US President Donald Trump has indicated that Washington may scale back its military operations in Iran, citing that the United States is close to achieving its objectives. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social on Friday, Trump said the administration is considering reducing military activities. His statement is being viewed as the strongest signal yet that the conflict, which began on February 28, could soon come to an end.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that both the President and the Pentagon had earlier suggested the mission could take four to six weeks to complete. Meanwhile, the US Treasury Department has eased some restrictions on Iranian oil, allowing shipments loaded before March 20 to be sold until April 19 amid global concerns over rising oil prices and supply shortages.

In response to recent escalations, Iran’s new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei vowed harsh retaliation against enemies, leading to drone and missile attacks on Saudi Arabia and Israel. Israeli forces reportedly launched counterstrikes on targets in Tehran early Saturday.

Iran has threatened to expand its attacks to entertainment and tourism centers worldwide as its conflict with the United States and Israel enters the third week. The warning came from General Abolfazl Shekarchi, Iran’s top military spokesperson, who stated that parks, leisure areas, and tourist destinations across the world would no longer be safe for Iran’s enemies. The announcement has sparked renewed concern in international circles.

Analysts cited in the report suggest that Iran may employ asymmetric tactics beyond the Middle East to increase pressure on its adversaries. The situation intensified after Israel reportedly struck Iran’s large South Pars gas field on Wednesday, prompting Tehran to escalate attacks on energy facilities in the Gulf region.

In a related development, two drone strikes hit Kuwait’s Mina al-Ahmadi oil refinery early Friday, causing a fire at one of the region’s largest refineries, which has a daily capacity of about 730,000 barrels. The incidents underscore rising regional tensions and fears of broader instability.

At least 20 people were killed and 57 others injured in the latest Israeli airstrike in Lebanon, according to the country's Disaster Risk Management Unit. The attack took place on Friday, marking another escalation in the ongoing Israeli military operations in the region.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported that with these new casualties, the total number of people killed in Israeli attacks since March 2 has risen to 1,021. The total number of injured has reached 2,641, while 134,616 people have been registered as displaced in various shelters across the country.

The figures highlight the growing humanitarian toll of the continued Israeli strikes in Lebanon, as reported by Al Jazeera and local authorities.

The Israeli military reported detecting another wave of Iranian missiles heading toward its territory, stating that air defense systems were actively working to intercept them. According to The Times of Israel, sirens could be sounded in central Israel amid fears of further attacks.

Throughout Friday, Israeli authorities were forced to activate warning sirens at least ten times across the country due to repeated Iranian missile strikes. In northern Israel, sirens also sounded frequently following continuous rocket fire from Lebanon’s Hezbollah group. Although civilian casualties were limited, the attacks caused significant damage in several areas.

In occupied East Jerusalem, debris from an intercepted missile reportedly fell dangerously close to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, damaging nearby vehicles. The mosque remains closed under Israeli control, and officials described the incident as a serious safety concern.

NATO has withdrawn almost all of its personnel from Iraq amid regional instability triggered by the ongoing Iran war, according to Iraqi National Security Advisor’s office officials cited by AFP and Al Jazeera. The withdrawal, described as temporary, follows repeated attacks on the NATO mission in Baghdad after U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran. Only a small team remains in Iraq, while the rest have been relocated to NATO’s command center in Naples, Italy.

NATO expressed gratitude to Iraq and allied nations for ensuring the safe transfer of its staff. In a statement, General Alexus Grynkewich, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, praised the professionalism of the mission’s members. The alliance confirmed that the last personnel left Iraq and will continue operations from Naples.

The NATO Mission Iraq is a non-combat advisory and capacity-building mission aimed at helping Iraq strengthen its security institutions, stabilize the country, combat terrorism, and prevent the resurgence of ISIL.

Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the United Arab Emirates’ President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed held a phone conversation to discuss the latest developments following Iran’s attacks. According to a statement from the Qatari Emir’s office, the two Gulf leaders examined the serious impact of these attacks on regional security and stability.

Both leaders described the attacks as a grave violation of state sovereignty and the principles of international law. They emphasized the urgent need to end all forms of conflict, reduce tensions, and strengthen regional and international diplomatic efforts to restore calm.

Their discussion reflects growing concern among Gulf states about the potential escalation of violence in the region and highlights a shared call for diplomatic engagement to prevent further instability.

The United Kingdom has granted the United States permission to use British military bases for operations targeting Iranian facilities or positions involved in attacks in the Strait of Hormuz. The decision was made during a cabinet meeting on Friday, according to the UK government. Previously, Downing Street had allowed the US to use British bases only to intercept Iranian missile attacks that could endanger British interests or lives.

The new authorization expands that permission, enabling US forces to use British bases to protect shipping in the Hormuz Strait. Downing Street clarified that the UK will not directly participate in any such attacks and that its policy toward the conflict remains unchanged. A government spokesperson said ministers agreed that US forces could use British bases for defensive operations aimed at capabilities used in attacks on ships in the region.

The decision reflects continued coordination between the UK and the US over maritime security in the Persian Gulf amid heightened tensions involving Iran.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told French presidential adviser Emmanuel Bonne that China and France should work together to resolve the ongoing Middle East crisis. During a telephone conversation, Wang emphasized that despite difficulties, dialogue and negotiation remain the correct path to overcome the crisis. He stated that both countries should cooperate toward this goal.

According to the report, China has adopted a pragmatic approach that prioritizes regional stability and its economic interests over direct intervention. While Beijing has said that U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran violate international law, it has refrained from providing direct military support to its ally Iran. Instead, China has focused on diplomatic mediation and calls for a ceasefire.

The discussion reflects Beijing’s preference for diplomatic engagement in regional conflicts and its interest in working with European partners like France to promote stability in the Middle East.

Israeli forces prevented Palestinians from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem to perform Eid al-Fitr prayers, citing security reasons. The mosque was closed on the day of Eid, forcing hundreds of worshippers to pray near its gates and surrounding streets. According to reports, this was the first time since 1967 that Eid prayers did not take place inside the mosque.

The closure led to heightened tension among Palestinians. Sheikh Ikrima Sabri, the mosque’s preacher and former Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, issued a religious directive urging Muslims to pray as close as possible to the mosque. Al Jazeera reported that when worshippers attempted to gather for Friday prayers, Israeli forces fired tear gas and dispersed them.

The incident occurred amid ongoing conflict involving Israel, Iran, and the United States, with Israel already imposing strict entry restrictions at Al-Aqsa. Observers noted that the closure further escalated regional tensions.

Iranian rocket attacks on Jerusalem have increased, with four strikes reported on Thursday night and two more on Friday morning. No casualties have been reported so far. Additional attacks using other weapons were also launched toward northern and southern Israel. In response, Israel carried out strikes in Tehran, claiming to have targeted Iranian government infrastructure.

According to the Israeli military, Iran still possesses more than 150 operational missile launchers and several hundred ballistic missiles. Israel’s Kan News reported that since the start of the war, Iran has fired about 900 ballistic missiles, including 350 aimed at Israel and the rest toward Gulf countries. Iranian state-linked WANA news agency released a video showing missiles being launched from an undisclosed location.

While Israel asserts that it is preventing Iran from producing new missiles, a spokesperson for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps stated that the country’s missile production industry remains fully active during wartime, with no concerns about production or stockpiles.

Multiple unidentified drones were reportedly seen flying over a military base in Washington, D.C., where U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reside, according to The Washington Post. The sightings occurred on at least one night within the past ten days, prompting immediate security reviews. The U.S. government is considering relocating some senior officials for safety reasons, and a high-level meeting has been called at the White House to address the issue.

The source reports that the origin of the drones remains unknown. The incident comes amid heightened tensions between the United States and Israel over Iran, leading the U.S. military to strengthen security at its bases. The State Department has also instructed all American diplomatic missions worldwide to conduct security assessments.

Officials reportedly discussed the possibility of relocating Rubio and Hegseth due to the seriousness of the drone presence over Fort McNair, though no final decision has been made. Analysts suggest such incidents could pose new challenges for U.S. internal security systems.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has dismissed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s claim that Tehran no longer has the capability to produce missiles. According to a report by Al Jazeera, an IRGC spokesperson stated that Iran is still manufacturing missiles at full capacity and facing no difficulties in storing them.

The spokesperson emphasized that Iran’s missile industry remains strong, describing its performance as “20 out of 20.” He added that despite the ongoing state of war, production continues without interruption. The IRGC representative also declared that the war will continue.

Earlier, during a press conference in Israel, Netanyahu had asserted that Iran’s ballistic missile production capability had been destroyed, claiming that “we are winning, and Iran is collapsing.”

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced that his country has taken a neutral position regarding the ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. Speaking in parliament after a meeting with U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, he dismissed accusations that Sri Lanka was favoring any side in the conflict.

Dissanayake addressed criticism suggesting that Sri Lanka delayed permission for an Iranian ship due to a defense agreement with the United States. He clarified that both Iran and the United States had recently requested permission for their naval vessels to dock in Sri Lankan ports, and the government refused both requests to maintain neutrality.

The president emphasized that rejecting both sides’ requests demonstrated Sri Lanka’s commitment to a balanced foreign policy amid rising regional tensions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that more than 200 Ukrainian specialists have been deployed to the Middle East to assist Gulf countries in defending against Iranian drones. The initiative aims to help nations such as the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait strengthen their defenses against the same type of Iranian 'Shahed' drones that were previously sold to Russia in 2022. Ukraine claims to have achieved about 90 percent success in intercepting these drones, according to Al Jazeera.

Analysts cited in the report noted that Iranian drones have become a growing threat to U.S.-aligned Gulf states, which have traditionally focused on high-altitude missile defense systems while neglecting low-altitude threats. The report also highlighted the stark cost difference between defense systems: a U.S. ballistic missile interceptor can cost around 10 million dollars per use, whereas a Ukrainian counter-drone costs roughly 3,000 dollars and can destroy a 50,000-dollar Shahed drone.

The cooperation underscores Kyiv’s effort to share its wartime experience and expand defense partnerships in the region.

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake told parliament on Friday, March 20, 2026, that the country had rejected a US request to deploy two fighter jets at a civilian airport in southern Sri Lanka. The United States had sought permission in late February to station the aircraft, equipped with anti-ship missiles, transferred from a base in Djibouti. Dissanayake said the decision was made to maintain Sri Lanka’s neutral stance.

The president also revealed that on the same day, Iran and India had requested permission for three Iranian warships to dock at Colombo Port after completing joint naval exercises. He explained that granting permission to one side would have required allowing the other, so both requests were denied. His statement received applause from the 225-member parliament.

Earlier in March, a US attack near Sri Lanka’s southern coast sank an Iranian warship, killing at least 84 sailors. Sri Lanka’s navy rescued 32 survivors, and another Iranian vessel was later allowed to enter Sri Lankan waters for safety reasons, with 219 sailors currently sheltered in Colombo.