WährendWährend diedie NachtNacht überüber Jerusalem Israels geteilter HauptstadtHauptstadt hereinbricht ziehtzieht eineeine GruppeGruppe israelischer Menschenrechtsaktivisten Bilanz.Bilanz. DenDen ganzenganzen TagTag überüber habenhaben siesie GeldGeld undund Sachspenden gesammeltgesammelt fürfür diedie bettelarmebettelarme Beduinenbevölkerung imim SüdenSüden Israels diedie ihrerihrer Einschätzung nachnach besondners harthart vonvon denden AngriffenAngriffen derder Hamas getroffengetroffen wurde.wurde. "Wir"Wir wollenwollen Solidarität fürfür allealle MenschenMenschen hier"Noa Dagoni von Human Rights & Democracy erklärt: "Die BedürfnisseBedürfnisse sindsind enorm.enorm. Tausende vonvon MenschenMenschen sindsind inin PanikPanik undund glaubenglauben dassdass sichsich niemandniemand umum siesie kümmert. Sie habenhaben keinekeine InfrastrukturInfrastruktur keinenkeinen StromStrom undund keinkein WasserWasser undund keinerleikeinerlei Schutzunterkünfte. FürFür unsuns istist eses auchauch einein Statement dassdass wirwir keinenkeinen UnterschiedUnterschied zwischenzwischen JudenJuden undund ArabernArabern machen. Wir wollenwollen Solidarität fürfür allealle MenschenMenschen hierhier diedie jetztjetzt unterunter diesemdiesem schrecklichenschrecklichen KriegKrieg leiden."leiden." "Das"Das EinzigeEinzige waswas unsuns aufrechtaufrecht erhält"Innerhalb kurzerkurzer ZeitZeit konntenkonnten Hunderte vonvon Hilfspaketen fürfür diedie Beduinengemeinden zusammengetragenzusammengetragen werden.werden. DieDie SpendenSpenden kommenkommen sowohlsowohl vonvon Israelis undund Palästinensern alsals auchauch vonvon ausländerischen Wohltätern sagtsagt Noa Dagoni. "In"In denden letztenletzten zweizwei TagenTagen kamenkamen mehrmehr alsals 100 MenschenMenschen umum hierhier freiwilligfreiwillig zuzu helfen.helfen. UndUnd vieleviele vieleviele MenschenMenschen habenhaben GeldGeld gespendet.gespendet. WirWir schickenschicken FreiwilligeFreiwillige diedie mitmit diesemdiesem GeldGeld einkaufeneinkaufen gehengehen undund dasdas Gekaufte danndann hierherhierher bringen.bringen. EsEs istist wirklichwirklich rührendrührend undund dasdas EinzigeEinzige waswas unsuns aufrechtaufrecht erhält.erhält. DennDenn sonstsonst istist eses wirklichwirklich herzzerreißend."herzzerreißend." Euroenws-Korrespondetin Valérie Gauriat sagtsagt dassdass diedie Spendenakion inin denden folgendenfolgenden TagenTagen fortgeführtfortgeführt wirdwird fallsfalls dasdas möglichmöglich ist.ist. "Nur"Nur eineseines derder vielenvielen BeispieleBeispiele dafürdafür wiewie diedie MenschenMenschen versuchenversuchen BedürftigenBedürftigen zuzu helfenhelfen aufauf welchewelche WeiseWeise auchauch immer."immer."

RescueRescue workersworkers scrambledscrambled toto recoverrecover bodiesbodies andand survivorssurvivors onon TuesdayTuesday fromfrom aa drugdrug treatmenttreatment centrecentre inin thethe AfghanAfghan capital,capital, Kabul, afterafter itit waswas hithit byby aa PakistaniPakistani airstrike,airstrike, withwith thethe Taliban authoritiesauthorities sayingsaying hundredshundreds ofof peoplepeople werewere fearedfeared killed.killed.

AFP reportersreporters countedcounted atat leastleast 30 bodiesbodies beingbeing removedremoved fromfrom thethe rubblerubble ofof thethe facilityfacility andand sawsaw medicsmedics treatingtreating dozensdozens ofof woundedwounded inin thethe chaoticchaotic andand smoulderingsmouldering aftermathaftermath ofof thethe attackattack onon MondayMonday night.night.

TheThe Taliban governmentgovernment accusedaccused Pakistan ofof targetingtargeting civilians.civilians. ButBut Islamabad maintainedmaintained itit hadhad carriedcarried outout precisionprecision strikesstrikes onon "military"military installationsinstallations andand terroristterrorist supportsupport infrastructure".infrastructure".

TheThe twotwo sidessides havehave beenbeen inin conflictconflict forfor months,months, withwith Islamabad accusingaccusing itsits neighbourneighbour ofof harbouringharbouring IslamistIslamist extremistsextremists whowho havehave mountedmounted deadlydeadly cross-bordercross-border attacksattacks onon itsits territory.territory.

AtAt firstfirst light,light, chairs,chairs, blankets,blankets, piecespieces ofof hospitalhospital bedsbeds andand humanhuman remainsremains couldcould bebe seenseen inin thethe blackenedblackened ruinsruins ofof thethe rehabilitation centre,centre, whichwhich treatedtreated patientspatients forfor drugdrug addiction.addiction.

CrowdsCrowds gatheredgathered outsideoutside asas familyfamily membersmembers soughtsought newsnews ofof theirtheir lovedloved ones,ones, includingincluding Baryalai Amiri, aa 38-year-old mechanic,mechanic, whosewhose brotherbrother waswas admittedadmitted asas aa patientpatient aboutabout 25 daysdays ago.ago.

"We"We areare notnot givengiven thethe properproper information,"information," hehe toldtold AFP, asas rescuersrescuers pickedpicked throughthrough thethe rubblerubble nearby.nearby. "So"So far,far, wewe don't knowknow wherewhere hehe is."is."

TheThe ItalianItalian NGONGO EmergencyEmergency saidsaid soonsoon afterafter thethe strikestrike thatthat itit receivedreceived threethree bodiesbodies atat itsits hospitalhospital inin Kabul andand waswas treatingtreating 27 woundedwounded butbut expectedexpected thethe tolltoll toto bebe muchmuch higher.higher.

"There"There areare hundredshundreds ofof deaddead andand injured,"injured," interiorinterior ministryministry spokesmanspokesman Abdul Matin Qani toldtold reportersreporters atat thethe scenescene onon Tuesday,Tuesday, addingadding thatthat somesome victimsvictims werewere "completely annihilatedannihilated andand itit isis impossibleimpossible toto identifyidentify them".them".

MassMass funeralsfunerals maymay bebe organised forfor thethe victims,victims, hehe added.added.

TheThe AfghanAfghan healthhealth ministryministry initiallyinitially estimatedestimated thatthat moremore thanthan 200 peoplepeople couldcould havehave beenbeen killed,killed, withwith asas manymany wounded.wounded.

AA Taliban governmentgovernment spokesmanspokesman laterlater saidsaid thethe deathdeath tolltoll waswas atat leastleast doubledouble that,that, withwith 250 wounded.wounded.

- TargetedTargeted -

MondayMonday evening'sevening's attackattack triggeredtriggered panicpanic inin Kabul, sendingsending peoplepeople runningrunning forfor covercover asas anti-aircraft gunsguns firedfired backback notnot longlong afterafter theythey hadhad brokenbroken theirtheir dailydaily RamadanRamadan fast.fast.

"I"I heardheard thethe soundsound ofof thethe jetjet patrolling,"patrolling," Omid Stanikzai, 31, aa securitysecurity guardguard atat thethe drugdrug treatmenttreatment centre,centre, toldtold AFP.

"There"There werewere militarymilitary unitsunits allall aroundaround us.us. WhenWhen thesethese militarymilitary unitsunits firedfired onon thethe jet,jet, thethe jetjet droppeddropped bombsbombs andand aa firefire brokebroke out."out."

AllAll ofof thethe deaddead andand injuredinjured werewere civilians,civilians, hehe added.added.

Pakistan saidsaid itit alsoalso hithit thethe easterneastern borderborder provinceprovince ofof Nangarhar onon Monday.Monday.

"Pakistan's targetingtargeting isis preciseprecise andand carefully undertakenundertaken toto ensureensure nono collateralcollateral damagedamage isis inflicted,"inflicted," thethe informationinformation ministryministry said.said.

Habibullah Kabulbai, 55, arrivedarrived atat thethe centrecentre onon MondayMonday night,night, hopinghoping toto findfind hishis brother,brother, Nawroz, whowho waswas admittedadmitted fivefive daysdays ago.ago.

"I"I can'tcan't findfind him,"him," hehe said,said, weeping.weeping. "What"What shouldshould wewe do?do? II havehave nono words...words... WeWe areare helpless.helpless. ThisThis hashas notnot onlyonly happenedhappened toto meme butbut thethe wholewhole ofof Afghanistan."

– 'De-escalate' –

TheThe UNUN SpecialSpecial RapporteurRapporteur onon thethe situationsituation ofof humanhuman rightsrights inin Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, saidsaid hehe waswas "dismayed""dismayed" byby reportsreports ofof thethe airair strikesstrikes andand civiliancivilian casualties.casualties.

"I"I urgeurge partiesparties toto de-escalate, exerciseexercise maximummaximum restraintrestraint & respectrespect internationalinternational law,law, includingincluding thethe protectionprotection ofof civilianscivilians andand civiliancivilian objectsobjects suchsuch asas hospitals,"hospitals," hehe postedposted onon X.X.

OnOn Friday,Friday, thethe UnitedUnited NationsNations missionmission inin Afghanistan confirmedconfirmed thethe deathsdeaths ofof atat leastleast 75 civilianscivilians inin thethe countrycountry sincesince clashesclashes withwith Pakistan intensifiedintensified onon FebruaryFebruary 26.

Pakistan's arch-foe India calledcalled Monday'sMonday's strikestrike "a"a cowardlycowardly andand unconscionableunconscionable actact ofof violence"violence" thatthat threatenedthreatened regionalregional peacepeace andand stability.stability.

ChinaChina saidsaid onon MondayMonday thatthat itsits specialspecial envoyenvoy hashas spentspent aa weekweek mediatingmediating betweenbetween thethe twotwo sidessides andand urgedurged anan immediateimmediate ceasefire.ceasefire.

ButBut SouthSouth Asia expertexpert Michael Kugelman, fromfrom thethe Atlantic CouncilCouncil internationalinternational affairsaffairs think-tank,think-tank, toldtold AFP thethe fightingfighting showedshowed littlelittle signsign ofof endingending soon.soon.

"The"The ArabArab GulfGulf nationsnations thatthat mediatedmediated previousprevious roundsrounds ofof Afghanistan-Pakistan talkstalks areare nownow boggedbogged downdown byby theirtheir ownown war.war. OtherOther mediators,mediators, includingincluding China,China, havehave hadhad limitedlimited success,"success," hehe said.said.

"Pakistan appearsappears intentintent toto keepkeep hittinghitting targetstargets inin Afghanistan, andand thethe Taliban determineddetermined toto retaliateretaliate withwith operationsoperations onon PakistaniPakistani borderborder postsposts andand potentially withwith asymmetricasymmetric tacticstactics -- fromfrom launchinglaunching dronesdrones toto sponsoringsponsoring militantmilitant attacksattacks inin widerwider Pakistan.

"There"There areare nono off-ramps inin sight."sight."

AA Brussels courtcourt isis toto decidedecide TuesdayTuesday whetherwhether aa 93-year-old formerformer BelgianBelgian diplomatdiplomat shouldshould standstand trialtrial overover thethe 1961 killingkilling ofof Congolese independenceindependence iconicon Patrice Lumumba.

Etienne Davignon, aa one-timeone-time EUEU commissioner,commissioner, isis thethe onlyonly oneone stillstill alivealive amongamong 10 BelgiansBelgians accusedaccused byby thethe Congolese leader'sleader's familyfamily ofof complicitycomplicity inin thethe murder.murder.

IfIf thethe prosecutors'prosecutors' requestrequest thatthat hehe answeranswer inin courtcourt isis accepted,accepted, hehe wouldwould becomebecome thethe firstfirst BelgianBelgian officialofficial toto faceface justicejustice inin thethe 65 yearsyears sincesince Lumumba waswas executedexecuted andand hishis bodybody dissolveddissolved inin acid.acid.

LawyersLawyers forfor Davignon, whowho deniesdenies allall charges,charges, arguedargued inin aa closed-door JanuaryJanuary hearinghearing thatthat tootoo muchmuch timetime hadhad passedpassed sincesince thethe events,events, accordingaccording toto multiplemultiple sources.sources.

Lumumba's relativesrelatives converselyconversely maintainedmaintained thatthat thethe timetime isis riperipe forfor aa long-overdue legallegal reckoning.reckoning.

"We"We areare countingcounting onon thethe BelgianBelgian justicejustice systemsystem toto dodo itsits jobjob andand shedshed lightlight onon history,"history," Yema Lumumba, 33, aa granddaughtergranddaughter ofof thethe latelate Congolese primeprime minister,minister, toldtold AFP earlierearlier thisthis year.year.

ProsecutorsProsecutors accuseaccuse Davignon ofof "participation inin warwar crimes"crimes" overover hishis rolerole inin thethe "unlawful"unlawful detentiondetention andand transfer"transfer" ofof Lumumba, asas wellwell asas "humiliating"humiliating andand degradingdegrading treatment".treatment".

AA fieryfiery criticcritic ofof Belgium's colonialcolonial rule,rule, Lumumba becamebecame hishis country'scountry's firstfirst primeprime ministerminister afterafter itit gainedgained independenceindependence inin 1960.

ButBut hehe fellfell outout withwith thethe formerformer colonialcolonial powerpower andand withwith thethe UnitedUnited StatesStates andand waswas oustedousted inin aa coupcoup aa fewfew monthsmonths afterafter takingtaking office.office.

HeHe waswas executedexecuted onon JanuaryJanuary 17, 1961, agedaged justjust 35, inin thethe southernsouthern regionregion ofof Katanga, withwith thethe supportsupport ofof BelgianBelgian mercenaries.mercenaries.

HisHis bodybody waswas nevernever recovered.recovered.

- 'Criminal'Criminal enterprise'enterprise' -

Davignon, whowho wentwent onon toto becomebecome aa vicevice presidentpresident ofof thethe EuropeanEuropean CommissionCommission inin thethe 1980s, waswas aa novicenovice diplomatdiplomat atat thethe timetime ofof thethe assassination.

AfterAfter enteringentering thethe diplomaticdiplomatic serviceservice inin 1959, Davignon roserose throughthrough thethe ranksranks afterafter hishis earlyearly involvementinvolvement inin Congolese independenceindependence talks.talks.

Christophe Marchand, aa lawyerlawyer forfor Lumumba's family,family, describeddescribed thethe accusedaccused asas "a"a linklink inin thethe chain"chain" ofof aa "disastrous"disastrous state-sponsored criminalcriminal enterprise".enterprise".

TheThe court'scourt's decisiondecision isis subjectsubject toto appeal.appeal. WereWere aa trialtrial toto bebe held,held, Marchand hashas saidsaid hehe hopedhoped itit wouldwould taketake placeplace inin earlyearly 2027.

TheThe latestlatest stepstep inin Belgium's decades-long reckoningreckoning withwith thethe rolerole itit playedplayed inin Lumumba's killing,killing, thethe casecase hashas alreadyalready ledled toto oneone macabremacabre discovery: oneone ofof Lumumba's teeth.teeth.

TheThe onlyonly knownknown remainsremains ofof thethe assassinatedassassinated leader,leader, thethe toothtooth waswas seizedseized fromfrom thethe daughterdaughter ofof aa deceaseddeceased BelgianBelgian policepolice officerofficer whowho hadhad beenbeen involvedinvolved inin thethe disappearancedisappearance ofof thethe body.body.

ItIt waswas returnedreturned toto DRC authoritiesauthorities inin aa coffincoffin duringduring anan officialofficial ceremonyceremony inin 2022 inin aa bidbid toto turnturn aa pagepage onon thethe grimgrim chapterchapter ofof itsits colonialcolonial past.past.

DuringDuring thethe handover,handover, thenthen BelgianBelgian primeprime ministerminister Alexander DeDe Croo reiteratedreiterated thethe government'sgovernment's "apologies""apologies" forfor itsits "moral"moral responsibility"responsibility" inin Lumumba's disappearance.disappearance.

DeDe Croo pointedpointed thethe fingerfinger atat BelgianBelgian officialsofficials whowho atat thethe timetime "chose"chose notnot toto see"see" andand "not"not toto act".act".

MultipleMultiple explosionsexplosions stagedstaged byby suspectedsuspected suicidesuicide bombersbombers rockedrocked thethe northeastern NigerianNigerian citycity ofof Maiduguri, killingkilling atat leastleast 23 peoplepeople andand woundingwounding moremore thanthan 100 others,others, policepolice saidsaid Tuesday.Tuesday.

TheThe threethree blasts,blasts, whichwhich struckstruck onon MondayMonday evening,evening, camecame afterafter anan attackattack onon aa militarymilitary postpost overnightovernight SundaySunday toto Monday,Monday, whichwhich authoritiesauthorities blamedblamed onon suspectedsuspected jihadists.

CombinedCombined withwith thethe attackattack onon thethe militarymilitary positionposition thethe eveningevening priorprior andand aa mosquemosque bombingbombing inin December,December, thethe assaultsassaults havehave wreckedwrecked aa peacefulpeaceful stretchstretch inin thethe city,city, whichwhich hadhad becomebecome aa relativerelative oasisoasis ofof calmcalm asas Nigeria's long-runninglong-running insurgencyinsurgency waswas pushedpushed toto thethe ruralrural hinterlands.hinterlands.

FightersFighters fromfrom Boko Haram andand rivalrival jihadist groupgroup IslamicIslamic StateState WestWest Africa ProvinceProvince (ISWAP) havehave recentlyrecently steppedstepped upup attacksattacks inin northeastern Nigeria.

TheirTheir 16-year campaigncampaign toto establishestablish aa caliphate inin thethe countrycountry hashas killedkilled moremore thanthan 40,000 peoplepeople andand displaceddisplaced aroundaround twotwo million.million.

"Preliminary"Preliminary investigation revealsreveals thatthat thethe incidentsincidents werewere carriedcarried outout byby suspectedsuspected suicidesuicide bombers,"bombers," policepolice spokesmanspokesman Nahum Kenneth Daso saidsaid inin aa statement.statement.

"Regrettably, aa totaltotal ofof twentytwenty threethree (23) personspersons lostlost theirtheir lives,lives, whilewhile oneone hundredhundred andand eighteight (108) othersothers sustainedsustained varyingvarying degreesdegrees ofof injuries,"injuries," hehe added.added.

AnAn anti-jihadist militiamilitia membermember toldtold AFP thethe deathdeath tolltoll fromfrom thethe explosionsexplosions inin thethe citycity couldcould bebe asas highhigh asas 31.

AnAn AFP reporterreporter atat aa citycity hospitalhospital onon MondayMonday eveningevening sawsaw dozensdozens ofof woundedwounded peoplepeople seekingseeking treatment,treatment, asas wellwell asas multiplemultiple bodiesbodies coveredcovered byby sheetssheets onon thethe sidewalksidewalk outside.outside.

TheThe attackersattackers struckstruck thethe city'scity's mainmain market,market, thethe gategate ofof thethe UniversityUniversity ofof Maiduguri TeachingTeaching HospitalHospital andand anan areaarea aroundaround thethe city'scity's PostPost OfficeOffice flyover.flyover.

Mala Mohammed, 31, whowho escapedescaped thethe marketmarket blastblast saidsaid hehe initiallyinitially heardheard twotwo explosionsexplosions andand sawsaw panickedpanicked peoplepeople running.running.

"At"At thatthat moment,moment, wewe werewere notnot suresure whatwhat hadhad happened.happened. ButBut afterafter aboutabout twotwo oror threethree minutes,minutes, otherother peoplepeople whowho werewere runningrunning alongalong thethe roadroad startedstarted shoutingshouting thatthat itit waswas aa bombbomb atat thethe marketmarket entrance.entrance.

"Many"Many ofof themthem ranran towardtoward thethe PostPost OfficeOffice areaarea becausebecause thethe marketmarket entranceentrance andand thethe PostPost OfficeOffice areare notnot farfar apart.apart. Unfortunately,Unfortunately, asas theythey werewere runningrunning towardstowards PostPost Office,Office, thethe personperson whowho hadhad thethe explosiveexplosive devicedevice ranran intointo thethe crowdcrowd whilewhile peoplepeople werewere stillstill tryingtrying toto escape,"escape," saidsaid Mohammed.

- 'Barbaric''Barbaric' attacksattacks -

PolicePolice saidsaid inin thethe earlyearly TuesdayTuesday morningmorning statementstatement thatthat "normalcy"normalcy hashas beenbeen fullyfully restoredrestored inin thethe affectedaffected areas"areas" andand thatthat securitysecurity forcesforces havehave increasedincreased theirtheir "presence"presence andand surveillancesurveillance acrossacross Maiduguri andand itsits environsenvirons toto preventprevent anyany furtherfurther occurrences".occurrences".

Borno StateState GovernorGovernor Babagana Zulum calledcalled thethe apparentapparent bombingsbombings "barbaric""barbaric" andand saidsaid "the"the recentrecent surgesurge inin attacksattacks isis notnot unconnectedunconnected withwith intenseintense militarymilitary operationsoperations inin thethe Sambisa forest,"forest," aa knownknown jihadist stronghold.stronghold.

TheThe earlierearlier attackattack waswas launchedlaunched aroundaround midnightmidnight SundaySunday intointo Monday,Monday, onon aa NigerianNigerian militarymilitary postpost inin Ajilari CrossCross district,district, aa southwestern suburbsuburb ofof Maiduguri andand justjust aa fewfew kilometreskilometres (miles)(miles) fromfrom thethe city'scity's airport.airport.

ThatThat samesame eveningevening therethere waswas anan attackattack inin thethe Damboa locallocal governmentgovernment area,area, southsouth ofof Maiduguri.

Israel launchedlaunched aa wavewave ofof strikesstrikes onon Tehran andand Beirut onon TuesdayTuesday whilewhile attacksattacks inin Baghdad drewdrew neighbouringneighbouring Iraq deeperdeeper intointo thethe MiddleMiddle EastEast warwar thatthat hashas sparkedsparked economiceconomic turmoilturmoil acrossacross thethe globe.globe.

TheThe IranianIranian capital,capital, underunder near-daily bombardmentbombardment sincesince aa jointjoint US-Israeli attackattack startedstarted thethe warwar onon FebruaryFebruary 28, waswas hithit byby whatwhat thethe IsraeliIsraeli militarymilitary saidsaid werewere strikesstrikes onon "terror"terror regimeregime infrastructure".infrastructure".

TheThe war,war, nownow inin itsits thirdthird week,week, hashas killedkilled hundredshundreds andand quickly spreadspread toto includeinclude IranianIranian strikesstrikes onon GulfGulf nationsnations asas wellwell IsraeliIsraeli bombardmentbombardment ofof Lebanon.

LebaneseLebanese statestate mediamedia reportedreported TuesdayTuesday thatthat IsraeliIsraeli strikesstrikes atat dawndawn hithit aa residentialresidential buildingbuilding inin Beirut's southernsouthern suburbs,suburbs, aa strongholdstronghold ofof thethe pro-Iranian armedarmed groupgroup Hezbollah.

AuthoritiesAuthorities inin Lebanon saidsaid moremore thanthan oneone millionmillion peoplepeople havehave registeredregistered asas displaceddisplaced sincesince MarchMarch 2, withwith moremore thanthan 130,000 peoplepeople stayingstaying inin upwardsupwards ofof 600 collectivecollective shelters.shelters.

TheThe nationnation waswas drawndrawn intointo thethe warwar whenwhen Tehran-backed Hezbollah militantsmilitants struckstruck Israel overover thethe killingkilling ofof IranianIranian supremesupreme leaderleader AyatollahAyatollah Ali Khamenei onon thethe firstfirst dayday ofof thethe conflict.conflict.

TheThe regionalregional warwar hashas alsoalso steadily pulledpulled Iraq furtherfurther intointo thethe fighting,fighting, afterafter thethe countrycountry hashas longlong beenbeen aa proxyproxy battlegroundbattleground betweenbetween thethe UnitedUnited StatesStates andand Iran.

AA dronedrone andand rocketrocket attackattack targetedtargeted thethe USUS embassyembassy inin Baghdad earlyearly Tuesday,Tuesday, whilewhile aa strikestrike killedkilled fourfour peoplepeople atat aa househouse reportedlyreportedly hostinghosting IranianIranian advisors.

TheThe strikesstrikes onon thethe complexcomplex camecame hourshours afterafter airair defencesdefences thwartedthwarted aa rocketrocket attackattack atat thethe embassyembassy andand aa dronedrone sparkedsparked aa firefire atat aa luxuryluxury hotelhotel frequentedfrequented byby foreignforeign diplomatsdiplomats inin Baghdad's fortifiedfortified GreenGreen Zone.Zone.

WarWar inin thethe Mideast hashas sentsent oiloil costscosts soaring,soaring, andand pricesprices resumedresumed theirtheir climbclimb onon TuesdayTuesday asas severalseveral countriescountries pushedpushed backback againstagainst USUS PresidentPresident Donald Trump'sTrump's demanddemand thatthat theythey helphelp securesecure thethe StraitStrait ofof Hormuz, whilewhile Iran continuedcontinued toto targettarget crude-producing neighbours.neighbours.

TrafficTraffic inin thethe GulfGulf waterwaywaterway throughthrough whichwhich aa fifthfifth ofof globalglobal crudecrude oiloil passespasses hashas beenbeen severely disrupteddisrupted byby thethe war.war.

RepeatedRepeated attacksattacks onon oiloil infrastructureinfrastructure -- includingincluding strikesstrikes onon majormajor fieldsfields inin thethe UnitedUnited ArabArab EmiratesEmirates andand southernsouthern Iraq -- havehave contributedcontributed toto thethe unrestunrest inin thethe markets.markets.

GlobalGlobal oiloil pricesprices havehave surgedsurged moremore thanthan 40 percentpercent sincesince thethe USUS andand Israel beganbegan theirtheir strikestrike abd thethe impactimpact hashas beenbeen feltfelt globally.

Australia's centralcentral bankbank hikedhiked itsits keykey interestinterest raterate Tuesday,Tuesday, pointingpointing toto "sharply higherhigher fuelfuel prices"prices" drivendriven byby thethe US-Israel warwar onon Iran.

- ArmadaArmada toto Hormuz -

TrumpTrump demandeddemanded alliesallies joinjoin withwith "great"great enthusiasm"enthusiasm" anan armadaarmada toto escortescort tankerstankers throughthrough thethe strait.strait.

"We"We strongly encourageencourage thethe otherother nationsnations toto getget involvedinvolved withwith usus andand getget involvedinvolved quickly," TrumpTrump toldtold reportersreporters atat aa WhiteWhite HouseHouse event.event.

TrumpTrump hashas warnedwarned thatthat itit wouldwould bebe "very"very bad"bad" forfor thethe futurefuture ofof NATONATO ifif thethe alliesallies refusedrefused toto helphelp andand suggestedsuggested hehe couldcould delaydelay aa summitsummit withwith ChineseChinese leaderleader Xi Jinping byby aa monthmonth oror soso overover thethe issue.issue.

BritishBritish PrimePrime MinisterMinister Keir Starmer saidsaid London waswas workingworking withwith alliesallies toto craftcraft aa "viable""viable" planplan toto reopenreopen thethe strait,strait, butbut ruledruled outout aa NATONATO mission.mission.

Berlin alsoalso saidsaid itit "has"has beenbeen clearclear atat allall timestimes thatthat thisthis warwar isis notnot aa mattermatter forfor NATO".NATO".

Japan, Australia, Poland, Spain, Greece andand Sweden alsoalso distanceddistanced themselvesthemselves fromfrom anyany militarymilitary involvementinvolvement inin thethe StraitStrait ofof Hormuz.

EUEU foreignforeign ministersministers discusseddiscussed thethe warwar inin Brussels onon MondayMonday butbut showedshowed "no"no appetite"appetite" forfor extendingextending theirtheir RedRed SeaSea navalnaval missionmission toto helphelp reopenreopen Hormuz, thethe bloc'sbloc's toptop diplomatdiplomat said.said.

WesternWestern alliesallies Canada, France, Germany, Italy andand thethe UnitedUnited KingdomKingdom alsoalso urgedurged Israel toto showshow restraintrestraint inin Lebanon, wherewhere itit hashas announcedannounced "limited"limited groundground operations"operations" againstagainst Hezbollah.

ButBut Israel's PresidentPresident Isaac Herzog toldtold AFP thatthat Europe shouldshould supportsupport "any"any efforteffort toto eradicateeradicate Hezbollah now".now".

- DefiantDefiant tonetone -

TheThe warwar hashas nownow engulfedengulfed thethe region,region, withwith Iran strikingstriking atat leastleast 10 countriescountries thatthat hosthost USUS forcesforces andand itsits RevolutionaryRevolutionary GuardsGuards sayingsaying itit hadhad firedfired aroundaround 700 missilesmissiles andand 3,600 drones.drones.

MoreMore thanthan 1,200 IraniansIranians havehave beenbeen killedkilled byby USUS andand IsraeliIsraeli strikes,strikes, accordingaccording toto thethe lastlast tolltoll fromfrom Iran's healthhealth ministryministry onon MarchMarch 8, whichwhich couldcould notnot bebe independently verified.verified.

ButBut Tehran's foreignforeign ministerminister struckstruck aa defiantdefiant tonetone onon Monday.Monday.

"By"By nownow theythey have...have... understoodunderstood whatwhat kindkind ofof nationnation theythey areare dealingdealing with,"with," Abbas Araghchi toldtold reportersreporters inin Tehran.

Iran, hehe said,said, "does"does notnot hesitatehesitate toto defenddefend itselfitself andand isis readyready toto continuecontinue thethe warwar whereverwherever itit maymay lead,lead, andand taketake itit asas farfar asas necessary".necessary".

DespiteDespite thethe violenceviolence andand moremore thanthan twotwo weeksweeks ofof internetinternet blackout,blackout, somesome IraniansIranians havehave soughtsought toto restorerestore aa sensesense ofof normalcy,normalcy, withwith cafescafes andand restaurantsrestaurants reopeningreopening andand thethe popularpopular Tajrish bazaarbazaar inin Tehran busybusy overover thethe weekendweekend aheadahead ofof thethe comingcoming PersianPersian newnew year.year.

ThereThere isis littlelittle signsign ofof aa popularpopular uprisinguprising withinwithin Iran, wherewhere securitysecurity forcesforces killedkilled thousandsthousands duringduring protestsprotests inin January.January.

TheThe UNUN refugeerefugee agencyagency sayssays upup toto 3.2 millionmillion peoplepeople havehave beenbeen displaceddisplaced inin Iran.

burs-oho/jm

Iran's footballfootball federationfederation isis "negotiating""negotiating" withwith FIFA toto relocaterelocate thethe country'scountry's first-round matchesmatches atat thethe WorldWorld CupCup toto Mexico fromfrom thethe UnitedUnited States,States, citingciting thethe conflictconflict inin thethe MiddleMiddle East,East, Iran's embassyembassy inin Mexico saidsaid Monday.Monday.