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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tA cargo ship sails in the Arabian Gulf towards Strait of Hormuz in United Arab Emirates, Sunday, March 15, 2026. (AP Photo\/Altaf Qadri)<\/p>\n
Trump said the U.S. is negotiating with countries heavily reliant on Middle East crude to join a coalition to police the waterway where about one-fifth the world\u2019s traded oil normally flows, but declined to name them.<\/p>\n
Israeli strikes have deepened Lebanon\u2019s humanitarian crisis, with more than 850 people killed and over 850,000 displaced.<\/p>\n
Here is the latest:<\/p>\n
Starmer says UK seeks \u2018viable\u2019 plan to open Strait of Hormuz<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Keir Starmer says Britain is working with allies on a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but \u201cwill not be drawn into the wider war.\u201d<\/p>\n
He spoke after U.S. President Donald Trump said he\u2019d demanded U.S. allies send warships to open the key oil shipment route.<\/p>\n
Starmer said Britain is discussing with the U.S. and allies in Europe and the Gulf the possibility of using mine-hunting drones that the U.K. has in the region. But he signalled the U.K. is unlikely to dispatch a warship.<\/p>\n
Trump has berated Starmer for a perceived lack of support for the war, after the prime minister initially refused to allow the U.S. to use British bases to strike Iran.<\/p>\n
Starmer said at a news conference Monday that Britain is seeking \u201ca viable collective plan\u201d to reopen the strait, adding that it is, \u201cto say the least, not easy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Iran says Strait of Hormuz is closed only to US, Israel and their allies<\/p>\n
Iran\u2019s top diplomat says the key Strait of Hormuz is only cut off for vessels of the United States, Israel and their allies.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom our perspective it is open,\u201d Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said of the strait. \u201cIt is only closed to our enemies, to those who carried out unjust aggression against our country and to their allies.\u201d<\/p>\n
Araghchi spoke at a press conference in Tehran on Monday.<\/p>\n
Israeli airstrike kills 4, including 2 children, in Lebanon<\/p>\n
Lebanon\u2019s Health Ministry says an Israeli airstrike on the southern village of Qantara killed four people, including two children.<\/p>\n
A wall collapse in Gaza kills 3 Palestinians<\/p>\n
Two Palestinian women and a child were killed Monday when a wall collapsed in the Gaza Strip, hospital authorities said.<\/p>\n
The three-meter-high wall collapsed over tents sheltering displaced people in the southern city of Khan Younis, the city\u2019s Nasser Hospital said.<\/p>\n
The dead were relatives and included a six-year-old boy, a 17-year-old pregnant woman and an elderly woman, according to a hospital casualty list.<\/p>\n
The Israel-Hamas war has wrecked Gaza, leaving the majority of the strip\u2019s more than 2 million people living in tents or damaged buildings.<\/p>\n
The war left 61 million tons of rubble \u2014 about as much as 15 Great Pyramids of Giza or 25 Eiffel Towers by volume, according to the U.N.<\/p>\n
German minister says US-Israeli aims need clarity<\/p>\n
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Monday it will be important for the U.S. and Israel to define \u201cwhen they consider the military aims of their deployment to have been reached.\u201d<\/p>\n
Before meeting EU colleagues in Brussels, Wadephul said he told his U.S. and Israeli counterparts \u201cwe need more clarity here.\u201d<\/p>\n
He also said the Iranian government poses a significant danger to the region, the freedom of shipping and the global economy and \u201cthis danger definitely must not continue.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wadephul said without elaborating that he would back sanctions against those responsible for blocking the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n
He said once there is clarity on the U.S.-Israeli aims it will be time for a phase when \u201ca security architecture for this whole region\u201d is defined, which will entail speaking to Iran.<\/p>\n
UK sending funds to Lebanon humanitarian groups<\/p>\n
Britain is sending 5 million pounds ($6.6 million) to humanitarian organizations in Lebanon.<\/p>\n
The funds are intended to help provide food, water and shelter for some of the more than 800,000 people displaced by Israel\u2019s offensive against the militant group Hezbollah.<\/p>\n
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said she is \u201cgravely concerned about the developing conflict in Lebanon and the scale of the humanitarian impact.\u201d<\/p>\n
She condemned Hezbollah\u2019s strikes on Israel and said the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Lebanese people by Israeli operations \u201cis completely unacceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cooper said the U.K. is working with European allies and the U.S. to prevent the conflict from escalating.<\/p>\n
Bahrain reports missile and drone attacks<\/p>\n
Bahrain\u2019s Defense Ministry says air defense systems have responded to attacks Monday morning.<\/p>\n
The ministry says four missiles and three drones were fired.<\/p>\n
Israel sends troops into Lebanon for \u2018limited\u2019 operation<\/p>\n
The Israeli military says it sent additional ground troops into Lebanon for what it calls a \u201climited and targeted operation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Military spokesman Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani says the latest deployment is meant to defend Israeli border communities against attacks from the Hezbollah militant group.<\/p>\n
Shoshani says Hezbollah has sent hundreds of fighters from its elite Radwan unit toward the border since the militant group entered the war two weeks ago.<\/p>\n
He says Israel carried out artillery and airstrikes on multiple sites before sending in the troops.<\/p>\n
Earlier in the war, Israel beefed up the presence of ground troops inside Lebanon in what it says is an attempt to prevent attacks on its northern border towns.<\/p>\n
Israeli strikes on south Lebanon kill 3 including 2 paramedics<\/p>\n
Lebanon\u2019s state-run National News Agency says one person was killed by an Israeli airstrike early Monday on a home in the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Sir.<\/p>\n
The agency says another strike occurred after paramedics from the Islamic Health Society, Hezbollah\u2019s health arm, arrived at the scene.<\/p>\n
The agency says the second strike killed two paramedics and wounded another person.<\/p>\n
Israeli military says 70% of Iranian launchers destroyed<\/p>\n
The Israeli military says it has destroyed an estimated 70% of Iran\u2019s missile launchers during the first two weeks of the war.<\/p>\n
Military spokesman Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani told reporters Monday that while Iran continues to fire missiles at Israel, the number of launches has been greatly reduced.<\/p>\n
He says Israel has carried out some 7,600 strikes in Iran, knocking out 85% of Iran\u2019s air defenses and targeting a number of Iranian nuclear sites.<\/p>\n
Shoshani says the war will go on \u201cfor as long as needed\u201d and says Israel still has thousands of targets it is prepared to strike.<\/p>\n
China has no comment on Trump\u2019s Strait of Hormuz request<\/p>\n
A Chinese government spokesperson did not respond directly to questions about Trump\u2019s request for military support from several countries to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n
The Foreign Ministry\u2019s Lin Jian, at a daily briefing in Beijing, instead repeated China\u2019s calls for an end to the fighting, noting the impact on energy and goods trade.<\/p>\n
Trump said in an interview with The Financial Times that the U.S. would like an answer from China before his planned trip to Beijing in about two weeks, and that \u201cwe may delay.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lin said China and the U.S. have maintained communication on Trump\u2019s visit.<\/p>\n
\u201cHead-of-state diplomacy plays an irreplaceable strategic guiding role in China\u2013U.S. relations,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Drone strike starts fire at UAE oil facility<\/p>\n
A fire broke out Monday following a drone attack on an industrial oil facility in Fujairah, one of the United Arab Emirates\u2019 seven emirates, authorities said.<\/p>\n
The Media Office in Fujairah said a drone targeted the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone, causing an \u201cadvanced\u201d fire.<\/p>\n
No casualties were reported.<\/p>\n
UAE says Palestinian killed in Abu Dhabi missile attack<\/p>\n
A Palestinian civilian was killed in a missile attack early Monday in the United Arab Emirates capital Abu Dhabi, authorities said.<\/p>\n
The Abu Dhabi Media Office said a missile fell on a civilian vehicle in Al Bahyah area<\/p>\n
The death raised the toll to seven people in the UAE since the beginning of the war Feb. 18, authorities said.<\/p>\n
EU weighs naval missions to reopen strait<\/p>\n
The European Union is weighing two types of naval missions to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is in our interest to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, and that\u2019s why we are also discussing what we can do in this regard from the European side,\u201d said Kaja Kallas, the EU\u2019s foreign policy chief.<\/p>\n
She made the announcement ahead of a gathering of the bloc\u2019s foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday.<\/p>\n
Rising prices for energy and fertilizers has brought the war in Iran to the top of their agenda, she said.<\/p>\n
Kallas said the EU could expand its Aspides naval mission to protect shipping in the Red Sea up into the Persian Gulf or form a \u201ccoalition of the willing\u201d with member nations contributing military capacity on an ad hoc basis.<\/p>\n
Saudi Arabia reports drone attacks<\/p>\n
Saudi Arabia says it intercepted three drones Monday morning over the capital Riyadh and the nation\u2019s oil-rich western region.<\/p>\n
The Saudi Defense Ministry says no casualties or damage were reported.<\/p>\n
The ministry reports more than 60 drones attacked the Gulf country within a few hours.<\/p>\n
Some flights resume at Dubai airport<\/p>\n
United Arab Emirates officials say Dubai International Airport has gradually resumed some flights at hours after a drone strike.<\/p>\n
Dubai Civil Aviation Authority announced flights are operating to selected destinations, according to the Dubai Media Office.<\/p>\n
Emirates airline says limited operations have resumed at the airport.<\/p>\n
A drone struck a fuel tank at the airport early Monday, causing a fire and forcing the temporary suspension of flights.<\/p>\n
Brent crude trades near $105<\/p>\n
Brent crude oil is trading near the $105 per barrel level on Monday.<\/p>\n
A barrel of Brent, the international standard, was up 1.6% at $104.73, dipping slightly after opening above $106 per barrel. It\u2019s up more than 40% since the war began.<\/p>\n
Share prices in Asia were mixed and U.S. futures advanced.<\/p>\n
Dubai flights to remain suspended<\/p>\n
Hours after a drone strike sparked a fire at Dubai\u2019s main airport, Emirates says in its latest update that all of its flights there \u201cremain suspended until further notice.\u201d<\/p>\n
The airline says it is working with authorities to restart operations when possible. It urged passengers not to travel to the airport.<\/p>\n
Dubai International Airport is the world\u2019s busiest airport for international travel and a key hub for many routes linking the East and West.<\/p>\n
UAE intercepts more drone and missile attacks<\/p>\n
The United Arab Emirates\u2019 Defense Ministry said forces were intercepting Iranian missiles and drones Monday morning.<\/p>\n
Earlier, a drone hit a fuel tank at the Dubai International Airport.<\/p>\n
Trump suggests he may delay his trip to China<\/p>\n
Trump is suggesting he may delay his much-anticipated visit to China at the end of the month as he seeks to ramp up the pressure on Beijing to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz and calm oil prices.<\/p>\n
In an interview Sunday with the Financial Times, Trump said China\u2019s reliance on oil from the Middle East means it ought to help with a new coalition he is trying to put together to get oil tanker traffic moving through the strait after Iran\u2019s threats have throttled global flows of oil.<\/p>\n
Trump said \u201cwe\u2019d like to know\u201d before the trip whether Beijing will help.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe may delay,\u201d Trump said in the interview.<\/p>\n
Trump\u2019s new comments came as U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was meeting with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng on Monday in Paris for a new round of trade talks that were meant to pave the way for Trump\u2019s Beijing trip.<\/p>\n
Saudi crown prince speaks with UAE president<\/p>\n
Mohammed bin Salman and Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan discussed the latest regional developments in a phone call, Saudi Arabia\u2019s Foreign Ministry said in a statement early Monday.<\/p>\n
The two leaders said the continued \u201cIranian attacks against Gulf Cooperation Council countries represent a dangerous escalation that threatens regional security and stability,\u201d adding that GCC states will continue efforts to defend their countries<\/p>\n
Road and tunnel to Dubai International Airport closed<\/p>\n
Emirati authorities have closed the main road and tunnel leading to Dubai International Airport.<\/p>\n
Dubai Police urged drivers to use alternative roads.<\/p>\n
Authorities said earlier a drone hit a fuel tank at the airport, causing fire with no casualties.<\/p>\n
Saudi air defenses down large drone attack<\/p>\n
Saudi Arabia\u2019s Defense Ministry said early Monday it downed an additional large barrage of 35 drones in the country\u2019s eastern region, one of the kingdom\u2019s least dense, close to Iran and home to major oil installations.<\/p>\n
This brings the total number of drones intercepted to at least 60 in the last few hours.<\/p>\n
The ministry did not immediately report casualties or damage.<\/p>\n
Australia not sending warship to Strait of Hormuz, minister says<\/p>\n
The Australian government says a warship won\u2019t be sent to the Middle East to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to international shipping.<\/p>\n
\n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n
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U.S. President Donald Trump said that he has demanded about seven countries send warships to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, as Iranian strikes continued to rain down on Gulf countries.<\/p>\n
Australia\u2019s Transport Minister Catherine King told Australian Broadcasting Corp. on Monday she was not aware of Australia receiving such a request.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe won\u2019t be sending a ship to the Strait of Hormuz. We know how incredibly important that is, but that\u2019s not something that we\u2019ve been asked or that we\u2019re contributing to,\u201d King said.<\/p>\n
Australia said last week it was providing the UAE with an air force surveillance jet and air-to-air missiles to defend against Iranian attacks.<\/p>\n
But a government statement said Australia was \u201cnot taking offensive action against Iran.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"U.S. President Donald Trump said he has demanded about seven countries send warships to keep the Strait of…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":540021,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[194296],"tags":[49,48,22073],"class_list":["post-540020","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-winnipeg","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-winnipeg"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/540020","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=540020"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/540020\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/540021"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=540020"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=540020"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=540020"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}