War in the Middle East: latest developments
Here are the latest developments in the Middle East war:
- Israel strikes car near Beirut -
An Israeli strike targeted a car on a major highway linking Beirut to southern Lebanon, state media reported, despite a truce in the war between Israel and Hezbollah.
The attack took place in the Jiyeh area, about 20 kilometres (12 miles) south of the capital, Lebanon's National News Agency said.
- China urges Pakistan to step up -
China's top diplomat urged Pakistan to step up mediation efforts between Iran and the United States, and help to "properly" address the reopening of the Hormuz strait, Chinese state media said.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke to his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar on a call, state news agency Xinhua reported, ahead of US President Donald Trump's visit to Beijing.
- Israeli strikes kill 13 in Lebanon -
Israel hammered south Lebanon with more strikes Tuesday, killing 13 people in the south, including two rescuers responding to an earlier raid in the city of Nabatieh and a wounded person they went to save, Lebanon's health ministry said.
Beirut reported 380 people had been killed in intensified Israeli attacks since an April 17 ceasefire took effect and Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem vowed to turn the battlefield into "hell" for Israeli forces.
- Iran's missile capabilities -
The New York Times reported Tuesday that classified US intelligence assessments say Iran still has substantial missile capabilities -- with about 70 percent of its mobile launchers and pre-war missile stockpile still in action -- and has restored access to 30 of 33 missile sites along the Strait of Hormuz.
- Australian shipping defence -
Defence Minister Richard Marles said Australia will join a "strictly defensive" mission led by France and Britain to secure shipping through the strait, once it is established, and contribute a surveillance aircraft to protect the United Arab Emirates from Iranian drone attacks.
- Oil prices climb -
Oil prices climbed over the impasse in US-Iran talks that has left the Strait of Hormuz mostly closed to oil tanker traffic.
The price of international benchmark Brent North Sea crude rose 3.4 percent to $107.77 a barrel and the main US contract, West Texas Intermediate, was up 4.2 percent, at $102.18 a barrel.
- Iran dismisses Kuwait claims -
Iran labelled as "absolutely baseless" an accusation made by Kuwait that four Iranian officers attempted to infiltrate Bubiyan, the Gulf country's largest island, saying they entered Kuwaiti waters because of disruption to navigational systems.
The foreign ministry said it strongly condemned the "improper action" of the Kuwaiti government in exploiting the case for propaganda.
- Trump on Xi -
US President Donald Trump insisted he does not need help from China on ending the war with Iran but said he "would have a long talk about it" with Xi Jinping when they meet this week.
But he added: "We have a lot of things to discuss. I wouldn't say Iran is one of them, to be honest with you, because we have Iran very much under control."
- US inflation spikes -
Consumer inflation in the US hit a three-year high in April, with the economic fallout of Trump's Iran war rippling through the world's largest economy.
The consumer price index (CPI) rose 3.8 percent year-on-year, up from March's 3.3 percent figure, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) said.
- Pentagon ups cost estimate -
The Pentagon said the cost of the war with Iran had climbed to nearly $29 billion, as Trump faced mounting scrutiny over the conflict.
The new figure, revealed by the defence ministry during a budget hearing on Capitol Hill, is about $4 billion higher than the estimate offered by Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth two weeks ago.
burs-giv/rlp
