US-Israel-Iran War Highlights: US prepares for ground operations near Iran's Strait of Hormuz, Kharg Island

Iran war news: Pentagon prepares for weeks of ground operations in Iran, reports Washington Post

The Pentagon is preparing plans for weeks of ground operations in Iran -- potentially including raids on Kharg Island and coastal sites near the Strait of Hormuz -- though President Donald Trump has not yet approved any deployment, the Washington Post reported Saturday.

Any ground operation would stop short of a full-scale invasion, instead involving raids by special operations forces and conventional infantry troops, the Post said, citing unnamed officials.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted on Friday the United States "can achieve all of our objectives without ground troops," but the Post said planning is advanced, with one official saying: "This is not last-minute planning."

Iran war news: Pakistan hikes jet fuel for 5th time in 28 days amid West Asia conflict

The Government of Pakistan on Saturday raised the price of jet fuel for commercial passenger aircraft for the fifth time in just 28 days, attributing the sharp increase to the ongoing oil crisis triggered by the ongoing conflict in West Asia, The Express Tribune reported.

According to The Express Tribune, citing a statement, Pakistan State Oil said the latest hike of PKR 5 per litre took jet fuel to a record PKR 476.97 per litre. Since March 1, the price has surged by PKR 288 per litre, up from PKR 188 at the beginning of the month amid volatile global energy markets.

Iran war news: Iran says it will strike US universities in Mid East, issues ultimatum

Iran's Revolutionary Guard on Sunday threatened to target US universities in the Middle East after saying US-Israeli strikes had destroyed two Iranian universities.

"If the US government wants its universities in the region to be free from retaliation... it must condemn the bombing of the universities in an official statement by 12 noon on Monday, March 30, Tehran time," said the statement published by Iranian media. (Reuters)

Iran war news: US condemns attack on home of the leader of autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan

The United States on Saturday condemned a drone attack on a residence of the leader of autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan, Nechirvan Barzani, blaming Iranian militia proxies in Iraq.

"These actions by Iran and its proxies are a direct assault on Iraq's sovereignty, stability, and unity," a statement from State Department deputy spokesman Tommy Pigott said. (AFP)

Iran war news: Houthis launch second missile attack on Israel amid heavy strikes acorss Tehran

Yemen's ​Iran-aligned Houthis ​said they carried ​out a second attack on Israel in less than ‌24 ⁠hours ⁠using missiles and ​drones, and vowed to continue military ​operations in the coming days, the ​group's military spokesperson ⁠Yahya Saree ‌said in ​a ​televised speech, according to Reuters.

The ⁠Houthis' entry into the conflict ​adds to regional tensions, ​particularly given their ability to strike targets far beyond Yemen and disrupt ‌shipping lanes around the Arabian Peninsula ​and ​the ⁠Red Sea, as they did in support of Hamas in ​Gaza following the October 7, 2023, attacks.

Iran war news: Israeli warplanes break sound barrier over Beirut

Israeli warplanes broke the sound barrier over Beirut on Saturday night, state media reported, as AFP journalists and residents heard loud booms reverberate across the city and in the mountains.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported Israeli planes breaking the sound barrier several times, including "over Beirut and its suburbs, Metn and Keserwan, reaching as far as the Bekaa and Hermel".

Residents heard the booms in several parts of the country.

Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war on March 2 when Iran-backed Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel after the killing of the Islamic republic's supreme leader. (AFP)

Iran war news: Strike kills two police in Iraq's Mosul

A strike on Iraq's northern Mosul city killed two police officers, the ministry of interior said, blaming the attack on the US and Israel.

The ministry said the "Zionist-American" attack also wounded five policemen, who were "targeted in the second strike while performing their humanitarian duty of rescuing their wounded colleagues" after the initial attack targeted a police station in the city centre.

The position is shared with the former paramilitary coalition the Popular Mobilisation Forces, a PMF official told AFP. The group is integrated into the army but still contains some pro-Iran factions. (AFP)

Iran war news: 9 paramedics killed in 5 separate strikes across Lebanon on Saturday

The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that nine paramedics lost their lives and seven others were injured in five separate strikes across southern Lebanon on Saturday, making it one of the most lethal days for medical personnel this month.

According to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the attacks targeted emergency response teams in several villages while they were actively carrying out their duties.

These latest casualties push the total number of health workers killed in March to at least 51, with more than 120 others wounded since the escalation intensified earlier in the month, as per figures from Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health.

The WHO warned that the strikes are significantly undermining access to medical care in southern Lebanon. Four hospitals and over 50 primary healthcare centers have been shut down, while several additional facilities are functioning at limited capacity after sustaining damage.

Lebanon’s Health Minister, Dr Rakan Nasser Al-Din, according to the CNN, told reporters that authorities have documented at least 75 attacks on the country’s health sector so far.

Presenting images of the damaged sites, he dismissed allegations that the facilities were being used for military activity, stating they were “primary healthcare centers” and rescue vehicles.

Iran war news: Iranian-backed Houthi rebels claim responsibility for missile attack on Israel

Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for a missile attack on Israel as the war in the Middle East marks its one-month anniversary.

Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, a military spokesman for the Houthis, issued a statement on Saturday on the rebel group’s Al-Masirah satellite television network. He said the Houthis fired a barrage of ballistic missiles targeting what he described as “sensitive Israeli military sites” in southern Israel.

Israel’s military had earlier said it had intercepted a missile.

The attack came after Saree signaled in a vague statement Friday that the rebels would join the war. (AP)

Thousands of US troops arrive in Middle East, says US military

Iran war news: Iran hits Middle East’s largest aluminum maker

A major global aluminium producer has said its smelter facility in Abu Dhabi sustained “significant damage” following Iranian missile and drone attacks.

Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), the Middle East’s largest aluminium producer and a key global supplier, said several employees were injured in the strike on its Al Taweelah site.

“The safety and security of our people is our top priority at EGA at all times,” said Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, CEO of the company. “We are deeply saddened and are assessing the damage to our facilities.”

EGA accounts for around 4 per cent of global aluminium production and nearly half of the output in the Gulf region.

Iran war news: Iraq PM office says Kurdistan president's home targeted in attack

The residence of Iraqi Kurdistan President Nechirvan Barzani was targeted in an attack on Saturday, according to the media office of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani.

The office said the incident will be jointly investigated by the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

Al-Sudani “affirmed the government’s commitment to preventing any outlaw actors, whether regional or international, from dragging Iraq into the ongoing conflict in the region,” the office said.

Israel army says struck Iran complex producing naval weapons

"The IDF struck the headquarters of the Iranian terrorist regime's Marine Industries Organization," the military said, adding the strike was part of a wave of attacks conducted overnight from Friday to Saturday.

"This headquarters is responsible for the research, development, and production of a wide range of naval weaponry, including surface and sub-surface vessels, manned and unmanned equipment, as well as engines and weapons."

‘Welcome to hell — leave in coffin’: Iran media warns US troops as Trump mulls ground invasion

Iran war news: Iran attack hits UAE industrial hub, damages EGA site; six injured

Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) said one of its facilities in Abu Dhabi suffered significant damage following an Iranian missile and drone attack that left six people injured, according to authorities.

In a statement, EGA said its Al Taweelah site in the Khalifa Economic Zone Abu Dhabi was hit during the strikes. “A number of EGA employees were injured. None of the injuries are life threatening,” the company said.

Earlier, the UAE defence ministry said it had intercepted the incoming drones and missiles, but falling debris triggered two fires in the Khalifa industrial zone. A third blaze was reported later in the day. All fires were subsequently brought under control.

Authorities said five Indian nationals sustained moderate to minor injuries, while a Pakistani man was also hurt in the separate incident.

The UAE, a close US ally and one of the few Arab nations to have normalised ties with Israel, has emerged as a key target of Iran’s retaliatory strikes on Gulf countries since the conflict began on February 28.

Israel Iran war: Missile debris injures 11, damages buildings in central Israel

Falling debris from a missile interception injured 11 people and damaged several buildings in Eshtaol in central Israel earlier on Saturday, the country’s emergency service Magen David Adom (MDA) said.

All the injuries were minor and caused by glass shrapnel, according to MDA.

Fire at Kuwait airport fuel tanks after drone attack

A Kuwaiti fire official said a blaze at fuel tanks at Kuwait airport, sparked by a drone attack, has been brought under control.

Qatar says Iranian drones targeted country, all intercepted

Qatar’s defence ministry said a number of drones launched from Iran targeted the country on Saturday, but all were successfully intercepted.

IRGC claims it hit US F-16 in southern Iran

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had struck a US F-16 fighter jet south of Fars province, according to state-affiliated Press TV.

US Iran War: US Central Command releases visuals targeting Iranian naval vessels

Iran war news: 'Committed to safeguard people, says Rajnath after holding review meeting on energy supply concerns

Israel Iran war: Iran Guards say dismantled US, Israeli 'cluster bombs' in southern province

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said on Saturday they had located and dismantled more than 120 unexploded cluster bombs, alleging they were dropped during recent US and Israeli attacks on a southern province.

Citing ISNA news agency, Jalal Yarmohammadi, deputy head of public relations for the Guards in Fars province, said, "So far, 122 cluster bombs have been discovered and destroyed around Shiraz and in several towns,".

It was not immediately clear when the munitions—designed to release multiple smaller bomblets—were deployed, although the statement indicated they were dropped “several days ago.”

Iran war news: Egypt to slow down some state projects for two months amid Iran war, prime minister says

Egypt will slow down major state projects that consume large amounts of fuel and diesel for the next two months to curb energy use, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said on Saturday.

The move is part of broader efforts to manage the economic fallout from the Iran war, which has pushed up energy costs and put pressure on public finances.

Separately, Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk said Egypt’s debt servicing costs are expected to rise by 5 per cent in the next fiscal year.

PM Modi speaks to Crown Prince and PM of Saudi Arabia

"Spoke with Crown Prince and PM of Saudi Arabia, HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman and discussed the ongoing conflict in West Asia. I reiterated India’s condemnation of attacks on regional energy infrastructure. We agreed on the need to ensure freedom of navigation and keeping shipping lines open and secure.Thanked him for his continued support for the welfare of the Indian community in Saudi Arabia," said the Prime Minister on X.

Israel Iran war: Israel claims they killed Hezbollah Radwan Force member

"Ali Hassan Shaib, a Hezbollah Radwan Force terrorist who operated for years under the guise of a journalist for the “Al-Manar” network. Shaib exposed IDF troop positions in southern Lebanon and maintained direct contact with Hezbollah operatives," said the IDF on X.

Houthi rebels fire missiles at Israel

The Iran-backed Houthi rebel group said it had launched missiles from Yemen towards Israel for the first time since the conflict began.

Israel Iran war: Blasts heard over Jerusalem after Iran missiles detected

Two explosions were heard over Jerusalem after the Israeli military said it had detected incoming missiles launched from Iran, according to AFP journalists

The apparent strike came shortly after Israel said it had completed a wave of airstrikes targeting sites across the Iranian capital, Tehran.

US Iran war: Iran claims strikes on US 'hideouts' in Dubai

Iran claimed it had targeted two US Army “hideouts” in Dubai, according to state media outlet Fars News Agency, quoted by ANI.

Citing a spokesperson for the Central Headquarters of Hazrat Khatam al-Anbiya, the report said US personnel had moved to these locations following earlier Iranian strikes on their bases in the region.

The spokesperson alleged that more than 500 US troops were present at the sites—around 400 at one location and about 100 at the other. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) later identified the positions and carried out what were described as precise missile and drone strikes, reportedly causing heavy casualties, the agency said.

The spokesperson added, "Trump and the commanders of the US Army must have fully understood that the region will turn into a graveyard for American soldiers, and they will have no choice but to surrender to the divine will of the heroic people and the brave warriors of Islam."

Iran military say targeted Ukrainian anti-drone system depot in UAE

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said missiles had “destroyed” a Ukrainian air-defence depot in Dubai, according to Reuters quoting Fars News Agency.

Iran war news: Maersk halts operations at Oman's Salalah port due to security incident

Danish container shipping major Maersk has temporarily halted operations at Oman’s Port of Salalah following a security incident early in the day.

In a statement, the company said all crew members are safe and accounted for, with no impact on its vessels or cargo.

The port was evacuated after the incident damaged a terminal crane, leading to a temporary suspension of operations across the facility. Maersk estimates the disruption will last around 48 hours.

The halt comes amid heightened tensions in the Gulf region following US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, which have disrupted energy and transport markets and impacted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran war news: Iran signals end to ‘restraint’ on UAE over alleged role in war, claims report

Iran’s Press TV, citing a source, reported that the UAE had actively supported the initiation and continuation of the war against Iran, and that Tehran’s leadership has now decided to end its weeks-long restraint towards the country.

Iran War News: Govt inter ministerial group to meet at 4pm

An informal Group of Ministers, headed by defence minister Rajnath Singh, is set to meet at 4 PM today to discuss the situation arising from the West Asia crisis.

US Israel Iran war: ‘Iran won’t strike first, but will retaliate hard if targeted,' says President

"We have said many times that Iran doesn't carry out preemptive attacks, but we will retaliate strongly if our infrastructure or economic centers are targeted. To the countries of the region: If you want development and security, don't let our enemies run the war from your lands," sais Pezeshkian on X.

Iran stresses trust for mediation as Pezeshkian, Sharif discuss Middle East crisis

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that building trust is essential to enable dialogue and mediation on the Middle East conflict, according to Pakistan’s prime minister’s office, reported Reuters.

Pezeshkian also commended Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach, while both leaders reviewed the ongoing hostilities in the region and efforts to de-escalate tensions during a call lasting over an hour. Sharif, in turn, briefed him on Pakistan’s engagements with the United States and Gulf countries.

Israel Iran war news: Iran says it targeted US support vessel near Omani coast

Iran announced that its forces targeted a US military support vessel early on Saturday, at a significant distance from the Omani port of Salalah.

Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said the operation was carried out while fully respecting Oman’s national sovereignty, despite taking place near its coastline.

Iran war news: Iranian steel plant halts production after US-Israeli strikes

Production at a major Iranian steel facility has been suspended following joint US-Israeli strikes, according to local media. The Khuzestan Steel Company confirmed that several units were hit, forcing a shutdown of its production lines. Elsewhere, an explosion was reported near Erbil International Airport in Iraq’s Kurdistan region, with witnesses seeing smoke rise from the area. The airport hosts US-led coalition personnel and has previously been targeted by drone attacks from pro-Iran groups. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to strengthen defence cooperation. Following talks with President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Zelensky said both sides would work together to enhance security and respond to growing regional threats.

Iran war news: Third fire reported at Khalifa Economic Zone; six injured in Abu Dhabi

Earlier reports confirmed that an early morning attack near the Khalifa Economic Zone in Abu Dhabi, close to Khalifa Port, caused debris to fall, injuring several people and damaging facilities.

The Abu Dhabi Media Office has now reported a third fire at the site.

“Authorities further confirmed an additional injury as a result of the incident, to a Pakistani national, bringing the total number of injured individuals to six, with injuries ranging from minor to moderate,” the statement said.

It added that “Authorities have controlled all three fires and the cooling process is under way.”

Iran war news: US-linked sites in Erbil targeted as Kuwait airport suffers drone strike

An explosion was reported this morning near Erbil International Airport in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region, according to an AFP journalist, while a witness said smoke was visible rising from the site.

Erbil hosts a major US consulate complex, and its airport houses military advisors attached to the US-led international anti-jihadist coalition. Drone attacks by pro-Iran armed groups are frequent in the area but are typically intercepted by air defense systems.

In a related incident, Kuwaiti authorities reported that the radar system at Kuwait International Airport was heavily damaged in a drone attack today.

Israel Iran war: Israeli strikes across southern Lebanon kill and wound multiple people

Lebanon’s National News Agency reports that Israeli strikes across southern Lebanon have killed multiple people and injured others.

The attacks on Deir Zahrani and al-Hanniyeh caused casualties, with the wounded—all Syrian nationals—rushed to hospitals in Tyre. Meanwhile, air raids targeted Beit al-Sayyad and al-Mansouri, while al-Qlailah came under heavy artillery fire.

Authorities have not released the exact number of fatalities or injuries, leaving the full scale of the impact unclear.

Israel Iran war: Houthis launch first missile attack on Israel in month-long war

The Houthis have confirmed their first attack on Israel since the outbreak of the month-long war. The Iran-aligned group said it launched a barrage of ballistic missiles targeting Israeli military sites in the southern West Bank. Earlier, the Israeli army reported detecting a missile launched from Yemen.

In a statement, the Houthis said the strike was in response to attacks on infrastructure and the killing of civilians in Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, and Palestine. The group added that its operations “will continue until the declared objectives are achieved … and until the aggression against all resistance fronts ceases.”

Iran war news: Islamic Resistance in Iraq targets Jordan’s military bases, says pro-militia outlet

The Iraqi pro‑militia outlet Sabereen has reported that the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella grouping of Iran‑aligned armed factions, has carried out attacks on multiple military installations and an airport in Jordan.

According to the report, the purported targets included King Faisal Air Base, King Abdullah II Air Base, Queen Alia Airport, Prince Hassan Air Base and Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, though no details have been provided on the impact or outcomes of those strikes.

Iran war news: Foreign worker wounded in drone attack on major Omani port

A drone attack on one of Oman's main ports wounded a foreign worker, the Gulf country's authorities said.

Two drones hit the port of Salalah in the far south of Oman, a statement carried by the country's official news agency said, injuring the worker and causing "limited" damage to a crane.

Israel Iran war news: Israeli strike hits ambulance in Kfar Tebnit, Lebanon; 1 paramedic killed, 4 injured

Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reports that an Israeli strike on a Civil Defence ambulance in southern Lebanon’s Kfar Tebnit killed one paramedic and injured four others.

The agency added that “this raid constitutes an additional war crime … and requires the international community to take measures to ensure accountability.”

Israel Iran war news: UAE says fires break out after Iran missile attack

UAE authorities said fires broke out early Saturday at an industrial zone following a missile and drone attack from Iran, leaving five people with injuries.

The United Arab Emirates' defence ministry said air defences were responding to incoming cruise missiles and drones fired by Iran, as Tehran pressed strikes in the Gulf a month into the regional war.

The Abu Dhabi government media office said in a statement posted online that authorities were dealing with two fires in the area of the emirate's Khalifa Economic Zones.

The statement said the fires had broken out due to falling debris from a "successful interception" of a ballistic missile.

A separate statement said "the incident has resulted in injuries ranging from moderate to minor sustained by five individuals of an Indian nationality".

Israel Iran War: Iran could fire large missile salvos at Israel: Think Tank report

The Think Tank Institute for the Study of War analysis says Iran could fire large missile salvos at Israel to impose psychological effects on Israeli civilians by consistently forcing them to take shelter and keeping the country under constant alert.

The report said that Iran's use of cluster munitions in its attacks on Israel reflected its inability to threaten the latter's military targets, and hence resorted to inflict psychological effects.

"Iran may be attempting to maximize the effects of its limited capacity to launch large missile salvos at Israel by launching small missile salvos throughout the day to impose psychological effects on Israeli civilians by consistently forcing them to take shelter and keeping the country under constant alert. Iran is spreading out its launches throughout the day, often pausing for several hours between launches. Spreading out ballistic missile launches over a long period of time presumably increases the number of times per day that Israeli civilians must seek shelter," the analysis said.

Iran war news: Two more merchant vessels carrying petroleum products for India are crossing Strait of Hormuz

Two more merchant vessels carrying petroleum products for India are crossing Strait of Hormuz. Indian Navy warships are on standby to provide support to them, sources told ANI.

More vessels are expected to follow soon, the sources added.

Earlier, Speaking at a joint inter-ministerial briefing, Special Secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Rajesh Kumar Sinha said authorities are closely monitoring the situation and maintaining coordination with various stakeholders.

"In the Gulf region, there has been no information in the last 24 hours regarding any incident involving Indian-flagged ships or Indian seafarers. All are safe," Sinha said.

He added that Indian ships operating in the Persian Gulf are also safe.

"In the Persian Gulf, there are 20 ships sailing under the Indian flag, with around 540 Indians onboard, and they are also safe," he said.

Sinha further said the Directorate General of Shipping has been actively responding to queries and concerns through its communication centre.

"In the last 24 hours, the DG Shipping communication centre, which operates 24 hours a day, received 98 calls and 335 emails, all of which were responded to," he said.

On Friday, India reiterated its urgent call for the preservation of safe and uninterrupted maritime transit through the Strait of Hormuz, emphasising that international law must be upheld amidst the deteriorating security situation in West Asia. The government confirmed it is maintaining a vigilant watch over regional volatilities to protect national energy interests.

Israel Iran War: 'Islamic Nato' in motion? Pakistan to host Turkey, Saudi, Egypt amid Iran war

Is an “Islamic Nato” finally taking shape? The question is gaining traction as Pakistan trying hard in positioning itself as a diplomatic player in the ongoing conflict involving neighbouring Iran, now a month into escalating tensions with the US and Israel.

Days earlier, Donald Trump publicly validated Pakistan’s outreach, sharing a post by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who said, "Pakistan welcomes and fully supports ongoing efforts to pursue dialogue to end the war in the Middle East, in the interest of peace and stability in the region and beyond," he said.

Pakistan, itself grappling with internal instability and recently been involved in military tensions with neighbouring Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, has now invited Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia for a key meeting.

Pakistan is set to host a quadrilateral meeting of foreign ministers from the four nations on March 30 to discuss regional developments, including the US-Iran war, according to state media. The meeting will be the first of its kind since the conflict began.

Israel Iran War: Indian navy warships on standby as two petrol vessels cross Strait of Hormuz; drones attack Oman port

Two more merchant vessels carrying petroleum products for India are crossing Strait of Hormuz. Indian Navy warships are on standby to provide support to them. More vessels are expected to follow soon: Sources

Israel Iran war: Bahrain urges calm as warning sirens sound

Bahrain’s interior ministry has urged citizens and residents to remain calm and move to the nearest safe location after warning sirens were activated.

In a brief statement posted on X, the ministry did not provide further details on the cause of the alert.