A US F-35 fighter jet made an emergency landing after reportedly being damaged by suspected Iranian fire amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East, according to sources familiar with the matter. The aircraft, which was on a combat mission, landed safely at a US base in the region, and the pilot was unharmed. US Central Command spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins confirmed that the fifth-generation stealth jet was forced to land while operating near Iranian airspace and that an investigation is underway.

This marks the first reported incident since the conflict began in late February in which a US warplane was allegedly hit by Iranian fire. Both the United States and Israel have been deploying F-35 jets in the conflict, each valued at over 100 million dollars. Defense Minister Pete Hegseth stated that the United States is maintaining an advantage in the war and that Iran’s air defense systems have been largely dismantled.

The investigation’s outcome may influence future US operational strategies in the region as tensions remain high.

Three unnamed Israeli officials told Reuters that Israel’s attack on Iran’s South Pars gas field was carried out in coordination with the United States. They said the operation was pre-planned and conducted with Washington’s involvement, though they suggested that similar strikes were unlikely to happen again soon.

Their statements came after US President Donald Trump publicly denied any American knowledge of the specific strike. On Wednesday night, Trump wrote on social media that Washington had no prior awareness of the attack and that Israel would not strike the gas field again unless Iran launched another assault on Qatar.

The Israeli officials added that they were not surprised by Trump’s remarks, recalling a similar situation after previous Israeli strikes on Iranian energy depots when US Defense Chief Pete Hegseth had also denied American involvement.

Two journalists from the Russian state-controlled network RT were injured in an Israeli missile strike while on assignment in southern Lebanon on Thursday. According to Lebanon’s National News Agency, cited by Al Jazeera, correspondent Steve Sweeney and cameraman Ali Rida were near the Al-Qasmiya Bridge, close to a local military base, when the missile hit nearby. RT confirmed the incident on its website.

Ali Rida alleged that the Israeli forces deliberately targeted them despite their visible press uniforms and identification. A video circulating online shows the missile striking less than ten meters behind Sweeney as he was reporting on camera, forcing him to take cover amid smoke and debris. The footage was captured live by Rida’s camera.

In a later video message, Rida said both he and Sweeney were safe. As of now, the Israeli military has not issued any official statement regarding the attack.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated at a Pentagon press briefing that Iran’s ballistic missile and drone attacks have dropped by 90 percent since the conflict began. He said the United States has damaged or sunk at least 120 Iranian naval vessels, rendering Iran’s surface fleet ineffective and its submarines depleted. Hegseth described senior positions in Iran’s military as temporary due to heavy losses.

He asserted that Iran’s refusal to abandon its nuclear ambitions poses a direct threat not only to the United States but also to freedom and civilization. Comparing Iran’s leadership to Hamas in Gaza, Hegseth said Tehran has invested heavily in tunnels, rockets, missiles, and drones, but the US is systematically and forcefully targeting them. He added that the US has struck more than 7,000 targets inside Iran and is preparing for another major strike.

Hegseth concluded that US military capability continues to grow while Iran’s capacity is steadily eroding.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that Germany will not take any direct role in the ongoing war involving the United States, Israel, and Iran in the Middle East. Speaking to reporters in Brussels, Merz stated that Berlin would not act during the conflict and would only consider involvement after a ceasefire is achieved. He emphasized that Germany could contribute later to maintaining safe maritime routes once hostilities end.

Merz clarified that Germany will refrain from any operational participation while the fighting continues. However, he noted that the country is prepared to play an active role in post-war stabilization efforts. His remarks came amid heightened tensions as the conflict continues to affect regional and global stability.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump criticized European nations for not providing sufficient support to Washington in addressing the war’s impact. Several European Union countries reportedly consider the war illegal, reflecting divisions within the Western alliance over the Middle East conflict.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that Washington’s objectives in its ongoing attacks on Iran remain unchanged. Speaking at a press conference in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, he said the United States continues to monitor various aspects of the war closely and is briefing the President and the national security team. Hegseth emphasized that the US mission is on the right track and proceeding according to plan.

He reiterated that the United States is preparing to launch its largest-ever strike on Iran, claiming that Iran’s ballistic missile production capabilities have been severely damaged. Several world leaders and observers criticized Washington’s actions, arguing that the United States was not under any direct threat from Iran.

The situation has heightened concerns about regional stability, with reports suggesting that the conflict has already affected energy markets and could further escalate tensions in the Middle East.

Nearly three weeks after the start of the conflict, Iran still retains some ability to strike energy infrastructure in the Persian Gulf region, according to U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Kane. Speaking at a Pentagon briefing alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Kane said Iran entered the conflict with a large arsenal, prompting the United States to maintain an 'offensive and tough' stance in response.

Kane added that U.S. forces are continuously working to identify and destroy Iranian weapons, though he acknowledged that Iran still possesses 'some military capability.' The remarks came amid ongoing tensions in the Gulf, where energy infrastructure has been a key target in the fighting.

The situation underscores the continuing volatility in the region, with U.S. officials emphasizing sustained military vigilance as Iran’s remaining capabilities pose potential risks to regional energy assets.

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has reported conducting more than 7,800 strikes on targets in Iran since the start of the conflict. The announcement came on Wednesday, marking the 20th day of US and Israeli attacks on Iranian territory. CENTCOM stated that the operations aim to dismantle Iran’s current security structure, prioritizing locations posing immediate threats. During the same period, over 120 Iranian ships have been damaged or destroyed.

The report also noted that Iran continues to launch counterattacks targeting US installations in the Gulf region. The conflict has escalated tensions across the Middle East, with both sides sustaining significant losses. CENTCOM’s update underscores the intensity of the ongoing military campaign and the scale of US involvement.

The situation has raised concerns about broader regional instability, with related reports warning of potential economic impacts, including rising oil prices and disruptions to energy infrastructure in neighboring countries.

Shell reported that its natural gas facility in Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial City was damaged following an Iranian attack. According to a Reuters report cited by the company, a fire broke out at the site after the strike but was quickly extinguished. Shell confirmed that no casualties occurred and that the facility is now in a safe condition.

The company stated that when fully operational, the Ras Laffan center can process 1.6 billion cubic feet of gas per day, producing up to 140,000 barrels of gas-to-liquid fuel daily. The incident occurred amid heightened regional tensions involving Iran and neighboring states.

Global energy markets have reacted to the broader conflict, with oil prices surpassing 115 dollars per barrel and gas prices in the United Kingdom rising by 140 percent, reflecting the war’s economic impact.

A missile attack by Iran on Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial City has caused extensive damage to gas facilities, raising concerns of major power outages and industrial disruptions in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India. These countries rely heavily on liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports from Qatar, which processes and exports nearly all of its natural gas through Ras Laffan.

According to data cited by CNN, energy analytics firm Kpler reported that Pakistan and Bangladesh obtain 99 percent and 70 percent of their LNG imports from Qatar, respectively. Market research group S&P Global noted that India sources over 40 percent of its LNG demand from the same country. Qatar Energy, the state-owned operator of Ras Laffan, had already suspended LNG and related product output earlier this month.

Following the recent missile strike and resulting damage, the company may face a prolonged delay in restoring normal production, potentially affecting energy supply chains across South Asia.

Iran launched attacks on energy facilities in four Gulf countries in response to an Israeli strike on its South Pars gas field, one of the world’s largest. On the 20th day of the conflict, key oil and gas installations in Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia were targeted, according to Al Jazeera.

Qatar reported that its main gas production hub at Ras Laffan Industrial City was hit by Iranian missiles early Thursday, causing significant damage. In Kuwait, drone attacks ignited fires at the Mina al-Ahmadi and Mina Abdullah refineries, though no casualties were reported. In the UAE, debris from intercepted missiles caused explosions at the Habshan gas facility and Bab oil field, also without casualties. In Saudi Arabia, a drone crashed into the Samref refinery near Yanbu port, with damage assessments ongoing.

The series of attacks has heightened concerns over Middle East energy security and further escalated regional tensions.

On the 20th day of the US-Israeli offensive in Iran, US Vice President JD Vance acknowledged that the country is facing rising fuel prices linked to the conflict. Speaking at a manufacturing plant in Michigan on Wednesday, Vance said Americans are struggling with higher gas costs and noted that measures are being prepared for announcement within 24 to 48 hours, though he declined to provide details before President Donald Trump’s statement.

The conflict, which began on February 28 with joint US-Israeli strikes, has severely disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy route previously handling about one-fifth of the world’s oil and LNG exports. Iran has warned that vessels from the US, Israel, and their allies will be attacked if they attempt passage. At least 16 ships and tankers have been hit since the war began, though some from India, Turkey, and Pakistan reportedly crossed with Iranian permission.

Global crude prices have surged past $108 per barrel, intensifying domestic and international pressure on Washington. Despite repeated calls from Trump, NATO and Asian allies have largely refused to send warships to secure the strait, leaving the US increasingly isolated in the conflict.

Israel is reportedly planning to seize villages along the southern Lebanese border as part of efforts to strengthen security on its northern frontier. According to Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency, citing Israeli media, Channel 12 reported that Israel aims to take control of frontline villages to prevent rocket and anti-tank attacks. The military may be instructed to occupy any area from which attacks are launched toward Israeli territory, with such control potentially continuing until further notice.

The report did not specify which villages might be targeted. An unnamed Israeli security source described the move as a strategic measure that could serve as a bargaining tool in the future. The source also claimed that Lebanon’s government has no effective alternative other than disarming or dismantling Hezbollah.

Despite a ceasefire in place since November 2024, border tensions have escalated again, with intensified Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon. Lebanese authorities reported that since March 2, at least 968 people have been killed and 2,432 injured in the attacks.

A drone crashed at the Samref oil refinery operated by Saudi Aramco in the port city of Yanbu, Saudi Arabia. The country’s defense ministry confirmed the incident on Wednesday, stating that the extent of damage is currently being assessed. The crash occurred as tensions in the Middle East intensified following a series of retaliatory attacks.

The incident came after Iran launched strikes on several oil refineries across the region in response to an Israeli attack on what is described as the world’s largest natural gas field located in Iran. The crash at the Saudi facility adds to the growing instability in the Gulf, where U.S. installations have also been targeted in recent days.

Authorities have not yet disclosed the cause of the drone crash or whether it was linked to the ongoing regional hostilities.

Iran has expressed anger at the United Nations for remaining silent over the killings of several top Iranian leaders during ongoing US-Israeli attacks. The conflict has entered its twentieth day, with Iran continuing counterstrikes on American installations in the Gulf region. Tehran’s envoy to the UN Security Council has formally lodged a letter criticizing the Council’s inaction.

According to the letter cited by Mehr News, Iranian representative Amir Sayyed Iravani accused the Security Council’s inaction of emboldening Israel to intensify its targeted killings. He warned that if the situation remains unchecked, such assassinations could become commonplace and spread to other countries.

The report also mentioned that the United States may ease restrictions on Iranian oil and that Iran is considering collecting tolls in the Strait of Hormuz, reflecting the broader geopolitical tensions surrounding the conflict.