Iran War: US says 3,500 troops have been stationed in Middle East as Iran targets Gulf neighbours

The US Central Command said on Saturday that US sailors and Marines aboard the USS Tripoli (LHA 7) arrived in its area of responsibility on March 27.

The America-class amphibious assault ship is serving as the flagship of the Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, which includes around 3500 personnel, along with transport and strike fighter aircraft, as well as amphibious assault and other tactical assets.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has sharply criticised US President Donald Trump for his course of action in the Iran conflict, the German Press Agency reported.

"What Trump is doing right now is not de-escalation and an attempt to reach a peaceful solution, but a massive escalation with an uncertain outcome," Merz said late Friday at an event in Frankfurt.

"These are escalations that are threatening," he added.
"Not only for those directly affected, but for all of us.

The Israel Defense Forces said it had killed Ali Hassan Shaib, alleging that the Hezbollah Radwan Force operative was posing as a journalist for Al Manar while gathering information on troop positions in southern Lebanon.

Pakistan is set to host the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkiye for discussions on a range of issues, including efforts to de-escalate tensions in West Asia amid the ongoing Iran conflict, the Foreign Office said on Saturday.

At the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Turkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, and Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty will visit Islamabad on Sunday and Monday.

During the visit, the ministers are expected to hold in-depth discussions on key regional issues, particularly efforts to ease tensions. They are also scheduled to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, according to the Foreign Office.

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said on Saturday it had located and dismantled more than 120 unexploded cluster bombs in a southern province, alleging they were dropped during recent attacks by the United States and Israel.

Citing the ISNA news agency, Jalal Yarmohammadi, deputy head of public relations for the Guards in Fars province, said that 122 cluster bombs had been discovered and destroyed around Shiraz and in several nearby towns.

Egypt will scale back some major state projects for the next 2 months to reduce fuel and diesel consumption, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said on Saturday.

The decision is part of wider efforts to manage the economic impact of the ongoing Iran conflict, which has driven up energy prices and increased pressure on public finances.

Separately, Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk said the country’s debt servicing costs are expected to rise by 5 per cent in the next fiscal year.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday spoke to Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman to dicuss the ongoing conflict in West Asia and condemned attacks on energy infrastructure in the region.

"Spoke with Crown Prince and PM of Saudi Arabia, HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman and discussed the ongoing conflict in West Asia. I reiterated India’s condemnation of attacks on regional energy infrastructure. We agreed on the need to ensure freedom of navigation and keeping shipping lines open and secure. Thanked him for his continued support for the welfare of the Indian community in Saudi Arabia," PM Modi wrote in a post on X.

Blasts heard over Jerusalem after Iran launched missiles towards Israel, with Israeli forces moving to intercept the incoming threats, according to AFP reporters.

The apparent strike came shortly after Israel said it had carried out a wave of airstrikes targeting multiple sites across the Iranian capital, Tehran.

After crossing the Strait of Hormuz, the vessel JAG VASANT anchored at Vadinar Port on Friday night. Gas transfer operations from JAG VASANT to MT ROSE began at 3.45 pm today.

JAG VASANT arrived carrying approximately 47000 tonnes of LPG, of which 17000 tonnes will be transferred to MT ROSE. The latter is expected to transport the cargo to Kandla Port. The next destination of JAG VASANT has not yet been finalised.

Meanwhile, another vessel, AL AIN, departed from Yanbu Port and crossed the Gulf of Aden before reaching Mundra Port on Sunday morning.

At Mundra, AL AIN will unload 28000 tonnes of gas and then proceed to Mangalore Port with the remaining 20000 tonnes of LPG.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran would “retaliate strongly” if its infrastructure or economic centres are targeted, reiterating that Tehran does not carry out preemptive attacks but will respond forcefully if provoked.

"We have said many times that Iran doesn’t carry out preemptive attacks, but we will retaliate strongly if our infrastructure or economic centers are targeted," Pezeshkian wrote on X today.

Yemen’s Iran backed Houthi rebels said they had carried out their “first military operation” in support of Iran, after Israel reported detecting a missile launched from Yemen.

Maersk has temporarily suspended operations at Port of Salalah in Oman following a security incident earlier in the day.

In a statement, the company said all crew members are safe and accounted for, with no impact on its vessels or cargo.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said missiles had destroyed a Ukrainian air defence depot in Dubai, according to a Reuters report citing Fars News Agency.

Iran has claimed it targeted two US Army “hideouts” in Dubai, according to the Fars News Agency, as cited by ANI. A spokesperson for the Central Headquarters of Hazrat Khatam al Anbiya said US personnel had moved to these locations after earlier Iranian strikes on their bases in the region.

The spokesperson alleged that more than 500 US troops were present at the sites, around 400 at one location and about 100 at the other.