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Fact check: Recent Iranian attacks on Israel did not destroy 2 airbases, 5 military camps

Multiple accounts on X, including pro-Iranians based on their past posts, have been sharing a video since Monday claiming to show massive Iranian strikes destroying two Israeli airbases and five military camps and eliminating several senior Israeli leaders. However, the video is old from March and no such targets were destroyed. The conflict began on February 28, 2026, when the United States and Israel carried out coordinated airstrikes targeting Iran’s military infrastructure, including missile systems and nuclear-related facilities. The strikes marked a significant escalation in tensions between the countries, following a period of heightened regional instability and previous confrontations. Israel and Iran traded fire on Monday, seriously testing a fragile truce and threatening hopes for a deal to end the Middle East war. The new attacks, including a strike on an Iranian petrochemical complex, came hours after US President Donald Trump called on Israel to refrain from re...
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Italian FM Tajani blasts Israel's Ben-Gvir remarks amid probe over flotilla detainees

Italy’s foreign minister on Tuesday condemned “unacceptable” remarks by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who attacked Rome after learning he was under investigation over the treatment of activists detained during seizure of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla. “These are unacceptable words, unworthy of a minister,” Antonio Tajani said, referring to comments made by the far-right Israeli minister. “Italy is a friend of Israel that has always defended freedom and democracy,” Tajani added, saying Ben-Gvir’s words “demonstrate the moral standing of this gentleman.” Rome prosecutors have launched an investigation into Ben-Gvir in connection with the treatment of Italian nationals detained during the interception of the flotilla, according to Italian media reports. Also Read: Pakistan, seven other Muslim states condemn Israeli minister's 'disgraceful' actions against flotilla detainees The probe is part ...

North Korean, Chinese leaders agree to boost ties at Pyongyang summit

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and China's Xi Jinping agreed to expand cooperation in the areas of politics, economy and culture at a summit in Pyongyang that opened a new chapter in ties, the North's official KCNA news agency said on Tuesday. Making his first visit in seven years to China's only formal treaty ally, Xi told Kim he aimed to drive progress in ties, and both agreed to strive for closer strategic communication through visits by high-level officials, KCNA said. Kim told Xi he would fully support the "One China principle," which Beijing views as meaning that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one country, regardless of changes in the international situation, it added. China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has never renounced ​the use of force to bring the island under Beijing's control, although Taipei rejects the sovereignty claims. Read: Xi vows unwavering support for Kim On Tuesday, Xi visited Pyongy...

Why the Houthis are threatening Red Sea shipping and what it means for oil markets

Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis said on Monday they would ban vessels linked to Israel from transiting the Red Sea, following renewed Israeli military strikes on Iran. The move has raised concerns about global shipping security and energy flows. The announcement comes amid heightened regional tensions, with markets closely watching whether the conflict could again disrupt key maritime trade routes. How big is the risk to global energy markets? Iran’s reported closure of the Strait of Hormuz following Israeli and US strikes on February 28 has already disrupted much of the Gulf’s oil and energy exports, contributing to higher prices and a broader energy shock. Saudi Arabia has since redirected more than 70% of its daily crude exports through the Red Sea port of Yanbu, making the route a critical lifeline for global oil supply and price stability. Any sustained Houthi disruption — through attacks on ships or port infrastructure — could significantl...

Fact-check: Viral video does not show Iranian attack in northern Israel; it’s an old Egyptian restaurant fire

Multiple pro-Iranian users, based on their past posts, have been sharing a video on social media platform X since Sunday claiming that it shows an attack in the Galilee and Kiryat Shmona settlements of northern Israel. However, the video is old, from March 18, 2026, and shows a fire at an Egyptian restaurant. US and Israeli forces launched a war against Iran on February 28. After more than five weeks of intense military confrontation, President Donald Trump indefinitely extended what was initially a two-week ceasefire, but the conflict remains unresolved. On Sunday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that it targeted Israel’s Ramat David airbase with ballistic missiles and that Israel ⁠must stop its attacks ⁠on Lebanon. In response, Israel attacked Iran with explosions reported in Tehran, Tabriz, and Isfahan as tensions escalated. How it started On Sunday, a pro-Iranian account, based on its past posts, shared a video on X, allegedly showing an explosive...

Oil prices climb more than $4 after Israeli strikes on Iran and Lebanon

Oil prices jumped more than $4 on Monday, with investors spooked by Israeli strikes ‌on Iran as well as renewed attacks on Lebanon a day earlier. Brent crude futures rose $4.42 or 4.47% to $97.15 a barrel as of 0609 GMT, while US crude futures were up $4.07 or 4.50% at $94.61 per barrel. Israel said on Monday it hit a petrochemical plant in Iran's southwest, along with strikes elsewhere ​on military targets. That's despite US President Donald Trump reportedly telling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to refrain from ​further attacks. In the first hit on an energy site inside Iran since the April 8 ceasefire, Israel ⁠said it struck targets at the Mahshahr petrochemical complex. A provincial official told Iran's semi-official Fars news agency parts of the ​plant were damaged. Read: Oil shock and the import trap Hopes are now eroding for an imminent end to the wider war and a restart to crude flows through the ​Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fi...

Trump says he would not unfreeze Iran's assets before deal is done

US President Donald Trump said ​in a recent interview ‌with NBC News that he ​would not unfreeze ​Iranian assets or lift any ⁠sanctions before a ​peace deal is reached. He ​said he would consider those steps after an agreement ​is done. "Comes after," ​he said. "Yeah. If they behave, ‌if ⁠they do a good job, we start talking. Yeah." Trump also ​said that ​he ⁠was not demanding that Lebanon ​be a part ​of ⁠a short-term deal with Tehran. US eyes Iranian assets for Gulf allies' reconstruction, source says The US will attempt to redirect Iranian assets to Gulf states for rebuilding and ‌repairs of damage caused by Iran, a source familiar with the matter said, as Tehran followed up a wave of strikes against Kuwait and Bahrain with further drone launches. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has directed a team to assess costs for damage inflicted on Gulf allies by Iran, the source said on Saturday, adding the US will consider using Iranian as...