Latest news with #Iran-aligned
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
2 hours ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Russia increases seaborne fuel oil exports to India, Turkey in May
Oil prices fell to four-year lows as an Opec+ decision to expedite its output hikes stoked fears about rising global supply at a time when the demand outlook is uncertain Reuters MOSCOW Russia increased seaborne fuel oil and vacuum gasoil exports to India and Turkey in May as falling oil product prices attracted buyers, while the hot summer season required more fuel for energy production, trade and shipping data showed. Oil prices fell to four-year lows as an Opec+ decision to expedite its output hikes stoked fears about rising global supply at a time when the demand outlook is uncertain. Since the European Union's full embargo on Russian oil products went into effect in February 2023, Asian countries have become the main destination for Russia's fuel oil and VGO supplies. According to LSEG data, dirty oil products loadings from Russian ports to India almost doubled last month from April to 0.6 million metric tons. India imports straight-run fuel oil and VGO from Russia as a cheaper alternative to Urals crude oil in its refinery feedstock pool. Meanwhile, India's Reliance Industries and Nayara Energy imported 37% and 3% less Russian oil last month, respectively, than in April. Russia's seaborne fuel oil and vacuum gasoil exports to Turkey rose 75% month-on-month in May to 0.43 million tons, shipping data shows. Saudi Arabia was the main importer of Russian seaborne fuel oil last month, though loadings fell 17% from April to 0.7 million tons. The country has turned to importing more discounted Russian fuel oil for summer since 2023 as its prices declined following an EU embargo on the import of oil products from Russia. Singapore and China were also among the other top destinations for Russian fuel oil and VGO export supplies in May, according to LSEG data. Meanwhile, Russia's fuel oil supplies to Asia via the African Cape of Good Hope fell in May to around 85,000 tons, the lowest level since the start of the year. Traders have been diverting Russian oil products cargoes around Africa since December 2023 to avoid the Red Sea due to a heightened risk of attacks by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group. The escalation of military strikes between Iran and Israel could also force shipowners to avoid the Red Sea routes on their way to Asian countries. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Iraqi News
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Iraqi News
Iraq's Kataib Hezbollah threatens US bases, Strait of Hormuz if US joins Iran-Israel war
Baghdad ( – The spokesperson for Kataib Hezbollah in Iraq, Abu Ali Al-Askari, issued a series of direct threats on Thursday (June 19, 2025), warning of severe consequences should the United States join Israel in the ongoing war with Iran. In a statement, Al-Askari declared that if Washington enters the conflict, the American bases in the region will become like duck hunting grounds. He further threatened the closure of two of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints: the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. Al-Askari also warned that oil ports along the Red Sea will stop working, and hinted at unexpected surprises that may await their planes in the sky. He stated that operational plans have been prepared and claimed that if the US intervenes, the crazy Trump will lose all the trillions he dreams of seizing from this region.' This declaration from a powerful Iran-aligned Iraqi militia significantly raises the stakes of the regional conflict, threatening to disrupt global energy supplies and directly target US military assets if the war expands.
The South African
a day ago
- Politics
- The South African
Here's where the US has military BASES in the Middle East
The United States has thousands of troops deployed on bases across the Middle East, a region in which Washington's forces have carried out repeated military operations in recent decades. Israel launched an unprecedented air campaign against Iran last week, and US President Donald Trump has said he is weighing whether to join Israel in the fight. US involvement in the conflict would likely result in attacks by Tehran on American troops in the region, who were already targeted by Iran-aligned forces in the course of the Israel-Hamas war. Below, a look at countries with major concentrations of US forces in the Middle East, which falls under the US military's Central Command (CENTCOM). The tiny Gulf kingdom hosts an installation known as Naval Support Activity Bahrain, where the US Navy's Fifth Fleet and US Naval Forces Central Command headquarters are based. Bahrain's deep-water port can accommodate the largest US military vessels, such as aircraft carriers, and the US Navy has used the base in the country since 1948, when the facility was operated by Britain's Royal Navy. Several US ships have their home port in Bahrain, including four anti-mine vessels and two logistical support ships. The US Coast Guard also has vessels in the country, including six fast response cutters. The United States has troops at various installations in Iraq, including Al-Asad and Arbil air bases. The Iraqi government is a close ally of Iran, but also a strategic partner of Tehran's arch-foe the United States. There are some 2 500 US troops in Iraq as part of the international coalition against the Islamic State jihadist group. Baghdad and Washington have agreed on a timetable for the gradual withdrawal of the coalition's forces from the country. US forces in Iraq and Syria were repeatedly targeted by pro-Iran militants following the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023, but responded with heavy strikes on Tehran-linked targets, and the attacks largely subsided. Kuwait has several US bases, including Camp Arifjan, the location of the forward headquarters for the US Army component of CENTCOM. The US Army also has stocks of prepositioned materiel in the country. Ali al-Salem Air Base hosts the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, the 'primary airlift hub and gateway for delivering combat power to joint and coalition forces' in the region. Additionally, the United States has drones including MQ-9 Reapers in Kuwait. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar includes the forward components of CENTCOM, as well as of its air forces and special operation forces in the region. It also hosts rotating combat aircraft, as well as the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, which includes 'airlift, aerial refueling intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, and aeromedical evacuation assets.' The United States has for years maintained troop presences at a series of installations in Syria as part of international efforts against the Islamic State group, which rose out of the country's civil war to overrun large parts of Syria and neighboring Iraq. The Pentagon announced in April that it would roughly halve the number of its forces in the country to less than 1 000 in the coming months as part of a 'consolidation' of US troops in the country. Al Dahfra Air Base in the UAE hosts the US 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, a force that is composed of 10 squadrons of aircraft and also includes drones such as MQ-9 Reapers. Combat aircraft have rotated through Al Dhafra, which also hosts the Gulf Air Warfare Center for air and missile defence training. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news. By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse
Iraqi News
a day ago
- Politics
- Iraqi News
Iraq among key US military bases in Middle East amid rising tensions
Washington – The United States has thousands of troops deployed on bases across the Middle East, a region in which Washington's forces have carried out repeated military operations in recent decades. Israel launched an unprecedented air campaign against Iran last week, and US President Donald Trump has said he is weighing whether to join Israel in the fight. US involvement in the conflict would likely result in attacks by Tehran on American troops in the region, who were already targeted by Iran-aligned forces in the course of the Israel-Hamas war. Below, AFP examines countries with major concentrations of US forces in the Middle East, which falls under the US military's Central Command (CENTCOM). – Bahrain – The tiny Gulf kingdom hosts an installation known as Naval Support Activity Bahrain, where the US Navy's Fifth Fleet and US Naval Forces Central Command headquarters are based. Bahrain's deep-water port can accommodate the largest US military vessels, such as aircraft carriers, and the US Navy has used the base in the country since 1948, when the facility was operated by Britain's Royal Navy. Several US ships have their home port in Bahrain, including four anti-mine vessels and two logistical support ships. The US Coast Guard also has vessels in the country, including six fast response cutters. – Iraq – The United States has troops at various installations in Iraq, including Al-Asad and Arbil air bases. The Iraqi government is a close ally of Iran, but also a strategic partner of Tehran's arch-foe the United States. There are some 2,500 US troops in Iraq as part of the international coalition against the Islamic State jihadist group. Baghdad and Washington have agreed on a timetable for the gradual withdrawal of the coalition's forces from the country. US forces in Iraq and Syria were repeatedly targeted by pro-Iran militants following the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023, but responded with heavy strikes on Tehran-linked targets, and the attacks largely subsided. – Kuwait – Kuwait has several US bases, including Camp Arifjan, the location of the forward headquarters for the US Army component of CENTCOM. The US Army also has stocks of prepositioned materiel in the country. Ali al-Salem Air Base hosts the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, the 'primary airlift hub and gateway for delivering combat power to joint and coalition forces' in the region. Additionally, the United States has drones including MQ-9 Reapers in Kuwait. – Qatar – Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar includes the forward components of CENTCOM, as well as of its air forces and special operation forces in the region. It also hosts rotating combat aircraft, as well as the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, which includes 'airlift, aerial refueling intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, and aeromedical evacuation assets.' – Syria – The United States has for years maintained troop presences at a series of installations in Syria as part of international efforts against the Islamic State group, which rose out of the country's civil war to overrun large parts of Syria and neighboring Iraq. The Pentagon announced in April that it would roughly halve the number of its forces in the country to less than 1,000 in the coming months as part of a 'consolidation' of US troops in the country. – United Arab Emirates – Al Dahfra Air Base in the UAE hosts the US 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, a force that is composed of 10 squadrons of aircraft and also includes drones such as MQ-9 Reapers. Combat aircraft have rotated through Al Dhafra, which also hosts the Gulf Air Warfare Center for air and missile defense training.
Roya News
a day ago
- Politics
- Roya News
Top Houthi military commander survives 'Israeli' assassination attempt: Hebrew media
Muhammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari, the Iran-aligned Houthi's Chief of General Staff, survived an 'Israeli' assassination attempt but sustained serious injuries, the 'Israeli' Public Broadcasting Corporation (Kan News) reported. The 'Israeli' air force reportedly launched a targeted strike Saturday night on the Yemeni capital Sanaa, aiming to kill al-Ghamari, a top-ranking military official in the Houthi leadership. While Hebrew Channel 12 confirmed the airstrike was intended to eliminate al-Ghamari, it stopped short of providing full details on the operation's outcome. However, Kan said later the Houthi official was injured but survived. Meanwhile, Axios cited an 'Israeli' official who described the operation as part of broader efforts to counter Iranian influence in the region, noting that al-Ghamari was considered the Houthis' highest-ranking military commander. Who is Mohammed al-Ghamari? Al-Ghamari serves as the Chief of General Staff for Houthi forces and is regarded as one of the group's most senior and influential military leaders. He joined the movement in 2013 and has led operations on key fronts, including Saada and Hodeidah.
