Jerusalem, Mar 16 (AP) Shrapnel from an interception fell on the rooftop of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Jerusalem, according to the Patriarchate. That's just metres from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built on the spot where Christian tradition holds that Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected.

There were no immediate reports of injuries from the impact.

Jerusalem's Old City, where there are holy sites sacred to Muslims, Christians, and Jews, has come under uncommon fire this war. In past missile exchanges with Iran — including the 12-day-war — the city had been spared the damage seen in nearby cities like Tel Aviv or Beersheba.

But since the start of the most recent war, shrapnel has struck multiple sites close to the Old City, including homes in east Jerusalem, a main highway into Jerusalem and a concert venue in West Jerusalem.

Falling oil prices send stocks higher --------------------------------------- Oil prices are down, and stocks are up Monday, though such moves have been quick to change since the war in Iran began.

The S&P 500 rose 1% in early trading, coming off its third straight losing week, its longest such streak in a year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 325 points, or 0.7%, as of 9:35 am Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 1.2% higher.

The driver for markets once again was the price of oil. A barrel of benchmark US crude fell 4.1% to $94.62, easing some pressure off the economy after topping $102 earlier in the morning.

Brent crude, the international standard, fell 1.4% to $101.72 per barrel after earlier getting as high as $106.50.

Oil prices have been mostly ripping higher from roughly $70 per barrel since the United States and Israel began their attacks on Iran.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent downplayed oil price surge and dismissed concerns about rising oil prices since the start of the Iran war.

Bessent accused the media of “trying to make it into some crisis that it's not,” and he insisted prices would come down after the conflict ends.

“I don't know how many weeks it will be, but on the other side of this, the world will be safer, and we will be better supplied,” Bessent said on CNBC.

He said the Treasury Department hasn't traded oil futures to try to cap prices. Asked whether it would going forward, the secretary said: “I'm not sure under what authority or what auspices” that would happen.

Trump's Interior Secretary Doug Burgum told Bloomberg Television over the weekend that the administration has talked about that strategy.

Lebanon criticises Hezbollah over shooting at UN peacekeepers --------------------------------------------------------------------- In a Monday statement, Lebanon foreign ministry recalled the government's decision which prohibits “the military and security activities of Hezbollah.” It added that the ministry's position in the matter is clear in which “no armed group operating outside the authority of the state” will be permitted to draw Lebanon further into instability in service of agendas that run counter to Lebanon's national interests.

The ministry was apparently referring to Iran, Hezbollah's main backer.

The UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon known as UNIFIL said Sunday that peacekeepers were fired upon, “likely by non-state armed groups” on three separate occasions while conducting patrols around their bases in three villages in southern Lebanon.

The UN peacekeeping force did not say Hebzollah was behind the attacks.

Genesis Prize doubles award to actor Gal Gadot ---------------------------------------------------- Israel's Genesis Prize says it's doubling the prize it's awarded to Israeli actor Gal Gadot to $2 million to promote healing and resilience in Israel.

The “Wonder Woman” star was named this year's laureate in November for her support of Israel. She dedicated the $1 million prize to organisations that “help Israel heal” after more than two years of war.

The Genesis Prize, along with the Jewish Funders Network, a group of philanthropic leaders, said Monday they were doubling that gift with matching funds.

“At a time when Israel's caregivers are stretched beyond capacity, we must ensure that those who are helping others heal receive the support they need,” Andres Spokoiny, president and chief executive of the network, said in a statement.

The prize is granted each year to a person for their professional achievements, contributions to humanity and commitment to Jewish values.

UAE reports attacks by 6 missiles, 21 drones ------------------------------------------------- The United Arab Emirates was attacked Monday with six ballistic missiles and 21 drones coming from Iran. That's according to the Emirati Defence Ministry.

The ministry tallied 304 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles and 1,627 drones since the start of the war.

The attacks killed seven people including two troops, it said.

Iraq says new route for oil exports set to open --------------------------------------------------- Iraqi Oil Minister Hayan Abdul-Ghani said Monday in a video statement that a pipeline from the northern city of Kirkuk to Turkey will be operational within a week, allowing the country to resume oil exports interrupted by the ongoing regional war.

Iraq previously exported around 3.4 million barrels of oil a day through its southern port of Basra, he said, but “in light of the military operations and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Iraqi oil exports stopped two or three days after the beginning of the war in the region.” Abdul-Ghani said the pipeline from Kirkuk to Turkey, with a capacity of 200,000 to 250,000 barrels a day, is currently undergoing hydrostatic testing. The route will bypass the semi-autonomous Kurdish area in northern Iraq after Baghdad could not reach an agreement with local authorities over conditions for exporting via another pipeline in the Kurdish region.

Israel says displaced Lebanese will have to wait to return home ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said those that fled southern Lebanon in the face of Israeli fighting against Hezbollah militants won't be able to return home until northern Israel, which has been hit by barrages of rockets, is safe.

“Hezbollah will pay a heavy price for its aggression and activity in the Iranian axis to destroy Israel,” he said.

“We have promised security to the residents of the north, and that is exactly what we will do,” he said.

US efforts to protect Strait of Hormuz continue: military commander --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The top US military commander in the Middle East says American forces are zeroing in on Iran's threats to freighters carrying oil and natural gas through a vital chokepoint in the Persian Gulf.

“We will continue to rapidly deplete Iran's ability to threaten freedom of navigation in and around the Strait of Hormuz,” Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of US Central Command, said in a video posted to X on Monday.

Iranian strikes on commercial vessels have effectively stopped shipping traffic in the waterway, through which a fifth of the world's oil is transported. That has dramatically increased the price of oil and put pressure on Washington to do something to ease the pain for consumers.

Italy signals reluctance to Trump's call to help open Strait of Hormuz --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Italy is the latest country to react cautiously to Trump's demand that allies help open the Strait of Hormuz.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told reporters in Brussels on Monday that Italy backs reinforcing EU naval missions in the Red Sea.

But he added: “However, I don't think these missions can be expanded to include the Strait of Hormuz, especially since they are anti-piracy and defensive missions.” US President Donald Trump said he has demanded about seven countries send warships to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, as Iranian strikes continued to rain down on Gulf countries.

Pakistani oil tanker transited through Strait of Hormuz ----------------------------------------------------------- A vessel tracker says a first tanker carrying non-Iranian oil has transited through the Strait of Hormuz.

The Pakistani-controlled tanker Karachi, which carries crude oil from Abu Dhabi, passed the strait on Sunday, according to data from MarineTraffic.

The tanker is now sailing in the Gulf of Oman, it said.

Iran says Strait of Hormuz closed only to US, Israel, their allies ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Iran's top diplomat says the key Strait of Hormuz is only cut off for vessels of the United States, Israel and their allies.

“From our perspective it is open,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said of the strait. “It is only closed to our enemies, to those who carried out unjust aggression against our country and to their allies.” Araghchi spoke at a press conference in Tehran on Monday. (AP) SCY SCY SCY

Freedom of navigation: attacks on shipping and chokepoint security disrupt energy transit and prompt military protection measures. Cross-border strikes and missile/drone barrages have produced damage to religious and civilian sites and disrupted maritime transit through the Strait of Hormuz, prompting military measures to protect freedom of navigation. The conflict has caused energy-market volatility and operational responses including alternative export routing and calls for allied naval presence. Incidents involving non state armed groups have prompted government statements prohibiting unauthorized armed activity and raised displacement and peacekeeping protection issues.