Iran's Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib killed: Israeli defense minister

Victims of an attack on a drug rehabilitation center in Afghanistan's capital Kabul, as well as their families, are entitled to reparations, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said in a statement on Tuesday.

MOSCOW, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali on Tuesday denied the report that Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is receiving medical treatment in Russia.The news about the supreme leader being in Russia for treatment is a new psychological war, Jalali said on X. Iranian leaders do not need to flee and hide in shelters; their place is on the streets among the people.Kuwaiti daily Al-Jarida reported over the weekend that Mojtaba Khamenei was transported to Russia on a military aircraft and had already undergone surgery at a private clinic, citing a high-ranking source close to the new supreme leader.Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on the report during his briefing on Monday.

TEHRAN, March 18 (Xinhua) -- A total of 46,370 civilian units have been hit since the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran at the end of last month, said a senior Iranian rescue official.Among them, about 39,000 were residential units, Razieh Alishavandi, director of Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) for international affairs, told Xinhua in a recent interview.She said 6,851 commercial units were also damaged, expressing regret over the continued strikes on civilian targets.The attacks also affected medical and educational facilities, striking about 236 pharmaceutical, health and emergency service centers, along with 120 schools and other educational institutions, Alishavandi said.She added that 17 IRCS centers were damaged, and one rescue helicopter belonging to the society was completely destroyed in the attacks. A total of 35 operational vehicles, including ambulances and rescue vehicles, were also hit.Alishavandi said 10 IRCS staff members were injured in the strikes and one was killed. Attacks on educational centers left 206 people dead and 154 others wounded. She added that 16 people working in the health sector were killed, while 96 others were injured.Alishavandi said the IRCS records on a daily basis evidence of the U.S. and Israel's violations of international humanitarian law and sends it to international organizations and bodies.In armed conflicts, civilian persons, such as children, students and the elderly, and targets, including residential units and schools, should not be struck, she said.She added that the IRCS is raising the issue through international organizations and expects due attention and accountability.Alishavandi voiced the society's readiness to accept international humanitarian aid as well as pharmaceuticals and medical items and equipment that are not adequately available in the country, saying drugs for cancer patients and those suffering from rare diseases are among the priorities.However, she noted that IRCS pharma...

DUBAI, March 18 (Xinhua) -- In response to a missile threat, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) issued mobile alerts on Wednesday, urging Dubai residents to seek shelter.In a statement posted on the social platform X, the UAE Defense Ministry said that air defence systems are intercepting incoming targets, urging the public to remain in safe locations and follow official updates.Following loud sounds heard in various parts of Dubai, attributed to air defense interception efforts, authorities called on the public to stay calm and avoid sharing unverified information.The UAE has vowed to firmly defend its sovereignty and security while maintaining national unity and stability.

South Korea's employment rose at the fastest pace in five months due to the continued increase in elderly jobs, statistical ministry data showed Wednesday.

U Aung Lin Dwe, a member of parliament from the Union Solidarity and Development Party, was elected as the new Speaker of Myanmar's Amyotha Hluttaw (Upper House) in a parliament session held on Wednesday, according to state-owned Myanmar Radio and Television.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Wednesday confirmed that an Iranian projectile struck near an air base in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where Australian soldiers are stationed, but that no personnel were injured.

DUBAI, March 18 (Xinhua) -- The air defence systems of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are responding to a missile threat, while residents in Dubai received mobile alerts urging them to seek shelter on Wednesday.

WASHINGTON, March 17 (Xinhua) -- U.S. forces struck Iranian missile sites along Iran's coastline near the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. Central Command said Tuesday on X.Hours ago, U.S. forces successfully employed multiple 5,000-pound deep penetrator munitions on hardened Iranian missile sites along Iran's coastline near the Strait of Hormuz, the command said.The Iranian anti-ship cruise missiles in these sites posed a risk to international shipping in the strait, it added.Earlier on Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters that Washington is not ready to end its strikes on Iran, now in its third week.Trump admitted that his demand for a joint escort mission through the Strait of Hormuz has been rejected by most NATO members and U.S. allies, saying he is disappointed in NATO's decision and asserting the United States does not need the help of anyone.He said Japan, Australia and South Korea also rejected his escort call.Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, Iranian parliament speaker, said in a post on X on Tuesday that the Strait of Hormuz won't return to its pre-war status but gave no further details.In a recent report by J.P. Morgan, analysts warn that oil producers in the Middle East could sustain output for no more than 25 days if the Strait of Hormuz were completely shut.Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, alongside Iran itself, depend on this narrow passage to export their crude oil.Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told U.S. media last week that the strait remained open to international shipping, except for vessels belonging to the United States, Israel, and their allies.The United States and Israel launched massive attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, disrupting global shipping, sending oil prices soaring and shaking the global economy.

2 killed in Ramat Gan by Iranian missile, Israel's ambulance service says