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Attacks on a key Saudi oil pipeline were launched from Iraqi territory, said Iraq’s government Saturday, pledging to probe further. Iraq closed two key border crossings with Iran, halting all passenger and commercial traffic until further notice, Iran’s state-run media reported Saturday. Meanwhile, fears mount that gas and oil prices may rise and international shipping could be further disrupted after Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis seized a key island and captured a Red Sea port. Here’s a look at the latest news in the Middle East. Full coverage can be found here. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi ordered an investigation into the operations command in Maysan province and dismissed its commander after authorities determined that attacks targeting Saudi Arabia were launched from a site in the province, the Iraqi government said in a statement early Saturday. Saudi Arabia shut down the major, cross-country oil pipeline on Friday, saying it was a “precautionary measure.” The Saudi Foreign Ministry blamed the attacks on several drones that came from Iraq and, in a statement, said the kingdom would not retaliate to give the Iraqi government “an opportunity to take the necessary measures.” The East-West pipeline has been vital to Saudi Arabia’s continued oil exports in the months since the Iran war disrupted shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. According to the International Energy Agency, Saudi oil exports through the Red Sea port at the pipeline’s end have more than doubled since the Iran war erupted. Tehran-backed Iraqi militias have launched attacks on U.S.-linked targets both inside and outside of Iraq since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28 and have coordinated with Yemen’s Houthi rebels to attack Saudi Arabia. Crude prices this week soared again above $100 a barrel, giving Tehran more leverage in any talks. Analysts worry that the Houthis’ seizure of Yemen’s port city of Mokha may create further complications for shipping on the Red Sea and raise oil prices. Valiollah Hayati, the deputy governor of Iran’s southwestern Khuzestan province, said Iraqi officials had announced the closure of the Shalamcheh and Chazabeh crossings. Hayati urged traders, drivers and travelers not to approach the crossings until further notice. He said relevant authorities would release additional information. Shalamcheh and Chazabeh are among the main official border crossings between Iran and Iraq. _ This report will be updated throughout the day as new developments emerge. Brought to you by www.srnnews.com

CORON, Philippines (AP) — Thirty charred bodies found inside a burned passenger ferry in the western Philippines arrived at a port Saturday for identification after a ship fire killed at least 35 people and left more than 50 others missing earlier this week. Retrieval operations will continue as more bodies are still inside the MV June Aster, coast guard officials said without providing a count. There were 43 survivors among the 132 people on board. The ferry sailed from the capital, Manila, and was off the village of Turda some 39 kilometers (24 miles) from its destination, the Port of Coron, when the fire was reported Wednesday evening. The cause of the blaze has not been determined but a survivor said it may have started from the cargo hold. The survivor recounted hearing a blast, with smoke and fire quickly spreading, fanned by the winds, officials said. Tents were put up in the Port of Borac in Coron, Palawan province, where body bags were brought down from a ship that transported them from the burned ferry. The coast guard said the bodies were turned over to the Provincial Forensic Unit for identification. Commodore Noemie Cayabyab, the coast guard spokesperson, said authorities are looking for the ship’s captain, who reportedly survived but is not listed among the survivors. The multiagency maritime safety and criminal investigations will look into all angles, and the possible liability of the captain and crew, she added. Cayabyab said survivors recounted the incident happened quickly, with no time to get life jackets. A tarpaulin that shielded the open areas of the ship from the rain “may be a possible contributing factor but we can’t determine now if they were trapped inside,” she added. Investigators will also check if fire emergency procedures were followed, including if the captain sounded an alarm or gave a warning and instructions, and if the crew assisted the passengers. Images provided earlier by the coast guard showed the charred interior of the ship and what appeared to be human remains, ashes and burnt metal, including a car. Arnulfo Nokki Villanueva, a survivor who recounted the chaos inside the ferry after the fire quickly spread, told a local news outlet that he couldn’t get a life jacket as people were in a panic and stepping on him. Lira Daco, whose 20-year-old daughter is missing, said she was pained by the thought that her daughter could have burned alive, and at the difficulty of identifying her among the charred remains found in the ship. According to the manifest, 134 people were onboard, with 117 of them passengers and 17 crew. The 53-meter (174-foot) vessel had a capacity to carry 306 passengers and 27 crew. Two passengers listed in the manifest reported to authorities that they failed to board, the coast guard said. Two of the survivors were tourists from Chile, according to Rachel Conserman, a staffer of the ship’s owner Atienza Interisland Ferries Inc. The coast guard said the foreigners have left Coron and authorities have coordinated with their embassy. The shipping company said in a statement it was assisting those who were on board and their families while coordinating with the coast guard and maritime officials to locate the missing passengers and determine the cause of the fire. Coron is a popular tourist destination known for clear blue waters, limestone cliffs and rock formations. Ferries are frequently used for transport in the Philippine archipelago. Sea accidents are not uncommon due to storms, badly maintained vessels, overcrowding and spotty enforcement of safety regulations, especially in remote provinces. In 1987, the ferry Dona Paz sank after colliding with a fuel tanker in the central Philippines, killing more than 4,300 people in the world’s deadliest peacetime maritime disaster. ___ Cerojano reported from Manila, Philippines. Brought to you by www.srnnews.com

By Field Level Media Sep 12 (Field Level Media) – Junior Caminero launched a mammoth walk-off home run in the ninth inning Friday night, sending the Tampa Bay Rays to the postseason by virtue of a 3-1 win over the Houston Astros in St. Petersburg, Fla. The American League’s home run leader, Caminero crushed a 417-foot blast to left-center field off reliever Bryan Abreu (6-4) for his 40th long ball. One batter earlier, Jonathan Aranda nearly homered to right-center, settling for a one-out double. Caminero then belted Abreu’s 97 mph first-pitch fastball for his first career walk-off blast, making the Rays the first club to clinch a postseason spot this year. The Milwaukee Brewers joined them a short time later. Drew Rasmussen drew a no-decision after seven strong innings, though the Rays won for the 10th consecutive time in games he has started. The AL West-leading Astros outhit the Rays 9-4. Yainer Diaz went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk. Brewers 20, Reds 0 Garrett Mitchell hit a grand slam, William Contreras homered and drove in six runs, and Dustin May tossed six innings of two-hit ball as Milwaukee routed visiting Cincinnati to clinch its eighth postseason berth in nine seasons. The Brewers fell short of the biggest shutout in modern major league history, a record they tied on Aug. 18 by trouncing the Seattle Mariners 22-0. May (7-9) struck out six and walked one. Brice Turang (3-for-3, four RBIs) and Jake Bauers homered during a six-run second. The Brewers jumped on Andrew Abbott (6-11) for two runs in the first and six in the second, ending his outing after he allowed nine hits. Sal Stewart collected the only two hits for the Reds, who have lost four straight. Yankees 6, Mets 4 Carlos Rodon pitched 6 1/3 sharp innings and the host New York Yankees homered twice off rookie Nolan McLean in a victory over the New York Mets on the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The Yankees won for the ninth time in 12 games while moving closer to clinching their ninth postseason spot in the past 10 seasons. Cody Bellinger hit a tiebreaking three-run homer off McLean (11-9) in the second and Ben Rice added a leadoff blast in the fifth. Rodon (6-3) allowed two runs, one earned, on three hits and finished with eight strikeouts. McLean allowed five runs and a career-high 10 hits in five innings. The Mets got a homer and an RBI single from rookie A.J. Ewing but had a four-game winning streak snapped. Braves 6, Phillies 5 (11 innings) Drake Baldwin lined a two-out RBI double to center field in the 11th to cap a two-run rally and lift Atlanta to a victory over visiting Philadelphia, giving the Braves some breathing room in the National League East. Atlanta, trailing 5-4, tied the game on Ha-Seong Kim’s two-out single and walked it off on Baldwin’s double against Brooks Raley (5-6). Didier Fuentes (7-2) was the winning pitcher. Philadelphia had taken the lead in the top of the 11th on an RBI single by Luis Arraez. The win allowed the Braves to extend their division lead over the Phillies to five games. Guardians 5, Twins 2 Angel Martinez went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run, and Cleveland scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning to secure a win over Minnesota in Minneapolis. Brayan Rocchio had a double and two RBIs for Cleveland in the opener of the three-game series. Travis Bazzana went 2-for-2 and scored twice for the Guardians, who hold a two-game lead over the Toronto Blue Jays for the American League’s third and final wild-card spot. Royce Lewis and Kaelen Culpepper tallied one RBI apiece for Minnesota. Twins reliever Yoendrys Gomez (2-3) gave up three runs on two hits in one-third of an inning. Cardinals 7, White Sox 3 Rookie Joshua Baez and Leo Bernal each had three hits and drove in two runs for St. Louis in a victory against visiting Chicago. Alec Burleson had two hits and two RBIs for the Cardinals. Jordan Walker had two hits and two runs for St. Louis, which snapped a three-game losing streak. Chase Meidroth hit a pair of home runs for the White Sox, who lost their fourth straight game and had their AL Central lead trimmed to a half-game over the second-place Guardians. Randal Grichuk joined Meidroth in collecting two of Chicago’s nine hits. Dodgers 6, Marlins 2 Kyle Tucker went 3-for-3 with a grand slam and a season-high five RBIs to lead visiting Los Angeles past Miami for its eighth straight win. Dodgers starter Blake Snell (4-1) struck out eight in 5 2/3 innings. He allowed one run on four hits. Max Muncy added three hits for Los Angeles, and Will Smith contributed an RBI single. Marlins starter Ryan Gusto (1-5) lasted six innings and held the Dodgers to two runs on five hits. Miami’s offense was led by Otto Lopez, who went 4-for-5. Nationals 4, Angels 3 Jorbit Vivas hit a tiebreaking two-run double to cap a three-run eighth inning as host Washington snapped a seven-game losing streak with a comeback victory over Los Angeles. CJ Abrams had two hits and a run and James Wood had an RBI single and a walk for Washington. Clayton Beeter (6-5) tossed a scoreless eighth, and Erik Tolman earned his second save despite allowing a run. Mike Trout hit a home run and Christian Moore doubled and had two hits and two RBIs for the Angels, who finished with just four hits. Los Angeles reliever Samy Natera Jr. (1-2) allowed three runs on three hits in one inning. Padres 7, Giants 5 Dustin Harris and Freddy Fermin, the bottom two batters in the order, combined for four hits and four RBIs, Jackson Merrill chipped in with a double and two singles, and visiting San Diego overcame a Rafael Devers grand slam to beat San Francisco. Robbie Ray (12-8) threw five innings of five-run ball for the Padres, who maintained a half-game lead on the Arizona Diamondbacks for the third NL wild card. Mason Miller loaded the bases in the ninth but escaped for his 35th save. Giants starter Anthony Molina (3-1) allowed seven runs and nine hits in three innings. San Francisco’s Jonah Cox had two hits and two runs. Diamondbacks 9, Rangers 1 Corbin Carroll and Nolan Arenado hit back-to-back homers in a five-run sixth inning, Ketel Marte doubled twice and drove in three runs, and Arizona topped Texas in Phoenix. Gabriel Moreno had two hits and two RBIs and Ildemaro Vargas had two hits and drove in a run for the D-backs, who posted their major-league-best 44th comeback victory and have won five of their past six. Reliever Kevin Ginkel (6-4) got two outs for the win. Joc Pederson had two of the Rangers’ five hits, including an RBI double. MacKenzie Gore (8-11) was charged with four runs on five hits in four-plus innings. Cubs 12, Pirates 2 Alex Bregman belted a two-run homer and Michael Busch drove in three runs, fueling host Chicago to a victory over Pittsburgh. Chicago’s Seiya Suzuki scored three runs and joined Bregman with three hits. Carson Kelly ripped a two-run double in the second inning for the Cubs, who banged out 16 hits en route to snapping a four-game losing streak. Pittsburgh rookie Konnor Griffin tripled to lead off the game and came around to score on an RBI single by Oneil Cruz. Bryan Reynolds capped a nine-pitch at-bat with a homer in the sixth inning for the Pirates, whose four-game winning streak ended. Royals 3, Red Sox 2 Kansas City scored three runs over the first three innings and let its pitching do the rest as the visitors held on to beat Boston. Carter Jensen had two doubles and an RBI and Salvador Perez went 2-for-4 with an RBI to lead the Royals. Seth Lugo (7-8) scattered seven hits and struck out seven across five innings of two-run ball. Steven Cruz registered his seventh save with a 1-2-3 ninth. Mickey Gasper homered and Wilyer Abreu went 2-for-4 with an RBI double for the Red Sox, who have lost three straight since a five-game winning streak. Sonny Gray (17-5) went six frames and allowed three runs on six hits. Orioles 7, Blue Jays 4 Dylan Beavers socked a solo home run and had three RBIs as visiting Baltimore defeated Toronto. Coby Mayo added a solo blast and Christian Encarnacion-Strand rapped out three hits for the Orioles, who have won three out of four. Chris Bassitt (7-5) tossed five-plus innings of two-run ball. Rico Garcia got the final out to earn his eighth save. Brett Bateman hit his first major league homer, a two-run shot, for the Blue Jays, and Kazuma Okamoto added a solo homer and a double. Max Scherzer (2-8) completed five innings, allowing six runs and seven hits. Tigers 6, Rockies 2 Dillon Dingler hit a two-run homer, Max Clark supplied a solo shot and Detroit pulled away to hand visiting Colorado its fifth straight loss. Riley Greene contributed a single, a double and a triple and two RBIs for the Tigers. Framber Valdez (10-10) held the Rockies to one unearned run and six hits in six innings. Kenley Jansen got the final out for his 19th save as Detroit won for the fourth time in six games. Colorado starter Mason Adams permitted one run and two hits in five innings. Mark Manfredi (1-2) gave up two runs while recording only two outs. Athletics 6, Mariners 5 (10 innings) Donovan Walton led off the bottom of the 10th inning with a two-run, walk-off homer to right as the Athletics recorded a dramatic victory over Seattle at West Sacramento, Calif. Walton jumped all over a 1-1 sweeper from Eduard Bazardo (3-4) for his third hit of the night to give the A’s their seventh victory in nine games. Lawrence Butler had three hits, including a two-run homer, for the Athletics. Julio Rodriguez hit a run-scoring ground single with two outs in the top of the 10th to give Seattle a 5-4 lead prior to Walton’s winning blast. Lazaro Montes delivered a pinch-hit, two-run blast for Seattle. (–Field Level Media) Brought to you by www.srnnews.com

A lightning advance by Houthi rebels threatens a crucial Red Sea shipping route. Drone attacks blamed on Iraqi militias have forced the closure of a major pipeline, and Iran is still disrupting the Strait of Hormuz. It’s a nightmare scenario for Saudi Arabia, and it has sent jitters through global markets. The Saudis’ most essential ally, the United States, has been unpredictable and sometimes unreliable. U.S. President Donald Trump seems reluctant to widen an already unpopular and stalemated Mideast war ahead of congressional elections. For Iran, the rebels’ advance and closure of the pipeline ramp up global economic pressure as its grip over the Strait of Hormuz has been loosened. Michael Ratney, a former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia, said the latest developments are “incredibly frustrating” for the kingdom. “Despite their antipathy for the Iranians, this is a war they had never asked for, they had great trepidation about. And once it started, all of their … worst-case scenarios started coming true.” The Saudi government did not respond to a request for comment. But a Saudi official, who was not authorized to brief media and spoke on condition of anonymity, said the kingdom would defend itself and work with partners, including the United States, to ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. Saudi Arabia’s crown prince and de facto ruler, Mohammed bin Salman, has spent years trying to build a very different Middle East, with wide-ranging social and economic changes aimed at transforming the ultra-conservative kingdom into a global business hub in a more prosperous and integrated region. Those efforts suffered major setbacks after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which triggered one war after another. When the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28, it responded with missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, and effectively shut down the Strait of Hormuz, bottling up their oil and gas exports and jolting the world economy. Saudi Arabia escaped some of the worst effects by piping its oil across the Arabian Peninsula to the Red Sea, where it could be exported to Europe via Egypt’s SUMED pipeline and the Suez Canal, or to Asia via a route running through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and toward the Indian Ocean. But tensions reignited with the Houthis in July, leading the rebels to declare a blockade of Saudi shipping and resume large-scale attacks for the first time in four years. Over the last two days, the Houthis have seized the port city of Mokha and a Red Sea island from Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces, enhancing the rebels’ ability to block Saudi shipments through the Bab el-Mandeb. On Friday, Saudi Arabia said it shut down the pipeline leading from major oil fields in the east to the Red Sea in the west because of drone attacks originating in Iraq, where Iran supports powerful militias. Regional officials recently told The Associated Press that the Houthis have helped the Iraqi militias carry out attacks. Houthi attacks have already caused a plunge in Saudi oil exports to Asia, from around 3.4 million barrels a day in June to just 128,000 in August, though they had recovered somewhat this month to 700,000, according to figures compiled by Kpler, a global trade monitor. Saudi Arabia fought against the Houthis for years beginning in 2015, but its allies made little progress on the ground. The conflict killed an estimated 150,000 people and at times pushed Yemen to the brink of famine before a 2022 ceasefire. “Saudi Arabia has spent several years trying to move beyond the Yemen conflict and focus on economic transformation and regional stability,” said Neil Quilliam, a Middle East expert at Chatham House. “Recent Houthi gains increase pressure on Riyadh to respond, but every available option carries significant costs and uncertain outcomes.” The Saudis could step up their military response and try to dislodge the Houthis, but that would prolong the conflict and lead to even heavier Houthi attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure, said Sherwan Hindreen Ali, Middle East research manager at ACLED, a conflict monitoring group. “The kingdom already faced this in the past, but Houthi weaponry is more sophisticated now than it was back then, and the Saudis likely have less interceptor missiles available as a result of the U.S.-Iran conflict,” he said. The Saudis could also seek a diplomatic solution with either the Houthis or their patrons in Tehran. But the Houthis have demanded the lifting of a Saudi-led blockade, which would allow them to grow much stronger over the long term, and Iran has little interest in stabilizing the region without securing major U.S. concessions. For decades, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states have relied on U.S. security guarantees. Those have eroded under Trump, who did not respond during his first term when a 2019 attack claimed by the Houthis temporarily knocked out half of Saudi Arabia’s oil supply. In February, the U.S. joined Israel in attacking Iran without consulting its Gulf allies, and since then it has struggled to defend them from Iranian attacks. Trump launched an air campaign against the Houthis last year in response to earlier attacks on Red Sea shipping linked to the war in Gaza. But this time, U.S. forces are heavily deployed around the Strait of Hormuz, where they are blockading Iran and trying to prevent attacks on shipping there. The fighting has visibly strained the U.S. military and drawn down supplies of sophisticated interceptors. The war is also deeply unpopular and has eroded Trump’s support after he had promised to keep the U.S. out of Mideast wars. Launching another military campaign in Yemen could compound the struggles of fellow Republicans in tight House and Senate races. The White House did not respond to a request for comment on whether it plans to intervene in Yemen. Speaking more broadly about the war with Iran on Thursday, Trump shrugged aside the idea of increasing military pressure, as some U.S. hawks have suggested. “Maybe I don’t do that because of the election,” he told Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle.” Ratney, the former U.S. ambassador, said it would be difficult for the Saudis to achieve their objectives without consistent U.S. support, which they had at previous times while fighting the Houthis. “My understanding at this point is the White House is not enthusiastic about getting involved,” he said. ___ Associated Press writer Aamer Madhani contributed. Brought to you by www.srnnews.com

By Field Level Media Sep 12 (Field Level Media) – Austin Simmons passed for three touchdowns and Robert Woodyard Jr. forced a pair of turnovers on consecutive possessions in the second half Friday night, leading No. 23 Missouri to a 38-21 victory over Kansas in Lawrence, Kan. Donovan Olugbode and Cayden Lee finished with more than 100 yards receiving apiece and each caught a touchdown pass for Missouri (2-0), which won its fifth straight “Border War” matchup, a rivalry that began in 1891. Jamal Roberts contributed 125 rushing yards and a TD on 28 carries. Austin Alexander had an 88-yard touchdown return on a blocked field goal for Kansas (1-1), which has lost both meetings with Mizzou in a series that has been played only twice — both in the past two seasons — since the Tigers moved to the Southeastern Conference in 2012. Jayhawks quarterback Isaiah Marshall finished 13 of 30 for 168 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. No. 24 Louisville 59, Villanova 13 Lincoln Kienholz passed for 332 yards, threw for two touchdowns and rushed for two more to lead the Cardinals to a win over the visiting Wildcats. Lawayne McCoy caught three passes for 102 yards and a touchdown, Tre Richardson had seven grabs for 98 yards and Jaleel Skinner had 82 receiving yards and a touchdown catch for Louisville (1-1). Marquise Davis had two rushing scores and Braxton Jennings added a rushing and a receiving TD for the Cardinals, who outgained Villanova 635-253. Villanova quarterback Pat McQuaide completed 18 of 31 passes for 166 yards and one touchdown. Ja’briel Mace had 73 receiving yards and a TD reception for the Wildcats (1-2). No. 25 Virginia 59, Norfolk State 3 Beau Pribula threw three touchdown passes in the first quarter and the Cavaliers cruised to a victory over the Spartans in Charlottesville, Va. Pribula completed 12 of 14 passes for 162 yards and one interception before sitting out the second half for Virginia (2-0). Backup Eli Holstein added two touchdown passes, and Jacquon Gibson made two touchdown catches. Deljay Bailey finished 15 of 25 for 142 yards and two interceptions for Norfolk State, which was outgained 466-223. The FCS-level Spartans (1-2) fell to 2-13 under second-year head coach and former NFL star Michael Vick. (–Field Level Media) Brought to you by www.srnnews.com