France 'Accelerating' Troop Deployment to Romania

A French soldier looks through binoculars. Photo: Philippe Desmazes/AFP/Getty Images
A French soldier looks through binoculars. Photo: Philippe Desmazes/AFP/Getty Images
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France 'Accelerating' Troop Deployment to Romania

A French soldier looks through binoculars. Photo: Philippe Desmazes/AFP/Getty Images
A French soldier looks through binoculars. Photo: Philippe Desmazes/AFP/Getty Images

France was speeding up its deployment of troops to bolster NATO's eastern flank in Romania after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday.

Talking after an emergency summit with European Union leaders, Macron said he was "accelerating" the dispatch of forces.

It is part of a broader push by NATO allies to reinforce their strength in the eastern members, with thousands of troops mobilized, AFP reported.

Meanwhile, the United States said Thursday it was sending another 7,000 troops to Germany.

NATO is looking to establish battle groups in the southeast of the alliance, including in Romania.

France has offered to lead the new deployment in that country.



Iran Seizes Foreign Tanker Over Fuel Smuggling

An oil tanker that Iran had previously seized. Reuters file photo
An oil tanker that Iran had previously seized. Reuters file photo
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Iran Seizes Foreign Tanker Over Fuel Smuggling

An oil tanker that Iran had previously seized. Reuters file photo
An oil tanker that Iran had previously seized. Reuters file photo

Iran has seized a foreign tanker in the Sea of Oman on charges of fuel smuggling, the judiciary said Wednesday.

The vessel was intercepted "after legal documents related to its cargo were found to be incomplete," said Mojtaba Ghahremani, head of the judiciary in southern Hormozgan province, according to the judiciary's Mizan Online outlet.

He added that the ship was reportedly carrying "two million liters of smuggled fuel."

"Seventeen suspects, including the captain and crew of the foreign tanker, have been taken into custody," Ghahremani said, without elaborating on the identity and nationality of those arrested.