Category: Uncategorized

  • Iran launches drones at Saudi Arabia and Kuwait as US president sends mixed messages

    Iran launches drones at Saudi Arabia and Kuwait as US president sends mixed messages


    Iranian fired drones towards Saudi Arabia and Kuwait early Tuesday as U.S. President Donald Trump sent contradictory signals about how long the war could last, fueling uncertainty that’s causing markets to swing.

    The Saudi Defense Ministry said it has destroyed drones over the kingdom’s oil-rich eastern region, while in Kuwait, the National Guard said it shot some down in the county’s northern and southern areas.

    Iran’s latest attacks on neighboring Gulf States come as Trump late Monday told Republican lawmakers that the war was likely to be a “short excursion,” but hours later threatened in a post on social media that the U.S. would dramatically increase attacks if Iran tried to close the Strait of Hormuz.

    In an apparent response to Trump’s remarks published in Iranian state media, a spokesperson for the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, Ali Mohammad Naini, said “Iran will determine when the war ends.”

    Here is the latest:

    United Arab Emirates lowers volume on missile alerts at night

    The United Arab Emirates will lower the volume of missile alerts sent to mobile phones in the overnight hours.

    The UAE’s National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority made the announcement late Monday night, saying that the loud blaring alarm would sound on phones from 9 a.m. until 10:30 p.m.

    A standard text message chime would sound from 10:30 p.m. until 9 a.m., it said.

    The blaring klaxon had sounded in the middle of the night since the war began Feb. 28. The change in the alerts signals how Gulf Arab states are trying to adjust to the idea of the war grinding onward as there’s no immediate sign of an end to the conflict.

    Egypt hikes fuel prices as oil prices soar

    Egypt hiked fuel prices by up to 17% on Tuesday as the war in the Middle East sent prices of oil soaring.

    According to the Petroleum Ministry the cost of a liter of diesel, which is heavily relied on for public transport, increased by more than 17%. The price of the 92-octane gasoline rose by 15% and 95-octane gasoline increased by 14%.

    The war has hit Egypt hard. The most populous Arab country, Egypt depends heavily on imported fuel. The Egyptian pound fell to a record low, trading at over 52 to the US dollar on Monday.

    To mitigate impact of the war, the government announced a series of measures, including reducing official overseas trips and tightening fuel consumption across sectors.

    Iran’s Revolutionary Guard say they will determine the end of the war

    The paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said on Tuesday that the end of the war will be determined by Iran.

    Spokesperson Ali Mohammad Naini said in a statement published in various Iranian state media and apparently in response to Trump’s remarks Monday that “Iran will determine when the war ends.”

    Trump vows to hit Iran back harder if it stops oil tankers

    The U.S. president pledged aggressive action against Iran if it continues to block the shipment of oil in the Strait of Hormuz.

    “If Iran does anything that stops the flow of Oil within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States of America TWENTY TIMES HARDER than they have been hit thus far,” Trump posted on social media. “Additionally, we will take out easily destroyable targets that will make it virtually impossible for Iran to ever be built back, as a Nation, again — Death, Fire, and Fury will reign upon them — But I hope, and pray, that it does not happen!”

    The president said his threat was a “gift” to China, among other nations, because it relies on oil from the Middle East.



    Source link

  • South Korea President says he cannot stop US forces from redeploying weapons to Middle East

    South Korea President says he cannot stop US forces from redeploying weapons to Middle East


    SEOUL, March 10 (Reuters) – South Korea cannot stop U.S. forces in Korea from redeploying some weapons, President Lee Jae Myung ‌said on Tuesday, after reports that some U.S. Patriot ‌missile defence systems were being sent to the conflict in the Middle East.

    “It appears ​that there is controversy recently over U.S. Forces in Korea shipping some weapons, such as artillery batteries and air-defence weapons, out of the country,” Lee said in a cabinet meeting, noting while Seoul had expressed opposition ‌it was not in ⁠a position to make demands.

    Lee also said the removal of some U.S. weapons from the country “does not hinder ⁠deterrence strategy towards North Korea,” noting South Korea’s defence spending and conventional capabilities far exceeded the equivalent in North Korea.

    South Korean Foreign Minister ​Cho Hyun ​said on Friday the U.S. and ​South Korean militaries were discussing ‌the possible redeployment of some U.S. Patriot missile defence systems based in South Korea to be used in the conflict in the Middle East.

    Local media reported the batteries were shipped out of Osan Air Base and were likely to be redeployed to U.S. military bases ‌in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab ​Emirates, though South Korean authorities have ​not confirmed these reports.

    U.S. and ​Israeli forces have been striking strategic targets inside ‌Iran for more than a week ​under a campaign ​that Trump said was aimed at crippling Iran’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile capabilities.

    South Korea hosts a major U.S. military presence ​in combined defence against ‌nuclear-armed North Korea, with about 28,500 troops and surface-to-air defence ​systems, including the Patriot missile interceptors.

    (Reporting by Heejin Kim ​and Kyu-seok ShimEditing by Ed Davies)



    Source link

  • Taiwan says US has not approached it about weapons transfers to Middle East

    Taiwan says US has not approached it about weapons transfers to Middle East


    TAIPEI, March 10 (Reuters) – The United States has not approached Taiwan about transfers of weapons to ‌the Middle East, Defence Minister Wellington Koo said ‌on Tuesday, after South Korea said it was in talks about ​the possible redeployment of some U.S. Patriot missile systems.

    South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said on Friday the U.S. and South Korean militaries are discussing the possible redeployment ‌of some U.S. Patriot ⁠missile defence systems based in South Korea to be used in the war against ⁠Iran.

    * Koo, speaking to reporters at parliament, said if any oftheir U.S.-made weapons were to be redeployed, that would ​onlyhappen ​if the U.S. side made ​a request. * Were that ‌to happen, the U.S. would be responsible fortransporting them, he added. * “But so far, because of the U.S.–Iran war, they have notapproached us about making use of any of our related equipment,”Koo said. * The United States is ‌Taiwan’s main arms supplier andTaiwan has ​Patriot missiles in its arsenal. * ​Democratically governed Taiwan ​is facing increasedmilitary pressure from China, which ‌views the island as its ​ownterritory. Taiwan’s government ​rejects Beijing’s sovereigntyclaims. * Media reports citing South Korean government sources saidthe Patriot systems were being readied for ​redeployment in ‌theMiddle East, with heavy U.S. military transport planes havingflown ​into Osan to move them.

    (Reporting by Ben ​Blanchard; Editing by Kevin Buckland)



    Source link