Iran threatens to attack oil infrastructure after US attack on Kharg Island
The Iranian military has said that any attacks on Iran’s oil and energy infrastructure will lead to attacks on energy infrastructure owned by oil companies cooperating with the United States in the
region, Iranian media reported.
The warning came after President Donald Trump said the United States destroyed military targets in Iran’s main oil hub, Kharg Island. The island serves as an export terminal for 90% of Iran’s oil shipments.
Washington orders some US diplomatic staff to leave Oman
The United States on Friday told its non-emergency government employees in Oman and their families to leave the Gulf country as war rages in the Middle East.
The State Department updated its advisory to warn Americans about “security risks,” noting that “there has been an ongoing threat of drone and missile attacks from Iran and significant disruptions to commercial flights.”
Two people were killed by a drone in northern Oman, state media reported Friday, as Iran continues its retaliatory strikes against neighboring countries.
One dead when a missile hits a house in Baghdad, according to security sources
A missile hit a house used by the powerful Iran-backed Kataeb Hezbollah group in Iraq’s capital Baghdad on Saturday, killing one person and wounding two others, a security source told AFP.
“At 02:15 (11:15 GMT on Friday), a missile hit a house that was being used by Kataeb Hezbollah,” the security source said, adding that “a key figure was martyred” and two members of the group were wounded.
AFP journalists heard loud bangs in the capital followed by ambulance sirens, and witnesses reported seeing smoke billowing from an area of the city centre.
The United States says oil from its strategic reserve will begin reaching the market next week
The U.S. Department of Energy has said it expects early deliveries of oil from the strategic petroleum reserve to begin reaching the market late next week amid the war with Iran.
Trump says US bombed Iran’s Kharg Island, threatens oil infrastructure
President Donald Trump has said the U.S. military had heavily bombed military targets on Iran’s Kharg Island, which handles nearly all of Iran’s crude oil exports, and threatened to attack the island’s oil infrastructure.
“US Central Command executed one of the most powerful bombing raids in Middle East history and completely destroyed all MILITARY targets on Iran’s crown jewel, Kharg Island,” Trump said on social media.
“I have chosen NOT to wipe out the island’s oil infrastructure. However, if Iran, or anyone else, were to do anything to interfere with the free and safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will reconsider immediately.
Explosions heard in central Doha
According to AFP journalists, explosions were heard in Doha early on Saturday after Qatar’s Interior Ministry said it was evacuating some key areas.
The interceptors were seen over the center of the Qatari capital launching two projectiles, an AFP journalist said, as Iran intensifies its retaliatory air campaign against the Gulf States.
The Gulf state’s Defense Ministry said its military had “intercepted a missile attack aimed at the State of Qatar.”
Israeli attack on south Lebanon health center kills 12 medical staff, Health Ministry says
An Israeli attack on a primary health care center in southern Lebanon killed at least 12 medical staff, the Lebanese Health Ministry said as the war between Israel and Hezbollah continues.
In a statement, the ministry said it “regrets the death of Burj Qalawiya health workers who were killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting the city’s primary health care center,” adding that “12 doctors, paramedics and nurses on duty at the center were killed, and one health worker was injured” while rescue operations were still ongoing.
The ministry said the attack was “the second against the health sector in a few hours”, following an attack in Sawaneh that killed two paramedics affiliated with Hezbollah and its ally Amal.
Qatar Interior Ministry says ‘several key areas’ will be evacuated
Qatar’s Interior Ministry said on Saturday it was evacuating several areas as Iran presses its retaliatory air campaign against Gulf countries.
The ministry said in a statement that it was “evacuating several key areas as a temporary precautionary measure, as part of ensuring public safety until the danger has passed.”
In Doha’s central Musheireb district, some residents received phone alerts telling them to “evacuate the area immediately… to the nearest safe location as a temporary precautionary measure.”
Iran launches new round of missiles at Israel, state media report
Iran launched a new round of missiles toward Israel, state media reported shortly after midnight Saturday in Tehran, but Israeli rescuers said no casualties were reported.
Israel’s military said it had identified missiles from Iran and “was operating to intercept the threat,” as air raid sirens in multiple areas sent people to shelters.
Less than 30 minutes after the release alert, the army’s Home Front Command issued an advisory allowing people to leave their shelters.
Magen David Adom emergency services said there were “no known casualties” after the missile launch.
Police said they were verifying reports that weapon fragments had hit an area in southern Israel.
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