Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah, according to the Saudi Press Agency. During the meeting, the two leaders discussed regional and international developments, reviewed bilateral relations, and exchanged views on the latest situation surrounding the Ukraine crisis.

The discussion also covered ongoing military tensions across the Middle East. The meeting comes after Zelensky had earlier announced the deployment of hundreds of Ukrainian military drone specialists to the Gulf region to assist in countering Iranian drones.

The engagement highlights Saudi Arabia’s continued diplomatic outreach amid regional instability and Ukraine’s efforts to strengthen international cooperation on security matters.

The Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh has announced that Bangladeshi nationals stranded in Saudi Arabia with expired visit, Umrah, or final exit visas can leave the country without facing fines or legal complications. According to an emergency notice issued on March 25, 2026, those whose visas expired by February 25, 2026, are eligible for this facility if they depart by April 18, 2026.

The embassy stated that eligible individuals can go directly to the airport and leave Saudi Arabia by showing their air tickets, without needing to extend their visas or pay any penalties. The Saudi authorities have granted this temporary opportunity to facilitate the return of those unable to leave earlier due to special circumstances.

The notice also warned that anyone failing to depart by the April 18 deadline may face serious legal consequences, including fines and possible travel bans. The embassy urged all affected Bangladeshis to arrange their tickets and leave the country promptly to avoid future complications.

Foreign ministers of Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan met in Riyadh last Thursday to seek a diplomatic solution to the ongoing war in Iran. The talks faced a major obstacle as Iran lacked an effective representative after its national security chief, Ali Larijani, was killed in an Israeli attack. Egyptian intelligence officials managed to open a communication channel with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and proposed a five-day ceasefire to build trust for a lasting truce.

The discussions in Riyadh had ripple effects reaching the United States. On Saturday night, President Donald Trump issued an ultimatum demanding Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours or face strikes on its power plants. However, after learning of the Riyadh talks, the White House shifted course. By Monday morning, Trump decided to pursue diplomatic negotiations and suspended potential military action.

U.S. officials indicated that secret meetings mediated by Middle Eastern intermediaries offered hope for a settlement. Considering the political and economic toll of the conflict, Trump and some advisers reportedly favored a swift resolution.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense has announced that its air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 11 drones over the country’s eastern region. The ministry issued a brief statement on Wednesday confirming that the drones were successfully detected and neutralized.

Authorities did not disclose the origin of the drones or provide details about possible casualties or damage. The statement also followed an earlier announcement that a ballistic missile had been intercepted in the same area. These incidents have heightened concerns about the security situation in the region.

The ministry’s latest report underscores continuing threats to Saudi airspace and the growing regional instability linked to repeated aerial attacks.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is reportedly pressuring U.S. President Donald Trump to continue military attacks on Iran. According to a report by The New York Times, the crown prince argued that the ongoing U.S.-Israeli military campaign presents a historic opportunity to reshape the Middle East. The report stated that the two leaders held several discussions over the past week regarding the situation.

The crown prince reportedly told Trump that Iran poses a long-term threat to Gulf countries and that this threat could be eliminated by removing the Iranian government. However, Saudi officials have denied that the crown prince took such a position, according to the same report.

The report did not specify any official U.S. response or potential next steps following these discussions.

Saudi Arabia’s air defense system intercepted and destroyed a drone near its northern border, according to the country’s Ministry of Defense. The ministry said the air defense unit acted swiftly to neutralize the threat. Reports also indicated that multiple drones had been intercepted earlier in Saudi Arabia’s eastern region.

Meanwhile, Kuwait announced that it has taken preventive defense measures in response to missile and drone threats. The Kuwaiti army stated that explosions heard in the air were the result of its defense systems intercepting attacks. Authorities urged citizens to follow official instructions as security measures were reinforced.

The developments come amid heightened regional tensions in the Middle East, prompting Gulf countries to strengthen their defense readiness and air surveillance capabilities.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense reported that three ballistic missiles were launched toward areas near the capital, Riyadh, early Sunday. According to a ministry spokesperson, one missile was intercepted while the other two landed in uninhabited zones. The country’s civil defense issued an early morning alert, which was withdrawn within seven minutes after confirming the threat had subsided. The ministry also stated that five drones were intercepted after midnight.

The attacks come as Iran continues to target Saudi Arabia and its Gulf neighbors in response to U.S.-Israeli strikes that have intensified regional conflict. Several of these assaults have reportedly targeted energy facilities in oil-rich nations, raising fears of sudden disruptions in global energy supplies.

The latest missile and drone incidents underscore the growing instability across the Gulf region and the potential risks to vital energy infrastructure if hostilities persist.

Saudi Arabia has ordered Iran’s military attache, assistant military attache, and three embassy staff members to leave the kingdom within 24 hours, citing repeated Iranian attacks on its territory. The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the decision on Saturday, declaring the Iranian diplomats personae non gratae. The move follows a series of missile and drone strikes that have targeted Saudi cities and energy facilities since the start of the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran.

According to Saudi authorities, hundreds of Iranian projectiles have been launched toward the kingdom, most of which were intercepted. Recent incidents include drone attacks on energy infrastructure in eastern Saudi Arabia and Riyadh, as well as disruptions at the Red Sea port of Yanbu after a drone struck the nearby SAMREF refinery. The port remains Saudi Arabia’s only export outlet after Iran blocked tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

The expulsion comes days after Qatar took similar action against Iranian military and security attaches. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said earlier that trust in Iran had been “shattered” and warned that continued attacks would have serious consequences for bilateral relations.

Saudi Arabia has declared several Iranian embassy officials persona non grata and ordered them to leave the country, according to Al Jazeera. The officials, including Iran’s military attaché, were given 24 hours to depart. This action follows a similar decision by Qatar, which earlier expelled Iranian military and security attachés from its embassy in Doha.

Qatar’s decision came after an alleged Iranian attack on one of its main gas facilities, reportedly carried out in retaliation for an Israeli strike on Iran’s South Pars gas field. The sequence of expulsions marks a sharp escalation in diplomatic friction between Iran and Gulf states.

Analysts cited in the report suggest that these diplomatic measures are adding complexity to an already volatile Middle Eastern situation, with regional tensions continuing to rise following recent military incidents.

Saudi Arabia announced the sighting of the Shawwal moon on Thursday, marking the end of Ramadan and confirming that Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated on Friday across the kingdom and other Middle Eastern countries. The Royal Court made the announcement on Thursday evening, confirming that the first day of Shawwal 1447 Hijri falls on March 20, 2026.

Eid-ul-Fitr, one of the most significant religious festivals for Muslims, is observed after a month of fasting during Ramadan. The date of the celebration depends on the sighting of the moon, which determines both the start and end of the fasting month.

In contrast, Bangladesh did not sight the Shawwal moon on Thursday. As a result, the country will complete 30 days of fasting and celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr on Saturday, a day later than Saudi Arabia and most Middle Eastern nations.

A drone crashed at the Samref oil refinery operated by Saudi Aramco in the port city of Yanbu, Saudi Arabia. The country’s defense ministry confirmed the incident on Wednesday, stating that the extent of damage is currently being assessed. The crash occurred as tensions in the Middle East intensified following a series of retaliatory attacks.

The incident came after Iran launched strikes on several oil refineries across the region in response to an Israeli attack on what is described as the world’s largest natural gas field located in Iran. The crash at the Saudi facility adds to the growing instability in the Gulf, where U.S. installations have also been targeted in recent days.

Authorities have not yet disclosed the cause of the drone crash or whether it was linked to the ongoing regional hostilities.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud has described Iran’s recent attack on Saudi energy installations as a clear attempt at blackmail. The incident occurred just before a conference of regional and Islamic foreign ministers in Riyadh, which he said showed deliberate timing. Saudi authorities reported intercepting and destroying four ballistic missiles aimed at the capital.

Faisal stated that the attack was intended to intimidate delegates attending the conference and to signal that Iran would not retreat from its actions. He emphasized that Saudi Arabia was not frightened but argued that Iran’s conduct demonstrated it could not be a trustworthy partner. According to him, the incident completely eroded whatever limited trust remained toward Iran.

The remarks, reported by Al Jazeera, underscore rising tensions between the two countries and highlight the fragile state of regional diplomacy amid ongoing security threats.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud stated that any remaining trust in Iran has now completely collapsed. Speaking to journalists, he said Iran’s attacks on neighboring countries were premeditated and that current developments prove this assessment.

The minister expressed hope that Iran would understand the message from today’s meeting, reconsider its plans, and stop attacking its neighbors. His remarks were reported by Al Jazeera and reflect growing tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran following recent regional incidents.

The statement underscores a sharp deterioration in Saudi-Iran relations, with Riyadh signaling that diplomatic confidence has reached a breaking point unless Tehran changes its approach toward neighboring states.

Saudi Arabia has threatened to launch a military strike against Iran following recent missile attacks that targeted its energy facilities. Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud told reporters in Riyadh on March 19, 2026, that Iran does not believe in dialogue with its neighbors and instead applies pressure, which he warned would not succeed. He said Saudi Arabia reserves the right to take military measures if necessary.

The statement came after Saudi forces intercepted four ballistic missiles fired toward Riyadh just before a regional and Islamic foreign ministers’ meeting. Prince Faisal described the attack as a blatant act of blackmail aimed at intimidating participants and said it proved Iran cannot be a legitimate partner. He added that any remaining trust in Iran had been completely shattered.

The Saudi minister reiterated that Iran’s continued attacks on civilian and energy sites were premeditated and unjustified. He said regional ministers agreed that Iran must immediately stop supporting its proxies and that collective action is needed to protect freedom of navigation.

Saudi Arabia announced that the Shawwal moon was not sighted on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, meaning the country will complete 30 days of fasting for Ramadan. The Supreme Court, through the Royal Court, confirmed that Eid al-Fitr will be celebrated nationwide on Friday, March 20, 2026.

According to the report, members of the moon-sighting committee observed cloudy weather across most parts of the kingdom, with rain expected in several areas. These conditions affected the visibility of the moon, leading to the official decision that the crescent was not visible. The announcement was made on Wednesday evening following the committee’s observations.

Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan and is one of the most significant religious festivals for Muslims, celebrated on the first day of Shawwal after the sighting of the new moon.