The US military said late Saturday it downed two Iranian attack drones threatening Strait of Hormuz shipping traffic in the latest clash between the warring forces in the Middle East. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.
Greece arrests Palestinian suspected of Hamas links: police
Greece has arrested a Palestinian man suspected of links to the Islamist movement Hamas for “planning terrorist acts”, police said late Saturday.
37-year-old was arrested Saturday on the island of Crete where he was working in a hotel, media reports said.
“According to the information available so far, he was linked to individuals recently arrested in Cyprus for terrorism-related offences,” the police said in a statement, adding that he had allegedly “received training” by Hamas.
Greek media reported that the man may have been targeting an Israeli cruise ship expected to arrive in Crete on Tuesday.
State TV ERT said man had rented a flat in central Athens where police found laboratory equipment and chemicals that could be used to make a bomb.
Investigations are ongoing, the police said.
Israeli military says it intercepted two projectiles that crossed from Lebanon
The Israeli military said it intercepted two projectiles that crossed into Israeli territory from Lebanon on Sunday.
“Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in the areas of Yiftah and Ramot Naftali, two projectiles that crossed from Lebanon into Israeli territory were intercepted,” the military reported.
Israel and Lebanon agreed to a new US-brokered ceasefire on Wednesday. However, Hezbollah has rejected the agreement.
Iran World Cup team expected in Mexico as US visa row rages
Iran’s World Cup squad is expected to arrive in Mexico early Sunday under the shadow of a bitter diplomatic row between Tehran and Washington, after the United States refused to issue visas for some team support staff.
The Iran team departed Turkey, where they had been training, on Saturday bound for Mexico, Iranian television announced.
They are expected to arrive early Sunday in Tijuana, a border city in northwest Mexico where they will be based for the tournament’s duration.
On the eve of their departure for Mexico Iranian officials said that 15 administrative and management staff had been denied visas.
Adding to the tensions, Iran’s ambassador to Mexico said Saturday the squad had been notified that under their visa conditions, the team must enter and leave US soil on the same day as their matches.
Iran are due to play their three group games on US soil, making the first World Cup to see a host nation receive the team of a country it is at war with.
As OPEC+ meets, Iran war hobbles power to shape oil market
OPEC+ ministers meet Sunday to weigh higher production quotas in a bid to cap oil prices that have surged since the Iran war effectively choked off Gulf crude shipments.
But even if the 21 member states vow to ramp up output by thousands of barrels per day, analysts say geopolitical realities mean they probably won’t move the needle on prices.
With the crucial Strait of Hormuz shut since US and Israeli attacks on Iran in late February, oil prices have nearly doubled, igniting inflation pressures worldwide.
And with key Gulf producers still shut out of the global market, pledges to raise output in a bid to ease spiralling prices are unlikely to sway traders.
US says it destroyed two Iran drones targeting Hormuz shipping
The US military said late Saturday it shot down two Iranian attack drones threatening Strait of Hormuz shipping traffic, the latest clash between the warring forces as tensions escalate anew in the Middle East.
“Earlier today, US forces in the Middle East shot down two Iranian one-way attack drones that threatened international maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz,” US Central Command said on its X account.
“American forces remain postured and ready to continue defending against Iranian aggression.”
Welcome to the FRANCE 24 liveblog covering events in the Middle East. Click here to catch up on what happened yesterday.
Iran fired seven ballistic missiles toward Kuwait and Bahrain hours after US forces shot down four Iranian one-way attack drones that were launched toward the Strait of Hormuz, the US military said.
Several Lebanese soldiers, including an officer, were killed in an Israeli strike targeting their military vehicle on the Khardali-Nabatieh road in south Lebanon, the Lebanese army said. The Israeli army announced the deaths of two soldiers who had been fighting in southern Lebanon.
The UN food agency said millions of people are being pushed into acute hunger by the Iran war, as it warned would happen if the conflict escalated and oil prices remained high.
