Extract from ABC News
Attacks on US-owned data centres in the region could disrupt services around the world. (Google, Airbus)
Hello. Here's your daily round-up of the latest headlines from the Middle East, as the war engulfing the region reaches the end of day 32.
Here's what you need to know today:
- Iran has launched a new threat against US companies based across the Middle East, warning it will attack them in retaliation for new strikes by the US in Iran. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) listed 18 companies, including tech giants Microsoft, Google, Apple, Intel and IBM.
- The US defense secretary said there had been a significant drop in the number of Iranian missiles and drones launched in the last 24 hours — the lowest number in the war so far. Pete Hegseth said the next few days will be "decisive", and that "if Iran is wise, they will cut a deal" to end the war.
- Donald Trump, once again, used his Truth Social platform to urge countries now worried about fuel shortages to buy it from the United States — or go to the Strait of Hormuz and "TAKE IT", as he once again sought help to open the key shipping lane. He singled out the UK and France for not helping with the war with Iran. Meanwhile, Pakistan and China outlined their blueprint for peace talks and the reopening of the Strait.
- European leaders have lined up to demand Israel respect Lebanon's sovereignty and avoid expanding its military operations in the south of the country. Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney has gone further, labelling Israel's invasion as illegal. Israel's defense minister, Israel Katz, restated his country's intention to control the entirety of southern Lebanon, from the border with Israel to the Litani River some 30 kilometres north. He's also said all Lebanese homes near the border will be demolished.
- Under the cover of the war, the Israeli parliament has approved new laws making death by hanging the default sentence for Palestinians convicted in the country's military justice system of serious, deadly attacks. It has been met with outrage around the world, with the United Nations labelling it "deeply discriminatory". Israel's far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, has welcomed the legislation's passing in the Knesset with wine. Along with other supporters, he'd been wearing a yellow lapel pin in the shape of a noose in the last few weeks of campaigning — an imitation of the yellow ribbons of the Gaza hostage movement.
Here's what all that means
Another day, another deadline — this time issued by the Iranian regime. The IRGC is warning of massive strikes against US businesses, including tech giants and manufacturers such as aircraft company Boeing, in retaliation for further attacks by the US against Iran.
We're now less than 24 hours away from that deadline — the IRGC said the attacks would begin from 8pm Tehran time on Wednesday, which is 3:30am AEDT on Thursday.
The Gulf is home to some of the world's biggest data centres — big tech firms were thinking the region was going to become a powerhouse for the sector. Data centres have already been targeted, and this warning suggests it is just the beginning of those attacks.
At this point in the war, day 32, it seems the word "escalation" has been overused. But this certainly would be another example of that, and could have major ramifications around the world if services are disrupted.
Once again, it shows there's a jarring difference in the rhetoric being thrown around here.
The US president and his key lieutenants insist Iran wants to strike a deal and that its military might has been so seriously degraded that it's on its knees.
Meanwhile, Iran is still maintaining a chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz and is once again threatening the Gulf.
The much-discussed "off-ramp" in this war seems further and further down the highway by the day.
And here's the impact on Australia
- Will we have enough fuel for Easter? This is traditionally the time drivers would be scanning for cheaper fuel ahead of filling up and heading out on a long weekend road trip. This morning's episode of ABC News Daily looks at whether that's such a great idea (🎧 15m43s).
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