Headlines

Key Gulf air hubs caught up in Iran conflict

Thriving thanks to their strategic geographical position, strong state backing and leading carriers, huge air hubs in the Gulf oil kingdoms have been shaken by the conflict over Iran. Following US and Israel strikes on the Islamic Republic, Iran's retaliatory strikes have hit

Israeli bombardment sends Lebanese fleeing

As Israeli strikes shattered the nighttime quiet, Beirut cafe owner Hassan rushed home to whisk his wife and young daughter to safety in the nearby mountains outside the city. The sound of heavy gunfire was a warning to residents that war had returned. The roads quickly clogged

Iraq's Erbil in the crossfire with drones and power cuts

As drones swarmed the skies above Iraq's Erbil and air defences streaked up to shoot them down, residents watched from below, fearing the fire would soon reach them. Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region hosts US-led coalition troops, and its capital, Erbil, is home to a major US

South Korea outclass Iran in Asian Women's Cup opener

South Korea went to the top of Pool A in the Women's Asian Cup after overcoming a dogged Iran 3-0 in their tournament opener on Queensland's Gold Coast on Monday. The Koreans, runners-up to China in the 2022 edition, totally dominated a brave but outclassed Iran, who showed no

Khamenei's death brings Khomeini's grandson into focus

March 1 (Reuters) - A grandson of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the late founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, is likely to figure prominently in the deliberations of the clerics who will determine who replaces Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as Supreme Leader. The killing of

France is ready to help Gulf countries targeted by Iran

PARIS, March 2 (Reuters) - France is ready to help Gulf countries targeted by Iranian retaliatory strikes, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Monday, adding that the Israeli and U.S. initial strikes against Iran should have been debated beforehand at the United Nations.

Trump hunkers down after Iran strikes

Hunkered down at his luxury Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, US President Donald Trump kept an unusually low profile after announcing the start of huge military strikes on Iran. Trump eschewed the grand Oval Office addresses to the nation favored by his predecessors to announce

Australia rules out military role in Iran conflict

By Renju Jose SYDNEY, March 2 (Reuters) - Australia said on Monday it would not take part in any military operations in Iran, ruling out deploying troops to the Middle East if the conflict escalates, as Israel launched fresh strikes on Tehran and Iran responded with more

Maersk suspends vessel transit through Strait of Hormuz

Maersk, the major container shipping company, said Sunday it was halting passage through the Suez Canal and the narrow Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf, next to Iran, for "safety" reasons. The Danish group was the latest of several shipping groups to make similar announcements