US deploys more troops to Mideast as Trump considers ‘winding down’ military operations


President Donald Trump said his administration was considering “winding down” military operations in the Middle East even as the United States announced it was sending more warships and Marines to the region and Iran threatened to attack tourist sites worldwide.

The mixed U.S. messages came after another climb in oil prices plunged the U.S. stock market, and was followed by a Trump administration announcement that it will lift sanctions on Iranian oil loaded on ships, a move aimed at wrangling soaring fuel prices.

The war, meanwhile, has shown no signs of abating.

Israel said Iran continued to fire missiles at it early Saturday, while Saudi Arabia said it downed 20 drones in just a couple of hours in the country’s eastern region, which is home to major oil installations. The defense ministry said there were no injuries or damage.

The death toll has risen to more than 1,300 people in Iran, more than 1,000 people in Lebanon, 15 in Israel and 13 U.S. military members in the region. Millions of people in Lebanon and Iran have been displaced.

Here is the latest:

Israel strikes targets in Tehran and Beirut

The Israeli military said early Saturday it was striking targets in Tehran.

The announcement came shortly after the military said it had begun a wave of strikes targeting Hezbollah positions across the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon.

Hours earlier, the army renewed evacuation warnings for seven neighborhoods in Beirut’s suburbs, prompting some residents to fire gunshots to alert families who had returned to flee.

No casualties were immediately reported.

United Airlines prepares for oil to reach $175 a barrel

The airline’s CEO said the company is also preparing for oil to not return to $100 a barrel until the end of next year.

Scott Kirby said in a message to United employees on Friday that jet fuel prices that have more than doubled in the last three weeks already would cost the airline $11 billion a year if they remain where they are now.

The price of Brent crude has zigzagged from roughly $70 per barrel before the Iran war began to as high as $119.50 this week.

Of United’s worst-case assumption, Kirby said, “I think there’s a good chance it won’t be that bad, but … there isn’t much downside for us to preparing for that outcome.”

The Associated Press



Source link

  • Related Posts

    Trump Floats ‘Winding Down’ Iran War as Strikes Continue

    “The Hormuz Strait will have to be guarded and policed, as necessary, by other Nations who use it — The United States does not!” Trump said. “If asked, we will…

    More on the David Lang opera version of Wealth of Nations

    In 18 parts, Lang explores some of Smith’s central themes, including one of the book’s most famous passages, where Smith uses a wool coat worn by a very poor Scottish…

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    You Missed

    A Public Holiday Every Week? Sri Lankans Bemoan the Enforced Day Off.

    Five questions that still need answering about the meningitis outbreak

    Five questions that still need answering about the meningitis outbreak

    SA state election 2026: Labor confident but all eyes on One Nation vote as polls close in South Australia | South Australian election 2026

    SA state election 2026: Labor confident but all eyes on One Nation vote as polls close in South Australia | South Australian election 2026

    Amazon Wants to Make a Phone Again? Its First One Was a Fast Fail

    Amazon Wants to Make a Phone Again? Its First One Was a Fast Fail

    Delcy Rodríguez replaces Venezuela’s top military commanders | Venezuela

    Delcy Rodríguez replaces Venezuela’s top military commanders | Venezuela

    NZ vs SA 2025/26, NZ vs SA 4th T20I Match Preview

    NZ vs SA 2025/26, NZ vs SA 4th T20I Match Preview