Here are the latest events related to the war in the Middle East, entering its second month on Sunday:
Iran threatens to target the USS Abraham Lincoln
The chief of the Iranian navy, Shahram Irani, asserted on Sunday that the American aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln would be targeted if it came within range.
“As soon as the USS Abraham Lincoln battle group is within range, we will avenge the blood of the martyrs of the Dena ship by launching various types of sea-to-sea missiles,” he threatened, as quoted by state television, referring to the Iranian frigate sunk by the United States on March 4.
Two ships cross the Strait of Hormuz to India
Two Indian-flagged ships carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) crossed the Strait of Hormuz, the Indian Ministry of Shipping announced on Sunday.
Two LPG carriers, the BW TYR and the BW ELM, with a combined cargo of approximately 94,000 tonnes, are en route to the Indian coast, the ministry stated in a release, as Iran has nearly halted maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.
Pakistani ships also authorized to transit the strait
Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced late Saturday that Iran had authorized an additional 20 Pakistani-flagged ships – two ships per day – to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
Quadripartite meeting in Islamabad on the war
The foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey are gathering Sunday afternoon in Islamabad for discussions on the war in the Middle East, where Pakistan plays a role as an intermediary between the United States and Iran.
This diplomatic meeting of these Muslim nations is expected to address “efforts to defuse tensions in the region,” stated the Pakistani foreign minister.
Attack on Bank of America in Paris: two new arrests
Two new individuals were arrested overnight from Saturday to Sunday in connection with the investigation into the thwarted attack on the Paris headquarters of Bank of America, announced the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (Pnat), responding to AFP.
The custody of the minor arrested on Saturday “has also been extended,” clarified the Pnat. In total, three people are in custody in connection with this case, which the French Minister of the Interior, Laurent Nuñez, said is linked to the war in the Middle East.
Tehran says Washington is preparing a ground attack
The President of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, accused the United States on Sunday of planning a ground offensive while publicly engaging in diplomatic efforts to end the war.
“The enemy is publicly sending negotiation and dialogue messages, while secretly planning a ground offensive,” stated Mr. Ghalibaf in a press release relayed by the official news agency Irna.
Ground operations in Iran being prepared, according to the Washington Post
The Pentagon is readying for weeks-long ground operations in Iran, reported the Washington Post on Saturday, citing American officials.
Such operations would not involve a large-scale invasion of Iran, these sources emphasized, but would consist of raids on Iranian territory by both special forces and other soldiers. It is unclear whether Donald Trump will approve this plan.
The Tehran office of a Qatari TV station damaged by a strike
The Qatari news channel Al Araby announced on Sunday that an Israeli missile had struck the building housing its office in Tehran, causing damage.
Footage from inside the office showed broken windows, glass shards, and debris. Outside, neighboring buildings were damaged and the streets were covered in debris.
Iran condemns Israel for the death of three Lebanese journalists
The Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, condemned the Israeli airstrike that killed three Lebanese journalists, including a star correspondent from the Hezbollah-affiliated channel al-Manar, laid to rest on Sunday.
These deaths are a “targeted assassination” and a “flagrant violation of international law,” declared Mr. Araghchi on his official Telegram channel.
Journalists should “never” be targeted, “even when they have ties to parties in the conflict,” stated the French Foreign Minister, Jean-Noël Barrot.
Syria: drone attack from Iraq on American base
The Syrian Deputy Minister of Defense announced on Sunday that Syrian forces had repelled a drone attack from Iraq targeting an American base in northeastern Syria.
The American base in Qasrak, in Hassakeh province, “was attacked by four drones launched from Iraqi territory,” stated the Syrian official, Sipan Hamo, on X, adding that “the drones were shot down without causing casualties.”
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