U.S. deploys 3,500 marine troops to Middle East amid war against Iran

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Saturday that a task force of 3,500 marines and sailors arrived in the Middle East on Friday.

"U.S. Sailors and Marines aboard USS Tripoli (LHA 7) arrived in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, March 27," CENTCOM said in a brief post on social media platform X.

The America-class amphibious assault ship serves as the flagship for the Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group / 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit composed of about 3,500 sailors and marines in addition to transport and strike fighter aircraft, as well as amphibious assault and tactical assets, CENTCOM said in the post.

The arrival is part of a broader U.S. military buildup tied to the ongoing war with Iran, with amphibious forces capable of conducting both sea-based strikes and ground operations, online news portal ynetnews.com reported on Saturday, adding such units are typically used for rapid deployments, including securing strategic locations, evacuations or potential assaults on coastal targets.

Yemen's Houthi group claims ballistic missile attack on Israeli military sites

Yemen's Houthi armed forces said on Saturday that they had launched a barrage of ballistic missiles targeting "sensitive Israeli military sites" in southern Israel.

This marked the group's first such attack since Israel and the United States started massive attacks on Iran a month ago.

In a televised statement aired by Houthi-run al-Masirah TV, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said the operation was launched as part of direct military intervention "in support of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the resistance fronts in Lebanon, Iraq and Palestine," amid continued regional military escalation and attacks on infrastructure.

The missile attack "successfully achieved its objectives," he said, adding that it coincided with military operations carried out by Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The group said its military operations will continue until its declared objectives are met and "the aggression against resistance fronts comes to an end."

Iran's IRGC claims downing of U.S. F-16, MQ-9 drone in southern airspace

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed on Saturday its air defense has struck a U.S. F-16 Fighting Falcon and an MQ-9 Reaper drone in the country's southern airspace.

Making the announcement in a statement on its official news outlet Sepah News, the IRGC said the U.S. fighter jet and drone were hit during joint retaliatory missile and drone operations by its Navy and Aerospace Division against heavy industries belonging to the United States and Israel.

It added that the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has also confessed that its F-16 Fighting Falcon was targeted.

In a post on social media platform X, CENTCOM said, "A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon lands at a base in the Middle East after a combat flight in support of Operation Epic Fury."

Pakistani PM briefs Iranian president on push for peace talks

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday briefed Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Islamabad's ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at creating a conducive environment for peace talks amid escalating regional hostilities, said a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office.

During a telephone conversation lasting over an hour, the two leaders held extensive discussions on the evolving situation in the Middle East and ongoing efforts to restore peace, according to the office.

Sharif informed the Iranian president about Pakistan's diplomatic outreach to engage the United States, Gulf countries and other Islamic nations to facilitate dialogue.

According to the statement, Sharif highlighted the "strong endorsement for Pakistan's peace initiative" and expressed hope that collective efforts could help identify a viable path toward ending hostilities.

The prime minister also reiterated Pakistan's strong condemnation of continued Israeli attacks on Iran, including recent strikes on civilian infrastructure, and offered condolences on the loss of lives.

At least 9 killed, 12 injured in mine collapse at Rubaya mining site in eastern DR Congo: local media

At least nine people were killed and 12 others injured in a mine collapse in the Rubaya mining area of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), local media reported on Saturday, following a series of recent deadly accidents in the region.

The accident occurred on Friday at the Gasasa mining site in Rubaya, where two shafts suddenly collapsed as artisanal miners were descending into underground galleries to extract minerals, according to the local media. Some of the injured are in critical condition, local sources were quoted as saying.

Rescue operations have been hampered by unstable ground conditions and a lack of appropriate equipment, a common challenge at artisanal mining sites where safety standards are often minimal.

The Rubaya mining zone has been under the control of the March 23 Movement rebel group since 2024. The area was reclassified by the DRC government since November as a "red zone," formally prohibiting mining and mineral trading.