Iranian missiles hit oil refinery in Israel's Haifa, no 'significant damage' reported

An Iranian missile attack hit Israel's Oil Refineries in the northern port city of Haifa but did not cause "significant damage", Israel's Energy Ministry said on Thursday.

Energy Minister Eli Cohen said power was briefly disrupted, with electricity restored to most of those who were affected.

"The damage to the power grid in the north is localized and not significant," Cohen said. "Also, in the barrage towards the north, there was no significant damage to Israeli infrastructure sites."

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had targeted refineries in Haifa, Israel's third-largest city, and in Ashdod, in the country's south, "along with a range of security targets and military support centres of the Zionist regime", which it said "were hit by pinpoint missiles".

There was no immediate word on whether the Ashdod refinery was hit.

Israel's Ministry of Environmental Protection said debris from a missile that was intercepted fell in Haifa and was being examined as a hazardous materials incident.

Israel Electric Corp said a power line in the Haifa area was hit by shrapnel, causing a brief outage, but that electricity was restored to all customers within about 45 minutes.

Israel's Fire and Rescue Services said debris fell in two locations at Oil Refineries and caused a fire that disconnected supply sources but there were no casualties.

"Full control has been achieved over the impact incident at the Haifa refineries," it said after examining the site for hazardous materials. "Tests carried out by monitoring teams found no abnormal air values and there is no danger to the public."

Last June, Oil Refineries in Haifa was hit by an Iranian missile, which killed three people and halted operations. 

Trump says no plans to deploy more US troops to Middle East amid Iran war

US President Donald Trump on Thursday suggested he was not looking at deploying more soldiers to the Middle East amid the Iran war.

"I'm not putting troops anywhere," Trump said, asked by a reporter whether he was planning to send more service members to the region. "If I were, I certainly wouldn't tell you. But I'm not putting troops. We will do whatever is necessary to keep the price."

Trump spoke at the White House during an Oval Office meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

Reuters reported on Wednesday that the Trump administration is considering deploying thousands of U.S. troops to reinforce the Iran operation, citing a U.S. official ​and three people familiar with the matter.

US State Department okays possible arms deals with Kuwait, UAE, Jordan

The U.S. State Department on Thursday approved the potential sale of lower-tier air and missile defence sensor radars to Kuwait for an estimated cost of $8 billion, it said in a statement. The department also approved the potential sale of missiles, drones and radar systems to the UAE for a combined total of more than $8.4 billion, it said.

In a separate statement, the State Department approved a possible foreign military sale to Jordan of aircraft and munitions support, as well as related equipment, for an estimated cost of $70.5 million. The principal contractor will be S&K Aerospace, the statement said.

Lebanon says over 1,000 people killed in war between Israel and Hezbollah

Israeli strikes against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon have displaced more than 1 million people - roughly 20 per cent of the population - according to the Lebanese government, which says more than 1,000 people have been killed.

Israel says it has killed more than 500 Hezbollah militants. 

Israeli military says it has struck Iranian targets in Caspian Sea

Iran intensified its attacks on oil and natural gas facilities around the Gulf on Thursday, raising the stakes in a war that is sending shock waves through the global economy.

Israel said Thursday it struck Iranian targets in the Caspian Sea for the first time. Israeli military spokesman Lt Col Nadav Shoshani said the strikes hit dozens of targets, including ships, a shipyard and a command centre. 

Death toll climbs in third week of war

More than 1,300 people in Iran have been killed during the war. Israeli strikes against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon have displaced more than 1 million people - roughly 20 per cent of the population - according to the Lebanese government, which says more than 900 people have been killed.

In Israel, 15 people have been killed by Iranian missile fire. Four people were also killed in the occupied West Bank overnight by an Iranian missile strike, according to officials.

At least 13 US military members have been killed.

Hegseth says all 11 of Iran's submarines 'are gone'

Saying that Iran's "surface fleet is no longer a factor," US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said that "their submarines - they once had 11 - are gone."

The crafts Hegseth referenced are "midget" submarines designed to work in shallow waters in the Persian Gulf and its narrow mouth, the Strait of Hormuz.

The small vessels are designed to evade sonar as they lay mines and fire torpedoes.

Earlier, Hegseth opened Pentagon briefing with remarks about dignified transfer.

Hegseth said he told families of service members killed in the Iran war that US forces "will finish this."

Hegseth said they told him "through tears, through hugs, through strength and through unbreakable resolve" that they wanted the US military to "finish this. Honour their sacrifice. Do not waver. Do not stop until the job is done."

"My response, along with that of the president, was simple: Of course we will finish this. We will honour their sacrifice," Hegseth said. "Their sacrifice only steels our commitment."

Iran calls for regional coordination in calls with Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan

Iran's foreign minister called for vigilance and regional coordination in separate calls with counterparts in Turkey, Egypt and Pakistan as the military warned of a tougher response to any further attacks on its energy infrastructure, state media reported on Thursday.

After its energy facilities in South Pars gas field and Asaluyeh were targeted on Wednesday, Iran retaliated against what it said were US-linked energy sites in Gulf countries, including Ras Laffan Industrial City in Qatar, the world’s largest LNG complex.

"In the calls to foreign counterparts, Araqchi assessed the US and Zionist regime's (Israel) attack on Iranian infrastructure as an act aimed at escalating tensions and destabilising the region, and urged for vigilance and coordination among regional countries in response to these threats," state media reported on Thursday. A spokesman for the unified command of Iran's armed forces said recent strikes on the country's energy infrastructure led to "a new stage in the war" in which Iran targeted energy facilities linked to the US and American investors in the region.

"If strikes (on Iran's energy infrastructure) happen again, further attacks on your energy infrastructure and that of your allies will not stop until it is completely destroyed, and our response will be much more severe," Ebrahim Zolfaqari said according to state media.

Iran arrests 97 people accused of working with Israel

Iran's intelligence ministry has arrested 97 people for being "soldiers of Israel", state media reported on Thursday, in the latest round of a security sweep that has seen hundreds detained over alleged linked to Israel and the US since the start of the war.

Earlier on Thursday, state media quoted the police commander of Alborz province as saying that 41 people were arrested for sending videos to foreign-based opposition media channels.

US may remove sanctions on Iranian oil stranded in tankers

The US may soon remove sanctions from Iranian oil that is stranded on tankers to help lift global supplies and reduce prices, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Thursday.

"In the coming days, we may unsanction the Iranian oil that's on the water. It's about 140 million barrels," Bessent told Fox Business Network's "Mornings with Maria" program.

Hegseth said that the United States' objectives in the war against Iran have not changed since strikes started on February 28.

Hegseth told reporters that the objectives remained to destroy Iran's missile launchers, its defense industrial base and navy as well as never allowing Iran to get a nuclear weapon.

Greek-operated air defence system shoots down Iranian missiles over Saudi

An air defence system operated by Greek military personnel in Saudi Arabia intercepted two ballistic missiles launched from Iran on Thursday, Greece's defence minister said.

Nikos Dendias said a Greek-operated Patriot air defence system had intercepted Iranian missiles targeting oil refineries in Saudi Arabia, without specifying where in the kingdom.

"The protection of refineries and oil units is of great importance," he said in a televised statement.

Greece has deployed a US-made Patriot air defense battery, operated by Greek personnel, in Saudi Arabia since 2021 under an agreement to help protect the  kingdom's energy infrastructure.

Thursday's interception was the first time that Greek personnel had operated the system, a Greek defence ministry official told Reuters.

Other outside states have also offered assistance in defending the Gulf against Iranian attacks launched in response to US-Israeli strikes on Iran that began on February 28.

France has assisted the United Arab Emirates in defending against Iranian attacks, under a longstanding defence agreement between the two countries. Australia has also said it would send a surveillance aircraft and missiles to help bolster UAE defences.

Earlier on Thursday, Saudi Arabia's defence ministry said that a ballistic missile targeting the Red Sea port city of Yanbu, where there is an oil refinery, had been intercepted.

It was unclear whether the missile was one of those intercepted by the Greek-operated system.

I welcome Trump's readiness to end Middle East fighting: German Chancellor

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday welcomed what he said were signals by US President Donald Trump that combat action in Iran could come to an end, which could allow Europe to contribute to securing peace in the Middle East.

"I am expressly grateful that the US President sent a signal in this regard last night that he is prepared to bring the fighting to an end," he told reporters ahead of an EU summit in Brussels.

Trump said late on Wednesday that Israel had "violently lashed out" and attacked Iran's major gas field, a significant escalation in the US-Israeli war, but he added that Israel would not make further such attacks unless Iran retaliated.

Merz reiterated that Europe is ready to help stabilise the Middle East once combat action has stopped.

India govt official: Attack on Qatar's LNG facility to impact India as well

India govt official: Attack on Qatar's LNG facility to impact India as well

Iran urges regional vigilance against US, Israeli 'destabilisation'

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi called for vigilance and coordination among regional countries to counter what he described as "destabilising and escalatory actions" by the United States and Israel, Iranian state media reported on Thursday.

Araqchi made the remarks in separate phone calls with his counterparts in Turkey, Egypt and Pakistan.

He said recent U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iranian infrastructure were aimed at escalating tensions and added that Iran would spare no effort in defending its sovereignty and security.

Iran considers levying transit fees on ships in Hormuz Strait, lawmaker says

Iran is considering a proposal to levy transit fees on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a lawmaker said on Thursday, a potential bid to monetise Tehran's newfound grip over the critical waterway through which a fifth of global oil and liquefied gas passes.

Since the start of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, Tehran has disrupted maritime transit through the strait for vessels it says are linked to its war adversaries and their allies.

According to the Iranian Students' News Agency, the lawmaker said parliament was considering a bill under which countries using the strait for shipping, energy transit and food supplies would be required to pay tolls and taxes to Iran.

An adviser to Iran's supreme leader said "a new regime for the Strait of Hormuz" will follow the war's eventual end, allowing Tehran to apply maritime restrictions on states that have sanctioned it.

"By using the strategic position of the Strait of Hormuz, we can sanction (the West) and prevent their ships from passing through this waterway," Mohammad Mokhber said on Thursday, according to Mehr news agency.

Explosion reported near vessel 40 nm off Abu Dhabi free port

Ambrey says a merchant vessel reported an explosion approximately 4 to 5 nm off its port side bow whilst 40.2 nm northwest of Abu Dhabi's free port.

Watch: IAF aircraft dismantled Iranian ‘MI-17’ helicopter at ‘Sanandaj’ Airport in Iran

IAF aircraft dismantled an Iranian ‘MI-17’ Helicopter at ‘Sanandaj’ Airport in Hamadan, Iran.

Kuwait says drone attack targeting oil refinery sparked fire

Kuwait said Thursday a drone attack sparked a fire at an oil refinery in the small, oil-rich nation.

The state-run KUNA news agency cited the Kuwait Petroleum Corp. for the announcement.

It said the drone attack sparked a fire at the Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery but caused no injuries.

The refinery is one of the biggest in the Middle East, with a petroleum production capacity of 730,000 barrels per day.

Iran executes three individuals arrested over January protests

Iran executed three men on Thursday convicted of killing two police officers during unrest earlier this year, state media reported, saying the sentences had been upheld by the Supreme Court.

The judiciary said the men were found guilty of murder and “Moharebeh” (waging war against God), including carrying out acts it said were in favour of Israel and the United States. The executions were carried out in the religious city of Qom.

Authorities said the three had taken part in attacks using knives and other weapons during protests on January 8, killing two police officers.

Iranian officials have repeatedly accused foreign adversaries, including Israel and the U.S., of involvement in the nationwide unrest earlier this year, which was repressed in the biggest crackdown in the Islamic Republic's history.

Saudi Aramco-Exxon refinery SAMREF in Saudi Arabia's Yanbu targeted

Oil giant Saudi Aramco's SAMREF refinery in the Red Sea port of Yanbu was targeted in an aerial attack on Thursday, an industry source said, adding there was minimal impact.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Thursday issued an evacuation warning to several oil facilities across Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar, including SAMREF, which is a joint venture between Saudi Aramco and Exxon Mobil.

Yanbu is currently the only export outlet for any crude oil out of Gulf Arab countries as Iran has effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway it shares with Oman, through which a fifth of the world's oil supply normally flows.

Saudi Aramco did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.