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Oil prices eased on Wednesday to pare back some of Tuesday’s sharp gains after the Iraqi government and Kurdish authorities reached a deal to resume oil exports via Turkey’s Ceyhan port, providing modest relief to concerns about Middle East supplies.

But with no signs of a de-escalation of the Iran conflict, which has left oil exports from the Middle East largely halted, Brent futures prices have settled above $100 per barrel for the prior four consecutive sessions. After rising more than 3% on Tuesday, Brent futures edged back 67 cents, or 0.65%, to $102.75 a barrel by 0209 GMT on Wednesday. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude ⁠dropped $1.18, or 1.23%, to $95.03.

Iraqi’s oil minister Hayan Abdel-Ghani said oil flows from Ceyhan were expected to start at 0700 GMT on Wednesday, according to state media. Two oil officials said last week that Iraq was seeking to pump at least 100,000 barrels per day of crude through the port.

“While it all helps and buys some time, the 100,000 bpd is not a huge game changer as Iraq has still lost about two million barrels per day,” said IG market analyst Tony Sycamore.

Oil production from Iraq’s main southern oilfields, where most of its crude is produced and exported, has plunged 70% to just 1.3 million bpd, sources said on March 8, as ⁠the Iran conflict effectively shut the vital Strait of Hormuz through which some 20% of global oil passes.

Iran confirmed on Tuesday that its security chief Ali Larijani had been killed in an Israeli attack. He is the most senior figure targeted since the U.S.-Israeli war’s first day.

A senior Iranian official said Iran’s new supreme leader had rejected de-escalation offers conveyed ⁠by intermediary countries.

The United States military said Tuesday it had targeted sites along Iran’s coastline near the Strait of Hormuz because Iranian anti-ship missiles posed a risk to international shipping there.

Larijani’s death and the U.S. military’s strikes on Iranian coastal positions ⁠near the Strait of Hormuz raised some hopes that the conflict could end sooner, said Mingyu Gao, chief researcher for energy and chemicals at China Futures.

U.S. crude stocks rose by 6.56 million barrels in the week ended ⁠March 13, market sources said, citing API figures on Tuesday.

A Reuters poll showed that U.S. crude oil stockpiles were expected to have risen by about 380,000 barrels in the week to March 13.

Source:adaderana.lk

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday issued a strong statement condemning the recent escalation of violence in the Middle East blaming the United States and Israel for what it described as a ‘‘treacherous and unprovoked attack on Iran’‘ and calling for an immediate end to hostilities.

The ministry accused Washington and Tel Aviv of instigating an ‘‘unprecedented spiral of violence’‘ that has caused extensive civilian casualties and widespread damage to infrastructure across the region.

According to the official text, the toll of victims from what Moscow terms ‘‘American-Israeli aggression’‘ now runs into ‘‘hundreds and thousands,’‘ with significant harm inflicted on civilian infrastructure. 

The statement points to the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global maritime trade, which it says has been effectively paralysed by ongoing retaliatory Iranian strikes. Once viewed as a relatively stable and prosperous region, the Persian Gulf now faces ‘‘chaos and uncertainty,’‘ with economic effects being felt far beyond the immediate conflict zone.

The ministry sharply criticised the continuing intensification of mutual hostility, arguing that rather than seeking avenues for de-escalation and a return to diplomatic negotiations, the parties involved are escalating with ‘‘increasingly lethal and destructive strikes.’‘ It voiced particular concern over the ongoing attacks on civilian facilities and infrastructure, underlining that such actions must stop in order to prevent further death and suffering among innocent populations in Arabian Gulf states and Iran.

In its call to action, the statement reiterated Moscow’s ‘‘resolute call to all parties for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a shift of the situation onto a political and diplomatic track.’‘ The ministry emphasised that political negotiation, not military confrontation, is the only path to a sustainable resolution of the crisis.

The Russian government also expressed its readiness to contribute, ‘‘within the scope of its available capabilities,’‘ to efforts aimed at reaching a long-term and durable settlement of the conflict. 

This echoes separate diplomatic efforts by Russian officials, including phone calls between President Vladimir Putin and Iran’s leadership, in which Moscow reiterated support for de-escalation and political solutions amid the widening Middle East crisis.

The statement comes against the backdrop of a broader international reaction to the crisis, with global leaders and organisations urging restraint, emphasising the danger of further escalation, and warning of profound economic and humanitarian repercussions should the conflict deepen further. 

Source: adaderana.lk

The government of Sri Lanka has implemented a weekly holiday on Wednesdays for public sector employees starting today (18), as part of measures to address ongoing fuel supply constraints.

According to Prabath Chandrakeerthi, the decision applies not only to government offices but also extends to schools, universities, and the judicial sector. Authorities have additionally requested that both state-approved schools and private tuition classes suspend their activities on Wednesdays.

However, key sectors such as healthcare, ports, water supply, and electricity services will continue to function without interruption, as they are classified as essential services.

In terms of transport, the Department of Railways announced that train services will operate on a reduced schedule similar to Saturdays. This includes 29 trains on the main line, 17 on the upcountry route, and 33 along the coastal line. Additional services will include five trains on the Kelani Valley line, nine on the Puttalam line, and six operating on the Batticaloa and Trincomalee lines.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Transport Board confirmed that bus services will continue across the island. While some schedules have been adjusted, buses will be deployed based on passenger demand to ensure continued public transportation.

Kumara Jayakodi has indicated that while uninterrupted electricity supply is currently being maintained, the country may have to consider power cuts if fuel constraints persist.

Speaking in Parliament today (17), the Minister responded to a query raised by Sajith Premadasa under Standing Order 27.2 regarding the likelihood of electricity interruptions.

Jayakodi noted that authorities have so far succeeded in providing continuous power without any outages, even for a single hour, despite the ongoing fuel crisis.

However, he cautioned that the situation remains uncertain, adding that power cuts could become unavoidable in the future depending on the availability of fuel resources.

Israel’s Minister of Defence Israel Katz says Ali Larijani has been killed.

In a statement, Katz says he was just informed of the top Iranian security official’s death following Israeli strikes overnight.

Source:ADaderana.lk

President Donald Trump was warned that attacking Iran could trigger retaliation against U.S. Gulf allies despite his claims on Monday that Tehran’s reaction came as a surprise, said a U.S. official and two sources familiar with U.S. intelligence reports.

Pre-war intelligence assessments did not say that Iran’s response was “a guarantee, but it certainly was on the list of potential outcomes,” said one source, who like the other two requested anonymity to discuss the issue.

The president twice on Monday said that Iran’s retaliatory strikes against Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Kuwait were a surprise, the first time at a Kennedy Center board meeting in the White House.

“They (Iran) weren’t supposed to go after all these other countries in the Middle East,” he said. “Nobody expected that. We were shocked.”

Trump’s assertion followed other administration claims that have not been backed by U.S. intelligence reporting, such as that Iran would soon have a missile capable of hitting the U.S. homeland and that it would need two to four weeks to make a nuclear bomb and would then use it.

Those allegations and an imminent threat posed by Iran to the U.S. and its forces in the region have been among varying reasons that Trump and some top aides have given to justify his decision to join Israel in launching their air war against Iran on February 28.

Trump was also briefed ahead of the operation that Tehran would likely seek to close the economically vital Strait of Hormuz, according to two other sources familiar with the matter.

Over the past two weeks, Iranian drones and missiles have struck targets in the Gulf states that have included U.S. military bases and an Emirates base hosting French troops, civilian structures, including hotels, airports, and energy facilities.

Iran has also halted almost all shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of oil supplies move, causing global energy prices to spike.

Democratic lawmakers emerged from administration briefings on the war last week saying they heard of no imminent threat that required the U.S. and Israel to launch the war.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment.

WARNINGS OF A REGIONAL WAR

The U.S. official said that Trump was briefed before the war that striking Iran could trigger a broader regional conflict that would include Iranian retaliation against Gulf capitals, especially if Tehran saw those countries condoning or actively supporting the U.S. attacks.

Trump repeated his claim later on Monday during a signing event in the Oval Office. He was asked if he was surprised that nobody had briefed him about that risk that Iran would strike back at the Gulf states.

“Nobody, nobody, no, no, no. The greatest experts, nobody thought they were going to hit,” replied Trump.

The second source familiar with the matter said that before the U.S.-Israeli attacks, the U.S. intelligence community assessed that Israel’s plan to launch strikes aimed at killing top Iranian leaders likely would result in retaliation against U.S. military and diplomatic outposts.

The administration did not order departures of diplomatic staff from several regional embassies until after the air strikes began. 

The community also warned that Iran “could” widen its retaliation to American allies in the region, the source said.

Source:adaderana.lk

Israel targeted Ali Larijani, the head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, in a Tehran strike on Monday night, according to an Israeli Military spokesperson.

The Israeli military is still awaiting the results of the strike, known as a battle damage assessment, to determine if Larijani was killed.

On Tuesday morning, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said, “We recorded significant achievements in Iran last night.”

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out a wave of simultaneous strikes on Monday evening against the cities of Tehran, Shiraz and Tabriz. The IDF made no mention of targeting Larijani, instead naming missile production sites and command centers as the goals.

“Alongside the ongoing damage and erosion of military capabilities and industrial production capacities, we are acting against elements of the Revolutionary Guards and the regime’s repression apparatus,” Zamir said at a situation assessment.

Israel also targeted senior figures in Palestinian Islamic Jihad, an Iran-backed militant group in Gaza, in a separate attack a few days ago, the Israeli source told CNN.

Source:adaderana.lk

Iran’s navy commander Shahram Irani warned that Tehran’s enemies would face retaliation for the killing of dozens of sailors after the IRIS Dena was sunk in the Indian Ocean off Sri Lanka.

“We will not forget the enemy’s crime, and we will exact retribution for the blood of our martyrs,” Irani was quoted as saying by Iran’s English-language broadcaster Press TV.

“The enemy should know that we will punish it with deadly strikes from where it least expects,” he said.

The IRIS Dena was sunk on March 4 by a US submarine torpedo off the coast of Galle while sailing in international waters after a joint naval exercise with India, killing at least 87 sailors.

Thirty-two were rescued and several others remain missing.

Source:adaderana.lk

Public transport across Sri Lanka, including train services, will operate on a limited schedule on Wednesdays, which have been designated as government holidays.

The announcement was made by Nalinda Jayatissa, who stated that the reduction in services is in line with ongoing efforts to manage the prevailing situation in the country.

According to officials, the scaled-back operations are expected to affect multiple modes of public transport, with adjustments being made to accommodate reduced demand and conserve resources.

Authorities are expected to provide further details on revised timetables and service availability in the coming days.

At least 400 people were killed and 250 injured in an air strike by Pakistan on a drug users rehabilitation hospital in Kabul, a spokesman of the Afghan Taliban government said on Tuesday, a sharp escalation in the conflict between the neighbours.

Pakistan rejected the claim as false and misleading and said it “precisely targeted military installations and terrorist support infrastructure” on Monday night.

The air strike came hours after China said it remained ready to continue efforts to ease tensions between the South Asian Islamic nations and urged both to avoid expanding the war and return to the negotiating table.

The conflict that began last month is the worst ever between the neighbours who share a 2,600-km (1,600-mile) border. It had ebbed amid attempts by friendly countries, including China, to mediate and end the fighting before flaring up again.

The escalation comes amid wider instability in the neighbourhood where the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran’s retaliation have plunged the Middle East into a crisis.

At the site, a blackened single-storey structure bore ⁠the marks of flames. In other places, buildings were reduced to heaps of wood and metal, with only a few bunk beds still intact in some, while blankets, personal belongings and bedding were strewn about.

“When I arrived (last night), I saw that everything was burning, people were burning,” ambulance driver Haji Fahim told Reuters. “Early in the morning they called me again and told me to come back because there are still bodies under the rubble.”

Ambulances and police vehicles were parked near the gate of the damaged facility, which a sign identified as a “drug addiction treatment hospital” with 1,000 beds, while security personnel maintained guard.

NO COLLATERAL DAMAGE, SAYS PAKISTAN

Hamdullah Fitrat, the deputy spokesman for the Taliban, said the air strike took place at 9 p.m. (1630 GMT) on Monday and targeted the state-run Omid hospital, which he said was a 2,000-bed drug rehabilitation centre.

“Large parts of the hospital have been destroyed, and there are fears of heavy casualties,” he said in a post on X. “Sadly, the number of those killed has so far reached 400, with up to 250 others injured.”

Rescue teams were at the scene working to control the fire and recover the victims, he added.

Reuters could not verify the casualty ⁠numbers and the Pakistani military could not be reached for comment outside business hours.

The Pakistani Information and Broadcasting Ministry said the Afghan Taliban claim was “misreporting of facts”.

In an overnight post on X, it said that Pakistan targeted military installations and “terrorist support infrastructure” including technical equipment storage and ammunition storage of the Afghan Taliban and Pakistani Taliban militants in Kabul and Nangarhar that were being used against Pakistani civilians.

“Pakistan’s targeting is precise and carefully undertaken to ensure no collateral damage is inflicted,” the post said. “This misreporting of facts as drug rehabilitation facility seeks to stir sentiments, covering illegitimate support to cross-border terrorism.”

FLAMES ENGULF BUILDING, MEDIA SHOWS

The Omid hospital ⁠was established in 2016 and has treated hundreds of people, also providing them with vocational training such as tailoring and carpentry to make them more employable, according to local media reports.

Overnight visuals from local media showed flames engulfing a single-storey building, while thick smoke billowed from another section of the same complex. Reuters could not immediately verify the footage.

Fierce fighting between the South Asian neighbours, who were close allies earlier, erupted ⁠last month with Pakistani air strikes in Afghanistan that Islamabad said targeted militant strongholds.

Afghanistan called the strikes a violation of its sovereignty that targeted civilians and launched its own attacks.

Both sides have claimed to have inflicted heavy damage on the other but independent verification has not been possible.

Islamabad says Kabul provides a safe haven to militants launching attacks on Pakistan. The Taliban deny the allegation, ⁠saying tackling militancy is Pakistan’s internal problem.

Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur for human rights in Afghanistan, said he was “dismayed” by fresh reports of Pakistani air strikes and resulting civilian deaths.

“My condolences. I urge parties to de-escalate, exercise maximum restraint and respect international law, including the protection of civilians and civilian objects such as hospitals,” he said in a post on X.

Source:adaderana.lk

The US embassy in Baghdad has been targeted by a wave of drone and rocket attacks, according to reports from Reuters and Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Iraqi security sources have told the latter that it was “the most intense assault since the attacks began”.

The embassy had issued a fresh security alert to US citizens in Iraq roughly six hours prior, where they warned that “Iran-aligned terrorist militias have repeatedly attacked the International Zone” in central Baghdad.

Source:adaderana.lk