TEHRAN -- Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Tuesday called reports that Iran fired a missile toward Türkiye "completely baseless."
Araghchi made the remarks during a phone call with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, responding to media claims that a ballistic missile from Iran entered Turkish airspace on Monday before being intercepted by NATO defenses, according to a statement from Iran's Foreign Ministry. (Iran-Türkiye-Missile Attacks)
- - - -
JERUSALEM -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that Israel has smashed Iran's industrial capability and is creating "new alliances" in the region.
In a recorded video statement, Netanyahu reviewed the "enormous achievements" of the war, saying, "Iran has the launch capability to threaten us, but they can no longer threaten our existence." (Israel-Iran-Threat)
- - - -
AMMAN -- Jordan on Tuesday raised fuel prices for April, its first increase since the regional conflict began, while absorbing part of the global price hike to limit the impact on consumers, according to the Jordanian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.
Under the new scheme, Octane 90 gasoline will rise to about 1.28 U.S. dollars per liter from 1.16 dollars, and Octane 95 will increase to roughly 1.69 dollars from 1.48 dollars. (Jordan-Fuel Prices-Customer)
- - - -
CAIRO -- Cairo-based Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit on Tuesday strongly condemned a recently approved Israeli bill allowing the "execution of Palestinian prisoners," warning that it violates fundamental principles of international humanitarian law.
Aboul-Gheit said the law undermines the requirements of justice and reflects "flagrant discrimination against Palestinians," the organization said in a statement. (Egypt-Arab League-Death penalty law)
- - - -
JERUSALEM -- Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Tuesday that Israel will maintain a "security zone" in southern Lebanon up to the Litani River indefinitely, banning the return of more than 600,000 displaced residents and ordering the demolition of villages near the border.
Speaking after a situation assessment with senior military officers, Katz said homes in border villages would be demolished, and Israeli forces would maintain a permanent presence in the zone "with strict enforcement and absolute deterrence." (Israel-Lebanon-Security zone) ■
