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US urges commercial ships to avoid Gulf after US, Israel attack Iran
WASHINGTON: The US Transportation Department urged commercial vessels Saturday to stay away from the Gulf after the US and Israel launched heavy bombing attacks on Iran.
The Strait of Hormuz, Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea are subject to "significant military activity" and "it is recommended that vessels keep clear of this area if possible," the department's Maritime Administration said in a statement.
US-flagged, owned or crewed ships should also stay 30 nautical miles from any US military vessel to avoid being mistaken as a threat, it said. — AFP
UK calls on Iran to ‘end this now’
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says that while the U.K. didn’t participate in the attack on Iran, its planes provided air defense for its people and allies in the region.
“We’ve stepped up protections from British bases and personnel to their highest level,” Starmer said.
He didn’t comment on the attacks by the U.S. and Israel, but condemned Iran’s response that included strikes on many Middle East allies.
The Iranian leadership is “utterly abhorrent,” has killed its own people and destabilized the region and should never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon, Starmer said.
He urged de-escalation and a return to negotiations to achieve peace and protect civilians.
“Iran can end this now,” he said. “They should refrain from further strikes, give up their weapons program and cease the appalling violence and repression against the Iranian people.” — AP
Drone targets Kuwait’s main airport
Kuwait’s civil aviation authority says a drone has targeted the capital’s main international airport and wounded several employees and caused material damage.
Abdullah Rajhi, spokesman of the civil aviation authority, says the damage is being assessed and repair work is ongoing.
He says that emergency measures are being taken, adding that the situation is under control. — AP
Pakistan condemns attacks on Iran and retaliatory
Pakistan has condemned Israeli and U.S. attacks on Iran and also denounced Iranian strikes against Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
The Pakistani foreign ministry said in a statement that the attacks on Iran came “at a time when diplomatic efforts were underway to reach a peaceful and negotiated solution” and warned that such actions could undermine regional peace and stability with far-reaching consequences.
The ministry also condemned the death of a Pakistani national in the UAE during the attacks.
Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has spoken with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Sharif said that Pakistan will “always stand with its Saudi brothers and sisters, at all times to come, and under all circumstances.”
Explosion at Dubai landmark The Palm: Witnesses
DUBAI: Two witnesses told AFP they heard an explosion and saw a plume of smoke rising from Dubai's famed man-made island The Palm as authorities reported four injured.
The attack came as Iran carried out retaliatory strikes in the oil-rich Gulf following US and Israeli attacks -- rattling a region long seen as a haven of peace and security.
One of the witnesses said he saw thick black smoke rising from a hotel on the Palm and heard ambulances rushing towards the scene.
The Dubai media office later confirmed an "incident" in a building in the Palm Jumeirah area that resulted in a fire and four people injured.
"Dubai Civil Defence has confirmed that the resulting fire is now under control. Four individuals sustained injuries and have been transferred to medical facilities," it added.
The incident targeting a Dubai landmark shocked residents, and was followed by several bangs heard by Dubai residents and AFP correspondents in the city.
Roughly 90 percent of the UAE's population consists of foreigners and Dubai is its most populated city, long associated with opulence and glamour.
Iran launched strikes on all the oil-rich Gulf countries except for Oman, a mediator in the US-Iran talks. — AFP
Iran closes all universities until further orders: State media
TEHRAN: Iran announced on Saturday the closure of all universities until further notice after Israel and the United States launched strikes against the Islamic republic.
"The Minister of Science announced the closure of universities across the country until further notice," the official IRNA news agency reported. — AFP
Dozens of missiles fired at Israel by Iran
The Israeli military say that that “dozens” of missiles have been fired by Iran at Israel.
While many have been intercepted and no serious injuries have been reported, the missile barrages were continuing after sundown. Israel’s military chief gave an address on national television, warning that the defenses aren’t “hermetic” and the public should obey safety instructions and remain vigilant. — AP
Leading Democrat denounces US strikes on Iran
U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia has questioned whether President Donald Trump has learned anything “from decades of U.S. meddling in Iran and forever wars in the Middle East.”
Kaine has spearheaded bipartisan war powers resolutions to limit Trump’s military interventions abroad.
“For months, I have raised hell about the fact that the American people want lower prices, not more war — especially wars that aren’t authorized by Congress, as required by the Constitution, and don’t have a clear objective,” Kaine said in a statement.
“These strikes are a colossal mistake, and I pray they do not cost our sons and daughters in uniform and at embassies throughout the region their lives,” he said.
Kaine also called for the U.S. Senate to “immediately return” to the Capitol and vote on whether to authorize or limit U.S. strikes against Iran. — AP