The Iran war and wider Middle East tensions intensified on Saturday, with fresh developments reported across the region. Iran accused Qatar of holding three pilots who went missing after their aircraft were downed, a claim Doha rejected. Meanwhile, a tanker operated by Abu Dhabi’s state owned oil company was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, while Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon killed at least 11 people and the Iran-backed Houthis attacked a Red Sea port in Yemen.
Is Qatar Holding Three Iranian Pilots?
Iran’s Armed Forces General Staff said Qatar was holding three Iranian pilots who went missing in March after their jets were downed. Tehran asked the International Committee of the Red Cross to help establish contact with the pilots and their families. Qatar denied the allegation. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari said the country’s search-and-rescue teams had recovered the remains of one of the pilots and that Iran had been invited to review the findings in April.
Iran had previously said it had no information about the missing pilots. Tehran also said a fourth pilot was killed during the mission.
Was A Tanker Attacked In The Strait Of Hormuz?
A tanker operated by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) was attacked while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, according to UAE state news agency WAM. No injuries were reported. The UAE said the incident was the third attack on an ADNOC-operated vessel in the waterway within a week and called on Iran to stop what it described as unprovoked attacks.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations centre separately reported that a bulk carrier was struck by an unknown projectile on Friday, although it was not immediately clear whether the two incidents involved the same vessel.
How Many People Were Killed In Israeli Strikes In Southern Lebanon?
At least 11 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry and state media. One strike on a home near Ansar killed seven people, including three children, while another strike in Deir al-Zahrani killed four people and injured 17. The Israeli military said it had targeted a Hezbollah battalion commander and other militants at a headquarters in the area. Israel said the commander’s family members were present but were not the intended targets. The strikes came amid a fragile arrangement between Israel and Lebanon concerning Israeli forces and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
Did The Houthis Attack A Red Sea Port In Yemen?
The Iran-backed Houthis attacked the government-held Red Sea port of Mokha in Yemen, according to Yemeni military officials. The attack killed at least three people, including two marines, and forced the suspension of port operations. Yemeni military spokesperson Col Majed al-Nazili said the Houthis fired six ballistic missiles.
The latest attack comes amid renewed tensions between the Houthis, Yemen’s internationally recognised government and regional powers, raising concerns about further escalation in the region.
