The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has claimed responsibility for destroying a key Iranian military installation believed to produce ballistic missiles. According to CENTCOM, the facility, named the Kuh-i Barjamali Ballistic Missile Assembly Facility, was located southeast of Tehran in the Barjamali mountain area. The operation reportedly took place earlier this month.

CENTCOM stated that the destroyed site was used for manufacturing and assembling short-, medium-, and close-range ballistic missiles. The command also released satellite images showing the facility before and after the strike to support its claim. The announcement was made through a post on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

As of now, Iranian authorities have not issued any official response regarding the alleged attack or the extent of the damage. The report did not specify whether there were any casualties or further military actions planned.

Iran’s air defense forces have claimed to shoot down an F-15 fighter jet near the southern Hormuz Island. The semi-official ISNA, Mehr News, and Anadolu Agency confirmed the report on Sunday, March 22, 2026. According to a statement from Iran’s Joint Air Defense Command, the aircraft allegedly entered Iranian airspace over the southern coastal region and fired a missile moments before being downed. Tehran has not provided details about the aircraft’s origin, the pilot’s fate, or any physical evidence of the wreckage.

The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East following a joint U.S.-Israel military operation across Iran on February 28. That offensive reportedly killed more than 1,300 people, including Iran’s then-supreme leader Ali Khamenei. In retaliation, Iran has launched multiple drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf states hosting U.S. military assets.

The latest claim near Hormuz Island underscores the continuing volatility in the region, though independent verification of Iran’s statement remains unavailable.

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf has issued a warning that any attack by the United States or Israel on Iran’s power plants would trigger the destruction of key infrastructure across the Gulf region. His statement was made on the social media platform X, according to a BBC Persian report cited by the source.

Ghalibaf stated that all energy and oil facilities in the region would be considered legitimate targets if such an attack occurred. He further cautioned that oil prices could remain elevated for a prolonged period under those circumstances.

The warning underscores heightened regional tensions and signals potential economic repercussions if hostilities escalate in the Gulf.

Pope Leo, the leader of the Catholic Church, described the ongoing war in the Middle East as “a shame for all humanity” and renewed his call for an immediate ceasefire. Speaking during his weekly Angelus prayer at St. Peter’s Square in Rome, he said he is observing the situation in the Middle East and other violence-stricken regions with deep concern.

The American-born pontiff emphasized that humanity cannot remain silent in the face of so much suffering. He said the pain of the helpless victims of the conflict is a source of sorrow for all humankind. His remarks were reported by Al Jazeera.

Pope Leo further urged people to continue praying so that hostilities may end and the path to peace can be opened.

Iran is reportedly collecting a $2 million fee from certain ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz during the ongoing war, according to Iranian lawmaker Alaeddin Boroujerdi. He made the claim on Iran’s state television, as reported by the BBC on March 22, 2026. Boroujerdi stated that a 'new governance system' is being implemented in the strait and that 'war has its costs,' describing the move as an expression of Iran’s authority and rights.

The BBC noted that it could not independently verify the lawmaker’s claim. The report did not specify which ships were affected or how the fee was being enforced. The statement comes amid heightened regional tensions and ongoing conflict, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining a critical maritime route for global oil transport.

The lack of verification and details leaves uncertainty about the scope and legitimacy of the reported fee collection, as well as its potential impact on international shipping through the strait.

At least 64 people, including 13 children, were killed in an attack on Al-Daein Teaching Hospital in Sudan’s East Darfur state, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the attack occurred on Friday night in the state capital Al-Daein, leaving 89 others injured, among them eight health workers. The hospital’s pediatric, maternity, and emergency departments were severely damaged, rendering the facility nonfunctional and halting emergency medical services in the city.

Tedros stated that this incident brings the total number of deaths from attacks on healthcare facilities in Sudan’s ongoing war to over 2,000. Since the conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) began in mid-April 2023, WHO has verified 213 attacks on health facilities, resulting in 2,036 deaths. Sudanese rights group Emergency Lawyers said the latest hospital strike was carried out by a military drone.

The war has triggered one of the world’s fastest-growing humanitarian crises, displacing over 12 million people and leaving more than 33 million in need of aid.

Iran carried out attacks on military and security installations in five Israeli cities—Arad, Dimona, Eilat, Beersheba, and Kiryat Gat—on the night of March 22, 2026, Bangladesh time, according to Al Jazeera. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that more than 200 people were killed in the strikes. Israel has not confirmed any fatalities, but its ambulance service reported 88 people injured in Arad and 39 in Dimona, while international media cited around 150 injured.

The IRGC also claimed responsibility for attacks on Ali Al-Salem base in Kuwait and Al-Minhad and Al-Dhafra bases in the United Arab Emirates. Following the strikes, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged the severity of the assault for the first time, describing the night as a “terrible evening.”

The incident marks a significant escalation in regional tensions, with multiple countries reportedly affected by the Iranian strikes, though independent verification of casualties remains unclear.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the site of destruction in Arad city following an Iranian missile strike. During his remarks at the location, he called on world leaders to join a United States–Israel war effort against Iran. Netanyahu claimed that some countries were already moving toward participation and emphasized the need for broader international involvement.

He accused Iran of targeting civilians in the recent attack and warned that Iran possesses the capability to strike long-range targets within Europe. The comments came amid heightened regional tensions following the Iranian assault and ongoing discussions about global responses to the conflict.

The situation underscores growing international concern over the expanding scope of hostilities between Iran and Israel, with potential implications for European and Middle Eastern security.

Iran has remained under a complete internet shutdown since the first day of the ongoing war, which has now reached its 23rd day. According to the internet monitoring group NetBlocks, this marks the longest period of internet disruption in Iran’s history. The blackout has continued without restoration, cutting off digital communication across the country.

Earlier in January, Iran had also imposed internet restrictions during protests, but the current shutdown has surpassed that duration. The report highlights the scale and persistence of the current disconnection, which has drawn attention as a significant record in the country’s digital history.

The extended disruption underscores the severity of the wartime situation and its impact on communication infrastructure, though no official explanation or timeline for restoration has been provided in the report.

The Hormuz Strait, a narrow maritime passage connecting the Persian Gulf with the Arabian Sea, has become a focal point of global tension after Iran effectively blocked it following a joint US-Israel attack on Iran on February 28. The strait lies between Iran to the north and Oman and the United Arab Emirates to the south, serving as one of the world’s busiest oil transport routes.

According to the report, about 20 percent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas typically pass through this route, with shipments from Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Normally, around 3,000 vessels transit the strait each month, but traffic has dropped sharply as Iran has threatened attacks on tankers and other ships. Since the conflict began, at least 21 vessels have been attacked or targeted.

The disruption has pushed global energy prices higher, with crude oil surpassing 100 dollars per barrel, marking a 70 percent rise this year and 50 percent higher than last year.

Israel’s Ministry of Education has suspended all in-person classes across the country following twin missile strikes by Iran on the southern cities of Arad and Dimona. The decision will remain in effect on Sunday and Monday, according to reports cited by Al Jazeera.

Israeli media reported that about 100 people were injured in the attacks, with more than 50 of them in Arad alone. Other outlets, including Middle East Monitor and TRT World, stated that at least six people were killed and over 100 injured in Arad. In response, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered intensified rescue and emergency operations in the affected areas, emphasizing reinforcement of field emergency and rescue teams.

The nationwide suspension of classes reflects heightened security concerns following the missile strikes, as authorities focus on emergency response and public safety measures.

Israel’s Health Ministry reported that at least 4,292 people have been hospitalized since the start of the conflict with Iran. The ministry’s data indicate that these injuries have occurred over the course of the ongoing hostilities, though no specific timeline or regional breakdown was provided.

According to an earlier report by Al Jazeera, at least 39 people were injured in a missile strike by Iran on the southern Israeli city of Dimona on Saturday night. The continuing exchanges of attacks between the two countries have raised concerns about escalating tensions across the Middle East.

Observers fear that the repeated strikes and counterstrikes could further destabilize the region, though no official statements on future actions were included in the report.

Iran’s Deputy Defense Minister Reza Talaei-Nik has issued a confident statement regarding the country’s wartime readiness, responding to US assessments suggesting a decline in Tehran’s defense capabilities. According to Al Jazeera, his remarks were published in Iranian media on March 22, 2026.

Talaei-Nik said that ongoing regional attacks demonstrate Iran’s ability to rely on strategic reserves and domestic production. He highlighted that two decades of investment in missile and drone manufacturing have enabled the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to strike targets with precision and effectiveness. He further noted that IRGC missile and drone operations, along with the use of cruise missiles from coastal and naval units, indicate improved accuracy compared to the early weeks of the conflict.

Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, Talaei-Nik asserted that Iran’s armed forces effectively control and determine the security of the waterway.

Iran’s military has warned that it will strike energy infrastructure linked to the United States and Israel across the Middle East if its power plants come under attack. The statement was reported by Al Jazeera and delivered by Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbia Central Command. He said Iran would also target desalination plants and information technology infrastructure associated with the two countries.

The warning followed a threat from US President Donald Trump, who said that American forces would attack Iran’s power plants within 48 hours if the Strait of Hormuz was not reopened. In response, Iran’s military issued its counter-warning. Separately, Fars News Agency cited the late Ali Larijani, former head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, who had earlier cautioned that any strike on Iran’s power grid could plunge the entire Middle East into darkness within half an hour.

The exchange of threats underscores rising tensions in the Gulf region, with both sides signaling readiness for escalation over control of key energy and trade routes.

A rocket fired from Lebanon struck northern Israel on Sunday, killing one person, according to Israel’s emergency rescue service cited by AFP. The projectile hit several vehicles near the border area, and one occupant was later pronounced dead. Local fire services reported that two cars were engulfed in flames after taking a direct hit.

The report, sourced from The Guardian and relayed by Amader Desh, did not specify who launched the rocket or the exact location of the incident. The attack adds to ongoing cross-border tensions between Israel and armed groups operating from Lebanon, though no group was identified in the report.

Authorities have not released further details about the victim or the extent of the damage, and no official response from either side was mentioned in the source.