Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that more than half of Israel’s objectives in the war against Iran have been achieved, though he gave no timeline for its end. The conflict has spread across the region, with Israeli forces striking Tehran’s Imam Hossein University, reportedly linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, and a separate airstrike near Beirut killing three Hezbollah members. Meanwhile, two UN peacekeepers were killed in southern Lebanon, and a drone attack targeting the US embassy in Baghdad was intercepted.

Iran’s parliament commission approved a plan to impose tolls on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global energy transport now largely closed due to the fighting. The G7 finance ministers pledged to take all necessary measures to stabilize energy markets. NATO intercepted a missile launched from Iran toward Turkey, marking the fourth such attempt since the war began.

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi urged US President Donald Trump to help end the war, while Washington expressed cautious optimism about secret contacts with elements inside Iran. Trump warned that if no peace deal is reached soon, the US could destroy Iran’s key oil and power infrastructure.

At least 70 people were killed and 30 others injured in a series of gang attacks in Haiti’s Artibonite region, according to a human rights organization cited by Al Jazeera. The violence erupted near the Petit-Rivière area, known as the country’s breadbasket, and continued from early Sunday through Monday morning. The group’s figures far exceed the government’s official death toll of 16. Witnesses reported that gang members set homes on fire and caused widespread destruction.

The rights group Défenseurs Plus said around 6,000 people were displaced by the attacks, while the United Nations estimated that over 2,000 had already fled earlier violence. A UN spokesperson stated that the organization is closely monitoring the situation and believes the death toll could range between 10 and 80. In a joint statement with the Collective to Save the Artibonite, Défenseurs Plus accused authorities of failing to maintain security and effectively abandoning the region to armed groups.

An audio message circulating on social media featured gang leader Lackson Elan claiming the assault was retaliation for an attack by a rival faction. The Artibonite region, a key agricultural zone, has recently become one of Haiti’s most violent areas despite government pledges to strengthen security.

The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon reported that two Indonesian peacekeepers were killed and several others injured on Monday in southern Lebanon amid ongoing clashes between Israel and Hezbollah. The deaths occurred when an explosion of unknown origin destroyed a UN vehicle, marking the second fatal incident within 24 hours. The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has launched an investigation into the incident, while Israel’s military said it is also probing whether the explosions were caused by Hezbollah attacks or Israeli operations.

The Lebanese army confirmed that one of its soldiers was killed in an Israeli strike in the south, while security sources said three Hezbollah members died in another Israeli attack near Beirut. The conflict intensified after Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel on March 2, drawing Lebanon deeper into the regional war. Since then, Israeli forces have carried out extensive air and ground operations, with Lebanese authorities reporting over 1,200 deaths.

UN Under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix condemned the attacks as unacceptable, while France and Spain called for Security Council action. Lebanon’s president and the UN’s special coordinator urged an immediate ceasefire to halt the destruction.

A Kuwaiti crude oil tanker anchored at Dubai port caught fire following an Iranian attack, according to state media reports on Tuesday. The incident occurred while the vessel was moored in the port area of the United Arab Emirates. No casualties were reported in the attack.

Kuwait’s state-owned oil company, cited by the official KUNA news agency, stated that the large crude carrier was deliberately targeted by Iran. The report was also confirmed by AFP from Kuwait City. In response, Kuwait’s military announced on social media platform X that it had activated its air defense systems to counter hostile missile and drone attacks.

The reports did not specify the extent of the damage or whether operations at Dubai port were affected by the incident.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that four Israeli soldiers were killed in clashes with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. According to a report citing AFP, the IDF released a statement naming three soldiers from the same battalion who died during the fighting. In a separate statement, the military confirmed the death of another soldier whose identity has not yet been disclosed.

The IDF also reported that one soldier was seriously injured and a member of the reserve forces sustained moderate injuries in the same confrontation. The incident marks another escalation in the ongoing hostilities between Israeli forces and Hezbollah along the Lebanon-Israel border.

The report, sourced from The Guardian, did not provide further details about the circumstances of the clash or the broader military situation in the area.

India is renewing its strategic partnership with Russia as the Iran war disrupts global energy and diplomatic alignments. On March 27, the Modi government approved a $25 billion purchase of Russian defense equipment, including fighter jets, S-400 air defense systems, drones, and anti-tank munitions. This move follows India’s earlier $40 billion arms deal with France and comes as energy security becomes a central concern due to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.

The conflict in Iran has severely affected global energy flows, raising prices and exposing India’s vulnerability as much of its oil and gas imports pass through the Gulf. India’s earlier decision to reduce discounted Russian oil purchases under U.S. pressure has intensified domestic inflation and energy costs. Analysts see India’s renewed engagement with Moscow as a pragmatic shift prioritizing energy stability over alliance politics.

While the move risks straining relations with Washington and potential sanctions, it underscores India’s long-standing strategy of maintaining autonomy between major powers. For Russia, deepening ties with India offers an economic lifeline as Asian markets replace Europe in its energy exports.

Mohammad Safa, a senior United Nations diplomat, has resigned warning of a potential nuclear strike risk involving Iran. In a post and open letter shared on social media platform X on Monday, he alleged that the UN is preparing for a situation that could lead to a nuclear attack on Iran. Safa has served as executive director of the international organization Patriotic Vision since 2013, which holds special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council, and became its permanent representative to the UN in 2016.

Safa blamed an influential lobby within the UN’s top leadership for his resignation and criticized what he described as a pro-war stance. He emphasized that Tehran, home to nearly 10 million people, is not an empty city and questioned the global response if similar attacks occurred in major Western capitals. He said he resigned to avoid complicity in any crimes against humanity and to warn the world against a potential “nuclear winter.”

The UN has not yet issued any official response to Safa’s resignation or his allegations.

Iran has approved a plan to impose tolls on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical maritime routes, according to the IRGC-linked Fars news agency. A member of Iran’s parliamentary national security commission confirmed the approval, which also includes provisions to restrict passage for vessels from the United States and Israel. The proposal further suggests limiting access for ships from countries participating in sanctions against Iran.

AFP reported that the new toll system has already been announced on Iranian state television, which stated that the plan will be implemented in cooperation with neighboring Oman. The Strait of Hormuz handles nearly 20 percent of the world’s daily oil and gas supply, making it a vital global energy corridor.

International observers are discussing concerns that Tehran could use control over this strategic waterway as a diplomatic pressure tool amid ongoing regional tensions.

Two United Nations peacekeepers were killed in a car explosion in Lebanon, according to a statement released Monday by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The statement said the vehicle was destroyed by an explosion caused by an 'unknown object.' Two other peacekeepers were injured, one seriously and another with minor wounds.

The incident followed an earlier attack on Sunday at a UN peacekeeping contingent headquarters in southern Lebanon, which killed one Indonesian peacekeeper and seriously injured another. UNIFIL described the latest explosion as a violation of international law and urged all parties to immediately cease hostilities.

In response to the escalating violence against peacekeepers, France called an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council to address the situation in southern Lebanon.

U.S. President Donald Trump believes the ongoing war in Iran could last between four and six weeks, according to White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt. She made the statement during a press briefing on Monday when asked about the president’s current assessment of the conflict’s duration.

Levitt said President Trump has maintained this timeline since the beginning of the operation and that his view remains unchanged. She added that diplomatic discussions between the United States and Iran are continuing and progressing positively. While Trump has not ruled out the possibility of deploying ground troops in Iran, Levitt emphasized that diplomacy remains his first choice.

The remarks come amid ongoing tensions in the region, with the U.S. administration signaling both readiness for military engagement and preference for a diplomatic resolution.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated in a press conference in Tehran on Monday that the country has never attempted to develop nuclear weapons and has no plans to do so in the future. He emphasized that Iran remains committed to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) but expressed concern about whether the nation is truly benefiting from its membership.

Baghaei noted that both Iran’s parliament and the public have growing doubts about the advantages of staying in the NPT. The treaty, which took effect in 1970, aims to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons while allowing member states to pursue nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Despite Iran’s repeated insistence that its nuclear program is entirely peaceful, the United States has long disputed this claim and accused Tehran of secretly seeking nuclear weapons.

The remarks highlight Iran’s ongoing frustration over perceived inequities in the NPT framework and continued international scrutiny of its nuclear activities.

NATO forces intercepted a ballistic missile that entered Turkish airspace, according to a report published on March 30, 2026. The missile was destroyed by NATO’s air defense systems deployed in the eastern Mediterranean. This marks the fourth missile attack since the outbreak of the United States-Israel war against Iran earlier in the month.

The Turkish government had previously lodged strong protests and warnings to Tehran after three earlier missile incidents. Iran has denied involvement in those attacks, stating that it did not authorize any such launches. Turkey’s Ministry of Defense reaffirmed that it is taking all necessary measures without hesitation against any threats directed toward its territory.

The repeated missile incidents highlight rising regional tensions and the potential for further escalation involving NATO and Middle Eastern powers.

CBS News, citing its sources, reported that hundreds of US special forces members, including Navy SEALs and Army Rangers, are currently stationed across the Middle East. The report added that thousands of US Marines and paratroopers have already been deployed to the region. The deployments are reportedly intended to give US President Donald Trump options for potential military actions concerning Iran.

According to the CBS sources, possible operations could include reopening the Strait of Hormuz, taking control of oil facilities on Kharg Island, or seizing Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) declined to comment on the matter. Earlier, CENTCOM confirmed that the USS Tripoli had arrived in the Middle East carrying about 3,500 sailors and Marines.

The report did not specify whether any immediate military action was planned, leaving the scope and timeline of potential operations uncertain.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the United States’ primary goal in the ongoing war against Iran is to achieve its defined military objectives. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Rubio emphasized that the US remains steadfast in pursuing these objectives.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump outlined several ultimate goals regarding the US-Israel alliance’s war efforts surrounding Iran. These include weakening Iran’s regional military capabilities, destroying its leadership and nuclear program, and bringing about a change in the country’s governing system.

The report also noted that hundreds of US special forces are currently stationed across the Middle East, according to CBS, underscoring the scale of American military involvement in the region.

The European Union has extended its sanctions on Iran for another year over alleged human rights violations. According to a statement from the EU Council, the sanctions will now remain in effect until April 13, 2027. The measures include travel bans, asset freezes, and restrictions on exporting equipment that could be used for internal repression or telecommunications surveillance.

The EU Council further stated that EU citizens and entities are prohibited from providing funds or economic resources to the individuals and organizations listed under the sanctions. The current list includes 262 individuals and 53 entities, with one deceased person recently removed from it.

The EU first imposed these sanctions in 2011 in response to serious human rights abuses in Iran and has renewed them annually since then.