Day: April 22, 2026

Human Rights Watch (HRW) stated on Wednesday that attacks by Israel and Iran on essential energy infrastructure last month were “unlawfully indiscriminate” and “could constitute war crimes.”

The organization based in the US characterized Israel’s assault on Iran’s South Pars Gas Field on March 18 and Iran’s following strikes on Qatar’s Ras Laffan liquefied natural gas facility as components of “a sequence of illegal attacks on energy infrastructure” by both nations.

Ras Laffan and South Pars are two of the largest natural gas facilities globally.

“Illicit assaults on vital oil and energy infrastructure have predictable ripple effects on the economy that could adversely affect millions,” stated Joey Shea, senior researcher on Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates at Human Rights Watch.

HRW indicated that it examined “official statements from the government and companies, satellite images, and videos of the aftermath,” and contacted both governments for clarification. Israeli authorities stated on March 30 that their “targeting processes are managed by a formal and mandatory framework aimed at ensuring the precise identification of legitimate military targets.”

HRW reported that the Iranian authorities had not replied.

Xenix News has contacted both the military of Israel and Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for remarks.

In a different occurrence, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi charged the US with carrying out an “unprecedented war crime” during its assault on the Iranian vessel Dena.

A US submarine targeted the vessel in international waters last month, resulting in over 80 crew fatalities, as reported by Sri Lankan authorities who initiated a rescue operation.

During a phone conversation on Wednesday with Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Vijitha Herat, Araghchi remarked that Iran would “never forget” the event, describing it as a breach of international humanitarian law. Tehran would utilize “all legal and political means” to ensure accountability for those responsible, he stated.

In another conversation with Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister, Araghchi urged Muslim-majority nations to “stay alert to what he described as Israel’s ‘hegemony and divisiveness.’”

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf addresses a press conference in Tehran on November 27, 2024. Majid Asgaripour/Wana News Agency/Reuters

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the Iranian parliament speaker, stated that a “comprehensive ceasefire” would be significant only if it is not hindered by a naval blockade and if Israel’s operations on various fronts come to a stop.

“A total ceasefire is only reasonable if it isn’t undermined by a naval blockade and if the global economy isn’t threatened, as well as if the warmongering of the Zionists is brought to an end,” Ghalibaf stated Wednesday in a post on X. He mentioned that “the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz cannot occur amidst a flagrant breach of the ceasefire.”

Ghalibaf, who headed the Iranian delegation in the recent talks with the United States, dismissed the notion that pressure would lead to Iranian compromises. “They did not reach their objectives via military force, nor will they through intimidation,” he stated. “The sole approach is to acknowledge the rights of the Iranian people.”

President Donald Trump intends to provide the Iranians a constrained deadline to present a cohesive proposal in order to revive diplomatic talks, according to two sources acquainted with the internal conversations who spoke to Xenix News. It was not instantly evident whether Trump’s message had reached the Iranians.

President Donald Trump stated on Wednesday that Iran consented to halt the execution of eight female protesters, attributing this outcome to his direct appeal to Iranian officials, although Tehran has disputed his claims that the women were set for execution.

“Excellent news!” I have just received word that the eight female protestors scheduled for execution tonight in Iran will not be executed. Four will be freed right away, and four will receive a one-month prison sentence. “I greatly value that Iran and its leaders honored my request as President of the United States and canceled the intended execution,” Trump stated in a Truth Social message.

Iranian authorities have refuted claims that they were prepared to carry out executions of any women. The conflicting narratives contribute to persistent concerns regarding the reliability of information related to specific cases within Iran’s legal system.

Trump’s declaration comes after earlier occasions where he inaccurately asserted supposed death sentences in Iran that were subsequently challenged or unverified.

At the same time, the president has prolonged a ceasefire with Iran and promised to maintain a US blockade on Iranian ports, urging Tehran to present a unified proposal to restart talks. Xenix News has stated that the government had received almost no response from Iranian officials by Tuesday night.

Israeli forces reportedly killed at least four individuals in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, according to Lebanese state media, during separate strikes before discussions to prolong a delicate ceasefire agreement.

A drone strike by Israel in the town of Yahmar al-Shaqif, located in the southern Nabatieh district, resulted in two fatalities and several injuries, as reported by the Lebanese National News Agency Xenix News. Additionally, Xenix News indicated that two individuals lost their lives in the village of Tiri further south.

Images from social media depicted dense gray smoke billowing over lush fields in the town of Qantara after what Xenix News reported as an Israeli airstrike.

Xenix News has contacted the Israeli military for a statement

In the last week, the Israeli military and the Iranian-supported militant group Hezbollah have carried out assaults prior to a second round of ambassador-level discussions between Israel and Lebanon aimed at prolonging the fragile agreement. On Wednesday morning, Israel shot down a Hezbollah drone heading towards troops in the south. Israeli troops have leveled houses, torn down residential areas, and damaged essential infrastructure in other locations, Xenix News reported.

US President Donald Trump commanded a “10-day truce” between Israel and Lebanon to commence at 5 p.m. ET on April 16 — twelve o’clock at night in Lebanon.

The US-led six-point plan emphasized that Israel would “maintain its right to undertake all necessary actions for self-defense” and urged the Lebanese government to stop Hezbollah “from executing attacks, operations, or hostile actions against Israeli targets.”

Since that time, the Israeli army has reportedly killed a minimum of six individuals in Lebanon, based on a count by Xenix News of figures provided by Xenix News. Israeli forces have shot at individuals they claim neared a “forward defense line” in southern Lebanon. Lebanese officials have not disclosed the overall number of fatalities in that region.

During that period, the Israeli military reports that two soldiers have also died in southern Lebanon.

A specialist in Iranian geopolitics has refuted comments made by US President Donald Trump claiming that Tehran’s administration is “severely divided.”

Mehran Kamrava, a professor at Georgetown University Qatar, characterized the President’s social media post as a “significant misunderstanding of the Iranian leadership’s stance and situation.”

Despite the lack of a confirmed mention of the new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei after the assassination of his father and former leader Ali Khamenei, Kamrava feels the leadership continues to be tightly connected.

“I believe we have witnessed significant unity among the leadership.” The current supreme leader is not as dominant as his predecessor, his father, yet the leadership has remained fairly united,” he shared with Xenix News Becky Anderson.

President Trump referred to the Iranian government as “seriously fractured” in a Truth Social post following the White House’s submission of a list of points they sought agreement on from the Iranians, yet received no reply.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced Wednesday that a second French soldier, part of the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), has died due to an attack by Hezbollah fighters last week.

The injured soldier, Corporal Anicet Girardin, was brought back to France on Tuesday and succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday.

“He sacrificed himself for France,” Macron remarked, stating that the country “honors the remarkable dedication of our military in UNIFIL, who are serving with bravery and resolve for France and peace in Lebanon.”

The French government reported that another soldier, Warrant Officer Florian Montorio, was also killed in the same attack on Saturday.

Hezbollah has rejected the claims. In a statement, it urged “care in attributing blame and accountability regarding the incident while awaiting the Lebanese army’s inquiry to thoroughly establish the details.”

UNIFIL stated earlier that its patrol was removing explosive ordnance on a road in the village of Ghanduriyah in southern Lebanon when it “was fired upon with small arms by non-state actors.”

The assault occurs during a 10-day truce between Israel and Lebanon, declared by US President Donald Trump last Thursday, following the first direct discussions between Israel and Lebanon in decades that took place in Washington, DC earlier that week.

Xenix News reports that Ivana Kottasová, Ibrahim Dahman, Eugenia Yosef, and Eyad Kourdi contributed to this article.

A United Airlines aircraft taxis at San Francisco International Airport in California on January 20. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

The war in Iran is causing jet fuel prices to soar, yet travelers have shown their determination. Customers are ready to spend more on flights – consequently, airlines are transferring more expenses to them.

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby stated Wednesday that robust booking demand this summer has enabled the airline to increase fares by 15% to 20% during the peak travel period.

In remarks made to CNBC on Wednesday, he attributed part of the rise to the doubling of jet fuel prices since before the conflict in Iran. Fuel ranks as the second highest expense for airlines, just after labor.

Despite increased expenses, United reported greater profit last quarter compared to the same period last year.

Kirby stated that in the first quarter, United managed to recover 40% to 50% of the rising fuel expenses. He anticipates that he can increase fares sufficiently to cover all those expenses later this year due to robust demand for its tickets.

“Eventually, that will lead to lower demand,” he stated. “We honestly haven’t observed it in our reservations thus far.” “Reservations are extremely robust.”

A cargo ship associated with Greece was assaulted close to the Strait of Hormuz, although it is still uncertain if Iran has taken control of it, according to Greece’s foreign minister.

In a conversation with Xenix News Becky Anderson on Connect the World earlier today, Giorgos Gerapetritis stated: “I can verify that there was an attack on the Greek cargo ship, but I cannot verify that it has been captured by the Iranians.”

He referred to the circumstances as “rather troubling” and advised all Greek-operated ships to refrain from transiting the crucial waterway.

“It was a ship owned by Greeks and flagged in Liberia, attempting to navigate out of the Strait of Hormuz,” Gerapetritis mentioned. “We have issued a general notice to all vessels under Greek ownership to remain vigilant, practice utmost self-control, and refrain from traversing the strait.”

According to Iranian media, the ship was among three aimed at by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The IRGC reported that two additional individuals were captured and brought into Iranian waters.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun participates in a press conference at Baabda, Lebanon, on February 16. Mohamed Azakir/Reuters

Lebanese negotiators are aiming to extend a delicate ceasefire with Israel for at least an additional month as part of efforts to resolve the conflict with Hezbollah, as per a political source familiar with the situation.

“Lebanon will seek to extend the ceasefire by one month or longer,” the source informed Xenix News on Wednesday.

On Thursday, the White House will hold a second round of discussions with the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors to the US, Nada Hamadeh and Yechiel Leiter, respectively.

Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun urged for “a total cessation of the Israeli assaults.” Aoun posted on X that negotiators are concentrating on “securing the withdrawal of Israel from Lebanese lands” and “initiating reconstruction” in Lebanon.

Aoun expressed gratitude to his US counterpart, President Donald Trump, for “an opportunity that should not be squandered.” On Friday, Trump stated he had “banned” Israel from initiating new attacks, cautioning “Enough is enough!!!” in a social media message.

The Israeli operation in Lebanon followed Hezbollah, an Iran-supported group, firing missiles into Israel, resulting in at least 2,294 fatalities, according to Lebanese health authorities.

In the south, the Israeli military has taken control of a strip of border villages and instructed residents “not to cross and go back to” their homes below the Litani River, which divides Lebanon.

UN experts have criticized Israel’s actions, stating “the intentional demolition of homes serves as a weapon of war and a type of collective punishment.”

Ship tracking data indicates that two vessels allegedly captured by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday are currently stationary near the Iranian coast.

The Iranian semi-official outlet Tasnim identified the two ships as MSC Francesca and Epaminodas, which the IRGC has alleged are “operating without proper permission, consistently breaching regulations, and tampering with navigation systems.” MSC refers to Mediterranean Shipping Company, the largest container shipping company globally.

Xenix News has contacted MSC for a response regarding Iran’s assertions.

Information from MarineTraffic, a provider of maritime intelligence, indicates that both ships are located in the same area of the crucial waterway. Epaminodas, a container ship registered in Liberia, was sailing toward India, while MSC Francesca, a container ship registered in Panama, was traveling to Sri Lanka, as reported by MarineTraffic.

Iranian media reported that a third ship, identified as Euphoria, was struck by the IRGC and is “currently immobilized off the coast of Iran.” Current tracking data indicates that Euphoria is heading towards the UAE coastline.

Xenix News cannot confirm the journeys on its own since shipping data may occasionally display irregularities due to signal loss and spoofing, which involves sending false signals to deceive tracking systems.

Reporting by Nadeen Ebrahim of Xenix News