Ambulances Can’t Operate in Northern Gaza Strip, Health Ministry Says

A Palestinian man sits on the rubble of a house destroyed in the Israeli military offensive, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, November 4, 2024. (Reuters)
A Palestinian man sits on the rubble of a house destroyed in the Israeli military offensive, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, November 4, 2024. (Reuters)
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Ambulances Can’t Operate in Northern Gaza Strip, Health Ministry Says

A Palestinian man sits on the rubble of a house destroyed in the Israeli military offensive, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, November 4, 2024. (Reuters)
A Palestinian man sits on the rubble of a house destroyed in the Israeli military offensive, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, November 4, 2024. (Reuters)

The Gaza Health Ministry said ambulances are no longer operating in the north of the enclave, where Israel has been waging a renewed offensive for nearly a month.

Eyad Zaqout, a senior ministry official, told reporters Monday that “a large number of injured people are bleeding on the roads.”

The ministry also said in a statement that Israeli forces continue to bombard Kamal Adwan Hospital with strikes on Monday, injuring some staff and patients.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.

The Civil Defense, first responders operating under the Hamas-run government, said last week that they were no longer able to operate in the north because crews had been fired upon by Israeli forces.

Israel launched its latest offensive in northern Gaza in early October, focusing on Jabalia, a densely populated, decades-old urban refugee camp where it says Hamas had regrouped. It has also carried out strikes in nearby Beit Lahia.

Israel has ordered the entire population in northern Gaza to evacuate, and tens of thousands have fled to Gaza City in recent weeks.

The three hospitals serving the northern areas are barely functioning and have been largely cut off by the fighting. Israeli forces raided one of them, saying fighters were sheltering there, allegations denied by Palestinian officials.

Israel has also sharply reduced the amount of aid allowed into Gaza, even after a warning from the United States that it could jeopardize American military support.



Air Strike Cuts Southern Iraq Off from Iran

 Iraqi security forces stand at the Shalamcheh border crossing with Iran after Iraq closed the crossing following airstrikes on the Iranian side that security sources said killed an Iraqi citizen, Iraq, April 4, 2026. (Reuters)
Iraqi security forces stand at the Shalamcheh border crossing with Iran after Iraq closed the crossing following airstrikes on the Iranian side that security sources said killed an Iraqi citizen, Iraq, April 4, 2026. (Reuters)
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Air Strike Cuts Southern Iraq Off from Iran

 Iraqi security forces stand at the Shalamcheh border crossing with Iran after Iraq closed the crossing following airstrikes on the Iranian side that security sources said killed an Iraqi citizen, Iraq, April 4, 2026. (Reuters)
Iraqi security forces stand at the Shalamcheh border crossing with Iran after Iraq closed the crossing following airstrikes on the Iranian side that security sources said killed an Iraqi citizen, Iraq, April 4, 2026. (Reuters)

A US air strike hit the Shalamcheh border crossing with Iran on Saturday, killing and wounding several people and halting trade and travel, in a sharp escalation that could signal a push by Washington to sever links between the two countries.

The crossing, east of Iraq’s Basra and about 30 km (19 miles) from the city center, is a key trade artery, with more than 300 trucks passing through daily.

The Iraqi Border Ports Authority chief, Lieutenant General Omar al-Waeli, said the strike “directly hit the passenger hall,” killing one Iraqi and wounding five others, who were taken to a hospital in Iran. He said the attack forced a halt to passenger and trade movement.

Al-Waeli said alternative crossings, including Safwan, remain available to ensure the flow of goods.

Some media reports said the strike coincided with the passage of logistical support convoys heading into Iran.

Reports of a similar strike on the Mehran crossing on the border with Wasit province were denied by a medical worker there, who told Asharq Al-Awsat the strike occurred in the nearby Iranian city of Mehran.

A source said support convoys organized by factions and other groups continue to cross into Iran, but increasingly use small vehicles to avoid US strikes.

The Popular Mobilization Forces had previously sent aid through Shalamcheh, amid reports Iraqi fighters had crossed into Iran to assist authorities in their war with the United States and Israel, raising the risk of escalation inside Iran.

Reza Pahlavi criticized on Friday the presence of Iraqi armed factions on Iranian territory.

Political analyst Falah al-Mashaal said targeting crossings appears aimed at “isolating Iraq from Iran,” adding the escalation likely seeks to block aid and disrupt trade, effectively imposing isolation “by bombs” after political efforts failed.

Later on Saturday, Iraq said passenger movement at the crossing had resumed, reportedthe country’s state official news agency INA.

Drone strikes hit oil facilities

In Iraq’s Basra, drones believed to have been launched by Iran-aligned factions struck oil facilities, in what appeared to be an effort to pressure foreign companies, particularly US firms, to leave the country.

Two drones hit sites operated by al-Majal company, sparking fires in Burjesia and the North Rumaila oilfield, with no casualties reported.

A source said the attack set fire to a food storage warehouse in Rumaila and damaged company offices in Burjesia. Civil defense teams extinguished one fire and brought the other under control.

US strikes also hit positions linked to the Popular Mobilization Forces in Anbar, where the group said one fighter was killed and five others wounded in al-Qaim.

The PMF said four of its fighters were wounded, along with a Defense Ministry member.

Sources close to the group told Asharq Al-Awsat it had ordered members to keep their distance from headquarters and granted leave to about half its personnel over fears of further strikes.

Separately, the Interior Ministry said its forces had taken over security duties in al-Qaim and al-Rummanah, part of a shift from the Defense Ministry within city centers.

The ministry said the move aims to strengthen security, allow army units to focus on border duties and improve coordination among forces, calling on citizens to report suspicious activity.


Lebanon President Calls for Israel Talks to Prevent Gaza-Style Destruction

 A man stands as rescuers work at the site of Israeli strike, amid escalating hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, as the US-Israeli conflict with Iran continues, in Kfar Hatta in southern Lebanon, April 5, 2026. (Reuters)
A man stands as rescuers work at the site of Israeli strike, amid escalating hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, as the US-Israeli conflict with Iran continues, in Kfar Hatta in southern Lebanon, April 5, 2026. (Reuters)
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Lebanon President Calls for Israel Talks to Prevent Gaza-Style Destruction

 A man stands as rescuers work at the site of Israeli strike, amid escalating hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, as the US-Israeli conflict with Iran continues, in Kfar Hatta in southern Lebanon, April 5, 2026. (Reuters)
A man stands as rescuers work at the site of Israeli strike, amid escalating hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, as the US-Israeli conflict with Iran continues, in Kfar Hatta in southern Lebanon, April 5, 2026. (Reuters)

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun reiterated on Sunday a call for negotiations with Israel, saying he wanted to spare his country's south from destruction on the scale seen in Gaza.

"It is true that Israel might want to do in southern Lebanon what it did in Gaza," Aoun said in a televised address, after Israel launched airstrikes and a ground offensive against Hezbollah, destroying several southern Lebanese villages.

"Gaza was destroyed, over 70,000 people were killed, and they eventually sat down and negotiated, so why don't we negotiate... until we can at least save the homes that have not yet been destroyed?" he added.


Egypt Says It Held Calls with US Witkoff, Regional Counterparts

 Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty speaks during a joint news conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov following their meeting in Moscow, Russia April 3, 2026. (Pavel Bednyakov/Pool via Reuters)
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty speaks during a joint news conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov following their meeting in Moscow, Russia April 3, 2026. (Pavel Bednyakov/Pool via Reuters)
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Egypt Says It Held Calls with US Witkoff, Regional Counterparts

 Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty speaks during a joint news conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov following their meeting in Moscow, Russia April 3, 2026. (Pavel Bednyakov/Pool via Reuters)
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty speaks during a joint news conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov following their meeting in Moscow, Russia April 3, 2026. (Pavel Bednyakov/Pool via Reuters)

Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held separate calls to discuss proposals for regional de-escalation with ‌US Envoy ‌Steve Witkoff ‌and ⁠regional counterparts including Iranian ⁠Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, the ministry said in a ⁠statement on ‌Sunday.

Egypt, ‌Türkiye and ‌Pakistan have ‌emerged as active intermediaries in the crisis, with ‌Islamabad recently hosting a meeting to ⁠discuss ⁠regional de-escalation and proposals to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.