Photo: Science Photo Library RF
1 President Trump Says There Will Likely Be More US Casualties In Iran Fighting
In a dramatic military escalation, the United States and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran on Saturday, striking multiple sites across the country, including in Tehran, in an operation called "Roaring Lion" by Israel and "Operation Epic Fury" by the Pentagon. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, was killed in the strikes, a death later confirmed by Iranian state media. Other top Iranian security officials, including the defense minister and the commander of the Revolutionary Guard, were also killed. The strikes came after weeks of escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran over Iran's nuclear program. Iran responded with a massive wave of retaliatory strikes, launching missiles and drones at Israel, U.S. military bases throughout the region, and several Gulf nations, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait. Three American service members were killed in Kuwait during the operation, according to the U.S. military, and in a video address yesterday, President Trump said that “sadly” more fatalities were likely.
2 Suspect ID'd In Austin Bar Shooting That Left Two Dead And 14 Injured
Three people were killed and 14 others were injured in a shooting at Buford's, a beer garden in Austin, Texas, early yesterday morning. Police received reports of a male suspect opening fire at the bar, which is located in the downtown entertainment district just two miles from the University of Texas campus and less than a mile from the Texas Capitol. When officers arrived, the suspect opened fire on them, and officers returned fire and killed the suspect. Ndiaga Diagne, a 53-year-old Senegalese national and a naturalized US citizen, had been identified as the suspect. The FBI has indicated they are looking into a possible terrorism motive, mentioning links both on the person of the suspect and items in his vehicle. Diagne was wearing a sweatshirt during the attack that said “Property of Allah” and a shirt underneath that with an Iranian-themed flag.
3 US Crude Oil Jumped Over Eight Percent On Fears Of Iran Supply Disruption
Oil prices shot up sharply when markets opened last night after the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran, killing its Supreme Leader. U.S. crude jumped more than 8 percent to around $72 a barrel, while the international benchmark Brent crude surged about 9 percent, and analysts warned that prices at the pump could rise by at least 20 cents per gallon as early as this week. The main concern is the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway through which about 20 percent of the world's oil supply flows daily. In response, the OPEC+ oil cartel announced it would boost production by 206,000 barrels per day in April.