live U.S. and Iran trade threats as World focus' on reopening Strait of Hormuz - Middle East conflict on 3 April
Iran has rejected claims it has been weakened, vowing instead “more crushing” attacks against the United States and ...
The US has vowed to keep striking Yemen’s Houthis until they stop attacks on shipping, as the Iran-aligned group signalled potential escalation following US airstrikes that reportedly killed at least 31 people.
The US launched a series of airstrikes on Yemen, targeting Houthi military sites in Sanaa and Taiz. The strikes, which the Houthi-run health ministry said killed 31 people, mark the largest US military operation in the Middle East since Donald Trump took office. A US official told Reuters the campaign could continue for weeks.
Houthi officials condemned the strikes as a "war crime" and vowed to respond. The group's military spokesperson claimed they had launched ballistic missiles and drones at the USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea, though the US denied the claim.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated: “The minute the Houthis say we'll stop shooting at your ships, we'll stop shooting at your drones. This campaign will be unrelenting until then.” He blamed Iran for supporting the Houthis, warning that “they better back off.”
The Houthis, who control large parts of Yemen, had previously threatened to target Israeli-linked ships in response to the Gaza conflict. They intensified attacks on Red Sea shipping after the Israel-Hamas war escalated in late 2023.
Iran’s top commander, Hossein Salami, dismissed US accusations, stating that the Houthis act independently. However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted Iran was responsible for supplying the group with military support.
Moscow urged Washington to halt the strikes, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov calling for diplomatic dialogue. Meanwhile, reports emerged of civilian casualties, including women and children, though Reuters could not independently verify the claims.
US strikes also hit a power station in Dahyan, a site linked to Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi. Residents in Sanaa described the impact as "violent," with footage showing rescue operations and damaged buildings.
The Houthi attacks on shipping have disrupted global trade, forcing the US to engage in costly defensive operations. The group had paused its attacks following an Israel-Hamas ceasefire in January but resumed threats on March 12, linking their actions to aid restrictions on Gaza.
Fears of wider escalation grow despite President Donald Trump saying U.S. strikes on Iran could end within weeks. Meanwhile missile attacks, tanker incidents and rising casualties across Israel, Lebanon and the Gulf heighten risks to regional stability and energy routes.
There are fears of an oil spill after a drone strike hit a Kuwaiti oil tanker near Dubai on Tuesday, while U.S.-Israeli strikes in Iran reportedly killed at least two people. A loud explosion was heard in Beirut in southern Lebanon early Wednesday, as oil prices climbed above $100 a barrel.
Russian-flagged tanker carrying approximately 700,000 barrels of crude oil docked at Cuba's Matanzas oil terminal on Tuesday, shipping data confirmed, marking a vital and controversial delivery to an island paralysed by severe energy shortages and a suffocating U.S. blockade.
Four astronauts blasted off from Florida on Wednesday on NASA's Artemis II mission, a high-stakes voyage around the moon that marks the United States' boldest step yet toward returning humans to the lunar surface later this decade in a race with China.
An earthquake of magnitude 7.6 struck in Indonesia's Northern Molucca Sea on Thursday, killing one person, damaging some buildings and triggering tsunami waves, authorities and witnesses said.
The 2026 World Cup final is setting new records for sports ticketing costs, characterised by unprecedented price hikes and the debut of controversial sales models.
In a dramatic shake-up at the top of the U.S. Justice Department, President Donald Trump has removed Attorney General Pam Bondi from her post, a White House official confirmed on Thursday.
American President Donald Trump threatened on Wednesday to pull the United States out of NATO after European nations refused to join a U.S.-led naval mission to unblock the Strait of Hormuz.
France has unveiled a delayed wave of renewable energy tenders to boost energy independence and strengthen domestic and European industry.
China is emerging as one of the more stable economies amid the latest global oil shock, thanks to years of planning, diversified energy sources and a steady shift towards renewable power.
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