Welcome to our live blog following the latest news out of the Middle East as the Iran war enters its 11th day.
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Iran fired barrages of drones targeting neighbouring Saudi Arabia and Kuwait early on Tuesday, according to officials in both countries.
The Saudi Defence Ministry says it intercepted drones aerially over its oil-rich eastern region, while Kuwait says its National Guard struck some down in northern and southern areas.
The attack comes after US President Donald Trump sent contradictory messages about how long the war is expected to last. Speaking in Florida on Monday, Trump assured Republican lawmakers that the “excursion into the Middle East” to “get rid of some evil” will end “very soon”.
Speaking later at a separate event, the Republican president noted that the war in Iran will continue as long as it needs to, and will only end when all of Washington’s objectives are met. His comments have fuelled uncertainty in an already turbulent global economic climate, causing markets to swing.
Trump also claimed – without providing evidence – that Tehran was “looking to take over the Middle East”, defending the US’ campaign in Tehran as necessary to protect Washington’s allies and interests in the region.
Follow our live blog for the latest updates from our journalists in the region and worldwide.
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7:50 GMT+1
Israel announces new attacks on Hezbollah’s financial arm
The Israeli military said on Tuesday it had completed a series of strikes targeting Hezbollah’s financial arm, al-Qard Al-Hasan.
The IDF said in a post on X that the Iran-backed group uses the financial institution to fund its military activities, purchase weapons and pay terrorist salaries.
Israel targeted several of the group’s branches in southern and eastern Lebanon on Monday and last week.
7:47 GMT+1
UAE lowers volume on missile alerts at night
The United Arab Emirates says it will lower the volume of missile alerts sent to mobile phones in the overnight hours.
The UAE’s National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority made the announcement late night on Monday, saying that the loud blaring alarm would sound on phones from 9 am until 10:30 pm local time.
A standard text message chime would sound from 10:30 pm until 9 am, it said.
The blaring klaxon had sounded in the middle of the night since the US and Israel fired the war’s opening salvo on the 28th of February.
The change in the alerts signals how Gulf Arab states are trying to adjust to the idea of the war grinding on, as there’s no immediate sign of an end to the fighting.
7:45 GMT+1
Egypt hikes fuel prices as crude prices continue to soar amid war
Egypt hiked fuel prices by up to 17% on Tuesday as the war in Iran sent prices of crude soaring.
According to the Petroleum Ministry, the cost of a litre of diesel, which is heavily relied on for public transport, increased by more than 17%. The price of the 92-octane gasoline rose by 15% and 95-octane gasoline increased by 14%, hitting the North African country hard.
The most populous Arab country, Egypt depends heavily on imported fuel. The Egyptian pound fell to a record low, trading at over 52 against the US dollar on Monday in response to the crisis.
To mitigate impact of the war, the government announced a series of measures, including reducing official overseas trips and tightening fuel consumption across sectors.
7:42 GMT+1
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard say they will determine the end of the war
Tehran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard Corps said on Tuesday that the end of the war will be determined only by Iran.
Spokesperson Ali Mohammad Naini said in a statement published in various Iranian state-run media outlets. The remarks come in an apparent response to Trump’s comments on Monday, where he offered contradictory information on when Washington may seek to end its war.
7:40 GMT+1
Trump vows to hit Iran back harder if it stops oil tankers
The US president vowed aggressive action against Iran if it continues to block the shipment of oil in the Strait of Hormuz, further destabilising already volatile energy prices.
“If Iran does anything that stops the flow of Oil within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States of America TWENTY TIMES HARDER than they have been hit thus far,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“Additionally, we will take out easily destroyable targets that will make it virtually impossible for Iran to ever be built back, as a Nation, again — Death, Fire, and Fury will reign upon them — But I hope, and pray, that it does not happen!”
The Republican president said his threat was a “gift” to China, among other nations, because it relies on oil from the Middle East.
7:37 GMT+1
Trump says war in Iran will end ‘very soon’
US President Donald Trump said late on Monday that he expects the war in Iran to end very soon, but declined to provide any indication as to when that might be.
His comments came as he addressed Republican lawmakers who convened in Florida, assuring them that Washington’s “excursion” into the Middle East will only be “short term” and boasting about the US military’s “tremendous success”.
Speaking at a later event, Trump offered a contradictory tone, telling reporters that the war will only end when all of Washington’s objectives are met, as he claimed, without providing evidence, that Tehran was plotting to “take over the Middle East”.
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