Iran's military warns of 'more destructive' attacks' Iran will continue to launch attacks in the region until the United States and Israel face "permanent regret and surrender", the spokesperson of its armed forces' said said on Thursday. In response to Trump claiming that the war has left Iran"decimated", Ebrahim Zolfaqari responded saying that US and Israeli assessments of Tehrans military capabilities were "incomplete". He added that his country would step up its military actions with "more ..

US Embassy in Iraq urges citizens to flee, warns of imminent attacks The US Embassy in Baghdad has categorised Iraq as a level four risk, the highest advisorylevel, warning its citizens to avoid travelling to the country or flee if they are residing in it. In a statement on Thursday, it warned that Iran- aligned fighters could carry out attacks in the centre of the capital within the next 24 to 48 hours. "Do not attempt to approach the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad or the Consulate General in Erbil ..

Donald Trump vows to hit Iran 'extremely hard' in the coming weeks US President Donald Trump threatened to hit Iran "extremely hard in the coming weeks during a televised address to the nation. The speech quickly rattled global markets, with oil prices rising and investors reacting to fears of a widening conflict and potential disruption to key supply routes. Donald Trump warned Iran it will be hit extremely hard in the coming weeks, saying the US could bring it back to the stone ages where ..

Gulf states considering new pipeline amid Iran curb on Hormuz Strait: Report Gulf countries are revisiting costly plans for pipelines that would allow them to bypass Iran's restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz, Financial Times reports. Such initiatives would be "expensive, politically complex and take years to complete," the British daily report indicated.

Missile interception in Abu Dhabi causes minor damage, authorities say TheAbu Dhabi Media office reported a "successful interception of a missile" by air defence systems in the vicinity of Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (KEZAD). Minor damage was reported as a result, but no injuries were sustained.

Trump admits Iran war was only at behest of 'allies', gives no withdrawal timeline US President Donald Trump revealed on Wednesday that the US only launched its war on Iran to assist its partners in the region, a statement that likely references a long-held Israeli bid for Washington to attack Tehran. "We're now totally independent of the Middle East, and yet, we are there to help," Trump said in a scripted evening address in reference to US energy production. "We don't have to be there. We ..

Australian Prime Minister 'not clear' what more to achieve in war on Iran Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Thursday that original objectives of the war on Iran had been met, adding that it was not clear what more needs to be achieved. "Now those objectives have been realised it is not clear what more needs to be achieved or what the end point looks like," he said during a speech in the capital Canberra. "What is clear is that the longer the war goes on the more significant the ..

Countries should show 'courage' and seize Hormuz Strait, Trump urges US President Donald Trump in his address said countries that receive oil through the Strait of Hormuz should show "courage" and seize the key waterway. "Just take it, protect it, use it for yourselves," he said. Over a month since Israel and the US began their attack on Iran, Trump exclaims that Tehran is "really no longer a threat". The US president concluded his statement by stressing that the war is already won and almost ..

Trump vows to bring Iran back to 'Stone Ages' US President Donald Trump said in a televised address to the nation said that the war on Iran has left it "decimated". "Tonight Iran's navy is gone, their air force is in ruins, their leaders, most of them are now dead," he said. Their ability to launch missiles and drones is dramatically curtailed, and their weapons factories and rocket launchers are being blown to pieces very few of them left," he added. The US president also said that Iran will ..

UAE, Saudi Arabia intercepting attacks The UAE defence ministry said that its air defences are dealing with missile and drone attacks coming from Iran. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia announced that it intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile that was headed towards the Eastern Province.

Centcom says it struck 12,300 targets in Iran since February TheUS Central Command (Centcom) announced that it struck over 12,300 targets in Iran since the start of the war in late February. It added in its update that more than 155 vessels belonging to Tehran were "damaged or destroyed".

Fuel prices surge in Somalia and Tanzania amid supply disruption Somalias government said it has limited control over fuel prices as imports are handled by private companies in a largely liberalised market. Petroleum Minister Dahir Shire Mohamed said prices have risen sharply due to external shocks, linking the increase to regional tensions affecting global supply routes. Fuel prices have climbed from $0.70 to $1.75 per litre, a 150 percent increase. In Tanzania, the energy ministry announced a ..

PMF says strike on Tal Afar brigade killed commander, wounded four Iraqs Iran- aligned Popular Mobilisation Forces said one of its units in Tal Afar, northern Iraq, was hit by what it described as a double US-Israeli air strike. In a statement, the group said the attack killed the commando battalion commander and another soldier, while four others were injured. Reports of similar incidents have emerged amid the US-Israeli war on Iran, with strikes targeting PMF positions in Iraqs Nineveh ..

US assures UN of support but stresses reform needed to 'exceed' potential Submitted by Yasmine El-Sabawi on Wed, 04/01/2026 - 21:09 The Trump administration's UN reform envoy said peacekeeping missions must be reined in Peacekeepers with the United Nations interim force in Lebanon drive past firefighters clearing the road at the site of an overnight Israeli air strike in the area of Naqura in southern Lebanon, on 27 March 2026 (Kawnat Hajju/AFP) Off US President Donald Trump still believes in ..

Iraq begins oil exports via Syria amid disruptions Iraqs oil ministry said it has started exporting crude via tankers through Syria to support the national economy. In a statement, the ministry said it is working with the Syrian government to ensure safe passage to export points. It added that shipments will be gradually increased to boost export volumes.

Iraqi group says it carried out 41 attacks on US bases The Islamic Resistance in Iraq said it launched 41 operations targeting US bases in Iraq and across the region. In a statement on Telegram, the group said it used dozens of drones in the attacks carried out today.

Saudi Arabia rerouted nearly 1 million barrels a day of crude away from Hormuz strait Nearly 4 million barrels of crude oil per day passed through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in March, up from about 3 million the previous month and the highest level since October 2023, according to Kpler. The increase came as Saudi Arabia rerouted crude via its East-West pipeline to the Red Sea port of Yanbu following the disruption of the Strait of Hormuz. The pipeline has allowed Riyadh to maintain some exports, ..

Iranian president says it does not view American people as enemies Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said ordinary Americans are not considered enemies despite longstanding tensions. In a letter, he said Iranians harbor no enmity toward people in the US, Europe or neighbouring countries. He added that Iran distinguishes between governments and the people they represent, describing it as a deeply rooted principle rather than a temporary political position.

IEA, IMF and World Bank form group to address wars economic impact The heads of the International Energy Agency, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank said they will form a coordination group to respond to the economic and energy fallout from the US-Israeli war on Iran. In a joint statement, the organisations said the group will assess the scale of the impact across countries, coordinate responses and mobilise support for those most affected.

Trump mulls Nato withdrawal, stopping weapons to Ukraine over Europe's response to Iran war Submitted by MEE staff on Wed, 04/01/2026 - 19:33 US president threatens to quit decades-old European alliance, as he fails to address Iran's control of Strait of Hormuz US President Donald Trump, right, speaks with Nato secretary general Mark Rutte during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on 21 January 2026 (Mandel Ngan/AFP) Off US President Donald ..

US offers $3m reward for information on Iraq attacks The US State Departments Rewards for Justice programme has called for information on recent attacks targeting US diplomatic sites in Iraq. In a post on X, it referred to strikes on the US embassy in Baghdad, the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Centre and the US Consulate General in Erbil. The programme offered a $3m reward for information on those responsible, including Iran-aligned armed groups.

Heavy fighting and strikes intensify along Lebanons southwest coast Explosions have been reported repeatedly throughout the afternoon along Lebanons southwestern front, where Israeli military activity has intensified over the past 48 hours. An air strike killed two people riding a motorcycle in the coastal town of al-Mansouri, an area that has been hit more than once in recent days. Clashes are also ongoing in Biyyada, just above the coastal road, where Hezbollah and Israeli forces have ..

Trump says ceasefire tied to Hormuz reopening, vows continued strikes US President Donald Trump said he would consider a ceasefire with Iran only if the Strait of Hormuz is open, free, and clear. In a social media post, Trump said: Until then, we are blasting Iran into oblivion.

Kuwait says airport fuel tank fire extinguished after drone attack Kuwaiti authorities said firefighters have put out a blaze that broke out in fuel tanks at Kuwait airport, following an Iranian drone strike. No casualties were reported, with damage limited to property.

Rescue operations continue in Tehran, Zanjan, Iranian Red Crescent says The Iranian Red Crescent Society says its aid workers have launched rescue operations in Tehran and the northwestern city of Zanjan following US-Israeli strikes. In statements on X, the group said that injured people were transferred to a hospital in Tehran. Following this mornings U.S.Israeli airstrike on Zanjans Husseiniya Azam, Red Crescent relief teams are conducting search and rescue operations at the ..

Dalai Lama warns 'violence begets violence', urges peace in Mideast Buddhist spiritual leader the Dalai Lama warned Tuesday that violence only results in more conflict, urging peace as conflict rages in the Middle East and Ukraine. "History has shown us time and again that violence only begets more violence and is never a lasting foundation for peace," he wrote in a letter on Tuesday. "An enduring resolution to conflict, including the ones we see in the Middle East or between Russia and ..

US amphibious assault ship with 1,800 Marines deployed to Indian Ocean A US amphibious assault ship carrying about 1,800 Marines is operating in the Indian Ocean as speculation grows over a possible ground operation against Iran, US Central Command said. The USS Tripoli, part of an amphibious ready group, was shown in a recent image sailing in the region, though its exact distance from Iran was not disclosed. CNN reported that the ship is carrying troops from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, ..

Iran says it shot down MQ-9 drone near Isfahan Iran said its air defence units shot down a United StatesMQ-9 drone near Isfahan,according to the semi- official Tasnim news agency. The report said the drone was intercepted and destroyed earlier Tuesday. Iranian officials said the downing marked the 146th drone shot down during the conflict. The MQ-9 Reaper, widely used for surveillance and strike missions, has an estimated cost of about $30 million per unit.

Attack on Irans Mahallat kills eleven people An air strike killed 11 people and injured 15 others in the city of Mahallat in the Markazi province last night, Al Jazeera reported, citing Irans Isna news agency. Three residential units in Mahallat city were directly hit by projectiles, causing significant damage, Isnasaid.