An Iranian missile attack struck Israel’s largest city, Haifa, early Monday, killing two people and leaving two others missing, according to local reports. Rescue workers continued operations through the night, searching the debris of a heavily damaged apartment block that was hit by a large missile. Half of the building was destroyed, and the remaining structure was unstable, complicating rescue efforts.

Al Jazeera reported that Haifa, a strategically important city, is frequently targeted by Iranian missiles and lies within range of rockets launched from Hezbollah positions across the Lebanese border. During the ongoing rescue operation, another missile alert was issued as three additional missiles were detected from Iran. Most were intercepted, while the rest landed in open fields.

Authorities have not yet provided further details on the missing individuals or the extent of the damage, and search operations were continuing as of Monday morning.

At least 13 people were killed in airstrikes carried out by US and Israeli forces on two residential areas in Kaleh Mir, a city in Baharestan County of Iran’s Tehran Province, according to Fars News Agency. The attacks took place early on April 6, 2026, leaving significant destruction in the densely populated region.

Local authorities have launched search and rescue operations to remove debris and locate individuals possibly trapped under the rubble. The governor of Baharestan confirmed that rescue efforts are ongoing and described the situation as still tense.

The report, citing Al Jazeera as a source, did not provide further details on the motive or broader military context of the strikes.

Kuwait has announced a new defense and security strategy following a recent drone attack that targeted several government buildings and ministries. The incident occurred on April 5, 2026, and was described as a suspected Iranian drone strike. Although no casualties were reported, the attack caused significant damage and prompted immediate security responses.

In a statement, the Kuwaiti Army’s General Staff said that advanced air defense systems are now active to counter hostile missile and drone threats. The army also clarified through a post on social media platform X that any explosion sounds heard by residents were the result of defense operations intercepting enemy attacks. Citizens were urged to follow official safety instructions issued by relevant authorities.

The new measures mark Kuwait’s effort to strengthen internal security amid rising regional tensions and to reassure the public about the country’s defensive readiness.

Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah leader Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi has warned that regional oil and gas installations could come under attack if the United States enforces its threats over the Strait of Hormuz. His statement, published by Iran’s IRNA news agency, said that if Washington attempts to forcibly open the strait, no oil or gas platform would remain intact.

Al-Hamidawi further expanded the warning to include American infrastructure in the region, declaring that US power plants are legitimate targets and that there would be no limits in such actions. He emphasized that either security will be ensured for all parties or none will have security.

The statement, reported by Al Jazeera, reflects heightened rhetoric amid ongoing regional tensions involving Iran, the United States, and allied groups operating across the Middle East.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has declared that the Strait of Hormuz will never return to its previous state, saying conditions have permanently changed for the United States and Israel. In a social media statement, the IRGC Navy said it is in the final stage of military preparations to implement a new system Iran plans to introduce in the Persian Gulf region.

Earlier, an Iranian parliamentary committee approved a draft law proposing transit fees for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, to be paid in Iran’s national currency. The draft also calls for a complete ban on U.S. and Israeli vessels and reciprocal restrictions on countries imposing unilateral sanctions on Iran. The plan includes provisions on Iran’s sovereignty, armed forces’ control, maritime security, environmental protection, and legal cooperation with Oman.

Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump has issued multiple ultimatums demanding Iran reopen the strait, warning of strikes on Iranian power plants and infrastructure if it fails to comply. Russia, China, and other countries have expressed deep concern over the escalating situation.

Iran has condemned U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent threat to destroy the country’s infrastructure if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened. On Sunday, April 5, Trump warned that Iran would face devastating attacks on its bridges and power plants, saying the country would be forced to live in hell if it did not comply. Iranian officials denounced the remarks as a “dangerous game” and described them as an incitement to war crimes.

Following Trump’s comments, Iran claimed to have shot down two U.S. C-130 warplanes and two Black Hawk helicopters. The statement came as Trump confirmed that an American officer missing after an F-15E fighter jet was downed in Iran had been rescued. The exchange of threats and military claims has further heightened tensions between the two nations.

The situation underscores the fragile state of U.S.-Iran relations, with both sides trading accusations and military actions in a volatile regional environment.

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a precise deadline for his ultimatum to Iran, demanding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump stated that Iran has until Tuesday at 8 p.m. Eastern Time to comply. This corresponds to 3:30 a.m. Wednesday in Tehran, midnight GMT, and 6 a.m. Wednesday in Bangladesh.

Earlier, in an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Trump warned that if Iran failed to act by Tuesday evening, no power plant or bridge in the country would remain intact. The ultimatum follows months of conflict that began in February, which led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and raised fears of a global energy crisis.

The situation has drawn international attention as the standoff threatens to escalate military tensions and disrupt global oil supply routes, with observers watching closely for Iran’s response before the deadline.

Russia has called on the United States to refrain from using the language of ultimatums or threats in efforts to ease ongoing tensions with Iran. Moscow stated that Washington should return to the negotiating table instead of escalating the conflict. The Russian Foreign Ministry reported that Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, during which Lavrov expressed hope that current de-escalation efforts would succeed.

According to the ministry’s statement, Lavrov emphasized that if the United States abandons threatening rhetoric and restores dialogue, it would help resolve the crisis. The statement added that both Russia and Iran urged all parties, including the United Nations Security Council, to avoid actions that could undermine remaining opportunities for a political and diplomatic solution.

The appeal reflects Moscow’s position favoring negotiation over confrontation as regional tensions continue to rise, with both sides calling for restraint and renewed diplomacy.

French President Emmanuel Macron has called for the formation of an 'Alliance of Freedom' that would remain independent from the influence of the United States and China. Speaking at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea, Macron emphasized the need for a coalition based on shared commitments to international law, democracy, and climate action. He mentioned potential participation from countries such as South Korea, Japan, Brazil, India, Australia, and Canada.

Macron criticized overreliance on military power and questioned the role of the United States in West Asia, arguing that lasting solutions cannot be achieved solely through bombings or military operations. His remarks came as France opposed a United Nations Security Council proposal authorizing possible military action against Iran, leading to tensions with Israel after Paris declined to support the US-Israeli stance.

Analysts cited in the report view Macron’s position as an attempt to establish a new balance in global politics, enabling middle powers to assert greater strategic autonomy.

France has announced that it will not provide any offensive weapons to Israel, citing the ongoing tensions surrounding Iran. The statement was reported by PressTV on Sunday. French Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin clarified in a social media post that France is not supplying arms to Israel. She explained that France has only authorized the sale of certain components used in air defense systems, such as projectiles for the Iron Dome, and some equipment also used by the French armed forces.

A few days earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that France would not join any aggression against Iran on behalf of the United States or Israel. The announcement underscores France’s cautious stance in the escalating regional situation.

The decision reflects France’s effort to maintain a balanced position in the Middle East while avoiding direct involvement in potential military confrontations linked to Iran.

Iran has announced that it will not reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz until it receives war compensation. According to a report by Al Jazeera citing the Iranian president’s office, the statement was made on Sunday. Seyyed Mehdi Tabatabaei, the president’s communications adviser, said in a social media post that under a new legal framework, the strait would only reopen once compensation is paid through transit fees.

Tabatabaei also sharply criticized recent remarks by Donald Trump, accusing him of making inappropriate and meaningless comments out of frustration after threatening attacks on Iran’s civilian infrastructure over the closure of the strait. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical route for global energy supplies, and the ongoing closure has heightened tensions in international markets and raised concerns about regional security.

The report noted that pressure on Iran is increasing, but the country remains firm in its decision not to reopen the strait until its conditions are met.

Middle East analyst Mohammad Ali Shabani stated that the current tension between the United States and Iran has reached a stage where neither side can withdraw without losing face. Speaking to Al Jazeera, the Amwaj.media editor said US President Donald Trump appears ready to carry out threats to strike Iran’s key infrastructure, a move that could trigger a major regional conflict.

Shabani added that Iran is signaling its own resolve by targeting infrastructure in Kuwait to demonstrate it will not back down either. He described the situation as a standoff in which both sides are trapped by the need to preserve their honor.

He warned that under these circumstances, the region faces a high likelihood of escalating tension within the next 24 hours.

An Iraqi oil tanker named ‘Ocean Thunder’ has passed through the Strait of Hormuz without incident under Iran’s special exemption policy, according to Al Jazeera. Data from LSEG and Kpler showed that the vessel traveled along Iran’s coast through the strategic waterway. Iran had announced a day earlier that Iraq would not face any restrictions on navigation through this vital maritime route.

Marine traffic trackers indicated that the tanker was last located in the Gulf of Oman. Kpler data revealed that ‘Ocean Thunder’ loaded about one million barrels of Basra Heavy crude oil on March 2 and is expected to arrive at Malaysia’s Pengerang port in mid-April.

The smooth passage of the Iraqi tanker is being viewed as significant amid ongoing tensions in one of the world’s most critical energy transport corridors.

Iran has claimed that a US special operation to rescue a missing American pilot has failed. The statement came after US President Donald Trump announced on his Truth Social account that the mission was one of the most courageous in US history and had been completed successfully. Following Trump’s post, Iranian authorities and state media rejected the claim, describing the operation as unsuccessful.

A spokesperson for Iran’s central military headquarters, Khatam al-Anbiya, said in a statement that US forces made desperate attempts to recover the downed pilot but failed due to the efforts of Iranian forces. The United States had earlier confirmed that there was an exchange of gunfire between American and Iranian troops during the mission.

Iran’s military further alleged that Washington’s announcement of a successful rescue was an attempt to conceal its defeat. The incident has added to the ongoing tensions between the two countries, which have previously clashed over military and political issues.

Iran has claimed to have shot down a US C-130 transport aircraft and two Black Hawk helicopters in the southern province of Isfahan. According to Tehran, the incident occurred during a US mission to rescue missing crew members. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf shared an image of the event on social media, while state television broadcast footage showing the downed aircraft.

A statement from Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya military headquarters said the aircraft were destroyed during what it described as a reckless and hostile rescue operation by enemy forces south of Isfahan. Iranian authorities have portrayed the incident as a major victory, arguing that it disproves US claims about the weakness of Iran’s air defense capabilities.

The situation remains tense following recent US-Israeli attacks in Iran. US President Trump has warned of potential large-scale strikes on key Iranian infrastructure within hours or days, according to reports from Al Jazeera and Tasnim News Agency.