Category: World News

U.S. military forces have eliminated 16 Iranian vessels that were attempting to place naval mines in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, according to an announcement Tuesday from the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).

The military action came after intelligence reports indicated Tehran was trying to position explosive devices in the critical waterway that handles a major portion of the world’s oil transportation.

CENTCOM confirmed that American forces eliminated multiple Iranian vessels in the region, including the mine-laying ships, following concerns that Iran was preparing to weaponize the passage through which substantial amounts of global petroleum shipments travel.

Before the military strike, President Donald Trump had issued a stern warning to Iran regarding any mining activities in the strait. Through a Truth Social message, he demanded immediate action, stating that if Iran had positioned mines in the waterway, “we want them removed, IMMEDIATELY!”

Trump’s warning continued with explicit consequences: “If for any reason mines were placed, and they are not removed forthwith, the Military consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before. If, on the other hand, they remove what may have been placed, it will be a giant step in the right direction!”

Following the military operation, Trump posted that 10 non-operational mine-laying vessels had been eliminated, indicating that “more to come.” He later clarified in additional posts that no evidence suggested Iran had successfully positioned explosive devices in the Strait of Hormuz.

However, a Tuesday CNN report indicated that Iranian military units had initiated limited mining operations in the waterway. Network sources reported that only a “few dozen” explosive devices had been positioned in recent days.

Iran responded with threats of retaliation against energy transportation in the area, vowing it would not allow “even a single liter” of oil to reach its adversaries.

Although suffering these naval losses, Iran maintains the majority of its smaller vessels capable of mine deployment. Intelligence reports indicate the nation still controls over 80% of its small watercraft and mine-laying capabilities, potentially allowing deployment of hundreds of explosive devices should tensions escalate further.

The Strait of Hormuz, positioned between Oman and Iran, serves as one of the planet’s most critical petroleum transit passages. Energy consulting company Kpler reports that approximately 13 million barrels of crude oil pass through this waterway daily in 2025, accounting for roughly 31% of all ocean-transported crude oil globally.

Iran’s recently appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei suffered injuries during Israeli airstrikes and has remained out of public view since the attacks, according to a senior Israeli intelligence official speaking to Reuters.

According to three Iranian sources who spoke with the New York Times, high-ranking officials reported that Khamenei received a leg wound on February 28 during the initial day of Israeli military operations. The same sources indicated that during these attacks, his parents – including former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei – and his wife were killed.

However, Khamenei’s son has stated that the new leader remains “safe and sound.”

The Assembly of Experts, Iran’s religious council tasked with selecting the nation’s highest authority, officially chose Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s supreme leader on Sunday following his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death.

Supporters organized massive rallies throughout Iran on Monday, demonstrating loyalty to their newly appointed leader just one day after his selection was made public. Multiple cities hosted simultaneous ceremonies.

In the capital city of Tehran, demonstrators assembled at Enghelab Square, displaying Iranian flags and holding photographs of both Mojtaba Khamenei and his deceased father, the former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Protesters voiced support for their new leader while denouncing both the United States and Israel.

Following Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death last week, Israeli forces issued a warning.

The Israel Defense Forces published a message in Farsi on the social media platform X, cautioning that those participating in the successor selection process could become targets.

“We warn all those who intend to participate in the successor selection meeting that we will not hesitate to target you. This is a warning!” the IDF declared in their post.

This warning came as Iran’s religious leadership body was reportedly preparing to finalize their choice for the country’s next supreme leader.

Syrian military officials are pointing fingers at Hezbollah following an early Tuesday morning artillery bombardment that struck Syrian soil near the town of Serghaya, located west of Damascus. The Syrian Arab Army issued an official statement confirming the projectiles originated from Lebanese territory.

An unnamed military source speaking to The Media Line revealed that Hezbollah militants operating from Lebanon targeted Syrian army positions close to the border. The same source disclosed that Syrian forces have detected Hezbollah reinforcements moving into the border region between the two nations and are keeping close watch on developments.

Speaking under anonymity, the military source indicated that Syrian officials are communicating with Lebanon’s army to explore potential responses to the bombardment, stressing that Syria’s military will not accept any breach of the nation’s territorial integrity.

In recent hours, Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa conducted telephone discussions with multiple high-ranking Lebanese political leaders, including Kataeb Party head MP Samy Gemayel. These conversations extended beyond an hour.

During his discussion with Gemayel, Al-Sharaa dismissed claims suggesting Syrian forces plan to enter Lebanon as “completely false,” explaining that Syrian military positioning along the border serves exclusively to protect Syria’s security and keep the conflict from expanding into Syrian territory.

After their conversation, Gemayel characterized the exchange as reflecting “a desire to open a new chapter in Lebanese-Syrian relations” following years of strained ties under Syria’s former government. He highlighted the need to reassure Lebanese people regarding conditions along their northern and eastern borders.

This phone call represents part of ongoing communications Al-Sharaa has maintained with Lebanese officials and international leaders during regional tensions that erupted in late February between Iran and combined Israeli-US forces. The fighting has expanded into Lebanon and Syria, prompting Damascus to express support for Lebanese and Iraqi initiatives to disarm Hezbollah and contain the violence while minimizing risks of further spread into Syrian and other Arab regions.

Lebanese responses to Syria’s allegations have been varied. The administration under President Nawaf Salam communicated through diplomatic means its dedication to preserving stability and emphasized Lebanon’s non-involvement in the escalation, a stance echoed in official Lebanese statements released Tuesday.

At the same time, Lebanese political factions opposing Hezbollah expressed worries about how this incident might affect internal stability. Some advocated for expanded Lebanese army involvement in border monitoring to prevent armed activities beyond government control, while others cautioned that continued escalation might trigger confrontations extending past both nations’ territorial boundaries.

Within this context, the relationship between Syria’s current administration and Hezbollah contrasts sharply with ties under the former government, which viewed the organization as a partner during earlier conflict phases, especially throughout Syria’s prolonged civil war. The previous Assad regime supported Hezbollah in multiple military operations within Syria and enabled the group’s operational movements.

In contrast, Syria’s present leadership has openly endorsed Lebanese initiatives to disarm Hezbollah and establish complete governmental control over Lebanese territory, characterizing this stance as part of new policies designed to resolve military complications that have complicated Damascus-Beirut relations for decades.

These events unfold against broader regional disputes over Iranian influence and Tehran-supported militia activities. The competition for influence across Lebanon and Syria is commonly interpreted as part of the larger confrontation between Iran and its supporters versus regional and international powers.

In both Beirut and Damascus, the charges against Hezbollah are understood within this framework, as components of efforts to reestablish balance in relationships among neighboring Arab nations and restrict the power of non-governmental armed organizations.

Damascus’ allegation that Hezbollah launched shells near Serghaya, following an extended period of warfare and border tensions, represents a fresh escalation. This development indicates a transformation in the Syrian government’s approach toward non-state armed groups operating along the frontier and demonstrates the new leadership’s determination to maintain sovereignty and prevent incidents that could further intensify regional conflicts during a period of complex, interconnected tensions.

Ultimately, these developments underscore the delicate nature of the Lebanese-Syrian border and demonstrate how regional dynamics shape relations between both countries, particularly concerning non-governmental armed groups’ roles. The incident also shows how a single border event can influence political and strategic arrangements in an increasingly volatile region.

The southern Lebanese city of Sidon is experiencing an overwhelming surge of displaced residents following Israeli military orders for civilians to evacuate areas south of the Litani River, sparking concerns that this historic waterway may once again become a central battleground in the ongoing Israel-Lebanon conflict. The humanitarian crisis is becoming increasingly visible throughout the city’s streets and waterfront areas as thousands seek shelter with limited options.

“It breaks my heart to see all the people sleeping on the Corniche,” Malik, a Sidon native who owns a trucking company, told The Media Line while standing in front of one of the bombed buildings in the city.

The 59-year-old businessman stands beside a structure reduced to a single remaining wall, its twisted metal and scattered staircase debris telling the story of recent shelling. Malik had parked his trucks adjacent to this former Muslim Brotherhood building and managed to leave just three minutes before the initial strike occurred.

“They hit it twice,” he said.

This time, he managed to preserve all his vehicles.

“Each one is worth $100,000, and during the Beirut port explosion [in 2020], I already lost two,” he said.

“This will be the last war; Hezbollah will keep fighting until the end, they won’t give up, but we can’t take it anymore. We’re tired,” says Malik, his hands blackened from removing debris that landed on his vehicles.

However, not all Sidon residents share his optimism about the conflict’s conclusion.

“This won’t be the last war, because Israel can’t achieve its goal,” the 21-year-old Palestinian-Lebanese student from Sidon tells The Media Line.

Sara believes Israel’s mission extends beyond simply disarming Hezbollah to include capturing significant portions of Lebanese land.

“It’s a very, very important geographical position; that’s why Lebanon has suffered so many wars,” she said.

The Litani River has maintained its position as a crucial element in Israel-Lebanon tensions, serving both as a geographical boundary and strategic military position. Historically known as the Leontes and thought to originate from ancient Semitic terminology, this waterway flows approximately 30 kilometers north of the two nations’ border and extends 140 kilometers from its Bekaa Valley origins to where it meets the Mediterranean Sea above Tyre.

The region surrounding the Litani River houses substantial Shia populations, while Sunni communities primarily inhabit coastal areas like Sidon. Christian settlements dot the landscape throughout the nation, especially along northern Beirut’s coastline, and the Druze minority resides in Lebanon’s mountainous regions. This river traverses one of Lebanon’s most population-dense and politically volatile areas.

Israel’s initial significant Lebanese operation in 1978, designed to force Palestinian militants away from border areas during Lebanon’s Civil War, bore the name Operation Litani. Four years later, Israel initiated a second incursion to drive Palestinian forces an additional 40 kilometers northward. During that 1982 campaign, which included the Sabra and Shatila massacre, Israeli military units crossed the Litani River, proceeded to Beirut, and ultimately forced Palestinian fighters to depart Lebanon by sea.

While Israel eventually retreated from Beirut, it continued controlling much territory south of the river through 2000. Following Hezbollah’s capture of three Israeli soldiers in 2006, Israel commenced another 33-day military operation. This conflict concluded with a ceasefire under UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which demanded “the establishment between the Blue Line and the Litani River of a zone free of armed personnel, property and weapons, except those of the Government of Lebanon and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.”

During Israel’s autumn 2024 military campaign, Israeli forces penetrated six kilometers into southern Lebanon. This operation proved less extensive than the 2006 conflict, when Israeli troops again reached the Litani River and displaced tens of thousands of Lebanese northward. Since that time, Hezbollah has maintained its position as the primary armed force in southern Lebanon. The 2024 ceasefire, structured around Resolution 1701’s provisions, demanded armed group withdrawal from the region, though complete compliance remained elusive for both parties.

Following two days of renewed military activity, Israeli forces have now demanded complete population evacuation from all areas south of the Litani River, intensifying concerns about potential deeper Israeli ground operations.

“We could find ourselves maneuvering in that area [south of the Litani River] one way or another, and we don’t want any civilians there,” a senior military officer told the BBC last week, on condition of anonymity.

“We have plans to go as deep as necessary, even to the Litani River and beyond, if ordered,” he stated, adding that forces were on site and ready to move immediately if ordered.

Israeli political figures are also expressing support for expanded buffer zone concepts.

Israeli Opposition Leader Yair Lapid has publicly advocated creating “a barren zone without Lebanese villages,” arguing on a local television channel that Israel “would have no choice.”

“Perhaps it’s unsightly, or unpleasant, to eliminate two or three Lebanese villages, but they brought it on themselves,” he declared.

An Israeli-controlled permanent zone reaching the Litani River would encompass approximately 8% of Lebanon’s total territory.

Beyond its strategic military importance, the Litani River serves as a critical water resource. It provides irrigation for the Bekaa Valley and supplies much of southern Lebanon, particularly Tyre, the nation’s third-largest city. Prior to the 2024 military offensive, this river system irrigated roughly 6,000 hectares of southern Lebanese agricultural land.

Human rights organizations are expressing mounting concerns alongside the military escalation.

“Calling on everyone who lives south of the Litani to evacuate immediately raises serious legal and humanitarian red flags and fears for the safety of civilians,” said Ramzi Kaiss, Lebanon researcher at Human Rights Watch, who is monitoring the situation and alleged violations of human rights and the laws of war.

United Nations reports indicate that over 100 villages across southern and eastern Lebanon received evacuation orders within just two days. This week’s Israeli evacuation directives have impacted 300,000 individuals.

Sara expressed her position directly: “The Litani River belongs to the Lebanese, just as southern Lebanon belongs to us.”

WASHINGTON — America’s diplomatic outpost in Peshawar, Pakistan will be shuttered permanently, the State Department announced this week in a notification to Congress obtained by news outlets.

The facility, which sits closer to the Afghanistan border than any other U.S. diplomatic mission, played a crucial role as an operational hub during America’s 2001 military intervention in Afghanistan and throughout the years that followed.

Congressional leaders received word of the planned shutdown this week, with officials citing annual savings of $7.5 million as a primary factor. The department maintains the closure won’t harm America’s ability to pursue strategic objectives in Pakistan.

The decision stems from broader federal downsizing efforts that began during the Trump presidency more than a year ago, rather than recent tensions over the Iran conflict that have triggered demonstrations in Pakistani cities like Karachi, where U.S. consular operations have been temporarily halted.

According to Tuesday’s official notice, the Peshawar facility currently houses 18 American diplomatic staff and government workers, along with 89 locally hired employees. Shutting down operations will require a $3 million investment, with $1.8 million allocated specifically for relocating armored trailers that currently function as temporary workspace.

The remaining closure costs will cover transferring the consulate’s vehicle fleet, communications technology, and office furnishings to other U.S. facilities including the main embassy in Islamabad and consular offices in Karachi and Lahore.

Due to its strategic location near the Afghan frontier and Kabul, the Peshawar consulate served as a vital departure point for overland journeys into Afghanistan. It also provided essential services to American nationals in northwestern Pakistan and Afghan citizens seeking U.S. support.

Future consular assistance for Americans and other nationals will be transferred to the embassy in Islamabad, located approximately 114 miles from Peshawar.

“The closure would not adversely affect the mission’s ability to advance core U.S. national interests, assist U.S. citizens, or to conduct adequate oversight of foreign assistance programs because all of those functions would continue to be performed by U.S. Embassy Islamabad,” the notification stated.

BEIJING — Chinese lawmakers are preparing to pass comprehensive legislation promoting what officials describe as ethnic unity, though human rights advocates warn the measure will strip away protections for minority communities and accelerate forced cultural integration.

The National People’s Congress is anticipated to ratify the legislation Thursday, with the goal of building “a stronger sense of community among all ethnic groups in the Chinese nation,” according to Lou Qinjian, the congressional delegate who presented the bill to lawmakers.

The legislation requires all levels of government and private businesses to actively promote ethnic cohesion, extending to local administrations and state-connected organizations such as the All-China Women’s Federation.

“The people of each ethnic group, all organizations and groups of the country, armed forces, every Party and social organization, every company, must forge a common consciousness of the Chinese nation according to law and the constitution, and take the responsibility of building this consciousness,” the proposed law states.

Researchers and policy experts view this new legislation as damaging to minority group identities, particularly because it requires Mandarin Chinese instruction throughout mandatory schooling, along with other assimilation measures.

Han Chinese constitute the vast majority of China’s population, with Mandarin serving as the nation’s official language. The remaining 55 ethnic minorities are distributed nationwide and represent 8.9% of the total population.

China’s constitution guarantees that “each ethnicity has the right to use and develop their own language” and “have the right to self-rule,” while the Law on Regional Ethnic Autonomy provides limited self-governance to these communities, including flexibility in economic development strategies.

Policy analysts believe the new legislation will override these existing protections in actual implementation.

“It puts a death nail in the party’s original promise of meaningful autonomy,” stated James Leibold, a professor at Australia’s LaTrobe University specializing in China’s evolving minority policies. Leibold described the law as the culmination of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s “major rethink” of ethnic policies.

China’s United Front, the agency responsible for minority affairs, declined to provide comment when contacted.

The law’s Article 15 requires Mandarin Chinese education for all children from pre-kindergarten through the completion of high school.

While Mandarin already serves as the main instructional language in Inner Mongolia, Tibet and Xinjiang — regions with substantial minority populations — this new law effectively prohibits minority languages from serving as primary educational languages anywhere in the country.

Previously, ethnic minorities maintained some control over educational language choices in their schools.

Students in Inner Mongolia, the autonomous region adjacent to Mongolia, formerly could complete most of their education using Mongolian language materials.

This practice ended in 2020 when incoming students discovered their Mongolian textbooks were banned and replaced with Chinese materials. The policy shift triggered widespread demonstrations and immediate government suppression, followed by re-education programs, according to research co-authored by Leibold and a former Mongolian journalist.

Currently, students in the region can only take Mongolian as a foreign language course, limited to one hour daily.

Academic experts also highlight the law’s emphasis on creating “mutually embedded community environments,” which they believe could lead to the dissolution of minority-concentrated neighborhoods.

“The intention is to encourage Han and other minorities to migrate into each other’s communities,” explained Minglang Zhou, a University of Maryland professor who researches China’s bilingual education policies.

While numerous nations, including the United States, implement comparable assimilation strategies, China frames its approach as bringing development to minority regions. However, Maya Wang, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, argues the law doesn’t genuinely promote equality.

“The question was never so much about ensuring their participation in the economy in an equitable manner, more inclusive manner,” Wang said, noting the policies are imposed on Tibetans. “And a truly inclusive model does not preclude the ability of children to speak two languages.”

The legislation also establishes legal grounds for Chinese authorities to pursue individuals or organizations outside China if their activities are deemed harmful to ethnic unity progress.

These international prosecution provisions mirror language in the National Security Law that China implemented in Hong Kong during 2020, enabling authorities to charge people living abroad for actions Beijing considers seditious or separatist. Hong Kong officials subsequently placed bounties on 34 overseas activists suspected of security law violations.

Rayhan Asat, a legal researcher at Harvard University, said “the law serves as a strategic tool and gives the pretext to government to commit all sorts of human rights violations.”

Asat’s younger brother, Ekpar Asat, is currently serving a 15-year prison term in Xinjiang for allegedly promoting ethnic discrimination and hatred. Asat said her family never received official notification of his arrest or trial proceedings.

Her brother operated as an entrepreneur who developed a social media platform for Uyghurs. She said authorities detained him shortly after his 2016 visit to the United States through the State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program.

The Uyghur Muslim minority has faced an extensive campaign of detention and imprisonment by Chinese authorities. Although short-term internment facilities were reportedly closed in 2019, thousands were subsequently transferred to prisons, where analysts say they were prosecuted for their ethnic identity rather than actual criminal conduct.

Asat expressed hope that President Donald Trump will discuss her brother’s case during his planned meeting with Xi.

She voiced concerns about how future generations will understand Uyghur identity.

“I think preserving any sort of Uyghur identity would be impossible,” she said.

LONDON, March 12 – British regulatory authorities issued stern warnings Thursday to leading social media companies, insisting they strengthen efforts to prevent underage users from accessing their platforms and criticizing current enforcement of age restrictions.

The United Kingdom has been exploring stricter limitations on youth social media access, with officials contemplating a ban on platform use for those under 16 years old, following Australia’s lead on similar restrictions.

Both Ofcom and the Information Commissioner’s Office expressed mounting worries about algorithm-driven content feeds that subject young users to dangerous or dependency-forming material.

“These online services are household names, but they’re failing to put children’s safety at the heart of their products,” stated Melanie Dawes, who serves as Ofcom’s chief executive.

“That must now change quickly, or Ofcom will act.”

As part of implementing Britain’s Online Safety Act, Ofcom issued directives to Meta’s Facebook and Instagram platforms, along with Roblox, Snapchat, ByteDance’s TikTok, and Alphabet’s YouTube, requiring them to demonstrate improved age verification systems by April 30. The companies must also show progress in preventing unknown adults from reaching children, creating safer content feeds, and ending the practice of testing new features on underage users.

The ICO issued its own public statement to these same platforms, urging adoption of “modern, viable” age-verification technology to block users under 13 from accessing inappropriate services.

“There’s now modern technology at your fingertips, so there is no excuse,” declared Paul Arnold, the ICO’s chief executive.

Ofcom holds authority to impose penalties reaching 10% of companies’ worldwide qualifying revenue, while the ICO can levy fines up to 4% of global annual earnings.

Last month, the privacy regulator imposed a nearly 14.5 million pound fine on Reddit for inadequate age verification procedures and improper handling of children’s personal information.

GENEVA — An international committee of experts has formally condemned the United States for what it describes as serious human rights violations stemming from inflammatory political rhetoric and aggressive immigration enforcement policies.

The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, operating under United Nations oversight, released its findings Wednesday from Geneva, specifically calling out President Donald Trump’s language regarding immigrants and minorities as contributing to widespread discrimination.

The 18-member international panel issued recommendations for the U.S. to halt immigration enforcement activities near educational institutions, medical facilities, and houses of worship under what’s known as an early warning protocol.

While the committee’s recommendations carry no legal enforcement power, they represent an attempt to hold the United States accountable to international agreements it has previously signed.

The experts expressed particular alarm over what they characterized as dehumanizing rhetoric directed at migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. They connected reported increases in racial discrimination to inflammatory language from high-ranking officials, though they did not provide specific statistical evidence.

“Portraying them as criminals or as a burden, by politicians and influential public figures at the highest level, particularly the President,” the committee stated in its official release, “may incite racial discrimination and hate crimes.”

While previous administrations under Joe Biden and Barack Obama have also faced UN criticism regarding systemic racism, this particular assessment specifically highlighted Trump’s public statements as problematic. Neither Biden nor Obama received similar direct criticism for their rhetoric in this report.

The committee also targeted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection for what it described as racial profiling practices and seemingly random identity verification procedures targeting people of color.

White House spokesperson Olivia Wales dismissed the international assessment, saying: “This United Nations assessment is just as useless as their broken escalator, and their extreme bias continues to prove why no one takes them seriously.” Wales emphasized Trump’s efforts to reduce crime and strengthen border security.

“No one cares what the biased United Nations’ so-called ‘experts’ think, because Americans are living in a safer, stronger country than ever before,” she continued.

The committee’s report alleges the United States is failing to meet its commitments under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, which was established by the UN in 1965. The document highlighted recent incidents involving what it termed “discriminatory, dangerous and violent methods” that resulted in eight fatalities over the past three months.

Among those deaths were Alex Pretti and Renee Good, both American citizens who were killed during separate shooting incidents involving federal agents during Operation Metro Surge while protesting in Minnesota.

The panel characterized the use of deadly force in these cases as equivalent to “arbitrary deprivation of life and other gross violations of international human rights law.”

The report also addressed conditions for detained migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers, arguing they have been systematically denied fundamental services including medical care, educational opportunities, and social assistance, in violation of international conventions.

The committee’s recommendations include a comprehensive review of U.S. immigration policies to ensure compliance with international human rights standards. Specific suggestions include ending enforcement operations near sensitive locations, eliminating what they term “discriminatory measures” in asylum processes, and establishing protections to prevent immigration agencies from accessing personal information in government databases.

The enforceability of these recommendations remains questionable, as the UN lacks mechanisms to compel compliance.

This marks the third time in recent years the panel has criticized American policies regarding racism and discrimination. Previous condemnations came in 2014 following widespread Black Lives Matter demonstrations after Michael Brown’s shooting death and other incidents, and again in 2020 after George Floyd’s murder.

A separate UN human rights body also heard comparable arguments in 2020 from a special investigator focused on modern racism, discrimination, and xenophobia.

The current Trump administration has prioritized mass deportation efforts as a central component of its second-term policy agenda, implementing extensive immigration restrictions and enhanced enforcement operations across numerous American cities. This intensified approach has resulted in increased immigrant arrests while generating significant criticism regarding detention and enforcement methods.

Administration officials have justified these measures by citing national security and economic considerations.

The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination consists of 18 independent experts from various countries worldwide who oversee compliance with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. The United States officially ratified this convention in 1994.

WASHINGTON — More than 45 Democratic senators pressed the Trump administration for explanations Wednesday amid mounting evidence indicating American forces may have been behind a deadly attack on an Iranian elementary school that claimed over 165 lives, with children making up a significant portion of the victims.

The lawmakers directed their letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, questioning whether the United States bore responsibility for the February 28th strike and demanding details about any prior assessment of the targeted building. The senators also expressed alarm over the administration’s reduction of a Pentagon office specifically created by Congress to minimize civilian deaths.

This school bombing has emerged as a central controversy in the conflict, and if American responsibility is confirmed, it would rank among the most devastating civilian casualty incidents resulting from U.S. military actions over the past twenty years.

President Trump’s response to the incident has evolved over time – first attributing blame to Iran, then expressing uncertainty about responsibility, and finally stating he would accept the Pentagon investigation’s findings. The situation gained additional urgency Wednesday following a New York Times report indicating that preliminary findings pointed to U.S. culpability.

The senators highlighted how administrative budget and staffing reductions have stripped military commands of essential resources needed to prevent and address civilian casualties. Their concerns specifically mentioned cuts affecting U.S. Central Command, which oversees military operations against Iran, and the Civilian Protection Center of Excellence – a facility established through 2022 legislation aimed at reducing strike-related deaths.

Should American responsibility be established, this development could significantly undermine domestic support for the Iran campaign. This comes as Trump, who campaigned against what he termed “stupid” foreign wars, continues facing scrutiny about the conflict’s objectives and potential resolution.

A former Pentagon official noted that the strike on Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School, situated adjacent to an Iranian Revolutionary Guard facility, resulted naturally from Trump administration changes that reduced civilian protection personnel while Hegseth emphasized combat effectiveness over legal considerations.

Multiple factors suggest the school attack could have been prevented. The incident occurred on a Saturday morning – the beginning of Iran’s school week – when the facility was filled with young students. Associated Press satellite analysis reveals that the school and other targets struck that day displayed characteristics visible from above that should have identified them as civilian locations.

Last week, the AP reported that satellite imagery, expert analysis, U.S. official statements, and publicly released military information all suggested American involvement. This evidence strengthened Monday when new video footage emerged showing what specialists identified as a U.S.-manufactured Tomahawk cruise missile striking the military compound while smoke was already visible from the school’s location.

Satellite imagery available to the public shows the school building was originally part of the military complex until approximately 2017, when construction of a new barrier separated the two areas. A watchtower on the property was simultaneously removed. During this same period, the imagery reveals that building walls were decorated with bright murals in blue and pink colors so vivid they can be seen from space.

The educational facility was clearly identified as a school on internet mapping services and maintained an easily accessible website containing information about its students, faculty, and administration.

International warfare law prohibits attacks on structures, vehicles, and individuals that are not military targets or combatants. Civilian residences, educational institutions, medical facilities, and cultural sites are typically protected from military strikes. The proximity of a school to a legitimate military target does not alter its classification as a civilian site, explained Elise Baker, a senior staff attorney at the Atlantic Council, a Washington-based nonprofit organization.

Senator Tim Kaine addressed the implications during a Wednesday media briefing, stating: “It’s either we’ve changed our traditional targeting rules or we made a mistake.”

Kaine continued: “If we’ve changed our traditional targeting rules and we no longer provide the same level of protection for civilians, that would be tragic.”

Republican lawmakers are also expressing concerns about the incident.

North Dakota Senator Kevin Cramer told reporters that an investigation must “get to the bottom of it,” and then “admit if you know whose fault it is.”

If American involvement is confirmed, Cramer said, the military must “do everything you can to eliminate those mistakes going forward.”

He concluded: “But you also can’t undo it.”

Congressional legislation in late 2022 mandated Pentagon creation of the Civilian Protection Center of Excellence as part of the comprehensive annual defense authorization bill, which received broad bipartisan approval. The legislation stated the center would “institutionalize and advance knowledge, practices, and tools for preventing, mitigating, and responding to civilian harm.”

This measure formalized an initiative previously launched by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin earlier that year. Austin described the 36-step action plan as “ambitious and necessary.”

By April 2023, the office employed a full-time Army-hired director and an initial core team of 30 civilian personnel, according to a 2024 Pentagon report indicating expected workforce expansion.

Wes Bryant joined the office in 2024 as Branch Chief of Civil Harm Assessments. Among the office’s priorities was updating the “no strike list” – Pentagon records of civilian targets in foreign countries that should be avoided. During his Pentagon tenure, Bryant said it was widely understood that these lists were outdated. However, under Hegseth’s leadership, the office’s staff was dramatically reduced and work on updating no-strike lists ceased.

“They have no budget. They’re just sitting there trying to maintain any semblance of the mission,” Bryant explained.

Captain Tim Hawkins, spokesman for U.S. Central Command, disputed reports claiming the military command assigned only one person to this mission but declined to provide additional details, citing the ongoing investigation.

LISBON – Portugal’s national intelligence agency has issued an unusual public alert about an international cyber offensive targeting secure messaging applications used by government personnel and military members worldwide.

The intelligence service (SIS) revealed Wednesday that hackers backed by a foreign government are conducting a widespread digital assault aimed at infiltrating WhatsApp and Signal communications of high-level officials.

According to the SIS warning, these cyber criminals are attempting to deceive platform users “into sharing sensitive data, such as passwords” to compromise both private conversations and group communications, including access to shared documents.

The intelligence agency specified that the cyber offensive is focused on “government officials, diplomats, military personnel, and civil society members with access to privileged information from Portugal and allied countries.”

Portuguese intelligence officials declined to name which nation is orchestrating the hacking operation, noting that the attackers are “exploiting potential careless use by individuals relying on the end-to-end encryption of the two applications,” both of which are commonly utilized by government workers, defense personnel, and business executives.

The agency clarified that these intrusion attempts “do not mean that WhatsApp or Signal have been compromised,” though they did not completely dismiss that possibility.

This Portuguese warning comes just days after Dutch intelligence authorities reported Monday that Russian-supported hackers had similarly launched a worldwide cyber operation targeting the same messaging platforms.

The SIS stated it released this public advisory to assist citizens in defending against potential cyber threats.

PRAGUE — The Czech Parliament voted Wednesday to approve a defense budget for 2026 that doesn’t satisfy NATO spending requirements, ignoring appeals from both American officials and the nation’s president.

In a 104-87 vote in the lower chamber’s 200-member assembly, lawmakers — many supporting the new administration led by populist Prime Minister Andrej Babiš — authorized nearly 155 billion koruna ($7.4 billion) for the Defense Ministry. This represents slightly more than 1.7% of the country’s gross domestic product.

NATO requires member nations to dedicate 2% of GDP to defense spending. Czech expenditures would barely exceed the 2% threshold only when including defense-related funding distributed across other government departments. Whether this accounting method would satisfy alliance standards remains uncertain.

Defending his position, Babiš contended his administration faced competing priorities, including “the health of our citizens,” and described the allocation as “the maximum possible” given the deteriorated public financial situation left by the former government.

Alliance members pledged in 2014 to reach the minimum 2% GDP defense spending level, with NATO anticipating all countries, including the Czech Republic, would achieve this benchmark by the previous year.

During the 2025 Hague summit, responding to Trump administration demands, the alliance established more ambitious goals: investing 3.5% of GDP on essential defense needs and an additional 1.5% on defense and security-related expenditures by 2035.

President Petr Pavel, a former military general, pressed legislators to boost the budget allocation, referencing Russia’s continuing assault on Ukraine. “Today, there is not a single justifiable reason for defense and security spending to stagnate,” Pavel stated.

While the president must approve the budget, he has indicated he will sign it, acknowledging that budgetary decisions belong to the government’s authority rather than his own.

Babiš regained leadership following his ANO (YES) movement’s decisive victory in October elections, establishing a coalition government with two smaller parties: the Freedom and Direct Democracy party and the Motorists. Their platform includes reducing support for Ukraine and opposing certain European Union initiatives.

U.S. Ambassador Nicholas Merrick has emphasized Czech NATO responsibilities to the nation’s leadership.

“If Czechia fails to fulfill its commitments, it impacts the entire alliance,” Merrick addressed a Prague security conference last week. “And I don’t need to remind you, and the Czech people, how essential it is that allies honor commitments.”

The ambassador warned that with the proposed defense spending plan, “Czechia would risk being among the lowest spenders in the alliance, and would be demonstrating negative momentum compared to peer NATO partners.”

QUITO, Ecuador — Ecuador’s government announced plans Wednesday for a large-scale military campaign targeting criminal organizations across three western provinces, with logistical assistance from United States forces.

Interior Minister John Reimberg announced during a radio interview that authorities will implement a nighttime curfew running from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. between March 15-30 across Guayas, Los Ríos and Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas provinces — regions experiencing the highest violence rates in the South American nation.

Reimberg emphasized that residents must remain indoors during curfew hours and keep streets clear to allow military personnel and equipment to move freely through the areas.

“We do not want collateral victims from the attacks we are about to launch,” Reimberg said. “We have significant support from U.S. forces for the operations we are about to carry out.”

The U.S. Embassy in Ecuador did not provide immediate response to requests for comment from news organizations.

When contacted Wednesday afternoon, U.S. Southern Command referenced earlier statements from Marine Gen. Francis L. Donovan following March 3 military strikes: “We commend the men and women of the Ecuadorian armed forces for their unwavering commitment to this fight, demonstrating courage and resolve through continued actions against narco-terrorists in their country.”

The announcement follows recent joint military operations between Ecuador and the United States targeting organized crime networks, though neither nation previously disclosed specific locations or operational scope.

Reimberg described the upcoming strikes as efforts to “destroy what they have built in various parts of the country,” but refused to elaborate on tactical details for security reasons.

Beginning in early 2021, Ecuador has confronted persistent attacks from organized crime networks that law enforcement officials say maintain strong connections to drug trafficking organizations operating in Colombia and Mexico.

Authorities identify Ecuador as a critical logistics center for international drug smuggling operations, functioning as a transit and distribution point for narcotics — primarily originating from Colombia, with additional shipments from Peru. Officials report these illegal substances move through Ecuadorian ports toward destinations including Central America, the United States and Europe.

JOHANNESBURG — Diplomatic tensions between the United States and South Africa have escalated after the country’s foreign minister called in America’s new ambassador to account for his controversial public statements, officials announced Wednesday.

Ambassador Leo Brent Bozell III faced official scrutiny following his Tuesday address to a gathering of business executives, where he questioned South Africa’s relationship with Iran and criticized domestic policies promoting opportunities for Black citizens over other racial groups.

The diplomatic relationship between these former allies has deteriorated significantly since Donald Trump resumed the presidency. Current relations have reached their most strained level since apartheid — the system of white minority governance — concluded in 1994. Trump has consistently criticized South Africa’s Black-majority leadership.

Bozell, a conservative political figure selected by Trump, began his duties in Pretoria just last month.

During his initial comprehensive public statements regarding US-South Africa relations since his arrival, Bozell argued that South Africa should modify certain affirmative action policies created to address inequalities stemming from decades of racial separation under apartheid. He drew parallels between these current laws and the discriminatory legislation that oppressed Black South Africans during apartheid.

The ambassador additionally advocated for changes to property legislation that permits the South African government to seize land without providing compensation under specific conditions.

“While South Africa welcomes active public diplomacy and the strengthening of bilateral ties, we emphasize that such engagements must remain consistent with established diplomatic etiquette and international protocols,” Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola stated during a news briefing. “In this regard, we have called in the ambassador of the United States, Ambassador Bozell, to explain his undiplomatic remarks.”

Zane Dangor, the foreign ministry’s director-general, revealed that Bozell held discussions with South African representatives on Tuesday, during which the ambassador “apologized and expressed regret.”

The US government has not yet provided any official response.

Trump’s primary accusation against South Africa’s government centers on his unsubstantiated assertion that white farmers from minority communities face targeted violence and murders. Even certain conservative white Afrikaner organizations have disputed the Trump administration’s allegations.

These claims became the focus of a tense White House encounter between Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa last year, highlighting the deteriorating diplomatic relationship.

Bozell did modify one of his earlier statements on Wednesday. During Tuesday’s business leader gathering, he had criticized a South African judicial decision that determined an apartheid-era slogan used by an extreme-left political organization did not constitute hate speech, despite containing the words “kill the Boer.” The term Boer describes white farmers in South Africa.

The Trump administration has labeled this slogan as anti-white hate speech. Bozell reinforced this position Tuesday, stating: “I am sorry, I don’t care what your courts say, it’s hate speech.” However, he clarified on social media Wednesday that his remarks represented his personal opinion and “the U.S. government respects the independence and findings of South Africa’s judiciary.”

The Trump administration has implemented additional unprecedented measures against South Africa — America’s largest African trading partner — including removing its ambassador from Washington last year and excluding South Africa from Group of 20 meetings held in the United States this year.

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Officials in Cambodia announced Wednesday their goal to eliminate every remaining online fraud operation within the country’s borders before May arrives, according to the leader of the nation’s anti-cybercrime initiative.

Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith, who oversees the Commission for Combating Online Scams, revealed during an Associated Press interview that authorities have identified 250 suspected fraud locations since beginning operations in July. Of those sites, approximately 200 have been successfully dismantled, representing an 80% closure rate.

Following the April deadline, Sinarith indicated that law enforcement will continue enforcement operations to prevent these criminal enterprises from reestablishing themselves.

This marks another attempt by Cambodia to address the scam center problem, though previous efforts have yielded limited success.

Online fraud has become a massive problem across Southeast Asia, with Cambodia and Myanmar serving as major hubs for these operations. International experts and United Nations officials estimate that victims worldwide lose tens of billions of dollars each year to these schemes.

These criminal operations are deeply connected to human trafficking networks, as foreign workers are recruited through deceptive job advertisements and then forced into near-slavery conditions to operate romance and cryptocurrency fraud schemes.

According to Sinarith, the current enforcement campaign has resulted in 79 criminal cases targeting 697 suspected operation leaders and their accomplices.

During the same period, nearly 10,000 scam center employees from 23 different nations have been sent back to their home countries, with fewer than 1,000 still waiting for official repatriation. Additional workers have independently returned home after escaping or being freed from raided facilities.

Sinarith emphasized that Cambodia maintains strong cooperation with multiple nations, particularly China and the United States, in addressing this criminal activity.

On Tuesday, Cambodian authorities conducted a raid on a suspected fraud center located in a Phnom Penh high-rise, resulting in the arrest of approximately 60 individuals of Cambodian and Chinese nationality who were caught working at their stations.

“They did chat to convince people in Europe to invest the money with them, but their investment is fake and fraudulent. It is not real,” explained Bun Sosekha, a deputy commissioner with Phnom Penh Municipal Police.

Media representatives were shown seized materials on Wednesday, including costumes and counterfeit identification documents that fraudsters used to impersonate Japanese law enforcement officers online as a method to deceive and intimidate their targets.

The illegal activity has troubled Cambodia since its modest beginnings in 2012, when operators primarily used voice-over-internet-protocol technology to hide their true locations and identities, Sinarith noted.

These fraudulent schemes expanded dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic, as casinos that had previously focused on questionable online gambling activities lost their walk-in clientele and shifted to large-scale internet fraud operations.

Since then, similar scam operations have established themselves globally, reaching as far as Africa and Latin America.

The painful spike in gas prices hitting drivers’ wallets stems largely from an ongoing conflict that has shut down the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping channel for Persian Gulf oil and natural gas. This narrow waterway along Iran’s coastline has become impassable due to warfare, prompting international governments to develop emergency plans for restoring commercial traffic once hostilities end.

French President Emmanuel Macron is spearheading a multinational initiative to restore access to this energy bottleneck, enabling oil, gas and commercial goods to resume flowing freely “when circumstances permit.” His strategy involves deploying naval warships to provide protection for oil tankers and cargo ships navigating the strait after the intense combat subsides.

However, retired naval commanders with extensive experience in Hormuz waters warn that any vessels attempting passage would face extreme vulnerability in the strait’s confined shipping channels if foreign military forces tried reopening the route before fighting ceased.

“In today’s context, sending warships or civilian vessels into the Strait of Hormuz would be suicidal,” retired French navy Vice Admiral Pascal Ausseur told The Associated Press.

A ceasefire with Iran “would make the situation shift from suicidal to dangerous. At that point, military ships could be deployed. And then escort operations could begin,” he explained.

Naval forces from France, America, Britain and other nations possess crucial hands-on experience defending against missile and drone attacks in the region. These crews have successfully protected cargo ships during Red Sea operations against strikes launched by Iran-supported Houthi fighters from Yemen.

French warships deployed machine guns, artillery and advanced air-defense systems to repel Houthi assaults. The French frigate Alsace destroyed three ballistic missiles in Red Sea waters during 2024 while protecting a container vessel. Captain Jérôme Henry, who commanded the ship during that period, described the potentially fatal attacks as nerve-wracking and exhausting for his crew. American Navy vessels and sailors also endured significant stress from these maritime confrontations.

“There were repeated attacks, either by drones or missiles,” Henry recalled. “The crew didn’t get much sleep.”

Retired French Vice Admiral Michel Olhagaray, formerly leading France’s advanced military studies center, noted that “all navies learned a great deal” about collaborative operations and ship protection from Red Sea missions, while also incorporating lessons from Ukraine’s defense against Russian missile and drone bombardments during Moscow’s invasion.

“It would allow us to deploy to that region with fairly refined know-how and a high level of cooperation — and that is extremely important,” stated Olhagaray, who previously commanded a French frigate patrolling the Strait of Hormuz during the 1980s Iran-Iraq conflict.

Iran possesses significantly more advanced military capabilities than its Houthi allies in Yemen, who caused extensive damage and disruption in Red Sea shipping. Equipped with Iranian weapons, these rebels attacked over 100 commercial vessels using missiles and drones between November 2023 and January 2025, destroying two ships, killing four crew members, and severely reducing trade volumes.

According to U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency analysis, Iran can strike throughout the entire Strait of Hormuz and surrounding areas using anti-ship cruise missiles developed from Chinese-designed weapons. The country can also attack vessels with extended-range missiles, unmanned aircraft, high-speed assault boats and underwater mines, which were deployed during the Iran-Iraq war. Recent American strikes against Iranian mine-laying ships highlight the seriousness of this threat.

With active warfare continuing, the Hormuz corridor remains “very, very dangerous” with shipping risks “much greater” than Red Sea operations against the Houthis, Olhagaray warned.

“The means to counter this threat must be far more substantial and far more effective,” he emphasized. “Before the heat can decrease… most of the offensive installations on land in Iran would have to be eliminated. There would need to be constant monitoring, patrols, extremely close surveillance, and a very high level of intelligence to be able to say that it would be possible to allow tankers to transit, even with military escorts.”

“That will not happen at all — not at all — in the near future.”

Maritime specialists identify another major obstacle: convincing shipping insurance companies and vessel operators that Hormuz navigation has become safe again. Insurance costs for strait transit have skyrocketed to levels France’s transportation minister called “insane,” creating “a big problem” for shipping firms.

“Maritime traffic is a business. That business has to make money. If insurance costs are so high that you can’t make a profit by sailing through a given area, then you don’t sail through that area. Shipowners are not going to operate at a loss,” explained Ausseur, currently serving as director of the Mediterranean Foundation for Strategic Studies think tank.

Insurance premiums for oil tankers seeking Hormuz passage have increased dramatically compared to pre-war rates and are nearing costs charged for grain ships departing Ukraine during the ongoing Russian conflict, according to Marcus Baker, global marine, cargo and logistics director for insurance broker Marsh Risk.

Potential military escort services for commercial vessels “would be helpful,” Baker noted.

“That’s been done before in conflicts past, so that’s not something unusual and that will obviously give a degree of confidence to the insurers that the vessels are going to have a greater degree of safety,” he said.

Israel’s Ambassador to the United States is raising alarms about Iran’s potential to disrupt global energy supplies, warning that the conflict extends far beyond Middle Eastern borders.

Ambassador Yechiel Leiter spoke out Tuesday as concerns grew over the security of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for international oil transport. The ambassador posed a stark question about the implications of Iranian control over this strategic passage.

“If a Nuclear Iran Took the Strait of Hormuz, Who Would Control the World’s Oil?” Leiter asked, emphasizing the global stakes involved in the current tensions.

The strait serves as a crucial bottleneck for energy markets, with approximately 20 percent of the world’s petroleum liquids flowing through this narrow waterway. Even potential threats to disrupt or block this passage are enough to cause significant concern among oil markets and international governments.

According to Leiter, the joint efforts between the United States and Israel focus on preventing Tehran from developing nuclear capabilities, stopping the spread of terrorism, and blocking Iran from gaining control over critical global energy transportation routes.

The ambassador’s comments highlight how regional conflicts in the Middle East can have far-reaching consequences for global energy security and economic stability worldwide.

BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of Congo (AP) — Citizens of the Republic of Congo will cast ballots in a presidential election this weekend, though the results appear predetermined as the nation’s long-serving president encounters minimal opposition from political rivals.

Numerous young citizens indicate they have no intention of taking part in an election that current President Dennis Sassou N’Guesso is virtually guaranteed to win. The half-dozen opposition contenders have failed to present any meaningful challenge to the leader who has governed this oil-wealthy Central African nation of 5.61 million residents for 42 years combined.

The 82-year-old Sassou N’Guesso initially assumed power in 1979 and remained in control until the 1992 election where he placed third. He regained authority as a militia commander following a four-month civil conflict in 1997 and has maintained leadership ever since, securing victory in four elections against divided opposition forces.

He ranks as Africa’s third longest-serving leader, trailing only Cameroon’s Paul Biya and Equatorial Guinea’s Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. A 2015 constitutional referendum eliminated both age restrictions and term limits for the presidency, ensuring Sassou N’Guesso could continue seeking office.

Throughout the nation’s youth population, optimism for transformation appears minimal, with many planning to skip Sunday’s voting.

This includes Macaire Epoha, a 38-year-old mathematician who performs various temporary jobs to make ends meet in the capital city of Brazzaville.

“N’Guesso will be re-elected with his usual scores, which are close to 80%,” Epoha said. “The elections have no bearing on young people.”

Cyprien Massamba earned a university degree in geography but has worked as a taxi driver for a decade. He plans to abstain from voting and wishes enough citizens would boycott the election to draw international attention to the nation’s severe economic struggles.

“The people are languishing in poverty,” Massamba said.

Remadji Hoinathy, a senior researcher on central Africa at the Institute of Security Studies, describes the elections as serving only to “legitimize power without competition.”

N’Guesso, representing his Congolese Party of Labor, confronts six challengers, including Mabio Mavoungou Zinga, a former parliament member leading an opposition alliance.

Political experts believe the opposition stands no chance following the ruling party’s power consolidation, frequently employing intimidation methods to undermine rivals. Two prominent opposition candidates are skipping the election due to claims of biased electoral procedures.

Grappling with substantial debt levels and persistent economic decline, unemployment among youth aged 15 to 24 reaches 41% — almost twice the 22% rate for the entire workforce, based on World Bank data.

Dependent on petroleum resources, the nation’s economy remains vulnerable to global oil market fluctuations and confronts a soaring debt-to-GDP ratio of 95.4%, according to World Bank figures.

“If you look at the level of the debt and youth unemployment, then it clearly appears the oil revenues have been ill-managed in terms of being unable to diversify the economy, respond to people’s daily needs and create jobs for the youth,” said Hoinathy, the senior Central Africa researcher.

Political observers identify another emerging concern — the question of presidential succession. Given the nearly inevitable electoral victory and considering his advanced age, this may represent N’Guesso’s final term, analysts suggest.

Denis-Christel Sassou Nguesso — the president’s 51-year-old son who has held the position of minister of international cooperation and promotion of public-private partnership since 2021 — appears to be prepared for leadership, they indicate.

The president’s campaign message to young citizens has emphasized a pledge to “accelerate the march toward development,” vowing to expedite infrastructure projects and agricultural mechanization.

However, in a country where 47% of residents are under 18, youth voters seem unmoved by this appeal.

“The system is locked down by the old guard,” said Coretta Imongui, a 28-year mother of three seeking employment.

“However, they will not live forever,” she said. “I still have hope for my children and grandchildren.”

A prominent Bedouin human rights attorney says her years of community work have convinced her that female leadership and cooperation between different ethnic groups are vital for creating lasting peace and fairness in Israeli society.

Hanan Alsanah, a feminist lawyer who has dedicated decades to activism, spoke about her experiences during an International Women’s Day conversation on the program “Facing the Middle East” with host Felice Friedson. Her work has ranged from educational initiatives in the Negev region to providing emergency assistance following the October 7 terrorist attacks.

During the interview, Alsanah discussed her transformation from growing up in a traditional Bedouin household to establishing herself as a respected legal advocate and peacebuilder who is now considering entering the political arena.

The attorney emphasized that increasing women’s involvement in politics and building cooperation at the community level can help strengthen social justice efforts and create more stable, long-term solutions across Israeli society.

While the broader Middle East conflict between Israel, the United States, and Iran dominates headlines, Palestinian communities find themselves caught in the crossfire with their governing authority increasingly pushed aside from key decisions affecting their future.

The West Bank continues to experience intense security pressures, Gaza’s political direction remains unclear, and the Palestinian Authority appears to have little influence over the developments that will shape both territories.

Two regional experts provide contrasting perspectives on the current situation. Hiba Husseini, an attorney who previously served as legal counsel to Palestinian negotiators during peace talks, and Kobi Michael, a political researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies and the Misgav Institute, disagree on the implications but both acknowledge that Palestinian issues are being swept along by a broader regional conflict controlled by outside powers.

According to Husseini, the most pressing concern is the daily insecurity facing Palestinians, particularly in the West Bank, where civilian protections are minimal and freedom of movement remains severely limited.

“This is not an Israeli–American retaliation against Iran. It’s an attack on Iran, and the retaliation was made by Iran, which is affecting not only our lives but also those of the entire region,” she told The Media Line.

Husseini emphasized that the threat encompasses both physical and mental health impacts. The West Bank lacks protective shelters, leaving residents vulnerable to debris from missile defense systems while also subjecting them to the psychological stress of witnessing warfare in their vicinity.

“The situation in the West Bank is very difficult because we don’t have shelters in Palestine,” she said. “If you have parts falling on the West Bank and on any part of the West Bank, it will cause damage, of course, and may even cause a death. We are not very safe. Also, the situation is very difficult because we hear everything, we feel everything, and we see everything.”

The Palestinian Authority has implemented crisis measures including school and university closures, online learning transitions, and advisories for residents to remain indoors. However, these actions highlight the constraints on Palestinian self-governance, as Israeli military checkpoints continue controlling inter-area travel and West Bank operations persist despite the Iranian conflict.

“You still have daily incursions in the West Bank by the Israeli military,” she said. “Even though they’re busy fighting Iran, the troops that usually are present in the West Bank have remained in the West Bank; they’re still going into incursions in the northern West Bank—Nablus, Jenin—regularly.”

Husseini argued that for most Palestinians, immediate concerns stem from local circumstances rather than the wider regional military confrontation.

“There is fear, more fear, ironically and sadly, more fear from the settlers and from the protection they receive from the army, more so than from missiles or parts of missiles falling on the West Bank on our heads,” she said.

The Palestinian Authority’s budget crisis compounds this sense of insecurity. While the authority continues managing aspects of daily governance, it operates with diminished resources. Since much of its funding relies on tax collection by Israel under Oslo Accords arrangements, recurring delays or withholding of these funds has created difficulties in paying employee wages and maintaining public services.

Husseini noted that the broader crisis has intensified economic hardships for Palestinians already struggling financially.

“It has already affected our economics, this situation. We’re not earning, so revenues are not coming in,” she said. “There is no welfare system in Palestine. … There is no unemployment support. So it’s a very difficult situation financially for people to sustain themselves for a long time.”

She also contended that the Palestinian Authority has been politically marginalized, excluded from regional diplomatic efforts and discussions about Gaza’s future governance.

“They have been sidelined,” she said. “The US and Israel don’t want them to participate in the technocratic committee or anything related to Gaza. … They don’t seek their input. … They don’t even have a role to play in the West Bank at the moment.”

This marginalization is particularly evident in Gaza, where the proposed technocratic government intended to assume control following the ceasefire has not yet been established. Hamas maintains its military presence, while local armed factions reportedly receiving Israeli support have emerged in portions of the territory. Without consolidated governance, issues of reconstruction, public services, and security remain unaddressed.

Michael views the current situation through a different lens. He believes Iran serves as the central player in the regional conflict system, and the confrontation with Tehran could fundamentally transform the region beyond Palestinian territories.

“I think that Israel perceives the event as a very historical opportunity to reshape the regional architecture in its entirety,” Michael told The Media Line.

He noted that Gulf nations remain cautious about openly supporting Israel and the United States due to concerns about potential abandonment if Washington fails to see the conflict through to completion.

“The Gulf countries are very hesitant when it comes to Iran because they don’t rely on the Americans,” he said. “They are afraid that if they join the American-Israeli coalition now … the Americans will not finish the job, and then they will remain there with Iran, which is the wounded lion.”

Michael characterized the military operation as carefully coordinated and potentially transformative in its impact on Iran.

“It’s a very well-planned campaign, a very clear division of war between both sides,” he said. “The accumulation of the damages that are caused to Iran is very significant. … Iran after the war … will not be Iran that we used to know.”

However, he emphasized that the crucial question concerns what happens after the military phase transitions to political decision-making.

“The big question … is what is going to be on the day after,” he said. “On the day that President Trump reaches the conclusion that he won the war … what will remain here in the region?”

This uncertainty also applies to the Palestinian Authority, whose diminished role Michael attributes less to deliberate exclusion than to being overshadowed by larger developments.

“They became very marginal,” he said. “Nobody now has the patience to deal with the Palestinians because everybody understands that we are facing a tectonic event that will change the entire world.”

Nevertheless, Michael acknowledged that the West Bank situation is becoming increasingly problematic within Israel, particularly due to violence perpetrated by Israeli settlers.

“When it comes to the West Bank and to the brutal, violent, and the terrorist behavior of some of the Israeli settlers—we are talking about a marginal group—but unfortunately this marginal group is very vocal, very violent, and very damaging,” he said.

He suggested there is growing awareness in Israel that this issue requires attention.

“I think that there is an understanding among the Israeli leadership that enough is enough in this regard, and measures will be taken,” he noted.

Recent violence in communities like Abu Falah, where three Palestinians were reportedly killed in settler-related incidents within recent days, continues escalating West Bank tensions even as regional focus shifts toward Iran.

For Husseini, this convergence of pressures has created a situation where Palestinians face multiple simultaneous crises: weakened institutions, economic difficulties, settler violence, movement limitations, and uncertainty about Gaza’s future.

“It’s a disastrous formula for the Palestinians,” Husseini said. “A bankrupt and sidelined PA, an uncertain future for Gaza, and restrictions also in East Jerusalem. It’s a grim situation for us.”

The difference between these two assessments is striking. Michael envisions a regional realignment underway that could shift Middle Eastern power dynamics. Husseini sees Palestinian challenges deepening as attention turns elsewhere. Currently, both viewpoints align on one aspect: the Iranian conflict has not settled Palestinian questions but has instead embedded them more deeply within a broader regional struggle while leaving fundamental issues unresolved.

Officials at Thailand’s Phuket airport temporarily shut down their main runway Wednesday following a landing gear failure involving an Air India Express aircraft arriving from India.

Flight AXB938, which had departed from Hyderabad, encountered problems with its nose wheel during the landing process, causing damage to the aircraft’s landing gear system as it touched down on the runway surface.

According to an Air India Express representative, the aircraft “experienced an issue with the nose wheel at Phuket Airport.” The spokesperson continued, “The crew followed all standard protocols, and guests were deplaned.”

Airport officials confirmed that no injuries occurred during the incident and announced the runway would resume operations at 6 p.m. local time (1100 GMT).

Photos shared on social media by Thai state broadcaster MCOT revealed the aircraft’s damaged landing gear making direct contact with the runway pavement, with one wheel completely detached. The images also showed extensive skid marks zigzagging across the tarmac surface.

The budget airline, which operates as Air India’s low-cost division, maintains a fleet exceeding 100 aircraft from both Boeing and Airbus manufacturers.

This incident adds to a series of safety concerns surrounding the airline. India’s aviation regulatory body issued a reprimand to Air India Express in March of last year for failing to replace engine components on an Airbus A320 as mandated by the European Union’s aviation safety authority, Reuters previously reported. Officials also criticized the airline for creating false documentation to appear compliant with safety requirements.

Between January and November of last year, Air India Express documented 95 technical problems, ranking second among Indian carriers for reported defects during that timeframe, according to India’s civil aviation ministry in December. Ministry officials did not elaborate on the specific types of mechanical issues encountered.

The parent company, Air India, has faced heightened regulatory attention in recent months following multiple safety violations and a fatal crash in Ahmedabad last June that claimed 260 lives.

Phuket serves as a major transportation hub for Thailand, handling hundreds of daily flights connecting passengers from Middle Eastern, European, and Asian destinations, along with domestic travel routes.

Two people died and five others were wounded when a Russian drone struck a civilian business in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, according to local authorities.

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov confirmed the casualties on the Telegram messaging platform, stating, “Unfortunately, there is preliminary information about two people killed.”

Regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported that all five injured individuals sustained serious injuries and are receiving medical treatment. The drone attack also sparked a fire at the targeted business, Syniehubov added.

The city of Kharkiv sits approximately 18 miles from Ukraine’s border with Russia. The city successfully defended against Russian ground forces during the initial stages of the full-scale invasion that began in February 2022, but has remained under constant threat from aerial bombardments throughout the ongoing conflict.

TORONTO (AP) — Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal Party has gained another step toward majority control of Canada’s Parliament following the latest opposition member to switch allegiances.

New Democratic Party interim leader Don Davies expressed strong disappointment Tuesday evening over Member of Parliament Lori Idlout’s decision to join the Liberal ranks, according to his official statement.

The move brings the Liberals significantly closer to achieving majority status, which would enable them to advance legislation without requiring support from opposition parties.

Liberal Cabinet minister Sean Fraser posted a welcome message for Idlout on social media platforms.

This marks the fourth recent defection to Carney’s party, following three Conservative members who switched sides in previous months.

Following Idlout’s departure from the left-leaning New Democratic party, the Liberals now hold 170 seats in the House of Commons. A majority requires 172 Members of Parliament, which would grant them unilateral authority to enact any legislation.

Neither Carney’s spokesperson nor Idlout’s office provided immediate responses to requests for comment.

The prime minister has scheduled special elections in three constituencies that could deliver the majority if Liberals capture two of the three seats.

Carney announced March 8 that voting will take place April 13 across three districts: Scarborough Southwest and University-Rosedale in the Toronto region, both viewed as Liberal strongholds, plus Terrebonne near Montreal, where the outcome remains uncertain.

The three Conservative legislators who recently joined the Liberal caucus include Chris d’Entremont, Michael Ma and Matt Jeneroux.

Jeneroux cited Carney’s World Economic Forum address in Davos as influential in his decision. During that speech, Carney criticized economic pressure tactics used by major powers against smaller nations, earning widespread acclaim and overshadowing U.S. President Donald Trump at the international gathering.

Since taking over from Justin Trudeau as prime minister in 2025 and securing electoral victory, Carney has positioned the Liberals toward the political center.

“One year into his tenure as PM, Carney maintains strong domestic popularity and, particularly following his notable January 20 Davos address, has emerged as a more visible figure internationally,” observed Daniel Béland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal.

“Mark Carney’s Liberals have successfully drawn both Conservative and NDP Members of Parliament into their ranks, demonstrating the current political success of the Prime Minister’s moderate positioning amid ongoing domestic concerns about economic issues and trade relationships, particularly regarding Canada-US relations,” Béland explained in an email.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un monitored strategic cruise missile launches alongside his teenage daughter via video feed from a naval vessel, according to state media reports released Wednesday, amid rising tensions over U.S.-South Korean joint military exercises.

Photos distributed by the Korean Central News Agency depicted the pair inside a conference room viewing a display screen that showed weapons being launched from the naval destroyer Choe Hyon, which entered service one year ago.

The North Korean leader monitored the missile launches through video transmission on Tuesday and emphasized the importance of maintaining “a powerful and reliable nuclear war deterrent,” according to KCNA’s report, which made no reference to his daughter’s presence.

The young woman, identified by sources as Kim Ju Ae and believed to be approximately 13 years old, has been present at multiple high-profile occasions alongside her father, including military ceremonies and weapons demonstrations, beginning in late 2022. Intelligence officials from South Korea concluded last month that Kim Jong Un appears poised to name her as his successor.

According to KCNA, the missiles successfully struck target islands located off North Korea’s western coastline. The news agency quoted Kim Jong Un as explaining that the launches were designed to showcase the naval force’s strategic attack capabilities and provide troops with weapons training experience.

The North Korean leader personally witnessed comparable cruise missile tests from the same destroyer just one week earlier, though his daughter did not attend that demonstration.

The missile testing on Tuesday followed the commencement of annual spring military exercises between the United States and South Korea, which North Korea characterizes as preparation for an attack.

Kim Yo Jong, the dictator’s sister and a high-ranking government official, issued a warning on Tuesday that the military drills once again expose the United States and South Korea’s “inveterate repugnancy toward” North Korea. She declared that North Korea would “convince the enemies of our war deterrence.”

The Freedom Shield exercise, scheduled to run for 11 days starting Monday, consists primarily of computer-based command center simulations paired with practical field exercises. North Korea typically responds to these training operations by conducting its own weapons testing.

International legal experts filed a formal complaint Tuesday with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, charging that El Salvador’s government has engaged in crimes against humanity.

The legal filing details allegations of widespread torture, killings, and forced disappearances occurring during the nation’s state of emergency, which President Nayib Bukele’s administration put into effect four years ago this month.

According to the complaint, there exist “reasonable grounds” to conclude that crimes against humanity, as outlined in Article 7 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, are taking place in the Central American nation.

The document further contends that these human rights violations stem from government policy “known and even promoted by the highest levels of President Nayib Bukele’s government.”

Bukele’s administration first enacted the emergency measures on March 27, 2022, responding to an outbreak of gang-related violence that claimed 87 lives during a single weekend period.

Since implementing the emergency powers, government forces have imprisoned more than 90,000 individuals, with approximately 500 of those held in custody dying while in state facilities.

Government statistics indicate that murders have dropped by over 90% during Bukele’s presidency.

However, Salvadoran Public Defender General Rene Escobar pushed back against the accusations, stating that the administration rejects any policy involving “forced disappearance, torture, sexual violence, or arbitrary executions.”

KABUL, Afghanistan — Taliban officials on Tuesday pushed back against American accusations that they hold foreign citizens captive to gain political advantages, insisting that Afghan law enforcement arrests individuals solely for breaking the country’s laws, not for negotiating purposes.

The State Department made the announcement Monday, officially classifying Afghanistan as a nation that sponsors wrongful detention and claiming it practices “hostage diplomacy.” This designation places Afghanistan alongside Iran, which received similar criticism from the U.S. within the last two weeks for holding Americans to secure policy changes.

Afghanistan’s Foreign Affairs Ministry in Kabul described the U.S. designation as “regrettable” in their Tuesday response.

During a United Nations-facilitated conference in Doha this past July, Taliban representatives suggested trading Afghans imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay for Americans currently held in Afghanistan. The ministry characterized their ongoing diplomatic conversations with the United States about this matter as productive on Tuesday. However, they emphasized that any foreign nationals in Afghan custody had broken the nation’s laws.

“The government of Afghanistan underscores that no foreign nationals have been detained for purposes of a deal,” the ministry said. “Certain individuals have been detained on charges of violating established laws, and in many instances, they have been released in the normal course following the completion of legal procedures.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a travel warning for Americans on Monday, advising against trips to Afghanistan because the Taliban “continues to unjustly detain our fellow Americans and other foreign nationals.”

“The Taliban continues to use terrorist tactics, kidnapping individuals for ransom or to seek policy concessions. These despicable tactics need to end,” Rubio said.

Rubio demanded freedom for two Americans reportedly in Taliban hands: Dennis Coyle, a university researcher held since January 2025, and Mahmood Habibi, an Afghan American business owner who worked as a contractor for a telecommunications firm based in Kabul and disappeared in 2022.

Both the FBI and Habibi’s relatives believe Taliban forces captured him, though Taliban officials deny having him in custody.

Last September, Afghan Taliban authorities released American citizen Amir Amiri from prison as part of efforts to improve diplomatic ties with Washington.

TORONTO — Authorities in Toronto are examining reports that shots were fired at the United States consulate building in the city’s downtown area during the early hours of Tuesday.

Officials confirm that no one was injured in the incident.

Law enforcement officers with Toronto police responded to calls around 5:30 a.m. regarding someone discharging a weapon at the American diplomatic facility.

Authorities posted on social media that officers were dispatched to the location in the vicinity of University Avenue and Queen Street West.

“Evidence of a firearm discharge has been located,” authorities stated in their social media update.

Police have not yet provided any details about potential suspects.

This incident follows recent attacks on two synagogues in the Toronto metropolitan area that were targeted by gunfire over the past weekend.

SALLA, Finland — Nearly 1,000 spectators braved bone-chilling temperatures in northern Finland this weekend to witness the annual Salla Reindeer Cup, a traditional competition that has captivated audiences for generations.

The remote town of Salla, located approximately 164 miles northeast of Oulu and close to the Russian frontier, hosted visitors from across the globe, including travelers from Italy, Norway, Germany, and France, all eager to experience this unique cultural event.

Fans gathered to watch as reindeer thundered across snow-packed courses, dragging their ski-equipped handlers behind them in a test of speed and endurance. Victory goes to whichever team crosses the finish line first.

According to Lasse Aatsinki, who leads the Salla Reindeer Cup organization, this sporting tradition has deep historical roots in the region. “Salla has a long history in reindeer racing — it’s been going on here since the 1950s,” Aatsinki explained. “Back then, men spent winters in the forest, there were no snowmobiles. In late winter, the reindeer were in great shape, so they started racing them.”

The modern version has evolved into a structured competitive sport featuring specially trained male reindeer, with reindeer herding remaining a cornerstone of Scandinavian heritage, particularly among the Sami Indigenous communities of the far north.

The weekend’s highlight was the elite “hot series” competition, where only reindeer capable of completing the kilometer-long course in under 1 minute and 19 seconds earn qualification.

“It’s a science. A lot depends on the reindeer’s character — it has to tolerate a lot: the audience, other reindeer, noise, movement,” Aatsinki noted. “Everyone has their tricks — and they’re usually kept under the fur hat. Every owner has their own way.”

Enthusiastic spectators shouted encouragement in Finnish, calling out “hyvä, hyvä” and “mene, mene” — meaning “good, good” and “go, go” — as the animals charged toward the finish line.

Between competitions, attendees warmed themselves with hearty reindeer soup and kampanisu, a beloved local pastry that’s a Salla specialty.

Sunday’s championship round concluded with victory going to a reindeer called Pompom, whose owner Hannu Krupula praised the animal’s exceptional abilities.

“Pompom is exceptionally fast and smart, and you rarely find one like that,” Krupula said of his winning reindeer.

“If there’s any weakness, it’s that it’s not very good-looking — which can be misleading,” he continued. “When you look at that reindeer, you might quickly think it’s poorly fed or something. But it eats well. It’s a rare individual.”

Following the competition’s conclusion, Pompom and all participating reindeer received their preferred reward — lichen, considered a delicacy among the animals.

NEW YORK (AP) — An escalating conflict in Iran has brought oil tanker traffic to a virtual standstill, targeted petroleum refineries, and created anxiety among investors concerned about rising energy costs.

Despite what appears to be an appropriate moment to access global emergency petroleum stockpiles, international leaders have demonstrated hesitation in taking such action.

Here’s an examination of the energy reserves nations maintain and the circumstances under which they utilize them:

Following the outbreak of Middle Eastern hostilities on February 28, initiated by American and Israeli strikes against Iran, petroleum tanker movement through the Strait of Hormuz has essentially ceased, blocking a critical route for substantial global oil transportation.

This disruption has caused petroleum prices to climb dramatically.

Brent crude, the global benchmark, jumped to approximately $120 per barrel on Monday—roughly 65% above pre-conflict levels—before declining toward $90.

Nations worldwide maintain substantial petroleum quantities available for emergency situations, including America’s massive Strategic Petroleum Reserve stored in underground salt formations across Texas and Louisiana.

Since oil functions as an international commodity, and releasing large quantities onto the market carries worldwide consequences, nations frequently consult with each other before accessing reserves. This includes coordination through the International Energy Agency, established following the 1973 oil shortage.

However, deciding to utilize oil reserves involves complex considerations, especially during warfare with constantly changing conditions and uncertain duration.

“The key question on drawing down these reserves remains one of, ‘How long will this conflict last?’” says Tom Seng, an energy finance professor at Texas Christian University. “And, more importantly, ‘How long with the Strait of Hormuz remain blocked?’”

Emergency oil supplies have been accessed during previous market disruptions, including conflicts in Iraq, Libya, and most recently Ukraine.

Kenneth Medlock, senior director of the Center for Energy Studies at Rice University, explains the issue isn’t whether the current situation warrants intervention, but rather determining the optimal timing.

“The price is up but it could get worse,” Medlock says. “What happens if this drags on for two, three months? Then you run into a situation where you lose your buffer.”

All 32 International Energy Agency member nations commit to maintaining reserves equivalent to at least 90 days of imports. While the United States exports more than it imports and maintains reserves without obligation, other countries must eventually replenish any reserves they use.

“Because of that, countries tend to keep reserves for a last-resort scenario, should the disruption be prolonged,” says Maksim Sonin, an energy executive who works with Stanford University’s Hydrogen Initiative.

To date, leadership has shown reluctance to access reserves.

During the weekend, President Donald Trump minimized suggestions of utilizing the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, stating supplies remained adequate and prices would decline soon.

Group of Seven industrialized nations representatives discussed the matter Monday but similarly chose against using strategic reserves.

“We’re not there yet,” French Finance Minister Roland Lescure said after chairing the G7 meeting. Still, he told reporters in Brussels that the group was “ready to take necessary and coordinated steps in order to stabilize markets, such as strategic stockpiling.”

Fatih Birol, the executive director of the IEA, participated in the meeting, subsequently noting the “significant and growing risks for the market.” The organization reports that IEA member countries possess over 1.2 billion barrels of emergency petroleum.

Although leaders have avoided using their reserves thus far, energy expert Brenda Shaffer suggests that merely discussing the option could calm markets.

“As long as the market keeps hearing about these possibilities,” says Shaffer, a professor at the Naval Postgraduate School, “I think that will have a smoothing effect on the global oil market.”

JAKARTA – Major social media companies are working with Indonesian officials to address upcoming restrictions that would prohibit children under 16 from accessing their platforms, representatives confirmed Monday.

The Southeast Asian nation plans to shut down “high risk” social media accounts belonging to minors beginning March 28, according to new ministerial guidelines released this week.

Indonesia’s Communications and Digital Ministry identified several popular platforms as potentially dangerous for young users, including TikTok (owned by China’s ByteDance), Google’s YouTube, Instagram, and gaming platform Roblox.

A YouTube representative stated the company is examining the new rules to make sure they support parental control while maintaining educational opportunities for millions of Indonesian users. “We will continue to engage constructively with the government and remain committed to protecting youth in the digital world, not from it,” the spokesperson explained.

TikTok officials said they are “engaging with the ministry to better understand the provisions” outlined in the regulation. The company noted that teenage user accounts include more than 50 built-in safety, privacy, and security protections.

Communications and Digital Minister Meutya Hafid announced the account deactivations will begin on March 28.

Meta, which operates Instagram and Facebook, responded to the proposed restrictions on Friday before the official regulation was published. The company warned that “governments considering bans should be careful not to push teens toward less safe, unregulated sites, or logged out experiences that bypass important protections.” Meta emphasized that both Instagram and Facebook Teen Accounts include automatic safety measures.

Indonesia joins several other nations, including Australia, that have implemented restrictions on children’s social media use due to growing worries about safety risks and mental health impacts on young users.

BERLIN — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democratic Union has begun what promises to be a pivotal election year with an unexpected setback, losing a closely contested state race in a major industrial stronghold after the Green Party mounted a successful comeback campaign.

The center-right CDU had long anticipated reclaiming the governor’s position in Baden-Württemberg, a southwestern German state housing over 11 million residents and serving as headquarters for automotive giants like Mercedes-Benz and Porsche. The region had been governed for 15 years by Winfried Kretschmann, Germany’s first and only Green Party state leader, who decided to step down from his role in this traditionally conservative area.

Despite Merz’s federal administration facing criticism over Germany’s sluggish economic recovery during his 10 months in office, a CDU win initially seemed probable. However, the party watched its polling advantage erode as election day approached, largely due to an effective Green Party campaign centered around Cem Özdemir, a veteran federal legislator and former agriculture minister.

Monday’s official tally revealed the Green Party captured 30.2% of votes, narrowly edging out the CDU’s 29.7% — representing improvement for the conservatives compared to five years prior, though insufficient for victory. The far-right Alternative for Germany saw its support nearly double to 18.8%, mirroring gains from last year’s national contest. Meanwhile, the Social Democrats, who partner with Merz federally, experienced a dramatic collapse, losing half their previous support to finish with just 5.5%.

The 60-year-old Özdemir emphasized his governmental experience while highlighting the Green Party’s more moderate stance in Baden-Württemberg — a marked difference from the party’s leftward positioning at the national level, where it operates in opposition.

His CDU challenger, 37-year-old Manuel Hagel, lacked comparable name recognition and may have been damaged by a recently surfaced 2018 video where he discussed a school visit and commented on a female student’s “fawn-brown eyes.”

The two parties are anticipated to continue their decade-long coalition arrangement in governing Baden-Württemberg, with Özdemir poised to become Germany’s first state governor of Turkish heritage.

This weekend’s contest kicks off a series of five state elections scheduled for 2024. The next battle occurs March 22 in neighboring Rhineland-Palatinate, where the current national coalition partners will compete directly against each other. Social Democrats have controlled that state since 1991, though they now face a competitive race with Merz’s CDU for the top spot.

September will bring elections in Berlin and two eastern regions formerly part of communist East Germany, where the Alternative for Germany maintains particular strength and hopes to secure its first state governorship.

Jens Spahn, the conservative party’s parliamentary leader in Berlin, acknowledged Sunday’s outcome was “bitter” while highlighting his party’s vote gains and claiming Özdemir succeeded by downplaying his Green Party affiliation. Spahn credited the federal government’s recent performance, including “the chancellor’s strong foreign policy performance.”

Merz has faced occasional criticism for prioritizing foreign policy after recent trips to Washington and Beijing within the past two weeks.

“His foreign policy presence may be really good, but he can only gain popularity and the federal CDU can only gain in polls if things go better domestically,” said Uwe Jun, a political science professor at the University of Trier, speaking to Phoenix television.

“He needs significant improvements in the area of social and economic policy,” Jun added.

New video evidence is challenging President Donald Trump’s statements about a devastating explosion at an Iranian school that claimed more than 165 lives during the ongoing Middle East conflict.

The research organization Bellingcat has analyzed recently released footage that they say contradicts Trump’s assertion that Iran caused the deadly February 28 blast at a school located next to a Revolutionary Guard facility in Minab, Iran’s southern Hormozgan Province.

The three-second video clip, originally distributed by Iran’s semi-official Mehr news agency, captures the moment a weapon strikes a building, creating a dark cloud of smoke that mixes with existing smoke from what appear to be previous attacks on the compound. Bellingcat researcher Trevor Ball determined the footage was filmed at a location near the targeted school, a finding confirmed independently by The Associated Press.

Ball’s analysis identified the weapon as a Tomahawk cruise missile, a munition exclusively used by the United States in this conflict. This marks the first concrete evidence regarding the type of weapon involved in the strike.

The investigation faces obstacles due to the absence of bomb fragment images from the explosion site, and no independent organization has been able to access the location during the ongoing war.

When a reporter questioned Trump on Saturday about potential U.S. responsibility for the attack that primarily killed children, the president denied involvement, stating: “No, in my opinion, based on what I’ve seen, that was done by Iran.” Trump also claimed Iran has poor accuracy with their weapons, offering no supporting evidence. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth immediately announced that the U.S. was conducting an investigation.

Multiple indicators suggest American involvement in the strike.

The U.S. military has initiated a formal assessment of the incident, which according to Pentagon protocols for reducing civilian casualties, only occurs when investigators initially determine possible U.S. military responsibility. An unnamed U.S. official, speaking confidentially due to the sensitive nature of the matter, told the AP that American forces likely carried out the strike.

The school’s proximity to the Revolutionary Guard base and nearby naval barracks also raises questions. U.S. forces have concentrated on naval installations and have confirmed conducting operations in the province, including strikes near the school’s location.

Israel has rejected any involvement in the attack and has typically targeted Iranian sites closer to Israeli territory, with no reported strikes south of Isfahan, located 800 kilometers away. Meanwhile, U.S. naval vessels, including the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, are positioned in the Arabian Sea within striking distance of the school.

Both U.S. Central Command and Israeli military officials did not immediately respond to AP requests for comment regarding Bellingcat’s findings on Monday.

SINGAPORE – World leaders are taking urgent action to shield their economies and citizens from the expanding conflict in Iran, which triggered a historic spike in oil costs Monday following production cuts by major suppliers and signals that hardline leadership will continue in Tehran.

Demonstrating growing international alarm over supply chain disruptions, the Group of Seven finance ministers plan to evaluate a coordinated release from emergency oil stockpiles during Monday’s session, according to a French government official.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung announced his nation would impose fuel price limits for the first time in almost three decades, as the country relies on the Middle East for 70% of its petroleum needs. Lee also cautioned citizens against hoarding fuel.

During an urgent cabinet session, Lee described the situation as “a significant burden on our economy, which is highly dependent on global trade and energy imports from the Middle East.”

A high-ranking Japanese lawmaker revealed Sunday that officials had directed a national petroleum storage facility to ready for potential crude oil distribution, though the country’s top cabinet official later clarified that no final decision had been reached regarding stockpile releases.

Japan relies on Middle Eastern sources for approximately 95% of its oil supply and maintains reserves sufficient for 354 days of national consumption.

Additional nations have implemented their own protective measures: Vietnam eliminated import duties on fuels, Bangladesh closed universities to preserve electricity and fuel supplies, while China recently directed refineries to suspend fuel exports and attempt to cancel existing shipment agreements.

TRUMP MINIMIZES DOMESTIC PRICE INCREASES

President Donald Trump attempted to ease worries about climbing American gasoline costs, which rose 11% during the previous week ending Friday, as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer urged him to tap the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

“Short term oil prices, which will drop rapidly when the destruction of the Iran nuclear threat is over, is a very small price to pay for U.S.A., and World, Safety and Peace,” Trump wrote on Truth Social Sunday evening. “ONLY FOOLS WOULD THINK DIFFERENTLY!”

Petroleum costs surged 25%, with Brent crude positioned for a record single-day increase, as OPEC members Kuwait and Iraq reduced production over the weekend while the vital Strait of Hormuz remained essentially blocked.

BRENT CRUDE SOARS 25% ON SUPPLY CONCERNS

Throughout Asia, where nations obtain 60% of their oil from Middle Eastern sources, stock markets declined and the dollar strengthened amid growing concerns that energy supply interruptions could extend indefinitely.

Iran announced Monday that Mojtaba Khamenei would replace his father Ali Khamenei as supreme leader, a decision likely to provoke Trump’s anger. Weekend strikes on Iranian petroleum storage sites intensified fears of revenge attacks on energy infrastructure.

Bapco Energies in Bahrain announced force majeure Monday after an assault on its refinery facilities, the company reported.

“Oil prices have now gathered all the ingredients for a perfect storm – Middle East Gulf producers cutting output, the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz … all compounded by a growing pessimism about a quick turnaround in the current situation,” stated Kpler senior oil analyst Muyu Xu.

Iraq reduced petroleum production at its primary southern oil fields by 70% to 1.3 million barrels daily, according to three industry insiders Sunday, while Kuwait Petroleum Corp initiated output cuts Saturday and announced force majeure.

Qatar, the world’s second-largest liquefied natural gas exporter, has already suspended shipments of the supercooled fuel, and experts anticipate the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia will soon be forced to reduce production as storage capacity reaches limits due to the Strait of Hormuz blockade.

An early morning blast damaged a Jewish house of worship in Liege, Belgium on Monday, according to reports from Belgian media outlet VRT.

The incident occurred around 4 a.m. local time, with authorities confirming no one was injured in the explosion. Officials have not determined what caused the blast, VRT reported.

The force of the explosion shattered windows at the religious building and also broke glass in a structure across the street, according to the Belgian broadcaster.

Authorities blocked off the area while a specialized counter-terrorism unit began examining the scene. Local law enforcement officials were not available to provide immediate comment on the investigation.

ANKARA – NATO air defense systems successfully intercepted a ballistic missile launched from Iran that was traveling toward Turkish territory, according to Turkish Defense Ministry officials who announced the incident Wednesday.

The missile had crossed through both Syria and Iraq before NATO forces destroyed it over the eastern Mediterranean Sea, preventing it from reaching Turkish airspace.

Turkish Defense Ministry officials confirmed no one was hurt in the incident. They issued a statement declaring that Turkey maintains its right to retaliate against any aggressive actions directed at the country, while also calling on all involved parties to avoid actions that might further escalate regional tensions.

Constitutional law scholars and international legal experts are scrutinizing the legal foundation for major U.S. military operations against Iran that have targeted more than 1,000 locations and resulted in numerous high-ranking casualties, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in joint operations with Israeli forces.

Critics argue these military actions surpass presidential constitutional powers and breach international legal standards.

TRUMP’S RATIONALE

President Donald Trump has offered multiple explanations and justifications for the military campaign. The president stated he believed Iran was preparing to attack first, describing the operations as necessary to neutralize immediate threats facing America, overseas military installations, and allied nations. However, Trump has not released specific evidence, and some assertions lack support from U.S. intelligence assessments. The president also claimed Iran was one month away from nuclear weapon capability, though he offered no proof and this statement conflicts with his June assertions that American forces had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY OVER MILITARY FORCES

Legal scholars suggest the Iranian operations are stretching the limits of Trump’s constitutional powers as commander-in-chief.

The Constitution grants the president command over military forces and foreign policy leadership, but reserves war declaration authority exclusively to Congress.

Previous presidents from both political parties have authorized military strikes without congressional consent when deemed in national interest, but these were typically limited in scale and duration compared to full-scale warfare — boundaries that Trump may be challenging.

Both Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have characterized the current situation as warfare, with Hegseth describing it as “the most lethal, most complex and most-precision aerial operation in history.” Trump indicated the campaign could continue for five weeks or longer and warned of additional American casualties ahead.

Historical precedent shows Congress has authorized major military campaigns, including President George W. Bush’s Afghanistan invasion in 2001 and Iraq invasion in 2003.

1973 WAR POWERS RESOLUTION

The 1973 War Powers Resolution serves as a constitutional check on executive military authority.

This legislation permits presidential military engagement only when Congress has declared war, granted specific authorization, or when responding to attacks on American territory or forces. The law mandates regular congressional briefings, which the current administration began providing Monday.

The resolution also establishes a 60-day limit on unauthorized military operations unless extended by Congress.

The law includes mechanisms for Congress to force military withdrawal from conflicts, and bipartisan lawmakers have announced plans to vote on such measures this week.

While such a vote would likely fall short of the two-thirds majority needed to override a presidential veto, some legislators believe it would create an important electoral record. Legal experts suggest public opposition may represent the primary constraint on Trump’s ability to continue the military campaign.

INTERNATIONAL LEGAL STANDARDS

International law experts indicate many nations will likely view these attacks as unjustified under United Nations Charter provisions requiring member states to avoid using force or threatening force against other nations. Exceptions exist for U.N. Security Council-authorized force or self-defense following armed attack, neither of which applies here.

The concept of preemptive self-defense could potentially justify American action against Iran if clear evidence existed of an imminent, overwhelming attack.

America’s Security Council veto power provides protection from U.N. action against Washington.

Legal experts note that international law violations still carry consequences, with both the United Kingdom and Spain restricting use of their military bases for these operations due to insufficient conflict justification.

KHAMENEI KILLING’S LEGAL STATUS

Legal experts describe the Supreme Leader’s killing as legally ambiguous.

Reports indicate Israel conducted the actual strike eliminating Khamenei, while America provided intelligence and operational assistance.

Republican President Ronald Reagan’s 1981 Executive Order 12333 banned anyone working for or representing the U.S. government from participating in assassinations, including intelligence community involvement.

However, actions that might constitute assassination during peacetime could represent legitimate warfare during armed conflict, according to legal scholars.

Regarding Khamenei, legality would partially depend on whether America was at war when he was killed and whether he qualified as a military commander.

Intelligence agents from Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence have reportedly reached out to the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency expressing interest in peace negotiations, according to a Wednesday report from the New York Times citing government sources familiar with the communications.

According to the Times, the diplomatic overture came through intelligence services of a third country that was not identified. The report cited anonymous Middle Eastern and Western officials who provided the information.

Neither the White House nor the CIA provided immediate responses when asked for comment on the reported contact.

Washington officials remain doubtful about whether Iran or the Trump administration is genuinely prepared for what sources called an “off-ramp” from current hostilities, at least in the immediate future, according to the Times report.

The reported diplomatic feelers come as Iran’s United Nations ambassador in Geneva rejected any immediate negotiations with the United States on Tuesday, just days following coordinated military strikes by U.S. and Israeli forces against Iranian targets.

President Donald Trump stated Tuesday that while Tehran expressed interest in dialogue, the window for talks had closed as American military operations against Iran continue.

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Heavy rainfall overnight caused a catastrophic debris avalanche at Indonesia’s biggest waste facility, claiming the lives of at least five individuals while several others remain unaccounted for, authorities reported Monday.

Over 300 rescue workers, equipped with heavy equipment and search dogs, were sent to the extensive Bantargebang Integrated Waste Treatment Facility in Bekasi, located just outside Jakarta, following the late Sunday disaster. Teams are proceeding carefully through dangerous piles of unstable debris, according to Desiana Kartika Bahari, director of Jakarta’s Search and Rescue Office.

The fatalities consisted of two drivers operating waste collection vehicles and two vendors from nearby food stands who were either working or taking breaks close to the facility when the collapse occurred, Bahari explained. While four individuals successfully fled the catastrophe, rescue teams including police officers, military personnel, and volunteers continue hunting for at least three people still reported as missing.

“We had not ruled out the possibility of more victims,” she said, “We are still gathering data to confirm how many vehicles and workers were caught beneath the debris.”

Documentation and footage from the National Search and Rescue Agency revealed excavation equipment working through the fallen waste mountain, where multiple collection trucks and small food vendors became trapped underneath.

Abdul Muhari, spokesman for the National Disaster Management Agency, called for rigorous safety measures during the continuing rescue operation, pointing out that weather predictions for the coming days suggest possible rainfall throughout Jakarta and surrounding metropolitan areas.

Muhari cautioned that the precarious collapsed debris might cause further ground shifts, creating additional dangers for rescue personnel.

The fatal Sunday incident has brought renewed attention to Bantargebang, an essential yet overburdened disposal site that handles the majority of Greater Jakarta’s daily residential waste. The location has repeatedly received warnings regarding its capacity limits, spurring nationwide efforts to reform Indonesia’s waste handling infrastructure.

A comparable incident occurred in January when garbage and debris collapsed at a Philippine landfill, burying workers in low structures and killing at least four people, injuring twelve, and leaving over 30 individuals missing.

Back in 2005, 31 individuals died and dozens disappeared when a 7-meter (23-foot) refuse pile gave way after intense rainfall, causing a landslide that buried or damaged 60 homes across two West Java communities near Bandung.

The government announced late last year a two-year timeline to clear Bantargebang using an expedited waste-to-energy program designed to reduce the chronic dependence on open disposal methods. This effort, supported by new presidential regulations meant to simplify permits and attract investment, focuses on transforming waste materials into electrical or thermal power.

ANKARA, March 9 – Turkish officials have announced plans to station six F-16 fighter aircraft in northern Cyprus beginning Monday as part of efforts to strengthen security for Turkish communities in the region, according to reports from broadcaster NTV citing aviation authorities from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

The aircraft deployment follows Saturday’s announcement from a Turkish defense ministry source who indicated that Turkey was evaluating the possibility of sending F-16s to Cyprus as part of broader security initiatives. These measures are being implemented to protect the Turkish Cypriot territory as regional conflicts continue to expand throughout the area.

The move represents Turkey’s latest effort to enhance military presence and defensive capabilities in the contested region.

Officials in Kenya announced Sunday that fatalities from devastating floods have climbed to 42 people, representing an alarming increase from the earlier reported count of 23 deaths.

Friday’s torrential downpours triggered catastrophic flooding throughout Nairobi, the nation’s capital, and surrounding regions. The deluge claimed lives through drowning, swept numerous vehicles away, and severely hampered operations at Kenya’s primary airport.

Geoffrey Kiringa Ruku, who serves as minister for public service and human capital development, confirmed that emergency response teams including military personnel continue their urgent search and rescue missions nationwide.

“Search mission is still in progress by the multi agency emergency response teams with the aim of ensuring that bodies of all the flood victims are found and retrieved,” Ruku stated in an official announcement.

The flooding has caused widespread destruction to critical infrastructure and disrupted countless livelihoods across affected areas. However, rescue teams have successfully recovered 172 vehicles that were carried away by the rushing floodwaters.

President William Ruto responded to the crisis Saturday by directing the immediate distribution of emergency food supplies from national reserves to families impacted by the disaster.

Climate researchers indicate that rising global temperatures are intensifying both flooding and drought conditions throughout East Africa by creating more concentrated and severe rainfall patterns. Research conducted in 2024 by the World Weather Attribution group determined that climate change has doubled the likelihood of such destructive storms occurring in the region.

BEIRUT (AP) — A Monday report from Human Rights Watch alleges that Israeli forces illegally deployed white phosphorus shells against a Lebanese village, using a disputed incendiary weapon in civilian areas.

The organization analyzed and confirmed the location of seven photographs showing Israeli artillery firing white phosphorus into residential sections of Yohmor, a village in southern Lebanon. The bombardment occurred just hours following Israeli military evacuation warnings issued to Yohmor residents and dozens of neighboring southern Lebanese communities.

The rights organization stated it could not verify independently whether any civilians remained in the targeted zone or sustained injuries from the attack.

International law prohibits the deployment of white phosphorus in areas where civilians are present, according to human rights advocates. The white-hot chemical compound can ignite structures and cause severe burns that reach bone level. Those who survive face potential infection risks and possible organ or breathing complications, regardless of burn severity.

“The Israeli military’s unlawful use of white phosphorus over residential areas is extremely alarming and will have dire consequences for civilians,” said Ramzi Kaiss, Lebanon researcher at Human Rights Watch.

Israeli military officials had not provided a response to requests for comment at the time of publication. Previously, military representatives have stated that white phosphorus serves as screening smoke rather than for targeting civilian populations.

Both Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International reported multiple instances of this munition being deployed during Israel’s previous conflict with Hezbollah more than a year ago, with civilian populations still present in southern Lebanese areas at the time.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — A pair of teenagers in New Zealand found themselves in serious trouble after accidentally leaving behind a backpack stuffed with marijuana and thousands of dollars at a charity shop’s donation site, authorities announced Monday.

The incident unfolded on February 18th in New Zealand’s Southland region when a charity shop volunteer detected a strong smell coming from a donated backpack. Inside, the volunteer discovered plastic bags holding 43.2 grams of marijuana along with 3,700 New Zealand dollars (equivalent to about $2,200 US) in cash, according to New Zealand Police.

The teenage boy and girl had placed the backpack at the donation site while waiting for their vehicle to be repaired at a nearby auto shop. When they realized their mistake and rushed back to retrieve the bag, police were already on their way.

Recreational marijuana use and sales remain illegal throughout New Zealand, though some medical applications are permitted with proper prescriptions from doctors.

During their investigation, officers also searched the teenagers’ vehicle and found additional concerning items: an unlicensed air pistol, a police scanner, and more cash. While owning a police scanner isn’t against the law in New Zealand, using information obtained from it for illegal purposes is prohibited. Additionally, anyone under 18 cannot legally possess an air pistol without proper licensing and adult supervision.

Police have not released specific details about what charges the arrested teenagers may face or whether they have appeared in court. New Zealand maintains strict reporting restrictions regarding Youth Court cases, which typically handle matters involving suspects under age 17.

To protect the charity shop staff, police declined to provide the exact location of the store beyond confirming it was in the Southland region of New Zealand’s South Island.

Bahrain’s national petroleum corporation suspended its oil shipments Monday following an Iranian assault that sparked fires at its refinery facilities.

According to Bahrain’s official news service, the company invoked force majeure – a legal provision allowing businesses to suspend contractual duties during exceptional situations beyond their control.

The petroleum company stated its operations “have been affected by the ongoing regional conflict in the Middle East and the recent attack on its refinery complex.”

Company officials maintained that domestic fuel requirements would continue to be fulfilled despite the shipping suspension.

The development comes as Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, assumed power Monday amid escalating Middle Eastern warfare that has sent global oil markets soaring.

The 56-year-old hardline religious leader was selected by Iran’s Assembly of Experts after his father died February 28 in the conflict’s initial phase. The younger Khamenei, who maintains strong connections to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, now controls the country’s military forces and nuclear program decisions.

Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz has virtually halted tanker traffic through the waterway that handles one-fifth of global oil transport. International Brent crude prices jumped above $114 per barrel Monday, representing a 60% increase since U.S. and Israeli operations against Iran began.

President Donald Trump minimized the price surge as temporary, writing on social media: “Short term oil prices, which will drop rapidly when the destruction of the Iran nuclear threat is over, is a very small price to pay for U.S.A., and World, Safety and Peace.”

Iranian forces have targeted energy and water infrastructure across the region. Monday’s attacks included an oil facility fire in Fujairah, UAE, while Saudi Arabia reported intercepting multiple drones targeting the Shaybah oil field.

Israel announced fresh airstrikes on central Iran as the conflict intensified.

The new Iranian leader’s selection faced internal opposition, with political figures condemning hereditary succession as resembling the monarchy overthrown in 1979’s Islamic Revolution. However, senior clerics likely supported Khamenei to continue prosecuting the war.

Khamenei, considered more extreme than his predecessor, now oversees Iran’s remaining highly enriched uranium stockpiles – technically one step from weapons-grade material. Unlike his father, he could authorize nuclear weapons development.

Israel has identified him as a potential target, while Trump called him “unacceptable,” stating: “We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran.”

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and Lebanese Hezbollah expressed support for the new leadership.

Senior Iranian security official Ali Larijani told state television the Assembly of Experts acted “courageously” despite ongoing airstrikes in Tehran, saying the younger Khamenei was prepared by his father and “can handle this situation.”

Saudi Arabia condemned Iran following the thwarted Shaybah attack, warning Tehran would be the “biggest loser” if regional strikes continue. The Foreign Ministry stated Iranian attacks mean “further escalation which will have grave impact on the relations, currently and in the future.”

Iranian forces also struck Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain Monday, with the Bahraini attack injuring 32 civilians, including children, in a residential area.

Bahrain additionally accused Iran of damaging a desalination facility, though water and electricity officials reported continued service. These plants serve millions of regional residents and stranded travelers, raising concerns about water security in desert nations.

In Iraq, air defenses downed a drone attacking a U.S. military installation at Baghdad International Airport, according to an anonymous security source. No casualties or damage occurred, though pro-Iranian Iraqi militias have previously targeted the base.

The U.S. military reported a service member died from injuries sustained in a March 1 Iranian attack on forces in Saudi Arabia, bringing American military deaths to seven.

The State Department ordered non-essential personnel and staff families to evacuate Saudi Arabia Monday due to escalating attacks. Eight other U.S. diplomatic missions have evacuated all but essential staff: Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, UAE, and the Karachi, Pakistan consulate.

The conflict has claimed at least 1,230 Iranian lives, 397 in Lebanon, and 11 in Israel, according to officials. Israel reported its first military casualties Sunday – two soldiers killed in southern Lebanon during Hezbollah fighting.

Energy markets experienced dramatic volatility Monday as Iran escalated military operations against Israel and Gulf nations, just hours after Iranian television announced that Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the deceased supreme leader, would take over the country’s top position.

The appointment of the younger Khamenei gives him direct control over Iran’s Revolutionary Guard paramilitary forces and positions him as a key decision-maker in the nation’s military strategy.

Global financial markets reacted sharply to the developments, with crude oil costs jumping significantly on Monday. The price surge has raised fresh concerns about potential inflationary pressures and reduced consumer spending in the United States, which drives much of the nation’s economic activity. Japan’s Nikkei 225 stock index dropped as much as 7% during early trading, with other Asian financial markets following suit.

Saudi Arabia escalated its rhetoric against Tehran on Monday, warning Iran it would become the “biggest loser” if attacks on Arab nations continue. The Saudi warning followed what appeared to be a drone strike targeting the kingdom’s major Shaybah oil production facility.

Bahrain’s national oil company announced force majeure on Monday regarding its petroleum shipments following an Iranian strike that ignited fires at its refinery facility.

The Bahrain News Agency reported the force majeure declaration, a legal action that allows companies to suspend contractual duties due to exceptional circumstances.

The company stated its operations “have been affected by the ongoing regional conflict in the Middle East and the recent attack on its refinery complex.”

Officials maintained that domestic energy needs would continue to be satisfied.

The United Arab Emirates reported Monday that its defensive systems were actively intercepting incoming drones and missiles from Iran, marking the second such attack the country faced that day.

Monday’s Iranian assault on Bahrain ignited what appeared to be a blaze at the island nation’s primary oil refinery, creating massive smoke clouds visible across the area.

Internet footage allegedly captures the flames at the Sitra refinery complex.

Bahrain’s official news service later reported that “a fire broke out due to the Iranian aggression targeting a facility in Maameer, with material damage but no loss of life.”

Maameer is a Bahraini community located next to the refinery.

Bahraini officials did not immediately confirm the refinery itself was directly struck, although it has been targeted in multiple Iranian attacks since hostilities commenced.

Israeli forces announced Monday strikes against targets in Iran’s Isfahan city, focusing on security installations.

The Israeli military described hitting command facilities belonging to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and its volunteer Basij militia in that area.

Military officials also reported striking a rocket engine manufacturing plant and missile launching positions.

Iran has not yet confirmed the Israeli attacks. Tehran has provided no information about equipment losses since fighting began February 28.

A Chinese diplomatic representative in the Middle East urged all parties to cease military operations and condemned attacks targeting civilian areas and non-combatants.

Special Envoy Zhai Jun, during meetings in Saudi Arabia with Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, stated Sunday that the independence, safety and territorial boundaries of all Gulf nations must remain protected, according to a Chinese Foreign Ministry announcement.

China imports substantial quantities of oil and natural gas from the region.

Zhai also conducted meetings with Jassim Mohammed al-Budaiwi, who leads the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Foreign Ministry confirmed.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung warned Monday that dramatic fuel price increases could destabilize his nation’s economy and directed officials to accelerate efforts to establish alternative fuel supply routes beyond the Strait of Hormuz.

Lee addressed a Cabinet session after the country’s financial markets opened with an 8% decline, as worries mounted about how the expanding Middle Eastern conflict might impact an economy heavily reliant on international trade and imported energy.

Lee instructed officials to actively deploy a 100 trillion won ($67 billion) market stabilization fund launched last week to minimize stock market fluctuations and enhance oversight of disruptive market behaviors, including fuel price manipulation or stockpiling.

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun reported Seoul was in discussions with Gulf nations to establish alternate shipping routes to decrease dependence on the Strait of Hormuz, potentially utilizing different UAE ports.

GENEVA – A United Nations investigation into human rights violations in Iran has criticized military operations conducted by Israel and the United States against Iranian territory, as well as Iran’s subsequent counterattacks throughout the region, declaring all actions breach international law.

The U.N. Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran released a statement Wednesday denouncing the military exchanges, noting that the UN Charter prohibits using force against any nation’s territorial boundaries or sovereign independence.

“These attacks, which were followed by Iran’s retaliatory strikes across the region, run counter to the UN Charter,” the investigative mission stated.

The UN panel expressed particular alarm regarding a bombing that struck the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls school in Minab, located in southern Iran, during Saturday’s initial wave of U.S. and Israeli operations.

According to the investigation, the majority of casualties were female students between seven and twelve years old.

A separate UN expert committee reported Wednesday that more than 160 children died in the attack, based on preliminary findings.

The fact-finding mission warned that Iranian civilians now face danger from both an extended military offensive that could continue for weeks and their own government’s documented history of human rights violations.

Following a harsh government response to demonstrations that started December 28, 2025, over economic hardships, the UN investigation reported that tens of thousands of people have been arrested and now face potential torture and execution.

The panel raised concerns that protesters currently imprisoned could face additional dangers from ongoing U.S.-Israeli airstrikes. On Tuesday, a British couple detained in Iran reported explosions rocking Evin prison where they are held, with visible damage to their section as fighting escalates.

The UN statement criticized the deaths of numerous Iranian government officials – including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – during the airstrikes, saying such killings do not constitute legitimate justice under international legal standards.

Defense attorneys for a suspect charged in a fatal December shooting in Sydney, Australia are asking a court to prevent news outlets from identifying his family members, citing safety concerns.

Authorities have charged 24-year-old Naveed Akram in connection with the December 14 attack on a Jewish Hanukkah gathering at Bondi Beach that left 15 people dead, marking one of Australia’s most devastating mass shootings in recent history.

The suspect’s father, Sajid Akram, whom police also believe participated in the shooting, was killed by law enforcement officers during the incident.

According to investigators, both men drew inspiration from the Islamic State terrorist organization and used multiple high-powered firearms that the older suspect had obtained through legal channels.

During Monday’s court proceedings in Sydney, Naveed Akram’s legal team asked for restrictions preventing media outlets from publishing the identities of his mother, brother, and sister, along with details about their residence and employment or educational locations. Magistrate Greg Grogan agreed to continue a temporary suppression order through next month, noting the worldwide media attention surrounding the case.

The defendant is facing a total of 59 criminal charges related to the attack, which include 15 murder charges, 40 charges of attempted murder, and terrorism-related offenses. He has not yet entered any plea.

Court proceedings are scheduled to resume briefly next week, with a more comprehensive hearing planned for April 8, when prosecutors will present their evidence summary.

The Bondi incident sent shockwaves through Australia, a nation known for its stringent firearm regulations, and sparked demands for enhanced gun control measures and stronger responses to antisemitic violence.

Australian officials initiated a government-sponsored investigation into antisemitism and social unity last month, with findings expected by the end of this year.

In response to the tragedy, the government has already implemented stricter gun control policies and passed new hate speech legislation.

A cargo vessel flying under Malta’s flag was forced to evacuate its crew Wednesday after being struck by an unidentified projectile while navigating through the Strait of Hormuz, according to maritime industry sources.

The container ship Safeen Prestige was traveling eastbound through the strategic waterway when it was hit approximately two nautical miles north of Oman at 11:09 GMT, according to Vanguard, a British company that monitors maritime security risks.

“The vessel was struck by an unknown projectile just above the waterline, resulting in a fire in the engine room. No environmental impact has been reported at this time,” Vanguard reported.

The British navy’s maritime trade operations office, known as UKMTO, confirmed receiving notification about an unnamed container vessel being struck by an unidentified projectile, leading to the crew’s evacuation. Officials reported no crew members sustained injuries during the incident.

French President Emmanuel Macron is heading to Cyprus on Monday following last week’s drone attack on a British military installation, as European allies rally to support the Mediterranean island nation amid escalating Middle East tensions.

The French leader has deployed the frigate Languedoc to Cyprus waters and ordered ground-based defense systems to the island after a Shahed drone struck RAF Akrotiri air base on the southern coast. This marked the first such attack on European soil during the current Iran conflict.

France’s flagship aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle is also en route to the Eastern Mediterranean region.

During his visit, Macron will join Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at Cyprus’ primary air facility on the southwest coast, where Greece has stationed four F-16 fighter jets.

“Together with our European partners, the aim will be to strengthen security around Cyprus and in the Eastern Mediterranean,” Macron’s office announced.

The French president has been actively engaged in diplomatic efforts to prevent further regional escalation, including Sunday discussions with Iranian President Massoud Pezechkian, whom he pressed to halt attacks.

Cyprus government spokesperson Constantinos Letymbiotis stated Sunday that the three leaders would evaluate regional developments and coordinate preventive measures. Letymbiotis expressed the island’s appreciation for the swift response to its request for help.

Macron previously ordered France’s nuclear-powered carrier to relocate from the Baltic Sea to the Mediterranean following the Cyprus incident, emphasizing the island’s EU membership and recent strategic partnership with France.

Greece’s advanced Kimon and Psara frigates are already conducting patrols off Cyprus’ southern waters. Additional naval vessels from Italy, the Netherlands and Spain are expected shortly, with Britain’s destroyer Dragon scheduled to arrive next week.

Despite the military presence, all three leaders have called for preventing conflict expansion. Christodoulides has consistently emphasized that Cyprus will not participate in any military operations.

The Shahed drone inflicted minimal damage to a hangar at RAF Akrotiri just after midnight on March 2, with no casualties reported. British Typhoon and F-35 aircraft launched from the base later intercepted two additional drones that afternoon.

Cypriot authorities confirmed the attacking drone originated from Lebanon, with speculation pointing to Iran’s proxy Hezbollah, known for its explosive drone capabilities similar to Iranian models.

Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji condemned the attack on Sunday, stating: “I called on our Cypriot friends not to confuse the Lebanese state with those acting outside its authority and legal framework.” Rajji, a vocal Hezbollah critic, represents the Lebanese government’s position.

Lebanese officials have directed security forces to take action against non-governmental groups conducting such operations.

Military vehicles carrying Japan’s first domestically-manufactured long-range missiles arrived at a southwestern army base early Monday morning, marking a major milestone in the nation’s expanding defense strategy amid growing regional security concerns.

The enhanced Type-12 land-to-ship missiles reached Camp Kengun in Kumamoto prefecture after midnight in a secretive operation that drew sharp criticism from local residents. Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara confirmed the weapons system would be fully operational at the facility by the end of March, though he declined to provide additional specifics.

Protesters gathered outside the military installation, displaying banners and chanting “Stop long-range missile deployment!” as the convoy entered the base. Critics have voiced concerns about the secretive nature of the operation and argued that positioning these weapons could heighten regional tensions while making the area a potential target for enemy strikes.

“The prefecture has never been notified,” Kumamoto Gov. Takashi Kimura told reporters later Monday. “It is extremely disappointing that we learned this from media reports.”

The Defense Ministry accelerated the missile deployment timeline by a full year as Japan strengthens its military presence in southwestern regions while China increases pressure around Taiwan, the democratically-governed island that Beijing considers part of its territory.

Manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, the enhanced Type-12 missile system can strike targets approximately 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) away, enabling it to reach mainland China. This represents a dramatic improvement over the original version’s 200-kilometer (125-mile) striking distance.

Plans call for installing the next missile battery at Camp Fuji in Shizuoka, located west of Tokyo, before the end of this year.

Japanese officials view China as an escalating security challenge and have prioritized military expansion across southwestern islands near the East China Sea. The country has already positioned PAC-3 interceptors and medium-range surface-to-air missiles throughout the island chain, including installations on Okinawa, Ishigaki and Miyako.

Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced last month that Japan would install medium-range surface-to-air missiles on Yonaguni, the nation’s westernmost island located just east of Taiwan, with completion scheduled for March 2031.

Regional tensions have intensified following Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent statement that Chinese military action against Taiwan could justify a Japanese military response, made shortly after she assumed office.

Takaichi has committed to updating security and defense policies before year’s end and aims to strengthen Japan’s military capabilities with unmanned combat systems and extended-range missiles.

Her administration is also preparing to eliminate restrictions on lethal weapons exports in the coming weeks, designed to boost Japan’s defense industry development and enhance cooperation with allied nations, following recommendations from her party and coalition partners.

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — The ongoing conflict involving Iran has caused oil prices to spike, creating economic turbulence throughout Africa as nations face the prospect of increased fuel expenses, mounting inflation, and additional stress on their monetary systems.

Most African nations rely on petroleum imports to meet their energy needs, making their economies particularly susceptible to supply chain interruptions stemming from Middle Eastern conflicts in this crucial oil-producing region.

“Africa is a net importer of oil products, meaning it is heavily exposed to shocks like these,” stated Nick Hedley, who analyzes energy transition research at Zero Carbon Analytics.

According to Hedley, when worldwide oil availability becomes constrained, costs increase while African monetary units typically lose value as financial backers shift investments toward safer options like U.S. currency.

This dual effect intensifies the consequences of price jumps in nations dependent on imports, including Kenya and Ghana.

A comparable situation occurred following Russia’s comprehensive attack on Ukraine in 2022, when climbing crude costs combined with currency devaluation caused South African transportation fuel prices to increase by over 25% in half a year, Hedley noted.

“The near-term risks come from mainly the rising oil prices and weakening exchange rates as investors move to safe-haven assets,” explained Oxford Economics senior economist Brendon Verster.

Energy markets continue to react strongly to the conflict due to the critical role of the Strait of Hormuz, a confined maritime passage that handles approximately one-fifth of global crude transportation.

The consequences of elevated oil costs will vary across African nations.

Nations such as Kenya and Uganda report their supplies remain steady while they focus on maintaining consistent access. Nigeria and Ghana extract crude oil domestically but must import most processed petroleum products, reducing their ability to benefit from increased global pricing.

“It’s difficult to say at this point whether they will see net gains,” Hedley observed. “Oil producers could benefit from higher crude prices, but ordinary citizens will likely face higher transport and fuel costs, and potentially higher interest rates.”

However, prolonged elevated prices might generate substantial profits for Africa’s primary oil-exporting nations. Verster highlighted that Nigeria ships approximately 1.5 million barrels daily and has structured its medium-range budget planning around oil values between $64 and $66 per barrel until 2028.

The conflict pushed pricing beyond $100 per barrel on Monday, a threshold that could substantially increase income for exporters like Angola, Algeria and Libya if maintained.

For the majority of African families, the immediate consequence will likely be increased living expenses.

“This is a serious concern,” Hedley emphasized, pointing out that most food and merchandise throughout Africa moves via roadways. “Rising fuel costs therefore feed quickly into broader inflation and reduce household purchasing power.”

Peter Attard Montalto, managing director at South African consulting company Kruthan, said the situation is also challenging African economic systems.

“So far the impact has really been muted, for countries like South Africa,” he commented, observing that recent policy changes have helped stabilize the nation’s currency and financial markets.

“Still, higher oil and gas prices are expected to filter into inflation in the coming months,” Montalto added.

Nations already participating in International Monetary Fund programs may experience additional pressure as energy import expenses deplete limited foreign currency reserves. Analysts identify Sudan, The Gambia, Central African Republic, Lesotho and Zimbabwe among the most at-risk countries.

Looking ahead, experts suggest the crisis might strengthen arguments for African countries to broaden their energy portfolios and decrease reliance on imported fuels.

“It makes strategic sense for African countries to ensure long-term energy security and sovereignty,” said Kennedy Mbeva, a research associate at the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk at the University of Cambridge.

Accomplishing this goal, Mbeva explained, will require managing immediate budget constraints while making long-term commitments to renewable energy and environmentally friendly industrial development.

MIAMI — Five defendants accused of orchestrating the 2021 murder of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse will face potential jurors starting Monday as their federal trial begins in Miami.

The accused men — Arcangel Pretel Ortiz, Antonio Intriago, Walter Veintemilla, Christian Sanon and James Solages — face federal conspiracy charges for allegedly plotting to kidnap or murder Haiti’s former president from their base in South Florida. Each defendant has entered not guilty pleas and could receive life imprisonment if convicted.

U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Becerra had postponed the proceedings from their original schedule last year due to complex evidence gathering and the massive amount of materials involved in the case.

Five additional co-conspirators have already admitted guilt in the scheme and received life sentences. A seventh individual, whom authorities determined was unaware of the murder plan, received nine years in prison after admitting to supplying body armor to the group.

The assassination occurred on July 7, 2021, when approximately two dozen foreign soldiers of fortune, primarily from Colombia, stormed Moïse’s residence near Port-au-Prince, according to officials. The attack also left Moïse’s wife, Martine, injured, requiring her medical evacuation to the United States for urgent care.

Federal prosecutors allege that South Florida became the nerve center for organizing and bankrolling the scheme to remove Moïse from power and install a replacement leader chosen by the conspirators.

Ortiz and Intriago operated Counter Terrorist Unit Federal Academy and Counter Terrorist Unit Security, known collectively as CTU, while Veintemilla ran Worldwide Capital Lending Group. Both enterprises operated from South Florida locations.

Sanon holds citizenship in both Haiti and the United States and was originally the conspirators’ preferred candidate to succeed Moïse, investigators determined. Solages worked as CTU’s Haiti representative, maintaining communication with Sanon and other participants, authorities stated.

The group convened in South Florida during April 2021 and reached an understanding that Sanon would grant CTU lucrative contracts for infrastructure development, security services and military supplies once he assumed control, according to investigators. Worldwide Capital committed to providing financial backing for the coup attempt, establishing a $175,000 credit facility for CTU and transferring funds to accomplices in Haiti for ammunition purchases, officials revealed.

CTU initially hired approximately 20 Colombian veterans with military backgrounds to serve as Sanon’s security detail. However, by June 2021, the conspirators discovered that Sanon lacked both the constitutional requirements and public backing necessary to assume the presidency. They subsequently shifted their support to Wendelle Coq Thélot, a former judge on Haiti’s Superior Court. Thélot passed away in January 2025 while still evading capture.

Beyond the 11 individuals arrested and charged in the United States, another 20 people face accusations in Haiti, including 17 Colombian military personnel and three Haitian government officials. Widespread gang activity, intimidation tactics and Haiti’s deteriorating court system have hampered the continuing investigation.

The Islamic Republic of Iran has appointed Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the deceased supreme leader, to take control as the nation’s new top authority. President Trump has already voiced strong opposition to this choice, describing Khamenei as “unacceptable.” Iran’s military leadership now operates under new command while the Revolutionary Guard has sworn loyalty to the successor.

Global energy markets responded dramatically as crude oil costs surged beyond $100 per barrel. Weekend hostilities saw both nations targeting fresh objectives, including facilities serving civilian populations. Bahrain has accused Iranian forces of damaging critical water desalination infrastructure that Gulf nations depend on for drinking water. Israeli forces responded by bombing petroleum storage facilities in Tehran, creating massive smoke plumes and triggering environmental warnings.

American military casualties continue mounting with another service member’s death announced. Saudi Arabia reported its first fatalities in the conflict. Regional anger has intensified following Iran’s deployment of hundreds of missiles and unmanned aircraft throughout the area. Israel’s top military commander cautioned that the conflict “will take a long time.”

The warfare has now reached its tenth day with no signs of resolution.

Iran’s leadership transition occurred amid apparent internal divisions within the government. President Masoud Pezeshkian issued public apologies for strikes against neighboring nations, but hardline factions condemned his statements and insisted military operations would proceed.

The newly appointed supreme leader has remained absent from public view since hostilities commenced and has yet to issue any official statements in his position. The younger Khamenei assumes control during both external warfare and internal civil unrest following Iran’s earlier suppression of massive domestic demonstrations.

Iranian officials have not revised their casualty figures from the previously announced total exceeding 1,200 deaths. Citizens continue fleeing the country in significant numbers.

Israeli military operations have targeted both Iranian territory and the Iran-supported Hezbollah organization based in Lebanon, where officials report more than 500,000 displaced residents and over 300 deaths.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised “many surprises” during upcoming military phases. Israeli forces claim successful destruction of Revolutionary Guard Air Force headquarters, which controlled ballistic missile operations, along with missile launching sites and manufacturing plants.

Eleven Israeli citizens have perished since fighting began. Daily alert systems continue sounding throughout Israel warning of incoming projectiles, with defense systems intercepting nearly all threats.

American military officials have advised Iranian civilians to remain indoors, claiming Iran launches attacks from heavily populated neighborhoods. Growing evidence suggests U.S. involvement in a deadly strike on an Iranian girls’ school during the conflict’s opening day, though Trump has blamed Iran for the incident.

Trump participated in ceremonies honoring fallen American soldiers returned home. Seven U.S. military personnel have died in the fighting.

Relatives of American prisoners held in Iran express growing concern for their safety.

U.S. military leadership provided no weekend updates regarding the volume of missiles and drones Iran has launched recently, after previously reporting a significant decrease in attack frequency. Military analysts suggest Iran may be conserving weapons for future operations.

The Arab League’s leadership condemned Iran’s military strategy as “reckless” while Gulf states and other nations reported intercepting Iranian projectiles in areas without American military installations.

Only the United States and Israel have acknowledged conducting strikes against Iran. Several regional countries provide bases or host American forces. Iran has urged nations to prevent U.S. attacks launched from their soil. An Iranian missile struck a helicopter landing area within the U.S. Embassy compound in Iraq.

Additional casualties emerged across the region. Saudi Arabia confirmed that falling military debris killed one Indian national and one Bangladeshi citizen. Kuwait reported two border security deaths, while the United Arab Emirates announced a driver’s death.

International workers and residents comprise most reported Gulf region fatalities. Total deaths there have surpassed a dozen people.

U.S. officials attempted to reassure Americans that rising fuel costs represent temporary market disruption. Russia benefits financially from the price increases.

Numerous travelers and religious pilgrims remain stuck throughout the Middle East. State Department figures show over 32,000 Americans have departed the region since fighting started.

Anxiety persists around major international aviation centers. Dubai International Airport passengers were moved into underground train tunnels following multiple explosions. Kuwait reported drone attacks on fuel storage at Kuwait International Airport.

Additional nations are joining the conflict. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced his country will deploy specialists to assist the U.S. and Middle Eastern partners in defending against Iranian drone attacks next week.

Emergency crews in Indonesia continue their desperate search for five people still unaccounted for following a deadly collapse at the country’s largest waste disposal facility that claimed four lives over the weekend.

The tragic incident occurred Sunday at the Bantargebang waste management site, situated in Bekasi on Jakarta’s outskirts, according to Desiana Kartika Bahari, who leads the regional rescue operations.

Officials believe continuous rainfall beginning Saturday night caused the disaster when an enormous mound of refuse became unstable and gave way.

“It was raining all day even from (Saturday) evening and the mountain of garbage was unstable,” Bahari explained to reporters.

The collapse happened while garbage trucks were actively dumping loads at the site, and a nearby food vendor was also operating in the area.

“The missing people are the truck drivers and scavengers,” Bahari noted, warning that additional victims might remain trapped beneath the debris.

Four individuals managed to survive the catastrophe.

Since Monday morning, more than 200 emergency personnel have joined the rescue effort, including law enforcement officers and military troops, supported by 17 excavation machines working to locate the missing victims.

The Bantargebang facility spans approximately 110 hectares and processes between 6,500 and 7,000 tons of waste daily from the surrounding metropolitan area.

DHAKA, March 9 – All universities across Bangladesh will shut their doors beginning Monday as the nation implements drastic emergency conservation steps to address a deepening energy shortage tied to Middle Eastern conflicts, officials announced.

The directive affects every public and private university throughout the nation, with officials explaining the measure will cut electrical usage while simultaneously reducing traffic jams that waste precious fuel resources.

University facilities draw massive amounts of power for dormitories, lecture halls, research labs and cooling systems, and shutting them down early will relieve stress on the country’s overwhelmed electrical grid, according to authorities.

Educational institutions serving younger students in Bangladesh have already suspended operations for the Islamic holy period of Ramadan, meaning virtually all academic facilities nationwide will remain closed during this timeframe.

The emergency action reflects Bangladesh’s growing concerns about fuel and natural gas availability as global energy disruptions continue from the ongoing Middle Eastern warfare.

With 95% of its energy requirements coming from overseas sources, the nation implemented daily fuel purchase restrictions Friday following widespread hoarding and panic purchasing by consumers.

As part of expanded conservation efforts, officials have also directed all international curriculum schools and private tutoring centers to halt activities during this period to minimize electrical demand.

Critical natural gas shortages have already compelled Bangladesh to suspend four of its five government-operated fertilizer plants, rerouting available gas supplies to electrical generation facilities to prevent massive blackouts.

The country has purchased liquefied natural gas from spot markets at dramatically inflated costs while searching for additional shipments to fill supply shortfalls.

“We are doing everything we can to reduce consumption and ensure stability in power, fuel and import supplies,” a senior energy ministry official said.

VATICAN CITY – In a rare public rebuke of a specific military operation, the Vatican’s highest-ranking diplomat has condemned the continuing U.S.-Israeli military strikes against Iran, describing the erosion of international law as deeply concerning.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who serves as the Vatican’s Secretary of State, delivered the sharp criticism during a Wednesday interview with Vatican News, warning against the dangerous precedent of so-called preventive military action.

“If states were to be recognised as having a right to ‘preventive war’ … the entire world could risk going up in flames,” Parolin stated during the interview.

When questioned about the military strikes that have continued for five consecutive days, the cardinal expressed alarm over what he characterized as the deterioration of global legal standards.

“The weakening of international law (that) is truly alarming,” Parolin said, adding that “The rule of force has replaced the force of law, with the conviction that peace can arise only after the enemy has been annihilated.”

The public criticism represents an unusual departure from typical Vatican diplomatic practice. Church officials generally avoid making direct statements about specific military campaigns, preferring to work quietly behind the scenes and maintain the possibility of serving as neutral mediators in international disputes.

President Donald Trump has defended the Iranian strikes as necessary measures to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons capabilities, despite Iran’s denials of pursuing such weapons, and to disrupt the country’s long-range missile development programs.

Parolin, who has held his position as the Vatican’s chief diplomat since 2013 and was considered a leading candidate in the 2025 papal conclave that ultimately selected Pope Leo, is typically known for his measured and careful public statements.

Pope Leo chose not to reference the current military conflict during his regular Wednesday gathering with pilgrims at St. Peter’s Square. However, the pontiff made a passionate plea on Sunday for an end to hostilities, urging all parties to halt what he described as a “spiral of violence.”

WASHINGTON – Three American officials have confirmed that U.S. military forces launched an attack against an Iranian naval vessel in waters near Sri Lanka, according to Wednesday reports.

The strike was executed by an American submarine, according to one official who requested anonymity when discussing the operation.

Sri Lankan rescue operations recovered 32 survivors from the targeted vessel and pulled multiple bodies from the surrounding waters, local authorities reported.

BEIJING – A veteran Chinese Communist Party official who became the oldest member ever to serve on the nation’s highest governing council has passed away at 109 years old, China’s state media announced Wednesday.

Song Ping died in the Chinese capital following an illness, state-run Xinhua news agency confirmed.

The party veteran, who entered the world in 1917, played a significant role in China’s second wave of communist leadership during the transformative period when Deng Xiaoping implemented sweeping changes following Mao Zedong’s nearly three-decade reign.

Song gained recognition for identifying and promoting Hu Jintao, who would later become China’s president before the current leader Xi Jinping took power.

From 1989 through 1992, Song held a position on the Politburo Standing Committee, which represents the highest level of authority within China’s governing structure.

Throughout his career, he occupied important roles within both party and government institutions.

Among his notable positions, Song served as personal aide to Zhou Enlai, who became the People’s Republic of China’s inaugural prime minister in 1949 and remained in that role until his passing in 1976.

Iranian state television has broadcast a brief 10-second video clip that appears to capture an American cruise missile hitting a school compound where an Iranian girls’ school was located, resulting in 175 deaths.

The footage released by Iranian media directly challenges previous statements from President Trump, who had claimed that Iran was responsible for the deadly strike on the educational facility.

The video evidence contradicts the administration’s earlier narrative about who carried out the attack on the compound housing the girls’ school.

The ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran has sent shockwaves through global aviation markets, with airline stocks across Asia taking a major hit as oil costs reach their highest levels since July 2022.

Fuel prices have surged dramatically, with crude oil climbing 20% during early Monday trading as concerns mount over supply disruptions and extended shipping delays caused by the escalating Middle Eastern crisis.

Travelers caught in the conflict zone are paying extraordinary amounts to flee the region, making last-minute airport runs, taking overland routes to safer transportation hubs, and in some cases requiring fighter jet escorts for commercial aircraft departures.

Regional airspace remains largely restricted due to missile and drone threats, forcing many passengers to seek private jet alternatives as charter services and limited commercial operations struggle to handle the evacuation of thousands of stranded travelers.

Flight tracking data from Cirium shows that over 37,000 flights serving Middle Eastern destinations have been grounded between February 28, when hostilities began, through March 8.

Aviation industry expert Brendan Sobie, based in Singapore, noted that airlines were already facing challenging conditions before this latest crisis due to political instability, economic pressures, and supply chain complications.

“Now that already high level of uncertainty has increased even further,” he said.

Major carriers saw significant stock declines Monday, with Qantas Airways, Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Korean Air Lines, China Southern, and China Eastern all experiencing drops ranging from 4% to over 10%.

Aviation fuel represents airlines’ second-biggest operational cost after personnel expenses, typically consuming 20-25% of their operating budgets. While many Asian and European carriers maintain oil hedging strategies, most U.S. airlines abandoned this practice in recent decades.

“If crude is rising 20%, jet fuel is rising several times more as it is even more scarce, adding significant cost to operations together with crew resources which are stretched due to longer flying times when airspace is closed,” said Subhas Menon, head of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines.

Australia has instructed family members of diplomatic personnel in the United Arab Emirates to evacuate following escalating violence that brought Iranian attacks to several Gulf cities and temporarily shut down Dubai International Airport on Saturday.

Oman’s Muscat International Airport has requested private jet operators limit “additional flights” to prioritize government and commercial services amid fresh airspace restrictions affecting regional travel recovery efforts, according to internal communications obtained by Reuters.

Turkish carriers including Turkish Airlines, AJet, Pegasus, and SunExpress have suspended all service to Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan through March 13, Turkish Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu announced Sunday.

The U.S. State Department reported completing more than a dozen charter evacuation flights, removing thousands of American citizens from the Middle East since last week.

Air India has expanded its schedule with dozens of additional European and North American routes through March 18 to meet increased demand for direct services as Middle Eastern airspace closures eliminate connecting flight options.

Pilots interviewed by Reuters described mounting psychological pressure from managing multiple global conflict zones spanning Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Israel, forcing them to navigate increasingly restricted airspace while avoiding military drone activity.

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump indicated Sunday that decisions regarding the conclusion of military operations against Iran would be coordinated jointly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

During a telephone interview with The Times of Israel, Trump emphasized that the Israeli leader would play a significant role in determining how to resolve the ongoing conflict.

“I think it’s mutual … a little bit. We’ve been talking. I’ll make a decision at the right time, but everything’s going to be taken into account,” Trump stated during the phone conversation.

The president’s comments suggest close coordination between Washington and Jerusalem on Middle East military strategy and conflict resolution.

SEOUL, March 9 – South Korean lawmakers are set to complete work on legislation Monday that would clear the path for a parliamentary vote this week on a massive $350 billion US investment package tied to a trade agreement between the two nations.

The National Assembly is scheduled to hold a full vote on March 12, as South Korea moves to address Washington’s concerns about slow progress in implementing the bilateral trade arrangement.

Known as the “Special Act on Investment in the U.S.,” the legislation would establish an investment framework along with a risk oversight committee to carry out last year’s accord. The agreement calls for South Korean investment in American shipbuilding and semiconductor industries in exchange for reduced US tariffs.

Earlier this year in January, President Donald Trump warned of potential tariff increases on South Korean goods, criticizing lawmakers for what he called legislative delays on the trade agreement.

Senior South Korean government leaders have maintained that the US-South Korea trade arrangement continues to be effective, even after a February Supreme Court ruling that eliminated many of Trump’s tariff policies.

However, Seoul officials have expressed worries about how American investments might affect South Korea’s already struggling won currency. They emphasized that investment decisions would depend on business viability assessments and foreign exchange market stability.

The parliamentary committee, featuring members from both the governing Democratic Party and opposition People Power Party, plans to conduct a final review of the legislation in subcommittee Monday morning before seeking approval at an afternoon session.

BEIJING — China’s national legislature has revealed two comprehensive economic strategies during its annual session, showcasing priorities that could significantly impact the worldwide economy.

The 2026 government blueprint identifies “establishing a strong domestic market” as its primary objective, followed by speeding up technological development. However, the longer five-year strategy places greater emphasis on achieving technological breakthroughs.

This distinction reveals Beijing’s careful balancing approach. The ultimate objective involves transitioning from low-cost production to a technology-focused economy.

However, more pressing concerns involve addressing an extended period of economic weakness that has undermined consumer and business confidence. Given China’s massive export presence, its decisions impact nations and employment worldwide.

These strategies, introduced during the National People’s Congress opening, provide insight into government priorities. The rubber-stamp legislature is expected to officially approve them when the eight-day session concludes Thursday.

Experts consider technological advancement the much more significant objective for Chinese President Xi Jinping and his vision of establishing the country as a major power capable of challenging the United States on matters from trade disputes to Taiwan issues.

Addressing a provincial delegation during the National People’s Congress, Xi urged new developments, innovative breakthroughs and “seizing the strategic high ground of science and technology,” state media reported.

China’s dramatic expansion into becoming the world’s second-biggest economy has elevated it to middle-income status. To continue progressing, Xi has championed policies shifting the economy toward higher-value sectors.

Government support for electric vehicles, for instance, has transformed China into a rising force in the international automotive sector while aligning with national environmental objectives.

The five-year blueprint promises to “target the frontiers of science and technology,” accelerating progress in sectors including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, biotechnology and renewable energy.

This initiative has grown and evolved as technology has become a competitive arena with the United States carrying national security consequences.

Washington has limited Chinese companies’ access to cutting-edge technologies, including semiconductors powering AI systems. Officials justify this by stating these components could end up in military applications during a period when both nations are defense rivals.

Beijing has responded by investing heavily in developing these technologies domestically while finding methods to stay competitive using less sophisticated components.

China must “fight the battle for key core technologies,” the five-year strategy stated. Specific objectives, beyond AI, electric vehicles and robotics, include advancing semiconductors, batteries, biomedicine and 6G wireless networks.

The blueprint also committed to expanding production of China’s domestic passenger aircraft, the C919, and achieving progress in developing indigenous commercial jet engines. Washington temporarily blocked Western-supplied engines for the C919 last year during trade war escalation with China.

Rare earth elements — where China dominates globally — were emphasized as an area where it should preserve its competitive advantage as America and other nations work to develop their own sources of these essential materials for advanced technology and military equipment.

Despite China’s domestic economic cooling, increasing exports have maintained overall growth. However, tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump have revealed the dangers of depending too heavily on international markets.

China managed to redirect exports to alternative markets, but this faces obstacles as its record trade surplus approaching $1.2 trillion raises concerns about threats to manufacturing jobs and broader economies in other nations.

This has strengthened China’s drive to boost domestic consumer spending, making the economy less reliant on external factors.

“Facing a complex and challenging international environment, we must remain committed to the strategy of expanding domestic demand,” the annual economic blueprint stated.

Despite strong rhetoric, analysts suggest the effort appears designed to stabilize the economy rather than stimulate it. The annual plan establishes a growth target of 4.5% to 5% for 2026, allowing for potential decline from last year’s 5% increase.

Meanwhile, the government is prepared to provide substantial subsidies for high-tech manufacturing advances, analysts noted.

“Technological development and self-sufficiency remain central priorities, and industrial policy will continue to be deployed as an essential tool to achieve them,” Capital Economics researchers wrote in their analysis.

Similar subsidies to wind and solar sectors created manufacturing oversupply that was exported at extremely low prices, undermining international competitors. The outcome could be an even greater imbalance between China’s enormous manufacturing capacity and weaker domestic consumption, further increasing its exports.

SEOUL, South Korea — American and South Korean forces kicked off a major joint military training operation on Monday, with the exercise taking place as the United States continues to handle escalating conflicts in the Middle East.

According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, approximately 18,000 South Korean military personnel are participating in the Freedom Shield exercise, which will continue until March 19. Officials with U.S. Forces Korea have not disclosed how many American service members are involved in the training activities.

The joint military operation is happening while South Korean news outlets report speculation that Washington may be moving some military resources from South Korea to assist with operations against Iran in the Middle East region.

Last week, U.S. Forces Korea officials stated they would not discuss specific military asset movements due to security concerns. South Korean government representatives also refused to address media reports suggesting certain U.S. Patriot missile defense systems and additional equipment were being transferred to Middle East locations, though they indicated such moves would not significantly affect the partnership’s overall defense capabilities.

The Freedom Shield exercise may provoke an angry reaction from North Korea, which has consistently characterized these joint military drills as preparation for invasion and has used them as justification to increase its own military activities and weapons testing programs. Both allied nations maintain the exercises serve defensive purposes.

North Korea has ended all significant diplomatic communication with both Washington and Seoul after the failed 2019 summit between leader Kim Jong Un and former U.S. President Donald Trump. Relations have deteriorated further as Kim has taken advantage of Russia’s Ukraine invasion to rapidly expand his nuclear weapons program and strengthen military ties with Moscow, which has received thousands of North Korean soldiers and substantial weapons shipments to support its war efforts.

The current allied exercises follow a significant political gathering in Pyongyang last month, during which Kim reaffirmed his hostile stance toward “enemy” Seoul while suggesting potential dialogue with Washington, urging the United States to abandon its requirement for North Korea’s denuclearization as a condition for negotiations.

Freedom Shield represents one of two yearly “command post” training exercises between the allies, with the second being Ulchi Freedom Shield in August. These operations primarily use computer simulations to evaluate joint operational readiness while incorporating updated warfare scenarios and security threats. The March exercise will include an accompanying field training component called Warrior Shield, though the number of field exercises has decreased to 22 this year compared to 51 in the previous year.

Although U.S. and South Korean military officials explain that field exercises typically occur throughout the year, some observers believe the allies may be reducing the intensity of spring training operations to encourage diplomatic opportunities with North Korea. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has expressed interest in diplomatic solutions, and several of his senior officials have indicated optimism that Trump’s anticipated visit to China in late March or April might create possibilities for engagement with Pyongyang.

More than 200,000 American citizens who have made Israel their home are experiencing firsthand the challenges of living through an active conflict with Iran, sharing stories of resilience mixed with weariness as they adapt to a reality filled with air raid sirens and shelter runs.

Among them is Yehiel Levin, a former US Army serviceman originally from Santa Monica, California, who relocated to Israel three years ago following multiple deployments to Iraq and other combat areas. Despite battling post-traumatic stress disorder, Levin finds the current situation manageable due to his military background.

“I spent so much time living in chaos in Iraq, the situation here doesn’t really bother me,” Levin shared with The Media Line.

However, the veteran expressed mixed feelings about witnessing the United States and Israel collaborating militarily against Iran.

“I understand that Iran is definitely evil and has to be destroyed, and the leadership has to completely change,” explained Levin, who shares a Jerusalem home with his partner and her daughter. “At the same time, as somebody who was sent to fight in Iraq, I’m really, really, really against the US getting involved in anything that doesn’t directly relate to it. I’m kind of torn when it comes to that. But it’s pretty cool to watch both countries work hand in hand.”

The daily reality of wartime life poses particular challenges for American families with children, who must balance professional responsibilities with the unpredictable demands of seeking shelter during attacks.

Ariela Lerman, a recently divorced mother of two young children, has found her routine completely disrupted by the conflict. Both children now refuse to leave her side, with her five-and-a-half-year-old daughter Ruthie describing how each siren makes her heart race so intensely it feels like it might burst from her chest.

Managing the children primarily alone, Lerman relies on supportive neighbors who assist in quickly moving her family to their building’s basement shelter when alerts sound. Despite this community support, the psychological and practical burden continues to mount.

“If this continues for another week or so, I’m probably gonna completely lose it,” said Lerman, who moved to Jerusalem from Baltimore and works from home. “I work basically from home and thankfully have an amazing boss who understands that I am a single mom and do not have the capacity to work when they’re both at home … One of the days when we had like seven sirens during the day, I barely got anything done when I really needed to get things done. And the other day, I was just so exhausted because I barely got any sleep.”

To cope with the situation, Lerman has increased her children’s screen time significantly and invested heavily in art materials and activities to keep them occupied indoors. Even routine errands have become complicated, with one recent store trip nearly derailed when her daughter became hysterical at the prospect of separation, requiring her father’s intervention to allow Lerman to leave briefly.

Laura Cornfield faces different challenges as a single mother raising three teenagers. While her older children still want to maintain social connections, this creates constant anxiety about their whereabouts during air raid warnings.

“Every time … you hear a boom, you’re concerned. If you’re not with them, you’re even more concerned,” Cornfield explained.

Her family’s designated safe room doubles as her teenage son’s bedroom, making it an less-than-ideal gathering space for her daughters during alerts. Educational continuity has also suffered, with remote learning proving difficult for students accustomed to classroom interaction.

“The challenge is having them join their Zoom classes, because it’s very difficult for kids to be interested in Zoom when they’re used to interpersonal interactions in a classroom,” Cornfield told The Media Line. “Being in front of a computer to study for more than two hours a day is very difficult for a generation of students who suffer from ADHD.”

Some Americans have chosen to remain in Israel despite the escalating situation. Lauren Hamrick, a Christian country music artist, made Tel Aviv her home during the High Holidays after spending the summer there, deliberately staying despite the ongoing conflict.

“I can’t explain it,” Hamrick told The Media Line. “Israel is the kind of place that chooses you. No one ends up here by accident.”

She elaborated on her decision: “Everything that had been happening here, politically, socially, spiritually, I didn’t want to miss a second of it, and so I chose to uproot my life and to come to Israel and to add to the conversation as an observer, as an ally, as just a witness to this great history.”

While Hamrick didn’t anticipate the current escalation following the previous Iran conflict in June 2025, she maintains her faith provides protection, though she acknowledges the physical and emotional drain of the situation.

“When you go to the shelter every 30 minutes to an hour, it’s completely exhausting,” Hamrick observed. “You start to lose a sense of self. You forget your own first name, what you look like, and whether and when you can shower. The experience certainly is taxing on the human spirit.”

Despite the hardships, Hamrick draws strength from observing how Israeli citizens handle wartime conditions based on their previous experiences.

“They show you how to do war,” Hamrick said. “I’m just in this posture of learning how to fight, and I am learning it from the best fighters, the blessed fighters. And I think that the whole thing has given me a lot of pause and made me feel very introspective and very prayerful.”

As an American witnessing the cooperation between her birth country and adopted home, Hamrick expressed strong support for the collaborative military effort.

“Trump is in real time debunking the lie that America first means America only,” Hamrick told The Media Line. “I tell people that America’s war is Israel’s war and Israel’s war is America’s war … Trump carried out that preemptive strike, knowing that Iran was preparing to strike first… I commend the president’s bravery.”

Looking toward the future, Hamrick believes the current military action will ultimately prove beneficial for regional security.

“God bless America, God bless Israel,” she concluded. “I’m proud to have upgraded my life to live in this splinter of land in the eastern Mediterranean, watching it all with my own two eyes.”

Israeli Defense Forces announced Saturday they conducted airstrikes against Iranian oil infrastructure and key ballistic missile facilities, marking the first time Tehran’s petroleum sites have been attacked in the ongoing two-week conflict.

Military officials report targeting fuel storage facilities directly connected to Iran’s military operations and overseen by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Opposition sources suggest approximately 30 locations may have been struck, according to Jerusalem Post reporting.

Israeli forces conducted nighttime operations against multiple fuel storage sites in Tehran and surrounding areas on Saturday evening.

“The military forces of the Iranian terror regime make direct and frequent use of these fuel tanks to operate military infrastructure. Through them, the Iranian terror regime distributes fuel to various consumers, including military entities in Iran,” the IDF said in a statement.

Military leaders described the operation as “an additional step in deepening the damage to the military infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime.” The announcement followed reports of a second wave of attacks on government-connected targets in Iran’s capital.

Iranian news outlet Fars cited oil ministry officials confirming Israeli aircraft struck three fuel depots in western Tehran, specifically targeting facilities in Kuhak and Shahran districts, plus another location in nearby Karaj.

Tehran responded with missile launches toward Israel Saturday evening, causing no reported injuries but destroying one residence in Lod. Hezbollah forces also fired rockets into Israeli territory overnight.

Although Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian issued apologies to Gulf states for earlier attacks, explosions and damage occurred in Bahrain and the UAE, with one fatality reported in Dubai.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Saturday night that the joint Israeli-American military campaign would proceed, stating that a “moment of truth” was approaching when Iranians could overthrow their government.

Netanyahu revealed Israel maintains “an organized plan with many surprises” for upcoming conflict phases, “to destabilize the regime, to enable change.”

A former British military commander is warning that Israel’s expanding military operations in Lebanon signal something far more significant than typical border conflicts.

Retired British Army Colonel Richard Kemp told The Media Line that Israel’s current campaign represents part of a larger strategic effort to eliminate Hezbollah’s remaining ability to pose threats during what he sees as an inevitable broader conflict with Iran.

According to Kemp, the Iran-supported organization has spent years building up its rocket and missile capabilities specifically for deployment during a regional conflict that would involve Iran and its proxy forces.

The assessment comes as Israeli forces continue ground operations in Lebanon following fresh missile strikes launched by Hezbollah forces. Kemp contends that these military actions go beyond responding to immediate border threats.

“Hezbollah exists for this very moment,” Kemp explained, suggesting that the group’s extensive weapons stockpile was accumulated with the specific purpose of targeting Israel during a wider Middle Eastern confrontation involving Iranian forces and allied groups.

Medical emergency teams report that six people sustained injuries Sunday afternoon when Iranian cluster missiles impacted central Israel, marking another escalation in the eight-day conflict between the two nations.

According to United Hatzalah and Magen David Adom emergency services, the casualties included a 40-year-old man in serious condition, a 25-year-old man with moderate injuries, and a 56-year-old man who suffered minor wounds. Three additional victims received treatment for minor injuries.

Fire and rescue crews responded to two main impact zones in central Israel where cluster munition fragments had scattered, with firefighting teams actively working at both locations as part of the emergency response effort.

Sunday’s violence began early, with five separate rocket attacks targeting Israel starting at approximately 2 a.m. local time. These initial strikes did not produce severe casualties. A seventh wave of missiles was launched later in the afternoon, though preliminary assessments suggested minimal damage or injuries.

Israel’s Health Ministry released statistics Sunday showing that 1,619 individuals have needed hospital care since the conflict with Iran commenced.

Currently, 87 people remain in medical facilities receiving treatment. Four patients are fighting for their lives in critical condition, with two of those cases directly linked to Iranian missile impacts. Medical staff are treating 31 people for moderate injuries and 50 for minor wounds, while two patients are still being evaluated by doctors.

Emergency response teams continue surveillance of strike locations while providing ongoing medical support as officials evaluate the damage from the most recent missile bombardment.

Coinciding with International Women’s Day observances, the latest installment of ‘Facing the Middle East with Felice Friedson’ examines female leaders who are transforming their communities and working to overcome longstanding obstacles in a region marked by conflict and political instability.

Episode 19 of the program centers around the Women Champions for Change project, bringing together participants from Israel, other Middle Eastern nations, and international locations to discuss the impact women can have when given leadership opportunities rather than simply being included in existing structures.

The initiative, which involves 50 women and is spearheaded by Danny Hakim, features contributions from Hanan Alsanah, Nazanin Afshin-Jam MacKay, and Donna Orender. Their conversations cover topics including women’s empowerment, the ongoing situation in Iran, effective leadership strategies, and fostering collaboration across cultural and political divides.

The program explores how female leadership is creating new possibilities for hope and progress in communities throughout the Middle East, despite the challenges posed by ongoing warfare, deep-seated mistrust, and volatile political conditions.

BEIJING/WASHINGTON, March 9 – The scheduled meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping later this month will likely focus on preserving economic stability rather than delivering major trade breakthroughs, according to five sources familiar with summit preparations.

Corporate executives from America have not yet organized the high-level business delegation that some had hoped to arrange for the visit. Meanwhile, Beijing appears unlikely to secure the investment protections it has been seeking for Chinese businesses operating in the United States.

Both nations are working to preserve the relative calm that has defined relations between the world’s two biggest economies since the end of last year, following a turbulent period characterized by Trump’s trade tariffs and China’s restrictions on rare earth mineral exports.

However, some American corporations had hoped Trump’s trip might accomplish more than just approving deals for Chinese purchases of soybeans and Boeing planes, which are already being discussed.

The upcoming summit – marking the first Trump-Xi encounter since their trade truce agreement in October – has been complicated by Chinese concerns over the Trump administration’s rushed planning process for what typically requires months of careful preparation, three sources with knowledge of the arrangements revealed.

Outstanding issues include Chinese investment clearances and the contentious matter of Trump’s tariffs, along with questions about whether the president will bring the type of prominent business delegation that leaders from Canada, Britain, and Germany recently included on their Chinese state visits.

“This feels like an ever-shrinking state visit. The ambition for what this trip will accomplish seems to be getting smaller by the day,” commented Ryan Hass, who directs the John L. Thornton China Center at the Brookings Institution.

The White House, Treasury Department, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and China’s commerce and foreign ministries did not provide responses to inquiries about summit expectations.

A U.S. official confirmed last month that Trump plans to visit China from March 31 through April 2. While China has not officially acknowledged the trip, its senior diplomat indicated Sunday that the meeting agenda was “on the table.”

“What is required is for both sides to make thorough preparations to create a conducive environment to manage existing differences,” Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated during a press conference alongside China’s annual parliamentary session in Beijing.

Washington only recently initiated working-level planning meetings across government agencies for the visit, providing minimal time for the highly choreographed state visit that Beijing typically expects, two sources indicated.

American officials regard this visit as one of four possible Trump-Xi meetings planned for this year. A Paris meeting this week between Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng will concentrate on potential outcomes for the Beijing summit, according to someone familiar with the developing preparations.

Trump’s Beijing ambassador, David Perdue, is advocating for a CEO delegation, and U.S. officials in China have made preliminary contact with companies, two sources reported.

However, the U.S. Trade Representative’s office, which has been leading Washington’s summit planning alongside Treasury, has shown reluctance to include CEOs in order to maintain focus on “managed trade,” three sources said.

The Trump administration could still organize a last-minute CEO delegation, three sources suggested. The China Development Forum, which annually attracts dozens of top American business leaders, is scheduled for the week before the summit.

To obtain Chinese investment approval in America, Beijing seeks security assurances, two sources explained, following the required sale of TikTok in the United States.

While Trump invited Chinese car manufacturers to establish U.S. factories in January, a U.S. official noted the president has not pursued an intensive campaign to secure Chinese investment commitments, unlike his approach with Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.

Several Republican legislators have cautioned Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent against reducing restrictions on Chinese investment.

Tariffs continue to present a potential source of tension.

The U.S. Supreme Court invalidated a 10% fentanyl-related tariff that Trump had placed on China and other nations under emergency authority last month. The Trump administration has informed Beijing it plans to reinstate that tariff under different legal authority, a U.S. official revealed.

However, the summit’s goal is “not to fight about trade,” Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told ABC News last month.

“It’s to maintain stability, make sure that the Chinese are holding up their end of our deal and buying American agricultural products and Boeings and other things, and making sure they are sending us the rare earths that we need,” Greer explained.

One possible summit achievement could involve China’s agreement to purchase approximately 500 narrow-body aircraft from Boeing. Trump previously threatened export restrictions on Boeing components, creating difficulties for China.

Beijing is requesting U.S. concessions in exchange for the purchase, including guaranteed parts availability for multiple years, according to two sources briefed on the discussions. The aircraft deliveries would likely extend into the 2030s due to Boeing’s manufacturing schedule and existing order backlog.

White House officials might still choose to postpone the Boeing agreement to reduce concessions to Beijing and save some announcements for a future summit on American territory, one person knowledgeable about the discussions indicated.

Officials at Muscat International Airport in Oman have instructed private aircraft operators to stop scheduling extra flights as regional airspace restrictions continue disrupting travel throughout the Middle East, Reuters reported Friday based on internal communications.

Airport management sent a message to charter flight companies stating that “flight movements are restricted to approved seasonal scheduled services only” due to current crisis protocols at the facility.

Authorities explained the limitations were implemented to control overcrowding and keep airport operations within manageable capacity levels.

The directive, initially covered by the Financial Times, instructed all carriers and operators to eliminate any reserved time slots not part of the standard seasonal flight schedule and to stop requesting approval for unauthorized flights until conditions improve.

The communication specified that “embassy-sponsored repatriation flights” would be the sole exception during this period, but only with advance diplomatic approval and under the condition that “no commercial sale of seats is undertaken in connection with such operations.”

The escalating conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran has triggered flight suspensions across Middle Eastern nations, forcing airlines and government officials to address the needs of thousands of displaced travelers.

Regional airspace remains largely restricted due to security threats from missiles and drones, prompting some individuals to seek private aircraft while charter services and reduced commercial flights work to transport tens of thousands of affected passengers.

People have paid premium rates to leave the Middle East region, rushing to departure points or traveling overland to less affected transportation centers, with military aircraft sometimes providing escort services for civilian flights.

A major corruption trial began Monday for Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who has been imprisoned for nearly a year and represents the strongest challenge to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan’s political dominance.

The 55-year-old mayor stands as the primary defendant among more than 400 individuals connected to Istanbul’s city government who face corruption and bribery allegations. Both Imamoglu and his Republican People’s Party (CHP) reject these accusations, which collectively could lead to centuries of imprisonment.

Proceedings are taking place at the Silivri prison complex courthouse located west of Istanbul, where Imamoglu has remained detained. This trial represents the most significant element of a broader legal offensive targeting the CHP that is casting a shadow over Turkish politics as next year’s anticipated elections approach.

Speaking with Reuters, Imamoglu maintained a confrontational stance, challenging Erdogan to immediately schedule elections. However, his chances of opposing the experienced leader appear dim given the ongoing legal assault that international rights organizations and foreign monitors claim has damaged Turkey’s democratic standing as a NATO ally.

Benjamin Ward from Human Rights Watch, serving as deputy director for Europe and Central Asia, offered sharp criticism of the proceedings. “(I)t’s hard to avoid the conclusion that prosecutors are trying to remove Imamoglu from politics and discredit his party in ways that undermine democracy,” Ward stated, characterizing the trial as the culmination of over a year of “weaponising” Turkey’s criminal justice system against the CHP.

Turkish officials reject claims of judicial manipulation, maintaining that the country’s court system operates independently.

Justice Minister Akin Gurlek, recently appointed to his position after previously serving as Istanbul’s chief prosecutor and leading the investigations into Imamoglu, defended his handling of the case. “I simply did my duty as a public prosecutor. My conscience is clear,” Gurlek stated to reporters in remarks released Friday.

Imamoglu’s presidential aspirations have already sustained significant damage when a court in January dismissed his legal challenge to the revocation of his university diploma—a credential mandated for any presidential candidate.

Erdogan, now 72, has maintained control over Turkey either as prime minister or president since 2003. While presidential and parliamentary contests aren’t officially scheduled until 2028, he must hold early elections if he intends to pursue a third presidential term, unless constitutional term restrictions are modified.

DUBAI, March 9 – Iran’s religious establishment has chosen defiance over diplomacy by selecting Mojtaba Khamenei as the nation’s new Supreme Leader following his father’s death, according to regional officials who view the decision as a direct challenge to President Donald Trump’s previous declaration that the son was “unacceptable.”

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei died in a joint U.S.-Israeli military operation at the beginning of the current conflict, which has now entered its second week.

The Assembly of Experts’ selection of Mojtaba as the new leader ensures hardline elements maintain their grip on power in Tehran – a strategic decision that could fundamentally alter Iran’s ongoing conflicts with the United States and Israel while creating ripple effects throughout the region.

“Having Mojtaba take over is the same playbook,” said Alex Vatanka, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute.

“It’s a big humiliation for the United States to carry out an operation of this scale, risk so much, and end up killing an 86-year-old man, only to have him replaced by his hardline son.”

Within Iran’s intricate religious government structure, the Supreme Leader wields ultimate power over all major decisions, including nuclear policy and international relations, while also providing direction to elected officials and lawmakers.

DECISION SIGNALS CONTINUED CONFRONTATION

Experts believe Mojtaba’s selection – a hardline religious figure whose spouse, mother, and additional relatives also perished in U.S.-Israeli attacks – delivers a clear signal: Iran’s ruling class has abandoned any possibility of negotiation to maintain their system and views continued confrontation, retaliation, and resistance as their only option.

Sources close to the situation indicate that Mojtaba will confront enormous domestic and international pressure from an unhappy citizenry and escalating warfare, though he is anticipated to quickly work to strengthen his authority.

This approach will probably result in increased power for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, stricter domestic oversight, and widespread oppression to eliminate opposition.

“The world will miss the era of his father,” a regional official close to Tehran told Reuters. “Mojtaba will have no choice but to show an iron fist… even if the war ends, there will be severe internal repression.”

This position follows months of intensifying civil unrest – the most violent since the 1979 Islamic Revolution – which had already undermined the Islamic Republic before hostilities commenced.

Iran was struggling with economic devastation, rising inflation, currency devaluation, and expanding poverty, combined with increasing oppression that had sparked public outrage and demonstrations – challenges that will likely worsen under military governance.

CHALLENGING PERIOD ANTICIPATED

Harsh times await under Mojtaba’s leadership, featuring stricter internal oversight, heightened domestic pressure, and an increasingly aggressive international stance, according to another Iranian source with knowledge of conditions within the country.

Paul Salem, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, described Mojtaba as someone unlikely to negotiate with the United States or pursue diplomatic solutions.

“Nobody emerging now is going to be able to compromise,” Salem said. “This is a hardline choice, made in a hardline moment.”

From the perspective of Iran’s religious leaders, many who traditionally refer to America as the “Great Satan,” the killing of Khamenei, the Islamic Republic’s top spiritual leader, has transformed him into a “martyr.”

Religious authorities have portrayed the deceased leader as a heroic figure, comparing him to Imam Hussein – the Shi’ite symbol representing sacrifice and opposition to tyranny.

“Mojtaba is even worse and more hardline than his father,” said Alan Eyre, former U.S. diplomat and Iran specialist, adding that he was the preferred candidate of the Guards. “He’s going to have a lot of revenge to exact.”

This approach involves significant dangers. Israel has indicated that any replacement for Khamenei would become a target, while Trump has stated the conflict might only conclude after Iran’s military commanders and governing elite are eliminated.

NEW LEADER HISTORICALLY OPPOSED MODERATES

An influential mid-level cleric, the 56-year-old Mojtaba has consistently opposed moderate factions supporting Western engagement. His strong connections with senior religious figures and the IRGC – which controls Iran’s security apparatus and economic sectors – provide him with influence throughout the state’s political and enforcement mechanisms.

He built power under his father’s leadership as an important figure in the security structure and the extensive commercial network it oversees, functioning for years as Ali Khamenei’s intermediary and effectively operating as a “mini-supreme leader,” according to analysts.

His rise occurs as the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran escalates, with coordinated attacks targeting fuel facilities and other infrastructure within Iran, while Iranian rockets and unmanned aircraft have attacked Gulf nations, expanding the conflict.

Mojtaba received his education from traditional clerics in Qom’s religious schools, the center of Shi’ite theological education, and maintains the religious title of Hojjatoleslam.

The U.S. Treasury imposed sanctions on Mojtaba in 2019, stating he acted as the supreme leader’s representative in an official role despite never serving in elected or formal government positions.

A Gulf source knowledgeable about regional government perspectives commented on Mojtaba’s selection: “This tells Trump and Washington that Iran will not back down, they will fight on until the finish.”

Salem, from the Middle East Institute, compared Iran’s current path to Iraq under Saddam Hussein after 1991 or Syria under Bashar al-Assad after 2012 – administrations that endured years of conflict and isolation while gradually losing authority.

“They’re doubling down on the hard line,” Salem said. “Internally, it’s terrible — and deeply destabilising.”

Iran’s clerical leadership has appointed Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the recently killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to serve as the nation’s new top authority, according to Iranian media reports.

The Assembly of Experts made the announcement more than a week following the elder Khamenei’s death in an airstrike during ongoing U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran. The 56-year-old cleric survived the same attacks that claimed his father’s life.

Council member Ayatollah Mohsen Heidari Alekasir explained in a Sunday video statement that their choice followed the late leader’s instructions to select someone “hated by the enemy.”

“Even the Great Satan (U.S.) has mentioned his name,” Heidari Alekasir commented, referencing President Donald Trump’s recent description of Mojtaba as an “unacceptable” selection.

The new supreme leader accumulated significant influence during his father’s reign, operating as an unofficial advisor with deep connections to Iran’s security apparatus and the extensive business networks they oversee. He has consistently opposed reform movements attempting to improve relations with Western nations seeking to limit Iran’s nuclear activities.

Mojtaba’s extensive relationships with the elite Revolutionary Guard Corps provide him substantial control throughout Iran’s political and military structures, with sources describing his role as his father’s primary “gatekeeper.”

“He has strong constituency and support within the IRGC, in particular amongst the younger radical generations,” explained Kasra Aarabi, who leads Revolutionary Guard research at United Against Nuclear Iran, a Washington-based policy group.

Iran’s supreme leader holds ultimate authority over all state matters, including international relations and nuclear policy. While Western governments seek to prevent Tehran from developing atomic weapons, Iranian officials maintain their nuclear program serves only peaceful civilian purposes.

The new leader may encounter resistance from Iranian citizens who have demonstrated willingness to organize large-scale demonstrations demanding expanded freedoms, despite violent government suppression.

Born in 1969 in Mashhad, a sacred Shiite city, Mojtaba grew up while his father helped organize resistance against the Shah’s rule. During his youth, he participated in the Iran-Iraq conflict.

His religious education took place in Qom’s conservative seminaries, Iran’s primary center for Shiite theological studies, where he achieved the clerical designation of Hojjatoleslam.

Despite never holding an official government role, Mojtaba has attended loyalist gatherings but rarely makes public statements.

His informal influence has generated significant debate within Iran, as opponents reject any suggestion of hereditary rule in a nation that toppled a U.S.-supported monarchy in 1979.

The U.S. Treasury sanctioned Mojtaba in 2019, stating he acted for the supreme leader “in an official capacity despite never being elected or appointed to a government position” beyond his work in his father’s administration.

Treasury officials said the elder Khamenei had transferred certain duties to his son, who collaborated closely with Quds Force leadership and the Basij religious militia “to advance his father’s destabilising regional ambitions and oppressive domestic objectives.”

Protesters specifically targeted Mojtaba during 2022 demonstrations following a young woman’s death while in police custody after her arrest for allegedly violating the Islamic Republic’s mandatory dress requirements.

In 2024, a widely circulated video showed him announcing the halt of Islamic law classes he taught in Qom, sparking questions about his motivations.

The new leader shares a striking physical resemblance with his father and wears the black turban of a sayyed, signifying his family’s claimed descent from Prophet Mohammad.

Opponents argue Mojtaba lacks sufficient religious qualifications for the supreme leadership role, noting that Hojjatoleslam ranks below Ayatollah, the title held by both his father and Islamic Republic founder Ruhollah Khomeini.

However, he remained a leading candidate, particularly after another potential successor, former President Ebrahim Raisi, perished in a 2024 helicopter accident.

A 2007 U.S. diplomatic document released by WikiLeaks quoted three Iranian contacts identifying Mojtaba as a key channel for accessing his father.

Many observers credit Mojtaba with orchestrating hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s unexpected 2005 presidential victory.

He supported Ahmadinejad again during his controversial 2009 reelection, which triggered anti-government demonstrations that security forces, including the Basij, brutally crushed.

Moderate cleric Mehdi Karroubi, who competed in that election, sent a formal complaint to the elder Khamenei alleging Mojtaba’s improper support for Ahmadinejad, though Khamenei dismissed the claims.

Mojtaba’s wife, who died in the recent airstrikes, was the daughter of hardline former parliament speaker Gholamali Haddadadel.

State media in Iran announced Sunday that the country’s Assembly of Experts has selected Mojtaba Khamenei as the nation’s new supreme leader, following the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The younger Khamenei, who serves as a mid-ranking cleric, maintains strong relationships with Iran’s influential Revolutionary Guards and had been considered by many within the country’s leadership as a likely candidate to inherit his father’s role. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei died following military strikes conducted by the United States and Israel against Iran.

While Iran’s governing philosophy typically opposes the concept of passing power from father to son, Mojtaba Khamenei commands significant support among the Revolutionary Guards and retains backing from his late father’s office, which continues to wield considerable influence in Iranian politics.

Guinea’s top opposition leader has strongly condemned his country’s government following the dissolution of 40 political organizations, claiming the move represents an effort to establish a single-party system.

On Friday, Guinea’s Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralization announced it was eliminating the political parties due to their alleged failure to fulfill required obligations. The official order removes the organizations’ legal recognition and prohibits all political activities, including displaying their names, symbols, logos, and other identifying marks.

In a Facebook video posted Sunday, Cellou Dalein Diallo, who heads the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea opposition party that was among those dissolved, criticized President Mamadi Doumbouya for attempting to eliminate political competition to create a single-party system.

“I urge the leaders, activists and supporters of the UFDG, and all Guineans who cherish liberty and justice, to rise as one and use every means to bring an end to this exceptional regime that has lasted far too long,” Diallo stated, noting that peaceful negotiations and court challenges appear unlikely to produce meaningful political reform.

President Doumbouya assumed power following a military takeover in 2021 and won election in December during a contest that excluded all significant opposition candidates. Throughout his leadership, multiple political organizations and news outlets have faced suspension, while various opposition figures and civil rights advocates have been detained or fled the country.

Friday’s dissolution targeted several major political organizations, including Diallo’s group, the Rally of the Guinean People formerly led by ex-President Alpha Condé, and the Union of Republican Forces headed by opposition politician Sidya Touré. All three party leaders currently live outside Guinea.

These organizations had previously been suspended in August for allegedly violating the nation’s political party regulations, just before a constitutional referendum that permitted the military leader to seek the presidency.

Guinea joins multiple West African nations that have experienced military takeovers or attempted coups since 2020, as military leaders have capitalized on public frustration with security problems, economic struggles, and contested elections to seize control.

Thousands of protesters filled the streets across Brazil on Sunday during International Women’s Day demonstrations, demanding action against gender-based violence following a shocking alleged gang rape case involving a teenage victim in Rio de Janeiro’s famous Copacabana district.

The incident occurred in January but captured national attention this week after four suspects surrendered to police. Law enforcement officials have classified the attack as a gang rape, intensifying ongoing concerns about escalating violence against women throughout the country and triggering widespread demonstrations and online activism campaigns.

Organizers coordinated at least 15 protest events nationwide, demanding protection for women’s lives and calling for an end to femicide across Brazil.

According to Rio’s Civil Police, the four young men currently held in pretrial detention face rape charges, while a fifth suspect — who is underage — surrendered to authorities Friday and will face comparable charges under juvenile justice laws.

Law enforcement officials issued an arrest warrant for the minor after discovering his alleged connection to another sexual violence case with similarities to the Copacabana incident, according to an email from Rio state prosecutors’ office.

Defense attorneys representing two of the accused have proclaimed their clients’ innocence, while lawyers for the remaining three suspects have not yet made public statements regarding the charges.

Police investigators determined that the victim received an invitation from a school classmate in January to visit a friend’s residence at her elite private school. After entering the apartment, she was forced into a room and confined with the suspects, where she endured sexual assault along with physical and psychological abuse, according to a March 4 police report.

Security camera recordings showing the men entering and exiting the alleged crime location spread rapidly across social media platforms earlier this week.

Public attention intensified after news outlets reported that one suspect’s father worked as undersecretary for governance and compliance in Rio’s state social development and human rights department. The official was terminated from his position following the allegations against his son, according to Wednesday’s announcement in the state government’s official publication.

Brazilian citizens, women’s advocacy organizations, and prominent officials including ministers Anielle Franco and Sônia Guajajara used social media platforms to condemn the case.

“It’s impossible not to feel indignation when a 17-year-old young woman suffers such brutal sexual violence,” declared Racial Equality minister Franco, sister of murdered councilwoman Marielle Franco, while encouraging mass demonstrations on March 8 International Women’s Day.

Violence targeting women in Brazil continues rising, with 1,568 documented femicides in 2025 representing a 4.7% jump from the prior year and more than triple the 2015 figures, data from the Brazilian Forum on Public Safety shows.

Additional crimes against women — including threats, stalking, psychological abuse, physical harm, sexual assault and attempted femicide — have also shown consistent increases over recent years, the research organization reported before March 8.

“Women’s bodies continue to be seen as someone else’s territory, which can be threatened, assaulted, sexually violated and murdered,” the organization stated.

Following multiple high-profile cases and resulting protests last year, Brazil’s government expanded protective measures. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s administration announced a comprehensive anti-femicide initiative this year involving executive, legislative and judicial branches.

Brazilian officials unveiled emergency measures this week featuring a national task force to execute roughly 1,000 outstanding arrest warrants for known perpetrators, implementation of electronic monitoring systems for individuals subject to protective orders, and deployment of 52 mobile assistance units for women experiencing violence.

Government initiatives carry significant symbolic importance and demonstrate that authorities consider violence against women unacceptable, explained Isadora Vianna, a sociology researcher from Rio de Janeiro State University. However, she emphasized, “it would be more effective to invest massively in policies of prevention and support networks.”

Vianna also highlighted the need for stronger internet regulation to prevent rapid spread of misogynistic content online.

Tatianny Araújo, a 47-year-old veteran women’s rights advocate who has attended more than 30 International Women’s Day events, described this year as uniquely impactful following prominent reports of sexual violence, including the alleged Copacabana gang rape. Her 13-year-old son attends the same school as two suspects currently facing expulsion.

“We feel bad, we cry, we’re consumed by rage and by pain,” Araújo explained. “But at the same time we cannot stop. We have to mobilize, we have to do something.”

Iranian military officials announced Sunday that a deadly submarine attack by United States forces resulted in the deaths of at least 104 personnel, with an additional 32 injured, when their naval vessel was struck in waters near Sri Lanka last week.

According to Iranian army reports, an American submarine destroyed the frigate Dena while it was positioned approximately 19 nautical miles from Galle, a major port city on Sri Lanka’s southern coastline. The Wednesday incident in the Indian Ocean claimed the lives of numerous naval personnel and marks a significant escalation in the United States’ military actions against Iran’s maritime forces.

TORONTO (AP) — Three upcoming by-elections could determine whether Canada’s Liberal Party gains complete control of Parliament, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Sunday.

Carney scheduled the special elections for April 13 in three constituencies: two Toronto-area seats in Scarborough Southwest and University-Rosedale, plus the Montreal-area district of Terrebonne.

Political analysts view the two Toronto constituencies as likely Liberal victories, though the Terrebonne race remains competitive and unpredictable.

With 169 seats currently in the House of Commons, the Liberals sit just three seats short of the 172 needed for majority control, which would enable them to advance their legislative agenda without requiring opposition party backing.

The Liberal caucus has grown recently through defections, as three Conservative MPs — Chris d’Entremont, Michael Ma and Matt Jeneroux — switched parties in recent months.

Jeneroux cited Carney’s World Economic Forum address in Davos as influential in his decision to join the Liberals. The prime minister’s remarks criticizing economic bullying by major powers against smaller nations drew significant international attention and overshadowed U.S. President Donald Trump’s presence at the event.

The Terrebonne election stems from a Supreme Court ruling that overturned the Liberals’ narrow one-vote victory there. The Quebec-based Bloc Québécois had challenged the results after a voter complained about an uncounted mail-in ballot.

Even with victories in all three races, the Liberals would still require House Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia’s tie-breaking votes to guarantee passage of government bills.

Since replacing Justin Trudeau as prime minister in 2025 and winning the subsequent national election, Carney has positioned the Liberal Party toward the political center.

Russian defense officials announced Sunday that military air defense systems successfully shot down 170 Ukrainian drones across multiple regions in central and southern Russia during a concentrated four-hour timeframe.

The intercepts took place between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. local time (1100-1500 GMT) on March 8, according to Russia’s Defence Ministry. Officials reported no injuries or property damage from the incident.

The Bryansk region, which shares a border with Ukraine, experienced the heaviest drone activity with 73 intercepts recorded. Among the drones targeted were two aircraft reportedly en route to Moscow.

Moscow’s mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, confirmed via Telegram that two drones were brought down while approaching the Russian capital. He noted that emergency response teams were dispatched to examine debris at the crash locations.

The reported number of drone intercepts represents a figure above typical averages for such incidents.

SÃO PAULO, March 8 – Brazilian leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva received a clean bill of health during his yearly medical examination conducted Saturday morning, according to officials at São Paulo’s Sirio-Libanes Hospital who released the findings Sunday.

The medical facility confirmed that the president, commonly referred to as Lula, will continue with standard follow-up appointments under the supervision of his healthcare providers, including heart specialist Roberto Kalil Filho and doctor Ana Helena Germoglio. Hospital representatives stated no additional testing is scheduled at this time.

The 80-year-old Brazilian leader announced in 2025 his intention to pursue another presidential term in elections scheduled for later this year. Last year, Lula required two surgical procedures to address and prevent cranial bleeding complications. This marks his second stint as Brazil’s head of state, having previously served from 2003 through 2010 before returning to office in January 2023.

President Donald Trump is reportedly exploring the possibility of launching a military mission to capture Iran’s weapons-grade uranium stockpile, according to a Bloomberg News report published Sunday.

The report, dated March 8th, indicates that three diplomatic sources with knowledge of the discussions have confirmed the administration is examining options for deploying special operations forces to secure Iran’s near-bomb-grade nuclear materials.

Reuters has not been able to independently confirm the Bloomberg report at this time.

BERLIN – Germany’s Green Party claimed victory in Sunday’s state elections in Baden-Wuerttemberg, defeating Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservative party and positioning themselves to maintain their governing coalition, according to preliminary election results.

Early projections from public television network ARD placed the environmental party at the top with 32% of votes cast, while Merz’s Christian Democratic Union secured 29%. The far-right Alternative for Germany finished in third position with 17.5%, solidifying its role as the country’s primary opposition force beyond its traditional strongholds in former East Germany.

The Social Democrats, who partner with Merz’s party at the federal level, barely crossed the 5% minimum required for parliamentary representation, earning just 5.5% of votes and highlighting their continued decline in voter support.

This southwestern German state serves as headquarters for major automotive companies including Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Bosch, making it one of the nation’s wealthiest regions. However, the area’s car manufacturing sector faces mounting pressure from competitive Chinese electric vehicle producers, impacting the broader regional economy.

Green candidate Cem Ozdemir, seeking the state premier position, represents a moderate voice unlikely to challenge Merz significantly in the Bundesrat, Germany’s federal upper chamber where states hold representation. The Green-CDU partnership has governed Baden-Wuerttemberg for ten years.

These election outcomes underscore the difficulties facing Merz as his promised policy changes remain stalled and Germany’s economy continues its slow recovery following two years of recession. The Greens managed to overtake the Christian Democrats in polling as election day approached, despite initially trailing in the campaign.

The results may increase dissatisfaction among conservative party members already concerned about historically low approval numbers for Merz’s administration in Berlin.

Sunday’s contest marks the first of five state elections scheduled for this year. Rhineland-Palatinate voters will head to polls on March 22, with Berlin, Saxony-Anhalt, and Mecklenberg-Vorpommern following in September.

Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto expressed optimism Wednesday that Russia might release two ethnic Hungarian prisoners of war as he arrived in Moscow for scheduled meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The diplomatic visit follows a telephone conversation between Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Putin on Tuesday, during which they addressed Middle Eastern developments, the Ukrainian conflict, and Hungary’s access to Russian crude oil and natural gas supplies.

Speaking in a Facebook broadcast from Moscow, Szijjarto revealed that two ethnic Hungarian captives had recently reached out to Hungary requesting assistance.

“I hope that after our talks more people will fly home on the plane than who came in this direction,” Szijjarto said.

The issue has become particularly sensitive as Orban’s administration has made the Russian invasion of Ukraine a central theme in campaigning for Hungary’s April 12 parliamentary elections, creating additional strain in relations between Budapest and Kyiv.

Approximately 150,000 ethnic Hungarians reside in Ukraine, with the majority concentrated in the Transcarpathia region. Budapest and Kyiv have maintained a contentious relationship regarding language rights for this community.

Hungary’s government has criticized Ukraine for drafting ethnic Hungarians into military service, arguing that Budapest believes these individuals should be exempt from conscription. Just last Friday, Szijjarto called in Ukraine’s ambassador to Budapest to formally object to the military drafting of two ethnic Hungarian men.

Despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Orban’s administration has preserved friendly ties with Moscow and refuses to abandon its Russian energy imports, creating friction within the European Union. Hungary announced last month it would obstruct the EU’s upcoming sanctions package against Russia and oppose a 90 billion euro ($105 billion) European loan intended to support Ukraine’s defense efforts until oil deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline are restored.

ZAHLE, Lebanon (AP) — A former Lebanese security captain disappeared in December while meeting someone who claimed to want to purchase property from him.

Both Lebanese authorities and relatives of former General Security Directorate Captain Ahmed Shukr suspect he was kidnapped and transported to Israel as part of an intelligence mission to gather details about an Israeli pilot who went missing in Lebanon 40 years ago.

The relatives think Shukr was targeted due to his brother’s potential connections to the vanishing of Israeli navigator Ron Arad. However, the family maintains that Shukr was never affiliated with any militant organization and had no involvement in Arad’s disappearance.

Almost three months following Shukr’s vanishing — and after military strikes by the U.S. and Israel against Iran sparked broader Middle East conflict — Israeli forces conducted a fatal commando raid in Nabi Chit, Lebanon, over the weekend while searching for Arad’s body.

Local witnesses reported that the commando unit started excavating in the Shukr family graveyard in Nabi Chit before encountering resistance from Hezbollah militants and armed local residents. Heavy fighting and air bombardments resulted in 41 deaths and numerous injuries, Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported. Israeli forces suffered no reported losses.

Whether the Israeli mission resulted from intelligence obtained from Shukr remains unclear.

Israeli military officials confirmed the operation sought evidence regarding Arad’s fate and stated his body was not recovered. Military representatives refused to respond when questioned about whether Israel had captured Shukr.

Nevertheless, this event seems consistent with Israel’s long-standing practice of secret operations and military raids deep within Lebanon to capture or eliminate individuals it claims participated in anti-Israeli activities.

Israel has sometimes taken credit for such missions, including seizing a ship captain from northern Lebanon in November 2024 whom Israel described as a high-ranking Hezbollah operative.

In other instances, like the puzzling kidnapping and murder of a Hezbollah-connected Lebanese money changer in April 2024, Israel has stayed quiet, though Lebanese officials claim they possess proof of its participation.

For years, Israel has attempted to determine Arad’s fate after he ejected from his fighter aircraft during an attack on suspected Palestinian militants in 1986 near the southern Lebanese coastal city of Sidon.

A Shiite Muslim group known as the Believers’ Resistance took Arad prisoner following his landing.

In 1994, Israeli commandos transported by helicopter penetrated deep into Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley, capturing Believers’ Resistance leader Mustafa Dirani and bringing him to Israel.

Dirani was freed a decade later through a prisoner swap. He informed the Israeli newspaper Maariv in a 2000 interview that Arad vanished in 1988 when his captors left him to visit family members near a major 1988 battlefield between Hezbollah forces and Israeli troops, who controlled portions of Lebanon then.

However, The Associated Press reported in 2000 that Dirani informed an Israeli court that Iranian soldiers had taken Arad away. An Israeli legal official noted that Dirani provided conflicting stories during his imprisonment.

Following extensive indirect talks between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iran-supported organization submitted a report about Arad through intermediaries in 2008, indicating he likely died while attempting to reach Israel after escaping.

Shukr’s relatives informed AP that months before his disappearance, he became acquainted with a Lebanese citizen named Ali Morad who reached out through social media and leased an apartment the former officer owned south of Beirut.

Shukr’s spouse, Salwa Hazimeh, explained that Morad telephoned her husband in mid-December, informing him that a businessman wanted to purchase land he was selling in Zahle and wished to view it at 5:30 p.m.

“I was standing by him as he spoke and told him that we cannot see the plot of land later in the afternoon but he (Morad) insisted,” she said. Shukr traveled the following day, December 17, to Zahle, where surveillance video captured him exiting his vehicle and entering another car, Hazimeh explained.

“Since then we know nothing about him,” Hazimeh said.

Shukr’s relatives report he suffers from diabetes, hypertension and cardiac issues, requiring continuous medical attention and treatment.

Family members stated Shukr’s cellular phone last showed activity in the eastern village of Ghazzeh around 7 a.m. on December 18. They suspect he was transported overland into Israel through southern Lebanon.

“It looks like an extraordinary rendition,” said Adam Coogle, deputy director with the Middle East and North Africa division at Human Rights Watch. “That is effectively kidnapping someone, then transporting them across borders without any due process.”

Legal authorities in Beirut reported the court system has filed criminal charges against four individuals in the matter, including Morad, plus a Lebanese-French citizen, a Syrian-Swedish citizen and a Lebanese woman who leased a villa with views of Zahle. The legal officials stated an SUV was purchased for $22,000 for Shukr’s abduction and the woman paid $42,000 for one year’s rental of the villa.

Morad’s attorney, Samaher Bourhan, stated her client claims he was a victim who thought he was employed by a foreign corporation and was ultimately exploited in the kidnapping. She explained the company requested him to purchase the vehicle and register it in his name, alleging it was due to their lack of legal status in Lebanon.

“He said that he handed himself over because he had no idea about the operation,” Bourhan said.

Shukr’s wife and his brother, Abdul-Salam Shukr, informed AP that the former officer possesses no knowledge about Arad’s fate.

However, another Shukr family member, who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive details, revealed that Shukr’s brother, Hassan Shukr was a Hezbollah member and knew Arad’s location during his captivity.

The family member stated Arad was confined in a secured room at Hassan Shukr’s in-laws’ residence, who belonged to Dirani’s Believers’ Resistance in Nabi Chit.

Legal officials verified that a Lebanese military document from the 1980s indicated Arad was detained by the Shukr family in Nabi Chit and became sick at one point, prompting them to bring medical professionals to care for him.

The family member reported Hassan Shukr died in the Meidoun battle on May 5, 1988. That day, when fighters returned from combat to Nabi Chit, they discovered the metal door of Arad’s holding room open and the prisoner missing, the family member explained.

The Shukr family member emphasized that Ahmed Shukr was not involved in detaining Arad and lacks any further information about the situation.

An AP team visited the two-level residence that legal officials and Shukr’s family identified as the headquarters used by operatives to execute the kidnapping. Lebanese authorities had sealed the main metal entrance while local residents reported seeing no suspicious activity inside the property, called “Wood Villa.”

A resident from a neighboring building reported Lebanese security personnel gathered evidence from the house in mid-December.

A local merchant stated security agents confiscated his surveillance camera recordings. He mentioned the villa had previously been rented by individuals or groups for celebrations.

Kurdish communities in northeastern Syria are issuing stark warnings to their Iranian counterparts, urging them not to partner with the United States in any confrontation against Tehran’s government.

The advice stems from the Syrian Kurds’ own bitter experience of what they describe as American abandonment in recent months, following more than a decade of cooperation in fighting ISIS.

Speaking from the northeastern Syrian Kurdish city of Qamishli, 45-year-old resident Saad Ali expressed his concerns about potential Iranian Kurdish cooperation with Washington.

“I hope that the Kurds of Iran will not ally themselves with America, because they will abandon them,” Ali stated. “Tomorrow, if an agreement is made between them (the U.S.) and the Iranians, they will eliminate you. Do not make our mistakes.”

The warning comes amid reports that Iranian Kurdish militant groups operating from northern Iraq have recently engaged in discussions with American officials regarding possible operations against Iranian security forces, as tensions escalate between the U.S., Israel, and Iran.

Syrian Kurdish forces had established a partnership with the United States over ten years ago to combat the Islamic State, eventually creating their own semi-independent territory in areas they had liberated from the extremist organization.

However, their situation dramatically changed in January when Syria’s new military forces under President Ahmed al-Sharaa launched a major campaign that seized control of most Kurdish-controlled regions. When Syrian Kurds appealed to Washington for support, they felt betrayed as the U.S. instead encouraged them to integrate with al-Sharaa’s army.

This recent turn of events has left Syrian Kurds feeling disillusioned with American reliability as an ally.

“In my opinion, the Kurds in Iran should maintain a firm stance: they will not engage in any wars within Iranian territory without firm, signed guarantees from the United States regarding the future of these Kurdish regions in Iran,” said 26-year-old Syrian Kurd Amjad Kardo from Qamishli.

“We Kurds here in Syria, in particular, have had a negative experience with the Americans in Syria, and their abandonment of Kurdish resistance movements,” Kardo added.

Sources familiar with Iranian Kurdish leadership indicate that these groups share similar concerns about potential betrayal, echoing the experiences of their Syrian counterparts. These leaders have reportedly sought assurances from the United States, though the specific nature of these guarantees remains unclear.

President Donald Trump’s statements on the matter have been inconsistent. On Thursday, he told reporters it would be “wonderful” if Kurdish forces moved from northern Iraq into Iran, but refused to clarify whether the U.S. would provide air support for such operations. By Saturday, Trump appeared to reverse course, stating he opposed Kurdish fighters entering Iran.

Ahmed Barakat, who leads the Kurdish Progressive Democratic Party in Syria, advised Iranian Kurdish forces to proceed with “extreme caution.”

While acknowledging that the final decision rests with Iranian Kurdish groups, Barakat argued that “accepting the invitation of the United States and being considered the spearhead in confronting or weakening the Iranian regime is not, at present, in the best interest of the Kurds of Iran.”

Recent reports also indicate that Israel has maintained separate discussions with Iranian Kurdish insurgent organizations based in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region for approximately one year.

The Kurdish people represent an ethnic minority that has remained without a sovereign state since the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire created modern Middle Eastern boundaries a century ago.

Predominantly Sunni Muslim, Kurds speak a language with Persian roots and primarily inhabit mountainous territories spanning Armenia, Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Turkey.

While Iraqi Kurds have achieved significant autonomy through their regional government controlling three northern provinces, Kurdish populations in Iran, Turkey, and Syria continue to face obstacles in their aspirations for self-governance or statehood.

Iran’s Islamic Republic confronts an unprecedented challenge as it seeks a new leader following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in U.S. and Israeli airstrikes one week ago.

The regime’s traditional base of unwavering supporters appears to be eroding significantly, creating uncertainty about whether Iran’s next leader can maintain control. Mojtaba Khamenei, the deceased leader’s hardline son, emerges as a leading candidate for succession.

However, interviews conducted by Reuters with militia members, citizens, government officials, and political experts reveal that the Islamic Republic’s support network has contracted dramatically compared to previous decades.

“The strategy in choosing a hardliner as the new leader would be to consolidate the base, but they’re ending up with an increasingly small circle of supporters,” explained Ali Ansari, who teaches modern history at the University of St Andrews in the UK.

“And the longer this goes on, the more it will all fray at the edges,” Ansari added.

The Islamic government originally gained power through a 1979 revolution supported by millions of Iranian citizens. However, years of corrupt governance, authoritarian rule, and poor administration have eroded that backing, creating widespread disillusionment among regular people.

A dedicated group of supporters continues to exist, consistently voting to maintain the Islamic system and participating in street demonstrations to suppress opposition movements.

These well-coordinated loyalists can mobilize rapidly, presenting a significant challenge to any American or Israeli ambitions for regime change.

Mahdi Rastegari, a 32-year-old religious instructor and Basij militia member, demonstrated this commitment: “We have given many martyrs. They have sacrificed themselves for our leader. Now we must show that the path of the leader Khamenei continues. We will solve any problems and support whoever is chosen as leader. We will even give our lives for him.”

Recent electoral data illustrates the hardliners’ minority status. In Iran’s most recent presidential contest, the most conservative candidate, Saeed Jalili, received approximately 9 million votes initially and 13 million in the runoff, while more than 61 million of Iran’s 85-plus million citizens were eligible to participate.

Despite representing a clear minority, the hardliners’ weakness doesn’t provide much encouragement to those seeking political transformation, as the continued military assault has sparked concerns about potential chaos.

Babak, a 34-year-old business owner from Arak who requested anonymity for his surname, expressed this sentiment: “The Guards and the system are still powerful. They have tens of thousands of forces ready to fight to keep this regime in place. We, the people, have nothing.”

The death of Iran’s leader on the conflict’s opening day, combined with emerging divisions within the country’s leadership structure, will test hardline loyalty to the Islamic Republic more severely than ever before.

Individuals like Basij member Rastegari form part of a power structure that extends from the supreme leader’s now-destroyed Tehran headquarters to every town and neighborhood, creating barriers to internal opposition movements.

Since Khamenei’s death, hardline supporters have organized government-sponsored memorial services for him nightly, even as bombs continue falling throughout the nation.

These supporters include genuine believers willing to sacrifice their lives as martyrs for their conviction in clerical rule guided by divine authority, alongside those motivated by personal gain who have profited from publicly backing the system.

Ali Mohammad Hosseini, another Basij member, transitions from working at his father’s grocery store in the Shiite religious center of Qom to spending evenings at checkpoints designed to prevent public dissent.

The 29-year-old stated: “The most important issue is preserving the regime, which is what the Americans are targeting.” He described supporting whichever cleric succeeds Khamenei as a “religious duty” worth dying for.

Such dedication isn’t widespread, though. Hassan, another Basij member who requested only his first name and disclosed his location in the Shiite holy city of Mashhad, expressed skepticism about the Islamic Republic’s future.

“We need to be realistic,” he observed, citing ongoing American pressure and the devastating consequences of destructive airstrikes should a hardliner like Mojtaba Khamenei assume leadership.

Basij members and other system loyalists have historically received benefits including priority university admission, employment opportunities, and discounted bank financing – advantages that a collapsing economy might eliminate.

“We do not even have airports any more. No ports. How are they going to rebuild this economy?” questioned Hassan, who is 29 years old.

Health officials in Gaza reported that two Palestinians died Sunday when an Israeli airstrike targeted their vehicle in Gaza City, marking the most fatal incident in the territory since Israel and the United States began military operations against Iran a week prior.

According to medical personnel, the victims were driving near Al-Azhar University in the western section of Gaza City when the strike occurred. Officials have not yet released the names of those killed. Health authorities also confirmed that several other individuals in the vicinity sustained injuries from the attack.

While such military actions have become less frequent following the commencement of the joint U.S.-Israeli operations targeting Iran, Israeli forces have been responsible for multiple Palestinian deaths throughout the past week.

Israeli military officials have not yet provided a statement regarding Sunday’s airstrike when contacted for comment.

Despite a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas that was negotiated through U.S. mediation and began last October, violent incidents have persisted almost daily. Each party continues to accuse the other of breaking the terms of the truce.

Gaza’s health ministry reports that Israeli forces have killed no fewer than 640 Palestinians since October began. Israeli officials state that four of their soldiers have died in Gaza during the same timeframe due to militant attacks.

The Gaza Strip has suffered extensive destruction during more than two years of Israeli military operations that have resulted in over 72,000 Palestinian deaths, according to local health officials, while leaving large portions of the territory in ruins.

The current conflict began following Hamas’ assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, during which the militant group killed 1,200 individuals and captured more than 250 hostages, based on Israeli government figures.

JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — A massive civilian evacuation is underway in eastern South Sudan as thousands of residents abandon the town of Akobo following a military ultimatum that preceded a planned government assault, authorities reported Sunday.

The mass departure from Akobo, situated close to the Ethiopian border, commenced Saturday evening after government forces issued their evacuation directive.

“The town is now almost empty,” said Nhial Lew, a local official in charge of humanitarian affairs. “Women, children and the elderly have left and crossed into Ethiopia.”

Despite the government setting Monday afternoon as the evacuation deadline, armed conflict has already erupted west of Akobo starting Saturday.

“We are hearing the sound of machine guns approaching,” Lew said on Sunday evening.

On Friday, the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces commanded the U.N. Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to shut down its Akobo facility.

Aid organizations and local residents received orders to leave “in order to avoid unnecessary collateral damage,” as government forces prepare their military campaign against “Akobo and surrounding areas,” military spokesperson Lul Ruai Koang announced in an official statement.

The town represents one of the final territorial strongholds controlled by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO), the faction headed by detained Vice President Riek Machar.

The 2018 peace agreement between Machar and President Salva Kiir has virtually disintegrated since hostilities resumed between their respective forces last year.

Military clashes have escalated significantly in northern Jonglei since December, when opposition fighters seized government military positions. Government forces launched a counterattack that forced over 280,000 residents from their homes within weeks.

Akobo, positioned in South Sudan’s far eastern region and controlled by opposition forces since the 2013 civil war outbreak, had been considered a relatively secure sanctuary. A small U.N. peacekeeping presence attracted more than 82,000 displaced individuals seeking safety in and around the community.

UNMISS has not yet issued an official response to the government’s base closure directive.

Two United Nations aircraft transported most humanitarian personnel out of the area Sunday. The International Committee of the Red Cross operates a surgical facility at Akobo County Hospital, where multiple injured patients were receiving care. ICRC personnel had not yet been evacuated.

However, the threat of an imminent attack on Akobo has created anxiety among local medical officials.

“We are worried for our patients at the hospital,” said Dual Diew, the Akobo County health director. “We tried to make a plan to take them to a safer location, but we don’t have enough fuel.”

Saturday saw Akobo residents organize protests against the military ultimatum, with demonstrators marching to the U.N. facility demanding peace and protection.

BEIRUT (AP) — Israeli forces commanded residents of numerous border communities in southern Lebanon to leave their homes “immediately” on Wednesday as bombing campaigns targeting Beirut suburbs grew more intense and Hezbollah claimed additional attacks.

Lebanon became embroiled in the Middle Eastern conflict early Monday after U.S.-Israeli operations against Iran, when the Tehran-backed Hezbollah organization launched rockets and drones into northern Israel. This prompted Israeli counterstrikes across various regions that resulted in more than 50 deaths and approximately 300 injuries.

The fighting has also forced tens of thousands to flee from southern Lebanon, the eastern Bekaa Valley and Beirut’s southern neighborhoods.

Israeli military officials released a directive Wednesday instructing residents of numerous southern Lebanese communities near the Israeli border to evacuate and relocate “immediately” north of the Litani River.

The Israeli army’s Arabic spokesperson cautioned on X that anyone choosing to travel south of the river would be putting their lives at risk.

The region south of the Litani River, comprising roughly 8% of Lebanon’s territory, runs primarily along the Israeli border. Lebanese authorities claim they have removed Hezbollah’s military infrastructure from this area over recent months.

The evacuation directive followed overnight bombing raids on the mainly Christian southeastern neighborhood of Hazmieh that targeted a hotel. Additional strikes hit Aramoun and Saadiyat communities just south of Beirut’s international airport, resulting in six deaths and eight injuries. A separate attack on the eastern city of Baalbek claimed six lives and wounded 15, state media reported.

The four bombing operations occurred without advance notice, typically indicating targeted assassination attempts. Security sources speaking anonymously per protocol said the individual targeted in Hazmieh was a local leader from Beirut’s southern Ghobeiri district who sustained injuries.

“We live in a country where a missile can fall on your head at any moment,” said Maggie Shibli, wife of the owner of the Hotel Comfort in a Hazmieh neighborhood that was struck early Wednesday.

Abbas Najdeh, who was displaced from the southern port city of Tyre and was staying at the hotel, said: “We were sleeping then suddenly I, my children and my wife were thrown away.”

Also Wednesday, Israeli military officials issued multiple warnings for residents to evacuate buildings in Beirut’s southern suburbs, which came under attack shortly thereafter.

Hezbollah announced Wednesday that it conducted multiple operations against Israel, including two attacks where the organization claimed it deployed precision-guided missiles.

The directive for residents to abandon the area south of the Litani River came one day after Israel deployed ground forces into southern Lebanon for the first time since a ceasefire concluded a 14-month Israel-Hezbollah conflict in November 2024.

Whether Israel is planning a ground offensive remained unclear. Lebanon’s government-operated National News Agency documented Israeli artillery bombardment of multiple Lebanese border communities, including Aid al-Shaab and Beit Lif.

In eastern Lebanon, the primary border crossing with Syria temporarily shut down Wednesday after Lebanese authorities received warnings of an imminent Israeli attack, which officials subsequently determined was a false alert. Similar false alarms have occurred throughout Beirut and other Lebanese regions, heightening anxiety among civilians.

The current fighting represents another chapter in the ongoing Hezbollah-Israel conflict. Hezbollah initiated cross-border fire into Israel one day following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led assault on southern Israel that sparked the Gaza war. Following months of limited combat, full-scale warfare began in September 2024, with Israel subsequently launching a ground offensive into Lebanon.

Israeli troops pulled back from most of southern Lebanon following a U.S.-mediated ceasefire that ended hostilities in late 2024, but maintained control of five positions on Lebanese territory. Israel has also continued conducting nearly daily attacks, mainly in southern Lebanon, claiming that Hezbollah has been attempting to reestablish its military presence in the region.

CAIRO (AP) — A vessel flying the Russian flag and transporting liquefied natural gas burst into flames and went down in Mediterranean waters near Libya’s coastline, North African officials announced Wednesday. Authorities reported no deaths or injuries from the incident.

The vessel was operating under Western economic restrictions and believed to belong to Russia’s covert fleet of energy transport ships attempting to circumvent penalties placed on Moscow due to its military actions in Ukraine. Officials have not yet determined what triggered the blast.

Libya’s Maritime Authority reported that the Arctic Metagaz experienced “sudden explosions, followed by a massive fire” on Tuesday while positioned roughly 240 kilometers (150 miles) from the Libyan port city of Sirte.

The LNG carrier, loaded with 61,000 tons of liquefied natural gas, “completely sank” in waters between Libya and Malta, according to an official statement. Emergency responders successfully evacuated all 30 crew members, who were transferred to another ship en route to Benghazi, Libya.

The vessel had departed from Murmansk, a northwestern Russian port on the Barents Sea, with Port Said, Egypt as its Mediterranean destination. Ship-tracking service MarineTraffic showed the tanker’s final recorded location was in western Mediterranean waters near Malta’s coast.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stepped forward to help negotiate a fresh ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan as violent border confrontations reached their sixth consecutive day Wednesday.

The hostilities began last week when Afghanistan launched strikes Thursday in response to Pakistani air attacks from the prior weekend. Pakistan has since conducted military operations along the frontier and announced it was engaged in “open war” with Afghanistan, causing concern among international observers.

The current violence has destroyed a previous ceasefire that Qatar and Turkey had successfully negotiated in October, when the two nations had previously approached the brink of war. That agreement, reached in Qatar, led to six days of discussions in Istanbul, producing a deal to maintain the ceasefire and schedule additional negotiations for November.

The November 6-7 talks failed to achieve any progress and diplomatic efforts came to a standstill.

A statement from Turkey’s presidential office revealed that Erdogan spoke by phone with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, where he “condemned the terrorist attacks in Pakistan” and pledged Turkey would work to “contribute to the reestablishment of the ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan.”

While Sharif’s office didn’t explicitly acknowledge Erdogan’s mediation proposal, it confirmed the leaders addressed tensions along the 2,611-kilometer (1,622-mile) Afghan-Pakistan frontier. The statement indicated both leaders “exchanged views on recent developments” and would maintain closer “contact in our shared pursuit of peace and stability in the region.”

Afghanistan’s Taliban government hasn’t immediately responded to Erdogan’s proposal, though Kabul might view the Turkish president’s statements as biased or openly favoring Islamabad.

Nevertheless, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan contacted Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi last week regarding the cross-border crisis, according to Afghanistan’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, though no additional information was provided.

Since the latest combat erupted, both nations have reported causing significant casualties to opposing forces in battles primarily concentrated in Pakistan’s border areas within the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and southwestern Balochistan province.

Death toll accounts have been dramatically inconsistent. The frontier region — where extremist organizations including al-Qaida and ISIS maintain operations — remains inaccessible to journalists, preventing independent verification of casualty claims.

Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry announced Wednesday that its troops had killed or injured dozens more enemy personnel as cross-border combat persisted. Tuesday’s ministry statement claimed Afghan forces eliminated 150 Pakistani soldiers during the previous five days, while acknowledging 28 Afghan military deaths in the same timeframe.

Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated Wednesday that 481 Afghan troops had died over the past six days. These contradictory figures cannot be verified.

Pakistan has indicated its military actions will persist until Afghanistan takes confirmed measures to control the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP, and other militants operating from Afghan soil.

Pakistan has consistently blamed Kabul for sheltering the TTP, a militant organization behind increased attacks within Pakistan since 2021 when the Afghan Taliban regained control in Afghanistan. Kabul rejects these accusations, maintaining it prevents its territory from being used against neighboring countries.

Colombian citizens went to voting stations Sunday to select their new legislative body and determine presidential nominees for the upcoming May election, in a process that will significantly influence the future president’s capacity to advance their political priorities.

More than 3,000 candidates competed for 102 Senate positions and 182 House positions, with political experts anticipating the results will be split among approximately two dozen political parties. This fragmentation will likely require the eventual president to build coalition partnerships to govern effectively.

Additionally, 41.2 million registered voters had the opportunity to participate in primary elections where right-wing, centrist, and left-wing parties selected their presidential nominees. Notable candidates including leftist Ivan Cepeda, conservative Abelardo De La Espriella, and moderate Sergio Fajardo chose not to take part in Sunday’s primary contests.

“It is very important to come and exercise the right to vote. The most important thing is for Colombia to decide its future and for the results to be respected,” said Federico Rodriguez, a 32-year-old business administrator, after voting in Bogota’s north.

“It is a source of pride that we can go out and exercise our right to vote and to democracy, but I also have uncertainty about the results, about knowing what Colombia’s future will be in the next four years,” said university student Isabella Suarez, 21.

Voting locations remained open from 8 a.m. local time until 4 p.m.

Current President Gustavo Petro, whose administration concludes in August, has raised concerns multiple times about the vote-counting technology planned for the elections, suggesting potential problems could occur. However, National Registrar Hernan Penagos has assured voters of the election’s integrity and confirmed that party representatives can monitor the software’s operations.

Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez announced this week that approximately 246,000 military personnel and police officers were deployed on heightened security status to guard against potential violence from criminal organizations that might attempt to interfere with voting or intimidate citizens into supporting specific candidates.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Sunday that he and Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten explored expanding their nations’ collaborative weapons manufacturing efforts during the Dutch leader’s visit to Kyiv.

“It is important that we are producing weapons together with the Netherlands – and we will certainly continue and expand this joint work,” Zelenskyy posted on social media, noting their detailed conversations about investment opportunities and manufacturing capacity.

Over the past several months, Ukraine has intensified its push to develop collaborative defense manufacturing partnerships with European nations, establishing multiple facilities dedicated to producing unmanned aircraft.

With Iran deploying drones against American allies throughout the Gulf region and elsewhere in retaliation for sustained American and Israeli military operations, Ukraine sees an opportunity to strengthen its position with international partners by demonstrating how its hard-earned knowledge from four years of Russia’s comprehensive invasion could prove essential for allies’ future security needs.

According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine possesses unmatched expertise in countering drone attacks, the same technology Iran frequently deploys against Middle Eastern nations.

The Ukrainian leader revealed that his country stands ready to export interceptor drones not needed by Ukrainian forces, with the initial team of Ukrainian military trainers scheduled to deploy to the Middle East on Monday.

“They are coming with the means to help,” Zelenskyy stated, emphasizing that Ukraine would share its knowledge and practical experience in neutralizing “Shahed” drones and cruise missiles.

Ukrainian companies producing cost-effective interceptor drones specifically engineered to destroy hostile unmanned aircraft report having the manufacturing capability to supply international markets in substantial quantities.

Political adversaries are blasting British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for damaging the historic alliance between the United States and United Kingdom following disagreements with President Donald Trump regarding Iran policy.

On Tuesday, Trump labeled Britain as “uncooperative” and criticized Starmer as “not Winston Churchill” following the prime minister’s initial refusal to allow American forces to utilize British military installations for operations against Iran. Starmer subsequently changed his position, permitting US aircraft to operate from English bases and the Diego Garcia facility in the Indian Ocean for strikes on Iranian missile installations threatening British allies across the Middle East.

Despite this reversal, Trump’s frustration persists, leaving Starmer to assess potential consequences for Atlantic partnerships and commercial relationships.

The foundation for post-World War II cooperation between the nations was established when Churchill proclaimed in a 1946 address at Westminster College in Missouri that there existed “a special relationship between the British Commonwealth and Empire and the United States.”

This partnership has endured through decades thanks to shared language, mutual interests, defense collaboration and cultural bonds. Personal connections have sometimes strengthened these ties, including the alliance between Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and President Ronald Reagan during the 1980s, and the partnership between Tony Blair and Bill Clinton in the 1990s.

However, tensions have emerged periodically. During 1956, Israel, Britain and France launched an operation to control the Suez Canal following Egypt’s nationalization of the waterway. These forces ultimately retreated when President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s administration withheld support and threatened economic penalties, highlighting Britain’s declining influence and America’s growing global dominance.

Ten years later, diplomatic relations reached another low point when British Prime Minister Harold Wilson refused pressure from President Lyndon B. Johnson to participate in the Vietnam conflict.

Blair attempted to prevent similar discord by deploying British forces alongside the American-led Iraq invasion in 2003, based on subsequently discredited intelligence regarding Saddam Hussein’s purported weapons programs. This war resulted in 179 British military deaths, approximately 4,500 American casualties, and thousands of Iraqi fatalities. Blair’s choice remains among the most divisive decisions by a British leader in recent history.

The center-left Starmer had developed unexpectedly positive relations with Trump following the president’s 2025 return to office, though tensions between the leaders have been escalating for months. Trump’s statements about potentially acquiring Greenland drew condemnation from Starmer and fellow European officials earlier this year.

More recently, Trump has criticized Britain’s decision to transfer the Chagos Islands, which house the Diego Garcia installation, to Mauritius, despite his administration’s previous support for the arrangement.

Starmer has strongly suggested he views military action against Iran as unlawful and stated the British government opposes “regime change from the skies.”

Cabinet minister James Murray declared Wednesday that Starmer was proceeding with “a cool head, with a real clarity of purpose,” and maintained that Britain’s connection with America remains “historic, long-lasting and deep.”

However, political rivals and media critics argue that Starmer is marginalizing Britain during a critical period. The conservative Daily Mail announced: “Starmer takes the Great out of Britain.”

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch argued that Starmer should have endorsed the American-Israeli military campaign.

On Monday, an Iranian-manufactured drone attacked a British air force installation in Cyprus, resulting in “minimal” damage without casualties. Badenoch claimed that Starmer “has the wrong priorities.”

“When our bases are attacked, they call the lawyers,” she stated Wednesday.

American presidential temperament can shift rapidly, and British authorities are optimistic this current disagreement will resolve quickly.

Trump’s warning this week to terminate trade with Spain after Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez condemned Iranian strikes as “unjustifiable” and “dangerous” demonstrates the potential consequences.

The British agreement with Mauritius regarding the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean, which Britain considers essential for maintaining the Diego Garcia base’s future, remains suspended pending American approval. A trade agreement signed by Trump and Starmer with considerable ceremony in May has yet to be completed and faces uncertainty following Trump’s recent tariff announcements.

Peter Ricketts, a former British national security adviser, observed that Trump appears to demand “completely blind loyalty” from allies and had launched an “unfair” attack against Starmer. However, he advised British officials against overreacting.

“I think the prime minister should keep calm and carry on,” he told the BBC.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer defended his measured approach to Middle East military operations on Wednesday, following sharp criticism from President Donald Trump over the United Kingdom’s level of support for American strikes against Iran.

The United Kingdom, traditionally one of America’s closest allies, initially declined to permit U.S. forces to use British military installations for operations against Tehran. London only modified this stance after Iran launched attacks on neighboring countries, at which point the UK agreed to allow limited use of its bases for defensive operations.

Trump publicly criticized Starmer on three separate occasions, including during Tuesday’s Oval Office session with reporters where he stated: “This is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with.”

During Wednesday’s parliamentary session, Starmer defended the enduring partnership between the two nations, arguing it extends far beyond presidential commentary. The prime minister had previously insisted that any British military involvement required a “viable, thought-through plan.”

“That is the special relationship in action,” Starmer declared, referencing U.S. aircraft operating from British facilities, British fighter jets defending American installations, and ongoing intelligence cooperation.

“Hanging on to President Trump’s latest words is not the special relationship,” he added.

Acknowledging public concerns about potential military escalation, Starmer promised Britain would proceed “with clarity, with purpose and with a cool head.”

The prime minister faces domestic pressure from multiple directions regarding his military decisions. Left-wing critics demand he denounce the military operations entirely, while conservative opposition figures Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage have attacked him for inadequately supporting Britain’s primary intelligence and security partner.

According to Starmer, British and American officials have maintained close coordination for weeks regarding military asset deployment in the region.

Following damage to the runway at Britain’s Akrotiri military base in Cyprus from an Iranian-manufactured Shahed drone strike, London announced the deployment of HMS Dragon, an air-defense vessel, accompanied by additional helicopters equipped with anti-drone technology.

ABU FALAH, West Bank — Violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank claimed three more Palestinian lives on Sunday, pushing the death count from recent clashes to six as global attention remains fixed on Israel’s wider regional conflict with Iran.

Israeli military officials reported they intervened after receiving word that Israeli settlers were attacking Palestinians close to Khirbet Abu Falah, located east of Ramallah. Two Palestinians died from bullet wounds while a third succumbed to asphyxiation, presumably from tear gas exposure, according to military statements.

The fatalities included cousins Fare’ Hamayel and Thaer Hamayel, along with Mohammad Murra. The community held a combined burial service for all three men.

Amin Shouman, an Abu Falah local who saw the incident unfold, spoke with The Associated Press about what happened. “Dozens of Israeli settlers approached the village from the north and opened fire when they were confronted by a guard committee along the border of the village,” Shouman said.

These latest casualties follow other fatal encounters from the previous week. An Israeli reservist killed one Palestinian in the south Hebron Hills on Saturday, while settlers were responsible for the deaths of two Palestinian brothers in the northern West Bank on Monday.

In an unusual move, Israeli military leadership issued harsh criticism of the settler actions and launched a criminal probe into those responsible.

“This is an unacceptable incident. There will be zero tolerance for civilians who take the law into their own hands,” stated Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth, who leads the military’s Central Command overseeing West Bank operations. “Especially at a time when the IDF is striking our bitter enemies, Iran and Hezbollah, with a firm hand — we cannot allow reckless internal violence to undermine the rule of law and the security of the region.”

Palestinian officials and human rights organizations maintain that Israeli leadership consistently fails to pursue legal action against settlers or ensure accountability for violent acts.

The Palestinian Authority’s Foreign Ministry issued a Saturday statement charging Israel with “exploiting the atmosphere of war” and reduced global focus on West Bank matters to escalate harassment, violence and forced relocation efforts.

Israeli human rights organization Yesh Din documented over 50 cases of settler attacks against Palestinians during just the initial four days of the Iran conflict, which began February 28.

The Palestinian Red Crescent reports that checkpoint shutdowns and gate restrictions implemented due to the war are creating significant barriers for emergency responders throughout the West Bank, particularly during settler violence incidents.

Though authorities have not imposed a complete lockdown like those following the October 7, 2023 attack and last year’s Iran war, Israel has installed hundreds of additional gates throughout the territory, restricting movement between Palestinian communities and severely complicating emergency response efforts. Current gate numbers have reached approximately 1,100, compared to roughly 800 during last year’s conflict, the Red Crescent noted.

Medical professionals and emergency personnel report that movement limitations severely impact their response times, especially after violent settler attacks. Many communities most at risk from such violence are located in West Bank areas under complete Israeli military and civilian authority, situated far from urban medical facilities and reliant on roadways that can be blocked without advance warning.

Greece’s Defense Minister Nikos Dendias announced Sunday that his country anticipates finalizing negotiations with Italy for the acquisition of military warships by next month.

The potential agreement involves purchasing Bergamini class frigates from Italian manufacturers, building on naval cooperation agreements signed between high-level Greek and Italian officials in the previous year. These memorandums paved the path for Athens to acquire two FREMM frigates, with the possibility of obtaining two additional vessels.

Speaking to a Greek publication, Dendias expressed optimism about the timeline. “We hope that negotiations with Italy will be concluded and that we will have signed (a deal) for the acquisition of 2+2 frigates by April,” the minister stated.

The Defense Minister also revealed that Greece is working to equip these frigates with advanced ELSA missile systems of the latest generation.

This warship acquisition represents one component of Greece’s extensive military modernization effort, which includes a comprehensive defense budget of approximately 28 billion euros spread across multiple years. The broader military upgrade also encompasses the purchase of a fourth Belharra frigate from French manufacturers and new submarine vessels, as Greece seeks to maintain military parity with Turkey, its longtime regional competitor.

Israel’s military announced Sunday the deaths of two soldiers during operations in southern Lebanon, representing the first military casualties since fighting with Hezbollah intensified over the past week following increased Israeli airstrikes in the region.

Military officials have not released additional information about how the incident occurred or the specific circumstances surrounding the soldiers’ deaths.

Fighting has persisted along the border between Israel and Lebanon as tensions between Israeli forces and Hezbollah have escalated following joint U.S.-Israeli military operations targeting Iran.

WASHINGTON – Military leaders at the Pentagon reported Wednesday that Iran has significantly reduced its missile activity compared to when hostilities began this past Saturday, with officials citing weakened Iranian military capacity as U.S. operations prepare to move deeper into the country.

General Dan Caine, who serves as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, announced during a Pentagon briefing that American forces will “now begin to expand inland striking progressively deeper into Iranian territory, and creating additional freedom of maneuver for US forces.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth expressed confidence that America is prevailing in the current conflict with Iran, though he acknowledged the loss of six American service members in the fighting. Hegseth emphasized that the United States has the endurance to outlast Iranian forces.

In a significant naval development, Hegseth verified that U.S. forces destroyed an Iranian warship near Sri Lanka’s coastline, marking the first time since World War Two that an American submarine has used a torpedo to sink an enemy vessel.

“An American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters. Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo. Quiet death,” Hegseth stated during the briefing.

The naval engagement was initially disclosed through Reuters reporting before receiving official confirmation from the Pentagon.

KEFLAVIK, Iceland — In an unprecedented move, Sweden has deployed military aircraft to patrol Icelandic airspace for the first time as NATO works to demonstrate its commitment to Arctic security to both American and Russian leadership.

Six Swedish Saab Gripen fighter aircraft — representing the pinnacle of Sweden’s defense manufacturing capabilities — have been stationed at Keflavik as part of NATO’s Arctic Sentry operation.

This deployment aims to bolster NATO’s military footprint in the Arctic, a region of growing strategic importance, while addressing internal alliance friction sparked by former President Trump’s interest in purchasing Greenland from Denmark.

Trump had previously pressured NATO members to dramatically boost defense expenditures, particularly in Arctic territories. He had criticized Denmark’s limited military assets protecting Greenland, sarcastically referring to their presence as “two dog sleds.”

The Swedish aircraft are primarily monitoring for Russian long-range bombing aircraft that could launch from installations on the Kola Peninsula, where Russia maintains its Northern Fleet headquarters and nuclear missile facilities.

“Iceland as well as all of the Arctic would be important (in case of a conflict) because that’s the warning chain for attacks against the U.S. or Canada across the Arctic,” explained Major General Frode Arnfinn Kristoffersen, who serves as deputy chief of staff for operations at NATO Joint Force Command Norfolk.

“Russia sees the Arctic as vital to becoming a great power and has also built up new Arctic bases and opened up former Soviet military sites, including deep-water ports and airfields,” Kristoffersen added.

Russian officials have consistently rejected allegations of Arctic territorial ambitions or regional threats, calling such concerns fabricated “horror stories” created by Western nations to rationalize their own military actions.

The Keflavik Air Base, originally constructed during World War II and operated by American forces until 2006, now hosts NATO air patrol operations that began intermittently in 2008.

The harsh, frigid conditions mirror those found throughout Greenland and other Arctic territories.

“We have experiences from operating in this kind of harsh environment…so for us, it’s quite natural to also be able to operate here in Iceland,” stated Major General Jonas Wikman, commander of Sweden’s Air Force.

The JAS 39 Gripen represents a fourth-generation lightweight, single-engine supersonic aircraft capable of multiple mission types, including ground attack, surface strikes, and aerial combat operations.

“It’s perfectly suitable for this weather. It’s built in Sweden for the Swedish climate, and this is basically what we have back in Sweden,” noted Lieutenant Colonel Robin Arvidsson, a fighter pilot and squadron leader in Sweden’s Air Force.

The aircraft requires minimal logistical support and can be refueled and rearmed by a single officer and four enlisted personnel in just 10 minutes.

While NATO countries have accelerated efforts to expand their Arctic military presence, some experts and political figures have challenged the reasoning behind this military expansion, arguing Russia currently presents no immediate danger to Greenland.

“This is very dangerous because it leads to an action-reaction cycle,” warned Pavel Devyatkin, a senior researcher at The Arctic Institute, a Washington-based policy organization.

“There’s a very high chance of an accidental incident, of an escalation,” Devyatkin continued. “These moves from Sweden and from NATO are basically appeasing President Trump.”

Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards have consolidated their control over military strategy following the elimination of senior commanders, according to insider sources who say this shift is driving Tehran’s aggressive missile and drone operations throughout the Middle East.

The Guards had already distributed authority to lower-level officers before Saturday’s joint U.S.-Israeli strike, implementing a survival strategy that could potentially lead to miscalculations or broader conflict as mid-level commanders gain power to launch attacks on neighboring countries. This week, Iran launched strikes against Turkey, a NATO member.

Within Iran’s borders, the Guards’ expanded influence across all government levels and their strict security measures may prevent popular uprisings, potentially dashing any American or Israeli expectations that their attacks might trigger internal revolt and government overthrow.

The selection of Iran’s next supreme leader following Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death on Saturday could further strengthen the Guards’ position, according to Kasra Aarabi, who leads Revolutionary Guards research at United Against Nuclear Iran, a Washington-based policy group.

Mojtaba Khamenei, the late leader’s son and a prominent succession candidate, maintains strong Revolutionary Guards connections, wielding considerable influence over the organization and receiving broad backing, particularly from more extremist lower-ranking members.

“If the conflict suddenly stops and the regime survives, we can be certain the Guards will have an even more important role,” said Aarabi.

DECENTRALIZED COMMAND STRUCTURE BUILDS RESILIENCE

Six Iranian and regional sources with intimate Guards knowledge told Reuters the organization has assumed significantly greater authority since Saturday’s war outbreak, now participating in all major strategic choices.

A security official with Guards connections reported that new commander Ahmad Vahidi attends every senior leadership meeting, with the organization’s primary focus remaining the preservation of Iran’s Islamic revolutionary government and its objectives.

Deputy Defense Minister Reza Talaeinik, himself a Guards member, outlined the elite unit’s resilience preparations during a Tuesday television appearance, explaining that each command position includes designated replacements extending three levels down the hierarchy.

“The role of each unit and section has been organised in such a way that if any commander is killed, a successor immediately takes their place,” he said.

Israeli operations last year eliminated the Guards’ top commander along with intelligence, aerospace, and economic division leaders. Saturday’s airstrike killed current Guards chief Mohammad Pakpour.

This decentralized approach has been Guards doctrine for nearly two decades, developed after observing Iraqi military collapse during the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, Aarabi explained.

“The whole idea was to decentralise so that if one particular province came under attack, it could defend itself and sustain the regime’s authority and rule,” he said.

DUAL MISSION: EXTERNAL DEFENSE AND INTERNAL CONTROL

The strategy ensures Guards can simultaneously function as Iran’s primary military response force against foreign attacks while enforcing domestic security within the Islamic Republic, he noted.

This framework appears effective currently, though continued strikes targeting both senior and junior Guards officers could eventually challenge the organization’s ability to maintain coordinated strategy.

While the Guards contain internal factions with personal conflicts and disagreements about their mission, one source described them as more “united than ever when Iran is under attack.”

Five days into the Israeli and American strikes, signs suggest the command structure may be deteriorating, Aarabi observed, citing increasingly erratic attacks on civilian targets in Gulf nations.

Whether this reflects deliberate strategy to demonstrate global consequences of attacking Iran remains unclear.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stated Iran’s response was predetermined.

“These units are operating based on general instructions given to them in advance, rather than direct, real-time command from the current political leadership,” he told Al Jazeera.

Though Guards involvement in Iranian strategic decisions now exceeds their pre-war influence, they benefit from surviving political leadership where the three highest officials are former Guards members.

MILITARY AND ECONOMIC EMPIRE

The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps formed shortly after Iran’s 1979 revolution to protect the new government against internal and external enemies while balancing regular military forces.

Reporting directly to the supreme leader, it evolved into a parallel state combining military strength, intelligence operations, and economic power focused on preserving Iran’s Islamic governing system.

This mission faced its first major test when Iraq invaded months after the revolution, launching an eight-year conflict that shaped many current Iranian leaders.

Prominent Iranian officials with Guards wartime service include the three non-clerical leaders holding critical positions since Khamenei’s death.

President Masoud Pezeshkian served as battlefield medical officer, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf fought frontline battles before commanding the Guards’ aviation unit, while Ali Larijani, Khamenei’s chief advisor, worked as staff officer behind combat zones.

Beginning in the early 2000s, as war veterans entered leadership roles and Iran’s Western confrontation intensified, Guards influence within the Iranian state expanded significantly.

The Guards assumed control of Iran’s nuclear program, which Tehran maintains serves peaceful purposes but Western nations suspect covers atomic weapons development.

As nuclear-related sanctions took effect, Guards entered economic sectors, with their construction division Khatam al-Anbia securing major contracts including crucial energy projects.

The Guards increasingly became the primary channel to Shiite proxy forces across the Middle East, while their volunteer militia, the Basij, suppressed domestic protests.