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The drone in the video, which is clearly modeled after Iran’s Ababil model — the workhorse of paramilitaries across the Middle East since it was developed in the 1990s — reflected a design tweak: Its two front tires, instead of the usual one, provided actual battlefield evidence that Sudan is modifying the Iranian drone into its own weapon, which it calls the Zagel-3. That revelation follows the emergence in the last two years of ramped-up Iranian drone production in at least five other countries, from South America to Central Asia. Most recently, Russia has started making Iranian drones for its war in Ukraine, bringing the number of countries using Iranian technology, assistance, or parts to at least a dozen.

Oil prices rose in early Asian trading after hopes diminished that negotiations between Israel and Hamas would lead to a ceasefire in Gaza and ease tension in the Middle East. Brent crude futures rose 40 cents to $90.78 a barrel by 0032 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 35 cents to $86.78.

Israel's defence minister said on Sunday that the country was ready to handle any scenario after Iran threatened to retaliate for the killing of Iranian generals on April 1. An Iranian official said on Sunday that Israeli embassies were not safe, and a semi-official news agency published a graphic showing weapons that it said would be capable of striking Israel. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant's office made the statement about preparedness after he held an «operational situation assessment» with senior military officers.

Qassem Suleimani with a drone strike in 2020. Israeli officials did not publicly claim responsibility for the strike (though in private they leave little doubt about their role). But they did argue that whoever bombed the embassy compound had a right to do so.

Benjamin Netanyahu admitted Tuesday that Israel's military had «unintentionally» killed seven aid workers with a US charity in an air strike in Gaza. World Central Kitchen had already said a «targeted attack» by Israeli forces on Monday had killed the group, which included Australian, British, Palestinian, Polish and US-Canadian employees.

By Timour Azhari

Gerald Levin, who led Time Warner Media into a disastrous $182 billion merger with the internet provider America Online, has died at the age of 84

Hamas under attack in Gaza, the head of Iran's Quds Force visited Beirut in February to discuss the risk posed if Israel next aims at Lebanon's Hezbollah, an offensive that could severely hurt Tehran's main regional partner, seven sources said. In Beirut, Quds chief Esmail Qaani met Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the sources said, for at least the third time since Hamas' deadly Oct. 7 attacks on southern Israel and Israel's devastating retaliatory assault on Gaza. The conversation turned to the possibility of a full Israeli offensive to its north, in Lebanon, the sources said. As well as damaging the Shi'ite Islamist group, such an escalation could pressure Iran to react more forcefully than it has so far since Oct. 7, three of the sources, Iranians within the inner circle of power, said.

United Arab Emirates — China, Iran and Russia have begun a joint naval drill in the Gulf of Oman, a crucial waterway near the mouth of the Persian Gulf, officials said Tuesday. Footage aired by Chinese state television and a video released by the Russian navy showed the ongoing drill, known as «Marine Security Belt 2024.» China sent the guided-missile destroyer Urumqi and the guided-missile frigate Linyi to the exercise. Russia's forces are being led by the Varyag, a Slava-class cruiser.

Iran as the country faces a multitude of challenges following a tumultuous period since the last parliamentary elections in 2020. This will be the first elections in Iran since the nationwide anti-government protests of 2022 that were triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini. The previous election in Iran in 2019 were held after major protests.

The escalating risk of a direct military confrontation between the US and Iran is hitting the Middle Eastern country's economy hard: its currency the rial has been tumbling against the US dollar in recent months. 

An Israeli sabotage attack on an Iranian natural gas pipeline has caused the multiple explosions last week

Explosions have struck a natural gas pipeline in Iran

Iran marked Sunday the 45th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution amid tensions gripping the wider Middle East over Israel's continued war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Thousands of Iranians marched through major streets and squares decorated with flags, balloons and banners with revolutionary and religious slogans. In Tehran, crowds waved Iranian flags, chanted slogans, and carried placards with the traditional «Death to America» and «Death to Israel» written on them. Some burned US and Israeli flags, a common practice in pro-government rallies. Processions started out from several points, converging at Azadi Square. State TV showed crowds in many cities and towns, claiming that «millions participated in the rallies» across the country.

Meta has removed Instagram and Facebook accounts run on behalf of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after criticism over his support for Hamas after its Oct. 7 attack on Israel that sparked the monthslong war still raging in the Gaza Strip

Iran. New Delhi may see the attack as an opportunity to improve ties with Tehran and open a second front against Pakistan. That would be a mistake. India needs only to consider the aftermath of the October 7 terrorist attacks by Tehran-backed Hamas in Israel to realise this. That assault has led to a growing chain of military conflicts that negatively affect India's vital national interests in trade, energy and transport. Here's how Iran's actions and policies are undermining India's interests:

Iran denied Monday any links to a drone strike in Jordan that killed three US military personnel and said it was not seeking an «expansion» of conflict in the Middle East. The killing of three American troops on Sunday in a strike in Jordan marked the first US military losses in the region since the Israel-Hamas war began. US President Joe Biden said "radical Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq" were behind the strike on the frontier base in Jordan's northeast. British Foreign Secretary David Cameron reiterated a call for Iran «to de-escalate in the region». Iran lambasted what it described as «baseless accusations» and said they were a «projection» and part of a «conspiracy of those who see their interests in dragging America's foot into a new battle». «The Islamic Republic of Iran does not welcome the expansion of conflict in the region,» Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said in a statement, adding that Tehran «is not involved in the decisions of the resistance groups». Iran has previously said it sees it as «duty» to support what it calls «resistance groups» in the region but insists they are «independent» in decision and action. Sunday's strike also left 34 personnel wounded, eight of whom required evacuation, according to the US Central Command. US troops operate at the base known as Tower 22 near Jordan's border with Iraq and Syria as part of an international coalition against the Islamic State jihadist group. Tensions have surged in the Middle East since Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, leaving around 1,140 deaths, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official figures. Israel has since launched a

Syria and Iraq, Reuters reported. It is pertinent to note that there are 350 US Army and Air Force troops at the base as it includes logistics support. However, there is little known publicly about the Tower 22 base.

Amir-Abdollahian on Monday visited Islamabad at the invitation of his Pakistani counterpart Jalil Abbas Jilani. This diplomatic engagement took place amidst tension in relations following recent reciprocal strikes between the two countries.

drone attack on a base in Jordan killed three American troops and wounded more than 30 on Sunday, with President Joe Biden blaming Iran-backed militants and vowing to hold the perpetrators to account. It is the first time American military personnel have been killed by hostile fire in the Middle East since the war between Israel and Iran-backed Hamas began, and the incident will further raise tensions in the region and add to fears of a broader conflict directly involving Tehran. «While we are still gathering the facts of this attack, we know it was carried out by radical Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq,» Biden said in a statement, pledging to hold «all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner of our choosing.» Later in the day at a South Carolina church banquet hall, the president held a moment of silence for the US troops killed in the attack, then said: «We shall respond.» Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri called the attack «a message to the American administration that unless the killing of innocent people in Gaza stops, it may be faced with the entire (Muslim) nation.» «The continuation of the American-Zionist aggression on Gaza risks a regional explosion,» Abu Zuhri said. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Sunday evening that the attack had hit a logistics support base located at Tower 22, in northeast Jordan, and that it wounded at least 34 service members, eight of whom required evacuation from the country. There are around 350 US Army and Air Force personnel at the base who conduct «a number of key support functions,» including for the international coalition against the Islamic State jihadist group, CENTCOM said. Jordan's government spokesman Muhannad Mubaidin,

Iran-backed militants launch missile attack on Iraq airbase, US soldiers injured Last week, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps sent the research satellite Soraya into space. However, Britain, France, and Germany condemned that launch.