US President Donald J Trump on Thursday, April 16, said efforts are underway to ease tensions between Israel and Lebanon, adding that their leaders are expected to speak for the first time in 34 years.
In a post on Truth Social, he said he was trying to create “a little breathing room” between the two sides and claimed their leaders would speak “tomorrow”. There has been no official confirmation from either government.
Israel and Lebanon on Tuesday, April 14, held talks in Washington, where Israel pushed for Hezbollah’s disarmament, while Lebanon called for a ceasefire and steps to address the humanitarian crisis caused by the US–Israeli war with Iran, according to the US State Department.
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US-sanctioned supertanker enters Gulf via Strait of Hormuz
A second US-sanctioned oil tanker has moved into the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, according to shipping data cited by Reuters. The vessel, identified as the Very Large Crude Carrier RHN, entered the region empty on Wednesday, based on tracking data from LSEG and Kpler.
The tanker, which can carry up to two million barrels of crude, has not disclosed its destination
ICC complaint filed against Spain’s Sanchez
An Israeli organisation, Shurat HaDin, has filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court against Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, alleging Spain contributed to war crimes by allowing exports of materials that could be used for military purposes to Iran, according to Quds News Network.
The group claims such materials could be used in operations targeting civilians, forming the basis of its complaint. The move comes amid rising tensions between Israel and Spain and ongoing legal scrutiny of Spanish firms linked to settlement-related projects in Jerusalem.
Qatar Airways flight operations recover to over 50 pc
Qatar Airways operated more than half of its pre-war flight schedule for the first time on Wednesday, Aprip 15, with 310 flights, according to Flightradar24 on Thursday. The tracker said the airline has now surpassed 50 percent of its pre-war operations as recovery efforts continue.
Airlines across the Persian Gulf were affected by airspace closures, direct attacks on airport infrastructure and a sharp drop in demand during the Iran war, the report added.
