China and Pakistan have completed a seven-day joint naval exercise in the Arabian Sea amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The exercise, named 'Sea Guardian-4', concluded on Wednesday and aimed to strengthen coordination and bilateral cooperation between the two countries’ navies, according to a statement from Pakistan’s Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).

The exercise included a five-day harbor phase in Karachi and a two-day sea phase in the northern Arabian Sea. Activities during the sea phase featured air defense drills against multi-dimensional threats, operations with a Pakistani submarine, conventional naval warfare exercises, and live firing to enhance operational and tactical coordination.

The ISPR statement said the exercise ended with a coordinated patrol in the Arabian Sea, reaffirming both navies’ commitment to regional maritime security and stability.

Russia has accused NATO of preparing for a direct military confrontation. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova made the allegation, citing NATO’s growing defense expenditures and frequent military exercises as indicators of such intentions. She referred to NATO’s 2025 activity report, claiming it shows the alliance’s role in escalating global tensions.

Zakharova stated that NATO’s potential military spending for 2025 could reach about 1.64 trillion dollars, representing roughly 62 percent of global defense expenditure by its 32 member states. She questioned why Russia continues to be portrayed as a threat despite such high spending. According to her, NATO conducted more than 120 joint military drills last year, while member states held over 700 separate training activities, many involving partner nations.

She further alleged that these exercises include offensive strategies, reflecting what she described as NATO’s aggressive stance. Zakharova rejected NATO’s labeling of Russia as the main threat to the Euro-Atlantic region and questioned accusations of airspace violations, sabotage, and cyberattacks. Analysts believe these remarks could heighten existing NATO-Russia tensions.

According to a report cited by Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, the United States and Israel have ultimately failed to achieve their objectives in the war against Iran. The conclusion comes from an analysis by the Center for Strategic Studies, which reviewed reports from 80 leading think tanks worldwide over the past month.

The research found that while the US and Israel managed limited tactical strikes due to their advanced military technology, they failed strategically to bring down Iran’s political system, destroy its defense capabilities, or force social and political surrender. The report credits Iran’s “exceptional and intelligent warfare tactics” for giving it dominance in the conflict, including maintaining control of the Strait of Hormuz and preventing the US-Israel alliance from regaining it militarily.

The analysis describes the war as gradually turning into a war of attrition, favoring Iran over time. It concludes that the US and its allies now face two options: to withdraw while claiming a “propaganda victory” or to end the conflict quickly without any form of victory.

China has joined Pakistan in a joint mediation effort to stop the ongoing war in Iran, which has entered its second month. The conflict has severely disrupted global energy supplies and driven up oil prices. U.S. President Donald Trump stated that American military operations in Iran could continue for another two to three weeks, though the end of the war remains uncertain.

According to reports, China and Pakistan have proposed a five-point plan aimed at achieving a ceasefire and reopening the vital Strait of Hormuz. China’s foreign ministry said both countries are working toward peace and view dialogue and diplomacy as the only effective solutions. As the world’s largest crude oil importer, China faces significant economic risks from prolonged energy instability, which could slow global growth and harm its export-driven economy.

China’s growing economic ties with Middle Eastern nations and its previous mediation between Saudi Arabia and Iran in 2023 highlight its broader diplomatic ambitions. However, analysts note that China seeks economic stability rather than direct involvement in regional conflicts, and its military influence in the region remains limited.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the ongoing war will continue for at least several more weeks, reaffirming earlier statements during a televised address to the nation. Speaking at 9 p.m. local time, he said the United States had already achieved rapid and significant victories and was close to final success. Trump stated that American forces would continue bombing operations in the coming weeks.

He warned that if Iran refused to reach an agreement, its energy and power infrastructure would become targets. Trump also mentioned that allied nations were taking steps to secure control of the Strait of Hormuz, though he did not directly reference NATO. He emphasized that many strategic objectives had already been achieved and that the campaign would persist.

Trump thanked U.S. allies involved in the Iran conflict, particularly Israel and Gulf countries, for their contributions, saying they had performed exceptionally and would not be allowed to fail.

The human rights organization Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN) has called on the international community to take urgent action to prevent what it described as Israel’s plan to destroy border villages in southern Lebanon and block the return of displaced civilians. The group urged countries to impose arms and economic sanctions to halt what it termed Israel’s ongoing repression and to prevent a long-term occupation of southern Lebanon.

The appeal follows remarks by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, who acknowledged plans to turn southern Lebanon into ruins similar to Gaza and depopulate the area. Human rights activists warned that such actions could amount to ethnic cleansing. Last week, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich suggested making the Litani River, which flows about 30 kilometers inside Lebanon, Israel’s new northern border.

DAWN’s Israel-Palestine director Michael Schaeffer Omer-Man said Israel is using the war with Iran as a cover to accelerate territorial expansion, now targeting Lebanon. He warned that only real and severe consequences could deter Israel, urging states to act before it is too late.

The United Kingdom is hosting a virtual meeting on Thursday with representatives from about 35 countries to discuss ways to reopen the Hormuz Strait, a key maritime route disrupted by the ongoing Middle East war. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the meeting on Wednesday, stating that Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will chair the session. The agenda includes restoring freedom of navigation, ensuring the safety of stranded ships and sailors, and resuming the transport of essential goods through the strait.

Starmer added that following the meeting, military planners will discuss how to secure and make the strait operational after the conflict ends. Participating nations include France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the Netherlands, all of which have pledged to cooperate in ensuring safe passage through the area. The strait has been effectively closed by Iran since the U.S.-Israeli offensive began on February 28, causing global oil and gas prices to rise.

Starmer cautioned that reopening the strait will not be easy. He also reaffirmed the UK’s full commitment to NATO, responding to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent criticism of the alliance.

Russia’s Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday, April 1, that its forces have taken full control of Ukraine’s Luhansk region. The ministry stated that western military units had completely liberated Luhansk. Russia also reported capturing the villages of Verkhnya Pisarivka in Kharkiv and Boikove in Zaporizhzhia. Luhansk and Donetsk together form the Donbas region, where Russia already controls most of the territory.

The Kremlin reiterated its call for Ukrainian forces to withdraw entirely from Donetsk, a demand Kyiv has repeatedly rejected. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky decided to withdraw troops from Donbas, the ongoing war could end. Zelensky, a day earlier, claimed that Russia had given the United States an ultimatum, threatening tougher peace terms if the remaining parts of Donbas were not captured within two months.

The conflict began in February 2022 when Russia launched a military operation to seize Donbas, later expanding into a full-scale war. Western nations have provided Ukraine with extensive financial and military support, contributing to the conflict’s prolongation and escalation.

A joint airstrike by the United States and Israel on Wednesday evening targeted a mountainous grazing area in Larestan, located in Iran’s southern Fars province. According to reports, four people were killed and three villagers were injured in the attack. The injured individuals are receiving treatment at a local hospital.

A senior official responsible for political and security affairs in the local administration confirmed the incident, as reported by the Fars News Agency. The report did not provide further details about the identities of the victims or the specific objectives of the strike.

The attack adds to ongoing regional tensions, though the source did not specify any immediate response or broader implications following the strike.

The United States and Israel have claimed repeated successes in their ongoing war with Iran, boasting of destroying most of Iran’s missile launchers and reducing its attack rate. However, Iran has continued to strike oil refineries and tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, maintaining pressure despite heavy losses. The country has launched over 5,400 projectiles, with less than ten percent targeting Israel. Israeli defenses intercepted most incoming missiles, yet several major strikes still hit populated areas, killing at least 20 people.

More than 90 percent of Iran’s missiles and drones have targeted Arab Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait, which report thousands of attacks but claim high interception rates. Despite their declared neutrality, these states host U.S. military bases and use American and Israeli defense systems. Iranian strikes have killed U.S. soldiers and civilians in the region, showing continued lethality.

The report suggests Iran’s missile precision and persistence have forced the U.S. to ease sanctions on Russian and Iranian oil and exposed the limits of U.S. defense commitments. President Donald Trump’s inability to secure Iran’s surrender or regime change is described as a major strategic failure reminiscent of the Vietnam War.

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will host a virtual meeting on Thursday with representatives from around 35 countries to discuss diplomatic measures aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest oil transport routes. The meeting seeks to coordinate international efforts to restore safe passage through the strait, which has been effectively blocked since late February.

According to the report, Iran has maintained the blockade using drones, missiles, and possible mines following attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran on February 28. The disruption has led to a rise in global energy prices. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer earlier stated that reducing tensions and reopening the strait are essential to addressing the growing cost of living.

The planned meeting underscores the UK’s diplomatic initiative to ease regional tensions and stabilize global energy markets through multilateral engagement.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated on social media platform Truth Social that Iran’s new president had requested a ceasefire from the United States. Trump added that Washington would only consider a ceasefire once the Strait of Hormuz was open, free, and safe, declaring that until then, the U.S. was destroying Iran or, as he put it, sending it back to the Stone Age.

Iranian authorities firmly rejected Trump’s claim, calling it false and denying any direct talks or agreements. The Iranian foreign minister clarified that while some messages had been exchanged, they could not be considered negotiations or a ceasefire request. Tehran, he said, remained prepared to continue the war.

Following Trump’s remarks, global oil prices rose, reflecting market sensitivity to escalating tensions between the United States and Iran.

Iran’s emergency medical services chief has reported that 24 health workers have been killed since the start of the ongoing US-Israeli attacks on the country. The casualties include doctors, nurses, technicians, and other staff working in health and food service sectors. Additionally, at least 114 health workers have been injured, among them 74 EMS 115 emergency responders who were hurt while treating victims at attack sites.

According to the report, more than 330 healthcare facilities have been damaged in the strikes, and one rescue helicopter has been destroyed. Officials warned that the continued assaults on the health sector are worsening the humanitarian situation and straining emergency response capabilities.

The sustained damage to Iran’s medical infrastructure has raised concerns about the country’s ability to maintain essential health services amid the conflict.

Pakistan’s security forces conducted intelligence-based operations on two bases of Fitna al Khawarij, described as an ‘Indian proxy force,’ in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), at least 13 members of the group were killed in the raids carried out on Wednesday, April 1. The operations targeted militant hideouts in the Bara area of Khyber district and in Bannu district.

ISPR reported that ten militants were killed in Bara after intense gunfire, while three others were killed in Bannu during a separate operation. The raids were launched following intelligence reports about the presence of armed militants in those areas.

The ISPR stated that search operations are continuing to eliminate India-backed militants and that counterterrorism efforts under the Azm-e-Istehkam program will proceed at full pace.

A Bangladeshi expatriate from Cumilla’s Brahmanpara upazila was killed in a missile strike in Dubai’s Fujairah Dibba area on Wednesday morning, April 1, 2026. The attack occurred amid the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran in the Middle East. The victim, identified as Shah Alam Bhuiya, 50, was the second son of Hanif Bhuiya from Jiruin village under Sahebabad Union. According to sources among expatriates in Dubai and the victim’s family, the missile struck while he was on his way to work.

Witnesses reported that sirens sounded in the area as people ran for cover before the missile hit. The incident has cast a shadow of grief over the expatriate Bangladeshi community in Dubai and among residents of Shah Alam’s home village in Brahmanpara, Cumilla.

Local reports described widespread mourning in the victim’s village following news of his death, as relatives and neighbors expressed shock over the tragedy.