Cargo vessel hit by ‘unknown projectile’ in Strait of Hormuz: UKMTOUnited Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) says it has received a report of an incident in the Strait of Hormuz where a verified source reported a cargo vessel that was struck by an “unknown projectile”.
https://aje.news/q9irgt?update=4548006Greece opens investigation into Israel Katz following complaint by Hind Rajab FoundationGreek lawyers appeared in court today to testify and submit evidence against Israel Katz, Israel’s current minister of defence.
This comes a few months after the Hind Rajab Foundation, an organisation that takes legal action against individuals accused of war crimes in Gaza, filed a formal complaint against Katz with Greek lawyers on January 21.
The Hind Rajab Foundation said in a statement that “the complaint was submitted in connection with Katz’s visit to Greece and set out allegations relating to his potential responsibility under international law.”
It adds, “The complainants allege that Katz may bear responsibility, both as a participant and an instigator, for conduct allegedly amounting to serious international crimes, including war crimes, torture, crimes against humanity, and genocide, in connection with the ongoing situation in Gaza.”
The foundation said that another reason why this case is happening in Greece is because of a complaint filed by a Global Sumud Flotilla member last October, when “Greek citizens on board were forcibly seized and unlawfully detained.”
https://aje.news/q9irgt?update=4547494Iraq’s PM-designate offers to help mediate between Iran, USIraqi Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi says he has spoken by phone with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and offered to join US-Iran mediation efforts.
In a statement on his official X account, al-Zaidi said he conveyed “Iraq’s position in support of the diplomatic path and the adoption of dialogue to resolve disputes and contain crises, affirming Iraq’s ability to contribute to a mediating role between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America.”
(anon's note: al-Zaidi's PM position is the result of U.S. pressure to prevent al-Maliki from becoming PM of Iraq again)https://aje.news/q9irgt?update=4547421IRGC tells vessels only to transit Hormuz through routes it approvesThe IRGC Navy has issued a statement warning vessels against transiting the Strait of Hormuz via any routes it has not authorised, saying they will face a “decisive response”.
“We warn all vessels that intend to transit the strait, the only safe route… is the corridor previously announced by Iran,” said the statement, carried by Iran’s Fars news agency. “The diversion of vessels to other routes is unsafe and will face a decisive response from the IRGC Navy.”
https://aje.news/q9irgt?update=4547402CENTCOM says ‘Project Freedom’ has ‘just begun’A CENTCOM spokesperson has told our colleagues at Al Jazeera Arabic that the US military’s “Project Freedom” for the Strait of Hormuz is “temporary” operation that is creating a “safe corridor” and “security umbrella” over the waterway.
The spokesperson said that ship owners and insurance companies have responded positively to the operation, which has “just begun”.
It is aimed at ensuring commercial ships can pass the strait safely, to benefit global and regional economies, added the spokesperson.
https://aje.news/q9irgt?update=4547444Trump says ‘Project Freedom’ paused temporarily as Iran talks advanceTrump has announced that the US military operation guiding ships through the Strait of Hormuz will be paused for a short period, citing a request from Pakistan and progress towards a final agreement with Iran, though he insisted that the US naval blockade will remain fully in effect.
https://aje.news/q9irgt?update=4548456Lebanon’s president ‘welcomes’ European troops in southern Lebanon after UNIFIL exitLebanon’s President Joseph Aoun has said he is open to France and other European countries keeping troops in southern Lebanon after the departure of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), whose mission is due to end later this year.
In comments shared by the Lebanese presidency on X, Aoun said Lebanon “welcomes the willingness of France and other European countries to keep their forces in the south after the beginning of the withdrawal of UNIFIL, in order to help the Lebanese army maintain security and stability, provided that the framework under which these forces will operate is defined in consultation with the concerned countries and the United Nations”.
(anon's note: Lebanon is a former French colony)https://aje.news/q9irgt?update=4547327Spirit Airlines lawyer says high jet fuel prices left carrier no alternative but shutdownA lawyer for defunct Spirit Airlines says that higher jet fuel prices left “no remaining way out” of bankruptcy and forced the budget carrier’s shutdown as it seeks approval for an expedited plan to sell off assets and pay retention bonuses to remaining employees.
Marshall Huebner, a lawyer for the airline, said at a US Bankruptcy Court hearing that the airline learned on Thursday afternoon that the government financing initiative would not be proceeding, and apologised to customers on behalf of the carrier.
The Trump administration last month proposed a $500m bailout to help Spirit exit bankruptcy.
https://aje.news/q9irgt?update=4547288Iran will not tolerate UAE being an ‘Israeli proxy’ in the GulfMohammad Eslami, a research fellow at Tehran University, says the UAE has “decided to be a kind of Israel proxy” and Iranians will not tolerate it.
The UAE finds itself increasingly isolated in the Gulf, and the United States should rethink its military and diplomatic strategies in the region, Eslami said.
“Right now, the Emiratis are in many different conflicts, not only with the Iranians but also with the Saudis, with Qatar and also with Oman,” he said.
“The global economy is bleeding. This is a fact. So the Americans should think more about their lack of strategy regarding this war.”
Eslami added: “Right now, the Iranians are thinking about diplomatic solutions. It doesn’t mean that they are going to think about surrender. They are thinking about the political settlements.”
https://aje.news/q9irgt?update=4547058Four pro-Palestine activists convicted over 2024 raid on Israeli military-linked factorFour pro-Palestinian activists in the UK have been convicted of causing criminal damage during a 2024 raid on a facility run by Israeli military tech firm Elbit.
Prosecutors in London said the convicted individuals, who denied the charges, were members of the now-banned group Palestine Action, which organised the assault on the facility in Bristol, southwest England, in August last year.
Two others on trial were acquitted of the charges.
Palestine Action has accused the UK government of complicity in Israeli war crimes in Gaza and says it is “committed to ending global participation in Israel’s genocidal and apartheid regime”.
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