US-Iran war highlights: Netanyahu vows to ‘continue striking enemies’ after attacks on Israeli towns

Iran US War LIVE: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian took to X to share an Eid message.

“To the Islamic countries and our dear neighbors, you are our brothers and we are not engaged in any dispute with you. The only beneficiary of our differences is the Zionist entity. We ask God on #Eid_al-Fitr to grant us strength and unity by acting upon the teachings of #Rasul_Allah to gain His pleasure.”

Iran US War LIVE: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it clashed with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, killing four people.

IDF Arabic spokesperson Avichai Adraee said troops identified several Hezbollah operatives, killing one on Friday night. He added that an Israeli Air Force aircraft then struck other members who had opened fire on Israeli forces.

According to Adraee, three more people were killed in subsequent tank fire, with no Israeli casualties reported.

He also said the Air Force carried out strikes on Hezbollah headquarters in Beirut.

Iran US War LIVE: Drone targets Iraqi intelligence headquarters in Baghdad, Reuters reported.

Iran US War LIVE: Azim Esmaili, a deputy at Iran’s Basij Organization, was killed in a March 17 strike in Tehran along with the group’s chief, Gholamreza Soleimani.

Esmaili had previously served as head of personnel and inspection at the IRGC’s Khuzestan branch.

Iran US War LIVE: Drone strike hits residential neighbourhood in Baghdad, says security source, AFP reported.

Iran US War LIVE: Thousands of Muslims gathered across Iran on Saturday to offer Eid al-Fitr prayers, marking the end of Ramadan against the backdrop of the ongoing Middle East conflict, state television footage showed.

Iran, a majority-Shia country, observed Eid a day later than most Muslim nations, which are predominantly Sunni.

At dawn, large crowds assembled at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Grand Mosque, with many worshippers praying outside due to limited space, as images showed packed areas despite the risk of strikes.

(AFP)

Iran War LIVE: The Israeli military said rescue and recovery teams were being dispatched to locations in central Israel following reports of impacts.

The statement, posted on X, came after another missile attack warning, at least the fourth since early Saturday, with authorities urging the public to move to shelters.

Iran US War LIVE: Tehran has fired more than 3,000 projectiles at Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, significantly escalating tensions and deepening the Shia-Sunni divide in the Middle East.

By targeting the UAE with ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones, Iran has effectively drawn all six Sunni-dominated GCC nations into the fallout of the US-Israel offensive, altering the region’s strategic dynamics and striking at the core of the concept of Ummah. Read here more

Iran US War LIVE: Sources familiar with the discussions told CBS News that the Trump administration is exploring options to extract Iran’s nuclear material.

While the timing of any such operation remains unclear, one source said the US President has not yet made a final decision.

According to the report, planning has focused on the possible deployment of forces from the Joint Special Operations Command, an elite US military unit often tasked with highly sensitive counter-proliferation missions.

Iran US War LIVE: Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Iranian leaders on Nowruz, reaffirming Moscow’s commitment to Tehran and describing Russia as a “loyal friend and reliable partner.”

Iran US War LIVE: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Saturday announced the 70th wave of its retaliatory Operation True Promise 4, saying it targeted more than 55 locations linked to the US and Israel across the region.

In a statement, the IRGC said the opening phase was marked by “loud explosions, bursts of fire, and columns of smoke” across the targeted areas.

The group said five US military sites were among those targeted, including al-Kharj in Saudi Arabia, al-Dhafra in the UAE, Ali al-Salem in Kuwait, Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan, and the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain.

Iran US War LIVE: Iranian Red Crescent launches rescue mission after Tehran airstrike, Al Jazeera reported.

US Iran War LIVE: Two people were killed after shelling hit a residential area in the village of Dastak in Kiashahr, in northern Iran, according to the governor of Gilan province, Al Jazeera reported.

US-Iran war LIVE updates: Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, rose 1.18% to settle at $108.65 per barrel, marking its highest close during the Iran war and its strongest level since July 2022.

In Europe, benchmark natural gas prices surged over 13% on the day, after briefly jumping as much as 25%, and have nearly doubled since the conflict began on February 28.

The latest spike follows an Israel-led strike on Iran’s South Pars gas field and Iran’s retaliatory attacks on Qatar’s LNG facilities.

US-Iran war LIVE updates: Iran launched two intermediate-range ballistic missiles at Diego Garcia, a joint US-UK military base, a US official confirmed, CNN reported.

The missiles were fired at the facility in the Indian Ocean, located about 2,370 miles (3,810 kilometres) from Iran’s coast, but neither struck the base, the official added.

US-Iran war LIVE updates: Iran’s Oil Ministry has pushed back against the US move to ease sanctions on Iranian crude already loaded on vessels as of March 20.

In a statement issued by Iran’s consulate in Mumbai, it said, “At present, Iran essentially has no floating crude or surplus available for international markets. The US Treasury Secretary's remarks appear aimed at reassuring buyers and managing market sentiment.”

The denial could further unsettle an already volatile market, with crude prices surging as the West Asia conflict approaches its fourth week.

US-Iran war LIVE updates: A 19-year-old star wrestler and two other young men were hanged in Iran this week, raising alarm among rights groups over a possible surge in executions, PTI reported.

The executions come as authorities, facing sustained attacks from the US and Israel, move to curb public dissent.

The three are the first to be executed from among tens of thousands arrested during a January crackdown on nationwide protests.

Rights groups warn that more than 100 others could face death sentences.

US-Iran war LIVE updates: Iraq on Friday declared force majeure on all oilfields operated by foreign companies after regional military activity disrupted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

The move has effectively halted most of the country’s crude oil exports.

US-Iran war LIVE updates: US President Donald Trump said he was considering “winding down” military operations in the Middle East, even as Washington deploys three additional amphibious assault ships and around 2,500 Marines to the region.

His remarks, made in a social media post on Friday, came after Iran threatened to target recreational and tourist sites worldwide, alongside continued airstrikes and missile and drone attacks across the region.

The mixed signals from the US followed a fresh surge in oil prices that rattled markets and pushed the US stock market lower. The Trump administration also announced it would lift sanctions on Iranian oil already loaded on ships, in a move aimed at easing rising fuel costs.

US-Iran war LIVE updates: Iran reportedly launched two intermediate-range ballistic missiles at Diego Garcia, a joint US-UK military base in the central Indian Ocean, signalling a potential expansion of its strike capability far beyond the Middle East.

The reported strike comes amid escalating tensions following Israeli attacks on Iran’s South Pars gas field. Read full story here.

Middle East war LIVE updates: Saudi Arabia’s Defence Ministry said it intercepted and destroyed eight drones over the kingdom’s eastern region within two hours.

The ministry did not specify the origin of the drones or report any casualties or damage.

The interceptions come as Iran continues sustained missile and drone attacks across the Gulf.

Middle East war LIVE updates: United Airlines plans to scale back more unprofitable flights over the next two quarters as it braces for a prolonged period of elevated jet fuel prices linked to the Iran conflict, even as strong travel demand continues to support higher fares.

In a memo to staff on Friday, CEO Scott Kirby said the airline is preparing for oil prices to climb as high as $175 per barrel and remain above $100 through 2027. At those levels, United’s annual fuel costs could increase by around $11 billion, more than double the profit it generated in its best year.

The ongoing war has triggered a fresh fuel shock for the aviation sector, with jet fuel prices nearly doubling since late February.

Middle East war LIVE updates: The United States has temporarily eased sanctions on Iranian-origin crude and petroleum products until April 19, allowing their sale, including into the US, amid concerns over disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.

The move, announced by the Treasury Department, applies to cargoes loaded on vessels as of March 20.

Middle East war LIVE updates: Iran reportedly launched two intermediate-range ballistic missiles at the US-UK military base in Diego Garcia, marking a potential expansion of its strike capabilities beyond the Middle East, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing US officials.

Neither missile hit the base, around 4,000 km from Iran. One missile failed mid-flight, while the other was targeted by an SM-3 interceptor from a US warship, though it remains unclear if the interception was successful.

Middle East war LIVE updates: Saudi Arabia on Saturday condemned Israel’s strikes on Syrian army camps as “aggression,” accusing it of violating international law and Syria’s sovereignty.

The kingdom urged the international community to act, after Israel said its strikes in southern Syria were in response to attacks on the Druze community in Sweida province.