Israel to re-open Rafah crossing in Gaza for limited travel The Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt is set to reopen on Wednesday for limited movement of people, Israeli authorities claimed. Rafah had only recently resumed operations in early February after remaining largely shut since May 2024 during Israel’s genocide on Gaza before being closed again after Tel Aviv and Washington started a war on Iran.
Five wounded after rockets hit Baghdad airport At least five people have been wounded after rockets struck areas around Baghdad International Airport, Iraqi security officials said. In a statement, the Security Media Cell said “five rockets targeted Baghdad International Airport and its surroundings, wounding four employees and security personnel, as well as an engineer”. The projectiles landed at several locations across the sprawling airport complex, including inside the civilian airport compound.
Netanyahu posts video after rumours of his death Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has appeared in a video dismissing online rumours about his death that circulated in Iranian media. The clip, posted on his Telegram account, shows Netanyahu drinking coffee at a cafe on the outskirts of Jerusalem while speaking with an aide about the claims. Responding with a pun in Hebrew slang, Netanyahu said: “I'm crazy about coffee.
Germany sceptical about extending EU naval mission to Hormuz Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has voiced doubts about expanding the European Union’s Aspides naval mission to the Strait of Hormuz. Wadephul said the operation protecting shipping in the Red Sea has been “not effective”. “And that is why I am very sceptical that extending Aspides to the Strait of Hormuz would provide greater security.
UN peacekeepers fired on during patrols in southern Lebanon UN peacekeepers say their patrols came under fire three times on Sunday in southern Lebanon. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) said the incidents occurred while troops were carrying out routine patrols near their bases. “Today, Unifil peacekeepers were fired upon, likely by non-state armed groups, on three separate occasions while conducting patrols around their bases,” the mission said in a statement.
Saudi Arabia says it intercepted drone in Eastern Province Saudi Arabia says its air defences have intercepted and destroyed a drone over the country’s Eastern Province. A spokesperson for the Saudi Ministry of Defence confirmed the incident, saying security forces successfully brought down the unmanned aircraft before it could cause damage. المتحدث الرسمي لـ #وزارة_الدفاع : اعتراض وتدمير مسيّرة في المنطقة الشرقية.
IEA to release emergency oil reserves as Middle East war hits supply The International Energy Agency (IEA) says emergency oil reserves will begin entering global markets as governments move to stabilise supplies disrupted by the Middle East war. Member states agreed on 11 March to release strategic stockpiles after energy prices surged following the outbreak of the conflict. The agency said the move represents the largest coordinated response of its kind.
Iraq warns Kurdish authorities not to get drawn into war on Iran, sources say Iraq 's federal government has warned the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) not to allow Kurdish groups to become involved in the war on Iran , telling Kurdish authorities that Iraqi forces could move to take control of border areas if they fail to prevent it from happening. Iraqi, Kurdish and Turkish officials told Middle East Eye that Baghdad delivered the warning earlier this week amid growing fears that Kurdish groups could be coerced by Washington into joining the US-Israeli war on Iran. "The message from Baghdad was clear: Kurdish groups must not get involved in Iran," one Iraqi official familiar with the discussions said.
Israeli forces kill two children and their parents in West Bank Submitted by Fayha Shalash on Sun, 03/15/2026 - 12:33 The Bani Odeh family were on their way home from buying Eid outfits when special forces opened fire on their car Mustafa, who was wounded but survived after Israeli soldiers fired on the car carrying his parents and three siblings, is comforted during the funeral of his family in the northern West Bank town of Tammun on 15 March 2026 (AFP) Off Ali and Waad Bani Odeh’s four children were showing off the new clothes they had just bought for the upcoming Eid celebrations as their parents drove home from Nablus in the northern West Bank to their house in the town of Tammun, south of Tubas. The children joyfully described the colours and styles of their outfits to their visually impaired brother, Othman. Ali glanced back at his children and smiled at his wife, sharing a rare moment together, as his work often kept him away from his family.
Veteran Al Jazeera journalist Jamal Rayyan dies aged 72 Submitted by Areeb Ullah on Sun, 03/15/2026 - 15:19 Rayyan made history by becoming the first presenter to appear on Al Jazeera Arabic and deliver its inaugural address Jamal Rayyan was born in the city of Tulkarem in the occupied West Bank of Palestine on 23 August 1953 and held Jordanian citizenship (Al Jazeera) Off Veteran broadcaster Jamal Rayyan, one of the most recognisable figures in Arab television news and a founding voice of Al Jazeera, has died at the age of 72 after a media career spanning more than five decades. Rayyan was widely regarded as a pioneering figure in modern Arab journalism and played a central role in shaping the identity of Al Jazeera following its launch in 1996. He made history as the first presenter to appear on the network, delivering the inaugural news bulletin that marked the beginning of a new era in Arab media.
Iranian FM says strikes on Gulf in response to US-Israeli strikes on Iran Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi said Iran's missile and drone strikes on the Gulf were responses to US forces using the territory of its regional allies. Speaking to CBS News, Aragchi framed the strikes as a direct response to US military personnel using Gulf nations to launch strikes onto Iran. “These are the countries that have given their soil to American forces to attack us,” Araghchi said.
Lebanon Health Ministry: Israeli strike kill at least 850 people since start of war The Lebanese Health Ministry said Israeli strikes has killed at least 850 people and wounded a further 2,105 since March.
British fighter jets to support regional allies in Middle East The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed that it had deployed fighter jets to support regional allies across the Middle East. An update on UK operations in the Middle East, 15 March 2026. pic.
US Energy Secretary expects war with Iran to 'end in next few weeks' US Energy Secretary Chris Wright has told US media that he expects the war with Iran to end within the "next few weeks. " Speaking to ABC News, Wright said: "I think that this conflict will certainly come to the end in the next few weeks – could be sooner than that. But the conflict will come to the end in the next few weeks, and we’ll see a rebound in (energy) supplies and a pushing down in prices after that.
Bahrain arrest five people 'suspected' of passing information to Iran Bahrain’s Ministry of the Interior said it arrested five people for their alleged involvement in passing “precise and sensitive information” to the Iranian Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC). Officials said the arrests were also for “recruiting terrorist elements” to carry out terror plots against Bahrain: "These acts were intended to undermine the state’s sovereignty, target security authorities and economic entities, spread fear and panic among citizens and residents, and risk the country’s security and safety," said a Bahraini official.
UAE intercepts four ballistic missiles, six drones The UAE’s Ministry of Defence says it has intercepted several ballistic missiles and drones launched from Iran. “UAE air defences intercept 4 ballistic missiles and 6 drones,” the ministry said in a statement shared on social media. It added that air defences have “intercepted 298 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and 1,606 drones” since the start of the US-Israel war on Iran on February 28.
Israel rejects reports of interceptor shortages Submitted by MEE staff on Sun, 03/15/2026 - 12:04 Israeli foreign minister also denies reports of direct talks with Lebanon in coming days Israeli police inspect the wreckage of a vehicle destroyed by a projectile from an Iranian strike in southern Tel Aviv on 15 March 2026 (AFP) Off Israel 's foreign minister on Sunday rejected claims that it had told the United States it was running low on interceptors. Gideon Saar also denied reports by Israeli newspaper Haaretz that Israel could hold direct talks with Lebanon in the coming days to end the war that erupted on 2 March. On Saturday, global news site Semafor, quoting US officials, reported that Israel had informed Washington it was running dangerously low on ballistic missile interceptors.
Dozens arrested by Iran for sharing 'sensitive' information with Israel Iran's Tasnim news agency is reporting that dozens of people accused of sharing sensitive information with Israel have been arrested across the country. Tasnim said 20 people were detained in northwestern Iran for allegedly sending locations of military and security sites to Israel, while another 10 were arrested in the north-east on suspicion of gathering intelligence on sensitive infrastructure. Three more people were detained in the western province of Lorestan.
Iranians fleeing to neighbouring countries: UN The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) says deteriorating conditions in Iranian cities are “driving increasingly complex mobility patterns”. It says the destruction of homes and facilities that provide basic services are pushing many Iranians to northern provinces, where they think they could be safer. The UN agency said people have been displaced to more than 20 provinces and shelters are under strain throughout Iran.
US-Israeli strikes kill 223 women in Iran since start of war: Fars Iran's Fars News agency reported that 223 women have been killed in attacks since the start of the war, including three pregnant women. According to reports, 202 children have been killed in attacks, twelve of them under the age of five. 153 medical centres across Iran have been damaged and three health workers killed since the start of the war, according to the news report.
