Iran war news: Iran taunts Trump with ‘you’re fired’ as Hormuz deadline nears
Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya central headquarters, taunted Donald Trump as the US president’s deadline to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz approaches.
“Hey Trump, YOU’RE FIRED! You’re familiar with this sentence. Thank you for your attention to this matter,” Zolfaghari said in an English-language video message.
Iran has also warned it will launch punishing retaliatory strikes if the US follows through on its threat to target the country’s energy infrastructure should the Strait remain blockaded.
Iran war news: China urges halt to Hormuz conflict, warns of vicious cycle
China’s foreign ministry warned that continued escalation around the Strait of Hormuz could push the entire region into a “vicious cycle” driven by the use of force, as it strongly urged all parties to halt military operations and return to dialogue to prevent a broader crisis.
Iran war news: China warns of vicious cycle if Strait of Hormuz tensions escalate
China foreign ministry warns Strait of Hormuz tensions could push region into vicious cycle if war expands
Iran war news: EAM Jaishankar talks to German counterpart on West Asia conflict
PM Modi to address Lok Sabha at 2 pm on key aspects of West Asia conflict
At 2 PM today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the Lok Sabha on key aspects of the ongoing West Asia conflict.
Iran war news: Indonesia plans $4.7 billion savings to cushion impact of US-Israel war
Indonesia is planning budget savings of up to 80 trillion rupiah ($4.7 billion) to shield its economy from the impact of the US-Israel war against Iran, according to a government report cited by AFP.
The Southeast Asian nation is also considering fuel-saving steps, including introducing one day of remote work each week for government employees and select public sector workers.
President Prabowo Subianto said the government is making “every effort” to reduce costs by cutting energy consumption and accelerating renewable energy production, particularly solar power.
Iran Israel war news: Air‑raid sirens sound in Haifa after Iran launches missiles toward Israel
Israeli forces intercepted a small number of missiles launched from Iran, with debris landing in the northern city of Safed, according to Channel 12. Air‑raid sirens sounded across northern Israel, including Haifa, but no injuries or property damage were reported. The attack came after several hours of relative calm in the region.
Israel Iran war: ‘You hit electricity, we hit electricity’: Iran warns of attacks on plants powering US bases
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) rejected US claims that Tehran plans to destroy water desalination plants in the Gulf region.
“What we have done is to announce our decision that in the event of an attack on power plants, Iran will retaliate by targeting the power plants of the occupying regime [Israel] and the power plants of the countries in the region that supply power to American bases, and at the same time, the economic, industrial and energy infrastructure in which the Americans are shareholders,” the IRGC said.
“You hit our hospital, we didn’t do that. You hit our aid centres, we didn’t do that; you hit our schools, we didn’t do that. But if you hit the electricity, we will hit the electricity,” it added.
The IRGC said it would respond to any threat in kind to deter such attacks.
US Iran war: Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore stocks fall on US-Iran tensions
Asian stocks fell sharply as US President Donald Trump and Iranian leaders exchanged threats of strikes and counter-strikes, raising fears of a prolonged conflict and a possible closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil passes.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index dropped 3.3 percent to 24,435.74, while Shanghai’s Composite Index fell 2.3 percent to 3,867.51.
Singapore’s Straits Times Index was down 2.1 percent at 4,884.71 as of 0400 GMT on Monday. The Philippine Stock Exchange fell 3.17 percent, and Thailand’s Stock Exchange declined 2.15 percent.
Israel Iran war: Why is stock market down today? Rs 11 lakh crore wiped out! BSE Sensex crashes over 1,800 points – top reasons for fall
Stock market crash today: Nifty50 and BSE Sensex plunged in trade on Monday with oil prices continuing to remain high amid the ongoing US-Iran war. While Nifty50 went below 23,000, BSE Sensex dropped over 1,800 points. At 10:27 AM, Nifty50 was trading at 22,556.85, down 558 points or 2.41%. BSE Sensex was at 72,767.73, down 1,765 points or 2.37%.
Investor sentiment continues to weaken amid escalating tensions between Iran and the US, a falling rupee, and other global concerns.The broad-based selloff eroded close to Rs 11 lakh crore in market capitalisation of BSE-listed companies, bringing the total valuation down to Rs 418 lakh crore, according to an ET report.
Iran war news: Australia and Singapore sign deal to secure energy supplies amid Iran conflict
Australia and Singapore announced that they have signed an agreement to enhance coordination and ensure uninterrupted trade in key energy supplies amid the ongoing US-Israeli conflict with Iran.
According to the statement, the cooperation deal covers diesel and liquefied natural gas.
“We are committed to working together to strengthen energy supply chain resilience, including by deepening regional cooperation, accelerating renewable energy transition, addressing unjustified import and export restrictions, and maintaining open trade flows,” the statement said.
“Peace through strength,” US President Donald Trump declared on Monday, describing it as being put “mildly,” as his 48-hour ultimatum to Iran ends, following threats from the Tehran regime that the Strait of Hormuz would be closed if the Washington-Tel Aviv partnership continues to escalate actions against the Islamic Republic.
Trump wrote on Truth Social: “PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH, TO PUT IT MILDLY!!!”
US Iran war: Trump signals tougher stance as Iran war escalates
‘Peace through strength, to put it mildly’, US President Donald Trump signalled next move as 48-hour ultimatum to Iran ends today.
Israel Iran war news: Cluster warheads from Iran hit skies over Tel Aviv
Missiles lit up the night sky over Tel Aviv as air raid sirens sounded across the city and Israeli defenses worked to intercept incoming threats from Iran.
Iran has increasingly used cluster-style warheads that break apart in midair, releasing smaller explosives that can still reach the ground even after interception.
US Iran war: ‘Global economy facing a major, major threat today,’ says IEA chief
International Energy Agency (IEA) director Fatih Birol spoke at the National Press Club in Canberra, comparing the current energy crisis to the crises of the 1970s and the impact of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
“This crisis, as things stand, is now two oil crises and one gas crash put all together,” Birol said.
He added, “The global economy is facing a major, major threat today, and I very much hope that this issue will be resolved as soon as possible… No country will be immune to the effects of this crisis if it continues to go in this direction. So there is a need for global efforts.”
Iran war news: Iranian Red Crescent says emergency teams search rubble in Urmia
The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) said emergency teams are at a residential area in northwestern Urmia, near the borders of Turkiye and Iraq, that was destroyed in an airstrike.
Footage shared by the group shows a building with walls and windows blown out, while rescue workers search through the rubble.
The IRCS said relief personnel are assisting “injured compatriots,” though the number of wounded is not yet known.
US Iran war: US strikes Iran’s Qom turbine engine production plant; before-after images reveal scale of damage
Iran war news: UAE air defences respond to incoming missile threat from Iran
The UAE’s National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority says the country’s air defence systems are currently responding to an incoming missile threat from Iran and has urged people to stay in a safe place. The alert comes as the UAE’s air defence forces intercept missiles and drones launched from Iran amid the wider regional conflict.
US Iran war: Iranians march in border cities against US-Israel attacks
Iranians took to the streets in multiple cities to protest the ongoing US-Israel war and the threat of continued bombardments, Fars news agency reported.
Late on Sunday, a large crowd gathered in the southeastern city of Kerman, waving flags and carrying images of the country’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, according to Fars.
Similar demonstrations were reported in South Khorasan Province near the Afghanistan border, in Urmia in West Azerbaijan Province near the Turkiye and Iraq borders, and in Ardabil near the border with Azerbaijan.
Israel Iran war news: Israel launches ‘wide-scale wave of strikes’ on Tehran infrastructure
Israeli forces have launched a wide-scale wave of strikes targeting Iranian infrastructure in Tehran, the military said, signalling a sharp escalation in the conflict.
In northwestern Iran, an airstrike flattened residential buildings in Urmia, with rescue teams searching for people trapped under the rubble, according to state-affiliated Nour News.
Iran war news: Oil steady as US-Iran tensions offset by prospect of more Iranian supply
Oil prices were largely steady on Monday as investors weighed escalating US-Iran threats to target energy infrastructure against the potential release of millions of barrels of Iranian oil into global markets following Washington’s decision to lift sanctions.
Brent crude futures slipped 8 cents to $112.11 a barrel, after closing at their highest level since July 2022 in the previous session.
Israel Iran war news: Explosions rock Tehran as air defences activated across capital
As reported by Al Jazeera, a series of powerful explosions were heard across central, southern, and eastern Tehran.
Iran’s air defence systems were also activated across the capital in response.
Israel Iran War News: ‘Enough is enough’: Schumer demands end to Iran war, flags rising costs
Chuck Schumer, the US Senate’s minority leader, has called for an end to the American military operation against Iran.
“Enough is enough. End this war,” he said in a statement posted on X.
Schumer added that even some Republican senators have admitted they are unclear about the administration’s objectives in the Middle East.
In an earlier post on X, he also criticised the rising cost of the conflict, saying tens of billions of dollars are being spent on the war, with average gasoline prices reaching $3.94 per gallon.
Iran war news: US-Israel strike hits Iran broadcaster in Bandar Abbas; 1 dead
US and Israeli forces struck a 100-kilowatt AM transmitter operated by the Persian Gulf Central Broadcasting Company in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas, according to Iran’s Mehr news agency.
The attack left one person dead and another injured, the report said, citing the broadcaster’s director general. Despite the strike, the company’s programmes continue to be aired without disruption.
Iran war news:Iran is posing direct threat to Europe: Israeli PM Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday said the US and Israel would continue to act against Iran.
Netanyahu visited Arad, which was hit by Iran on Sunday.
The Prime Minister’s Office said in a post on X, “Iran continues to prove why they are an enemy to civilization and the free world, while now posing a direct threat to European countries. Israel and the US will continue to act with great force against the Ayatollah terror regime.”
Netanyahu visited Dimona and said, “If anyone needed an explanation of why Iran is the enemy of civilisation, and the enemy and the danger to the entire world. You got it in the last 48 hours. In the last 48 hours, they fired a terror weapon on civilians, on children. There’s a children’s nursery here. There’s an old person’s home here. Civilians, families, they fire terror weapons on civilians, and often they use cluster bombs, which are forbidden by international law.”
“The second thing that they did was that they fired on Jerusalem right next to the holy places. They sent ballistic missiles that could have destroyed the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Western Wall. The three holiest sites to the three monotheistic religions, they don’t care. They’re firing on everything. The third thing they did is they fired an intercontinental ballistic missile 4,000 kilometres right into Diego Garcia, the American-British base,” he added.
Israel Iran War News: Indian injured from falling missile debris in Abu Dhabi
The Abu Dhabi Media Office said on Monday that an Indian national suffered minor injuries from falling debris after the UAE’s air defence systems successfully intercepted a ballistic missile targeting the country’s capital.
The incident occurred in Abu Dhabi’s Al Shawamekh area, it said.
In a post on X, the Abu Dhabi Media Office said, “Relevant authorities in Abu Dhabi have responded to an incident involving debris falling in the Al Shawamekh area following the successful interception of a ballistic missile by air defence systems. The incident resulted in a minor injury to an Indian national. The public is reminded to obtain information from official sources only and avoid spreading rumours or unverified information.”
Iran war news: ‘Exercise increased caution,’ US issues worldwide advisory for its citizens
US department of state consular affairs, in a social media post on X, said, “Worldwide Caution: The department of state advises Americans worldwide, and especially in the Middle East, to exercise increased caution. Americans abroad should follow the guidance in security alerts issued by the nearest US embassy or consulate. Periodic airspace closures may cause travel disruptions.”
“US diplomatic facilities, including outside the Middle East, have been targeted. Groups supportive of Iran may target other US interests overseas or locations associated with the United States and/or Americans throughout the world,” it added.
Israel Iran War News: Gulf air defenses intercept missiles and drones, sirens in Bahrain
Kuwait said early Monday that its air defenses are intercepting hostile missile and drone attacks, while the UAE said its air defenses are dealing with missile and drone strikes coming from Iran.
Air raid sirens have sounded in Bahrain.
Iran war news: Starmer, Trump discuss reopening Strait of Hormuz amid crisis
Keir Starmer and Donald Trump held a phone call on Sunday to discuss the escalating Middle East conflict and the urgent need to reopen the Strait of Hormuz effects on global trade and economic stability.
The conversation comes ahead of a Cobra meeting that Starmer is set to chair on Monday, focusing on the impact of the conflict on the UK’s cost of living, energy prices, and supply chains. Officials said the meeting will consider both domestic measures and international coordination to mitigate the crisis.
The discussions underscore the high-level coordination between the UK and US as they navigate the evolving Iran war, with both leaders emphasizing the need for urgent, collaborative action to restore safe passage through one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints.
Iran war news: Influential Iraqi pro-Iran group prolongs pause in US embassy attacks
Iran war news: Air Defences intercepts 25 UAVs, 4 ballistic missiles in latest Iranian attack
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Sunday said its air defence systems intercepted multiple Iranian aerial threats, including 25 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and 4 ballistic missiles, amid continuing West Asia conflict.
In a post on X, the Ministry of Defence said, “UAE Air Defences engaged Iranian Ballistic and Cruise Missiles and UAVs Attacks,” intercepting 25 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and 4 ballistic missiles in the latest wave of Iranian “attacks”.
The ministry also released cumulative figures of attacks since the “onset of the blatant Iranian aggression.”
According to the statement, 1,773 UAVs, 15 cruise missiles, and 345 ballistic missiles have been recorded to be intercepted since the start of the escalation.
Earlier, the United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Defence announced that the nation’s military capabilities are actively engaged in defensive operations following a fresh wave of aerial attacks on Sunday morning. According to an official statement from the Ministry, the country’s air defences are “currently responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran.”
Israel Iran War News: Strait of Hormuz open to all except those who violate Iranian soil: Iran President
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday took a jab at US President Donald Trump’s statement and said that the illusion of erasing Iran from the map shows desperation against the will of a history-making nation.
Pezeshkian said that the Strait of Hormuz remains open to all nations except Iran’s enemies.
In a post on X, he said, “The illusion of erasing Iran from the map shows desperation against the will of a history-making nation. Threats and terror only strengthen our unity. The Strait of Hormuz is open to all except those who violate our soil. We firmly confront delirious threats on the battlefield.”
Iran war news: IDF spokesman says ‘several more weeks’ of fighting still to come
IDF spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said Israel expects “several more weeks of fighting” against Hezbollah and Iranian forces in Lebanon.
He added that Israel is gradually weakening what he called the “terror regime” and its proxies, vowing that they will not be allowed to threaten the State of Israel.
Iran war news: How many people have been killed in the US-Israeli war on Iran?
Thousands have been killed across the Middle East since US and Israeli strikes on Iran triggered a wider conflict, with casualties reported across multiple countries as of March 22.
In Iran, rights group HRANA put the toll at 3,230, including 1,406 civilians, though official figures range between 1,270 and 1,332. Lebanon has reported around 1,029 deaths from Israeli strikes, while Iraq has recorded at least 60 fatalities.
Israel has reported over a dozen civilian deaths along with military casualties, while the United States has lost 13 service members. Smaller death tolls have also been reported in United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Syria, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, reflecting the widening regional impact of the conflict.
Iran war news: Trump’s changing course on Strait of Hormuz strategy raises questions about US war preparation
Amid the ongoing conflict with Iran, Donald Trump is facing mounting criticism over his changing approach to reopening the Strait of Hormuz, with opponents questioning US war preparedness.
Trump has moved from calls for diplomatic resolution and sanctions relief to issuing a 48-hour ultimatum threatening to “obliterate” Iran’s power plants if the waterway is not reopened. His aides have defended the shift as a pressure tactic, but critics say it reflects a lack of a clear exit strategy.
Democratic senators Ed Markey and Chris Murphy accused Trump of miscalculating the conflict, with Markey calling the threat a potential “war crime” and Murphy alleging the president is “panicking” amid the escalating crisis.
Israel Iran War News: NATO chief ‘absolutely convinced’ alliance will reopen Strait of Hormuz
Nato chief Mark Rutte said he is “absolutely convinced” that NATO will be able to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, amid escalating tensions with Iran.
Speaking to Fox News, Rutte responded to criticism from Donald Trump, saying the alliance needed time to calibrate its response due to the sensitive nature of the military operation.
He said European allies and global partners have been coordinating over the past weeks to plan a collective approach alongside the US. Rutte also described the American operation as “crucial,” citing what he called an “existential threat” from Iran.
Israel Iran War News: Three strikes target Iraqi pro-Iranian group
Three strikes targeted an influential pro-Iranian armed group in its stronghold south of the capital late Sunday, while another targeted a US diplomatic and logistic centre at Baghdad International Airport.
The US diplomatic and logistics hub is located in the international airport complex, which has been repeatedly targeted since the start of the war in the Middle East on February 28.
It was targeted eight times overnight, and an Iraqi security source — who spoke anonymously citing sensitivities — said on Saturday that there had been several waves of American departures from the facility to the airport.
Pro-Iran armed groups have claimed responsibility for attacks on US interests in Iraq and across the region, while strikes have also targeted these groups.
Late Sunday, three strikes targeted the former paramilitary coalition Hashed al-Shaabi, also known as the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), which is part of Iraq’s regular armed forces but also includes some pro-Iranian groups.
An official with the influential pro-Iranian Kataeb Hezbollah said the three strikes had targeted them.
Iran war news: Iran threatens to close the Strait of Hormuz if US targets energy infrastructure
Iran’s military has threatened to shut the Strait of Hormuz indefinitely if the US carries out strikes on its power plants, as warned by Donald Trump.
It said the vital shipping route would stay closed until any damaged energy infrastructure is fully rebuilt. Tehran also warned it would target Israeli energy and communications networks, as well as companies in the region with US shareholders.
Israel Iran War News: ‘Prelude to ground invasion’, Lebanon president as Israel strikes power infrastructure
Lebanese president Joseph Aoun warned that Israel’s destruction of infrastructure and vital facilities in southern Lebanon could be a precursor to a ground invasion.
Condemning the attacks, he said they “constitute a dangerous escalation and a blatant violation of Lebanese sovereignty and are a prelude to a ground invasion, which Lebanon has repeatedly warned against through diplomatic channels.”
Israel Iran war: Iran war not to end soon? Treasury’s Bessent says US has ‘plenty of money to fund this war’
US treasury secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday said the United States has “plenty of money to fund” its war against Iran, asserting that President Donald Trump is keeping “all options on the table” amid the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Speaking to NBC News, Bessent defended the administration’s actions, saying Trump acted within his legal authority.”President Trump was within his authority under the War Powers Act to initiate this action, and we actually now have plenty of money to fund this war. What we are doing is supplemental,” he said.
“President Trump has built up the military as he did in his first term, as he is now doing in his second term, and he wants to make sure that the military is well supplied going forward,” he added.
Israel Iran war: Israel to ‘advance targeted ground operations’ in Lebanon
Israel’s military will expand its ground operations in Lebanon against Hezbollah, its army chief said Sunday, warning that the offensive against the group was still in its early stages.
“The operation against the Hezbollah terrorist organisation has only begun… This is a prolonged operation,” Zamir said in a statement.
“We are now preparing to advance the targeted ground operations and strikes according to an organised plan,” he added.
Israel Iran war: Israel orders intensified strikes on bridges, homes in Southern Lebanon
Israel’s defence minister Israel Katz on Sunday said he has ordered the military to step up the destruction of bridges and houses in southern Lebanon, raising concerns over the scale of the ongoing offensive against Hezbollah.
In a statement, Katz said Israeli forces have been instructed to target additional bridges over the Litani River, alleging that the Iran-backed group is using them to move reinforcements to the south.
However, the routes are also used by civilians, including those attempting to flee north to safer areas. The move has heightened fears that Israel is aiming to effectively cut off large parts of southern Lebanon from the rest of the country.
The escalation comes amid a widening offensive that has already killed more than 1,000 people and displaced over 1 million across Lebanon.
Israel Iran war: Iran says 25 arrested for alleged links to US, Israel
Iran’s intelligence ministry said 25 people have been arrested on suspicion of working with the United States and Israel. According to officials, 23 individuals were detained in Markaz province in west-central Iran for allegedly sharing coordinates of military sites with an international media platform it claims is linked to Israel, and for attempting to incite “street unrest”.
The ministry said two more suspects were arrested in the northeastern province of Golestan, accused of plotting attacks on police centres, as reported by the semiofficial Mehr news agency.
Authorities also said they had identified the “criminal activities” of 15 Persian-speaking individuals based abroad who were allegedly acting as agents of Israel, and shared the information with the judiciary.
Iran has previously warned citizens abroad against cooperating with entities linked to the US or Israel, saying such actions could lead to confiscation of their property in the country.
Israel Iran war: Fresh Iranian missile salvo detected
Israel’s military said it has detected a new wave of missiles launched from Iran towards its territory, marking what Israeli media reports as the eighth salvo since midnight.
According to Times of Israel reports, air raid sirens are expected to sound in southern parts of the country as air defence systems move to intercept the incoming projectiles.
Iran war news: PM Modi chairs CCS meet to review supplies, mitigation plan amid Middle East crisis
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security to review the situation arising from the ongoing West Asia conflict and assess ongoing and proposed mitigation measures.
Short-, medium- and long-term steps to ensure the continued availability of essential supplies were discussed in detail. The meeting also reviewed alternate sources of fertilisers to secure future availability for farmers.
Officials discussed measures to diversify import sources for key sectors, including chemicals, pharmaceuticals and petrochemicals, while also exploring new export destinations to promote Indian goods in the near future.
‘Strait open to all except violators’: Iran’s Pezeshkian warns against threats
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said attempts to “erase Iran” reflect desperation, asserting that threats would only strengthen national unity amid the ongoing conflict.
“The illusion of erasing Iran from the map shows desperation against the will of a history-making nation. Threats and terror only strengthen our unity,” he said.
Pezeshkian added that the Strait of Hormuz remains open but issued a warning to adversaries, saying, “The Strait of Hormuz is open to all except those who violate our soil. We firmly confront delirious threats on the battlefield.”
Iran war news: Turkish FM engages Iran, Egypt, US and EU in efforts to de-escalate war
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has held talks with counterparts from Iran, Egypt, the United States and the European Union to discuss steps to end the ongoing conflict, a Turkish diplomatic source told Reuters.
According to the source, Fidan held separate calls with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, and US officials, though no further details were shared.
Iran war news: IDF says it hit arms sites, intelligence and military HQs in overnight Tehran strikes
The Israeli military said it carried out overnight airstrikes in Tehran, targeting multiple Iranian weapons production facilities and key military and intelligence headquarters.
According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Israeli Air Force fighter jets struck an army training base that included a storage site for anti-aircraft missiles, a weapons production and storage facility linked to Iran’s defence ministry, and a weapons production site of the IRGC air force.
The strikes also targeted the headquarters of Iran’s intelligence ministry and the Khatam al-Anbiya central command.
The IAF said dozens of bombs were dropped during the operation, describing it as part of a “phase of deepening the damage to the core systems of the Iranian terror regime and its foundations.”
Iran war news: IRGC warns of Strait of Hormuz closure if power plants are targeted
The IRGC has issued a statement warning that if power plants are targeted, the Strait of Hormuz will be “completely” closed and will not reopen until the facilities are rebuilt.
It also said Israel’s power plants, energy infrastructure, and information and communication systems would be “extensively targeted”, adding that companies in the region with American shareholders would be “completely destroyed”.
The statement further warned that power plants in countries hosting US bases in the region would be considered legitimate targets.
Tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate as the conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States widens, raising fears of a broader regional war.
In the Gulf, Saudi Arabia reported that three ballistic missiles were detected near its capital on Sunday. According to its Defense Ministry, one missile was successfully intercepted while the remaining two landed in an uninhabited area. Authorities also said five drones were shot down overnight. A brief civil defense alert issued early Sunday was lifted within minutes after officials determined there was no ongoing threat. These incidents come amid continued Iranian retaliation against Gulf nations following US-Israeli strikes, with some attacks reportedly targeting energy infrastructure, heightening concerns over global oil supply disruptions.
Meanwhile, in Israel, the human toll continues to rise. Iranian missile strikes on the southern towns of Arad and Dimona left more than 100 people injured, including children. Israeli officials said air defense systems failed to intercept the incoming missiles. Medics reported 75 injured in Arad, with 10 in serious condition, and 33 others wounded earlier in Dimona. Residential areas sustained heavy damage, underscoring the growing vulnerability of civilian zones.
In Washington, the Pentagon is actively preparing contingency plans for a possible expansion of US military involvement. According to reports, officials have developed strategies for the potential deployment of ground troops into Iran, although Donald Trump has publicly stated he is not currently planning to authorize such a move. The US military has nonetheless increased readiness, positioning elements of the 82nd Airborne Division and Marine units closer to the region. Naval deployments carrying thousands of Marines are also underway, signaling a significant buildup aimed at preserving strategic flexibility.
Diplomatic tensions persist alongside military developments. Japan confirmed that one of two nationals detained in Iran has been released after months in custody, while efforts continue to secure the release of the second detainee, reportedly a journalist. Japanese officials say negotiations are ongoing with Iranian counterparts.
The conflict, which intensified following coordinated US-Israeli strikes late last month, shows no signs of de-escalation. With continued missile exchanges, military mobilization, and geopolitical fallout affecting energy markets and international relations, the situation remains highly volatile and unpredictable.
