Iraqi airspace will remain closed for the upcoming 72 hours
The Civil Aviation Authority of Iraq has declared that the nation’s airspace will be kept closed for the next three days, lasting until Sunday at noon (09:00 GMT), in response to the prevailing regional security circumstances.
This closure affects all aircraft that are arriving, departing, or overflying, as stated by the authority.
One individual has lost their life, and two others have sustained injuries in an Israeli air strike targeting Bazouriyah in the Tyre district of southern Lebanon, according to reports from the National News Agency
The agency further stated that one of the injured individuals is in serious condition and has been admitted to the hospital.
Iran is set to participate in the World Cup later this year, yet it will “boycott the United States,”
where its group matches are slated to occur, according to the president of Iran’s football federation
“We will be preparing for the World Cup. We will boycott the United States but not the World Cup,” Mehdi Taj stated on Wednesday in a video released by Iran’s Fars news agency.
The Iranian ambassador and the embassy in Mexico City have indicated that Iran is in discussions with FIFA to possibly relocate its three group-stage matches to Mexico, following Trump’s remarks that he did not consider it “appropriate” for Iranian players to travel to the US “for their own life and safety.”
Commencing in June, the World Cup is scheduled to be held in 16 cities across the US, Canada, and Mexico.
Iranian players celebrate after a goal in a World Cup qualifying match, June 10, 2025, in Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran [WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters]
According to the agency, the proposed plan stipulates that nations whose vessels navigate this vital waterway would be required to pay fees to Iran for utilizing it as a secure passage.
A cargo ship is pictured in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of the city of Fujairah in February [File: Giuseppe Cacace/AFP]
According to a local police commander cited by Iran’s IRIB broadcaster, Iranian authorities have apprehended 41 individuals in the northern Alborz province, who are accused of disseminating video footage pertaining to the war to ‘hostile networks’.
Since the onset of the war, Iranian officials have consistently cautioned Iranians both domestically and internationally against collaborating with any organizations associated with the United States or Israel.
BREAKING
A drone strike attributed to US-Israeli forces near the north-western city of Malekan in Iran has resulted in the deaths of two individuals and injuries to three others, according to a report from Iran’s Tasnim news agency.
Tasnim stated that one of the deceased was a civilian, while the other was a member of the security forces.
Oman has condemned the recent assaults on energy facilities throughout the Gulf region, which include locations in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE
A government statement declared, “Oman emphasizes the necessity of adhering to international laws and standards, avoiding attacks on civilian infrastructure and global energy resources, and expresses its support for these countries.”
Prior to the onset of the conflict, Oman was engaged in mediating discussions between the US and Iran and has consistently advocated for a revival of diplomatic efforts.
China asserts that peaceful reunification will address Taiwan’s energy crisis in light of the ongoing war in Iran
According to a statement from Chen Binhua, the spokesperson for Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office, the resolution of Taiwan’s energy supply issues, exacerbated by the Israeli-US conflict in Iran, can be achieved through peaceful reunification.
He emphasized that Taiwan would gain from “energy resources, supported by a robust motherland.”
“The mainland possesses an ample power supply that is more than adequate to fulfill the electricity demands of Taiwan’s businesses and can guarantee that households throughout the island are relieved from the challenges and concerns of power shortages and outages during peak periods,” he stated.
Currently, Taiwan imports 70 percent of its crude oil and over 30 percent of its natural gas from the Middle East.
Israel’s military has reported an additional influx of Iranian missiles
The military states that it has identified yet another surge of incoming Iranian missiles.
It further indicates that Israeli defense systems are actively engaged in intercepting the projectiles and that residents in the impacted regions will be notified via mobile alerts.
Which energy sites have been targeted on the 20th day of the conflict
In response to an Israeli attack on its South Pars gasfield, Iran is intensifying pressure on various Gulf nations by assaulting their energy infrastructures.
On the 20th day of the conflict, the following energy sites have been struck:
Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar: Early Thursday, Qatar reported that Iranian missiles targeted the Ras Laffan Industrial City, the nation’s primary gas facility, resulting in “significant damage”.
Mina al-Ahmadi refinery, Kuwait: The Kuwait Petroleum Corporation announced that a fire erupted after a drone struck an operational unit at the Mina al-Ahmadi refinery, located approximately 50km (31 miles) south of Kuwait City. Fortunately, the incident did not result in any injuries.
Mina Abdullah refinery, Kuwait: The Kuwait Petroleum Corporation also reported that the Mina Abdullah refinery in southern Kuwait was hit by a drone, leading to a fire.
Habshan gas facility and the Bab oilfield, UAE: UAE authorities indicated that they were addressing incidents at the Habshan gas facilities and the Bab oilfield, which were caused by debris from intercepted missiles. So far, no injuries have been reported.
Samref refinery, Saudi Arabia: The Defense Ministry of Saudi Arabia stated that a drone crashed at Saudi Aramco’s Samref refinery in the port city of Yanbu. The ministry further noted that damage assessments are currently underway.
BREAKING
A hospital located in southern Lebanon has denounced an Israeli air strike that reportedly inflicted damage on several of its wards, leading to instances of smoke inhalation among patients and staff, according to the National News Agency.
Sheikh Ragheb Harb University Hospital, situated in Toul near Nabatieh, released a statement indicating that an Israeli assault on a nearby building resulted in considerable damage to various facilities, including the intensive care unit.
The management of the hospital asserted that the attack constitutes a blatant violation of international law and represents a direct threat to the safety of both patients and staff, as reported by the agency.
What is the Jones Act, and why has President Trump suspended it for a duration of 60 days?
By Melimopoulos
President Donald Trump of the United States has temporarily lifted a shipping law that has been in place for over a century to alleviate the expenses associated with transporting oil, gas, and other commodities within the nation.
This decision permits foreign-flagged vessels to carry goods between US ports for the next 60 days, a measure implemented to facilitate the distribution of energy supplies throughout the country.
“This action will enable essential resources such as oil, natural gas, fertilizer, and coal to move freely to US ports for sixty days,” stated White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on X.
Breaking
Iranian missile strike causes damage to a structure in Tel Aviv: Reports
Israeli news sources are referencing initial reports indicating damage to a structure in Tel Aviv, following a recent Iranian missile strike.
The strike triggered sirens in various areas of central Israel and along the coastline, as reported by The Times of Israel.
The Israeli army has announced that it has destroyed an Iranian Mi-17 helicopter during an operation at the Sanandaj airport located in Iran’s Hamadan province.
According to the Israeli army, the strike occurred on Wednesday and was executed based on Israeli “real-time intelligence.”
America has lost control of its own foreign policy,’ states the Omani foreign minister
Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, in an opinion piece for The Economist, cautions that “America has lost control of its own foreign policy,” suggesting that Washington’s allies should assist in extricating it “from this unwanted entanglement.”
“Twice in nine months, the United States and Iran have been on the brink of a genuine agreement,” remarked Albusaidi.
“It was shocking yet not unexpected when, on February 28th – merely hours after the latest and most significant discussions – Israel and America once again executed an unlawful military strike against the peace that had momentarily seemed genuinely attainable.”
Iran’s response to what it asserts are American targets in its neighboring countries was an “inevitable, albeit deeply regrettable and entirely unacceptable, outcome,” he stated.
For Iran, confronted with a conflict aimed at “eliminating the Islamic Republic, this was likely the only logical choice available to the Iranian leadership.”
“The most significant error made by the American administration was, of course, allowing itself to be drawn into this conflict in the first place. This is not America’s war, and there is no plausible scenario in which both Israel and America will achieve their objectives from it,” Albusaidi concluded.
Oil and gas prices have experienced an upward trend following the attacks on energy facilities by Iran in response to Israel’s assault on its South Pars gasfield
On Thursday morning, Brent futures exceeded $115 per barrel, marking their highest level in over a week. Additionally, gas prices have surged by 30 percent.
Market analysts indicate that prices are expected to increase significantly if the Strait of Hormuz remains obstructed.
“Benchmark Middle Eastern crude oils such as Oman and Dubai have already surpassed the $150 mark, making $200 a realistic target, even if it may not apply to Brent and West Texas Intermediate,” stated Vandana Hari, founder of the oil market analysis firm Vanda Insights, in an interview with WSN24.
“The extent to which crude prices continue to rise is largely dependent on the duration of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz,” Hari further commented.
Images: Consequences of missile strike in Tel Aviv
Damage inside a building at an impact site, following a barrage of missiles launched from Iran, in Tel Aviv, Israel, March 19 [Amir Cohen/Reuters]
[Amir Cohen/Reuters]
An official inspects damaged vehicles following an overnight Iranian missile strike on Tel Aviv, Israel, March 19 [Ilia Yefimovich/AFP]
[Ilia Yefimovich/AFP
Additional details have emerged regarding a previous drone strike. The Fire Force of Kuwait announced on X that six firefighting teams are engaged in combating two concurrent fires at the Mina Al-Ahmadi and Mina Abdullah refineries.
Officials have verified that the fires were a result of deliberate assaults on the facilities, while emergency response teams strive to manage the damage at two of the nation’s vital energy locations.
Two Palestinians have lost their lives in an Israeli drone attack on the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City
According to sources from al-Shifa Hospital who informed WSN24.
We will provide further updates on this matter as they become available.
Analysis
‘Israel dictating US foreign policy’: Analyst on South Pars attack
Mohamad Elmasry from the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies asserts that Israel’s assault on South Pars has sparked an increasing discussion regarding the influence over US policy in the region.
Trump, in a statement on Truth Social, refuted any knowledge of the attack.
“It’s easy to speculate that Trump is not being truthful, that he sanctioned this, and that Israel would not have proceeded without his consent,” Elmasry remarked. “It is also plausible that Benjamin Netanyahu has once again prevailed upon Donald Trump, compelling the Trump administration to act.”
Elmasry highlighted the growing concern in Washington.
“It is Israel that is effectively dictating numerous aspects of American foreign policy,” he stated, emphasizing that even Trump’s own supporters have started to question the nature of the relationship.
“Israel’s objective is to instigate chaos … to precipitate the disintegration of the state in Iran … and to create turmoil in the Gulf and the broader Middle East region.”
He cautioned that the repercussions would be “catastrophic” for the Gulf nations, Europe, and the United States.
Individuals have convened for the funeral of three Palestinians who lost their lives due to missile debris.
By N Ibrahim
Reporting from Beit Awwa in the occupied West Bank
Residents here express that this incident is a tragedy, and they feel powerless to change the situation.
The Palestinian civil defense team is present to carry out further searches and gather additional information regarding the attack and its nature.
Community members state that the three female victims, who were at a nail salon, were merely attempting to prepare for Eid al-Fitr, striving to enjoy a typical day in the occupied West Bank, despite the ongoing abnormal circumstances faced by Palestinians as they witness rockets being launched into Israel and occasionally into the occupied West Bank.
They lack shelters and receive no guidance on how to respond or where to seek safety. Furthermore, they do not possess aerial defense systems. In fact, Israel’s aerial defense systems are positioned around Palestinian villages, rendering them more vulnerable to assaults.
“Iran is responding to escalation with further escalation.”
By M Vall
Reporting from Tehran, Iran
Iran is defending these assaults [on energy depots throughout the Gulf region] as a response to the origins of attacks on its land since the onset of the war.
They do not differentiate between the Israelis and the Americans on one side, and the nations that host American military personnel and installations.
Their consistent argument, maintained since the very beginning [of the war], is that they will retaliate against the nations that permit Americans to utilize their airspace, waters, and land to conduct attacks on Iran. They have remained steadfast in this position.
They are responding to escalation with further escalation.
Yesterday, following an Israeli strike on the gas facility in southern Iran, the Iranians declared their intention to retaliate, and they followed through … They appear to believe that an escalation-for-escalation approach serves as the most effective deterrent in this conflict.
Reporting from Gaza City
Due to border closures resulting from the conflict between Israel and the United States with Iran, along with escalating prices, the process of baking for Eid has become challenging in Gaza.
Nevertheless, families are determined to uphold their traditions.
In Gaza City, Samira Touman, a 60-year-old mother of seven, has been diligently adding the finishing touches to kaak and maamoul cookies prior to baking them.
“This is the season of Eid, a time of blessings. It is true that our celebrations are not as grand as they were before the war, when I would work and bake until dawn on Eid day,” Samira shares with WSN24, wiping the sweat from her brow in front of the fire.
“Thank God, the demand remains strong despite the soaring costs of food ingredients. However, people are eager to live and recapture a bit of the essence of Eid,” Samira expresses.
One fatality and one individual critically injured in an Israeli strike on Gaza City
A Palestinian has lost his life and another has sustained serious injuries due to an Israeli airstrike targeting a gathering in the eastern part of Gaza City, as reported by a WSN24 team on the scene and the Wafa news agency.
According to Wafa, the incident occurred in the Tuffah neighborhood, with reports indicating that the injuries of the wounded individual are severe.
