The UN and the US appealed for restraint on Thursday after Iran and Pakistan traded deadly air strikes on militant targets on each other's territory.
The rare military action across the porous border between the heavily armed neighbours has further stoked tension already inflamed by the Israel-Gaza war.
Pakistan's strikes against militant targets in Iran early on Thursday came two days after similar Iranian strikes on its territory and prompted Tehran to summon Islamabad's envoy.
At least nine people were killed in the strikes in the restive Sistan and Baluchestan province, most of them women or children, Iran's official Irna news agency reported.
They came after Iran carried out an attack on what it described as "terrorist" targets in Pakistan's Balochistan province on Tuesday, killing at least two children.
While Iran and nuclear-armed Pakistan often accuse each other of allowing militants to operate from the other's territory, cross-border attacks by government forces have been rare.
UN chief Antonio Guterres called on the two governments to "exercise maximum restraint".
"The Secretary General is deeply concerned about the recent exchange of military strikes between Iran and Pakistan, which have reportedly caused casualties on both sides," his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the US was monitoring the situation "very, very closely" and was in touch with Pakistani officials.
"These are two well-armed nations and again we don't want to see an escalation," Mr Kirby told reporters.
US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller echoed his comments.
"We don't believe this should escalate in any way, shape or form. Pakistan is a major non-Nato ally of the United States, that will remain the case, but we would urge restraint in this case."
Mr Kirby said he was "not aware" that Islamabad had notified Washington before striking Iran. He would not comment when asked if the US would provide support for Pakistan.
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry described Thursday's attack as a "series of highly co-ordinated and specifically targeted precision military strikes against terrorist hideouts" in Sistan and Baluchestan.
The strikes took place at around 4.30am local time, with three drones destroying four houses in a village near the city of Saravan, Irna said, citing Alireza Marhamati, deputy governor of the province.
Iranian media broadcast images of severely damaged homes, with one video showing people gathered around a crater.
All of those killed were Pakistanis, and investigations were under way to determine why they were in the Iranian village, Mr Marhamati said.
Baloch separatists were the targets of the strikes, the Pakistani army said.
The Pakistani military has been waging a decades-long fight against separatist groups in its sparsely populated Balochistan province.
Iran condemned the action and summoned Pakistan's charge d'affaires "to protest and request an explanation from the Pakistani government", Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said.
The ministry described Pakistan's strikes as "unbalanced and unacceptable", and said Tehran expected Islamabad "to adhere to its obligations in preventing the establishment of bases and armed terrorist groups in Pakistan".
The Jaish Al Adl (Army of Justice) group has repeatedly carried out deadly attacks on Iranian security forces in recent months, and Tehran has long alleged that it operates out of rear bases across the border.
Pakistan delivered a strong rebuke to Iran over its strikes, recalling its ambassador from Tehran and blocking Iran's envoy from returning to Islamabad.
Rising Iran-Pakistan tension adds to several crises in the region, with Israel waging a war on Gaza and Houthi rebels in Yemen attacking commercial vessels in the Red Sea.
Meanwhile Afghanistan – which borders both Iran and Pakistan and is home to a small Baloch minority – said the violence between its neighbours was "alarming" and urged them to "exercise restraint".
Sistan and Baluchestan province is one of the few mainly Sunni Muslim provinces in Shiite-dominated Iran and has had persistent unrest involving cross-border drug-smuggling gangs, rebels from the Baloch ethnic minority and extremists.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Museum of the Future in numbers
- 78 metres is the height of the museum
- 30,000 square metres is its total area
- 17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
- 14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
- 1,024 individual pieces make up the exterior
- 7 floors in all, with one for administrative offices
- 2,400 diagonally intersecting steel members frame the torus shape
- 100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
- Dh145 is the price of a ticket
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Monster Hunter: World
Capcom
PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Match info
Uefa Nations League A Group 4
England 2 (Lingard 78', Kane 85')
Croatia 1 (Kramaric 57')
Man of the match: Harry Kane (England)
UAE%20FIXTURES
%3Cp%3EWednesday%2019%20April%20%E2%80%93%20UAE%20v%20Kuwait%3Cbr%3EFriday%2021%20April%20%E2%80%93%20UAE%20v%20Hong%20Kong%3Cbr%3ESunday%2023%20April%20%E2%80%93%20UAE%20v%20Singapore%3Cbr%3EWednesday%2026%20April%20%E2%80%93%20UAE%20v%20Bahrain%3Cbr%3ESaturday%2029%20April%20%E2%80%93%20Semi-finals%3Cbr%3ESunday%2030%20April%20%E2%80%93%20Third%20position%20match%3Cbr%3EMonday%201%20May%20%E2%80%93%20Final%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
'Avengers: Infinity War'
Dir: The Russo Brothers
Starring: Chris Evans, Chris Pratt, Tom Holland, Robert Downey Junior, Scarlett Johansson, Elizabeth Olsen
Four stars
THE LOWDOWN
Photograph
Rating: 4/5
Produced by: Poetic License Motion Pictures; RSVP Movies
Director: Ritesh Batra
Cast: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Sanya Malhotra, Farrukh Jaffar, Deepak Chauhan, Vijay Raaz
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champioons League semi-final, first leg:
Liverpool 5
Salah (35', 45 1'), Mane (56'), Firmino (61', 68')
Roma 2
Dzeko (81'), Perotti (85' pen)
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Australia
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Chef Nobu's advice for eating sushi
“One mistake people always make is adding extra wasabi. There is no need for this, because it should already be there between the rice and the fish.
“When eating nigiri, you must dip the fish – not the rice – in soy sauce, otherwise the rice will collapse. Also, don’t use too much soy sauce or it will make you thirsty. For sushi rolls, dip a little of the rice-covered roll lightly in soy sauce and eat in one bite.
“Chopsticks are acceptable, but really, I recommend using your fingers for sushi. Do use chopsticks for sashimi, though.
“The ginger should be eaten separately as a palette cleanser and used to clear the mouth when switching between different pieces of fish.”
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202-litre%204-cylinder%20turbo%20and%203.6-litre%20V6%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeven-speed%20automatic%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20235hp%20and%20310hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E258Nm%20and%20271Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh185%2C100%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
RACE CARD
4pm Al Bastakiya – Listed (TB) $150,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
4.35pm Dubai City Of Gold – Group 2 (TB) $228,000 (Turf) 2,410m
5.10pm Mahab Al Shimaal – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,200m
5.45pm Burj Nahaar – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,600m
6.20pm Jebel Hatta – Group 1 (TB) $260,000 (T) 1,800m
6.55pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 – Group 1 (TB) $390,000 (D) 2,000m
7.30pm Nad Al Sheba – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (T) 1,200m
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
RESULTS
5pm Wathba Stallions Cup Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner Munfared, Fernando Jara (jockey), Ahmed Al Mehairbi (trainer)
5.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Sawt Assalam, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
6pm Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner Dergham Athbah, Pat Dobbs, Mohamed Daggash
6.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner Rajee, Fernando Jara, Majed Al Jahouri
7pm Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner Kerless Del Roc, Fernando Jara, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
7.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh70,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner Pharoah King, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
8pm Conditions (PA) Dh85,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner Sauternes Al Maury, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson
