Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has called on France to refrain from any actions that could escalate current conflicts. He made the remarks during a phone conversation with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, according to a report by Al Jazeera. The discussion focused on the ongoing war involving the United States and Israel and its regional consequences.

According to a post from Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Telegram, Araghchi blamed the United States and Israel for increasing insecurity in the Middle East and the Strait of Hormuz. He urged all countries to act responsibly and avoid moves that could intensify the situation. Araghchi reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to defending its sovereignty and national security, stating that Iranian forces had only targeted military bases of aggressors, not other nations.

He also noted that achieving lasting peace in Lebanon depends largely on an end to Israeli attacks, emphasizing the need for restraint across the region.

Israel has issued an immediate evacuation warning for residents in several southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, ahead of a potential military operation. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Avichay Adraee announced that the alert applies specifically to the neighborhoods of Haret Hreik, Ghobeiry, Laylaki, Hadath, Burj al-Barajneh, Tahouit al-Ghadir, and Chiyah.

Adraee stated that the IDF would not hesitate to target anyone found near Hezbollah members, urging civilians to leave the areas immediately to avoid danger. The warning was shared on the social media platform X, emphasizing that remaining in those neighborhoods could put lives at risk.

The announcement signals heightened tension between Israel and Hezbollah, as the IDF prepares for possible operations in Lebanon’s capital region.

Iran has claimed responsibility for drone attacks targeting key Israeli security installations. According to Israel’s military, the strikes occurred on Sunday morning and hit the headquarters of the Lahav 433 special police unit and the Gilat defense satellite communication center. The report was carried by Al Jazeera, citing official statements.

Iran’s state media released a statement from its military saying the attacks were part of an ongoing military operation. However, Iran did not specify the exact locations of the targeted facilities or the extent of any damage caused by the strikes. The statement provided no further operational details.

As of the latest update, Israel has not issued any official response regarding the incident or its potential impact on national security.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed to the United States and Israel but open to all other countries. Speaking in an interview with the American cable news channel MS Now on Saturday, Araghchi said there are no restrictions for ships from other nations to pass through the strait. He added that while some avoid the route due to security concerns, Iran has no role in that decision, and many tankers and vessels continue to cross the area.

The statement came after US President Donald Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social that the United States, along with several affected countries, might send warships to keep the strait open and secure in response to Iran’s move. Following this, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claimed that Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei had been injured and possibly disabled. Araghchi dismissed the claim, asserting that the leader was active and fulfilling his constitutional duties.

Araghchi emphasized that the Islamic Republic remains stable and not dependent on any single individual, assuring that all systems are under control.

U.S. President Donald Trump has called on various countries to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz as the joint U.S.-Israeli assault on Iran enters its fifteenth day. Iran has responded with strong counterattacks and tightened control over the strategic waterway, reportedly striking a U.S.-linked vessel under the Marshall Islands flag. While Iran has allowed Turkish and Indian ships to pass, most other maritime traffic has been halted. Experts believe Trump’s call for a multinational naval mission is unlikely to gain much support.

Analysts cited by Al Jazeera, including Professor Mohammed Elmasry of the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, described the proposed mission as extremely difficult and dangerous. Elmasry noted that warships move slowly and could easily become targets in the narrow strait, which lies close to Iran’s mainland. He added that Iran’s drones have a range of about 2,500 kilometers, giving it the capacity to strike vessels at will.

The heightened risk has already made many insurance companies reluctant to cover ships or crews operating in the area, further complicating any potential deployment.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has denied any involvement in the recent drone attacks that targeted Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh and its eastern province. According to Saudi authorities, ten drones attempted to strike these areas, but their air defense systems intercepted and destroyed them. The IRGC’s public relations office issued a statement on Sunday clarifying that the Islamic Republic of Iran had no connection to the alleged attacks.

The IRGC further urged the Saudi government to investigate the true source of the drone operations. The statement came amid heightened regional tensions and follows Saudi reports of thwarted aerial assaults. No additional details were provided about the origin of the drones or any potential perpetrators.

The denial from Iran’s military branch may influence ongoing regional security discussions, though the source does not specify any immediate diplomatic or military responses.

The United States Embassy in Riyadh has issued an urgent directive for American citizens currently in Saudi Arabia to leave the country as soon as possible using commercial flights. The embassy released a security alert on March 15, 2026, emphasizing that it is closely monitoring the rapidly changing situation in the Middle East.

According to the embassy, the safety of US citizens is receiving the highest priority from Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, and the US State Department. The advisory was issued in response to ongoing tensions and conflicts across the Middle East, which have raised concerns about potential risks to foreign nationals in the region.

The embassy’s warning underscores heightened security awareness and the possibility of further developments in the regional conflict landscape, though no specific threats or incidents were detailed in the alert.

The Israeli military announced that it has destroyed multiple command centers belonging to Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force in Beirut. According to a statement released on Saturday, Israeli forces carried out operations across several areas of the Lebanese capital targeting these command centers. The military also reported strikes on several Hezbollah missile launch sites in the Al-Qatrani area of southern Lebanon.

Reports indicate that casualties in Lebanon continue to rise following Israeli attacks. Since the joint U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran began on February 28, at least 826 people have been killed in Lebanon. The ongoing conflict is increasingly spreading across the Middle East, drawing in multiple countries and armed groups and further complicating the regional situation.

The developments mark a deepening of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, with growing concerns that the violence could expand beyond Lebanon and intensify instability across the region.

Iran carried out overnight attacks across several Gulf countries on Saturday, according to regional reports. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense stated that its forces intercepted and destroyed 26 Iranian drones, mostly near the capital Riyadh and in the eastern region. The United Arab Emirates said its air defense systems were countering missile and drone attacks from Iran, with a fire breaking out at Fujairah port following a drone strike.

Bahrain reported that warning sirens were sounded and residents were instructed to move to the nearest shelters. The United States ordered non-essential government employees and their families to leave Oman due to security concerns. Kuwait announced that its National Guard had downed five Iranian drones within the past 24 hours. Qatar said it had intercepted missile and drone attacks throughout Saturday but did not report any overnight strikes.

The widespread attacks have heightened regional security tensions, prompting multiple Gulf states to activate defense systems and issue civilian safety alerts.

At least 108 people were injured in Israel within the past 24 hours amid the ongoing conflict with Iran, according to the country’s Ministry of Health. The Times of Israel reported that all the injured individuals were hospitalized, though the exact causes of their injuries were not detailed by the ministry.

Authorities indicated that some injuries may not have resulted directly from Iranian missile strikes or rockets fired from Lebanon, but rather from people getting hurt while rushing to shelters. The ministry also stated on social media platform X that since February 28, a total of 3,195 people have been hospitalized, with 81 still receiving treatment.

The report noted that rising military tensions between Iran and Israel have led to repeated missile and rocket alerts across various parts of Israel, forcing civilians to seek shelter frequently.

According to a report by Turkey’s Anadolu Agency, the United States has suffered nearly $4 billion in military equipment losses during two weeks of war, with operational expenses estimated at around $280 billion. The report cites military analysts who said Iran’s attacks caused the greatest damage to the US THAAD missile defense system, destroying at least four AN/TPY-2 radars in the UAE, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. Additional losses include damaged radar systems in Qatar, destroyed drones, fighter jets, and a tanker aircraft, as well as infrastructure damage in Bahrain and Kuwait.

A Democratic member of the US House Committee has requested the Congressional Budget Office to disclose the true cost of the war, while the Pentagon has not released any official data. The New York Times reported that the first week of the war cost about $6 billion, with daily expenses estimated between $1 billion and $2 billion. Analysts attribute the high costs to expensive interceptor missiles, advanced aircraft operations, and extensive military deployment across the Middle East.

Experts also noted that while the US defense budget can absorb the expenses, replenishing destroyed equipment and managing domestic discontent over rising costs remain major concerns.

Pakistan carried out airstrikes on military installations in Kandahar, Afghanistan, in response to drone attacks allegedly launched from Afghan territory. According to Geo News, citing official sources, the strikes targeted the 313 Corps in Kabul and the Tarawo militant camp in Kandahar, destroying key infrastructure. The operation also hit four militant hideouts belonging to the Afghan Taliban and Fitna al-Kharij in Paktia province between March 12 and 13. Fuel storage and supply facilities near Kandahar airport were also destroyed during the raids.

President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the drone attacks from Afghanistan, warning Kabul that targeting Pakistani civilians crossed a “red line.” The Pakistani military stated that locally made drones were intercepted before reaching their targets, though debris injured civilians in Quetta, Kohat, and Rawalpindi. Airspace around Islamabad was temporarily closed after the drones were detected.

Tensions between the two neighbors have escalated since late February, when Pakistan began operations against militants allegedly sheltering inside Afghanistan.

The Pentagon has released the identities of six US service members killed when a KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq earlier this week. In a statement on Saturday, the Pentagon said preliminary findings indicate the crash was not caused by hostile action. The incident occurred Thursday and increased the number of US personnel killed in the anti-Iran military campaign to at least 13. Another aircraft involved in the operation landed safely, according to officials.

The Pentagon confirmed that the victims were crew members on duty at the time, including three from the US Air Force and three from the Air National Guard. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, though US Central Command stated it was not due to enemy fire or friendly fire. Meanwhile, the Iran-backed coalition “Islamic Resistance in Iraq” claimed responsibility for downing a KC-135 and said it had targeted another aircraft that escaped.

The KC-135 crash marks at least the fourth US military aircraft lost in the ongoing conflict, following earlier friendly-fire incidents over Kuwait.

Switzerland has refused a request from the United States to use Swiss airspace for military operations targeting Iran. According to the report, the US made two separate requests to allow its aircraft to fly over Swiss territory as part of its Middle East military actions. The Swiss government declined both requests, citing its neutrality law.

In an official statement, the Swiss authorities explained that under national law, it is prohibited to allow any party involved in a conflict to use Swiss airspace for military purposes. However, the government confirmed that it had approved three flights unrelated to combat operations—one for maintenance and two for transport purposes.

The decision underscores Switzerland’s long-standing policy of neutrality and its legal restrictions on involvement in foreign conflicts, even when approached by major powers such as the United States.

Britain is planning to deploy mine-detection drones in the Strait of Hormuz to reduce Iran’s influence over this vital global trade route. The British Ministry of Defence stated that various options are being considered to ensure the safe passage of cargo ships through the strait, which handles about 20 percent of the world’s oil shipments daily. The proposal was first reported by The Sunday Times, citing the Royal Navy’s Mine and Threat Exploitation Group, currently stationed in the Middle East, as the likely source of the drone deployment.

The Sunday Telegraph reported that British interceptor drones, originally designed for Ukraine, may also be used to counter Iranian Shahed drones. The initiative follows earlier calls by former U.S. President Donald Trump for allied nations to send warships to protect oil tankers in the region.

Details such as the number of operational drones and how many could be deployed remain uncertain, according to the reports.