A wave of drone and missile attacks targeting Saudi Arabia early Wednesday has intensified instability across the Middle East. According to international media reports, Saudi Arabia’s defense ministry said its air defense systems intercepted two drones over Hafar al-Batin and six ballistic missiles aimed at Prince Sultan Air Base, all destroyed midair with no casualties reported. The attacks came amid heightened military activity in Iran, Lebanon, Kuwait, Bahrain, and the Strait of Hormuz.

Inside Iran, police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan warned that protesters responding to foreign calls would be treated as enemies, following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s social media appeal urging Iranians to rise against their government. Hours later, Iranian missiles struck near Tel Aviv, injuring several people, while Israel launched fresh airstrikes in southern Beirut. Kuwait and Bahrain also reported drone incursions and raised alert levels.

The United States claimed its forces destroyed ten Iranian boats in the Strait of Hormuz to prevent mine-laying. The escalating exchanges of airstrikes, drone attacks, and maritime confrontations have spread tension throughout the region, with no sign of de-escalation.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned Iran not to place mines in the Strait of Hormuz, saying that if Tehran does so, it will face an unprecedented situation. Speaking on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump stated that there is no evidence Iran has mined the key shipping route but urged that any such mines be immediately removed. He added that removing already placed mines would be seen as a major step in the right direction.

The warning came after Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation discussing the Iran conflict and prospects for peace in Ukraine. Following their call, Trump told reporters in Florida that U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran were nearing completion and progressing faster than planned. Separately, Putin also spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, urging Iran to reduce tensions and seek a political resolution to the ongoing war.

The exchanges highlight growing diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation in the Gulf region while maintaining pressure on Iran to avoid actions that could disrupt global shipping routes.

Iran is pursuing a strategy to prolong its conflict with the United States and Israel rather than seeking a direct military victory. According to the report, Tehran aims to exhaust its adversaries through sustained warfare, using drone and missile strikes to spread fear and disrupt global energy supply routes. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has taken full control of the battlefield, directing attacks and overall strategy after the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in initial strikes. His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, has since been installed as the new supreme leader with IRGC backing.

Experts cited in the report describe Iran’s approach as an existential struggle, with some warning that the country has become more dangerous after suffering heavy losses. Iran has expanded its attacks across the Gulf region, targeting energy facilities in countries from Qatar to Saudi Arabia to pressure global markets and test Washington’s resolve.

U.S. President Donald Trump told Republican lawmakers that the war would continue until Iran is “completely and finally defeated,” though he predicted it would end soon.

Iran launched a new missile attack on Israel late Tuesday night, Bangladesh time, after a period of relative calm. The missiles triggered warning sirens across Tel Aviv, Israel’s commercial capital. According to reports, the assault was part of Iran’s ongoing campaign named “Operation True Promise-4.”

A spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Armed Forces Headquarters stated that the latest strikes targeted Israel’s energy infrastructure. The attacks reportedly hit oil and gas refineries and storage tanks in the northern city of Haifa, as well as a satellite communication center near Tel Aviv. The Iranian military described the operation as a retaliatory move following an earlier attack on its own oil depots.

The renewed hostilities mark the 33rd phase of Iran’s “Operation True Promise-4,” signaling continued escalation between the two countries. The situation has heightened alert levels in Israel’s major cities as both sides exchange strikes.

Andreas Krieg, an associate professor of security studies at King’s College London, stated that the United States and Israel are unlikely to maintain the same stance on how long to continue the ongoing war surrounding Iran. According to Krieg, the longer the conflict continues, the less benefit the United States will gain from it, as its advantages are diminishing each day.

He explained that Israel, on the other hand, shows stronger determination to continue the war and is less likely to declare its mission complete soon. Krieg suggested that at some point, Donald Trump might decide to end the war, indicating that he appears eager to reach that stage quickly.

The comments come amid reports of renewed missile attacks by Iran on Israel and the deployment of additional US B-1 bombers to a UK base, reflecting ongoing regional tensions.

Three United States B-1 bombers have newly landed at the Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford base in Gloucestershire, United Kingdom. The base is regularly used by the US Air Force for bomber deployments. This latest arrival marks an expansion of the US military presence at the site.

Earlier, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer granted permission for the United States to use British bases. According to London, the authorization was given to support defensive operations amid the ongoing conflict with Iran. The deployment is part of broader cooperation between the two allies in response to regional security concerns.

The move underscores the deepening defense coordination between the UK and the US as tensions with Iran continue. The presence of additional bombers at RAF Fairford may signal preparations for potential defensive missions in the near term.

US President Donald Trump announced that his administration will lift certain sanctions on oil-producing countries to help reduce fuel prices during the ongoing conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran. He made the statement on Monday after talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, though he did not specify which countries or sanctions would be affected. The announcement came as crude oil prices, which had surged to about $120 per barrel on Sunday, fell below $90.

Trump also mentioned Chinese President Xi Jinping, noting the roles of Russia as a major oil exporter and China as a key importer. Following Trump’s remarks that the Iran war might end sooner than expected, oil prices dropped further and stock markets rose. Treasury Secretary Scott Besant had earlier said Washington was considering lifting sanctions on Russian oil, and the US had temporarily allowed India to purchase Russian oil shipments.

Putin stated that Russia was ready to supply oil and gas to Europe under conditions, as the Hormuz Strait remained closed due to the Iran conflict.

Lebanon’s Islamic resistance group Hezbollah announced that it carried out a drone attack on an Israeli military base located west of the Sea of Galilee. In a statement, the group identified the target as the 'Samson Base,' also known as Camp Shimshon, confirming the strike as part of its ongoing operations.

According to the report, Lebanon became involved in the ongoing war on March 2, after Israel and the United States jointly launched an offensive against Iran on February 28. Prior to this escalation, Israeli forces had already been conducting attacks inside Lebanon. Hezbollah, initially restrained, began responding in support of Iran following the aggression.

The incident marks another escalation in the regional conflict, highlighting the growing involvement of Lebanese forces in the broader confrontation between Israel, Iran, and their respective allies.

Around 62 million people, mostly foreign workers, are currently stranded in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries amid the ongoing U.S.-Israel war against Iran. The GCC nations—Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates—collectively host about 35 million foreign residents, most of whom come from South Asia.

Foreign workers have long been a vital part of the GCC labor force, contributing to sectors such as construction, domestic work, security, and sanitation, as well as skilled industries like banking, technology, aviation, and healthcare. According to Global Media Insight, the largest expatriate groups in the region are from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Egypt, the Philippines, Yemen, Sudan, Nepal, Syria, and Sri Lanka.

Saudi Arabia hosts the largest foreign population, followed by the UAE and Kuwait. These expatriates play a crucial role in building and maintaining the Gulf’s modern infrastructure and economy, with many considering the region their second home despite not being citizens.

More than 23,000 flights have been canceled across the Middle East as the Iran-US-Israel conflict entered its eleventh day on Tuesday, March 11, 2026. The ongoing hostilities have severely disrupted global air travel, affecting routes to and from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and other regions. Airlines in Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates have been hit hardest, with six major carriers canceling 2,381 flights daily, leaving millions of passengers stranded.

According to data cited by Pakistan’s The Express Tribune, the six largest Middle Eastern airlines—Etihad, Air Arabia, Flydubai, Qatar Airways, Emirates, and Kuwait Airways—normally transport millions of passengers worldwide. Before the conflict, these carriers operated hundreds of daily flights across Europe, America, Canada, India, Australia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia. However, in the past ten days, only 50 special flights have managed to operate.

The Iran-US conflict has already caused financial losses worth millions for these airlines, with no immediate sign of recovery in regional air connectivity.

Iran has launched a new wave of attacks, firing hypersonic missiles along with three other types of missiles in its 34th round of strikes. According to a statement from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) cited by the semi-official Mehr News Agency, the attacks targeted Israeli and American military sites across the Middle East.

The IRGC stated that the strikes were directed at US military installations near Al-Dhafra air base in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and Juffair air base in Bahrain. In addition, Israel’s Ramat David air base and Haifa’s civilian airport were also targeted. The report, sourced from Al Jazeera, did not specify the scale of damage or casualties.

The use of hypersonic missiles, which can travel at speeds exceeding five times the speed of sound, marks an escalation in Iran’s regional military actions, though further details on the outcomes of the strikes were not provided in the report.

US President Donald Trump issued a sharp warning to Iran on Tuesday, saying that any attempt by Tehran to block oil exports from the region would trigger a response twenty times harsher than before. The statement came after Iran threatened to halt oil shipments, prompting Trump to assert that the United States had already inflicted significant damage on Iran’s military and that the conflict would end before his four-week deadline expired.

The tension follows the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s new supreme leader, signaling a tougher stance from Tehran. Despite the escalation, Trump’s assurance of a quick end to the conflict led to a notable drop in global oil prices and affected stock markets. The Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes, remains largely paralyzed due to the ongoing hostilities.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards dismissed Trump’s remarks as nonsense, insisting that Tehran would decide when the war ends. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also ruled out any possibility of renewed talks with the United States.

Iran has carried out attacks targeting Israel’s oil and gas infrastructure, according to a spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Armed Forces Headquarters. The strikes reportedly hit refineries and storage tanks in the northern city of Haifa, as well as a satellite communication center near Tel Aviv. The announcement was made on March 11, 2026.

Iran’s military stated that the operation was part of the 33rd phase of its campaign named “Operation True Promise-4.” The attacks were described as retaliation for earlier strikes on Iranian oil depots. The report was cited by Al Jazeera and published by the outlet Amar Desh Online.

The incident marks another escalation in the ongoing hostilities between Iran and Israel, with both sides targeting critical energy and communication infrastructure in recent exchanges.

The United States has warned Russia not to become involved in the ongoing Iran war. The warning came after a telephone conversation between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday. Following the call, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the discussion as a strong message from Washington to Moscow.

According to CNN, Hegseth said the phone conversation created an opportunity for some calm in the Ukraine war. He confirmed that Russia was cautioned during the call not to engage in the Iran conflict. Earlier, CNN had reported, citing related sources, that Russia had been providing Iran with intelligence on U.S. military targets.

The development comes amid heightened regional tensions, with reports of missile launches by Iran and threats of stronger U.S. retaliation if oil exports are disrupted.

The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) has reported that around 80,000 people have crossed from Lebanon into Syria since Israeli attacks began. UNHCR spokesperson Celine Schmitt told Syria’s state news agency SANA that many families left Lebanon in haste, often without being able to take personal belongings. Most of those displaced are currently staying with relatives in Syria.

According to Schmitt, no formal requests for emergency shelter have been registered so far. The report highlights the rapid movement of civilians amid escalating violence and the humanitarian challenges faced by those seeking safety across the border.

The situation underscores growing regional instability and the potential for further displacement if hostilities continue, though UNHCR has not yet indicated any new assistance measures.