US CENTCOM denies targeting civilians after Iranian wedding strike reports
US Central Command has denied targeting civilians after Iranian media reported at least four people were killed in a US strike on a wedding in Sirik, southern Iran.
"The US military never targets civilians, unlike the Revolutionary Guards," CENTCOM told Reuters on Wednesday.
Iraq boosts oil exports in August as low prices draw buyers
Iraq boosted its oil exports in August, with September shipments also set to climb, as wide profits and Iranian approval for its tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz have encouraged buyers, according
to industry sources and shipping data.
The recovery in exports for OPEC's second-largest producer, which had been severely curtailed by the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz since the US and Israel started the Iran war on February 28, improves the supply of heavy high-sulphur crude to major importers China and India.
Iraq's oil exports rose to around 2.34 million barrels per day in August from about 1.35 million bpd in July, two Iraqi energy officials said on Wednesday.
Provisional data from shiptracking firms Vortexa and Kpler pegged Iraqi crude exports in August at 2.3 million and 2.17 million bpd, respectively, up from July's level but below February's pre-war level of 3.7 million and 3.362 million bpd.
"Iraq has been giving heavy discounts... which has incentivised buyers to find shipping options to get the cargoes out," Sparta Commodities' senior analyst June Goh said.
Also, Tehran granted permission for a number of Iraqi oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's state news agency IRNA reported last week.
While it is unclear whether the permission applies to all Iraqi cargoes, Iraq is the only Gulf producer that has explicitly received a permit, Sparta's Goh said.
Israeli strike on southern Lebanon kills one
An Israeli strike on south Lebanon killed one person, Lebanese official media said, while Israel said it targeted Hezbollah in retaliation for an attack targeting its soldiers in the south.
"One person was killed and another wounded in a strike launched by an enemy drone" in the city of Nabatieh, Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) said, also reporting other Israeli strikes on the area.
Israel's army said the Iran-backed Hezbollah group overnight "launched two explosive drones" towards Israeli soldiers in Ali al-Taher Ridge area, reporting no troop casualties.
In response, the Israeli military said it struck Hezbollah infrastructure in the Nabatieh area.
Israel has recently increased its attacks on south Lebanon, particularly in the Nabatieh area where the strategic Ali al-Taher ridge is located.
Lebanon's health ministry says Israeli attacks have killed at least 8,920 people since hostilities initially erupted in October 2023, after Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel in support of its Palestinian ally Hamas over the Gaza conflict.
Iran security chief says US to face new war strategy from Tehran after strikes
Iran's security chief warned the United States would face a "new strategy" from Tehran in the Middle East war after the heaviest exchange of attacks between the foes in weeks.
"You will soon see that Iran's new strategy on the battlefield, in diplomacy and in confronting the economic blockade will shatter your foundations," Iran's Supreme National Security Council secretary Mohsen Rezaei posted on X.
Iran foreign ministry calls US strike on wedding a 'war crime'
Iran's foreign ministry spokesman on Wednesday labelled a deadly attack on a wedding ceremony in the south of the country a "war crime".
"The truth of this unlawful war of choice – and the true face of the war crime – is in Sirik, where a wedding ceremony was brutally bombed as part of America's desperate struggle to conceal its failure," foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei posted on X.
What we know about the alleged US strike on a wedding in Iran
US forces launched fresh attacks on Iran Tuesday, including one that the Iranian Red Crescent said killed four people dead at a wedding celebration.
the broadcaster's correspondent in Tehran Reza Sayeh has the latest.
Israel says it's prepared to 'respond with great force' if Iran attacks
Israel's defence minister said his country was prepared to respond "with great force" if attacked by Iran, after Iranian forces launched retaliatory strikes at US military positions across the region.
Israel Katz said Israeli forces were prepared for a possible attack from Iran over the Jewish high holiday season, which begins in mid-September.
"For now, they are striking throughout the region except us," he told a conference hosted by Israeli news site Ynet and newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth.
"But there is a possibility that they will attack us. We are prepared for that defensively," he added.
If Iran attacks, Israel would "respond with great force, independently of anyone else", Katz said, adding that "our planes are ready to take off".
Iran strikes back against latest US attacks, vowing ‘severe’ consequences
Iran struck US interests around the Middle East on Wednesday, vowing "severe" consequences for renewed American attacks on the Islamic republic, including a US strike it said killed five and wounded dozens of civilians at a wedding. the broadcaster reports.
Two oil tankers disabled after hitting mines, Iran's Revolutionary Guards say
Two oil tankers hit sea mines and were disabled while trying to cross the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's Revolutionary Guards said in a statement shared by state media.
The statement alleged the tankers had been forced to disembark their crews and were placed in the hands of US operatives to pass through what it called an "illegal route" in the strategic waterway, despite earlier warnings from the Revolutionary Guards' navy about the dangers of crossing the mined passage.
Saudi shipping company Bahri says two sailors killed in incident in Strait of Hormuz
Saudi Arabia's national shipping company, Bahri, said that two Filipino seafarers were killed in a security incident involving its vessel "SIDR" while it was transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Monday.
US attack on Iranian Gulf island killed three paramilitary personnel, Revolutionary Guards say
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said that three members of the paramilitary Basij force were killed in attacks overnight on an island in the Gulf.
"Three Basij fighters... were martyred in last night's attack by the criminal US on Lavan Island" in the Gulf, a local IRGC commander was quoted by the Mehr news agency as saying.
Iran's top negotiator calls US 'Satan' after deadly attack on wedding
Iran's top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on called the United States "Satan" after an attack on a wedding ceremony in the country's south.
"Minab school: children massacred. Lamerd sports hall: kids slaughtered. Kouhestak wedding: children killed with families. If a power acts like Satan, picks targets like Satan, and kills like Satan, it's Satan. Shields a junior Satan that does the same? It's THE Great Satan," said Ghalibaf in a post on X.
Iran Revolutionary Guards say four personnel killed in US attacks in western province
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said that a US attack on the western province of Kermanshah killed four of their personnel.
"Four fighters of the IRGC Aerospace Force in Kermanshah province were martyred in an attack by the US regime," the Guards said in a statement carried by Fars news agency, using their acronym.
Pakistan says it remains engaged with US and Iran on talks to end conflict
Pakistan is engaged with the US and Iran on talks to end their conflict and is positive that the countries "will return to the table for dialogue", foreign ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said at a regular media briefing.
Pakistan's Chief of Defence Forces Asim Munir's visit to Tehran last month created "considerable momentum" on the issue of the Strait of Hormuz, he said.
France calls for EU mission to support Palestinian elections
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot called for the European Union to deploy a mission to support Palestinian elections.
Kuwait says it extinguished a fire after an Iranian drone targeted a 'residential complex'
Kuwait on Wednesday said an Iranian drone attack caused a fire in a residential complex in the capital but there were no casualties and it was brought under control.
"A fire that broke out in a residential complex in the Capital Governorate has been brought under control. The complex had been targeted by a hostile drone launched as part of the nefarious Iranian aggression," Kuwait's official KUNA news agency said quoting a fire department spokesman, adding there were no casualties.
USS Abraham Lincoln arrives in Thailand after reports of worsening conditions on board
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards say they attacked US assets in Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan and Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan
Bahrain says air defences intercepted and destroyed several Iranian aerial attacks
Yesterday's key developments:
- The US launched fresh air strikes on Iran, including one that the Iranian Red Crescent said left four people dead at a wedding celebration.
- Israeli air strikes in Gaza killed at least four people during what the Israeli military said was an operation to seize a Hamas official.
- The US military attacked two Iranian government tankers, Axios reported.
(the broadcaster with AFP, AP and Reuters)
