Damage to historical sites in Iran raises alarm about war's impact on protected places
U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran have damaged at least four cultural and historical sites, including palaces and an ancient mosque, raising alarms about the impact of the widening war on protected landmarks that are important to Iranian identity and world history.
The speed and extent of the damage have so concerned Iran and Lebanon that they sent a request to the United Nations' cultural agency, UNESCO, this week to add more sites to its enhanced protection list.
UNESCO confirmed that it has verified damage to the lavish Qajar-era Golestan Palace in Tehran as well as the 17th century Chehel Sotoun palace and the Masjed-e Jāme, the country's oldest Friday mosque, both in Isfahan. There also was verified damage at buildings close to the Khorramabad Valley, which includes five prehistoric caves and one rock shelter providing evidence of human occupation dating to 63,000 B.C.
At Golestan Palace, shattered glass from the mirrored ceilings blanketed the floors alongside broken archways, blown-out windows and damaged molding scattered below its glass-mosaic walls, according to Associated Press video taken March 3.
UNESCO said it provided all parties to the conflict with the geographical coordinates of the heritage sites ahead of time, "to take all feasible precautions to avoid damage."
The impact to cultural sites has not been isolated to Iran but has been felt across the Middle East and beyond, with UNESCO tracking damage to the White City in Israel, Tyre in Lebanon and elsewhere.
Indian crew member killed as 2 tankers attacked in Iraqi waters, authorities say
An Indian sailor was killed when a U.S.-owned crude oil tanker was attacked near the Iraqi port city of Basra, India's embassy in Baghdad said Thursday.
The vessel, the Safesea Vishnu, sailing under the Marshall Islands flag, came under attack Wednesday while operating near Basra, the embassy said.
The remaining 15 Indian crew members were evacuated and are safe, the embassy said.
Farhan Al-Fartousi, from Iraq's General Company for Ports, told Iraqi state television 38 crew members were rescued in all and the "search continues for the missing," according to French news agency AFP.
A second tanker was attacked near Iraq as well, AFP reports.
The Iraqi State Organization for Marketing of Oil (SOMO) confirmed in a statement that two oil tankers were attacked, without providing details on how. An employee at Iraq's Basra oil terminal told AFP it wasn't clear "whether it was a drone attack or explosive-laden boats."
SOMO said Maltese-flagged oil tanker Zefyros was attacked as it was getting ready to enter the port of Khor Al-Zoubair.
Both vessels had fires on board, the Reuters news agency reports.
3 crew members "believed trapped" on Thai ship attacked on Strait of Hormuz, owner says
Three crew members were "believed to be trapped" aboard a Thai bulk carrier that was hit by two projectiles on Wednesday while traveling through the crucial Strait of Hormuz, the vessel's owner said.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Wednesday they had struck the Thai-registered Mayuree Naree, as well as a Liberia-flagged vessel, in the strait because the ships had ignored "warnings."
The Thai ship was struck Wednesday morning while transiting through the Gulf waterway after departing a port in the United Arab Emirates.
"The strikes damaged the Vessel's engine room and caused a fire," Thai transport company Precious Shipping said in a statement Wednesday evening.
"Three crew members are reported missing and believed to be trapped in the engine room," it said, adding that authorities were working to rescue them.
The Omani navy had rescued 20 sailors and efforts were underway to rescue the remaining three, the Thai navy said Wednesday.
Thailand's foreign ministry said all 23 crew members were Thai.
Lebanon says 7 killed in Israeli strike on central Beirut
Lebanon said an early Thursday Israeli strike on central Beirut's seafront killed at least seven people and wounded 21 — another attack in the heart of the capital as Iran-backed Hezbollah launched more missiles at Israel.
The Israeli military said separately it had carried out strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs overnight against Hezbollah, which had announced a major new operation against Israel.
It was the third Israeli attack in the heart of the capital since the Middle East war began.
Israel has also repeatedly hit Beirut's southern suburbs. The Israel Defense Forces said Thursday's strike hit 10 Hezbollah targets.
Brent crude rises back up over $100 a barrel
Oil prices surged more than 9% to break back above $100 a barrel after fresh Iranian strikes on supplies and infrastructure in the Middle East overshadowed a release of stockpiles by the U.S. and the International Energy Agency.
Earlier Wednesday, U.S. Energy Secretary Christopher Wright announced the U.S. would release 172 million barrels of oil from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve, while the International Energy Agency — which has 32 member nations, including the U.S. — announced it would release 400 million barrels from its own reserves.
Brent crude, the primary benchmark for oil trade internationally, jumped 9.3% to $100.50, while West Texas Intermediate, the primary benchmark for oil in the U.S., was up 8.8% to $94.92.
Fetterman says war with Iran has been "effective," is moving toward an "appropriate outcome"
Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania said Wednesday he believes the U.S.-Israel war with Iran has been "effective" and is moving toward an "appropriate outcome."
"I think, overall, what's accomplished is remarkable," Fetterman told CBS News chief White House correspondent Major Garrett in an interview Wednesday.
Pressed on whether the war was going "well," Fetterman responded, "Yes, absolutely. I mean, I'm not sure it's the right word I would choose for war, but I do think it's very effective. And then I do think it's moving towards the kinds of appropriate outcome."
Embassy in Iran that works with U.S. citizens temporarily closes
Switzerland has temporarily closed its embassy in Iran, shuttering the diplomatic post that U.S. citizens in the country typically use.
The Swiss government said in a statement it closed its embassy "in view of the war in the Middle East and the increasing security risk," and its remaining staff members left the country on Wednesday. Staff are expected to return "as soon as the situation allows."
