Category: World News

SEOUL – During Sunday’s commemoration of the 107th March 1 Independence Movement Day, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung expressed his desire for North Korea to quickly return to diplomatic negotiations aimed at establishing a fresh chapter in relations between the two nations.

The South Korean leader emphasized his commitment to working toward restarting conversations with Pyongyang as part of broader efforts to achieve lasting peace across the Korean peninsula.

Lee’s remarks came as he addressed the nation during ceremonies honoring the historic independence movement that began on March 1, 1919.

WASHINGTON – American military forces launched strikes against Iranian targets Saturday using an unprecedented combination of advanced weaponry, including the first-ever combat deployment of inexpensive suicide drones based on Iranian technology.

U.S. Central Command shared images and details of the military operation, designated Operation Epic Fury, showcasing the deployment of Tomahawk cruise missiles, F-18 and F-35 fighter aircraft in the coordinated attack.

Military officials confirmed they utilized kamikaze-style drones that closely resemble the newly developed LUCAS (Low-Cost Unmanned Combat Attack System), produced by Spektreworks in Phoenix, Arizona. The defense contractor did not provide comment when contacted.

According to Pentagon officials, this marked the inaugural combat use of single-use attack drones designed to mirror Iran’s Shahed drone technology. These expendable drones are intentionally affordable and designed for mass production by multiple manufacturers, defense officials explained.

Each LUCAS drone carries a price tag of approximately $35,000. The growing importance of drone technology in modern warfare has been highlighted by Russia’s conflict in Ukraine, prompting the U.S. and allied nations to adopt an “affordable mass” approach – stockpiling large quantities of cost-effective weapons systems.

The military also deployed Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles, which are long-distance cruise missiles designed for deep-strike operations launched from naval vessels. These precision weapons can engage targets up to 1,000 miles away, even in heavily fortified airspace. Each Tomahawk measures 20 feet in length with an 8.5-foot wingspan and weighs roughly 3,330 pounds.

Raytheon, a division of RTX, manufactures these conventional (non-nuclear) Tomahawks for both land and sea-based launches. Pentagon procurement records indicate plans to purchase 57 of these missiles in 2026, with each unit costing an average of $1.3 million. Ongoing modernization efforts involve millions in upgrades, including enhanced guidance systems.

A recent Pentagon-Raytheon contract aims to boost Tomahawk production capacity to 1,000 missiles per year. These GPS-guided weapons have undergone extensive testing and operational use, including recent deployments by U.S. and British naval forces against Houthi positions in Yemen.

Central Command also released visual documentation of F/A-18 and F-35 fighter jets participating in the Iranian strikes. The F-35 represents fifth-generation stealth technology capable of avoiding radar detection while delivering precision munitions. These aircraft have been extensively deployed throughout Middle Eastern operations and are also utilized by Israeli forces.

The F-18, manufactured by Boeing, serves as a versatile multi-role platform capable of air-to-air combat and ground attack missions using various bombs and missiles. F-35s can deploy specialized missiles designed to target and eliminate radar installations, effectively blinding enemy defenses.

Iranian state media outlets reported Sunday that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has died following strikes carried out by Israeli and American forces.

The death of Khamenei, who has served as Iran’s highest-ranking political and religious authority, represents a major shift in the regional power structure of the Middle East.

State-controlled media in Iran confirmed the Supreme Leader’s death on March 1st, attributing it to coordinated military action by Israel and the United States.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President Donald Trump’s military strikes against Iran on Saturday marked a striking transformation in his willingness to take risks, showing how dramatically his approach shifted in just eight months regarding the use of American military force against Tehran’s religious leadership.

Traditional constraints were abandoned as Trump collaborated with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a military strategy that targeted Iran’s top officials, including 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whose elimination Trump proudly declared on social media following the launch of military operations.

This action represented a complete reversal from Trump’s position eight months earlier. During Israel’s 12-day conflict with Iran in June, he had agreed to Israel’s request to deploy B-2 bombers against three critical Iranian nuclear facilities — but firmly refused when Israeli officials proposed assassinating Khamenei.

Back in June, the president had issued barely concealed threats suggesting he could eliminate the supreme leader if he chose to. However, he ultimately turned down the Israeli assassination proposal due to fears it would create regional instability.

That careful approach disappeared on Saturday when Trump declared Khamenei’s death, while Israeli forces announced they had eliminated Iran’s defense minister and Revolutionary Guard commander. As of Saturday evening, Iran had not yet confirmed their Supreme Leader’s demise.

“Khamenei was unable to avoid our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems and, working closely with Israel, there was not a thing he, or the other leaders that have been killed along with him, could do,” Trump said. “This is the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country.”

Trump had spent months attempting diplomatic engagement with Iran. Administration sources told reporters they had presented Iran with numerous pathways to maintain a peaceful nuclear program for civilian use, including an offer to provide nuclear fuel at no cost indefinitely.

However, these officials, speaking anonymously because they lacked authorization for public comment, indicated it became apparent that Iran sought enriched uranium for weapons development. One official characterized Iran’s response to their proposals as “games, tricks, stall tactics.”

The strike authorization came merely two days after Trump sent special representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner for additional negotiations with Iranian leadership. Middle Eastern and European partners were pushing the U.S. administration to allow more time for diplomatic solutions as Trump showed increasing impatience.

“The consequences are likely to be as far-reaching as they are uncertain: Within the system that has held power for nearly five decades, between the government and a dissatisfied populace, and between Iran and its adversaries,” said Ali Vaez, Iran project director at the International Crisis Group. “And although the regime is weakened, a sense that this showdown is an all-or-nothing struggle for its very survival could lead it to respond with every tool still at its disposal.”

Saturday’s military action followed a pattern of increasingly aggressive moves against Iran that produced minimal retaliation, which appeared to influence Trump’s risk assessment, according to Aaron David Miller, who advised both Democratic and Republican administrations on Middle Eastern affairs for twenty years.

In 2018, Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear agreement that Democratic President Barack Obama’s administration had negotiated. Two years later, Trump authorized a drone attack that killed senior Iranian General Qassem Soleimani.

The Soleimani assassination, targeting the leader of Iran’s elite Quds Force, represented perhaps the most aggressive U.S. military move in the Middle East since President George W. Bush initiated the 2003 Iraq War to remove Saddam Hussein.

Then in June, Trump authorized attacks on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, which he declared had “obliterated” their program.

“He did all of these things without cost or consequence to him,” said Miller, currently a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. “He’s been risk-ready. That’s the nature of his personality.”

Trump administration representatives had openly demanded Tehran abandon its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile development while ceasing support for regional militant groups. However, administration sources said Tehran refused to address the missile and proxy issues.

Iran’s inflexibility, occurring while its economy suffered under decades of sanctions and its military remained weakened from last year’s conflict, surprised Trump.

Before Thursday’s negotiations concluded, indicators suggested Trump was moving toward military intervention.

During Tuesday’s State of the Union address, Trump asserted that Iran was developing ballistic missiles capable of reaching American territory — a rationale he repeated Saturday while announcing the bombardment had begun.

Iran has not confirmed it is developing or pursuing intercontinental ballistic missile capabilities. However, the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency stated in an unclassified report last year that Iran could potentially develop a militarily effective intercontinental ballistic missile by 2035 “should Tehran decide to pursue the capability.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed reporters Wednesday that Iran’s unwillingness to discuss its ballistic missile program created a “big problem.” Rubio avoided addressing the DIA assessment that Iran remained years away from developing missiles capable of reaching the United States.

Vice President JD Vance, a former Marine who served in Iraq and has questioned U.S. military interventions, told The Washington Post on Thursday that Trump had not yet decided on striking Iran. However, he provided reassurances that any military action would not involve the United States in an extended conflict.

“The idea that we’re going to be in a Middle Eastern war for years with no end in sight — there is no chance that will happen,” Vance said.

By Friday, Trump was expressing renewed frustration with Iran’s negotiating stance.

“I’m not happy with the fact that they’re not willing to give us what we have to have,” Trump said. “I’m not thrilled with that. We’ll see what happens.”

Congressional leadership received advance notice Saturday morning about the impending strikes. Trump observed the operation from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, alongside his national security advisors.

Trump’s earlier successful military operation this year that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and transported him and his spouse to New York City for federal drug conspiracy charges may have encouraged the president, suggested Jonathan Schanzer, a former Treasury Department official now serving as executive director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a hawkish Washington research organization.

Trump had threatened military intervention last month but delayed action as Iran conducted a violent suppression of demonstrations. The protests initially focused on economic complaints but evolved into a nationwide anti-government movement challenging the religious leadership.

While human rights organizations reported thousands killed during Iran’s crackdown, Trump promised protesters assistance was coming, though it did not materialize immediately and the demonstrations eventually subsided.

Schanzer noted that Trump’s decision to postpone action last month provided his team additional time to position the substantial fleet of fighter aircraft and naval vessels now deployed in the region — similar to preparations made in the Caribbean before the Venezuela operation.

This military presence represented leverage Trump hoped would force Khamenei to surrender. However, the Supreme Leader refused to yield.

“The way this unfolded was inevitable, because there was no way that the Ayatollah was going to show flexibility,” Schanzer said.

According to Iranian state media reports on Sunday, several family members of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have been killed in military strikes allegedly carried out by U.S. and Israeli forces.

The reported fatalities include Khamenei’s daughter, one grandchild, his daughter-in-law, and son-in-law, as announced by Iranian state media outlets on March 1st.

The reports originate from Dubai-based news sources and have not been independently verified by international media organizations.

A coordinated military operation between American and Israeli forces resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei during a Saturday meeting with his top advisors, according to multiple U.S. intelligence sources.

The timing of the joint attack was deliberately planned to target Khamenei while he convened with senior officials, including former National Security Council secretary Ali Shamkhani and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Mohammad Pakpour, both of whom also perished in the strikes.

Iranian sources confirmed to Reuters that Khamenei had gathered with Shamkhani and Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani at a protected facility just before the military operation commenced.

A high-ranking Israeli official confirmed that Khamenei’s remains have been recovered following the attack.

President Donald Trump announced the Iranian leader’s death through his Truth Social account, crediting intelligence operations for tracking his whereabouts.

“He was unable to avoid our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems and, working closely with Israel, there was not a thing he, or the other leaders that have been killed along with him, could do,” Trump stated.

The joint American-Israeli military campaign across Iranian territory has escalated Middle Eastern tensions to unprecedented levels, prompting Iran to launch counterattacks against Israeli targets and neighboring Gulf nations.

Intelligence sources, speaking anonymously, revealed that confirmation of Khamenei’s leadership meeting triggered the immediate launch of the combined air and naval assault.

A U.S. official explained that eliminating Khamenei first was crucial to prevent him from escaping and maintaining operational surprise during the mission.

Originally scheduled for Saturday evening in Tehran, Israeli intelligence discovered the meeting had been moved to Saturday morning, prompting commanders to accelerate their timeline, sources indicated.

While the exact meeting location remains undisclosed, Khamenei’s heavily fortified Tehran compound was among the first targets destroyed, with satellite images confirming the facility’s complete destruction.

The long-term consequences of Khamenei’s elimination remain uncertain, though CIA analysts previously assessed that hardline Revolutionary Guard leaders would likely assume power, according to sources with access to the intelligence briefings.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who commanded nearly four decades of authoritarian rule, may have met his end through a joint U.S. and Israeli military operation, according to reports emerging Saturday.

President Donald Trump announced Khamenei’s death, while Israeli sources confirmed to The Associated Press that the 86-year-old leader was eliminated during a major coordinated assault by American and Israeli forces. Iranian authorities have not yet responded to these claims.

The reported death comes after Khamenei orchestrated the most violent suppression of dissent during his tenure when faced with widespread civil unrest earlier this year. As American military forces increased their regional presence to pressure Iran regarding its nuclear activities, Khamenei had cautioned that any U.S. attack would trigger broader regional conflict. Despite these warnings, he permitted Iranian officials to participate in nuclear discussions with Washington.

Before Saturday’s reported targeting of his residence, Khamenei faced escalating challenges to his authority.

His brutal response to mass demonstrations, which resulted in thousands of casualties while crowds shouted “Death to Khamenei,” demonstrated how significantly public fury threatened his regime. Decades of international sanctions combined with government corruption and economic mismanagement had devastated Iran’s financial system.

Additionally, Israeli and American bombing campaigns during last summer’s 12-day conflict severely compromised Iran’s nuclear facilities, missile infrastructure, and military assets. Tehran’s network of allied militant groups, including Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Yemen’s Houthis, suffered significant losses from Israeli and U.S. strikes following the Gaza conflict’s start, diminishing Iran’s regional influence.

Understanding Khamenei’s background reveals his unlikely rise to absolute power.

Upon assuming leadership in 1989, Khamenei faced significant skepticism regarding his legitimacy. As a minor religious figure, he possessed far less theological standing than his predecessor, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who led Iran’s Islamic Revolution.

However, Khamenei’s reign lasted three times longer than Khomeini’s and potentially transformed Iran more profoundly.

He solidified the theocratic system dominated by mullahs, or Shiite Islamic clerics. Within the Islamic Republic’s structure, religious authorities maintain supreme control, establishing boundaries that civilian leadership, military forces, and intelligence agencies must respect.

Among hardline supporters, Khamenei represented unquestionable authority, subordinate only to divine power.

Simultaneously, Khamenei transformed the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard into Iran’s most influential military and political force. This organization controls Iran’s most sophisticated military units and manages its ballistic missile development. Khamenei also permitted the Guard to establish extensive business operations and economic dominance.

In exchange, the Guard served as his devoted enforcement apparatus.

Khamenei’s first significant challenge emerged from the reform movement that gained parliamentary control and the presidency shortly after his ascension. These reformers promoted increased authority for elected officials, which Khamenei’s conservative allies viewed as potentially dismantling the Islamic Republic framework.

Khamenei mobilized the clerical hierarchy, and unelected religious councils blocked major reforms and prevented reform candidates from participating in elections.

Subsequently, multiple waves of popular uprisings were violently suppressed.

Massive nationwide demonstrations erupted in 2009 following vote manipulation accusations. Economic hardship from sanctions sparked protests in 2017 and 2019. Additional unrest occurred in 2022 following Mahsa Amini’s death, who died in police custody for improperly wearing her required headscarf.

Government crackdowns resulted in hundreds of deaths, with hundreds more detained amid reports of torture and sexual assault in custody.

The most recent protests began in late December at Tehran’s historic marketplace after Iran’s currency, the rial, collapsed to a record low of 1.42 million per U.S. dollar. Demonstrations rapidly expanded nationwide.

“Rioters must be put in their place,” Khamenei declared. When hundreds of thousands demonstrated on January 8 and 9, security forces opened fire on crowds, with protest veterans expressing shock at the unprecedented violence deployed.

Human rights organizations documented over 7,000 deaths while continuing to verify additional casualties. Government officials acknowledged more than 3,000 fatalities, still exceeding previous crackdown tolls.

Through nuclear negotiations, Khamenei likely attempted to delay potential U.S. attacks. However, Iran rejected Washington’s primary demands to cease all uranium enrichment and relinquish existing uranium reserves.

Trump initially threatened military action to stop Khamenei and other Iranian leaders from killing peaceful demonstrators. He subsequently used this threat to pressure Tehran toward serious nuclear discussions.

Some Iranians and diaspora members hoped American military intervention would remove Khamenei. However, even among Khamenei’s opponents, many voices opposed foreign interference to overthrow the theocracy.

Formally, a council of Shiite clerics holds responsibility for selecting Khamenei’s successor from among their ranks, with various candidates mentioned including his son.

Danny Citrinowicz, an Iran specialist at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies, told The Associated Press this week that Tehran learned from last year’s conflict the importance of ensuring governmental continuity following Khamenei’s potential death. He suggested power might transfer to a small committee of senior officials during ongoing hostilities.

“It is possible that Khamenei has indicated a preferred successor behind closed doors,” Citrinowicz said. “However automatic implementation of a preselected successor will increase internal friction during war.”

Nevertheless, the Revolutionary Guard has evolved into Iran’s most powerful institution. Should Khamenei’s death receive confirmation, this might encourage Guard leadership or regular military commanders to assume control more directly. Such developments could trigger violent competition for authority over the oil-wealthy nation of 85 million citizens.

An overnight Iranian missile assault targeting locations throughout Gulf Arab nations left Dubai International Airport damaged and four people wounded, according to aviation industry sources who spoke Sunday morning.

Dubai’s media office posted on X that “a concourse at Dubai International (DXB) sustained minor damage in an incident, which was quickly contained,” but provided no additional information about the event.

Industry sources informed Reuters that one terminal at the facility, typically among the globe’s most active aviation centers, was harmed during the nighttime Iranian assault that officials would only publicly describe as an “incident.”

The same sources reported that Abu Dhabi International Airport was also struck. They could not confirm whether both airports experienced direct hits or if the harm resulted from falling wreckage after missiles were intercepted.

Reuters received no immediate responses when seeking comments from Dubai Airports or Abu Dhabi Airports Company.

Tehran launched missiles targeting Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Doha, all critical aviation connections between east and west.

Carriers canceled flights throughout the Middle East on Saturday — including routes to and from Dubai and Abu Dhabi — following U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran and Tehran’s missile counterstrikes. Flight tracking systems revealed nearly empty airspace across much of the area.

Dubai Airports halted all operations at Dubai International and Al Maktoum International, advising travelers to avoid coming to the facilities. Emirates and flydubai stopped their services, while Etihad canceled all Abu Dhabi departures until Sunday morning.

Tensions in the Middle East escalated dramatically Saturday as Iran unleashed a massive missile barrage against Israel, with local news sources reporting more than 200 projectiles launched throughout the evening hours.

The assault wounded eight people in Tel Aviv, where medical teams transported victims for care – one person suffered moderate injuries while seven others sustained minor wounds. Emergency responders also treated a man in his 40s for serious shrapnel injuries in the city, with Magen David Adom medics providing on-site care. Officials expressed concern about unexploded weapons remaining in the area and launched search missions.

Saturday morning brought the first wave of attacks when Iran sent at least 125 missiles toward Israeli territory. Defense officials reported that 35 projectiles penetrated Israeli airspace while defensive systems knocked down the rest, causing warning sirens to sound throughout central and northern regions. The Magen David Adom emergency service confirmed a residential structure in northern Israel took a direct impact during this initial assault.

Emergency crews reported that missile debris hit a 20-story apartment building in Tirat HaCarmel, breaking through to the 17th floor and causing light injuries to one resident, according to Hebrew-language news outlets.

The Israeli Defense Forces announced a second wave of 15 missiles targeted northern and central areas later that day. Around 5 p.m., unverified reports suggested another residential building in central Israel suffered a direct strike, though no casualties were immediately reported.

Medical services treated a 17-year-old victim who received minor shrapnel wounds to his lower extremities, while emergency teams responded to numerous reported impact locations throughout central Israel. During Saturday’s attacks, paramedics assisted roughly 100 individuals, primarily for minor shrapnel injuries or wounds sustained while seeking shelter. Six additional people received treatment for anxiety-related issues.

The Iranian offensive extended beyond Israeli borders, according to Qatar’s Defense Ministry, which reported 65 missiles and 12 drones had been deployed from Iran by Saturday, Reuters confirmed. In the United Arab Emirates, a high-end Dubai hotel became a target as Iran broadened its retaliatory campaign following American-Israeli operations against Iranian positions.

BBC-authenticated footage captured flames engulfing the Fairmont The Palm hotel, with dense black smoke billowing skyward. Dubai officials confirmed four individuals were injured in a blaze at a Palm Jumeirah area structure, stating the fire was successfully contained without releasing additional information.

Meanwhile, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait – all nations hosting American military installations – announced they successfully intercepted missiles aimed at their territories.

Multiple Arab nations issued condemnations of Iran on Saturday following the missile strikes against American interests and allied countries throughout the Middle East, describing the attacks as retaliation for coordinated US-Israeli operations targeting Iranian leadership. Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates were among the countries releasing public statements in response.

LA PAZ, Bolivia – A military cargo aircraft transporting freshly printed currency crashed Friday near Bolivia’s capital city, claiming 22 lives and leaving 29 others wounded, according to police officials who provided updated casualty figures Saturday.

The victims included 12 men, six women, and four children, with one crew member among the fatalities, stated police commander Mirko Sokol. Most of those injured were passengers on public buses traveling in the area where the aircraft went down.

Forensic teams continued working Saturday to retrieve bodies from the crash site. Medical facilities in El Alto, the city near La Paz where the airport is situated, treated the injured survivors.

The Hercules C-130 aircraft was carrying 18 tons of newly manufactured Bolivian banknotes from Santa Cruz in the country’s east when it “landed and veered off the runway” at El Alto airport before coming to rest in an adjacent field, Defense Minister Marcelo Salinas explained Friday. Emergency responders successfully extinguished fires that consumed the aircraft.

Social media footage revealed aircraft wreckage, destroyed automobiles, and casualties along the roadway. Fire department chief Pavel Tovar reported that no fewer than 15 vehicles sustained damage in the incident.

The military transport plane was delivering currency to La Paz when it crashed, and social media images captured people racing to collect scattered bills from the scene. More than 500 military personnel and 100 law enforcement officers attempted to control the crowds, official accounts stated.

To prevent additional theft, police and military forces destroyed the remaining cash containers while Central Bank President David Espinoza observed. Espinoza declared the bills “have no legal value because they never entered circulation,” though he did not elaborate further.

While Espinoza declined to reveal the exact monetary value being transported, he confirmed the banknotes had been shipped to Santa Cruz from overseas before the fatal flight.

NEW YORK (TV Delmarva) — During an urgent Security Council session on Saturday, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres denounced joint American-Israeli military operations against Iran and demanded an immediate shift toward diplomatic talks “to pull the region, and our world, back from the brink.”

Speaking to council members during the emergency gathering, Guterres emphasized that all possible measures must be taken to avoid further military escalation. “The alternative,” he cautioned, “is a potential wider conflict with grave consequences for civilians and regional stability.”

The UN leader also criticized Iran’s counter-strikes for breaching the sovereignty and territorial boundaries of Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Israeli UN Ambassador Danny Danon dismissed criticism of the airstrikes as “hypocrisy” when speaking with media representatives prior to the session. Danon argued that Iran bears responsibility for its regional proxy forces and nuclear weapons development, stating that Israel and America responded “to prevent an irreversible and immediate threat.”

The military operation against Iran resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to Associated Press reporting. The killing of the Islamic Republic’s second leader, who had not named a successor, has heightened concerns about extended conflict amid Iranian vows of retaliation. President Donald Trump posted on social media that Khamenei’s death represents “the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country.”

In correspondence to the secretary-general, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused America and Israel of “flagrantly” breaching Iran’s sovereignty, territorial boundaries and the UN Charter. Araghchi stated Iran was using its charter-protected right to self-defense in its response.

The foreign minister pressed council members “to take the necessary and immediate measures to halt this unlawful use of force and to ensure accountability.” He also demanded clear condemnation of “this act of aggression … as it undoubtedly poses an unprecedented threat to regional as well as global peace and security.”

The emergency session was requested by five council members: Bahrain, serving as the Arab council representative, along with France, Russia, China and Colombia.

Leaders from Britain and France, both holding Security Council veto power, joined Germany’s chancellor in a joint declaration urging renewed American-Iranian discussions regarding Tehran’s nuclear activities. These three nations, signatories to the 2015 Iranian nuclear agreement, have spearheaded diplomatic resolution efforts. Trump withdrew American participation from that accord in 2018.

The European leaders issued strong criticism of Iranian regional airstrikes — rather than the American-Israeli operations — and pressed Iranian officials toward negotiated settlements, declaring: “Ultimately, the Iranian people must be allowed to determine their future.”

The Security Council convened on the final day of the United Kingdom’s council presidency, one day before the United States assumes the rotating March leadership role.

JERUSALEM – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Saturday that joint Israeli-U.S. military operations may have resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, though he stopped short of definitively confirming the leader’s fate.

Speaking in a recorded statement, Netanyahu declared that morning strikes had targeted Khamenei’s residential compound. “This morning we destroyed the compound of the tyrant Khamenei,” the Israeli leader stated, describing the Iranian leader as someone who had “dispatched terrorism across the world, made his own people miserable, and worked constantly and tirelessly on a program to annihilate the state of Israel” over more than three decades.

Netanyahu indicated that evidence suggests the Iranian leader may not have survived the assault. “There are many signs that this tyrant is no longer. This morning we eliminated senior officials in the ayatollahs’ regime, Revolutionary Guards commanders, senior figures in the nuclear programme – and we will continue. In the next few days, we will hit thousands more targets of the terror regime,” he stated in the video message.

The strikes reportedly targeted multiple high-ranking Iranian officials beyond Khamenei, including Revolutionary Guard leadership and key figures involved in Iran’s nuclear development program.

Former President Donald Trump announced Saturday that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has died, according to a post on his Truth Social platform.

Trump described the Iranian leader as “one of the most evil people in History” while declaring his death, though the former president did not provide any details about how he learned of this information or specify sources for his claim.

The announcement was made on February 28th via Trump’s social media account, but no additional context or verification was offered with the statement.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei took control of Iran’s Islamic Republic in 1989, assuming leadership after the death of the revolution’s founding figure.

Though not regarded as particularly charismatic, Khamenei has maintained stability in Iran following the devastating conflict with Iraq during the 1980s, leading the country for over thirty years – a tenure significantly longer than the single leader who came before him.

This collection of photographs has been assembled by Associated Press photo editors.

Following Saturday’s significant military strike by the United States and Israel against Iran, President Donald Trump encouraged Iranian citizens to “seize control of your destiny” by challenging the Islamic government that has controlled their country since 1979.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a warning that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei might be the next target, following the elimination of multiple high-ranking Iranian military commanders and nuclear scientists. Netanyahu suggested such an action could destabilize Tehran’s entire governmental structure.

No immediate reports confirmed whether senior Iranian leadership was harmed in the attacks. However, experts note that removing top leaders wouldn’t automatically guarantee a change in government.

Here’s an examination of Iran’s most powerful political and spiritual authorities.

Ali Khamenei assumed the role of Iran’s supreme leader in 1989 following the passing of Ruhollah Khomeini, who established the Islamic Republic of Iran. Khamenei was instrumental in the revolutionary movement that removed Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi from power in 1979.

At 86 years old, Khamenei serves as Iran’s military commander-in-chief and holds ultimate authority over all governmental and religious decisions. The Revolutionary Guard, Iran’s paramilitary organization tasked with protecting the Islamic Republic, reports directly to his office.

Throughout his leadership, Khamenei has overseen multiple suppression campaigns against domestic protesters. He recently declared Iran’s readiness to respond to any American military action.

Saturday’s initial strikes targeted areas near Khamenei’s administrative offices. His whereabouts during the attack remained unknown, as he hadn’t appeared publicly for several days.

Iran’s current president is widely viewed as a reform-minded leader. Masoud Pezeshkian, a former cardiac surgeon, began his presidency on July 28, 2024. As the nation’s second-highest official, the president oversees government operations, manages economic policies, and executes the Supreme Leader’s directives.

Iranian citizens vote for both president and parliament members in four-year election cycles.

Iran’s foreign minister brings extensive diplomatic experience and played a crucial role in negotiating the 2015 nuclear agreement that is no longer in effect. Abbas Araghchi received his appointment on August 21, 2024.

Prior to Saturday’s military action, Araghchi cautioned that confrontation with the U.S. would result in “a devastating war” and emphasized Tehran’s preference for diplomatic resolution before this week’s critical negotiations.

Ali Larijani comes from one of Iran’s most prominent political dynasties. The former parliamentary leader and senior policy consultant was chosen to counsel Khamenei on strategic matters regarding nuclear discussions with the Trump administration.

In January, the U.S. implemented additional economic penalties against Iranian officials, including Larijani, for allegedly suppressing nationwide demonstrations against Iran’s religious government.

The U.S. Treasury Department identified him as among the first officials to advocate for violent responses against Iranian demonstrators.

Gholam-Hossein Mohseni Ejehi, a conservative legal scholar and hardline prosecutor, has served as chief justice since 2021. He is commonly recognized as a devoted supporter of Khamenei.

State media quoted Mohseni Ejehi in January as declaring there would be “no leniency” for those responsible for the recent wave of civil unrest.

Ahmad Movahedi Kermani leads the 88-member religious assembly tasked with selecting the next Supreme Leader. The Assembly of Experts functions similarly to the Vatican’s College of Cardinals within Iran’s system.

Ahmad Jannati effectively heads Iran’s Guardian Council, a 12-person organization that screens political candidates and legislation, rejecting individuals deemed incompatible with Iran’s Islamic religious system. The council includes six Islamic scholars and six legal specialists.

This council possesses the authority to eliminate presidential candidates viewed as opposing the Supreme Leader’s agenda.

Mohammad Mohammadi Golpayegani serves as an Islamic religious leader and long-standing ally of Khamenei. He manages the Supreme Leader’s administrative office.

Ali Akbar Velayati, trained as a doctor, previously held the position of Iran’s foreign minister and currently advises Khamenei on global matters. He participates in the country’s nuclear policy decisions.

Kamal Kharazi acts as a trusted foreign policy counselor to Khamenei, particularly during recent nuclear negotiations with Washington.

The former diplomat and foreign minister previously served as Iran’s representative to the United Nations. Kharazi has occupied various government, diplomatic, and educational positions throughout his career.

Mohammad Reza Aref holds the distinction of being the highest-ranking reform advocate within Iran’s executive government branch. He functions as the president’s principal deputy and conducts cabinet sessions during the president’s absence. Aref maintains communication between the presidency and parliament.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, a former Tehran mayor and Revolutionary Guard commander, secured reelection as parliamentary speaker on May 27, 2025. This conservative politician was connected to student suppression incidents in 1999 and 2003.

Mohammad-Taqi Mesbah Yazdi belongs to Iran’s 12-member Guardian Council and serves as an influential religious leader and prayer director loyal to the Supreme Leader. He holds membership in Iran’s Assembly of Experts and has maintained hardline positions throughout his career.

In January, Khatami demanded capital punishment for protesters arrested during nationwide suppression efforts, characterizing demonstrators as “butlers” of Netanyahu and “Trump’s soldiers.”

Mojtaba Khamenei, the Supreme Leader’s second-oldest son, holds mid-level clerical status and is rumored as his father’s potential replacement. He maintains strong connections with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. Mojtaba participated in military service during the Iran-Iraq conflict and reportedly exercises significant behind-the-scenes influence as his father’s advisor and gatekeeper.

MEXICO CITY — The remains of notorious drug kingpin Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, widely recognized by his alias ‘El Mencho,’ have been released to his relatives after Mexican military forces killed him in an operation last week, government officials announced Saturday.

Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office issued a statement on X confirming they had completed all required legal procedures before turning over the body to family members.

“Genetic tests were carried out to confirm that there were indeed blood ties between the person who requested the release and the deceased,” the agency stated.

The death of Mexico’s most influential cartel leader triggered widespread revenge attacks spanning approximately 20 states throughout the country. The violent backlash claimed the lives of more than 70 individuals.

This surge in bloodshed has raised concerns that the violence might negatively impact the nation’s tourism industry as the FIFA World Cup approaches later this year.

American authorities had placed a bounty of up to $15 million on El Mencho for information that would lead to his capture. He commanded the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, recognized as among Mexico’s most influential and rapidly expanding criminal enterprises since its establishment around 2009.

This past February 2025, the Trump administration classified the organization as a foreign terrorist group.

The elimination of this major crime figure represents the Mexican government’s most significant victory in demonstrating to the Trump administration its commitment to combating drug cartels.

A senior Ukrainian official announced Saturday that Russia has signaled its willingness to embrace the United States’ proposed security framework for Ukraine during recent diplomatic discussions in Geneva.

Kyrylo Budanov, a top aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, revealed this development during a television interview broadcast on Ukrainian media. “At the last talks, the Russian side said for example that they would accept the security guarantees offered to Ukraine by the United States,” Budanov stated.

The diplomatic efforts come as President Donald Trump pushes both Moscow and Kyiv to reach a settlement that would bring an end to what has become Europe’s largest military conflict since World War II ended in 1945. However, Zelenskiy has expressed frustration that Ukraine faces mounting pressure to offer compromises in any potential agreement.

Ukrainian leadership continues to pursue robust security assurances that would legally bind the United States and European partners to respond militarily should Russia launch future attacks following any peace settlement.

The most recent diplomatic session in Geneva last week failed to produce any significant breakthrough, with both Ukrainian and Russian representatives characterizing the discussions as challenging. Despite this, Washington officials described the talks as showing “meaningful progress.”

Budanov also noted that Russia has not yet committed to arranging a direct meeting between Zelenskiy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, despite earlier suggestions from U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff that such a summit remained a possibility.

Israeli authorities suspended operations at all Gaza border crossings on Saturday, halting the flow of humanitarian assistance and blocking medical evacuations as military operations against Iran were underway, according to COGAT, Israel’s government coordination agency.

Among the shuttered entry points was the crucial Rafah border crossing with Egypt, which had just resumed limited operations in early February. The crossing had been allowing small numbers of Palestinians to pass through for the first time in months, particularly those requiring emergency medical treatment.

More than 2 million Gaza residents have been forced from their homes during Israel’s military campaign in the territory, leaving the population heavily reliant on international humanitarian assistance.

The United Nations reported in mid-February that it continues encountering obstacles while attempting to distribute critical aid throughout Gaza.

A February analysis by Human Rights Watch found that Israeli limitations on aid shipments have perpetuated shortages of medical supplies, rebuilding materials, food supplies, and clean water throughout the territory.

COGAT defended the crossing closures by claiming sufficient food supplies have entered Gaza during the current ceasefire to meet population needs four times over, though the agency provided no supporting data. Officials stated that “the existing stock is expected to suffice for an extended period.”

Cities worldwide witnessed widespread demonstrations following a significant military operation conducted by the United States and Israel targeting Iran.

The global response was mixed, with some gatherings expressing approval for the military intervention, while other demonstrations criticized the strikes and raised concerns about potential escalation throughout the region.

The Associated Press photo editors compiled visual documentation of these international reactions.

A devastating military aircraft accident in Bolivia has sparked community outrage after officials destroyed millions in banknotes that were scattered across the crash site.

The Bolivian Air Force cargo plane went down Friday night in El Alto, a densely populated city, claiming 22 lives and leaving 30 people wounded. Among the fatalities were four children, while the aircraft’s lead pilot remains hospitalized in critical condition, officials reported Saturday.

The military Hercules transport was carrying 18 tons of currency designated for replacing worn bills when it crashed. Thousands of residents quickly descended on the scene to gather the money littering the ground.

Vice Interior Minister Hernan Paredes described how approximately 3,000 people converged on the crash site “with a tremendously aggressive attitude wielding sticks and stones” to collect the scattered notes. Police deployed tear gas to control the crowds and took 49 individuals into custody on vandalism charges.

Officials subsequently incinerated all the recovered banknotes, stating the currency held no legal tender status and that possessing it violated the law.

The decision to destroy the money has fueled anger among local residents already struggling with poverty. “Look at all the money they burned, there are poor families that need that money,” local resident Marcelino Poma expressed his frustration. “We need to rise up in El Alto. They took our gasoline subsidy, they hurt our household budgets, now they’re taking all the money out of the country.”

Demonstrations continued into Saturday as small groups maintained their protests against the government’s actions.

The identification process for victims remains challenging, with police chief Mirko Sokol confirming that only nine bodies have been positively identified due to severe injuries sustained in the crash.

The tragedy could have been far worse, according to Paredes, who explained that the pilots managed a last-second maneuver to avoid striking 40 residential buildings just meters away from the crash site.

Family members of the deceased are demanding accountability. “We are in shock,” said Cesar Mamani, whose relative perished in the accident. “We truly detest the government’s and the armed forces’ lack of safety measures.”

President Rodrigo Paz characterized the incident as a “day of great sorrow for El Alto and the nation,” announcing that a full investigation is underway. Search teams continue looking for the aircraft’s flight data recorder.

El Alto ranks among Bolivia’s most impoverished yet rapidly expanding urban centers. The city emerged as workers migrated toward the capital of La Paz during the late 1900s, establishing communities above what is recognized as the world’s highest capital city, where residents now rely on cable cars for daily transportation.

A high-ranking Israeli official reported Saturday that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei died in coordinated military strikes conducted by the United States and Israel, according to Reuters. The 86-year-old leader had transformed Iran into a major anti-American power and expanded its military reach throughout the Middle East during his decades-long rule.

Iranian authorities have not yet verified the reported death of their top leader.

Saturday’s joint American-Israeli military operation targeted Iran’s senior leadership, escalating Middle Eastern tensions as President Donald Trump declared the action would eliminate a security threat to America while providing Iranians an opportunity to overthrow their government.

The ayatollah assumed Iran’s highest position of power in 1989 after the death of the Islamic Republic’s founding leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. In his role as supreme leader, he wielded complete authority over the nation’s political, military and religious systems, directing both domestic affairs and international relations.

Israeli officials had long viewed Khamenei as a destabilizing regional influence, pointing to his support of Iran’s network of militant partners, including Hamas in Palestine and Hezbollah in Lebanon. During a 12-day aerial conflict between Israel and Iran in June 2025, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz issued assassination threats against the supreme leader, declaring he “cannot continue to exist.”

The June conflict featured Israel launching a surprise attack on Iran’s underground nuclear facilities, eliminating senior military commanders and nuclear scientists while decimating much of the country’s military leadership. Khamenei’s reported death represents another devastating setback for a nation already struggling with warfare and economic difficulties.

Throughout his tenure, Khamenei maintained the conservative ideology established by his predecessor Khomeini, blocking elected presidents who pursued more liberal domestic and foreign policies. His administration repeatedly suppressed protest movements and marginalized reform-minded politicians advocating for improved Western relations.

Under Khamenei’s leadership, Iran emerged as a dominant regional opponent of American interests, spreading its influence across Middle Eastern nations. He supported the 2015 nuclear agreement negotiated with international powers and pragmatic President Hassan Rouhani, temporarily reducing Iran’s diplomatic isolation. However, relations deteriorated after President Donald Trump withdrew from the agreement in 2018 and restored economic sanctions.

Following Hamas’s October 7, 2023 assault on Israel, Iran witnessed the weakening of its regional partners. Both Hamas and Hezbollah sustained significant damage from Israeli operations, while Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who had been supported by Tehran, lost power in December 2024.

Iran’s constitution established the Supreme Leader position following the 1979 revolution, granting a senior cleric ultimate power over both the president and parliament. The Assembly of Experts, consisting of 88 clerical members approved by a conservative oversight body aligned with Khamenei, officially chooses the supreme leader.

Senior Israeli security officials revealed Saturday evening their strong belief that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has been successfully eliminated during coordinated military operations.

Speaking to Channel 12, a high-ranking Israeli official stated there is a “very likely” chance that Khamenei was killed in the strikes. Security agencies are currently waiting for official confirmation, though intelligence reports from operational areas are being characterized as “excellent.”

“We’d fall off our chairs if Khamenei suddenly appeared and made a live statement. The grounded assessment is that he is no longer with us,” the official stated.

A second Israeli security source commented, “Khamenei was surrounded by foolish people who didn’t understand they were playing with fire. That game is over.”

The strikes targeted Khamenei’s workplace and personal residence earlier Saturday, along with additional critical government installations, including the presidential headquarters. Social media reports and video footage indicate several structures sustained major damage or were completely destroyed.

The targeted complex sits within a heavily secured zone containing multiple regime institutions, such as the chief justice’s headquarters and primary offices of the Guardian Council, Assembly of Experts, and Supreme National Security Council Secretariat.

Intelligence reports suggested Khamenei had been relocated from the site days prior to the attack. Additional sources indicated his secure location was moved again just before Saturday’s anticipated strike.

These reports about the 86-year-old Iranian leader’s potential death come during the peak of joint US-Israeli military operations that commenced Saturday morning. Israeli political sources identify the mission as Operation Lion’s Roar, designed to completely disable the Revolutionary Guards’ and Iranian government’s command structure.

Military analysts believe Israeli and American warplanes delivered devastating strikes against Tehran’s security and political leadership while causing significant casualties among nuclear program personnel and intelligence operatives.

Iran International news outlet reports that casualties include Ali Shamkhani, an experienced Iranian security official who served as Defense Council secretary and ranked among Khamenei’s top advisers.

Iranian authorities are claiming that more than 40 schoolgirls have been killed in what they describe as an Israeli airstrike on a girls’ school in Minab, located in southeastern Iran. The Minab governor confirmed the students’ deaths, with Iranian media reporting the casualty count reached over 40 by 3:30 p.m. Tehran time, and approximately 50 others were wounded.

Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports indicate that the compound housing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s office and personal residence has been struck by U.S. and Israeli aircraft. Social media accounts suggest some government buildings in the area have been “flattened.” The targeted zone reportedly contains multiple high-security government facilities, including the presidential office, judiciary headquarters, and offices of the Guardian Council, Assembly of Experts, and Supreme National Security Council Secretariat.

Sources indicate Khamenei had been relocated from his usual location several days prior to the strikes. Reports from Friday suggested his whereabouts had been changed in anticipation of possible Saturday morning attacks.

Iran’s state broadcasting network has shown video of strikes hitting civilian neighborhoods but has not verified circulating reports about potential deaths among senior officials or top Revolutionary Guard commanders.

The strikes have caused widespread internet outages across Iran, with many domestic news websites going offline. Only some state media and Revolutionary Guard-affiliated channels remain operational on Telegram.

In Tehran, the airstrikes have sparked fires at multiple power facilities, including the Sattar Khan station in western Tehran, causing electrical outages in parts of the capital. Video footage and reports show targets being hit throughout Iran’s eastern and western regions, described as military and weapons facilities. Social media has circulated video of an explosion at a Revolutionary Guard installation in Kamyaran in northwestern Iran.

Hours after the strikes commenced, government officials announced that banks, pharmacies, medical facilities, and government offices would remain operational. Iran has reportedly launched missile attacks against several Persian Gulf nations, including Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar. A military spokesperson warned that Iran’s retaliation would be comprehensive, with Revolutionary Guard headquarters stating all U.S. regional bases and Israel would face retaliatory strikes.

As the conflict escalates, some Tehran residents have reportedly celebrated the strikes as an opportunity to oppose the government. Iranian Telegram channels continue reporting large explosions and sustained anti-aircraft fire in the capital.

State media placed Iran’s broadcasting network on high alert Saturday morning, reorganizing staff under wartime protocols. Managers received instructions to implement backup systems and ensure continuity for essential operations, including news departments, due to potential cyber warfare and computer system disruptions.

President Donald Trump announced Saturday that American forces have initiated large-scale military action against Iran in what the Pentagon is calling ‘Operation Epic Fury.’ During a televised speech, Trump characterized the strikes as essential to neutralize what he described as urgent dangers to America, U.S. troops stationed abroad, and allied nations.

Trump made a direct appeal to Iranian people through his Truth Social platform, stating: “The hour of your freedom is at hand. … When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take.” He also advised Iranian civilians to seek safety during the widespread bombing campaign.

During his televised remarks, Trump labeled Iran as “the world’s number one state sponsor of terror” and emphasized that stopping Tehran’s nuclear ambitions has remained a key priority for his administration. He noted that American attacks last year targeted Iranian nuclear installations and alleged that Iran is working to reconstruct its nuclear capabilities while developing long-range missiles that could endanger U.S. forces, allies, and potentially American soil.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) responded by launching what it called Operation “True Promise 4,” describing it as retaliation for “American-Zionist aggression against Iranian territory.” The IRGC reported conducting missile and drone attacks against the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain and American military installations in Qatar and the UAE, “in addition to military and security centers in the heart of Israel.”

According to Ynet, an Iranian missile struck a structure in Tirat Carmel, injuring one individual. In Umm al-Fahm, a man sustained minor injuries from shrapnel or interceptor debris. Significant debris was also found in Kafr Manda in the lower Galilee region, though no injuries were reported there.

Alert sirens sounded in both the UAE and Bahrain, with one fatality reported in Abu Dhabi.

The Israel Defense Forces distributed video evidence of attacks on Iranian missile launch sites in western Iran, reporting that hundreds of Iranian military installations in the region, including launch platforms, were successfully targeted.

A source with ties to the Iranian government informed Reuters that high-ranking IRGC commanders and political leaders were killed during the coordinated U.S.-Israel operation. An Israeli official indicated that the strikes aimed at Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian, along with other top regime and military officials. The results of these targeted strikes remain unclear at this time.

Bahraini authorities confirmed Saturday afternoon that missiles struck a United States Navy 5th Fleet support installation in what officials described as an attack launched from beyond the kingdom’s borders.

The Kingdom of Bahrain’s National Communications Center released a statement characterizing the strikes against locations and installations inside the nation as a clear breach of Bahrain’s territorial integrity and national security.

According to the official announcement, security and defense agencies immediately activated pre-approved crisis response protocols and began deploying appropriate countermeasures in the field.

Bahraini leadership denounced what they termed “treacherous attacks,” characterizing the strikes as a direct menace to the nation’s stability and the well-being of both citizens and foreign residents. The government declared that Bahrain “affirmed its full right to respond and take all necessary measures to protect its national security and preserve its sovereignty, in coordination with its allies and partners.”

Witnesses reported hearing several explosions throughout Bahrain, particularly in proximity to the American military installation located in the Juffair district. Social media posts included footage and photographs that appeared to document detonations occurring within the base perimeter.

Military analysts noted defensive missile system activation in response to projectiles they identified as originating from Iranian territory.

Prior to the confirmed strikes, Bahraini officials had issued public safety warnings advising residents to stay away from major thoroughfares and shelter in place.

Israeli forces, backed by the United States, launched coordinated military strikes against Iranian targets in the early hours of Saturday morning, prompting Israeli officials to declare a nationwide civilian emergency as they prepared for possible counter-attacks.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced the military action was designed to eliminate threats against Israel and warned that Iran might respond with strikes targeting civilian areas. Katz utilized the Civil Defense Law to establish emergency protocols nationwide and authorized special emergency measures for the home front.

Reports from Iran indicated multiple strikes occurred in Tehran and surrounding areas, with witnesses observing smoke billowing over the capital city. Iranian state media confirmed explosions in several cities including Isfahan, Qom, Karaj, and Kermanshah. According to Al Arabiya, the attacks focused on locations near Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps facilities and Iranian intelligence operations in eastern Tehran.

Israeli military sources revealed the operation targeted Iran’s missile production capabilities, including underground facilities, as well as elements of Tehran’s air defense systems, with particular emphasis on short-range defensive equipment.

Warning sirens sounded throughout Israel immediately following the launch of strikes, while emergency alerts reached citizens’ mobile devices instructing them to remain near protective shelters. Military officials emphasized the warnings were precautionary and did not require people to stay inside protected areas.

Israeli Home Front Command instructed citizens to minimize unnecessary travel and locate their closest protective shelter.

Transportation Minister Miri Regev announced the closure of Israeli airspace to commercial aircraft due to the escalating situation. She advised travelers to avoid airports and stated that civilian flights would only resume when security conditions improved, requiring at least 24 hours advance notification.

A US military official confirmed to CNN that American forces were targeting military installations within Iran while Israeli forces simultaneously attacked sites connected to the Iranian regime. The source indicated the coordinated campaign was proceeding in multiple phases with ongoing strikes.

An Iranian government official speaking to Reuters indicated Tehran was preparing its response to the attacks, describing the planned retaliation as “crushing.” Israeli sources told Ynet that the military operation had been officially designated “Lion’s Roar,” replacing the previous codename “Shield of Judah.”

Israeli Defense Forces statements confirmed that both Israeli and US military units were striking Iranian government assets and military infrastructure across numerous locations. The Saberin News Agency, connected to pro-Iranian militia groups, reported explosions were detected in Tabriz in northwestern Iran, suggesting the strikes extended well beyond Tehran.

Intelligence reports from Tehran indicated the targeted facilities included installations belonging to Iran’s intelligence ministry, defense ministry, Atomic Energy Organization, and additional government offices. Security protocols throughout the city were enhanced following the attacks.

US officials speaking to The New York Times predicted the current military operation would surpass the scale of American strikes against Iranian nuclear sites conducted in June. A separate Reuters report cited an official source stating that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had been relocated from Tehran to a secure location.

The military action occurs just days ahead of the Jewish holiday of Purim.

Earlier Saturday, Israeli forces also struck Hezbollah launch positions and underground installations in southern Lebanon, claiming these sites were being prepared for attacks against Israel. Military officials stated these operations aimed to reduce Hezbollah’s capacity to monitor Israeli air operations and relay intelligence to Iran.

Security analysts warned the situation could escalate into a wider regional conflict, with assessments indicating Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen would likely participate, while Hezbollah had not yet decided whether to join the fighting.

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid expressed strong support Saturday for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s military action against Iran, characterizing the ongoing campaign as a ‘just war against evil.’

Joint strikes by the United States and Israel have targeted Iran’s senior leadership while demanding the government’s removal, prompting Iran to respond with multiple missile attacks against Israel and Gulf nations such as the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

‘We are going to stand united against this threat,’ Lapid stated during a Reuters interview in Tel Aviv, speaking shortly after exiting a bomb shelter when air raid sirens warned of an approaching Iranian assault.

According to Lapid, Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities, nuclear development programs, and ideally the nation’s leadership should be ‘obliterated.’

Netanyahu and Israel’s broader political leadership have consistently maintained that Iran represents an existential danger to the Jewish state.

Despite serving briefly as prime minister in 2022 and maintaining fierce opposition to Netanyahu, Lapid announced he would temporarily suspend political disagreements with the current leader during this period of escalating tensions.

Lapid also expressed gratitude to President Donald Trump for what he characterized as America’s leadership role in the Iranian operation, praising Trump’s display of courage.

The current conflict follows a surprise Israeli assault on Iran last June, which triggered a 12-day war between the regional powers that concluded when the United States joined Israel’s bombing campaign against Iran.

That previous confrontation resulted in over 30 Israeli deaths from Iranian missile strikes, including attacks on the densely populated Tel Aviv area, while Israeli military action killed more than 900 people in Iran.

When questioned about Israel’s ability to maintain a weeks-long or months-long conflict with Iran, Lapid emphasized that the country was ‘way stronger’ than commonly perceived, while expressing doubt about Iran’s capacity for sustained warfare.

Israel must conduct national elections by October, with current polling suggesting Netanyahu’s coalition government may struggle to maintain power despite his record as the nation’s longest-serving prime minister.

The opposition remains divided, though many factions aim to establish a government excluding Netanyahu. Surveys indicate Lapid’s Yesh Atid party could face seat losses in the upcoming election, though it may still play a crucial role in government formation.

MILAN – Italy’s Defense Minister Guido Crosetto became stranded in Dubai over the weekend after military operations targeting Iran forced airlines to cancel flights throughout the region, according to sources within the defense ministry.

Crosetto had departed Rome Friday night on a commercial airline to reunite with his family members, who were already vacationing in the United Arab Emirates. The defense minister had planned to fly back to Italy Saturday evening.

However, those travel plans were disrupted when U.S. and Israeli forces conducted attacks on Iran, prompting major carriers to halt service to the region. Italy’s national airline, ITA Airways, announced it would suspend all flights to and from Dubai through Sunday as a safety precaution.

The flight suspensions left the defense minister temporarily unable to return to his duties in Rome while he remained with his family in Dubai.

Military strikes between the United States, Israel, and Iran on Saturday have triggered widespread condemnation from world leaders who are demanding an immediate end to hostilities in the Middle East.

The confrontation began when U.S. and Israeli forces conducted coordinated strikes against Iran. Iranian officials responded by firing missiles toward Israel while denouncing the attacks as both unprovoked and in violation of international law.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a strong rebuke of the military escalation. “I condemn today’s military escalation in the Middle East. The use of force by the United States and Israel against Iran, and the subsequent retaliation by Iran across the region, undermine international peace and security,” Guterres stated.

He continued his call for restraint, saying: “I call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and de-escalation. Failing to do so risks a wider regional conflict with grave consequences for civilians and regional stability. I strongly encourage all parties to return immediately to the negotiating table.”

The UN chief emphasized that “there is no viable alternative to the peaceful settlement of international disputes, in full accordance with international law, including the UN Charter.”

European leaders from Germany, France, and Britain issued a unified response criticizing Iran’s military actions. The three nations stated that Iran must stop conducting indiscriminate military operations.

“We reiterate our commitment to regional stability and to the protection of civilian life,” declared French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in their collaborative statement, while expressing their desire for renewed diplomatic talks.

Macron separately demanded an emergency UN Security Council session, warning that military conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran creates “serious consequences” for global peace and security.

“The current escalation is dangerous for everyone. It must stop. The Iranian regime must understand that it now has no other option but to engage in good-faith negotiations to end its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, as well as its actions to destabilise the region,” Macron posted on social media platform X.

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk expressed deep concern about civilian casualties from the military operations.

“I deplore the military strikes across Iran this morning by Israel and the United States of America, and the subsequent retaliatory strikes by Iran. As always, in any armed conflict, it is civilians who end up paying the ultimate price,” Turk stated.

He warned that “Bombs and missiles are not the way to resolve differences but only result in death, destruction and human misery.”

Turk appealed for reason, saying: “To avert these terrible consequences for civilians, I call for restraint and implore all parties to see reason, to de-escalate, and for a return to the ‘negotiating table’ where they had been actively seeking a solution only hours earlier.”

He cautioned that continued fighting “risks an even wider conflict, that will inevitably lead to further senseless civilian deaths and destruction on a potentially unimaginable scale, not just in Iran but across the Middle East region.”

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney offered backing for U.S. actions, stating that Canada supports America “acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent its regime from further threatening international peace and security.”

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez took a different approach, posting on X: “We demand immediate de-escalation and full respect for international law.”

Spain’s Foreign Minister Albares reinforced Madrid’s position by demanding adherence to international law, reduced tensions and diplomatic dialogue, while expressing “support and solidarity with those who are receiving the strikes.”

“The attacks must stop,” the Spanish foreign minister added.

Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi revealed that active diplomatic efforts between Iran and the United States mediated by his nation were “yet again undermined” by the military strikes.

“Neither the interests of the United States nor the cause of global peace are well served by this… I urge the United States not to get sucked in further. This is not your war,” he posted on X.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam declared: “I reiterate that we will not accept anyone dragging the country into adventures that threaten its security and unity.”

Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide questioned the legal justification for the strikes, stating: “The attack is described by Israel as a preventive strike, but it is not in line with international law. Preventive attacks require an immediately imminent threat.”

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry blamed Iranian leadership for the current crisis, saying: “The cause of the current events is precisely the violence and impunity of the Iranian regime, in particular the killings and repression of peaceful protesters, which have become particularly widespread in recent months.”

Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev, a former Russian president, offered a cynical assessment of diplomatic efforts.

“The peacemaker once again showed his face,” Medvedev commented. “All negotiations with Iran are a cover operation. No one doubted it. No one really wanted to negotiate anything.”

He concluded with a historical comparison: “The question is who has more patience to wait for the inglorious end of their enemy. The USA is only 249 years old. The Persian Empire was founded more than 2,500 years ago. Let’s see in 100 years…”

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Residents across central Israel spent Saturday moving repeatedly between bomb shelters as Iran launched continuous rocket attacks following a major joint military operation by the United States and Israel against Iran.

Numerous residential buildings in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods lack proper protective facilities. In the mixed Arab-Jewish community of Jaffa within Tel Aviv, over 100 residents sought refuge in a public underground shelter beneath a local park. The diverse group included Muslim families with small children, Jewish seminary students, and more than a dozen pets.

Various groups spread out on personal mattresses and engaged in card games, while others distributed food among themselves. Observant Muslims continued their Ramadan fasting despite the circumstances. Most shelter occupants monitored their mobile devices for news updates as warning sirens repeatedly echoed through the area. When evening arrived, Muslims were compelled to conduct their iftar meal — the traditional sunset meal ending the daily fast — within the bomb shelter.

“Of course we expected it, even though we didn’t want it to happen,” said Idit Cohen, who lives near the park. She noted, however, that it was one of the times when you could see the community come together.

Cohen’s son was called up for emergency reserve military service, and an unknown person in the shelter offered transportation to his military base, despite being an observant Jew who typically avoids driving during Saturday, the Jewish sabbath.

“I want it to end as soon as possible, it’s a nightmare, people are more and more frustrated and tired,” Cohen said. “We see families with babies and young kids here, but there are elderly people that aren’t able to keep running here all day.”

Over the previous two and a half years, Israeli citizens have grown accustomed to this emergency protocol through conflicts involving Hamas forces in Gaza, Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, Houthi fighters in Yemen, and a 12-day confrontation with Iran last June.

Igor Libenson, a construction worker and father of two sons, said his family was mostly tired from the constant moving back and forth. “The kids aren’t scared, we were here also in June in the same situation,” said Libenson, whose sons are 4 and 7 years old.

Some of the religious Jews sang psalms with their arms slung around each others’ shoulders.

“We look at this in the long term. We suffer today but we do hope that it will resolve the problems of tomorrow,” said Maya Tutian, a resident of Tel Aviv, who was in a public shelter in the northern part of the city. “The Iranian regime is not just a threat of us, people who live here in Tel Aviv, but for the entire world.”

During the previous year’s conflict with Iran, some residents lacking home shelter access slept in Tel Aviv’s subway stations and underground shopping center parking areas.

Although current Israeli construction codes mandate reinforced safe rooms designed to protect against rocket attacks, Iran deploys significantly more powerful ballistic weapons. Shelter availability remains critically insufficient in lower-income neighborhoods and communities, particularly affecting Arab populations and countryside regions.

According to the Negev Coexistence Forum, a regional advocacy organization, more than two-thirds of Israel’s Bedouin population lacks shelter access. During the previous summer, numerous Bedouin families constructed improvised protective spaces using whatever materials they could find: buried metal containers, buried vehicles, and repurposed building materials.

Iran initiated its missile campaign shortly after the combined Israeli-American military operation began early Saturday. By evening, Israeli military officials reported that dozens of projectiles had been fired toward Israel.

Israeli law enforcement and emergency response teams reported several individuals sustained minor injuries from missile impacts, while military defense systems successfully intercepted numerous incoming projectiles.

Israeli authorities issued nationwide emergency alerts and elevated the country to maximum readiness status, suspending educational activities and most public events throughout the nation.

JUBA, South Sudan — Political tensions are escalating in South Sudan as authorities continue arresting former government officials in what experts describe as evidence of growing instability within President Salva Kiir’s administration, which is simultaneously battling an armed insurgency.

The most recent detention occurred Friday when former Finance Minister Bak Barnaba Chol was apprehended as he tried to enter Uganda. His arrest follows the detention of Marial Dongrin Ater, another ex-finance and planning minister who was dismissed from his position in August.

Over the past seven days, authorities have also taken into custody a former head of the central bank, a former deputy secretary in the petroleum ministry, and a general from the domestic intelligence service who had previously worked in the same department.

The specific charges behind these detentions have not been made public.

Speaking to Eye Radio, government spokesperson Ateny Wek Ateny characterized the arrests as “not political” and described them as a “direct response to irregularities identified within the monetary system.” He indicated that an investigative committee is examining “financial malpractices.”

Civic leader Edmund Yakani described the atmosphere in Juba as anxious, with politicians worried about potential arrest. “So far, these arrests have mostly targeted financial institutions, but if the arrests carry into the security sectors it will be very dangerous,” he stated Saturday.

According to Daniel Akech from the International Crisis Group, these detentions indicate a shrinking of the president’s “big tent” coalition strategy, which Kiir has used for years to control the country’s fragmented political environment.

South Sudan’s oil-reliant economy is suffering severe damage from the conflict in Sudan, as the nation’s entire petroleum output travels through Sudanese pipeline infrastructure.

Pipeline damage from the Sudan conflict, which started in 2023, has periodically shut down more than 60% of oil production. World Bank projections show South Sudan’s economy contracted by 24% in 2025.

The International Crisis Group cautioned in 2024 that oil production disruptions could trigger widespread political violence as Kiir loses the petroleum revenues needed “to keep South Sudan’s rivalrous generals and warlords on his side.”

The government is already confronting an armed opposition movement. Opposition leader Riek Machar remains confined to his residence and is facing trial on subversion allegations, which he refutes. Many of his supporters have been detained or removed from government positions. Kiir removed Machar from his deputy role in September following the criminal accusations.

Violence has surged dramatically since Machar’s dismissal. United Nations data indicates thousands died in 2025, with 280,000 people forced from their homes since December.

A United Nations investigation concluded that South Sudan’s leadership is “systematically dismantling” the 2018 peace accord, which was designed to end civil warfare and restore Machar to a power-sharing arrangement with Kiir. The United States is pushing for renewed peace negotiations.

Major energy companies and shipping operators have halted petroleum and natural gas deliveries through the Strait of Hormuz following military strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran, according to industry sources who spoke Saturday.

Iran’s government has declared the strategic waterway off-limits to maritime traffic in response to the attacks, prompting widespread shipping disruptions in the region.

“Our ships will stay put for several days,” one top executive at a major trading desk said. Satellite tracking data reveals numerous vessels accumulating near major ports like Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, with ships avoiding passage through the Hormuz corridor.

Ships operating in the region have been receiving radio communications from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards stating that “no ship is allowed to pass the Strait of Hormuz,” according to an official with the European Union naval mission Aspides.

British naval authorities countered that Iran’s navigation ban lacks legal authority and recommended that commercial vessels proceed through the area with heightened caution.

The international tanker organization INTERTANKO reported that the US Navy has issued warnings against shipping operations throughout the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, North Arabian Sea, and Strait of Hormuz regions, stating it cannot ensure vessel security.

Greek maritime officials issued guidance Saturday recommending that ships avoid the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz areas, according to an advisory document.

Approximately 20% of worldwide petroleum from major producers including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iraq, Kuwait and Iran travels through the Hormuz passage, along with substantial quantities of liquefied natural gas from Qatar.

Maritime analyst Laura Page from Kpler consultancy noted that fourteen LNG carriers have demonstrated signs of decelerating, changing course or stopping near the Strait, with numbers expected to increase and potentially impacting Qatari natural gas exports.

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump has launched his most dangerous foreign policy venture yet with massive military strikes against Iran, a decision that could define his presidency while risking a wider Middle East war.

The president coordinated with Israel on Saturday to begin what the Pentagon calls “Operation Epic Fury,” offering minimal justification to Americans for what may become the largest U.S. military engagement since conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.

This marks a dramatic shift for Trump, who previously favored quick, targeted missions like last month’s rapid operation in Venezuela. Military experts now warn of a potentially lengthy conflict that could spiral into regional warfare across the oil-rich Middle East.

The president has established an ambitious goal of toppling Iran’s government in Tehran, believing aerial bombardments can spark civilian uprisings against the current leadership.

However, military history shows air power alone has never successfully achieved regime change without ground troops – an outcome most defense analysts believe unlikely to succeed now.

“Most Americans will wake up Saturday morning and wonder why we are at war with Iran, what is the goal, and why U.S. bases in the Middle East are under attack,” stated Daniel Shapiro, former Pentagon official and ex-U.S. ambassador to Israel, currently with the Atlantic Council think-tank in Washington.

Trump’s Iran obsession represents the clearest demonstration of how international affairs and military action have dominated his second-term priorities during the past 13 months, frequently overshadowing domestic concerns like living costs that polling indicates matter more to most Americans.

His advisors have privately pressed him for weeks to concentrate on voters’ financial concerns, recognizing the political risks before November’s midterm elections where Republicans could lose control of one or both congressional chambers.

Trump’s early-morning announcement on Truth Social explaining the Pentagon’s “Operation Epic Fury” offered only vague justifications for attacking a nation the U.S. has confronted for decades while avoiding full-scale war.

The president claimed he would eliminate Tehran’s ballistic missile capabilities – which defense experts say pose no direct U.S. threat – while providing Iranians opportunity to overthrow their government.

Trump declared American forces would destroy much of Iran’s military infrastructure and prevent nuclear weapons development. Iran maintains its nuclear program serves peaceful purposes only.

DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS ABANDONED

Trump’s sudden military action, utilizing massive U.S. forces assembled regionally in recent weeks, appears to eliminate immediate diplomatic possibilities with Iran. Thursday’s nuclear negotiations in Geneva failed to produce any progress.

Some administration officials previously suggested bombing campaigns might force Tehran back to negotiations for major concessions. Instead, Iran retaliated Saturday by firing missiles at U.S. ally Israel and Gulf Arab oil producers.

Trump’s video emphasis on urgent threats from Iran’s ballistic and nuclear programs resembles arguments President George W. Bush made for Iraq’s 2003 invasion, later proven based on incorrect intelligence and false information.

The president’s Tuesday State of the Union claim that Iran will soon possess missiles capable of reaching America lacks support from U.S. intelligence reports, according to sources familiar with assessments. Experts also dispute his administration’s recent assertions about Tehran’s ability to rapidly advance nuclear capabilities.

Saturday’s strikes removed any uncertainty that Trump seeks regime change in Tehran, following his January threats to attack Iran supporting street protesters facing violent suppression.

Analysts doubt Trump’s strategy can topple Iran’s established clerical government, which has survived crushing sanctions and repeated mass demonstrations, especially without deploying U.S. ground forces.

Initial strike waves primarily targeted Iranian leadership, according to informed sources. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had left Tehran before attacks and relocated to secure facilities, sources confirmed. However, several senior Revolutionary Guards commanders and political leaders were killed, an Iranian establishment source reported.

Even successful elimination of top officials could create unintended chaos across the 93-million-person nation or potentially establish military rule that might prove more hostile to Western interests and oppressive domestically, analysts warned.

“He wants to change the government,” explained Jon Alterman from the Center for Strategic and International Studies think-tank in Washington. “But it’s hard to change the government from the air. It’s hard to change the minds of Iranians through the air.”

Tyson Barker, former senior U.S. official now with the Atlantic Council, said Trump’s calls for Iranian popular uprising would likely fail.

“They’re really exposing these poor Iranian people by saying, ‘Stand up and overthrow your government. We got your back’,” Barker observed.

GROWING MILITARY APPETITE

Trump’s increasing willingness to use military force since beginning his second term led to briefings before Iran strikes that highlighted both risks of significant U.S. casualties and potential Middle East shifts favoring American interests, a U.S. official told Reuters.

The president appears encouraged by June’s bombing of Iran’s primary nuclear facilities, which he deemed highly successful, and January’s operation capturing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, giving America substantial influence over that OPEC nation’s enormous oil reserves.

Trump may have committed himself to Iran action through repeated military threats while assembling naval forces he couldn’t maintain indefinitely in the region.

Military analysts consider Iran a more challenging, better-equipped opponent than Venezuela, despite air defenses and missile systems severely damaged in joint U.S.-Israeli June strikes.

“Iran is a more formidable military power, and even what the response is right now in the Gulf – they’re willing to cross lines that they weren’t willing to cross before,” said Nicole Grajewski with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

However, Mark Dubowitz, CEO of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, a research institute considered pro-Israel and hawkish toward Iran, argued Tehran’s weakened condition justifies Trump’s risks to limit nuclear capabilities.

Whether Iran’s government survives or not, he suggested severely damaging Iran’s nuclear and missile programs could represent victory for Trump.

VIENNA – The International Atomic Energy Agency announced Saturday that it has detected no radiation effects following recent military strikes involving Iran and other Middle Eastern countries, though the organization did not specify whether any Iranian nuclear facilities were hit during the attacks.

The UN’s nuclear oversight body posted on social media that it remains vigilant about Middle East developments and is calling for all parties to exercise caution to prevent nuclear safety hazards for regional populations. The agency stated it maintains ongoing communication with nations throughout the area.

“The IAEA is closely monitoring developments in the Middle East, and urges restraint to avoid any nuclear safety risks to people in the region,” the organization wrote. “The IAEA is in permanent contact with countries in the region, so far no evidence of any radiological impact.”

The statement comes amid escalating tensions involving U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iranian targets, as well as retaliatory actions by Iran in neighboring countries.

WASHINGTON – Intelligence analysts concluded that Iran’s military elite would probably seize control if Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei perished during recent U.S.-Israeli military operations, according to two sources with knowledge of the classified briefings.

The Central Intelligence Agency’s analysis, compiled during the two weeks leading up to Saturday’s strikes, examined various outcomes that might follow American military intervention and whether such actions could successfully topple Iran’s current government – a stated goal of the Trump administration.

Sources familiar with the intelligence reports, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the information, emphasized that analysts did not definitively predict any single outcome.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, an elite military organization dedicated to preserving Shi’ite Muslim clerical authority in Iran, would most likely fill any power vacuum, the assessments indicated.

The CIA refused to provide comment on the intelligence evaluations.

For several weeks, President Donald Trump has publicly expressed interest in seeing Iran’s government overthrown, though he has not detailed Washington’s preferred replacement leadership.

During a Saturday morning video statement, Trump labeled Tehran a “terrorist regime” and urged Iranian citizens to overthrow their government, claiming the military strikes would create conditions for a popular revolt.

The combined U.S.-Israeli assault followed extensive internal government discussions about whether to target Iran after December’s deadly demonstrations there.

American diplomats recently attempted to negotiate a nuclear agreement with Tehran as a way to prevent military action.

During congressional briefings last week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed the Gang of Eight leadership that military operations would probably proceed, while noting Trump might reconsider if nuclear talks succeeded. The Geneva negotiations ultimately failed to produce an accord.

On Friday evening, Rubio alerted the Gang of Eight that Iranian strikes would likely begin within hours, though he indicated the president could still reverse course, two informed sources revealed.

Saturday’s coordinated U.S. and Israeli military strikes specifically aimed at Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s headquarters, targeting the 86-year-old ruler who has maintained an iron grip on power for more than three decades.

Intelligence sources indicate Khamenei was relocated to a protected site away from Tehran before the bombardment occurred, though Reuters has been unable to confirm his current condition. Satellite photography reveals extensive destruction at his Tehran complex.

According to Israeli officials, eliminating Khamenei was an objective of the military operation. Such an outcome would represent a catastrophic setback for the Islamic Republic, which he has governed since 1989, following his rise during the religious revolution that overthrew Iran’s monarchy and transformed Middle Eastern politics.

THE MOST SERIOUS CHALLENGE YET

While the octogenarian leader has weathered international pressure previously, Saturday’s assault comes as he confronts his most severe political crisis in 36 years of leadership, while simultaneously managing delicate nuclear program discussions with Washington.

Earlier this year, Khamenei authorized the most brutal suppression of dissent since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, declaring that citizens demonstrating against economic hardships “should be put in their place” before security personnel fired upon crowds shouting “Death to the dictator!”

Just eight months ago, Khamenei was compelled to seek shelter during nearly two weeks of sustained Israeli and American bombing campaigns that eliminated multiple trusted advisors and Revolutionary Guard officers while destroying valuable nuclear and missile installations.

That military campaign stemmed indirectly from Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which Iranian forces backed. The assault not only sparked the Gaza conflict but also prompted Israel to target Tehran’s other regional allies.

Following Hezbollah’s weakening in Lebanon and Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad’s removal from power, Khamenei’s regional influence has diminished significantly. Meanwhile, Washington continues pressing Iran to surrender its ballistic missile arsenal – its final major strategic advantage.

Khamenei has categorically rejected any discussion of missile disarmament, viewing these weapons as Iran’s sole remaining protection against Israeli military action. This stubborn stance may have contributed to provoking the recent airstrikes.

As American military assets accumulated throughout the region, Khamenei’s strategic thinking reflected a personality shaped by revolutionary upheaval, prolonged conflict with Iraq, decades of confrontation with America, and the methodical consolidation of authority.

Though elected representatives handle routine governance, no significant policy decisions – particularly those involving the United States – advance without Khamenei’s direct authorization. His command of Iran’s intricate clerical governing system, combined with restricted democratic elements, prevents any rival faction from questioning his choices.

KHAMENEI’S UNLIKELY PATH TO ABSOLUTE POWER

During his early leadership years, many observers considered Khamenei ineffective and an improbable replacement for the Islamic Republic’s deceased founder, the magnetic Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

Having not attained the religious title of ayatollah upon his appointment as Supreme Leader, Khamenei initially struggled to exercise power through spiritual influence, as the theocratic framework intended.

Following years of difficulty escaping his predecessor’s legacy, Khamenei ultimately established dominance by creating a powerful security network answerable exclusively to him.

Khamenei maintains deep suspicion toward Western nations, especially America, which he has consistently accused of plotting his overthrow.

During a characteristically combative address following January’s demonstrations, he attributed the civil unrest to U.S. President Donald Trump, stating: “We consider the U.S. president criminal for the casualties, damages and slander he inflicted on the Iranian nation.”

Despite his doctrinal inflexibility, Khamenei has demonstrated readiness to compromise when the Islamic Republic’s existence faces threat.

His doctrine of “heroic flexibility,” introduced in 2013, allows strategic concessions to achieve larger objectives, echoing Khomeini’s 1988 decision to accept a ceasefire following eight years of warfare with Iraq.

Khamenei’s cautious support for Iran’s 2015 nuclear agreement with six global powers represented another such calculation, as he determined that sanctions relief was essential for economic stability and strengthening his political control.

Trump withdrew from the 2015 agreement during his initial presidency in 2018, reimposing devastating economic sanctions on Iran. Tehran responded by progressively abandoning all negotiated restrictions on its nuclear activities.

SECURITY APPARATUS ANCHORS KHAMENEI’S AUTHORITY

During periods of mounting pressure, Khamenei has consistently relied upon the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Basij, a paramilitary organization comprising hundreds of thousands of volunteers, to eliminate opposition.

These forces suppressed the demonstrations that erupted following Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s controversial presidential reelection in 2009 amid widespread allegations of electoral fraud.

In 2022, Khamenei displayed identical ruthlessness by detaining, imprisoning, or executing protesters outraged by the custody death of young Iranian-Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini.

The Guards and Basij again crushed January’s latest protest wave.

His authority also depends heavily on the quasi-governmental financial network called Setad, operating under Khamenei’s personal supervision. Valued at tens of billions of dollars, this empire has expanded dramatically during his reign, channeling billions into Revolutionary Guard investments.

International scholars describe a secretive ideological leader consumed by betrayal fears – anxieties stemming from a June 1981 assassination attempt involving a bomb concealed in a tape recorder that permanently damaged his right arm.

According to his official biography, Khamenei endured severe torture in 1963 when, at age 24, he began serving multiple prison sentences for political activities under the shah’s regime.

Following the Revolution, Khamenei served as deputy defense minister and developed close Revolutionary Guard relationships during the 1980-88 Iraq war, which cost one million lives on both sides.

He secured the presidency with Khomeini’s backing but emerged as an unexpected successor choice when the supreme leader died, lacking both popular support and superior religious qualifications.

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace analyst Karim Sadjadpour noted that this “accident of history” transformed a “weak president to an initially weak supreme leader to one of the five most powerful Iranians of the last 100 years.”

The United Nations Security Council has scheduled an emergency session for Saturday following military strikes conducted by the United States and Israel against Iran, escalating tensions throughout the Middle East region.

According to U.N. diplomatic sources, the 15-member Security Council will convene at 4 p.m. New York time (2100 GMT). The session will be led by Britain, which currently serves as the council’s monthly president.

The emergency gathering was requested by Russia and China, with Russia’s U.N. mission describing the strikes as an “unprovoked act of armed aggression by the United States and Israel against the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

Additional support for the emergency session came from France, Bahrain, and Colombia, according to diplomatic sources.

“During the Security Council meeting, we will demand from the United States and Israel to immediately cease their illegal and escalatory actions and embark on a path toward a political and diplomatic settlement,” Russia’s statement declared.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is expected to address the Security Council during Saturday’s session, according to diplomatic sources.

Prior to the scheduled meeting, Guterres released a public statement criticizing the military escalation throughout the Middle East region. He stated that the “use of force by the United States and Israel against Iran, and the subsequent retaliation by Iran across the region, undermine international peace and security.”

“I call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and de-escalation. Failing to do so risks a wider regional conflict with grave consequences for civilians and regional stability. I strongly encourage all parties to return immediately to the negotiating table,” Guterres declared in his statement.

Massive crowds gathered in Athens and cities throughout Greece on Saturday, commemorating the one-year anniversary of the nation’s most devastating railway tragedy while calling for accountability before criminal proceedings begin next month.

Transportation across the country ground to a standstill as workers abandoned their posts to participate in the demonstrations. Outside Greece’s parliament building, demonstrators placed flowers and displayed signs calling for “Justice,” while the names of all 57 victims — primarily students — were spray-painted in red letters on the pavement.

The tragedy occurred when a passenger train struck a freight train in a head-on collision at Tempi in Greece’s central region.

This catastrophe has emerged as a powerful representation of governmental failures, highlighting safety oversights and decades of railway infrastructure abandonment.

Driven by widespread distrust of political leaders, who enjoy broad legal immunity under Greek law, the previous year’s widespread demonstrations represented the largest public protests in recent memory.

Law enforcement deployed thousands of officers throughout Athens on Saturday. Similar rallies took place in other countries as well.

“We seek one thing: Justice,” said Pavlos Aslanidis, head of the victims’ relatives association in a speech.

Following the completion of a judicial review this year, numerous non-political defendants will face court proceedings beginning March 23, facing accusations that include causing deaths through traffic violations, negligent homicide, and inflicting bodily injury.

Demonstrators are demanding systemic changes and political responsibility. “It wasn’t an accident, it was murder,” declared one protest sign in Athens.

Investigations revealed that a European Union co-financed initiative to implement safety technology began in 2014 but remained significantly delayed by 2023. Family members have also alleged that officials attempted to conceal evidence.

The center-right administration, which rejects any misconduct allegations, maintains that legal proceedings will illuminate the truth and has committed to comprehensive railway system overhaul by 2027.

President Donald Trump was warned about the possibility of significant American casualties before authorizing military strikes against Iran, while also being told the operation could reshape Middle East power dynamics for generations, according to a U.S. official speaking to Reuters.

The Pentagon’s ‘Operation Epic Fury’ launched Saturday has thrust the Middle East into an uncertain new phase of conflict. Combined U.S. and Israeli forces targeted multiple locations throughout Iran, prompting Iranian counterstrikes against Israel and neighboring Gulf nations.

According to the anonymous official, military advisers presented the mission to Trump as carrying both substantial dangers and potentially transformative benefits.

The president seemed to acknowledge these stakes when he stated that ‘the lives of courageous American heroes may be lost.’

‘But we’re doing this not for now, we’re doing this for the future, and it is a noble mission,’ Trump declared during a televised announcement of the combat operations.

‘For 47 years, the Iranian regime has chanted death to America and waged an unending campaign of bloodshed and mass murder … We’re not gonna put up with it any longer.’

These intelligence assessments from Trump’s security advisers shed light on the decision-making process behind what may be America’s most dangerous military venture since the 2003 Iraq invasion.

Before authorizing the strikes, Trump met with key officials including CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Admiral Brad Cooper, who commands U.S. Middle East operations through Central Command, traveled to Washington Thursday for White House Situation Room consultations.

A second U.S. official revealed that pre-strike briefings outlined numerous potential threats, including overwhelming Iranian missile barrages against multiple American bases and proxy force attacks on U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria.

Despite America’s substantial military deployment, the official noted limitations in regional air defense capabilities that had been rapidly positioned.

Military analysts warn the developing conflict could spiral dangerously, with the first official noting Pentagon plans offer no guaranteed outcomes.

While Trump has urged Iranians to overthrow their government, Nicole Grajewski from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace expressed skepticism about such prospects.

‘The Iranian opposition is pretty fragmented. It’s unclear what the population is willing to do in terms of rising up,’ Grajewski explained.

Both officials demanded anonymity given the classified nature of internal deliberations.

Neither the White House nor Pentagon provided immediate responses to comment requests.

In preparation for the assault, Trump authorized massive military reinforcements across the Middle East. Reuters previously reported on extensive planning for sustained Iranian operations, including targeting specific officials.

An Israeli source indicated that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian were both targeted, though strike results remain unclear.

Trump outlined ambitious goals Saturday, vowing to eliminate Tehran’s threat to America while enabling Iranians to remove their current leadership. His strategy includes dismantling Iran’s military capabilities and preventing nuclear weapons development, though Iran denies pursuing such weapons.

‘We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground… We’re going to annihilate their navy,’ he announced. ‘We’re going to ensure that the region’s terrorist proxies can no longer destabilize the region or the world and attack our forces.’

This decision reflects Trump’s growing willingness to accept military risks, surpassing even last month’s special operations raid that captured Venezuela’s president.

The Iranian campaign also exceeds the risk level of Trump’s June order to bomb Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have threatened all American regional assets, promising continued retaliation until ‘the enemy is decisively defeated.’

Security experts highlight Iran’s diverse retaliatory options, spanning missile attacks, drone warfare, and cyber operations.

Former Pentagon Middle East official Daniel Shapiro, who also served as U.S. ambassador to Israel, cautioned that Tehran retains significant strike capabilities despite the allied assault.

‘Iran has many more ballistic missiles that can reach U.S. bases than the U.S. has interceptors … some Iranian weapons will get through,’ Shapiro warned. ‘(The strikes are) a major gamble.’

Iran’s top religious authority, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is preparing to deliver public remarks following weekend military operations that targeted high-ranking Iranian officials, according to state-run Al-Alam television.

The announcement comes just hours after coordinated strikes by American and Israeli forces took place on Saturday, with Iran’s Supreme Leader expected to address the nation momentarily.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Saturday that the timing and location of upcoming three-way peace negotiations involving Ukraine, Russia, and the United States will hinge on Middle East security concerns and what he called “real diplomatic possibilities.”

The Ukrainian leader indicated he plans to provide new instructions to his country’s negotiating delegation for the discussions, though he did not reveal the specifics of those directives.

Earlier this week on Thursday, Zelenskyy had indicated the next round of diplomatic talks would likely occur in Abu Dhabi during the first week of March.

The situation has become more complicated after the United Arab Emirates found itself involved in regional conflict following joint U.S. and Israeli air operations targeting Iran.

NEW YORK – Iran’s top diplomat acknowledged Saturday that his country has experienced casualties among its military leadership, but characterized these losses as manageable.

According to NBC News correspondent reporting on social media, Iran’s foreign minister stated “we may have lost a few commanders, but that’s not such a big problem.”

The remarks, made on Saturday, represent a rare public acknowledgment from Iranian leadership regarding military personnel losses.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy voiced support for recent US military strikes against Iran on Saturday, emphasizing the need for Washington to take firm action while avoiding broader conflict escalation.

“Whenever there is American resolve, global criminals weaken,” Zelenskyy posted on social media, having previously advocated for regime change in Iran. “This understanding must also come to the Russians,” he continued.

Iran maintains strong ties with Russia, which launched its war against Ukraine in 2022. The Tehran government has provided Moscow with thousands of long-range Shahed drones, and Russian facilities now manufacture weapons based on Iranian designs.

According to Zelenskyy, Russian forces have launched more than 57,000 Shahed-type drones targeting Ukraine throughout the ongoing conflict.

“It is fair to give the Iranian people a chance to rid themselves of a terrorist regime and to guarantee security for all nations that have suffered from terror originating in Iran,” the Ukrainian leader stated, while stressing the importance of protecting civilian lives.

“It is important to prevent the war from expanding. It is important that the United States is acting decisively,” he concluded.

BERLIN – Three of Europe’s most powerful nations delivered a unified message to Iran on Saturday, demanding an immediate end to military operations targeting regional countries and a return to diplomatic dialogue.

In a coordinated statement, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed their strongest disapproval of Iran’s recent military actions.

“We condemn Iranian attacks on countries in the region in the strongest terms,” the three leaders declared in their joint announcement.

The European officials pushed for diplomatic solutions, stating: “We call for a resumption of negotiations and urge the Iranian leadership to seek a negotiated solution. Ultimately, the Iranian people must be allowed to determine their future.”

The trio emphasized their ongoing concerns about multiple Iranian activities, including the nation’s nuclear development efforts, ballistic missile capabilities, regional interference, and internal suppression of citizens.

The European leaders made clear their nations were not involved in Saturday’s military operations, while noting they maintain regular communication with international allies, including the United States, Israel, and other regional partners.

“We reiterate our commitment to regional stability and to the protection of civilian life,” the statement concluded.

Three sources with knowledge of Israeli military operations have reported that two high-ranking Iranian military officials were killed in recent Israeli strikes, according to information released February 28th.

The officials reportedly killed include Iran’s Defense Minister Amir Nasirzadeh and Revolutionary Guards commander Mohammed Pakpour. Two sources with direct knowledge of Israeli military activities, along with one regional intelligence source, confirmed the deaths of both Iranian leaders.

The reports come amid ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran in the region.

Financial markets are bracing for potential upheaval after the United States and Israel conducted military operations against Iran over the weekend, with President Donald Trump stating the action would eliminate security risks and potentially empower Iranian citizens to challenge their government.

The military action has heightened concerns among oil-producing nations in the Persian Gulf region as tensions continue to mount, prompting Iran to fire missiles toward Israeli territory in response.

According to four industry sources, several major oil companies and prominent trading firms have halted petroleum and fuel transport through the Strait of Hormuz due to the ongoing hostilities.

Market specialists are offering their perspectives on the potential economic fallout:

Vishnu Varathan, who leads macro research for Asia excluding Japan at Mizuho in Singapore, explained: “A broader state of spots of regional attacks/instability may be par for the course – in line with Iran’s warning. Oil prices are likely to remain elevated as production and passage remain prone to attacks and disruptions. OPEC may be under pressure to raise production to try and offset. But a 10-25% premium on oil is not outlandish – even without a blockade of the Straits of Hormuz, which is easily a 50% premium risk event.”

Christopher Wong, a strategist with OCBC in Singapore, noted: “The strike raises geopolitical risk premia as markets head into Monday’s open. The immediate reaction function is fairly predictable: safe-haven assets such as gold are likely to see an upside gap, while oil prices may also firm on supply-disruption concerns. Risk assets and high-beta currencies… could face an initial bout of volatility, particularly if headlines suggest potential retaliation or regional spillovers.”

Nick Ferres, chief investment officer at Vantage Point Asset Management in Singapore, offered a concise assessment: “Energy is still inexpensive. That’s the obvious sector that rallies on Monday. And gold.”

Saul Kavonic, an energy analyst with MST Marquee in Sydney, provided a more detailed analysis: “Early indications are of a broader scale attack on Iran, with counterattacks which could escalate to draw in multiple gulf countries. If the Iranian regime feel they face an existential threat, attempts to block the Strait of Hormuz cannot be ruled out. The US and allies will have military escort plans to try protect passage through the Strait.”

Kavonic continued: “But if Iran were to manage to disrupt flows through the Strait, over 20% of global oil and LNG flows could be impacted. This could present a scenario three times the severity of the arab oil embargo and Iranian revolution in the 1970s, and drive oil prices into the triple digits, while LNG prices could retest the record highs of 2022.”

He further warned: “The scope for intentional and unintentional escalation in these circumstances is broad and hard to predict. Initial oil market reactions will price in higher risk of various scenarios that may disrupt supply, from a more modest disruption to 2mmbbld of Iranian exports, to attacks on regional oil infrastructure, through to disruption of passage through the Strait of Hormuz in the most extreme scenario. This could add several dollars more to oil, poised for even higher price spikes is the conflict escalates.”

Regarding the critical shipping route, Kavonic concluded: “A full prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz is unlikely. But even a partial disruption of flows, especially as some tankers avoid the region, could see several million barrels per day of oil disrupted which would still send oil over $100.”

International leaders voiced strong reactions following Saturday’s coordinated military strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran, with many calling for immediate de-escalation as tensions escalate across the Middle East region.

The following represents how world officials responded to the military action:

DMITRY MEDVEDEV, DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF RUSSIA’S SECURITY COUNCIL

The former Russian president criticized the strikes, stating: “The peacemaker once again showed his face. All negotiations with Iran are a cover operation. No one doubted it. No one really wanted to negotiate anything.”

Medvedev also referenced historical longevity, saying: “The question is who has more patience to wait for the inglorious end of their enemy. The USA is only 249 years old. The Persian Empire was founded more than 2,500 years ago. Let’s see in 100 years…”

FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON

France’s leader pushed for an emergency United Nations Security Council session, warning that conflict between America, Israel and Iran creates “serious consequences” for global peace and stability.

“The current escalation is dangerous for everyone. It must stop. The Iranian regime must understand that it now has no other option but to engage in good-faith negotiations to end its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, as well as its actions to destabilise the region,” Macron wrote on X.

“This is absolutely essential for the security of everyone in the Middle East.”

UN HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF VOLKER TURK

“I deplore the military strikes across Iran this morning by Israel and the United States of America, and the subsequent retaliatory strikes by Iran. As always, in any armed conflict, it is civilians who end up paying the ultimate price.

“Bombs and missiles are not the way to resolve differences but only result in death, destruction and human misery.

“To avert these terrible consequences for civilians, I call for restraint and implore all parties To see reason, to de-escalate, and for a return to the ‘negotiating table’ where they had been actively seeking a solution only hours earlier.

“I have already warned that failing to do so risks an even wider conflict, that will inevitably lead to further senseless civilian deaths and destruction on a potentially unimaginable scale, not just in Iran but across the Middle East region.”

CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER MARK CARNEY

Canada’s Prime Minister expressed backing for American efforts, stating his nation supports the U.S. “acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent its regime from further threatening international peace and security.”

SPANISH PRIME MINISTER PEDRO SANCHEZ

“We demand immediate de-escalation and full respect for international law,” Sanchez declared in a social media statement on platform X.

Spain’s Foreign Minister Albares subsequently posted on X that Madrid insisted on respecting international law, reducing tensions and pursuing dialogue, while expressing support for those targeted by the strikes.

“The attacks must stop,” he stated.

OMAN

Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi revealed that active diplomatic talks his nation was facilitating between Iran and America were “yet again undermined” due to the current escalation.

“Neither the interests of the United States nor the cause of global peace are well served by this…I urge the United States not to get sucked in further. This is not your war,” he posted on X.

LEBANESE PRIME MINISTER NAWAF SALAM

“I reiterate that we will not accept anyone dragging the country into adventures that threaten its security and unity.”

NORWEGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ESPEN BARTH EIDE

“The attack is described by Israel as a preventive strike, but it is not in line with international law. Preventive attacks require an immediately imminent threat.”

UKRAINE’S FOREIGN MINISTRY

“The cause of the current events is precisely the violence and impunity of the Iranian regime, in particular the killings and repression of peaceful protesters, which have become particularly widespread in recent months,” Ukraine’s foreign ministry stated.

Weekend military strikes involving the United States, Israel and Iran have financial analysts warning of potential widespread market disruption and rising oil costs that could affect consumers across the globe.

The military action has created anxiety among oil-producing nations in the Gulf region as concerns about broader conflict intensify. Iran responded to the strikes by firing missiles toward Israel.

Energy markets are particularly vulnerable given Iran’s role as a significant oil producer and its location across from major oil-producing Arab nations near the Strait of Hormuz. This critical waterway handles approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil transportation.

The potential for supply disruptions has already had immediate effects. Trading sources reported Saturday that several major oil companies and trading firms have halted crude oil and fuel shipments through the Strait of Hormuz following the attacks.

Brent crude was trading around $73 per barrel on Friday, representing a 20% increase for the year. William Jackson from Capital Economics suggests that even limited conflict could push Brent prices to approximately $80, matching levels seen during Iran’s 12-day conflict last June.

Extended fighting that disrupts supply chains could drive oil costs toward $100 per barrel, Jackson noted in his analysis. Such an increase might boost global inflation by 0.6 to 0.7 percentage points.

Market instability extends beyond energy sectors. Global financial markets have already experienced significant swings this year due to trade policy changes and technology sector declines. The VIX volatility measure has climbed one-third this year, while U.S. bond volatility indicators show a 15% increase.

Currency fluctuations are also anticipated. During June’s conflict, the dollar index dropped roughly 1%, though it recovered within several days. CBA analysts noted that the extent of currency movement will depend on conflict duration and scope.

“In current circumstances, the size of the fall will depend on how large and how long-lasting the conflict is expected to be,” CBA analysts stated in their recent assessment.

“If the conflict was long-lasting and disrupted oil supplies, we expect the U.S. dollar would lift against most currencies except Japanese yen and Swiss franc. The U.S. is a net energy exporter and so benefits from higher oil and gas prices that would result from disrupted oil supply.”

Israel’s currency faces particular pressure following Iran’s quick retaliation Saturday. The shekel declined 5% during June’s conflict and showed similar reactions after previous regional incidents in 2024. While past episodes were temporary with quick recoveries, JPMorgan suggests this situation could differ if conflict persists.

“This would especially be the case if confrontation with Iran also triggers more intensive operations against Iran’s proxies,” the financial institution warned.

Safe-haven investments are experiencing increased demand. The Swiss franc, traditionally sought during uncertain times, has gained 3% against the dollar this year and faces additional upward pressure that concerns the Swiss National Bank.

Gold continues its record performance with 22% gains in 2026, while silver maintains strong momentum. U.S. Treasury bonds are also attracting investors as yields decline. However, bitcoin has fallen 2% Saturday and lost over 25% of its value in two months, no longer viewed as a safe investment.

Middle Eastern stock markets opening Sunday, including those in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, will provide early indicators of investor confidence. These markets typically mirror oil price movements, but escalating conflict could create broader economic ripple effects.

Ryan Lemand of Neovision Wealth Management expects market declines if hostilities continue. “I suspect markets will be down if these hostilities continue through the day,” he said, predicting potential 3-5% drops in Gulf equity markets depending on conflict scale.

Saudi Arabia’s primary stock index has already declined 1.3% over five days through Thursday, marking its second straight week of losses. Dubai’s main market also fell during recent weeks.

International airlines canceled Middle East flights Saturday, and aviation stocks may face pressure if conflict spreads and forces additional airspace restrictions. Conversely, European defense contractors, already up 10% this year, could see increased demand for their products.

SAO PAULO – Brazil’s government issued a stern rebuke Saturday following joint military strikes by the United States and Israel targeting Iranian facilities, calling the actions deeply troubling.

In an official statement, Brazilian officials emphasized their concerns about the timing of the military operations. “The attacks occurred amid a negotiation process between the parties, which is the only viable path to peace, a position traditionally defended by Brazil in the region,” the government declared.

The South American nation urged all involved countries to honor international legal standards and show maximum caution to prevent further escalation of conflict while safeguarding civilian populations.

Brazil’s diplomatic missions throughout the Middle East are closely tracking the situation, with special focus on protecting Brazilian citizens living in nations affected by the military actions, the statement noted.

The United States and Israel have executed coordinated military operations targeting sites within Iranian territory, according to reports.

The joint strikes represent a notable escalation in the ongoing tensions between Iran and the two allied nations.

Details about the specific targets, timing, and scope of the military action are currently being examined as the situation continues to develop.

Israel implemented sweeping emergency protocols Saturday, shuttering educational institutions and prohibiting public assemblies as Iran fired missiles at the country in response to a combined American-Israeli military operation against Tehran.

Defense Minister Israel Katz announced a nationwide emergency declaration, alerting citizens about incoming Iranian missile and drone strikes targeting the nation.

Israeli military officials instructed civilians to adhere to emergency protocols while announcing the mobilization of tens of thousands of reserve forces, including troops deployed to strengthen border defenses. Law enforcement agencies requested citizens avoid unnecessary trips to ensure emergency and security vehicles could operate without obstruction.

Despite the threat, some Tel Aviv residents visited coastal areas Saturday before Iran’s initial response began, expressing confidence in their advanced air defense capabilities and voicing approval for military action against Iran.

“It’s about time,” said Shira Dorany as she took a walk along Tel Aviv’s Mediterranean-front promenade.

“I don’t want to wait anymore for what’s coming. Now, it’s coming. Let’s finish it.”

Initial reports indicated minimal damage or casualties from Iran’s opening missile volleys. Israeli citizens typically have access to protective shelters and receive warnings through a comprehensive national alert network.

The two nations previously engaged in aerial combat last year following Israel’s surprise June assault on Iran, which the United States subsequently joined. That 12-day conflict resulted in over 30 Israeli deaths and more than 900 Iranian casualties.

Tel Aviv, home to several military installations, sustained numerous hits during the previous year’s conflict, along with southern Israeli regions housing military facilities.

Israeli authorities suspended civilian air traffic Saturday while keeping land crossings with Egypt and Jordan operational, according to airport authority representatives.

The American Embassy in Jerusalem instructed government staff to shelter in place, following Friday’s advisory allowing personnel to depart the country voluntarily.

Jerusalem residents were observed hurrying to purchase food supplies and withdraw cash as sounds of missile interceptions reverberated throughout the city.

Medical personnel at Sheba Medical Center near Tel Aviv relocated entire hospital units to underground levels.

“(Sheba) switched to advanced preparedness mode in preparation for the strike in Iran. We are in the process of moving all our departments and services into protected areas,” said Itai Pessach, the medical center’s director general.

At Tel Aviv’s shoreline, Maayan Eliasi, 43, described Israeli military action against Iran as essential “to establish that we are strong.”

“We are not scared, and we are here to protect our land.”

International leaders are voicing strong reactions following coordinated military operations by Israel and the United States against Iran on Saturday. The strikes have intensified Middle East tensions as President Donald Trump pledged to eliminate Tehran’s missile capabilities and block nuclear weapons development.

World leaders have responded with a mix of criticism and calls for de-escalation:

DMITRY MEDVEDEV, DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF RUSSIA’S SECURITY COUNCIL

“The peacemaker once again showed his face,” Medvedev, a former Russian president, said. “All negotiations with Iran are a cover operation. No one doubted it. No one really wanted to negotiate anything.”

“The question is who has more patience to wait for the inglorious end of their enemy. The USA is only 249 years old. The Persian Empire was founded more than 2,500 years ago. Let’s see in 100 years…”

LEBANESE PRIME MINISTER NAWAF SALAM

“I reiterate that we will not accept anyone dragging the country into adventures that threaten its security and unity.”

NORWEGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ESPEN BARTH EIDE

“The attack is described by Israel as a preventive strike, but it is not in line with international law. Preventive attacks require an immediately imminent threat.”

FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON

The French leader has requested an emergency United Nations Security Council session, warning that military conflict between the US, Israel and Iran poses “serious consequences” for global peace and stability.

“The current escalation is dangerous for everyone. It must stop. The Iranian regime must understand that it now has no other option but to engage in good-faith negotiations to end its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, as well as its actions to destabilise the region,” Macron said on X.

“This is absolutely essential for the security of everyone in the Middle East.”

SPANISH PRIME MINISTER PEDRO SANCHEZ

“We demand immediate de-escalation and full respect for international law,” Sanchez said in a statement posted on social media platform X.

UKRAINE’S FOREIGN MINISTRY

“The cause of the current events is precisely the violence and impunity of the Iranian regime, in particular the killings and repression of peaceful protesters, which have become particularly widespread in recent months,” the foreign ministry said.

Russia’s state nuclear energy company has withdrawn nearly 100 personnel from Iran following military strikes by the United States and Israel on Saturday, according to company officials.

Rosatom, Russia’s nuclear corporation, confirmed through CEO Alexei Likhachev that 94 individuals were removed from the country, including all employees’ children, workers deemed non-critical, and any staff members who requested to leave.

Despite the evacuations, Russian workers continue to operate Iran’s Bushehr nuclear facility, which remains staffed and functional.

“We are constantly monitoring the situation and assessing the risks. If necessary, additional measures will be taken in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure the safety of our employees,” Likhachev stated.

The CEO emphasized that nuclear installations “should not be targeted under any circumstances,” though he declined to elaborate on specific conditions at the Bushehr site.

The Bushehr facility represents Iran’s sole functioning nuclear power station and was constructed by Russian engineers. Russian technical staff maintain an ongoing presence at the location to support operations.

Saturday’s military actions by the U.S. and Israel targeted Iranian leadership, escalating tensions and creating a new flashpoint in the already volatile Middle East region.

PARIS – French President Emmanuel Macron is demanding an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council following Saturday’s military strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran, warning that the conflict could have “serious consequences” for global peace and stability.

The French leader conducted phone conversations with officials from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan, and the president of Kurdistan’s autonomous region, according to his office.

Writing on X, Macron indicated France stands prepared to provide necessary resources to protect its closest allies if requested.

“The current escalation is dangerous for everyone. It must stop. The Iranian regime must understand that it now has no other option but to engage in good-faith negotiations to end its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, as well as its actions to destabilize the region,” Macron stated.

“This is absolutely essential for the security of everyone in the Middle East,” he continued.

“The Iranian people must also be able to build their future freely. The massacres perpetrated by the Islamic regime discredit it and necessitate that the people be given a voice. The sooner the better.”

Saturday’s coordinated strikes by Washington and Israel have thrust the Middle East into fresh conflict, with President Donald Trump describing the action as necessary to eliminate security threats to America while potentially giving Iranian citizens an opportunity to overthrow their government.

A deadly missile strike from Iran claimed four lives and injured multiple others when it hit a residential structure in Sweida, a city in southern Syria, on Saturday, according to Syria’s official news agency SANA.

Witnesses and local residents’ video footage showed additional missile fragments scattered across Quneitra city and the Yarmouk Basin area within Daraa province in Syria’s southern region.

Military aircraft could be heard flying overhead throughout Saturday across Syrian airspace, following public announcements by the United States and Israel regarding military actions targeting Iran.

Two eyewitnesses, including a Reuters correspondent, reported observing numerous defensive missiles streaking through the sky above Damascus.

Moscow’s Foreign Ministry issued sharp criticism Saturday regarding joint military operations by the United States and Israel targeting Iran, characterizing the actions as “a pre-planned and unprovoked act of armed aggression against a sovereign and independent U.N. member state.” The Russian government is calling for an immediate end to the military operations and a shift toward diplomatic solutions.

Through a Telegram post, the ministry alleged that Washington and Tel Aviv are using Iran’s nuclear program as cover for their true objective of changing the Iranian government.

Russian officials expressed alarm that these military actions could spark a “humanitarian, economic and possibly radiological catastrophe” throughout the region, claiming the U.S. and Israel are pushing “the Middle East into an abyss of uncontrolled escalation.”

The Kremlin specifically criticized strikes against nuclear installations that fall under International Atomic Energy Agency oversight, calling such attacks “unacceptable.” Russia offered to facilitate peaceful negotiations while assigning complete blame for the current tensions to the United States and Israel.

“Responsibility for the negative consequences of this manmade crisis, including an unpredictable chain reaction and spiraling violence, lies entirely with them,” the statement said.

Moscow also denounced what it described as “the serial nature of destabilizing attacks carried out by the U.S. administration,” claiming America is undermining “the international legal pillars of the world order.”

For years, Russia has carefully managed its Middle Eastern relationships, working to preserve positive ties with Israel while simultaneously building stronger economic and defense partnerships with Iran.

Just last week, Iranian military units and Russian naval personnel participated in joint training exercises in the Gulf of Oman and Indian Ocean waters designed to improve “operational coordination as well as exchange of military experiences,” according to Iran’s official IRNA news service.

Political analysts in Moscow suggest that heightened tensions between Israel and Iran might shift international focus away from the Ukraine conflict, potentially benefiting Russia by reducing Western backing for Kyiv.

President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that American and Israeli forces conducted extensive military strikes against Iran, describing the operation as aimed at dismantling the nation’s military infrastructure and preventing nuclear weapons development.

Tehran’s Foreign Ministry vowed to protect Iranian territory while the Revolutionary Guard launched retaliatory strikes, sending drones and missiles toward Israeli targets and attacking American military facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar.

The military action followed Trump’s ongoing pressure campaign for nuclear negotiations with Tehran, which included positioning a significant naval presence in the region amid Iran’s internal unrest from widespread demonstrations.

Iranian state media outlet IRNA reported that Israeli-American strikes killed at least 40 individuals at a girls’ educational facility in southern Iran. Additionally, debris from an Iranian missile strike in the United Arab Emirates capital resulted in one fatality, according to state reports.

Israeli officials confirmed their participation in the Iranian operation after Saturday morning explosions echoed through Tehran. Initial strikes occurred near Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s administrative offices, though his whereabouts remained unknown as he had not appeared publicly for several days.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz characterized the military action as necessary “to remove threats.” A briefing official, speaking anonymously about classified details, indicated that Iranian military installations, government symbols and intelligence facilities were primary targets.

Warning sirens activated throughout Israel to alert civilians about potential incoming missile threats.

Bahrain reported missile strikes directed at the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet command center on the island nation. Kuwait residents heard warning signals and explosions near U.S. Army Central facilities, while Qatar experienced blasts close to Al Udeid Air Base, which houses thousands of American personnel.

Both Iraq and the United Arab Emirates suspended air traffic operations, and Jordan activated emergency sirens.

Northern Israel sustained damage to residential buildings with debris scattered across multiple locations, media and law enforcement reported. However, Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani stated that Israel avoided major strikes, and emergency responders confirmed no injuries from the nationwide missile bombardment.

Iranian-supported Houthis in Yemen pledged to restart attacks on Red Sea commercial shipping and Israeli targets, two senior Houthi sources revealed anonymously due to the absence of official leadership statements.

Trump delayed his public confirmation of American participation in what he called “major combat operations” for more than an hour.

Through an 8-minute social media video, Trump explained that U.S. motivations extended well beyond nuclear concerns, citing complaints dating to Iran’s 1979 revolution that transformed the country from a key American Middle East partner into a primary adversary.

Trump advised Iranians to seek shelter but encouraged them to eventually overthrow their Islamic government.

“When we are finished, take over your government,” Trump said. “It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations.”

The strikes occurred one day after Trump expressed dissatisfaction with stalled negotiations regarding Iran’s nuclear weapons capabilities.

Israeli officials stated they coordinated with American counterparts for months to develop the attack strategy.

Prior to Geneva-based U.S.-Iran diplomatic talks, America had positioned extensive air and naval forces regionally to pressure Iran toward nuclear agreements.

The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and three guided-missile destroyers arrived in January to strengthen regional naval presence. The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, and four escort destroyers later departed the Caribbean for Middle East deployment and currently operate in Mediterranean waters.

This naval buildup added over 10,000 American military personnel to the region.

International air travel came to a standstill across the Middle East on Saturday as major airlines grounded flights following military strikes launched by the United States and Israel against Iran, creating a fresh regional crisis.

Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 revealed completely vacant airspace over Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Bahrain and Jordan during early Saturday hours. European aviation authorities advised their carriers to avoid the affected regions during the military operations.

Here’s how individual airlines responded to the crisis:

Greece’s flagship carrier Aegean Airlines halted all service to Tel Aviv, Beirut and Erbil through March 2.

Air France grounded Saturday flights to Tel Aviv and Beirut, while its Dutch partner KLM moved up its previously announced suspension of Amsterdam-Tel Aviv service, originally set to begin Sunday.

British Airways, owned by ICAG, canceled Tel Aviv and Bahrain flights until March 3, plus Saturday’s Amman service.

Spanish carrier Iberia Express scrapped its 5 p.m. Saturday departure to Tel Aviv.

Japan Airlines eliminated Saturday’s Tokyo Haneda-Doha route and the March 1 return trip, according to Nikkei reports.

LOT Polish Airlines turned around flight LO121 en route from Warsaw to Dubai, returning to Warsaw.

German airline Lufthansa suspended Tel Aviv, Beirut and Oman service through March 7, along with weekend Dubai flights. The carrier also banned flights through Israeli, Lebanese, Jordanian, Iraqi and Iranian airspace until March 7.

Norwegian Air grounded all Dubai routes until March 4, though a company representative noted their Tel Aviv and Beirut services only operate during summer months.

Scandinavian Airlines canceled Saturday’s Copenhagen-Tel Aviv flight, with future dates under review.

Turkish Airlines eliminated Saturday flights to Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE and Oman, while suspending Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran and Jordan service through March 2.

Virgin Atlantic began avoiding Iraqi airspace, forcing flight rerouting and canceling Saturday’s London Heathrow-Dubai service VS400.

Qatar Airways temporarily suspended Doha operations due to closed Qatari airspace.

Wizz Air immediately halted flights to Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Amman until March 7, stating they would continue monitoring conditions for potential schedule changes.

The widespread disruptions highlight how quickly regional conflicts can paralyze international air travel, affecting thousands of passengers worldwide.

DUBAI – Widespread panic gripped Iran as a joint military operation by the United States and Israel sent civilians fleeing from major cities, with long lines forming at fuel stations as residents sought safety elsewhere, according to eyewitness accounts.

Blasts shook the Iranian capital of Tehran early Saturday, sending smoke plumes across the skyline as the nation began its work week. A Tehran resident told Reuters he was hurrying to collect his children from their school.

“We are scared, we are terrified. My children are shaking, we have nowhere to go, we will die here,” said Minou, a 32-year-old mother of two from the northern city of Tabriz, one of several locations where explosions occurred.

“What is going to happen to my children?” she asked while weeping during a phone conversation.

Iranian security officials warned that additional strikes were anticipated in Tehran and other urban centers, advising citizens to “travel to other cities where possible so that you may remain safe from the harm of these two regimes’ acts of aggression.” Educational institutions at all levels were ordered closed indefinitely.

The military action represents another crisis for Iranian citizens, occurring just weeks following a deadly government suppression of nationwide protests, and eight months after a previous 12-day conflict with Israel that included U.S. bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities.

President Donald Trump characterized the mission as necessary to eliminate threats to American security while providing Iranians an opportunity to overthrow their government. Military officials designated the American portion of the strikes as “OPERATION EPIC FURY.”

One Iranian citizen from Yazd in the country’s central region expressed hope that the assault might bring down the religious leadership that has governed since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. “Let them bomb,” the Yazd resident stated.

However, Samira Mohebbi from the northern coastal city of Rasht offered a different perspective.

“I am against this regime, to hell with them. But I don’t want my country to be attacked by foreign forces, I don’t want my Iran to turn into Iraq,” she explained, referencing the neighboring nation that endured years of violence and instability after the U.S.-led invasion removed Saddam Hussein.

Security personnel established roadblocks around Tehran’s government district, which houses the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, President Masoud Pezeshkian, and the national legislature, witnesses reported.

The strikes followed unsuccessful nuclear negotiations between Washington and Tehran in Geneva on Thursday, despite Omani intermediaries indicating some advancement in discussions.

“They said the nuclear talks are going well. They fooled us again,” a Tehran resident commented.

International authorities have long maintained suspicions that Iran seeks to develop nuclear weapons, allegations Tehran consistently rejects.

Citizens were observed rushing to purchase foreign currency, while some in Isfahan, another targeted area, reported being unable to access cash from automated banking machines.

Reza Saadati, 45, said he was relocating his family to Urumieh near the Turkish frontier. “If the border is open, we will cross and then fly to Istanbul,” he explained.

Mohammad Esmaili, 63, calling from Ilam approximately 500 kilometers from Tehran, announced plans to evacuate with his relatives. “God knows what will happen to us. Pray for us,” he pleaded.

A Tehran mother of three children expressed the widespread anxiety: “People are shocked, scared. What is going to happen to us? Save us please.”

Multiple Middle Eastern nations came under Iranian missile fire Saturday as Tehran followed through on promises to strike back against the United States and Israel, shattering the calm in a region known for its stability.

Officials in the United Arab Emirates reported through state media that one fatality occurred in Abu Dhabi, though additional details were not provided.

Military forces in Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, and Jordan—all nations hosting American military installations—successfully shot down the incoming Iranian projectiles.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards declared: “All occupied territories and the criminal U.S. bases in the region have been struck by the powerful blows of Iranian missiles. This operation will continue relentlessly until the enemy is decisively defeated.”

Bahrain verified that an assault occurred within its borders, with a U.S. Fifth Fleet service facility taking a direct hit. Reuters footage captured thick gray smoke billowing near the island nation’s shoreline while emergency sirens echoed across the area.

Residents throughout Abu Dhabi reported hearing thunderous explosions, according to five eyewitnesses including Reuters journalists. Local authorities sent emergency alerts to cell phones instructing people to find shelter in secure structures and avoid windows due to incoming missile dangers.

One local resident described hearing five rapid booms that shook windows in a residence near Abu Dhabi’s Corniche waterfront. Similar explosive sounds were reported by witnesses in the Al Dhafra and Bateen neighborhoods.

Military aircraft were observed patrolling the skies above Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island district Saturday afternoon.

Qatar’s defense forces announced they had neutralized Iranian missiles before they could reach the country’s borders through “joint coordination” efforts. Multiple waves of explosions echoed through Doha, the nation’s capital.

Following a shelter warning from the U.S. Embassy in Doha, many locals initially continued their weekend routines. Grocery stores remained busy, beach visitors headed to the coast, and a tourist-filled double-decker bus continued its route through the West Bay area.

However, after the government issued mobile phone alerts ordering people to shelter in place, street activity decreased noticeably and vehicle traffic became lighter.

Kuwait’s military confirmed it had neutralized missiles within the country’s airspace, while Jordanian forces reported downing two Iranian ballistic weapons.

International carriers halted flights throughout the Middle East region, with tracking data showing Iran’s airspace nearly completely vacant of aircraft.

MOSCOW – Russian aviation authorities announced Saturday that all domestic airlines have halted service to Iran and Israel as military tensions escalate across the Middle East region.

The flight suspensions come after Israel conducted what it described as a preemptive strike against Iran on Saturday, marking a significant escalation in regional hostilities and dealing another blow to diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving Iran’s nuclear standoff with Western nations.

According to Russia’s Transport Ministry, the decision was made after both Iranian and Israeli authorities shut down their respective airspace. Working alongside the federal aviation regulator Rosaviatsiya, Russian carriers had already developed backup flight paths to maintain service to Persian Gulf destinations while ensuring passenger safety.

Officials warned that travel times to the region will be extended due to the necessity of using longer routing around the affected areas.

The aviation crisis expanded later Saturday when Rosaviatsiya issued additional guidance after Bahrain, Iraq, Qatar and Kuwait also sealed off their airspace as a safety precaution. The United Arab Emirates has implemented temporary flight restrictions as well.

Russian aviation regulators are now directing airlines to utilize alternative flight corridors when traveling to Persian Gulf nations, emphasizing strict adherence to safety protocols while closely monitoring updates from international aviation authorities.

European officials are working frantically to ensure their citizens’ safety in the Middle East and determine their response after the United States and Israel conducted coordinated military strikes against Iran on Saturday.

Germany has scheduled an emergency session for Saturday to address the Iranian situation, while the European Union has begun evacuating certain personnel from the region.

The coordinated assault by the US and Israel targeted multiple locations throughout Iran, with President Donald Trump making an unprecedented call for Iranian citizens to “take over your government” — a remarkable statement suggesting efforts to topple the nation’s religious government following decades of conflict.

It remains uncertain whether America’s European partners received advance notification of the military action. German officials stated they were only briefed about the strikes on Saturday morning, while France’s deputy defense minister indicated they anticipated something would occur but lacked specific timing.

In response to the military action, the EU’s chief diplomat characterized the Middle Eastern conflict as “perilous” and announced her efforts with Israeli and Arab leaders to pursue diplomatic solutions.

“Iran’s regime has killed thousands. Its ballistic missile and nuclear programmes, along with support for terror groups, pose a serious threat to global security,” stated Kaja Kallas, the 27-nation bloc’s foreign policy leader, through social media.

“The EU is also coordinating closely with Arab partners to explore diplomatic paths.”

Kallas confirmed the EU was removing some regional personnel while maintaining its naval operations in the Red Sea. The European Union recently imposed additional sanctions on Iran and key officials, which led Tehran to respond with counter-sanctions.

German authorities announced they were tracking developments in Iran, Israel and throughout the Middle East after receiving notification of the Israeli operations Saturday morning. Germany’s crisis response team is set to convene at noon to evaluate the Iranian situation.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz was already in discussions with security ministers and European counterparts.

German officials advised their citizens in Iran, Israel, and surrounding areas to register through the official overseas citizen system and comply with local authority guidance for personal safety measures.

France, which maintains military installations and regular operations in the Middle East, is advising French nationals in the region to use extreme care.

“A military escalation is underway. … It’s not the time for negotiations, we are in a situation of war,” deputy Defense Minister Alice Rufo stated on France-2 television Saturday, drawing parallels to events from last June.

“Our priority is the protection of our citizens and protection of our forces in the region,” she explained.

When questioned about French military participation in the US-Israeli operations or whether they faced retaliatory attacks, French military spokesman Col. Guillaume Vernet said Saturday: “The French armed forces continuously adapt their posture to threats and implement measures to ensure the surveillance and protection of military installations where French soldiers are deployed.”

He declined to provide additional details.

“Our military presence guarantees France’s independent assessment of the situation,” he informed the AP.

Italian leadership advised its citizens to use maximum caution and follow embassy guidance throughout the region. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s office announced she would contact regional allies and leaders in the coming hours to “support any initiative that may lead to a de-escalation of tensions.”

“Italy reiterates its support to the Iranian civilian population, who courageously continue to demand respect for their civil and political rights,” Meloni’s office stated.

Switzerland demanded complete adherence to international law and called on “all parties to exercise maximum restraint, protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.”

LONDON — Air travel throughout the Middle East and beyond faced major disruptions Saturday following a U.S. and Israeli military operation targeting Iran.

Several nations including the United Arab Emirates and Israel shut down their airspace on Saturday, forcing airlines to cancel or reroute flights. The UAE is headquarters to major international carriers Emirates and Etihad Airways.

Qatar Airways Group announced temporary flight cancellations to and from Doha after Qatari officials also closed their airspace. Aircraft already flying toward Israel were diverted to alternative airports, while travelers waiting at Ben Gurion International Airport were transported back after their departing flights were scrubbed.

Emirates reported that multiple flights were impacted by the UAE airspace shutdown and advised travelers to verify their flight status through online channels. The airline operates from Dubai International Airport, which serves as the world’s busiest international travel hub.

Earlier this week, Netherlands-based KLM had already declared it would halt Tel Aviv service beginning Sunday.

Virgin Atlantic scrapped its London Heathrow to Dubai route and announced it would steer clear of Iraqi airspace, potentially extending flight times for routes to India, the Maldives, Dubai and Riyadh. The carrier was already avoiding Iranian airspace and stated all aircraft would carry extra fuel for potential emergency rerouting.

On social media platform X, Turkish Airlines announced flight suspensions to Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran and Jordan through Monday, while Saturday service to Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE and Oman was also halted. The carrier warned that more cancellations might follow.

ATHENS – The Greek shipping ministry issued an urgent safety warning Saturday, directing vessels flying the Greek flag to stay clear of critical Middle Eastern waterways following recent military strikes on Iran by the United States and Israel, according to an official advisory obtained by Reuters.

“The developing situation affects the safety of navigation in the wider Persian Gulf, the Straits of Hormuz, the Gulf of Oman and the North Arabian Sea,” the official document stated, instructing vessel management companies to enforce maximum security protocols in these regions and at Israeli ports until additional guidance is provided.

The ministry’s warning also expressed concern that tensions could expand into the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden areas due to connections between Iran and the Iranian-backed Houthi rebel group.

Ships operating in these waters were specifically cautioned to watch for possible missile or drone assaults, attacks targeting port infrastructure, hostile interference, electronic jamming, and potential disruptions to onboard navigation equipment.

LONDON – The United Kingdom declared Saturday that Iran cannot be permitted to acquire nuclear weapons and expressed readiness to protect its interests after military strikes were carried out by the United States and Israel targeting Iran.

According to government sources, Britain did not participate in the military action, and Prime Minister Keir Starmer was scheduled to convene an emergency COBRA meeting on Saturday to address the situation.

“Iran must never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and that is why we have continually supported efforts to reach a negotiated solution,” a British government spokesperson stated.

The spokesperson further explained, “As part of our longstanding commitments to the security of our allies in the Middle East, we have a range of defensive capabilities in the region, which we have recently bolstered. We stand ready to protect our interests.”

British officials emphasized their desire to prevent the situation from escalating into a broader regional conflict, according to the spokesperson’s remarks.

The government indicated that protecting British citizens in the area remains their top concern, with consular services being made available as needed.

Travel advisories were also updated Saturday, with Britain now recommending against all travel to Israel and Palestinian territories, strengthening their previous Friday guidance that had only discouraged non-essential travel to those areas.

Recent satellite imagery has revealed a notable increase in American military aircraft stationed at a key Saudi Arabian airbase as the United States continues building its regional presence while tensions with Iran remain high.

Analysis of high-resolution satellite photos shows that aircraft numbers at Prince Sultan Airbase climbed from 27 planes on February 17 to 43 aircraft by February 21, before declining to 38 by February 25. The Saudi facility has served as a host location for U.S. military operations for many years.

According to William Goodhind, a forensic imagery analyst with Contested Ground who spoke to Reuters, the February 21 satellite image captured 13 Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers and six Boeing E-3 Sentry aircraft, commonly called AWACS, among 29 total large, swept-wing military planes positioned at the installation.

The earlier February 17 image showed just 11 large, swept-wing aircraft based on analysis conducted by Reuters.

Pentagon officials declined to provide any statement regarding the apparent aircraft buildup, which aligns with standard military policy of not discussing troop or equipment movements publicly. Saudi government representatives also did not respond to requests for comment about the increased activity at the base.

This military positioning occurs as Saudi Arabia, a key American partner in the region, publicly stated last month that it would not permit its territory or airspace to support any military operations targeting Iran. The announcement came as Tehran engaged in indirect diplomatic discussions with Washington on Thursday concerning its nuclear program.

Oman, which has been facilitating communications between the United States and Iran, reported that Thursday’s negotiations showed progress, though no major breakthrough emerged that might prevent potential American military action.

Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi announced Thursday that both nations plan to continue talks following consultations in their respective capitals, with technical discussions set for next week in Vienna.

President Donald Trump issued an ultimatum on February 19, stating Iran has 10 to 15 days to reach an agreement, warning that “really bad things” would occur otherwise.

Satellite analysis comparing early February images with January photographs also indicates a broader military equipment and aircraft accumulation throughout the region.

Meanwhile, recent satellite surveillance has captured Iran conducting repairs and reinforcement work at various locations, including a sensitive military facility that Israel reportedly targeted in a 2024 bombing operation.

International airlines halted service throughout the Middle East on Saturday following military strikes involving the United States, Israel, and Iran that have thrust the region back into armed conflict.

Aviation tracking data revealed Iranian airspace nearly deserted as Israeli forces conducted operations against Iran while U.S. military forces launched coordinated strikes on Iranian targets. Iran responded by firing multiple missiles in retaliation.

The military escalation has dashed expectations for peaceful negotiations regarding Tehran’s nuclear program disagreement with Western nations and renewed hostilities following recent weeks of American military positioning in the area.

This represents another major disruption to air transportation in the typically high-traffic region as Middle Eastern tensions continue rising. Given that most airlines cannot use Russian and Ukrainian airspace due to ongoing warfare, Middle Eastern routes have gained critical importance for connecting European and Asian destinations.

War zones present growing challenges for airline operations as aerial combat increases risks of accidental or intentional attacks on civilian aircraft. Extended flight paths also consume additional fuel, driving up operational expenses.

Following the attacks, Israel, Iran, Iraq, and Jordan shut down their airspace, with flight tracking websites showing aircraft steering clear of these territories.

Multiple Qatar Airways aircraft that departed Saturday morning made circles over Kuwait and Saudi Arabia before heading back toward Qatari airspace, where they remained in holding patterns near Doha, flight tracking data showed.

Russian transportation officials announced Saturday that Russian airlines had ceased operations to both Iran and Israel.

German carrier Lufthansa announced it would cancel Dubai flights Saturday and Sunday while temporarily stopping service to Tel Aviv, Beirut, and Oman through March 7. Air France eliminated flights serving Tel Aviv and Beirut.

Spanish airline Iberia also scrapped Tel Aviv service, while Wizz Air immediately suspended operations to Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Amman until the same March 7 date.

Kuwait’s aviation regulators announced all Iran flights would cease indefinitely, state media reported, while Oman Air halted Baghdad service due to regional developments.

The United Arab Emirates implemented a “partial and temporary” airspace closure as a safety measure, according to state news sources.

“Due to the temporary closure of several airspace in the region on 28 February, some flydubai flights have been impacted,” an Emirati airline representative stated.

KLM, Air France-KLM’s Dutch division, moved up its planned suspension of Amsterdam-Tel Aviv service, canceling Saturday’s scheduled flight following the Iran strikes, a company spokesperson confirmed.

The carrier had previously announced Wednesday that flights would stop beginning Sunday, March 1, with only Saturday’s single Tel Aviv flight originally remaining on the schedule.

Virgin Atlantic decided to temporarily bypass Iraqi airspace, causing some flight path changes. Qatar Airways announced it had temporarily paused air traffic as a precautionary step.

International airlines scrambled to cancel dozens of flights throughout the Middle East on Saturday following military action by the United States and Israel targeting Iran, creating fresh turmoil across the volatile region.

Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 revealed that no commercial aircraft were operating over Iranian and Iraqi airspace Saturday morning as carriers prioritized safety amid the developing conflict.

Here’s how major airlines responded to the crisis:

Air France KLM

Air France grounded all Saturday departures and arrivals for Tel Aviv, Israel and Beirut, Lebanon routes.

KLM moved up its planned suspension of Amsterdam-Tel Aviv service, scrapping Saturday’s scheduled departure. The Dutch carrier had initially planned to halt the route beginning Sunday but accelerated the timeline due to deteriorating conditions. Only a single Tel Aviv flight had been on Saturday’s schedule.

IndiGo

The carrier stated it was closely tracking developments in the region.

Japan Airlines

According to Nikkei reports, Japan Airlines scrapped its Saturday Tokyo Haneda to Doha route along with the March 1 return journey.

Lufthansa

Germany’s flagship airline halted all service to and from Tel Aviv, Beirut, and Oman through March 7, while Dubai flights were suspended for Saturday and Sunday only.

The carrier also announced it would avoid airspace belonging to Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Iran until March 7.

Virgin Atlantic

Virgin Atlantic implemented temporary Iraqi airspace avoidance measures, forcing predetermined flight path changes and eliminating Saturday’s VS400 London Heathrow to Dubai service.

Wizz Air

The budget carrier immediately suspended all operations to and from Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Amman until March 7.

Company officials indicated they would continuously evaluate operational choices and modify flight schedules based on how the situation develops.

Military strikes carried out by Israel and the United States against Iran on Saturday have intensified tensions across the Middle East, with President Donald Trump pledging to eliminate Tehran’s missile capabilities and block its nuclear weapons development.

International leaders have issued varied responses to the weekend attacks:

DMITRY MEDVEDEV, DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF RUSSIA’S SECURITY COUNCIL

“The peacemaker once again showed his face,” Medvedev, a former Russian president, said. “All negotiations with Iran are a cover operation. No one doubted it. No one really wanted to negotiate anything.”

“The question is who has more patience to wait for the inglorious end of their enemy. The USA is only 249 years old. The Persian Empire was founded more than 2,500 years ago. Let’s see in 100 years…”

LEBANESE PRIME MINISTER NAWAF SALAM

“I reiterate that we will not accept anyone dragging the country into adventures that threaten its security and unity.”

NORWEGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ESPEN BARTH EIDE

“The attack is described by Israel as a preventive strike, but it is not in line with international law. Preventive attacks require an immediately imminent threat.”

BEIRUT – Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam issued a firm warning Saturday, stating he will not tolerate anyone pulling his nation into military conflicts that could jeopardize the country’s stability and cohesion. The statement appeared to be directed at Hezbollah, the Iranian-supported militant organization operating within Lebanon.

Following military strikes conducted by Israel and the United States against Iran, Salam acknowledged the escalating tensions across the region and urged Lebanese citizens to prioritize their homeland above all else. He emphasized the need for wisdom and national loyalty during these turbulent times.

The Iran-backed Hezbollah organization has maintained an adversarial relationship with Israel since Iranian Revolutionary Guards established the group in 1982, engaging in multiple armed confrontations over the decades.

According to recent reports, Israeli officials have issued threats to Lebanon, warning of severe retaliation against civilian targets including airports if Hezbollah becomes involved in any potential conflict between the United States and Iran.

“I reiterate that we will not accept anyone dragging the country into adventures that threaten its security and unity,” Salam declared in his official statement.

During the 2024 conflict, Israel inflicted significant damage on Hezbollah’s operations, eliminating leader Hassan Nasrallah and thousands of militants while destroying substantial portions of the group’s weapons stockpile.

President Donald Trump announced Saturday that America has launched significant military action against Iran, cautioning that U.S. forces may face casualties during the operations.

The military strikes target Iranian missile installations and aim to eliminate the country’s naval capabilities, according to Trump’s statement. These actions come after ongoing threats from both the United States and Israel to take military action if Iran continued advancing its nuclear weapons development and ballistic missile capabilities.

In a video posted to Truth Social, Trump stated: “I do not make this statement lightly. The Iranian regime seeks to kill.”

He continued: “The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost and we may have casualties that often happens in war, but we’re doing this, not for now. We’re doing this for the future, and it is a noble mission.”

Trump directly addressed Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard forces, urging them to surrender their arms in exchange for protection from prosecution.

Without surrender, Trump indicated their alternative would be “certain death.”

Recent diplomatic efforts between the two nations regarding Iran’s nuclear program concluded unsuccessfully. The latest round of negotiations took place Thursday without reaching any agreement.

“Iran refused, just as it has for decades and decades. They rejected every opportunity to renounce their nuclear ambitions, and we can’t take it anymore,” Trump explained.

Pakistani military forces have launched extensive cross-border operations into Afghanistan, with officials claiming more than 300 Afghan troops have been killed in ongoing strikes that began Thursday evening.

The escalating conflict erupted when Afghan forces initiated attacks following Pakistani military operations that targeted seven training facilities and strongholds belonging to the banned Pakistani Taliban group, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan. This organization operates separately from but maintains close ties with Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban.

Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar reported that 331 Afghan Taliban fighters have died with more than 500 injured during the continued military operations. He stated that Pakistani forces have eliminated 102 Afghan military positions, seized control of 22 additional sites, and destroyed 163 tanks and armored vehicles across 37 different locations.

Saturday saw Pakistani air forces conducting targeted operations against strategic military facilities throughout eastern Afghanistan, according to state media reports.

The violence has forced hundreds of civilians living near the northwestern Torkham border checkpoint to evacuate to secure areas. Pakistani authorities have also relocated dozens of Afghan refugees who had been waiting at Torkham to return home.

Afghan officials have not yet responded to Pakistan’s Saturday casualty claims.

Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry announced Saturday that their forces attacked Pakistani military installations in Miranshah and Spin Wam during overnight operations, claiming to have destroyed military facilities and inflicted significant casualties in retaliation for Pakistan’s ongoing aerial bombardment.

Eastern Afghanistan’s Department of Information and Culture has accused Pakistan of striking civilian neighborhoods, demolishing homes and causing at least 11 deaths. Pakistani officials maintain they are exclusively targeting military sites to prevent civilian harm and have not immediately addressed these allegations.

Afghan border commissioner Mullah Taj Mohammad Naqshbandi stated Saturday that “brave forces of the Islamic Emirate destroyed the Pakistani military regime’s commissariat, military units, and three important security towers.”

Friday saw Afghan government officials claim 55 Pakistani soldiers died in their counterattacks while asserting their own losses were significantly lower than Pakistani estimates.

Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid declared Friday that their strikes against Pakistani military targets served “a message that our hands can reach their throats and that we will respond to every evil act of Pakistan.” He criticized Pakistan, saying “Pakistan has never sought to resolve problems through dialogue.”

Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif responded on social media platform X the same day: “Our patience has now run out. Now it is open war between us.” Pakistan consistently accuses Kabul of providing sanctuary to the TTP, charges both the militant group and Afghanistan’s Taliban government reject.

Pakistani army spokesperson Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry stated Friday that Afghanistan’s government faces a simple decision: “either choose TTP or Pakistan.”

Afghan refugee Ejaz Ul Haq, stranded with his family near the Torkham crossing, explained he cannot return to Afghanistan due to the fighting. He noted many others are struggling to find food during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

Pakistani villager Guftar, residing near Torkham, called on both governments to establish a ceasefire, emphasizing that ordinary citizens are suffering the most from this conflict.

Border tensions have remained elevated since October, when dozens of soldiers, civilians and suspected militants died in similar clashes. A Qatar-brokered ceasefire stopped that intense fighting, but multiple peace negotiations in Turkey during November failed to create a permanent resolution. While both sides occasionally exchanged fire afterward, the ceasefire remained mostly intact until last week’s Pakistani strikes on alleged TTP hideouts.

Multiple nations including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, China and others are now working to reduce tensions through diplomatic mediation efforts.

Qatar’s state minister Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi conducted discussions Friday with foreign ministers from both Afghanistan and Pakistan in an attempt to calm the situation, according to Qatar’s Foreign Ministry social media announcement.

Photographic documentation reveals that American and Israeli military forces carried out a strike against Iran on Saturday.

The visual evidence has been assembled into a collection by Associated Press photography editors.

Military strikes commenced Saturday against Iran in a coordinated effort between America and Israel, with initial attacks reportedly occurring close to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s headquarters.

Reports from Iranian outlets described strikes across the nation, with witnesses observing smoke billowing over Tehran.

In a social media video, President Donald Trump announced that America had initiated “major combat operations in Iran.” Trump stated Iran had continued advancing its nuclear capabilities while developing missiles capable of reaching American territory.

Saturday brought explosions throughout northern Israel as the nation worked to defend against incoming Iranian missiles following the joint assault on Iran.

The detonations occurred shortly after Israeli defense forces announced they would deploy air defense networks to counter Iranian retaliation.

Officials have not yet reported damage assessments or casualty figures from the continuing military action.

Israel activated nationwide alert systems Saturday following reports of Iranian missile launches directed at the country.

Israeli military commanders confirmed air defense networks would be engaged to protect the nation.

Trump recognized that military operations against Iran could result in American losses.

“The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost, and we may have casualties,” Trump stated in his Saturday morning social media video. “That often happens in war.”

The video showed Trump wearing a white USA baseball cap, navy suit and white shirt without a tie. A dark blue backdrop was visible as the president made his war announcement from Mar-a-Lago, his Palm Beach, Florida residence and club.

Referencing June attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, Trump said, “We warned them never to resume their malicious pursuit of nuclear weapons. And we sought repeatedly to make a deal. We tried.”

Trump continued that Iran “rejected every opportunity to renounce their nuclear ambitions, and we can’t take it anymore.”

While Iran claims no uranium enrichment has occurred since June, the country has prevented international inspectors from accessing sites America bombed during the previous 12-day conflict.

Associated Press analysis of satellite imagery has revealed renewed activity at two targeted locations, indicating Iran may be evaluating and possibly salvaging materials from those facilities.

Although previous strikes against Iranian nuclear installations allegedly eliminated the country’s nuclear program, Trump claimed Iran “attempted to rebuild their nuclear program and to continue developing the long-range missiles that can now threaten our very good friends and allies in Europe, our troops stationed overseas, and could soon reach the American homeland.”

Trump described Saturday’s military action as part of “a massive and ongoing operation” designed to “destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground” while working to “annihilate their navy” and “ensure that the region’s terrorist proxies can no longer destabilize the region or the world and attack our forces.”

Characterizing the Iranian strikes as “a noble mission,” Trump said military action was required due to Iran’s nuclear weapons development and missile programs threatening America.

Trump demanded Iranian leadership “lay down your arms” or “you will face certain death,” while urging Iranian citizens to “take over your government — it will be yours to take.”

Iraq’s Transportation Ministry announced Saturday that the nation’s airspace had been shut down following military strikes on neighboring Iran.

Ministry representative Mitham al-Safi informed state-controlled Iraqi News Agency that “the closure was preceded by the evacuation of all air traffic from Iraqi airspace.”

America has initiated “major combat operations in Iran,” President Trump confirmed through a Truth Social video post.

Trump stated the mission aims to protect America by “eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.”

American forces are taking part in the strikes, according to a U.S. official and an operation source, both speaking anonymously regarding classified military activities. The complete scope of American participation remains unclear.

Two Tehran residents confirmed hearing strike sounds throughout the Iranian capital. A resident near Mehrabad airport described hearing “two heavy explosions” that rattled windows approximately thirty minutes earlier.

In central Tehran’s Vanak area, another resident reported sounds of “blasts and war” occurring nearly simultaneously.

Aircraft scheduled to land in Israel are being redirected to regional airports. Airport passengers awaiting departures are being transported back to various Israeli destinations.

Russian leadership is growing skeptical about continuing diplomatic negotiations with Ukraine through U.S. mediation unless Ukrainian officials indicate willingness to surrender land as part of any peace agreement, according to a Bloomberg News report published Saturday that cited sources with knowledge of the situation.

The news outlet indicated that diplomatic meetings planned for the coming week will be pivotal in establishing whether both nations can progress toward a comprehensive agreement to conclude the ongoing conflict.

Reuters noted it was unable to independently confirm the Bloomberg report’s claims.

Military tensions in the Middle East reached a boiling point Saturday as Israel carried out a coordinated strike against Iran with United States backing, marking a dramatic escalation that could reshape regional dynamics.

According to two anonymous U.S. officials speaking to Reuters, American forces have begun conducting their own series of strikes on Iranian targets. The full extent of these air and naval operations remains unclear, while Iranian officials have vowed to respond with overwhelming force.

The coordinated assault has forced Iran’s top leadership into hiding, with sources confirming that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been relocated from Tehran to an undisclosed secure facility.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz justified the military action, stating: “The State of Israel launched a pre-emptive attack against Iran to remove threats to the State of Israel.”

According to Israeli defense sources, this operation represents months of careful planning conducted in partnership with Washington, with the timing finalized several weeks before execution.

The attacks triggered immediate emergency responses across the region. Iranian media outlets reported hearing explosions throughout Tehran, while Israeli authorities activated warning sirens at approximately 8:15 a.m. local time as a precautionary measure against potential retaliatory strikes.

Israeli officials have implemented comprehensive security measures, shuttering educational institutions and most workplaces while maintaining operations only in critical sectors. The country has also imposed a complete ban on civilian air traffic and urged citizens to avoid all airports.

This military escalation comes despite renewed diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran that began in February, aimed at resolving their longstanding nuclear disagreement through peaceful negotiations rather than military confrontation.

However, Israel has maintained that any American agreement with Iran must require the complete dismantling of Tehran’s nuclear capabilities, not merely halting uranium enrichment activities. Israeli officials have also pushed for including Iran’s missile development program in any negotiated settlement.

Iran has indicated willingness to discuss limitations on its nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief, but has refused to tie missile program restrictions to nuclear negotiations.

Tehran has also issued stark warnings that it will defend itself against any aggression and has specifically threatened to target American military installations in neighboring countries if Washington proceeds with attacks.

This current conflict follows a 12-day aerial campaign in June that saw direct American participation alongside Israeli forces targeting Iranian nuclear facilities – representing the most significant U.S. military engagement against Iran to date.

During that previous confrontation, Iran responded by firing missiles at the Al Udeid air base in Qatar, which serves as America’s largest Middle Eastern military facility.

International observers have consistently warned that Iran’s ballistic missile development poses serious regional security risks and could potentially deliver nuclear warheads if fully developed, though Tehran continues to deny pursuing atomic weapons capabilities.

A defense official from Israel has confirmed that Saturday’s military strike against Iran was conducted with coordination from the United States, according to a Reuters report released Thursday.

The official disclosed that the military action had been under development for several months, with the specific timing for the operation determined weeks prior to its execution.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Israeli forces conducted daylight strikes Saturday against Tehran, Iran’s capital city, sending plumes of smoke billowing from the metropolitan area. The initial strike occurred in proximity to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s governmental offices.

American forces are taking part in the military operation, sources familiar with the mission confirmed to reporters under anonymity due to the classified nature of the strikes. The scope of Washington’s role remains unclear, and White House officials have not provided immediate comment.

Officials have not confirmed whether the 86-year-old Khamenei was present at his offices during the assault. The Iranian leader has remained out of public view recently as diplomatic friction with Washington has intensified. The military action occurs while the United States has positioned an extensive array of combat aircraft and naval vessels throughout the region, aiming to compel Tehran toward nuclear negotiations.

Security forces blocked access routes leading to Khamenei’s governmental complex in central Tehran as additional explosions echoed throughout the city.

The Israeli operation focused on Iran’s armed forces, governmental institutions, and intelligence facilities, an informed source revealed while requesting anonymity to discuss classified operational details.

Former President Trump has pursued an agreement limiting Iran’s nuclear capabilities and recognizes a potential opening as the nation faces internal unrest following widespread demonstrations. Tehran had sought to prevent military conflict but insists on its uranium enrichment rights while refusing negotiations on additional matters including ballistic missile development and backing for militant organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah.

Iran’s immediate response remains uncertain, though officials have previously threatened American military personnel and installations across the region would face retaliatory attacks.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz characterized the operation as necessary “to remove threats,” without providing additional specifics.

Multiple Israeli medical facilities activated emergency procedures, relocating patients and surgical operations to subterranean areas.

Tehran residents reported hearing the initial explosion near Khamenei’s headquarters. Iranian government media subsequently acknowledged the blast without identifying its origin.

Warning sirens activated throughout Israel as authorities closed national airspace. Military officials announced they had issued “proactive alert to prepare the public for the possibility of missiles being launched toward the state of Israel.”

Additional explosions struck Iran’s capital following Israel’s confirmation of the military campaign. Government officials have not released casualty figures from the strikes.

Iranian authorities simultaneously shut down airspace and disrupted cellular phone networks.

Aviation warnings were distributed as explosions continued across Tehran.

Israeli military forces carried out a preemptive strike against Iran on Saturday, according to official statements from Tel Aviv, escalating tensions across the Middle East and casting doubt on ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve Iran’s nuclear program dispute.

According to The New York Times, which cited a U.S. official, American forces were also conducting strikes against Iranian targets. Reuters learned from a source that Iran’s top leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had been moved from Tehran to a protected location for safety.

Saturday’s military action follows a previous 12-day aerial conflict between Israel and Iran that occurred in June, and comes after repeated threats from both U.S. and Israeli officials warning of further strikes if Tehran continued advancing its nuclear and missile development programs.

“The State of Israel launched a pre-emptive attack against Iran to remove threats to the State of Israel,” Defence Minister Israel Katz said.

According to an Israeli defense official, military planners had been developing this operation for several months while working closely with Washington, with the timing finalized weeks before execution.

Iranian media outlets reported hearing explosions in Tehran on Saturday, while warning sirens activated throughout Israel at approximately 08:15 local time as military officials issued proactive alerts to ready citizens for potential incoming missile attacks.

Israeli authorities ordered the shutdown of educational institutions and most workplaces, excluding critical services, while implementing a complete ban on public airspace operations. Civilian air traffic was suspended, and airport officials urged citizens to avoid all airport facilities.

Diplomatic efforts between the United States and Iran had resumed in February as both nations sought to address the longstanding nuclear dispute through negotiations rather than military action, hoping to prevent regional destabilization.

However, Israeli leadership maintained that any American agreement with Iran must require the complete elimination of Tehran’s nuclear facilities, going beyond simply halting uranium enrichment, while also pushing Washington to address Iran’s missile capabilities in the diplomatic discussions.

Iranian officials indicated willingness to consider limitations on their nuclear activities in return for sanctions relief, but rejected connecting missile program restrictions to nuclear negotiations.

Tehran has also declared its intention to defend against any military aggression.

Iranian leadership warned regional nations hosting American military personnel that they would target U.S. installations if Washington proceeded with strikes against Iran.

During June’s conflict, American forces joined Israeli operations targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, representing the most significant direct U.S. military engagement against the Islamic Republic to date.

Iran responded to those June attacks by firing missiles at the U.S. Al Udeid air base located in Qatar, which serves as America’s largest Middle Eastern military installation.

International leaders have expressed concern that Iran’s missile development program poses risks to regional security and could potentially deliver nuclear warheads if fully developed, though Tehran maintains it is not pursuing nuclear weapons capability.

Israeli Defense Minister confirmed Saturday that the nation conducted a preemptive missile strike targeting Iran, according to official statements.

The Israeli military activated air raid warning systems throughout the country on Saturday as a precautionary step “to prepare the public for the possibility of missiles being launched toward Israel” in potential retaliation for the strike.

Military confrontations between Pakistani forces and Afghanistan’s Taliban government stretched into Saturday, marking the third consecutive day of warfare as global leaders expressed mounting alarm and urged immediate diplomatic intervention.

On Friday, Pakistani military strikes targeted Taliban installations and outposts across multiple locations, reaching as far as Kabul and Kandahar in what represents one of Pakistan’s most significant cross-border operations into Afghanistan in recent years, according to military sources.

The Pakistani government maintains that Taliban authorities are providing sanctuary to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) fighters, whom they accuse of conducting insurgent operations within Pakistan’s borders – allegations the Taliban government firmly rejects.

Pakistani officials characterized their military response as retaliation for cross-border attacks, while Afghan authorities condemned the strikes as violations of national sovereignty. Taliban leaders indicated willingness for negotiations but cautioned that expanded hostilities would bring severe repercussions.

The escalating violence threatens to spark extended warfare along the challenging 2,600-kilometer border region separating the two nations.

International mediation efforts accelerated Friday evening when Afghanistan announced that Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi conducted phone discussions with Saudi Prince Faisal bin Farhan regarding tension reduction and maintaining diplomatic communications.

European Union representatives demanded both nations step back from confrontation and pursue peaceful negotiations, while United Nations officials pressed for immediate cessation of military actions.

Russian authorities encouraged both governments to suspend fighting and resume diplomatic talks, as Chinese officials expressed serious concern and offered assistance in resolving tensions.

American officials backed Pakistan’s authority to defend against Taliban aggression, according to State Department representatives.

A U.S. government source, requesting anonymity, indicated Washington does not consider Pakistan the instigator in recent developments and acknowledged Islamabad faces significant security pressures, while expressing hopes the crisis won’t intensify.

Combat operations persisted throughout Friday night along border areas.

Pakistani military sources reported their ongoing mission, code-named “Ghazab Lil Haq,” had eliminated numerous Taliban positions and facilities across multiple sectors, though Reuters could not confirm these assertions.

Both militaries have claimed substantial enemy casualties with contradictory figures that remain unverified. Pakistani officials reported 12 of their personnel and 274 Taliban fighters killed, while Taliban sources claimed 13 of their forces and 55 Pakistani soldiers died.

Taliban deputy spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat stated that 19 civilians perished and 26 sustained injuries in Khost and Paktika provinces, claims Reuters could not substantiate.

Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif declared “our cup of patience has overflowed” and characterized the hostilities as “open war,” threatening retaliation against additional attacks.

Taliban Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani warned during remarks in Khost province that the conflict “will be very costly,” noting that Afghan military units had not yet deployed beyond currently engaged forces.

Haqqani emphasized the Taliban had overcome “the world, not through technology, but through unity and solidarity,” achieved through “great patience and perseverance” rather than advanced military equipment.

Pakistan maintains vastly superior military resources compared to Afghanistan, fielding hundreds of thousands of active personnel and advanced aviation capabilities.

By comparison, Taliban forces lack conventional air power and depend primarily on lightweight arms and infantry units.

Nevertheless, the Islamist movement brings extensive combat experience from twenty years of guerrilla warfare against U.S.-led coalition forces before regaining control in 2021.

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — When evening arrives, Saddam al-Yazji sits with his wife and daughter to share a simple noodle soup, ending their daily Ramadan fast in Gaza City. Their makeshift dining spot consists of a portable table placed in the dirt beside a massive heap of debris, mangled steel, and concrete chunks — the remains of what was once their family home.

Beneath this wreckage lie the remains of most of their loved ones.

These three individuals represent nearly all who remain of their once-large family. In December 2023, an Israeli bombing attack on their residence claimed the lives of al-Yazji’s mother and father, three brothers, one sister, most of their children, plus his wife’s parents and siblings — a devastating total of 40 family members lost in one strike.

Ramadan, the sacred Islamic month, typically centers around family connections, featuring large celebratory iftar meals at sunset to conclude each day’s fasting period. Throughout the Gaza Strip, this holy season has transformed into a time when wartime casualties create particularly profound grief for countless families mourning relatives killed during the ongoing conflict between Israeli forces and Hamas, which has continued for over two years.

“I look at photos of our gatherings in Ramadan and cry,” said the 35-year-old al-Yazji. “Where is my family? All are wiped out.”

“It’s the third Ramadan without them.”

Before the conflict began, al-Yazji’s father, Kamel al-Yazji, would gather all his children and grandchildren for iftar around a massive table loaded with meat, rice, and various other foods, remembered Saddam’s wife, Heba al-Yazji.

The month of Ramadan, during which Muslims abstain from food and drink between sunrise and sunset, serves as a period focused on spiritual contemplation and prayer. The observance also strengthens community bonds through charitable giving.

The elder al-Yazji had previously served as a judge within the Palestinian Authority and was recognized as a prominent athletic leader in Gaza, holding the position of chairman for the Palestinian Athletics Federation. Saddam al-Yazji made his living operating a grocery store located on the first floor of their four-story family residence in Gaza City’s Rimal district.

The deadly air attack occurred just months after Israel began its intense bombing campaign following the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel in October 2023. The building collapsed completely, trapping everyone who was inside.

“We were in the same house, in other part of the house,” Saddam al-Yazji said. “We survived miraculously.”

The sole additional survivors included one brother’s daughter and his expecting wife. The fatalities included 22 children.

Rescue workers recovered some victims immediately after the attack. One of al-Yazji’s brothers lies in a makeshift grave marked with wooden sticks near the destroyed residence. Approximately 20 family members continue to remain trapped beneath the rubble.

Following the bombing, the couple and their 11-year-old daughter Maryam spent most of the conflict living in a temporary shelter elsewhere in Gaza City. During the two previous Ramadan observances, they made efforts to return to their destroyed home’s location for iftar meals whenever possible.

After a ceasefire agreement took effect in October, the three relocated to a tent positioned adjacent to their former residence.

“Life is empty,” Heba al-Yazji said. “The war took everything from me. We wish we had died with them rather than remain alone.”

During the entire conflict, Israel has conducted strikes against Palestinian residences and temporary shelter areas, frequently resulting in multiple family casualties simultaneously. Israeli officials state they focus on Hamas fighters, although they seldom identify specific intended targets.

Israel’s military operations have resulted in more than 72,000 deaths, with nearly half being women and children, based on Gaza Health Ministry statistics. The ministry, operating under Hamas-led governance, keeps comprehensive casualty documentation that U.N. agencies and independent analysts generally consider reliable, though it doesn’t distinguish between civilian and militant deaths.

Approximately 8,000 additional victims remain trapped under destroyed building debris, according to ministry reports. Recovering most bodies proved impossible during active bombing and ground combat operations. The ceasefire has allowed increased recovery work, though efforts remain limited due to insufficient heavy machinery.

Israel’s military response followed the Hamas attack that resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths and the capture of more than 250 hostages. The hostages have been freed, primarily through ceasefire negotiations.

Nearly every Gaza resident has experienced the loss of at least extended family members. Almost the complete population of 2.1 million lacks permanent housing, with most residing in expansive temporary encampments. More than 80% of the territory’s structures have sustained damage or complete destruction.

A vast landscape of destruction that once comprised the Rimal neighborhood surrounded the small Ramadan table where the three remaining al-Yazji family members shared their evening meal.

Saddam al-Yazji remembered the “great dining table” from their family’s previous Ramadan celebrations and how everyone eagerly anticipated the annual gathering.

“I feel like I have betrayed them by being alive,” he said.

TYMPAKI, Greece — A sophisticated Israeli-manufactured Heron 2 unmanned aircraft lifts off from the runway, beginning another monitoring operation over Mediterranean waters.

The drone’s advanced equipment searches for vessels across the 220-mile expanse of ocean separating Libya from Crete, Greece’s largest island, with technology capable of identifying concealed activities beneath ship decks.

Last year brought a dramatic surge to Crete, with irregular migration jumping three times higher than previous levels. The island handled approximately 20,000 arrivals, making it Greece’s primary entry point despite a 26% decline in overall irregular migration to Europe during 2025, according to Frontex, the European Union’s border protection agency.

This Mediterranean passage ranks among Europe’s most dangerous migration routes, where unidentified remains frequently appear on coastlines. The corridor continues expanding due to ongoing conflicts and political turmoil throughout Africa, even as other Mediterranean pathways see reduced activity.

With the EU preparing stricter anti-migration policies, Frontex plans to concentrate additional resources on Crete to halt the continuing wave of arrivals.

Eastern Libya has emerged as a primary departure hub for human traffickers, undermining years of European efforts to prevent these journeys and transforming Crete into a critical pressure zone.

Vessels departing Libya typically carry excessive passenger loads and lack proper seaworthiness, embarking on lengthy, dangerous voyages across the Libyan Sea. These conditions have resulted in catastrophes like the 2023 fishing vessel disaster that claimed at least 700 lives.

Greek rescue teams recently saved 20 migrants and retrieved four bodies from a distressed boat south of Crete, with dozens more presumed lost at sea.

Every rescue operation reinforces the same harsh truth: these crossings represent deadly gambles with human lives.

The journey to Crete presents far greater dangers and distances compared to the brief voyage from Turkey to nearby Greek islands. It demands larger ships capable of multi-day ocean navigation and requires different operational strategies from Frontex, including enhanced patrol vessels and expanded aerial monitoring.

At Tympaki airfield on Crete, Mariusz Kawczynski, a senior Frontex operations official, emphasized the drone technology’s vital role while standing next to the aircraft.

“This asset is of critical importance,” Kawczynski stated. “There is no substitute in modern technology to have eyes for Europe of the threats that are coming to our borders.”

Georgios Pyliaros, who oversees Frontex operations in Greece and Cyprus, noted that harsh weather conditions created an anticipated seasonal decline in January and February activity, though the agency anticipates increased crossings during spring months.

“If we take into consideration what happened in the last two or three years, we will have some increase in the following months, for sure,” Pyliaros explained.

The dramatic increase in Crete arrivals last year strengthened hardline political stances in Athens. Greece implemented a temporary three-month suspension of asylum applications from migrants using the Libya route, eliminated certain amnesty programs, and established mandatory detention for asylum seekers whose applications face rejection.

The European Union is also adopting stricter approaches, with new continent-wide migration regulations beginning in June designed to enhance border screening procedures and accelerate deportation processes.

Frontex’s permanent workforce is projected to reach 10,000 officers by year’s end — representing a doubling from 2021 staffing levels — demonstrating the policy transformation and expectations of continued pressure along major routes.

A conflict monitoring initiative at Sweden’s Uppsala University documented 61 active global conflicts during 2024 — the highest count since World War II — including expanding militant operations in western Africa, a significant factor driving population displacement.

The International Organization for Migration, a United Nations agency, calculates that at least 2,185 individuals died or disappeared in the Mediterranean during 2025. The organization reported 606 migrant fatalities already documented in Mediterranean waters through February 24, cautioning that restricted access to search-and-rescue data suggests actual numbers are likely higher.

“The continued loss of life on migration routes is a global failure we cannot accept as normal,” stated IOM Director General Amy Pope. “These deaths are not inevitable.”

HAVANA – Cuban authorities have disclosed new details about a deadly maritime confrontation this week, revealing that a group of Cuban exiles attempting to reach the island carried an extensive weapons cache including nearly 13,000 ammunition rounds, 13 rifles, and 11 handguns.

According to Havana officials, the Wednesday incident began when 10 Cuban nationals traveling from the United States entered Cuban territorial waters and fired upon a border patrol vessel. Cuban forces responded with gunfire, resulting in four fatalities and six wounded individuals who are now in custody.

During a televised broadcast on Friday, high-ranking Cuban Interior Ministry officials presented the confiscated weapons and equipment in an effort to support their version of events. The display included containers filled with a portion of the 12,846 recovered ammunition rounds and photographs of both vessels showing extensive bullet damage from what officials described as close-range combat at approximately 20 meters.

The incident occurs during a particularly tense period in U.S.-Cuban diplomatic relations, following President Donald Trump’s increased pressure on the island nation through what amounts to an oil embargo after the January 3 capture and removal of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, a key Cuban partner.

Cuban officials have characterized the attackers as Cuban exiles, including some previously designated as suspected terrorists, who departed from U.S. territory with plans to create disorder and target military installations on the Communist-governed island.

Colonel Victor Alvarez of the Interior Ministry explained the group’s alleged objectives: “The intent of this group is to infiltrate, to promote public disorder. To incite the people to unite. To carry out something violent. Attack military units in order to incite social unrest and to unite the people in order to steal the revolution. That has been duly proven.”

American officials have questioned Cuba’s account of the events. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Wednesday that his administration would conduct an independent investigation, emphasizing that the operation was not sanctioned by the U.S. and involved no American government personnel.

Cuban authorities reported that the infiltrators departed from Marathon in the Florida Keys using two boats but abandoned one due to mechanical problems. They consolidated onto a single speedboat that U.S. officials confirmed was reported as stolen in Florida.

The recovered equipment included a drone, communication devices, cutting tools, knives, a portable generator, and various other supplies. Officials also discovered insignia from the November 30th Movement and People’s Self-Defense, organizations opposed to the Cuban government.

According to Cuban accounts, a five-member border patrol crew aboard a 9-meter vessel first observed the approaching boat around 7 a.m., with some occupants already in the water approximately one nautical mile from a small island off Cuba’s northern coastline, roughly 100 miles from Marathon.

Cuban officials stated the infiltrators initiated gunfire from 185 meters away, striking the Cuban patrol boat captain in the stomach. Despite severe bleeding, the wounded captain continued steering toward the attacking vessel, resulting in the close-quarters firefight at about 20 meters distance.

Cuba characterized its military response as measured and appropriate.

Interior Ministry Colonel Ybey Carballo stated: “It is a defensive model that practically never uses firearms, and the use of firearms is proportional to the type of action being carried out against our force.”

The detained Cuban nationals are receiving medical treatment while facing multiple serious charges including armed assault, unauthorized entry into national territory, terrorism-related crimes, and weapons trafficking. Prosecutor Edward Robert Campbell announced during the television program that convictions could result in prison sentences ranging from 10 to 15 years for lesser charges, and 20 to 30 years or potentially capital punishment for the most serious offenses.

JOHANNESBURG — In a rare move for Africa’s most established democracy, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced plans to send military forces into areas experiencing extreme criminal activity, targeting organized crime syndicates, gang warfare, and unlawful mining operations.

Ramaphosa declared that military personnel would be stationed in regions experiencing some of the globe’s most severe violent crime rates, addressing what he called the “most immediate threat” to South Africa’s democratic system and economic progress.

The president indicated that three of the nation’s nine provinces would receive military support, though he provided no specific timeline. Opposition voices argue that bringing in the military may signal that Ramaphosa’s administration is failing in its fight against crime.

Cape Town, home to approximately 3.8 million residents, stands as South Africa’s second-largest metropolitan area and a major tourism destination known for its scenic beauty.

However, the surrounding areas called the Cape Flats have gained infamy for lethal gang conflicts.

Criminal organizations with names like the Americans, the Hard Livings and the Terrible Josters have spent years fighting over illegal narcotics territory while engaging in extortion schemes, prostitution rings, and murder-for-hire operations.

Innocent civilians, including young people, frequently become casualties in gang shootouts. Recent crime data shows that South Africa’s three most dangerous police districts are all located in or near Cape Town.

Ramaphosa announced that military units would be sent to the Western Cape province, home to Cape Town, where statistics indicate approximately 90% of the nation’s gang-related murders occur.

He also named two additional provinces for troop deployment: Gauteng, which contains Johannesburg, the country’s largest city, and the Eastern Cape province.

Areas surrounding Johannesburg and throughout Gauteng province contain numerous deserted mining sites, where officials have struggled for years with unauthorized gold extraction.

Officials report that mining criminal groups, called zama zamas, operate under heavily armed crime organizations that violently defend their territories. These syndicates recruit “informal miners” from impoverished communities to descend into mine shafts seeking remaining valuable materials.

These criminal networks frequently connect to serious violent incidents, including a 2022 case that horrified South Africa when approximately 80 suspected illegal miners faced charges for the gang rape of eight women filming a music video at a defunct mine site.

In the previous year, a confrontation between law enforcement and unauthorized miners in an abandoned mine resulted in at least 87 miner deaths after police adopted aggressive tactics and blocked food deliveries to force them to surface.

Security analysts note that illegal miners often participate in additional crimes within surrounding neighborhoods, and territorial disputes between competing groups have displaced residents who flee seeking safer locations.

Government officials estimate that roughly 30,000 unauthorized miners operate throughout South Africa’s approximately 6,000 abandoned mining sites.

The administration has documented rising illegal mining activity, calculating that criminal organizations steal over $4 billion worth of gold annually.

Authorities believe the trade operates primarily under the control of migrants from nearby Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, creating resentment within South African communities toward both crime leaders and foreign residents in local areas.

Ramaphosa recognizes that South Africans who lived through the apartheid era of enforced racial separation, which concluded in 1994, may remember images of soldiers deployed to crush democracy movements.

Acknowledging this difficult history, he emphasized the importance of not deploying military forces “without a good reason.”

However, he stated it has now “become necessary due to a surge in violent organized crime that threatens the safety of our people and the authority of the state.”

Ramaphosa attempted to address concerns by explaining that military forces would function under police supervision.

South African troops have been deployed in other recent situations. In 2023, soldiers patrolled streets following a series of truck attacks that raised fears about broader civil unrest. Additionally, approximately 25,000 troops were deployed in 2021 to suppress violent demonstrations triggered by former President Jacob Zuma’s incarceration.

South Africa also utilized military personnel to implement strict lockdown measures during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Crime specialists have voiced concerns regarding Ramaphosa’s recent deployment strategy, arguing that military intervention cannot provide lasting solutions to criminal activity and that soldiers lack expertise in civilian law enforcement.

Firoz Cachalia, the nation’s police minister, has supported Ramaphosa and emphasized that military forces will assist police “their operations in particular locations.”

He described the deployment as temporary and designed to stabilize regions “where people are losing their lives” daily.

KAMPALA, Uganda — Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed finds himself at the center of growing tensions that could spark another conflict in the volatile Horn of Africa region.

While his admirers view him as a visionary leader working to restore Ethiopia’s historic prominence, critics characterize Abiy as an agitator whose demands for sea access through hostile neighboring territory could ignite widespread warfare.

Last Sunday in southern Ethiopia, Abiy orchestrated a military display featuring the nation’s special forces conducting tactical exercises in what observers interpreted as a clear message to Eritrea. A prominent banner declared Ethiopia would break free from its landlocked status “you like it or not,” accompanied by images of soldiers forcing entry to reach Assab port.

Since Eritrea’s independence from Ethiopia in 1993 following prolonged guerrilla conflict, Assab has remained under Eritrean control. Ethiopia currently routes most of its commerce through Djibouti’s port, paying approximately $1.5 billion annually in fees — an amount that until recently exceeded the nation’s total foreign currency reserves, according to London-based Africa Practice consulting.

This financial burden previously motivated Abiy to pursue a contentious sea access agreement with Somaliland two years ago, which infuriated Somalia and escalated regional tensions since Somalia maintains jurisdiction over the semi-autonomous territory.

Though the Somaliland controversy has subsided, Abiy’s current focus on Assab has generated legitimate concerns about potential warfare between him and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, along with possible allies including rebellious leaders from Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region.

The International Crisis Group warned in its latest analysis that while such “a catastrophic turn of events is by no means inevitable,” without international diplomatic intervention, the opposing forces “could find themselves party to a new regional war that would prove difficult to contain or end.”

Abiy emerged from relative anonymity to assume leadership in 2018 at age 41, initially viewed as a reform-oriented pragmatist. His efforts to mend Ethiopia’s strained relationship with Eritrea, which had been deteriorating since the 1990s, contributed to his 2019 Nobel Peace Prize recognition.

However, he surprised many in 2020 by launching military action against Tigray’s rebellious leadership, escalating into a devastating civil war. Ethiopian forces, supported by Eritrean allies, fought against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), the regional governing body. The conflict, characterized by sexual violence and other atrocities committed by all parties, concluded with a peace accord in 2022.

Now, Abiy’s pursuit of sovereign control over Assab has reportedly triggered military reinforcements along the Ethiopian-Eritrean border, according to regional experts.

Professor Kjetil Tronvoll of Oslo New University College, who specializes in peace and conflict studies, indicates that Tigray’s rebellious leadership and Eritrea appear to be “coordinating” their efforts against Ethiopian forces.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called on both Ethiopia and Eritrea to honor the border agreement established 25 years ago, while other regional powers have advocated for diplomatic negotiations.

Meanwhile, verbal confrontations accompany intermittent fighting within Ethiopian borders. Tigrayan officials blame Ethiopian federal forces for conducting drone strikes, while Ethiopia alleges that Eritrea is “actively preparing to wage war against it” and has positioned forces in Tigray, which borders Eritrea.

Eritrea contends that Ethiopia harbors a “long-brewing war agenda” to capture Assab — an accusation that Abiy appeared to validate through his military demonstration in Hawassa, attended by senior government and military leadership.

Following his rise to power, Abiy positioned himself as a philosophical architect of Ethiopian revival. Through his “medemer” concept — an Amharic term meaning strength through unity — the prime minister envisioned what he called a “beautiful symphony of progress.”

Leading the ruling Prosperity Party, Abiy has championed completion of the massive Nile River dam project despite strong Egyptian opposition over water flow concerns. His vision includes transforming Addis Ababa into an attractive capital with green spaces and modern architecture, alongside plans for nuclear energy development and 1.5 million new homes. This year marked the groundbreaking of what would become Africa’s largest airport, a $10 billion project near Addis Ababa.

Yet he confronts two major obstacles: Ethiopia’s status as the world’s most populous landlocked country with over 130 million residents, and ongoing ethnic tensions fueling conflicts in the Amhara and Oromia regions, where government forces continue battling insurgents.

Pursuing warfare over port access would undermine Abiy’s ambitious development agenda by diverting military personnel and resources to another armed confrontation with Eritrea, whose officials dismiss him as reckless.

Eritrean leaders argue that Abiy’s public provocations serve to distract from domestic difficulties and that his infrastructure initiatives contradict reports of food insecurity affecting parts of Ethiopia. Yemane Gebremeskel, Eritrea’s government spokesperson, regularly refers to Abiy’s Prosperity Party as the “Potemkin party.”

In a Monday statement, Gebremeskel accused the party of continuing to “spew and ramp up, at almost every public occasion, toxic and provocative vitriol against the sovereignty and territorial integrity” of neighboring countries.

HAVANA – Cuban Ministry of the Interior leadership disclosed on Friday evening the contents they claim were discovered on a speedboat registered in Florida that engaged in gunfire with military personnel in coastal waters earlier this week, resulting in troops returning fire and fatally shooting four individuals.

Authorities also told The Associated Press that investigators determined the 10 Cuban individuals departed from the United States using two vessels, though one experienced mechanical problems, forcing the group to move all equipment to the operational boat while abandoning the disabled craft.

Government representatives stated that apprehended individuals provided these details during questioning and emphasized that U.S. Coast Guard officials were notified immediately.

Cuban authorities reported finding numerous items on the vessel: twelve high-caliber firearms, one equipped with a telescopic sight; a large cooler containing over 12,800 rounds of ammunition; eleven handguns; military-grade footwear, helmets equipped with recording devices; and tactical backpacks in camouflage patterns.

“We could clearly determine that we were confronting a terrorist operation launched from a vessel originating in the United States,” stated 1st Col. Ivey Daniel Carballo from Cuba’s Border Guard Troops during an interview with the AP.

Carballo explained that their 30-foot patrol vessel spotted the unauthorized craft Wednesday morning and moved to approximately 600 feet away for inspection purposes, but came under attack from high-caliber weapons.

The colonel reported that three attackers died immediately while a fourth sustained injuries and succumbed later.

Carballo noted the speedboat’s position was roughly one mile northeast of Cayo Falcones along the northern coastline. He added that the border guard commander sustained injuries during the encounter.

Victor Eduardo Álvarez Valle, a senior Criminal Investigation official with State Security at the Interior Ministry, informed the AP that authorities were caught off guard by the level of opposition they faced.

“We didn’t expect it, especially with that many people and weapons,” he stated.

“The military equipment found on board has been identified by the assailants, including where and how they acquired it, and the training they received. They also revealed who financed it,” Álvarez continued.

He pointed out that investigators counted 13 bullet impacts on the border patrol vessel and 21 additional strikes on the suspects’ boat, “meaning that there was combat.”

While Cuban officials initially reported Wednesday that one person had been apprehended on shore, Álvarez indicated that currently, no evidence suggests the suspects maintained any assistance network within the island.

Edward Robert Campbell, Cuba’s chief prosecutor within the Attorney General’s Office directorate, informed the AP that the six detained individuals, all of Cuban heritage, may face terrorism accusations carrying potential penalties of three decades imprisonment, life sentences, or capital punishment, though executions have been suspended for over ten years.

The Associated Press received access to Cuban military leadership and viewed the confiscated materials displayed at the former Cuban Institute of Radio and Television facility before a broadcast that presented them publicly for the first time.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated this was not an American government operation and confirmed that U.S. officials were conducting their own investigation.

North Korea’s dictator Kim Jong Un distributed advanced sniper rifles to top party and military leadership during a Friday ceremony at Workers’ Party headquarters, according to state-run media reports released Saturday.

The North Korean leader described the newly manufactured weapons as exceptional, telling recipients the firearms represent his confidence in them. The rifles were developed by the nation’s Academy of Defence Science and distributed to commemorate the party’s Ninth Congress.

“As was already made public, this new-generation sniper’s rifle our Academy of Defence Science developed and produced is really a wonderful weapon,” Kim stated during the presentation.

Among those receiving the ceremonial weapons were Central Military Commission members, high-ranking Korean People’s Army officers, and security unit commanders. Kim’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, also received a rifle and was officially identified for the first time as head of the General Affairs Department within the party’s Central Committee.

State media photographs captured Kim’s teenage daughter, known as Ju Ae, participating in the ceremony and handling a rifle at a shooting facility. The young girl, estimated to be in her early teenage years, has appeared more frequently in official media alongside her father during various inspections, including weapons facility visits.

Intelligence analysts suggest these public appearances indicate Ju Ae may be receiving preparation for eventual leadership of the isolated nation. South Korea’s National Intelligence Agency believes her visible role suggests she now contributes to policy discussions and holds significant influence as the regime’s second-most powerful figure.

Additional photographs showed Kim Yo Jong posing with a rifle next to Hyon Song Wol, a close adviser to Kim Jong Un who maintains ties to the leader’s spouse.

The weapon distribution ceremony concluded North Korea’s week-long Ninth Congress, which ended with a military parade display.

Following a major week-long political gathering in North Korea, leader Kim Jong Un distributed sniper rifles to high-ranking government and military leaders, according to state media reports. The ceremony included striking images of his teenage daughter handling firearms at a shooting range, further intensifying questions about whether she’s being positioned as his eventual replacement.

The rifle presentation took place Friday, with Kim describing the weapons as symbols of his “absolute trust” and appreciation for officials’ dedication during the five years since the previous Workers’ Party congress in 2021, the Korean Central News Agency reported Saturday.

The gathering also resulted in a promotion for Kim’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, who now holds the position of general affairs director within the party’s central committee. This new role expands her responsibilities to include overseeing internal party operations and administrative functions, building on her recent work as a key spokesperson addressing Washington and Seoul.

State media photographs captured Kim Yo Jong and other senior officials testing the rifles distributed by Kim Jong Un at the shooting facility. His young daughter, dressed in a brown leather jacket matching her father’s style, was also photographed using one of the weapons as smoke emerged from its barrel.

The girl, reportedly named Kim Ju Ae and approximately 13 years old, first appeared publicly during a long-range missile demonstration in November 2022. Since then, she has joined her father at an expanding array of events, including military displays, factory visits, and a September trip to Beijing where Kim Jong Un met with Chinese President Xi Jinping for their first face-to-face meeting in six years.

The political congress wrapped up Wednesday in Pyongyang after seven days of meetings. These gatherings represent North Korea’s most important political occasions, occurring every five years since 2016, and serve as elaborate productions celebrating Kim’s authority before thousands of party delegates.

During this year’s sessions, Kim reinforced his commitment to expanding North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, which currently includes multiple systems capable of threatening the United States and its Asian partners. He also maintained his confrontational position toward South Korea.

However, Kim indicated openness to potential talks with the U.S., repeating Pyongyang’s previous position that Washington must drop its demands for North Korean nuclear disarmament before meaningful negotiations can resume.

South Korean intelligence officials and analysts carefully examined the congress for indications that Kim might be preparing to continue the family’s dynastic control into a fourth generation by establishing his daughter as his heir. This month, South Korea’s intelligence service concluded that Kim Jong Un appears close to officially naming her as his successor.

While the girl didn’t participate in party meetings during the congress, she appeared alongside her father at Wednesday night’s military parade that marked the event’s conclusion. Despite expectations that she might receive an official party position during the congress, no such announcement occurred, and party regulations require members to be at least 18 years old.

Some analysts suggest that if Kim Jong Un intended to use the congress to strengthen his daughter’s succession prospects, the indicators would likely be indirect, such as celebratory declarations about North Korea’s resilience and attributing that strength to successful leadership transitions within the socialist system.

In a Thursday assessment of the congress, North Korean state media declared that the meetings “laid a solid foundation for the sacred effort to ensure and realize the glorious succession and development of our party.”

Israeli lawmakers gathered Wednesday to honor America’s approaching 250th anniversary, but their celebration carried an urgent warning: the decades-old partnership between the two nations cannot be taken for granted.

The conference, hosted by the Knesset’s Israel-US caucus, featured repeated declarations that while the alliance remains robust and active, it faces unprecedented challenges that demand constant attention and effort.

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee described the event to The Media Line as “a wonderful opportunity to once again celebrate the partnership between the US and Israel.” With America’s milestone anniversary approaching, he called it “quite appropriate” to acknowledge Israel as “our most trusted and cherished partner in the world.”

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, a senior Likud party member, established the conference’s tone early in his remarks. “Today, Israel, the Jewish people, and the entire free world, face the twin threats of terrorism and antisemitism,” he declared. “Those who chant ‘death to America’ also chant ‘death to Israel’.”

Ohana highlighted what he characterized as extraordinary cooperation between Jerusalem and Washington, noting that “President Trump has met with Prime Minister Netanyahu seven times in 13 months, unprecedented by any measure.” He praised Ambassador Huckabee for defending Israel publicly “with the courage and composure of Daniel in the lion’s den.”

While the anniversary celebration provided the official purpose for the gathering, speakers delivered a more strategic message about emerging threats to the relationship – not diplomatic or military divisions, but subtler, longer-lasting challenges.

Ambassador Huckabee emphasized the mutual benefits of the partnership, explaining that the annual $3.8 billion aid package represents just “0.005% of the US budget.” He stressed it’s “not a one-way street. It is a two-way street,” noting that ammunition used by Israeli forces is manufactured “just outside of Little Rock, Arkansas, where I live,” and Israeli missile defense components are also produced in his home state.

However, Huckabee moved beyond economic arguments, saying “Let’s not put it in economic terms. Let’s put it in something more important, something even deeper.” He argued that the countries share a “Judeo-Christian foundation.”

Likud lawmaker Ohad Tal reinforced the investment argument, stating bluntly, “The $3.8 billion that the US gives to Israel every year isn’t aid. It is America’s smartest and highest return investment.” Quoting former Secretary of State Alexander Haig, Tal called Israel “the largest American aircraft carrier in the world that cannot be sunk” and “America’s most cost-effective aircraft carrier that does not need to be moved.”

Yet Tal warned that support for Israel faces pressure across the political spectrum. The alliance, he said, is “constantly challenged in college campuses, in the streets of Western capitals, in the media, in think tanks, in civil society organizations, and even in parts of Washington.” He specifically named American right-wing figures, saying “Candace Owens, Nick Fuentes, Tucker Carlson, and others have joined the radical left and Islamists in their hatred for Jews.”

Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel, also from Likud, emphasized the partnership’s ideological foundation. “This is not charity. This is partnership,” she said, adding that “Israel has never had a better friend in the White House than President Donald J. Trump.”

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar praised Trump’s regional impact following the Gaza conflict. President Trump, Sa’ar said, “has proven time and again that he deserves the title, the leader of the free world,” claiming his leadership “made our region and the world a safer place.”

Sa’ar credited the Trump-supported 20-point plan with ending the war, stating it “helped bring about the release of all our hostages.” He said “at the heart of this plan are the disarmament of Hamas and Islamic Jihad” along with Gaza’s demilitarization and Palestinian society’s deradicalization.

Despite the praise for current cooperation, concerns about the future emerged throughout the event. Yesh Atid party member Michal Shir told The Media Line that while “the very strong relationship and friendship … is crucial for the future of both nations,” she cautioned that “the world is changing” with “tectonic plates shifting since we haven’t seen since World War II.”

She warned that younger generations are “being influenced by social media” and that rising antisemitism is changing public opinion. “We see the numbers. These are not good numbers,” she said. In her conference remarks, she described antisemitism as “a test of Western civilization itself,” adding that “the fight against antisemitism is not Israel’s fight alone.”

Carole Nuriel from the Anti-Defamation League provided troubling statistics to support these concerns. “For the Jews in the diaspora, and certainly in the US, there is no ceasefire,” she said. “We are talking about 10,000 [antisemitic] events a year in the US.”

She reported that Americans holding antisemitic views have increased from “11-12%” historically to “24%” currently. “One out of four Americans,” she said, maintains “significant antisemitic attitudes.”

Rotem Oreg-Kalisky, founder of Israeli NGO Librael, shared polling data highlighting the challenge. He said “53% of Americans hold a negative opinion on Israel,” while among Americans under 30, “Only 24% hold a positive opinion on Israel.”

He observed that arguments about technology innovation or military cooperation fail to connect with audiences focused on human rights, because those who cannot support Israel based on values like “justice, peace, equality, and human rights” are not interested in Israel’s technology sector.

While calling President Trump “a true friend of the State of Israel,” Oreg-Kalisky added, “The bad news, he will not be president for a long time,” urging preparation “for every scenario.”

Yasmin Lukatz, executive director of the Israel Collaboration Network, described a fundamental shift in how the alliance is discussed. “The discussion used to be how to strengthen the connection between Israel and the United States,” she said. “It turned into the question: Why do we even need the connection?” She maintained the relationship remains “win-win” based on shared values and mutual interests, but acknowledged the debate has reached schools, campuses, and boardrooms.

Former Israeli ambassador to the US Michael Herzog cautioned against confusing current strength with permanent security. “For the American Jewish community, added to the traumatic date of October 7th, is October 8th,” he said, describing “an unprecedented wave of antisemitism.” He warned that “we should never take our relations for granted” and called for “a long-term strategy” and continued bipartisan investment.

The most personal testimony came from Orna and Ronen Neutra, parents of Omer Neutra, an American-Israeli soldier killed on October 7 whose body was kidnapped and later returned for burial. They described raising their son with “Jewish-Zionist education” and “a close and ongoing connection to the State of Israel,” saying he “chose to come to Israel, to enlist in the IDF, and to become a combat officer out of a sense of responsibility.”

Because Omer held American citizenship, they acted quickly in Washington, with a letter about his case reaching the White House on October 8, 2023. “Within a few days, we understood that the struggle for the release of the hostages does not take place only in Israel,” they said. “It takes place also in the United States, and mainly in Washington.”

They described initial “listening, openness and identification” across party lines, but noted that “as the war continued, we saw cracks, mainly among the younger generation. Less connection, less identification, less sense of partnership.”

Other lawmakers invoked history and tradition to emphasize continuity. National Religious Party member Simcha Rothman referenced early American precedent, distinguishing between tolerance and belonging while insisting the bond should remain “forever strong.” Yesh Atid’s Moshe Tur-Paz, the caucus co-chair, used Purim imagery to stress unity against current threats. “We say to Haman, we say to Iran, we are not scattered,” he declared. “We are together.”

Former Israeli ambassador to the UK Tzipi Hotovely described “a war of values,” adding “identity” as a third pillar alongside the traditional diplomatic focus on security and prosperity.

Boaz Bismuth from Likud, who chairs the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, rejected narratives of isolation. “Israel is not alone,” he said. Still, he acknowledged regional uncertainty. “These are very, very challenging days,” he said, adding, “I am very anxious to know what tomorrow will bring.”

Israeli Druze politician Afif Abed of Likud addressed the conference in Hebrew, highlighting what he called the historic bond between the Druze community and Israel. He referenced the longstanding “blood covenant” between Druze citizens and the Jewish state, discussing Druze villages under attack in the north and thanking Israel for supporting the community during crises.

Abed connected the US-Israel alliance’s strength to regional stability, arguing that close Washington ties strengthen Israeli security and, consequently, the security of minority communities whose futures are linked to the state.

The anniversary provided the framework for the gathering, but the real discussion centered on deeper concerns. While Huckabee spoke of trust and partnership, others presented polling data, antisemitic incidents, and generational changes. The relationship appears solid at the government level, but whether that strength extends throughout American society remained an unresolved question hanging over the proceedings.

A military cargo aircraft transporting freshly printed currency went down Friday near La Paz, Bolivia, striking a highway and causing at least 15 fatalities while injuring others, according to officials.

The Hercules C-130 aircraft was carrying newly minted Bolivian banknotes when it “landed and veered off the runway” at El Alto airport, which sits next to Bolivia’s capital city, before crashing into an adjacent field, Defense Minister Marcelo Salinas reported. Emergency crews successfully extinguished the fire that consumed the aircraft.

Fire department chief Pavel Tovar confirmed the death toll of at least 15 individuals, though he did not specify whether the victims were aboard the aircraft or in vehicles on the roadway.

Salinas declined to provide specific casualty numbers and stated that investigators are looking into what caused the accident.

According to Bolivian Air Force Gen. Sergio Lora, search teams had not located two of the aircraft’s six crew members by Friday evening. He noted the plane had been traveling from Santa Cruz in eastern Bolivia after collecting its monetary cargo there.

Social media footage revealed aircraft wreckage, demolished automobiles, and victims along the roadway. Tovar reported that no fewer than 15 vehicles sustained damage in the incident.

The military aircraft had been transporting paper money from La Paz, and online videos showed civilians scrambling to gather the scattered currency at the crash location while riot police worked to clear the area.

Central Bank President David Espinoza confirmed the banknotes had been brought to Santa Cruz from overseas but declined to reveal the monetary value of the cargo being moved.

Airport officials halted all incoming and outgoing flights temporarily following the incident.

BUENOS AIRES – In a major legislative victory for Argentina’s libertarian President Javier Milei, the nation’s Senate has given final approval to comprehensive labor reforms on Friday, clearing the way for the controversial measures to become law.

The Senate voted 42 in favor, 28 opposed, with two lawmakers abstaining on the sweeping changes that Milei’s government says will attract investment and boost formal employment opportunities. However, labor organizations argue the reforms strip away crucial worker safeguards, including strike protections.

Political observers view the bill’s passage as evidence that Milei possesses sufficient legislative support to push forward his broader free-market economic agenda. The reforms are also anticipated to strengthen investor confidence in the president’s business-friendly policies.

Since assuming office, Milei has achieved notable economic progress, stabilizing currency exchange rates and dramatically reducing inflation from double-digit monthly increases to 2.9% in January – earning praise from the International Monetary Fund.

Among the most disputed elements of the new law is the creation of a company-funded severance account using money previously designated for the national retirement system. Critics in the opposition warn this provision could simplify the firing process for employers while potentially draining pension fund resources.

Additional changes include loosened employment regulations, modifications to vacation policies, expansion of the standard work shift from eight to twelve hours, and authorization for companies to pay wages in international currencies.

Labor unions, who have organized demonstrations and a countrywide work stoppage in protest, particularly oppose new restrictions on striking that mandate essential services continue basic operations during labor disputes.

This labor overhaul represents just one component of Milei’s legislative agenda. Parliament is simultaneously considering modifications to laws governing Andean glacier protection – a proposal the administration claims will open mining opportunities but environmental advocates fiercely resist.

Chilean authorities have rejected a request to permit a Chinese hospital vessel to offer medical treatment to local citizens aboard the ship, according to officials in Santiago on Wednesday.

The vessel, known as the Silk Road Ark, reached the waters near Chile’s port city of Valparaiso on Wednesday as part of a multi-country tour spanning approximately twelve nations.

According to Chile’s Health Ministry, officials had been evaluating a proposal submitted through diplomatic channels at the close of 2025 requesting permission for the ship to provide onboard healthcare services to Chilean residents. However, authorities ultimately decided against granting the necessary permits.

“We determined that it is not appropriate to authorize this health operation to function on the ship’s facilities,” the health ministry stated, citing domestic health regulations that limit such medical services to healthcare professionals who have received proper accreditation within Chile.

Chinese embassy representatives in Chile have not yet provided a response to requests for comment regarding the decision.

The rejection occurs as Chile finds itself managing increasing diplomatic tensions with the United States regarding its relationship with China.

Washington has announced plans to implement visa restrictions targeting three Chilean government officials, claiming they have compromised essential telecommunications infrastructure and weakened regional security measures.

Chilean Foreign Minister Alberto van Klaveren explained that a proposal from two Chinese corporations to construct an underwater cable system connecting Chile with Hong Kong has raised concerns in Washington, with U.S. officials viewing the project as a potential security risk.

Chilean government representatives have emphasized that the cable project remains in preliminary phases and has not received final approval.

CONAKRY, Guinea — Sixteen military personnel and police officers from Sierra Leone have been freed by Guinea following their detention earlier this week amid tensions along the disputed border between the two West African nations, according to Sierra Leonean officials.

Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Information announced on Facebook that “All security officers arrested by the Guinean authorities have been safely handed over to Sierra Leone.”

The personnel were released after Foreign Minister Alhaji Timothy Kabba led a diplomatic mission to Conakry, Guinea’s capital, the ministry reported.

According to Sierra Leone’s government, multiple security personnel, including a commanding officer, were detained and taken across the border by Guinea’s armed forces on Tuesday.

Guinea’s military defended the arrests in their own statement, claiming the Sierra Leonean team had crossed into Guinea without proper authorization and “set up a tent and raised their national flag” approximately one mile inside Guinea’s territorial boundaries.

The two neighboring nations have maintained an ongoing territorial disagreement for over twenty years, dating back to Sierra Leone’s brutal civil conflict from 1991 to 2002. During that war, Sierra Leone requested Guinea’s military assistance to protect its eastern frontier, but Guinea’s forces never completely departed after the conflict ended.

Monday’s confrontation took place in Kalieyereh, located in Sierra Leone’s Falaba District, where Sierra Leone says its military and police personnel were “making bricks for the construction of a border post and accommodation facility.”

This marks another chapter in the continuing border tensions, following last year’s incident when Guinea’s military moved into a mineral-rich border community in Sierra Leone, raising alarm throughout the region.

MIAMI (AP) — A hijacked vessel carrying 10 individuals and armed with weapons left the Florida Keys bound for Cuba, but deadly violence broke out before the boat could reach its destination. Cuban authorities claim the passengers were terrorists attempting to enter their nation illegally.

The deadly incident occurred Wednesday as U.S.-Cuba relations remain strained. With the Trump administration taking a harder line against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, focus has returned to Cuba as America’s longtime ideological opponent in the region. This has renewed scrutiny of Florida’s Cuban exile community, particularly radical factions that have historically pursued violent means to topple the island’s communist regime.

Military-style operations, attention-grabbing demonstrations and legally questionable protests have occurred for generations across the Florida straits. These activities typically involve hardline exiles, including some who initially fought alongside Fidel Castro’s revolutionary forces in 1959 but later turned against him when he aligned Cuba with the Soviet Union.

However, such aggressive approaches have diminished since the Cold War ended, prompting many Miami residents to question whether Cuban intelligence services manufactured the armed assault story.

“Cuban Americans today are, whether on the left or on the right, really focused on trying to influence U.S. policy rather than thinking that somehow paramilitary action by small groups are gonna overthrow the Cuban government,” said William LeoGrande, an American University government professor who specializes in Cuba.

The gunfight resulted in four fatalities and numerous unanswered questions. Cuban officials characterized most boat occupants as dangerous criminals. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, whose political career developed within Miami’s Cuban exile community, quickly questioned Cuba’s version of events, promising American authorities would examine what he called a “highly unusual” maritime confrontation.

Anti-revolutionary organizations — including groups like Alpha 66 and Omega 7 — maintained small memberships but reached peak influence during the 1970s and 1980s. Their power diminished after the Reagan administration imprisoned their leadership for domestic terrorist activities, including a failed Castro assassination attempt during his 1979 United Nations visit and the murder of a Cuban diplomat in New York one year later.

Antonio Tang enlisted with Alpha 66 after escaping Cuba and seeking refuge in Canada in 1981.

He received military training and guerrilla warfare instruction with the volunteer organization at an Everglades facility named Rumbo Sur — Direction South. Most of their operations failed before beginning, he explained.

“We were kind of amateurs — and no match for the Cuban military and interior ministry,” said Tang. “They always knew in advance what we were doing. Many folks ended up in jail.”

Ernesto Díaz, deputy secretary general of Alpha 66, described the 10 men as martyrs.

“It is an act of compassion for a Cuban people who are suffering,” Diaz, 86, said. “It was a sacrifice that has demonstrated the nobility and sensitivity towards freedom in Cuba.”

Former Cuban intelligence officer Enrique Garcia said a well-funded Cuban intelligence department — called Q-2 — spent decades co-opting armed resistance groups. In some cases, Cuban agents would fund weapon purchases and drive unsuspecting exiles into plots.

Agents infiltrated Brothers to the Rescue, which lost four members in 1996 when Cuban fighter jets shot down their airplanes in the Florida straits.

“This strategy —seemingly still in place— sought to portray the Cuban exile community as extremist and link the U.S. government and agencies to such activities,” said Garcia, who defected to the U.S. in 1989. “The U.S. intelligence community is aware and must have documented in its archives that this was a permanent modus operandi of the Cuban intelligence service.”

Garcia said he can’t remember any covert act of the sort Cuba has denounced in at least three decades.

He also finds the timing of the attack suspicious. The Trump administration has asserted almost unprecedented pressure on Havana to open its economy and relinquish almost seven decades of single-party rule.

Marina Luz Padron, whose ex-husband, Hector Cruz Correa, was among those reported killed, appealed for privacy as the family mourns. She described her ex-husband as an excellent father to their 4-year-old child, who still hasn’t been told about his fate.

“If he went to Cuba it was because he wanted freedom for his country,” Padron told The Associated Press in a brief interview.

Other family members spoke to Spanish language influencers in Miami describing their loved ones as peaceful and far removed from what Cuban officials denounced as a “terrorist” incursion.

Ibrahim Bosch, president of the Republican Party of Cuba, another exile group, said that Michel Ortega Casanova, one of those killed, was the leader of his party in Tampa for a while until he requested to be replaced so he could spend more time to with his family.

“He was an excellent person, very hardworking, very dedicated to his family,” Bosch said. “He always had the hope of freedom for Cuba.”

But Florida resident Misael Ortega Casanova said his brother — an American citizen who has lived in the U.S. for more than 20 years and still agonizes over the suffering that Cubans endure — was on an “obsessive and diabolical” quest for Cuba’s freedom.

“They became so obsessed that they didn’t think about the consequences nor their own lives,” Misael told The Associated Press.

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has condemned the detention of a young man from Western Australia who allegedly planned terrorist attacks, calling the situation deeply disturbing.

Law enforcement officials took a 20-year-old resident of Bindoon, located approximately 39 miles north of Perth, into custody on Friday. Authorities subsequently filed charges against him for plotting terrorist activities. According to police reports, the suspect had authored a written manifesto outlining his intentions to carry out mass casualty attacks against Islamic worship centers, the state’s police headquarters, and the parliamentary building.

Taking to social media platform X on Friday evening, Albanese expressed his dismay: “The arrest of a WA man over an alleged racially-motivated terrorist plot is deeply shocking.”

The Prime Minister continued his statement by saying: “Allegations the man was planning to target the Muslim community through attacks on mosques — as well as attacks on the WA police and parliament — are particularly distressing. He should face the full force of the law.”

This incident represents another entry in Australia’s recent string of terrorism-related cases, including a failed bombing attempt at a Perth demonstration on January 26, where protesters had gathered to oppose the nation’s official holiday.

Additionally, in December, two armed attackers targeted a Hanukkah gathering at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, resulting in 15 fatalities in what became Australia’s most devastating mass killing in almost three decades. Intelligence officials determined the attackers drew inspiration from the Islamic State extremist organization.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Haiti’s interim police chief revealed Friday that law enforcement officials are developing strategies to conduct general elections safely this year, even as criminal gangs continue terrorizing the Caribbean nation.

André Jonas Vladimir Paraison, who took over as temporary head of the National Police in August, declined to share specifics but promised additional details would be released shortly.

“We have a plan for the election, but it’s still in the kitchen and has not finished cooking yet,” he said.

When pressed about whether Haiti would be prepared to conduct elections in 2024, Paraison avoided giving a direct answer.

Government officials have announced intentions to conduct general elections in late August, followed by runoff voting in early December. The Provisional Electoral Council stated Friday that political party and candidate registration will begin March 2 and continue through March 12.

The troubled nation hasn’t conducted general elections in more than ten years, with criminal violence escalating dramatically following President Jovenel Moïse’s assassination at his home in July 2021.

Paraison described Haiti’s current situation as having “exploded,” while emphasizing that law enforcement personnel are working to restore security and allow citizens to return to normal life.

Criminal organizations have forced a record 1.4 million residents from their homes in the nation of nearly 12 million people, with armed groups maintaining control over approximately 90% of Port-au-Prince and claiming large portions of the country’s central areas.

The widespread violence has shuttered thousands of businesses and forced hundreds of schools to close their doors.

United Nations data shows more than 5,900 people lost their lives last year, with over 2,700 others suffering injuries.

Paraison expressed hopes of increasing officer numbers to better safeguard Haitian citizens. He recently supervised the graduation of nearly 900 new cadets but acknowledged that additional personnel are necessary.

U.N. representatives have noted that Haiti in recent years maintained fewer than two officers per 1,000 residents, falling significantly short of international benchmarks.

Even with limited resources, Paraison has directed recent missions into gang-controlled areas, successfully reclaiming locations such as Carrefour-Aéroport, an important intersection.

Law enforcement agencies are also releasing more frequent updates about suspected gang members eliminated during these operations.

Paraison observed that criminal groups possess extensive weaponry and ammunition supplies. “Don’t forget, Haiti doesn’t make weapons. The weapons here come from somewhere else,” he said.

Security analysts have previously estimated that up to half a million small arms may be present in Haiti, while a 2023 U.N. investigation discovered that increasingly advanced weapons, including .50 caliber sniper rifles and belt-fed machine guns, are being smuggled into the country primarily from the United States, particularly Florida.

Haiti’s National Police are collaborating with a U.N.-supported mission headed by Kenyan officers that remains inadequately funded and staffed while battling criminal organizations. A specialized gang suppression unit is anticipated to take over the mission’s responsibilities in the coming months.

EL ALTO, Bolivia – A military transport aircraft belonging to Bolivia’s Air Force went down Friday evening on a crowded street in El Alto, located adjacent to the nation’s capital of La Paz, as reported by local television outlets.

The Hercules transport plane was carrying freshly printed currency destined for distribution throughout Bolivia’s interior regions, according to local news outlet Unitel, which referenced information from Bolivia’s Defense Ministry.

Video clips circulating on social platforms revealed pandemonium at the crash location, with crowds of people rushing to collect scattered banknotes from the pavement after the incident. Emergency responders at the site used water cannons to disperse the gathering crowds. Reuters could not verify the authenticity of these images.

Officials have yet to release information regarding casualties or deaths from the incident. Bolivia’s central banking authority was scheduled to hold a press briefing later Friday evening.

Following the crash, El Alto International Airport suspended operations temporarily, according to a statement from Bolivia’s national carrier, Boliviana de Aviacion. The airline clarified that the crashed aircraft was not part of their fleet.

Television footage from local news sources revealed extensive damage to the military aircraft, along with significant destruction to multiple cars parked along the street where the plane came down.

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has directed non-essential embassy personnel to depart the country immediately, sending an urgent message Friday morning as the Trump administration evaluates possible military responses to rising tensions with Iran.

According to The New York Times, three embassy employees confirmed receiving Huckabee’s email at 10:24 a.m. local time Friday, directing staff planning to leave Israel to do so “today.” The ambassador cautioned that the directive “will likely result in high demand for airline seats today” and encouraged recipients to book any available outbound flight that would enable travel back to Washington. “The first priority will be getting expeditiously out of the country,” Huckabee stated in the message, the Times reported.

While attempting to calm concerns, Huckabee stressed the urgency of the situation, writing “there is no need to panic” but noting that staff members thinking about leaving should move swiftly. “For those desiring to leave, it’s important to make plans to depart sooner rather than later,” he stated.

The embassy communication arrives as US leadership evaluates various options for responding to heightened Iranian tensions, while maintaining diplomatic dialogue. ABC News reported Thursday that Admiral Brad Cooper, who leads US Central Command, is preparing to present President Donald Trump with briefing materials on potential American military strikes against Iran. The report cited sources close to the president and another person with knowledge of the discussions.

General Dan Cain, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has also participated in the briefing preparations. ABC’s sources indicated that a coordinated US-Israeli military operation targeting Iran remains among the possibilities being actively reviewed by the administration.

Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts persist. MSNBC reported that Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidi, who has been acting as an intermediary in US-Iran discussions, is set to meet Friday in Washington with Vice President JD Vance and additional high-ranking US officials. These scheduled discussions underscore ongoing attempts to maintain negotiations that have achieved minimal advancement thus far.