Iran-US battle newest: Oil costs soar once more after two Iraqi tankers struck in suspected Iranian assault
Oil prices have surged past $100 a barrel again after more fuel tankers were struck by explosive-laden boats in a suspected Iranian attack this morning.
Two tankers were ablaze in Iraqi waters on Thursday after what appeared to be Iranian strikes, as Iran warned the world should be ready for oil to hit $200 a barrel.
An Iraqi official told state media that its oil ports “have completely stopped operations.” Other countries have moved vessels out of the area as a precaution.
Three crew members are still believed to be trapped on a Thai-flagged bulk carrier hit in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday.
As oil markets felt the impact of the war on global trade, Donald Trump insisted that the US had won the war but didn’t want to have to go back every two years.
“We don’t want to leave early do we?” he said on Wednesday. “We got to finish the job.”
Trump also claimed to have knocked out 28 Iranian mine-laying ships in the strait.
In pictures: Dubai high-rise attacked amid US-Israeli war on Iran
Citibank closes UAE branches till 14 March as precautionary measure
Citibank has closed all of its banks and financial centres in the United Arab Emirates from 12 March to 14 March as a precautionary measure, according to the corporation’s website on Thursday.
The US bank will reopen on 16 March while a branch located within the Mall of the Emirates in central Dubai will remain open during this period.
Earlier this week, staff were asked to evacuate their offices in Dubai and ordered to work from home.
It comes as fighting has intensified in the Gulf, causing the price of oil to skyrocket and causing fatalities across the region.
Israel braced for another salvo of Iranian missiles
Israel braced for a fresh round of Iranian missile strikes on Thursday morning, according to the IDF.
The military said that defence systems were working to intercept the threat, and urged the public to shelter before giving the all clear.
An IDF spokesperson said: “After assessing the situation, the Home Front Command issued instructions that it is possible to leave the protected area.
“You must continue to follow the Home Front Command’s instructions.”
White House posts another bizarre AI video using strike footage
The White House’s social media channels shared another bizarre video mixing footage from the Iran war with an AI-generated segment of a bowling ‘strike’ animation.
The Trump administration has faced criticism in recent days over the decision to publish content mixing actual war footage with clips from video games and films, and unlicensed music.
Massive fires on two oil tankers after attack in Iraqi waters
Seven killed in Israeli strike on central Beirut seafront, Lebanon says
At least seven people have been killed and 21 wounded in an Israeli strike on central Beirut’s seafront, Lebanon’s health ministry said today, in the third attack on the heart of the capital since the war began.
“The Israeli enemy strike on Ramlet al-Bayda in Beirut led to an initial toll of seven dead and 21 wounded,” the ministry said. Local media showed smoke rising along the seaside road after the strike, which state media said targeted a car. Some displaced people had been sleeping in tents in the Ramlet al-Bayda area.
The Israeli military said separately it had carried out overnight strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs, hitting 10 Hezbollah targets and “dozens of launchers” as well as intelligence and command sites. Hezbollah said it had fired missiles at an Israeli military intelligence base in the suburbs of Tel Aviv.
Israel’s offensive in Lebanon has killed more than 630 people and displaced more than 800,000, according to Lebanese authorities. Late night yesterday, French president Emmanuel Macron called on Israel to halt its ground offensive and on Hezbollah to “immediately” stop attacks.
‘Unprecedented’ crisis in Middle East could ‘spin out of control’ warns WHO
Missile strikes Italian military base in Iraqi Kurdistan
A missile struck an Italian military base in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan overnight, the Italian defence ministry has said, adding that all personnel were safe.
“A missile hit our base in Erbil. There are no casualties or injuries among the Italian personnel. They are all fine,” the ministry said. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said troops had taken shelter in a bunker and were “well and safe.”
Italy has around 300 troops stationed in Erbil, working to train Kurdish security forces. Defence minister Guido Crosetto has been in contact with senior military commanders over the incident.
Saudi Arabia intercepts third drone targeting Shaybah oilfield in one day
Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry said it had intercepted a drone heading toward the Shaybah oilfield – the third such incident reported in a single day, as Iran ramps up its attacks on the region’s energy infrastructure.
Russia and US discuss global energy crisis
Russia’s presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev said just said he had discussed the global energy crisis with US counterparts at a meeting of the US-Russia economic working group in Florida, Reuters reported.
Nearly 20 million barrels per day, roughly a fifth of global output, have been trapped inside the Gulf since the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz following the launch of the US-Israeli war on Iran on 28 February.
Mr Dmitriev said the talks covered “the current crisis situation in global energy markets” as well as projects to restore Russian-American relations, adding that “many countries, primarily the United States, are beginning to better understand the key, systemic role of Russian oil and gas in ensuring the stability of the global economy.”
Russia is one of the biggest oil and gas suppliers but the US has sanctioned its oil after the Ukraine war.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff said the teams discussed a “variety of topics” and agreed to stay in touch. Jared Kushner and White House adviser Josh Gruenbaum also attended.
Source: independent.co.uk
