US embassies urge citizens to 'consider departing' Middle East
US embassies in several Middle Eastern capitals warned American citizens to beware an "unforeseen escalation" in the regional conflict and urged them to be ready to leave.
"Americans in the region should consider departing, or be prepared to depart should there be escalation," said a security alert, versions of which were posted on social media by the US missions in Amman, Jerusalem and Baghdad.
Israeli soldier injured in 'close-quarters encounter' with Hezbollah in Lebanon: army
The Israeli military said one of its soldiers was moderately injured during a "close-quarters encounter" with Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon overnight on Saturday, despite a ceasefire.
"Overnight (Saturday), an IDF officer was moderately injured during operational activity in southern Lebanon," the military said in a statement, specifying to AFP that the soldier was "injured during a close-quarters encounter with terrorists" in the area.
Trump presses Israel to accept deal with Hamas
US President Donald Trump announced late Thursday that Hamas had agreed to disarm, a key next step in the US-brokered peace plan for the enclave that has been hailed as a potential breakthrough in Gaza. But while Trump says Israel is “very happy” with the agreement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to publicly endorse it.
Welcome to our liveblog covering ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Kuwait says it destroyed hostile drones, Iranian attack targeted vital facilities
Kuwait's army said on Saturday it had detected and destroyed hostile drones in the country's airspacen since dawn, and that what it described as an Iranian attack had targeted several vital facilities.
A government facility in northern Kuwait and civilian property belonging to a company on Bubiyan Island were hit, it said, adding that falling shrapnel caused material damage but no casualties.
Iran military accuses US of 'escalating tensions' in region
Iran's military accused the United States of "escalating tensions" in the Middle East on Saturday and warned countries in the region against cooperating with Washington during the ongoing conflict.
"The United States is rapidly moving down the path of escalating tensions in the region," said Ali Abdollahi, head of Iran's military central command. "Any country serving as defensive shield for criminal and aggressive America will be engulfed by the flames of war."
EU naval force says Italian frigate escorts merchant vessel safely through Red Sea
A merchant vessel safely passed through the Red Sea under the protection of the Italian frigate Bergamini, the European Union naval mission ASPIDES said on Saturday.
ASPIDES, the EU's defensive maritime security operation in the Red Sea, did not identify the vessel or disclose its flag, ownership or cargo details.
Shipping in the Red Sea has faced renewed disruption in recent weeks after Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis declared a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia and subsequently attacked Saudi vessels, raising risks for commercial traffic and contributing to higher oil prices.
UKMTO reports two tanker incidents off Oman
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Saturday it had received reports of two maritime incidents off Oman, including one in which a tanker was struck by an unknown projectile.
In the first incident, a tanker was struck by an unknown projectile about 11 nautical miles northeast of Oman's Lima, damaging its engine room and leaving the vessel not under command, UKMTO said. There were no reported casualties nor environmental impact, it added.
Later, UKMTO said it had received a second report of an incident, 21 nautical miles northeast of Oman's Khasab. The master of a tanker reported seeing a large splash and an explosion in close proximity to the vessel, though no damage was reported.
Lima and Khasab are on Oman's Musandam Peninsula at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic shipping chokepoint through which about a fifth of global oil consumption passes.
Yemen's Houthis deny plans to impose fees on ships sailing through Red Sea
Yemen's Houthi-run maritime coordination body denied on Saturday reports that it planned to impose fees on commercial ships transiting the Bab el-Mandeb strait, saying no such decision had been taken and that passage through the strategic waterway remained free.
The statement follows a Reuters report on Wednesday, citing regional sources, that the Iran-aligned Houthis were considering imposing fees on commercial ships sailing through the southern Red Sea, after declaring a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia the previous week.
Yesterday's key developments:
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President Donald Trump threatened to hit Iran "very hard" as US media reported he was considering renewed heavy attacks as soon as this weekend, including against energy infrastructure targets.
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Hamas said it had agreed to a deal that includes handing over its weapons to a Palestinian governing committee and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.
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Lebanon's president said Israeli blasts near the UNESCO-listed Beaufort castle were a "direct threat" to the recent deal.
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Iran's Revolutionary Guards struck two tankers attempting to cross Hormuz Strait under US "air escort".
(the broadcaster with AFP, AP and Reuters)
