Algerian President in Italy Discusses Energy, Renewed Clashes in Libya

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune (APZ)
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune (APZ)
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Algerian President in Italy Discusses Energy, Renewed Clashes in Libya

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune (APZ)
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune (APZ)

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune discussed in Italy the European need for gas, the renewed clashes in Libya, illegal migration, the instability in the Sahel region, and the war on terrorism.

Earlier, Tebboune announced that his country was determined to adopt the Italian experience to establish small and medium enterprises.

The Algerian presidency had announced in a statement that Tebboune would start a three-day state visit to Italy on Wednesday at the invitation of his Italian counterpart, Sergio Mattarella.

"This visit is of paramount importance to the historical friendship relations and the development of bilateral ties in various fields, particularly business cooperation. The visit is also part of the new vision of the two heads of state and their willingness to give a fresh impetus to dialogue and strategic cooperation between the two neighboring and sisterly countries," said the statement.

It also aims to create a new dynamic for dialogue and strategic cooperation between the two neighboring and friendly countries.

The statement did not refer to the matters discussed between Tebboune and Italy’s President and Prime Minister Mario Draghi.

However, diplomatic sources confirmed that several issues would be addressed, namely the partnership with Italy to transfer its experience in small and medium enterprises.

Algeria wants SMEs as a pillar for its economic launch after it pledged to supply all of Rome's gas needs to replace Russian gas that was suspended due to the Ukraine crisis.

Furthermore, the sources highlighted that both Algeria and Italy are concerned about the situation in Libya and the return of hostilities between the warring parties.

They agreed on the need to hold general elections as the only solution to restore stability in the country.

On the issue of illegal migrants, the two sides explained that Algeria wants to boost its cooperation with Italy to stop the flow of illegal migrants, which has become a source of great concern for the two governments.

Meanwhile, the Italian Ambassador to Algeria, Giovanni Polizzi, stressed the importance of Tebboune's visit to Italy, noting that the intensity and frequency of bilateral visits at the highest level certainly reflect the excellent level of bilateral relations between Italy and Algeria.

In an interview with the El-Khabar newspaper, Polizzi recalled many important examples of Italian investments in Algeria.

"There are important examples of Italian investments in Algeria: I am naturally thinking of the hydrocarbons sector (with the main role of Eni), but also of the steel industry, defense, or, more recently, renewable energies," said the ambassador.

Polizzi added that Italy is committed to increasing the volume of investments and that Rome follows with interest the developments after implementing the new investment law, hoping to improve the business climate.



Iraq to Keep Crude Output at 1.4 million bpd amid Hormuz Tensions, Oil Minister Says

Technicians working at the Majnoon oil field in Basra, Iraq. (Reuters)
Technicians working at the Majnoon oil field in Basra, Iraq. (Reuters)
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Iraq to Keep Crude Output at 1.4 million bpd amid Hormuz Tensions, Oil Minister Says

Technicians working at the Majnoon oil field in Basra, Iraq. (Reuters)
Technicians working at the Majnoon oil field in Basra, Iraq. (Reuters)

Iraq has decided to continue producing crude oil at a level of 1.4 million barrels per day, Oil Minister Hayan Abdel-Ghani said on Thursday, according to its state news agency, Reuters reported.

The minister said that 200,000 barrels per day are being transported via reservoirs through Türkiye, Syria, and Jordan, noting that Iraq has put in place a plan to manage the current situation, especially after the events in the Strait of Hormuz.


51 Crew Rescued, 1 Dead after Attack on Tankers Off Iraq

An oil tanker burns after being hit by an Iranian strike in the ship-to-ship transfer zone at Khor al-Zubair port near Basra, Iraq, late Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (AP Photo)
An oil tanker burns after being hit by an Iranian strike in the ship-to-ship transfer zone at Khor al-Zubair port near Basra, Iraq, late Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (AP Photo)
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51 Crew Rescued, 1 Dead after Attack on Tankers Off Iraq

An oil tanker burns after being hit by an Iranian strike in the ship-to-ship transfer zone at Khor al-Zubair port near Basra, Iraq, late Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (AP Photo)
An oil tanker burns after being hit by an Iranian strike in the ship-to-ship transfer zone at Khor al-Zubair port near Basra, Iraq, late Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (AP Photo)

More than 50 crew members were rescued after an attack on two oil tankers in Iraq's territorial waters, Farhan al-Fartousi of the port authorities told AFP.

Fartousi, from Iraq's General Company for Ports, said "all crew members of the two tankers were rescued," adding that the 51 workers were in good condition.

The attack killed at least one crew member, an Indian national.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Thursday they had struck a Marshall Islands-flagged ship, which they claimed was US-owned, in the north of the Gulf.

The vessel, Safesea Vishnu, came under attack March 11 while operating near Basra, India’s embassy said.

The remaining 15 Indian crew members were evacuated and are safe, the embassy added.


Israel Orders Army to Prepare for 'Expanding' Lebanon Operations

A man stands by the rubble of a destroyed building in the aftermath of overnight Israeli airstrikes in the southern Lebanese coastal city of Tyre on March 12, 2026. (Photo by Kawnat HAJU / AFP)
A man stands by the rubble of a destroyed building in the aftermath of overnight Israeli airstrikes in the southern Lebanese coastal city of Tyre on March 12, 2026. (Photo by Kawnat HAJU / AFP)
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Israel Orders Army to Prepare for 'Expanding' Lebanon Operations

A man stands by the rubble of a destroyed building in the aftermath of overnight Israeli airstrikes in the southern Lebanese coastal city of Tyre on March 12, 2026. (Photo by Kawnat HAJU / AFP)
A man stands by the rubble of a destroyed building in the aftermath of overnight Israeli airstrikes in the southern Lebanese coastal city of Tyre on March 12, 2026. (Photo by Kawnat HAJU / AFP)

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Thursday that he had ordered the military to prepare for expanding operations in Lebanon after Hezbollah fired a heavy barrage of rockets ⁠at Israel overnight.

"The Prime Minister and I have instructed the IDF to prepare for expanding IDF operations in Lebanon and for restoring quiet and security to the northern communities," Katz was quoted as saying in a statement.

"I warned the President of Lebanon that if the Lebanese government does not know how to control the territory and prevent Hezbollah from threatening northern communities and firing toward Israel -- we will take the territory and do it ourselves," Katz said in a situation assessment, according to the statement from his ministry.

 

A man walks over blood stains, in the aftermath of an Israeli strike in Ramlet al-Bayda at Corniche Beirut, in Beirut, Lebanon, March 12, 2026. REUTERS/Claudia Greco

 

An Israeli strike hit a car Thursday in Ramlet al-Bayda, a major seaside tourist area of Beirut where dozens of displaced people have been sheltering. Eight people were killed and 31 others were wounded, the Lebanese Health Ministry said.

In Aramoun, a town about 10 kilometers south of Beirut, another three people were killed and a child was wounded in another early Israeli attack.

At least 634 people have been killed in Lebanon since the latest fighting began, the Health Ministry said.

Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war last week when Hezbollah attacked Israel in response to the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes.

Hezbollah launched some 200 rockets at Israel’s north and deeper into the country overnight, the Israeli military says.

Many rockets were intercepted and no serious injuries were reported.