As American forces race against time and Iran's military to locate a missing fighter jet crew reportedly shot down Friday, a retired Air Force general told AFP what it takes to hide and survive if parachuted into enemy territory. "You're like, 'Oh my God, I was in a fighter jet
As American forces race against time and Iran's military to locate an aviator reportedly shot down Friday, a former Air Force pilot and a rescuer told AFP what it takes to hide, survive and extract someone behind enemy lines. "You're like, 'Oh my God, I was in a fighter jet two
By Jonathan Landay, Erin Banco and Phil Stewart WASHINGTON, April 3 (Reuters) - Recent U.S. intelligence reports warn that Iran is unlikely to open the Strait of Hormuz any time soon because its grip on the world’s most vital oil artery provides the only real leverage it has
The five vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz since Thursday, shipping data showed, reflecting a change in Iran's policy to allow passage for vessels it deems friendly
By Joshua McElwee ROME, April 3 (Reuters) - Pope Leo led a candle-lit service with thousands of Catholics inside Rome's famed Colosseum on Friday evening that featured prayers for war orphans and deported immigrant children, and a warning to world leaders that their decisions
According to reports in The Wall Street Journal, Qatar declined to take a central role in the U.S.-Iran cease-fire talks, as Tehran rejected a 48-hour truce proposed by the Trump administration
One French- and another Japanese-owned vessel are among a handful of vessels to have crossed the war-torn Strait of Hormuz, maritime tracking data showed Friday. The passage, a vital maritime route for oil and liquified natural gas, has been virtually blocked by Iran since the
April 3 (Reuters) - An unnamed source told Iran's semi-official Fars news agency on Friday that Tehran had rejected a U.S. proposal for a 48-hour ceasefire. The source said the proposal was made on Wednesday through another country, which was not named. There was no immediate
By Maya Gebeily and Ahmed Tolba BEIRUT, April 3 (Reuters) - Israel pounded Beirut with airstrikes on Friday that the military said had targeted militant "infrastructure" in Lebanon's capital, as the U.S. warned that Iran may target universities in the country as the Middle East
The Gulf states aren't giving up on their relations with Washington; they want a system in which the United States is a partner, not the only anchor. And Israel might remain on the outside
According to insiders and analysts, the appearances are part of a calculated effort by Iran's theocratic leadership to project resilience and authority, not only over the vital Strait of Hormuz but also over the population, despite a sustained U.S.-Israeli campaign aimed at
Police dispersed an anti-war protest near one of Israel's largest shelters, citing public safety concerns. Responding to a High Court petition against the crackdown, police said the right to protest 'is not absolute' and must be balanced with the 'right to public order'
Here are the latest developments in the Middle East war: - Israel strikes Beirut - The Israeli military said Saturday it had begun striking "Hezbollah infrastructure sites" in Lebanon's capital Beirut. An AFP journalist heard two loud explosions in the capital within a
As he wages war on Iran, President Donald Trump was joined in the Oval Office by Christian pastors. Solemnly, some placed their hands on his shoulder or forearm. They offered their blessings. In a war against a country led by Shia Muslim clerics, the United States -- which has
Here are the latest economic events in the Middle East war: - More ships pass Hormuz - A French-owned and a Japanese-owned vessel are among a handful of ships to have transited the war-torn Strait of Hormuz, maritime tracking data showed Friday. The passage, a vital route for
American special forces have entered Iran to rescue a stranded U.S. Air Force member, The Telegraph reported. Though the IDF said it is not taking part in the search efforts, media outlets reported that Israel was helping the U.S. and had held off strikes
By Phil Stewart WASHINGTON, April 3 (Reuters) - A U.S. fighter jet has been shot down over Iran and a search-and-rescue operation is underway for any survivors, two U.S. officials told Reuters on Friday, in the first such known incident since the war began nearly five weeks
Local governments' leaders and residents of Israel's frontline communities harshly criticized the statement made by IDF officials earlier on Friday, and called for 'lasting security and the dismantling of what is called Hezbollah'
MOSCOW, April 3 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has held a phone call with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, the Kremlin said on Friday. Putin and Erdogan discussed the situation in the Middle East, the Kremlin added. (Reporting by Ksenia Orlova; Writing by Anna
ROME, April 3 (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni flew to Saudi Arabia on Friday for a previously unannounced trip that will also include meetings in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, government sources said. The sources said the visit would reaffirm Italy's
'This Strait must be reopened … but only in consultation with Iran' French Prime Minister Macron said, as a French‑owned ship made the first passage since the war began, a rare transit through the Strait of Hormuz after months of disrupted global shipping
WASHINGTON — Combat search-and-rescue efforts were underway for the crew of a US fighter jet shot down over southwestern Iran on Friday, two US officials confirmed to Al-Monitor. One of the F-15E crew members was rescued, one official said. The status of the other remains
WASHINGTON — Two crew members of a US fighter jet ejected over southern Iran after their fighter jet was shot down Friday, Reuters and other US outlets reported. Combat search-and-rescue efforts were underway, according to the reports. Several videos circulated on social media
WASHINGTON — Combat search-and-rescue efforts were underway for the crew of a US fighter jet shot down over southwestern Iran on Friday, two US officials confirmed to Al-Monitor. Videos circulating on social media appeared to show wreckage from part of a US F-15E. The fate of
WASHINGTON — Combat search-and-rescue efforts were underway for the crew of a US fighter jet shot down over southwestern Iran on Friday, two US officials confirmed to Al-Monitor. Videos circulating on social media appeared to show wreckage from part of a US F-15E. The fate of
Kuwait’s desalination plant and key refinery have been damaged, and the UAE has suspended Habshan operations after debris from intercepted missiles caused a fire.
ALTYN-EMEL NATIONAL PARK, Kazakhstan, April 3 (Reuters) - With a loud thwack of their wings, the falcons took flight, quickly soaring high above the rocky desert landscape of Altyn-Emel National Park in southeastern Kazakhstan. The 34 birds were on an important mission: to help
By Parisa Hafezi DUBAI, April 3 (Reuters) - After more than a month of being stalked by targeted assassinations, Iran's leadership has adopted a new tactic to show it is still in control - with senior officials walking openly in the streets among small crowds who have gathered
By Nerijus Adomaitis and Dominique Vidalon PARIS, April 3 (Reuters) - A container ship belonging to French shipping group CMA CGM has passed through the Strait of Hormuz, MarineTraffic vessel tracking data shows, in a sign that Iran may not consider France a hostile nation. The
During the war in the Gaza Strip and two wars with Iran in the space of a year, Israel has used artificial intelligence to fine-tune its missile early warning system. In last year's 12-day conflict with Iran, incoming missiles would spark city-wide air raid alerts, and Israelis
The Trump administration has fired army chief of staff General Randy George and two other senior figures, officials said Friday, in a surprise shake-up just as US forces are locked in a major war against Iran. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's ouster of George, the top US
VATICAN CITY, April 3 (Reuters) - Pope Leo spoke on the phone with Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Friday and urged him to "reopen all paths of dialogue" to end the Iran war, the Vatican said. The pope, who has emerged as a sharp critic of the regional conflict, also urged
A container ship declaring itself to have a French owner has passed through the Strait of Hormuz, according Marine Traffic data analysed by AFP Friday. The Maltese-flagged Kribi belonging to the French maritime transport group CMA CGM crossed the strait -- which has been
By Sybille de La Hamaide PARIS, April 3 (Reuters) - World food prices climbed in March to their highest level since September last year and could rise further if the Middle East conflict that pushed up energy prices continues, the United Nations Food and Agriculture
BEIJING, April 2 (Reuters) - Negotiations between Afghanistan and Pakistan are advancing steadily, China said on Friday following reports that the South Asian neighbours were meeting there to try to end their worst conflict since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. China,
PARIS, April 3 (Reuters) - Rima Hassan, a French far-left member of the European Parliament, will face trial in July over a comment she posted on X last month about a 1970s attack on an Israeli airport, the Paris prosecutor's office said late on Thursday. Authorities arrested
Iran should make a deal with the United States to end the war by offering to curb its nuclear programme and reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for sanctions relief, a former Iranian foreign minister said. Mohammad Javad Zarif, who served as foreign minister from 2013-2021,
By Christine Chen and Cordelia Hsu SYDNEY, April 3 (Reuters) - Every Easter, Sydney retiree Elsa Ulcak is one of the millions of Australians that hit the road to travel during the four-day-long weekend. But this year, she has cancelled her trip with her husband because she
By Heejin Kim and Joyce Lee SEOUL, April 3 (Reuters) - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday they planned to boost defence cooperation and work together to address the economic and energy crises triggered by the war in Iran.
Israel said Friday it was under attack from a new barrage of Iranian missiles, as President Donald Trump warned the United States had yet to begin "destroying what's left" with more of the Islamic republic's infrastructure in his sights. The war started more than a month ago
Israel said Friday it was under attack from a new barrage of Iranian missiles, as US President Donald Trump warned Washington had yet to begin "destroying what's left" of Iran's infrastructure. The war started more than a month ago with US-Israeli strikes on Iran, triggering
Iran deployed troops and offered a bounty as it launched a hunt for a US pilot whose jet Iranian media said had been downed by the Islamic republic's air defence systems Friday. US Central Command (CENTCOM), responsible for military operations in the Middle East, did not
By Gram Slattery, Andrea Shalal, Andrew Gray and John Irish WASHINGTON/BRUSSELS/PARIS, April 3 (Reuters) - The NATO alliance has in recent years survived existential challenges - ranging from the war in Ukraine to multiple bouts of pressure and insults from U.S. President
By Kanishka Singh and Enas Alashray WASHINGTON/CAIRO, , April 3 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said the U.S. "hasn't even started destroying what's left in Iran", reiterating vows to increase the ferocity of attacks on its infrastructure, as dozens of countries sought ways
By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON, April 2 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump warned late on Thursday about striking and destroying bridges and electric power plants in Iran in his latest threat to hit the country's infrastructure. The U.S. military "hasn't even started
By David Brunnstrom and John Irish April 2 (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council is to vote on a Bahraini resolution to protect commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz, diplomats said on Friday, but veto-wielding China made clear its opposition to authorizing any
It's not clear what else the United States and Iran have to negotiate over, given Trump's declaration that most of the war's goals have been achieved – and given Europe does not have the tools to give Tehran what it wants in exchange for the opening of the Strait of Hormuz
