US President Donald Trump has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran demanding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. In a post on Truth Social, Trump warned that if Iran does not fully reopen the vital waterway without threats within the given timeframe, the United States will destroy Iran’s power plants, starting with the largest one. The statement was reported by Al Jazeera.

Meanwhile, Iran has claimed responsibility for attacks on two US military bases located in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait. According to Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB, the assaults were carried out using missiles and drones. The developments come amid heightened regional tensions involving Iran, the US, and several Gulf states.

The situation underscores escalating hostilities around the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy corridor, with potential implications for regional stability and global oil supply if the standoff continues.

An Iranian missile strike hit the southern Israeli city of Dimona on Saturday, causing a building to collapse and injuring at least 47 people, according to Israeli media reports. Among the injured was a 12-year-old boy who sustained serious injuries from shrapnel. Footage broadcast by local outlets showed a large projectile descending rapidly from the sky before a powerful explosion.

Israel’s public broadcaster Kan reported, citing the country’s emergency medical services, that at least 20 people were injured in the attack, including a 10-year-old child. Separately, Channel 12 said that in northern Israel’s Ma’alot-Tarshiha area, at least eight people were wounded in a rocket strike. The Times of Israel reported that Hezbollah launched a barrage of rockets targeting that northern region, according to Al Jazeera.

The incidents come amid escalating cross-border hostilities, with reports of multiple overnight attacks across five Israeli cities and rising regional tensions involving Iran and its allies.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that the United States will attack Iran’s power plants if Tehran does not fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. The warning was issued through a post on Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social, where he stated that the strikes would begin with Iran’s largest power facility. The report was published by Al Jazeera and cited by Amar Desh Online on March 22, 2026.

Analysts believe the threat could further complicate the already tense situation in the Middle East. The Strait of Hormuz is a vital maritime route for global energy supplies, carrying a significant share of the world’s oil shipments. Any disruption or escalation around this strategic waterway could have major consequences for the global economy.

The ultimatum adds new uncertainty to regional stability, as tensions involving Iran, the United States, and neighboring countries continue to rise.

About 150 families were evacuated from the southern Israeli city of Arad after an Iranian missile strike, according to the city’s mayor, as reported by Al Jazeera. The evacuation was carried out swiftly to ensure the safety of residents living in the area where the missile landed. Emergency services in Israel confirmed that at least 64 people were injured in the attack, with several in serious condition.

The strike caused extensive damage in the affected area, prompting ongoing rescue and relief operations. Local authorities are continuing efforts to assess the full extent of the destruction and provide assistance to displaced families. The incident marks another escalation in regional tensions following recent reports of Iranian attacks on Israeli facilities.

Emergency response teams remain active in Arad as recovery work continues, with officials prioritizing medical care and shelter for those impacted by the missile strike.

An Iranian missile struck the southern Israeli city of Arad on March 22, 2026, damaging residential buildings and injuring at least 75 people, according to Israeli media reports. The missile reportedly penetrated Israel’s air defense system, which failed to intercept it despite two attempts. Among the injured, ten were in serious condition, and a five-year-old child was critically hurt. The Israeli Air Force has launched an investigation into the defense system’s failure.

The country’s fire service confirmed that the missile hit the center of Arad, causing extensive damage. Hospitals in the area declared an emergency, and emergency services treated numerous casualties. Following the attack and a recent strike in Dimona that injured nearly 100 people, Israel’s Education Ministry suspended all in-person classes nationwide for Sunday and Monday.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that he had ordered the strengthening of emergency and rescue forces operating on the ground, as authorities worked to assess the situation and respond to the escalating security threat.

Saudi Arabia has declared several Iranian embassy officials persona non grata and ordered them to leave the country, according to Al Jazeera. The officials, including Iran’s military attaché, were given 24 hours to depart. This action follows a similar decision by Qatar, which earlier expelled Iranian military and security attachés from its embassy in Doha.

Qatar’s decision came after an alleged Iranian attack on one of its main gas facilities, reportedly carried out in retaliation for an Israeli strike on Iran’s South Pars gas field. The sequence of expulsions marks a sharp escalation in diplomatic friction between Iran and Gulf states.

Analysts cited in the report suggest that these diplomatic measures are adding complexity to an already volatile Middle Eastern situation, with regional tensions continuing to rise following recent military incidents.

Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf has questioned the effectiveness of Israel’s air defense system following recent missile attacks on the southern city of Dimona. In a post on social media platform X, he stated that if Israel failed to intercept missiles in the heavily protected Dimona area, it signals a new phase in the conflict. He further claimed that Israel’s skies are now defenseless.

Dimona, located in the Negev Desert, is known as one of Israel’s key nuclear research centers and is central to the country’s undeclared nuclear program. According to the report, Iran launched five missile attacks on the sensitive city within a 24-hour period, raising concerns about the vulnerability of Israel’s defense systems.

The incident underscores escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, with the focus now on the strategic implications of the strikes on Dimona and the broader regional security situation.

The foreign ministers of the G7 nations have declared their readiness to take necessary measures to maintain stability in global energy supplies. In a joint statement, the ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, along with the European Union’s top diplomat, expressed support for regional partners following what they described as Iran and its allies’ unjustified attacks.

The statement strongly condemned Iran for targeting civilians and infrastructure, calling such assaults on energy facilities and other critical sites alarming. The ministers emphasized that ensuring the safety of key maritime routes, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, is vital for global trade and energy supply.

The G7’s declaration reflects growing concern over regional instability affecting energy markets and underscores their intent to safeguard essential supply chains if disruptions escalate.

Iran has claimed responsibility for missile attacks targeting United States military bases in Bahrain, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency. The report stated that the strikes were aimed at American military installations, though Bahraini authorities have not yet issued any official response to the alleged attacks.

Earlier, Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB reported similar missile and drone strikes on the Al-Minhad base in the United Arab Emirates and the Ali Al-Salem air base in Kuwait, where US and British forces are stationed. These incidents come amid heightened regional tensions involving Iran and several Gulf states.

Previous reports have noted that Iran has repeatedly claimed attacks on US bases across the Persian Gulf, including the headquarters of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Bahrain’s capital, Manama. The latest claims suggest a continuation of this pattern of confrontation in the region.

A drone attack targeted a United States diplomatic facility located near Baghdad International Airport, according to a Reuters report citing security sources. The incident occurred in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, though immediate details on casualties or damage were not available. Journalists present in the city reported hearing multiple explosions that may have been linked to the attack.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the assault. The report did not specify the exact nature of the facility or the extent of the impact. The attack adds to a series of recent security incidents in the region, though the source did not provide further context or official responses.

Authorities were reportedly investigating the situation, but as of the latest update, no official statements had been released regarding the perpetrators or potential motives.

On March 22, 2026, Iran launched a missile strike on the Israeli city of Dimona, a location known for housing key nuclear facilities. According to Al Jazeera, one of the missiles hit a three-story building, causing it to collapse and injuring at least 39 people. The attack marked the fifth missile strike on the city within 24 hours, intensifying the already volatile situation in the region.

Iranian media claimed the assault was retaliation for an earlier strike on Iran’s Natanz nuclear enrichment site. However, this claim could not be independently verified. Dimona, located in Israel’s Negev Desert, is widely regarded as a central hub of the country’s undeclared nuclear program, making the incident particularly sensitive.

Local sources reported that the missile used in the attack appeared to be of a new type not previously seen. Due to the high security of the area, Israeli authorities have imposed restrictions on releasing further details about the incident.

A United Nations expert has accused Israel of systematically torturing Palestinians in custody since October 7, 2023, describing the scale of abuse as indicative of “collective vengeance and destructive intent.” In a report titled “Torture and genocide,” Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, said detainees have faced brutal physical and psychological abuse, including beatings, sexual violence, starvation, and deprivation of basic human conditions. She cited at least 300 testimonies and reported that more than 18,500 Palestinians, including 1,500 children, have been arrested, with about 9,000 still detained and over 4,000 subjected to enforced disappearance.

The report, released Friday, focuses on Israeli conduct while condemning torture by all parties. Albanese said Israel’s detention system has become one of “systemic and widespread humiliation, coercion, and terror.” She urged Israel to immediately end all acts of torture and called on the International Criminal Court prosecutor to seek arrest warrants for Israel’s defence, national security, and finance ministers.

Albanese, who will present her findings to the UN Human Rights Council on Monday, has faced criticism from Israel and some Western governments, including France and Germany, over her previous statements on Gaza.

Iran announced that Japanese ships will be allowed to transit the Strait of Hormuz, signaling a shift toward a selective blockade of the vital waterway. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Japan’s Kyodo News that the strait remains open to countries not considered enemies of Tehran, while vessels from nations that have attacked Iran will be barred. He said Iran is ready to provide safe passage for Japanese ships once contact is made to coordinate transit routes.

The announcement follows weeks of near-total closure of the strait after the United States and Israel attacked Iran on February 28. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had previously warned that any ships attempting passage would be targeted, halting most marine traffic. Recently, Iran has softened its stance, allowing vessels from China, India, and Pakistan to pass under Iranian supervision. Lloyd’s List reported that ten ships have already transited by sailing close to Iran’s coastline, forming a “safe corridor.”

Japan, heavily reliant on Middle Eastern oil, has been in talks with Tehran to secure passage for its stranded vessels. Several countries, including France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, have jointly expressed readiness to support efforts ensuring safe navigation through the strait.

Iran has claimed responsibility for attacks on two military bases located in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait. According to Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB, the country’s navy carried out the strikes using ballistic missiles and drones. The report, citing Al Jazeera, stated that the Al-Minhad base in the UAE and the Ali Al Salem air base in Kuwait were targeted, specifically hitting hangars and fuel tanks.

IRIB’s statement alleged that these bases had been used by “American-Zionist aircraft” to launch attacks on Iranian territory. However, the claims have not been independently verified. As of now, neither Kuwait nor the UAE has issued an official response to Iran’s announcement.

The report comes amid heightened regional tensions, with related incidents including attacks in Iran and calls for international investigations into recent strikes on sensitive sites.

A United States-based human rights organization, Human Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA), has reported that at least 640 attacks occurred across Iran in a single day. According to the group, the incidents took place on Friday across 17 provinces, leaving at least 68 people dead or injured. Both military and civilian targets were reportedly hit during the wave of violence.

HRANA stated that since the conflict began about three weeks ago, the total death toll has reached at least 1,398, including 210 children. The information was published by the international media outlet BBC. However, no clear official statements from the involved parties have been made regarding these attacks.

The report highlights the escalating violence across Iran, though the absence of official confirmation leaves uncertainty about the full scope and responsibility for the incidents.