Israeli strikes hit Bekaa Valley as army claims fighters killed in south Two Israeli air strikes hit the town of Shamshtar in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, Al Jazeera Arabic reported. Separately, Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee said Israeli forces killed fighters in southern Lebanon shortly after they carried out a drone attack. He said the strike had wounded Israeli soldiers during a ground operation involving the 226th Brigade, adding that troops from the 146th Division responded and killed those responsible within minutes.
Washington DC [US], March 31 (ANI): US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine said on Tuesday that Washington continues to systematically degrade and destroy Tehran's ability to project power and threaten stability beyond its borders. With the conflict in West Asia in its second month now, he said that the US has struck over 11,000 targets in Iran.
Washington DC [US], March 31 (ANI): United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine briefed the media on the progress made on Operation Epic Fury, amid speculation over the country preparing for a ground operation in Iran. Hegseth candidly spoke about his visit to the US Central Command's base and how he interacted with the troops.
UNDP warns war could wipe up to $194bn from regional economy The UN Development Programme has warned of severe economic fallout from the US-Israeli war on Iran. In a new report, it said a localised conflict risks becoming a “systemic regional shock”. Regional GDP could shrink by between 3.
Iranian missiles don't pose a threat to the US, Pete Hegseth admits Submitted by MEE staff on Tue, 03/31/2026 - 16:59 Despite Iran steering the terms with its economic leverage, the Pentagon chief insists otherwise US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine hold a briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, on 31 March 2026 (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) Off In his first briefing since 19 March, and more than one month into the US- Israeli war on Iran , US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth openly conceded that Iranian ballistic missiles do not pose a threat to the US mainland, undercutting talk of the "imminent threat" repeated by the White House. Because of that, he explained, the US has put itself on the line to protect its regional assets and allies against Tehran's capabilities, and that is why the president now expects European allies to step up in return. "These are missiles that don't even range the United States of America.
Hezbollah claims multiple attacks on Israeli forces along border Hezbollah said its fighters carried out several attacks on Israeli troops and positions along the border on Thursday. In a series of statements, the group said it shelled Israeli soldiers and vehicles near the town of Ainata at around 11:00 local time (08:00 GMT), followed by a rocket barrage on the same area later in the day. It also said rockets were fired at Israeli forces in Avivim in northern Israel.
Many countries in Europe have called the conflict illegal, with some blocking Israeli and US planes from moving weapons through their airspace Donald Trump has launched a tirade against European countries that refused to join his war against Iran, calling out the United Kingdom and France, as transatlantic relations sour from the spiralling conflict that has wreaked havoc on the global economy. On his Truth Social website, the US president told governments worried about fuel prices to “go get your own oil” by force from the Gulf, comments that sent oil prices soaring even higher. Continue reading...
Israeli strike in southern Gaza kills 5-year-old An Israeli air strike in southern Gaza killed a father and his five-year-old son, according to health officials at Nasser hospital, where the bodies were taken. Family members and mourners gathered in the hospital courtyard for funeral prayers, carrying the bodies wrapped in white shrouds.
China and Pakistan issue five-point plan for 'immediate ceasefire' in war on Iran Submitted by Sean Mathews on Tue, 03/31/2026 - 16:09 Proposal calls for 'normal passage' in the Strait of Hormuz, a move that appears to reject Iran's toll system This handout photograph, taken on 31 March 2026, shows Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, right, greeting his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar, in Beijing (Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs/AFP) Off China and Pakistan have proposed a five-point plan to end the US-Israeli war on Iran that calls for an immediate ceasefire and restoration of “normal passage” for vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. The proposal was released on Tuesday after Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, in Beijing. The two top diplomats agreed to "strengthen strategic communication and coordination on the Iran situation and ...
John Healey says extra deployment is response to ‘expanding threat’ from Iran Middle East crisis – live updates UK politics live – latest updates The UK is sending more military support to the Gulf taking the total deployment to 1,000 troops, amid more jibes from Donald Trump about Britain’s refusal to get involved in offensive operations against Iran. Speaking from Qatar where he met UK troops, the defence secretary, John Healey, said the extra deployment was in response to an “expanding threat” from Iran. Continue reading...
Trump says France blocked US military flights bound for Israel US President Donald Trump said France refused to allow US military supply flights heading to Israel to pass through its airspace. In a social media post, Trump described France as “very unhelpful” in relation to what he called the elimination of a senior Iranian figure. Reuters, citing unnamed sources, reported the refusal took place over the weekend and marked the first time France had taken such a step since the US-Israeli war on Iran began.
Leaked UN report reveals Haftar family is smuggling oil and arms in Libya Submitted by Oscar Rickett on Tue, 03/31/2026 - 15:56 Panel of experts' report seen by MEE says Arkenu, Libya's first privately owned oil company, is 'indirectly controlled' by Saddam Haftar Khalifa Haftar with two of his sons, including Saddam, in a picture published on the Libyan National Army's Facebook page (Facebook) Off A leaked UN panel of experts' report obtained by Middle East Eye has revealed details of the Haftar family’s connections to oil, fuel and arms smuggling networks in eastern Libya . The 288-page report, scheduled to be released on 9 April, links eastern commander Khalifa Haftar and his son Saddam’s Libyan Arab Armed Forces (LAAF) to illicit oil smuggling, capital flight, the management of financial and criminal networks, and the provision of arms to Sudan ’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF). As previously reported by Middle East Eye and noted by the UN report, Subul al-Salam, a Libyan militia affiliated with Haftar’s forces, has facilitated the supply of weapons and other goods to the RSF, the paramilitary force that is backed by the United Arab Emirates and has been widely accused of genocide in Darfur.
Plans would prevent the return of hundreds of thousands of residents Middle East crisis live – latest updates Israel said on Tuesday that it will occupy wide swathes of south Lebanon and destroy the homes along the border to prevent the return of some 600,000 residents, prompting concerns of long-term forced displacement. Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, said that it will occupy the area under the Litani River, some 19 miles from the Israel-Lebanon border, as part of its so-called buffer zone inside southern Lebanon when fighting with Hezbollah ends. Continue reading...
Kuwait says missiles and drones intercepted over past 24 hours Kuwait’s defence ministry said its forces intercepted and destroyed five ballistic missiles and seven drones that entered the country’s airspace over the past 24 hours.
Eyewitness video released on 31 March and verified by Reuters shows a large explosion and plumes of smoke rising in Isfahan. The central Iranian city is home to a number of important military facilities, including nuclear facilities. Analysts believe much of Iran’s highly enriched uranium is likely stored there.
UN diplomat resigns over claims of planned nuclear strike on Iran Submitted by MEE staff on Tue, 03/31/2026 - 15:45 Mohamad Safa, a UN representative for the Patriotic Vision Association NGO, also claimed that senior figures at the UN were 'serving a powerful lobby' Mohamad Safa, a UN representative for the Patriotic Vision Association, at UN offices in Geneva (Wikimedia Commons) Off A diplomat at the United Nations resigned from his post on Friday and accused the international body of preparing for a scenario involving the possible use of nuclear weapons on Iran . Mohamad Safa, a UN representative for the Patriotic Vision Association (PVA), a non-governmental organisation that holds special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council (Ecosoc), said that he resigned from his role in order to "leak the information", before claiming that some senior figures at the UN had been "serving a powerful lobby" and not the UN itself. "This is a picture of Tehran.
IRGC threatens to target US tech firms in region Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has warned it could target US technology companies operating in the region, urging staff and nearby residents to evacuate. In a statement carried by Tasnim, the IRGC said firms involved in “designing and tracking” targets using ICT and AI would be considered “legitimate targets”. It said more than 15 companies could be targeted from 20:00 local time tomorrow if further Iranian leaders are killed in what it described as “targeted assassinations”.
AMMAN, 31st March, 2026 (WAM) -- Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF)- Arab Army announced Iran targeted the Kingdom's territory with four missiles in the past 24 hours. In a statement, carried by Jordan news agency (Petra), the JAF's Military Media Directorate at the General Command confirmed the Royal Jordanian Air Force intercepted and professionally destroyed all four missiles.
