Dubai, Mar 14 (AP) President Donald Trump said US forces “obliterated” military targets on Iran’s Kharg Island, home to the main terminal that handles the country’s oil exports. The speaker of the Iranian parliament had warned that such strikes would provoke a new level of retaliation.
Meanwhile, an American official said 2,500 more Marines and an amphibious assault ship are being sent to the Middle East nearly two weeks into the US-Israeli war with the Islamic Republic.
Iran has continued to launch widespread missile and drone attacks on Israel and neighbouring Gulf states, and has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s traded oil passes, even as US and Israeli warplanes pummel military and other targets across Iran.
Here is the latest: Fire breaks out at UAE port after drone interception ———————————————————– The fire in Fujairah port in the United Arab Emirates broke out on Saturday following the drone interception, authorities said.
No casualties were reported from the attack, the Fujairah media office said, adding that firefighters were battling the blaze.
Associated Press footage showed smoke rising Saturday morning over the facility.
Iran says 52 cultural sites damaged in US-Israeli strikes —————————————————————- The sites include museums and historic monuments across Iran, authorities said Saturday.
The Cultural Heritage Ministry said the latest strikes in the city of Sanandaj in Kurdistan province seriously damaged the Asef Mansion, Salar Saeid Mansion and Khosro Abad Mansion, according to Mizan, the judiciary’s official news agency.
Some of the sites date back several centuries and are dedicated to Kurdish culture.
France’s president says Paris is ready to host direct Israel-Lebanon talks ——————————————————————————— President Emmanuel Macron posted on X that he spoke with the president, prime minister and parliament speaker of Lebanon, and that everything must be done to prevent the country from sinking into chaos.
Macron added that Hezbollah must immediately halt “its reckless escalation” while Israel must abandon any large-scale offensive and stop its massive airstrikes.
Macron said Lebanese leaders have said they are willing to have direct talks with Israel.
The French leader said Israel must seize this opportunity to launch talks to reach a ceasefire, find a lasting solution, and allow Lebanese authorities to fulfil their commitments in support of Lebanon’s sovereignty.
Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun said Friday that he expressed readiness to negotiate with Israel but got no response. Lebanon and Israel have been at war since 1948.
Iranian official says oil operations are normal on Kharg Island after US strikes —————————————————————————————- “Export and import operations, as well as the activities of companies based on the island, are currently ongoing,” Ehsan Jahaniyan, deputy governor of Bushehr province, was quoted as saying by NourNews, an outlet close to Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.
Kharg Island is home to the primary terminal that handles the country’s oil exports.
Jahaniyan also said that daily life activities were normal, adding that the strikes left no casualties.
Early Saturday, semi-official Fars News Agency reported that the US strikes were limited to military facilities.
Dust storm blows over Gaza as people are urged to protect themselves ——————————————————————————– A cloud of orange-tinted, thick dust spread across the Gaza Strip on Saturday as first responders told Palestinians to stay home, especially those with respiratory illness.
People were also urged to secure their tents to prevent them from being blown away. Israel’s war with Hamas has left most of Gaza’s 2 million residents displaced, living in tents and damaged buildings with little protection from the elements such as rain, wind and sand.
Videos on Saturday showed tents flapping and trees swaying as cars drove down dust-filled streets with little visibility. While dust storms occur in Gaza, there hasn’t been one this intense in more than five years.
Bahrain reports more missile and drone attacks ——————————————————- Bahrain’s Defence Ministry said Iran fired 10 drones and three missiles on Saturday.
That has brought the total number of missiles and drones fired at Bahrain during the two-week war to 124 and 203, respectively.
Iran threatens to attack UAE cities —————————————- Iran’s military command threatened Saturday to attack cities in the United Arab Emirates, claiming they were used by US forces to launch strikes on Iran’s Abu Musa and Kharg islands.
According to Iran’s state television, the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said, without providing evidence, that US forces launched attacks on the Islamic Republic from “ports, docks and hideouts within” cities in the Emirates.
It called on people to evacuate “ports, docks and locations where US forces are sheltered in UAE cities.” (AP) SKS SKS
Category: Breaking News
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