Middle East
-
Iraqi PM visits Iran, signs agreements in Tehran
Iraq remains heavily reliant on Iranian natural gas and electricity, and bilateral trade exceeds $12 billion annually. Millions of Iranian Shiite pilgrims also travel to Iraq’s holy sites each year.
-
More than 3,200 Israelis enter Al-Aqsa compound
Palestinian officials said Israeli forces imposed tight restrictions at the mosque’s gates, barred large numbers of Palestinian worshippers and students from entering, and assaulted several worshippers.
-
Houthis claim Red Sea tanker strikes amid Iran conflict
Iran also said two people were killed in a U.S. missile strike near the passenger terminal at the Shalamcheh border crossing with Iraq.
-
Kuwait says Iran hit power, desalination plant
About 90% of Kuwait’s drinking water comes from desalination, and any disruption could pose a serious risk in the desert nation.
-
Three islands in Hormuz strait draw new scrutiny
Some analysts have speculated that U.S. forces could try to seize the islands.
-
U.S. restores Iran blockade, Tehran warns on oil
Brent crude briefly rose above $87 a barrel Tuesday, fell to $78 after Trump changed course on transit fees, and climbed back to $85 on Wednesday. Regional mediators were still trying to bring Washington and Tehran back to negotiations.
-
Yemen airport strike, Houthi missiles raise tensions
The Houthis blamed Saudi Arabia for the strike without providing evidence and said they would respond. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said, “this aggression will not go unanswered or unpunished.”
-
Israel may stay in Lebanon if Hezbollah remains
Talks between Israel and Lebanon would continue in Rome this week.
-
Iran buries Ali Khamenei, successor remains unseen
Khamenei became supreme leader in 1989 and over time concentrated political, economic, and military power in his office.
-
Netanyahu says IDF will stay in Lebanon buffer zone
He said Hezbollah had possessed “150,000 missiles and rockets,” and that about 8% remained. He also said Israeli operations in Lebanon had killed 9,000 Hezbollah fighters, including “hundreds in recent weeks.”