Daily World Briefing, March 21
Trump says considering "winding down" strikes on Iran
U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that he is considering "winding down" the U.S. military strikes against Iran, claiming the United States is "getting very close to" meeting its objectives.
"We are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East" with respect to Iran, Trump said on Truth Social.
The objectives Trump outlined include degrading Iran's missile capabilities, destroying its defense industrial base, eliminating its navy and air force, preventing it from ever approaching nuclear capability and protecting U.S. allies across the region.
Britain allows U.S. use of bases for Hormuz-related strikes
Britain has agreed to allow the United States to use British bases to carry out "operations to degrade the missile sites and capabilities being used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz," according to a Downing Street statement released on Friday.
Britain is working with international partners to develop "a viable plan to safeguard international shipping in the Strait of Hormuz," said the statement.
Despite the move, the statement stressed that the UK is committed to "not getting drawn into the wider conflict."
Israel says it killed Iran's IRGC spokesman in Tehran overnight strike
The Israeli military said Friday that its air force, acting on intelligence, killed Ali Mohammad Naini, spokesperson and head of public relations for Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), in an overnight strike in Tehran.
In a statement, the military said that Naini had served as the IRGC's "main propagandist" for the past two years, accusing him of "disseminating the regime's terrorist propaganda to its proxies across the Middle East to influence and advance attacks against Israel on multiple fronts."
Iranian state media confirmed Naini's death. The semi-official Tasnim news agency said that he had served as IRGC spokesman since 2024 and "was martyred" in strikes it attributed to the United States and Israel.
Iran's supreme leader says Iran not behind recent attacks on Oman, Türkiye
Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Friday stressed that the recent attacks on parts of Türkiye and Oman were not carried out by the Iranian armed forces or its allies.
He made the remarks in a message to extend congratulations on the arrival of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, and Nowruz, the beginning of the Iranian new year that falls on March 21, according to a statement published on his website.
Khamenei said Iran has appropriate relations with both Türkiye and Oman, warning about Israel's "deception" of resorting to "false flag" operations to cause division between Iran and its neighbors.
10 killed, 59 injured in South Korea's auto parts factory fire
A fire at an auto parts manufacturing factory in Daejeon, South Korea, has left 10 people dead, 59 injured and four missing, fire authorities said Saturday.
The blaze broke out at around 1:17 p.m. local time Friday when about 170 workers were inside the plant.
According to the authorities, the first victim was found in cardiac arrest on the second floor and was later pronounced dead, while nine others were discovered on the third floor.
Ukraine expects meeting on peace process this Saturday
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that the next meeting aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict would take place in the United States on Saturday.
In a post on X, Zelensky said that a Ukrainian delegation had departed for the talks, with a priority "to do everything possible to create the conditions for a dignified peace."
Zelensky added that Ukraine has received signals from the U.S. side indicating readiness to continue working within the existing negotiation formats to bring an end to the conflict.
Russia will not participate in the talks on Saturday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Friday.
Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon kill 20, raise total fatalities to 1,021
At least 20 people were killed and 57 others injured in Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon over the past 24 hours, according to official figures released on Friday.
The latest casualties bring the cumulative death toll to 1,021, with a total of 2,641 people wounded since the escalation of hostilities on March 2.
Meanwhile, displacement continues to rise sharply as ongoing strikes force more residents to flee their homes. A total of 134,616 displaced people are currently sheltering in 644 centers across the country, the figures show.
Thai King endorses Anutin Charnvirakul as PM after re-election
Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn has endorsed Anutin Charnvirakul as the country's prime minister, Secretary-General of the House of Representatives Sirote Paetphan announced on Friday.
In a ceremony held at the Bhumjaithai Party headquarters, Sirote read out the royal command appointing Anutin to a second term in office, as he received majority support in a vote cast by the House of Representatives on Thursday.
In his address, Anutin pledged to govern with absolute integrity, promising to prioritize the well-being of the Thai people and foster a new, collaborative political atmosphere.
Blaze in Amsterdam brought under control, no casualties reported
A large fire that broke out Friday at the Westpoort industrial estate in western Amsterdam, the Netherlands, has been brought under control, with no casualties reported, the local fire department said.
The blaze started shortly after 3:00 p.m. (1400 GMT) at a storage facility for electric scooters, sending heavy smoke across parts of the Dutch capital, according to a fire brigade spokesperson cited by public broadcaster NOS.
By 5:00 p.m. (1600 GMT), smoke was still rising from the site but had begun to subside. Authorities closed all surrounding roads as a precaution, noting the proximity of a nearby gas station.■