The Bahrain Defence Force General Command has announced that its air defence systems have successfully intercepted and destroyed 92 missiles and 151 unmanned aerial vehicles from Iran targeting the kingdom since the onset of this aggression on February 28.
Saudi Arabia has told Tehran that continued Iranian attacks on the kingdom and its energy sector could push Riyadh to respond in kind, Reuters said quoting people familiar with the matter.
US President Donald Trump has rejected any negotiations with Iran and raised the possibility that the Iran war would only end once Tehran no longer has a functioning military or any remaining leadership in power.
Israeli forces expanded their bombardment of Iran overnight, striking fuel depots near Tehran as fighting escalated on day nine of the Middle East conflict, while Iranian officials moved closer to naming a new supreme leader despite Israeli threat to kill any replacement for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said a report.
Iran said it would halt attacks on neighbouring Gulf states and apologised for recent strikes on the region, even as missile and drone attacks continued to be reported hours later, underlining the fragile security situation as the war with Israel entered its second week.
The US will provide reinsurance covering up to $20 billion in potential losses in the Gulf region to bolster confidence among oil and gas shippers during the conflict with Iran, reported Reuters citing the US International Development Finance Corporation.
Saudi Arabia has announced that a cruise missile was intercepted and destroyed east of Al-Kharj Governorate.
Attacks on commercial shipping in the Gulf intensified on Thursday as the war between the US and Iran escalated, raising concerns about disruptions to energy supplies from one of the world’s most critical oil transit routes. Nine vessels have come under attack since the conflict broke out on Saturday.
The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz following the outbreak of the Iran conflict, is likely to be temporary given its vital economic role. This, alongside global oil market oversupply, should limit oil price rises and mitigate any potential disruptions to Iranian oil supply, said an industry expert.
India's GAIL said it will assess curbing supplies to natural gas customers after a force majeure notice from long-term supplier Petronet LNG over constraints on vessels as conflict escalates in the Middle East.
