US intelligence: 'Iran has started laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz'

Six French soldiers were injured in a 'drone attack' in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan. This was announced by the French General Staff.

The IDF announced that it had 'launched several waves of attacks against Hezbollah infrastructure in Beirut and southern Lebanon', in particular that it had 'struck several Hezbollah command centres from which the terrorists operated to promote terrorist attacks against the State of Israel and its civilians'. Shortly before the attacks, "measures were taken to mitigate the risk of harm to civilians, including early warnings, the use of precision munitions, and aerial surveillance," the IDF specified, "determined to operate against the terrorist organisation Hezbollah, following its deliberate decision to attack Israel on behalf of the Iranian regime."

"We are creating optimal conditions for the fall of the regime". This was stated by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a press conference, adding that the US and Israeli attacks on the country are an effort to give the Iranians "the space they need to take to the streets". Israel and the US have given conflicting answers as to what exactly the goals of the war are and what its final outcome will be. Netanyahu addressed the Iranian people, saying that the time for a "new path of freedom" is approaching and that Israel stands by them. "But at the end of the day, it is up to you. It is in your hands," he added. Netanyahu also said that Israeli attacks had killed Iran's top nuclear scientists.

The US Navy could escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz with an international coalition, when militarily possible. This was stated by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, speaking to Sky News. 'I believe that as soon as it is militarily possible, the US Navy, perhaps with an international coalition, will escort the ships,' he said. "In fact, there are tankers going through the Strait, Iranian tankers, I think some Chinese-flagged tankers have gone through. So we know that they have not undermined the Strait,' Bessent added.

The Iranian Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva gave an interview to the BBC in which he stated that the new Supreme Guide Mojtaba Khamenei is safe and currently rules the country. In particular, Ali Bahreini said that Khamenei's election is 'a sign of stability and continuity' for Iran. As for the Strait of Hormuz, the diplomat explained that "it is affected by a war situation," he said. "For this reason, no one can expect transits to be normal," he commented.

Qatar's Ministry of Defence said it intercepted two ballistic missiles, a cruise missile and several drones launched from Iran today.

Iran has threatened to devastate the region's oil and gas industry if its energy infrastructure comes under attack during the war with the US and Israel. "We will set fire to the region's oil and gas at the slightest attack on Iran's energy infrastructure and ports," said a spokesman for the Iranian army's central operations command, known as Khatam al-Anbiya

The Israeli Air Force has launched a new wave of "extensive" air strikes on Tehran. This was announced by the IDF, pointing out that the attacks are directed against the infrastructure of the Iranian regime.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani reassured on the condition of the Italian soldiers at the Base in Erbil, which was hit by drones. "The conditions of the military are good," Tajani told Tg4, "I believe that they will be moved quickly, as was done in Kuwait, because it is useless to leave them under the risk of bombs that continue to arrive, drones, missiles. "We must guarantee the security of our military, just as we guarantee that of our fellow citizens who work and operate in these parts of the world," the deputy premier continued, "Even the Baghdad embassy has had a drastic reduction in personnel, they left today, they arrived in Turkey, and so we will do with the Erbil consulate, which is in Iraqi Kurdistan, which is an autonomous region of Iraq.

Iran will not stop the conflict until the United States regrets what Tehran calls a "grave misjudgment" in starting the war against the Islamic Republic. This was stated by Iranian security chief Ali Larijani today. "Trump says he is seeking a quick victory. But starting a war is easy, you cannot win it with a few tweets," Larijani wrote in a message posted on X. "We will not stop until we make you regret this serious misjudgment," he added.

Russia is collecting up to $150 million a day in additional budget revenue from oil sales, becoming the main beneficiary of the conflict in the Middle East that has sent the price of crude oil soaring. The Financial Times writes this. So far, Moscow has earned an estimated extra $1.3 billion to $1.9 billion from taxes on oil exports, after the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz led to increased demand for Russian oil from India and China. The US also eased sanctions against Russia and pressure on India not to buy Russian oil, pushing significant numbers of tankers into the Indian Ocean. According to calculations by the Financial Times, based on industry data and the assessments of several analysts, the Russian government could receive between $3.3 billion and $4.9 billion in additional revenue overall by the end of March. This assumes that the price of Russian Urals crude oil will average between USD 70 and USD 80 per barrel this month, instead of remaining close to the previous two months' average of USD 52 per barrel. Much will now depend on how long the conflict in the Middle East lasts, but the current high prices "will help Russia meet its budget targets this quarter and even start saving some money," said Borys Dodonov, head of energy and climate studies at the Kyiv School of Economics.

US exporters of liquefied natural gas (LNG) could gain about $870 million per week in additional revenues from the Iran war. A possible downsizing of Qatar's presence in the global LNG market due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz would increase the US market share. Italy's climate think tank Ecco writes this in an analysis. Although Italia is the country within the EU that imports the most from Gulf countries such as Qatar, it is not too exposed in terms of volume: Qatar gas accounts for about 24% of total LNG imports and 8% of total gas consumption, totalling 6.4 billion cubic metres per year. As far as oil is concerned, Europe and Italia import minimal quantities of Iranian crude oil due to international sanctions. Europe is therefore much less dependent on oil and LNG from the Gulf than other countries such as China (which buys about 90% of Iranian oil and about 25% of LNG from Qatar), India, Japan or South Korea. According to Ecco, countries that have focused on renewables, energy efficiency and electrification are better protected from fluctuating energy prices. The price of gas in the electricity mix weighs on the price of the raw material. In Italia, where gas covered 61.4 per cent of production hours, the average wholesale electricity price was 116 euros per megawatt hour between January and October 2025, compared to 87 in Germany, 65 in Spain and 61 in France, all countries where renewable production surpassed fossil production in 2025. From 2021 to 2024, Italia has installed 15 Gigawatts of new renewable capacity - less than the 9 Gigawatts per year predicted by Pniec -, which has the potential to replace 3.8 billion cubic metres of gas, equivalent to a saving of 1.4 billion. Increased deployment of renewables reduces the weight of gas in electricity price formation. In Spain, for example, the strong presence of renewables has helped to keep energy prices around one third below the European average in the first half of 2025.

The Saudi Arabian oil giant Saudi Aramco is in talks with at least two Ukrainian companies to buy interceptor drones to defend its facilities against possible Iranian attacks. The Wall Street Journal reports this, citing informed sources, according to which the negotiations involve the Ukrainian companies SkyFall and Wild Hornets. The Saudi company is reportedly moving quickly to secure the drones ahead of the government in Riyadh and other regional players, including Qatar. In parallel, the Saudi government is also reported to have initiated contacts with Kiev to purchase similar systems. Riyadh officials have also reportedly spoken with the Ukrainian company Phantom Defense, which develops electronic warfare systems capable of disabling drone communications. On Saturday, the Berri oil field was hit by a drone, probably launched by the Islamic Republic, according to Saudi officials. In recent days attacks attributed to Tehran have targeted several energy facilities in the region.

NEW YORK - The investigation by US military authorities into the minab primary schools massacre in Iran has reached a preliminary conclusion. And chillingly: the missile that buried perhaps 175 victims, mostly girls, under the rubble on 28 February, at the start of the conflict, was a tomahawk launched by the US. On the wrong target, either because of human error or because of the use of artificial intelligence tools designed to reinforce and accelerate Operation Epic Fury.

What is certain is that Minab, if the reconstruction is confirmed by the still open investigations, is the most serious, single 'mistake' to cause a massacre of civilians attributed to the Pentagon in decades. Which, with the force of tragedy, casts heavy shadows on the already debated war preparations and strategies, opening up a crisis in Washington that is also political: the conclusion belies Donald Trump. The president had until now claimed that it was the Iranians themselves who carried out the attack. Defence Secretary Pete Hasgeth had echoed him by assuring that the United States is the country taking the greatest precautions. Yesterday, Democratic opposition senators accused Hegseth of ignoring the risks to civilians and formally demanded that he immediately disclose what happened in Minab. The fear is that in the end censorship may prevail to avoid embarrassment and attention to a Pentagon shaken by purges and led by a minister who boasts of breaking 'stupid rules of engagement' to win.

Italia will participate in the coordinated release of a share of its emergency oil reserves. This is stated by Mase following the agreement reached between the member countries of the International Energy Agency (IEA) to contribute to the stabilisation of international energy markets. The amount planned for our country is 9.966 million barrels, corresponding to about 2.5% of the total barrels made available by the IEA countries in total to cope with the current oil emergency. Mase assures that "the stock situation in Italia remains in any case satisfactory even after this substantial release agreed at international level with the IEA, guaranteeing compliance with European obligations and adequate levels of security of national energy supplies". The planned release in the coming weeks represents approximately 13.5% of the country's total security stocks.

A new raid, the third since last night, has hit the international airport of Erbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan. The New York Times reported this, pointing out that a column of smoke is rising from the area. The airport was also hit last night, the US newspaper noted, as well as the base housing Italian soldiers. In the past few hours, two explosions have been heard in Erbil, while area defences intercepted drones over the city.

From Tehran comes a denial of the news that mines have been laid in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran is not undermining the Strait of Hormuz, Tehran's deputy foreign minister has claimed. In an interview with Afp, Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi was asked about the reports that Iran had laid mines in the strategic waterway, after US President Donald Trump said that US forces had struck 28 Iranian minelaying ships in the strategic waterway. "Absolutely not. This is not true," Takht-Ravanchi said.

Donald Trump is ready to suspend the Jones Act in an attempt to manage oil prices spiked by the war with Iran. This is reported by Bloomberg citing informed sources. The 1920 law requires that domestic shipping use US-built ships, American-owned and crewed by stars and stripes. It has been a pillar of US maritime policy for over a century, designed to keep domestic industry strong and ensure US security interests in shipping at sea. But its suspension could reduce the cost of transporting oil and the logistics of domestic shipping.

"The Iranian regime is launching missiles over Jerusalem, one of which struck a few hundred metres from the Old City, the Wailing Wall, the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre". The Israeli Foreign Ministry wrote this on X, posting video of the site hit by the Iranian device. "Protecting the lives and safety of the faithful comes first. That is why prayer at all holy places has been temporarily suspended," the message adds.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Bucharest, Romania, on the eve of his trip to Paris, where he will meet President Emmanuel Macron. The Ukrainian head of state will meet his counterpart, Nicusor Dan, and visit a training base for F-16 fighter pilots used by Kiev to counter the Russian invasion.

Tomorrow Macron will welcome Zelensky to the French capital, where they will discuss, among other things, "how to increase the pressure on Russia" after four years of war, "in particular by fighting its shadow fleet," the Elysée announced. The two leaders "will also discuss the conditions for a just and lasting peace and, in this regard, will review the commitments made within the framework of the Coalition of the Willing regarding security guarantees," the French presidency said.

"Since the beginning of the crisis, the Italia government has been committed, in close liaison with its European partners and actors in the region, to easing tensions and preventing any further widening of the conflict" in Iran. "The polar star of our commitment remains de-escalation. I want to reiterate this even now in this House, as the President of the Council already did yesterday: we are not at war against anyone. That of the US and Israel in Iran is an intervention in which Italia does not take part and does not intend to take part'. This was said by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani responding during Question Time at the Senate to a question from Avs on the use of US military bases on Italia territory. "We remain convinced that diplomacy, however complex, is the only path capable of producing lasting results," Tajani stressed.

"The United States is the largest oil producer in the world, so when the price of oil goes up, we make a lot of money." So says Donald Trump in response to growing concerns and pressure in the US over the rising price of petrol caused by the conflict with Iran. "But the thing of greatest interest and importance to me, as president, is stopping the Evil Empire, Iran from having the nuclear weapon and destroying the Middle East and indeed the world," he added in the message released as Iran's first message from Mojtaba Khamenei is being broadcast. "I will never allow this to happen," he then concluded.

"We promise the late Supreme Guide" Ali Khamenei "that we will follow the path and do our best to continue what has been done in the past and I call on all the different political leaders of Iran to do their best to show unity." This was said by Mojtaba Khamenei in his first speech as Iran's new Supreme Guide following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei.

Mojtaba Khamenei, in his first address to the nation after being elected Supreme Leader of Iran, issued an appeal to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed.

Turkey is talking to both Washington and Tehran in an attempt to end the ongoing war in the Middle East, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said. "We are at a time when we need negotiations and dialogue more than ever. We are talking with the Iranian side and the American side,' he added: 'This war should end as soon as possible.

Mojtaba Khamenei's first official public speech since he was appointed supreme leader will contain specific points concerning the ;;martyred leader of the revolution, the role and duties of the people, the armed forces, the executive bodies and the resistance front, as well as the countries in the region and dealing with enemies. This is written by the Guardian, which reports what the Iranian press has anticipated of the strategic message, which will be disseminated in seven chapters.

Iran's new Supreme Guide, Mojtaba Khamenei, will shortly deliver an address to the country, the first since his appointment. This was reported by Tehran state TV.

Two explosions were heard over Erbil, in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq, as air defences attacked drones over the city. This was reported by Al Jazeera. Officials said air defence systems intercepted two drones over the regional capital. Erbil is home to the Italian base hit overnight as well as several US military and diplomatic facilities.

'Absolutely, that is a NATO base and it is also American'. So said Defence Minister Guido Crosetto to Tg1 when asked whether last night's attack on the Italian military base in Erbil was deliberate.

Further reading/A drone on the Italian base in Erbil: Kurdish security forces are trained here

US intelligence indicates that the Iranian leadership is still largely intact and in no immediate danger of collapse after almost two weeks of incessant bombing by the US and Israel. This was reported exclusively by Reuters, which quotes three sources familiar with the matter on its website. A 'multitude' of intelligence reports provide 'a consistent analysis that the regime is in no danger' of collapse and 'maintains control of the Iranian people', said one of the sources who, like the other two, requested anonymity

The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is not only disrupting the transit of crude oil but also the supply of sulphur and sulphuric acid, which are essential for fertilisers, semiconductors, nickel refining and the smelting of copper (one of the most widely used metals in the world). The BBC points out that about half of the global sulphur transported by ship passes through the Strait of Hormuz. The Gulf region is one of the world's largest producers because sulphur is a by-product of a particular type of oil, known as sour crude oil. Last week, the media reports, prices in China, which absorbs much of the world's sulphur supply, rose by 15 per cent, according to commodity analysts Argus.

Two explosions were heard over Erbil, in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq, as air defences intercepted drones over the city. Al Jazeera writes this, reporting that officials said air defence systems intercepted two drones over the regional capital. Erbil is home to the Italian base hit last night and several US military and diplomatic facilities.

The US Navy is not yet ready to escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, but could be by the end of the month. "It will happen soon enough, but it can't happen now: we're simply not ready yet," US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said in an interview with Cnbc. According to Wright, US military assets are focused on other operational priorities at this stage. "All of our military assets are currently focused on destroying Iran's offensive capabilities and the industry that supports them," he said. However, the energy secretary indicated that this could change soon. "It is likely that by the end of this month the Navy will be able to escort tankers," he said, adding that the issue is at the centre of discussions with the Pentagon.""I will be at the Pentagon today: that is exactly what the military is working on."

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman accused the European Union of 'complicity' in the attacks conducted by the US and Israel against the Islamic Republic. In a post on X, Esmaeil Baghaei said that "the European Union's indifference and acquiescence in the face of the aggression, brutality and atrocities perpetrated by the United States and Israel amount to nothing less than complicity".

The Israeli army said that Hezbollah fired some 200 rockets at Israel overnight, in what it described as the Lebanese group's 'largest barrage' of raids since the start of the war. "Hezbollah planned a simultaneous attack with Iran by firing rockets and drones at towns and communities across Israel. The numbers (are) about 200 rockets, about 20 drones added to the ballistic missiles launched by Iran at the same time," military spokesman Nadav Shoshani told reporters at a briefing. "This was the largest Hezbollah bombardment" since the beginning of the war.

The Israeli army claimed to have struck a site in Iran, which it said was used by the Islamic Republic to develop nuclear weapons. "The Israeli Air Force, acting on precise intelligence information from the IDF, struck yet another site in Iran's nuclear programme," the army said, claiming that "the Taleghan complex was used by the regime to develop critical nuclear weapons development capabilities." The Taleghan complex probably refers to a facility in Parchin, southeast of Tehran, where the US think tank Institute for Science and International Security, which monitors Iran's nuclear programme, recently claimed that the Islamic Republic conducts secret military activities

- Up to 3.2 million people have been displaced in Iran since war broke out almost a fortnight ago. This was stated by UNHCR, the UN refugee agency. "According to preliminary assessments, between 600,000 and one million Iranian families are now temporarily displaced in Iran as a result of the ongoing conflict, representing up to 3.2 million people," said Ayaki Ito, head of UNHCR's emergency support team and refugee response coordinator for the Middle East emergency. "This figure is likely to continue to rise as hostilities continue."

"I warned Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun that if their government does not know how to control the territory and prevent Hezbollah from opening fire on Israel, we will take the territory and do it ourselves," Defence Minister Israel Katz said during an assessment with IDF generals. "Hezbollah launched heavy bombardment against the State of Israel yesterday. The army responded forcefully," Katz said, adding that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "instructed the Idf to prepare for an expansion of activities in Lebanon and to restore security in the north."

Australia has invited 'non-essential' diplomats to leave Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said via an X post. Officials considered essential will instead remain in Israel and the UAE to support Australian citizens in need, Wong added.

The Israeli army claimed to have struck a facility in Iran used for the development of nuclear weapons today. According to the statement released by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), the site, known as 'Taleghan', was allegedly used to develop 'essential capabilities for the development of niclear weapons'.

"The final impact of the conflict on the oil and gas markets and the economy in general will depend not only on the intensity of the military attacks and the possible damage to energy resources, but also, crucially, on the duration of the disruptions to maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz". This is written in its monthly oil market report by the IEA, which emphasises that 'adequate insurance mechanisms and physical protection of maritime traffic are crucial for the resumption of flows.

If Lebanon does not stop the raids coming from its territory, if it does not prevent Hezbollah from attacking, Israel will "conquer territory and do it alone". This was stated by Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz during an assessment of the security situation together with IDF officers. "Hezbollah launched heavy bombardments against the State of Israel yesterday. The IDF responded forcefully in Dahiyeh,'' the southern suburb of Beirut, a Hezbollah stronghold, ''and against Hezbollah targets throughout Lebanon,'' Katz said. ''I have warned the president of Lebanon that if the Lebanese government does not know how to control the territory and prevent Hezbollah from threatening communities in the north and opening fire on Israel, we will take the territory and do it ourselves,'' he said.

The powerful Speaker of Iran's parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has warned that Tehran will 'abandon all restraint' if the US and Israel attack any of its islands in the Gulf. "Any aggression against the soil of Iranian islands will break all restraint. We will abandon all restraint and make the blood of the invaders flow in the Persian Gulf,' Ghalibaf said in a post on X. It was not clear which islands he was referring to, but an Axios report quoted US officials as saying that Kharg's capture is on the table if the war in the Middle East escalates.

The war in the Middle East is causing the 'largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market', forcing Gulf oil producers to cut production. This is indicated by the International Energy Agency. In its latest monthly report, the IEA reports that crude oil production is currently down by at least 8 million barrels per day, with an additional 2 million barrels per day blocked related to petroleum products, including condensates, a volume equal to almost 10 per cent of global demand

A powerful explosion at the Iranian nuclear plant in Fordow is reported by Israeli public TV Kan, which quotes a Saudi report

"The US Marshall Islands-flagged ship Safe Sia, considered one of the US military's assets, was hit early this morning in the northern Persian Gulf after ignoring repeated warnings and alerts from the Revolutionary Guardians Navy." This was indicated by the Pasdaran in a note cited by the Islamic Republic's media.

The death toll of the airstrike conducted last night against a position of the Iraqi Popular Mobilisation Forces in the al-Anbar province in western Iraq has worsened: according to a security source told the Shafaq news agency, the raid killed 35 fighters and wounded 90 others.

The attack targeted three facilities of the 19th Brigade, also known as Ansar Allah al-Awfiya, in the al-Qaim district near the Syrian border: the medical unit, the headquarters of the second regiment, and a logistical support facility. The Brigade pointed its finger at Israel and the United States, claiming that the attack aimed at 'opening gaps for terrorist groups and bringing chaos back to the region'.

At least 19 commercial ships have been damaged so far in the war between Israel, the US and Iran. According to the Joint Maritime Information Center, a coalition overseen by the US Navy, at least 16 ships were attacked in the Persian Gulf during the night of Wednesday to Friday last week. An oil platform was also attacked off Saudi Arabia. In the night, two ships were hit by Iranian fire in a port near Basra, Iraq. Another was attacked off the coast of the United Arab Emirates.

The Israeli Air Force reports that it is carrying out a new wave of large-scale attacks in Iran, in several areas of the country simultaneously.

Israel wants to continue its military campaign against Lebanon even after the current one against Iran is over. An Israeli diplomatic source told Haaretz on condition of anonymity, pointing out that this is the message Israel is sending to its partners abroad. The goal, explained another source quoted by the newspaper, is to "disarm Hezbollah and destroy it".

Drone attacks caused damage to Kuwait's international airport, local authorities said after the facility was again targeted during Iran's attacks on the Gulf. "The civil aviation announces that Kuwait International Airport was targeted by several drones, causing only material damage," the authorities said in a note, adding that no casualties occurred.

The Russian Emergencies Ministry announced that Russia will donate 13 tonnes of medicines as humanitarian aid to Iran via Azerbaijan. "In accordance with the instructions of Russian President Vladimir Putin and under the direction of the Minister of Emergencies, Aleksandr Kurenkov, the ministry's aircraft have organised a delivery of medicines to the Republic of Azerbaijan for subsequent transfer to authorised representatives of the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran," the Emergencies Ministry's press office told Tass news agency

The Iranian army claimed to have attacked two Israeli air bases and the Shin Bet headquarters in Tel Aviv with drones. According to the Irna news agency, the raids targeted the Palmachin airbase, west of the coastal city of Yavne, and the Ovda airbase in southern Israel.

Akbar Ghaffari, Iran's Deputy Minister of Intelligence, was killed during the joint US-Israeli attacks on Tehran. This was reported by the Iranian news agency Ilna. Ghaffari had previously held the position of deputy governor for political security of the eastern Azerbaijan province. His funeral has reportedly already been held in the city of Tabriz.

The Pentagon told Congress that the first week of the war against Iran cost the US $11.3 billion. The Pentagon provided the estimate to Congress in a briefing earlier this week, according to a source close to the situation. The military reported spending $5 billion on ammunition alone during the first weekend of the war. The Trump administration had previously indicated it would send Congress a request for additional funding for the war, but the idea does not appear to have been acted upon. Senator Roger Wicker, Republican chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, made it clear that he did not expect a request for additional funds this month.

A 'small fire' broke out today on board a container ship hit by an 'unknown projectile' off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, the British Maritime and Transport Organisation (Ukmto) announced. The captain of the ship, which was struck 35 nautical miles north of Jebel Ali (south-west of Dubai), reported that 'all crew members are safe', the Ukmto said, adding that assessment of the extent of the damage was hampered by darkness.

Several explosions, including one very loud one, were heard in downtown Dubai this morning. This was reported by Afp, as Iran continues to target the Gulf in response to Israeli-American attacks on its territory. Columns of smoke rose above a residential neighbourhood in the UAE's commercial capital within minutes of the detonations.

Explosions were reported over Jerusalem after the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) detected rocket fire from Tehran. This was reported by the Israeli media. Haaretz reported that alarm sirens sounded in the Jerusalem area and the West Bank after the missile launch from Iran. The Iranian launch was intercepted and debris fell near Jerusalem. No injuries have been reported at the moment.

Explosions were reported over Jerusalem after the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) detected rocket fire from Tehran. This was reported by the Israeli media. Haaretz reported that alarm sirens sounded in the Jerusalem area and the West Bank after the missile launch from Iran. The Iranian launch was intercepted and debris fell near Jerusalem. No injuries have been reported at the moment.

The death toll of the Israeli raid on the Beirut waterfront, where many people displaced by the war had gathered, has risen to 11 dead and 30 wounded. This was reported by the Lebanese daily L'Orient-Le Jour referring to another attack in Aramoun that killed three people after hitting a residential building. The Ministry of Health in Beirut also takes stock of the new Israeli offensive in Lebanon, which since the resumption of raids has killed over 634 people, including 91 children, in the last 11 days. In addition, more than 816,000 people have been displaced.

A drone, and not a missile, allegedly crashed into the Italian military base hit yesterday in Erbil. This was reported by informed sources, according to which the drone, a Shahed, may not have been headed inside the base but may have lost altitude and crashed into a military vehicle. The Italian contingent was unharmed and currently remains in the bunker.

- Continued Iranian attacks have triggered a series of fires in the Gulf region. The BBC reports. In addition to the two oil tankers set ablaze after an attack near the southern Iraqi port of Basra, a major fire broke out in Bahrain after Iran targeted oil and fuel tanks near the international airport. The smoke, writes Bbc, is so thick that authorities are urging people to keep their windows closed. In Oman, firefighting teams are still working to contain a fire in fuel tanks after yesterday's attack on the port of Salalah. Oman has now ordered the evacuation of ships at its oil export terminal as a precautionary measure.

Saudi Arabia intercepted a drone heading towards the Shaybah oil field. This was announced by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Defence, explaining that it was the third drone heading towards Shaybah and that it was intercepted within 24 hours.

"The base at Camp Singara was on high alert for the ongoing crisis situation and, at around 8.30am local time, the coalition alert for an air threat was activated. And all of us, following procedures already tried and tested among all personnel, made our way safely to our assigned bunkers. And just before one o'clock, there was an air threat: the type of threat is still being ascertained, whether it was a drone or a missile, and it hit the Italian base and caused some damage to the base's infrastructure and materials. The personnel are OK, they were protected inside the bunkers, everyone is fine'. This was said in connection with Sky Tg24 by the commander of the Italian national contingent in Erbil, in Iraqi Kurdistan, Colonel Stefano Pizzotti. "Since 8.30 last night we have been in the bunkers because there continues to be a threat: it has not been possible either to assess on the spot the damage to the infrastructure, therefore quantifying what has happened, or to know where this threat is coming from". The work of the personnel, Pizzotti recalls, is 'mainly training for the local Kurdish troops. Based on a specific request from the Iraqi government'. "Since the incident, I have been in constant contact with both Defence Minister Guido Crosetto and with the Chief of Defence Staff, General Luciano Portolano, who assisted in all phases of the, of this night's attack. And at the moment it's over, the air threat alert is over, but the coalition bomb squad is on site checking, securing the area before they can enter. However, staff morale is high, we wanted to reassure the families,' Pizzotti concludes, emphasising that 'we are prepared and trained for these situations'.

- Iraqi oil ports have completely shut down operations following Iranian attacks on two oil tankers in its waters. Cnn writes. Operations at Iraqi oil terminals have been completely suspended, but commercial ports remain operational, Farhan al-Fartousi, general director of the Iraqi Ports Company, told the Iraqi News Agency. One crew member was killed and 38 were rescued from the tankers that were left on fire in the Persian Gulf after being hit by what is believed to be an Iranian water drone. Since yesterday, CNN explains, there have been six attacks on ships in the Persian Gulf, with the Strait of Hormuz increasingly a focal point of the war with Iran. The Iraqi oil marketing company Somo said the incident 'has a negative impact on Iraq's security and economy'.

Donald Trump kept repeating that the Strait of Hormuz is safe. "It's in very good shape, we destroyed all the ships," the US president said, speaking to reporters in Washington on his way back from Kentucky.

- "A missile hit our base in Erbil, I don't know yet with what outcome. There are no victims among Italy's personnel'. This is the message that Defence Minister Guido Crosetto sent to Angelo Bonelli. The leader of Avs, host of Realpolitik on Rete4, read it on TV. Contacted by Adnkronos, the minister confirmed that he had spoken 'personally' with Colonel Stefano Pizzotti, the base commander. 'Everyone is fine,' Crosetto assures. The Defence Chief of Staff, General Luciano Portolano, has also been in contact with the base.

Iran will allow Indian-flagged oil tankers to cross the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for world oil trade, an Indian source said on Thursday.

The escalating war with Iran, which has disrupted global travel, is hitting Asia-Europe routes hard, causing fares to skyrocket and forcing travellers to pay record amounts ahead of the Easter rush.

A series of more than 46,000 flight cancellations has been triggered across the region since the conflict began on 28 February, according to data from Cirium Ltd. The crisis cancelled up to 10 per cent of global air capacity earlier this month, in the biggest air shock since the Covid-19 pandemic.

The price of North Sea Brent crude, the global benchmark for oil, rose above $100 a barrel, despite the sale of large stocks to avert a global shortage. Around 03:00 GMT, the price of Brent crude rose 9.3% to $100.50 a barrel, while WTI, the US benchmark, reached $94.92, up 8.8%, Afp reported. The intervention taken by the major powers in the market appears to have failed to reassure investors about supplies, interrupted by the war in the Middle East. "The countries of the International Energy Agency will make 400 million barrels of oil available to the market to compensate for the loss of supply due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf," announced Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the OECD energy agency. This decision was taken unanimously on Wednesday by the institution, whose members include 32 countries, including the G7 (US, France, Germany, UK, Italia, Japan and Canada), as well as Australia and Mexico. The US, a major consumer and producer of crude oil, will contribute 172 million barrels, or 40 per cent of its reserves. US barrels will gradually come on the market over about three months.