live Middle East tensions simmer as U.S.–Iran talks loom and strike kills 13- Friday, 10 April
Amid fragile calm, António Guterres urged constructive U.S.- Iran talks, while Pope Leo XIV warned violence is spreading. Lebanon's Pres...
The U.S. allegedly carried out its first night strike of a regional counter-drug campaign in the Caribbean, killing six suspected "narco-terrorists" on a vessel linked to the Tren de Aragua gang, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said.
U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Friday that an alleged U.S. strike in the Caribbean targeted a suspected drug vessel operated by the Tren de Aragua gang, resulting in six deaths. In a post on X, he shared a roughly 20-second video appearing to show a boat at sea being struck by at least one projectile before exploding. No independent evidence of what the vessel carried has been provided.
Hegseth said the operation was allegedly the first conducted at night since the counter-drug campaign began in September. The announcement follows President Donald Trump’s statement on Thursday that his administration would brief Congress on operations against drug cartels. Trump said he does not need a declaration of “war” to act and hinted that land-based operations could follow.
The U.S. military has increased its presence across the Caribbean, deploying guided-missile destroyers, F-35 fighter jets, a nuclear-powered submarine and thousands of troops. Including the latest alleged strike, the United States has carried out 10 operations against suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific, reportedly killing nearly 40 people. The Pentagon has released little detail but confirmed that some incidents occurred near Venezuela.
The actions have raised legal concerns, with some experts and Democratic lawmakers questioning whether they align with international law. Last week, Reuters reported that two alleged traffickers who survived a U.S. military strike in the Caribbean were rescued by a U.S. Navy ship and later repatriated to Colombia and Ecuador.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has accused Washington of attempting to remove him from power. In August, the U.S. doubled its reward to $50 million for information leading to Maduro’s arrest, alleging ties to drug trafficking and criminal networks, which he denies.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has given an instruction for Israel to begin peace talks with Lebanon that would also include the disarming of Hezbollah.
Afghanistan and Pakistan have agreed to continue dialogue and avoid steps that could worsen tensions after China-hosted talks in Urumqi, with Kabul and Beijing saying the meetings focused on easing differences and improving relations.
Amid fragile calm, António Guterres urged constructive U.S.- Iran talks, while Pope Leo XIV warned violence is spreading. Lebanon's President said an Israeli strike killed 13 security personnel in Nabatieh.
Memorial events were held in Tehran’s main squares on Wednesday (8 April) to mark the 40th day since the killing of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who died during U.S.-Israeli attacks on 28 February.
Dubai has restricted foreign airlines to one daily flight to its airports until 31 May due to the Iran crisis, raising fears of significant revenue losses for Indian carriers, industry letters show.
A charity co-founded by Prince Harry in honour of his late mother, Princess Diana, is suing him for libel at the High Court in London, according to a court record published on Friday (10 April).
The European Union and Washington are nearing an agreement to coordinate the production and security of critical minerals, Bloomberg News reported on Friday (10 April).
In a forceful rebuke to Washington’s foreign policy in the Americas, a senior Russian diplomat has declared that Moscow will never abandon Cuba, pledging ongoing support to help the Communist-run island overcome a severe energy crisis linked to the United States embargo.
Hungary votes on Sunday in a parliamentary election that could loosen Viktor Orbán’s 16-year hold on power. His ruling Fidesz faces a strong challenge from Péter Magyar’s Tisza party, which has led some polls, though many voters remain undecided.
While a fragile ceasefire in the Iran war may deliver badly needed relief to economies battered by the world’s worst-ever energy crisis, hopes it will quickly restore normal oil and gas flows from the Middle East are almost certainly misplaced.
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