Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari issued a new statement mocking former U.S. President Donald Trump as the American deadline for reopening the Strait of Hormuz approached. In an English-language video clip, Zolfaghari said, “Trump, you’re fired,” referencing the U.S. warning that Iran’s blockade of the strait could trigger attacks on its energy grid. Iran has responded with threats of severe retaliation.

Separately, Majid Farshi, director general of crisis management in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province, reported two deadly attacks in the city of Tabriz. According to Fars News Agency, four people were killed and six injured in an assault on a residential unit in the Marzdaran area, while two others died in a park in Rabe Rashidi. These claims could not be independently verified, and there were no immediate comments from U.S. or Israeli officials.

Earlier, reports indicated one person was killed in a joint U.S.-Israeli strike on a radio station in Bandar Abbas, which operated a 100-kilowatt AM transmitter owned by Iran’s national broadcaster IRIB.

The Israeli military, known as the IDF, reported that Iran has launched another round of missile attacks targeting Israel. According to the IDF’s latest update, the country’s air defense systems are actively intercepting the incoming missiles. The strikes reportedly included cluster munitions aimed at Tel Aviv on Sunday night, which were neutralized in the air before reaching their targets.

Earlier reports indicated explosions in several parts of Tehran, Iran’s capital, though details about the cause or extent of those blasts remain unclear. The renewed exchange marks another escalation in hostilities between the two countries, with both sides reporting aerial activity and defensive responses.

The IDF stated that its air defense operations are ongoing to counter further threats, but no additional information on casualties or damage was provided in the report.

The Middle East saw a sharp escalation in hostilities on Monday, with Israel launching what it described as a 'massive attack' on Tehran. Explosions were reported in the Iranian capital, and AFP journalists observed thick black smoke. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates said they intercepted new attacks, while debris from a downed missile injured an Indian national in Abu Dhabi. In Iran’s Bandar Abbas region, state media reported one death in a joint U.S.-Israeli strike on a broadcasting center.

International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol warned that the global economy faces a major threat from the ongoing energy crisis, comparing it to the oil shocks of the 1970s and the 2022 Ukraine war. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia and reaffirmed support against Iranian missile and drone threats. Meanwhile, Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam accused Iran’s Revolutionary Guard of directing Hezbollah’s military operations.

Israel’s military chief said ground operations in Lebanon will intensify, calling them “just the beginning,” while a spokesperson predicted fighting against Iran and Hezbollah could continue for several weeks.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for drone and missile attacks targeting Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan Air Base and the US Fifth Fleet stationed in Bahrain. According to an IRGC spokesperson from the Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters, the Saudi base serves as a key hub for US military operations and intelligence aircraft, prompting the group to launch ballistic missiles at the site.

At the same time, Yemen’s Houthi-linked news agency Al-Masirah reported that the Iran-backed group carried out an attack near Israel’s Ben Gurion Air Base, striking what it described as the ‘Zionist Aerospace Industries Center’ using Arash-2 attack drones. The report claimed the drones caused significant destruction.

However, none of these attack claims have been independently verified. As of the time of reporting, neither US nor Israeli officials had issued any formal comments. The multiple, unconfirmed attack claims have heightened concerns over regional security and potential escalation across the Middle East.

Multiple explosions were reported across Iran, including in the capital Tehran, on March 23, 2026. Loud blasts were heard in the central, eastern, and western parts of the city as air defense systems were activated. According to Al Jazeera, several other Iranian cities also experienced explosions amid ongoing airstrikes by the United States and Israel. The attacks followed Iran’s earlier strikes on Israeli installations, which had caused explosions in several Israeli areas.

Reports indicated that a radio station in Bandar Abbas was hit, killing one person, while residential areas in Khorramabad and Urmia suffered attacks that left several civilians dead. At least 1,500 people have been confirmed killed across Iran, with expectations that the toll will rise as the assaults continue. Explosions were also heard in Isfahan, Karaj, and Ahvaz, where a hospital was reportedly struck.

The Iranian Red Crescent Society stated that more than 80,000 civilian structures, including hospitals, schools, and its own offices, have been damaged or destroyed in the ongoing attacks.

An Air Canada Express aircraft collided with a vehicle on the runway while landing at New York’s LaGuardia Airport on Sunday evening. The CRJ-900 model plane, arriving from Montreal and operated by Jazz Aviation, struck the vehicle at a speed of about 39 kilometers per hour. Following the incident, airport operations were temporarily suspended as emergency crews responded to the scene.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced a temporary halt to all flights at LaGuardia due to the emergency, initially effective until 05:30 GMT, with a possible extension. The New York Fire Department confirmed it responded to the collision, while both Air Canada and the FAA did not issue immediate comments. Videos shared on social media showed the aircraft’s nose tilted slightly upward after the impact.

According to the airport’s website, several flights were diverted to other airports or returned to their departure points. An FAA notice later indicated that the closure could continue until 18:00 GMT depending on conditions.

Five additional international flights were canceled at Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram within the past 24 hours, according to a press bulletin issued late Sunday night, March 22, 2026. The cancellations affected both outbound and inbound flights operated by Biman Bangladesh Airlines, US-Bangla Airlines, and Air Arabia. The airport authority cited the intensifying war situation in the Middle East as the reason for the disruptions, which have caused severe inconvenience to passengers traveling to and from the region.

Despite the cancellations, twelve international flights—six arrivals and six departures—remained operational on Sunday. The airport’s public relations officer, Engineer Mohammad Ibrahim Khalil, stated that flight disruptions began on February 28 due to the ongoing conflict. Including the latest cancellations, a total of 167 international flights have been suspended from Shah Amanat International Airport since the disruptions began.

The continued instability in the Middle East suggests that further flight schedule disruptions may persist if the conflict remains unresolved.

The United Arab Emirates’ air defense system intercepted a ballistic missile aimed at Abu Dhabi, according to the Abu Dhabi Media Office. The incident occurred in the Al Shawamekh area, where debris from the destroyed missile fell to the ground, injuring an Indian national. The confirmation was reported by Al Jazeera, citing the official media office’s post on social media platform X.

The report stated that the UAE’s defense system successfully neutralized the missile in the air before it could reach its target. However, fragments from the interception caused injuries on the ground. The injured person was identified as an Indian citizen, though no further details about his condition were provided.

Authorities have not released additional information about the source of the missile or any potential response measures following the incident.

A major fire broke out at an auto parts manufacturing factory in Daejeon, South Korea, resulting in at least 14 deaths and 59 injuries. Among the injured, 25 people are reported to be in critical condition. The incident occurred on Friday, according to ABC News. Video footage showed thick gray smoke rising from the factory complex as some workers jumped from a building to escape the flames.

More than 500 firefighters, police officers, and emergency personnel were deployed to the site to control the blaze and rescue trapped workers. Nam Deuk-woo, head of the Daejeon Daedeok District Fire Service, stated that one factory building was completely destroyed by the fire. Rescue operations were initially delayed because of fears that the building might collapse.

Authorities are continuing to assess the damage and investigate the cause of the fire, while emergency teams remain on-site to ensure safety and prevent further casualties.

Israeli settlers carried out a series of violent attacks on Palestinian villages across the occupied West Bank following the death of 18-year-old Israeli Jew Yehuda Sherman. The violence began after Sherman died when his quad bike collided with a Palestinian vehicle. Police are investigating whether the incident was intentional or accidental. In response, settlers used WhatsApp groups to call for revenge, leading to more than 20 reported attacks overnight. Homes, vehicles, and farmland were set on fire in villages including Jalud, Qaryut, Al-Funduqimiyah, and Silat ad-Dahr.

The Israeli Defense Forces deployed troops and border police to several villages after reports of arson and unrest. The Palestinian Red Crescent reported injuries among both Palestinians and attackers. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned the attacks, saying they caused destruction and fear during Eid al-Fitr. Israeli police arrested five people near Deir al-Hatab and vowed zero tolerance for extremist violence. Human rights group Yesh Din described the events as a “night of pogroms,” accusing authorities of failing to act despite prior warnings.

According to the UN, settler violence has surged since the joint U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran, with six Palestinians killed since March 1. Israeli opposition leader Yair Golan blamed the government for encouraging chaos amid ongoing conflict.

At least one person was killed in an attack on a state broadcasting center in southern Iran, according to the country’s official television channel on Monday, March 23, 2026. The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) stated that the assault targeted a 100-kilowatt AM transmitter at the Persian Gulf Radio and Television Center.

Citing AFP, the IRIB described the attackers as an “American-Zionist terrorist force.” The British newspaper The Guardian reported that the strike violated international law and resulted in the death of a security guard and injuries to another staff member at the facility.

The incident comes amid heightened regional tensions, with recent reports of missile attacks and international appeals to halt hostilities involving Iran. However, no further details about the perpetrators or the broader context of the attack were provided in the official statements.

Iran has carried out extensive missile strikes across Israel, with explosions reported in Jerusalem, central, and southern regions. Authorities have issued emergency alerts and instructed civilians to move to safe shelters as Iranian missiles reportedly hit several areas. According to Al Jazeera, cluster munitions may have been used, dispersing smaller bombs that caused damage in at least eight locations. Videos of the destruction have circulated on social media.

The Qatar-based outlet reported that earlier alerts in northern Israel were later lifted, allowing residents to leave shelters. However, since Sunday, missile attacks have continued, particularly in the north, where frequent sirens have been sounding. The region has become a regular target not only of Iranian missile strikes but also of attacks from Lebanon’s armed group Hezbollah.

The ongoing assaults have heightened security concerns across Israel, with authorities maintaining high alert as the situation develops.

Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for multiple attacks targeting Israeli forces stationed in southern Lebanon. According to statements released by the group, rocket strikes were launched at Israeli positions near Yaroun, Marwahin, and Ad-Duhayrah, while artillery fire targeted troops in the Maroun al-Ras area. Hezbollah also reported using drones to strike an Israeli unit advancing from Maroun toward Khallat al-Bustan, asserting that the attack successfully hit its target.

Israel’s Walla News reported that seven Israeli soldiers were injured in southern Lebanon. The report described a “security-related incident” in which four soldiers sustained minor injuries, while another was hurt in a drone strike near a military unit in the same area. Additionally, two soldiers were slightly injured in a separate “accident” in northern Israel.

All injured soldiers were taken to hospitals for treatment, according to the report. The incidents highlight ongoing cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces in the region.

The European Union has stepped up diplomatic efforts to resolve the ongoing crisis surrounding the Strait of Hormuz. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas held discussions with Iran and several regional powers, including Turkey, Qatar, and South Korea, according to reports from Al Jazeera and Reuters. On Sunday, Kallas spoke by phone with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, following a similar conversation earlier in the week.

An EU official stated that these talks aim to find a diplomatic solution amid the current tensions. The discussions covered the ongoing conflict, attacks on energy infrastructure, and growing international pressure to reopen the strategic waterway. EU officials have warned that renewed threats against key civilian infrastructure could affect millions of people across the Middle East and beyond.

The situation remains tense as international actors continue to push for de-escalation and the restoration of stability in the region.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Besent has stated that military operations near the Strait of Hormuz will continue until Iran’s military positions in the area are completely destroyed. Speaking to NBC News, Besent said the campaign aims to weaken Iran’s defense bases near the strategic waterway and will persist until those targets are eliminated. He claimed that the ongoing operations have already significantly damaged Iran’s military capabilities.

Besent criticized media coverage of the conflict, arguing that the American public is not being shown an accurate picture of what the United States is doing. He also rejected comments from Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, who had accused the Trump administration of losing control of the war and becoming detached from reality. Besent dismissed those remarks as false, asserting that Iran’s capabilities have been destroyed.

The statement comes amid heightened regional tensions, with reports of drone incidents in Saudi Arabia, strengthened defenses in Kuwait, and attacks in Lebanon, while the European Union seeks a diplomatic solution to the Hormuz issue.