AP NewsWatch

I'm Ben Thomas with the NAP News Minute.

In Lebanon, where Israel has launched a ground invasion against Iran-backed Hezbollah

militants, the health ministry says Israeli strikes have killed 27 people in the past

day.

Iran today fired more missiles at Israel in Gulf Arab states.

A military spokesman says Tehran maintains hidden stockpiles of arms, munitions, and

production facilities.

Meanwhile, Samyakulab reports Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz is dealing a devastating

blow to Iraq's economy.

90 percent of Iraq's state budget is derived from oil sales, and we were told that before

the war, Iraq was producing more than 4 million barrels of oil per day, and that number

has been reduced drastically, up to potentially 70 percent is what we're hearing.

This oil field, for example, in Zubair in Basra used to produce 400,000 barrels per day,

and that number has come down to 215.

The AP Samyakulab reporting from Iraq, and I'm Ben Thomas.