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Celia LEBUR AFP

French hub monitors Hormuz tensions from afar

French hub monitors Hormuz tensions from afar

A dozen members of the French navy scour screens for blinking lights indicating movement thousands of kilometres away near the Strait of Hormuz. Since the start of the Iran war in late February, staff at a maritime security centre in western France have been helping merchant ships trapped in the

US blockade of Iran ports threatens already crippled oil supply

US blockade of Iran ports threatens already crippled oil supply

Washington's decision to blockade Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz is sending tremors through global energy markets, raising fears of a fresh oil shock by threatening supplies to Asia. Iran had continued to pump crude to Asia since the start of the Middle East war, partly shielded

Defying Israeli bombs, Lebanese hold out in southern city of Tyre

Defying Israeli bombs, Lebanese hold out in southern city of Tyre

Khalil and his young family are sheltering in a theatre in south Lebanon's Tyre, refusing to leave despite Israeli bombardment on the city that is now almost cut off from the rest of the country. "They'll have to take us by force," said the

Israel launches fresh strike on south Beirut

Israel launches fresh strike on south Beirut

Israel launched a fresh strike on Beirut's southern suburbs late Sunday as Israel's military said it was striking Hezbollah infrastructure in the city following earlier raids mainly in the country's south. The midnight strike, heard by AFP correspondents in the capital, came after a

Iranian in possible France prisoner swap jailed for a year

Iranian in possible France prisoner swap jailed for a year

A French court on Thursday sentenced Iranian national Mahdieh Esfandiari to one year in prison for justifying terrorism in a case linked to a possible prisoner swap with two French citizens held in Iran. The court also handed Esfandiari, 39, was also handed a permanent ban from French territory. Her

Russian SVR spy agency took over Wagner 'influence' ops in Africa: report

Russian SVR spy agency took over Wagner 'influence' ops in Africa: report

Russia's SVR foreign intelligence agency has taken over mercenary group Wagner's influence operations in Africa after the death of its founder Yevgeny Prigozhin, according to a new investigation. Wagner, whose brutal methods have been denounced by rights organisations, was Russia's best-known mercenary group.