Up to 3. 2 million people displaced inside Iran by war, UN says The UN refugee agency said on Thursday that up to 3. 2 million people have been displaced inside Iran since the war began on 28 February.
Russia's Rosatom says it will stay in Iran despite war Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom will stay in Iran despite the conflict in the Middle East and is committed to its agreement to build two more units at the Bushehr nuclear plant, its head Alexei Likhachev said on Thursday. Rosatom, which built the first 1‑gigawatt unit of Iran’s sole nuclear power plant at Bushehr, evacuated some of its staff and suspended construction work on the new units after the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran on 28 February. Around 450 Rosatom employees remain at the site, Likhachev said, after 150 returned to Russia via Armenia this week.
Iraqi prime minister condemns attacks on Popular Mobilisation Forces Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has today condemned attacks on the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), a government umbrella organisation that oversees various paramilitary groups, including those close to Iran. The PMF has fired at US bases in Iraq during the Iran war and come under attack, with one fighter killed in the most recent attack in Kirkuk in northern Iraq. Sudani is keen to maintain balanced ties between Tehran and Washington.
Israel to expand operations in Lebanon after Hezbollah barrage, defence minister says The Israeli military has been instructed to expand its operations in Lebanon, defence minister Israel Katz said on Thursday, after Hezbollah a heavy barrage of fired rockets at Israel overnight. Katz warned Lebanese President Joseph Aoun that if the Lebanese government could not prevent Hezbollah from attacking Israel, Israel "would do it ourselves", according to a statement released by his office.
Iran will 'abandon all restraint' if US, Israel attack Gulf islands Iran's powerful parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned on Thursday that Tehran will "abandon all restraint" if the United States and Israel attack any of its islands in the Gulf. "Any aggression against soil of Iranian islands will shatter all restraint. We will abandon all restraint and make the Persian Gulf run with the blood of invaders," said Ghalibaf in a post on X.
Strikes kill nine people near Iraq-Syria border, security officials say Air strikes killed at least nine Iran-backed fighters in Iraq on Thursday near the Iraqi-Syrian border, two senior security officials told AFP. Another 10 fighters were wounded in the strikes that targeted a base belonging to Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya, the officials added on condition of anonymity, with one saying that the death toll could rise. "The base was destroyed, and the rescue teams who arrived at the site were also targeted," one of the officials said.
Fallen debris in Dubai after drone attack, Kuwait airport hit Dubai reported a drone attack and fallen debris in two locations on Thursday, while Kuwait's airport was damaged in yet another strike on the facility during Iran's Gulf campaign in the Middle East war. The Dubai government's media office reported "a minor incident caused by debris from a successful interception that fell onto the facade of a building on Sheikh Zayed Road". Earlier, the media office reported "a minor drone incident in the Al Bada'a area".
Indian crew member killed on oil tanker attacked near Iraq's Basra An Indian crew member on a US-owned crude oil tanker was killed in an attack near Basra on Wednesday, India’s embassy in Baghdad said. The embassy said in a post on X that the remaining 15 Indian crew members aboard the Safesea Vishnu, which sails under the Marshall Islands flag, have been evacuated to a safe location.
IEA director says energy markets at 'critical turning point' IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said on Thursday that global energy markets are at a "critical turning point," after his agency on Wednesday recommended a coordinated release of global reserve oil in the face of the Iran war. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz prompted the IEA's announcement, he said at an Istanbul press conference. The International Energy Agency, made up of major oil consuming nations, recommended releasing 400 million barrels from global strategic reserves to dampen one of the worst oil shocks since the 1970s, the biggest such intervention in history.
Several drones target Kuwait International Airport, report says Several drones targeted Kuwait International Airport, causing only material damage, the state news agency reported, citing the country's civil aviation officials.
Qatar launches emergency aid for displaced families in Lebanon Qatar has launched an urgent humanitarian response to support more than 40,500 families displaced by escalating military violence in Lebanon, the Embassy of Qatar in Lebanon said. “In light of the sharp military escalation in the sisterly Republic of Lebanon and the resulting massive displacement, the State of Qatar has announced an urgent humanitarian response to support affected families,” the embassy said in a statement. The aid, provided through the Qatar Fund for Development with Qatar Charity and the Qatar Red Crescent Society, includes more than 12,000 food baskets as well as blankets, mattresses and hygiene kits.
Seven people injured in strike on Iran’s Arak, report says Seven people have been injured in an attack on six “production units” in an industrial town in Iran’s Arak province, according to Mehr news agency. Officials said two of them were in critical condition. Israeli strikes previously targeted a nuclear complex in the town.
Iran army says targeted Israel military bases, security service The Iranian army says it targeted Israeli military bases and the security service.
Several explosions heard in Dubai's downtown Explosions were heard in downtown Dubai, including a very loud blast, an AFP correspondent reported on Thursday, adding that they saw small plumes of smoke rise above a residential neighbourhood.
Italy joins IEA oil reserve release with 9 million barrels Italy will contribute with 9 million barrels to a coordinated release of strategic oil reserves, joining other International Energy Agency members, a government source said on Thursday. Asked about the timing, the source said "availability was immediate. " The IEA recommended on Wednesday the release of 400 million barrels of oil, the largest such move in its history, to try to restrain soaring crude prices amid the US-Israeli war on Iran.
Blasts heard in Jerusalem, after Israel detects new Iranian missile salvo The sound of explosions have been reported in Jerusalem after the Israeli Home Front Command said it detected missiles launched from Iran targeting the Jerusalem and Tel Aviv metropolitan area. "A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran towards the territory of the State of Israel. Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat," the Israeli military said in a post on Telegram.
Iraq calls for the ‘protection of maritime routes’ after deadly attack on tankers Iraq’s Ministry of Oil has called for “the protection of maritime routes” after deadly attacks that set two tankers ablaze off the coast of Iraq overnight. “The security and safety of navigation in international maritime routes and energy supply lines must remain separate from regional conflicts and rivalries,” the ministry said in a statement carried by the Iraq News Agency. The comments came after Iraq shut down port operations after the attacks.
Debris from intercepted drone leaves six Kuwait power lines out of service Six power transmission lines went out of service after debris from intercepted drones fell on them, Kuwait's electricity ministry said on Thursday. It added that the electricity and water situation is under control.
Israeli attack kills three in Lebanon's Aramoun Three people have been killed and a child injured in an Israeli attack on Aramoun, a town in the hills overlooking Beirut, according to Lebanon's National News Agency, citing an official statement. "Israeli enemy raids on Aramoun have resulted, in an initial and non-final toll, in the martyrdom of 3 citizens and the injury of a child," the Ministry of Public Health's Emergency Health Operations Centre said.
Italian base in Iraqi Kurdistan hit by missile, defence ministry says An Italian military base in Iraqi Kurdistan was struck by a missile overnight though no injuries were reported, the Italian defence ministry said on Thursday. "A missile hit our base in Erbil. There are no casualties or injuries among the Italian personnel.
