Iran’s resistance has intensified despite the assassinations of several top leaders in US-Israel attacks, according to a report published on March 19, 2026. Tehran continues to maintain control over the Strait of Hormuz and has carried out strikes on US-allied bases across the Middle East. US Senator Bernie Sanders stated that the war has already cost more than 22 billion dollars. Israel’s health ministry reported that 192 people were hospitalized in the past 24 hours due to Iranian attacks, with a total of 3,727 injured since the conflict began.

The United Arab Emirates has been the most affected among Gulf Cooperation Council countries, with Iran launching about 3,000 missiles and drones, more than half targeting Abu Dhabi. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Al Jazeera that the killings of leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and security chief Ali Larijani, would not weaken Iran’s political structure. He emphasized that Iran’s governance does not depend on any single individual.

Al Jazeera analyst Marwan Bishara criticized Israel’s targeted killings as contrary to the rules of war, describing them as a form of terrorism. Araghchi added that the ongoing regional conflict was initiated by the United States, which must bear full responsibility for the resulting humanitarian and financial crises.

Iran has completely stopped exporting gas to Iraq following an Israeli attack on the South Pars gas field, Iraq’s Ministry of Electricity announced. The ministry confirmed that gas imports from Iran, which supply more than one-third of Iraq’s gas and electricity needs, have been suspended since the incident.

According to reports, Israel launched an early morning strike on Wednesday targeting the South Pars gas field, the world’s largest natural gas reserve shared by Iran and Qatar. Iran’s Fars News Agency reported that a petrochemical complex at the site caught fire after the attack. The South Pars field is jointly operated by both Iran and Qatar, each managing its own gas facilities within the field.

The disruption in gas supply could significantly affect Iraq’s electricity generation, as the country relies heavily on Iranian gas imports to meet domestic energy demand.

Iran carried out a missile attack on Qatar’s Ras Laffan industrial area on Wednesday afternoon, according to the Qatari Ministry of Interior. The ministry reported that the strike caused extensive damage in the zone, which houses the world’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) production facility.

Prior to this incident, Iran had issued threats to target such installations in Qatar. The attack marks a significant escalation in regional tensions, as Ras Laffan is a critical hub for global energy supply and a key component of Qatar’s economy.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, did not provide details on casualties or the extent of the damage beyond the ministry’s statement. The situation remains under observation as regional actors assess the implications of the strike.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has urged a swift end to the ongoing Middle East conflict, warning that a collapse of Iran’s state structure could endanger European security. Speaking in parliament on Wednesday, he said such a scenario would negatively affect Europe’s energy supply and potentially cause a major refugee crisis. Merz emphasized that resolving the conflict quickly is in Europe’s best interest.

He revealed that the United States did not consult Germany before initiating the war, adding that Berlin would have advised against it. While acknowledging that Iran has long violated international norms and fueled regional instability, Merz questioned the credibility of U.S. and Israeli military strategies, saying neither had presented a convincing plan for success. He reaffirmed that Germany would not participate in the war as long as it continues.

The German government reiterated that NATO has no involvement in the conflict, and other European Union leaders have also signaled their intention to remain distant from it.

Three private aircraft were heavily damaged near Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport after being struck by debris from an intercepted Iranian missile, according to the Israel Airports Authority on Wednesday. The incident occurred over recent days, with one of the planes catching fire following the impact.

The report follows escalating regional tensions since February 28, when a joint U.S.-Israel attack on Iran began. Since then, four U.S. military aircraft have been destroyed in the Middle East. Early in the conflict, Kuwaiti security forces mistakenly shot down three U.S. fighter jets, and later a U.S. refueling aircraft crashed in Iraq, according to Al Jazeera.

The damage at Ben Gurion Airport underscores the ongoing risks to civilian and military aviation amid the continuing hostilities between Iran, Israel, and their allies.

US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard told the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday that the United States has not observed any effort by Iran to rebuild its nuclear enrichment capacity following the attack in June last year. Her remarks were made during a briefing to lawmakers on recent intelligence assessments.

Gabbard stated that Iran and its allied forces remain capable of launching attacks against US and allied interests in the Middle East. She added that if Iran’s leadership survives the ongoing conflict, it may begin a year-long effort to rebuild its missile and drone programs. The information was reported by Al Jazeera.

The statement underscores Washington’s continued monitoring of Iran’s military and nuclear activities amid regional tensions, though no immediate reconstruction of enrichment facilities has been detected.

Iran has issued a final warning of large-scale attacks on several key oil and gas installations in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar within the next few hours. Tehran has instructed civilians and workers near these facilities to evacuate immediately, according to reports published on Wednesday, March 18, by Iranian state media.

The warning specifically mentioned Saudi Arabia’s Samref Refinery and Jubail Petrochemical Complex, the UAE’s Al Hosn gas field, and Qatar’s Mesaieed Petrochemical Complex, Mesaieed Holding Company, and Ras Laffan Refinery. Iranian media described these sites as direct and legitimate targets, urging all residents and employees to move to safe distances.

The report, citing Al Jazeera as a source, signals a potential escalation of regional tensions involving Iran and Gulf states, though no immediate response from the targeted countries was included in the report.

Qatar has condemned Israel’s attack on a petrochemical complex linked to Iran’s South Pars gas field, calling it a dangerous and irresponsible act amid heightened regional military tensions. The statement came from Majed Al-Ansari, spokesperson for Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who noted that the South Pars field is an extension of Qatar’s North Field.

Al-Ansari warned that targeting energy infrastructure poses a major threat to global energy security, as well as to the people and environment of the region. He emphasized the need to refrain from attacking critical facilities and reiterated Qatar’s consistent call for restraint, adherence to international law, and efforts to reduce tensions for the sake of regional security and stability.

The condemnation underscores Qatar’s concern over escalating hostilities in the region and its potential impact on shared energy assets and broader stability.

Iran’s military has announced plans for a decisive response following an attack on parts of the country’s energy and power infrastructure in the south. The statement, released through Tasnim, a news agency affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said that the assault targeted sections of Iran’s energy facilities.

According to the military statement, Iran had previously warned that any attack by what it called American-Zionist enemies on its energy, gas, or economic infrastructure would trigger a powerful counterattack. The statement emphasized that Iran now considers the energy and gas infrastructure of the aggressor nations as legitimate targets for retaliation.

The declaration signals Tehran’s intent to respond forcefully to the latest strike, framing it as part of a broader confrontation over regional energy and security interests.

US President Donald Trump has warned that he could destroy what remains of Iran and hand over responsibility for the Strait of Hormuz to the countries that use it. He issued the warning on Wednesday in a post on his social media platform Truth Social, saying the United States no longer needs the vital waterway for global oil supply.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s key oil transit routes. Trump suggested that transferring its control to other nations would push America’s inactive allies to act faster. Iran has maintained that the strait remains open but has warned that ships from US and Israeli allies will not be allowed to pass if attacks continue. Reports indicate that tankers from India, Turkey, and Pakistan have crossed the strait with Iran’s permission since the conflict began.

Following reports of an attack on one of Iran’s major natural gas facilities, crude oil prices rose above $108 per barrel. Despite Trump’s repeated calls, most NATO and Asian allies have declined to send warships to the area, except South Korea, which said it would consider the request.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on Wednesday that the military has been authorized to target any senior Iranian officials without requiring additional approval. Katz stated that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have granted the Israel Defense Forces permission to eliminate Iranian officials once intelligence and operational preparations are complete. He added that Israel will continue to locate and eliminate such figures.

Katz claimed that Iran’s intelligence minister, Esmail Khatib, was killed in an airstrike the previous night, though Iran has not confirmed his death. He also suggested that further operations could occur in Lebanon in the coming days, emphasizing that the conflict will continue on both the Iranian and Hezbollah fronts. Earlier, Israel claimed responsibility for airstrikes in Tehran that killed Ali Larijani, his son, and Basij chief General Gholamreza Soleimani, deaths later confirmed by Iran.

Turkey condemned Israel’s targeted killings of Iranian leaders, with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan calling them illegal acts beyond the laws of war, according to AFP and Al Jazeera reports.

Russia has strongly condemned a reported missile strike on Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant, according to a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry on March 18, 2026. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that Iran reported a projectile impact at the site but said there was no damage to the facility and no injuries. The agency warned, however, that such attacks could pose risks of radioactive contamination.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova described the incident as an irresponsible and completely unacceptable act, noting that the projectile landed only a few meters from an active reactor. She added that Russia had previously warned the United States and Israel about the presence of Russian citizens working at the plant.

The IAEA continues to monitor the situation, emphasizing the importance of protecting nuclear facilities from any form of military action that could endanger safety and security.

Saudi Arabia announced that the Shawwal moon was not sighted on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, meaning the country will complete 30 days of fasting for Ramadan. The Supreme Court, through the Royal Court, confirmed that Eid al-Fitr will be celebrated nationwide on Friday, March 20, 2026.

According to the report, members of the moon-sighting committee observed cloudy weather across most parts of the kingdom, with rain expected in several areas. These conditions affected the visibility of the moon, leading to the official decision that the crescent was not visible. The announcement was made on Wednesday evening following the committee’s observations.

Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan and is one of the most significant religious festivals for Muslims, celebrated on the first day of Shawwal after the sighting of the new moon.

The US Embassy in Dhaka has issued a new directive for Bangladeshi citizens regarding the use of B1-B2 visitor visas. Published on the embassy’s official Facebook page on March 18, the notice explicitly prohibits using the visa to give birth in the United States. The embassy stated that some visa holders had recently attempted to secure US citizenship for their children through such actions, known as “birth tourism,” which violates visa regulations.

The directive also clarifies that B1-B2 visa holders are not allowed to engage in paid employment in the United States. They may only attend business meetings or conferences. Using the visitor visa to pursue academic degrees or earn credits toward a student program is also forbidden; those seeking full-time study must obtain an F-1 student visa.

The embassy said the warning comes amid stricter immigration and visa policies under the US President’s second term. Violating these rules could result in visa cancellation and entry bans to the United States.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said that the United States is responsible for the recent attacks in several cities across neighboring Gulf countries. Speaking to Al Jazeera on Wednesday, he claimed that Iran should not be blamed for the strikes, arguing that the U.S. moved its troops from military bases to hotels in those cities, effectively making them targets.

Araghchi explained that Iran’s operations did not only target official enemy bases but also locations where U.S. forces had gathered and established facilities. His remarks came amid heightened regional tensions following multiple incidents involving Iranian and U.S. interests in the Gulf region.

The statement reflects Iran’s attempt to shift responsibility for the attacks onto Washington, emphasizing that the presence and movement of U.S. forces in civilian areas contributed to the escalation.