News

What Is the Strait of Hormuz and Why Is Iran Blocking It?  The New York Times

Why Is Iran Blocking the Strait of Hormuz?  The New York Times

Report links U.S. to deadly strike on Iran school, Democrats demand answers  fox10tv.com

Bessent says ‘international coalition’ could escort tankers through Strait of Hormuz  The Hill

JERUSALEM, March 12 (Reuters) - Israel's military on Thursday dropped charges against five soldiers accused of torturing a Palestinian detained during the Gaza war, in a case that exposed divisions within Israel over whether soldiers can abuse enemy prisoners with impunity. The military announced the decision at a time when much of the country's attention is focused on the war with Iran. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the decision. "The State of Israel must hunt down its enemies, not its own heroic fighters," he said in a statement.

March 12 (Reuters) - Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah on Tuesday, where the two leaders discussed regional developments, the prime minister's office said. The meeting comes as the Middle East grapples with escalating conflict, including tensions involving Israel, the United States and Iran.

By Maayan Lubell and Rami Ayyub JERUSALEM, March 12 (Reuters) - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday issued a veiled threat to kill Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei even as he acknowledged that Israel's joint air war with the U.S. may not lead to a collapse of Tehran's clerical government. Holding his first press conference since the start of the war, the Israeli leader said that Iran was "no longer the same" after nearly two weeks of bombardment and that Tehran had suffered blows to its elite Revolutionary Guards Corps and Basij paramilitary force.

By Parisa Hafezi and Maya Gebeily DUBAI/BEIRUT, March 12 (Reuters) - Iran will fight on and keep the Strait of Hormuz shut as leverage against the United States and Israel, new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said on Thursday in defiant first comments attributed to him since he succeeded his slain father. Hours later, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used his first press conference since the start of the war to make his own strong statement, issuing a veiled threat to kill Khamenei and defending the military assault on Iran.

By Laila Bassam, Ahmed Rasheed, Pesha Magid and Tom Perry BEIRUT/BAGHDAD/JERUSALEM, March 12 (Reuters) - Shi'ite Muslim armed groups in Lebanon and Iraq are stepping up their role in the war with the U.S. and Israel, showing the Iran-backed "Axis of Resistance" can still wage attacks despite damage inflicted on the alliance during the Gaza conflict. Groups that have long been armed and financed by Iran and loyal to its Shi'ite Islamist rulers are now helping Tehran intensify the war around the region, strikes in recent days show.

By Ahmed Kerdi, Maya Gebeily and Maayan Lubell BEIRUT/JERUSALEM, March 12 (Reuters) - Israeli airstrikes hit two buildings in the heart of Beirut near the Lebanese government's headquarters on Thursday, ramping up Israel's offensive against Iran-backed Hezbollah and dragging Lebanon deeper into the Middle East war. A day after Iran-backed Hezbollah launched its biggest rocket salvo of the conflict, Israel's defence minister said the military had orders to expand the campaign and Israel's military chief said the operation in Lebanon would not be short.

LONDON, March 12 (Reuters) - The U.S. Navy, perhaps with an international coalition, will escort vessels through the Strait of Hormuz when it is militarily possible, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Sky News in an interview on Thursday. "My belief, that as soon as it is militarily possible, the US Navy, perhaps with an international coalition, will be escorting vessels through," Bessent said.

OTTAWA, March 12 (Reuters) - The foreign ministers from the Group of Seven will have detailed discussions on diplomatic efforts related to the war in Iran when they meet near Paris at a scheduled meeting at the end of March, Canada's foreign minister said on Thursday. France, which is currently chairing the G7, will host the first of two foreign ministers meeting on March 26-27 at the Vaux de Cernay abbey, some 50km southwest of Paris. "We will be having a full-fledged conversation about the diplomatic efforts relating to the war," Anita Anand told reporters on Thursday.

By Simon Lewis WASHINGTON, March 12 (Reuters) - The Trump administration has organized nearly 50 flights to return U.S. citizens from the Middle East since the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran began, a State Department official said on Thursday, and officials said demand for the flights has declined. The State Department was criticized in the days after the conflict began on February 28 for its late preparations to relocate diplomats and offer assistance to U.S. citizens as Iran's strikes led to airspace closures and flight cancellations across the region.

By Daphne Psaledakis WASHINGTON, March 12 (Reuters) - An FBI alert to law enforcement agencies last month warning of the possibility that Tehran might try to retaliate for any U.S. strikes on Iran by launching drone attacks in California was based on a single unverified tip, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Thursday, adding that there has never been such a threat to the U.S. from Iran.

BEIRUT, March 12 (Reuters) - Israeli airstrikes hit a building twice in central Beirut less than a kilometre from the government headquarters, Reuters video footage showed on Thursday, shortly after the Israeli military said it had begun a new wave of strikes on the Lebanese capital. (Reporting by Maya Gebeily, Writing by Yomna Ehab, Editing by Timothy Heritage)

By Ahmed Eljechtimi RABAT, March 12 (Reuters) - Morocco is developing plans to repatriate its nationals who fought for Islamic State in Syria and were transferred by the United States into Iraqi detention, a senior security official said on Thursday. The U.S. began moving detained IS members out of Syria in January after the collapse of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which had been guarding around a dozen facilities holding IS fighters and affiliated civilians, including foreigners.

LONDON, March 12 (Reuters) - Britain is exploring additional options for deployments to the Gulf after Iran stepped up attacks on vessels, defence minister John Healey said on Thursday, adding that the UK already has autonomous mine hunting systems in the region. The Royal Navy (RN) said last week its last minehunter HMS Middleton, which was based in Bahrain, had arrived back in Britain on March 1. The vessel, which was more than 40 years old, was no longer certified to sail, it said.

JROTC programs change uniform guidance due to Iran War  CBS News

Netanyahu says Israel ‘stronger than ever’ in first speech since Iran war  Al Jazeera

How Long Will The Iran War Last? The Economy Depends On The Answer  Investopedia