Category: World News

A dispute has erupted between a United States mining corporation with backing from billionaires Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates and Belgium’s AfricaMuseum regarding who should have the right to digitize historical maps from the colonial period of what is today the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The mining startup KoBold Metals stated it had proposed assisting the DRC with digitizing the colonial-period collection, which sits on museum shelves extending approximately 500 meters and holds millions of records documenting how Congo’s mineral resources were charted and extracted.

“We scan, we digitise the documents, and make them accessible to the public immediately,” Benjamin Katabuka, Director General for KoBold Metals in DRC, told Reuters.

“This country needs more investment in exploration, and we need the data to be available to the public to make that happen,” he added.

The Belgian institution, with support from Belgian officials, has declined the offer, stating it already maintains a separate initiative with the DRC to digitize the information, funded by the European Union.

“We cannot delegate the management of collections to private companies; it would go against all scientific and institutional ethics,” museum director Bart Ouvry told Reuters.

KoBold obtained authorization last year to explore for lithium and additional minerals in DRC and established agreements with Kinshasa to digitize information, including materials housed in Belgium, according to the company.

Katabuka explained that the DRC government made the request for archive access. “KoBold is coming to support the project, technically and financially,” he stated.

KoBold referenced a 2022 Belgian statute that established a system for returning colonial-period collections to African nations. Archives, however, are not included in this framework.

Ouvry explained the museum is collaborating with Congo’s National Geological Service to digitize and distribute the geological archives through a project anticipated to require up to five years. Information would be accessible in both nations “in accordance with Belgian and European law,” he noted.

Congo’s ministry of mines did not respond to requests for comment.

The museum’s comprehensive archive, situated just outside Brussels in Tervuren, contains materials that are handwritten, delicate and still not completely cataloged, according to the head of the museum’s earth sciences department.

Belgium’s King Leopold II claimed Congo in 1885 for his personal profit – the territory was ransacked and the population endured severe violence. The King controlled it as his personal domain until 1908, when it transitioned to a Belgian colony.

Ouvry stated the archives remain accessible, duplicates can be furnished upon request, and private corporations must provide a support letter from the DRC government to examine geological maps.

A Belgian government representative for foreign affairs described the geological archives as a public resource. “Belgium cannot, under any circumstances, grant exclusive access to a foreign company or private entity with which it does not have a contractual relationship,” spokesperson Florinda Baleci stated.

International rivalry for essential minerals is intensifying and DRC contains abundant deposits of lithium, copper, cobalt and coltan. The nation’s ministry of mines calculates that 90% of potential resources remain undeveloped.

KoBold represents one of multiple U.S. corporations expanding operations in Congo as Washington strengthens a strategic alliance with Kinshasa to secure supplies and decrease dependence on China for materials required for batteries, electronics and defense systems.

Nearly 900 people have lost their lives across the Middle East following the outbreak of hostilities between the United States, Israel, and Iran that began on February 28. The conflict has rapidly expanded beyond the initial combatants, pulling in Gulf nations that house American military installations and drawing Lebanon into the violence.

The following casualty figures represent reports from participating nations as of March 3, marking the fourth day of warfare. These death counts have not been independently confirmed by Reuters.

Iran has suffered the heaviest losses, with the Iranian Red Crescent Society documenting 787 fatalities. Among the most tragic incidents was a missile attack that struck a primary school in the southern city of Minab on the conflict’s opening day, killing 165 schoolgirls and staff members. Officials have not clarified whether military personnel from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps are included in the overall death count.

Israeli casualties stand at 10 civilians, with nine of those deaths occurring when an Iranian missile hit Beit Shemesh near Jerusalem on March 1, as reported by Magen David Adom, Israel’s ambulance service. The Israel Defense Forces has not reported any military fatalities.

Lebanon’s health ministry confirms 50 people have died in Israeli airstrikes on Lebanese territory.

Several Gulf states have also reported casualties. Bahrain’s interior ministry confirmed one death after a fire erupted in Salman Industrial City following the interception of a missile. Kuwait has lost three people, including two soldiers, in Iranian attacks according to the country’s health and foreign ministries. The United Arab Emirates defense ministry reports three fatalities.

Maritime casualties include one person killed when a projectile struck the Marshall Islands-flagged product tanker MKD VYOM off Oman’s coast near Muscat.

American military losses total six service members who died in an attack on a facility in Kuwait, according to U.S. Central Command.

Sri Lanka’s naval forces successfully rescued no fewer than 30 individuals from a failing Iranian vessel in waters close to the island nation on Wednesday, according to the country’s foreign minister who addressed parliament about the incident.

The rescue operation was launched by Sri Lanka’s navy following an emergency distress signal received from the Iranian vessel, a defense ministry representative confirmed earlier Wednesday.

While Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath provided no additional specifics about the incident, he indicated that Sri Lanka would pursue proper measures in response to the situation.

Reports from regional news outlets indicated the vessel experienced difficulties off Galle’s coastline in the nation’s southern region, with those who sustained injuries being transported to a medical facility in Galle for treatment.

BEIJING – A pair of high-ranking Chinese Communist Party leaders were notably missing from Wednesday’s launch of China’s most significant annual political gatherings, as ongoing investigations continue to shake the party’s upper echelons.

General Zhang Youxia, who holds China’s top military position, was nowhere to be seen among the 23 members of the party’s politburo during the opening ceremony of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, according to eyewitness accounts. Also absent was Ma Xingrui, who previously served as the party’s leading official overseeing China’s western Xinjiang region.

Zhang, who also serves as vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, has been under official investigation since January. Meanwhile, Ma has remained out of public view since the end of October.

The absences highlight the continuing shake-up within China’s Communist Party leadership as officials face scrutiny in what observers describe as a significant purge of senior party members.

Iranian authorities have announced plans for a three-day farewell ceremony honoring Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who died Saturday following joint airstrikes by the United States and Israel, according to state media reports.

Hojjatoleslam Mahmoudi, who leads Iran’s Islamic Propagation Council, revealed that the memorial service will commence Wednesday evening and extend through three days. Details regarding the funeral procession will be released at a later time.

Beginning at 10 p.m. local time (6:30 p.m. EST), members of the public will have the opportunity to view Khamenei’s remains at the Imam Khomeini Prayer Hall in Tehran, the official announced.

“The Mosalla (prayer hall) will be receiving visitors and the dear people can attend and take part in the farewell ceremony and mark a strong presence once again,” Mahmoudi stated to Iranian media outlets.

Khamenei, who was 86 years old at the time of his death, had maintained strict control over Iran for decades through policies centered on opposition to both the United States and Israel. Iranian state media confirmed his death resulted from the coordinated military strikes conducted over the weekend.

Legislators in the Philippines have directed Vice President Sara Duterte to address impeachment charges filed against her, after a committee determined there was merit to serious accusations on Wednesday.

The House of Representatives’ justice committee found sufficient grounds for allegations that include unexplained wealth accumulation, improper use of government funds, and making death threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Sara Duterte, whose father Rodrigo Duterte previously served as the nation’s president, is widely considered a leading candidate for the 2028 presidential race and has publicly stated her intention to seek the presidency. Last year, she successfully weathered a previous impeachment attempt that the Supreme Court ultimately dismissed for constitutional violations.

Should the Senate find her guilty during a trial, Duterte would lose her current position and be permanently barred from any future government roles.

Her legal representatives have not yet provided a statement regarding the impeachment proceedings.

The committee’s decision on Wednesday highlights the dramatic deterioration of relations between two political powerhouses from influential families who initially won office together in 2022 before their alliance crumbled into rivalry.

Prior to any formal vote on proceeding with an impeachment trial, House members will review Duterte’s response to the accusations, should she choose to provide one, along with any additional statements from those who filed the complaints.

The accusations against the vice president encompass the inappropriate use of classified government funds, accepting bribes, possessing wealth without clear sources, and making public statements threatening the assassination of Marcos, his spouse, and a relative who served as House speaker.

Representative Leila de Lima, who supported one of the complaints against Duterte, told Reuters: “This is a very good development that the process of accountability is now moving.”

Originally, four separate impeachment complaints were submitted against Duterte, though the number was reduced after one was rejected due to regulations preventing such filings within one year of a previous submission. Another complaint was voluntarily withdrawn to expedite the process since it contained similar allegations to another filing.

Last month, Marcos himself successfully avoided a separate impeachment effort when his congressional supporters voted to reject it.

JERUSALEM – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accomplished a longtime goal of striking Iran’s leadership, but cracks are showing in his partnership with U.S. President Donald Trump as their combined military operation continues with potentially evolving objectives.

When the bombing operation began Saturday, both leaders initially stated that changing Iran’s government was their aim. However, during White House comments Monday – just two days after Israeli airstrikes eliminated Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and key leadership figures – Trump avoided mentioning government overthrow as his primary objective.

Instead, Trump outlined U.S. priorities as eliminating Iran’s missile arsenal and naval forces while preventing nuclear weapon development. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth reinforced this position during a press briefing, stating the mission was not a “so-called regime-change war.”

Netanyahu maintains a different stance, continuing to urge Iranian citizens to rise up against their government as recently as Monday evening. “We’re going to create the conditions, first, for the Iranian people to get control of their destiny,” he stated during a Fox News interview.

When asked about the differing approaches, a White House official speaking anonymously to Reuters confirmed the two nations have separate military objectives. “Regime change is one of theirs,” the official explained.

Leading up to the conflict, Netanyahu successfully persuaded Trump this represented a critical moment to stop Tehran’s nuclear ambitions and eliminate ballistic missile threats. Trump indicated the operation might last “four or five weeks” or “whatever it takes.”

“I don’t get bored, I never get bored,” Trump responded Monday when questioned about maintaining sustained attention on the operation.

Israeli officials privately recognize that Trump will ultimately determine when hostilities end. Dan Shapiro, who served as U.S. ambassador to Israel during the Obama years, suggested Trump might seek an “early off-ramp” from the conflict.

“If President Trump decides that he’s reached the end of this operation before Netanyahu wants it to end, he’s still going to end it,” stated Shapiro, now with the Atlantic Council think-tank in Washington.

Domestic pressures could influence Trump’s decision-making as the war extends and expands. American public opinion opposes the operation, with Reuters/Ipsos polling showing only 25% support for U.S. strikes against Iran. Primary elections began Tuesday in crucial swing states Texas and North Carolina that may determine congressional control following fall midterm contests.

The crisis has disrupted shipping and energy sectors, with gasoline prices climbing 11 cents per gallon this week in the U.S., while global market spikes suggest further increases ahead. These rising costs could serve as daily reminders of affordability challenges facing many Americans.

Domestically, Israel support has become increasingly partisan, with 59% of Americans now viewing Israel’s government unfavorably – up from 51% one year ago, according to October Pew Research Center data.

Neither the White House nor Netanyahu’s office provided responses to comment requests.

Throughout most of the past thirty years in power, Netanyahu has frequently disagreed with American presidents, particularly when he publicly criticized former Democratic President Barack Obama’s Iran nuclear negotiations. The Biden administration also clashed with Netanyahu and restricted certain weapons deliveries during Israel’s Gaza military operations.

Following Trump’s 2025 return to office, Netanyahu held seven presidential meetings and used numerous phone conversations to redirect attention from Gaza toward Iran’s missile and nuclear programs, presenting Tehran’s religious leadership as a mutual threat, according to a U.S. official with direct knowledge of their discussions.

While Trump sent representatives to nuclear negotiations with Iran in Geneva and Oman, both countries had spent months preparing their military strategy, with attack timing determined weeks earlier, an Israeli official revealed.

Netanyahu’s final Trump meeting occurred during a hastily scheduled February 11, 2026 visit featuring a three-hour White House session unusually closed to media coverage. The following day, the USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier – the world’s largest warship – left the Caribbean, where it supported Venezuelan military operations, heading for the Mediterranean.

“I have tried to persuade successive American administrations to take firm action, and President Trump did,” Netanyahu told Fox News Monday.

Trump dismissed suggestions that Israel forced America into war, telling White House reporters Tuesday: “Based on the way the negotiation was going, I think they were going to attack first, and I didn’t want that to happen. So if anything I might have forced Israel’s hand.”

For 76-year-old Netanyahu, leading a war that most Israelis support offers an opportunity to cement his political legacy before October elections, where he confronts significant challenges. His far-right coalition shows internal divisions, he faces corruption charges he denies, and Israelis continue processing a multi-front conflict that started in 2023, which Netanyahu promised would reshape Middle Eastern dynamics.

Israel’s longest-serving prime minister has demonstrated exceptional political survival skills previously. Although consecutive polls predict his October defeat, Netanyahu retains realistic victory chances if Israeli casualties and economic war costs stay minimal, according to Tel Aviv University political scientist Udi Sommer.

“If it succeeds, relatively quickly (like) in June 2025, it will work very much in his favour as Israel’s protector and the one who had woven a particularly successful relationship with the administration in Washington,” Sommer explained.

Netanyahu’s security reputation suffered devastating damage on October 7, 2023, when Iran-supported Hamas militants executed a surprise assault on Israel, killing over 1,200 people and capturing 251 hostages.

This triggered a two-year Gaza military campaign against Hamas – Israel’s longest war – which has resulted in at least 72,000 Palestinian deaths according to health officials, destroyed much of the territory, and caused Israel’s highest military casualties in decades.

Netanyahu has refused responsibility for October 7 security failures while highlighting Israel’s subsequent success in weakening Iranian proxies Hamas and Lebanon’s Hezbollah. Their Syrian ally Bashar al-Assad has also been removed from power.

Even achieving military success in Iran won’t eliminate anger among many Israeli voters, including within Netanyahu’s right-wing base, said political analyst Amotz Asa-el from Jerusalem’s Shalom Hartman research institute.

“The past three years’ events have been so traumatic and so dramatic and so revolting to that swing vote that I don’t think any kind of salvation in Iran will offset this,” he concluded.

Myanmar’s military government declared Wednesday it will implement strict fuel rationing measures for private cars, citing Middle East conflicts that have disrupted global oil supply chains.

The National Defence and Security Council announced the new restrictions will take effect March 7, 2026, as a direct result of what they termed “global political situations” and armed conflicts in the Middle East that have blocked oil transport routes.

The rationing system will operate on an “even-odd” basis, where vehicles with even-numbered license plates can only operate on even calendar dates, while odd-numbered plates are restricted to odd dates. Electric cars and motorcycles will not be subject to these limitations.

Officials warned against fuel hoarding and price gouging, stating that anyone caught stockpiling gasoline for resale at higher prices will face criminal charges.

International shipping expenses have skyrocketed due to the continuing U.S. and Israeli conflict with Iran and the practical shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, which has severely impacted oil tankers heading to Asian destinations.

The Southeast Asian nation depends heavily on processed fuel imports from Singapore and Malaysia, both major refining centers for Middle Eastern oil.

While these supply chain problems have already created shortages, alternative fuel sources remain accessible through Russia and neighboring Thailand.

Citizens in Yangon, the nation’s economic center, worry the rationing measures will increase living expenses and add more complications to daily routines in a city already struggling with electrical blackouts.

“Operating vehicles on alternating even and odd days based on license plate numbers is an incredibly frustrating system for people in a city like Yangon, where we depend so heavily on cars,” said one Yangon resident.

Rising fuel costs have already made meeting demand challenging, which raises concerns about the nation’s emergency fuel stockpiles, the resident noted.

In the border community of Myawaddy, gas stations completely ran out of fuel by March 3 evening, forcing temporary closures and prompting locals to travel to gas stations across the border in Thailand’s Mae Sot.

“Since yesterday, many people have been crossing over to the Mae Sot side to fill up their tanks. I went to stand in line myself and saw a massive number of vehicles queuing up at Thai gas stations,” the resident said.

The country has remained unstable since 2021, when military forces removed the democratically elected administration of Nobel Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, triggering widespread resistance movements that have developed into a countrywide armed conflict.

NEW YORK (AP) — Military operations involving the United States and Israel in Iran have created major disruptions for air travel throughout the Middle East, leaving thousands of passengers stranded with an uncertain outlook ahead.

Aviation specialists warn that scheduled flights in upcoming days and weeks may face continued interruptions, creating worldwide ripple effects particularly as the conflict expands with counter-attacks in Gulf nations. Airlines serving Gulf airports rely on these facilities as essential connection points for passengers traveling between Europe, Africa and Asia.

With airspace restrictions implemented across the region, numerous airlines have been compelled to either scrub flights entirely or reroute through lengthier paths. This situation is putting pressure on operational expenses and fare costs, both potentially rising if carriers must spend more on fuel as the conflict persists. Aviation experts are advising travelers to delay non-essential trips when possible, review refund policies or insurance coverage, and above all, stay informed about safety warnings.

“This situation goes beyond typical delay issues. We’re dealing with restricted airspace in an active conflict area,” explained Hassan Shahidi, president and CEO of the Flight Safety Foundation, emphasizing that suspended operations and guidance from airlines, airports and government agencies could change daily or even hourly. “Passengers need to prepare for unpredictability.”

Following weekend attacks launched by the U.S. and Israel, retaliatory actions and other developments have progressed quickly. Iranian officials report that hundreds of casualties have occurred within their borders. Travel experts emphasize that passengers throughout the region must stay current with safety recommendations and official updates.

Several nations have released travel warnings and emergency departure instructions. On Monday, the U.S. State Department advised all American citizens to exit Iran and Israel immediately, along with Qatar, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestinian territories, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen through whatever commercial transport remains available. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged media outlets to promote evacuation assistance for Americans. Simultaneously, nations including China, Italy, France and Germany began coordinating departure plans for their nationals.

Aviation experts like Shahidi recommend that travelers stay updated on these governmental and embassy advisories to ensure access to current information. Given the large number of people still stuck due to extensive cancellations and airspace restrictions, he suggests reconsidering or rebooking planned trips when feasible.

“When travel isn’t mandatory, think about delaying it,” Shahidi advised. “However, if the trip is essential, ensure you purchase refundable or flexible tickets.”

Passengers should also track announcements from airports and carriers. International airlines Etihad Airways and Emirates, operating from Abu Dhabi and Dubai respectively, plus Qatar Airways based in Doha have all paused specific routes, referencing airspace restrictions and safety protocols.

Numerous carriers are processing refund requests or providing complimentary rebooking options, though these alternatives often apply only to particular dates or destinations. Travelers need to examine individual airline websites for detailed information. For upcoming journeys, purchasing refundable fares now could offer greater flexibility.

Apart from airline-provided options, some passengers may consider travel insurance. However, careful review of policy details is crucial, especially exclusions listed in specific plans.

“Military actions and civil disorder are usually not covered since they cannot be predicted,” stated Suzanne Morrow, CEO of travel insurance company InsureMyTrip. Customers might still obtain coverage for delays, she noted, but travel insurance aims to “restore your situation,” and when airlines provide rebooking or refunds, additional claims may not apply.

Christina Tunnah from World Nomads Travel Insurance confirms that most of her company’s policies exclude coverage for war-related losses, though compensation might be available in specific situations, such as purchasing a “cancel for any reason” option. The traveler would still need to cancel within designated timeframes.

Tunnah notes that once an incident becomes public knowledge, coverage becomes unlikely. Therefore, consumers who haven’t already bought travel insurance may find that many insurers have implemented new restrictions for affected destinations.

In addition to cancellations, many airlines are now using extended routes to bypass restricted airspace. Shahidi observed this includes not only current conflict-related closures but also restrictions from other ongoing global conflicts.

Managing these various conflict areas has grown more challenging for airlines since longer routes increase costs. Industry practice requires carriers to pay “overflight fees” when crossing other nations’ airspace, which may now be more frequent. Extended flights also consume additional fuel.

“Passengers will bear these additional costs,” explained Bryan Terry, managing director at Alton Aviation Consultancy. Should the conflict persist, he predicted, travelers should “expect some airlines to implement fuel surcharges” or raise current fees.

Travelers have already noticed dramatically increased ticket prices. Experts believe these immediate spikes reflect supply and demand dynamics following thousands of recent flight cancellations. However, expenses from extended routing combined with oil prices that have already risen since U.S. and Israeli attacks began could affect consumers in the longer term.

Crude oil pricing directly impacts jet fuel costs, which represented approximately 30% of airline operating expenses in 2024, based on International Air Transport Association research.

Numerous routes scheduled within the coming week are either completely booked or feature extremely high prices for remaining seats. Current market conditions show these costs, though still elevated, are reduced for trips booked further ahead, Terry observes. But again, if the conflict extends or intensifies, “circumstances could shift instantly.”

BEIJING – A Chinese parliamentary spokesperson announced Wednesday that Beijing remains open to strengthening dialogue with Washington across multiple levels, though the nation will continue defending what it calls its fundamental principles and boundaries.

Lou Qinjian made these remarks during a press briefing ahead of Thursday’s opening of the National People’s Congress annual gathering, where Chinese leaders will announce their economic goals and policy direction for the coming year.

The timing of these comments is particularly significant as both nations work to improve relations before an anticipated meeting between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping scheduled for late March in Beijing.

According to Lou, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence should guide the relationship between the two superpowers.

“China has its own principles and red lines, and as always, will resolutely defend its sovereignty, security and development interests,” he stated during the news conference.

The spokesperson emphasized that direct communication between national leaders plays a crucial and “irreplaceable strategic role” in managing bilateral relations. He encouraged both countries to “expand the list of cooperation (areas) while reducing the list of problems.”

Lou also appealed to American lawmakers to approach China with an “objective” perspective and take actions that would strengthen ties between the nations.

While a White House representative has verified that Trump plans to visit China from March 31 through April 2, Chinese officials have yet to make their own formal confirmation of the trip.

According to Bloomberg News reports from Tuesday, senior trade officials from both countries are planning to convene in Paris next week to explore possible commercial agreements related to the upcoming presidential meeting.

Malaysian corruption investigators announced Wednesday they are examining potential fraud and misconduct related to a massive $279 million government contract with British semiconductor company Arm Holdings.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission is scrutinizing the 1.1 billion ringgit agreement between the Southeast Asian nation and the chip design firm, according to commission chief Azam Baki during a Wednesday news conference in Kuala Lumpur.

Investigators have already called in a dozen individuals for questioning regarding the Arm Holdings contract, Baki revealed. Those summoned include a former government minister along with officials from Malaysia’s economy ministry and the country’s investment agency.

The corruption commission is examining potential violations including abuse of power, fraudulent activity, and governance failures connected to the semiconductor deal, Baki explained.

“We will investigate this matter in a fair and professional manner,” Baki stated, noting that additional witnesses will be brought in to assist with the ongoing investigation.

The controversial agreement, announced in March 2025, commits Malaysia’s government to paying Arm $250 million over a decade to obtain the company’s semiconductor design blueprints for domestic manufacturers.

Beyond the Arm Holdings probe, authorities are also examining a separate proposed acquisition of IJM Corp by Malaysian business conglomerate Sunway, Baki confirmed.

A commercial oil vessel completed a rare passage through the Strait of Hormuz this week, arriving at a United Arab Emirates facility to collect crude oil despite ongoing Middle Eastern conflicts that have severely impacted regional shipping, according to maritime industry sources and vessel tracking information.

The Suezmax-class tanker Pola disabled its automatic identification system on March 2nd while approaching the strategic waterway, then reactivated the tracking equipment on March 3rd when it appeared near Abu Dhabi, according to LSEG tracking records.

Two industry sources, requesting anonymity due to the delicate nature of the situation, confirmed the ship is bound for Jebel Dhanna port to collect Abu Dhabi Murban crude oil destined for Thailand.

TV Delmarva was unable to reach Dynacom Tankers, the company operating the vessel, for immediate response during after-hours periods.

The ongoing U.S.-Israeli military conflict with Iran has brought Middle Eastern energy shipments to a standstill, as Tehran has launched attacks against maritime vessels and energy infrastructure, effectively shutting down Gulf navigation and forcing oil production halts across nations including Qatar and Iraq.

Maritime data from Vortexa shows that crude oil tanker movements through the strait dropped dramatically to just four ships on March 1st – the day following the outbreak of hostilities – compared to the typical daily average of 24 vessels recorded since January.

The leading U.S. military official overseeing Middle East operations announced that the current conflict with Iran is moving faster than anticipated, as both American and Israeli forces continue striking targets throughout the country while Iran launches counterattacks across the Gulf region.

The ongoing five-day conflict has sent shockwaves through international markets, forcing airlines and travel companies to handle over 20,000 canceled flights while nations work urgently to evacuate citizens stranded across the Middle East.

Israeli defense forces reported Wednesday morning that they had launched a new round of attacks aimed at Iranian missile launch facilities, air defense networks, and critical infrastructure.

Throughout Israel, emergency sirens blared early Wednesday as Iranian rockets approached, with witnesses describing thunderous explosions from intercepted missiles that rattled buildings across the region.

Admiral Brad Cooper, who oversees U.S. Central Command forces in the Middle East, described the initial day of ‘Operation Epic Fury’ attacks against Iran as “nearly double the scale” compared to the opening day of the ‘Shock and Awe’ campaign that launched the 2003 Iraq War.

“We are seeing that Iran’s ability to hit us, and our partners, is declining, while our combat power, on the other hand, is building,” Cooper stated during a video briefing released Tuesday evening. “My overall operational assessment is that we are ahead of our game plan.”

According to Cooper, Iranian air defense capabilities have suffered severe damage, their naval forces have no functioning ships in critical waterways following the destruction of 17 vessels, and coalition forces have successfully targeted more than 2,000 Iranian locations.

Cooper confirmed that approximately 50,000 American service members are participating in the operations, with additional “more capabilities” being deployed to the region.

Military officials on Tuesday released the names of four American soldiers who became the first U.S. casualties in the conflict, as the Trump administration cautioned that the escalating situation would likely result in additional American losses. President Trump has not dismissed the possibility of deploying ground troops.

An individual with knowledge of Israel’s military strategy informed Reuters that the campaign was originally designed to span two weeks but is progressing through planned targets more rapidly than expected, particularly following early victories in eliminating Iranian leadership, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during Saturday’s initial strikes.

President Trump indicated Monday that initial American estimates projected the operation would continue for four to five weeks.

Iranian officials reported Tuesday that fatalities from the attacks have climbed to 787 people. This figure includes 165 schoolgirls who died on the conflict’s first day when their educational facility was bombed, representing the largest single loss of life among multiple civilian locations reportedly struck.

As Iranian citizens evacuate urban areas, the capital city of Tehran has transformed into what observers describe as a deserted metropolis.

“How long will this continue? Where are the shelters? Where is the government?” asked Bijan, a 32-year-old banking professional, speaking to Reuters by phone from Tehran. “Every night my wife and I hide in the basement. The whole city is empty. There is smoke and blood everywhere.”

Israeli forces maintained their campaign against the Iran-backed Hezbollah organization in nearby Lebanon Wednesday, following militant retaliation for the killing of Khamenei, the 86-year-old leader who had governed Iran for 37 years.

Israeli military commanders issued evacuation orders Wednesday for 16 southern Lebanese communities, instructing residents to abandon their homes and warning that anyone remaining near Hezbollah operatives, installations, or weapons would face mortal danger.

Multiple casualties resulted from an Israeli airstrike targeting a four-story apartment building in Baalbek, an eastern Lebanese city, according to the state news agency NNA’s early Wednesday report.

President Trump has defended the Iranian assault, stating he authorized the military campaign because he had “a feeling” Iran would launch an attack following the breakdown of nuclear program negotiations.

Iranian leadership has condemned the conflict as an unprovoked assault.

“We have told the enemy that if you try to harm our main centres, we will hit all economic centres in the region,” declared Revolutionary Guards adviser Ebrahim Jabari through Iranian media outlets.

Iran has launched missile and drone attacks against neighboring Arab nations hosting American military installations and has disrupted maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.

WASHINGTON – Kurdish militia groups from Iran have been holding discussions with United States officials regarding possible military strikes against Iranian security forces operating in the country’s western regions, according to three knowledgeable sources.

The coalition of Iranian Kurdish organizations, operating from bases along the Iran-Iraq border within Iraq’s semiautonomous Kurdish region, has been preparing for such military action with the aim of diminishing Iran’s armed forces capabilities. This preparation coincides with ongoing US and Israeli bombardment of Iranian positions.

According to two sources, the objective behind such an operation would be to provide space for Iranian citizens opposing the Islamic government to stage an uprising, particularly following the deaths of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other senior officials since the US-Israeli offensive commenced Saturday.

Sources speaking anonymously about classified military discussions indicated that no final determination has been reached regarding the operation or when it might occur.

The Kurdish organizations have made requests for American military assistance, while leaders in both Erbil and Baghdad have maintained communication with the Trump administration recently, the sources revealed.

Two sources confirmed that the groups are negotiating with the United States for CIA assistance in obtaining weaponry.

CNN initially reported the CIA’s participation with these groups and the possible ground operation. Axios reported this week that President Trump conducted a phone conversation with two leading figures from Iraqi Kurdistan.

Reuters was unable to independently verify the scope of CIA participation in operational planning, whether weapons had been provided, or if any American personnel would accompany Kurdish forces into Iran.

The CIA refused to provide comment. Neither the White House nor the Pentagon responded immediately to requests for comment.

The Kurdish Regional Government also did not respond immediately to comment requests.

Any military operation launched from Iraq would likely need substantial American military and intelligence backing.

The Pentagon reports that two US installations in Erbil have provided support for the international coalition combating Islamic State fighters.

Kurdish organizations in Iraqi Kurdistan maintain extensive historical cooperation with the US, though their changing loyalties and political philosophies have occasionally created tension with Washington.

America collaborated with certain Kurdish groups in Iraq during both the Iraq War and the campaign against ISIS.

However, the potential effectiveness of Iranian Kurdish groups in combat within Iran remains uncertain. The organizations’ fighters possess different levels of battlefield experience.

A source referenced by CNN explained that the strategy would involve Kurdish armed forces engaging Iranian security personnel to facilitate civilian uprisings in Iranian urban areas.

Regional reactions to such a Kurdish operation in Iran remain unclear.

Armed resistance by Iranian Kurds could significantly impact Iran’s internal stability.

Such action might intensify an existing armed separatist movement among Iran’s ethnic Baluch population, which maintains connections with separatists in Pakistan’s unstable Baluchistan province.

Islamabad would be unlikely to accept any movement toward Baluch independence.

Turkey, which strongly supports Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, views the integration agreement between Damascus and Kurdish forces as essential for reestablishing government control throughout Syria.

Turkey had previously threatened its own military intervention against the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Forces in northern Syria if the group refused to accept central government authority.

Ankara has been advancing its ongoing peace efforts with the banned Kurdistan Workers Party and would likely oppose arming Kurdish groups near its borders.

BEIJING (AP) — China’s ceremonial parliament will convene Thursday in Beijing to reveal the nation’s policy roadmap and economic objectives for the upcoming years.

The annual gathering brings together the National People’s Congress along with its advisory counterpart in the Chinese capital. The National People’s Congress will approve new legislation previously determined by China’s Communist Party leaders. Though the body consists of nearly 3,000 members who cast votes, approval is virtually guaranteed to be unanimous.

Simultaneously convening is the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, an advisory group made up of prominent figures from Chinese society, including business leaders and sports figures. The body also features delegates from China’s ethnic minorities, though it wields minimal influence over policy matters.

This dual assembly is known as the Two Sessions. These political gatherings have transformed during President Xi Jinping’s leadership, becoming more tightly controlled with reduced opportunities for discussion.

“A long, long time ago, it was a venue for policy deliberation,” and even controversial things, said Alfred Wu, a professor of public policy at the National University of Singapore. “Now it’s very much become a showcase, propaganda.”

During the National People’s Congress, China’s premier traditionally reveals the nation’s GDP objectives and additional economic benchmarks for the year ahead.

This year, analysts are anticipating specifics regarding the 15th five-year plan, which the government previewed in draft form last October. The plan is anticipated to emphasize technological advancement and economic independence.

China releases five-year economic plans as guidance for its economy, a practice stemming from its historical centrally-planned economic system.

The Chinese economy continues to struggle, facing elevated youth joblessness, declining property values and reduced consumer spending. The nation also confronts trade disputes with the United States, which has imposed tariffs on Chinese imports.

Analysts suggest China must navigate a challenging balance between advancing its technology manufacturing sectors, including robotics, clean energy and artificial intelligence, while stimulating domestic consumer spending as citizens face economic pressure. Technology supply chains remain limited and benefits don’t reach consumers as effectively.

China will likely reduce its headline growth projection to an unprecedented low, according to predictions from Neil Thomas and Lobsang Tsering, policy analysts at the Asia Society. This would represent a meaningful step in a “shift from high-speed to high-quality growth,” they noted.

China’s parliament expelled 19 members recently, following the widely reported dismissal of two top military leaders in January.

Currently, just one member remains on the influential Central Military Commission, which oversees the armed forces, though policy analysts don’t anticipate personnel announcements during the upcoming Two Sessions. Observers typically monitor attendance carefully for potential signs of political purges.

Xi Jinping has reportedly dismissed as many as 100 senior military officials from the People’s Liberation Army over the past four years, according to recent research from the Center for Strategic Studies, with General Zhang Youxia’s January removal being the most notable.

However, leadership appears in no hurry to name replacements.

“I don’t think they’re particularly worried about this,” said Wu of National University Singapore. He noted that Wang Yi resumed his role as foreign minister after initially stepping down, following the high-profile dismissal of his successor Qin Gang.

The Pentagon released Tuesday the names of four Army Reserve members who lost their lives during the ongoing conflict with Iran, describing them as logistics specialists from various states who ensured troops received essential supplies and equipment.

The service members perished Sunday after a drone struck their command facility at Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, occurring just one day following the joint U.S.-Israeli military offensive against Iran. Iran retaliated by firing missiles and drones at Israel and multiple Gulf nations where American forces are stationed.

The fallen soldiers have been identified as Capt. Cody Khork, 35, from Winter Haven, Florida; Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42, from Bellevue, Nebraska; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39, from White Bear Lake, Minnesota; and Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, from West Des Moines, Iowa, who received a posthumous promotion from specialist. The Pentagon has not disclosed the identities of the remaining two casualties.

“These men and women all bravely volunteered to defend our country, and their sacrifice will never be forgotten,” Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll said.

Each soldier served with the 103rd Sustainment Command, a unit responsible for delivering food, fuel, water, ammunition, transportation equipment and other critical supplies to military personnel.

“Sadly, there will likely be more, before it ends. That’s the way it is,” President Donald Trump said of deaths.

Amor was scheduled to return home within days to reunite with her spouse and two children when the fatal attack occurred.

“You don’t go to Kuwait thinking something’s going to happen, and for her to be one of the first – it hurts,” Joey Amor, her husband, said Tuesday.

Known for her passion for gardening, Amor regularly prepared salsa using peppers and tomatoes from her backyard garden alongside her high school senior son. She also loved rollerblading and cycling with her fourth-grade daughter.

“If you needed anything she would just take care of it for you,” Joey Amor said. “She’s helped a lot of people through a lot of dark times, and brought a lot of light to this world.”

According to Coady’s LinkedIn profile, he attended Drake University while serving as an information technology specialist in the Army Reserve.

He noted that his military experience taught him how to “interact with countless different kinds of people from all different backgrounds” through his service.

Records show Coady earned his Eagle Scout designation in 2020, as announced by his West Des Moines troop on Facebook. A local Iowa charity focused on helping homeless youth reported that he constructed 12 Adirondack chairs for their organization.

Nebraska U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts expressed that he and his spouse are grieving Tietjens’ loss while keeping his family in their prayers.

“May we always remember and honor the sacrifices made by Noah Tietjens and the Tietjens family,” Ricketts said.

Social media profiles indicate Tietjens was married with one child. An online photograph depicts the family together with their son dressed in martial arts attire.

Multiple family photographs appear on Facebook accounts linked to Amor and her husband Joey, including several images featuring their teenage son.

In November, Joey shared a heartfelt message declaring his affection for Nicole.

“Even while you are on the other side of the world you found a way to make my birthday special,” he said. “I love you!”

Moscow has issued a stark warning about Afghanistan’s security situation, claiming the country serves as a base for up to 23,000 international terrorist operatives who pose significant threats to regional stability.

According to Russia’s Foreign Ministry assessment, reported by the South Asia Terrorism Portal and Russian news agency Interfax, Afghanistan’s military and political landscape remains volatile and unpredictable, with terrorist networks serving as the primary source of instability.

The ministry’s analysis indicates that foreign nationals comprise more than half of the estimated 20,000 to 23,000 militants operating within Afghan borders, highlighting ongoing dangers to neighboring nations’ security.

Moscow’s breakdown identifies several major militant organizations: Islamic State-Khorasan Province commands approximately 3,000 fighters, while Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 members. Al-Qaida’s presence ranges from 400 to 1,500 operatives, and the East Turkestan Islamic Movement operates with 300 to 1,200 fighters. The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan fields 150 to 500 militants, with Jamaat Ansarullah maintaining 150 to 250 members.

Russian officials note that the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan primarily operates from Afghanistan’s southeastern and eastern territories, using these areas as launching points for cross-border attacks into Pakistan, further deteriorating relations between the two nations.

The assessment highlights Islamic State-Khorasan Province’s extensive infrastructure, including training compounds and dormant cells throughout various regions. Although not considered an immediate threat to Taliban authority, the group’s activities reportedly undermine perceptions of the Taliban’s capacity to maintain national security.

Despite Taliban efforts to reduce poppy farming, Afghanistan continues as a major narcotics producer. While opium cultivation allegedly decreased by roughly 20% in 2025, methamphetamine manufacturing has increased dramatically.

Notably, Russia stands as the only nation to formally recognize Taliban governance.

Prior to the Foreign Ministry’s concerning assessment, Andrey Serdyukov, Joint Staff chief of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), stated on February 13, 2026, that multiple international extremist and terrorist organizations continue operating within Afghanistan.

Serdyukov cautioned that these groups’ activities threaten broader regional stability, especially for Central Asian nations sharing borders with Afghanistan.

His statements reflected increasing anxiety within the Russia-led security alliance that Afghanistan-based armed networks could destabilize surrounding countries and increase cross-border insecurity.

During a Moscow press briefing, Serdyukov emphasized that extremist and terrorist groups’ continued presence and operations in Afghanistan directly threaten regional security and risk spreading instability to adjacent nations.

Meanwhile, Sergei Shoigu, secretary of Russia’s Security Council, pinpointed the Tajikistan-Afghanistan border as a critical security concern for CSTO member nations, reflecting worries that cross-border militant activity could destabilize the broader region.

The Moscow-based CSTO represents a Russia-led military partnership including Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, dedicated to addressing regional security challenges in Central Asia, including potential spillover from Afghanistan.

Taliban leadership has rejected Russia’s Foreign Ministry assertions regarding 20,000 to 23,000 international armed group members operating in Afghanistan.

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid characterized the figures and their sources as inaccurate, maintaining that no such organizations exist within the country.

Mujahid, reinforcing the regime’s established stance, declared that Afghanistan operates under complete unified control and foreign groups cannot function within the nation.

Since the Taliban’s 2021 return to power, Islamabad has argued that terrorist incidents within Pakistan have increased substantially, primarily due to banned TTP leadership’s presence on Afghan territory.

Pakistan claims it has repeatedly presented Afghan Taliban leadership with solid evidence that Afghan soil is being utilized to conduct attacks inside Pakistan.

However, according to Islamabad, Kabul has not addressed these concerns seriously. Pakistani officials contend that this position has contributed to escalating tensions that have brought the two countries to near-confrontational status.

Recent assessments by credible Russian institutions appear to validate Islamabad’s position.

Some analysts suggest that Moscow may now reconsider its policy toward the Afghan regime.

Previously, UN entities such as the Security Council and its monitoring systems, along with US institutions including the State Department, US Central Command, and United States Institute of Peace, had repeatedly cautioned about this emerging threat, but Russia did not prioritize those evaluations. This time, however, following assessments issued by its own institutions, Moscow may seriously reconsider its approach.

Dr. Andrew Korybko, a Moscow-based scholar and geopolitical analyst, explained to The Media Line that “Russia became the first country to officially recognize the Taliban’s restored rule over Afghanistan in order to develop more meaningful mineral, connectivity, and security cooperation.”

He clarified that “minerals” references Afghanistan’s rare earth resources, while “connectivity” indicates Russian plans to establish Afghanistan as a transit state connecting Russia with South Asia through Central Asia and Afghanistan.

“Understandably, none of these ambitious plans could come to fruition unless the security situation improves, namely through the elimination of foreign terrorists and the de-radicalization and reintegration of domestic ones—if they’re not eliminated in battle first,” Korybko stated.

He contended that the “Russian Foreign Ministry’s latest report was not meant to discredit the Taliban. Its purpose was to highlight the challenges the Taliban faces in controlling such groups.”

Simultaneously, Korybko observed that reports indicated the Taliban might support the TTP and could maintain connections to the Balochistan Liberation Army, noting that both are terrorist organizations that have executed attacks against neighboring Pakistan.

He stressed that “this report does indeed lend credence to Pakistan’s claims even if that wasn’t the intent, and the recent Pakistan-Taliban clashes come just before Prime Minister Sharif’s visit to Russia, meaning his talks with Putin will likely touch on these security issues.”

Syed Khalid Muhammad, executive director of CommandEleven, a Pakistan-based intelligence, consulting, and research organization providing geopolitical and threat analysis and risk assessments, informed The Media Line that “There is a clear shift in relations between Russia and the Afghan Taliban, of which the first indications began to emerge soon after the Taliban was recognized by Moscow. It started with soft public statements, coupled with harsher behind-the-scenes conversations with the Taliban leadership.”

He maintained that “not only Russia but also China, another key ally of Kabul, is reconsidering its approach amid the worsening security situation,” and mentioned that ISIS was connected to the Moscow concert hall attack and the assault on a Chinese restaurant in Kabul, while Beijing also cautioned Kabul following attacks on Chinese workers at mining locations.

According to Muhammad, these incidents, combined with a UN Security Council monitoring report indicating that the Taliban were harboring more than 21 terrorist groups, proved decisive and prompted both countries to reconsider their overall strategies.

He additionally argued that Islamic State group branches maintain connections and training facilities throughout Afghanistan, from the north to the southeast.

Muhammad added that despite previous endorsements of the Taliban’s counter-terrorism efforts, Russia now questions their effectiveness against IS-KP.

Mohsin Durrani, an Islamabad-based expert on regional security affairs, informed The Media Line that “The recent assessment by the Russian Foreign Ministry highlights persistent threats despite Russia’s recognition of the Taliban regime in July 2025.”

He stated that Moscow’s findings corresponded with Pakistan’s longstanding assertions that Afghan territory served as a sanctuary for armed groups, adding that recognizing this shared threat could encourage regional actors to prioritize coordinated security efforts.

Durrani observed that the assessment emphasizes continuing regional security challenges and reflects a more pragmatic, less idealistic relationship between Moscow and Kabul, one characterized by engagement but moderated by concerns over security deficiencies.

He further maintained that for Pakistan, the report provides external validation of its appeals for concrete action against cross-border terrorism, which could help build multilateral pressure to eliminate safe havens and influence broader regional stability strategies.

According to Durrani, a genuine recalibration of Russia’s policy toward conditional support may encourage stronger regional cooperation.

He argued that prioritizing counterterrorism over unconditional accommodation would help establish trust, reduce spillover risks, and support Pakistan’s efforts to achieve lasting peace through verified enforcement measures.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Tuesday that an unmanned aircraft attacked the United States consulate in Dubai, though he emphasized that all American staff members are safe and no one was harmed in the incident.

The Secretary of State’s announcement came after Dubai officials released their own statement about the drone-related event that ignited a fire close to the American diplomatic facility. The Dubai Media Office posted on X: “Dubai authorities have confirmed that a fire resulting from a drone-related incident near the US Consulate has been successfully contained.”

First responders arrived at the location and put out the fire, according to local officials.

People living in the surrounding neighborhood reported to AFP that they heard a powerful blast. One eyewitness described seeing fire near the consulate building moments later. Undercover police officers moved civilians away from nearby roads, which authorities blocked off while security personnel established a protective barrier around the area.

This attack occurs during a period when Dubai and other cities throughout the Gulf region have experienced multiple aerial assaults since Saturday, following intensified American-Israeli military operations against Iran that prompted Iran to launch retaliatory missiles and drones throughout the area.

Authorities have not yet provided additional information regarding who operated the drone or how much damage may have occurred to surrounding structures.

During earlier phases of the conflict, Iranian unmanned aircraft were spotted flying over multiple sites within the United Arab Emirates. Government announcements and news reports documented fires and building damage in sections of Dubai and Abu Dhabi during late Saturday and early Sunday.

Social media footage appeared to capture flames close to the Fairmont hotel on Palm Jumeirah, fire burning along the outside of the Burj Al Arab, and smoke billowing near the Burj Khalifa area.

The Dubai Media Office stated that falling wreckage at Jebel Ali Port started a fire. Officials also confirmed damage occurred at Dubai International Airport, where four workers sustained injuries. Reports indicate that a drone hit Terminal 3, leading to an evacuation, while another strike early Sunday created heavy smoke that rose above the city.

In Abu Dhabi, authorities reported that Zayed International Airport was struck. The attacks in that city resulted in one death and left four others with severe injuries.

Prosecutors in Taiwan announced Wednesday they have filed criminal charges against 62 individuals connected to an international fraud operation known as the Prince Group, which authorities say operated massive scam centers across multiple countries.

The organization’s founder, Chen Zhi, was taken into custody and sent back to China from Cambodia in January. U.S. officials claim his business empire served as a cover for online fraud and money laundering activities worth billions of dollars. Chinese media showed images of Chen being escorted from an aircraft at Beijing’s airport while wearing handcuffs and a hood.

According to Taiwan’s prosecution office, the island nation became one of several locations where Chen moved illegal money through fake companies, purchasing high-end merchandise, expensive automobiles, and property investments.

“This was done to conceal and disguise the source and flow of the criminal proceeds,” prosecutors stated in their announcement.

The prosecution office revealed that Prince Group members transferred approximately T$10.8 billion (equivalent to $339.12 million) into Taiwan from foreign accounts for suspected money laundering activities. With these funds, they acquired 24 real estate properties, 35 automobiles, and accumulated T$55.53 million worth of additional assets including cash, luxury handbags, and footwear.

Taiwan authorities have confiscated more than T$5.5 billion worth of assets during their investigation.

Chen’s current location remains unknown, and attempts to reach him for a response have been unsuccessful.

Last November, the Prince Group issued a denial of any criminal activity through a United States legal firm.

Earlier this week, Taiwan held an auction for 33 high-end vehicles, including Ferrari models, that were confiscated during the probe.

“To conceal and disguise criminal proceeds, they exploited Taiwanese nationals to carry out money-laundering activities in Taiwan through online gambling and underground remittances,” the prosecution office explained.

“This not only seriously disrupted Taiwan’s financial order and social stability, but also damaged Taiwan’s international image.”

Law enforcement agencies throughout Asia, including those in Singapore and Hong Kong, have similarly confiscated assets and arrested people with ties to the Prince Group.

This international scam network developed across Southeast Asia while the pandemic was occurring. Experts believe these operations generate billions annually for criminal organizations by using trafficked workers to target victims worldwide.

President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that American naval forces will safeguard commercial vessels traveling through Middle Eastern waters when needed, while his administration will provide government insurance coverage to protect ocean trade amid rising tensions with Iran that are shaking worldwide energy markets.

Trump took to social media to declare that Washington would supply “at a very reasonable price, political risk insurance and guarantees for ALL Maritime Trade, especially Energy, traveling through the Gulf.” The president emphasized that this initiative “will ensure the FREE FLOW of ENERGY to the WORLD.”

The president’s declaration follows a spike in petroleum and natural gas costs as worries mount over vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway separating Oman from Iran that serves as a lifeline for global supplies. Energy intelligence company Kpler reports that approximately 13 million oil barrels pass through this route daily in 2025, accounting for roughly 31% of worldwide seaborne petroleum deliveries.

Brent crude, the international standard, jumped 2.6% to approximately $80 per barrel and has climbed nearly 10% since hostilities started. Market experts caution that extended disruptions could push costs beyond $100 per barrel.

Iranian officials have announced the waterway’s closure, calling it payback for combined American-Israeli military actions after nuclear talks fell apart. Ebrahim Jabbari, a top advisor to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander-in-chief, stated Monday: “The Strait [of Hormuz] is closed. If anyone tries to pass, the heroes of the Revolutionary Guards and the regular navy will set those ships ablaze.”

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced Saturday that they had blocked the passage. “The ATHE NOVA tanker, one of the American allies in the Strait of Hormuz, is still on fire after being hit by two drones,” the Guards declared in their statement.

The growing hostile language and military strikes have heightened worries about supply shortfalls and additional instability in international energy markets.

Fighter jets targeted the Assembly of Experts facility in Qom, Iran on Tuesday afternoon, just as the religious council was reportedly meeting to select a replacement for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei following his recent death. Social media posts showed the building suffered extensive damage, with reports of casualties among those present.

Despite the attack, Iranian officials announced later that evening that the selection process for new leadership had been finalized. Fars News Agency, which maintains ties to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, stated that officials had evacuated the building beforehand due to security concerns and moved the selection process to virtual meetings.

According to Fars, the results of the leadership vote would be revealed “soon.” The IRGC-linked Tasnim News Agency confirmed that missiles hit the Qom facility. Israeli aircraft also targeted the Assembly’s regular meeting location the same night, suggesting the gathering may have been relocated to Qom as a precaution.

An Iranian journalist speaking to The Media Line explained that if Assembly members were indeed killed or injured in the strike, selecting new leadership would become nearly impossible. The source noted that organizing another meeting would prove extremely challenging given Israel’s intelligence capabilities, and the Assembly might lack the required number of members to make decisions and conduct votes.

The journalist further suggested that Israel’s intelligence penetration might be so comprehensive that the initial strike on the Assembly’s usual building was designed to force members to relocate, allowing for a precisely timed follow-up attack.

Telegram channels connected to Iran’s government indicated that the Assembly was reviewing a pre-compiled candidate list and moving toward a voting decision, though Fars firmly denied any in-person meetings took place.

Sources close to the regime have mentioned several potential candidates, including Mojtaba Khamenei (son of the former leader), Hassan Khomeini (grandson of Ruhollah Khomeini), and Alireza Arafi. None of these individuals possess extensive high-level executive experience, and their influence within the IRGC remains limited, with the exception of Khamenei’s son.

Mojtaba Khamenei, previously considered highly influential in Iran’s financial networks and security apparatus, has reportedly reduced his direct involvement in executive matters over the past year after suspending his religious instruction. His current status remains unclear following the strike on the Khamenei family compound during the joint Israeli-US operation, though reports confirm his wife, Zahra Haddad Adel, was killed in that attack.

The Assembly’s governing rules require at least 59 members present for leadership selection sessions. The new leader must secure two-thirds of votes cast by secret ballot. If conducted remotely, this would mark the first time in the Islamic Republic’s history that a supreme leader was chosen through virtual voting.

Additional candidates mentioned in recent years include Sadeq Larijani and Mohammad Mahdi-Mirbagheri, though both face significant opposition. Ali Larijani’s position has reportedly improved since Khamenei’s death.

Sadeq Larijani, who serves as Supreme National Security Council secretary and brother to Expediency Discernment Council head Sadeq Larijani, could emerge as a pragmatic choice if he can build better relationships with the IRGC and address critics who accuse the Larijani family of seeking power and financial impropriety. During wartime, he might be presented as a candidate focused on the Islamic Republic’s survival.

Fars also reported that Khamenei had not designated a preferred successor before his death. The agency indicated an official announcement could come “in the coming hours, or perhaps in the coming days.”

Three American F-15 fighter jets were accidentally brought down by a Kuwaiti F/A-18 aircraft this past Sunday, according to a Tuesday report from the Wall Street Journal.

The newspaper’s account relies on information from three sources who have knowledge of preliminary findings regarding the incident that occurred March 3rd.

The details surrounding the accidental downing have not been independently confirmed by other news organizations at this time.

Security officials in Qatar announced Wednesday they have successfully broken up two espionage networks tied to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, taking 10 suspected operatives into custody on charges of spying and planning sabotage operations.

According to a statement released through Qatar News Agency, the State Security Service declared: “As part of the ongoing efforts to protect the security of the State and safeguard its stability, the competent authorities have succeeded in arresting two cells operating on behalf of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard within the State of Qatar.”

Authorities revealed that seven of the captured individuals were tasked with collecting intelligence on vital infrastructure and military installations throughout Qatar. The other three suspects were allegedly planning destructive activities and had received training in drone operations. During the investigation, security forces confiscated communication devices along with sensitive data and location coordinates of strategic facilities.

“During investigations, the suspects admitted to their affiliation with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and to being assigned espionage and sabotage missions,” according to Qatar News Agency. The State Security Service has urged both citizens and residents to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activities to authorities.

In a related incident, Qatar’s Defense Ministry reported that Iran launched two ballistic missiles targeting the country. Air defense systems successfully intercepted one missile, while the second struck Al Udeid Air Base. No injuries were reported from the attack.

These developments occur as Qatar and neighboring Gulf nations have endured multiple days of Iranian missile and drone strikes during the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. Qatari leadership stated that security forces are working continuously to address threats and maintain public safety.

This marks the first instance where Doha has openly blamed Iran’s Revolutionary Guard for conducting espionage activities on Qatari soil, signaling a significant change in diplomatic relations as regional tensions continue to rise.

CHITWAN, Nepal (AP) — The gathering started small, with people arriving in small groups, but soon transformed into massive waves of supporters. Students in school uniforms weaved through the packed crowd. Senior citizens leaning on walking aids joined others who carried pictures of Balendra Shah high above their heads, waiting for hours to see him in person.

When the former rapper turned political candidate finally appeared at the public venue in Nepal’s Chitwan district, the crowd’s response was thunderous. Shah’s music blared from speakers while thousands of supporters shouted his name in unison. His appearance lasted just thirty minutes, with only about five minutes of speaking, before he departed.

These dramatic gatherings have become standard events during Shah’s campaign stops, as Nepal’s approximately 19 million eligible voters get ready for Thursday’s election — the nation’s first since a youth-driven movement ousted the former government one year ago. Those backing Shah, age 35, claim he should be considered the leading candidate.

“I have seen him on television and on my mobile phone, but I wanted to see him in real life,” said Tulasi Devi Shrestha, 75, who was present at Shah’s rally.

Shah’s political ascent in Nepal has been remarkably quick.

He disrupted the nation’s traditional political structure in 2022 when he secured victory in Kathmandu’s mayoral election, beating opponents from more conventional parties. He became a leading voice of opposition in 2025 during a youth-driven movement that brought down the government in this Himalayan country of roughly 30 million people.

With Nepal approaching these critical elections, numerous supporters think he has the potential to serve as the country’s next prime minister.

Shah’s National Independent Party is directly confronting the deeply established Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist), parties that have traded control for many years. While these traditional parties work to overcome widespread public dissatisfaction, Shah has gained traction with younger demographics seeking political transformation.

Shah has developed a reputation as an outsider candidate, competing against former prime minister Khadga Prasad Oli, who lost power during the recent uprising.

Opponents label him a populist figure and doubt his ability to effectively govern if elected. However, many of his followers see him as a necessary departure from Nepal’s established political leadership.

“In my whole life I have seen so many politicians come and go, but I love his energy and I am hopeful that he will bring some change,” said Shrestha.

Multiple fatalities occurred when Israeli forces launched an air attack on a residential apartment complex in Baalbek, located in eastern Lebanon, according to Lebanon’s national news service NNA in a Wednesday morning report.

The targeted structure was a four-story building housing multiple families. Emergency rescue operations are currently underway as crews attempt to extract survivors trapped under the collapsed debris, NNA reported.

The Himalayan nation of Nepal went to the polls Thursday in a historic general election – the country’s first since deadly youth-driven demonstrations forced the government from power last September.

The protests, spearheaded by Generation Z activists demanding corruption reforms, job creation, and political accountability, claimed 77 lives before ultimately compelling government officials to resign.

Nepal, a small country positioned between China and India, has struggled with chronic political turmoil for years. Since 1990, the nation has experienced 32 different government changes, crippling its farm-based economy and driving millions of citizens to find employment in other countries.

Approximately 19 million citizens out of Nepal’s total population of 30 million were registered to cast ballots for the 275-seat parliament. The legislative body consists of 165 directly-elected positions and 110 seats filled through proportional representation.

Following last year’s demonstrations, roughly one million new voters – predominantly young people – joined the electoral rolls, intensifying demands for systematic political reform and economic restructuring to generate stable, well-paying employment opportunities.

Bibas Pariyar, a 22-year-old painter working in Kathmandu, planned to travel back to his native Gorkha district – renowned for producing soldiers who have served British and Indian armed forces – to participate in Thursday’s voting.

“We need new people who can give work to people, reform agriculture and pay adequate remuneration for workers,” Pariyar said.

“The old politicians only amassed money for themselves through corruption and did nothing for the people.”

The electoral competition featured established political parties, including the moderate Nepali Congress (NC) and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist or UML), both of which have controlled national governance for decades.

However, political observers suggest the moderate Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has emerged as the leading contender. Balendra Shah, a 35-year-old former rapper turned politician, became the three-year-old party’s prime ministerial nominee in January.

Shah, who previously served as Kathmandu’s mayor and became a prominent figure during September’s protests, faced off against UML candidate K.P. Sharma Oli, the 74-year-old former prime minister who stepped down after the deadly crackdown on demonstrators.

This election marks the second in the region – after Bangladesh – to result from Generation Z-led activism, though the circumstances differ significantly, according to Jay Nishaant, who founded the Nepal Democracy Foundation think tank.

“For any election, three things decide the outcome: agenda, leadership and organisation,” Nishaant said.

“That’s where Nepal may diverge from Bangladesh. Bangladesh’s July 2024 student leaders had a clear agenda and recognisable faces, but not a time-tested grassroots machine.”

During Bangladesh’s February general election, the primary youth-oriented political party secured just six seats in the 300-member parliament, highlighting the difficulty of converting protest energy into electoral success.

Cuban authorities have formally filed terrorism charges against six individuals following a deadly maritime confrontation that occurred last week in Cuban territorial waters.

The charges were announced Tuesday by Cuban prosecutors, who ordered the suspects held without bail in connection with the incident that resulted in four fatalities and six injuries among Cuban nationals aboard a speedboat.

According to Cuba’s Interior Ministry, the deadly encounter took place last Wednesday when Cuban border patrol forces engaged the vessel. Cuban officials claim the occupants, described as Cuban exiles, initiated gunfire against the patrol boat after arriving from United States waters with intentions to create disorder and target military installations on the island nation.

Cuban military personnel responded with gunfire and apprehended the six surviving individuals, according to government statements.

Officials have not provided updates on the medical status of the injured detainees or disclosed their current location. The incident occurs during a period of increased strain between Washington and Havana, as the United States has essentially stopped oil deliveries to the island while pressing for political and economic reforms.

During a special television broadcast Friday, Cuban authorities displayed seized weapons they claim belonged to the group, including nearly 13,000 ammunition rounds, 13 rifles, and 11 pistols.

The program also featured photographs of the boats, showing extensive bullet damage from what officials described as close-range combat occurring at approximately 20 meters distance.

Cuban authorities revealed that at least two of the detained individuals had previously appeared on terrorist watch lists.

During Friday’s television program, Prosecutor Edward Robert Campbell outlined the potential legal consequences facing the accused, stating they could encounter various charges related to terrorist activities.

Campbell explained that convictions could result in prison sentences ranging from 10 to 15 years for minor violations, while more severe charges could bring 20 to 30 years in prison or potentially capital punishment.

American political leaders have questioned Cuba’s account of the events and called for independent investigations into the incident. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has clarified that this was not a United States government operation and confirmed no American officials participated in the activities.

Manufacturing activity in China surged to a five-year peak during February, according to new data from a private industry survey released Wednesday in Beijing.

The RatingDog China General Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index, produced by S&P Global, jumped to 52.1 last month, up from January’s reading of 50.3. This figure significantly exceeded expert predictions of 50.2 and represents the strongest performance since December 2020. Readings above 50 indicate sector expansion, while those below signal decline.

These findings stand in sharp contrast to government data published earlier the same day, which indicated manufacturing continued shrinking for a second straight month in February.

Industry experts note that varying survey methodologies and different participant groups frequently lead to conflicting results between private and official measurements.

Strong consumer appetite for Chinese-made products drove February’s growth, with new order volumes climbing for nine consecutive months at the fastest rate since December 2020. This demand boost pushed production growth to its highest point since June 2024.

International demand showed particularly notable improvement, with export orders increasing at the sharpest rate recorded since September 2020.

One furniture manufacturer from eastern China, speaking anonymously, reported order increases of 30%-40% in January compared to the previous year, with February continuing the upward trend due to enhanced supply chains and improved overseas warehouse operations.

RatingDog founder Yao Yu expects manufacturing growth to continue moderately in coming months.

“Looking ahead, the sustainability of this momentum depends on persistent demand and whether confidence translates into more active hiring and investment,” Yao stated.

Economic analysts believe China stands to gain from recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions blocking President Donald Trump’s emergency trade tariffs from last year, potentially providing competitive advantages as tariff disparities with other nations narrow.

The U.S. Trade Representative announced Monday that America will work toward more balanced and equitable bilateral trade relations with China while monitoring Beijing’s adherence to last year’s trade agreement.

Chinese factory owners expressed increased optimism about future production in February, with overall business sentiment reaching an 11-month high, according to the S&P survey.

Despite rising order backlogs in February—when many plants typically send workers home for Chinese New Year celebrations—companies remained conservative about staffing decisions. Employment grew minimally for the second consecutive month, marking the first back-to-back increases since mid-2021.

Heightened demand prompted manufacturers to increase purchasing activities, creating greater cost pressures. Input price inflation accelerated to its fastest pace since June 2022, with metal costs particularly concerning survey respondents.

Consequently, manufacturers raised their selling prices for the second month running, with price increases reaching a 15-month high.

China plans to announce major economic objectives for 2026 during annual parliamentary sessions beginning Thursday. Market observers are closely monitoring the upcoming Five-Year Plan report, which will outline the nation’s economic development strategy, technology innovation priorities, and environmental transition goals.

A drone believed to be from Iran hit the Central Intelligence Agency’s office at the United States Embassy in Saudi Arabia’s capital city of Riyadh on Monday, according to a knowledgeable source who spoke with Reuters on Tuesday.

The source indicated there’s no evidence suggesting the CIA station was specifically targeted in the assault.

CIA officials refused to provide any statement regarding the incident.

This drone strike occurred as tensions continue escalating across the Middle East region following weekend military operations by the United States and Israel against Iranian targets on Saturday.

Saudi Arabia’s defense officials reported that two unmanned aircraft struck the embassy compound, causing minor fires and property damage to the facility located in Riyadh.

Following the attack, US diplomatic personnel issued warnings advising American citizens to stay away from the embassy compound until further updates “due to an attack” on the building.

Embassy staff announced Tuesday that all scheduled routine appointments and emergency services for US citizens have been suspended.

In a security bulletin, the diplomatic mission stated: “There is a threat of imminent missile and UAV attacks over Dhahran. Do not come to the U.S. Consulate.”

The Trump administration is working behind the scenes to develop criminal charges against Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodriguez, including preparing a potential indictment for corruption and money laundering, according to four sources with knowledge of the situation.

Federal prosecutors have assembled potential charges and have informed Rodriguez that she faces prosecution risk if she fails to continue meeting Trump’s requirements after the United States removed former Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro from power in January, sources revealed.

Four individuals briefed on the situation spoke with Reuters about the draft indictment being developed against Rodriguez for suspected money laundering and corruption activities. The sources indicated that Rodriguez has been verbally notified of these potential charges.

Miami’s U.S. Attorney’s Office is developing the preliminary charges, according to the sources, who noted the document has been refined over the last two months. The investigation centers on Rodriguez’s suspected role in money laundering connected to Venezuela’s state oil company PDVSA, three sources confirmed, covering alleged activities from 2021 to 2025.

The Department of Justice refused to provide comment on the matter. Following publication of a summary on the Reuters World News morning podcast, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche posted on X, calling the report “completely FALSE from @reuters. Not sure how such fake news makes its way to publication.”

Reuters responded with a statement saying: “We stand by our reporting that the Department of Justice is preparing an indictment against Delcy Rodriguez, the new president of Venezuela.”

Neither the White House nor the State Department responded to Reuters’ inquiries regarding this story.

Beyond the potential indictment, U.S. officials have given Rodriguez a roster of at least seven former high-ranking party officials, associates and family members they want her to detain or maintain in Venezuelan custody for possible extradition, four sources confirmed. Spain’s ABC newspaper initially reported this development.

Rodriguez confronts this pressure just two months after assuming leadership following a rapid U.S. special forces operation that captured Maduro and transported the long-time authoritarian ruler to New York to face narcoterrorism and cocaine trafficking charges. Maduro has entered a not guilty plea and remains in New York custody awaiting trial.

Publicly, Trump has praised Rodriguez for her cooperation with the United States and described Venezuela as “our new friend and partner” during his State of the Union speech.

However, the potential indictment represents another negotiating tool the United States has developed to pressure Venezuelan government members, previously loyal to Maduro, into following American directives.

Venezuela’s communications ministry, which manages all government media inquiries, did not respond to detailed questions about the potential charges being developed against Rodriguez.

Creating a draft indictment does not guarantee prosecutors will bring the case before a grand jury, which would need to determine probable cause exists to believe Rodriguez committed crimes. Grand jury proceedings remain confidential, and Reuters could not establish whether prosecutors have begun presenting evidence against Rodriguez to a grand jury.

Since capturing Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on January 3, Trump has depended on Rodriguez, Maduro’s 56-year-old former vice president, to maintain Venezuelan stability while prioritizing American companies’ access to the OPEC member’s oil resources.

Flores has also entered a not guilty plea to federal charges including drug trafficking.

Additional Rodriguez administration members already facing U.S. indictments include hardline Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello and Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino, who along with Rodriguez are veteran members of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela, or PSUV, established by the late Hugo Chávez. Both Cabello and Padrino, who remain in power in post-Maduro Venezuela, have consistently rejected any wrongdoing allegations.

Most individuals the United States wants Rodriguez to arrest or keep detained already face U.S. indictments for money laundering, drug trafficking and other offenses, four sources familiar with the matter confirmed.

Laura Dogu, the recently appointed U.S. envoy to Venezuela, presented the request to Rodriguez, sources informed Reuters.

The high-profile names provided to Rodriguez include Alex Saab, 54, who gained prominence as a close Maduro associate and became one of the most powerful financial figures within the Chavista movement, according to four sources.

After an Interpol notice requested by the United States, Saab was previously detained by local authorities in Cape Verde in 2020 while traveling to Iran on official Maduro government business. Following extradition to the United States, he faced bribery and money laundering charges for allegedly channeling $350 million from a corrupt Venezuelan housing construction program through the U.S. financial system, before the Biden administration released him in 2023 through a prisoner exchange.

Reuters reported Saab’s arrest in early February and two sources confirmed he remains held by Venezuelan intelligence service SEBIN. The United States has a new sealed money-laundering indictment against Saab, two sources said, though its current status remains unclear.

Should Saab be extradited, he could provide information to U.S. authorities that might strengthen their criminal case against Maduro, according to a source briefed on the situation.

Whether Saab, a Colombian granted Venezuelan citizenship by Maduro, will be extradited to the United States remains uncertain. Venezuelan law forbids extraditing Venezuelan nationals, creating an obstacle for several individuals Washington seeks.

Saab’s U.S.-based attorney Neil M. Schuster did not respond to detailed inquiries about whether Saab has been detained, any charges he might face, or whether he provided testimony about Maduro during his previous U.S. detention.

The list also includes media mogul Raul Gorrin, who has been detained by SEBIN in Venezuela within the past month, according to three sources familiar with the situation.

Gorrin faces multiple federal U.S. charges, primarily related to bribery, money laundering, and corruption involving Venezuela’s state oil company, PDVSA.

Gorrin did not respond to emails and text messages seeking comment, nor did his media company Globovisión.

Howard Srebnick, a Miami attorney who previously represented Gorrin, did not immediately respond to a comment request.

PARIS – French President Emmanuel Macron announced Tuesday that his country is deploying the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to the Mediterranean Sea while working to form an international alliance aimed at protecting vital shipping lanes threatened by escalating Middle East tensions.

During a national television broadcast, Macron explained that immediate action was necessary as the Straits of Hormuz have been blocked and shipping through the Suez Canal and Red Sea faces increasing dangers from the expanding regional conflict.

“We have economic interests to protect, because oil prices, gas prices and the international trade situation are being profoundly disrupted by this war,” Macron stated during his address.

The French leader revealed that his nation has already positioned a frigate near Cyprus and has intercepted hostile drones flying over allied Gulf nations. French military operations include the deployment of Rafale fighter jets among other military resources.

“We have defense agreements that bind us to Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates. The latter are particularly targeted, and we owe them solidarity,” Macron explained.

Macron also detailed efforts to evacuate French nationals from the region, noting that two evacuation flights were scheduled to land in Paris Tuesday night. He added that security measures have been enhanced at various locations throughout France.

While addressing responsibility for the crisis, Macron stated that Iran “bears primary responsibility” for recent U.S.-Israeli military actions, but criticized those operations, saying: “the United States of America and Israel have decided to launch military operations; they were conducted outside international law, which we cannot approve.”

Emergency crews successfully extinguished a small blaze near the American consulate in Dubai on Tuesday following what officials described as a drone strike, according to Dubai’s media office.

The incident occurred in the area surrounding the U.S. diplomatic facility, with local authorities confirming that the fire was contained and no casualties were reported. Officials characterized the fire as limited in scope.

Dubai’s media office released the information about the Tuesday incident, providing few additional details about the circumstances surrounding the drone strike or the response efforts.

PARIS (AP) — Golden sunlight streamed through the glass-enclosed runway at Paris’s historic Tuileries Garden on Tuesday, bathing Jonathan Anderson’s fall-winter 2026 Dior collection in light reminiscent of classic Impressionist masterpieces.

A star-studded crowd gathered around the park’s eight-sided water feature for Paris Fashion Week, with artificial water lilies floating as a tribute to Monet. Notable attendees included Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlize Theron, Jisoo, Priyanka Chopra, Willow Smith, Emily Ratajkowski and Macaulay Culkin.

The atmosphere perfectly complemented a collection centered on florals, water elements and the concept of public display.

The transparent venue transformed casual Parisian pedestrians into unexpected spectators — a concept Anderson deliberately embraced.

The designer explained his inspiration came from considering public walks, individuals who dress with intention for outings, and his own experience as someone new to his chosen city.

The result represented Anderson’s most unified women’s collection for Dior since joining the house.

The runway featured reimagined formal coats, fitted waist jackets and structured rear-volume skirts in soft almond tones, delicate French lace and shimmering woven fabrics. Compact blazers paired with wide, bell-shaped skirts in gentle sheepskin. Architectural knitwear maintained crisp forms like paper folding art.

Botanical influences appeared throughout — but expressed through shape and material rather than obvious floral prints.

Textured cardigans mimicked flower centers. Unevenly closed skirts and dresses suggested petal arrangements. Even crystal accents on decorated denim carried nature-inspired elements.

Anderson revisited his Irish tweed interpretation of the brand’s famous Bar jacket, extending and relaxing the fit.

The structured cage dresses that impressed at his recent haute couture presentation returned as flowing pleated fabric clouds.

Featuring dark and light checkered patterns, hand-folded jackets and coats demonstrated visual illusion techniques creating dimensional effects.

Swiss dot ruffled skirts with extended trains offered a fresh take on Christian Dior’s celebrated Junon dress.

The collection included unexpected pieces: ivory textured silk athletic pants with fabric-covered bridal closures, denim with ribbon decoration, and simple wrap coats styled as dresses — items typically overlooked in high fashion presentations.

The celebrity attendance was remarkable — matching the royal historical connections.

Dior has presented collections at the Tuileries since 2020 through a collaboration with the neighboring Louvre Museum to support restoration of one of Paris’s most ancient public gardens — originally created for Queen Catherine de’ Medici and later redesigned for Louis XIV as a venue for social display.

On Tuesday, Anderson’s creations demonstrated his growing mastery of that age-old tradition. After five collections, his vision becomes increasingly defined — though the designer maintains it will continue evolving.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration confronts an unprecedented diplomatic challenge as escalating warfare involving the United States, Israel, and Iran triggers the most extensive American embassy evacuation from the Middle East in over twenty years.

State Department officials have been compelled to restrict public access to multiple embassies, completely close at least one consular office, mandate the evacuation of diplomatic personnel and their families from six countries, and issue urgent departure warnings to American citizens across 14 nations, even as the conflict has disrupted major airports and canceled numerous flights.

Despite these challenges, the department reported Tuesday that over 9,000 Americans have successfully returned from Middle Eastern countries since the weekend, with many managing their departure independently, while officials continue outreach efforts to those requesting assistance.

“The State Department was securing military aircraft and charter flights for American citizens who wish to leave the Middle East,” Dylan Johnson, assistant secretary of state for public affairs, announced Tuesday on X. He noted that department officials have contacted nearly 3,000 Americans seeking departure assistance or information about evacuation procedures.

Officials are coordinating charter aircraft departures from Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. For nations where aviation facilities or airspace have been shuttered, the department is facilitating overland transportation to countries with operational airports, such as Egypt and Oman.

However, emergency diplomatic staff reductions and facility shutdowns since weekend strikes against Iran commenced have severely hampered the government’s capacity to provide standard citizen services. Consular operations remain unavailable across numerous locations, while personnel cuts have restricted vital official communications with allied and partner nations during wartime, affecting operations in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

The magnitude of America’s regional diplomatic withdrawal matches or surpasses measures implemented before and after the 2003 Iraq invasion. During that period, the State Department decreased personnel across more than twelve nations and urged American citizens to depart or seriously contemplate leaving countries spanning the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia from Morocco through Pakistan.

Monday brought a rapidly issued announcement posted on X instructing Americans to evacuate Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen despite widespread transportation disruptions.

Early Tuesday, Americans learned that the State Department had directed non-essential diplomatic staff and embassy families to depart Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE.

Embassies in Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia also suspended public operations Tuesday. However, only one diplomatic facility — the U.S. consulate in Karachi, Pakistan — had entirely halted all activities.

A drone assault on the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh resulted in a “limited fire,” according to Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry.

The Riyadh attack caused partial roof collapse at the embassy, though no fatalities or staff injuries occurred, according to an internal State Department document. The memo also reported no casualties after two drones struck near the embassy in Kuwait City.

Regional confusion has emerged, prompting questions about preparations for potential military operations and their effects on travel and American citizen safety overseas, which represents the State Department’s fundamental duty.

“If Americans are being instructed to leave but are given no viable pathway, that suggests one of two things: The system is not being activated, or the system has atrophied,” explained Shawn VanDiver, president of AfghanEvac, an organization supporting Afghan nationals seeking U.S. entry after serving alongside American forces in Afghanistan.

VanDiver referenced the Biden administration’s organization of 121,000 evacuations within days during the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal.

“Crisis response cannot be partisan,” he emphasized. “It has to survive transitions. It has to be staffed, exercised, and protected. The oversight question is straightforward: Was the post-Afghanistan crisis response architecture sustained, or has it been weakened?”

The State Department has not yet responded to inquiries regarding planning for embassy and consulate staffing or citizen assistance protocols during potential Iranian conflict.

The federal government lacks authority to force American citizens to leave any nation. In exceptional cases, it may prohibit U.S. passport usage for travel to specific destinations. Currently, only North Korea faces such restrictions. However, before strikes began, Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated Friday that similar restrictions might apply to Iran.

State Department travel advisories, including warnings against visiting or remaining in certain countries, frequently go unheeded. Many individuals maintain residences or close family connections in these areas and choose to disregard or decline official guidance.

Substantial numbers of American citizens live throughout or visit the Middle East regularly. The State Department declines to provide population estimates since Americans face no requirement to register their presence in foreign countries. Officials maintain that any estimate would lack accuracy.

Tens of thousands of American citizens, including many with dual nationality, are thought to reside in Israel, Lebanon, Egypt and Iran.

WASHINGTON — During a Tuesday meeting at the White House, President Donald Trump declared his intention to halt all commercial relations with Spain, expressing frustration over the nation’s stance regarding recent U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran and its reluctance to boost NATO defense expenditures.

Speaking to media during his Oval Office session with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump stated: “We’re going to cut off all trade with Spain. We don’t want anything to do with Spain.”

The president’s remarks followed Monday’s announcement by Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares, who declared that Spain would prohibit American forces from utilizing jointly-operated military installations in southern Spain for any military actions not sanctioned by United Nations charter provisions. Albares confirmed that these shared facilities were not involved in the recent weekend assault on Iran.

The feasibility of Trump’s proposed trade cutoff remains questionable, as Spain operates under European Union trade frameworks. The EU conducts trade negotiations for all 27 member nations collectively.

A representative from Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s administration responded Tuesday, stating: “If the U.S. administration wishes to review the trade agreement, it must do so respecting the autonomy of private companies, international law, and bilateral agreements between the European Union and the United States.”

This represents another example of Trump using trade restrictions as diplomatic leverage, following a recent Supreme Court ruling that overturned his broad international tariff policies. Although the court determined that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act doesn’t grant presidential authority for unilateral comprehensive tariffs, Trump now argues the decision permits him to enforce complete trade embargoes against selected countries.

Trump also renewed his criticism of Spain’s 2023 withdrawal from NATO’s 5% defense spending commitment. Spain had indicated it could achieve necessary military readiness by allocating 2.1% of its gross domestic product, a position Trump previously condemned and threatened with tariff measures.

Regarding NATO expenditures, Trump claimed Spain represents “the only country that in NATO would not agree to go up to 5%” in defense spending. “I don’t think they agreed to go up to anything. They wanted to keep it at 2% and they don’t pay the 2%.”

Chancellor Merz supported Trump’s assessment, saying: “We are trying to convince them that this is a part of our common security, that we all have to comply with this.”

Spain defended its NATO participation Tuesday, with Sánchez’s spokesperson asserting the country remains “a key member of NATO, fulfilling its commitments and making a significant contribution to the defense of European territory.”

During the White House meeting, Trump sought input from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent regarding presidential embargo powers.

Bessent responded: “I agree that the Supreme Court reaffirmed your ability to implement an embargo.” He added that the U.S. Trade Representative and Commerce Department would “begin investigations and we’ll move forward with those.”

Treasury Department officials did not provide additional commentary when contacted by The Associated Press.

Prime Minister Sánchez has condemned the American and Israeli military strikes against Iran, characterizing the intervention as “unjustifiable” and “dangerous.” His administration has called for immediate conflict de-escalation and diplomatic dialogue while also criticizing Iran’s regional attacks.

Trump commented on Spain’s leadership, saying: “Spain has absolutely nothing that we need other than great people. They have great people, but they don’t have great leadership.”

The military base controversy represents the most recent tension between Spain and the Trump administration. Under Sánchez’s leadership as Europe’s remaining major progressive head of government, Spain has also been a vocal opponent of Israel’s Gaza military campaign.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced Tuesday his decision to relocate France’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier from the Baltic Sea to the Mediterranean Sea as Middle East tensions escalate.

The Charles de Gaulle will travel with its accompanying air wing and escort frigates, Macron stated.

During a televised address that was pre-recorded, the French leader revealed that Rafale fighter aircraft, air-defense equipment, and airborne radar technology have been positioned in the Middle East within recent hours.

“And we will continue this effort as much as necessary,” Macron declared.

The president referenced Monday’s attack on a British military airfield in Cyprus, emphasizing that Cyprus belongs to the European Union and has recently established a strategic partnership with France.

“This requires our support. That is why I have decided to send additional air-defense assets there as well, along with a French frigate, the Languedoc, which will arrive off the coast of Cyprus later this evening,” Macron stated.

Previously, France, Britain, and Germany declared they had not participated in strikes against Iran, though they expressed readiness to support necessary and proportionate defensive measures to eliminate Iran’s missile and drone capabilities.

Macron emphasized that France maintains defense pacts with EU member states Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates, while also holding significant commitments to Jordan and Iraq.

Acknowledging the conflict’s expansion into Lebanon, Macron stated that the Iran-supported Hezbollah militant organization made “the grave mistake of striking Israel” and endangering Lebanese civilians, while cautioning against an Israeli ground invasion.

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — The old saying that location determines fate couldn’t be more accurate when describing Cyprus and its turbulent history.

For thousands of years, this small Mediterranean island has attracted conquerors from ancient Greece and Persia to the Roman Empire, Ottoman Turks, and British colonizers. The reason remains the same: Cyprus sits dangerously close to what many consider the world’s most volatile region — an area shaped by centuries of religious conflict as the cradle of three major faiths, and more recently by massive oil and gas reserves.

Today, almost 66 years after gaining independence, Cyprus finds itself once again caught in Middle Eastern turmoil, largely due to two major British military installations that remain from its colonial era.

Just after midnight Monday, a Shahed drone slipped past sophisticated radar systems at the Royal Air Force facility in Akrotiri. British forces scrambled Typhoon jets and six advanced F-35 fighter aircraft to intercept the unmanned vehicle, which authorities say caused minimal damage to a hangar structure near the airfield’s main runway.

While no casualties occurred, the assault marked a dangerous escalation of the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran onto European soil. The incident also represents the first time any foreign power has attacked Cyprus since Turkey’s 1974 military operation that divided the island between Greek and Turkish communities.

Fighter jets successfully stopped two additional drones in a follow-up attack Monday afternoon, confirming that the morning strike wasn’t an isolated incident.

Neither Cypriot nor British authorities have revealed the drone’s launch location, though many suspect Iran’s Lebanese ally Hezbollah orchestrated the attack. British officials maintain the drone assault wasn’t connected to Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Sunday evening decision to permit American use of UK facilities for operations against Iran, noting the unmanned aircraft was already airborne before that announcement.

However, that timing may be irrelevant. If Iran or Hezbollah sought to retaliate against Britain, they wouldn’t target the remote Diego Garcia base in the Indian Ocean when RAF Akrotiri sits just 160 miles away.

The Akrotiri facility, featuring an enormous runway, anchors Britain’s Cyprus military complex alongside the western Episkopi Garrison and eastern Dhekelia Garrison, covering approximately 99 square miles total.

During the 2003 Iraq War, RAF Akrotiri functioned as a crucial supply center for American forces. The base continues hosting the legendary U2 reconnaissance aircraft that conducts high-altitude intelligence missions throughout the Middle East.

During its early independence years, Cyprus maintained careful neutrality in regional disputes, attempting to balance relationships between East and West, Arab nations and Israel — efforts that frequently fell short. European Union membership firmly aligned the country with Western interests. The decisive shift occurred with President Nikos Christodoulides’ election — an American-educated academic who clearly declared Cyprus’ Western and pro-American stance.

Christodoulides has used Cyprus’ geographic position to establish the island as a diplomatic connector between the EU and Middle East, promoting humanitarian-focused foreign relations while building robust ties with Israel, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, and other regional powers.

Following the Akrotiri drone attack, Christodoulides and other government leaders emphasized that Cyprus “has not, is not and will not take part in any military action.”

Responding to Christodoulides’ request for enhanced air defense support, Greece deployed four F-16 fighters and two modern frigates, while France committed one frigate plus ground-based anti-drone and missile defense systems, officials confirmed. Germany plans to contribute a naval vessel, and Starmer announced Britain would send additional warships and helicopters to protect RAF Akrotiri.

Nevertheless, the British military presence consistently influences Cypriot government decisions. While UK authorities supposedly inform Cyprus before using the bases for military operations, this notification serves more as diplomatic courtesy than binding requirement.

Anna Koukkides-Procopiou, a Yale Fellow and president of the Politeia think tank, compared Cyprus’ predicament to a billiard ball sitting quietly in a corner until other balls suddenly knock it into a pocket.

“We’ve chosen sides and we have to face the music now,” Koukkides-Procopiou told The Associated Press, adding that Cyprus must now determine how to reduce its vulnerability to geographic circumstances beyond its control.

JERUSALEM (AP) — An escalating Middle East conflict has spread throughout the region, leaving nearly every nation dealing with missile damage or falling debris, numerous casualties, and the shutdown of crucial diplomatic posts, economic centers, and transportation routes.

International governments are rushing to evacuate their citizens on any available commercial aircraft as Gulf region airspace largely shuts down, cruise vessels cannot navigate the Strait of Hormuz, and major airlines halt service. The U.S. State Department reports evacuating non-essential staff and family members from six nations, adding the United Arab Emirates to that list Tuesday. Officials have also advised citizens in 14 countries to depart immediately. Nations ranging from Russia to Germany and France have organized emergency evacuation flights.

The following details show how each country has been affected by the ongoing conflict.

Flight information comes from Flightradar 24 real-time tracking services as of Tuesday, along with national aviation authorities.

IRAN

Casualties and destruction: Iran reports the region’s highest death count from the conflict. The Iranian Red Crescent Society states that U.S.-Israeli operations have resulted in at least 787 fatalities. This figure includes over 160 people the state-run IRNA news agency reports died when a strike hit an elementary school in Minab. Israel denies involvement in that incident. When reporters questioned Secretary of State Marco Rubio about it, he stated he lacked specific information but emphasized the U.S. would not intentionally strike a school.

U.S.-Israeli attacks have focused on nuclear facilities, missile sites, Tehran government buildings, and leadership locations, resulting in the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other senior military commanders. Monday satellite photographs of Iran’s Natanz nuclear site reveal multiple damaged structures compared to the previous day’s images, along with widespread destruction throughout the complex.

Aviation status: All airspace shut down.

ISRAEL

Casualties and destruction: Multiple sites have suffered Iranian missile impacts, resulting in 11 deaths. The full scope of damage to Israeli military installations and other critical facilities remains classified, as the military withholds such information.

Aviation status: Commercial aviation suspended.

LEBANON

Casualties and destruction: The Iranian-backed militant organization Hezbollah launched missiles at Israel Monday, triggering Israeli counterstrikes. Lebanese officials report at least 52 deaths and 154 injuries.

Israel conducted additional airstrikes on Beirut early Tuesday, claiming to target “Hezbollah command centers and weapons storage facilities,” while deploying ground forces to southern Lebanese border regions. Hezbollah reported launching drones against an Israeli air base, though the Israeli military confirmed downing two drones.

Israel and Hezbollah engaged in warfare for over a year before a November 2024 ceasefire that significantly weakened the militant organization.

The U.S. Embassy in Lebanon announced Tuesday it would close to the public indefinitely.

Aviation status: Lebanese airspace remains partially operational with some flights continuing, though numerous airlines have suspended service.

SAUDI ARABIA

Casualties and destruction: Iran attacked the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia’s capital early Tuesday. Two drones striking the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh created a “limited fire” and minor damage, Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry reported, with the embassy warning Americans to stay away from the facility.

Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura oil refinery also faced drone attacks, but defensive systems successfully intercepted the aircraft, a military spokesperson told the state-run Saudi Press Agency. The facility processes over half a million barrels of crude oil daily.

Aviation status: Partial closure in areas near Iraq and the Persian Gulf.

KUWAIT

Casualties and destruction: The U.S. Embassy compound in Kuwait was hit Monday. Tuesday, officials announced the embassy would close to the public indefinitely.

A strike in Kuwait killed six U.S. soldiers from a logistics unit, according to a U.S. official speaking anonymously without authorization to comment publicly.

The Kuwaiti Health Ministry reported Sunday that an Iranian strike killed one person and injured 32 others, all migrant workers from unspecified nations.

Aviation status: Complete closure.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Casualties and destruction: Three deaths occurred in the UAE — foreign workers from Nepal, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. Dubai, internationally recognized as the Middle East’s safest location and a global investment center, has experienced damage to its international airport and, according to CENTCOM, coastal hotels. Iran also struck two Amazon data centers in the UAE, the company confirmed Tuesday.

Aviation status: Commercial flights suspended, though evacuation flights started Monday.

EGYPT

Casualties and destruction: The conflict’s economic impact has affected Egypt’s already struggling economy, as international shipping companies redirect vessel routes away from the Suez Canal. The canal, linking the Mediterranean and Red Seas, provides crucial foreign currency for the financially strained nation.

Aviation status: Commercial departures continue despite some cancellations, with most countries recommending travelers use Taba and Sharm al-Sheikh rather than Cairo.

JORDAN

Casualties and destruction: Jordanian authorities announced Sunday that five people sustained injuries from falling debris after Iranian projectiles were intercepted over the kingdom.

Aviation status: The Jordanian Civil Aviation Authority declared airspace closure from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily indefinitely.

QATAR

Casualties and destruction: Iran has targeted energy infrastructure in Qatar.

Aviation status: Complete closure.

IRAQ

Casualties and destruction: U.S. or Israeli strikes on Iranian proxy locations have killed militia fighters. Numerous drone and missile assaults have targeted U.S. bases and the consulate in Irbil, while demonstrators tried to breach the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

Iraq’s Ministry of Oil announced Tuesday it would halt production at a major oil field due to Strait of Hormuz disruptions, causing global crude oil prices to spike. The ministry cited insufficient tankers entering the Gulf, forcing them to “stop production and pumping” from the southern Rumaila fields near Basra.

Aviation status: Complete closure.

BAHRAIN

Casualties and destruction: Bahrain’s Interior Ministry reported a strike killed one Asian worker and critically injured two others early Monday morning. A drone also impacted near an Amazon data center, the company stated Tuesday.

Aviation status: Complete closure.

SYRIA

Casualties and destruction: Multiple individuals, including children, suffered minor injuries in Damascus countryside from Iranian missile debris, Syria’s state news agency SANA reported. Some southern Syrian provinces also experienced missile debris from Iranian projectiles fired toward Israel, with no additional casualties or property damage reported, SANA stated.

Aviation status: Complete closure.

OMAN

Casualties and destruction: Oman has faced multiple drone attacks since the Iran conflict began. The strikes targeted the nation’s largest port of Salalah and Duqm port. At least one vessel was also struck off the country’s coastline.

Aviation status: Operational, though many commercial flights are canceled.

Fresh satellite imagery captured on Monday reveals significant structural damage at Iran’s primary nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz, according to new photographs released by a Colorado-based imaging firm.

The company Vantor, previously operating under the name Maxar Technologies, published the satellite photos showing harm to staff housing structures and entry points leading to the underground uranium enrichment operations when compared to images from Sunday.

On Tuesday, the United Nations’ atomic energy oversight body confirmed that the Natanz enrichment facility experienced “some recent damage” after the joint U.S.-Israeli military operation targeting Iran.

Officials from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stated that “no radiological consequence expected” would result from the damage.

The Natanz nuclear complex sits approximately 220 kilometers (135 miles) southeast of Iran’s capital Tehran and serves as the country’s primary uranium enrichment location. Israeli forces had previously struck the facility during a 12-day conflict between the two nations in June 2025, with U.S. forces also conducting operations there.

This week’s assault on Natanz represents the first verified attack on an Iranian nuclear installation during the current military confrontation.

After last summer’s short-lived conflict, President Donald Trump and his team declared that Iran’s nuclear infrastructure had been “obliterated.” However, as tensions escalated again, Trump issued fresh warnings about Iran’s atomic program ambitions. On Monday, he asserted that Iran was attempting to reconstruct its nuclear capabilities.

Iran operates four officially recognized uranium enrichment sites. In a classified assessment obtained by The Associated Press last week, the IAEA reported that due to restricted access, it “cannot provide any information on the current size, composition or whereabouts of the stockpile of enriched uranium in Iran.”

Iranian officials claim no uranium enrichment has occurred since June, though they have prevented international monitors from inspecting the bombed locations. Analysis of satellite photographs by AP reporters has detected renewed activity at two targeted sites, indicating Iran may be evaluating damage and possibly attempting to salvage materials.

The death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in coordinated U.S.-Israeli military operations over the weekend has ignited widespread unrest throughout Shiite Muslim communities around the globe, sparking fears of escalating violence across the Middle East and beyond.

The 86-year-old Khamenei, who had led Iran’s theocratic government since 1989, represented far more than a political figurehead to the world’s Shiite population. He served as one of their most influential religious and political voices, making his death in the joint operation a catalyst for rage among Shiite communities worldwide.

“There is reason to be concerned about how Shia minorities across the Middle East, and in particular … the Shia majority in Iraq might respond to this,” warned Burcu Ozcelik, a senior research fellow specializing in Middle East security at the Royal United Services Institute, a British defense and security research organization.

Shiite Muslims represent approximately 10% to 15% of the global Muslim community, with major populations in Iran, Iraq, Bahrain and Azerbaijan, plus substantial groups in Pakistan, Lebanon and Yemen.

Pakistani Shiite activist Mamoona Shirazi from Punjab province expressed the deep emotional connection many felt to Khamenei: “He was not only our leader but a leader for all. He raised his voice against oppression. He never bowed to anyone; he spoke the truth and was like a father to us.”

Violent demonstrations erupted within hours of news breaking about Khamenei’s death. In Pakistan, angry crowds attempted to breach the U.S. Consulate in Karachi and battled police near the diplomatic district in Islamabad housing the American Embassy. Protesters also targeted United Nations facilities in northern Pakistani cities. Security forces clashed with demonstrators, resulting in at least 34 deaths and more than 120 injuries.

“If the United States and Israel are not stopped, the entire world will turn into ruins. Peace-loving people must awaken,” declared Syed Hussain Muqaddasi, leader of the Pakistani Shiite political organization Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Fiqh-e-Jafariya.

Violence spread to Iraq, where protesters confronted police near the American Embassy. In Lebanon, the Iranian-backed Hezbollah organization launched missiles toward Israel for the first time in more than a year, prompting devastating Israeli counterstrikes that killed dozens. Tens of thousands of residents evacuated their homes in predominantly Shiite regions of southern and eastern Lebanon as Israel mobilized 100,000 reservists, deployed ground forces to southern Lebanon, and threatened additional attacks.

“I think there’s a psychological, emotional aspect to the killing of Khamenei and we are very much in the early days of trying to make sense of what that might look like,” Ozcelik observed.

However, Ozcelik suggested the violent response might be limited by increasing resentment, even within Shiite communities, toward Iran’s interference in other nations’ internal affairs.

She noted that younger generations in Iraq particularly have demonstrated opposition to Iran’s “overwhelming penetration” of Iraqi domestic institutions, including security agencies, courts, political systems and economic structures over the past decade.

Iran has spent decades building influence in countries with significant Shiite populations as a cornerstone of its foreign policy approach. Tehran developed partnerships not only with governments but also with militant organizations like Yemen’s Houthis and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, plus armed factions in Iraq and Syria.

These interventions, typically justified as protecting Shiite interests, frequently drew accusations of violating national sovereignty and creating instability. The Trump administration had demanded Iran end its support for proxy organizations in Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen before this conflict began—a requirement Iran refused.

Given this growing frustration, Ozcelik predicted the current crisis would unlikely produce the “sharp, violent sectarianism that we saw after 2003,” referring to the brutal sectarian warfare between Iraq’s formerly ruling Sunni minority and Shiite majority following the American invasion and removal of Sunni leader Saddam Hussein. That violence eventually spread throughout the region, particularly into Syria’s civil war.

“The Middle East in many ways has moved on. I think there is a strong urge and desire for de-escalation at this point, particularly in the Gulf,” Ozcelik explained.

Recent years have seen American and Israeli forces eliminate several key figures in Iran’s regional network, including prominent Shiite religious leaders. This campaign began with the 2020 assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, head of the Revolutionary Guard’s elite Quds Force, alongside veteran Iraqi militant Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in an American airstrike in Baghdad.

In September 2024, Israeli forces killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, the effective commander of Iran’s alliance spanning Iraq, Yemen, Syria and Lebanon, in a massive airstrike south of Beirut.

However, Khamenei’s death represents the most significant loss yet.

“After the assassination of Ayatollah Khamenei, Iran says it has no red lines left,” noted Trita Parsi, co-founder and executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, an American foreign policy research organization.

Iran’s retaliation has created chaos throughout the region.

Hundreds of missiles and drones have crossed Middle Eastern skies, reaching as far as Cyprus. Typically stable and prosperous nations like the United Arab Emirates and Qatar rushed to intercept Iranian weapons while closing their airspace, canceling commercial flights and stranding hundreds of thousands of travelers.

Many Shiites view the attacks on Iran and Khamenei’s assassination as targeting their entire religious community.

“There is targeting of Muslims in general, but the targeting is specifically directed at Shiites,” said Nasser Khazal, whose building was destroyed in an Israeli airstrike Tuesday in a Beirut suburb.

Lebanese political commentator Qassim Qassir characterized Iran’s fierce retaliation as a battle for Shiite survival against American and Israeli regional ambitions.

“There is targeting of the Shiite community and its political and religious leaders, and today it is an existential war, whether in Iran, Lebanon, or Iraq,” explained Qassir, who authored a book about Hezbollah. “The United States and Israel want to impose their project on the region.”

Iranian military forces have declared the closure of a vital global oil shipping route and issued warnings they will attack any vessels that attempt to navigate through the area.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced it has blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway that serves as a crucial passage for worldwide energy transportation. Ebrahim Jabbari, who serves as a top advisor to the Guard Corps commander-in-chief, delivered a stark warning: “The Strait [of Hormuz] is closed. If anyone tries to pass, the heroes of the Revolutionary Guards and the regular navy will set those ships ablaze.”

Iranian forces initially declared the route closed on Saturday, but this latest statement marks the first time officials have explicitly threatened to launch attacks on passing ships.

The Revolutionary Guard also claimed responsibility for striking a vessel, stating: “The ATHE NOVA tanker, one of the American allies in the Strait of Hormuz, is still on fire after being hit by two drones.”

This strategic waterway, positioned between Iran and Oman, plays a vital role in global fuel supplies. Energy intelligence company Kpler reports that approximately 13 million barrels of oil pass through this channel daily in 2025, representing roughly 31% of all crude oil transported by sea worldwide.

Market experts warn that a prolonged blockade could drive fuel costs dramatically upward, with some forecasting oil prices climbing beyond $100 per barrel. Brent crude, the international oil benchmark, has already risen 2.6% to approximately $80 per barrel and has increased nearly 10% since current tensions escalated.

Iranian officials characterized the waterway closure as a response to combined American-Israeli military actions that occurred after nuclear negotiations collapsed.

The United Kingdom is moving forward with plans to send a Royal Navy destroyer to the eastern Mediterranean Sea following a drone attack by Iran on a British air base in Cyprus. Despite the military response, London continues to emphasize it remains neutral in the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran.

According to The Times, the HMS Duncan will “likely” be dispatched to safeguard the British sovereign territory after Defense Secretary John Healey held talks with high-ranking military leaders. The publication reported that three sources confirmed Healey’s meetings with top commanders to discuss sending the warship as regional hostilities intensify.

British authorities confirmed that an Iranian-manufactured drone impacted the airstrip at RAF Akrotiri late Sunday evening, resulting in minor damage to the runway and no casualties. The attack represents an uncommon escalation that brought the conflict onto European Union soil. Approximately 12 hours following the initial strike, warning sirens activated once more as two Typhoon fighters and two F-35 jets launched from the facility.

Cyprus officials announced Monday that defense forces successfully intercepted two additional drones approaching the island.

Middle East Minister Hamish Falconer emphasized that Britain’s stance remains unchanged even while permitting American forces to operate from British installations. “The UK is not at war,” Falconer stated to the BBC. He further noted that Iran possesses ballistic missiles “pointed at the Gulf and it is vital that those missile launchers are taken out in the face of these completely reckless attacks.”

RAF Akrotiri functions as Britain’s main aviation hub for Middle Eastern operations and has facilitated missions targeting the Islamic State organization in Syria and Iraq, plus strikes against Houthi forces in Yemen. The United Kingdom maintained authority over this base, alongside another Cyprus installation, following the island’s independence in 1960.

The facility faced a previous assault in 1986 when Libyan militants launched an attack using mortars, rocket-propelled grenades and small arms, wounding three individuals.

Cypriot news outlets previously reported that France intends to deploy anti-missile and anti-drone defense systems to Cyprus in response to the Iranian attacks.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps has made unsubstantiated claims about massive American military casualties that US officials are calling completely false.

According to reporting from The Media Line, IRGC spokesperson Ali Mohammad Naini told the Tasnim News Agency late Monday night that 650 US service members had been killed or wounded during the initial 48 hours of current military operations. Naini specifically alleged that “160 American casualties were recorded in the targeting of a US military headquarters in Bahrain alone.”

However, US military officials have only acknowledged six confirmed service member deaths, with three of those fatalities occurring during an attack on an American military installation in Kuwait. The Iranian spokesperson also asserted that IRGC forces launched four cruise missiles at the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and repeatedly struck the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain with missiles and drones. Additionally, he claimed Iranian naval missiles “severely struck” the combat support vessel MST.

US Central Command has firmly rejected these assertions, previously stating that IRGC missiles failed to reach American naval vessels and denying reports of significant damage to US military facilities and equipment throughout the region.

This pattern of disputed claims has emerged before. Iranian media outlets initially reported that US fighter jets which crashed in Kuwait on Monday were shot down by Iranian forces, but these reports were later removed when it became clear the incidents involved friendly fire.

On the same day, Tasnim News Agency reported that a Kheibar missile had struck Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, leaving “his fate uncertain.” However, Netanyahu was already making public appearances in Beit Shemesh, which had been targeted by IRGC missiles, with international news networks broadcasting his visit live.

Similar false reporting occurred during last year’s 12-day conflict, when Iranian state media claimed to have shot down Israeli aircraft and captured a female Israeli pilot. These claims were later retracted, becoming a source of widespread ridicule among Iranian social media users.

Criminal proceedings commenced Tuesday in Argentina against four retired naval commanders charged in connection with the deadly ARA San Juan submarine incident from 2017 that resulted in 44 fatalities.

The proceedings are taking place in a Santa Cruz province courtroom, where the former military leaders are confronting accusations of neglecting duties, violating official responsibilities, and causing destruction through negligence — charges that could result in imprisonment. Each defendant has entered not guilty pleas.

Despite the military personnel facing prosecution, no senior government officials from the time period — including the nation’s leader or cabinet ministers — have been brought to court over the November 2017 tragedy.

The German-manufactured vessel vanished beneath South Atlantic waters on November 15th, carrying its full complement of 44 sailors. The submarine was returning to its Mar del Plata home port — located 248 miles from Buenos Aires — after completing training operations near Ushuaia in Argentina’s southernmost region. The crew had earlier radioed about water infiltration affecting the battery system via the snorkel, but subsequently reported the problem fixed. An explosive event was later registered in the vicinity where communications ceased.

Legal investigators determined the vessel experienced multiple operational problems before setting sail from Mar del Plata on October 25, 2017.

Court prosecutors stated Tuesday that following the submarine’s 2015 maintenance overhaul, it suffered from “numerous technical defects” that had been “documented by the various captains who served over the years.”

Based on the court’s findings, seawater infiltrated ventilation systems and flooded a battery compartment, creating an electrical malfunction and small blaze. This sequence caused the submarine to lose navigational control and plummet uncontrollably, resulting in structural collapse when the hull failed under extreme pressure at depths beyond 600 meters.

Family members of the lost sailors, working with lawyer Luis Tagliapietra, contend the current legal proceedings are insufficient for complete accountability.

The families recently criticized Judge Marta Isabel Yañez for not ordering crucial technical examinations or pursuing political figures, particularly targeting the government of former President Mauricio Macri.

Argentina’s highest court ruled separately in October to reject allegations of unlawful surveillance targeting the 44 victims’ families. This decision concluded all legal action against Macri, who held the presidency during the submarine’s destruction.

A high-ranking Israeli military official recently provided insight into the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, explaining how current operations differ from previous military engagements between the two nations.

Brigadier General Amir Avivi, who leads the Israel Defense and Security Forum (IDSF), discussed the strategic differences in a recent interview with The Media Line. According to Avivi, the current situation represents a significant shift from last summer’s 12-day conflict in June, which successfully targeted nuclear facilities and reduced Iran’s missile capacity.

However, Iran has recently launched devastating counterstrikes against Israeli territory. A deadly assault on Beit Shemesh resulted in nine fatalities, while Beersheba suffered casualties from another serious missile attack. These strikes have raised questions about the duration and scope of the ongoing military operations.

When comparing the current conflict to last summer’s engagement, Avivi explained that the previous military action had a “very narrow and clear” objective, noting that Iran was nearing what he described as a “decisive threshold” at that time.

The IDSF chairman has previously stated his belief that removing Iran’s current government would allow for the elimination of the country’s nuclear weapons program. This perspective shapes his analysis of the strategic goals in the current military operations.

The interview was conducted as speculation about potential U.S. military involvement with Iran transitioned into actual conflict, highlighting the rapidly evolving nature of the Middle Eastern security situation.

Media outlets throughout the Arab world have entered crisis coverage mode as Iranian missiles and drones have struck multiple nations and the United States and Israel have launched joint military operations against Iranian leadership.

The regional response has revealed deep divisions. Gulf nation governments have issued strong criticism of Iranian strikes on their soil and civilian facilities, while other Arab groups—particularly those with ties to Tehran—have characterized the American-Israeli operations as acts of aggression. A third group of nations has focused on calling for reduced tensions while quietly strengthening their air defense systems and diplomatic communications. This diverse messaging shows a region adjusting its positions in real time.

Gulf state media has focused their reporting on protecting national borders and keeping civilians safe.

Saudi Arabia’s official news service, SPA, released statements criticizing what they called “blatant” Iranian strikes and confirmed that Saudi land would not serve as a launching point for attacks against Iran. Their coverage emphasized violations of national sovereignty and the right to protect airspace, rather than supporting the wider US-Israeli military campaign.

The United Arab Emirates, through the Emirates News Agency, WAM, and official defense updates, highlighted successful interceptions of drones and missiles. Their approach was operational and technical, focusing on containment abilities rather than political positioning.

Qatar’s QNA news service reported Iranian drone attacks on government facilities in Mesaieed and Ras Laffan, noting no casualties occurred while highlighting the severity of targeting essential infrastructure. Editorial pieces in Qatari newspapers characterized Iran’s actions as attempting to expand the conflict to “peaceful countries.”

Al Arabiya, a Saudi state-owned network, reported that “US, Saudi Arabia and Arab allies slam Iran’s ‘reckless attacks,’ vow self-defense,” highlighting that America and several Gulf nations issued joint criticism of Iranian missile and drone attacks and confirmed their right to protect sovereign land. Saudi Arabia also called in Iran’s ambassador over “blatant” Iranian strikes on its territory, strengthening the diplomatic objection. Gulf nations have stated they maintain the right to respond to Iranian aggression when necessary.

Al Jazeera English, a Qatari state-supported network, has reported on the strikes with emphasis on regional consequences and strategic uncertainty, noting “explosions across Qatar, UAE, Kuwait as Iran’s retaliatory strikes continue.” In their analysis, Al Jazeera questioned, “After Iran’s salvo hit their skylines, will Gulf states enter the war?” showing how Gulf capitals are attempting to balance airspace protection with avoiding deeper participation in a conflict they did not start.

The New Arab, a London-based, Qatari-owned publication, reported that “Iran continues to strike Gulf states in retaliation to US-Israel war,” noting that multiple Gulf capitals hosting US military assets have been struck by Iranian missiles or drone attacks. Their coverage presented the attacks as part of an expanding conflict spreading beyond the original US-Israel operation.

Kuwait’s KUNA news service characterized Iranian strikes as violations of international law and the UN Charter, supporting a legal-focused narrative consistent with previous Gulf responses to cross-border threats.

Bahrain’s BNA amplified regional criticism and highlighted unity among Gulf nations.

Beyond political positioning, Gulf reporting has also shown economic worries. Energy infrastructure, shipping routes, and liquefied natural gas production facilities have been featured heavily in coverage, given the closeness of strikes to strategic export centers and renewed discussion of dangers to maritime routes in the Strait of Hormuz. The economic aspect, while not always emphasized, helps explain why Gulf media has used urgent language about sovereignty.

However, none of these governments publicly celebrated or openly supported the US-Israeli strike on Iranian leadership. The support they expressed was defensive, not offensive, with focus on protecting national territory and civilians.

Oman, historically positioned as a diplomatic mediator, took a more careful approach. Its Foreign Ministry requested an “immediate halt” to missile strikes throughout the region while expressing concern over the expansion of military operations.

Muscat’s messaging shows a balancing effort: criticism of attacks on Arab nations alongside resistance to full-scale regional escalation.

In Iraq, official statements criticized the US-Israeli strike and warned against further escalation, positioning Baghdad as concerned about regional spillover. The state-owned Iraqi News Agency carried statements from political and militia-connected figures mourning Iranian leadership and describing the strike as aggression, showing how segments of Iraq’s official and semi-official media space presented the event in solidarity with Tehran.

Yemen demonstrates the Arab world’s internal divisions. The internationally recognized Yemeni government criticized Iranian attacks on Gulf states, aligning with Saudi Arabia and the UAE. In contrast, the Houthi-controlled Saba news agency characterized the US-Israeli operation as “American-Israeli aggression,” repeating Tehran’s language.

This split highlights how alignment within the Arab world remains closely connected to local power structures and armed-group relationships.

Lebanon’s government response concentrated on internal stability. Officials repeated that only the state can decide on war and peace and indicated intent to prevent any armed group from launching independent attacks from Lebanese territory without government approval. This positioning signals worry over regional spillover, not an ideological position.

Jordan faces a particularly delicate situation. Iranian drones and missiles have traveled through its airspace, and Amman has previously experienced missile debris in populated areas.

Political analyst Amer Sabaileh described the kingdom’s situation to The Media Line: “Jordan … has always tried to avoid this conflict, but this war scenario unfortunately has a geographical reality that involuntarily involves the kingdom,” he said.

Sabaileh explained that Amman has consistently tried to position itself as neutral and to avoid becoming a battlefield, even seeking diplomatic engagement with Tehran in recent months.

“Jordanian politics has wanted to send messages to almost everyone to be considered a neutral country … to explain that in the end the Jordanian territory will not be a theater of war by anyone,” Sabaileh noted.

At the same time, he argued that the broader regional structure Iran has built over recent years is now falling apart. “The concept that Iran has created with the unity of fronts over time against Israel is now living its last days,” he said.

Sabaileh said Israel has spent the past two and a half years, since October 7, gradually weakening those interconnected fronts—in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen—culminating in direct confrontation with Iran itself. “Today, I believe that Israel thinks that this is the right time to get to this confrontation. Since the regime has been weakened and with the help of the US, it is the perfect timing,” he explained.

He also suggested the timing reflects both regional changes and internal pressures inside Iran. “I believe that we are experiencing a very historic moment and in a couple of months we are going to face a completely new Middle East,” he said.

On Jordan’s direct security risks, he pointed to years of hostile policy and operational pressure from Iranian-aligned networks. He cited infiltration attempts, weapons and drug smuggling, and the positioning of hostile armed groups along Jordan’s northern border as part of that sustained pressure.

Regarding civilian protection, he said Jordan now has only one choice: to defend its airspace and try to protect its citizens to the maximum capacity of the country.

While emphasizing the experience and preparedness of the Jordanian military, Sabaileh warned of inherent unpredictability in a missile-and-drone environment. “There is always the risk that this is an uncontrollable situation in terms of being able to control the impacts. … Few hits were reported already in Amman and in the north and south of the country, but likely due to debris,” he noted.

He also cautioned that Iran’s ballistic missile capability extends beyond immediate theaters of confrontation. “Ballistic missiles in Iran can threaten everyone, not only in the region but beyond; they can even reach Europe,” he said.

Sabaileh argued that Arab governments’ months-long caution—or silence—on developments in Iran may not last if Iranian strikes keep expanding. “I believe that this silence, little by little, must change … the aggressive Iranian policy towards the Gulf countries and Jordan … will force these countries to adopt a clearer policy towards Iran. The silence over the killings of the regime was a hopeful way to avoid direct confrontation, but now it is evident that it didn’t work,” he explained.

He further warned that escalation may not remain confined to the Middle East. “There is a risk in Europe and in the US with terrorist cells as well … because this regime thinks that by increasing the risk and spreading the chaos all over is the only way to destabilize the entire world while they fall,” he said.

Throughout official Arab media, three patterns are clear. First, Gulf states are publicly united in criticizing Iranian attacks on their territory, emphasizing sovereignty and civilian safety. Second, Iran-aligned groups characterize the US-Israeli operation as external aggression. Third, mediator states highlight de-escalation while quietly strengthening defense coordination.

Sabaileh summarized the potential transformation directly: “I believe that for the Middle East the 7th of October is like the 11th of September in the world. It is a new reality, and we are witnessing it as we speak,” he concluded.

Whether this escalation remains limited or develops into a broader confrontation will depend on developments in the coming days. For now, the Arab world is neither completely aligned nor entirely divided. It is readjusting—balancing deterrence, diplomacy, and domestic stability in a moment many officials privately describe as historic.

Israeli military forces launched targeted airstrikes against Hezbollah positions in Beirut on Tuesday, according to statements from the Israel Defense Forces. The aerial assault focused on multiple Hezbollah installations, including weapons depots, command centers, and communication equipment connected to the organization’s intelligence operations.

Following reports from Lebanese media sources that the Al-Manar television studios – affiliated with Hezbollah – were among the targets hit, Israeli military officials confirmed they had attacked communication networks that the group uses for coordinating operations, collecting intelligence, and distributing propaganda.

Israeli forces distributed warning notices to civilians before launching the strikes in an attempt to minimize harm to non-combatants, military officials stated.

Warning sirens echoed across Israel’s Galilee region, including the cities of Nahariya and Karmiel, after authorities detected Hezbollah drone incursions in the country’s northern territory.

Emergency responders from Magen David Adom arrived at the scene of a residential building that suffered a direct strike in Kfar Yuval, located in the Galilee Panhandle, during Tuesday morning’s attacks.

Air raid alerts also sounded in Jerusalem due to concerns about drone infiltration, though authorities later determined these warnings resulted from mistaken identification.

Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz revealed that both political leadership and military commanders have authorized the Israel Defense Forces to occupy Lebanese territory “to prevent fire on Israeli border communities.”

Lebanese military forces positioned themselves along the Israeli border in reaction to what AFP described as an “escalation” by Israeli forces. Following Hezbollah’s first missile launches into Israel in 18 months – which occurred after the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei – Lebanon’s army announced it was prohibiting military operations conducted by the Iran-supported organization.

BRUSSELS – A comprehensive new study has revealed alarming statistics about violence against women throughout the European Union, showing that approximately one-third of women experience physical or sexual assault during their lifetimes, yet the overwhelming majority of these incidents never reach law enforcement.

Research conducted by the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) working alongside the European Institute for Gender Equality discovered that merely 11.3% of women who suffered physical or sexual violence from non-intimate partners contacted police, while an even smaller 6.1% reported abuse committed by intimate partners.

The study identified several barriers preventing women from seeking help, including feelings of shame, self-blame, fear of consequences, and lack of confidence in law enforcement agencies. Researchers also found that many women had insufficient knowledge about available support services or couldn’t access them easily.

Data from across EU member nations showed that 30.7% of women reported experiencing violence, representing a modest improvement from 33% documented in the initial survey conducted in 2012. The research also uncovered widespread instances of psychological abuse, economic control, and digital harassment.

“Violence against women is a fundamental rights violation,” stated FRA Director Sirpa Rautio. “Member states have clear obligations to prevent violence, protect victims and ensure access to justice, and these findings show there is still urgent work to do.”

The survey results revealed dramatic differences between countries, with rates spanning from 57.1% in Finland down to 11.9% in Bulgaria.

Interestingly, Nordic countries renowned for gender equality showed surprisingly high violence rates – Finland led at 57.1%, followed by Sweden at 52.5% and Denmark at 47.5%, while nations with traditionally lower gender equality rankings showed more complicated reporting patterns.

Researchers refer to this phenomenon as the “Nordic paradox,” suggesting it may indicate genuine differences in women’s experiences or varying cultural attitudes toward reporting violence and defining inappropriate sexual behavior across different societies.

This same paradoxical pattern appeared in FRA’s original 2012 violence survey.

The current research involved interviews with almost 115,000 women between ages 18 and 74, conducted from September 2020 through March 2024.

European Commission officials expressed serious concern about the survey results.

“The scale of unreported violence shows systems must be improved and victims must be supported,” the Commission stated, emphasizing that fighting violence against women and domestic abuse represents “a core priority for the EU.”

Defense officials from several Gulf nations have published new data revealing the extent of Iranian aerial attacks on their territories during the ongoing U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran, according to a March 3 report.

The United Arab Emirates has faced the most intensive bombardment, with their defense ministry reporting detection of 186 ballistic missiles. Of those, 172 were successfully intercepted, 13 dropped into ocean waters, and one actually reached UAE soil. Additionally, UAE forces tracked 812 unmanned aircraft, managing to intercept 755 while 57 crashed within their borders.

Qatar’s military recorded 101 ballistic missiles in their airspace, successfully stopping 98 of them. They also detected 39 drone aircraft and intercepted 24, along with identifying and destroying 3 cruise missiles. Qatari forces even tracked and intercepted 2 Sukhoi SU-24 military aircraft.

Bahrain’s defense forces reported destroying 73 missiles and 91 unmanned aircraft that entered their territory.

Kuwait monitored and successfully intercepted 178 ballistic missiles and 384 drone aircraft targeting their nation.

Military officials from Saudi Arabia and Oman have not yet released comparable statistics for their territories.

In an unprecedented move, Sudan has directly blamed Ethiopia for permitting unmanned aircraft to launch strikes from Ethiopian territory during February and March, marking the first time the nation has openly implicated its neighboring country in the brutal three-year internal conflict.

The accusation, made public through a Sudanese foreign ministry statement issued Monday evening, signals how one of the globe’s most devastating wars between government forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) is increasingly involving regional African powers and international actors.

Ethiopian officials from the prime minister’s office have yet to respond to requests for comment regarding these allegations. Reuters has been unable to independently confirm whether attack drones were indeed launched from Ethiopian soil.

The ongoing battle pits Sudan’s military against the RSF paramilitary organization in a devastating war that threatens to split the nation apart while forcing millions of citizens to abandon their homes.

While the foreign ministry statement didn’t identify specific attack locations, residents in the southeastern Blue Nile state near the Ethiopian border report witnessing minor clashes and drone strikes in recent weeks.

The SPLM-N rebel organization, which joined forces with the RSF last year, maintains control over portions of the Blue Nile region.

Sudan’s foreign ministry characterized the alleged drone operations as “a blatant violation of Sudanese sovereignty and an outright act of aggression against the Sudanese state.”

The statement continued with a stern warning: “The Sudanese government warns the Ethiopian authorities against the consequences of these hostile acts and affirms its right to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity, including the right to respond to such attacks by all available means.”

Reuters previously reported exclusively last month about Ethiopia operating a covert training facility for thousands of RSF fighters.

Neither Ethiopian government representatives, military officials, nor RSF leadership provided responses to detailed inquiries about that investigation. Sudan’s Armed Forces similarly remained silent on the matter.

Currently, the RSF maintains dominance over Sudan’s western Darfur region, while government forces control the eastern territories.

Both factions continue battling for supremacy in the central Kordofan region, which sits between their established areas of influence.

Unmanned aircraft have emerged as a crucial element in this conflict, enabling the RSF to challenge the traditional military’s aerial superiority while unfortunately contributing to widespread civilian harm.

French President Emmanuel Macron has unveiled a groundbreaking nuclear defense initiative that would coordinate France’s atomic deterrent with eight European partners while maintaining exclusive French authority over any nuclear strike decisions.

The announcement, delivered Monday from a classified submarine facility in western France, represents what defense analysts call an unprecedented level of nuclear cooperation driven by mounting European concerns about America’s long-term commitment to continental security.

Since Britain departed the European Union in 2020, France stands as the bloc’s sole nuclear-armed nation, positioning it to potentially provide what MIT security studies expert Florian Galleri termed “some form of a nuclear security guarantee” during any atomic crisis.

Macron revealed that Paris has initiated nuclear discussions with Britain, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Sweden and Denmark. Nations participating in this arrangement would see their territories “gain a clearly affirmed link to our deterrence,” the French leader stated.

This “forward deterrence” strategy would permit the temporary stationing of French nuclear-capable aircraft on allied soil for the first time, marking what could represent a fundamental policy transformation.

The initiative emerges as America has historically anchored European defense through NATO’s nuclear umbrella since World War II’s conclusion. However, Macron observed that recent American security strategies demonstrate shifting U.S. priorities.

Given escalating Russian tensions – with Moscow possessing extensive nuclear capabilities and developing advanced missile systems – plus China’s expanding atomic forces, “our way of thinking must change,” Macron declared.

Despite the collaborative framework, Macron emphasized that France will retain complete decision-making autonomy, as the French constitution designates the president as the sole authority for nuclear weapon deployment.

Yet this position creates inherent tensions, according to Galleri. “The strategic backing intended to integrate French nuclear deterrence into a collective European defense framework necessarily requires a degree of coordination and joint planning,” he explained. “One cannot, for example, carry out a nuclear strike without consulting a partner.”

The new arrangement would enable partner nations to join deterrence training exercises, Macron indicated. During crises, French nuclear capabilities could receive support from European conventional military assets.

Such support might encompass early detection networks – partner satellites and radar systems for missile tracking – plus air defense systems, anti-drone protection, and extended-range strike capabilities, he outlined.

Macron also announced France’s intention to expand its nuclear warhead inventory for the first time since the 1990s Cold War conclusion, citing evolving competitor defenses, emerging regional powers, potential adversary coordination, and proliferation threats. France currently maintains approximately 290 warheads.

Nuclear deterrence expert Héloïse Fayet from the French Institute of International Relations highlighted Macron’s description of France’s nuclear deterrent as designed to inflict “damage from which they would not recover” on adversaries.

“We must always be able to inflict that kind of damage,” Fayet noted, while criticizing Macron’s decision against disclosing specific warhead numbers. If Russia enhanced its defensive systems, for instance, France would require “more nuclear warheads,” she explained.

Macron clarified that European coordination would supplement, not replace, NATO’s nuclear mission – in which France doesn’t participate – while remaining compatible with alliance security responsibilities.

German Marshall Fund NATO expert Ian Lesser said Macron’s initiative “reflects the state of security in Europe” following Russia’s comprehensive Ukraine invasion, plus “growing uncertainty about the American security commitment to Europe.”

Europe must now “deal with a more aggressive Russia for some time to come,” Lesser observed.

NATO’s deterrence operates through substantial American military presence across Europe, including U.S. nuclear weapons stationed in Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

“The bulk of Europe’s conventional deterrence is lodged in NATO — strategic command and organization, design and deployment,” Lesser emphasized. “NATO is critical, and France is really not looking to weaken that. So the point about it being complementary is important.”

Thousands of airline passengers find themselves trapped in Gulf region airports as ongoing conflict spreads throughout the area, while affluent travelers are escaping by spending enormous amounts on private charter flights to European destinations through airports beyond the reach of Iranian missile and drone strikes.

Charter flight requests have surged dramatically, with wealthy passengers spending as much as 200,000 euros ($232,000) after key aviation hubs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha, Qatar shuttered operations following the outbreak of hostilities over the weekend.

Passengers stuck in Dubai, typically considered a secure and upscale travel hub, are now attempting to flee by driving overland to either Muscat, Oman – roughly four hours away – or to Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh, which requires more than 10 hours of travel. From these locations, they can catch limited commercial flights or book charter services whose prices have skyrocketed since fighting began.

“The demand is huge, and we can’t deliver enough aircraft to respond to the demand,” said Altay Kula, CEO of the France-based private jet broker JET-VIP.

A private charter jet accommodating up to 16 passengers traveling from Riyadh to Porto, Portugal typically runs about 100,000 euros ($115,800), but current pricing has doubled, according to Kula.

“This increase in cost reflects the aircraft’s scarcity, the repositioning costs as well, and the operator risk assessments. So this is not speculative pricing,” he added.

Flight costs fluctuate based on departure location, aircraft type, and routing limitations, explained Ameerh Naran, CEO of Vimana Private Jets. Charter flights departing the Gulf region for European destinations now cost between 150,000 euros ($173,800) and 200,000 euros, he noted.

To reach operational airports in Riyadh and Muscat, some passengers are contracting private security firms that arrange ground transportation using everything from regular cars to large buses.

Heavy traffic has created border crossing delays of up to four hours when entering Oman, while transportation costs reach into the thousands of dollars, according to Ian McCaul, operations and planning director with Alma Risk, a U.K.-based risk management and security firm.

The majority of those attempting to leave are tourists and business travelers rather than local residents, McCaul noted.

His company estimates it has coordinated transportation for over 200 individuals and provided guidance to numerous others in recent days.

Vimana’s customer base includes corporate executives, families, entrepreneurs, and remote workers who had been living in the region, Naran said.

Elie Hanna, CEO for the Middle East headquarters of Air Charter Service, based in Dubai, explained that most evacuation flights are departing from Oman. Prices have reached extreme levels because few charter aircraft remain available, with most grounded at now-closed airports.

His clientele ranges from regular private jet users to commercial airline passengers who are now pooling money with other travelers or families to split charter costs.

“Everyone is stressed,” Hanna said. “To be honest, everyone is trying to accommodate as much as they can. Muscat Airport is overloaded with flights and everybody is stressed.”

Security and health services experts from International SOS anticipate the fighting will continue disrupting transportation and energy systems for several weeks.

A Russian judicial panel on Tuesday officially classified a major LGBTQ+ advocacy organization as an extremist entity, marking another escalation in the government’s ongoing campaign against the community under President Vladimir Putin’s leadership.

The St. Petersburg City Court conducted the closed-door proceeding to ban the Coming Out organization under extremist classifications. Russian officials have kept details of the Justice Ministry’s lawsuit, filed last month, completely confidential.

Despite the ruling, the organization, which now functions from international locations, has committed to continuing its mission of supporting LGBTQ+ individuals in Russia and worldwide while advocating for their civil rights.

“We have been preparing for this development for a long time. We enhanced security, developed sustainable work formats and continue to act responsibly, first and foremost for those who count on us,” Coming Out said in an online statement.

“Today it is especially important not to give into fear and not to be alone. Our community is stronger than any labels, and history has proven that.”

This marks the first LGBTQ+ advocacy organization to receive this designation following the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision that essentially prohibited all LGBTQ+ activism nationwide. Legal proceedings against two additional LGBTQ+ organizations remain pending in St. Petersburg and Samara region courts.

Russia’s LGBTQ+ population has endured mounting legal restrictions and social hostility for more than ten years, with conditions worsening significantly since the military action in Ukraine began. Putin has framed the Ukrainian conflict as a confrontation with Western nations, which he claims seek to undermine Russia and its traditional family structures through LGBTQ+ advocacy.

Since then, any media representation of gay and transgender individuals in positive or neutral contexts has been prohibited. Medical procedures for gender transition and official document changes reflecting gender identity are also banned.

The Supreme Court’s November 2023 ruling declared what officials termed “the international LGBT movement” an extremist organization, making community involvement grounds for criminal prosecution and imprisonment.

Following that decision, law enforcement conducted raids on gay establishments, nightclubs, and drag performance venues across Moscow, St. Petersburg, and other cities. Criminal charges related to “LGBT movement” participation have been filed, with individuals receiving fines for displaying items authorities consider extremist symbols, including rainbow flags.

Denis Oleinik, executive director of the Coming Out organization, stated that Russian officials aim to make the LGBTQ+ community “as vulnerable, as lonely as possible.”

The organization, previously headquartered in St. Petersburg, Russia’s second-largest city, has operated exclusively from international locations since the full-scale Ukrainian invasion began. While no longer providing in-person support groups or local activities, the group continues offering remote psychological and legal assistance. It also collaborates with international organizations on Russian LGBTQ+ rights advocacy and assists those leaving the country, Oleinik explained to The Associated Press in February.

The extremist classification creates safety risks for individuals sharing Coming Out materials publicly or for anyone within Russia or visiting the country who contributes financially to the organization, according to Oleinik.

The designation also intimidates people from seeking assistance and discourages other advocacy groups or media organizations from collaboration, Oleinik noted. Family members of activists who speak publicly may also face potential risks.

However, Oleinik emphasized that “we can provide help, and receiving our help is also allowed.”

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (AP) — The Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago has implemented another state of emergency on Tuesday, just one month following the conclusion of their previous emergency declaration, as officials continue battling escalating violent crime rates.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar referenced reliable intelligence regarding planned assaults on police officers when announcing the renewed emergency status, which provides government authorities with expanded powers including warrantless arrests and property searches.

The twin-island nation has operated under emergency conditions for approximately 10 months out of the past 14, with their most recent emergency period concluding on January 31.

According to Bissessar, the country’s National Security Council has observed that continuing criminal activity has resulted in “multiple deaths due to mass shootings and that the continuance of reprisal shootings amongst criminal gangs, if left unchecked, would endanger public safety.”

The emergency declaration will remain in effect for up to 15 days initially, though officials may choose to extend the timeframe as necessary. Authorities have not yet revealed whether a curfew will be implemented.

This most recent crime-fighting measure is anticipated to hurt the nation’s tourism industry.

“It really isn’t good for tourism,” said Reginald Mac Lean, president of the Tobago Hotel and Tourism Association.

Given the current conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, Mac Lean explained the emergency comes “at a time when we should be capitalizing on what is happening in the rest of the world, to encourage people to come to our shores.”

The nation has already documented 63 homicides this year, falling just one death short of last year’s count for the same time period.

Opposition leaders have strongly criticized the latest emergency declaration, claiming the administration has failed to effectively tackle criminal activity.

“This government has demonstrated time and again that it prefers authoritarian measures over sound, strategic crime management, and once again, it has chosen to restrict the freedoms of citizens rather than address the systemic problems of crime in Trinidad and Tobago,” opposition leader Pennelope Beckles said in a statement.

A British married couple imprisoned in Iran’s notorious Evin prison are facing increasingly perilous circumstances as military strikes continue to rock the Tehran area, according to their family member who spoke with Reuters following recent communication with the detained pair.

Lindsay and Craig Foreman are currently serving decade-long prison terms after Iranian authorities convicted them of espionage activities, alleging the couple collected intelligence across multiple regions of the country. The pair was taken into custody in January 2025 during what they described as a worldwide motorcycle adventure, and they have consistently rejected the accusations against them.

Their son, Joe Bennett, who maintains regular communication with his imprisoned mother, shared alarming details about deteriorating circumstances within the detention facility as aerial bombardments enter their fourth consecutive day in Iran’s capital city.

Bennett described the frightening reality his parents are experiencing: “They’re hearing the jets going over. They’re hearing the bombs hitting surrounding areas outside of Evin. One of the bombs was so close to the prison that it’s actually… punctured the windows and the ceiling.”

According to Bennett, both his mother and stepfather are experiencing significant fear, while tension continues to mount throughout the prison complex. He noted that additional detainees are being transferred to the facility following demonstrations occurring throughout the city.

The family member expressed grave concerns about the immediate danger facing his parents, stating: “You’re worried for their safety – it’s a genuine threat to their lives because the country is at war.” He explained that communication opportunities remain severely restricted, limited to brief conversations using a shared telephone that inmates must queue to access.

These developments occur amid growing concern from advocacy organizations, who estimate that no fewer than six American citizens or legal permanent residents are currently detained within Iran. Additionally, potentially thousands of individuals holding dual American-Iranian citizenship remain within the country’s borders, raising alarm that they could become leverage tools amid the ongoing military conflict.

Beyond immediate safety concerns, the Foreman family is also worried about their loved ones’ access to fundamental necessities within Evin prison. While the facility’s commissary continues operating, questions remain about the sustainability of food and water supplies as the conflict disrupts normal staffing patterns and delivery schedules.

Bennett acknowledged that British government officials have maintained consistent contact with the family but expressed frustration with the limited scope of assistance provided. He noted that consular officials have been unable to access the detained couple for three months, and described official support as inadequate, lacking any clear “plan, strategy” for securing their freedom.

“The only support that matters to us is their plan to get my parents home,” Bennett emphasized.

Ukraine’s use of SpaceX’s satellite internet service is projected to experience dramatic growth this year, with user numbers anticipated to climb from 5 million to approximately 12 million, according to a telecommunications industry leader.

Kaan Terzioglu, chief executive of telecoms company Veon, shared this forecast during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on Tuesday. His company partnered with Elon Musk’s SpaceX last year to provide satellite internet access to mobile phone users in areas with limited connectivity.

“I would expect every Ukrainian to consider having the ability to connect to satellite,” Terzioglu explained to Reuters. “Due to electricity outages, it could be the case that everybody once in a while will need the service.”

The projected 12 million users would represent approximately half of all customers served by Kyivstar, Veon’s Ukrainian subsidiary that has deployed the satellite service throughout the war-affected nation.

Veon, headquartered in Dubai, is also working to incorporate Starlink connectivity into its Beeline network in Kazakhstan. Terzioglu expressed optimism that this expansion would be fully operational by the end of March.

The company is eyeing further expansion opportunities, with potential launches planned for at least one additional market this year among Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Uzbekistan, where Veon currently operates.

Looking ahead, the telecommunications group is considering entry into “large-population, underserved markets” across South Asia, Latin America, and Africa within the next three to five years, contingent on favorable conditions including pricing and tax structures.

While Veon maintains non-exclusive agreements and continues discussions with other satellite providers including Amazon’s Project Kuiper, AST SpaceMobile, and Eutelsat OneWeb, Kyivstar CEO Oleksandr Komarov indicated his company won’t utilize alternative satellite services before the end of next year due to operational timelines.

Komarov also revealed plans to launch the first large language model using Google’s Gemma framework within the next quarter, specifically designed for “Ukrainian state purposes,” including wartime applications.

Frightened citizens in Iran’s capital say their city has become deserted following days of joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes, with empty streets patrolled only by security forces and Revolutionary Guards manning numerous checkpoints.

The aerial assault has claimed hundreds of Iranian lives since it began Saturday, though Israeli and American officials had anticipated the strikes might spark internal uprisings. However, Reuters reporters found no indication of imminent rebellion during telephone interviews with residents across the nation.

“Checkpoints have been set up on every street and alley,” explained Fariba Gerami, a 27-year-old employee at a north Tehran business whose husband operates a small coffee shop.

Power outages and water service disruptions since the bombing campaign started have heightened her concerns, and she and her friends now worry about potential burglaries during nighttime hours, Gerami noted.

Her family intends to flee Iran once travel becomes safer, though they remain concerned about security conditions on departure routes, she mentioned.

Two Iranian men who crossed into Turkey on Tuesday corroborated her description, painting a picture of widespread tension and panic in the capital.

“Children were screaming and crying,” one man said, declining to provide his identity. He noted that strikes on civilian infrastructure have intensified residents’ fears.

The second individual described extensive damage throughout the city. “We witnessed numerous destroyed buildings, particularly while departing the country. Many structures, vehicles and roadways suffered destruction. Citizens are desperately trying to leave. They’re unsure what actions to take,” he stated.

Those remaining in the capital experience overwhelming anxiety, especially after Monday’s strikes near a Tehran medical facility that sustained damage and required evacuation.

Fears of additional civilian casualties grew following the bombing of a girls’ school in southern Iran during the conflict’s initial hours, with officials reporting 150 fatalities. Reuters could not independently confirm this death count.

During Tuesday’s funeral service for the schoolgirls, small flag-draped coffins were passed from trucks over crowds of mourners toward burial sites, as shown on state television footage.

“World, can you see this? They’re murdering us. Listen to our voices,” pleaded Firuzeh Seraj through tears from Tehran.

“My 10-year-old daughter requires dialysis treatment and now we’re trapped. I’m terrified to bring her to the hospital. What if they attack it? Why are you bombing us?” she asked.

Iranian authorities report the attack death toll has reached 787, according to Red Crescent figures.

Iran has retaliated against the U.S.-Israeli offensive with extensive drone and missile attacks throughout the region, targeting both military installations and civilian areas in Israel, Jordan and Gulf nations.

Frustration over the unfolding disaster has also been directed toward Iran’s own leadership.

News of Khamenei’s death Saturday triggered spontaneous celebrations in some Tehran neighborhoods, while Islamic Republic supporters organized memorial gatherings.

Nevertheless, the major nationwide demonstrations that shook Iran in early January have not resumed, after being suppressed through state violence that killed thousands.

A retired military officer in northern Iran, identifying himself only as Hassan, criticized the deceased Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whose nuclear policies created tensions with Western nations before his death Saturday.

“Khamenei has died but the results of his years of obstinacy continue killing Iranian citizens,” he said.

“Why maintain such antagonism toward the world? What benefits have we received from this nuclear program besides bombardment, isolation and suffering? Why must we live under bombs?” he questioned.

In Urmia, near the Turkish and Iraqi borders, a woman requesting identification only as Shahla described the previous evening’s bombardment as the most intense yet.

“I was petrified. No shelters exist. No assistance available. They’re bombing all locations. Internet service is intermittent. We’re hoarding food supplies,” she explained.

Like other Iranians contacted by Reuters, she confirmed food and medical supplies remained available in stores, but expressed concern about potential shortages as people stockpile goods anticipating extended conflict.

An elderly woman in Bushehr, the Gulf coastal city housing Iran’s sole nuclear power facility, expressed fear she might never reunite with her overseas children.

“My children telephone me but internet service barely functions. I’m frightened, extremely frightened, that I may never see them again and could perish in these bombings,” said the 80-year-old, who provided only her first name, Fatemeh.

British Finance Minister Rachel Reeves pledged Tuesday to navigate her nation’s economy through turbulent times sparked by ongoing Middle East conflicts, while hinting at strengthened relationships with European Union partners and assuring business leaders of economic stability.

During her budget address to Parliament, Reeves recognized the substantial economic challenges confronting Britain, particularly the nation’s vulnerability to inflation driven by escalating energy prices linked to the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.

“This government has the right economic plan for our country, a plan that is even more important in a world that in the last few days has become yet more uncertain,” Reeves declared to Parliament members in a presentation that offered few major policy changes.

“It is incumbent on me and on this government to chart a course through that uncertainty, to secure our economy against shocks and protect families from the turbulence that we see beyond our borders,” she added.

Financial experts noted that Reeves, similar to finance leaders worldwide, faces challenges largely outside her influence.

Matthew Amis from Aberdeen Investment expressed this sentiment: “Geopolitics and the surge higher in energy prices are the only game in town and Chancellor Reeves’ Spring Statement will not be changing that.”

The nation’s independent budget analysts reduced their economic growth forecast for the current year to 1.1% from their earlier projection of 1.4%. While growth estimates for the following two years increased slightly to 1.6%, this figure represents roughly half the pre-2007-08 financial crisis average.

The Office for Budget Responsibility noted their projections were calculated before recent Middle East developments, warning these events “could have very significant impacts on the global and UK economies.”

The office lowered inflation predictions for this year and indicated government debt through the decade’s end would be somewhat less than previously anticipated.

However, officials highlighted the magnitude of challenges facing Reeves even prior to recent regional conflicts, noting British public debt relative to economic output stands at nearly twice the developed-nation average.

Elliott Jordan-Doak from Pantheon Macroeconomics consultancy suggested Britain’s financial situation appears more concerning than Reeves acknowledged.

“The government has shown little ability to stick to its plans, racking up a raft of policy U-turns during its first two years in office,” Jordan-Doak observed.

“We expect more will follow, with the local elections in May likely to serve as a catalyst for further domestic political turmoil, placing pressure on the leadership to ease fiscal policy,” he continued.

This pressure has intensified for Keir Starmer following his Labour Party’s loss in last week’s parliamentary seat election.

Reeves highlighted the importance of consistent government policy and infrastructure investment, criticizing the former Conservative government for permitting inflation increases and interest rate climbs to 15-year peaks.

“Stability is the single most important precondition for economic growth,” she stated.

The finance minister hopes a period of steady policymaking following Brexit-related political upheaval from a decade ago will motivate business investment.

Numerous business owners argue that increased taxes and expenses imposed by Reeves discourage employment growth.

In her address, she announced upcoming proposals for enhanced post-Brexit trade relationships with the European Union and outlined government reforms targeting youth unemployment reduction, which has increased significantly.

Nevertheless, her economic agenda confronts substantial obstacles.

Britain maintains the highest inflation rate among Group of Seven nations, preventing the Bank of England from reducing interest rates as rapidly as other central banks.

Elevated inflation also increases government expenses for inflation-indexed bonds, which comprise approximately 25% of national debt.

Government bond yields climbed for consecutive days Tuesday as investors expressed concern that this week’s doubled gas prices, if maintained, might prevent the Bank of England from lowering borrowing costs this year.

The surge in wholesale gas prices, representing the largest component of Britain’s domestic energy price ceiling, could elevate pricing levels for the July-September period if sustained.

Oil prices have increased 15%, prompting motoring organizations to request government reversal of the fuel duty freeze scheduled to end in September.

Britain’s debt office announced plans to sell 252.1 billion pounds in government bonds during the upcoming financial year, decreasing from 303.7 billion pounds in the current 2025/26 fiscal year ending this month.

The State Department announced Tuesday it is withdrawing non-essential staff from American diplomatic missions throughout the Middle East while calling on U.S. citizens to immediately exit the region, even as ongoing military operations have severely limited travel options.

Federal officials have ordered the evacuation of non-emergency government workers and their families from American embassies in Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Jordan. Similar evacuations had already occurred at diplomatic posts in Lebanon and Israel.

On Monday, the department issued urgent advisories for American citizens in 16 Middle Eastern nations to depart immediately using “available commercial transportation.” However, the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem stated it could not provide assistance to Americans attempting to leave the area.

California Congressman Ted Lieu criticized the evacuation guidance on social media, writing: “You told Americans to depart now via commercial means when you know many airports/airspace are closed.” Lieu demanded that Washington immediately arrange government evacuation flights for stranded citizens, adding: “Maybe you should have thought of a frickin’ plan first.”

The U.S.-Israeli air campaign against Iran, which began Saturday, has created global disruptions to energy markets and international aviation. Iranian drone strikes targeted the American embassy in Saudi Arabia overnight.

As Washington continues what many consider one of the most significant military actions in recent years, the United States currently lacks Senate-confirmed ambassadors in numerous regional countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq, Egypt, Kuwait, Algeria, and the UAE.

Key aviation centers in the Gulf region remain shuttered for the fourth consecutive day Tuesday, including Dubai’s international airport – typically the world’s busiest for international travel, processing more than 1,000 daily flights. The closures have left tens of thousands of travelers stranded while ticket costs have skyrocketed.

“The U.S. Embassy is not in a position at this time to evacuate or directly assist Americans in departing Israel,” the embassy posted on social media. Officials noted that citizens could register for shuttle services operated by Israel’s Ministry of Tourism to reach the Taba border crossing into Egypt.

Embassy officials emphasized they cannot guarantee the safety of this evacuation route. “The U.S. Embassy cannot make any recommendation (for or against) the Ministry of Tourism’s shuttle. If you choose to avail yourself of this option to depart, the U.S. government cannot guarantee your safety,” the statement read.

The State Department has not responded to inquiries about specific departure methods for Americans given the lack of commercial flight availability.

Department officials said Monday they had activated an inter-agency task force to handle the crisis and established a dedicated WhatsApp communication channel that has attracted 15,000 users. No mention was made of government-assisted citizen evacuations.

Oil prices jumped approximately 7% Tuesday, marking the third consecutive day of increases as the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran expanded. Former President Trump posted on social media overnight that America possesses a “virtually unlimited supply” of military equipment and that “wars can be fought ‘forever,’ and very successfully, using just these supplies.”

Nations across the globe are working urgently to evacuate their citizens from the Middle East after widespread flight cancellations left hundreds of thousands of people stranded following recent U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran.

The crisis has prompted governments to launch emergency repatriation efforts, though closed airspace throughout much of the region is creating significant challenges for rescue operations.

Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong revealed that approximately 115,000 Australians are currently in the affected region. She indicated that discussions with airlines are underway to assist stranded citizens, though evacuations remain challenging while regional airspace stays restricted. “Airspace is not open. So whether or not it is an Australian flight or a commercial flight, the flights are not able to occur,” Wong explained, declining to confirm specific government evacuation plans.

France faces one of the largest evacuation challenges, with roughly 400,000 French citizens spread across about twelve affected nations, including both residents and travelers. Officials report that over 25,000 people have registered through the Foreign Ministry’s “Ariane” tracking system. French authorities have positioned consular teams at Israel’s borders with Egypt and Jordan to help citizens exit overland, while establishing similar operations in the UAE near borders with Oman and Saudi Arabia where flights remain possible.

Germany is taking a targeted approach to assist approximately 30,000 stranded citizens, with officials stating that tour operators should handle most evacuations while military intervention remains a final option. Berlin has arranged two Lufthansa charter flights departing from Riyadh and Muscat, focusing on vulnerable individuals including children, expectant mothers, and disabled travelers. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul confirmed that crisis response teams are assessing border crossing possibilities amid uncertainty about reaching charter departure points.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced his country has developed evacuation plans for thousands of Greek nationals, though implementation remains difficult due to ongoing airspace restrictions.

Italy achieved an early success in evacuation efforts, with a charter flight carrying 127 Italian citizens landing at Rome’s Fiumicino airport late Monday evening, March 2. These passengers had been stranded in Oman or transferred there from Dubai, with one traveler reporting flight costs of approximately 1,500 euros.

The Philippines faces a particularly complex situation with over 2.4 million Filipino workers and residents throughout the Middle East, including 31,000 in Israel and 800 in Iran. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has called on Filipinos in affected areas to seek safety, promising government-arranged repatriation flights once security conditions improve. More than 1,000 migrant workers have already requested evacuation assistance.

Spain has initiated citizen evacuations, with Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares confirming that over 175 Spaniards arrived Tuesday evening on a flight from Abu Dhabi. Additional flights are planned from the United Arab Emirates via Istanbul, while Spain strengthens embassy operations in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Bahrain to support ongoing evacuation efforts.

Slovenia organized four police-escorted buses Tuesday to transport Slovenian families with children from Dubai to Muscat airport in Oman, according to Prime Minister Robert Golob’s office. The first evacuation flight departed Tuesday evening with Wednesday morning arrival expected, followed by two additional flights scheduled for Wednesday.

Switzerland has taken a different approach, with foreign ministry officials stating they will not organize evacuations for at least 4,400 Swiss travelers in the region. The ministry noted approximately 35,000 Swiss residents live in affected areas, primarily in Israel and the UAE, while a dedicated helpline has handled about 2,000 inquiries since Saturday.

The United Arab Emirates is facilitating departures by launching “special flights” across the country’s airports to help tens of thousands of stranded passengers leave the region, according to state media reports.

The United Kingdom has begun initial repatriation operations, with the first flights carrying British nationals arriving Monday evening. Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated the UK is “working on all options” to support an estimated 300,000 British citizens in the region, urging them to follow local guidance and official travel advisories. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper confirmed that 102,000 Britons have registered their location with the Foreign Office.

The United States has issued urgent departure advisories for Americans in more than a dozen Middle Eastern countries but has not yet announced specific repatriation flights. Mora Namdar, the State Department’s assistant secretary for consular affairs, urged U.S. citizens to leave using available commercial transportation “due to safety risks.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio encouraged Americans to register with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program and monitor ongoing security updates.

LONDON – A prominent British rapper has been sentenced to 12 years behind bars after pleading guilty to a fatal hit-and-run that claimed the life of a young college student from Nepal.

Justin Clarke-Samuel, known professionally as Ghetts, received his sentence Tuesday at London’s Old Bailey courthouse for the death of 20-year-old Yubin Tamang, which occurred in north London last year.

The 41-year-old musician had entered a guilty plea in December, admitting to causing Tamang’s death while operating his vehicle under dangerous conditions. He also acknowledged a separate charge of reckless driving involving his BMW M5 prior to the deadly collision.

During court proceedings, prosecutor Philip McGhee detailed how Clarke-Samuel had consumed alcohol before getting behind the wheel and driving recklessly toward his residence. The prosecutor described how the rapper ignored traffic signals and reached speeds approaching 70 miles per hour before the fatal impact.

Clarke-Samuel has achieved significant recognition in the British music scene, earning a nomination for the prestigious 2024 Mercury Prize for his fourth album titled “On Purpose, with Purpose.” He previously took home the best male performer award at the 2021 MOBO Awards and has worked alongside major recording artists such as Ed Sheeran.

BEIRUT — Israeli military forces deployed additional personnel into southern Lebanon on Tuesday while issuing evacuation orders for more than 80 villages, as the Iran-backed militant organization Hezbollah declared its preparedness for full-scale warfare, intensifying regional tensions.

The current escalation began when Hezbollah launched rockets and drone attacks toward northern Israeli territory early Monday. Israel responded with extensive aerial bombardments that resulted in 52 deaths across Lebanon, including a Palestinian fighter and a Hezbollah intelligence commander in Beirut’s southern neighborhoods. The strikes wounded over 150 individuals and forced tens of thousands from their homes.

On Tuesday morning, Hezbollah launched two separate rocket barrages targeting northern Israel, while Israeli overnight airstrikes damaged facilities housing Hezbollah’s television and radio broadcasting operations. Beirut’s southern districts faced multiple unannounced strikes during the early afternoon hours, with Israeli military officials later confirming they had targeted Hezbollah leadership.

Israeli military Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee broadcast warnings to residents across more than 80 communities, instructing them to depart immediately and warning against returning until authorities provide clearance.

A high-ranking Hezbollah leader indicated that following more than twelve months of maintaining ceasefire conditions while enduring continued Israeli attacks on Lebanese territory, the organization’s restraint has reached its limit, forcing a return to active resistance and open conflict with Israel.

“The Zionist enemy wanted an open war, which it has not stopped since the ceasefire agreement,” declared Mohamoud Komati. “So let it be an open war.”

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun informed diplomatic representatives from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United States, France and Egypt on Tuesday that Hezbollah has been launching rockets from positions north of the Litani river. Lebanese authorities maintain they have successfully disarmed Hezbollah forces south of the river near the Israeli border, with Lebanese military units maintaining complete operational control of the border region.

Just prior to Aoun’s statements, Israeli military commanders announced the deployment of additional forces into southern Lebanese territory, establishing new positions at multiple strategic locations near the border, while Lebanon’s official National News Agency reported Lebanese army units were withdrawing from certain border positions.

Spokesperson Adraee posted on social media platform X that the troop movements within Lebanese territory represent efforts to strengthen forward defensive capabilities and establish additional security measures.

A Lebanese military official confirmed to The Associated Press that Israeli forces had entered several Lebanese areas, noting that the Lebanese army was conducting “repositioning” operations in the region.

The United Nations peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon, designated as UNIFIL, reported that peacekeepers witnessed Israeli forces entering Lebanese territory at multiple locations Tuesday morning “before returning south of the Blue Line,” the official designation for the border between both nations.

Israel conducted a ground offensive into Lebanon during October 2024 throughout its most recent conflict with Hezbollah. Israeli forces withdrew from most southern Lebanese areas following a U.S.-mediated ceasefire that ended hostilities in November 2024, though they have maintained control of five positions on the Lebanese side of the border since that time.

Following the ceasefire implementation, Israel has maintained almost daily military strikes, primarily targeting southern Lebanon, claiming that Hezbollah has been attempting to reconstruct its military capabilities in the area.

Hezbollah initiated rocket attacks against Israel one day after the militant Palestinian organization Hamas conducted its assault on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which sparked the Gaza conflict. After months of limited fighting, the confrontation intensified into full warfare during September 2024 before a U.S.-brokered ceasefire officially ended the fighting two months later.

NAIROBI, Kenya — Twenty-six humanitarian medical workers with Doctors Without Borders have been missing for a month following violent attacks on two medical facilities in South Sudan, the international medical organization announced.

The medical charity, which operates under the French acronym MSF, reported that government forces bombed their hospital facility in Lankien on February 3rd, while unidentified attackers raided their medical center in Pieri the same day. Both locations are situated in Jonglei State, positioned northeast of South Sudan’s capital city Juba, in areas controlled by opposition forces.

Medical personnel at both locations evacuated alongside local residents into remote countryside regions where armed conflicts and aerial attacks continue. The violence has forced an estimated 280,000 people from their homes since December.

In a Monday statement, MSF revealed that “26 of 291 of our colleagues working in Lankien and Pieri remain unaccounted for.”

“We have lost contact with them amid ongoing insecurity,” the organization stated.

The humanitarian group indicated that communication difficulties may stem from poor network coverage throughout much of the region. Medical staff who have been reached reported “destruction, violence and extreme hardships.”

Military confrontations intensified dramatically in December when opposition fighters seized multiple government positions across north-central Jonglei. Government forces launched a January counterattack that regained most previously lost territory.

Civilians who fled to Akobo, an opposition-controlled community near Ethiopia’s border, recounted brutal violence committed by government troops. Many survivors reported going without food or water during multi-day journeys to reach safe areas.

The February assaults on MSF medical centers represent part of increased violence targeting humanitarian personnel, equipment and facilities, according to aid organizations. MSF facilities have suffered 10 separate attacks within the past year.

“This violence has taken an unbearable toll not only on health care services, but on the very people who kept them running,” stated Yashovardhan, MSF’s mission director in South Sudan, who uses only one name.

“Medical workers must never be targets,” he emphasized. “We are deeply concerned about what has happened to our colleagues and the communities we serve.”

LONDON — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has consistently avoided public criticism of Donald Trump throughout their political relationship.

However, that diplomatic courtesy isn’t being returned as Trump openly criticizes the UK leader for his unwillingness to fully support American-Israeli military operations against Iran.

This disagreement is creating turbulence in a diplomatic partnership that Starmer had carefully cultivated, adding more pressure to already strained Atlantic relations affected by Trump’s “America first” policies and transactional diplomatic style.

“This was the most solid relationship of all. And now we have very strong relationships with other countries in Europe,” Trump stated during a Tuesday interview with British newspaper The Sun.

“I mean, France has been great. They’ve all been great,” Trump continued. “The U.K. has been much different from others.”

“It’s very sad to see that the relationship is obviously not what it was,” he concluded.

Initially, Starmer prohibited U.S. aircraft from operating out of British military installations for Saturday’s Iran operations. He subsequently permitted American forces to utilize English bases and the Diego Garcia facility in the Indian Ocean for targeting Iran’s missile systems and storage facilities, while refusing access for broader military objectives.

Following an Iranian drone attack on the British Akrotiri base in Cyprus during the weekend, Starmer maintained that Britain “will not join offensive action.”

The UK leader delivered an unusual, though indirect criticism of Trump’s approach, stating Britain rejects “regime change from the skies.”

“Any U.K. actions must always have a lawful basis and a viable, thought-through plan,” Starmer addressed Parliament on Monday.

“President Trump has expressed his disagreement with our decision not to get involved in the initial strikes, but it is my duty to judge what is in Britain’s national interest,” Starmer continued.

The Financial Times characterized this as Starmer’s “Love Actually moment” — referencing the 2003 film scene where Hugh Grant’s British prime minister confronts Billy Bob Thornton’s intimidating American president.

Tensions between the leaders have been escalating over recent months. Starmer and fellow European officials condemned Trump’s territorial ambitions regarding Greenland earlier this year. Trump has also criticized Britain’s decision to transfer the Chagos Islands, which house the Diego Garcia base, to Mauritius, despite his administration’s previous support for the arrangement.

Former British Foreign Office chief Peter Ricketts told The Observer that Trump’s America has “effectively given up on any effort to be consistent with international law.”

This represents a fundamental conflict for Starmer, a former barrister and England and Wales’ ex-chief prosecutor who prioritizes legal compliance.

This dispute undermines Starmer’s attempts to build rapport with Trump following his 2025 return to the presidency. Britain arranged a royal state visit with King Charles III for Trump, and Starmer has repeatedly commended the president’s ongoing efforts to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The Iranian conflict has created divisions among European leadership, with reactions ranging from condemnation to endorsement.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte expressed complete support for Trump’s Iranian military action and the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, describing the conflict as vital for European security.

Britain, France, and Germany issued a joint statement saying they weren’t participants in the strikes but were ready to support “necessary and proportionate defensive action to destroy Iran’s capability to fire missiles and drones at their source.”

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez denounced the strikes as “unjustifiable” and “dangerous.”

British public opinion surveys indicate widespread skepticism about American justifications for the conflict. However, Conservative politicians have attacked Starmer for avoiding military participation. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch declared her party “stands behind America taking this necessary action against state-sponsored terror.”

Foreign Office Minister Stephen Doughty rejected suggestions that the U.S.-UK “special relationship” was deteriorating.

“Our relationship with the United States is strong,” he told Parliament Tuesday. “It has endured, it continues to endure, and it will endure into the future on both the economic and the security fronts.”

BEIJING (AP) — Following the U.S. and Israeli military strikes against Iran, Beijing took several hours before issuing its initial official statement. Chinese officials expressed being “highly concerned” and urged an immediate end to military actions while pushing for renewed diplomatic discussions.

The following day, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi denounced the attacks as unacceptable and reiterated calls for increased dialogue.

Beijing showed no signs of direct military involvement — though such action would be unrealistic. Consistent with its approach to other recent conflicts, including previous Iranian attacks, China has criticized military force while staying uninvolved, prioritizing its strategic long-term goals.

Among those priorities is an eagerly awaited visit from U.S. President Donald Trump to Beijing, scheduled for approximately early April.

While China’s military capabilities have expanded significantly and the nation has participated in joint exercises with Iran and established a military installation in Djibouti, East Africa in 2017, Beijing’s primary military focus remains protecting Asian interests, particularly regarding Taiwan and the South China Sea.

China has engaged in Middle Eastern diplomacy when opportunities arise, notably facilitating improved relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia in 2023. However, Beijing views America’s military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq as warnings to avoid similar entanglements, according to William Yang, an International Crisis Group analyst.

“China is reluctant to project military power beyond its immediate periphery and it is also unwilling to play the role of security guarantor in unstable regions like the Middle East,” he said.

Similarly, Beijing has offered diplomatic and economic assistance to Russia and Venezuela while avoiding military involvement in Ukraine or Latin America.

China’s sideline position demonstrates the boundaries of its global political influence, according to Craig Singleton, a senior China fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington research organization.

“Beijing’s response has been predictably restrained, underscoring China’s limited ability to shape events once hard power is in motion,” he said. “Beijing can signal unease; however, it cannot meaningfully deter or influence U.S.-Israeli military action.”

China’s displeasure with the Iranian strikes is unlikely to derail U.S. relations or disrupt plans for Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping next month, experts believe.

For Chinese leadership, the American relationship holds far greater importance than Iranian ties across multiple areas, including trade, economics, and Taiwan policy.

While Beijing may engage in verbal disputes with Washington regarding Iran, the risks of creating additional conflict with Trump exceed any potential benefits, said George Chen, a partner at The Asia Group.

“U.S.-China relations are already complicated enough for President Trump and Xi to handle,” he said. Adding Iran to the mix “won’t be something that both sides are keen to do.”

Nevertheless, Beijing might delay Trump’s visit, he noted.

As Iran’s largest oil customer, China prioritizes energy security and has developed backup sources. The primary concerns involve rising fuel costs and potentially losing access to oil and natural gas from the broader Middle Eastern region.

China purchased approximately 1.4 million barrels daily — representing 13% of China’s total maritime oil imports — from Iran last year, data company Kpler reported. However, the firm calculates that sufficient oil is currently being shipped to sustain China for another four to five months. This timeframe would allow Chinese independent refineries to adapt and find alternatives, with discounted Russian oil being their main option, said Muyu Xu, a senior Kpler analyst.

China has invested years in supply diversification and reserve building, Singleton noted. “The loss of Iranian oil appears marginal, not material, at least in the short-term,” he said.

Iran’s potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz — the narrow Persian Gulf entrance — poses greater concern, as do possible attacks on Gulf state liquefied natural gas facilities.

QatarEnergy, a significant supplier, suspended liquefied natural gas production Monday following facility attacks.

China is unlikely to provide weapons to Iran for fighting the U.S. for multiple reasons, analysts indicate.

“Tangible military aid, if any, would be limited to existing long-term defense trade arrangements rather than rapid battlefield support, and it would be constrained by Beijing’s interest in avoiding direct confrontation with the U.S. and its allies,” said Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat, a researcher at Indonesia’s Center of Economic and Law Studies.

China has condemned American arms supplies to Ukraine, claiming they extend the conflict.

Iran’s missile capabilities rely on Chinese technology, said James M. Dorsey, an adjunct senior fellow at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University. However, he predicted China would choose caution over selling missiles to Iran’s military.

“What China wants is this to end,” he said.

A devastating hunger crisis in Afghanistan is pushing hundreds of thousands more children toward severe malnutrition this year, according to a United Nations official who spoke Tuesday from Geneva.

The situation has deteriorated dramatically since international forces withdrew in 2021 and the Taliban returned to control, leading to massive reductions in foreign assistance. Natural disasters, including earthquakes, have made conditions even worse.

John Aylieff, who directs the World Food Programme’s operations in Afghanistan, delivered alarming statistics during a press conference in Geneva.

“Acute malnutrition among children is soaring. Last year we saw the highest surge ever recorded in Afghanistan, and this year, a staggering 3.7 million children will need malnutrition treatment,” Aylieff stated.

He revealed that an additional 200,000 children will require urgent nutritional intervention compared to previous estimates.

The funding shortage has created a tragic gap in care, with the UN agency possessing resources to help only 25% of children requiring acute malnutrition treatment, according to Aylieff.

Geographic barriers compound the problem, as many families cannot reach medical facilities. Aylieff expressed particular worry about children stranded by heavy snow in Afghanistan’s mountainous regions.

The country’s harsh winter season proves especially deadly for vulnerable children, Aylieff explained, noting that most child deaths occur “during the winter… at home silently.”

“What I fear is when the snow is melted at the end of March or in April, we will find there has been a very high toll of child deaths in the villages,” he warned.

The crisis has intensified as neighboring Pakistan and Iran have forced over 5 million people to return to Afghanistan since late 2023, overwhelming the country’s already strained resources.

Recent military clashes between Pakistani and Afghan forces near border areas where many returnees have settled have forced the World Food Programme to halt some operations.

“We foresee that acute malnutrition will be driven up further by the conflict as people are prevented from accessing health services,” Aylieff said, warning that tens of thousands of children face increased danger.

MOSCOW – Oil prices have surged to their highest point since July 2024 following recent U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iran, but even this boost won’t be enough to rescue Russia’s struggling federal budget, new analysis reveals.

The Kremlin is grappling with a widening budget shortfall, largely driven by declining revenues from oil and natural gas sales that typically account for nearly 25% of government income.

Although international crude oil climbed above $83 per barrel this Tuesday, Russian petroleum sells at a significant markdown compared to the global Brent standard. February data shows Russian oil traded at an average discount of $26.50 per barrel below international rates.

This price penalty stems primarily from Western economic sanctions imposed over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, including a price ceiling that the European Union reduced to $44.10 per barrel starting February 1st, designed to limit Russia’s petroleum earnings.

Government finances have been severely strained by massive defense and security expenditures since Russia launched its military operation in Ukraine in February 2022.

Financial analysis indicates Russia’s Urals oil blend would need to jump more than 50% from its March 2nd level of 3,582 rubles ($46.13) per barrel to reach the government’s budget projections.

Moscow’s 2026 budget planning assumes oil will sell for 5,440 rubles per barrel (approximately $59) with an exchange rate of 92.2 rubles per dollar.

Alternatively, if oil prices remain steady, the ruble would need to weaken dramatically to 117.5 per dollar from its current rate of around 77.65 to balance the budget.

Central bank advisor Kirill Tremasov indicated Saturday that officials don’t anticipate a ruble collapse, while cautioning that the current oil price surge may be temporary.

“Therefore, the government is focusing on a long-term forecast, not on what will happen in the next week or month,” he explained to reporters.

Russia’s public debt could potentially expand to nearly three times the official projection by year’s end as reduced oil sales and deeper price cuts erode revenues, while government spending may exceed estimates.

The budget projects 8.92 trillion rubles in oil and gas revenue this year, though current collection rates are falling behind this target.

TUNIS – Tunisia’s judicial system delivered significant corruption verdicts Tuesday, with a court imposing lengthy prison terms on two prominent figures in unrelated graft cases, according to legal representatives.

The court handed down a 20-year prison sentence to Marouan Mabrouk, widely recognized as Tunisia’s wealthiest individual, while former Prime Minister Youssef Chahed received a six-year term in a separate corruption proceeding.

Mabrouk, the North African nation’s top businessman, has remained behind bars since the final months of 2023. Meanwhile, Chahed, who led Tunisia’s government between 2016 and 2020, is currently residing outside the country.

DUBAI – Middle East experts are warning that Iran’s recent missile attacks on Gulf nations could backfire dramatically, potentially driving these countries into a stronger military alliance with the United States and expanding the current conflict.

Regional analysts suggest that Tehran’s decision to target economic centers, ports, and energy facilities across Gulf states may have been a strategic miscalculation that could unite these nations against Iran rather than pressure them to influence U.S. policy.

The missile strikes hit six different Gulf countries, all of which maintain military partnerships with Washington and house American forces on their territory. Iran’s apparent goal was to compel these nations to pressure President Trump into ending military operations, but experts believe the strategy has had the opposite effect.

Abdulaziz Sager, who leads the Gulf Research Center think tank based in Saudi Arabia, explained the difficult position these nations now face. “The Gulf states now face stark choices: to join the United States more openly in its war effort — allowing their skies and territory to be used and potentially participating in military operations — or risk further escalation on their own soil,” Sager told Reuters.

According to Sager, the possibility of remaining neutral disappeared when Iranian rockets began striking their territory, “forced us to be their enemies,” and pushed previously cautious governments toward open cooperation with Washington and active defense of their interests.

The crisis escalated following the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Saturday, which occurred during the initial phase of U.S. and Israeli military operations that Trump described as necessary to address security threats and prevent Iranian nuclear weapons development.

In response to the Iranian assault, the Gulf Cooperation Council — comprising Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman — convened an urgent ministerial session on Sunday. The group invoked United Nations Charter Article 51, established clear boundaries, and indicated their willingness to engage in collective defense as energy disruptions and security concerns intensify.

The GCC delivered a clear message to Tehran that the Iranian offensive had actually strengthened cooperation among Gulf nations. The council warned that continued attacks risked converting the Gulf region from a defensive position into an “active theatre of response,” and member states have now coordinated joint air-defense networks and surveillance operations throughout regional airspace.

Regional experts describe the situation as presenting a harsh choice: retaliate and risk broader warfare, or remain passive while accepting deteriorating security, economic damage, and diminished international standing under repeated attacks.

Gulf leadership has communicated warnings to Tehran through various channels, both direct and indirect, indicating that additional attacks would result in significantly more severe consequences for Iran.

“Practically, they’re going to try and wait as much as possible. The Americans are hitting them and the Israelis are hitting them,” said one Gulf insider.

This source noted uncertainty about Iran’s current command structure — whether the strikes on energy infrastructure were centrally authorized or conducted by independent units. Two possibilities are emerging: either military command has broken down with units operating independently, or strategic decisions remain centrally coordinated.

The implications extend well beyond the Gulf region, with global oil shipments, maritime routes, and energy infrastructure under threat, endangering a crucial energy corridor and creating worldwide economic repercussions.

International energy markets are experiencing one of their most serious disruptions in recent decades. Missile threats have forced temporary shutdowns at several Gulf energy installations, including Qatar’s liquefied natural gas facilities that supply approximately 20% of global demand, demonstrating the potential market impact.

Ebtesam Al-Ketbi, who heads the Emirates Policy Center, warned of broader international involvement if the crisis continues. “If the strikes continue at this pace, and the Gulf cannot withstand a prolonged conflict, disruption to oil shipping lanes or closure of the Strait of Hormuz, it would be natural for other countries to step in, because global interests would be directly affected,” Al-Ketbi told Reuters.

Mohammed Baharoon, who directs the Dubai Public Policy Research Center, argued that the case for expanding the anti-Iran coalition has been strengthened by the UAE’s classification of the Iranian strikes as terrorist acts.

“Iran is pushing the Gulf into an expanding coalition against it,” Baharoon stated. “By attacking Gulf states, Iran is turning them into enemies and risking a wider war no one wants.”

The targeting of Western-affiliated locations — including a British installation in Cyprus and facilities housing French personnel in Abu Dhabi — has raised the possibility of eventual NATO involvement in the conflict.

The UAE has sustained the heaviest Iranian assault, with 63% of strikes hitting its airports, ports, and petroleum infrastructure. Officials calculate that 165 ballistic and cruise missiles, plus 600 drones, were launched during the initial 48-hour period.

Weekend missile strikes on Doha, Dubai, and Manama also targeted these Gulf cities’ reputations as prosperous financial, investment, and tourism centers, damaging their image as secure and stable destinations.

Although the UAE seeks to prevent full-scale warfare, it has responded quickly through diplomatic means, summoning Iran’s ambassador, recalling its own representative, shuttering its Tehran embassy, and raising the matter at the U.N. Security Council.

Gulf officials indicate that Iran’s large-scale deployment of ballistic missiles and drones has fundamentally changed the diplomatic environment.

They argue that Tehran’s actions have complicated future U.S. negotiations by making it more difficult to treat Iran’s missile capabilities separately from its nuclear program — a perspective now reportedly shared by Sunni Gulf Arab neighbors and Western governments.

BERLIN — Thousands of travelers including religious pilgrims, vacationers, and diplomatic families find themselves trapped throughout the Middle East as escalating warfare involving Iran disrupts transportation across the region.

Flight cancellations by major carriers and closed airspace over the Gulf have left many seeking emergency shelter during bombing campaigns, while others remain aboard cruise vessels unable to navigate through the Strait of Hormuz.

The U.S. State Department issued urgent evacuation orders Monday, advising American citizens to immediately exit more than twelve Middle Eastern nations due to mounting security threats from the expanding regional conflict.

Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Mora Namdar posted on social media platform X, instructing Americans in nations such as Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Israel to “DEPART NOW” utilizing whatever commercial transport remains available.

State Department officials have also withdrawn non-essential staff and family members from six countries, recently adding the United Arab Emirates to the evacuation list Tuesday. The UAE, housing Dubai and Abu Dhabi and traditionally viewed as a secure regional haven, has become entangled in the Iranian conflict through missile interceptions and military strikes.

U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee informed Americans in Israel that their optimal escape route leads through Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula region.

Huckabee posted on social media early Tuesday that the embassy was handling numerous evacuation inquiries while staff members “are sheltering in place.”

“There are VERY LIMITED options,” he posted. “Not sure when Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv will reopen.” He recommended Americans travel by bus to Egyptian resort destinations Sharm el-Sheikh and Taba in southern Sinai.

International governments are rushing to organize citizen evacuations from the affected areas.

Italy’s government has coordinated evacuation flights to Milan and Rome following public criticism of Defense Minister Guido Crosetto. The minister faced political backlash after becoming stranded in Dubai with his family when the U.S.-Israeli military action against Iran began.

Crosetto flew back to Rome Sunday aboard a military transport. Opposition parties have demanded his resignation, arguing he shouldn’t have traveled to the Middle East during the crisis. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has supported her defense minister.

Approximately 30,000 German tourists remain stuck on cruise ships, in hotels, or at shuttered airports throughout the Middle East, with the initial evacuation flight from Dubai to Frankfurt scheduled to arrive Tuesday afternoon.

German authorities are arranging chartered aircraft using public funds to evacuate vulnerable individuals including sick travelers, children, and expectant mothers.

France is coordinating the return of thousands of French nationals, according to the foreign affairs minister’s Tuesday statement. Around 200,000 French residents live in conflict-affected areas, with officials estimating roughly 25,000 French citizens are currently visiting the region.

Romanian tourists reached Bucharest early Tuesday after traveling from Israel through Cairo to flee the violence. Hundreds of Romanian Orthodox pilgrims were stranded in Israel during a religious journey to Bethlehem led by Romanian clergy when fighting erupted. The pilgrimage group was compelled to abandon their trip and return home.

Pilgrim Mariana Muicaru described her terror while in Israel watching missiles streak overhead.

“We called our children at 3 a.m. to ask forgiveness because we might die and to tell them we love them and to let them know that it’s over for us,” she told The Associated Press.

British travelers previously trapped in the United Arab Emirates expressed relief upon landing safely at London’s Heathrow Airport Monday night.

Adam Barton, traveling with family from Abu Dhabi, said he received emergency alerts while at the airport before departure.

“We had an alert on our phone, saying to get away from the windows for potential missile attacks,” Barton told Sky News.

A Dubai flight arrived in Belgrade, Serbia’s capital, early Tuesday morning carrying approximately 200 passengers.

One passenger told state broadcaster RTS he had been waiting at a hotel and received just 15 minutes to pack his belongings.

Energy markets worldwide are experiencing dramatic price increases as ongoing military conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran has severely disrupted oil and gas operations throughout the Middle East region.

The price of Brent Crude oil climbed 6% on Tuesday, reaching above $82 per barrel – the highest level seen since July of last year. This represents a more than 15% increase since Friday alone. European natural gas costs have skyrocketed by 40% on Tuesday, following a similar 40% jump the previous day. The surge has also affected other commodities including sugar, fertilizer and soy products.

The ongoing crisis threatens to reignite inflationary pressures that could undermine economic recovery efforts across Europe and Asia, particularly if hostilities continue in a region responsible for nearly one-third of worldwide oil output and approximately 20% of global natural gas production.

Maritime traffic through the crucial Strait of Hormuz remains blocked for the fourth consecutive day following Iranian attacks on five vessels, effectively cutting off a vital waterway that handles roughly 20% of the world’s oil and gas shipments.

Tuesday brought additional infrastructure damage as a fuel storage tank at Oman’s Duqm commercial port sustained a hit, while fires erupted at Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, a critical regional petroleum hub.

Major energy producers across the region have been forced to halt operations. Qatar announced the closure of its massive liquefied natural gas plants on Monday – facilities that normally provide about 20% of global LNG exports. Saudi Arabia has suspended operations at its largest domestic refinery, while both Israel and Iraq’s Kurdistan region have also shut down significant portions of their oil and gas production.

President Donald Trump initiated what many consider the most significant foreign policy risk of his administration when he authorized attacks on Iran over the weekend, resulting in the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Domestically, gasoline prices have climbed above $3 per gallon for the first time since November, marking a sharp reversal from the $2 prices Trump had previously celebrated as an administration success.

The rising fuel costs present a substantial political challenge for Trump and Republican lawmakers as they approach November’s midterm elections, with many Americans already facing pressure from increasing costs of everyday necessities.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Energy Secretary Chris Wright are expected to unveil measures on Tuesday aimed at reducing the price surge’s impact on American consumers, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

India, heavily reliant on Middle Eastern energy imports, has implemented gas rationing for industrial users following the shutdown of Qatari production facilities.

While most Qatari LNG typically flows to Asian markets, European nations also depend on these supplies and are completely reliant on energy imports. Europe faces the challenge of replenishing reserves that were depleted during a harsh winter, likely requiring increased dependence on American gas after cutting ties with Russian energy following the 2022 Ukraine invasion.

Global shipping costs have reached record highs as the conflict has escalated and Iran has continued targeting vessels attempting to navigate through the strait.

The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has left hundreds of oil and LNG tankers stranded near major ports like Fujairah in the UAE, unable to deliver their cargo to customers across Asia, Europe and other destinations.

Unless alternative transportation can be secured, major oil producers including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iraq, Kuwait and Iran will be forced to reduce production within days as they run out of available tankers to transport continuing oil output.

Western defense analysts are working to determine Iran’s remaining missile and drone capabilities to sustain its current level of attacks.

While Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman and Kuwait have successfully intercepted most missiles and drones aimed at energy infrastructure, ports and airports, concerns are growing about the depletion of their defensive weapon stockpiles.

United Nations officials announced Tuesday that roughly 30,000 Lebanese civilians have fled to emergency shelters as military confrontations between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants intensified throughout the region this week.

The escalation began when Hezbollah launched rocket attacks toward Israel on Sunday evening, responding to recent U.S. and Israeli military operations targeting Iran. Israeli military forces have since carried out widespread aerial bombardments across Lebanese territory starting Monday.

UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch provided details on the humanitarian crisis, stating that “Conservative estimates suggest that nearly 30,000 people were hosted and registered at collective shelters.”

Baloch further described the desperate conditions, explaining that “Many more slept in their cars on the side of roads or were still stuck in traffic jams.”

According to the U.N. World Food Programme, Lebanese authorities have established 21 emergency shelter facilities, though officials anticipate the number of displaced residents will continue climbing significantly.

The refugee crisis is compounded by Lebanon’s existing population challenges. The nation currently houses approximately 1.5 million Syrian refugees within its borders, representing the world’s highest refugee-to-population ratio among a total Lebanese population of roughly 4 million.

UNHCR officials noted an uptick in Syrian refugees departing Lebanon to return to Syria, prompting the agency to develop emergency response plans for potential additional population movements. The Syrian refugee population originated from the conflict that erupted in Syria in 2011, which ultimately forced more than 6 million Syrians to seek refuge primarily in Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan.

UNICEF reported alarming casualties among Lebanese children, with seven deaths and 38 injuries recorded since Monday’s military operations began. The strikes have targeted civilian neighborhoods, putting young residents at immediate risk.

UNICEF spokesperson Ricardo Pires emphasized the expanding impact, stating that “Each new escalation expands the circle of harm. Residential areas, schools and critical infrastructure are being affected.”

LONDON – British leadership remains undecided about deploying naval vessels to protect their Royal Air Force facility at Akrotiri in Cyprus, according to an insider familiar with the discussions, following reports that top officials considered such military action.

A drone manufactured in Iran struck a runway at the Akrotiri installation during the early morning hours on Monday. British authorities have attributed the attack on UK military assets to Iranian forces.

According to reporting from The Times, which referenced three unnamed sources, Defense Minister John Healey conducted discussions Tuesday with high-ranking military officials about potentially dispatching the HMS Duncan warship to the area.

The Ministry of Defence has not yet provided a response to inquiries regarding these reported deliberations.

Meanwhile, the Cyprus News Agency, which operates with semi-official status, announced Tuesday that France intends to deploy defensive systems capable of intercepting missiles and drones to Cyprus.

MOSCOW – The chief executive of Russia’s state nuclear agency Rosatom warned Tuesday that Iran’s Bushehr nuclear facility faces potential danger due to ongoing regional military conflict, according to Russian state media reports.

Alexey Likhachev, Rosatom’s director, told reporters that the nuclear installation is at risk from the surrounding violence. “There is certainly a threat to the plant,” Likhachev stated, noting that “explosions can be heard just kilometres away.” He emphasized that the facility itself is not being directly attacked.

The Russian nuclear corporation announced over the weekend that it had removed nearly 100 individuals from Iran, including family members of workers and non-critical personnel. However, essential staff members continue operating the nuclear plant, which Russian engineers constructed in the Iranian coastal city of Bushehr.

According to reports from the Interfax news service, Likhachev indicated that additional evacuations involving between 150 and 200 people from the facility will occur once security conditions allow for safe departure.

MANILA – Two Asian allies strengthened their partnership Tuesday as Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos hosted South Korean President Lee Jae Myung for high-level discussions in the Philippine capital.

During the state visit, both leaders addressed what Marcos described as “growing uncertainty in geopolitical developments” and committed to supporting a rules-based international order, particularly regarding maritime issues.

The meeting resulted in expanded collaboration across several key industries. The two nations agreed to work more closely in shipbuilding, nuclear energy development, and artificial intelligence technologies.

Lee announced that cooperation would extend to infrastructure projects and defense manufacturing. “South Korea and the Philippines plan to work together on critical minerals and supply chains,” Lee stated during the discussions.

Military modernization emerged as a significant focus, with Lee confirming that South Korean companies would assist in upgrading Philippine armed forces capabilities.

The leaders also addressed current Middle East tensions during their bilateral talks.

Multiple memorandums of understanding were formalized covering diverse areas including digital technology advancement, defense equipment procurement, agricultural development, intellectual property protection, foreign language instruction, cultural exchange, and law enforcement cooperation.

Asian allies of the United States are growing increasingly concerned that ongoing military operations against Iran could weaken America’s ability to counter China’s expanding influence in the Pacific region.

During a private meeting Monday at ruling party headquarters in Tokyo, Japanese legislators questioned government officials about various aspects of the Iran crisis, including evacuation procedures and energy supplies. However, one particularly pressing concern emerged from the closed-door session, according to a politician who was present: what would happen to regional security if the U.S. redirected military assets from Asia to the Middle East?

This worry is especially acute for nations like Japan and South Korea, which host significant American military installations designed to counter both Chinese military expansion and threats from nuclear-armed North Korea. Democratic Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory and which receives U.S. military support, faces similar concerns.

Chen Kuan-ting, a Taiwanese ruling party legislator who serves on parliament’s foreign affairs and defense committee, expressed hope for a swift resolution. “We hope this operation is fast, limited, and that resources can be promptly shifted back to Asia,” Chen stated.

Chen warned that an extended conflict could undermine “stability and peace in the Indo-Pacific” and suggested Taiwan should brace for Beijing to increase “coercion” while America’s attention remains focused elsewhere.

President Trump has indicated that U.S. Middle East operations might continue for four to five weeks, though they could extend much longer. He plans to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the end of March, although Beijing has not yet confirmed this meeting.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning responded Tuesday by calling Taiwan an internal Chinese matter and stating Beijing “firmly opposes the use of force to infringe on the sovereignty and security of other countries.”

The U.S. State and Defense Departments have not yet responded to requests for comment on this report.

According to the Japanese politician who attended Monday’s meeting, a senior foreign ministry official indicated that Tokyo had requested guarantees from Washington that it would not relocate U.S. military resources from the region.

Current naval deployment statistics highlight the challenge: approximately 40% of operational U.S. Navy vessels are now positioned near the Middle East, according to a recent Center for Strategic and International Studies analysis. This includes the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln and at least six missile destroyers that were previously based at Pacific locations in California, Hawaii, and Japan, as reported by the U.S. Naval Institute.

Meanwhile, the George Washington, currently the sole U.S. carrier assigned to Asia, remains in maintenance at its Yokosuka base in Japan.

Bryan Clark, a former U.S. defense official who specializes in naval operations at the Hudson Institute, described the situation bluntly: “The U.S. Navy is stretched thin.” He added that if the conflict continues, there’s a genuine possibility America might reduce its Pacific naval presence to strengthen Iran operations, noting that “the fleet is not sufficient to keep a steady presence in every theatre.”

The Iran operations are also consuming U.S. ammunition stockpiles, a problem defense experts have long highlighted. While the Pentagon has requested increased production from defense contractors, ramping up manufacturing could require several years.

This munitions shortage particularly concerns U.S. officials because maintaining adequate weapons reserves in the Indo-Pacific region helps discourage Chinese military action against Taiwan, according to a U.S. official who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the topic.

Japan has already experienced delays in receiving hundreds of Tomahawk missiles ordered from the United States and may face further postponements, said Jan van Tol, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments.

The timing is particularly striking given that Washington released a new security strategy just three months ago, identifying the Indo-Pacific as the primary “geopolitical battleground” and making Taiwan conflict deterrence a top priority.

Since then, Trump has conducted a bold military operation to capture Venezuela’s leader, threatened to annex Greenland, and partnered with Israel in launching aerial attacks against Iran.

While Asian allies worry about America’s shifting focus, some analysts suggest Beijing may not benefit immediately. Trump’s actions against Venezuela and Iran have weakened two Chinese allies that provided Beijing with inexpensive oil, supporting China’s economy.

Some experts theorize that Trump’s military moves might be part of a broader strategy to eventually concentrate on containing China. However, the longer America remains engaged in Middle Eastern conflicts, the more opportunities Beijing might find to advance its interests.

“The grand strategy is supposed to be ‘contain Iran in the Middle East, then shift resources toward dealing with China,’” explained a Japanese ruling party lawmaker who spoke anonymously. “But the question is whether there will be enough resources left to shift.”

Jennifer Parker, a former Royal Australian Navy warfare officer and non-resident fellow at Sydney’s Lowy Institute, noted that China has previously capitalized on periods when U.S. attention was directed elsewhere. She pointed to Beijing’s rapid militarization of South China Sea islands while America was focused on the Afghanistan war.

“Beijing will be watching closely,” Parker observed.

MOSCOW – The Kremlin announced Tuesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to communicate Arab nations’ anxieties to Iran regarding Tehran’s attacks on regional oil facilities, as Middle East tensions continue escalating.

On Monday, Putin conducted multiple telephone conversations with leaders from four Arab Gulf nations, proposing to leverage Moscow’s diplomatic relationship with Tehran – which Russia considers a strategic ally – in an effort to reduce regional hostilities.

“Putin will certainly make every effort to contribute to at least a slight easing of tensions,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday.

“Yesterday’s discussions with virtually all of his interlocutors focused on Putin conveying his deep concern about the strikes on their infrastructure to our colleagues in Iran, taking advantage of the dialogue we maintain with the Iranian leadership,” Peskov explained.

Global oil markets experienced their third consecutive day of price increases Tuesday as Iran retaliated against American and Israeli operations by targeting energy facilities in Gulf nations and attacking vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

While Putin sent condolences to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s family through a message to President Masoud Pezeshkian over the weekend, the Kremlin has not announced additional communications with top Iranian officials since Saturday’s strikes commenced.

The Russian leader has also avoided contact with U.S. President Donald Trump, with Peskov confirming no such discussion is currently scheduled.

GENEVA – United Nations human rights officials are demanding a thorough investigation into what they’re calling a devastating assault on a girls’ educational facility in Iran, though they stopped short of directly identifying those responsible for the attack.

Speaking at a press conference in Geneva, U.N. human rights office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani characterized the incident as appalling and emphasized the need for immediate action. “The High Commissioner (Volker Turk) calls for a prompt, impartial and thorough investigation into the circumstances of the attack. The onus is on the forces that carried out the attack to investigate it,” Shamdasani stated, using the word “horrific” to describe what occurred.

The incident has drawn international attention, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio responding to reports about the attack. Rubio stated that American military forces “would not deliberately target a school,” addressing claims made by Iranian state media outlets that more than 160 people lost their lives on the opening day of combined U.S. and Israeli military strikes against Iran.

MOSCOW – Russia’s Foreign Minister declared Tuesday that his country has discovered no proof supporting allegations that Iran was constructing nuclear weapons, challenging the primary rationale behind the continuing US-Israeli military offensive.

President Donald Trump has provided multiple explanations for initiating military action against Iran. During his most comprehensive public remarks Monday, Trump stated he authorized the strikes to prevent Tehran’s nuclear and ballistic missile development programs.

During discussions with Brunei’s foreign minister in Moscow, Sergei Lavrov stated: “We still see no evidence that Iran was developing nuclear weapons, which was the main, if not the only, justification for the war.”

Lavrov noted that the military assault on Iran has created ripple effects across the entire region, with Arab nations experiencing economic hardship and human losses.

The Russian official renewed Moscow’s demand for an immediate end to fighting from all sides:

“As an unconditional first step, we must do everything possible to stop any actions that result in civilian casualties.”

Lavrov referenced reports of a school bombing incident in Iran.

Iranian government media have blamed Israel and the United States for an attack on a girls’ elementary school in a southern Iranian community that Tehran claims resulted in over 160 deaths.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio responded that American military forces would not intentionally target educational facilities.

The United Nations World Food Programme announced Tuesday that a crucial humanitarian corridor into Gaza will resume operations in the coming hours after being temporarily shuttered.

Relief supplies are expected to flow through the Kerem Shalom crossing between Tuesday and Wednesday, according to WFP officials.

“That is timely for us, and we need to get in aid as fast as we can,” said Samer Abdel Jaber, WFP Regional Director for the Middle East, North Africa, and Eastern Europe, speaking to reporters in Geneva through a video connection from Cairo.

The Israeli government coordination agency COGAT confirmed it would restart operations at the Kerem Shalom crossing beginning Tuesday, allowing humanitarian assistance to gradually flow into the Gaza Strip.

According to COGAT’s Saturday announcement, border crossings into Gaza had been suspended during Israeli and U.S. military operations against Iran. These crossings serve as essential lifelines for delivering humanitarian relief and evacuating patients requiring urgent medical care.

LONDON (AP) — The escalating Middle East conflict is disrupting economic projections that British Treasury chief Rachel Reeves plans to present on Tuesday, as petroleum costs climb and financial markets decline.

Reeves initially anticipated her address to Parliament would be a modest presentation, featuring economic data that generally indicated positive trends.

But financial experts caution that the Middle East crisis may derail her Spring Statement predictions, potentially slowing economic expansion, fueling price increases, and raising government borrowing costs. Most notably, Brent crude oil prices have jumped more than 15% this week, climbing above $80 per barrel — a level that would likely drive up energy costs and inflation while limiting economic growth if it continues.

“With the world plunged into fresh uncertainty, she is likely to strike a highly cautious tone, focusing on maintaining stability and sticking to fiscal rules amid heightened tensions,” said Susannah Streeter, chief investment strategist at Wealth Club, an investment service.

Before her parliamentary address, Treasury officials indicated Reeves will emphasize the need for economic steadiness during these turbulent global times.

Looking back at government policies, Reeves plans to highlight declining inflation rates and interest rate reductions that are helping to reduce financial burdens on British families.

“This government has the right economic plan for our country, in a world that has become yet more uncertain,” she is expected to tell lawmakers.

The Labour administration, which has seen its popularity decline since winning the 2024 general election, had been counting on 2026 to demonstrate that Britain’s economy was becoming more stable than it had been in recent years.

Recent economic data has suggested growth momentum in early 2026. Inflation is projected to drop significantly in upcoming months, which could prompt the Bank of England to reduce interest rates further. The central bank maintained its primary rate at 3.75% last month.

The chief executive of satellite operator SES declared Monday that outer space has transformed into a critical military battlefield where nations are racing to establish dominance across all orbital levels.

Adel Al-Saleh made these remarks during a company earnings call as SES stock climbed 4%, part of a broader surge in European defense-related investments amid growing Middle East tensions.

Investment analysts from Citi noted that defense investors are increasingly focused on orbital missile defense technologies, including President Donald Trump’s Golden Dome program, as regional conflicts expand.

Al-Saleh emphasized that modern military operations depend heavily on instantaneous intelligence sharing between defense units. He pointed to France’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle as a prime example, noting how the vessel commanded a multi-ship Pacific mission last year using SES satellite communication networks.

“Space is now a war-fighting domain,” Al-Saleh told investors, explaining that military leaders now view space capabilities with the same strategic importance as air dominance, maritime strength, or cyber warfare defense.

The SES executive highlighted his company’s competitive advantage in providing secure network “slices” that give governments complete operational control, a service that aligns with Europe’s increasing desire for strategic independence.

“There is an acceleration across all nations around the world, especially the United States and the European Union, to build up these capabilities at scale,” Al-Saleh explained.

He noted that European countries now consider space technology essential for meeting NATO defense spending requirements, particularly as they work to develop autonomous military capabilities.

“The outlook is positive and is accelerated with conflicts,” Al-Saleh stated, while noting that even without active conflicts, developing independent space capabilities remains a top priority for numerous countries.

Looking ahead, SES plans extensive vertical integration to “take control over some of the supply chains that are critical for innovation,” focusing on dual-purpose satellites that combine both military and commercial functions.

The World Health Organization confirmed Monday that medical personnel evacuated a Tehran hospital following explosions in the immediate vicinity, as the agency investigates potential damage to multiple Iranian healthcare facilities.

A WHO representative explained that patients at Gandhi Hospital in Iran’s capital were relocated after nearby blasts caused secondary damage to the medical facility. “We understand patients were moved due to nearby explosions that caused collateral damage to the hospital,” the spokesperson stated.

Reuters received witness accounts on March 1 indicating the hospital sustained damage from Israeli military strikes.

The international health agency is currently attempting to confirm additional reports concerning possible damage at Tehran’s Motahari Hospital, along with emergency medical facilities located in Sarab in Iran’s northwest region and another facility in the western Hamadan province.

These incidents follow the beginning of U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran that commenced on February 28.

The WHO maintains an operational presence in Iran and collaborates with Iranian authorities on health crisis response and disease prevention efforts. The organization routinely investigates attacks on medical infrastructure globally while maintaining neutrality regarding responsibility.

During Monday’s Human Rights Council session in Geneva, Iran’s U.N. representative Ali Bahreini declared that medical facilities had faced “indiscriminate attacks,” though he provided no additional specifics.

LONDON, March 2 – President Donald Trump expressed strong frustration with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer over delays in granting the United States access to a crucial military base for operations against Iran, according to an interview published in the Daily Telegraph on Monday.

The president told the British publication he felt “very disappointed” after Starmer initially refused to allow American forces to use the Diego Garcia air base for strikes targeting Iranian positions. While Britain eventually reversed course Sunday evening, approving the base’s use for what Starmer termed “defensive” operations against Iranian targets, Trump criticized the timeline of the decision.

Speaking to the Telegraph, Trump said the delay was excessive and unprecedented. “That’s probably never happened between our countries before,” the president stated, suggesting Starmer’s hesitation stemmed from legal concerns about the military action.

The president argued that immediate approval should have been granted for American operations at Diego Garcia, a strategically vital joint U.S.-British facility located in the Indian Ocean. Trump justified this position by noting Iran’s responsibility for casualties affecting British citizens, telling the newspaper Iran had killed “a lot of people from your country.”

The discussion comes after joint American-Israeli military operations against Iran resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Saturday. Britain did not participate in those strikes.

Military tensions have escalated since Saturday’s operations began, with Iran launching missile attacks against Gulf nations. On Sunday, an Iranian-manufactured drone struck Britain’s RAF Akrotiri installation in Cyprus, though officials reported minimal damage and no injuries.

Trump described the eventual access to Diego Garcia as “useful” for future American military operations, while also expressing criticism of Starmer’s recent diplomatic agreement regarding the Chagos Islands, where the Diego Garcia base is situated.

The West African nation of Guinea has forged a significant health partnership with the United States, establishing a five-year cooperation deal worth nearly $143 million, according to Guinea’s Finance Minister Mariama Cire Sylla.

The memorandum of understanding will deploy $142.6 million between 2026 and 2030, with the United States contributing $91.27 million and Guinea providing $51.33 million, Sylla announced via Facebook on Sunday.

“This partnership will strengthen the fight against malaria, accelerate the elimination of polio, modernize our laboratories, consolidate human resources in health, and improve the quality of our health data systems,” the minister stated.

This bilateral agreement comes as the United States has shifted toward direct country partnerships with African nations following the dissolution of its aid agency last year, which resulted in reduced funding and terminated contracts globally.

However, global health advocacy groups have raised objections to certain aspects of these arrangements. Critics point to provisions requiring countries to quickly share pathogen data with Washington that could potentially trigger epidemics, as a prerequisite for receiving funds, while offering no assurance that these nations will gain access to medical innovations developed from their data.

According to U.S. government statistics, the annual American contribution under this health agreement represents approximately one-third of the assistance Guinea received through USAID during 2024.

International air travel has been thrown into chaos following military strikes involving the United States and Israel against Iran, forcing major airlines worldwide to suspend thousands of flights and strand countless passengers.

The conflict has led to the temporary shutdown of crucial Middle Eastern aviation centers, including Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi, creating ripple effects across the global airline industry.

Here’s a breakdown of flight cancellations by carrier:

AEGEAN AIRLINES
The Greek national carrier has halted service to Tel Aviv, Beirut, Erbil, and Baghdad until March 10 early morning arrivals. Dubai and Abu Dhabi routes remain suspended through March 6 evening arrivals, while Riyadh and Jeddah flights won’t resume until March 7 early arrivals.

AIR BALTIC
Latvia’s national airline has grounded all Tel Aviv operations through March 9 and Dubai service through March 6.

AIR CANADA
The Canadian flag carrier has suspended Dubai and Tel Aviv routes until March 22, with service planned to resume March 23.

AIR EUROPA
Spain’s carrier has canceled Tel Aviv flights through March 9.

AIR FRANCE KLM
Air France suspended Tel Aviv, Beirut, Dubai, and Riyadh service through March 5. KLM has grounded Dubai, Riyadh, and Dammam flights until March 9, while Tel Aviv service remains canceled for the entire winter schedule.

AIR INDIA
The Indian carrier extended its Middle East flight suspension through March 3.

BLUEBIRD AIRWAYS
The Greek airline canceled all Israel flights through March 8.

BRITISH AIRWAYS
The IAG-owned carrier suspended flights to Amman, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai, Doha, and Tel Aviv through March 5.

CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS
Hong Kong’s flagship airline canceled Dubai and Riyadh service through March 14.

DELTA
The American carrier suspended New York-JFK to Tel Aviv flights through March 8 and return flights through March 9.

EL AL ISRAEL AIRLINES
EL AL and Sundor flights to and from Israel were suspended until 2:00 AM March 5.

EMIRATES
The Dubai-based carrier announced limited flight operations beginning March 2 evening, with all other services suspended indefinitely.

ETIHAD AIRWAYS
Abu Dhabi’s national carrier suspended all hub operations until 1000 GMT March 4.

FINNAIR
Finland’s airline canceled Doha flights through March 10 and Dubai service through March 28, while avoiding airspace over Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Israel.

INDIGO
India’s largest airline suspended all flights using Middle Eastern airspace until at least March 2, with additional cancellations through March 5.

ITA AIRWAYS
Italy’s carrier suspended Tel Aviv flights and avoided airspace over Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and Iran through March 8. Dubai cancellations extend through March 4, with Riyadh service halted March 2-4.

JAPAN AIRLINES
JAL canceled Tokyo-Doha flights from February 28 through March 7, plus the March 8 return flight.

LOT POLISH AIRLINES
Poland’s carrier suspended Tel Aviv flights through March 18, Dubai service through March 4, and Riyadh routes through March 8.

LUFTHANSA
Germany’s flagship airline grounded flights to Tel Aviv, Beirut, Amman, Dammam, Erbil, and Tehran through March 8, with Dubai service suspended through March 4.

MALAYSIA AIRLINES
The Malaysian carrier suspended Doha, Jeddah, and Madinah flights through March 4.

NORWEGIAN AIR
The Scandinavian airline canceled Dubai flights through March 10, with weekly reassessments planned.

PEGASUS
Turkey’s budget carrier suspended Iraq, Jordan, and Lebanon flights through March 6, with Iran service canceled through March 12.

QATAR AIRWAYS
The Doha-based airline suspended operations due to Qatari airspace closure.

SINGAPORE AIRLINES
Singapore’s flag carrier canceled Dubai flights through March 7, while subsidiary Scoot suspended Jeddah service through March 7.

TAROM
Romania’s national airline suspended Tel Aviv, Beirut, and Amman flights through March 2, with March 3 Tel Aviv flights under review.

TURKISH AIRLINES
Turkey’s carrier canceled select flights to Bahrain, Dammam, Riyadh, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates.

TUS AIRWAYS
Cyprus’s airline canceled all Israel flights through March 8.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC
The British carrier suspended Riyadh and Dubai flights through March 2, plus a March 3 Dubai-London flight.

WIZZ AIR
The budget airline suspended flights to Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Amman, and Saudi Arabia through March 7.

During his lengthy political tenure, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has built his nation’s foreign strategy on two fundamental principles: maintaining an unbreakable alliance with America and waging continuous diplomatic and secret warfare against Iran’s Islamic Republic leadership.

Currently, as Israel and America engage in combined military operations against Iranian leadership, these two strategic foundations may conflict with one another. By drawing the United States into what he considers Israel’s fight for survival against Iran, Netanyahu is making a risky bet that could strain this crucial relationship through a conflict with extensive ramifications.

Certainly, convincing President Donald Trump to participate in this military campaign represents a major victory for Netanyahu and demonstrates the solid bond between these two leaders. Should they succeed, both nations could quickly achieve their mutual objective of removing Iran’s current government while avoiding a lengthy regional conflict.

However, should this military engagement become extended, the partnership between these allies may face significant challenges.

“A large part of the American public will view it as the Israeli tail wagging the American dog and that it is dragging the United States to a war in the Middle East that isn’t theirs,” said Ofer Shelah, a research fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies, a Tel Aviv, Israel-based think tank. The drop in public support that might unleash “will be very harmful for Israel in the medium and long term,” he said.

But, he added, in a nod to the Israeli leader’s political ambitions: “Netanyahu is not interested in the medium and long term.”

For Netanyahu, convincing Trump to launch coordinated strikes against Iran represents the pinnacle of his decades-long relationship with Washington. As Israel’s leader with the longest tenure, Netanyahu speaks perfect English following his American upbringing and has consistently presented himself as Israel’s connection to the United States.

While he frequently highlights his close connections with various American presidents and congressional members, Netanyahu has witnessed declining American public support for Israel over the last two years. Gallup surveys indicate that American Middle East sympathies have shifted significantly in favor of Palestinians.

This changing public opinion has been primarily influenced by Democratic voters. However, certain Republicans and even some Trump supporters have become increasingly vocal against the diplomatic and financial assistance America has maintained for Israel during the past two and a half years of multi-front warfare that began with Hamas’ October 7, 2023 assault. The horrific imagery from Gaza’s conflict has increased Israel’s global isolation.

Through this new Iranian conflict — the second within twelve months — Netanyahu confronts an adversary that he and numerous Israelis consider a threat to their existence, pointing to Iran’s backing of anti-Israeli militant groups throughout the region, its missile capabilities, and its nuclear ambitions. He has spearheaded the international campaign against Iran for most of his career.

Netanyahu said Sunday in a statement that the U.S. involvement “allows us to do what I have been hoping to do for 40 years — to deliver a crushing blow to the terror regime.” Netanyahu’s office did not immediately respond to an Associated Press request for comment.

Several days into this conflict, Israeli and American military forces appear to be operating in perfect coordination to attack targets — beginning with the opening strike that eliminated senior Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, through subsequent operations that granted forces complete access to Iranian airspace.

Yet this conflict has already triggered consequences that may impact Americans domestically. At least six American service members have lost their lives. Regional transportation has been disrupted, stranding hundreds of thousands of passengers. Energy costs have increased, creating the possibility of higher gasoline prices for American consumers and elevated costs for additional products during a period when citizens are already struggling with rising living expenses.

Uncertainty surrounds the conflict’s trajectory and objectives. It remains unclear whether aerial campaigns alone can remove Iran’s leadership, who might replace that government, and what responsibilities Israel or America would assume in either scenario. Each day brings new potential complications.

“Many people will blame Israel if things go badly wrong,” wrote Nadav Eyal, a commentator with the Israeli Yediot Ahronoth daily newspaper. “Israel cannot afford to lose the American public’s support under any circumstances. That is more important than striking any individual military facility.”

Nevertheless, Aaron David Miller, who served as an adviser on Middle East issues to Democratic and Republican administrations over two decades, said that Netanyahu has little to lose from the war.

With elections scheduled for the fall, Netanyahu can use the war in Iran to divert attention away from the failures of the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks, the worst in Israel’s history. Instead, Netanyahu can set himself up as a brave wartime leader who fulfilled a pledge he has made much of his life to confront Iran.

He can say he did so with support from the American president, who Miller said can pull the breaks on the war whenever he pleases.

“If Trump feels as if it’s going south, he’ll find a way to de-escalate,” he said, “and his good friend Benjamin Netanyahu will follow.”

Pakistani authorities report that Afghan ground troops launched coordinated attacks against military installations at 16 sites along the southwestern frontier and fired upon numerous positions in the northwest during early Tuesday morning, sparking fierce battles that resulted in 67 Afghan security personnel deaths and one Pakistani military fatality, as cross-border hostilities continued for a fifth straight day.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated that Pakistan “successfully repelled these multiple attacks” along the Afghan border.

According to Tarar’s statements on X, Afghan military units conducted ground operations across 16 sites in the southwestern districts of Qilla Saifullah, Nushki and Chaman within Balochistan province. Pakistani forces responded by eliminating 27 Afghan personnel during counter-operations, he reported.

Tarar also disclosed that Afghan troops initiated assaults at 25 separate locations throughout the border regions of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where Pakistani military units killed 40 Afghan security force members.

Afghan officials in Kabul have not yet responded to Pakistan’s casualty claims.

Both nations have consistently reported inflicting substantial casualties on opposing forces since Thursday, when Afghanistan initiated attacks as retaliation for Pakistani air operations conducted the prior Sunday. Pakistani forces have maintained border operations since that time, with Tarar announcing Monday that 435 Afghan security personnel had been eliminated and 31 positions seized during the conflict.

Kabul has similarly claimed its military units have caused significant Pakistani military losses in recent days.

The most recent casualty reports followed Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari’s defense of the continuing Afghan strikes, stating that Islamabad had exhausted diplomatic options before launching operations against militants based in Afghan territory. He urged Kabul to neutralize groups conducting attacks within Pakistan.

Pakistani officials have characterized their military actions as an “open war” against Afghanistan, causing international concern. The frontier region continues serving as a base for extremist organizations, including al-Qaida and the Islamic State group.

Pakistan has witnessed increased violence in recent months, which officials blame on the banned Pakistani Taliban, identified as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP, operating both within Pakistan and from Afghan soil. Islamabad maintains that Afghanistan’s Taliban administration provides sanctuary for the TTP, which Kabul disputes.

The current cross-border combat terminated a truce arranged by Qatar and Turkey last October. Negotiations held in Istanbul failed to establish a lasting resolution, and Pakistani leadership has declared operations will persist until Afghanistan’s Taliban government implements concrete, verifiable measures to control the TTP and other militant groups responsible for Pakistani violence.

Thousands of Lebanese residents are evacuating their communities as violence escalates between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, with Associated Press photographers capturing the widespread displacement and destruction.

The current crisis began when Hezbollah fired rockets into Israeli territory following the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Israeli military forces responded with airstrikes targeting locations throughout Lebanon.

Associated Press photo editors have compiled visual documentation showing the impact on civilian populations and infrastructure as the conflict continues to unfold.

Turkey’s top diplomat revealed that his nation is actively negotiating with Washington to eliminate penalties imposed four years ago, hoping to reach an agreement before America’s November midterm elections.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan disclosed that discussions are ongoing to resolve the CAATSA sanctions that the United States placed on Turkey in 2020. These penalties were triggered when Turkey, despite being a NATO ally, decided to purchase Russia’s S-400 missile defense systems.

The sanctions also resulted in Turkey’s exclusion from the F-35 fighter aircraft program, a decision that Turkish officials have repeatedly denounced as unfair and unlawful.

Both nations are now exploring solutions that would eliminate the sanctions and restore Turkey’s ability to purchase the advanced fighter jets. Despite the strong relationship between U.S. President Donald Trump and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, which has raised Turkish expectations for a breakthrough this year, meaningful progress has remained limited.

During a Tuesday evening meal breaking the Ramadan fast with Turkish journalists, Fidan addressed questions about Israel’s stance on potentially lifting the sanctions. Turkey has been highly critical of Israel’s military operations in Gaza.

“That is the mode they are in now. Let’s see, these battles will continue. Everyone will play the cards in their hands somehow,” Fidan stated, according to Wednesday’s official transcript.

The Foreign Minister confirmed active efforts to resolve the CAATSA issue before the midterm elections, saying: “Work is underway to obtain a result on CAATSA before the midterms. We have taken the political steps. We’ll see.”

These developments occur amid ongoing tensions between the United States and Israel on one side, and Iran on the other, with Turkey sharing a border with Iran. Ankara has publicly criticized the American and Israeli military actions against Tehran.

A major Chinese self-driving car company has temporarily halted its autonomous taxi operations in Dubai as tensions escalate across the Middle East involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.

WeRide, which specializes in autonomous vehicle technology, made the decision to pause its Dubai robotaxi service as conflicts in the region intensify, affecting key Middle Eastern markets that have become attractive destinations for the emerging self-driving taxi industry.

The Gulf region has become a popular expansion target for Chinese autonomous vehicle companies in recent years, drawn by supportive government regulations and strong consumer interest in ride-sharing services.

WeRide, which first launched its regional robotaxi operations in 2021, confirmed Tuesday that its self-driving taxi fleets in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh remain operational and continue serving the public with regular commercial service.

The company stated that all regional staff members are “currently working from home and limiting unnecessary outings to ensure their safety and well-being.”

Other major Chinese robotaxi companies are also closely watching the regional situation. Baidu’s Apollo Go division and Pony.ai are both evaluating their Middle Eastern operations.

According to a company spokesperson, Apollo Go is “in close coordination with local regulators and will adjust our services as needed to ensure the continued safety of our staff and an orderly response to the local environment.”

Baidu’s robotaxi division just launched commercial self-driving taxi services in Abu Dhabi this past January.

Meanwhile, Pony.ai had previously paused its road testing programs in both Doha and Dubai, but resumed testing operations in Doha on Monday.

The company plans to restart its Dubai testing program “at an appropriate time,” according to officials, noting that its regional operations remain in the testing phase.

French President Emmanuel Macron has committed to deploying defensive military equipment to Cyprus following Monday’s drone assault on a British air installation, according to the Cyprus News Agency on Tuesday.

The French leader communicated his country’s plans to provide anti-missile and anti-drone defense systems, along with a naval frigate, to Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides during early morning discussions Tuesday. An unnamed Cypriot government official verified this information, though France’s defense department has yet to respond to requests for comment.

This assistance comes after Greece offered similar support within hours of the Monday incident at RAF Akrotiri, a British sovereign military facility on the Mediterranean island.

The initial attack involved an Iranian-manufactured Shahed drone that crashed directly onto the base’s runway, resulting in minor damage. Several hours afterward, two additional drones were successfully intercepted before reaching their targets.

High-ranking Cypriot authorities believe the assault was conducted using Iranian Shahed drones, most likely deployed by the Iran-supported militant organization Hezbollah operating from Lebanese territory. These officials have emphasized that the British-controlled base, not Cyprus itself, was the intended target.

The incident follows Britain’s Sunday announcement accepting a U.S. request to utilize its military installations for “defensive” operations against Iran, occurring one day after American and Israeli forces launched military action against Iran, which prompted Iranian counterattacks. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer subsequently clarified that U.S. bomber aircraft were not operating from Britain’s Cyprus bases.

Cypriot leadership has requested that Britain limit base usage to humanitarian operations only.

Greece responded Monday by sending four F-16 fighter aircraft to the island. Additionally, two Greek naval vessels, including one equipped with the Centauros anti-drone jamming technology, are en route to Cyprus.

The Centauros system, which has proven effective against Houthi rebel attacks on shipping routes near Yemen, can identify and disable low-altitude drones similar to the one that struck RAF Akrotiri and avoided radar detection, according to Cypriot defense officials.

PARIS – France’s top diplomat declared Tuesday that the nation is prepared to provide military assistance to allied countries requesting support in the wake of Iranian counterattacks across the region.

Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot announced during a television interview that France maintains the authority to take military action when needed. Speaking to BFM TV, Barrot explained the expanding nature of the regional conflict.

“This war… is dragging a number of countries in the region into the conflict with which we have relations, defence agreements, and interests, including military bases,” Barrot stated during the broadcast.

The Foreign Minister revealed that French Rafale fighter aircraft have already conducted aerial missions to protect airspace around French military installations throughout the region. French officials are also developing contingency plans to evacuate approximately 400,000 French citizens currently living in Middle Eastern nations impacted by the escalating crisis, according to Barrot’s announcement.

The evacuation strategy would utilize both civilian airline services and military transport aircraft to remove French nationals facing the highest risk levels, the Foreign Minister indicated.

International discussions about controlling deadly AI-powered weapons have reached a critical juncture, with the leader of Geneva-based negotiations warning that time is running short to establish meaningful regulations.

Robert in den Bosch, who serves as the Dutch Disarmament Ambassador in Geneva and leads the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons expert group, emphasized the urgent timeline facing negotiators from 128 countries.

“If we wait then it almost gets to a stage where you’re too late… We will be overtaken by technological developments,” in den Bosch told Reuters.

The ongoing discussions, which continue through September, focus on creating a non-binding agreement that could serve as groundwork for future binding regulations on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems, commonly known as LAWS.

These high-stakes conversations have been taking place in the Swiss city since 2014, with participating nations working to ban autonomous weapons that violate current international law while establishing controls for others.

The urgency has intensified due to increasing use of AI-assisted semi-autonomous weapons in current conflicts across Ukraine, Sudan, Gaza, and other regions.

Although participating countries acknowledge that international humanitarian law applies to these weapons systems, there are virtually no specific binding international standards governing their use.

Major powers including Russia and the United States have resisted new legally binding agreements, contending that current laws provide adequate oversight.

According to in den Bosch, other nations argue that new regulations are essential to address accountability gaps in international humanitarian law, which places responsibilities on countries and individuals rather than machines.

The draft agreement being debated in Geneva calls for “context appropriate human judgment and control” to ensure weapons systems that “identify, select and engage” targets without human oversight comply with international humanitarian law.

Despite increasing pressure for immediate action, in den Bosch acknowledged that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ goal of reaching a legally binding agreement this year will likely not be met.

He noted that while this deadline falls outside the scope of the Geneva negotiations, the difficulty in achieving consensus even on non-binding measures highlights the challenges in making meaningful progress.

The discussions are occurring amid heightened geopolitical tensions and recent European withdrawals from landmine ban agreements due to Russian threats.

A November Review Conference of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons could authorize negotiations for a binding protocol after the Geneva talks conclude. However, in den Bosch warned that without agreement, some nations might pursue separate treaty negotiations elsewhere.

Israeli military officials announced Tuesday they have developed plans for an extended military operation against Iran spanning multiple weeks, though they do not anticipate sending troops on the ground.

During a virtual press conference, Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani outlined the military’s timeline, stating, “We have prepared a general scope of weeks.” He noted that the length of operations could shift based on how events unfold, while characterizing current progress in favorable terms.

Regarding the possibility of Israeli ground troops being sent to Iran, Shoshani dismissed the likelihood of such action.

“I don’t think that’s something very likely at the moment for Israeli forces. There’s not a practical idea at the moment that I know of,” he explained.

The current military actions began Saturday when Israel and the United States launched aerial attacks against Iranian targets, which prompted Iran to respond with retaliatory strikes.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the timeline Monday, indicating the joint U.S.-Israel military engagement with Iran would require “some time” to complete, though he ruled out a conflict lasting multiple years.

TEL AVIV, March 3 (Reuters) — Israel moved more troops into southern Lebanon during overnight operations, positioning them defensively along the border to shield Israeli citizens and critical infrastructure from possible Hezbollah attacks, military officials announced Tuesday.

Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani explained during a virtual press conference with journalists that the forces are stationed strictly for protection purposes. “We’re only at the borderline area in a defensive manner to prevent attacks against civilians and very strategic important points,” Shoshani stated.

The troop movement was authorized by Defense Minister Israel Katz, who issued a statement explaining his decision to allow the military to move forward and secure additional positions within Lebanon. This action followed rocket attacks launched by Hezbollah against Israel on Sunday evening, which came as a response to coordinated strikes by the United States and Israel targeting Iran.

Since November 2024, Israeli military forces have maintained control over five strategic positions within southern Lebanon territory.

President Donald Trump expressed his disappointment with the current state of US-Britain relations following Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s initial reluctance to provide military backing for recent strikes against Iran.

In an interview with The Sun newspaper on Tuesday, Trump described the deterioration of what was once considered among the strongest international partnerships as disappointing. This marked his second consecutive day of criticizing the British leader in interviews with UK media outlets.

“It’s very sad to see that the relationship is obviously not what it was,” Trump stated, noting that he never anticipated such a shift in what he called the “most solid of all” relationships.

The president highlighted that other nations, particularly France, had provided greater assistance during the military action. Starmer announced late Sunday that he would permit the United States to utilize British military installations for defensive operations, though these facilities were not employed during the original assault on Iran.

While acknowledging that Britain’s participation wasn’t essential for US operations in the Middle East, Trump emphasized his expectation for British support. “It’s not going to matter, but (Starmer) should have helped… he should have,” the president remarked.

“I mean, France has been great. They’ve all been great. The UK has been much different from others,” Trump added.

Responding to Trump’s criticism, senior British official Darren Jones spoke with Times Radio, affirming the continued importance of the US-UK alliance while referencing lessons learned from Britain’s participation in the 2003 Iraq conflict.

“One of the lessons of Iraq was that it’s better to be involved in these situations when you are aligned with international partners, and as I say, with a clear legal basis in the plan,” Jones explained.

During parliamentary proceedings Monday, Starmer defended his decision-making process. “President Trump has expressed his disagreement with our decision not to get involved in the initial strikes, but it is my duty to judge what is in Britain’s national interest. That is what I have done, and I stand by it,” the Prime Minister declared.

PARIS – France’s top diplomat Jean-Noel Barrot conducted a phone conversation Monday with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, focusing on collaborative efforts to reduce tensions in the Iran conflict, according to a statement from Barrot’s office.

The two foreign ministers pledged to pursue diplomatic solutions that would ensure regional security while considering the needs and desires of Iranian citizens, the statement revealed.

During the discussion, Barrot “reiterated the Iranian regime’s responsibility for the ongoing escalation, after it unjustifiably attacked several countries in the region,” according to the official statement.

The French minister also condemned Iran’s government for its refusal to comply with United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding nuclear programs, missile activities, assistance to armed non-governmental groups, and rejection of sincere international negotiations.

Barrot emphasized that France had no involvement in or advance knowledge of military actions taken by the United States and Israel. He stressed that nations “must give precedence to international institutions to solve disputes and, where needed, the use of force.”

Both diplomatic leaders committed to maintaining ongoing discussions about the crisis.

The Lebanese militant organization Hezbollah conducted its first rocket and drone assault against Israeli territory in a year and a half on Monday, according to Israeli military sources, triggering Israeli counterstrikes on Lebanese positions and representing a major intensification following the group’s entry into hostilities that erupted after joint U.S.-Israeli operations targeting Iran.

Israeli military officials reported Monday that defense systems successfully intercepted a rocket aimed at a missile defense installation in Haifa, while other projectiles fell in unpopulated regions. No casualties were immediately reported from the incoming fire on Israeli soil.

Israel responded with aerial bombardments against Lebanese locations, including a strike in Beirut where Israeli forces said they targeted a high-ranking Hezbollah operative.

During remarks at a General Staff meeting, Israeli military commander Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir announced that forces had “launched an offensive campaign against Hezbollah” following the organization’s decision to join combat operations against Israel. His comments came as Israeli leadership indicated readiness for expanded military actions along the northern frontier.

The Iranian-supported militant organization previously declared it would “confront the aggression” by the United States and Israel after their attacks on Iranian targets. In a Sunday statement mourning Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem pledged the group would fulfill its obligations and would not retreat from what he called the “field of honor and resistance.”

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced Israel’s intention to eliminate Hezbollah’s command structure, specifically naming Qassem as a target. “The Hezbollah terror organization will pay a heavy price for the firing toward Israel, and Naim Qassem, Hezbollah’s secretary general, who decided on the firing under pressure from Iran, from now on, he is a marked target for elimination,” Katz posted on X.

He further stated that anyone who “follows the path” of Iran’s former supreme leader Ali Khamenei, who Israeli forces killed on Saturday, “will soon find himself together with him in the depths of hell with all those eliminated from the axis of evil.”

The Lebanese organization had stayed out of the 12-day direct confrontation between Israel and Iran that occurred last June. Israeli authorities characterized Monday’s attacks as a shift from that previous position and cautioned that additional Hezbollah aggression would prompt escalated military responses.

Travelers trapped in Middle Eastern airports are making the best of a dire situation, sporting matching counterfeit athletic wear purchased from local shops and exchanging advice about finding basic necessities like clean underwear.

“It’s our uniform,” explained Erika Macikova, a 49-year-old winemaker from Slovakia who found herself stuck in Doha while returning from a wellness retreat in Sri Lanka. With her luggage locked away at the airport, she was relocated to a hotel with hundreds of other passengers and began hunting down open stores, then sharing their locations with fellow stranded travelers.

This marks the third consecutive day that tens of thousands of passengers throughout the Middle East have remained in travel limbo, as growing tensions between the United States, Israel and Iran have caused worldwide flight disruptions and shuttered key airports, including Dubai – the planet’s busiest international travel hub.

The situation represents the most significant disruption to worldwide aviation since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Most affected travelers, including Macikova, were simply making connecting flights through the region. Dubai processes over 1,000 daily flights, and together with neighboring Doha and Abu Dhabi, serves as a critical junction for east-west aviation, channeling long-distance flights between Europe and Asia through precisely timed connections.

The crisis extends well beyond Middle Eastern borders, with tens of thousands of passengers stuck in locations ranging from Bali to Kathmandu to Frankfurt.

According to the UAE’s aviation authority, approximately 20,200 travelers received assistance on Saturday alone. Flight tracking data reveals that no fewer than 4,000 flights were canceled over the three-day period.

In Dubai, James Gaskin spent Monday morning cleaning his undergarments and collection of decorative socks in his hotel bathroom sink. The 53-year-old purchasing manager from northern England had already depleted his supply of clean clothing during a business trip to India when his connecting flight to Britain was canceled. He joined hundreds of other passengers at a nearby hotel.

Gaskin, like many others, said he had minimal understanding of the unfolding situation when he arrived at Dubai airport.

“A lady came to the gate and just stood on a chair and made an announcement that everyone’s got to leave the airport. All very calm and orderly,” he recalled. “In a British way, I did six hours of queuing without any real drama.”

However, the luggage area became chaotic, he noted, as travelers frantically searched baggage carousels for their belongings.

“Even though it was pandemonium, I was pretty relaxed,” he said.

But then “there were quite a few bangs, the airport got hit,” he continued. “That brought it home.”

“The general feeling is, the longer it goes on, the more edgy people are getting.”

Throughout hotels across the region, strangers are exchanging information about locating laundry facilities, navigating airline customer service, retrieving baggage, and whether it’s practical to combine resources and attempt overland departure.

They congregate in hotel common areas for games or sports viewing, venture to shopping centers for snacks, and have established WhatsApp communication groups.

Many are attempting to avoid dwelling on their circumstances, despite overhead explosions that remind them of their predicament.

Macikova was spending maximum time indoors at the hotel where she felt safest. She had buried herself in a romance book, while Gaskin struggled with boredom. Though his spouse had provided him access credentials for various streaming platforms, he hadn’t been motivated to use them.

British companions Julie Hardy and Francis McKay, who had completed a two-week southern India tour, were accommodated at the same single-story hotel near the airport.

On Sunday, they hired a taxi to visit a nearby shopping center to purchase medicine, cheese and crackers, and enjoy a meal. They described it as enjoyable, though the evenings prove more challenging.

Saturday evening, two alerts sounded on Hardy’s mobile device and she hurried to the hotel lobby wearing her nightgown, which nobody appeared to find unusual.

“I’m very reluctant to go to bed up here,” she explained. “I would rather be downstairs for as long as possible… I can’t relax, because I think something’s going to happen in the night and I’m going to have to get up quickly and evacuate.”

McKay also felt anxious and, though it seemed overly dramatic, questioned whether she would reunite with her family:

“It’s the unknown, and I’ve never been in a war zone.”