Page 15 - Latest Updates on West Asia Conflict

US deploys Apaches in op against Iranian boats, expands 'Project Freedom'

CENTCOM further revealed that over 100 aircraft are currently mobilised for Project Freedom, a mission dedicated to reopening the strait and providing armed escorts for merchant ships

Iran counters US claims, says 5 civilians killed in 'clumsy' Hormuz strike

A military official, speaking to the Tasnim news agency, stated that an investigation was launched by Iranian authorities following Washington's reports of the incident

Rupee hits record low of 95.43 per dollar as US-Iran strikes rattle markets

The rupee depreciated 20 paise to 95.43 against US dollar in early trade on Tuesday as market sentiments remained fragile after renewed military exchanges between US and Iranian forces in the Gulf region. Forex traders said investor anxiety due to instability in the Gulf is causing massive capital flight into safe-haven assets, with the US dollar acting as the primary beneficiary. Moreover, Brent oil prices is hovering near USD 113 per barrel, maintaining pressure on oil-importing economies like India. At the interbank foreign exchange market the rupee opened at 95.30 then lost ground to touch 95.43 against the US dollar, in initial trade, registering a fall of 20 paise over its previous close. Rupee fell 39 paise to close at an all-time low of 95.23 against the US dollar on Monday. "With oil boiling rupee on Monday fell to a closing low of 95.0875 and this morning the opening was still lower as it becomes more and more vulnerable when dollar index rises due to safe-haven buying a

Oil eases after surge as US bid to reopen Strait of Hormuz calms markets

Brent oil futures for July fell 68 cents, or 0.6 per cent, to $113.76 per barrel at 0100 GMT, after settling up 5.8 per cent on Monday

US naval ops to protect global energy, India's LPG supply: US Treasury secy

Bessent called on Beijing to play a constructive role, particularly ahead of US President Donald Trump's expected meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping next week

Iran will be 'blown off Earth' if it attacks US ships in Hormuz: Trump

US President Donald Trump on Monday said Iran will be "blown off the face of the Earth" if they attack US vessels escorting stranded ships through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump's statement to Fox News came as Iran reportedly attacked some ships being guided through the Strait of Hormuz under 'Project Freedom' launched by the US Central Command at the direction of the US President. Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social to claim that Iran had attacked some ships, including a South Korean cargo vessel, that was being guided through the Strait that has effectively remained closed since the was with Iran began on February 28. "Iran has taken some shots at unrelated Nations with respect to the Ship Movement, PROJECT FREEDOM, including a South Korean Cargo Ship. Perhaps it's time for South Korea to come and join the mission," Trump said. The US President said US forces have shot down seven small boats and urged South Korea to join the mission in the Hormuz Strait. "We've sho

Three Indians injured after drone attack sparks fire in UAE's Fujairah

Three Indian nationals were injured on Monday after a fire broke out on the Fujairah Petroleum Industries Zone (FOIZ) in the UAE following a drone strike originating from Iran, according to local media reports. The relevant authorities in the eastern emirate of Fujairah confirmed that a fire has broken out in the FOIZ, resulting from a drone attack coming from Iran, the state-run WAM news agency reported. Fujairah Civil Defence teams immediately responded to the incident and are continuing efforts to bring the fire under control, it added. Three Indian nationals sustained moderate injuries after the fire broke out on the FOIZ, the Khaleej Times reported, quoting authorities in Fujairah. The injured were taken to the hospital for treatment, it added. In a post on X, the UAE's Ministry of Defence said that Iran launched four missiles toward various areas across the country. "Three were successfully engaged over the country's territorial waters, while one fell into the sea," it said.

US rebuts Iran's claim of striking Navy vessel near Strait of Hormuz

The US military is rejecting claims that Iran struck a US Navy vessel. The denial on Monday came as the US remains active in the area near the Persian Gulf, offering to guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz and dislodge Iran's blockade on vessels that don't receive its authorisation. Iranian news agencies - including the semiofficial agency Fars and the Iranian Labour News Agency - claimed that Iran had struck a US Navy vessel southeast of the Strait of Hormuz, accusing it of "violating maritime security and navigation norms.

'City of glass' is under threat from Iran war

The factories in Firozabad, just 21 miles from the Taj Mahal, have been barred from using coal-fired furnaces since 1996 to protect the monument's white marble facade

BJP win may revive corporate interest in WB; realty may see achhe din: Analysts

A BJP win in West Bengal, said G Chokkalingam, founder and head of research at Equinomics, could see economic growth-related initiatives. More corporate capital, he said could find its way into WB.

Iran vows kinetic response to Trump's naval mission in Strait of Hormuz

The US operation, intended to escort stranded vessels out of the strategic waterway, is reportedly scheduled to commence within the coming hours

Oil falls after Trump announces Project Freedom to escort ships via Hormuz

Brent ‌crude futures fell 6 cents, or 0.1 per cent, to $108.11 a barrel by 0400 GMT after settling down $2.23 on Friday

Ship struck by projectiles in Strait of Hormuz, says British military

Projectiles struck a ship in the narrow Strait of Hormuz, the British military said Monday, the second such attack in hours as tensions remain high between Iran and the United States. The British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center issued the alert, saying a tanker had been targeted off Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, in the strait around 11:40 pm Sunday. It described the tanker has been struck by "unknown projectiles." "All crew reported safe," the centre said. "No environmental impact reported." Another ship came under attack in the strait on Sunday.

US sanctions suffocating Iran economy, oil infra starting to creak: Bessent

Bessent suggested that the Iranian petroleum sector is facing an imminent crisis and may be forced to begin shutting in wells in the next week, as the nation's crude storage is 'rapidly filling up'

US announces 'Project Freedom' to escort stranded ships through Hormuz

US President Donald Trump said the US Navy will start guiding foreign stranded ships to safety through the Strait of Hormuz from Monday and warned Iran that any interference in the process would be dealt with forcefully. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said 'Project Freedom' was aimed at helping foreign ships that are locked up in the Strait of Hormuz as "innocent bystanders" and in no way involved in the developments in West Asia. Trump said several of these ships were running low on food, drinking water and everything else necessary for large-scale crews to stay onboard in a healthy and sanitary manner. At the same time, the US President said that his representatives were having positive discussions with Iran, which could lead to something "positive for all". The Strait of Hormuz, the narrow sea route between Oman and Iran that transports one-fifth of the global oil supplies, has been effectively closed since February 28, when the US and Israel launched the war with Iran. The U

Cutting Sensex, Nifty targets now is premature: Harendra Kumar, Elara Capital

Data has shown that on falling market days, retail investors were net buyers, and on rising days, they were net sellers. So, the idea that they are always disadvantaged is a misnomer, Kumar said.

Airlines scramble to help stranded Spirit flyers after carrier collapses

Spirit Airlines ceased operations on Saturday following a doubling in jet fuel prices due to Iran war

Iran sends new proposal to US; US President Donald Trump warns of strikes

Asked if he might restart strikes on Iran, Trump replied: "I don't want to say that. I mean, I can't tell that to a reporter. If they misbehave, if they do something bad, right now we'll see"

UK sets out fuel contingency plans for flights amid US-Iran conflict

Airlines will be expected to consolidate schedules on certain routes with multipleflightsto the same destinationon the sameday as part of contingency measures the UK government announced on Sunday. The Department for Transport (DfT) issued a series of temporary plans amid ongoing jet fuel supply issues caused by the US-Iran conflict and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. It stressed that while UK airlines say they are not currently facing supply issues, the government is stepping in to protect travellers from the likelihood of last-minute flight cancellations over the upcoming summer holiday period in the event of significant disruption caused by the conflict. "Since the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the government has been monitoring jet fuel supplies daily and working with airlines, airports and fuel suppliers to stay ahead of any problems," said UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander. "There are no immediate supply issues, but we're preparing now to givefamilies long-term

Trump reviews Iran's new proposal, says deal unlikely to be acceptable

President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he was reviewing a new Iranian proposal to end the war but also expressed scepticism that it would lead to a deal. "I'll let you know about it later," he said before boarding Air Force One, adding that "they're going to give me the exact wording now." Shortly after speaking to reporters, Trump posted on social media about the new proposal, saying he "can't imagine that it would be acceptable in that they have not yet paid a big enough price for what they have done to Humanity, and the World, over the last 47 years." Two semiofficial Iranian news outlets, Tasnim and Fars, believed to be close to Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, said Iran has sent a 14-point proposal via Pakistan in response to a nine-point US proposal. Iran's state-run media have not reported on the new proposal. Pakistan has hosted previous negotiations between Iran and the United States. Trump rejected a previous Iranian proposal this week. However, conversation