Here are the latest developments related to the war in the Middle East on Saturday:
. Iraqi oil exports via Hormuz divided by ten in April
Iraq’s oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz, a major issue in the conflict in the Middle East, were almost divided by ten in April compared to the pre-war months, the country’s new oil minister announced on Saturday.
“Iraq previously exported 93 million barrels per month through the Strait of Hormuz, but in April we only exported 10 million, because of the war,” Bassem Mohammed Khudair declared when he took office, following the formation of a new government on Thursday.
. Lebanon: new Israeli strikes despite the extension of the truce
Israel carries out new strikes on southern Lebanon on Saturday after ordering the inhabitants of nine villages to evacuate, despite the extension of a month and a half of the truce during negotiations between the two countries the day before in Washington.
“Israeli Defense Forces began striking Hezbollah infrastructure in several areas of southern Lebanon,” the Israeli army said in a statement. The Lebanese National Information Agency (official Ani) reported strikes on at least five villages in the south, preceded by an exodus of residents towards Saida, the large southern city, and Beirut.
. Modi calls for an “open and secure” Strait of Hormuz
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues a six-day tour on Saturday that will take him to Sweden, Norway and Italy. This tour illustrates India’s desire to diversify its economic and strategic partnerships, while asserting itself as a major industrial and technological center.
On Friday, during a brief visit to the United Arab Emirates, Narendra Modi called for maintaining an “open and secure” Strait of Hormuz, as his country faces the economic consequences of the conflict in the Middle East.
. The cost of debt soars with inflationary fears, oil continues to rise
Inflationary pressures returned to the center of concerns on global markets on Friday, causing a surge in interest rates and a fall in stock markets, after a meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping which did not reassure.
Oil prices also continued to rise, with a barrel of Brent from the North Sea gaining 3.35% to $109.26, and that of its American equivalent, WTI, gaining 4.20% to $105.42.
. Dubai opens its contemporary art fair, despite the war
The main contemporary art fair in the Middle East opened Friday in Dubai despite the war.
An annual meeting for the region’s art dealers and collectors, the twentieth edition of Art Dubai welcomes the public a month late, the conflict having forced the organizers to review their plans.
. Israeli army says it carried out strike in Gaza against head of Hamas’s military wing
The Israeli Defense Ministry announced Friday that it had carried out a strike in Gaza targeting the head of the armed wing of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas.
“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, the armed forces carried out a strike in Gaza targeting top terrorist Ezzedine al-Haddad, commander of Hamas’ military wing and one of the main architects of the October 7 massacre,” according to a ministry statement.
. Hezbollah claims to have targeted Israeli army barracks with drones
The pro-Iranian movement Hezbollah said in a statement on Friday that it had “targeted” an Israeli barracks located in Nahariya, in northern Israel, “with a squadron of attack drones”.
. Israel says it killed more than 220 Hezbollah fighters in a week
The Israeli army said Friday it had killed more than 220 fighters from the pro-Iranian Hezbollah movement in southern Lebanon over the past week.
. Lebanon sees extension of truce with Israel as “essential respite”
Lebanon welcomed on Friday the extension of the ceasefire with Israel for a period of 45 days, at the end of a second day of Lebanese-Israeli talks in Washington, while demanding an independent mechanism and American guarantees.
“The extension of the truce and the establishment of a security component facilitated by the United States offer an essential respite to our citizens, strengthen the institutions of the State and pave the way for lasting stability,” declared the Lebanese delegation, according to a press release shared by the Lebanese presidency.
. Lebanon announces six dead in Israeli strike
An Israeli strike on southern Lebanon killed six people on Friday, including three rescue workers affiliated with pro-Iranian Hezbollah, the Lebanese Health Ministry said. A fourth rescuer was seriously injured.
. Lebanon: a strike in Tire after an Israeli warning
An Israeli strike hit a building in the southern Lebanese city of Tire on Friday after evacuation warnings for several buildings, Lebanese state media reported.
An AFP correspondent witnessed a strike on one of the threatened buildings. A spokesperson for the Israeli army in Arabic had previously launched an “urgent warning” (…) to residents, in a message on X accompanied by a map identifying the sites that Israel was going to target.
. Lebanon: Hezbollah accused of having dragged the country into an “irresponsible” war
The Lebanese Prime Minister accused the pro-Iranian movement Hezbollah on Friday of having dragged Lebanon into a new “irresponsible” war, calling for the support of Arab countries and more broadly the international community in negotiations with Israel.
“Enough of these irresponsible adventures serving foreign projects or interests,” said Nawaf Salam, referring to Hezbollah, speaking shortly after the announcement of the extension of the ceasefire.
