The kingdom’s moon-sighting committee confirmed that Thursday will complete 30 days of Ramadan, with Eid falling the following day, in line with the Islamic lunar calendar.

Eid al-Fitr is observed on the first day of Shawwal, the month that follows Ramadan, and its start is determined by the sighting of the new crescent moon.

Saudi Arabia, which hosts Islam’s holiest sites, is often followed by several countries in announcing the festival date, though others rely on local moon sightings or astronomical calculations.

The announcement is expected to influence Eid observances across parts of the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, where communities often align with Saudi Arabia’s declaration.

Countries that did not sight the moon on Wednesday are likely to mark Eid on Friday, while others may confirm based on local observations.

Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan and is observed with prayers, charitable giving and communal gatherings.

Authorities typically prepare for large congregational prayers and increased travel during the holiday period, one of the busiest times of the year across Muslim-majority countries.

A loud explosion was heard in the area shortly after residents were warned to leave, according to the witness. The strike formed part of a broader wave of Israeli attacks across Lebanon, including additional raids on the Lebanese capital as well as southern and eastern regions.

Lebanon’s health ministry said earlier strikes on Beirut killed at least six people and wounded 24 others. Separate airstrikes in southern and eastern Lebanon killed at least 14 people, the state news agency reported, citing the ministry.

The Israeli military said it had begun targeting Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon, indicating a widening scope of operations beyond isolated strikes. Wednesday’s attacks suggest a sustained escalation, with multiple regions coming under fire within a single day.

The latest strikes add to a growing toll from the conflict. More than 800 people have been killed in Lebanon since the escalation began, while over 800,000 have been displaced from their homes, according to available figures.

The escalation follows Hezbollah’s March 2 attack on Israel, which the group said was carried out in response to the killing of Iran’s supreme leader. Israel has since launched an expanded offensive, drawing Lebanon deeper into a broader Middle East conflict.

Oil flows are expected to begin at 10 a.m. , according to state media citing Oil Minister Hayan Abdel-Ghani. The agreement includes provisions to enhance security around oilfields and ensure continuity of export operations, Kurdish authorities said.

KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said the region would allow crude exports through its pipeline network “at the earliest possible time” given the exceptional circumstances facing the country. He added that talks with Baghdad would continue to lift trade restrictions and provide guarantees to international oil companies to safely resume production.

Barzani also said he had instructed regional officials to facilitate exports following discussions with U.S. envoy Tom Barrack, emphasising the need to prioritise economic stability for citizens.

Tensions between Baghdad and the KRG had escalated in recent days, with Kurdish authorities accusing the federal government of failing to address security and economic challenges affecting the oil sector. Baghdad, in turn, said the KRG had refused to allow use of a regional pipeline as an alternative export route, alleging the imposition of arbitrary conditions.

The dispute unfolded against the backdrop of wider regional instability, including disruptions to crude flows linked to the Iran conflict.

Iraq’s presidency called on both sides to cooperate to restart exports, while parliament issued a seven-point directive urging the government to secure alternative outlets for crude to mitigate economic damage under current security conditions.

The parliamentary intervention followed consultations with the oil ministry to assess the impact of halted exports after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy transit chokepoint, underscoring the urgency of restoring flows through northern export routes.

Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency reported that Larijani, 67, died in the strike, while Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz said earlier that he had been targeted and killed in an Israeli operation. There was no immediate independent confirmation of the circumstances of the attack.

Larijani, a prominent figure from a clerical family that rose to influence after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, held a series of senior roles across Iran’s political and security establishment.

A former commander in the Revolutionary Guard during the Iran-Iraq war, he later led the state broadcaster and served as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council.

He was also speaker of parliament for 12 years, consolidating his position as a key intermediary between Iran’s political factions and the office of the supreme leader.

As one of Khamenei’s trusted lieutenants, Larijani played a central role in shaping Iran’s nuclear strategy, which sought to advance atomic capabilities while avoiding direct confrontation with Western powers. He was a frequent interlocutor in negotiations, presenting Iran’s position in public and diplomatic settings.

His portfolio extended beyond nuclear policy to include managing regional alliances and overseeing internal security responses during periods of unrest.

Despite being viewed by some analysts as relatively pragmatic compared to other hardline figures, Larijani was accused by Western officials of involvement in the suppression of anti-government protests earlier this year. The crackdown, which resulted in thousands of deaths, led Washington to impose sanctions on him last month.

Following the launch of U.S.-Israeli strikes on Feb. 28, Larijani publicly accused Iran’s adversaries of attempting to destabilize and weaken the country, while warning against domestic dissent.

His death comes amid intensifying military exchanges that have targeted senior Iranian figures, raising questions about the resilience of Tehran’s leadership structure and the future direction of its security and nuclear policies.

“In a precise strike in Tehran: The IDF eliminated the Commander of the Basij Unit,” the Israeli military said in a statement, adding that Soleimani had led the Basij for the past six years.

It said the operation was carried out by the Israeli Air Force based on intelligence.Israeli media reported that Larijani, a senior figure in Iran’s political and security establishment, was also targeted for assassination, though no confirmation on his status was immediately available.

The Basij is a volunteer paramilitary force operating under Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and has played a central role in enforcing internal security.

Israel’s military said the Basij had led “main repression operations” during recent mass protests in Iran, which it cited as part of the rationale for the strike.

Iran experienced widespread unrest that peaked in January, with demonstrations challenging the clerical establishment. According to rights groups, the crackdown that followed resulted in thousands of deaths and tens of thousands of arrests.

The Israeli military said the strikes were part of broader operations that yielded “significant preventive achievements overnight,” quoting Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir.

The targeting of senior Iranian figures in Tehran, if confirmed, would mark a notable escalation in Israel’s operations, extending beyond regional proxy engagements into direct action within Iran’s capital.

There was no immediate response from Iranian authorities regarding the reported strikes or casualties.

Samir Ousman Alsheikh, 73, was convicted on one count of conspiracy to commit torture and three substantive counts of torture for his role in abuses carried out at Damascus Central Prison, widely known as Adra Prison.

The verdict marks one of the most significant prosecutions in the United States targeting alleged human rights violations committed during Syria’s long-running conflict.

Accountability for abuses at Adra PrisonAccording to the Justice Department, Alsheikh led the prison between 2005 and 2008, a period during which prosecutors said detainees were subjected to systematic physical and psychological abuse.

The facility, located on the outskirts of Damascus, became synonymous among rights groups and survivors with harsh detention conditions and coercive interrogation practices.

Prosecutors told the court that Alsheikh not only oversaw operations but also directed subordinates to inflict “severe physical and mental pain and suffering” on prisoners.

In some instances, he was personally involved in acts of torture, the department said, framing the abuses as part of a broader effort to suppress dissent against the Syrian government.

The charges reflected allegations that torture was used deliberately to deter political opposition, a pattern long documented by international human rights organizations examining the conduct of Syrian state institutions during the years preceding and following the country’s civil war.

Alsheikh had pleaded not guilty, according to court filings. Following the verdict, his legal team said it was “disappointed” and confirmed that he would pursue appeals and other post-trial remedies.Immigration fraud and deceptionIn addition to the torture-related convictions, the jury found Alsheikh guilty of lying to U.S. immigration authorities about his past conduct.

Prosecutors said he fraudulently obtained a green card and later attempted to become a U.S. citizen by concealing his alleged role in human rights abuses.The Justice Department said these findings underscored a broader effort by U.S. authorities to prevent individuals accused of serious international crimes from using immigration pathways to evade accountability.

Alsheikh was charged in late 2024 after investigators pieced together evidence linking him to abuses in Syria’s detention system. The case was brought under statutes that allow U.S. courts to prosecute acts of torture committed abroad when suspects are present on American soil.

He remains in U.S. custody and is awaiting sentencing. The department said he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each of the torture counts, as well as the conspiracy charge.

He could also receive up to 10 years for each of the immigration-related offenses.Links to Syria’s security apparatusProsecutors described Alsheikh as a long-time member of Syria’s state security apparatus with ties to the ruling political structure under Assad.

He was associated with the Syrian Ba’ath Party and later held a senior administrative role when he was appointed governor of Deir Ez-Zour province in 2011.

That appointment came at the outset of Syria’s uprising, which escalated into a protracted civil war that reshaped the country’s political and social landscape.

The conflict, which lasted more than a decade, killed hundreds of thousands of people, displaced millions, and devastated urban centers across the country.The Justice Department said Alsheikh’s role within the system illustrated how detention facilities were integrated into the broader machinery of state control during that period.

Broader context of Syria’s political transitionThe conviction comes after major political changes in Syria, where rebels ended more than five decades of rule by the Assad family in late 2024 following a rapid military advance.

The shift in power marked a turning point after years of stalemate and fragmented territorial control.Following Assad’s ouster, Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former al Qaeda commander, assumed leadership and has since sought to rebuild Syria’s international standing and improve relations with Western countries.

While the trial focused on events predating the recent transition, it reflects continued international scrutiny of alleged crimes committed during the Assad era. Legal experts say such cases highlight the use of universal jurisdiction and domestic legal frameworks to address human rights violations that might otherwise go unpunished.

Legal and geopolitical significanceThe case underscores Washington’s willingness to pursue accountability for alleged torture carried out abroad, particularly when suspects enter U.S. jurisdiction.

It also signals a broader effort to align immigration enforcement with human rights objectives.Although U.S. courts have limited reach over crimes committed overseas, the presence of defendants like Alsheikh enables prosecutors to bring cases that might not be feasible in international tribunals or in the country where the crimes occurred.

The outcome may also carry symbolic weight for survivors and advocacy groups that have long documented abuses in Syria’s detention system, where thousands of detainees are believed to have been subjected to torture or enforced disappearance.

For European and North American governments, the verdict highlights ongoing legal avenues for addressing crimes linked to the Syrian conflict, even as diplomatic engagement with Syria’s new leadership evolves.

Alsheikh’s sentencing date has not yet been set, the Justice Department said.

The escalation comes in the third week of the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, which has left at least 2,000 people dead and disrupted critical energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz.

Gulf targets hitIranian strikes hit oil and transport infrastructure in the UAE, where a drone struck a facility in Fujairah for a second consecutive day and debris from an intercepted missile fell in Abu Dhabi, killing one person, authorities said.

Rockets and drones also targeted the U.S. embassy in Baghdad in what Iraqi security sources described as the most intense such assault since the conflict began, though U.S. officials said no injuries were reported.Iran’s attacks have also extended to other Gulf states, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait, signalling a broader regional response.

Trump remarks and intelligence warnings.Trump said the scope of Iran’s retaliation had come as a surprise. “They weren’t supposed to go after all these other countries in the Middle East.

Nobody expected that. We were shocked,” he said.However, U.S. officials and sources familiar with intelligence assessments said the president had been warned before the conflict that strikes on Iran could provoke retaliatory attacks against Gulf allies, particularly if Tehran perceived them as supporting U.S. operations.

There was no pause in hostilities, with Iran launching overnight missile strikes on Israel, demonstrating continued long-range strike capability despite sustained bombardment.

Israel said it carried out a fresh wave of strikes on targets in Tehran and positions linked to Hezbollah in Beirut, and signalled plans for several more weeks of military operations.

Energy and market impactThe widening conflict has kept the Strait of Hormuz largely constrained, as U.S. allies declined to join efforts to secure the waterway.

The disruption has raised concerns over energy supplies, pushed up oil prices and intensified fears of inflation globally.

The currency has come under strain amid rising geopolitical tensions that have disrupted energy markets, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, a key transit route for crude supplies.

Higher oil import costs typically weigh on the rupee by widening India’s trade deficit and increasing dollar outflows.

Dealers said sustained demand for the U.S. dollar from importers, especially oil companies, has kept the rupee under pressure. Concerns over global inflation and tighter financial conditions have also supported the dollar, limiting gains in emerging market currencies.

Market participants pointed to uncertainty stemming from escalating conflict in the Middle East as a key driver behind risk aversion, prompting investors to shift toward safe-haven assets.

Traders said the Reserve Bank of India was likely present in the foreign exchange market to smooth volatility, helping the rupee avoid sharper losses. The central bank typically intervenes to curb excessive fluctuations rather than defend specific levels.

Analysts expect the rupee to remain sensitive to oil price movements and global risk sentiment in the near term, with any further escalation in geopolitical tensions likely to add to downward pressure.

The Taliban said at least 400 people were killed and 250 injured in the strike, which it said hit a drug rehabilitation hospital, while Pakistan rejected the claim, saying it targeted military installations and “terrorist support infrastructure.

Pakistan had long been a key backer of the Taliban, supporting its emergence in the 1990s as part of a broader strategy to secure “strategic depth” in its rivalry with India.

Relations initially appeared strong after the Taliban returned to power in 2021, with then-prime minister Imran Khan welcoming the development. However, ties deteriorated as Islamabad accused Kabul of failing to curb militant groups operating from Afghan territory.

Pakistan says leaders and fighters of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan are based in Afghanistan and have intensified attacks inside Pakistan. It also accuses Afghan territory of being used by Baloch insurgents.

Violence linked to these groups has risen steadily since 2022, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data, contributing to mounting pressure on Islamabad to act.

The Taliban deny providing safe haven to militants targeting Pakistan and counter that Islamabad harbours fighters linked to Islamic State, Pakistan rejects.

The latest strike follows weeks of intensifying clashes, including Pakistani air and ground operations targeting Taliban positions and infrastructure along the border. Officials said those actions came after attacks by Afghan forces on Pakistani border posts.

Pakistan’s defence minister has described the situation as amounting to an “open war,” reflecting the scale of the confrontation.Earlier attempts to stabilise the situation, including a ceasefire mediated by Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, have failed to hold.

Repeated border clashes, closures and disruptions to trade have further strained ties between the neighbours, signalling a breakdown in what was once a closely aligned relationship.

The conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran has entered its third week, with the Strait of Hormuz — a corridor for roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows effectively constrained by Iranian drones and naval mines.

Several U.S. partners, including Germany, Spain and Italy, said they had no immediate plans to send warships to secure the passage, citing legal and political constraints.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Berlin lacked a mandate from the United Nations, the European Union or NATO, and added that Germany had not been consulted prior to the launch of military operations.

Trump, speaking in Washington, said some countries had expressed willingness to assist but criticised others for what he described as a lack of enthusiasm despite long-standing U.S. support.

The disruption in the Strait of Hormuz has heightened fears of supply shocks and inflationary pressure, as energy markets react to restricted flows through one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints.Iran has targeted oil infrastructure across the Gulf, including facilities in the United Arab Emirates.

Drone strikes hit an oil facility in Fujairah for a second consecutive day, while operations at key sites, including the Shah gas field in Abu Dhabi, were suspended.

Airspace closures and temporary halts at major hubs, including Dubai’s international airport, underscored the wider economic and logistical impact.

There was no pause in hostilities, with Israel saying it struck Iranian infrastructure in Tehran and positions linked to Hezbollah in Beirut. Israeli officials have indicated plans for at least three more weeks of military operations.

Iran launched overnight strikes on Israel, demonstrating continued long-range capabilities, while warning it would target energy assets in any country facilitating attacks on its territory.

Tehran has also accused the UAE of serving as a launch point for recent U.S. strikes on Kharg Island, a major Iranian oil export hub, signalling a potential widening of the conflict’s geographic scope.