In the second largest oil producer among OPEC countries, people queue for fuel
Motorists formed long queues in front of gas stations in Baghdad on Saturday, as gasoline stocks dwindle in Iraq due to disruptions in imports linked to the war in the Middle East. Although the second largest oil producer among OPEC countries, Iraq imports petroleum products, its refineries not producing enough gasoline to meet domestic demand. As hostilities in the region continue, long queues have reappeared in recent weeks, mainly outside public gas stations in Baghdad and other provinces.
US ambassador says Israel 'has a responsibility' to ensure security of Palestinians in West Bank
During the same visit to the occupied West Bank, the US ambassador to Israel said the Israeli government had a responsibility to ensure the safety of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, following a surge in settler attacks. “One of the messages we have given and will continue to send is that people in these communities have the right to live in safety and that the government has a responsibility to ensure that that is the case,” said Mike Huckabee.
US ambassador to Israel calls for 'severe consequences' over West Bank violence
The American ambassador to Israel called on Saturday for “severe consequences” to end the violence in the occupied West Bank, during a meeting with American-Palestinians targeted by settler attacks. “Our message is clear, a crime is a crime, an act of terror is an act of terror. Those who commit them should expect severe consequences,” Mike Huckabee told reporters.
US ambassador says Israel does not plan forced displacement of Gaza population
The US ambassador to Israel said on Saturday that there was "no plan" to expel Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, after Israeli ministers called for emptying the territory of its two million inhabitants and transferring them abroad. “I can tell you categorically that there is no Israeli plan to expel the people of Gaza against their will,” Mike Huckabee told reporters during a visit to American citizens living in the occupied West Bank.
Iranian media report explosions near Gulf island of Kharg
Iranian media reported "several explosions" heard on Saturday near the island of Kharg, which houses the country's main oil terminal in the Gulf, against a backdrop of resumption of hostilities with the United States. The Fars agency reported “several explosions” while specifying that no smoke was visible, while the local agency SNN reported that “an Iranian tanker was targeted by the United States” near the island.
For Trump, the conflict in Iran is “not a big thing”, it’s even “nonsense”
Donald Trump once again downplayed the extent of the American military commitment against Iran on Friday. Asked in the Oval Office about the statements of his vice-president J.D. Vance, who refused the day before to describe the conflict as a “war”, the American president took up the same position. He presented the current operations as a simple “military conflict”, going so far as to describe them as “a problem” for the United States. “It’s not a big thing. We did Venezuela and we did that,” he added.
The day before, J.D. Vance had already considered that the clashes with Iran did not constitute a “war”. The vice-president also affirmed that traffic in the Strait of Hormuz had “almost” returned to normal, while maritime traffic there remains disrupted by several months of tensions and attacks.
In France, gasoline at its highest since the start of the war in Iran
Fuel prices continue to rise in France. On Friday, a liter of SP95-E10 reached 2,090 euros on average, its highest level since the start of the war in Iran at the end of February, according to an AFP calculation based on government data from 7,452 service stations. In one week, its price increased by 2.78% and it now shows an increase of 21.52% compared to February 27.
This surge comes as oil prices have started to rise again. After falling back to around $70 at the beginning of July, a barrel of Brent was trading around $95 on Friday against a backdrop of new tensions in the Middle East. Diesel fuel also remains at particularly high levels.
Israel says it has completed consolidation of its security zone in southern Lebanon
Israel claims to have completed the consolidation of its “security zone” in southern Lebanon after the capture of the Ali Taher Ridge. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz presented this operation as the culmination of control of this border sector.
According to Israeli authorities, Hezbollah had set up tunnels in this area used to carry out drone and missile attacks against Israeli army positions in southern Lebanon and against northern Israel.
