Urgent ! Un porte-conteneurs attaqué ! Israël : destruction des « actifs clés » de l'Iran !

Middle East, the fighting continues fiercely!

According to the latest news, on March 11 local time, the Israel Defense Forces stated that they monitored three rounds of missile launches from Iran towards Israel within the past four hours. The day before, the IDF claimed to have destroyed key assets of Iran’s domestic security forces.

According to Xinhua News Agency, the UK Maritime Trade Operations Office reported on the 11th that a container ship was attacked and damaged near the UAE.

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) released a report on the 10th stating that the transportation through the Strait of Hormuz has been disrupted, impacting the global supply chain.

The US Department of Labor will release the February CPI data on Wednesday, with market expectations that the figure may rebound. As the Iran conflict continues to push up oil prices, inflation expectations for March are expected to rise further.

Container Ship Attacked

According to Xinhua News Agency, the UK Maritime Trade Operations Office said on the 11th that a container ship reported being attacked and damaged in waters near the UAE, with all crew members safe.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations Office issued a statement saying that the ship reported being attacked by an unidentified projectile approximately 25 nautical miles (about 46 km) northwest of Ras Al Hamra in the UAE. The extent of damage is unclear, and an investigation is ongoing.

The UNCTAD report on the 10th states that the Strait of Hormuz is a critical energy transportation route, carrying about a quarter of global seaborne oil trade, as well as large volumes of liquefied natural gas and fertilizers. Disruptions in shipping through the Strait have driven up energy and fertilizer prices, including shipping costs such as freight, fuel, and insurance, leading to increased overall supply chain transportation costs. These factors may push up food prices, affecting the daily lives of people in some countries and regions, especially the most vulnerable economies.

The report emphasizes that developing economies face particular risks, with some heavily burdened by debt and limited fiscal space to absorb new price shocks. The overall impact of the escalation in Middle East tensions on the global economy will depend on the duration and scale of the disruption in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Continuous monitoring of the situation is necessary, especially regarding its impact on vulnerable economies.

Additionally, AFP reported on the 10th, citing data from market services firm Kpler, that about 33% of global fertilizer transportation passes through the Strait of Hormuz, but shipping risks in this vital route have now surged.

Israel: Iran Fires 3 Missiles in 4 Hours

According to Xinhua News Agency, at around 4:30 am local time (10:30 pm Beijing time) on the 11th, the Israel Defense Forces issued a statement saying they detected a new round of missile launches from Iran, with their air defense systems intercepting the projectiles. The IDF stated that within the past four hours, three rounds of missiles were launched from Iran towards Israel.

The day before, the IDF announced that they had destroyed most of the key assets of Iran’s domestic security forces and mobilized militia groups in the western Iranian province of Ilam. The statement said that the headquarters of Iran’s domestic security forces, intelligence agencies, and several militia bases in Ilam had been destroyed.

According to multiple US media outlets on the 10th, a US diplomatic support center near Baghdad Airport was attacked by drones. The extent of damage and casualties are not yet clear.

The reports said that six drones flew toward this large facility providing logistical support to US diplomats, with one drone hitting the facility and the other five being shot down.

According to CCTV News, on the 11th local time, the Australian Embassy in Israel issued a notice stating, “Due to increased security concerns, the embassy has closed. Please do not visit the embassy or surrounding areas.” The notice added that Australian officials remain in Israel and will continue to provide consular services.

Since February 28, the US and Israel have launched large-scale airstrikes against Iran, prompting Iran to retaliate against targets including Israeli and US military bases across the Gulf region.

Iran Situation May Drive US Inflation Higher

On Wednesday, the US Department of Labor will release the February inflation data, with market expectations that it may rebound. As the Iran conflict continues to push up oil prices, inflation for March is expected to rise further.

Reuters pointed out that the expected increase in the February CPI also reflects the ongoing but gradual transmission effects of the Trump administration’s comprehensive tariff policies. These tariffs were originally implemented under a law applicable during national emergencies but were later overturned by the US Supreme Court.

Senior economist Sara Hous of Wells Fargo said, “The February CPI may indicate that progress in reducing inflation in the US has stalled again, despite the conflict in the Middle East only starting at the end of February, oil and gasoline prices already rose last month due to expectations of conflict escalation.”

A survey of economists by Reuters predicts that the February CPI may increase by 0.3% month-on-month, higher than January’s 0.2%. The forecast range is between a 0.1% and 0.3% increase. Over the 12 months ending in February, the CPI is expected to rise by 2.4%, unchanged from January’s increase, reflecting the fading impact of last year’s high base effect. The Federal Reserve uses the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index as its measure of the 2% inflation target.

Economists estimate that gasoline prices in February may have increased by about 0.8%, after declining for two consecutive months. According to the American Automobile Association, since the US and Israel began fighting Iran at the end of February, gasoline prices have risen over 18% to $3.54 per gallon. Oil prices briefly surged above $100 per barrel but retreated on Tuesday after Trump indicated the conflict might end soon.

“Just a 15% recent increase in oil prices could mean, depending on how the conflict evolves, a 0.15 to 0.30 percentage point rise in overall inflation,” said Andy Schneider, senior US economist at BNP Paribas Securities. Food prices may remain moderate, but Schneider added, “Persistent oil shocks will push up fertilizer and transportation costs, which could lead to higher food inflation later this year.”

(Original source: Securities Times)