The World Health Organization (WHO) has voiced deep concern over a potential nuclear disaster as tensions escalate among Iran, the United States, and Israel in the Middle East. WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Regional Director, Hanan Balkhy, told Politico that the organization is preparing for possible radiation risks and warned that any such incident would have catastrophic consequences. She said that while preparations are underway, the damage could not be fully prevented and its effects might last for decades.

The report notes that the United States possesses the world’s largest nuclear arsenal, while Israel, though not officially acknowledging it, is regarded as the only nuclear-armed state in the region. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran has not yet enriched uranium to weapons-grade levels, though its nuclear program remains a source of long-standing concern. In June last year, the United States carried out strikes on Iran’s Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow nuclear facilities, which President Donald Trump claimed were “completely destroyed.”

Balkhy cited the 1945 atomic bombings in Japan and the 1986 Chernobyl disaster as examples of long-term health and environmental impacts. WHO is currently advising governments on preparedness measures, though details of its guidance have not been disclosed.

Afghanistan is celebrating Eid al-Fitr on Thursday, March 19, 2026, following the sighting of the Shawwal moon. The Taliban administration announced the decision late Wednesday night, according to Khaama Press. The country’s Supreme Court confirmed that the moon was sighted in Helmand, Farah, and Ghor provinces, and the government’s moon-sighting committee approved the testimonies. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid declared Thursday as the first day of Eid and extended greetings to the nation.

The announcement has created a difference in Eid dates compared to many other Muslim-majority countries. Saudi Arabia said Eid would be observed on Friday as the moon was not sighted on Wednesday, a decision also followed by the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait. Turkey, Australia, Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine, and Iraq have also set Friday for Eid based on astronomical calculations.

The variation in Eid dates arises from differing moon-sighting methods. Some countries rely on physical sightings, while others use astronomical calculations. Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, Afghanistan has increasingly emphasized its own moon-sighting process rather than aligning with Saudi Arabia.

Qatar has declared the military and security-affiliated officials and staff of Iran’s embassy in Doha as persona non grata. The country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that those affected must leave Qatar within 24 hours. The decision follows repeated attacks by Iran on Qatari territory, according to the ministry’s statement issued on Wednesday evening.

The ministry said a formal memorandum was handed to the Iranian embassy, confirming that Qatar considers the Iranian military and security-linked personnel and their staff as unwelcome. The announcement came during a meeting between Ibrahim Yousuf Fakhro, Director of the Protocol Department at Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Iranian Ambassador Ali Saleh Abadi.

Qatar’s foreign ministry emphasized that if Iran’s hostile behavior continues, Doha will take additional measures to safeguard its sovereignty, security, and national interests.

French President Emmanuel Macron held phone conversations with U.S. President Donald Trump and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani following an Iranian missile attack on Qatar’s Ras Laffan industrial city. The area is a key center for the country’s natural gas production.

In a post on social media platform X, Macron said that attacks targeting civilian infrastructure, particularly energy and water supply systems, must stop immediately. He emphasized the importance of protecting civilians, ensuring their basic needs, and maintaining the stability of global energy supplies by avoiding further military escalation.

The discussions and Macron’s statement highlight growing international concern over the security of critical energy facilities and the potential impact of regional tensions on global energy stability.

Mohammad Elmasry of the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies stated that Israel’s attack on Iran’s South Pars gas field has intensified debate over who controls U.S. foreign policy. Former U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that he was unaware of the strike. Elmasry, however, suggested it is unlikely Trump was uninformed, arguing that Israel would not have acted without his approval.

Elmasry further claimed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may have influenced Trump to authorize the move, pointing to growing unease in Washington. He asserted that Israel controls many aspects of U.S. foreign policy and noted that even Trump’s supporters are beginning to question the relationship. According to him, Israel’s goal is to create instability, bring down the Iranian state, and spread chaos across the Gulf and the wider Middle East.

Elmasry warned that the consequences of such actions could be disastrous for Gulf countries, Europe, and the United States.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud has described Iran’s recent attack on Saudi energy installations as a clear attempt at blackmail. The incident occurred just before a conference of regional and Islamic foreign ministers in Riyadh, which he said showed deliberate timing. Saudi authorities reported intercepting and destroying four ballistic missiles aimed at the capital.

Faisal stated that the attack was intended to intimidate delegates attending the conference and to signal that Iran would not retreat from its actions. He emphasized that Saudi Arabia was not frightened but argued that Iran’s conduct demonstrated it could not be a trustworthy partner. According to him, the incident completely eroded whatever limited trust remained toward Iran.

The remarks, reported by Al Jazeera, underscore rising tensions between the two countries and highlight the fragile state of regional diplomacy amid ongoing security threats.

Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific has announced the suspension of all flights to Dubai until April 30, 2026, citing the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East. The decision was disclosed in a statement released on Wednesday, which attributed the move to the ongoing regional conflict.

According to AFP, the airline indicated that further adjustments to its flight schedule may occur depending on future developments. Earlier in March, Cathay Pacific had already canceled flights to both Dubai and Riyadh, and the suspension has now been extended through the end of April. The airline has also doubled fuel surcharges on most routes this month due to rising fuel prices triggered by the war, a trend mirrored by Hong Kong Airlines, which raised its surcharge twice within a week.

Cathay Pacific noted that demand for Europe-bound travel has increased, prompting the addition of extra flights in March. The airline said long-haul passenger demand has generally risen as travelers seek alternatives to Middle East routes.

China has strongly condemned the killing of Iran’s national security chief Ali Larijani, describing the act as unacceptable. The statement came from Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian during a press briefing, where he reiterated Beijing’s opposition to the use of force in international relations. Lin emphasized that the killing of Iranian leaders and attacks on civilian targets were particularly intolerable.

Following the incident, Iran’s army chief Amir Hatami warned that the country would deliver a decisive response to the assassination. The killing has drawn attention because Larijani was regarded as Iran’s most senior leader after the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The development adds to regional tensions, with China’s remarks signaling its stance against targeted killings and its continued support for diplomatic approaches in international conflicts.

Oman's Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi described the Iran war as former U.S. President Donald Trump’s “greatest miscalculation.” Writing in an opinion piece for The Economist, Albusaidi said he had mediated between Washington and Tehran before the conflict began. He urged U.S. allies to intervene to end what he called an “illegal war.”

Albusaidi noted that Gulf states, including Oman, had long relied on U.S. weapons and bases to deter potential Iranian attacks, enjoying relative peace and prosperity that are now under threat. He argued that the United States has lost control of its foreign policy and that its allies must speak the truth to help end the conflict. According to him, neither Iran nor the United States benefits from the ongoing war, which should end as soon as possible.

He further suggested that Israel may have “provoked” the United States into believing the war would be easily won, but achieving Israel’s goals would require U.S. troop deployment and a prolonged conflict that Trump had once vowed to avoid.

China and Russia are reportedly providing Iran with advanced intelligence and technological assistance amid ongoing hostilities with the United States and Israel in the Gulf region. According to senior US officials cited by the Washington Post, Russia has supplied Iran with sensitive intelligence, including the locations of American warships and aircraft. Moscow has denied these claims, but reports suggest that Russia’s satellite and radar support has enhanced Iran’s ability to identify and strike targets with precision. China, meanwhile, has supplied advanced radar systems, satellite mapping, and encrypted intelligence links to strengthen Iran’s electronic warfare capabilities.

The report describes how this cooperation has transformed the Gulf into a battlefield dominated by electronic and information warfare rather than conventional weapons. Iran’s improved surveillance and targeting systems have enabled it to carry out drone strikes on US facilities, while American and Israeli forces have responded by targeting Iranian radar infrastructure. Analysts note that the balance of power in the region is shifting as China and Russia challenge long-standing US-Israeli technological dominance.

The conflict marks a new phase in modern warfare, where control over data and signals may prove more decisive than traditional firepower.

A drone attack struck the Mina Abdullah oil refinery in Kuwait on Thursday morning, causing a fire at the facility operated by the Kuwait National Petroleum Company. The incident occurred about 30 miles south of Kuwait City. According to the Kuwait News Agency, citing the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, the fire at the nearby Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery was brought under control, and no casualties were reported.

Authorities have not disclosed where the drone attack originated. The strike on Mina Abdullah came shortly after reports of a drone attack at the Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery, located roughly seven miles away. The Mina Abdullah refinery has a daily production capacity of 730,000 barrels, making it one of the largest oil refineries in the Middle East.

The source did not provide details on potential disruptions to oil production or any official response from Kuwaiti authorities.

Iran has formally demanded compensation from the United Arab Emirates, accusing the Gulf state of aiding a United States-led attack on Iranian territory. The claim was made in a letter sent to the United Nations Secretary-General by Iran’s ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, according to a report published Thursday by Nournews.

In the letter, Iravani alleged that the UAE allowed its territory to be used to facilitate the attack, describing the decision as an “internationally wrongful act” that carries state responsibility. Tehran asserted that the UAE bears international liability for providing compensation covering all material and moral damages resulting from the incident.

The report cited The Guardian as its source but did not specify the nature or timing of the alleged attack, leaving details of the incident and potential diplomatic responses unclear.

Iran launched retaliatory attacks on several energy installations across the Persian Gulf following an assault on its South Pars gas field. Tehran also warned of more destructive strikes if its energy infrastructure is targeted again. The escalation has raised fears of global energy supply disruptions, with oil prices rising by three percent on Thursday.

The attacks came after Iranian intelligence chief Esmail Khatib was killed in an Israeli strike, the latest in a series of assassinations of senior Iranian figures over the past three weeks. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards declared that any future attacks on its facilities would trigger continued strikes on the energy assets of its adversaries. Qatar reported a missile strike on its main gas field, prompting the expulsion of two Iranian diplomats, while Saudi Arabia intercepted multiple drones and missiles near its eastern energy hubs.

French President Emmanuel Macron urged restraint in calls with U.S. President Donald Trump and Qatar’s emir, emphasizing the need to protect civilian infrastructure. The conflict has spread across the Middle East, causing hundreds of deaths and mass displacement, as Israel continues operations in Lebanon and Iran-backed groups respond across the region.

Pakistan and Afghanistan have jointly declared a ceasefire along their tense border during the Eid al-Fitr period. The announcement came after a devastating airstrike in Kabul earlier this week that killed more than a hundred people. Both Islamabad and Kabul confirmed in separate statements on Wednesday that the decision followed requests from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey to halt hostilities during the religious holiday.

The ceasefire follows weeks of escalating violence and mutual accusations. Pakistan has alleged that Taliban authorities shelter militants responsible for cross-border attacks, a claim Afghanistan denies. Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said all operations would be suspended from Thursday to Monday but warned of strong retaliation if attacks continued. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid reaffirmed Afghanistan’s right to defend itself, while Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani condemned the airstrike that reportedly killed about 400 civilians.

The United Nations estimates that since February 26, at least 76 Afghans have been killed and over 115,000 displaced. Despite repeated mediation efforts, a lasting resolution remains elusive, though China and Russia have expressed willingness to facilitate future talks.

Iran has executed three men convicted of killing police officers and collaborating with the United States and Israel during protests in January. The executions were announced on Thursday through the judiciary’s official website, which stated that the men were found guilty of murder and of conducting operations on behalf of the US and the Zionist regime.

According to the report, the executed individuals were involved in the killing of two law enforcement officers. Authorities also stated that the anti-government protests, which began in late December, resulted in 3,117 deaths. Before the war began in February, the US-based human rights organization HRANA reported verifying 6,872 deaths and investigating more than 11,000 additional cases.

The executions highlight Iran’s continued crackdown on dissent following widespread unrest, with official and independent sources reporting sharply differing casualty figures.