Yemen May Close Key Red Sea Strait Amid US Threats to Blockade Iran: Report

Monday, 13 April 2026 3:08 PM

An analyst warns the Yemenis may decide to close the Bab el-Mandeb to help Iran tackle a planned US blockade.

Yemen may decide to close a key waterway connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden to help Iran tackle a US blockade of Iranian ports, an analyst has warned.

Ahmed Nagi, a senior analyst for Yemen at the International Crisis Group think-tank, told the Associated Press that the ruling Houthi Ansarullah movement is well capable of escalating the situation in their regional waters nearly a week after a ceasefire was announced to stop the US-Israeli aggression on their key ally Iran.

Nagi said the Yemenis would close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to double the oil price pressure felt by the US because of Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf.

“If the US moves to impose a blockade on Iranian ports and Iran starts feeling the pain, the Houthis are very likely to escalate in the Bab el-Mandeb,” he told the Associated Press.

The analyst warned that restrictions in Bab el-Mandeb would add “another layer” of pressure on the global shipping industry.

Iran hints at the prospect of additional momentous pressure on aggressors and their allies with potential closure of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Yemen has yet to become fully involved in the Iranian fight against the US-Israeli aggression, although the Houthis have carried out several missile attacks on the Israeli regime weeks after the aggression on Iran began in late February.

The Yemenis have indicated they could restrict shipping in their regional waters, a policy they frequently used against Israel, the US and allies since the start of the war in Gaza in 2023.

US President Donald Trump said the US military will impose a blockade on all ships arriving at or departing from Iranian ports as of Monday evening.

Iran has dismissed the plans while warning that it would view any warships approaching the Strait as a violation of the ongoing fragile ceasefire.

Experts believe the blockade would trigger a major reaction from Iran and allies as they could further restrict the flow of energy from the region.

They say Yemenis could block Saudi Arabia’s oil exports from its western ports through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which has been an alternative route used by the Kingdom since the start of Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz.

Such a move could cause a fresh rise in international oil prices that have doubled compared to before the US-Israeli aggression on Iran in late February.

Iran Warns Any Attack on Its Ports Will Make Every Persian Gulf Port Insecure

Monday, 13 April 2026 10:04 AM

Spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters Lieutenant Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaqari

Iran's military has warned that any threat to the country's ports would trigger a broader regional response, declaring that no port in the Persian Gulf or the Sea of Oman would remain secure if Iranian ports are targeted.

Lieutenant Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaqari said in a statement on Monday that ensuring security in the two strategic water bodies is a collective matter, emphasizing that such security must either apply to all parties or to none.

He underscored that the Iranian Armed Forces consider the defense of the country's national rights a natural and lawful obligation, including the exercise of sovereignty in the country's territorial waters.

Zolfaqari went on to highlight that protection of maritime security in Iranian waters will continue decisively.

"Enemy-affiliated vessels do not and will not have the right to pass through the Strait of Hormuz," he said.

"Other vessels will be allowed to transit the strait in compliance with the regulations of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran," the senior Iranian military official stated.

He noted that Iran, in light of the ongoing threats, will implement a permanent mechanism to control the Strait of Hormuz even after the resolution of the current crisis.

He described restrictions imposed by the United States on maritime transit in international waters as illegal, and tantamount to acts of piracy.

"If the security of ports of the Islamic Republic of Iran is threatened, no port in the Persian Gulf or the Sea of Oman will remain safe," Zolfaqari added.

President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the US Navy would enforce a "naval blockade" on the Strait of Hormuz.

The measure is scheduled to begin Monday at 10 a.m. Eastern Time (14:00 GMT).

Iran’s Navy commander has dismissed Trump’s threats as “very ridiculous and laughable,” saying the Iranian military is closely monitoring every move of the US fleet in the region.

Iran has placed restrictions on passage through the Strait of Hormuz since the US-Israeli war of aggression began on February 28.

Tehran has allowed vessels serving friendly nations to pass while barring ships affiliated with aggressor countries and their supporters.

The Iranian parliament has advanced draft legislation to impose transit fees in national currency and explicitly ban US and Israeli vessels.

Pezeshkian Slams Trump’s Insult to Pope Amid Condemnation of War on Iran 

Monday, 13 April 2026 2:45 PM

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian censures “insult” to Pope Leo XIV following his condemnation of the unlawful act of aggression by the United States and the Israeli regime against the Islamic Republic.

In a Monday post on X, Pezeshkian addressed his Holiness Pope Louise XIV and said he condemns the insult to his Excellency on behalf of the great Iranian nation.

“I declare that the desecration of Jesus, the prophet of peace and brotherhood, is not acceptable to any free person,” the president wrote.

He wished the Catholic leader glory by Almighty God.

Pezeshkian’s post comes after US President Donald Trump on Sunday attacked Pope Leo XIV for his condemnation of the US-Israeli aggression on Iran, saying he is not a fan of the Catholic leader.

During a Q&A with reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said, “We do not like a pope that is going to say that it is OK to have a nuclear weapon … He is a man that does not think that we should be toying with a country that wants a nuclear weapon so they can blow up the world,” adding, “I am not a fan of Pope Leo.”

Speaking to reporters aboard the papal flight to Algiers on Monday, the Pope said he will continue to speak out against war and suffering.

The leader of the 1.4-billion-member Catholic Church stated that while he will not stop spreading his message of peace, he has no desire to get into a debate with Trump.

"I will continue to speak out loudly against war, looking to promote peace, promoting dialogue and multilateral relationships among the states to look for just solutions to problems," he said.

"Too many people are suffering in the world today … Too many innocent people are being killed. And I think someone has to stand up and say there is a better way," he added.

The United States and Israel launched their unprovoked war of aggression against Iran on February 28. They assassinated Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and struck nuclear sites, schools, hospitals and civilian infrastructure.

During the war, Iranian Armed Forces unleashed 100 waves of successful retaliatory strikes against sensitive and strategic American and Israeli targets throughout the region.

They also blocked the Strait of Hormuz to oil and gas tankers affiliated with the adversaries and those cooperating with them in an attempt to maintain security at the strategic waterway.

China Says End of US Hostilities Against Iran Only Solution to Hormuz Crisis ‎

Monday, 13 April 2026 2:31 PM

Guo Jaikun, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson. (File Photo)

China has called for an immediate end to hostilities as the only viable path to resolving tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Monday that “the root cause of disruptions to navigation in the strait lies in the conflict involving Iran.”

“The way to resolve this issue is to achieve a ceasefire and end hostilities as soon as possible,” he said, urging all parties to remain calm and exercise restraint.

‎Guo added that China stands ready to “continue playing a positive and constructive role.”

“The Strait of Hormuz is a vital route for international trade in goods and energy. Maintaining security, stability, and unimpeded passage in the region serves the common interests of the international community,” he stated.

China’s independent refineries seek Iranian oil after prices plunge to a new low following an Iran-US ceasefire.

Trump said on Sunday that the US Navy would enforce a “naval blockade" on the strategic waterway, through which about one fifth of global oil supplies typically passes.

Traffic at the strait has dropped to a trickle since Iran imposed restrictions on passage of tankers in response to the US-Israeli strikes days after the aggression began on February 28.

Trump claimed the blockade is scheduled to take effect Monday at 10 a.m. Eastern Time (14:00 GMT).

His threat followed the latest round of indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States in Pakistan, which ended without agreement.

‎Iran’s Navy commander dismissed Trump’s blockade announcement as “very ridiculous and laughable,” saying Iranian forces are closely monitoring every move of the US fleet.

‘Unhinged & Unchristian’: Global Outrage Erupts After Trump Attacks Pope, Poses as Jesus

Monday, 13 April 2026 9:30 AM

Donald Trump (L) and Pope Leo XIV (R).

A massive firestorm of international condemnation erupted on Orthodox Easter Monday after President Donald Trump launched a vicious attack on Pope Leo XIV and shared an image of himself depicted as Jesus Christ.

People, cutting across the political and religious spectrum, labeled the remarks as “deranged,” “abhorrent,” and a dangerous display of a “messiah complex.”

It came days after Pope Leo XIV strongly criticized Trump’s unprovoked war against the Islamic Republic of Iran and the threat to end the Iranian civilization, which the Pontiff called “truly unacceptable” on moral and international law grounds.

In response, Trump lashed out at the spiritual leader of over 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide

Political analyst Larry Sabato referred to the US president’s “monumental arrogance,” quoting him as saying, “I don’t want a Pope who…”

Sabato recalled a previous incident where Trump tweeted a manipulated image of himself dressed as the Pope, stating, “That’s the Pontiff this vainglorious super-narcissist wants.”

The backlash was swift and severe from Catholic elected officials in the US and outside.

Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ), who identifies as Catholic, condemned the attack on the Catholic spiritual leader in strong terms.

“As a Catholic, I find it abhorrent that the President of the United States would publicly attack the Successor of St. Peter,” Kelly wrote.

He linked the attack on the Pope to Trump’s foreign policy, saying his war on Iran “has led to the death and injury of American servicemembers and the death of Iranian children.”

US Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) called the remarks “deranged and disgusting,” questioning whether it might finally prompt Vice President JD Vance to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office.

Former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, once a staunch Trump ally, noted that the attack on Pope occurred on Orthodox Easter.

“President Trump attacked the Pope because the Pope is rightly against Trump’s war in Iran,” she wrote, adding that Trump then “posted this picture of himself as if he is replacing Jesus.”

Melanie Darrigo also weighed in on the inflammatory remarks that have sparked a global controversy, adding to the chorus of voices condemning the US president.

“I’m old enough to remember when attacking the Pope would hurt your polling with US evangelicals,” she wrote in a post on X.

“But since they stuck with Trump through the lies, rapes, child rapes, adultery, fraud and wars — I guess it’s safe to say that who those US evangelicals worship isn’t Christ.”

Perhaps the most stinging rebukes came from within Christian leadership

Rev. James Martin, SJ, a prominent Jesuit priest, wrote that while he doubted Pope Leo XIV would lose sleep over the attack ahead of his pilgrimage to Africa, “the rest of us should. Because it is unhinged, uncharitable and unchristian.”

“Is there no bottom to this moral squalor?” he asked.

Rev. Benjamin Cremer denounced Trump’s posting of himself as Jesus.

“This evening, the president posted this, literally presenting himself as Jesus. He’s not doing anything to stave off the anti-Christ allegations,” he stated.

Cremer added a pointed critique of evangelical silence, noting, “If any Democrat president did this, Evangelical Christians would implode.”

Academic and author Michael Rectenwald also condemned the US president’s remarks about the Pope, adding to the growing list of critical voices.

“Trump attacked the pope and then figured himself as Jesus--all in the same night. This only a week after he spit on Christians for Easter.  Trump mocks Christians and Christianity at his masters' command,” he wrote.

CNN’s Jake Tapper framed the attack as a direct response to the Pope’s criticism of Trump’s threat to attack Iran’s civilization during the recent war against the country.

“Trump now attacking the Pope, who on Tuesday criticized Trump’s threat to wipe out the entire Iranian civilization, calling it "truly unacceptable. There are certainly issues of international law here, but even more so a moral issue for the good of the whole, entire population,” he stated.

Political commentator Pedro L. Gonzalez asserted that Trump “attacked the pope and posted an image of himself as Jesus Christ on the same day for a reason: he has a messiah complex and correctly understands his movement as a personality cult in which he is the political and spiritual leader.”

Gonzalez said Trump is now “subjecting his followers to a test of faith to see whether their loyalty lies with him or with the God they say is above everyone else.”

During a Q&A with reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said, “We do not like a pope that is going to say that it is OK to have a nuclear weapon … He is a man that does not think that we should be toying with a country that wants a nuclear weapon so they can blow up the world,” adding, “I am not a fan of Pope Leo.”

Pope Leo Pledges to Continue to Speak Out Against War After Trump Attack

Monday, 13 April 2026 11:05 AM

Pope Leo XIV says he will continue to speak out against war and suffering after US President Donald Trump said he was not “a fan of the pope” over the pontiff’s condemnation of the US-Israeli aggression against Iran.

The Pope told reporters aboard the papal flight to Algiers on Monday that he plans to continue speaking out against war after Trump's direct attack on the leader of the 1.4-billion-member Catholic Church.

He stated that while he will not stop spreading his message of peace, he has no desire to get into a debate with Trump.

"I will continue to speak out loudly against war, looking to promote peace, promoting dialogue and multilateral relationships among the states to look for just solutions to problems," he said.

"Too many people are suffering in the world today … Too many innocent people are being killed. And I think someone has to stand up and say there is a better way," he added.

During a Q&A with reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump directly attacked the Pope saying, “We do not like a pope that is going to say that it is OK to have a nuclear weapon … He is a man that does not think that we should be toying with a country that wants a nuclear weapon so they can blow up the world,” adding, “I am not a fan of Pope Leo.”

Iran has asserted that it pursues a peaceful nuclear program and, as such, not only has signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) but also has allowed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to fully inspect its nuclear facilities.

The IAEA has repeatedly confirmed that it has found no sign of a nuclear military program in Iran and that Tehran has conformed to all of the agency’s laws.

The criminal US-Israeli aggression on Iran began on February 28 with airstrikes that assassinated senior Iranian officials and commanders, including Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

Iranian armed forces responded by launching almost daily missile and drone operations targeting locations in the Israeli-occupied territories as well as US military bases and assets across the region.

On April 8, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) announced that there was an agreement to a Pakistan-brokered temporary ceasefire after the US accepted Iran’s 10-point proposal.

A massive firestorm of condemnation has erupted after President Donald Trump attacked Pope Leo XIV and shared an image of himself as Jesus Christ.

A high-ranking delegation from Iran led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf arrived in Islamabad on Friday to participate in the negotiations with the US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance.

The first round of negotiations between Iran and the US ended without the two sides reaching an agreement.

The talks over the weekend were the first direct high-level negotiations between Tehran and Washington since the outbreak of the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Pope Visits Africa and Calls for Peace in Algeria Against Iran War’s Backdrop

By NICOLE WINFIELD, AOMAR OUALI and PAOLO SANTALUCIA

8:55 AM EDT, April 13, 2026

ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) — Pope Leo XIV arrived in Algeria on Monday on a first-ever papal visit, calling for peace and the end of “neocolonial tendencies” in world affairs, while facing an extraordinary broadside by President Donald Trump over his criticism of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.

Leo’s arrival in Algiers kicked off an 11-day tour of four African nations — Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea — that will bring history’s first U.S.-born pope deep into the growing heart of the Catholic Church.

Leo is in Algeria to promote Christian-Muslim coexistence in the majority Muslim nation at a time of global conflict and to honor the locally born inspiration of his religious spirituality, St. Augustine.

The trip began, however, against the backdrop of a growing feud between the Chicago-born Leo and Trump over the war. Trump overnight said he didn’t think Leo was doing a good job as pope and suggested he should “stop catering to the Radical Left.”

Leo responded en route to Algeria, saying the Vatican’s appeals for peace and reconciliation are rooted in the Gospel, and that he didn’t fear the Trump administration.

In his first remarks in Algiers, Leo tied his current appeal for peace to Algeria’s struggle for independence from France, obtained in 1962. Hundreds of thousands died in the revolution during which French forces tortured detainees, disappeared suspects and devastated villages as part of a strategy to maintain their grip on power.

“God desires peace for every nation, a peace that is not merely an absence of conflict but one that is an expression of justice and dignity,” he told several thousand people at the monument to Algeria’s martyrs.

Later, meeting with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and other government authorities, Leo praised Algerians for their solidarity and respect for one another, which he said provided an important perspective “on the global balance of power.”

“Today, this is more urgent than ever in the face of continuous violations of international law and neocolonial tendencies,” he said. Leo didn’t name examples but has previously spoken about Russia’s war in Ukraine, the Iran war and Israel’s invasion of southern Lebanon.

A message of peace in Algeria

In Algeria, a tiny Catholic community of around 9,000 people made up mostly of foreigners exists alongside the Sunni Muslim majority of about 47 million, according to Vatican statistics.

The archbishop of Algiers, French Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco, said on any given day, nine out of 10 people who visit the Our Lady of Africa basilica are Muslim.

“It’s wonderful to be able to show that we can be brothers and sisters together, building a society despite our different religions,” Vesco told The Associated Press. “And that is what our church has been doing since this country gained independence.”

The United States, though, has placed Algeria on its special watch list for “having engaged in or tolerated severe violations of religious freedom.” The Algerian constitution recognizes “religions other than Islam” and allows individuals to practice their faith if they respect public order and rules.

But proselytizing to Muslims by non-Muslims is a crime, and some other Christian denominations have faced persecution from Algerian authorities, who have closed their churches.

“I imagine it’s a good thing that a pope is visiting Algeria,” said Selma Dénane, a student who lives in Annaba down the coast from Algiers. “But what will it change afterward? Will Christians be able to say, ‘I am a Christian’ without fear or stigmatization?’”

A violent past of martyrs

Three decades after declaring independence from France, Algeria fought a civil war in the 1990s that is known locally as the “black decade,” when some 250,000 people were killed as the army fought an Islamist insurgency.

Among them were 19 Catholics, including seven Trappist monks from the Tibhirine monastery south of Algiers, who were kidnapped and killed in 1996 by Islamic fighters. Also among them were two nuns from Leo’s Augustinian religious family.

On his first day in Algeria, Leo was paying homage to the 19 martyrs and visiting the remaining Augustinian nuns who run a social services project out of the Algiers basilica that helps people of all faiths.

“They gave their lives for God, for Jesus, for the church, for the Algerian people because they didn’t want to leave the country, even in the difficult moments,” said Sister Lourdes Miguelez.

All 19 were beatified in 2018 as martyrs for the faith in what was then the first such beatification ceremony in the Muslim world.

The Algiers archbishop likes to remind audiences that Leo was elected on May 8, the Catholic feast day of the 19 martyrs. Immediately after Leo’s election, Vesco invited him to visit.

Leo has made a mantra out of one of the sayings of the martyred prior of the Tibherine monastery, Christian de Chergé, who spoke of an “unarmed and disarming peace.” Leo has cited the line starting from the night of his election.

A personal and pastoral visit

The visit to Algeria is pastoral but also deeply personal. Leo’s Augustinian religious order was inspired by the teachings of St. Augustine of Hippo, the fifth-century theological and philosophical titan of the early Christian church who was born in what is today Algeria and spent all but five years of his life there.

On Tuesday, Leo will visit Annaba, the modern-day Hippo where St. Augustine was bishop for three decades, and will literally walk in the footsteps of the saint.

From his first public words as pope, Leo proclaimed himself a “son of St. Augustine,” and he has repeatedly cited the church father in speeches and homilies.

“I don’t know if I have seen a statement, a homily, an apostolic letter or exhortation that doesn’t reference Augustine,” said Paul Camacho, associate director of the Augustinian Institute at Villanova University, Leo’s Augustinian-run alma mater outside Philadelphia.

“The shadow that he casts on Western thought, not just the Roman Catholic Church but on Western thought more broadly, is very, very long indeed,” he said.

___

NICOLE WINFIELD

Winfield has been on the Vatican beat since 2001, covering the papacies of St. John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI and the Francis pontificate and traveling the world with them.

Pope Leo Says He Does Not Fear Trump, Citing Gospel as He Pushes Back in Feud Over Iran War

By WILL WEISSERT, JOSH BOAK and NICOLE WINFIELD

8:09 AM EDT, April 13, 2026

ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (AP) — U.S.-born Pope Leo XIV pushed back Monday on President Donald Trump’s broadside against him over the U.S.-Israel war in Iran, telling reporters that the Vatican’s appeals for peace and reconciliation are rooted in the Gospel, and that he doesn’t fear the Trump administration.

“To put my message on the same plane as what the president has attempted to do here, I think is not understanding what the message of the Gospel is,” Leo told The Associated Press aboard the papal plane en route to Algeria. “And I’m sorry to hear that but I will continue on what I believe is the mission of the church in the world today.”

History’s first U.S.-born pope stressed that he was not making a direct attack against Trump or anyone else with his general appeal for peace and criticisms of the “delusion of omnipotence” that is fueling the Iran war and other conflicts around the world.

“I will not enter into debate. The things that I say are certainly not meant as attacks on anyone. The message of the Gospel is very clear: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers,’” Leo said.

“I will not shy away from announcing the message of the Gospel and inviting all people to look for ways of building bridges of peace and reconciliation, and looking for ways to avoid war any time that’s possible.”

Speaking to other reporters, he added: “I’m not afraid of the Trump administration or of speaking out loudly about the message of the Gospel, which is what the Church works for.’'

“We are not politicians. We do not look at foreign policy from the same perspective that he may have,’' the pope said, adding, ”I will continue to speak out strongly against war, seeking to promote peace, promoting dialogue and multilateralism among states to find solutions to problems.

“Too many people are suffering today, too many innocent people have been killed, and I believe someone must stand up and say that there is a better way,’' he said.

Trump says Leo is not ‘doing a very good job’

Trump delivered an extraordinary broadside against Leo on Sunday night, saying he didn’t think the U.S.-born global leader of the Catholic Church is “doing a very good job” and that “he’s a very liberal person,” while also suggesting the pontiff should “stop catering to the Radical Left.”

Flying back to Washington from Florida, Trump used a lengthy social media post to sharply criticize Leo, then kept it up after deplaning, in comments on the tarmac to reporters.

“I’m not a fan of Pope Leo,” he said.

Trump’s comments came after Leo suggested over the weekend that a “delusion of omnipotence” is fueling the U.S.-Israel war in Iran. While it’s not unusual for popes and presidents to be at cross purposes, it’s exceedingly rare for the pope to directly criticize a U.S. leader — and Trump’s stinging response is equally uncommon, if not more so.

“Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy,” the president wrote in his post, adding, “I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon.”

Italian politicians across the spectrum showed their solidarity with Leo. Premier Giorgia Meloni sent a message of support for his peace mission while the leader of the main opposition party, Elly Schlein, was more direct, calling Trump’s attacks “extremely serious.”

Trump repeated that sentiment in comments to reporters, saying, “We don’t like a pope who says it’s OK to have a nuclear weapon.”

Later, Trump posted a picture suggesting he had saint-like powers akin to those of Jesus Christ. Wearing a biblical-style robe, Trump is seen laying hands on a bedridden man as light emanates from his fingers, while a soldier, a nurse, a praying woman and a bearded man in a baseball cap all look on admiringly. The sky above is filled with eagles, an American flag and vaporous images.

Leo’s opposition to war irked Trump

All of that came after Leo presided over an evening prayer service in St. Peter’s Basilica on Saturday, the same day the United States and Iran began face-to-face negotiations in Pakistan during a fragile ceasefire, with Vice President JD Vance leading the U.S. delegation. Vance is Catholic and recently released a book about his faith.

During his evening prayer service, the pope didn’t mention the United States or Trump by name, but his tone and message appeared directed at Trump and U.S. officials, who have boasted of U.S. military superiority and justified the war in religious terms.

Leo, who is on an 11-day trip to Africa starting Monday — has previously said that God “does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them.” He’s also referenced an Old Testament passage from Isaiah, saying that “even though you make many prayers, I will not listen — your hands are full of blood.”

Before the ceasefire, when Trump warned of mass strikes against Iranian power plants and other infrastructure and that “an entire civilization will die tonight,” Leo described such sentiments as “truly unacceptable.”

In his social media post on Sunday night, however, Trump went far beyond the war in Iran in criticizing Leo.

The president wrote, “I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s terrible that America attacked Venezuela, a Country that was sending massive amounts of Drugs into the United States.” That was a reference to the Trump administration having ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January.

“I don’t want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I’m doing exactly what I was elected, IN A LANDSLIDE, to do,” Trump added, referencing his 2024 election victory.

He also suggested in the post that Leo only got his position “because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump.”

“If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican,” Trump wrote, adding, “Leo should get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician. It’s hurting him very badly and, more importantly, it’s hurting the Catholic Church!”

In his subsequent comments to reporters, Trump remained highly critical, saying of Leo, “I don’t think he’s doing a very good job. He likes crime I guess” and adding, “He’s a very liberal person.”

Bishops say the pope is not a politician

Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued a statement saying he was “disheartened” by Trump’s comments.

“Pope Leo is not his rival; nor is the Pope a politician. He is the Vicar of Christ who speaks from the truth of the Gospel and for the care of souls,” Coakley said.

The Italian Bishops’ Conference expressed regret over Trump’s words, and underlined that the pope “is not a political counterpart, but the successor of Peter, called to serve the Gospel, truth and peace.’'

In the 2024 election, Trump won 55% of Catholic voters, according to AP VoteCast, an extensive survey of the electorate. But Trump’s administration also has close ties to conservative evangelical Protestant leaders and has claimed heavenly endorsement for the war on Iran.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urged Americans to pray for victory “in the name of Jesus Christ.” And, when Trump was asked whether he thought God approved of the war, he said, “I do, because God is good — because God is good and God wants to see people taken care of.”

——

Winfield reported from aboard the papal plane.

Iran Restores Key Rail Links After Damage Caused by US-Israeli Assaults

Monday, 13 April 2026 10:22 AM

Iran resumes it train services in East Azarbaijan Province after repairing the damage caused by US-Israeli strikes. (Photo via social media)

Iran has restored train services in East Azarbaijan Province after repairing the damage caused by US-Israeli strikes, says the director general of railways in the northwestern Iranian province.

Both Tabriz-Tehran and Tabriz-Mashhad railroad tracks have been fully repaired and, as of Monday, are ready for service, Alireza Soleimani told IRNA on Monday.

Train services have resumed following a four-to-five-day suspension, and a Tehran-Tabriz-Van service also departed overnight toward Turkey using the repaired tracks.

Mianeh-Tabriz railroad (Khavaran Station) has been completed as well and began its service on Sunday, Soleimani said.

The Mianeh-Tabriz train is a domestically-built, rail-bus self-propeller vehicle, and has a capacity of 320 passengers.

The Tabriz-Mianeh-Tehran Road was difficult to traverse due to a number of issues, Soleimani said, adding that the opening of this railroad has partially met the need.

Furthermore, the Amin-Abad railroad bridge, which was damaged during a US-Israeli strike on April 7, is also being repaired and will be ready for operation in a matter of days, according to Soleimani.

The disruption in Iran’s railroad network services came after US President Donald Trump threatened to target transport infrastructure, including bridges and rail networks, as part of the illegal aggression.

A 'Stone Age' attack on Iran's engineering prowess

A 'Stone Age' attack on Iran's engineering prowess

In a shocking act of aggression, the US launched an airstrike that destroyed the B1 Bridge in Karaj, a monumental feat of engineering that stood as a testament to Iran

US-Israeli strikes on key routes and bridges had forced the suspension of rail services across parts of the country, affecting civilian movement and logistics before repairs were completed.

The criminal US-Israeli aggression on Iran began on February 28 with airstrikes that assassinated senior Iranian officials and commanders, including Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

Iranian armed forces responded by launching almost daily missile and drone operations targeting locations in the Israeli-occupied territories as well as US military bases and assets across the region.

On April 8, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) announced that there was an agreement to a Pakistan-brokered temporary ceasefire after the US accepted Iran’s 10-point proposal.

A high-ranking delegation from Iran led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf arrived in Islamabad on Friday to participate in the negotiations with the US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance.

The first round of negotiations between Iran and the US ended without the two sides reaching an agreement.

The talks over the weekend were the first direct high-level negotiations between Tehran and Washington since the outbreak of the US-Israeli war on Iran.

‘Ridiculous’: Iran Army’s Navy Chief Mocks Trump Threats to Block Hormuz Strait

Monday, 13 April 2026 1:09 AM

Rear Admiral Shahram Irani, the commander of Iran Army's Navy.

Iran’s Navy commander has dismissed President Donald Trump’s latest threats to impose a naval blockade on the Strait of Hormuz as “very ridiculous and laughable,” saying the Iranian military is closely monitoring every move of the US fleet in the region.

“The brave men of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Navy are tracking and monitoring all movements of the aggressor US military in the region,” Rear Admiral Shahram Irani said in a statement carried by Iranian media.

“The threats of the US president following the humiliating defeat of his army in the third imposed war, a naval blockade on Iran, are very ridiculous and laughable.”

Trump announced on Sunday that he had ordered the US Navy to block the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which about 20 percent of the world’s oil passes.

The order came after high-level talks between Tehran and Washington in Islamabad failed to produce a deal.

The US president also warned that any ship that has paid a toll to Iran would be stopped in international waters.

Iran has placed restrictions on passage through the Strait of Hormuz since the US-Israeli war of aggression began on February 28.

The IRGC Navy has announced that the strait “will never return to its former state, especially for the US and Israel.”

Tehran has allowed vessels serving friendly nations to pass while barring ships affiliated with aggressor countries and their supporters.

The Iranian parliament has advanced draft legislation to impose transit fees in national currency and explicitly ban US and Israeli vessels.

Iran’s armed forces have launched hundreds of ballistic and hypersonic missiles, as well as drones, against American bases across West Asia and Israeli positions in the occupied territories.

Velayati says the key to the Strait of Hormuz remains in Iran’s “capable hands.”

The US has acknowledged dozens of military casualties and significant equipment losses.

The threat of a US blockade came just hours after marathon negotiations between IranIra and the United States in Pakistan’s capital ended without a breakthrough.

US Vice President JD Vance, who led the American delegation, said after the 20-hour session that it was now up to Iran to accept Washington’s “final, best” offer.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, however, said the US side had shown “maximalism, shifting goalposts, and blockade” when a deal was just inches away.

“Zero lessons earned,” Araghchi wrote on social media, implying that Washington had learned nothing from its failed confrontations with Iran.

Iran has repeatedly stated that it will not allow the US or Israel to dictate terms for the use of the Strait of Hormuz, which lies within its territorial waters.

Military Ships Approaching Hormuz Strait ‘a Violation of Ceasefire’, IRGC Warns 

Sunday, 12 April 2026 6:11 PM

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) warns that any attempt by military vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz will be deemed a violation of the two-week ceasefire with the United States.

In a statement on Sunday, the IRGC said it would give a firm and decisive response to such a violation.

“The Naval Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps declares that, contrary to the false claims by some enemy officials, the Strait of Hormuz remains open under intelligent control and management,” it said.

The IRGC said that civilian vessels can transit the strategic waterway under “specific regulations.”

However, the statement emphasized, “for military vessels that, under any title or pretext, intend to approach the Strait of Hormuz, [such action] will be regarded as a violation of the ceasefire and will be met with a severe response.”

The warning came after US Central Command claimed that two American warships, the USS Frank Peterson and USS Michael Murphy, transited the Strait of Hormuz “as part of a broader mission to ensure the strait is fully clear of sea mines.”

“Today, we began the process of establishing a new passage and we will share this safe pathway with the maritime industry soon to encourage the free flow of commerce,” Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of Central Command, said in a statement.

Iran denied any American military vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran and the US agreed to a ceasefire on Tuesday, 40 days after the launch of the US-Israeli aggression against the Islamic Republic.

During the war, Iranian Armed Forces unleashed 100 waves of successful retaliatory strikes against sensitive and strategic American and Israeli targets throughout the region.

They also blocked the Strait of Hormuz to oil and gas tankers affiliated with the adversaries and those cooperating with them in an attempt to maintain security at the strategic waterway.

Traffic through the narrow Strait has since slowed to a trickle, affecting about one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments and sending shock waves through the global energy market.

Iran has allowed a handful of vessels from friendly countries to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials have also discussed setting up a toll system, under which tankers would pay Iran a fee to cross the Strait.

Earlier on Sunday, the IRGC Navy warned the United States and its allies against any miscalculation in the Persian Gulf, as US President Donald Trump renewed his threats against the Strait of Hormuz.

In a post on X, it said any wrong move by the US and its allies will plunge them “into a deadly whirlpool of destruction in the Strait.”

President Trump, who was hoping to secure an agreement with Iran over the energy lifeline, is growing more frustrated after a marathon 21-hour diplomatic effort failed to produce a deal in Islamabad.

In a post on his Truth Social, the US president said that American naval forces will impose a full naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

Hezbollah Remains Steadfast in Bin Jbeil Against Israeli Aggression

By Al Mayadeen English

Islamic Resistance launches drone and rocket strikes on Israeli occupation forces across South Lebanon, targeting troop gatherings and military positions.

The Islamic Resistance in Lebanon continues to bravely confront the Israeli occupation forces, in defense of Lebanon and in response to the continued airstrikes and violations conducted by the Israeli entity.

According to a statement, at 16:00 on Sunday, the resistance targeted a gathering of Israeli occupation soldiers near the Martyr Salah Ghandour Hospital in the city of Bint Jbeil using a swarm of attack drones, achieving direct hits. Earlier, at 05:00, another gathering of Israeli forces in the town of al-Bayyada was struck with similar attack drones, also resulting in direct hits.

Further operations were carried out throughout the day. At 10:15, a drone strike targeted Israeli troops in the town of al-Taybeh, followed at 13:15 by another strike against a gathering of forces in the town of Shamaa. At 14:00, resistance fighters struck a command position of Israeli forces between the town of Aita al-Shaab and the city of Bint Jbeil using attack drones, again reporting direct hits.

At 17:00, the resistance said it targeted an Israeli Merkava tank near a hospital in the town of Mays al-Jabal with a drone, resulting in a direct hit. Additionally, at 18:00, 18:20, and 18:40, rocket barrages were launched in successive waves against gatherings of Israeli vehicles and troops near al-Ishraq School in Bint Jbeil and the Triangle of Liberation area, with direct impacts reported.

Earlier at 09:45, a military vehicle carrying a command crew was targeted in al-Taybeh with a drone strike. This was followed at 11:10 by a drone attack on the settlement of Kiryat Shmona.

The Islamic Resistance said its operations have continued since the expansion of hostilities on March 2, adding that its response will continue until the Israeli-American aggression against Lebanon comes to an end.

'Israel' continues to massacre southern Lebanon

Israeli airstrikes intensified across multiple villages and towns in the Lebanese South and Bekaa on April 12, killing more than 24 civilians, including six in Maaroub and five in Qana, according to Al Mayadeen’s correspondent.

Six civilians were martyred and others were injured after an Israeli strike targeted the town of Maaroub early on April 12. Hours earlier, Israeli warplanes launched a violent bombardment on the al-Khashneh area in Qana, striking homes and infrastructure, killing five people and wounding 25.

A separate strike on Mashghara in the western Bekaa resulted in casualties, with at least one martyr and one wounded reported.

A source at the Ministry of Health reported that casualties from attacks in Tyre, its outskirts, and surrounding communities since dawn include the following accounted for:

5 killed and 25 injured in Qana.

2 killed in al-Abbasiyeh.

6 killed and 8 injured in Maaroub; 2 individuals remain missing, and search operations were ongoing.

1 killed on Tyre Road.

1 killed in Jwayya.

1 killed and 4 injured in al-Majadel.

3 injured in Maarakeh.

and 2 killed in Deir Kifa.

The attacks have also caused widespread destruction, with civil defense teams and bulldozers working to clear roads and remove rubble.

Cape Town Mayor Elected to Lead South Africa's Second-largest Party

Cape Town Mayor

South Africa's second-largest party, the Democratic Alliance, elected Cape Town's mayor Sunday to lead it into the 2029 national polls, stepping up a drive to take votes away from the faltering ANC.

The election of Geordin Hill-Lewis, 39, marks a reset for the centre-right DA that entered a multi-party coalition government in 2024 when the African National Congress (ANC) lost its majority.

"I stand before you as your newly elected leader with one promise -- however long I have the privilege of serving in this job, I will be dedicated to the mission of building a stronger South Africa for everyone," he told a party congress.

Hill-Lewis has run Cape Town -- a booming international tourist destination -- since 2021. The city is the capital of the Western Cape, the only of nine provinces run by the DA.

"Our mission is to build the DA into the biggest party in South Africa," Hill-Lewis told the party congress on Saturday.

The DA was brought into the coalition government after the African National Congress (ANC) -- which led the fight against apartheid -- lost its majority for the first time in three decades in power.

The party of Nelson Mandela won 62 percent of votes in the first all-race election in 1994 but managed only 40 percent at the 2024 poll, undermined by corruption scandals and complaints of bad governance.

The DA took 22 percent in 2024 and recent polling by the Ipsos market researcher showed a similar level of support ahead of local government polls due between November and January.

The ANC remained the most-supported party with 38 percent, according to a survey of 3,600 people released last month.

Benin President Talon Shows Himself Optimistic About Election as He Casts His Vote

Benin

Benin's president Patrice Talon said "the best is yet to come for Benin" before casting his vote in Sunday's presidential election that will decide who will be his successor.

Nearly eight million voters are eligible to cast ballots to choose a successor to Patrice Talon, who is stepping down after two five-year terms and has endorsed Romuald Wadagni, the current finance minister, as his successor.

Turnout will be a crucial factor after a lacklustre campaign hit by voter apathy.

"We must vote to ensure a high turnout," said Yvan Glidja, a man in his 30s who turned up early at a school-turned-polling station in the commercial capital Cotonou to vote for Wadagni.

Backed by the two main ruling parties, Wadagni is being challenged by Paul Hounkpe, an opposition figure whose campaign has been very low-key and who needed help from majority lawmakers to secure the required parliamentary endorsements to get on the ballot.

"There can't be any real enthusiasm; for that, you would need debate and each side would have to believe in its chances," said Rufin Godjo, a political analyst.

The main opposition The Democrats party is not fielding a candidate as its leader, Renaud Agbodjo, failed to secure the required number of parliamentary endorsements needed to contest the vote.

"I won't go and vote, this election is not inclusive. You cannot talk about genuine democratic competition when some key political players are barred," said Arnold Dessouassi, a 39-year-old teacher.

The ruling majority blames The Democrats' exclusion on internal divisions. Several senior figures in the party joined Wadagni's campaign.

"The disgruntled haven't disappeared. Tensions and frustration remain high; their electoral hopes have been slaughtered," said Godjo, speaking of voters.

The European Union, the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have all sent substantial delegations to monitor the vote.

"We hope a maximum of Beninese will come out to make their choice today", Nana Akufo-Addo, a former Ghanaian president heading the ECOWAS delegation, told AFP.

At Least 200 Killed in Airstrikes in Northeast Nigeria

Violence in Nigeria

Dozens of people died in airstrikes in Nigeria's northeastern Yobe state as military aircraft hunted Boko Haram jihadists, local residents and Amnesty International said on Sunday.

The airstrikes occurred on Saturday, and the death tolls differed according to the sources.

Amnesty International said on X there were "more than 100 dead" and 35 people seriously wounded, while a local chief spoke of "200 dead and wounded". Nigeria's military did not immediately respond to a query from AFP.

Africa's most populous country has been fighting a jihadist insurgency for 17 years, since Boko Haram's 2009 uprising, which has seen the emergence of powerful splinter groups including Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

While the insurgency is concentrated in the northeastern countryside, jihadists from Nigeria and the neighbouring Sahel have made inroads in western Nigeria, where organised crime gangs known as "bandits" have been raiding villages and extorting farmers and artisanal miners for years.

Nigerian Air Force Strike on Boko Haram Targets Market, Over 100 Civilians Feared Dead – Breaking

Smoke rises after an airstrike hits a crowded market in northeastern Nigeria, leaving dozens dead and many injured.

West Africa Latest News: A Nigerian Air Force operation aimed at Boko Haram-linked fighters in the northeast has resulted in a major civilian tragedy after a crowded market in Yobe State was struck. Initial estimates suggest more than 100 deaths with some local accounts warning the toll could exceed 200 and making it one of the deadliest incidents in recent years.

Nigeria–Boko Haram Latest News: Background of the Ongoing Conflict

Nigeria’s northeast has been locked in a brutal insurgency for over a decade. Boko Haram and its splinter group ISWAP have carried out repeated attacks, forcing military forces to respond with air and ground operations and civilians often remain trapped in conflict zones where militant activity overlaps with daily life.

Nigeria–Boko Haram Latest News: How Did the Airstrike Target the Area?

The strike reportedly occurred during a weekly market gathering near the Yobe–Borno border and military intelligence suggested insurgents were operating close to the site. The Air Force carried out what it described as a targeted operation, but the strike impacted a densely populated civilian area.

Nigeria–Boko Haram Latest News: How Many Casualties Have Been Reported So Far?

Reports vary widely, Amnesty International and local sources confirm at least 100 civilian deaths, while some residents claim the number may have crossed 200. Emergency teams from Yobe State confirm significant casualties, but exact figures remain unclear due to ongoing recovery efforts.

Nigeria–Boko Haram Latest News: Military Response to the Strike

The Nigerian military stated that the operation successfully targeted a militant enclave and eliminated several Boko Haram fighters. However, it has not directly addressed allegations of civilian casualties and only emphasizing that the strike was based on “credible intelligence.”

Nigeria–Boko Haram Latest News: What Are the Humanitarian Consequences of the Attack?

The Yobe State Emergency Management Agency has deployed response teams, but hospitals in Yobe and neighboring Borno are overwhelmed. Dozens of injured survivors are receiving treatment, while humanitarian agencies warn of rising trauma and displacement in already fragile communities.

What Did Eyewitnesses Report From the Scene?

Survivors describe sudden explosions tearing through the busy marketplace. Traders and shoppers reportedly attempted to flee, but many were caught in the blast radius and one survivor said panic spread within seconds, turning a normal market day into chaos and destruction.

Nigerian Airstrike on Yobe Market Kills Over 100 Civilians in What Amnesty Calls Unlawful Use of Force

Apr. 13, 2026

A Nigerian military airstrike reportedly struck a crowded village market in Jilli, Yobe State, with reports suggesting more than 100 civilians were killed and dozens more wounded, according to Amnesty International and local officials.

The strike, which reportedly occurred on Saturday near the border between Yobe and Borno states in Nigeria’s northeast, has drawn sharp condemnation from human rights organizations and exposed persistent failures in how the Nigerian military distinguishes between armed combatants and the civilians it is supposed to protect.

What Happened at Jilli Market

The Nigerian Air Force reportedly described the target area as being in the Jilli region of Borno state, according to local reports. The military made no mention of a market. But that version of events quickly unraveled.

The Yobe state government later acknowledged that the strike had been conducted near a weekly market that people were attending. Brigadier General Dahiru Abdulsalam, military adviser to the Yobe state government, reportedly confirmed that civilians from Geidam who had traveled to the weekly market were among the casualties, but provided no further details.

Jilli sits on the boundary between Yobe and Borno states, in the heartland of a rebellion that has killed thousands and displaced millions over more than a decade. Weekly markets in this region serve as critical gathering points for communities already ravaged by conflict. They are among the few remaining social and economic lifelines for people who have endured years of violence from both Boko Haram and the military campaigns against it.

The Toll

Amnesty International reported that more than 100 people had been killed and 35 others wounded, a toll the organization said it confirmed by speaking directly with hospital staff, casualty coordinators, and survivors on the ground. Local chief Lawan Zanna Nur Geidam reportedly told AFP news agency that total casualties, including both dead and injured, reached approximately 200. Many of the wounded were taken to hospitals in nearby Geidam and Maiduguri, according to Zanna Nur.

Children who were praised for being "no trouble at all" often grow into adults who struggle to ask for anything. The reward for being low-maintenance was learning to treat your own needs as optional.

Reports indicate that at least 23 injured people were receiving treatment at Geidam General Hospital in Yobe state. The gap between 23 hospitalized and potentially 200 total casualties suggests that many victims either died at the scene or were unable to reach medical facilities, a grim reality in a region where health infrastructure has been hollowed out by years of insurgency.

Amnesty International’s Condemnation

Amnesty International condemned the strike as a gross violation of international law, calling it unlawful and indicative of reckless disregard for civilian lives. The organization demanded that Nigerian authorities conduct an immediate and impartial investigation and ensure accountability for those responsible.

The statement also rejected the premise that airstrikes constitute a legitimate law enforcement method. That distinction matters. When a state frames counterinsurgency as law enforcement, the legal standards for the use of force are different, and arguably stricter, than in armed conflict. Either way, striking a crowded civilian market fails both tests.

Accountability’s Absent History

The Nigerian military has killed at least 500 civilians since 2017 in airstrikes, according to an Associated Press tally of reported deaths. The pattern is familiar: an airstrike is ordered based on intelligence that armed fighters are present. The strike hits a civilian population center. The military claims it struck combatants. Local officials and human rights organizations provide evidence of mass civilian casualties. Calls for investigation follow. Accountability rarely materializes.

Nigeria’s military has undergone leadership changes aimed at improving its counterinsurgency operations, but the recurring pattern of civilian casualties from airstrikes suggests those changes have not reached the operational level where targeting decisions are made. The Jilli strike raises the same hard question that every previous incident has raised: how does a military with this record continue to order strikes on areas it knows are populated by the civilians it claims to protect?

What Comes Next

Amnesty International has demanded an impartial investigation. Past precedent offers little reason for optimism. The conflict in northeastern Nigeria has produced a steady stream of documented atrocities from multiple sides, but accountability remains elusive. Military investigations into civilian casualties have rarely produced public findings or consequences.

The Nigerian Air Force had not responded to inquiries at the time of reporting, according to multiple news outlets covering the story. The gap between the Air Force’s initial claim of striking Boko Haram fighters and the Yobe state government’s admission that the strike occurred near a market underscores how quickly official narratives shift when confronted with evidence.

The international community will likely issue statements of concern. Airstrikes on civilian infrastructure have become a recurring feature of conflicts worldwide, and the response pattern is depressingly predictable: condemnation, calls for investigation, and then silence until the next strike.

But at Jilli, the silence arrived first. The Jilli market was full of people going about their weekly routines. Some traveled from Geidam. Others came from surrounding areas in Borno state. They went to buy and sell goods in one of the few functioning commercial spaces in a region defined by scarcity and fear. Then the bombs fell. And for the families now burying their dead, counting their wounded, and staring at the crater where a market used to be, the question is not whether the international community will respond. It is simpler and far more painful than that. How do you trust a government that drops bombs on your market? How do you go back next week?

Civilians Feared Killed After Reports of Air Strike on Nigerian Market

Members of Nigeria's armed forces (file picture)

Civilians are feared to have died after reports that Nigerian military jets struck a village market in the north-east of the country.

The attack took place near the border between Yobe and Borno states while an aircraft was said to be engaged in an operation against Islamist militants in the area, according to the Reuters news agency and local reports.

The Nigerian Air Force said it carried out "mop-up" air strikes on "identified terrorist locations" within the Jilli axis of Borno State on Saturday, but has not confirmed that it struck the market nor confirmed casualties.

The area is at the centre of the long-running Boko Haram insurgency, which has forced more than two million people to flee their homes and killed thousands.

The Nigerian Air Force's statement said follow-on strikes on Saturday were "aimed at fleeing remnants and regrouping cells seeking to exploit the difficult terrain".

There are conflicting reports of the number of casualties as a result of the strike on the market.

Citing a councillor, Lawan Zanna Nur Geidam, in Yobe's Geidam district, as well as three residents and an official from an international humanitarian agency, news agency Reuters said at least 200 people had been killed.

"It's a very devastating incident," said Zanna Nur Geidam, who said the injured had been taken to hospitals in Yobe and Borno.

Nigerian outlets the Sun and Punch reported sources saying that 10 people had been killed, while "several" others had sustained injuries.

But newspaper the Daily Trust reported that an eyewitness said at least 56 people had died, with 14 others hospitalised.

According to the outlet, the weekly market usually attracts traders and buyers from surrounding communities.

In a statement on Facebook on Sunday, the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency said it had received "preliminary reports" of an incident at Jilli Market in the Gubio local government area, "which reportedly resulted in casualties affecting some marketers".

It added that emergency response mechanisms had been "immediately evacuated", with assessment teams deployed to the area, but added that "details regarding the nature of the incident and the number of casualties remain unverified".

The government of the neighbouring Yobe state said some of its residents who went to the market "were affected".

"Some people from Geidam LGA [local government area] bordering Gubio LGA in Borno state who went to the Jilli weekly market were affected," Brigadier General Dahiru Abdulsalam said on Facebook.

Ahmed Ali, a 43-year-old market trader, told Reuters he was injured in the blast.

"I became so scared and attempted to run away, but a friend dragged me and we all lay on the ground," he said.

Amnesty International's Nigeria branch condemned the strike, which it said had killed "over 100 people".

"Launching air raids is not a legitimate law enforcement method by anyone's standard," a post on X said.

"Such reckless use of deadly force is unlawful, outrageous and lays bare the Nigerian military's shocking disregard for the lives of those it supposedly exists to protect."

Nigeria's north‑east has seen repeated incidents in recent years in which military air operations against Islamist insurgents have mistakenly hit civilians, including in villages, camps for displaced people and markets.

At Least 100 Dead in Nigeria After Air Force ‘Misfire’ on Market, Sources Say

By DYEPKAZAH SHIBAYAN and HARUNA UMAR

2:49 PM EDT, April 12, 2026

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AP) — A Nigerian Air Force strike targeting jihadi rebels hit a local market in northeastern Nigeria, killing over 100 civilians including children and injuring many others, a rights group and local media reported on Sunday. Officials confirmed a misfire without providing details.

Amnesty International cited survivors as saying that at least 100 people were killed in the airstrike on Saturday on a village in Yobe state, near the border with Borno state, which is the epicenter of the jihadi insurgency that has ravaged the region for over a decade.

“We have their pictures and they include children,” Isa Sanusi, Amnesty International’s Nigeria director, told The Associated Press, referring to the casualties.

“We are in touch with people that are there, we spoke with the hospital,” he said. “We spoke with the person in charge of casualties, and we spoke with the victims.”

A worker at the Geidam General hospital, in Yobe, said at least 23 people injured in the incident were receiving treatment. The worker spoke anonymously as he was not authorized to speak to the media.

Such misfires are common in Nigeria, where the military often conducts air raids to battle armed groups who control vast forest enclaves. At least 500 civilians have died since 2017 in such misfires, according to an AP tally of reported deaths. Security analysts point to loopholes in intelligence gathering as well as insufficient coordination between ground troops, air assets and stakeholders.

The large, remote market located near the Borno-Yobe border is known to be often used by Boko Haram jihadis to buy food supplies.

Abdulmumin Bulama, a member of a civilian security group working with the Nigerian military in the northeast, said there was intelligence that Boko Haram terrorists had gathered very close to the market and were planning an attack on nearby communities.

“The intel was shared and the Air Force jet acted based on the credible information,” Bulama said.

The Yobe State Government confirmed in a statement that a Nigerian military strike was targeting a stronghold of the Boko Haram jihadi group in the area and that “some people … who went to the Jilli weekly market were affected.”

The Yobe State Emergency Management Agency also acknowledged that an incident had occurred resulting in “casualties affecting some marketers” and said it had dispatched response teams to the area.

Nigeria’s military issued a statement saying it conducted a successful strike on a “terrorist enclave and logistics hub” belonging to jihadis in the area, killing scores of them as they rode on motorcycles. It did not provide any detail about a possible misfire, but noted that motorcycles remain prohibited in conflict hot spots and “any such movements in restricted areas are therefore treated with the utmost seriousness.”

Amnesty International has called for an independent investigation into the incident, adding that the military is “fond of” labeling civilian casualties as bandits

Nigeria, which is Africa’s most populous country, is battling a complex security crisis, especially in the north, where there is a decade-long insurgency and several armed groups that kidnap for ransom.

Among the most prominent Islamic militant groups are Boko Haram and its breakaway faction, which is affiliated with the Islamic State group and known as Islamic State West Africa Province. There is also the IS-linked Lakurawa group operating in communities in the northwestern part of the country that borders Niger Republic.

——

Shibayan reported from Abuja, Nigeria.

Marandi: Iran is Preparing for War Amid Talks in Islamabad: Exclusive

By Al Mayadeen English

Professor Mohammad Marandi says Iran is negotiating while preparing for war, as US demands and Hormuz disputes stall Islamabad talks.

Professor Mohammad Marandi has expressed to Al Mayadeen that no positive results can be expected so far from the ongoing talks between Iran and the US in Islamabad, citing what he described as “exaggerated” US demands and emphasizing that Lebanon remains a fundamental issue.

Marandi, who is accompanying the Iranian delegation, stated that no agreement will be reached if Washington ignores the rights of Iran, Palestine, Lebanon, and the resistance front.

He stressed that Tehran insists on a ceasefire in Lebanon and the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces (IOF) from southern Lebanon.

Marandi added that Iran is not dependent on reaching a deal and is prepared to return without an agreement, emphasizing that Tehran’s participation demonstrates its willingness to give diplomacy a chance.

'Preparing for war while negotiating'

Marandi warned that negotiations could collapse at any moment, pointing to the role of Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in potentially influencing US positions.

"We don't trust the United States, and we are also being very busy preparing ourselves for the next round of war."

Marandi added that Iran "Always knew the United States was deceitful," emphasizing the country is strengthening its military capabilities "while we are at the negotiating table."

Iran insists on protecting battlefield gains

Sources cited by Fars said the Iranian delegation is “determined to protect the gains achieved on the ground,” accusing Washington of attempting to secure through negotiations what it failed to achieve during 40 days of war.

Iranian media also reported that the US accepted two initial conditions for talks:

A tangible ceasefire covering Iran and West Asia

The release of frozen Iranian funds

Iran, US begin third round of talks in Islamabad

Iranian and US delegations have begun the third round of talks in Islamabad, with Pakistani officials participating as mediators, according to Iranian media reports.

Technical teams from the Iranian and US delegations have reached the stage of exchanging written texts on the issues under negotiation following the conclusion of direct talks in the latest round of negotiations in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, Iranian news agency IRNA reported Saturday, citing informed sources.

IRNA added that expert teams from both sides concluded a round of direct talks lasting several hours in Islamabad on Saturday afternoon.

Iranian state television had earlier reported that expert delegations and specialised committees had convened in the main negotiation room, following initial rounds of dialogue and consultations that, according to Tasnim News Agency, had moved beyond general frameworks and into detailed, technical discussions across several files.

The Tasnim News Agency confirmed that the third round of negotiations started minutes before the announcement, noting that Pakistani officials are facilitating communication between the Iranian and US delegations.

Nonetheless, as discussions reached the stage of exchanging written texts to establish a common negotiation framework, the US delegation obstructed progress with "excessive demands," Tasnim News Agency reported. Yet consultations are still ongoing, with Iran insisting on preserving its military gains and securing the rights of the Iranian people.

Global Oil Market Hit by Scramble for Immediate Supplies

By Al Mayadeen English

A global scramble for immediate oil supplies drives North Sea crude bids and pushes prices above $140, as traders and refiners compete for scarce prompt barrels.

A sharp scramble for immediately available oil cargoes is gripping the global crude market, as traders and refiners rush to secure supplies amid heightened uncertainty linked to the fragile Iranian ceasefire.

While investors have focused on geopolitical developments, market activity has been defined by a desperate hunt for prompt barrels, with buyers competing aggressively for near-term deliveries.

In the North Sea, the world’s key physical crude benchmark, traders submitted 40 bids for cargoes this week, but only four offers were matched, highlighting a severe imbalance between demand and available supply.

Cargoes scheduled for delivery in the coming weeks reportedly changed hands at unprecedented prices exceeding $140 per barrel.

Refiners forced into global search

Outside Europe, refiners have increasingly turned to alternative regions in search of crude, triggering:

Unusual cross-regional trades

Rising premiums for prompt delivery of oil

Intensifying competition for spot cargoes

The market shift reflects a growing premium on immediate availability over long-term contracts.

Tightening physical market conditions

The surge in demand for near-term supplies underscores tightening conditions in the physical oil market, where logistical constraints and geopolitical uncertainty are amplifying price volatility.

Market participants say the current environment reflects a broader shift toward scarcity-driven pricing in the short term.

The global oil market is experiencing an acute scramble for prompt crude supplies, with physical prices surging and competition intensifying as refiners and traders race to secure available barrels.

Iran war reshapes global oil market as prices surge 50%: Axios

The energy shock triggered by the war on Iran is poised to drive lasting changes in the structure of the global multitrillion-dollar oil market, transforming what was once a relatively open system into a more fragmented and weaponized landscape.

Oil prices have surged significantly since the outbreak of the war, rising by around 50% compared to pre-war levels.

At the same time, prices in the physical oil market have reached record highs, as countries and companies compete for increasingly limited supplies. A key factor behind this surge is Iran’s continued closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global energy flows.

Daniel Yergin described the current crisis as “the mother of all supply chain disruptions.”

According to available data, the disruption linked to the Iran war has removed approximately 16% of global oil supply, surpassing previous crises such as:

The 1990 Iraq invasion of Kuwait (8%)

The 1973 oil embargo (8%)

The 2011 Libya war (2%)

The 2022 Ukraine war (2%)

From cooperation to fragmentation

The last major instance of oil being used as a geopolitical weapon dates back to 1973, when Arab members of OPEC imposed an oil embargo on the US, causing prices to surge dramatically over the following decade.

That crisis reinforced the need for global cooperation in energy markets. "Multinational, international cooperation is preferable to individual action," Yergin noted.

A shifting global energy doctrine

Recent analysis suggests the world may now be drawing different conclusions.

Jason Bordoff and Meghan O'Sullivan argue that in today’s fragmented and war-driven environment, countries may increasingly view energy as a strategic tool rather than a shared resource.

At the center of this shift is Iran’s ability to leverage the Strait of Hormuz as a pressure point, creating a major disruption in global oil flows. This development could mark a turning point for the global energy system.

The ongoing crisis signals a potential long-term transformation of the oil market, one defined less by cooperation and stability, and more by competition, fragmentation, and geopolitical leverage.

Women Rickshaw Drivers in Sierra Leone Rise Above Stigma to Earn a Living and Empowerment

By KEMO CHAM

2:15 AM EDT, April 11, 2026

FREETOWN, Sierra Leone (AP) — As the late afternoon sun settles over Freetown’s main transit park, Hawa Mansaray pulls up her motorized three-wheeled vehicle and steps away for a break and to pray.

Mansaray is one of a small but growing number of women entering a male-dominated commercial transport sector in Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown. The auto-rickshaws, known locally as kekeh, are an essential means of transport and until recently were almost exclusively driven by men.

“I have done different jobs since I came to Freetown but kekeh has done more for me,” said the 27-year-old single mother of one.

The rickshaws have become increasingly popular in Sierra Leone, filling the gaps in a strained public transport system as the West African country struggles to recover from its 1991-2002 civil war.

Freetown’s population has grown to more than 1.5 million, according to city estimates — roughly three times the size it was when much of its infrastructure was planned and built. Public transport systems have struggled to keep up, creating demand for commercial motorcycles and auto-rickshaws.

Although the rickshaws are usually rickety, run at minimal speed, and are considered less safe due to the maximum exposure that comes with how they’re built, commuters still prefer them because they’re easily accessible and offer maximum ventilation and relative comfort.

As more people turn to the rickshaws to earn a living, it’s also become a symbol of what women are capable of.

In the city, however, women are still “seen as people not adequate to do certain types of jobs,” said Marfoh Mariama Samai, a women’s rights advocate with Plan International Sierra Leone.

“So when a young woman ventures into a certain type of job, they are stigmatized,” she says of the female drivers.

A ticket to financial independence for many

Sierra Leone has one of the lowest levels of access to and availability of financial services in Africa, making it harder for groups such as women and rural residents to recover from economic shocks.

As a result, many women are confined to petty trading that offers little stability and makes them rely heavily on their husbands, said Samai.

“When the man gives you the money, he makes all the decisions,” she said of the patriarchal norms still in place in parts of Sierra Leone. “More young women should be encouraged to get into the transport sector.”

Mansaray knows the challenges of financial dependence firsthand. Originally from Kailahun District, where Sierra Leone’s civil war began, she was born at the height of the conflict, and had to drop out of school at the primary level.

As an adult, she turned to running small businesses to make ends meet for herself and her baby, after separating from her husband.

Learning to drive rickshaws for a living was initially not in her plans, but she took interest in it and paid to be trained after seeing women like her excelling in the business.

Mansaray now works under a company that requires her to make daily returns of 350 leones ($14), earning an average daily wage of 175 leones ($7), enough to cater to her family and considered high income for many in the country.

“I will advise my fellow women who aren’t employed to come into the game,” she adds.

Alimatu Kamara, another female rickshaw driver, can relate to Mansaray’s experience. She had been unemployed for years before deciding to venture into the business.

It’s been a great ride ever since, Kamara said, but added that a major challenge for her remains aggressive behavior from male riders, a common complaint among female drivers alongside safety concerns at night.

“Some women can panic,” she said. “It takes mind and determination to continue.”

Despite the difficulties, she plans to expand and purchase more rickshaws.

“We can’t just sit, waiting for office jobs. With jobs like kekeh, you can even make more money,” Kamara said.

‘Whatever men can do, women can do better’

The Sierra Leone Kekeh Riders Union has more than 1,000 registered members in western Freetown, but only about 20 are women, a number the union’s district chairman, Mustapha Thoronka, said has improved.

Thoronka said he supports efforts to train and assist female drivers, including advocating for loans for them.

“Whatever men can do, women can do better,” Thoronka said, hoping that through the business “they can support themselves and their families without relying on men.”

Thoronka is urging the government to provide more support, noting that it’s capital intensive, making it more difficult for women to get involved.

Mariama Barrie, a commuter, said she prefers female drivers.

“They are more careful than the men,” she said. For her, the growing presence of women in the kekeh sector sends a message particularly “to women who sit and wait to be spoon fed.”

“If you know how to ride, take kekeh … rather than sitting and waiting for handouts,” she said.