Hezbollah claims destruction of six Israeli tanks in south Hezbollah said it destroyed six Israeli Merkava tanks during clashes in southern Lebanon, as Israeli forces attempted to advance near the town of Taybeh toward the Deir Siryan area. The group did not provide independent verification of the claim. The development comes as Iranian state television announced a new wave of missile attacks targeting Israel.
Air strike hits militia headquarters in Iraq, three injured An air strike targeted a headquarters of Iraq’s Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) north of Salah al-Din province, Al Jazeera Arabic reported. The report said that the strike hit a facility linked to one of the PMF brigades in the area. The PMF said three people were injured in the attack, including one critically, after a separate strike hit another brigade headquarters in the province.
Vessel struck near Strait of Hormuz, fire reported onboard A vessel was struck by an “unknown projectile” late Wednesday off the east coast of the United Arab Emirates near the Strait of Hormuz, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) centre said. The incident occurred in the Gulf of Oman, about 11 nautical miles east of Khor Fakkan, and resulted in a fire on board. The attack comes amid rising maritime security concerns in the region.
Report: Pentagon seeks $200 billion for war with Iran The Pentagon is seeking more than $200 billion to fund the war with Iran, according to a report by The Washington Post citing a senior US administration official. The report said White House officials are sceptical that Congress will approve the request. The newspaper also said the cost of the conflict rose sharply in its early days, exceeding $11 billion in the first week alone.
Qatar says Iran attacks crossed all red lines regionally Qatar’s foreign ministry condemned what it described as Iranian attacks on energy facilities in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, saying the strikes have “crossed all red lines. ” It called the targeting of such infrastructure a violation of international law and a threat to global energy security and navigation. The ministry urged de-escalation to restore regional stability and expressed solidarity with affected Gulf countries.
GCC chief condemns Iranian strike on Qatar energy facility Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi condemned the Iranian strike on Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial City, calling it a “dangerous aggression” and a violation of international law. He said the attack represented an unacceptable escalation that threatens regional security and global stability. Albudaiwi warned that targeting oil facilities and infrastructure risks disrupting energy markets and supplies.
Saudi Arabia says kingdom may take military action against Iran Saudi foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said the kingdom reserves the right to take military action against Iran if necessary, accusing Tehran of pressuring its neighbours rather than engaging in dialogue. Speaking in Riyadh, he said such pressure would “backfire” politically and morally. He also said two refineries in Saudi Arabia were attacked, warning Iran must reconsider its actions.
Saudi Arabia warns patience with Iran aggression not unlimited Saudi foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said his country’s patience with "Iranian aggression is not unlimited,” warning Riyadh reserves the right to respond. Speaking in Riyadh, he said trust in Iran has been “completely shattered” and accused Tehran of carrying out premeditated attacks on neighbouring countries. He said Iran’s justifications for targeting civilian sites were “unconvincing” and warned such actions would deepen its regional isolation.
UAE activates air defenses as missile threat triggers alarms The United Arab Emirates said its air defences were responding to a missile threat, as residents in Dubai reported hearing a loud explosion. Authorities did not immediately provide details on the source or impact of the threat. In Israel, sirens sounded in Jerusalem and central areas as missiles were launched from Iran, according to local media.
Red Crescent says ambulance delays hinder response to Hebron strike The Palestinian Red Crescent said it dispatched five ambulances to a strike site near Hebron, where crews treated casualties and transferred them to nearby hospitals and clinics. Paramedics said they faced major delays reaching the area due to Israeli military gates around Palestinian towns in the occupied West Bank, many of which have remained largely closed during the US-Israeli war on Iran and its wider spillover in the region. “This forced closure caused significant delays, compelling ambulances to take long, rugged alternative routes, which critically impacted the ‘golden hour’ essential for life-saving interventions,” the organisation said in a statement.
Saudi Arabia says drones and missile intercepted over Eastern Province Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry said its forces intercepted eight drones and a ballistic missile launched towards the Eastern Province within the past hour. The Directorate of Civil Defense also urged residents in the area to seek shelter following a “potential danger” alert issued by the National Early Warning Platform. Earlier, the ministry said it had detected and shot down five drones targeting an energy facility in the province.
UAE shuts Habshan gas facilities after falling debris The Habshan gas facilities in Abu Dhabi were shut down after debris fell from intercepted missiles, the Abu Dhabi Media Office said. Authorities are responding to the situation at the gas site and the nearby Bab oilfield. No injuries were reported.
Displaced families gather in Lebanon’s Sidon after Israeli evacuation warnings The coastal city of Sidon in southern Lebanon saw an influx of displaced people on Wednesday after the Israeli military issued evacuation warnings for Tyre and surrounding areas a day earlier. The Lebanese University campus in Sidon opened its doors to those fleeing the Tyre district, initially without basic supplies, the Associated Press reported. “Unfortunately, we had to accommodate them without mattresses or blankets at first,” shelter organiser Saad Ghazzawi said.
Israel unleashes war on energy production and new Gulf fury at Iran Submitted by Sean Mathews on Wed, 03/18/2026 - 20:49 Iran launched ballistic missiles at Riyadh while Arab and Muslim diplomats gathered in the capital, and attacked a gas facility in Qatar A picture shows a view of phase 12 of the South Pars gas field facilities near the southern Iranian town of Kangan on the shore of the Gulf, on 22 January 2014 (Behrouz Mehri/AFP) Off Iran launched ballistic missiles at Saudi Arabia's capital as senior Muslim and Arab diplomats were meeting in Riyadh, and damaged a natural gas facility in Qatar on Wednesday, in a sign that the US-Israeli war on Iran is spiralling into a no-holds-barred conflict. Iran’s attacks on the Gulf were a reprisal against Israel's strike on Iran’s half of South Pars, the world’s largest gas field that the Islamic Republic shares with Qatar. Gulf states rushed to condemn the initial Israeli attack that prompted Iran’s retaliation, but responded with fury at Iran.
Iran says gas production continues after damage to South Pars facilities Iran’s National Iranian Gas Company said parts of refining units were damaged in today’s attack on gas facilities in southern Iran. In a statement circulated by Tasnim news agency, the company said teams are on the ground managing the situation and working to restore operations. Meanwhile, gas production is continuing with safety measures in place and that the national gas network remains stable.
Qatar slams Ras Laffan strikes as ‘flagrant violation’ Qatar’s foreign ministry has described the strikes on Ras Laffan as a “flagrant violation" of the state’s sovereignty, adding that it would not hesitate to respond to attacks on its security and sovereignty. In a statement, it said Qatar has sought to distance itself from the war, “the Iranian side persists in targeting it and neighbouring countries, pursuing an irresponsible approach that undermines regional security and threatens international peace”. Qatar has “repeatedly called for the necessity of refraining from targeting civilian facilities and energy infrastructure”, including in Iran, the statement continued.
WHO warns of 'worst-case scenario nuclear incident' in US-Israeli war on Iran Submitted by MEE staff on Wed, 03/18/2026 - 19:37 The United Nations agency says no matter how much it prepares, the outcome would be catastrophic Rocket trails are seen in the sky from Iranian missile attacks above the Israeli coastal city of Netanya, on 17 March 2026 (Jack Guez/AFP) Off The World Health Organisation (WHO) is bracing for potential nuclear fallout from the escalating US -Israeli war on Iran , and warns that the outcome would be catastrophic no matter how many precautions are taken. Speaking to Politico this week, Hanan Balkhy, WHO regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean, said she is "really just hoping that it does not happen". "The worst-case scenario is a nuclear incident, and that's something that worries us the most,” she said.
Iraq says projectile strike targets Kirkuk air base Iraq’s defence ministry said a projectile struck an air base in Kirkuk. In statements carried by the Iraqi News Agency, the ministry said the facility is “purely Iraqi”, with only Iraqi aircraft stationed there and no foreign personnel. It said the incident “constitutes a direct attack” on the capabilities of the Iraqi Army Air Force.
Saudi Arabia says four injured after missile debris falls in Riyadh Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry said its forces intercepted and destroyed four ballistic missiles launched towards Riyadh. The Saudi Press Agency reported that four people were injured when shrapnel from an intercepted missile hit a residential building. In a post on X, the ministry added that debris from one of the missiles also fell near a refinery south of the city.
Top US intelligence official says it's not her job to determine imminent threats Submitted by Yasmine El-Sabawi on Wed, 03/18/2026 - 17:58 Tulsi Gabbard, a longtime anti-war voice, avoided undermining the president's claims in a public hearing Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard testifies before a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on 18 March 2026 (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) Off The Director of National Intelligence (DNI), Tulsi Gabbard, told lawmakers on Wednesday that it was not her job to determine what constitutes an "imminent threat" to the US , as the country's war on Iran heads into its fourth week. Only President Donald Trump can make such a determination, she insisted at a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing. Democrats grilled her on how much information she supplied the president ahead of the decision to begin joint attacks with Israel on 28 February, given that Trump has repeatedly said this week how he was surprised Iran retaliated by attacking Washington's Gulf partners.
