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Israeli military prosecutors have withdrawn charges against five soldiers accused of raping and sexually assaulting a Palestinian detainee at the Sde Teiman detention center.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.

Iran has launched extensive attacks on US military bases located in three Middle Eastern countries, according to a report by Al Jazeera on Saturday, March 14, 2026. The Iranian Navy claimed responsibility for multiple strikes targeting US installations in the region. Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, stated that the attacks were directed at the Al-Dhafra base in the United Arab Emirates, the Al-Adiri base in Kuwait, and the Sheikh Isa base in Bahrain. The strikes reportedly targeted US Patriot radar systems, military aircraft, and fuel storage tanks.

The escalation follows a US attack on an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean that killed 104 naval personnel. Iranian Army Chief Amir Hatami condemned the incident, vowing retaliation. According to Iran’s state news agency IRNA, the IRIS Dena destroyer was returning from a military exercise when it was struck. Hatami described the crew’s deaths as a symbol of courage and duty, pledging to strengthen Iran’s naval capabilities to defend its maritime borders.

The developments mark a sharp rise in regional tensions, with both sides signaling readiness for further military action.

Iran has allowed a limited number of Indian ships to pass safely through the Strait of Hormuz despite ongoing regional conflict. The announcement was made by Iran’s ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, during a conclave organized by India Today in New Delhi. He did not specify how many ships received permission.

Due to current hostilities, maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has been largely suspended. Iran imposed extensive restrictions on navigation in the key waterway amid heightened tensions with the United States and Israel. The decision to permit certain Indian vessels safe passage is being viewed as an unusual exception under the circumstances.

The development comes as regional tensions remain high, with reports of threats to U.S. oil facilities and military actions across several Middle Eastern countries.

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has claimed responsibility for what it described as a large-scale precision strike on Iran’s Kharg Island. According to a brief statement posted on social media platform X, the operation destroyed more than 90 Iranian military targets, including naval mine storage facilities and missile bunkers. CENTCOM stated that the island’s oil infrastructure was deliberately left intact during the attack.

An Iranian official earlier said that oil exports from Kharg Island were continuing normally and that operations of oil companies had not been disrupted. Kharg Island serves as Iran’s main oil export hub, handling the majority of the country’s crude shipments to international markets.

The report did not specify the timing or duration of the strike, and no details were provided about casualties or potential retaliatory actions.

An Iranian official stated that oil exports from Kharg Island are continuing normally, with oil company operations on the island proceeding without disruption. The statement was reported by Iran’s state news agency IRNA and the semi-official Tasnim News Agency, according to Al Jazeera.

The announcement came after the United States claimed to have carried out airstrikes on military installations on Kharg Island. Washington also warned that if Iran continues to block the Strait of Hormuz, key oil facilities on the island could become targets. Kharg Island is a vital hub for Iran’s oil exports, accounting for more than 90 percent of the country’s total crude shipments.

The situation underscores the island’s strategic importance and the potential risks to global oil supply if tensions in the region escalate further.

Iran has claimed responsibility for attacks on US military bases located in Abu Dhabi and Bahrain, according to a report by Al Jazeera citing Iranian media. The announcement came on the fifteenth day of ongoing US-Israeli strikes on Iran. Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, stated that Iranian naval forces carried out several consecutive strikes on three US bases in the region.

Tangsiri said the targeted sites included Al-Dhafra Air Base in Abu Dhabi and Sheikh Isa Base in Bahrain. He claimed that the attacks specifically hit Patriot radar systems, aircraft, and aviation fuel storage tanks. However, details about the extent of damage or any official response from the United States were not immediately available.

The situation reflects escalating tensions in the Gulf region, with Iran continuing to retaliate against US and Israeli actions while regional security remains uncertain.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has declared United States military positions in the United Arab Emirates as legitimate targets following a US attack on Iran’s Kharg Island, according to Al Jazeera. In a statement published by Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency, the IRGC said it reserves the right to defend the country’s sovereignty and territory by targeting the sources of American missile attacks.

The statement added that ports, docks, and shelters for US troops located in several UAE cities could be considered lawful defensive targets. The IRGC also urged UAE residents to stay away from ports, jetties, and areas near US military facilities to avoid potential harm.

Analysts cited in the report said tensions between Iran and the United States have sharply escalated after the Kharg Island strike, raising fears of a broader conflict across the Middle East.

The United States Embassy in Dhaka has issued a new advisory for Bangladeshi citizens planning to travel to the US. Published on March 14, 2026, the notice warns that non-immigrant visas may be revoked if travelers lack sufficient financial means to support themselves or misuse government-funded benefits. Such actions could also lead to permanent ineligibility for future entry into the United States.

According to the embassy, the rule applies strictly to all categories of non-immigrant visa holders, including tourists, business travelers, students, journalists, and transit passengers. The message emphasizes that visitors must ensure they can cover their own expenses, particularly in emergencies or medical situations, without relying on taxpayer-funded services. Embassy officials noted that while financial proof is required during visa application, some visitors later depend on free or public services, prompting Washington to adopt a stricter stance.

The embassy urged all travelers to prepare adequate funds for their entire trip, including potential emergency costs, to avoid visa cancellation risks.