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.
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 ...
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.
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.
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”.
Jerusalem's Christians urge church leaders to challenge harsh Israeli restrictions Submitted by Peter Oborne on Tue, 03/31/2026 - 14:23 Palestinians say Israel is using war as an excuse to assert control over Old City's holy sites after Catholic Patriarch was denied entry to Church of the Holy Sepulchre Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Catholic Patriarch of Jerusalem, leads a Palm Sunday service at the Church of All Nations on 29 March 2026 (AFP) Off Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Catholic Patriarch of Jerusalem, has been the subject of a wave of global sympathy after Israeli forces stopped him on the way to pray at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Sunday. But on our visit to the ancient church in the Christian Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City the next day, we discovered that some, at least, of the cardinal’s flock feel rather less warmly towards the patriarch. For weeks since Israel joined the US in attacking Iran , the Old City has been mostly closed off to visitors, with Israeli security forces stationed at the gates and restricting access to the holy sites.
Israeli military says it conducted over 230 strikes on Iran in last 24 hours Israel's army has said it has conducted over 230 strikes across Iran in the last 24 hours. It said the attacks are aimed at degarding Iranian military capacity, but Iran has reported multiple US-Israeli attacks on civilian infrastructure.
UN says initial probe findings show Lebanon peacekeepers killed by blast The UN has said that the initial findings of an investigation into the deaths of two Indonesian peacekeepers in southern Lebanon on 30 March point to a roadside explosion striking their convoy. On Sunday, an Indonesian soldier was killed in a separate incident. United Nations peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix told the UN Security Council on Tuesday that the investigation into the deaths is ongoing, warning that peacekeepers should never be a target.
China and Pakistan call for 'immediate cessation of hostilities' China and Pakistan's foreign ministers have called for an immediate ceasefire to end hostilities amid the US-Israeli war on Iran, urging peace talks as soon as possible, Pakistan's foreign ministry and Chinese state news agency Xinhua is reporting. China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar, issued a five-point plan for "restoring peace and stability" in the region, following talks in Beijing. The steps include an immediate end to attacks on civilians and non-military targets, the securing of the Strait of Hormuz's shipping lanes and the establishing of a comprehensive peace framework.
Israel to halt security procurement from 'hostile' France Submitted by MEE staff on Tue, 03/31/2026 - 10:24 Tensions have grown between Israel and France since Paris became critical of Israel's conduct in Lebanon Peacekeepers with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) drive past a Lebanese army outpost in Naqura, southern Lebanon, on 27 March 2026 (Kawnat Haju/AFP) Off Israel has announced that it will be ending security procurement from France after what it claimed was the country's "hostile" attitude in recent months, Israeli media reported. An Israeli official told the Jerusalem Post the decision to stop the purchases was made under the directive of Defense Minister Israel Katz and Defense Ministry Director-General Amir Baram. According to the Jerusalem Post, it was taken as a result of France adopting what the news outlet called a "hostile" attitude towards Israel, forcing it to "re-evaluate how much it could trust sharing its defence products with the country".
US-Israeli strikes on Iran's oil and gas could poison people and environment for decades Submitted by Katherine Hearst on Fri, 03/27/2026 - 14:15 Experts say pollution from escalating attacks on industrial and energy infrastructure poses deadly long-term implications for civilian health Members of Iran's Red Crescent society stand near smoke plumes from an ongoing fire following an overnight airstrike on the Shahran oil refinery in northwestern Tehran on 8 March 2026 (AFP) Off On the night of 7 March, air strikes hit four oil depots and refineries in and around Tehran. The resulting petrochemical fires burned for days, spewing columns of thick smoke which shrouded the skies of Iran 's capital and poisoned its air. Residents described the fires as “hellscapes” and a “black monster”.
Israeli invasion of Lebanon could be worse than 1982, warn European officials Submitted by Ragip Soylu on Tue, 03/31/2026 - 10:32 Israel’s offensive risks a protracted war as Hezbollah resists in the south An Israeli tank manoeuvers on the Israeli side of the Lebanese-Israeli border, 12 March 2026 (Reuters) Off Israel ’s invasion of southern Lebanon is drawing parallels with its 1982 campaign, and could prove even worse as it becomes more protracted, European officials told Middle East Eye. For many Lebanese, the broad scope of Israel’s military campaign in recent weeks already recalls its 18-year occupation of the south of their country, which ended after years of confrontation with Hezbollah forced Israeli troops to withdraw in 2000. This time, Beirut has taken unprecedented steps that include opening the door to direct engagement with Israel.
Lebanon death toll rises At least nine people have been killed and 137 others wounded in Israeli attacks across Lebanon in the last 24 hours, the country's health ministry is reporting. It said the latest figures have pushed the overall toll of people killed in Israeli attacks since 2 March to 1,247, with another 3,680 people wounded.
Strike on western Iraq kills two fighters Iraq's Hashd al-Shaabi coalition is reporting that two of its fighters have been killed in an attack in the west of the country. The alliance issued a statement blaming US and Israel for the attack, which it said targeted a checkpoint in the Anbar province. "This heinous attack resulted in the martyrdom of two fighters and the wounding of four others," the statement.
Hegseth says US troops 'want to finish' fight with Iran US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has claimed in a press briefing that morale remains high among US troops stationed in the Middle East. "These troops want to finish this fight for their kids and their grandkids. This is about history, this is about legacy," Hegseth told reporters.
IRGC confirms killing of top general and family Iran's IRGC has confirmed that top military general Jamshid Eshaghi has been killed along with his family in an attack. This comes after Iranian state media reported that a funeral for IRGC Navy Commander Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, who was also killed in an Israeli attack, will be held on Monday.
Gaza death toll rises The death toll of Palestinians killed by Israel in Gaza has reached 72,285, with another 172,028 wounded in attacks since 7 October 2023, Wafa news agency is reporting, citing health officials. The update comes after at least five Palestinians were killed in the last 24 hours in two separate strikes across the territory. An attack killed at least three in northern Gaza's Jabalia, while another strike killed two in Khan Younis in the south.
