War in Iran: four Israeli soldiers killed in Lebanon; power cuts in Tehran

8:29 – Two Executions in Iran

Two men convicted of belonging to a banned opposition group and conspiring to overthrow the Islamic Republic have been executed in Iran, the judiciary announced, following two other executions for similar reasons.

“Babak Alipour and Pouya Ghobadi were hanged following judicial procedures and confirmation of their sentences by the Supreme Court,” according to Mizan Online, the Iranian judiciary’s website.

The two men were found guilty of “participation in numerous terrorist acts”, belonging to the People’s Mujahedin of Iran (MEK), an exiled organization since the 1980s, and acts of sabotage aimed at overthrowing the Islamic Republic.

8:18 – Military Sites Hit in Central Iran

An Iranian media outlet reported “preliminary information” on strikes on “military sites” in central Iran, stating that the extent of the damage and the potential number of victims were unknown.

“Preliminary information indicates military sites in Isfahan were targeted,” said Akbar Salehi, a security official in the governor’s office of the province, cited by the Fars news agency.

8:16 – Two Chinese Ships Crossed the Strait of Hormuz

Two container ships belonging to the Chinese shipping giant Cosco successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, according to Marine Traffic data.

The CSCL Indian Ocean crossed the strait early in the morning, followed by the CSCL Arctic Ocean 27 minutes later, heading towards Port Klang, Malaysia.

6:30 – Indonesia Urges Respect for International Law

Indonesia has urged belligerent parties in the Middle East to “respect international humanitarian law” after three of its peacekeepers were killed in two separate attacks in Lebanon.

“The safety of peacekeeping forces must be the top priority. All parties to the conflict are urgently requested to respect international humanitarian law and ensure the safety of peacekeeping personnel,” said Rico Ricardo Sirait, a spokesperson for the Indonesian defense ministry.

6:25 – Four Israeli Soldiers Killed in Lebanon

The Israeli army announced the deaths of four soldiers in the “incident” in southern Lebanon, bringing the total number of its soldiers killed since the resumption of hostilities with Hezbollah on March 2 to 10.

Three soldiers from a reconnaissance brigade were identified as killed “in combat” on Monday, and a fourth soldier was killed, with their names not immediately released to the public. “One soldier was also seriously wounded, and one reservist slightly injured in the incident,” the same source added.

6:15 – Emergency UN Meeting after Peacekeepers’ Deaths

The UN Security Council is set to convene urgently today following the deaths of three Indonesian peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, a region of clashes between Israel and the pro-Iranian Hezbollah movement. France called for this meeting, which will start at 10:00 AM (14:00 GMT), as Israel ordered its army to expand the “security zone” in Lebanon, where it conducts massive strikes and a deep ground incursion.