Iran denies drone toward Azerbaijan
AP reported that Iran’s General Staff of the Armed Forces said Thursday it had not launched a drone toward Azerbaijan, rejecting accusations that Iranian drones crossed the border during the expanding regional conflict.
The denial came after Azerbaijani officials reported that drones struck the country’s Nakhchivan region, damaging infrastructure and injuring civilians, including at Nakhchivan International Airport. Azerbaijan condemned the incident and demanded an explanation from Tehran.
Iranian authorities insisted they do not target neighboring countries, even as tensions escalate during the wider Middle East war.
Missiles and drones hit UAE
The United Arab Emirates said one ballistic missile and six drones struck its territory on Thursday as the regional conflict intensified. The announcement was made by the UAE Ministry of Defense.
According to AP, officials said air defenses repelled six missiles and 131 drones on the same day, and hundreds more since the start of the war. Authorities did not immediately provide details about the locations targeted.
Earlier this week, shrapnel from intercepted cruise missiles killed three residents and injured 94 others in separate incidents, according to the ministry, as falling debris from air defense operations caused casualties.
Venezuela and US to work together on mining developments, Rodríguez says
Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodriguez and US interior minister Doug Burgum have said the two countries will be working together to develop mining in the country, BBC reported.
Burgum, who leads President Donald Trump's National Energy Dominance Council, met Rodriguez at the presidential palace in Caracas, in the second visit by a US secretary since the US strikes and seizure of Nicolás Maduro in January.
Venezuela has already changed its law to allow more foreign investment in its previously nationalised oil sector, according to BBC.
Russia blames Ukrainian naval drones as tanker sinks in Mediterranean
A Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker has sunk in the Mediterranean between Libya and Malta after it was hit by explosions and a fire, Libyan port officials have said, BBC reported.
Russia accused Ukraine of targeting the Arctic Metagaz with "uncrewed sea drones" launched from the Libyan coast.
Ukraine's SBU state security service has not commented on the allegation and the Libyan port authority said the cause of the fire was unclear, according to BBC.
