Day News Recap: Middle East tensions deepen as Ukraine ports hit and markets swing on commodities

Iran said the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked, even as the United States claimed control of the waterway and mediators tried to revive stalled talks, underscoring the risk of a wider confrontation. A separate report said Iranian leaders are weighing how long they can sustain the war with the United States and Israel as economic strain deepens.  🔗  🔗

Sponsored

Violence also escalated across Yemen and Lebanon. Houthi attacks killed civilians and soldiers and hit targets across Yemen and beyond, while Yemeni government forces said they repelled a Houthi assault in Taiz province. Lebanon accused Israel of strikes, incursions and demolitions in the south, saying several people were wounded and homes destroyed.  🔗  🔗  🔗

In Gaza and the West Bank, an Israeli air strike killed one person and wounded five in Beit Lahiya, and human rights groups accused the Israeli military of removing rubble across the Strip in a way that could erase evidence of war crimes. In the West Bank village of Qusra, Israeli troops entered Palestinian homes after settlers blocked access and cut utilities.  🔗  🔗  🔗

Ukraine came under renewed pressure at sea and on the rail network. Russian drone and missile strikes hit Novorossiysk grain terminals and a Black Sea naval base, while another strike sparked a fire at Izmail port in Odesa region. A Russian jet powered Shahed drone also hit a passenger train in Odesa region, killing the driver and his assistant.  🔗  🔗  🔗

Sponsored

The human cost of the war in Ukraine remained severe, with the United Nations saying at least 437 civilians were killed and 2,610 injured in July, the highest monthly death toll since May 2022. A separate UN monitoring report said civilian casualties in July were the highest since March 2022.  🔗  🔗

Elsewhere in Europe, one person died and several others were injured after an explosion at a Gunvor operated refinery and fuel terminal in Rotterdam port, and Romania shut its Cernavoda nuclear plant after record low Danube levels reduced cooling water for the reactors. In Italy, an explosion at a munitions factory in Colleferro on the outskirts of Rome was heard several kilometres away.  🔗  🔗  🔗

In the wider security and diplomacy picture, a Russian officer was killed in a bomb attack in Sevastopol, while five people died in a separate explosive device operation. Syria’s court sentenced Bashar al Assad, Maher al Assad and other former officials to death in absentia, Iraq said September 30 was the final deadline for the US led coalition to withdraw, and France and Iran traded accusations after a multinational statement condemning executions in Iran.  🔗  🔗  🔗  🔗

Other developments included the UK defending its seizure of a Russian shadow fleet tanker after Vladimir Putin threatened retaliation, calls for the UK to sanction Russian officials accused of taking Ukrainian children from occupied areas, and a class action lawsuit in Michigan by Lebanese Americans over war damage in Lebanon. NATO’s top military commander said ending US access to Shannon Airport would likely damage Ireland ties, while the Pentagon said the AUKUS submarine deal was full steam ahead and Turkiye outlined mechanisms for its new defence pact with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.  🔗  🔗  🔗  🔗  🔗  🔗

Sponsored

Further afield, the DR Congo Ebola outbreak spread to a sixth province, New Zealand said it disrupted a Chinese state linked observatory’s attempt to install satellite tracking infrastructure, Australia moved toward a A$2.5 billion bailout for Tomago Aluminium and a new law to make tech platforms pay publishers, Japan condemned Putin’s visit to the disputed Kuril Islands, and David McBride was released on parole in Canberra. The EBU also changed Eurovision hosting rules for broadcasters in states involved in armed conflict, Mali pardoned French national Yann Vezilier, and a Lithuanian van driver was jailed after smuggling cannabis through Belfast port.  🔗  🔗  🔗  🔗  🔗  🔗  🔗  🔗  🔗

#MiddleEast #Ukraine #markets #security #commodities #breakingrecap #recaprecap