1 of 2 | Director of the National Counterterrorism Center Joe Kent, left, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Operations Director of the National Security Branch at the FBI Michael Glasheen are sworn-in during a House Committee on Homeland Security hearing on Dec. 11. Kent posted hi»»»

The UAE has strongly condemned the destabilising terrorist plot that targeted the State of Kuwait, commending the vigilance and effectiveness of its security services, which successfully dismantled a Hezbollah-affiliated terrorist cell that was planning to undermine security and stability and recru»»»

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States no longer needs nor desires the assistance of NATO member states to secure the Strait of Hormuz amid the conflict with Iran, President Donald Trump said on Tuesday, claiming that Washington never required help. "The United States has been informed by most of»»»

BusinessGlobal issuesIran war: Why gold prices are not soaringDirk KaufmannGold is typically seen as a safe haven, especially in times of war and other crises. Notwithstanding the ongoing war in Iran, the price is steady. What's driving the stability? https://p.dw.com/p/5AULKGold is likely to remai»»»

The Trump administration's top official on counterterrorism has resigned from his position, citing opposition to the war in Iran, and urged the president to "reverse course". In a letter posted on Tuesday to his X account, National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent said that Iran posed "no »»»

Falling debris from missile interceptions killed one person on Tuesday in the Emirati capital of Abu Dhabi and injured two medical staff in Kuwait, authorities said, as Iran pressed its attacks against Gulf countries. The oil-rich Gulf has borne the brunt of Iran's reprisals for U.S.-Israeli strike»»»

The director of the US National Counterterrorism Center, which advises both US President Donald Trump and the director of national intelligence on “terror” threats, has resigned over the war with Iran. In a resignation letter posted on X, Joe Kent said he could not “in good conscience” support the »»»

Women chat in Havana on Monday. Cuba's national electrical grid has suffered a total collapse after a three-month halt in foreign oil shipments. Photo by Ernesto Mastrascusa/EPA March 17 (UPI) -- A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck eastern Cuba early Tuesday, hours after the island's national power g»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Iranian Intelligence Ministry said on Tuesday that it had seized hundreds of Starlink satellite internet devices that it believes were sent to the Islamic Republic by the United States and Israel. "Hundreds of Starlink devices sent by the American-Zionist enemy have been disc»»»

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, currently deployed in the Middle East, is set to return next week to a NATO naval base on Crete, Greek newspaper eKathimerini reported on Tuesday, citing a source. The vessel is expected to return for refueling and possibly also for a »»»

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States was not prepared for the scale of an Iranian drone threat it has faced in the region after launching a military campaign against the Islamic Republic, CNN reported on Tuesday, citing sources. The key obstacle was Congress, which did not support accelerating »»»

BusinessGlobal issuesWho holds the biggest strategic oil reserves?Nik MartinIran's effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has pushed dozens of countries to tap their emergency oil stockpiles. But what exactly are strategic reserves, and who holds the world's biggest crisis-ready supplies? https»»»

Washington: Joe Kent, the director of the National Counterterrorism Centre, announced his resignation on Tuesday, citing his concerns about the justification for military strikes in Iran and saying he “cannot in good conscience” back the Trump administration’s war. Kent said on social media that Ir»»»

Germany, Spain, Italy, and France—along with non-NATO members Japan and South Korea—are hesitant to participate in the US-led maritime operation in the Strait of Hormuz “due to the uncertainty on the battlefield,” says Hasan Selim Ozertem, a Turkish-based political analyst interviewed by Sputnik. T»»»

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Joseph Kent on Tuesday announced his decision to step down as director of the US National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) because of his disapproval of the US military operation against Iran. "After much reflection, I have decided to resign from my position as Director of the »»»

Israel says Iran's top security official, Ali Larijani, and the head of the paramilitary Basij force, Gholamreza Soleimani, have been killed in Israeli air strikes. "Larijani and the Basij commander were eliminated last night and have joined Khamenei, the head of the annihilation programme, along w»»»

During a meeting in Brussels as part of the Foreign Affairs Council, Minister Nadezhda Neynsky held talks with the US Permanent Representative to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, focusing on the escalating situation in Iran and condemning Tehran’s attacks across the Middle East. Both sides underlined the im»»»

Hezbollah on Tuesday denied it had any members in Kuwait a day after the Gulf country announced the arrest of 14 Kuwaitis and two Lebanese nationals allegedly affiliated with the group over a "sabotage plot". "Hezbollah categorically denies the allegations and accusations issued by the Kuwaiti inte»»»

India has begun sourcing liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from multiple global channels, including the United States, as it moves to diversify supplies amid ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia. The government on Tuesday said there is no disruption in domestic availability, with supplies remaini»»»

When war forces people to flee their homes, the world rightly focuses on human suffering. Evacuation flights, border crossings, and displaced families dominate the headlines. Yet amid this chaos, another tragedy unfolds quietly and painfully: pets are being abandoned. These loyal companions, who on»»»

Israeli airstrikes rained down on three neighborhoods in Beirut's southern suburbs early Tuesday, Lebanese state media reported, as Lebanon said more than one million people had been displaced in two weeks of fighting. Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war on March 2 when Tehran-backed Hezboll»»»

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has launched its massive 58th wave of retaliatory missile and drone strikes against Israeli positions and United States military bases, according to an official military statement. The barrage, conducted within the framework of “Operation True Promise 4,” »»»

With airstrikes rocking Beirut and Israeli troops trying to advance against Hezbollah, Lebanon's government has broken a taboo by proposing the first direct talks with Israel in decades. But Lebanese officials say they want the fighting to end first — and it might be too late for that. Hezbollah's »»»

TEHRAN (Sputnik) - The Iranian military attacked production facilities belonging to the Israeli arms manufacturer Rafael on Tuesday, the Iranian army said. "Since this morning, the Iranian army has been attacking Israeli cybertechnology centers, as well as Rafael's weapon production centers," the I»»»

Other countries have either pushed back or remained cautious on President Donald Trump's request for countries to send ships to the Strait of Hormuz, the crucial oil route under near-blockade by Iran during the war in the Middle East. Trump has said the US will keep bombing the shoreline and Irania»»»

The 28th 300-strong Cheonghae Unit departs for the Gulf of Aden to combat piracy off Somalia aboard the 4,400-ton ship. Photo by YONHAP / EPA March 16 (Asia Today) -- Military experts say South Korea would need a layered anti-drone defense system if the Cheonghae Unit is deployed near the Strait of»»»

Poland ‌will not send troops to Iran as the conflict does not directly affect its security, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Tuesday, adding that the United States and other powers understood Warsaw's decision. US President Donald Trump called on allies over the weekend ‌to help ‌secure the Strai»»»

Oil tankers are crossing the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's actions to choke traffic through the shipping route have not hurt the US economy, White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett told CNBC on Tuesday, reiterating the Trump administration's position that the war should be over in weeks, not month»»»

Dubai: Israel’s military has announced it had killed General Gholamreza Soleimani, the head of the Revolutionary Guard’s all-volunteer Basij force, though Iranian state media did not immediately confirm the death. Israel’s defence minister also said Tuesday that the military killed top Iranian secu»»»

BusinessUnited States of AmericaWhat does the Iran war mean for the US defense sector?Arthur SullivanUS defense companies are being called on to ramp up production to meet fresh demand from the war in Iran. It opens up an existing rift between them and the Trump administration. https://p.dw.com/p/5»»»

Israeli airstrikes rained down on three neighborhoods in Beirut's southern suburbs early Tuesday, Lebanese state media reported, as Lebanon said more than one million people had been displaced in two weeks of fighting. Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war on March 2 when Tehran-backed Hezboll»»»

Taulant Balla, head of the parliamentary group of the Socialist Party of Albania, presented a draft resolution on Iran in Parliament, emphasizing Albania’s stance against terrorism and commitment to global security. Balla described the resolution as part of Albania’s obligations as a member of NATO»»»

Head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani paid tribute to Iranian sailors martyred in a US attack on Iran’s destroyer IRIS Dena off the southern coast of Sri Lanka earlier this month. In a hand-written letter on the occasion of martyred sailors’ funeral, Larijani said the memory»»»

Abu Dhabi: The UAE’s air defence systems intercepted 10 Iranian ballistic missiles and 45 drones today, March 17, according to the Ministry of Defence. The ministry said the interceptions form part of ongoing operations to counter what it described as continuing attacks targeting the country. Since»»»

JAKARTA (Sputnik) - Indonesia is discussing oil purchases with Russia, Indonesian Energy Minister Bahlil Lahadalia told Sputnik on Tuesday. "At the moment, we are discussing this with our partners in Russia, we still need to study the proposal and the situation... We do not rule out working with an»»»

The escalating war with Iran is pushing parts of the world into energy triage, forcing governments to choose where to cut demand or absorb costs, while prioritizing dwindling supplies. Asia is the most exposed since it relies heavily on imported fuel, much of it shipped through the now-blocked Stra»»»

The Parliament of Albania on Tuesday approved a significant resolution declaring Iran a “state sponsor of terrorism,” marking a decisive move aligned with the country’s international commitments to combat terrorism. The decision was reached during a session that lasted approximately 30 minutes, und»»»

One Lebanese soldier was killed and four were wounded in an Israeli air strike in the city of Nabatieh in southern Lebanon, the Lebanese army said on Tuesday, amid escalating hostilities between Israel and Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah. The soldiers were ‌struck while ‌travelling by car and mot»»»

Albania on Tuesday designated Iran's Revolutionary Guards a "terrorist organization" and Iran as a state "supporting terrorism" as the Middle East war raged on. The Balkan nation's ruling Socialist party used its parliamentary majority to adopt a resolution to designate the ideological arm of the I»»»

Dubai: Airlines across the UAE and wider Gulf are steadily rebuilding operations, with flights resuming almost immediately after recent disruptions, signalling early resilience in one of the world’s most connected aviation hubs. An extraordinary 1.4 million passengers have been served through the U»»»

Dubai: Even as geopolitical tensions and global crises create uncertainty in many parts of the world, the UAE continues to provide a secure and safe environment for residents and visitors. Gulf News has spoken to mental health specialists and they have noted that the country’s strong institutions, »»»

With the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz, gas and oil volumes flowing to Europe could drop below 10% amid forecasts of oil prices jumping to about $300 per barrel, Lebanese expert Munir Alaeddin tells Sputnik. "Europeans are in a difficult situation and facing a serious energy crisis, as »»»

Dubai: When Israeli and US strikes killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei at the outset of the Middle East war, one man quickly stepped into the vacuum: Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani — more powerful, and more visible, than at any point in his decades-long career. Now, even that figure may be gone.»»»

The UAE reaffirmed its categorical rejection of any justifications put forward by the Iranian government regarding the hostile escalation against countries in the region, stressing that such claims are merely attempts to mislead the international community in an effort to justify its unprovoked and»»»

NATO has raised its missile defense alert to the highest level, and the readiness of air defense and missile defense systems across the Eastern Flank has been significantly strengthened, Acting Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov announced during the 75th anniversary celebration of the Third Air Base»»»

A group of European nations as well as Canada have called on Israel to stop a ground incursion into Lebanon, saying the attack could lead to “devastating humanitarian consequences” in a country where hundreds of people have already been killed in the ongoing Middle East escalation. The Israeli mili»»»

Cuba suffered a nationwide power outage on Monday, the Cuban Energy Ministry says, amid a US oil blockade. The blackout left nearly 11 million people without electricity as the blockade strains the country’s aging power stations. Officials said emergency protocols were activated and that power has »»»

NATO’s missile defence has been placed on the highest level of alert, and the readiness of air and missile defence systems across the Eastern Flank has been increased, caretaker Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov told reporters on Tuesday. He was speaking during a ceremony marking the 75th anniversa»»»

When Israeli and US strikes killed Ali Khamenei at the start of the Middle East war, Iran's security chief Ali Larijani became even more powerful than he had been for decades. Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday that Larijani had been killed, though Iran's authorities have not con»»»

POLITICS Capital: The Progressive Bulgaria coalition, associated with former president Rumen Radev, announced the leaders of its parliamentary candidate lists one day before the registration deadline for the upcoming elections, confirming expectations that many nominees would come from his former c»»»