Iran carried out a missile strike near an Australian military base in the United Arab Emirates on the morning of March 18, 2026. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that the missile hit near the Al Minhad base at around 9:15 a.m. local time. He stated that no Australian soldiers were injured and all personnel were safe.

According to Albanese, the missile struck a road leading to the base, causing a fire that resulted in minor damage to a residential block and a medical center. The incident did not lead to any reported casualties among Australian forces. The report cited the BBC as its source.

Authorities have not yet provided further details on the motive or broader implications of the strike, and no additional response from Iran or the UAE was mentioned in the report.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has warned that the ongoing war in the Middle East could have global repercussions. In a post on social media platform X, he said the ripple effects of the conflict were only beginning and would impact everyone regardless of wealth, religion, or nationality. Araghchi urged Western governments to build stronger resistance against the war.

His post included a copy of the resignation letter of Joe Kent, director of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center. In the letter, Kent stated that he could not support the ongoing war against Iran, arguing that Iran posed no imminent threat to the United States and that the conflict was driven by pressure from Israel and its U.S. lobby. Araghchi added that an increasing number of European and American officials were calling the war against Iran unjust and encouraged others to follow their example.

The warning comes amid escalating tensions in the region, with reports of casualties following Iranian attacks on Israel and diplomatic efforts among Muslim nations to address the crisis.

Iran’s Deputy Chief of the Supreme National Security Council, Alireza Bayat, has been killed. According to Iranian state media, Bayat was with the country’s security chief, Ali Larijani, when Israel carried out an attack that also claimed Larijani’s life. The incident occurred on Tuesday night, as confirmed earlier by the security council, which reported that Larijani, his son, and an aide were killed in the Israeli strike.

Tasnim News Agency described Bayat as a skilled but publicity-shy administrator. Before joining the Supreme National Security Council, he served as the head of Iran’s Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization and previously worked in several national security institutions.

The report did not provide further details about the location or circumstances of the attack, nor did it mention any official Iranian response to the incident.

Israel launched intense missile strikes across Lebanon on March 18, 2026, killing six people and injuring 24 in Beirut. The attacks targeted three apartment buildings in central Beirut. The Israeli military also began what it described as a series of continuous assaults in southern Lebanon, hours after ordering residents of Tyre city and its Palestinian refugee camp to evacuate to safer areas.

According to the Israeli military, the strikes were carried out in response to rockets fired from Hezbollah positions into Israeli territory. Al Jazeera Arabic reported that Israeli forces attacked the city of Al-Aqbiya in the Sidon district shortly after striking the nearby town of Kennari. The escalation marks a significant intensification of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah-linked areas in Lebanon.

The situation remains tense as Israel continues its operations in southern Lebanon, raising concerns of further civilian casualties and regional instability.

Iran has launched a series of missile attacks on Israel, with explosions reported in the central Gush Dan area, according to Israeli Channel 12 on March 18, 2026. At least one missile was intercepted, but debris caused damage on the ground. Reports indicated that vehicles were damaged and caught fire in Holon city, while sirens were heard across southern Israel. The Israeli military confirmed detecting missiles fired from Iran and urged residents in targeted areas to seek shelter.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that the strikes were carried out to avenge the killing of Larijani and his companions. The IRGC claimed that over 100 military and security targets in central Israel were successfully hit using Khorramshahr-4, Qadr, Emad, and Kheibar Shekan missiles. In Tel Aviv’s Ramat Gan area, a man and a woman were reported killed by missile fragments.

Authorities in Israel have heightened alerts across multiple regions, while the situation remains tense following the retaliatory strikes.

Iran’s military has announced plans to take revenge for the killing of National Security Council chief Ali Larijani in an Israeli airstrike. Army chief Amir Hatami warned that Iran’s response would be “final and regrettable,” describing the planned retaliation as both decisive and sorrowful.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed the death of Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani in the same context. The report noted that this assassination marks the highest-level killing since the joint U.S.-Israeli attack on February 28 that killed former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The developments signal a sharp escalation in the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel.

According to the report, Iran’s leadership views the attack as a direct assault on its national security structure, and the military’s vow of retribution underscores the growing regional tension following recent high-profile assassinations.

Mahmudur Rahman, writing in *Amar Desh* on March 18, 2026, describes this year’s Eid-ul-Fitr as one of deep sorrow rather than joy. He recounts personal grief following the deaths of his mother and his wife’s mother, alongside anguish over violence in Muslim regions during Ramadan. Rahman laments that the usual spirit of Eid has been replaced by mourning across the Muslim world.

He condemns the United States and Israel for attacks in Iran, Lebanon, and Palestine during Ramadan, citing a report from Al Jazeera about U.S. actions against Iran. Rahman criticizes global silence and the indifference of the wider Muslim community. He notes that despite provocations, sectarian conflict between Shia and Sunni Muslims has not escalated into full-scale war. Oman’s foreign minister, he writes, has refused to align with U.S. or Israeli agendas, while other Gulf states show mixed responses.

Rahman concludes by reflecting on his decades-long struggle as a journalist under various regimes in Bangladesh, expressing hope that the country’s return to democratic governance will allow fearless journalism and a safer future for the press.

Two people were killed in an Iranian missile strike on Ramat Gan, a district in Tel Aviv, Israel’s commercial capital, according to reports published on March 18, 2026. The victims were attempting to reach a bomb shelter when the missile hit. Both were found severely injured near the staircase of their apartment building and later confirmed dead.

Hebrew-language media cited by the Times of Israel reported that the victims were around 70 years old. The attack also caused damage in several parts of Tel Aviv, including the city’s train station, spreading panic among residents. The incident marks a deadly escalation in the ongoing hostilities between Iran and Israel.

Authorities have not yet released further details about the extent of the damage or possible additional casualties, and the situation in Tel Aviv remains tense following the strike.

Eighteen days after attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran, Tehran has launched retaliatory strikes on American installations across several Middle Eastern countries. In this context, Ali Larijani, head and secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, issued an open six-point letter on Monday addressed to Muslim-majority nations. In the letter, he called on the Muslim world to stand with Iran in its war against the US and Israel, describing America as an unreliable partner and Israel as an enemy of Muslims.

Larijani’s letter, written in Arabic, was characterized as part rebuke, part theological argument, and part strategic appeal. He accused Washington and Tel Aviv of orchestrating a deceptive aggression aimed at dividing Iran, which he said led to the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, civilians, and military commanders. He criticized Muslim governments for failing to support Iran and urged them to reflect on the future of the Islamic world, emphasizing unity and collective security.

Larijani reaffirmed that Iran would continue its resistance against what he termed the “great and small devils,” referring to the United States and Israel.

US President Donald Trump has again expressed dissatisfaction with NATO allies, threatening them for not helping reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking to reporters at the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump called NATO’s decision not to assist the United States in its military operation in Iran a “very foolish mistake.” The remarks came as the Iran war entered its third week amid a continuing US-Israel conflict.

According to the report, Iran has been targeting commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the US-Israel war last month, nearly halting oil exports. Trump criticized NATO members, particularly French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, accusing them of failing to provide meaningful support. He repeated his claim that the British leader is “not Winston Churchill.”

The report notes that Trump has made little effort to build international consensus for the war, while NATO allies have made clear they do not wish to be drawn into the conflict. Analysts suggest his confrontational approach could further isolate the US and Israel in their fight against Iran.

The Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) has requested the Ministry of Shipping to initiate discussions with the Iranian government to ensure the safe return of the Bangladeshi-flagged vessel Banglar Joyjatra, which remains stranded near the Strait of Hormuz due to ongoing conflict. The state-owned ship, carrying 31 sailors, became trapped after leaving Qatar’s Mesaieed port for the UAE’s Jebel Ali port and is now anchored safely near Sharjah waters.

According to BSC, the vessel has been waiting for over two weeks to cross the Hormuz Strait but suspended attempts following reports of attacks on other ships. BSC Managing Director Commodore Mahmudul Malek said the corporation advised against taking additional risks and is seeking a diplomatic solution through Iran to move the ship into the Arabian Sea. The government is reportedly considering the proposal.

Meanwhile, Turkish-chartered firm Thaba has offered the ship a cargo transport assignment between Qatar and the UAE, which could help maintain crew morale and reduce food shortage risks. Maritime associations have urged prioritizing diplomatic efforts to avoid casualties similar to a previous BSC vessel incident.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has confirmed the death of Gholamreza Soleimani, commander of the country’s Basij force. The confirmation came through a statement cited by Iran’s Tasnim news agency on March 18, 2026. According to the IRGC statement, Soleimani was killed in an attack carried out by what it described as American-Zionist enemies.

Earlier, Israeli Defense Minister Katz claimed that Israel had killed both Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani and Basij commander Soleimani in separate strikes. However, the IRGC statement only confirmed Soleimani’s death and made no mention of Larijani. The report was sourced from Al Jazeera, as cited by the Iranian outlet.

The confirmation marks a significant development amid escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, though the IRGC has not provided further details about the circumstances of the attack or its location.

Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney has sharply criticized the United States and Israel for what he described as an unjustified attack on Iran, saying it lacked any basis in international law. In a post on social media platform X on Tuesday, he called for an immediate halt to the assault in the interest of Iran’s innocent children and global peace.

Swinney said Tehran was burning, with streets engulfed in flames, schools bombed, and thousands killed, describing the situation as indefensible. He urged diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions and end the ongoing war. The conflict intensified after the United States and Israel launched a joint strike on Iran on February 28, which reportedly killed around 1,300 people, including then–Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran has since retaliated with drone and missile attacks targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf states hosting US military assets, causing casualties, infrastructure damage, and disruptions to global markets and air travel.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France will never participate in any military operation aimed at keeping the Strait of Hormuz open. He made the statement on Tuesday at the start of a cabinet meeting focused on the Middle East conflict. Macron emphasized that France would not take part in any such mission while the ongoing war between Iran, the United States, and Israel continues.

He explained that Paris is instead working to form an international coalition to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait once the war ends. Macron reiterated that France is not a party to the current conflict and will only consider taking responsibility for escort or security arrangements for maritime traffic when the situation calms and bombing stops.

According to Macron, France’s approach is to wait for stability before engaging in cooperative efforts to restore safe navigation in the region.

The Bangladesh Embassy in Doha has issued an urgent notice requesting Bangladeshi expatriates in Qatar to perform their Eid-ul-Fitr prayers at their nearest mosques. The directive, released on Tuesday, follows the Qatari Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs’ call for all residents to offer Eid prayers in mosques due to the ongoing conflict situation in the Middle East.

According to the embassy, the annual Eid congregation traditionally held at the Bangladesh MHM School and College grounds will not take place this year. The embassy emphasized respect for the Qatari government’s decision and urged all Bangladeshi nationals to observe the instructions carefully and maintain necessary precautions while attending prayers.

The advisory reflects Qatar’s broader security measures in response to regional instability, aiming to ensure public safety during the Eid celebrations.