Lloyd Austin

Bulgaria's Defence Minister, Todor Tagarev, dismissed speculations about dispatching a warship to the Red Sea, asserting that Parliament's approval is imperative for any military mission. Speaking in Blagoevgrad, Tagarev emphasized Bulgaria's involvement in addressing the safety of navigation in the Black Sea due to the risks posed by the Ukraine conflict.

Bulgaria is deliberating the potential engagement in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden operation, as announced by Defence Minister Todor Tagarev during a recent media briefing. Tagarev underscored Bulgaria's susceptibility to regional developments, expressing interest in contributing to the efforts despite the nation not being considered a naval powerhouse.

The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, along with personnel from Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 12, has docked in Souda Bay on Crete island for a scheduled port visit as of Tuesday.

U.S. air strikes targeting a pro-Iranian group in Iraq on Tuesday claimed at least one life, drawing an angry response from Baghdad as regional tensions spike amid the Israel-Hamas war.

The U.S. military carried out strikes on three sites used by Iran-backed forces in Iraq on Monday after an attack wounded three American personnel earlier in the day, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said.

Oil futures continued trading near two-week highs after a surge triggered by escalating ship attacks in the Red Sea, prompting major shipping companies to divert routes and heightening concerns over global oil supply.

The U.N. Security Council struggled to find a unified voice Tuesday on pausing the Israel-Hamas war as aid efforts neared collapse and global economic fallout spread.

With calls growing for a new truce, Qatar-based Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh is to visit Egypt on Wednesday for talks on a ceasefire in Gaza and a prisoner exchange with Israel, a source close to the Islamist group said.

Israel launched more deadly strikes on Gaza Tuesday as the U.N. Security Council was due to vote on another ceasefire demand and concern mounted over the conflict's impact on global shipping.

The US has launched a multinational effort aimed at safeguarding Red Sea shipping routes following increased attacks on merchant vessels. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin made the announcement during his visit to Bahrain.

The United States on Monday has announced a 10-nation coalition to quell Huthi missile and drone attacks on ships transiting the Red Sea, with Britain, France, Bahrain and Italy among countries joining the "multinational security initiative."