Multiple bombs explode near Chinese peacekeepers' barracks in Lebanon

Multiple aerial bombs exploded on the periphery of Chinese peacekeeping troops' barracks in Lebanon, leaving some facilities damaged by shock waves and bomb fragments. No injuries were reported.

The blast happened on a hillside that lies about 700 meters away from the barracks, sending up billows of black smokes when the 22nd Chinese peacekeeping multi-role engineer contingent was having a physical training program, forcing them to rush into a shelter.

The Chinese peacekeepers later found some doors, windows, ceilings, mirrors, and glasses damaged to varying degrees, with cement road surface pitted and tree branches broken.

The explosion came after Hezbollah has been trading attacks across the southern Lebanese border with Israel for nearly a year, since Israel launched its deadly offensive on Gaza in October.

Multiple bombs explode near Chinese peacekeepers' barracks in Lebanon

Multiple bombs explode near Chinese peacekeepers' barracks in Lebanon

Multiple bombs explode near Chinese peacekeepers' barracks in Lebanon

Multiple bombs explode near Chinese peacekeepers' barracks in Lebanon

Multiple bombs explode near Chinese peacekeepers' barracks in Lebanon

Multiple bombs explode near Chinese peacekeepers' barracks in Lebanon

Impact of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran is pushing Gulf countries to revisit costly plans for pipelines to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, so that they can continue to export oil and gas, the Financial Times newspaper reported on Thursday.

"Officials and industry executives say new pipelines may be the only way to reduce Gulf countries' enduring vulnerability to disruption in the strait, even though such projects would be expensive, politically complex and take years to complete," said the report.

"Previous plans for pipelines across the region have repeatedly stalled, undone by high costs and complexity," it said.

The Strait of Hormuz is a vital global energy corridor bordered by Iran to the north.

Around a fifth of global liquefied natural gas supply passed through the Strait of Hormuz, which also carries about one quarter of global seaborne oil trade.

Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities on Feb. 28, killing Iran's then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone strikes against Israel and U.S. assets in the Middle East, while tightening control over the Strait of Hormuz by restricting passage to vessels belonging to or affiliated with Israel and the United States.

Gulf countries consider new pipelines to avoid Strait of Hormuz: Financial Times