Explosions heard in Bahrain's capital: AFP Fresh explosions have been heard in Bahrain's capital of Manama, according to AFP. Air defence systems intercepted two missiles, while several blasts rocked the city after air sirens were activated. This came shortly after Bahrain's Ministry of Interior issued a directive to residents to seek shelter.
UK allowing US use of military bases could violate international law, rights groups warn Submitted by Katherine Hearst on Sat, 03/21/2026 - 11:47 Human Rights Watch calls for 'urgent clarification' from Prime Minister Keir Starmer on whether base usage compliant with international law Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks to the media on the situation in the Middle East, at Downing Street in central London on 16 March 2026 (AFP) Off Rights groups are sounding the alarm over the legality of UK involvement in US military strikes on Iran , following the government's decision to allow American use of its military bases. In a letter to the prime minister, attorney general and foreign secretary seen by Middle East Eye, Human Rights Watch UK director Yasmine Ahmed demanded "urgent clarification" on the steps taken by the government to ensure that US military strikes conducted from its bases are compliant with international humanitarian law. Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed in early March that the UK had agreed to allow the US to use its military bases for what he said were defensive purposes.
Attack on western Iran's Ahvaz kills child A child has been killed in a US or Israeli attack on the city of Ahvaz, in Iran's southwestern Khuzestan province, Mehr news agency is reporting. Valiullah Hayati, a deputy governor of the province, said the child's parents were also wounded in the attack, adding that an unexploded projectile had also struck a residential house in Aghajari, another city to the east. No casualties were reported in the second strike.
UK allows US to use bases for Iran war after missiles fired at Diego Garcia Submitted by Alex MacDonald on Sat, 03/21/2026 - 10:55 UK expands involvement in US-Israeli war after missiles fail to hit Indian Ocean military base Iranians attend the funeral ceremony of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps spokesperson Ali Mohammad Naini, who was killed in US-Israeli strikes, in Tehran on 21 March 2026 (STR / AFP) Off The UK has agreed to let the US use its bases for its war on Iran , following an apparent Iranian missile strike against Diego Garcia. Iran fired two intermediate-range ballistic missiles at the US-UK military base in the Indian Ocean but did not hit it, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing multiple US officials. One of the missiles failed in flight, while a US warship fired an SM-3 interceptor at the other.
Couple and child killed in US-Israeli attack on Iran's Ramsar City A couple and their child have been killed in a US-Israeli attack on Iran's Ramsar city, the coastal city's governor, Mehdi Younesi is reporting. Younesi told reporters at a news conference that the family had been killed in an attack on their home. “Targeting defenceless citizens reflects the peak of helplessness and helplessness of the perpetrators of this attack,” he said.
Israel says it killed four Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon The Israeli army has said its soldiers killed four Hezbollah fighters in air and ground operations in southern Lebanon overnight. In a statement on Telegram, the military also claimed that its air force had struck “a number of Hezbollah headquarters” in Beirut.
Missile attack on Iraqi intelligence headquarters kills one One officer has been killed in a drone strike on the Iraqi intelligence headquarters in Baghdad, the National Intelligence Service reported in a statement. The statement said that the attack was conducted by "outlaw groups". Earlier, the Iraqi News Agency reported that a drone had struck the headquarters, which is located in the Mansour district, at 10:15am local time.
Morning update Good morning Middle East Eye readers, here are the latest updates: Iran fired two ballistic missiles at the US-British military base Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, US media is reporting. According to reports, neither hit the base on the Chagos Islands. Meanwhile a new wave of overnight Israeli strikes pummelled Tehran and Beirut.
Iran targeted but did not hit US-UK military base with missiles Iran fired two intermediate-range ballistic missiles at the ‘Diego Garcia’ US-UK military base in the Indian Ocean but did not hit it, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing multiple US officials. One of the missiles failed in flight, while a US warship fired an SM-3 interceptor at the other. It could not be determined if the interception succeeded, WJS said.
Israeli military says it is striking Hezbollah targets in Beirut Early on Saturday the Israeli military said it was striking Hezbollah targets in Lebanese capital Beirut. A military spokesman earlier issued a warning to residents of Beirut's southern suburbs to evacuate ahead of strikes.
Latest reports of live fire in the war Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry said early Saturday it downed 20 drones in just a couple of hours in the eastern region, one of the kingdom’s least dense regions but close to Iran and home to major oil installations. The ministry did not immediately report casualties or damage. Israel said it detected a new missile launch from Iran targeting it early Saturday morning.
Iran threatens to attack ‘tourist destinations’ Iran has threatened to expand its retaliatory attacks to include recreational and tourist sites worldwide, Al Jazeera is reporting, citing Iran’s top military spokesman General Abolfazl Shekarchi. On Friday, Shekarchi warned “parks, recreational areas and tourist destinations” worldwide won’t be safe for the country’s enemies. The threat renewed concerns Iran may revert to using asymmetric attacks beyond the Middle East as a pressure tactic.
US authorizes temporary delivery and sale of oil originating from Iran The United States on Friday gave a 30-day authorization for the delivery and sale of crude oil and petroleum products of Iranian-origin loaded vessels, according to the US Treasury Department.
Trump says US getting close to meeting objectives in Iran war President Donald Trump said on Friday the US was getting very close to meeting its objectives and called on countries that use the Strait of Hormuz to guard and police it "as necessary. " "The Hormuz Strait will have to be guarded and policed, as necessary, by other Nations who use it - The United States does not! " Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
'Punish Iran': Saudi Arabia and UAE inch closer to supporting US-Israeli war Earlier this month, Elbridge Colby, a senior official in the US Department of War, held a call with Saudi Arabian Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman, who is also the brother and top adviser to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Iran’s attacks on US bases in the Gulf were heating up, and the US needed expanded access and overflight permissions. Saudi Arabia agreed to open King Fahd Air Base in Taif, in Western Saudi Arabia, to the Americans, multiple US and western officials familiar with the matter told Middle East Eye.
US military readies plan for ground troops in Iran: Report The US Department of War has produced detailed plans involving the use of ground troops in the war on Iran, CBS News reported on Friday, citing unnamed officials. The plans include options for the president in scenarios where Iranians are captured and detained, as well as how to handle paramilitary forces. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told CBS that it's normal procedure for the Pentagon to ensure President Donald Trump has several options at his disposal, and that it "does not mean the president has made a decision" to deploy soldiers anywhere.
Iran says will ‘exercise our legitimate right to self-defence’ Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says the country will “exercise our legitimate right to self-defence” in response to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s decision to allow the US to use UK bases to carry out strikes on Iranian missile sites targeting shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. In a post on social media, Araghchi said “the vast majority of the British people” do not want to get involved in the US-Israel war on Iran. Araghchi said by allowing UK bases to be “used for aggression against Iran”, Starmer is “putting British lives in danger” as “Iran will exercise its right to self-defence”.
US military readies plan for ground troops in Iran: Report Submitted by MEE staff on Fri, 03/20/2026 - 18:37 President Donald Trump has not yet made a decision on the matter, the White House says A US Marine Corps F-35C Lightning II prepares to make an arrested landing on the flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, in support of the US-Israeli war on Iran, from an undisclosed location, on 7 March 2026 (US Navy via Reuters) Off The US Department of War has produced detailed plans involving the use of ground troops in the war on Iran, CBS News reported on Friday, citing unnamed officials. The plans include options for the president in scenarios where Iranians were captured and detained, as well as how to handle paramilitary forces. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told CBS that it's normal procedure for the Pentagon to ensure Donald Trump has several options at his disposal, and that it "does not mean the president has made a decision" to deploy soldiers anywhere.
‘I may have a plan, I may not’: Trump on attacking Kharg Island While leaving the White House on Friday afternoon, Trump was asked about plans to have US forces further target Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf, which is vital to Iran’s oil network. “I may have a plan I may not”, he responded but said he wouldn’t tell reporters one way or the other. “It’s certainly a place that people are talking about.
'Punish Iran': Saudi Arabia and UAE inch closer to supporting US-Israeli war Submitted by Sean Mathews on Fri, 03/20/2026 - 17:29 The kingdom has given the US wider access to new bases, but experts say joining offensive operations opens 'can of worms' Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during the US-Saudi Investment Forum at the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, on 19 November 2025 (Brendan Smialowski/AFP) Off Earlier this month, Elbridge Colby, a senior official in the US Department of War, held a call with Saudi Arabian Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman, who is also the brother and top adviser to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Iran’s attacks on US bases in the Gulf were heating up, and the US needed expanded access and overflight permissions. Saudi Arabia agreed to open King Fahd Air Base in Taif, in Western Saudi Arabia, to the Americans, multiple US and western officials familiar with the matter told Middle East Eye.
