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On 1 of the holiest days connected the Islamic calendar, Iran fired connected Israel and vigor sites successful neighboring Gulf Arab states, insisting that it tin inactive physique missiles and issuing a caller threat, to contradict information to its enemies successful “parks, recreational areas and tourer destinations” worldwide. Israel meantime pounded Tehran with airstrikes arsenic Iranians marked Nowruz, the Persian New Year.
The US subject is deploying 3 much warships and astir 2,500 much marines to the Middle East, wherever there's nary extremity to the warfare successful show contempt 3 weeks of U.S. and Israeli aerial strikes that person decimated Iran's subject and leadership. The Pentagon’s petition for different $200 cardinal to money the warfare would request legislature support arsenic the U.S. nationalist indebtedness hits a grounds $39 trillion.
U.S. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel volition halt attacking the state tract that Iranians beryllium connected for astir of their energy astatine the petition of U.S. President Donald Trump. Iran responded to Israel’s onslaught connected the tract by intensifying targeting of vigor infrastructure successful different Middle East countries, sending lipid and state prices soaring.
The decease toll has risen to much than 1,300 radical successful Iran, much than 1,000 radical successful Lebanon, 15 successful Israel and 13 U.S. subject members successful the region. Millions of radical successful Lebanon and Iran person been displaced.
Here is the latest:
Turkish president condemns Israel’s closure connected Friday of the Al-Aqsa Mosque successful Jerusalem
“Using the warfare with Iran arsenic a pretext, they closed our archetypal Qibla, the Al-Aqsa Mosque, to worship,” Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, speaking to citizens during an Eid al Fitr solemnisation successful the northeastern metropolis of Rize.
“They person accelerated their amerciable colony activities and expansionist policies successful the West Bank and successful Palestinian territories they occupied,” helium said. “Terror by Netanyahu continues to endanger determination and planetary peace. The Iran-centered attacks launched connected February 28th, with provocations by Netanyahu, person further deepened instability successful our region.”
Syria condemns Israeli strikes connected Syrian military
Syria’s overseas ministry condemned strikes launched Friday by Israel connected subject infrastructure successful confederate Syria. Israel had said it was acting to support members of the Druze number aft attacks by authorities forces.
The overseas ministry said Israel was acting connected “flimsy pretexts and fabricated excuses” successful a “continuation of its argumentation of interference successful interior affairs with the purpose of destabilizing information and stableness successful the region.” No casualties were reported from the strikes.
In caller days, determination person been scattered clashes betwixt Druze groups successful Sweida state and Syrian authorities forces. Last year, equipped groups affiliated with Druze person Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri clashed with section Bedouin clans, spurring involution by authorities forces, which efficaciously sided with the Bedouins. Hundreds of civilians, mostly Druze, were killed, galore by authorities fighters.
Since then, a radical of the militias banded unneurotic nether al-Hijri, creating a de facto autonomous country successful ample swaths of the province, with backing from Israel.
Naval adept says reopening Strait of Hormuz a gangly order
A British naval adept says it’s “fanciful” to effort to reopen the Strait of Hormuz portion warring inactive rages.
Trump has criticized different countries for failing to nonstop naval ships to unblock the cardinal lipid route, which has been efficaciously unopen by Iran. But Retired Royal Navy Commodore Steve Prest said Friday that “the thought that you could unit the strait, adjacent with important warships and firepower, against a determined force … is fanciful.”
Prest, an subordinate chap astatine defence think-tank RUSI, said it’s indispensable to degrade Iran’s quality to usage missiles, drones, onslaught trade and mines “to bring the risks down to a tolerable level, adjacent earlier you commencement sending warships done the strait.”
To reconstruct shipping, “you person to travel to a ceasefire. The warring has to halt and past you tin make the indispensable conditions of security,” helium said.
NATO pulls its information advisory ngo retired of Iraq
NATO has pulled its information advisory ngo retired of Iraq and relocated respective 100 unit progressive successful the effort to Europe. The determination came aft a bid of attacks from Iran connected different troops astatine British, French and Italian bases successful bluish Iraq.
NATO’s apical commander, Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, confirmed that the past troops near connected Friday. He thanked the authorities of Iraq and allies who helped to safely relocate them, arsenic good arsenic the troops involved, calling them “true professionals.”
The non-combat ngo was launched successful 2018 to counsel Iraq’s nationalist information chief, ministries of defence and interior, and constabulary connected however to make and physique effectual institutions and forces. It has worked mostly astir Baghdad.
The ngo volition present beryllium tally from NATO’s office successful Naples, Italy.
Missile fragments deed adjacent revered beatified sites successful Jerusalem
A onslaught deed adjacent Jerusalem’s Old City connected Friday, adjacent to the hilltop compound location to spiritual sites revered by Jews and Muslims, marking the information facing beatified sites.
Israel’s subject said it was Iranian rocket fragments that smashed into a gross connected a way toward the Western Wall and the Dome of the Rock compound, little than 500 meters away.
The partition and hilltop compound is wherever Jews judge the past biblical temples erstwhile stood and Muslims judge Muhammad ascended to heaven. Shrapnel besides fell adjacent connected Monday.
White House authoritative says Trump has nary plans to nonstop troops into Iran, contempt caller deployment
Asked astir Trump’s plans for the further troops, and reports that the medication is considering plans to inhabit oregon blockade Kharg Island, a White House authoritative said that Trump has said helium has “no plans” to nonstop troops into Iran, but retains each options and does not broadcast his subject strategy.
The official, who spoke connected information of anonymity due to the fact that they were not authorized to talk to the media, said the U.S. subject could “take retired Kharg Island astatine immoderate time.”
Khamenei praises Iranian people, says sidesplitting apical leaders won’t topple government
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei praised Iranians’ steadfastness successful the look of war, saying that U.S. and Israeli attacks were based connected an illusion that by sidesplitting apical leaders they could origin the overthrow of the government.
Khamenei’s written connection marking the Persian New Year, Nowruz, was work connected Iranian television.
He commended Iranians for “building a nationwide antiaircraft beforehand and strongholds crossed cities, neighborhoods, and mosques, delivering specified a bewildering stroke that the force fell into contradictions and irrational statements.”
Khamenei has not been seen successful nationalist since helium became ultimate person pursuing the assassination of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, astatine the commencement of the war.
Political tug of warfare implicit Iranian women’s shot squad prompts disapproval successful Australia
The United States and Australia’s governmental tug of warfare against Iran implicit the fates of 7 members of the Iranian women’s shot squad appears to person ended with the depleted squad returning home, minus the 2 players who defected past week.
Critics present accidental authorities trumped interest for the women’s champion interests arsenic the play played out. The grounds is that of 7 Iranian women who initially accepted asylum successful Australia, 5 changed their minds wrong days and returned to the squad for reasons undisclosed. Iranian media showed them wearing caput coverings arsenic they signed shot balls Thursday during a invited location ceremonial successful Tehran.
“We ended up with an result that is surely acold from ideal,” said Graham Thom, advocacy coordinator for the Refugee Council of Australia, a nonprofit umbrella enactment representing asylum-seekers. “Hopefully the 2 who are remaining get the extortion they need, but we conscionable anticipation that those who person returned are besides safe.”
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Lebanon’s Hezbollah denies it has a web successful the United Arab Emirates
Hezbollah’s connection connected Friday came a time aft authorities successful the oil-rich state said they dismantled a “terrorist network” moving undercover. UAE authorities media reported that authorities detained members of an Iran-backed web progressive successful wealth laundering and financing terrorism.
Hezbollah called the allegations a “baseless” effort to harm its image, and said it has nary beingness successful the Emirates.
Earlier Friday, Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry condemned “the violent crippled targeting the United Arab Emirates.” The connection noted that the Lebanese authorities declared connected March 2 that each subject and information activities by Hezbollah are illegal.
Ukraine is utilizing its drone expertise to assistance Middle East countries against Iran
Ukrainian officials are helping 5 Middle Eastern and Gulf countries antagonistic attacks by Iranian drones, portion the United States and European countries person requested support, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday.
Ukraine is besides looking into whether it tin person a relation successful restoring information successful the Strait of Hormuz amid the Iran war, helium said.
Ukraine has go a starring shaper of cutting-edge, battle-tested drone interceptors that are inexpensive and effectual successful defending against Russia’s full-scale invasion. A Ukrainian authoritative said Ukrainian subject specialists are operating successful the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan.
“Our teams are already moving with 5 countries connected countering (Iran’s) ‘Shahed’ drones — we person provided adept assessments and are helping physique a defence system,” Zelenskyy said connected X.
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Thousands of Marines and sailors are bound for a portion astatine war
The quality comes conscionable days aft the U.S. subject redirected different radical of amphibious battle ships carrying Marines from the Pacific to the Middle East.
Last week, U.S. officials besides confirmed that the Japan-based USS Tripoli and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit person been ordered to the Middle East — shifting them from exercises successful the vicinity of Taiwan. Earlier this week, the USS Tripoli and different amphibious battle ship, the USS New Orleans, were spotted sailing westbound of Malaysia connected publically disposable outer imagery.
The brace of Marine Expeditionary Units volition adhd astir 5,000 Marines and thousands of sailors to the portion wherever the U.S. is engaged successful a warfare with Iran. The U.S. subject says it has astir 50,000 troops successful the region.
The US subject is deploying 3 much warships and astir 2,500 much marines to the Middle East, an authoritative says
One U.S. authoritative confirmed that the USS Boxer and 2 different amphibious battle ships, on with astir 2,500 Marines of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, are bound for the Middle East from their location larboard of San Diego. Two different U.S. officials confirmed that the ships were deploying, without saying wherever they were headed.
All 3 officials spoke connected information of anonymity to sermon delicate subject operations.
— By Konstantin Toropin.
US stocks slip, but markets worldwide clasp steadier aft lipid prices easiness a bit
They’re slipping nether the value of different emergence for yields successful the enslaved market, which makes borrowing much costly for U.S. companies and households, slowing the system and grinding down each kinds of investments. Treasury yields person climbed arsenic the warfare with Iran threatens a semipermanent spike successful lipid and earthy state prices.
Worries person gotten truthful precocious that traders person canceled bets that the Federal Reserve could chopped involvement rates aggregate times this year, and immoderate are adjacent seeing a flimsy anticipation of a complaint hike successful 2026, a astir unthinkable script earlier the warfare began. Lower involvement rates would springiness the system and concern prices a boost, and Trump has angrily called for them, but they hazard worsening inflation.
Markets extracurricular of Wall Street held up amended pursuing their wipeout connected Thursday arsenic lipid prices pulled backmost Friday to $108.29 for a tube of Brent crude.
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Hezbollah says it deed 5 towns and villages successful bluish Israel
Lebanon’s Hezbollah radical says it fired salvos of rockets and drones that struck Israeli subject positions and towns and villages including Kiryat Shemona, Hanita, Avivim, Ramot Naftali and Shlomi.
The Iran-backed group’s connection Friday besides said that its fighters attacked a radical of Israeli soldiers wrong the Lebanese municipality of Khiam, the country of aggravated warring implicit the past days.
Trump calls NATO members ‘COWARDS’ arsenic helium again complains that they did not articulation his telephone to support Strait of Hormuz
The president said successful a societal media station Friday greeting that, “NATO IS A PAPER TIGER!”
He besides claimed that “that combat is Militarily WON” and that NATO members are complaining astir precocious lipid prices but don’t privation to assistance unfastened the strait.
“We volition REMEMBER!” helium said.
France taking ‘appropriate measures’ aft naval officer’s usage of Strava app exposed carrier’s location
The deployment of the Charles de Gaulle to the Mediterranean to assistance support French and allied assets during the Iran warfare isn’t concealed — reporters were briefed by video nexus from aboard the nuclear-powered 42,000-ton behemoth, which is besides disposable from space.
Still, the French paper Le Monde caused a disturbance by spotting a naval serviceman utilizing the Strava workout app, which narrowed its hunt for the outer representation taken that aforesaid day.
French subject spokesperson Col. Guillaume Vernet told The Associated Press that sailors are warned astir the information risks of utilizing apps portion deployed. “Appropriate measures are being taken by the command,” helium said.
Iran’s subject warns ‘parks, recreational areas and tourer destinations’ worldwide won’t beryllium harmless for enemies
Iran’s apical subject spokesperson warned Friday that “parks, recreational areas and tourer destinations” worldwide won’t beryllium harmless for Tehran’s enemies.
Gen. Abolfazl Shekarchi made the menace arsenic Iran continues to beryllium deed by American and Israeli airstrikes.
It renews a interest held by analysts arsenic the warfare goes connected — that Iran could revert to utilizing militant attacks beyond the Middle East arsenic a unit maneuver successful the war.
“From present on, based connected the accusation we person astir you, adjacent parks, recreational areas and tourer destinations anyplace successful the satellite volition nary longer beryllium harmless for you,” Shekarchi said successful a connection published online by Iranian authorities television.
Israelis springiness opposing views connected the war
Some Israelis successful Haifa interest determination mightiness not beryllium a strategy successful spot to extremity the warfare with Iran.
“We conscionable don’t spot the end, we don’t spot wherever this is leading,” said Harry Goldstein, a nonmigratory of the coastal city.
While immoderate Israelis consciousness comparatively safe, adjacent among a barrage of attacks launched from Iran toward the country, others interest that adjacent shrapnel and debris falling onto their cities whitethorn origin extended damage.
Some Israelis accidental they judge their state and the U.S. should property connected until they bring an extremity to Iran’s theocracy.
“Dear Trump, I truly anticipation thing comes retired of this war, that it topples the regime, finishes them off, and truly, there’s nary 1 similar you,” said Vered Turgeman from Haifa.
Israel’s Defense Minister says strikes connected Syria were to support Druze minority
Defense Minister Israel Katz has warned the Syrian authorities against utilizing the Middle East warfare arsenic a screen to harm Syria’s Druze community, aft Israel’s subject said Friday it has struck sites successful the Sweida country successful effect to what it said were attacks against the Druze.
There was nary contiguous connection connected casualties and Syrian authorities media has not commented oregon reported connected the Israeli strikes. It wasn’t instantly wide erstwhile the strikes took place.
“We volition onslaught with adjacent greater force,” Katz said.
Activist groups successful the Druze bulk state said that skirmishes person taken spot betwixt equipped Druze groups and Syrian authorities forces successful the past 2 days.
Iran-linked facilities adjacent successful Dubai
Iranian-linked facilities successful Dubai person been closed arsenic the Iran warfare has seen the United Arab Emirates repeatedly targeted by Iranian fire.
The Iranian Hospital, opened successful 1972 nether the shah successful Dubai, stood closed Friday. Its website was down and its telephone fig disconnected.
The hospital, portion providing affordable aesculapian attraction for decades, besides had been linked to Iranian quality operations successful the past, including an incidental successful which a Dubai constabulary serviceman allegedly spied for cheaper wellness attraction for his daughter.
The Emirati authorities acknowledged the closures successful a statement.
“Certain institutions straight linked to the Iranian authorities and (Revolutionary Guard) volition beryllium closed nether targeted measures aft being recovered to person been misused to beforehand agendas that bash not service the Iranian people, and successful usurpation of UAE laws,” it said.
The Iranian Club successful Bur Dubai earlier wrote connected Instagram it would adjacent “due to the existent circumstances.”
Al Aqsa Mosque closed for Eid prayers
Al Aqsa Mosque compound has closed for Eid prayers for the archetypal clip successful decades.
The compound successful Jerusalem volition beryllium closed to worshippers for Friday’s Eid al-Fitr, the vacation connected which Muslims people the extremity of the beatified period of Ramadan.
The afloat closure of the beatified tract marks the archetypal since the 1967 Mideast war, erstwhile Israel captured eastbound Jerusalem and the Old City.
The mosque sits connected a hilltop compound that is ineffable to Muslims and Jews, who judge it was the tract of biblical temples. Access has been a flashpoint and historically sparked tensions betwixt Israelis and Palestinians.
Israel has kept beatified sites successful the Old City closed to worshippers of each faiths passim the Iran warfare citing security, though the restrictions person had the broadest effect connected Muslims, tens of thousands who usually travel for Friday supplication astatine Al Aqsa.
Revolutionary Guard spokesperson killed successful airstrike
The spokesperson for paramilitary Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has been killed successful an airstrike aboriginal Friday, Iranian authorities tv reported.
Before his death, Gen. Ali Mohammad Naeini issued a connection insisting Tehran was inactive capable to physique missiles contempt the attacks coming from Israel and the United States.
Iran ultimate person calls for ‘security’ to beryllium taken from enemies
Iran’s caller Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei called Friday for the enemies of his nations to person their “security” taken away, his latest connection to the public.
Khamenei made the remarks successful a connection issued connected his behalf to President Masoud Pezeshkian aft Israel killed Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib.
Khamenei hasn’t been seen since helium was named arsenic ultimate leader, succeeding his father, the 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed successful an Israeli airstrike connected the archetypal time of the warfare connected Feb. 28.
There person been increasing comments from American and Israeli officials that Mojtaba Khamenei was wounded successful the war.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard says it is inactive making missiles
The spokesperson for Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard insisted Friday that Tehran was inactive gathering missiles, seeking to antagonistic a assertion by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that it nary longer could.
Gen. Ali Mohammad Naeini made the comments successful a study quoted by Iran’s state-run IRAN newspaper.
Referencing however Iranian schools see a 20 arsenic a cleanable score, the wide said: “Our rocket manufacture people is 20 and determination is nary interest successful this respect due to the fact that we are producing missiles adjacent during warfare conditions, which is amazing, and determination is nary peculiar occupation successful stockpiling.”
He besides said the warfare would spell on.
“These radical expect the warfare to proceed until the force is wholly exhausted,” the wide said of the Iranian public. “This warfare indispensable extremity erstwhile the shadiness of warfare is lifted from the country.
Kuwait says drone deed Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery again
Fire crews successful Kuwait were moving to incorporate a blaze aboriginal Friday successful 1 of Mina Al-Ahmadi’s lipid refinery units.
The fires resulted from an Iranian drone attack, thee Kuwait occurrence unit said.
There was nary contiguous accusation astir the grade of damage.
This was the 2nd onslaught connected the refinery by Iranian drones Friday morning.
Israel says it struck Syrian subject station aft attacks connected Druze
Israel’s subject said Friday it struck sites successful Syria successful effect to attacks against the Druze.
The service said it struck infrastructure belonging to Syria successful effect to attacks connected Druze colonisation successful Sweida successful confederate Syria.
Syria’s state-run SANA quality bureau did not instantly admit the attack, which marks the archetypal Israeli onslaught connected Syria arsenic its warfare with the United States targeting Iran continues.
Israel has a important Druze population. Israel antecedently has intervened successful defence of the Druze successful Syria, launching dozens of airstrikes connected convoys of authorities fighters and adjacent striking the Syrian Defense Ministry office successful cardinal Damascus.
Kuwait says refinery deed by Iranian drones, sparking fires
Kuwait said Friday its Mina Al-Ahmadi lipid refinery again came nether onslaught by Iranian drones. Firefighters were trying to power blazes astatine respective of its units, and determination were nary contiguous reports of injuries.
Iranian authorities tv acknowledged the onslaught Friday without claiming responsibility. It came arsenic Kuwait celebrated Eid al-Fitr, the extremity of the beatified Muslim fasting period of Ramadan.
Iran has progressively targeted vigor sites successful Gulf Arab states since Israel bombed Iran’s monolithic South Pars offshore earthy state tract successful the Persian Gulf.
Mina Al-Ahmadi tin process immoderate 730,000 barrels of lipid per day. It is 1 of 3 lipid refineries successful Kuwait, a tiny, oil-rich federation connected the Persian Gulf. The Kuwait Petroleum Corp. said it unopen down the affected units. Kuwait has been incapable to export its lipid due to the fact that it relies connected sending it retired by oversea done the Strait of Hormuz, a people of Iranian attacks.
Shrapnel sparks occurrence successful Bahrain, Saudi Arabia destroys drones
Bahrain’s Interior Ministry reported a occurrence erupted Friday greeting aft shrapnel fell connected a warehouse successful the land kingdom. Firefighters worked to power the blaze, it said.
Saudi Arabia reported shooting down aggregate Iranian drones Friday greeting targeting its oil-rich Eastern Province.
Explosions shingle Dubai
Heavy explosions shook Dubai successful the United Arab Emirates aboriginal Friday arsenic aerial defenses intercepted incoming occurrence implicit the city. A rocket alert sounded anterior to the strike.
The Dubai Media Office, the sheikhdom’s authorities communication’s arm, said, “Authorities successful Dubai corroborate the occurrence of each aerial interception operations, with nary injuries reported.”
It came during Eid al-Fitr, the extremity of the beatified Muslim fasting period of Ramadan, arsenic mosques successful the UAE made the day’s archetypal telephone to prayers.
Iranians people Nowruz nether aboriginal greeting airstrikes
Iranians marked Nowruz, oregon the Persian New Year, aboriginal Friday greeting arsenic airstrikes began.
Israel’s subject said precise aboriginal Friday it had begun to onslaught Tehran.
Activists reported proceeding strikes astir Tehran aft Israel’s announcement of a caller question of attacks.
The announcement came aft an aggravated time of Iranian rocket strikes targeting Israel, with much than a twelve launches connected Thursday alone, according to Israel’s military.
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