Latest news with #ElwelyElwelly
The Star
23-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Iran says it warned US destroyer to move away from waters monitored by Tehran
DUBAI (Reuters) -Iran warned a U.S. destroyer on Wednesday to change course after it approached waters being monitored by the Islamic Republic, leading the U.S. ship to turn away, Iranian state media reported. The U.S. Navy and U.S. Central Command, which overseas U.S. forces in the Middle East, had no immediate comment on the report. The reported incident follows U.S. strikes last month on Iranian nuclear facilities that Washington says were part of a program geared towards developing nuclear weapons. Tehran maintains that its nuclear programme is for purely civilian purposes. "U.S. destroyer 'Fitzgerald' attempted to approach waters under Iran's monitoring in a provocative move", Iranian state TV said, adding that a Navy helicopter quickly approached the destroyer and issued a stern warning to leave the area. The U.S. destroyer threatened the Iranian helicopter, but moved out of the area upon continued warning, state TV said. Iranian state media identified the vessel in question as "DDG Fitzgerald", adding the Iranian Army contacted the vessel asserting the helicopter was under its protection and asking the ship to change it direction to the south. (Reporting by Elwely Elwelly, Editing by William Maclean)
Zawya
02-07-2025
- Zawya
Iran's western and central airspace closed to international flights, ministry says
Iran's western and central airspace is closed to international transit flights for safety reasons while the country's eastern airspace is open to flights, Iran's SNN cited a spokesperson for the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development as saying on Wednesday. Internal and external flight cancellations in the northern, southern and western parts of the country have been extended until Thursday 14:00 local time, SNN added. (Reporting by Elwely Elwelly Editing by Ros Russell)
Japan Today
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Japan Today
Death toll in Iran's Bandar Abbas port blast rises to 70
Smoke rises following an explosion at the Shahid Rajaee port in Bandar Abbas, Iran, April 27, 2025. Iranian Red Crescent/WANA (West Asia News Agency) Handout via REUTERS By Elwely Elwelly The death toll from a major explosion in Iran's most important container port of Bandar Abbas rose to at least 70, with over 1,200 injured, state media said on Monday, as firefighters battled a blaze that Iranian officials said was now under control 48 hours after the start of the fire. Saturday's blast took place in the Shahid Rajaee section of the port, Iran's biggest container hub. Efforts to put out the ensuing blaze have continued since with sporadic fires breaking out due to wind and flammable goods in the containers, some releasing toxic emissions in the area, according to state media. "After putting the huge fire under control, rescue operations are underway" Iran's state media said, citing the governor of Hormozgan Province, in which Bandar Abbas is situated. "Removing containers could take up to two weeks", it added. Iran's ISNA news agency cited its interior minister Eskandar Momeni as saying national operations to confront the fire in Shahid Rajaee had ended and the management of firefighting had been handed over to local authorities. "Shortcomings in regards to not respecting security protocols have been identified and some of the individuals at fault have been summoned", Momeni said, according to state media. An initial report by the investigative committee charged with the incident found shortcomings in adherence to principles of civil defence and security. Around 22 people are missing and 22 bodies have not been identified yet, state TV cited the governor of Hormozgan as saying. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday ordered an investigation to "uncover any negligence or intent" behind the incident, an indication that authorities are not ruling out sabotage. The incident occurred as Iran began a third round of nuclear talks with the United States in Oman, but there was no indication of a link between the two events. Iran's Infrastructure Communications Company said on Monday that a large cyber attack against the country's infrastructure had been repelled a day after the blast, without providing more detail. Poor storage of chemicals in containers is suspected of having caused the explosion. A spokesperson for the crisis management organization said on Saturday that earlier warnings had highlighted potential safety risks at the port. Iran's defense ministry dismissed on Sunday international media reports suggesting the blast may be linked to the mishandling of solid fuel used for missiles. © Thomson Reuters 2025.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Factbox-The US campaign against Yemen's Houthis
By Elwely Elwelly DUBAI (Reuters) - The United States intensified strikes on Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis this year to stop attacks on Red Sea shipping, but rights activists have raised concerns over civilian casualties. Here are some facts about the U.S. campaign and a list of some of the biggest strikes. WHAT'S BEHIND THE U.S. STRIKES? The Houthis began launching their attacks on shipping routes in November 2023 as a show of support for Palestinians and Hamas over the war in Gaza. The group, which has controlled most of northern Yemen since 2014, has also launched missiles and drones towards Israel, though most of these have been downed. Under Joe Biden's administration, the United States and Britain retaliated with air strikes against Houthi targets in an effort to keep open the crucial Red Sea trading route - the path for about 15% of global shipping traffic. After Donald Trump became U.S. president in January, he decided to significantly intensify air strikes against the Houthis. The campaign came after the Houthis said they would resume attacks on Israeli ships passing through the Red Sea and Arabian Sea, the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Gulf of Aden. Washington has pledged to continue its attacks on the Houthis until they cease assaults on Red Sea shipping. Those attacks had disrupted global shipping, forcing firms to re-route on longer and more expensive journeys around southern Africa. The U.S. air campaign in Yemen follows years of strikes by a Saudi-led Arab coalition, which targeted the Houthis with U.S. help as part of its efforts to support government forces in the country's civil war. HOW HAVE THE STRIKES UNFOLDED? March 15: As Trump orders the start of a military campaign, strikes on Sanaa kill at least 31 people. March 16: Strikes continue, targeting Houthi military sites in the southwestern city of Taiz. March 17: Death toll rises to 53, according to the Houthi-run health ministry, with attacks expanding to targets in the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah. The Pentagon says the initial wave of strikes targeted over 30 sites, including training sites and senior Houthi drone experts. March 19: Strikes hit targets across Yemen including northern Saada province, the longtime heartland of the Houthi groups. March 20: Houthi-run Al Masirah TV reports at least four U.S. strikes on Hodeidah's port district. April 17: Strike hits Ras Isa fuel terminal on the Red Sea coast, killing at least 74 people, the deadliest attack since the U.S. started its campaign. April 28: Al Masirah television reports at least 68 dead from a U.S. strike on a migrant detention centre in Saada.
Zawya
24-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Lebanon receives $250mln World Bank loan to ease power problems
DUBAI - The World Bank has granted Lebanon a $250 million loan aimed at helping alleviate persistent power cuts worsened by last year's war between Israel and Hezbollah, the country's finance ministry said on Thursday. Even before the conflict, Lebanon had for years been struggling with a severe shortage of imported fuel and poor infrastructure. Following the conflict, however, the World Bank said it would need around $11 billion for reconstruction and recovery. The fighting between the Iran-backed group and Israel ended for the most part in November through a brittle ceasefire brokered by the United States, though the two sides accuse each other of failing to fully implement the deal. Lebanon had said it received preliminary approval to increase a World Bank reconstruction loan to $400 million from $250 million. The loan is part of a $1 billion reconstruction programme, with the remainder of the financing to come from international aid. (Reporting by Elwely Elwelly Editing by David Goodman and Joe Bavier)
