Middle East live: Explosions of unknown origin heard near Iran's Kharg Island
· France 2405/09/2026 - 10:22
Unconfirmed reports allege US struck oil tanker near Kharg Island
The news site Asr Iran alleged that US forces struck an oil tanker near Kharg Island with four projectiles while it was being unloaded.
There was no immediate official announcement by Iranian or US authorities about the reports.
A Fars news agency correspondent earlier reported hearing explosions near the island, which serves as a key oil export terminal for Iran.
05/09/2026 - 08:44
Explosions of unknown origin heard near Iran's Kharg Island, Fars News Agency reports
Explosions were heard near Iran's Kharg Island in the Gulf, a key oil terminal, but their origin was unknown, the semi-official Fars News Agency reported.
The news agency said its correspondent heard several blasts but could not see any smoke, while the SNN news agency claimed "an Iranian tanker was targeted by the US" near the island.
05/09/2026 - 06:55
Israeli strikes on Lebanon kill three people, health ministry says
Israeli strikes in southern and eastern Lebanon late on Friday killed at least three people and wounded 23, the Lebanese health ministry said. The strikes came despite a truce between Israel and Hezbollah.
The ministry said in a statement that strikes hit five locations in the southern Tyr and Nabatieh regions and the Beqaa region in the east.
Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported the strike hit near the strategic Ali al-Taher ridge, which the Israeli army said it had captured, though Hezbollah did not confirm losing it.
Two young men were targeted while riding a motorcycle in the city of Nabatieh, NNA said, adding that rescuers transported their bodies to a local hospital.
Israel stepped up strikes in the Nabatieh region on Friday and also targeted the village of Rmadiyeh in the Tyre area, located more than 10 kilometres from the Israeli border.
The ministry said the third person was killed and 15 others wounded there, including two children, three women and six rescuers.
Yesterday's key developments:
- Israel seized the strategically placed Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon from Hezbollah fighters, Defence Minister Israel Katz said. The Iran-aligned Shiite group did not confirm losing the highland.
- The death toll in clashes between Yemen's Houthi rebels and Saudi-backed government forces rose to 129, according to an AFP tally compiled from several sources.
- US President Donald Trump said the Iran war was "small potatoes" for the US, a day after Vice President JD Vance said he wouldn't describe the conflict as a war.
(FRANCE 24 with Reuters, AP and AFP)