Iran's foreign minister accuses US of giving Israel 'green light' to attack consulate in Syria
Iranโs foreign minister has accused the United States of giving Israel the โgreen lightโ for a strike on its consulate building in Syria that killed seven Iranian military officials, including two generals.
Amid crisis, Hezbollah 'bank' a lifeline for some Lebanese
As more Lebanese fall into poverty in the country's economic crisis, increasing numbers are turning to the financial arm of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group for help. He could still pull out the dollars in his account at the al-Qard al-Hasan Association, the financial arm of the militant Hezbollah group. Stepping in where the state and financial institutions have failed, Hezbollah is providing a vital lifeline for some Lebanese. Over the past year, the al-Qard al-Hasan association has seen a significant increase in clients, despite it being under U.S. Treasury sanctions since 2007. That has proven a boon for the al-Qard al-Hasan association, as some turned to it as an alternative to store their cash.
Rally in Baghdad marks 1 year since Iran general's killing
Thousands of Iraqis converged on a landmark central square in Baghdad on Sunday to commemorate the anniversary of the killing of Soleimanil and al-Muhandis in a U.S. drone strike. Sunday's rally was being held amid heightened tensions between Iran and the U.S. in the final days of President Donald Trumpโs administration. Their killing dramatically ratcheted up tensions in the region and brought the U.S. and Iran to the brink of war. In Yemen, Iranโs embassy in the rebel-controlled capital, Sanaa, held a ceremony commemorating the killing of Soleimani and al-Muhandis. โThis ceremony today shows the deep ties between the two governments and people of Yemen and Iran,โ he said.
Iraq says it has dismantled mine on tanker in Persian Gulf
BAGHDAD โ Iraq's military on Saturday said explosives experts with its naval forces successfully dismantled a mine that was discovered stuck to an oil tanker in the Persian Gulf two days earlier. The announcement came a day after Iraq confirmed reports by private security firms that a mine had been discovered attached to the side of a tanker rented from Iraq's Oil Marketing Company, known as SOMO, as it was refueling another vessel. Iraq has not provided further details, but the two private security firms said the discovery was likely a limpet mine on the MT Pola, a Liberian-flagged tanker. Soleimani headed Iran's Revolutionary Guardโs elite Quds Force, responsible for the Islamic Republicโs foreign operations and frequently shuttling between Iraq, Lebanon and Syria. His assassination dramatically ratcheted up tensions in the region and brought the U.S. and Iran to the brink of war.
Under pressure, Iran admits it shot down jetliner by mistake
TEHRAN โ In the face of mounting evidence, Iran on Saturday acknowledged that it shot down the Ukrainian jetliner by accident, killing all 176 people aboard. Iran had promised harsh revenge after Soleimani's death, but instead of killing American soldiers, its forces downed a civilian plane in which most passengers were Iranian. On Saturday night, hundreds gathered at universities in Tehran to protest the government's late acknowledgement of the plane being shot down. Zelenskiy said the crash investigation should continue and the โperpetratorsโ should be brought to justice. Iran has invited Ukraine, Canada, the United States and France to take part in the investigation of the crash, in keeping with international norms.
Airplane carrying 176 passengers and crew crashes in Tehran, Iranian state TV reports
TEHRAN, Iran โ Iranian state TV is reporting a Ukrainian airplane carrying 176 people has crashed near an airport in the capital, Tehran. There is no immediate word on casualties. The state TV report says the crash Wednesday morning is suspected to have been caused by mechanical issues. A civil aviation spokesman says an investigation team was at the site of the crash in southwestern outskirts of Tehran. The crash came hours after Iran launched a ballistic missile attack targeting two bases in Iraq housing U.S. forces in retaliation for the killing of Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani.
Missiles fired at Iraqi airbases housing US troops, President Trump set to make statement about attack on Wednesday
TEHRAN, Iran โ President Donald Trump insisted โAll is well!โ on Tuesday after Iran fired surface-to-surface missiles at two Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops. Missiles launched from Iran at two military bases located in Iraq. Trump and his advisers are under pressure to disclose more details about the intelligence that led to the U.S. strike. Trump said Tuesday that his decision saved American lives and that members of Congress will get a briefing on the reasons for the U.S. attack. Hours later, Iran struck back, firing the missiles at bases housing U.S. troops and warning the United States and its allies in the region not to retaliate.