Middle East war live: Trump says US may cut troops in Germany as Iran row rages
· France 2430/04/2026 - 07:21
WHO says Middle East war driving attacks on hospitals, medics
30/04/2026 - 06:57
30/04/2026 - 06:51
Pentagon chief Hegseth faces a second day of grilling over Iran war
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will face a second day of grilling from Democrats on Capitol Hill, with senators getting their first opportunity on Thursday to confront or praise the Pentagon chief over his handling of the Iran war.
Hegseth battled with Democrats — and some Republicans — a day earlier during a nearly six-hour House Armed Services Committee hearing, where he faced sharp questioning over the war's costs in dollars, lives and the diminishing stockpiles of critical weapons.
The Senate Armed Services Committee will hear a similar presentation on the Trump administration’s 2027 military budget proposal, which would boost defense spending to a historic $1.5 trillion. Hegseth and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, will again stress the need for more drones, missile defense systems and warships.
They are now also likely to face tough questions about American troop levels in Europe after President Donald Trump on Wednesday leveled a new threat against NATO ally Germany, suggesting he could soon reduce the U.S. military presence in the country as he feuds with Chancellor Friedrich Merz over the Iran war.
30/04/2026 - 03:14
Trump warns Iran blockade could last months, sending oil soaring
President Donald Trump said that a US naval blockade against Iran could last months, leading oil prices Wednesday to spike to their highest in more than four years.
With diplomacy between Iran and the United States at a standstill after false starts, Trump spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who warned him of "damaging consequences" if the United States and Israel resume their war on Iran.
Meeting oil executives, Trump contended that the blockade of Iranian ports -- which Tehran has demanded must end before any deal -- was more effective than bombing.
Trump, at the meeting that took place Tuesday, discussed his efforts "to alleviate global oil markets and steps we could take to continue the current blockade for months if needed and minimize impact on American consumers," a White House official said on condition of anonymity.
Trump, speaking to Axios, said of the naval action on Iran: "They are choking like a stuffed pig. And it is going to be worse for them."
30/04/2026 - 05:20
Oil at four-year high, stocks slip after Trump blockade warning
Oil prices held around four-year highs Thursday while stocks fell after Donald Trump warned the US blockade of Iranian ports could last months as peace talks remained stalled.
While Tehran submitted a fresh proposal this week to reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz, the US president reportedly did not believe it was not negotiating in good faith.
The Wall Street Journal said he had told national security officials to prepare for a long blockade to compel the Islamic republic to give up its nuclear programme.
30/04/2026 - 05:17
Gaza flotilla organisers say surrounded by Israeli 'military boats'
The organisers of a flotilla carrying pro-Palestinian activists aiming to break through an Israeli blockade in Gaza said Thursday their boats were surrounded by Israeli "military boats".
The flotilla, made up of more than 50 boats, set sail in recent weeks from Marseille in France, Barcelona in Spain and Syracuse in Italy.
In a post to X overnight, the Global Sumud Flotilla said that Israeli military boats had "illegally surrounded the flotilla in international waters and threatened kidnapping and violence".
"Communications with 11 vessels have been lost," the organisation added.
The flotilla is currently off the coast of Greece, near Crete, according to the organisation's live tracking on its website.
30/04/2026 - 04:44
US central command leader to brief Trump on new Iran military options Thursday, Axios reports
US President Donald Trump will receive a briefing on new plans for potential military action against Iran on Thursday from the leader of the US Central Command, Brad Cooper, Axios reported on Wednesday.
The briefing will take place on Thursday, according to the report which cited unidentified sources. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
CENTCOM has prepared a plan for a "short and powerful" wave of strikes on Iran, likely including infrastructure targets, Axios reported, citing sources.
Washington would hope to make Iran more flexible on the negotiating table on the nuclear issues, the report added.
30/04/2026 - 03:23
Oil prices extend gains as US-Iran war deadlock keeps supply off market
Oil prices extended gains on Thursday on concerns supply from the key Middle East producing region will remain bottled up for longer as talks to end the US-Israeli war against Iran have deadlocked.
Brent crude futures for June rose $1.91, or 1.62%, to $119.94 a barrel as of 0057 GMT after gaining 6.1% in the previous session. The June contract, which has increased for a ninth day, expires on Thursday and the more active July contract was at $111.38, up 94 cents, or 0.85%, after gaining 5.8% in the previous session.
30/04/2026 - 03:16
Trump says he is weighing reducing American troop presence in Germany after Iran feud
President Donald Trump on Wednesday leveled a new threat against NATO ally Germany, suggesting he could soon reduce the US military presence there as he continues to feud with Chancellor Friedrich Merz over the U.S-Israel war against Iran.
Trump made the threat after Merz earlier this week said that the US was being “humiliated” by the Iranian leadership and criticized Washington’s lack of strategy in the war. Trump has also repeatedly railed against NATO for the alliance's refusal to assist the US in its two-month-old war.
“The United States is studying and reviewing the possible reduction of Troops in Germany, with a determination to be made over the next short period of time,” Trump said in a social media post.
30/04/2026 - 03:13
Welcome to the FRANCE 24 liveblog covering events in the Middle East. Click here to catch up on what happened yesterday.
30/04/2026 - 03:12
- Gaza flotilla organisers say surrounded by Israeli 'military boats'
- Trump warns Iran blockade could last months, sending oil soaring
Yesterday's key developments:
- Israel's military chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir vowed to strike Hezbollah targets north of the Litani River and beyond the so-called "Yellow Line" during a visit to south Lebanon on Wednesday.
- Attacks on healthcare facilities and staff are increasing globally, with a notable uptick recorded since the recent conflict in the Middle East began, said the World Health Organization.
- Iran's s
- Iran's Speaker of Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who has emerged as a figurehead since the start of the Middle East war, has said the US naval blockade of Iran aimed to create division and "make us collapse from within".
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and Reuters)