waterway. The recent Saudi base attacks occurred following Trump’s assertion that discussions to resolve the conflict were progressing “very well.”

Trump announced he had established an April 6 deadline for Tehran to reopen the strait. Iranian officials deny participating in any diplomatic talks.

Palestinian health officials report that Israeli forces fatally shot a 15-year-old boy during a military operation near Bethlehem on Friday evening, marking another deadly incident as tensions continue to rise in the West Bank.

Medical authorities confirmed the teenager succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital after arriving in critical condition with an abdominal gunshot wound, according to a statement from the Palestinian health ministry.

Palestinian news agency WAFA reported the shooting occurred during an Israeli military operation in the Dheisheh refugee camp.

Israeli military officials acknowledged that their forces killed a Palestinian during what they characterized as a “violent riot” where rocks were hurled at troops in the Bethlehem area. Military statements did not reveal the identity of the person killed or explain the reason for the military presence in the location.

This death represents the third Palestinian fatality attributed to Israeli forces in the West Bank on Friday alone, with WAFA news agency reporting two additional Palestinian men were shot and killed by Israeli troops earlier that day.

The region has experienced escalating violence following Hamas’s devastating assault on Israel from Gaza in October 2023.

Following that attack, Israeli military forces have imposed stricter limitations on Palestinian movement throughout the West Bank and conducted operations that have forced entire communities to relocate, while attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians have also intensified.

Palestinian militants have likewise conducted fatal attacks targeting Israelis during this period.

BEIRUT — Three journalists lost their lives Saturday when Israeli forces conducted an airstrike in southern Lebanon while the reporters were covering the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, according to their respective television networks.

Al-Manar TV, affiliated with Hezbollah, reported that veteran correspondent Ali Shoeib died in the Saturday attack in southern Lebanon.

Israeli military officials confirmed they had deliberately targeted Shoeib, claiming he served as a Hezbollah intelligence agent, though they offered no supporting evidence for this assertion.

Al-Mayadeen TV, a Beirut-based pan-Arab network, announced that reporter Fatima Ftouni and her brother Mohammed, who worked as a video journalist, were also killed in the same strike in Jezzine district in southern Lebanon. Ftouni had completed a live television report from the region just before the attack occurred.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun strongly criticized the attack, describing it as a “flagrant crime that violates all laws and agreements that protect journalists.”

In its coverage, Al-Manar referred to the incident as an Israeli attack on media personnel that resulted in the “martyrdom of the icon of resistance media.” Shoeib had established himself as a prominent Lebanese war reporter, spending almost thirty years covering southern Lebanon for Al-Manar.

Israeli military representatives alleged that Shoeib was “operating systematically to expose the locations of (Israeli) soldiers operating in southern Lebanon.” They further claimed he maintained communication with Hezbollah fighters and promoted hostility toward Israeli military personnel and citizens, though they provided no additional details.

Al-Manar TV chose not to address the Israeli accusations directly but characterized their correspondent as “distinguished by his professional and credible reporting of events.”

Israel’s accusations echoed similar claims the military has made against Palestinian reporters they have targeted during their conflict with Hamas in Gaza, alleging these journalists were actually Hamas operatives disguised as media workers.

The Israeli military made no reference to the other two fatalities in their official statement.

Throughout the current Israel-Hezbollah conflict that started on March 2, Israeli air forces have attacked Hezbollah civilian infrastructure, including Al-Manar’s headquarters and the organization’s Al-Nour radio facility.

This Saturday incident occurred just days following another Israeli airstrike on a Beirut apartment that killed Mohammed Sherri, who directed political programming at Al-Manar TV, along with his spouse.

These recent fatalities increase the total number of journalists and media personnel killed in Lebanon this year to five.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, freelance photographer Hussain Hamood, who had worked with Al-Manar TV, was also killed Wednesday in Nabatiyeh, a southern Lebanese city.

A massive humpback whale that captured Germany’s attention during dramatic rescue efforts has found itself in trouble once again, becoming stranded for a second time in Baltic Sea waters.

The enormous marine mammal, measuring between 39 and 49 feet in length, had been trapped for multiple days in shallow waters near Timmendorfer Strand beach before rescue teams successfully freed it earlier this week. The rescue operation became a national sensation, with German media providing constant updates and live coverage that had citizens across the country following the whale’s fate.

Rescue teams initially tried various methods to guide the whale toward deeper waters, including using boats from the coast guard and fire department to generate large waves. When those efforts proved unsuccessful, crews brought in heavy machinery on Thursday, using an excavator to create a special escape route through the shallow area.

The whale successfully navigated through the artificial channel early Friday morning, disappearing from view as rescuers hoped it would find its way back to open ocean. However, those hopes were dashed when the animal was discovered Saturday near Wismar, a coastal community located further east in the Mecklenburg-Pomerania region.

Environmental organization Greenpeace verified Saturday that the whale had become trapped once more, according to reports from German news services. An official from the state environment ministry explained that “after managing to free itself from its plight, the whale was spotted again at noon today in Wismar Bay.”

Officials have not yet announced whether another rescue operation will be attempted.

Marine experts remain puzzled about why the whale entered Baltic waters in the first place. Some scientists theorize the animal may have become disoriented while pursuing a school of herring, while others suggest it could be a male whale, as males are more likely to undertake long migrations.

The whale’s survival depends on reaching the Atlantic Ocean, but its current location presents serious challenges. The Baltic Sea’s lower salt content is harmful to the animal, and local reports indicate it has already developed skin problems. Additionally, the whale cannot find appropriate food sources in these waters.

To survive, the marine mammal must complete a journey spanning several hundred miles through German and Danish waters to reach the Atlantic Ocean.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky conducted surprise diplomatic missions to the United Arab Emirates and Qatar over the weekend, offering Ukraine’s proven drone defense technology to help Gulf nations counter Iranian aerial assaults amid ongoing Middle East conflicts.

The Ukrainian leader announced that his country has already secured decade-long security partnerships with Saudi Arabia and Qatar, with plans to complete a comparable deal with the UAE in the near future.

Since Russia’s February 24, 2022 invasion began, Ukraine has emerged as a global leader in manufacturing affordable, battlefield-proven drone interception systems. These technologies have become essential in defending against Moscow’s ongoing military campaign.

Ukraine hopes to exchange its defensive expertise for sophisticated air defense missiles that Gulf states possess and that Kyiv desperately needs to protect against Russian bombardments. Zelensky had previously met with Saudi officials on Thursday and indicated Ukraine might assist in securing the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane.

Both Zelensky and UAE officials confirmed Saturday’s meeting between the Ukrainian president and Emirati leader Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, focusing on regional security concerns related to Iran’s military actions.

Zelensky later announced his Qatar arrival on social media platform X.

“Real security is built on partnership, we value everyone and remain open to supporting all those who are ready to work together for this goal,” he posted with footage showing his arrival and greeting of Qatari representatives.

Middle Eastern hostilities began February 28 when American and Israeli forces conducted coordinated strikes against Iran. Tehran responded with attacks on Israel and Gulf Arab nations while blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping corridor. The conflict has disrupted international travel and driven up oil costs globally.

Zelensky disclosed last week that Ukraine is assisting five nations—the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan—in defending against Tehran’s drone attacks on their territories.

“For Ukraine, this is also a matter of principle: terror must not prevail anywhere in the world. Protection must be sufficient everywhere,” he stated on X after meeting the UAE leader.

He noted their discussions covered “the security situation in the Emirates, Iranian strikes, and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which directly affects the global oil market.”

Speaking to journalists, Zelensky emphasized Ukraine’s goal of establishing lasting strategic relationships with Middle Eastern nations, encompassing joint manufacturing, investment opportunities, energy collaboration and sharing combat knowledge.

“Simple sales do not interest us,” he declared during a live Zoom press conference.

Despite Ukraine’s shortage of advanced air defense systems like Patriot missiles, Zelensky said Kyiv has created a comprehensive defense framework that successfully neutralizes Iranian-designed Shahed drones.

Iran provided numerous attack drones to Russia early in the conflict. Moscow has since modified these weapons for greater effectiveness, started domestic manufacturing, and regularly deployed them in coordinated strikes against Ukrainian population centers.

Zelensky described Ukraine’s offer to Gulf partners as “combat-tested” knowledge, noting the completed 10-year security agreements with Saudi Arabia and Qatar. While he didn’t detail the contracts’ specifics, he anticipated finalizing similar terms with the UAE soon.

Russian forces launched over 270 drones against Ukraine overnight, resulting in at least five deaths, Ukrainian officials reported Saturday.

Two fatalities and at least 11 injuries occurred during nighttime Russian drone attacks on Odesa, according to regional administrator Serhii Lysak. His Telegram updates indicated the assault damaged a maternity ward and residential buildings in the major Black Sea port.

Zelensky characterized the “massive” Odesa attack as involving more than 60 drones.

Russia’s overnight operations also killed two men and injured two others in Kryvyi Rih, Zelensky’s central Ukraine birthplace, when a drone struck an industrial complex, regional leader Oleksandr Gandzha reported via Telegram. He didn’t identify the specific facility type.

One person died overnight in the Poltava region of central Ukraine as Russia targeted industrial locations there, regional authorities announced Saturday. Ukrainian state energy company Naftogaz confirmed a production facility was damaged.

Ukraine’s air force reported Russia deployed 273 drones against Ukraine during nighttime hours, with 252 either destroyed or electronically disrupted.

In Russia, a child perished when a Ukrainian drone struck a residential building in Russia’s western Yaroslavl region, local Governor Mikhail Evraev reported early Saturday. Evraev’s Telegram post indicated the child’s parents were hospitalized with severe injuries from the attack.

Russia’s Defense Ministry announced Saturday that 155 Ukrainian drones were intercepted overnight across Russia and the occupied Crimean Peninsula.

Mexican naval forces announced Saturday they have successfully located two sailboats that disappeared while transporting humanitarian supplies to Cuba, ending days of concern across multiple nations.

The two vessels, carrying nine individuals total, had set sail from Isla Mujeres in southern Mexico on March 20 before losing all communication with authorities, prompting widespread worry throughout Mexico, Cuba, and the international community.

According to a Saturday morning announcement on X by Mexico’s navy, military aircraft discovered the boats positioned 80 nautical miles (148 kilometers) northwest of Cuba’s capital, Havana. Naval officials confirmed they immediately dispatched a rescue vessel to assist the sailboats.

Cuba has been receiving growing amounts of international humanitarian assistance as a U.S. fuel embargo continues to trigger devastating power outages, bringing the island nation dangerously close to economic collapse.

The aid organization Nuestra América Convoy had indicated Friday that calculations based on the vessels’ reported speeds to Cuban maritime officials suggested the boats should reach Havana sometime between Friday and Saturday. The group emphasized that seasoned mariners were leading the expedition.

James Schneider, who serves as communications director for Progressive International and assisted in organizing the Nuestra America convoy mission to Cuba, expressed gratitude to both Mexican and Cuban officials Saturday while sharing his relief about the crews’ safety.

“The crews are safe, and the vessels are continuing their journey to Havana,” he said. “The convoy remains on track to complete its mission — delivering urgently needed humanitarian aid to the Cuban people.”

The Philippines and China held their first high-level diplomatic discussions since January this week, tackling longstanding territorial disputes in the South China Sea while exploring potential energy partnerships, according to the Philippine foreign ministry.

These discussions marked the 11th session under a diplomatic framework created in 2017, with both nations addressing maritime conflicts and energy security concerns heightened by ongoing Middle East tensions.

During the meetings, Manila “firmly reiterated its principled positions,” expressing alarm over incidents that have endangered Filipino workers and fishing crews, while stressing the need for diplomatic solutions, open communication, and respect for international maritime law, the ministry announced Saturday.

The two countries explored preliminary opportunities for oil and gas collaboration while highlighting the critical need for reliable energy and fertilizer supplies.

These diplomatic efforts follow President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s declaration of a national energy emergency earlier this week, triggered by oil supply interruptions from Middle East conflicts. The president announced plans to diversify fuel procurement, including potential purchases from China.

The agenda also covered renewable energy development, agricultural cooperation, trade relationships, and potential cultural exchange programs, including visa-free travel arrangements and direct flight connections, ministry officials reported. The Philippines noted that both nations “continued to make progress” in building maritime confidence, including improved communication between their respective coast guard forces.

In his own statement, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong urged “concrete actions” from the Philippines to strengthen bilateral relationships.

Additional discussions between the countries’ foreign ministers are scheduled for later this year.

China’s broad territorial assertions in the South China Sea conflict with the maritime boundaries of several Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines.

Recent naval encounters have escalated regional tensions, with Manila condemning Beijing’s “dangerous maneuvers” and use of water cannons to disrupt Philippine supply operations in disputed waters.

An international arbitration court ruled against China’s territorial claims in 2016, but Beijing continues to reject that legal determination.

This week’s meeting represented the first comprehensive bilateral relationship discussion since March 2023, designed to promote maritime cooperation and trust-building measures, the Philippine ministry stated.

PARIS, March 28 – Authorities in France have detained a suspect who tried to detonate a homemade explosive device outside Bank of America offices in downtown Paris, according to French publication Le Parisien, which cited law enforcement sources.

France’s anti-terrorism prosecutor has launched an investigation into the incident, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced Saturday on social media. The case has been assigned to Paris police investigators and France’s domestic intelligence service, the DGSI, according to Nunez.

“Well done to the rapid response team from the (Paris) police authority, whose actions thwarted a violent terrorist attack in Paris last night,” Nunez stated.

“Vigilance remains at a higher level than ever. I congratulate all the security and intelligence forces, who are fully mobilised under my authority in the current international context.”

Paris police officials refused to provide comment on the matter. The anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office has not yet responded to requests for information.

“We are aware of the situation and are communicating with the authorities,” a Bank of America representative stated to Reuters.

Law enforcement apprehended the individual at approximately 3:25 a.m. local time in Paris’s 8th district while he attempted to ignite the explosive device, Le Parisien reported. Officers took him into custody, though a second person who was at the scene escaped and has not been captured, according to the publication.

The improvised explosive contained a five-liter container with an unknown liquid and an explosive component made from roughly 650 grams of powder, the French newspaper stated. Authorities secured the device and transferred it to forensic specialists at the Paris police laboratory for analysis, according to the report.

Iraqi officials have launched an investigation following a Saturday morning drone strike that targeted the residence of Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, according to security officials familiar with the incident.

Defense systems successfully intercepted a second unmanned aircraft near a Peshmerga military installation in Duhok, the same sources reported.

These attacks occur during a period of increased violence affecting both Iranian-supported militia groups and Kurdish military units, as broader Middle Eastern conflicts involving the United States and Israel extend into Iraqi territory, creating challenges for multiple armed factions and complicating Baghdad’s containment efforts.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani denounced the assault on President Barzani’s residence and contacted him directly by telephone, according to an official statement from the prime minister’s office.

Al-Sudani has directed the formation of a combined federal and Kurdistan Region security and technical investigation team to examine these incidents and determine who carried them out, the announcement continued.

Military operations have repeatedly struck locations associated with the Popular Mobilization Forces, Iraq’s coordinating organization for Iranian-backed Shiite militia groups, as well as Kurdish Peshmerga military units throughout the Kurdistan Region since the beginning of U.S.-Israeli military actions against Iran.

Iraqi military officials have blamed the United States and Israel for conducting certain aerial bombardments against the PMF.

Armed organizations supported by Tehran have simultaneously conducted their own operations against American military installations in Iraq and targeted the U.S. embassy facility.

Sixty-six countries have successfully launched groundbreaking international digital commerce regulations, circumventing opposition that had previously stalled the initiative at the World Trade Organization.

The historic agreement was finalized Saturday during the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference taking place in Yaounde, Cameroon. This marks the first time baseline standards for digital trade have been established on a global scale.

Previous attempts to incorporate the E-Commerce Agreement into official WTO guidelines faced repeated roadblocks from opposing member nations. The new pact is designed to create favorable conditions for online commerce across participating countries.

Frustration with these ongoing obstacles prompted the 66 nations – representing 70% of worldwide trade volume – to pursue an alternative path forward, according to a senior diplomatic source. WTO protocols typically require unanimous approval for agreements involving groups of member countries.

The participating nations chose to implement an interim solution that allows the regulations to take effect within their borders while continuing efforts to integrate the framework into broader WTO policy.

Yamada Kenji, Japan’s State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, praised the development as a “historic step” toward establishing universal digital commerce standards.

British Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle also welcomed the breakthrough.

“As the first global digital trade deal, this will make trade cheaper, faster and more secure for businesses around the world,” Kyle said.

India has emerged as a primary opponent of the initiative, maintaining that trade policies should be adopted through multilateral consensus rather than smaller group agreements.

“The agreement is a strong message to India, and some others, that if you use consensus to block any reform process or advancements forward, we will proceed anyway,” a senior European diplomat said.

India is simultaneously opposing another WTO plurilateral agreement under discussion in Cameroon that focuses on increasing investment in developing nations, according to two senior diplomatic sources.

Indian officials have expressed concerns that the International Facilitation for Development Agreement could weaken their negotiating position in future talks.

Notably, the United States has not joined the 66 signatory countries, as the Biden administration continues reviewing the proposal.

This digital trade framework operates independently from an existing e-commerce moratorium that prohibits customs fees on digital downloads and streaming services. That separate issue remains deadlocked between U.S. and Indian representatives at the ongoing Cameroon conference.

Three Palestinian men lost their lives Saturday when Israeli forces carried out dual airstrikes across Gaza, according to local health authorities and medical personnel, marking another escalation in ongoing hostilities despite a U.S.-mediated truce now spanning more than five months.

Health officials in Palestine reported that one individual died when an airstrike targeted a vehicle in the Khan Younis region of southern Gaza, while medical sources confirmed two adult brothers perished in Shujiaya, a district located east of Gaza City.

Israeli military officials have not yet provided a response to requests for comment regarding these two aerial attacks.

According to local health authorities, Israeli forces have been responsible for over 680 Palestinian deaths in Gaza following the November ceasefire agreement with Hamas. The total death toll has exceeded 72,000 since hostilities began in October 2023.

Israel currently maintains military operations on multiple fronts, including a joint campaign with the United States against Iran and a fresh offensive against Hezbollah that has led to Israeli ground forces entering southern Lebanon.

The Hamas-linked Shehab News Agency reported that the two brothers died in an Israeli military airstrike following an attempted kidnapping by an Israeli-supported Palestinian militia operating in Gaza.

Hamas and other militant organizations have not claimed the brothers as affiliated members.

Reuters spoke with witnesses who described the two brothers as armed individuals who engaged in combat with the militia before becoming targets of drone strikes. These same witnesses also reported tank fire from Israeli forces.

Ongoing violence continues to plague Gaza even with the ceasefire in effect and amid Israel’s broader conflict with Iran. Territory health officials report that Israeli forces have killed at least 40 Palestinians since the Iranian conflict commenced one month ago.

Russian nuclear officials warned Saturday that conditions at Iran’s Bushehr nuclear facility are becoming increasingly dangerous following another recent attack near the plant.

Alexei Likhachev, who leads Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom, expressed alarm about the deteriorating security situation and said the strikes represent a serious risk to nuclear safety after the latest incident occurred near the facility.

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency on Friday, Iranian officials reported the most recent strike in the area surrounding Bushehr, marking the third such event within a 10-day period. The agency noted that no harm occurred to the active reactor and no radioactive materials were released.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement Saturday demanding what it called “unequivocal and firm condemnation” of the attack near the nuclear site.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova expressed hope that IAEA leadership would take action, stating: “We hope that, by receiving timely and objective information directly from the Iranian authorities about what is happening on the ground, the Director General of the IAEA will be able to convey a simple message to the aggressors immediately and unequivocally: ‘It is time for you to stop!’”

Meanwhile, Likhachev confirmed that 163 additional Russian personnel from the Bushehr facility have been brought back to Russia as part of ongoing evacuation efforts, with plans to remove two more groups of workers in the next few days.

A decades-old international trade policy that affects everything from Netflix streaming to software downloads is facing a crucial decision point as global trade officials meet in Cameroon.

The World Trade Organization’s digital commerce moratorium, which prohibits member nations from imposing customs fees on electronic transmissions, is scheduled to expire during the organization’s 14th ministerial conference taking place this month in Yaounde, Cameroon.

This international agreement, which covers digital services including software downloads, electronic books, music and movie streaming platforms, and video games, was initially established in 1998 during the WTO’s Second Ministerial Conference in Geneva. The policy was designed as a temporary measure to support the growth of early digital commerce.

Since its inception, the tariff prohibition has been renewed approximately every two years during successive WTO ministerial meetings, with the most recent two-year extension approved at the 13th conference in 2024.

Nations with substantial digital economies, including the United States, European Union, Canada and Japan, are pushing for a permanent extension of the moratorium. These countries argue that making the policy permanent would provide stability and predictability for international digital commerce.

The United States specifically seeks to create a consistent regulatory framework for major American technology corporations like Amazon, Microsoft and Apple, eliminating concerns about potential tariffs that could disrupt international digital business operations.

Support for extending the moratorium comes from the business community as well, with more than 200 international business organizations endorsing a joint statement advocating for continuation of the policy.

According to the International Chamber of Commerce, allowing the moratorium to expire would increase business costs, create internet fragmentation and limit companies’ ability to engage in cross-border digital commerce.

However, several developing nations oppose extending the agreement, with India leading the opposition. These countries argue that continuing the moratorium prevents them from collecting tariff revenue that could fund infrastructure development and help bridge the digital gap between developed and developing nations.

Sofia Scasserra from the Transnational Institute think tank contends that the moratorium has not succeeded in strengthening digital economies in developing countries, but instead has reinforced the market dominance of American and other major technology companies from advanced economies.

Research from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development estimated in a 2019 study that developing countries potentially lost $10 billion in tariff revenue in 2017 due to the moratorium.

Contradicting this finding, an OECD analysis suggested that potential revenue losses could be largely compensated through value-added taxes or goods and services taxes applied to imported digital services.

Four different proposals have been presented for consideration at the Cameroon conference. The African, Caribbean and Pacific Group supports extending the moratorium until the next ministerial meeting, while the United States advocates for permanent extension.

A coalition led by Switzerland proposes both permanent extension and establishment of a digital trade committee, while Brazil’s plan calls for extension until the next conference combined with creation of a digital trade committee.

SAO PAULO – Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced Saturday that his nation will maintain its endorsement of former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet’s campaign for UN Secretary-General, even after Chile pulled its backing.

“Bachelet is highly qualified and has the best credentials for the role,” Lula stated in a social media post on X.

Earlier this week on Tuesday, Chile’s administration announced it would remain neutral and not endorse any contender in the Secretary-General selection process. The decision comes under newly sworn-in Chilean President Jose Antonio Kast, who has been a vocal critic of Bachelet’s time in office and took the oath this month.

Meanwhile, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum declared Wednesday that Mexico will also maintain its backing for Bachelet’s nomination to lead the United Nations.

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi militants have launched their inaugural missile strike against Israel, marking a significant expansion of the month-old Middle East conflict.

The rebel group’s military spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, announced the attack through a Saturday broadcast on the Houthis’ Al-Masirah television network. According to Saree, the militants launched multiple ballistic missiles aimed at what he termed “sensitive Israeli military sites” located in Israel’s southern region.

Israeli defense forces confirmed they successfully intercepted the incoming projectile.

This assault follows Saree’s cryptic Friday announcement suggesting the rebel faction would enter the ongoing war.

The strike represents the first time Yemen has targeted Israel since hostilities erupted last month. Previously, Houthi forces disrupted Red Sea shipping lanes during the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts continue as foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt plan to gather in Islamabad on Sunday for peace negotiations, according to Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

Iran’s military command headquarters made unsubstantiated claims through state-controlled media regarding Ukrainian personnel.

The Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters alleged more than 20 Ukrainians were present in a United Arab Emirates warehouse with unknown status.

However, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi dismissed the Iranian assertions as false during a press conference, as reported by Ukraine’s national broadcaster.

These allegations surface while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy conducts regional discussions with leaders from Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar.

The Houthis have maintained restraint regarding Red Sea shipping attacks, though such actions would severely impact global commerce and economic stability.

Potential Houthi strikes on Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait shipping would interrupt Suez Canal traffic, a vital passage for oil, gas and commercial cargo bound for the Mediterranean.

Approximately 10 percent of worldwide maritime commerce, including 40 percent of container vessel traffic, passes through this canal annually.

Such disruptions would force ships to navigate around Africa’s southern coast, increasing insurance expenses and delaying cargo deliveries. This could also affect Saudi oil shipments to Asia through the Red Sea’s Yanbu port.

Between November 2023 and January 2025, Houthi forces targeted more than 100 commercial ships using missiles and drones, sinking two vessels.

Israeli military officials stated that one journalist killed in Saturday’s southern Lebanon strike was targeted as a suspected Hezbollah intelligence operative, though they provided no supporting evidence.

Israel’s statement regarding Hezbollah’s al-Manar TV reporter Ali Shoeib echoed previous military accusations against Palestinian journalists during the Hamas conflict.

The Israeli army alleged that Shoeib, a prominent Lebanese war correspondent, was “systematically working to reveal locations of Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon.” They also accused him of maintaining Hezbollah contacts and inciting against Israeli forces and civilians, without providing details.

Beirut-based Al-Mayadeen TV confirmed its reporter Fatima Ftouni died in the same airstrike alongside Shoeib. Israeli military statements did not reference her death.

Al-Manar TV did not address the Israeli allegations but reported his death in the airstrike, describing him as known for “professional and credible event reporting.”

Seven individuals sustained injuries in an Iranian missile strike on central Israel, according to Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue service on Saturday.

Some victims were wounded by the explosion’s impact in Eshtaol, near Jerusalem, while others were injured while seeking shelter.

Iran expressed skepticism about recent diplomatic peace efforts during a Saturday phone conversation between its Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Turkish counterpart.

Iranian state media reported that Araghchi criticized the U.S. for making “unreasonable demands” and displaying “contradictory actions” that undermined agreement prospects.

He stated recent U.S. actions have created “increased pessimism” on Iran’s part, without specifying particular moves.

The Iranian summary indicated Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told Araghchi that “Iran’s pessimism toward the other side is understandable because Iran has twice been subjected to attack and military aggression in the midst of negotiations.”

The United Arab Emirates reported its air defense systems countered 20 ballistic missiles and 37 drone strikes on Saturday.

These attacks injured six people in an Abu Dhabi industrial area, where authorities reported three fires.

The UAE’s Defense Ministry documented 413 missile and 1,872 drone attacks since the war began. These assaults have resulted in 10 deaths, including two military personnel, and wounded 178 others.

Hezbollah’s al-Manar TV confirmed correspondent Ali Shoeib’s death Saturday in southern Lebanon, while Beirut-based Al-Mayadeen TV reported reporter Fatima Ftouni died in the same strike.

Shoeib was a well-recognized war correspondent who had covered southern Lebanon for Al-Manar for nearly three decades.

Ftouni had delivered a live report from southern Lebanon moments before the strike in the Jezzine area.

This attack occurred days after an Israeli strike on a central Beirut apartment killed Mohammed Sherri, Al-Manar TV’s political programming director, along with his wife.

A U.S. aircraft carrier has docked in Croatia while en route to the Middle East during the monthlong U.S. and Israeli conflict with Iran.

The U.S. 6th Fleet announced the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, anchored at Croatia’s Port of Split following its Adriatic Sea journey from Greece’s Souda Bay, where it underwent repairs and refueling.

The carrier previously docked at the American naval facility at Souda Bay last month, prompting protests on Crete before U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran that initiated the war.

Kuwait’s Mubarak Al Kabeer and Shuwaikh ports suffered damage from drone and missile attacks within the past day, the Defense Ministry announced Saturday.

Ministry officials said forces responded to four ballistic missiles, one cruise missile, and seven drones that targeted the oil-rich nation in the past 24 hours.

No casualties were reported.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the UAE and met with Emirati leader Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss Middle East regional security.

“For Ukraine, this is also a matter of principle: terror must not prevail anywhere in the world. Protection must be sufficient everywhere,” Zelenskyy posted on X following his meeting. He said they discussed “the security situation in the Emirates, Iranian strikes, and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which directly affects the global oil market.”

The Emirates News Agency reported both leaders discussed “security developments in the region amid ongoing military escalation and their implications for regional and international peace and security, as well as their impact on international navigation and the global economy.”

Zelenskyy announced last week that Kyiv is assisting five Middle East and Gulf nations — the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan — in defending against drone attacks.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Saturday he conducted “extensive discussions” with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian regarding ongoing regional conflicts and peace efforts.

Pezeshkian received briefings on Pakistan’s diplomatic initiatives led by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir to engage the United States and Gulf and Islamic nations in creating conditions for peace talks, according to Sharif’s office.

Sharif expressed optimism that “a viable path toward ending hostilities could be found collectively” during their hour-long conversation.

Pezeshkian commended Pakistan’s peace initiatives, emphasizing the importance of building trust to enable dialogue and mediation.

Foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt will participate in Sunday talks in Islamabad aimed at ending the conflict, Dar confirmed.

Bahrain, home to the U.S. 5th Fleet, reported Saturday that its air defense systems responded to 20 missile and 23 drone attacks in the previous 24 hours.

This brings the total projectiles fired at the Shiite-majority nation to 174 missiles and 385 drones since the Middle East war began on February 28.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz strongly criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s approach to the Iran conflict, according to dpa news agency reports.

“What Trump is doing right now is not de-escalation and an attempt to reach a peaceful solution, but a massive escalation with an uncertain outcome,” Merz said Friday evening at a Frankfurt event.

“These are escalations that are threatening,” he added. “Not only for those directly affected, but for all of us.”

Merz also questioned whether the current Iranian leadership could be overthrown through warfare. “Is regime change really the goal?” he asked. “If that is the goal, I don’t think they will achieve it. That has usually gone wrong.”

An airstrike struck Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant grounds just before midnight, the country’s atomic energy agency reported.

The strike, the third in 10 days, caused no material damage or casualties, according to the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran. Officials said no technical disruption occurred at the facility.

The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed Iran notified them of the strike.

An airstrike hit Iran’s University of Science and Technology in Tehran on Saturday, state-run IRNA news agency reported.

The strike damaged research and educational facilities, IRNA reported, citing the university’s public relations department.

Foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt will attend Islamabad talks aimed at ending the U.S.-Iran war and reducing regional tensions, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and officials announced Saturday.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty will arrive Sunday for a two-day visit to “hold in-depth discussions on a range of issues, including efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region,” according to an official statement.

The visiting ministers will meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who said in a televised address that Pakistan is pursuing “sincere and robust diplomatic efforts” to help end the conflict through mediation.

The casualty count from Saturday’s early morning missile attack in Abu Dhabi has increased to six.

The Abu Dhabi Media Office reported an additional Pakistani national was injured by falling debris near Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi when air defense systems intercepted a ballistic missile.

The attack sparked three fires in the area, which have been controlled.

Kuwait International airport was struck by drone attacks on Saturday, authorities confirmed.

The Civil Aviation Authority stated the attacks severely damaged the airport’s radar systems.

No casualties were reported.

An Israeli airstrike killed two Palestinian brothers Saturday morning in the Gaza Strip, hospital authorities reported.

The strike hit the men near the Showa roundabout in Gaza City’s Shijaiyah neighborhood, according to Al-Ahly hospital.

The location is near the so-called Yellow Line separating Israeli-controlled Gaza Strip areas from the remainder of the enclave.

Israel’s military did not immediately respond to comment requests.

More than two dozen U.S. troops have been wounded in Iranian attacks on a Saudi air base over the past week, according to two briefed sources.

Iran launched six ballistic missiles and 29 drones at Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan air base in Friday’s attack, wounding at least 15 troops, including five seriously, according to sources unauthorized to comment publicly who spoke anonymously. U.S. officials initially reported at least 10 U.S. troops were injured, including two seriously wounded.

The base had been attacked twice earlier this week, including an incident injuring 14 U.S. troops, according to briefed sources.

Located approximately 96 kilometers from Saudi capital Riyadh, the base is operated by the Royal Saudi Air Force but also hosts U.S. troops.

Oman reported the strike hit Salalah port Saturday morning, wounding a foreign worker.

The government media office said the two-drone attack also damaged a crane.

Sirens sounded in Bahrain Saturday morning ahead of a potential attack, authorities reported.

The Interior Ministry urged residents to seek the nearest safe location.

Officials in Russia’s Dagestan region issued an emergency declaration Saturday following torrential rains that caused severe flooding and knocked out electricity for hundreds of thousands of residents.

City leaders in Makhachkala, the regional capital, announced the emergency measures as floodwaters swept through the area. “Emergency services have been placed on high alert, efforts are under way to deal with the aftermath, and assistance will be provided to affected residents,” the Makhachkala city administration said on Telegram.

The power outages have affected more than 327,000 people across the region, according to Dagestan’s emergency management ministry. “As of 12:00 (Moscow time, 0900 GMT), 283 settlements with a population of 327,183 people, including 89,705 children, remain without electricity,” the ministry reported on its website.

Regional leader Sergei Melikov acknowledged that while emergency crews had prepared for severe weather, the actual conditions “exceeded even the most pessimistic forecasts.”

The flooding also caused significant infrastructure damage, with authorities in Khasavyurt, the region’s second-largest city, reporting that heavy rains destroyed a railway bridge. “Two spans of the bridge collapsed on the Khasavyurt–Kadiyurt section of the North Caucasus Railway,” Dagestan’s government press service announced.

Weather forecasters predict the intense rainfall will persist through Sunday, potentially worsening conditions across the region.

KYIV – Ukrainian officials reported Saturday that Russian forces conducted extensive drone strikes across the country, resulting in four civilian deaths and widespread damage to essential facilities including energy infrastructure, port operations, homes, and a maternity hospital.

According to Ukraine’s air force, Russian military units deployed 273 drones in the assault, with the majority concentrated on the southern Odesa region.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy reported that over 60 drones targeted Odesa city specifically during the offensive.

“There was no military purpose whatsoever – this was pure terror against ordinary civilian life,” Zelenskiy wrote on Telegram. “Sadly, there is extensive damage.”

Regional Governor Oleh Kiper confirmed that two individuals lost their lives in the Odesa attacks, while 12 others sustained injuries, including one child.

In Ukraine’s central Poltava region, a 55-year-old energy sector employee was fatally struck when Russian forces targeted the nation’s natural gas production infrastructure, according to energy firm Naftogaz.

Additionally, a 28-year-old man died in Kryvyi Rih, an industrial center located in the Dnipropetrovsk region, regional authorities confirmed.

Ukrainian defense forces successfully intercepted 252 of the incoming drones, though 21 managed to strike their intended targets across 18 different locations, the air force reported.

The assault on the Black Sea port city of Odesa resulted in significant damage to the maternity ward facility, apartment complexes, and harbor infrastructure, local officials stated.

Video footage captured firefighters responding to the hospital site, where windows were shattered and the roof structure was destroyed.

Hospital director Ihor Shpak explained to reporters that a massive blast tore through the medical facility, obliterating the rooftop, destroying connecting passages between the third and fourth levels, and damaging multiple patient rooms.

Medical staff successfully relocated 22 newborn infants, including twin babies requiring ventilator assistance, along with 32 additional patients to protective areas moments before the strike occurred, Shpak noted.

Local resident Olena Kudriashova described her fear as Shahed drones approached her neighborhood.

“On the right, on the left, at the front, and at the back, windows and doors were smashed. Our little window survived, and we’re so happy we made it through the night,” she said while standing outside her damaged building in central Odesa.

At least two Lebanese broadcast journalists were killed when Israeli forces targeted a media vehicle in southern Lebanon, according to reports from Al Manar TV on Saturday.

The deadly attack occurred in the southern region of Lebanon, with the television network confirming the deaths of the media personnel.

Israeli military officials have not yet provided a response when asked to comment on the reported incident.

WARSAW – Polish officials announced Saturday they will continue monitoring their borders with neighboring European Union nations Germany and Lithuania for an additional six-month period, extending the measures through October 1.

The border monitoring began in July as part of a broader trend among EU countries reinstating checkpoint procedures to address unauthorized border crossings.

“This decision is due to the need to counteract illegal migration and ensure internal security,” the ministry said in a post on X.

The move reflects ongoing concerns about migration management across European borders, with Poland joining other EU member states in implementing temporary frontier oversight measures.

A tragic maritime incident in the Mediterranean Sea has claimed the lives of 22 migrants who spent nearly a week drifting in an inflatable boat before being discovered by authorities, according to reports from Saturday, March 28.

European border agency Frontex successfully rescued 26 survivors from the waters near the Greek island of Crete, as confirmed by Greek coast guard officials. The survivors provided accounts to authorities describing their harrowing six-day ordeal at sea in the rubber vessel.

The deadly incident highlights the ongoing dangers faced by migrants attempting perilous sea crossings in the Mediterranean region. News agencies report that verification of these details is still pending through additional sources.

Mexican naval forces have successfully located two sailboats that disappeared while transporting humanitarian supplies to Cuba, with all crew members reported safe, according to a representative from the Nuestra America Convoy on Saturday.

The vessels are part of an international grassroots relief mission aimed at delivering essential items including food, medical supplies, infant formula and other necessities to Cuba. This effort comes as the island nation faces severe challenges due to U.S. sanctions that have restricted oil shipments and other goods, resulting in widespread power shortages and forcing the government to limit public services.

“The vessels are continuing their journey to Havana,” a convoy representative informed Reuters. “The Convoy remains on track to complete its mission — delivering urgently needed humanitarian aid to the Cuban people.”

The two sailboats had vanished after setting sail from Mexico’s Isla Mujeres last Saturday and were scheduled to reach Cuba’s capital city between March 24 and 25.

Officials have not yet provided details about what caused the boats to go missing.

Earlier on Friday, the U.S. Coast Guard initially informed the French news agency AFP that the vessels had been recovered, but subsequently withdrew that statement and said search operations were ongoing, creating uncertainty about their status.

The Nuestra America coalition, which translates to “Our America” in English, encompasses nearly 300 organizations spanning more than 30 nations. These include nonprofit groups, labor unions, political organizations and elected officials.

The coalition has successfully transported roughly 20 tons of relief supplies to Cuba through both air and sea routes, including food items, medications, solar energy equipment and bicycles.

ISLAMABAD – During a phone conversation lasting more than an hour on Saturday, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian emphasized to Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that establishing trust remains essential for successful negotiations and mediation efforts regarding Middle Eastern conflicts, according to statements from the Pakistani prime minister’s office.

The Iranian leader commended Pakistan’s diplomatic initiatives in the region, while both officials addressed ongoing regional violence and strategies to bring an end to current hostilities. Prime Minister Sharif updated President Pezeshkian on Pakistan’s recent diplomatic communications with both the United States and various Gulf nations during their extended discussion.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Saturday that he has secured a new security and defense partnership with the United Arab Emirates following discussions with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Speaking through the Telegram messaging platform, Zelenskyy confirmed the defense cooperation deal, stating that “Our teams will finalise the details.”

According to the UAE’s official news agency WAM, both leaders explored ways to strengthen bilateral ties within their existing Comprehensive Economic Agreement framework, though specific details were not disclosed.

The meeting also covered regional security concerns and military tensions affecting international shipping routes and the worldwide economy, WAM reported.

Zelenskyy’s announcement comes during an active diplomatic mission across the Middle East. He traveled to Saudi Arabia on Thursday, where Ukrainian and Saudi defense officials formalized a separate defense cooperation pact.

The Ukrainian president continued his regional tour by arriving in Qatar on Saturday.

Ukraine’s foreign minister revealed Friday that the country is on the verge of finalizing multiple security partnerships, including agreements with both the UAE and Qatar, as part of efforts to address Iranian military threats.

Multiple American service members were wounded when Iranian forces launched an assault on a United States military installation located in Saudi Arabia, marking a significant escalation as the conflict enters its second month.

The strike against the U.S. airbase resulted in injuries to several American personnel stationed at the facility. The attack represents the latest development in the month-long military engagement that began in late February.

The incident occurred as the Iranian conflict reaches the four-week milestone, highlighting the expanding scope of military operations beyond Iran’s borders into neighboring regions where American forces maintain a presence.

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan is set to welcome foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt beginning Sunday for diplomatic discussions centered on the Iran conflict, as the nation positions itself as a possible location for future U.S.-Iran peace talks.

The weekend gathering will feature “comprehensive conversations on various matters, including initiatives to reduce regional tensions,” according to a Saturday announcement from Pakistan’s foreign ministry regarding the two-day diplomatic session.

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan explained that the gathering would focus on creating a framework designed to lower tensions in the region.

“We would discuss where the negotiations in this war are heading and how these four countries assess the situation and what can be done,” he stated during a Friday evening interview with broadcaster A Haber.

All four participating nations have attempted to serve as intermediaries between Washington and Tehran regarding the conflict that began February 28 when the U.S. and Israel launched military action, and each country faces significant risks from disrupted energy supplies and commercial shipping lanes.

Pakistani officials have delivered a U.S. peace proposal to Iranian leadership and extended an invitation to host negotiations, with Iranian representatives suggesting that any diplomatic talks might occur in either Pakistan or Turkey.

While U.S. President Donald Trump has characterized discussions with Iran as proceeding “very well,” Tehran has denied engaging in direct conversations with Washington.

Iranian officials continue examining the 15-point American proposal, though one representative has criticized it as “one-sided and unfair.” The proposal reportedly includes requirements for Iran to dismantle its nuclear capabilities, limit missile development programs, and essentially surrender control of the Strait of Hormuz, based on source reports.

Speaking at an Istanbul conference Saturday, Turkey’s Fidan emphasized that the world’s emerging “polycentric system” demands solutions for protecting crucial energy and trade corridors. He described Turkey’s high-level diplomatic efforts as focused on quickly identifying “actionable steps” to halt the conflict before additional damage occurs to regional stability and the global economy.

CAIRO (AP) — Iranian citizens were already struggling with economic devastation and the violent suppression of mass demonstrations when American and Israeli airstrikes first hit Tehran one month ago.

Today, they face an ongoing conflict with no clear resolution, dealing with economic ruin, property destruction, and the constant stress of explosions. Many question what lies ahead — whether their nation will be destroyed, if the religious government will collapse in chaos, or if it will endure but become even more oppressive.

“I think we’ve experienced everything bad possible,” said a 26-year-old designer in Tehran, “from the terrible atmosphere of January and the killings and arrests to the war.”

Constant explosions, both nearby and distant, create unpredictable destruction to residential areas. Commercial enterprises are facing severe difficulties. A complete internet shutdown since January has isolated citizens from global communications and hampered domestic connectivity.

The psychological impact of warfare compounds the trauma from January’s events, when hundreds of thousands of Iranians participated in the largest anti-government demonstrations in recent history — only to face security forces who opened fire, resulting in thousands of casualties. Tens of thousands were imprisoned, with detentions continuing.

The Associated Press interviewed 10 individuals throughout Iran, with most requesting anonymity for safety reasons.

The designer, who operates a leather fashion manufacturing business with a partner, reported her company is close to shutting down.

“When the economy gets bad, nonessential goods are the first thing to be removed from the shopping cart,” she said. Most of her revenue comes from online sales, and the internet shutdown has virtually eliminated “the small sales to zero.”

Following the January demonstrations, she has survived on limited savings, and the brutality of the government response has emotionally prevented her from returning to work.

When hostilities commenced on Feb. 28, she relocated to her parents’ residence. Days later, an explosion from a nearby attack damaged her apartment, which she had recently vacated. Like most Iranians, she lacks homeowner’s insurance, meaning she must cover repair costs personally.

She only ventures from her parents’ home to purchase essential items.

The frightening rhythm of air attacks defines everyday existence in Tehran.

An engineer residing in Tehran attempts to identify patterns in the strikes – questioning whether certain periods are safer. Recent evenings have featured explosions illuminating the night sky. One night, a blast rattled his residence while entertaining guests. They went to the rooftop and unsuccessfully tried to locate the impact site. “We didn’t see any visible fire,” he said.

He believes the attacks are less common now, or perhaps “our perception of it has changed,” as people become accustomed to the bombardments.

He experiences worry when relatives or friends venture outside, and has difficulty sleeping. He received a job opportunity before the conflict began but remains uncertain if it still exists. He predicts many will soon face challenges paying housing costs and utilities.

Public sector employees, representing a significant portion of the labor force, continue receiving paychecks. However, private companies struggle to compensate workers as they shut down for extended periods or reduce operating hours.

The devaluation of Iran’s currency, primarily resulting from American and international sanctions related to its nuclear activities, sparked the protests in late 2022.

Numerous Iranians have evacuated to northern regions, which have experienced less damage. Rasht, one of the primary northern cities, has become overcrowded with refugees from Tehran and other areas, overwhelming local infrastructure.

A physician at a children’s hospital reported patient numbers have almost doubled. Medical supplies are depleting, he explained, and patients must now purchase basic necessities, including antibiotics and IV solutions, from outside vendors.

The internet blackout hampers his ability to review patient records and verify proper medication dosages online, he noted. The shutdown has also forced him to abandon his personal project documenting casualties from January’s crackdown because witnesses cannot be contacted and online databases are inaccessible.

He occupies his time with video games and television viewing. During a recent week-long period, he has watched five seasons of “The Walking Dead,” the American post-apocalyptic horror series.

Meanwhile, Iranians continue grappling with conflicted emotions regarding the war, the religious leadership, and what lies ahead.

Officials persist in organizing pro-government demonstrations to display public backing. The intimidating paramilitary Basij force, responsible for domestic security, has increased street presence despite being targeted in air raids.

The engineer noted that decades of poor governance have been difficult for Iranians. However, he argued this doesn’t warrant the American-Israeli attacks. He expressed anger over the fatalities and destruction of infrastructure and military capabilities.

He’s attempting to transform that anger into resolve for reconstruction. “I’m going to be stronger after this war. I will be damaged, just like my country. But that’s it. This is life. We’re going to make it better.”

At the conflict’s beginning, U.S. President Donald Trump urged Iranians to remove their leaders. Currently, he claims to be in discussions with high-ranking Iranian officials who he alleges are “begging” for an agreement, without identifying them. Iran has rejected claims that such negotiations are occurring.

Some Iranians worry the conflict will result in a damaged but increasingly authoritarian Islamic Republic.

One woman in her 40s expressed greater fear of negotiations than warfare. “This is what our situation has come to — we are willing to endure war in the hope of being freed from them,” she said.

The physician in Rasht described the war as “the last remaining option” for removing the ruling religious leaders. However, he has concerns about American and Israeli military tactics. If the U.S. reaches an agreement now, he argued, it would only strengthen the theocracy.

“We now have the Islamic Republic on steroids,” he said. “We are afraid they will take this revenge out on the people, which they very openly see as the enemy from inside.”

In southwestern Iran, an attorney who has defended prisoners and women’s rights advocates — and has been incarcerated herself — spoke to the AP earlier during the conflict, expressing hope for the Islamic Republic’s eventual collapse. She discussed the strength of collective action and self-governance.

After a month of bombing campaigns, she appeared more reflective, quiet, and worn down by isolation and uncertainty.

“There is no sign of hope, no dreams, no joy,” she said. “Worry about the future has taken over.”

Israeli military forces successfully stopped a missile fired from Yemen early Saturday morning, marking the first attack by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels since the current Middle East conflict began.

Military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree took responsibility for the attack during a Saturday morning broadcast on the rebels’ Al-Masirah satellite television network. The Houthis’ entry into the conflict raises serious concerns about potential renewed attacks on commercial vessels traveling through the crucial Red Sea shipping corridor.

Warning sirens sounded around Beer Sheba and near Israel’s primary nuclear research facility for the third time Friday night into Saturday, as Iran and Hezbollah maintained their overnight bombardment of Israel. Loud blasts echoed through Tel Aviv, with Israel’s Fire and Rescue Service responding to 11 separate impact locations throughout the metropolitan region.

The missile launch occurred hours after Israel targeted Iran’s nuclear installations, following Friday threats to “escalate and expand” military operations against Tehran. Iran promised retaliation and attacked a Saudi Arabian base, injuring American service members and damaging aircraft.

Over two dozen U.S. military personnel have sustained injuries during Iranian strikes on Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan air base within the past week, according to two individuals briefed on the situation. Iran launched six ballistic missiles and 29 drones at the facility during Friday’s assault, injuring at least 15 troops with five suffering serious wounds, according to sources who requested anonymity due to lack of authorization to speak publicly.

The installation, located approximately 96 kilometers (60 miles) from Saudi capital Riyadh, faced attacks twice earlier this week, including one strike that wounded 14 American troops, according to briefed sources. While operated by the Royal Saudi Air Force, U.S. forces also utilize the base.

Lebanese officials report over 1,100 fatalities since the war’s beginning. The Associated Press now characterizes Israel’s military operations in southern Lebanon as an invasion. Israel has deployed thousands of soldiers across the Lebanese border, with Israeli forces and Iran-supported Hezbollah militants engaging in ground combat for at least three weeks.

American stock markets continued declining Friday. The S&P 500 dropped 1.7%, completing its worst week since the Iran war started and marking its fifth consecutive losing week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.7%, while the Nasdaq composite declined 2.1%. Oil prices continued their upward surge.

With U.S. gasoline prices nearing $4 per gallon, Congressional members have advocated suspending the federal gas tax, currently set at 18.4 cents per gallon for gasoline and 24.4 cents for diesel. President Donald Trump suggested states consider suspending their fuel taxes.

Saree stated the Houthis launched multiple ballistic missiles targeting what he called “sensitive Israeli military sites” in southern Israel. The assault followed Saree’s vague Friday statement indicating the rebels would enter the conflict.

The Houthis have controlled Yemen’s capital city, Sanaa, since 2014, and had previously remained outside the war while maintaining an unstable ceasefire with Saudi Arabia, which began military operations against the group in 2015 on behalf of Yemen’s exiled government.

Vessel attacks during the Israel-Hamas war disrupted Red Sea shipping, through which approximately $1 trillion in goods traveled annually before the conflict. The rebels previously launched drones targeting Israel.

In 2024, the Trump administration conducted strikes against the Houthis that concluded weeks later. The U.S.-led operation against the Houthi rebels, overshadowed by the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, became the Navy’s most intense sustained maritime battle since World War II.

Houthi rebels targeted over 100 merchant ships using missiles and drones, sinking two vessels and killing four sailors between November 2023 and January 2025. This would create additional disruption in global shipping, already struggling with Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow Persian Gulf entrance through which one-fifth of all oil and natural gas previously flowed.

Potential Houthi involvement in the war would also complicate the USS Gerald R. Ford’s deployment, as the aircraft carrier arrived at a Crete port Monday for repairs. Returning the carrier to the Red Sea could expose it to the same intense attack pattern experienced by the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in 2024 and the USS Harry S. Truman during the 2025 American campaign against the Houthis.

Israel concentrated Friday’s attacks on locations “in the heart of Tehran” where ballistic missiles and weapons are manufactured, the military announced. It reported striking missile launchers and storage facilities in Western Iran, while eastern Tehran witnesses described partial power outages following airstrikes.

Iranian state media reported Friday that two nuclear facilities came under attack. Israel, which had threatened to “escalate and expand” operations against Tehran, claimed responsibility, prompting Iran’s immediate retaliation threats.

“Iran will exact HEAVY price for Israeli crimes,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X.

Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization confirmed the Shahid Khondab Heavy Water Complex in Arak and the Ardakan yellowcake production plant in Yazd Province were targeted, IRNA reported. The strikes caused no casualties and posed no contamination risk, officials stated. The Arak facility has remained non-operational since Israel’s June attack.

Yellowcake represents concentrated uranium after impurity removal from raw ore. Heavy water serves as a nuclear reactor moderator.

Israeli military officials later stated raw materials undergo enrichment processing at the Yazd plant, calling the strike a significant setback to Iran’s nuclear program.

Seyed Majid Moosavi, IRGC’s Aerospace Force commander, posted on X that employees of U.S. and Israeli-connected companies should evacuate their workplaces: “This time, the equation will no longer be ‘an eye for an eye,’ just wait.”

Late Friday, Israeli authorities reported Iran launched missiles at the country, killing a 52-year-old man in Tel Aviv. Sirens warned residents to seek shelter in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Beer Sheba, and areas near the country’s main nuclear research center, which faced Iranian strikes injuring dozens last weekend.

Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry announced shooting down missiles and drones targeting Riyadh. In Lebanon, the Health Ministry reported two deaths.

Kuwait reported attacks on its Shuwaikh Port in Kuwait City and the northern Mubarak Al Kabeer Port, currently under construction as part of China’s “Belt and Road” initiative. China continues purchasing Iranian crude oil.

Speaking at a Miami event sponsored by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, Trump reiterated his desire for the two countries to establish normal relations.

The president has spent years pressing the Middle East’s two largest powers on this issue as part of his Abraham Accords initiatives, stating the timing will be appropriate when Iranian hostilities cease.

“It’s now time,” he said. “We’ve now taken them out, and they are out bigly. We got to get into the Abraham Accords.”

Major obstacles persist, including Saudi Arabia’s requirement for a credible Palestinian state pathway before normalizing commercial and diplomatic relationships with Israel.

News of Iran attacks emerged after Trump claimed war-ending discussions were proceeding “very well” and that he had extended Iran’s deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Iran maintains it has not participated in any negotiations.

With stock markets declining and economic consequences extending beyond the Middle East, Trump faces mounting pressure to end Iran’s strait control.

Trump envoy Steve Witkoff said Washington delivered a 15-point “action list” to Iran for a potential ceasefire, using Pakistan as an intermediary. The proposal suggests restricting Iran’s nuclear program and reopening the strait.

Iran rejected the offer and submitted its own five-point proposal including reparations and sovereignty recognition over the waterway.

Trump has stated that if Iran doesn’t reopen the strait to all traffic by April 6, he will order Iran’s energy plants destroyed.

Diplomats from multiple countries including Pakistan and Turkey have attempted organizing direct meetings between U.S. and Iranian representatives. Separately, G7 foreign ministers meeting Friday in France formally requested immediate cessation of attacks against populations and infrastructure.

U.S. vessels moved closer to the region carrying approximately 2,500 Marines, and at least 1,000 82nd Airborne paratroopers trained for hostile territory landings to secure key positions and airfields have been deployed to the Middle East.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. “can achieve all of our objectives without ground troops.” Following the G7 meeting, Rubio explained the deployments ensure “maximum opportunity to adjust to contingencies should they emerge.”

Israel deployed the 162nd Division into southern Lebanon to support efforts protecting northern border towns from Hezbollah attacks and eliminating the militant organization, the military announced.

Nineteen people have died in Israel, while four Israeli soldiers have been killed in Lebanon.

Officials report over 1,900 deaths in Iran. The U.N.’s International Organization for Migration said Friday that 82,000 civilian buildings in Iran, including hospitals and homes of 180,000 people, sustained damage.

At least 13 American troops have been killed, with four deaths in the occupied West Bank and 20 in Gulf Arab states.

In Iraq, where Iranian-supported militia groups joined the conflict, 80 security force members have died.

A breakthrough appeared as Tehran agreed to permit humanitarian aid and agricultural shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, accepting a U.N. request. Ali Bahreini, Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, said Iran agreed to “facilitate and expedite” such movement.

The crucial waterway typically handles one-fifth of global oil shipments and nearly one-third of worldwide fertilizer trade. While markets and governments have focused on blocked oil and natural gas supplies, restricted fertilizer ingredients and trade threaten farming and food security globally.

“This measure reflects Iran’s continued commitment to supporting humanitarian efforts and ensuring that essential aid reaches those in need without delay,” Bahreini posted on X. The U.N. previously announced a task force addressing the war’s ripple effects on aid delivery.

Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi militants acknowledged Saturday they had fired missiles at Israel, representing their first direct strike against the Jewish state since the ongoing Middle East conflict erupted.

Israeli officials had previously reported they were working to stop an incoming missile fired from Yemeni territory.

The rebel organization stated they launched multiple missiles in response to ongoing strikes against facilities across Iran, Lebanon, Iraq and Palestinian areas. The Houthis declared their military actions will persist until what they called the “aggression” across all battlefronts comes to an end.

This development signals the Houthis’ formal entrance into the wider regional conflict and increases concerns about the war expanding beyond its current scope.

MOSCOW – A deadly drone strike by Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Yaroslavl region resulted in the death of a child and left three others wounded on Saturday, according to regional authorities.

Regional Governor Mikhail Evraev confirmed the fatality through his official Telegram account, stating: “A child who was in one of the private houses in the suburban district of Yaroslavl region at the time of the attack has died.”

The governor reported that the child’s parents sustained serious injuries and were taken to a hospital for treatment. A woman from a nearby residence was also hurt in the assault. “His parents have been hospitalised in a serious condition. A woman living in a neighbouring house was also injured. They are receiving all necessary medical care,” Evraev explained.

The attack, which occurred northeast of Moscow, caused structural damage to multiple homes and what officials described as “a retail object.”

According to Evraev, Russian air defense systems successfully intercepted and destroyed more than 30 Ukrainian drones during the Saturday operation.

The Russian Defense Ministry reported broader defensive actions across the country, announcing that military forces shot down a total of 155 Ukrainian drones overnight across several Russian territories, including areas around Moscow.

LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — When taxi driver Adegbola Isaac filled up his tank twice over the weekend in Lagos, he watched fuel prices surge to 1,350 naira ($0.99) per liter — a staggering 35% jump since Middle East hostilities began. The increase has eliminated nearly all his daily earnings.

“It is hitting hard,” Isaac shared with The Associated Press.

Isaac represents millions of Africans experiencing severe economic consequences from distant Middle Eastern warfare that commenced February 28th with coordinated U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran.

Across Africa, fuel cost increases resulting from the largely blocked Strait of Hormuz are intensifying existing financial struggles in some of the globe’s most impoverished communities.

This recent crisis follows a troubling pattern.

Once again, Africa faces devastating impacts from international emergencies it didn’t create.

Following COVID-19, the Ukraine conflict, and now Middle Eastern warfare, the world’s most rapidly expanding continent — whose population matches China and India — bears the brunt of cascading effects including worldwide competition for essential resources like fuel and fertilizer.

Since most African nations import refined petroleum products, consequences arrived quickly, driving up retail fuel costs throughout Africa and triggering price increases for virtually all goods and services.

Analysts explain that African countries maintain deep connections to international markets and face vulnerability to worldwide disruptions due to their reliance on major economic powers.

On Friday, the United Nations announced efforts to restore safe fertilizer transport through the Strait of Hormuz, hoping to strengthen broader diplomatic initiatives regarding the Iran conflict.

A 2025 U.N. Trade and Development (UNCTAD) analysis, which characterizes Africa as “the epicenter of overlapping global crises,” reveals that over half the continent’s trade occurs with five countries outside Africa.

Kenya imports 100% of its fuel from Middle Eastern sources, especially the United Arab Emirates, with retailers reporting 20% of stations already experiencing shortages. Uganda’s fuel reserves were initially expected to last only several weeks.

South Africa obtains substantial fuel supplies from Saudi Arabia. Nigeria, despite being Africa’s top oil producer, lacks adequate refining infrastructure and must import processed petroleum from Europe.

Zimbabwean healthcare workers staged protests demanding salary increases as living expenses skyrocketed. Government officials responded by planning to boost fuel-ethanol blending from 5% to 20%. However, higher ethanol concentrations can damage vehicles and increase harmful emissions.

“I now avoid going into town during peak hours because the fares are too high,” explained Washington Nyakarize, a mobile phone vendor operating in Harare’s Central Business District. “If I go later, the charge is a bit lower, but I lose business, because most customers come early in the morning.”

Following reduced Saudi Arabian fuel deliveries to South Africa, diesel-dependent sectors began emergency purchasing amid supply fears. This occurred despite assurances from the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources that the nation maintains unused strategic stockpiles and alternative supply channels.

UNCTAD reports that fertilizer access throughout Africa, including war-torn regions like Sudan and Somalia, will face significant disruption.

Kenya’s flower sector has documented weekly losses reaching $1.4 million since Iranian hostilities started, with producers citing reduced demand and transportation interruptions.

Specialists warn the conflict could push Africa into unprecedented circumstances if fighting continues.

“If the conflict persists for another month or two, honestly, we’re going to be in unknown terrain, that no one else, like, no one can really predict, and we just have to wait and see,” stated Zainab Usman, a senior research scholar at the New York-based Center on Global Energy Policy.

Facing global oil supply constraints, African governments are exploring alternative procurement channels.

Bloomberg reported this week that multiple nations including South Africa, Kenya and Ghana have contacted Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery seeking fuel agreements.

Though the Dangote facility regularly ships jet fuel to American and Asian markets, it announced this week completing sales of 12 refined petroleum shipments to various African countries, including Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Tanzania, Ghana and Togo — marking the largest such transaction since achieving full operational capacity earlier this year.

Energy specialists caution that the Dangote refinery may struggle to satisfy growing continental demand if planned expansions face delays or crude oil supply disruptions occur.

“As long as there is a steady supply of crude oil, the (Dangote) refinery has the capacity to meet some of the needs” from across the continent, according to Olufola Wusu, a Lagos-based oil and gas expert who was part of a team that helped review Nigeria’s national gas policy.

Israeli military officials confirmed Saturday they detected a missile fired from Yemen for the first time since the month-long U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran began.

Military authorities did not immediately release details about who launched the projectile or its intended target. The missile detection occurred just hours after Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis declared their readiness to take action if what they termed escalating attacks against Iran and the “Axis of Resistance” persisted.

The heavily armed Houthis possess the capability to target neighboring Gulf nations, and their entry into the current conflict could severely disrupt shipping routes around the Arabian Peninsula. This comes as global commerce already struggles with the near-complete blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

UNDERSTANDING THE HOUTHIS

The Houthis operate as a combined military, political and religious organization under the leadership of the Houthi family from northern Yemen. The group follows Zaydi Shi’ite Islamic beliefs.

While the Houthis previously engaged in guerrilla warfare against Yemen’s government forces, they significantly expanded their influence and strengthened relationships with Iran following the 2011 Arab Spring demonstrations.

Taking advantage of Yemen’s political turmoil, the organization seized control of the capital city Sanaa in 2014.

A year later, Saudi Arabia spearheaded a coalition of Arab nations in a military operation aimed at removing the Houthis from power.

During the conflict, the Houthis showcased advanced missile and drone technology, launching strikes against oil facilities and critical infrastructure in both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Following years of warfare that created one of the globe’s most severe humanitarian disasters, the United Nations facilitated a 2022 ceasefire agreement between the opposing forces in Yemen that remains in effect.

RED SEA SHIPPING DISRUPTIONS

Following Hamas’s October 7, 2023 assault on Israel that sparked Israel’s devastating Gaza military operation, the Houthis initiated attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, claiming their actions supported Palestinian causes.

The group also launched drone and missile strikes against Israeli targets, prompting Israeli airstrikes on Houthi positions. American forces also conducted military operations against the Houthis.

The Houthis suspended their maritime attacks after a U.S.-mediated ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect in October 2025.

DELAYED ENTRY INTO CURRENT CONFLICT

Houthi leader Abdul Malik Al-Houthi announced on March 5 that his organization stood prepared for immediate military action.

“Regarding military escalation and action, our fingers are on the trigger at any moment should developments warrant it,” he stated during a broadcast address.

However, unlike Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Iraqi militant organizations, the Houthis have not officially declared their participation in the war. On Friday, the group reiterated its warning as fighting intensified, and hours later, Israel reported detecting the Yemen missile launch.

Houthi religious beliefs do not require allegiance to Iran’s supreme leader in the manner that binds Hezbollah and Iraqi groups.

Although Iran promotes the Houthis as members of its regional “Axis of Resistance,” Yemen specialists indicate the movement primarily pursues domestic objectives while maintaining political alignment with Iran and Hezbollah.

American officials assert that Iran has provided weapons, financing and training to the Houthis with Hezbollah assistance.

The Houthis reject claims of serving as an Iranian proxy and maintain they produce their own weaponry.

POTENTIAL FUTURE ACTIONS

Experts remain divided on the potential actions of the Houthis, known for their unpredictable behavior.

Some diplomatic sources and analysts suspect the group may have already conducted isolated attacks on targets in neighboring countries. Reuters was unable to verify these allegations.

Other observers suggest the Houthis have conserved their military resources for an optimal moment to join the conflict in coordination with Iran to maximize strategic impact.

The effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz for Gulf Arab oil exports and increased dependence on Red Sea routes could present such an opportunity.

On Friday, the organization warned it was ready to respond if additional nations joined the U.S. and Israel in their conflict against Iran, or if the Red Sea became a launching point for attacks on Iran.

This warning heightened concerns about expanded regional warfare, particularly given the Houthis’ demonstrated ability to strike distant targets and interrupt shipping corridors around the Arabian Peninsula that are vital to international commerce.

WASHINGTON – After one month of military conflict with Iran, President Donald Trump confronts difficult decisions as energy costs climb and his public approval numbers decline. The president must choose between pursuing a potentially imperfect diplomatic agreement or intensifying military action that could lead to an extended conflict threatening his presidency.

Following weeks of diplomatic efforts, Trump concludes another week of the combined U.S.-Israeli military operation while grappling with an expanding Middle East crisis. Iran continues to resist, maintaining control over Gulf oil and gas transport routes while launching ongoing missile and drone attacks throughout the region.

Political analysts question whether Trump will choose to reduce or increase what opponents label a discretionary conflict that has triggered the most severe global energy supply disruption in recorded history and expanded well beyond regional boundaries.

According to a senior White House official, Trump has informed his staff of his desire to prevent a “forever war” and seek a diplomatic resolution, encouraging them to emphasize the four-to-six-week conflict timeline he has publicly outlined, though the official noted this schedule seems “shaky.”

However, Trump has simultaneously warned of significant military intensification should negotiations collapse.

Trump’s peace initiatives toward Iran, including a 15-point settlement proposal transmitted through Pakistani diplomatic channels, suggest an increasingly desperate search for an exit strategy. Yet realistic opportunities for productive talks remain uncertain.

“President Trump has poor options all around to end the war,” said Jonathan Panikoff, former U.S. deputy national intelligence officer for the Middle East. “Part of the challenge is the lack of clarity related to what a satisfactory outcome would be.”

A White House official maintained that the Iran campaign “will conclude when the commander-in-chief determines that our objectives are met” and emphasized that Trump had established clear objectives.

While seemingly covering multiple approaches, Trump continues deploying thousands of additional U.S. military personnel to the area and threatening Iran with increased attacks, potentially including ground forces, unless it surrenders to his requirements.

Political experts suggest this military demonstration might aim to create negotiating advantages with Tehran but risks involving the U.S. in extended warfare, with any ground deployment in Iranian territory likely to upset American voters.

Another potential approach, according to specialists, involves the U.S. conducting a final major aerial campaign called “Operation Epic Fury” to further damage Iran’s military infrastructure and nuclear facilities, after which Trump would claim success and withdraw, stating his military goals were accomplished.

However, such declarations would appear meaningless unless the critical Strait of Hormuz reopens completely, which Iran continues to prevent. Trump has expressed disappointment over European partners’ unwillingness to deploy naval vessels to help secure the shipping channel.

Trump, who has consistently promised to avoid foreign military entanglements, appears to struggle with controlling the expanding conflict he initiated alongside Israel.

While continuing to issue optimistic assessments, he has increasingly focused his communication on reassuring anxious financial markets, directing senior staff to stress the war’s quick conclusion, according to the senior White House official, who requested anonymity to discuss internal discussions.

The absence of a clear withdrawal plan poses risks for both Trump’s presidential record and his party’s electoral chances as Republicans work to maintain slim congressional majorities in November’s midterm elections.

Trump’s greatest error has been underestimating Tehran’s counterattack scope. Iran has deployed its remaining missiles and drones against Israel and neighboring Gulf nations while largely blocking the Strait of Hormuz, which handles one-fifth of global oil transport, creating worldwide economic disruption.

“The Iranian government’s bet is they can take more pain for longer than their adversaries, and they might be right,” said Jon Alterman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank in Washington.

The White House official, speaking anonymously, stated Trump and his administration were “well-prepared” for Iran’s strait response and remain confident it will reopen shortly.

Nevertheless, Trump’s increasing concern about the conflict became most apparent Monday when he backed down from threatening to destroy Iran’s electrical infrastructure unless it permitted shipping to resume through the strait.

In a decision widely interpreted as market reassurance, he announced a five-day suspension of his threat to allow diplomatic efforts. Thursday, he extended this pause another 10 days.

Meanwhile, domestic pressure increases.

Public opinion surveys indicate Americans overwhelmingly oppose the war, and while Trump’s MAGA supporters have largely remained loyal, his political foundation could erode if economic consequences, including elevated gas prices, continue.

Trump’s overall approval has dropped to 36%, his lowest since returning to the White House, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll completed Monday.

The White House has grown more concerned about political consequences from the war, a former senior Trump administration official told Reuters, citing worries expressed by Republican legislators about upcoming midterm elections.

Reflecting growing Republican unease, U.S. Representative Mike Rogers, chair of the House Armed Services Committee, criticized the administration Thursday for insufficient information about the Iran campaign’s scope.

Responding, the White House official said Trump aides had briefed Congress multiple times before and during the conflict.

Currently, diplomatic options provide no simple solutions.

Trump’s 15-point proposal resembles what Iran had largely rejected in pre-war talks and includes difficult-to-enforce elements. The requirements range from dismantling Iran’s nuclear capabilities and reducing its missile inventory to abandoning proxy organizations and essentially surrendering strait control.

Iran characterized the U.S. proposal as unfair and unrealistic, though it didn’t eliminate future indirect communications.

While Trump claimed Thursday that Iran was “begging” for an agreement, the nation’s leadership appears unhurried to negotiate a conflict resolution, analysts report, believing they can claim victory simply through survival.

Any diplomatic progress has been hindered by replacing some leaders killed in U.S.-Israeli airstrikes with more extreme successors, analysts note. The leadership has demonstrated distrust of Trump, who twice in the past year launched airstrikes while both sides were still negotiating.

“The president is willing to listen, but if they fail to accept the reality of the current moment, they will be hit harder than ever before,” said the White House official.

Israeli officials have meanwhile indicated concern that Trump might make compromises limiting their future strikes against Iran.

Washington’s Gulf partners may also oppose a rushed U.S. departure, considering they could face a damaged, hostile neighbor.

Should Trump actually prepare to deploy ground forces, he could capture Iran’s Kharg Island oil facility or other strategic islands, conduct coastal operations, or send special forces for what would be a complicated attempt to secure its highly enriched uranium stockpile believed mostly buried underground by U.S.-Israeli bombing last June.

Such actions could escalate into broader conflict reminiscent of the extended wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that Trump has promised the U.S. would never enter under his leadership. They would also risk increased American casualties and raise additional questions about U.S. mission goals.

Gulf partners have cautioned the administration against placing U.S. troops on Iranian soil, warning it could provoke more Tehran retaliation, possibly against their energy and civilian infrastructure, a senior Gulf official said anonymously.

The White House official said Trump had clarified “he has no plans to send ground troops anywhere at this time,” but noted he always maintains all available options.

For now, Trump keeps the world uncertain, alternately making statements designed to calm unstable markets and issuing threats that increase energy prices.

“Trump traffics in contradictory signals,” said Laura Blumenfeld of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington. “He is a one-man ‘fog of war’ messaging machine to keep opponents off-balance.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Saturday that the United States anticipates wrapping up its military campaign in Iran within weeks rather than months, as Israeli forces reported striking targets in Tehran while defending against incoming Iranian missiles.

The ongoing conflict took a toll on American forces Friday when an Iranian assault on a Saudi Arabian air base left 12 U.S. service members wounded, with two sustaining serious injuries, according to a U.S. official who spoke to Reuters. Drone and missile attacks have persisted throughout the Gulf region.

The military campaign, which began a month ago with coordinated U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran, has now expanded throughout the Middle East, resulting in thousands of casualties and creating unprecedented disruptions to global energy markets. The crisis has sent shockwaves through the world economy and sparked concerns about rising inflation.

Speaking to media following discussions with Group of Seven officials in France, Rubio stated that Washington was “on or ahead of schedule in that operation, and expect to conclude it at the appropriate time here — a matter of weeks, not months.”

Israeli military officials confirmed they were conducting operations across Iran’s capital city while simultaneously detecting missile launches from Yemen. The Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, who had previously targeted shipping lanes with missile strikes, have largely remained out of the current conflict.

However, Houthi representatives indicated Friday their willingness to enter the fighting under specific circumstances, particularly if additional nations join the U.S.-Israeli alliance or if the Red Sea becomes a staging area for attacks against Iran.

The war has created tension between the United States and its longtime allies, who have chosen not to participate in the military action. President Donald Trump suggested this lack of support could affect NATO commitments, the cornerstone of Western defense cooperation.

“We would have always been there for them, but now, based on their actions, I guess we don’t have to be, do we?” Trump remarked during an investment conference in Miami Friday. “Why would we be there for them if they’re not there for us? They weren’t there for us.”

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s founding principles establish that an assault on any member nation constitutes an attack on all members, requiring mutual defense support.

Rubio emphasized that European and Asian nations benefiting from commerce through the Strait of Hormuz—a critical waterway now largely controlled by Iran—should contribute to efforts ensuring safe passage for international trade.

While Rubio maintained that Washington could accomplish its objectives without deploying ground forces, he confirmed some troops were being positioned in the region “to give the president maximum optionality and maximum opportunity to adjust the contingencies, should they emerge.”

The Pentagon has ordered two Marine contingents, numbering in the thousands, to deploy to the area. The first group is scheduled to arrive shortly aboard a massive amphibious assault vessel. Military officials also plan to send thousands of specialized airborne troops.

These troop movements have intensified worries that the conflict could evolve into an extended ground war.

Financial markets plummeted Friday as Brent crude oil prices climbed above $112 per barrel, representing more than a 50% increase since hostilities began.

Within the United States, where Trump faces political pressure over rising fuel costs, diesel prices in California reached a record average of $7.17 per gallon, according to the American Automobile Association.

Trump has signaled his desire to end the increasingly unpopular war, highlighting this week what he described as promising diplomatic negotiations—despite Tehran’s repeated denials that any such discussions have commenced. On Thursday, Trump granted Iran an additional 10-day extension to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face strikes against its civilian energy infrastructure.

At least five people died and seven others were injured in a U.S.-Israeli attack on a residential building in Iran’s northwestern city of Zanjan, Iranian media reported early Saturday. The Iran University of Science and Technology in Tehran was also targeted, according to media accounts.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi posted on social media that Israel, working with U.S. coordination, had also struck two steel manufacturing facilities and a power plant. “Attack contradicts POTUS extended deadline for diplomacy. Iran will exact HEAVY price for Israeli crimes,” Araqchi wrote Friday.

Israel’s military reported Saturday that it had identified incoming missiles from Iran, while Syrian state television documented explosions heard over Damascus as Israeli defense systems intercepted the Iranian projectiles.

The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain also experienced missile attacks in the early hours Saturday.

WASHINGTON (AP) — After one month of military operations against Iran, President Donald Trump is hinting at winding down the conflict despite failing to fully accomplish several key objectives he established for the campaign.

The president recently expanded his goals to five priorities for the extensive bombing campaign, growing from the original four outlined by his administration when hostilities began February 28th. This represents an increase from the three objectives initially described by Pentagon officials and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. While Trump’s team maintains their aims remain consistent and well-defined, the expanding list of priorities has evolved as the military action has impacted global markets, strained international partnerships, and generated questions about strategic planning and long-term consequences.

Military analysts acknowledge that American and Israeli airstrikes have substantially weakened Iran’s armed forces and eliminated numerous high-ranking military officials. However, these battlefield victories don’t guarantee the fulfillment of the president’s broader strategic goals.

Several of Trump’s stated aims present significant challenges, and if the United States withdraws without completing these missions while Iran’s paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard maintains control, the president may encounter domestic political criticism and international consequences regarding the achievements of his decision to initiate this optional military engagement that destabilized Middle Eastern stability and disrupted worldwide economic markets.

The Trump administration and White House continue asserting the military action proceeds successfully toward meeting established targets. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt informed journalists this week that “We are very close to meeting the core objectives of Operation Epic Fury, and this military mission continues unabated,” describing the campaign as “ahead of schedule and performing exceptionally.”

Below is an examination of Trump’s stated objectives and their current status:

A primary goal outlined by the president regarding Iran involved plans to “destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground.”

Administration officials claim this capability has suffered major damage. However, Iran continues firing missiles and unmanned aircraft, including multiple attacks against Israel while Trump announced ongoing diplomatic discussions with Iranian representatives.

Speaking Thursday from the White House, Trump stated that approximately 90% of Iran’s missiles and launching systems have been eliminated, and that unmanned aircraft plus manufacturing facilities producing drones and missiles “are way down.”

Prior to recent statements, the president and his team sometimes presented this as an independent goal, characterizing it as an objective to “raze their missile industry to the ground.” At other times, this priority disappeared from official lists. Pentagon leadership typically incorporates this into their primary objective of eliminating Iran’s missile capabilities.

U.S. Central Command reports targeting weapons manufacturing and missile production facilities in Iranian strikes. Nevertheless, Iranian attacks against Gulf region neighbors and Israel persist.

American and Israeli forces rapidly gained aerial dominance over Iranian airspace, conducting operations with minimal resistance. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Thursday that U.S. forces have damaged or destroyed over 150 Iranian naval vessels.

Following a U.S. submarine’s torpedo attack that sank an Iranian warship in early March, two additional Iranian ships — the IRIS Bushehr and IRIS Lavan — sought refuge in Sri Lankan and Indian ports requesting assistance. The U.S. has provided no updates indicating these vessels have been subsequently destroyed or captured.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard operates its own naval force utilizing smaller craft for coordinated attacks and mine deployment. The remaining strength of this fleet remains unclear, as does whether any mines have been positioned. Iranian missiles continue disrupting commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump dramatically changed his position over recent months after claiming the U.S. had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program last June, only to have advisors later warn that Iran approached weapons capability within weeks, justifying current military operations.

Iranian government media reported nuclear facility attacks on Friday. Strikes hit a heavy water facility and yellowcake production plant, with Israel subsequently confirming responsibility for these attacks.

Israel had previously announced strikes against other nuclear-related targets, including assassinating a senior Iranian nuclear scientist.

A critical wartime question involves whether Trump will attempt seizing or destroying approximately 970 pounds of enriched uranium held by Tehran that could potentially support weapons development.

For the first time Monday, Trump indicated the U.S. would recover this uranium, believed stored deep within a mountain facility. However, he suggested this would occur through some agreement with Iran permitting U.S. retrieval. Military experts warn that seizing this material without Iranian consent would constitute an extremely dangerous mission requiring substantial U.S. ground force deployment into Iranian territory.

Trump recently added a fifth objective through social media: “Protecting, at the highest level, our Middle Eastern Allies, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, and others. The Hormuz Strait will have to be guarded and policed, as necessary, by other Nations who use it — The United States does not!”

The U.S. currently stations thousands of military personnel at regional bases and installations. Trump’s willingness to expand protection for Middle Eastern allies against threats remains uncertain, particularly as Iran retains attack capabilities against these nations. The extent of U.S. commitment to maintaining Strait of Hormuz accessibility also remains unclear. Trump has wavered on American responsibilities for policing this waterway. He recently extended Iran’s deadline for reopening the Strait of Hormuz or facing power plant attacks, now setting the date for April 6th.

Trump has discussed governmental overthrow since warfare began, urging Iranian citizens to “take over your government” after Israeli strikes, supported by the U.S., killed Iran’s supreme leader and most senior leadership.

However, Trump and his administration have never formally declared regime change as an Iranian objective, despite clearly expressing desires to end the oppressive theocracy’s 47-year rule.

Speaking Thursday at the White House, Trump described the regime as “largely decimated.”

“You could really say we have regime change because they have been killed,” he stated during a Fox News Channel interview.

Currently, the U.S. claims to conduct negotiations with elements of the same Iranian government while seeking rapid conflict resolution and Strait of Hormuz reopening for maritime commerce. Iran continues publicly denying any negotiations with the White House.

Trump’s initial expectations regarding Iranian popular uprising appear likely to remain unmet.

Trump administration officials have provided limited updates on this objective, which the president described as ensuring “the region’s terrorist proxies can no longer destabilize the region or the world and attack our forces” and “ensuring that the Iranian regime cannot continue to arm, fund, and direct terrorist armies outside of their borders.”

While the U.S. has targeted Iranian-aligned militia groups in Iraq, and Israel appears expanding operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon, the administration has not detailed plans for permanently stopping Tehran’s support for militant organizations.

The White House stated that preventing Iranian proxy groups from further regional destabilization remains a key goal and that “proxies are hardly putting up a fight because our United States Military is so strong and lethal.”

Israeli defense forces reported detecting a missile launch from Yemen in the early hours of Saturday, marking the first time such a projectile has been fired from Yemeni territory since the current regional conflict began.

The missile detection occurred just hours after the Iran-backed Houthi group issued a warning on Friday, stating they stood ready to take action if escalations against Iran and what they termed the “axis of resistance” persisted. The group did not specify what type of intervention they might pursue.

The involvement of the Houthis in the conflict increases concerns about a wider regional war, especially considering the group’s demonstrated capability to hit targets well beyond Yemen’s borders and their history of disrupting maritime traffic in the Red Sea and around the Arabian Peninsula. These previous disruptions were carried out in solidarity with Hamas in Gaza following the October 7, 2023 attacks.

Other Iranian-allied groups in Lebanon and Iraq have already entered the regional fighting that began after U.S. and Israeli military actions against Tehran four weeks prior.

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Nepalese authorities detained former Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli in the early hours of Saturday morning in connection with fatal September demonstrations that claimed dozens of lives and brought down the government, leading to fresh elections.

Law enforcement officers apprehended the influential communist politician at his home located on Kathmandu’s outskirts. Officials also took into custody Ramesh Lekhak, the previous home minister who faces allegations of commanding security forces to open fire on demonstrators.

Current Home Minister Sudan Gurung revealed the detentions through social media posts.

“No one is above the law. We have taken former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and former home minister Ramesh Lekhak under control,” Gurung said. “This is not revenge against anyone, it is just the beginning of justice.”

A government-established investigative panel has recommended prison sentences of up to a decade for Oli, Lekhak, and the police chief who was in charge during the demonstrations.

Multiple police vehicles filled with riot-equipped officers carried out the detentions at both men’s residences before transporting them to the Kathmandu District Police headquarters.

These detentions occurred one day following the inauguration of a new administration led by former rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah, whose Rastriya Swatantra Party achieved a decisive victory in this month’s parliamentary elections.

Both Shah and Gurung have pledged accountability for victims who lost their lives or suffered injuries.

This election marked the nation’s first since youth-driven demonstrations against government corruption and mismanagement on September 8th and 9th resulted in 76 fatalities and over 2,300 wounded individuals. Enraged crowds set fire to the prime minister’s and president’s offices, police facilities, and residences of senior political figures who escaped via military helicopters.

The youth-led movement, driven by “Gen Z” organizers, led to the September 12th appointment of Nepal’s inaugural female prime minister, Sushila Karki, a former Supreme Court justice who oversaw the transitional period before the elections.

India appears ready to compromise on a worldwide agreement that prevents countries from imposing tariffs on digital services, according to two senior diplomatic sources.

The development comes after India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal questioned American proposals for making the digital tariff ban permanent during World Trade Organization discussions in Cameroon on Thursday, stating the matter required “careful reconsideration.”

But by Friday evening, Indian representatives told WTO delegates they would support a two-year continuation of the moratorium, marking the first indication of flexibility in their stance before Saturday’s formal meeting on the issue.

The United States may not find a short-term solution acceptable, however. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated Thursday that Washington wanted only a permanent extension, not a temporary one.

Corporate executives emphasize that continuing the agreement is essential for maintaining stability, worrying that fees could be imposed if the deal expires.

Two senior diplomatic sources confirmed that American and Indian negotiating positions remain significantly different.

A third senior diplomat revealed that WTO members are attempting to find a compromise by extending the moratorium for five to 10 years, beyond the next ministerial conference. Whether either the U.S. or India would accept such a middle-ground approach remains uncertain, the diplomat noted.

The outcome of discussions on the digital commerce moratorium at the Yaounde meeting is viewed as a crucial measure of the WTO’s continued importance, following a period marked by trade disputes driven by tariffs and significant disruptions to shipping, energy costs, and supply networks caused by Middle Eastern conflicts.

“I think for some countries it’s actually quite existential to prolong the moratorium for a significant time,” Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide commented, noting it would help show that officials could achieve tangible results at the Yaounde gathering.

The digital commerce moratorium has been repeatedly renewed for almost 30 years, continuing until each subsequent ministerial conference. The United States seeks to ensure major American technology companies including Amazon, Microsoft, and Apple operate in a predictable regulatory framework without concerns about potential tariffs that nations might impose on international digital commerce.

KATHMANDU – Authorities in Nepal have arrested former Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli on Saturday as investigators examine whether he failed in his duty to prevent the deaths of dozens during anti-government demonstrations last September.

The 74-year-old former leader faces potential prosecution after a government investigation committee this week called for charges against him, citing his failure to stop the violent suppression of anti-corruption demonstrations.

The September unrest resulted in 76 fatalities over a two-day period, ultimately forcing Oli to step down from his position.

“They took him from his residence this morning,” said Min Bahadur Shahi, a high-ranking official with Oli’s Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist), in a statement to Reuters.

Police spokesperson Om Adhikari verified that both Oli and his former home minister, Ramesh Lekhak, have been detained.

The political landscape in Nepal shifted dramatically on Friday when Balendra Shah, a former rapper who entered politics, took the oath of office as the new prime minister following his victory in the March 5 parliamentary elections.

Iran’s fragile economy is teetering on the edge of complete collapse following weeks of ongoing conflict, as basic necessities become increasingly unaffordable for ordinary citizens.

The cost of essential food items has surged dramatically, with prices climbing not just daily but hourly. Some basic staples have seen price increases of at least 50% when compared to levels before the war began.

More than 40% of Iran’s population currently survives below the absolute poverty threshold, with that percentage rising above 50% in the nation’s capital. However, economists caution that the actual poverty rate may have surged beyond 60% throughout the country.

The crisis extends beyond rising prices. Widespread internet outages have brought many essential services to a halt, while manufacturing plants and industrial facilities struggle with severe shortages of necessary raw materials. The nation’s government operations have also been significantly damaged.

“It has become impossible to endure this situation any longer,” a Tehran resident told The Media Line.

Economic journalist Arezoo Karimi notes that even if Iran’s government and the United States manage to negotiate a potential agreement, reversing Iran’s economic downfall cannot happen quickly.

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Indonesia launched sweeping new digital restrictions on Saturday, becoming the first Southeast Asian nation to prohibit children under 16 from accessing major social media platforms that could expose them to harmful content, online predators, and digital addiction.

The groundbreaking policy blocks minors from creating accounts on popular platforms including YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live and Roblox. Indonesia follows Australia’s pioneering example from last year, when that country became the first globally to implement such comprehensive social media age restrictions as governments worldwide seek to curb tech companies’ influence over young users.

Indonesian officials plan to roll out the new rules progressively until all digital platforms meet compliance requirements.

Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid announced the regulation in March, stating it will affect roughly 70 million children across Indonesia’s 280 million population.

According to Hafid, authorities identify high-risk platforms based on several criteria: how easily children can encounter strangers, the potential for predatory behavior, exposure to dangerous content, and vulnerability to exploitation or data breaches.

However, Hafid admitted the enforcement process will present significant challenges. Ensuring platform compliance and requiring companies to report deactivated underage accounts poses substantial difficulties.

“This is certainly a task. But we must take steps to save our children,” Hafid stated. “It’s not easy. Nevertheless, we must see it through.”

Maura Munthe, a 13-year-old who typically spends about four hours daily on her phone using social media and playing Roblox games with friends, expressed mixed feelings about the new restrictions but generally supports the policy.

She noted that her classmates worry about losing access to their current entertainment and social connections.

“There are always other games on my phone, not only the online ones,” she explained. “I will likely play more games alone or just hang out with my friends.”

Munthe’s mother, Leni Sinuraya, 47, has previously allowed her daughter to use devices responsibly for both educational and recreational purposes. Despite this trust, she views the government’s action as beneficial for Indonesian children overall.

Sinuraya believes parents have surrendered control to social media companies.

“Nowadays, when we see kids sitting in a restaurant, they have a phone right in front of them. It’s clear that they’re addicted,” Sinuraya observed. “They won’t eat unless they’re given a phone, and they throw a tantrum if they aren’t.”

“Mealtime is supposed to be a time for us to chat with the people around us,” she continued.

Diena Haryana, who established the Semai Jiwa Amini foundation (SEJIWA) in Jakarta, leads a nonprofit organization focused on protecting children online.

Haryana cited research demonstrating that social media usage among children can negatively affect mental health and contribute to anxiety and depression.

However, she acknowledged that digital platforms provide educational benefits and learning opportunities. Her organization encourages collaboration between parents and communities to supervise and guide children’s online activities.

“We also need to remember that they need to learn to use this digital technology at the right time, at the right age, and with the right guidance as well,” she emphasized.

Haryana anticipates the restrictions’ impact will become clear only after implementation, expecting both youth complaints and parental confusion.

She stressed that parents and educational institutions must help children find real-world alternatives to digital learning environments.

“Of course, this takes time to get used to, which is why parents and schools need to encourage children to engage with the real world and make it fun for them,” Haryana added. “And there’s plenty in the real world for children to explore.”

Most platforms have remained largely silent regarding Indonesia’s new regulations.

Elon Musk’s X platform updated its Indonesia Online Safety Information page to list 16 as the required minimum user age. “It’s not our choice – it’s what Indonesian law requires,” the page states.

Google-owned YouTube expressed support for the Indonesian government’s efforts to establish an effective framework addressing online dangers while maintaining information access and digital opportunities.

“We are ready to engage under the regulation’s self-assessment approach to demonstrate our long-standing safety rigor,” the company stated.

Australia first implemented similar restrictions in December, with social media companies removing approximately 4.7 million accounts identified as belonging to children.

Several other nations including Spain, France and the United Kingdom are developing or considering comparable measures to limit children’s social media access amid increasing concerns about harmful exposure to unregulated online content.

SYDNEY – Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Saturday that his government will modify export-finance legislation to strengthen the nation’s fuel supply security as ongoing conflict involving Iran continues to disrupt global energy markets.

The country relies on imports for approximately 90% of its fuel needs and has faced regional supply shortages over the past month since hostilities between the United States, Israel and Iran escalated, creating widespread disruptions to international fuel distribution networks.

“Today, I announce that Australia will establish new powers to get fuel here for Australians,” Albanese stated during televised comments. “New fuel security powers will enable the government to underwrite the purchase of fuel by the private sector.”

According to Albanese, these new authorities will allow Australia’s export-finance agency to guarantee fuel shipment purchases, helping to increase domestic supply levels.

The Prime Minister indicated his center-left Labor administration plans to present the legislative changes to export-finance and insurance-corporation statutes in parliament beginning Monday.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen revealed during Saturday’s televised statements that Australia currently maintains a 39-day supply of gasoline reserves along with 30 days’ worth of diesel and aviation fuel.

Government officials acknowledged this week that while overall supply remains robust, the nation has experienced the cancellation of six fuel deliveries from Asian suppliers and several hundred Australian service stations have temporarily run out of either gasoline or diesel.

A coordinated Iranian strike on Friday left at least 10 American military personnel injured and caused significant damage to U.S. aircraft stationed at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, according to two defense officials with knowledge of the incident.

The assault involved both missiles and drones, with two service members sustaining serious injuries, one official confirmed. Multiple American refueling planes were damaged in the strike, said the sources, who requested anonymity due to the classified nature of military operations.

The Friday attack follows bold declarations from the Trump administration just one day earlier, when President Donald Trump claimed Iran had been “obliterated” and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that “never in recorded history has a nation’s military been so quickly and so effectively neutralized.”

Prince Sultan Air Base has previously been in Iran’s crosshairs. Army Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, age 26, sustained injuries during a March 1 strike on the facility and succumbed to his wounds several days afterward. Pennington is among 13 military personnel who have lost their lives in the ongoing conflict.

Images captured by satellite technology showing aircraft damage from the most recent assault have surfaced online. The Wall Street Journal first broke news of the attack.

U.S. Central Command reported earlier Friday that more than 300 service members have sustained injuries during the month-long military engagement. Though the majority of wounded personnel have healed and resumed their duties, 30 remain unable to serve and 10 are classified as critically injured.

Through Pakistani intermediaries, the Trump administration has presented Iran with a 15-point proposal outlining potential ceasefire terms.

Tehran has rejected claims that diplomatic discussions are underway, while its control over the Strait of Hormuz has caused fuel costs to surge and disrupted global markets. However, Iran announced Friday its willingness to allow humanitarian supplies and agricultural goods to pass through the strategic shipping channel.

Even as ceasefire talks are mentioned, Pentagon officials are arranging to deploy at least 1,000 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East within days. This elite unit specializes in paratrooper operations to secure critical locations and airstrips in dangerous zones.

Military commanders are also positioning two Marine battalions that will bring approximately 5,000 Marines and thousands of naval personnel to the region.

Despite the massive troop buildup heading toward the area, Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared Friday that America “can achieve all of our objectives without ground troops.”

Regarding the additional military deployments, “we are always going to be prepared to give the president maximum optionality and maximum opportunity to adjust to contingencies should they emerge,” Rubio explained to journalists following the Group of Seven foreign ministers meeting in France.

WASHINGTON – A dozen American service members sustained injuries during an Iranian military assault on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, according to a U.S. official who spoke with Reuters on Friday. Two of the wounded personnel suffered serious injuries in the attack.

This incident brings the total number of wounded American military personnel to more than 300 since hostilities with Iran began on February 28. Military officials reported Friday that 273 of those injured have already been cleared to return to active duty. The ongoing conflict has claimed the lives of 13 U.S. troops.

Emergency crews rushed to downtown Toronto on Friday following reports of a rooftop blaze at a construction site, with witnesses reporting potential explosions as thick smoke billowed from the structure.

The incident occurred at a building under development situated in a heavily populated section near Toronto’s central business district.

According to Toronto Paramedic Service officials, emergency responders had reached the location and reported no injuries during their initial assessment of the scene.

Top diplomatic officials from Russia and Iran met Friday to explore potential pathways toward resolving the current Middle East crisis through negotiations, according to a statement from Moscow’s foreign ministry.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held discussions with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araqchi about diplomatic alternatives to the ongoing conflict. According to the ministry’s announcement, the officials examined “in detail the most difficult military-political crisis in the Middle East, which erupted as a result of unprovoked American-Israeli aggression against Iran.”

The diplomatic meeting focused on exploring ways to transition the current hostilities toward peaceful resolution. “There was an exchange of views on the prospects of shifting the conflict into a channel for a political-diplomatic settlement based on international law and taking into account the legitimate interests of all countries in the region,” the ministry stated.

During their conversation, Lavrov also briefed his Iranian colleague on Russia’s latest humanitarian aid delivery to Iran, the statement revealed.

The two nations recently formalized their relationship through a comprehensive strategic partnership that encompasses political, economic, military, and energy collaboration, though it stops short of including mutual defense commitments.

Moscow has been utilizing Iranian-manufactured drones in its ongoing four-year military campaign in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, at a G7 gathering on Friday, European foreign ministers raised concerns with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio about Russia’s alleged assistance to Iran in targeting American military personnel in the Middle East conflict.

According to two Western intelligence sources and a regional official with ties to Tehran who spoke to Reuters, Russia has been supplying satellite intelligence to Iran and has assisted in enhancing Iranian drone technology to match the capabilities of those deployed by Russian forces in Ukraine.

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels issued a stark warning Friday, declaring their readiness for direct military action if additional nations align with the United States and Israel in their conflict against Iran, or if Red Sea waters are utilized to launch strikes against the Islamic Republic.

“We confirm that our fingers are on the trigger for direct military intervention” should any new partnerships emerge to support Washington and Israel against Iran and its allies, or if the Red Sea becomes a staging ground for “hostile operations” against Iran, declared military spokesman Yahya Saree during a broadcast address.

Saree further indicated the Houthis stood ready to respond if what he characterized as escalating actions against Iran and the “axis of resistance” persisted, though he provided no specifics about potential intervention methods.

This declaration heightens concerns about expanded regional warfare, especially considering the Houthis’ demonstrated capacity to attack distant targets and interfere with maritime traffic around the Arabian Peninsula.

Tehran’s Shiite partners in Lebanon and Iraq have already entered the regional conflict sparked by American and Israeli operations against Iran. Until this announcement, the Houthis had not declared direct participation in the war, despite possessing significant military resources and controlling strategic territory overlooking the Red Sea.

During his address, Saree emphasized the group would prevent Red Sea usage for “hostile operations” against Iran or any Muslim nation. He also cautioned against further intensification of what he termed “the blockade on Yemen.”

Saree demanded immediate cessation of U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and allied nations, including Palestinian areas, Lebanon and Iraq, while calling for Gaza ceasefire implementation.

Following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, assault on Israel that sparked the Gaza conflict, the Houthis initiated attacks on international vessels in the Red Sea, claiming solidarity with Palestinians.

The organization also fired drones and missiles toward Israel, prompting Israeli counterstrikes and U.S. military operations against Houthi positions in Yemen.

The Houthis suspended these attacks following a U.S.-mediated ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in October 2025.

A federal appeals court has reversed a massive $16.1 billion ruling against Argentina, throwing out a lower court decision that would have required the South American nation to pay former shareholders of a seized energy company.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in New York overturned the 2023 decision on Friday, which had ordered Argentina to compensate two investment firms — Petersen Energía and Petersen Energía Inversora — for the government’s takeover of a controlling interest in YPF Energy more than a decade ago.

Argentine President Javier Milei hailed the court’s decision as a major victory for his country. “It’s historic, unthinkable, the greatest judicial victory in national history,” Milei posted on X.

The president also criticized former left-wing leader Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, whose government carried out the YPF takeover in 2012. “Because I’m Milei, I’ll say it the Milei way,” he wrote, adding that his government has “cleaned up the mess” left by the former leader.

Kirchner is currently serving a house arrest sentence that began in 2025, after receiving a six-year prison term for corruption charges.

Last June, U.S. District Judge Loretta Preska had directed Argentina to hand over its 51% majority ownership in YPF as part of the compensation package for the plaintiffs. However, the appeals court suspended that directive two months later.

Milei, who faces challenges in restoring the country’s drained foreign currency reserves and has promised to sell off government-owned enterprises, has repeatedly criticized his political rivals for the legal consequences stemming from the YPF takeover.

The government’s seizure of Argentina’s biggest energy corporation in 2012 further hurt the nation’s reputation internationally by adding to its track record of defaulting on global financial commitments.

The investment firms were able to bring their lawsuit against YPF in American courts because the energy company trades on the New York Stock Exchange.

Following the nationalization, YPF has expanded development of Argentina’s extensive shale gas deposits in the Vaca Muerta formation located in Patagonia. Oil production from Vaca Muerta has grown consistently, hitting nearly 600,000 barrels daily in January, representing about 68% of the country’s total output. YPF announced a $5 billion profit in 2025, marking its best financial performance in a decade.

PARIS (AP) — Secretary of State Marco Rubio forcefully rejected claims made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that the Trump administration is requiring Ukraine to surrender its eastern Donbas territory to Russia as a condition for receiving U.S. security assurances in any potential ceasefire agreement.

Following a Group of Seven summit in France on Friday, Rubio addressed reporters and firmly contradicted Zelenskyy’s recent statements, emphasizing that America has imposed no such conditions during negotiations with Ukraine.

“That’s a lie,” Rubio stated. “And I saw him say that. And it’s unfortunate he would say that because he knows that’s not true and that’s not what he was told.”

During a Reuters interview published earlier this week, Zelenskyy claimed Washington was linking its security guarantee offer to Ukraine’s willingness to abandon the Donbas region, an industrial area that Russian President Vladimir Putin has long sought to control. While Russian military forces control most of this territory, they have yet to capture a heavily defended section along the front lines.

According to Zelenskyy, President Donald Trump seeks to conclude the Ukrainian conflict as America concentrates on its confrontation with Iran.

“The Americans are prepared to finalize these guarantees at a high level once Ukraine is ​ready to withdraw from Donbas,” Zelenskyy told Reuters.

Rubio countered these allegations, explaining that the U.S. has simply communicated Russia’s position without endorsing it. He clarified that security guarantees would only be possible once hostilities cease, and America remains committed to facilitating peace negotiations.

“We’ve told the Ukrainian side what the Russians are insisting on,” he explained. “We’re not advocating for it. We’ve explained it to them. It’s their choice to make. It’s not for us to make for them. We’ve never told them they have to take it or leave it. The role we have played is to try to figure out what both sides want, and see if we can bridge the middle ground.”

Ukraine’s presidential office chose not to address the conflicting accounts.

Putin seeks complete Ukrainian withdrawal from the Donbas region, which experts say would provide Moscow with a permanent strategic position to menace other Ukrainian territories.

Rubio mentioned that American officials met with Ukrainian representatives in Florida the previous week, though no additional discussions are currently planned. He also confirmed that while no U.S. military equipment destined for Ukraine has been redirected to Middle East operations, such diversions remain possible if required.

“If we need something for America and it’s American, we’re going to keep it for America first,” Rubio declared. “But as of now, that has not happened.”

The Associated Press previously reported that American Patriot missile defense systems have been relocated from European positions to the Middle East as Washington shifts resources toward its Iranian conflict. Zelenskyy has cautioned that Kyiv will “definitely” experience Patriot system shortages due to the Iranian war.

BOGOTA, Colombia — A memorial service took place Friday in Colombia’s capital to pay tribute to 69 security personnel who perished in a devastating military aircraft accident earlier this week.

The ceremony at a Bogota church featured photographs of each victim displayed near the altar, creating a solemn tribute to those who lost their lives. Survivors of the crash participated in the prayer service, with some using wheelchairs and receiving medical assistance, while others bore visible injuries including bandaged limbs and struggled with mobility.

The tragedy unfolded Monday when a Colombian Aerospace Force C-130 Hercules transport plane went down moments after departure from Puerto Leguizamo, located in Colombia’s Amazon territory. The aircraft was carrying 126 security force personnel when it crashed, leaving 57 survivors.

“We are deeply pained by what has happened, because when a soldier or a police officer falls, a part of our military family is broken,” said Gen. Hugo Alejandro López, commander of the Military Forces, during the religious ceremony.

During the service, a clergy member recited each victim’s name individually, declaring they had “offered their lives in service to the homeland.”

Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed sympathy to grieving families and promised institutional support during their time of loss.

“For some, it would be the last flight they would ever take in this world — one that would carry them toward the eternal flight. For others — those who survived — it was, in a sense, being born again,” said Sánchez.

The nation observed a three-day period of national mourning following what ranks among the country’s most devastating aviation disasters in recent years. Officials continue examining the crash causes, having eliminated the possibility of an attack by illegal armed groups while focusing their investigation on aircraft conditions, runway factors, and crew circumstances.

The incident has sparked renewed discussion about Colombia’s aging military aircraft inventory. President Gustavo Petro, the nation’s first leftist leader, questioned the operational approval of what he called such an old aircraft, pointing out its 1983 manufacturing date and 2020 donation from the United States.

Petro has also stressed the importance of updating the country’s Hercules fleet, which consists of military transport planes designed to operate from basic, unpaved airstrips.

MEXICO CITY — Mexican officials announced Friday they have discovered potential signs of life for approximately one-third of the nation’s 130,000 officially missing persons, sparking immediate backlash from search organizations who view the claim as an effort to minimize the severity of Mexico’s disappearance emergency.

Through cross-checking vaccination databases, birth certificates, marriage records, and tax documents, authorities determined that 40,367 individuals — roughly 31% of reported missing cases — have shown some form of government record activity after being declared disappeared.

Top security official Marcela Figueroa stated this evidence suggests these individuals could still be living.

Employing this investigative approach and working alongside various search organizations, Figueroa reported that officials successfully located 5,269 people who have now been classified as “found.”

Figueroa characterized numerous instances as “voluntary absences,” providing examples such as men abandoning their families for other relationships being listed as missing, and women fleeing domestic violence situations.

“Not all disappearances are the same,” she said, adding that the government was constantly working to locate Mexico’s missing people.

However, Héctor Flores, who leads a search organization in Jalisco state — the epicenter of Mexico’s disappearance emergency — labeled Friday’s announcement as “misleading” and criticized the government’s lack of methodological transparency.

Organizations like Flores’ have long accused officials of attempting to minimize the disappeared population to improve Mexico’s international image. The historical lack of accountability in such situations has created deep mistrust among families who worry that registry modifications could eliminate legitimate cases and obstruct search operations.

“For us, it’s just another attempt by the administration to hide and downplay the numbers and continue to paint a picture that doesn’t reflect the reality of what we’re living through,” said Flores, whose 19-year-old son was forcibly disappeared by agents from the Jalisco state prosecutor’s office in 2021.

Friday’s data revealed that 46,000 cases — representing 36% of registered disappearances — contained incomplete information such as missing names and dates, making investigation efforts impossible.

Additionally, 43,128 cases, or 33%, displayed no recorded government database activity. Among these, fewer than 10% are currently under criminal investigation, which Figueroa acknowledged represents a failure by Mexican law enforcement.

Figueroa also announced enhanced “monitoring” of regional prosecutor offices that have neglected to properly investigate and document missing person cases, while working to increase the number of active investigations.

“Society and the families can trust in the records and better tools to search for people,” Figueroa said.

These revised statistics represent part of a broader initiative to organize a complex database connected to collective trauma affecting the Latin American country, highlighting an intense debate over Mexico’s tracking of its disappearance crisis.

Criminal cartels have historically used forced disappearances as a control mechanism through intimidation while simultaneously hiding murder statistics. The 130,000 registered missing persons since 2006 could populate a small city, with missing person flyers covering walls throughout Mexico’s major urban areas.

This debate has persisted for years but intensified during former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s 2018-2024 administration. His government initiated a disappeared persons census after alleging previous statistics were exaggerated to damage his reputation.

Widespread criticism in 2023 resulted in the resignation of the official overseeing the search for disappeared individuals.

Mexican authorities have maintained that the official disappearance registry represents an overcount, frequently compromised by inaccurate local prosecutor data and instances where individuals are reported missing multiple times.

Search organizations like Flores’ group and the U.N. Committee on Enforced Disappearances contend the actual numbers likely exceed official statistics due to local government failures, family fears about reporting cases, and insufficient “clear and transparent” information.

The Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez Human Rights Center released a Friday statement welcoming data reliability improvements but criticized how officials presented the information as “minimizes the state’s responsibility” in the disappearance crisis while providing little assistance to families who frequently must conduct independent searches for missing relatives.

BERLIN, March 27 – German Chancellor Friedrich Merz pledged Friday to exhaust all efforts to rescue the troubled FCAS fighter jet program being developed jointly with France and Spain, while pushing for enhanced collaboration across Europe’s defense manufacturing sector.

Speaking at a conference organized by the FAZ newspaper, Merz emphasized the critical importance of the defense industry to Germany’s economic future. “The future of German industry is now at stake, and this industry is heavily dependent on the defence sector,” the chancellor stated, declaring he would “fight until the very last moment” for collaborative European initiatives like FCAS.

Merz announced that two mediators – one French and one German – have been designated to develop solutions for ensuring the program’s continuation by the conclusion of next month.

The ambitious initiative to create an advanced air combat system faces potential collapse due to a public disagreement over project leadership between France’s Dassault Aviation and Airbus, which serves as the representative for Germany and Spain in the massive 100-billion-euro undertaking.

Additionally, the chancellor revealed that Germany’s government plans to acquire an ownership position in KNDS, the Franco-German manufacturer of Leopard tanks, aiming to maintain strategic influence before the company’s anticipated public offering later this year, which could value the firm between 20-25 billion euros.

Previous Reuters reporting from February indicated that Berlin was preparing to purchase a minority ownership stake of at least 25.1% in KNDS, according to sources with knowledge of the discussions.