Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has issued a strong warning that Israel’s actions are pushing the Middle East toward severe instability and potential genocide. Speaking at a press conference in Ankara on Saturday, Fidan accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of using operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon as a pretext for a new massacre. He cautioned that the ongoing conflict could escalate into a regional war and urged the United States and Iran to return to dialogue immediately.

Fidan confirmed that Turkey had intercepted a missile targeting its airspace and said Ankara is closely monitoring the situation while maintaining regular contact with Iran. He sharply criticized Israel for restricting worshippers’ access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, calling it a dangerous move that could inflame tensions across the Muslim world.

The minister emphasized that as long as the attacks continue, the region will remain trapped in a cycle of destruction, and Turkey will build strong resistance against any provocation.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Iran would target US company facilities in the Middle East if its oil infrastructure came under attack. Speaking on Saturday, he told UCJ News Agency that Iranian forces would respond by striking American installations in the region should Iranian sites be hit.

Araghchi urged Iranian forces to act with caution, emphasizing that densely populated areas must not become targets of retaliatory operations. He also commented on the Strait of Hormuz, saying that despite it remaining open, Iran would not allow oil tankers or ships belonging to either enemies or allies to pass through.

The remarks, reported by Al Jazeera, reflect heightened regional tensions and Iran’s warning of potential escalation if its energy assets are threatened.

Missiles were launched toward Israel from Iran and Lebanon on Saturday, according to Al Jazeera’s live updates. Explosions were heard over western Jerusalem after Israeli defenses detected incoming missiles from Iran. The Iran-backed Lebanese armed group Hezbollah claimed responsibility for rocket attacks on northern Israel’s Goren area and said it targeted an Israeli air defense system in the Ma’alot-Tarshiha city.

Al Jazeera reported that the Middle East war, which began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Tehran, has now entered its third week. The Israeli military stated that its defense systems were actively working to intercept the incoming missiles and neutralize threats.

The continued exchange of attacks underscores the deepening regional conflict involving Iran, Lebanon, Israel, and the United States, with no immediate sign of de-escalation mentioned in the report.

Five US Air Force refueling aircraft were damaged in an Iranian missile attack on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing two US officials on Friday, March 13. The aircraft were hit during recent Iranian strikes but were not completely destroyed and are currently under repair. No casualties were reported in the incident, and Reuters was unable to independently verify the report.

The attack comes amid heightened regional tensions as Iran continues missile operations in Gulf countries. In response, the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas urged Tehran to refrain from targeting neighboring states while reaffirming Iran’s right to self-defense against Israel and the United States. This marked Hamas’s first such appeal to Iran, emphasizing adherence to international law.

Hamas also called on the international community to work toward an immediate end to the ongoing conflict, following two years of devastating war in Gaza.

Two of the five Bangladeshi nationals killed in a gas cylinder explosion at a guesthouse in the Maldives are expected to be repatriated to Bangladesh on Sunday, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued on Saturday. The victims were identified as Taj Uddin Islam, Md. Sadar Ali, Md. Robin Molla, Sofikul Islam, and Md. Nurun Nabi Sarkar. The bodies of Md. Sadar Ali and Sofikul Islam are scheduled to arrive in Bangladesh, while two others, Jamal Uddin and Saddam Hossain, remain hospitalized with serious injuries.

The explosion occurred on Thursday night at a guesthouse on Dhigurah Island, about 100 kilometers from the Maldivian capital, Malé. Seven people were rescued with severe burns, and five later died while receiving treatment. The Bangladesh High Commission in the Maldives coordinated with local authorities to expedite the repatriation process and provide assistance to the victims’ families.

The High Commission has also contacted the employer company to ensure proper compensation and arranged alternative housing for affected Bangladeshi workers. The injured are under close medical supervision in Malé.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for recent attacks on branches of US banks in several Gulf countries, describing them as retaliation for earlier American strikes on two Iranian banks. The statement was reported by Al Jazeera, citing Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency.

IRGC spokesperson Sardar Naeini said the US bank branches were targeted in direct response to those previous attacks. He warned that if the United States carries out similar operations again, all American bank branches in the region would become legitimate targets for Iran. The incidents included two consecutive attacks in Dubai’s International Financial Centre area, prompting major US financial institutions such as Citigroup and Standard Chartered to evacuate offices and shift employees to remote work.

In a related move, HSBC closed its branch in Qatar and implemented remote work policies for its regional staff following the attacks.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that the United States will carry out large-scale bombing along the coast of the Hormuz Strait if necessary to keep the strategic waterway open. According to Al Jazeera, Trump made the statement in a post on Truth Social, saying that Iran’s attempt to close the strait has prompted several countries to consider sending warships to the area.

Trump urged nations dependent on the Hormuz Strait, including China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom, to deploy ships to ensure its safety and openness. He claimed that Iran’s military capability has been largely destroyed but acknowledged that Iran still retains the ability to launch drones, lay mines, or fire short-range missiles.

Trump emphasized that the United States would conduct extensive coastal bombings if required and vowed that the Hormuz Strait would remain open by any means necessary.

Thousands of Palestinians have been forced to pray on the streets outside Al-Aqsa Mosque after Israeli authorities barred entry to the compound. The closure, imposed under security restrictions, has left worshippers performing prayers near the Bab al-Sahira gate in Jerusalem during the final days of Ramadan.

In previous years, hundreds of thousands gathered inside Al-Aqsa for Friday prayers during Ramadan. However, since the joint Israel–United States military operation against Iran began on February 28, Israel has tightened access to Jerusalem’s Old City and its holy sites. According to the report, this is the first complete closure of Al-Aqsa since 1967. Before the war, Israel had already limited entry, allowing only 10,000 worshippers from the occupied West Bank on the first Friday of Ramadan, compared to the usual half a million.

Worshippers expressed deep sorrow over being unable to enter the mosque, describing the experience as losing something precious during one of the holiest periods of the year.

Israeli military prosecutors have withdrawn charges against five soldiers accused of raping and sexually assaulting a Palestinian detainee at the Sde Teiman detention center. The decision was announced on Thursday, according to a statement from the Israeli army cited by Al Jazeera. The army said the charges were dropped due to significant developments that occurred after the indictment was filed.

The alleged assault took place in July 2025 at the Sde Teiman facility, located in Israel’s Negev desert. Reports said the detainee suffered severe injuries, including rectal tearing. Israeli media, including the state broadcaster Kan, previously reported that the victim was later sent to Gaza on October 13, 2025, as part of a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas.

Sde Teiman has gained notoriety for alleged human rights abuses against Palestinian detainees, including beatings, prolonged restraints, and denial of medical care. Both Palestinian and Israeli media, as well as human rights groups, have compared the facility to the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced that its air defense systems intercepted nine ballistic missiles and thirty-three drones launched from Iran early Saturday, according to a statement cited by Al Jazeera. The UAE Ministry of Defense said the interceptions occurred amid ongoing regional hostilities that began on February 28 when Iran initiated military actions.

The ministry’s statement added that since the start of the conflict, UAE defenses have intercepted a total of 294 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and approximately 1,600 drones. During this period, at least six people have been killed and 141 injured in related attacks.

According to the ministry, the UAE’s air defense systems remain continuously active to counter Iranian assaults as tensions persist across the Middle East.

A large-scale conflict has erupted across the Middle East following a joint US-Israel attack on Iran on February 28, 2026. In response, Iran launched retaliatory strikes targeting American bases in the region. According to Al Jazeera, the ensuing clashes have caused hundreds of deaths across multiple countries, affecting both military and civilian populations.

The conflict has quickly spread as Iran’s regional allies became involved, intensifying violence in several Middle Eastern nations. The situation has grown increasingly complex, with rising casualties and expanding fronts of confrontation. The report indicates that the fighting has not been confined to Iran but has drawn in neighboring territories as well.

Instability has also emerged in key energy transport routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, raising concerns about disruptions in global energy markets. The ongoing hostilities have heightened regional tensions and created uncertainty over the next phase of the crisis.

Two United States airbases in Iraq came under eight separate attacks within a 24-hour period, according to a report published on March 14, 2026. The assaults, carried out between early Friday and early Saturday, were claimed by the Islamic Resistance, a coalition of Iran-aligned armed political groups in Iraq. In a statement, the group said its fighters launched drones and missiles targeting the Al-Harir and Al-Asad airbases, though no further details were provided.

The statement also claimed missile strikes on the US embassy in Iraq, which reportedly damaged the embassy’s helipad, according to Iraqi security officials. Neither the US Department of Defense nor the airbases issued any comment regarding the incidents.

The attacks followed the collapse of nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington, which ended without agreement on February 27. Shortly afterward, the United States launched “Operation Epic Fury,” while Israel began “Operation Roaring Lion,” signaling heightened military activity in the region.

Pope Leo has called on Christian political leaders who have initiated or participated in wars to confess their sins in church. Speaking at a conference in the Vatican on Friday, he urged these leaders to examine whether they are truly following the teachings of Jesus. In his address to priests, the Pope did not name any specific leaders or conflicts but questioned whether those responsible for armed conflicts have the courage to face their conscience and seek confession.

He emphasized that confession brings personal purification and helps establish peace and unity in society. The appeal comes amid renewed global tensions following a joint U.S.-Israel airstrike in Iran on February 28, which marked the beginning of a new conflict in the Middle East. According to Reuters, although Pope Leo avoided naming any war or leader, his message was clearly directed at those involved in current hostilities.

The Catholic Church traditionally opposes war based on Jesus’ principle of nonviolence, though it recognizes the “just war” doctrine to assess moral justification for conflicts. Earlier this week, Washington’s Cardinal Robert McElroy said the U.S.-Israel strike in Iran failed to meet the Church’s just war standards.

The United States has instructed non-essential government employees and their family members to leave Oman as regional tensions escalate. The directive was issued after the US State Department updated its travel advisory on Friday, citing increased security risks in the Middle East. The advisory warned of ongoing threats of drone and missile attacks originating from Iran, which have also disrupted commercial flight operations in the region.

According to Oman's state media, two people were killed in a drone strike in the country's northern region. The report linked the incident to the broader conflict in the Middle East, where Iran has been carrying out retaliatory attacks in neighboring countries. The situation underscores the growing instability across the region and the heightened caution among foreign governments regarding the safety of their citizens.

The updated travel advisory reflects Washington’s concern over the expanding conflict and its potential to affect US personnel and operations in the Gulf region.

Iran’s Unified Combatant Command has warned that any attack on its oil and energy infrastructure will trigger immediate retaliation against US-linked oil companies in the Middle East. The statement came after an assault on Kharg Island, a key terminal responsible for about 90 percent of Iran’s oil exports.

The Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters said in a statement that if Iranian energy facilities are targeted, US-affiliated oil and energy infrastructure will be destroyed and reduced to ashes. The warning followed US President Donald Trump’s announcement that American forces had destroyed military targets on Kharg Island, though he clarified that oil infrastructure was not targeted.

Trump also cautioned that if Iran or any other party disrupts free and safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, he would reconsider that restraint. The development marks a sharp escalation in tensions following earlier US reluctance to strike Iranian energy sites and comes amid ongoing regional conflict involving Israel and Iran.