00:00Hello and welcome to World News. The Middle East conflict is widening, maritime routes
00:06are coming under threat, and the information war is moving just as aggressively as the
00:11missiles on the battlefield. Iran now claims to have targeted key Israeli military intelligence
00:16facilities, including installations linked to Israel's highly secretive cyber units.
00:22At the same time, a cargo vessel moving through one of the world's most critical energy corridors,
00:28the Strait of Hormuz has been attacked, raising fresh alarms about the safety of global shipping
00:33lanes. We begin tonight in the Middle East, where Iran says it has struck some of Israel's most
00:39sensitive military installations. Iranian military says its forces have launched drone attacks on
00:49key Israeli defense targets, including the military intelligence directorate known as AMAN,
00:55the Elite Cyber Surveillance Unit, Unit 8200, and the Green Pine radar system associated with Israel's
01:03missile defense architecture. According to Iranian state media, the strikes also targeted the submarine
01:09command building at the Haifa naval base, a strategic node of Israel's naval operations. Iran claims the
01:17attacks are ongoing, signaling a possible escalation in the shadow conflict between the two countries,
01:23one that increasingly blends drones, cyber operations, and precision targeting.
01:29The Middle East conflict has entered its 12th day, and Iran claims it has struck some of Israel's
01:36most sensitive intelligence and military sites. According to the Iranian army, known as the Artesh,
01:43a series of destructive drone attacks targeted Israel's intelligence, cyber warfare, and missile
01:50defense infrastructure. If confirmed, these would be some of the most strategic targets hit since the
01:56war began. Iran says its attacks targeted AMAN, Israel's military intelligence directorate. AMAN is
02:04responsible for collecting and analyzing intelligence across the battlefield, from satellite imagery to
02:10signals intelligence. It plays a crucial role in Israel's war planning and strategic decision making.
02:16Another reported target was Unit 8200, Israel's elite cyber and signals intelligence unit. Often
02:25compared to the U.S. National Security Agency, Unit 8200 is responsible for electronic surveillance,
02:32cyber warfare, and code breaking operations. It is widely seen as the backbone of Israel's technological
02:39intelligence advantage. Iran also says its drones targeted green pine radar systems. These power
02:46powerful early warning radars form the backbone of Israel's aero-missile defense system, designed to
02:52detect ballistic missile launches at long range. Disabling such systems could potentially delay Israel's
02:59missile interception capabilities. Another claimed target was the submarine command facility at Haifa
03:06naval base. This site oversees Israel's dolphin-class submarine fleet, widely believed to be capable of
03:12launching nuclear-armed cruise missiles. These submarines form a key part of Israel's second strike
03:18deterrence capability. Iranian military sources describe the operation as ongoing, destructive drone
03:25attacks aimed at degrading Israel's intelligence coordination and early warning systems. Footage released by
03:33Iranian media appears to show drones flying toward targets, although independent verification remains limited.
03:39Israel has not confirmed strikes on these specific sites. Officials say most recent Iranian missile and drone
03:47barrages were intercepted by Israeli air defenses, with limited damage reported. Still, air raid sirens and
03:55interceptions have been reported across northern Israel, particularly near Haifa. Analysts say the claimed targets reveal a
04:03strategic shift. Instead of focusing solely on energy infrastructure, Iran now appears to be aiming at
04:09intelligence networks, radar systems and command facilities. The goal could be to disrupt Israel's defensive
04:16coordination and strategic awareness. With the war now entering its second week, both sides are expanding the scope of
04:24their operations. Iran is increasingly relying on drone swarms and asymmetric tactics, while Israel continues large-scale
04:32strikes on Iranian military infrastructure. As each side pushes deeper into strategic targets, the conflict shows
04:40little sign of slowing down. Even as tensions escalate on land, the conflict is now threatening one of the
04:47world's most critical maritime corridors. A thigh-flagged cargo vessel has been attacked near the Strait of Hormuz shortly after
04:55departing from the United Arab Emirates. The bulk carrier Mayuri Nadi, owned by Thai shipping company
05:02Precious Shipping, was headed to Kandlaport in India when it came under attack. The Royal Thai Navy says 20 crew
05:10members have been rescued, but three sailors still remain missing. A commercial cargo ship passing through one of the
05:18the world's most strategic waterways has been struck by projectiles, triggering fears of a major escalation in the Gulf.
05:26The Thailand-flagged bulk carrier Mayuri Nari was hit while sailing through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping
05:35route.
05:36The attack comes as the Iran-U.S.-Israel conflict enters its 12th day, with tensions rapidly spreading across the region's
05:45sea lanes.
05:46According to maritime reports, the vessel was struck on March 11th, roughly 11 nautical miles north of Oman.
05:55The ship had just departed Khalifa port in the UAE and was heading toward Kandla in India, when one or
06:03more projectiles hit the vessel.
06:05The impact triggered a fire on board, sending thick black smoke into the sky.
06:11Images released by the Royal Thai Navy show the ship engulfed in smoke after the strike.
06:18The vessel carried 23 crew members, most of them Thai nationals.
06:23Omani naval forces managed to rescue 20 sailors and bring them safely to shore in the port of Kassab,
06:31but three crew members remain missing or unaccounted for.
06:35The blaze aboard the cargo ship reportedly burned for several hours before it was finally brought under control.
06:43Authorities say there are no confirmed fatalities yet, but investigations into the attack are still underway.
06:51Thai officials are now coordinating with Oman and other regional authorities to determine what exactly happened.
06:59Maritime Monitoring Group UK Maritime Trade Operations reported that the Thai vessel was not the only ship hit that day.
07:08Two other commercial vessels in the area were also struck by unidentified projectiles.
07:14Among them was a Japanese-flagged container ship, which suffered minor damage.
07:20While no group has officially claimed responsibility, the incident comes after Iran warned it could target ships passing through the
07:28Strait of Hormuz.
07:30Tehran has accused the United States and Israel of attacking Iranian territory,
07:35and has vowed to retaliate against vessels it believes are linked to its adversaries.
07:41The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most important maritime choke points in the world.
07:47Nearly 20 percent of the world's oil supply passes through this narrow waterway every day.
07:53Any disruption here immediately sends shockwaves through global energy markets.
07:59Since the war began in late February, shipping companies have already begun avoiding the Strait, fearing attacks or blockades.
08:09Traffic in the region has dropped sharply, and oil prices have surged amid growing uncertainty.
08:17But the conflict is no longer confined to missiles and drones.
08:21A parallel information war is unfolding across social media platforms, and it is rapidly gaining traction.
08:27Viral images circulating online claim that Iranian missiles carried a provocative message aimed at U.S. President Donald Trump.
08:34The alleged inscription referenced the Jeffrey Epstein scandal turning a battlefield narrative into a political message that quickly spread across
08:44digital networks.
08:45Pro-Iran accounts amplified the images while critics have questioned their authenticity, highlighting how modern conflicts are now fought as
08:55fiercely in the information space as on the ground.
08:59The latest twist in the escalating conflict between Iran, Israel, and the United States isn't just about missiles, it's about
09:08a message written on them.
09:09And that message references one of the most controversial scandals in recent history, Jeffrey Epstein and his infamous island.
09:18Over the past 48 hours, pro-Tehran social media accounts have circulated images of missiles allegedly fired toward Israeli and
09:27U.S. targets, with a striking inscription.
09:30The phrase refers to little St. James, Epstein's private Caribbean island, the center of a global sex trafficking scandal involving
09:43powerful elites.
09:45According to reports circulating online around March 10th and 11th, the message was supposedly written in Persian on at least
09:53one missile aimed at Tel Aviv.
09:55But here's the key detail. Verification is extremely difficult.
10:00In this war, information warfare is almost as intense as the military conflict itself.
10:07Experts warn that AI-generated images, manipulated videos, and shallow fakes are being widely used to shape narratives.
10:16Still, the imagery has exploded online.
10:19On X, Twitter, posts showing the missile inscription have racked up millions of views, with pro-Iran accounts framing it
10:27as a propaganda victory.
10:28Their message is clear.
10:30They are trying to link the war directly to alleged corruption among American elites.
10:36And one name keeps appearing in that narrative.
10:39Donald Trump.
10:41Critics of the U.S. president argued the current war may also have a political backdrop at home.
10:47Trump ordered major strikes on Iranian targets on February 28th, triggering the current escalation.
10:53But at the same time, newly unsealed Epstein files were dominating headlines, documents that reportedly mentioned Trump tens of thousands
11:02of times.
11:03Some politicians say the timing is suspicious.
11:07For example, New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez accused Trump of risking world war to bury the Epstein revelations.
11:17Even Republican Congressman Thomas Massey criticized the strikes, saying military action won't make the Epstein files disappear.
11:25Media commentators and late-night hosts like Jimmy Kimmel have echoed similar concerns, calling the war a potential distraction from
11:33domestic scandals.
11:35Whether the missile inscription is real, staged, or digitally manipulated, one thing is clear.
11:41In modern conflicts, battles aren't fought only with weapons.
11:45They're also fought with narratives, propaganda, and viral images.
11:48And now another development that could further complicate the geopolitical equation.
11:54Ukraine's president, Vladimir Zelensky, says Russia may send troops to Iran to support the government there.
12:01In an interview released on March 11th, Zelensky claimed Moscow has already been assisting Tehran with drones and air defense
12:09systems and warned that missile cooperation could follow.
12:12If confirmed, such a move would mark a significant deepening of the Russia-Iran strategic partnership, potentially reshaping the balance
12:21of power across the region.
12:24Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has issued a stark warning about growing military cooperation between Russia and Iran amid the escalating
12:34conflict in the Middle East.
12:36In a recent interview, Zelensky claimed that Russia has already begun providing military assistance to Iran, including drones, and may
12:46also be helping Tehran with missiles and advanced air defense systems.
12:51According to Zelensky, evidence suggests that Russian components have been found in Iranian drones used in recent attacks across the
13:01Middle East.
13:01He warned that the cooperation between Moscow and Tehran could further intensify the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and
13:11Iran.
13:12Zelensky raised concerns about a potential next step in this growing alliance, the possibility of Russia sending troops to support
13:21Iran if the war escalates further.
13:24He questioned which country might be the first to deploy forces in support of Tehran, suggesting that Russia could be
13:32the most likely candidate, given the deepening strategic partnership between the two countries.
13:37The Ukrainian leader drew parallels with reports that North Korea had sent thousands of troops to assist Russia in the
13:46war in Ukraine, warning that a similar development in the Middle East could significantly widen the conflict.
13:53The remarks come at a time when tensions across the region are already high, with Iran launching drone and missile
14:01attacks on U.S. military positions, Israeli targets, and several Gulf allies.
14:07Russia and Iran have maintained close military ties in recent years.
14:12Iran previously supplied Russia with thousands of shahed-type drones that Moscow has used extensively during its war in Ukraine.
14:22Now, Ukrainian officials believe that Russia may be returning the favor by sharing intelligence, drone components, and technical expertise that
14:32could help Iran improve its strike capabilities.
14:35Reports also suggest that Russia may be providing intelligence on U.S. military positions, including warships, aircraft, and regional bases,
14:46potentially allowing Iran to refine its targeting during ongoing attacks.
14:51Meanwhile, Ukraine has been offering its own expertise in counter-drone warfare.
14:56Drawing on years of experience defending against Russian drone attacks, Kyiv has deployed interceptor drones and specialists to help protect
15:06U.S. military facilities in the Middle East.
15:09Ukrainian teams have already been sent to assist bases in Jordan, with additional personnel expected to deploy to countries including
15:18Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia.
15:21Zelensky warned that the growing coordination between Russia and Iran could signal a dangerous new phase in the global security
15:30landscape, potentially linking the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East into a broader geopolitical confrontation.
15:37As tensions continue to rise, analysts say any direct Russian military involvement on Iran's side would dramatically escalate the conflict
15:48and further complicate the strategic calculations of the United States and its allies.
15:54And those are the developments shaping the global security canvas from escalating strikes in the Middle East to threats to
16:01international shipping and the growing geopolitical alignments that could redefine the next phase of global conflict.
16:07You are watching World News. Stay with us for more international updates on OneIndia.
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