**Paris (France) (AFP) – The latest developments in the Middle East war:**
— **Air defences activated in Iran: local media**
Air defences were heard in the Iranian capital Tehran on Thursday night after they were activated to counter small aircraft and drones, Iran’s Tasnim and Fars news agencies reported. Air defences were active for about 20 minutes, and the city returned to a “normal situation,” according to the news agencies.
— **US urges meeting of Israel, Lebanon leaders**
The US embassy in Lebanon called for a meeting between Lebanese and Israeli leaders as the health ministry said Israeli strikes on the country’s south killed at least 15 people despite an ongoing ceasefire. “Lebanon stands at a crossroads. Its people have a historic opportunity to reclaim their country and shape their future as a truly sovereign, independent nation,” the embassy said, adding that “the time for hesitation is over.” Trump has said he hopes to host Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “over the next couple of weeks” as the two countries prepare for direct negotiations.
— **Trump mulls US troop cuts in Italy, Spain**
President Donald Trump said Thursday he may pull US troops from Italy and Spain due to their opposition to the Iran war, a day after proposing a similar reduction in Germany. “Yeah, probably, I probably will. Why shouldn’t I?” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when asked if he would consider reducing American troop numbers in Spain and Italy too. “Italy has not been of any help to us, and Spain has been horrible, absolutely horrible,” Trump added.
— **Israel warns Iran**
Israel’s defence minister said his country may soon have to “act again” against Iran, to ensure the Islamic republic “does not once again become a threat to Israel.” “US President Donald Trump, in coordination with (Israeli) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is leading the efforts to achieve the campaign’s objectives, to ensure that Iran does not once again become a threat to Israel, the United States, and the free world in the future,” Israel Katz said, according to a statement from his office.
— **UN says Hormuz ‘strangling’ economy**
UN chief Antonio Guterres sounded the alarm over the worsening global economic impacts of the Strait of Hormuz remaining effectively closed due to the Iran war. The closure of the vital waterway is “strangling the global economy,” the secretary-general warned in remarks to the media.
— **No US presence in strait: Iran**
Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf vowed his country’s control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz would ensure a future without US presence in the area. “Today, by managing the Strait of Hormuz, Iran will provide itself and its neighbours with the precious blessing of a future free from American presence and interference,” said Ghalibaf in a post on X to mark the national “Persian Gulf” day.
— **Deadly Lebanon strike**
Israeli strikes on three south Lebanon villages killed nine people, among them two children and five women, according to Lebanon’s health ministry, nearly two weeks into a ceasefire between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah.
— **Lebanon slams Israel**
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the “continuing Israeli violations” in south Lebanon, saying they were occurring “despite the ceasefire, as do demolitions of homes and places of worship, while the number of killed and wounded rises day after day.” “Pressure must be exerted on Israel to ensure it respects international laws and conventions and ceases targeting civilians, paramedics, civil defence, and humanitarian health and relief organisations,” he added.
— **’Major energy crisis’**
The world is facing a “major energy and economic challenge” as oil prices have soared in the wake of the war in the Middle East, said International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol during a meeting on the energy transition in Paris. With the world faced with “the biggest energy crisis in history,” oil prices were “putting a lot of pressure in many countries,” he added.
— **Oil at four-year high**
Oil prices soared to four-year highs, with the US crude benchmark Brent for June delivery spiking more than seven percent to $126.41, while West Texas Intermediate was up 3.4 percent to $110.31, before later paring gains.
— **US-Germany tensions**
Trump said the United States was considering reducing its troops in Germany over Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s refusal to join Washington’s war against Iran — a force estimated between 35,000 and 50,000 troops. The threats to slash US troop numbers echo Trump’s longstanding criticisms of the NATO alliance, but Merz drew Trump’s fresh ire earlier this week after saying Tehran was “humiliating” Washington at the negotiating table.
— **EU pushes back**
Following Trump’s post, the EU said Thursday that the deployment of US troops in Europe was in Washington’s interest. “Our NATO allies are also increasing their defence spending at an unprecedented pace,” European Union spokeswoman Anitta Hipper added.
© 2024 AFP
