TEHRAN -- Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi arrived in Muscat on Saturday for talks with senior Omani officials on bilateral relations and regional developments, Iran's Foreign Ministry said.
The visit is the second stop on a regional tour that began Friday in Islamabad and will end in Russia. Araghchi is leading a diplomatic delegation. (Iran-Oman-FM visit)
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TEHRAN -- Iran's main military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, vowed Saturday to react if the United States continues its "blockade, banditry and piracy" in the West Asia region.
It made the announcement in a statement carried by Iranian media while pointing to the U.S. naval blockade imposed on the Strait of Hormuz, which prevents vessels traveling to and from Iranian ports from transiting the waterway, and actions against Iran-bound ships over the past few days. (Iran-US-Response)
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BAGHDAD -- Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region was hit by 809 drone and missile attacks between Feb. 28 and April 20, leaving 20 civilians dead and 123 others wounded, local authorities said Saturday.
In a statement, the media and information department of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) said most of the attacks targeted civilian areas despite the region's declared neutrality in ongoing regional conflicts. (Iraq-Kurdistan Region-Attacks)
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JERUSALEM/BEIRUT -- The Israeli military said Saturday it continued striking Hezbollah targets across southern Lebanon despite an ongoing ceasefire.
In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces said the strikes hit Hezbollah's Radwan Force military facilities and a weapons storage site, aiming to remove threats to Israeli troops and civilians. (Lebanon-Israel-Attack) ■
