The latest developments in Middle East conflict
Good evening. Thank you for following our continuing coverage of the Middle East conflict.
You can continue to follow our live coverage tomorrow.
Here’s a summary of today’s developments.
- Millions of Americans at more than 3200 rallies scheduled across all 50 states marched against US President Donald Trump’s administration in the “No Kings” protest. National polls show Trump’s approval rating has fallen sharply since the war started.
- Victorians and Tasmanians will receive free temporary public transport in a bid to ease pressure at the fuel pump, as petrol prices continue to surge. Victorians will ride for free in April, while Tasmanians until July.
- The Pentagon is preparing for weeks of ground operations in Iran as thousands of soldiers arrive in the Middle East, but it’s unclear if Trump has or would approve the plans.
- Foreign ministers from Egypt, Pakistan and Turkey arrived in Islamabad to discuss tactics to bring the United States and Iran back to the negotiating table in a bid to ease tensions in the region.
- The Kuwaiti military said it faced “hostile missile and drone attacks” from Iran.
- The IDF says a soldier, hailing from Connecticut in the US, has died in southern Lebanon.
- Exiled Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi has told a gathering of US conservatives that he’s ready to lead Iran’s transition, and that he will call on Iranians to rise up when the “right moment arrives”.
- Israeli forces killed three Lebanese journalists in southern Lebanon in an airstrike that Israel’s military said had targeted one of them.
- The Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for a missile attack on Israel, marking their entry into the conflict, and raising concerns over commercial ships passing through the Bab el-Mandeb strait at the southern tip of the Red Sea.
Oman condemns drone attack on its territory
Oman’s foreign ministry says it condemns attacks on its territory, but that no party had claimed responsibility, Reuters reports.
The ministry said authorities were investigating the attacks’ “sources and motives” without providing further details.
Yesterday, it said a worker was injured in a drone attack on the country’s Salalah port and Danish container shipping group.
The group said it temporarily halted its operations at the port.
Cairo shops close early due to petrol rationing
The Egyptian prime minister has ordered all shops, malls and cafes to close early for a month as they begin to ration electricity consumption.
PM Mostafa Madbouly said the measure aims to cut usage amid a petrol shortage as the war between the US, Israel and Iran conflict continues.
The measures also include dimming street lights and roadside advertising.
Shops will close at 9pm, except on Thursday and Fridays when they will close at 11pm.
Egyptian diplomat meets Pakistani minister in Islamabad
Egypt’s top diplomat met Pakistan’s foreign minister in Islamabad on Sunday to discuss efforts to help bring the United States and Iran back to the negotiating table and ease tensions in the region, officials said.
Ishaq Dar and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty will hold bilateral talks on regional developments, according to a statement by Pakistan’s foreign ministry.
The Egyptian foreign ministry said that the meeting will discuss “the developments of the military escalation … and de-escalation efforts in the region.”
During a stop in Qatar Saturday, Abdelatty said their efforts aim to establish a “direct dialogue” between the United States and Iran.
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan arrived in Pakistan late Saturday. Saudi Arabia’s top diplomat is expected in Islamabad Sunday.
AP
Israeli and American universities in the region could be targets
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has warned it would consider Israeli universities and branches of American universities in the region “legitimate targets”, the Associated Press is reporting.
“If the US government wants its universities in the region spared, it should condemn the bombardment of (Iranian) universities by 12 o’clock Monday, March 30, in an official statement,” the Guard said in a statement.
It comes after airstrikes in Tehran damaged residential buildings and a university on Saturday.
Video shared by BBC Persian showed razed buildings at the Iran University of Science and Industry on Saturday.
Concerns over another shipping route
Concerns are rising that another vital shipping route could be in danger after Iranian-backed Houthis entered the war.
While Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has sparked a surge in oil prices, the Yemen-based militia has warned it is ready to attack commercial ships passing through the Bab el-Mandeb strait at the southern tip of the Red Sea.
Attacks could further drive up costs and delays, as vessels arriving from the Indian Ocean pass through the Bab el-Mandeb strait to reach the Red Sea and Suez Canal.
About 10 per cent of global sea trade passes through the Red Sea, including a fifth of the world’s container traffic and car shipments and 10 per cent of crude oil.
Houthi attacks from 2023 to 2025 in response to Israel’s bombardment of Gaza forced ships to take a longer route around Africa.
With The Telegraph
Pakistan hosts Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt in bid to end war
Foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt will travel to Islamabad to discuss how to end the war in the Middle East.
The peace talks come as about 2500 US marines arrive in the region and Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have joined the month-long war.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian held “extensive discussions” on regional hostilities.
In a post on X, the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that while in Islamabad, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty would hold consultations on regional developments.
Israeli army says soldier died in Lebanon
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have confirmed the death of a soldier in southern Lebanon.
Sergeant Moshe Yitzchak Hacohen Katz, 22, was killed, almost two weeks after Israel launched a ground invasion in the area.
Katz was in the Paratroopers Brigade, and originally from New Haven, in the US state of Connecticut, the IDF said in a post on Facebook.
“The IDF sends its deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. May his memory be a blessing.”
Free public transport for Tasmanians and Victorians feeling fuel price pressure
As Australians face pressure at the fuel pump, Victorians and Tasmanians will temporarily get free public transport.
Surging petrol prices fuelled by the Iran war have had rippling effects through the economy, leading some experts to float work-from-home considerations. A national cabinet meeting between Australian, state and territory governments will consider a range of options to ease pump pressure on Monday.
On Sunday, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan posted on Instagram, saying public transport would be free during April to bring immediate relief to Victorians.
Myki fares are capped at $11.40 a day, meaning a full-fare, five-day-a-week commuter would save $250, or $205 if they use a monthly or yearly myki pass. Myki passes will automatically pause and resume after April.
After Israel and Kuwait detect Iranian attacks, UAE activate missile defence systems
Shortly after Israel and Kuwait air defences detected Iranian missiles, the United Arab Emirates’ defence ministry says it’s now engaging with incoming drones and missiles.
“The sounds heard in scattered areas of the country are the result of the UAE air defence systems intercepting ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones,” the UAE Ministry of Defence says in a post on X.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
