US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has told lawmakers that Pakistan’s advancing missile program could eventually bring the US mainland within its strike range. Speaking at a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on global threats, she said Islamabad’s efforts to develop long-range ballistic missiles may evolve into intercontinental systems capable of targeting the United States.

Gabbard highlighted the expanding scope of strategic risks, noting that Pakistan’s long-range missile development could include intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) capable of striking US soil. She grouped Pakistan with Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran as nations actively developing advanced missile technologies alongside cyber and kinetic warfare capabilities.

The remarks underscore growing US concern over the proliferation of long-range missile systems and the potential emergence of Pakistan as a new strategic threat if its program continues to advance.

Foreign ministers from twelve Arab and Muslim countries have jointly called on Iran to stop its attacks and comply with international law. The appeal was issued in a joint statement following a meeting held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The ministers condemned Iran’s assaults on Jordan, Azerbaijan, and Turkey, stating that residential areas, oil facilities, desalination plants, airports, housing complexes, and diplomatic zones had been targeted.

The ministers also denounced Israel’s attacks on Lebanon and reaffirmed their support for Lebanon’s security, stability, and territorial integrity. The joint statement came amid a period of heightened regional tension, as Iran has been carrying out strikes on energy infrastructure across the Gulf region.

According to the report, Iran’s state media has accused the United States and Israel of attacking its oil and natural gas production centers. The statement was issued on behalf of the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.

India’s long-standing policy of ‘strategic autonomy’—maintaining balanced relations with major global powers—faces new challenges amid rising tensions involving Iran. For over a decade, New Delhi has engaged with multiple blocs, including the Quad with the United States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization with China, BRICS with Russia, and I2U2 with Israel and the UAE. The approach has aimed to protect national interests without overdependence on any single partner.

Recent developments around Iran have disrupted this balance, particularly affecting India’s priorities of ensuring expatriate safety, countering terrorism in neighboring states, and securing oil and gas supplies. Although diplomatic efforts have intensified, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar contacting Iranian leaders, only two Indian gas tankers have been cleared to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Reuters reported that 22 Indian vessels remain detained in the region.

The release of these ships may depend on India returning three seized Iranian vessels or sending medical supplies to Tehran. However, such moves risk straining India’s ties with Washington, which previously allowed limited Russian oil purchases under specific conditions.

The United States has come under widespread criticism following its recent military offensive against Iran, initiated under President Donald Trump. The conflict, which began without a clear justification or defined objectives, has caused severe humanitarian and economic fallout across the Middle East and beyond. Reports from The New York Times and CNN indicate that the war has disrupted global trade, driven up oil and gas prices, and intensified inflationary pressures worldwide.

Regional governments, particularly Gulf monarchies, have expressed frustration at being drawn into a conflict they did not support. Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi condemned Washington’s actions, accusing the US of seeking to reshape the region and block the creation of a Palestinian state. He announced that Oman would reject diplomatic ties with Israel and withdraw from the so-called “Board of Peace” overseeing Gaza. His remarks reflect growing disillusionment among traditional US allies.

Analysts suggest that while these alliances may not collapse immediately, the war has prompted many partners to question whether continued alignment with Washington remains in their national interest.

A ship was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy supply routes, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center (UKMTO) on Thursday. The agency reported that the vessel was struck by an unidentified object, causing damage and a fire onboard. The incident occurred east of Khor Fakkan city in the United Arab Emirates.

UKMTO, which monitors distress signals from ships worldwide, issued an advisory urging all vessels to navigate the area with caution. The organization continues to assess the situation and provide updates to maritime operators.

The report added that Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a major global oil transit corridor, leaving many ships and sailors stranded. The closure and attack have raised concerns about disruptions to international energy transport through the region.

Iran launched another attack on several liquefied natural gas (LNG) installations in Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial City early Thursday, according to a statement from QatarEnergy. The state-owned energy company reported that the assault triggered a major fire and caused extensive damage to the facilities, though no casualties have been confirmed so far. Emergency response teams were immediately deployed to contain the situation.

Qatar’s Ministry of Defense earlier stated that Iran had fired missiles targeting Ras Laffan, which is recognized as the world’s largest LNG production and export hub. Following the incident, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement urging calm and calling for de-escalation, accusing Iran of violating its territorial boundaries.

The renewed attack underscores rising regional tensions and potential risks to global energy supply chains centered around Qatar’s LNG infrastructure.

Qatar has accused Iran of crossing limits following an attack on the Ras Laffan gas facility. In a statement issued by Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the country called for efforts to reduce tensions and protect the region from the consequences of what it described as Iran’s brutal assault.

The statement said that by targeting civilians, civilian infrastructure, and vital installations, Iran’s actions had violated all boundaries. It emphasized the need to work toward de-escalation to safeguard regional and international security and stability.

The remarks came after reports of the Iranian strike on the Qatari gas site, which has raised concerns about further instability in the region.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that any renewed attack on Qatar’s energy facilities would trigger a severe response. Writing on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump stated that if Iran refrains from attacking Qatar, Israel will not strike the South Pars gas field. However, he cautioned that if such attacks resume, the entire South Pars field could be destroyed with unprecedented force.

Trump added that he does not wish to authorize such violence due to its long-term impact on Iran’s future, but he would not hesitate if Qatar’s LNG infrastructure is targeted again. He also clarified that neither the United States nor Qatar had prior knowledge of Israel’s earlier strike on the South Pars gas field.

According to Trump, Israel will not conduct further attacks on the field unless Iran decides to assault Qatar. The statements were reported by Al Jazeera and reflect heightened tensions involving Iran, Israel, and the United States over regional energy security.

More than half of the Palestinian children detained in Israeli prisons at the end of last year were being held without charge or trial, according to Defense for Children International-Palestine (DCIP). In a statement released Wednesday, DCIP said 51 percent of 351 detained Palestinian children were under “administrative detention” as of December 31, 2025, marking the highest number and proportion since the group began tracking such data in 2008. The figures, based on Israel Prison Service statistics, exclude children held in military detention and interrogation centers.

DCIP said it has collected firsthand testimonies from previously detained children describing systematic torture and dehumanizing conditions. The organization linked the rise in detentions to Israel’s ongoing war in the Gaza Strip, which began in October 2023. Administrative detention allows Israel to hold Palestinians without charge or trial for renewable six-month periods. Another advocacy group, Addameer, reported that over a third of 9,500 Palestinians detained as of March 11 were held under this policy.

Human rights organizations, including Israel’s B’Tselem, have accused Israeli authorities of systemic abuse and torture in detention facilities. DCIP said such practices violate the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Israel has ratified.

Iran’s judiciary announced on Thursday that three individuals convicted of killing police officers and conducting operations in favor of the United States and Israel were executed. The executions were linked to unrest that took place in January, referred to as the Dey unrest, during which the judiciary said the men were involved in the deaths of two law enforcement personnel. The announcement came as the war launched on Iran entered its 20th day.

According to Iranian authorities, 3,117 people were killed during anti-establishment protests that began in late December. Officials rejected claims by the United Nations and international human rights organizations that state forces were responsible for the deaths. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) previously reported verifying 6,872 deaths and investigating over 11,000 additional cases, while a UN special rapporteur suggested the toll could exceed 20,000.

The executions follow a series of crackdowns, including the execution of a Swedish citizen accused of spying for Israel and the arrest of hundreds across Iran. The Ministry of Intelligence said it had dismantled 111 “pro-monarchy cells” in 26 provinces overnight.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud stated that any remaining trust in Iran has now completely collapsed. Speaking to journalists, he said Iran’s attacks on neighboring countries were premeditated and that current developments prove this assessment.

The minister expressed hope that Iran would understand the message from today’s meeting, reconsider its plans, and stop attacking its neighbors. His remarks were reported by Al Jazeera and reflect growing tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran following recent regional incidents.

The statement underscores a sharp deterioration in Saudi-Iran relations, with Riyadh signaling that diplomatic confidence has reached a breaking point unless Tehran changes its approach toward neighboring states.

US President Donald Trump has expressed opposition to any new attacks on Iran’s energy installations following Israel’s strike on the South Pars gas field facilities. The Wall Street Journal, citing US officials, reported that Trump’s stance became clear after the Israeli operation took place on Wednesday.

According to the report, Trump had initially supported the strike to send a strong message to Tehran after Iran allegedly attempted to disrupt navigation in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. With that objective achieved, he now opposes any further military action against Iranian energy infrastructure.

However, the report noted that Trump’s position is not final. If Tehran again obstructs movement through the Strait of Hormuz, he may authorize renewed targeting of Iran’s energy sites.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf declared that Iran has awakened and a storm is coming, following recent attacks targeting the country’s energy infrastructure. In a post on social media platform X, he said the ongoing war is being fought under a 'eye for an eye' principle and has reached a new level of intensity.

Ghalibaf claimed that the United States and Israel carried out strikes on Iran’s energy facilities in an attempt to conceal their own defeat. He asserted that the conflict has entered a new stage, emphasizing that the retaliatory equation is now active.

In another post, Ghalibaf stated that a new 'revolution' has begun in Iran in response to the US-Israel attacks, spreading from one region to another.

Saudi Arabia has threatened to launch a military strike against Iran following recent missile attacks that targeted its energy facilities. Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud told reporters in Riyadh on March 19, 2026, that Iran does not believe in dialogue with its neighbors and instead applies pressure, which he warned would not succeed. He said Saudi Arabia reserves the right to take military measures if necessary.

The statement came after Saudi forces intercepted four ballistic missiles fired toward Riyadh just before a regional and Islamic foreign ministers’ meeting. Prince Faisal described the attack as a blatant act of blackmail aimed at intimidating participants and said it proved Iran cannot be a legitimate partner. He added that any remaining trust in Iran had been completely shattered.

The Saudi minister reiterated that Iran’s continued attacks on civilian and energy sites were premeditated and unjustified. He said regional ministers agreed that Iran must immediately stop supporting its proxies and that collective action is needed to protect freedom of navigation.

The United Arab Emirates has temporarily shut down operations at the Habshan gas complex following an attempted missile attack by Iran targeting the Bab oil field and the gas facility. According to the Abu Dhabi Media Office, Iranian missiles did not make direct hits but their debris fell on the sites. The announcement was made after the incident, which occurred amid heightened regional tensions.

Emergency service teams are currently working at both the Bab oil field and the Habshan gas complex, one of the world’s largest onshore gas processing centers. The Abu Dhabi Media Office confirmed that no casualties were reported in the incident. The report was sourced from Al Jazeera.

The temporary closure underscores the vulnerability of critical energy infrastructure in the Gulf region and may affect short-term operations until safety assessments are completed.