Oil prices surged more than 5 percent on Wednesday following an Israeli strike on Iran’s South Pars gasfield, intensifying the ongoing United States-Israeli war on Iran. Brent crude rose to $108.66 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude climbed to $98.65, widening the price gap between the two benchmarks to its largest since May 2019. Iranian state media reported that facilities linked to the South Pars field, the world’s largest gasfield off Bushehr province, were attacked. In response, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard threatened to target oil and gas infrastructure in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, raising fears of further energy supply disruptions. Later, Qatar reported a fire at its Ras Laffan gas facility following an Iranian missile strike, though authorities said it was contained. The conflict has disrupted oil and gas exports across the Middle East, halting most shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, which handles 20 percent of global oil and LNG supplies. The Trump administration responded by issuing a 60-day waiver of the Jones Act to ease domestic fuel transport and authorizing certain transactions involving Venezuela’s PDVSA. Meanwhile, Iraq resumed oil exports after reaching an agreement with the Kurdistan Regional Government.

Asian stock markets fell sharply on Thursday following coordinated attacks on natural gas facilities in Qatar, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates, which deepened turmoil in global energy supplies. Japan’s Nikkei 225 and South Korea’s KOSPI dropped nearly 3 percent, while Brent crude futures surged more than 4 percent to above $112 a barrel, the highest in over a week. The attacks came amid the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz and ongoing disruptions to Gulf oil and gas exports. Qatar reported significant damage to its main LNG export facility at Ras Laffan Industrial City after Iranian missile strikes, while its state-run QatarEnergy confirmed fires and further damage at several other sites. The UAE suspended operations at its Habshan gas facility and Bab oilfield after intercepting Iranian missiles, and Saudi Arabia said it thwarted drone and missile attacks on its own energy infrastructure. The escalation followed Iran’s pledge to retaliate for Israeli strikes on its South Pars gasfield. Analysts warned that even limited physical damage could prolong supply disruptions. The conflict, which began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, has already driven oil prices up more than 50 percent.

Within a month of Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary election, ministers and MPs from the newly formed BNP-led government have launched extensive grassroots engagement around Eid celebrations. The event is being viewed not only as a religious festival but also as a strategic opportunity for the ruling party to reconnect with citizens after 18 years out of power. Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman will celebrate Eid in Dhaka, attending prayers at the National Eidgah before meeting diplomats, academics, and citizens at the state guesthouse Jamuna. Opposition Leader and Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman will offer Eid prayers in Mirpur and later meet diplomats and political figures. Leaders from Jamaat, NCP, Islami Andolon Bangladesh, and other allied parties will celebrate Eid in their respective constituencies or abroad. Across the country, BNP and alliance MPs are distributing gifts, food, and cash, while engaging in local development and social activities. Party sources describe the Eid outreach as part of a broader strategy to strengthen grassroots unity and prepare for upcoming local government elections. Local residents report that the visible presence of public representatives is fostering positive community engagement.

More than half of the Palestinian children detained in Israeli prisons at the end of last year were being held without charge or trial, according to Defense for Children International-Palestine (DCIP). In a statement released Wednesday, DCIP said 51 percent of 351 detained Palestinian children were under “administrative detention” as of December 31, 2025, marking the highest number and proportion since the group began tracking such data in 2008. The figures, based on Israel Prison Service statistics, exclude children held in military detention and interrogation centers. DCIP said it has collected firsthand testimonies from previously detained children describing systematic torture and dehumanizing conditions. The organization linked the rise in detentions to Israel’s ongoing war in the Gaza Strip, which began in October 2023. Administrative detention allows Israel to hold Palestinians without charge or trial for renewable six-month periods. Another advocacy group, Addameer, reported that over a third of 9,500 Palestinians detained as of March 11 were held under this policy. Human rights organizations, including Israel’s B’Tselem, have accused Israeli authorities of systemic abuse and torture in detention facilities. DCIP said such practices violate the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Israel has ratified.

Iran’s judiciary announced on Thursday that three individuals convicted of killing police officers and conducting operations in favor of the United States and Israel were executed. The executions were linked to unrest that took place in January, referred to as the Dey unrest, during which the judiciary said the men were involved in the deaths of two law enforcement personnel. The announcement came as the war launched on Iran entered its 20th day. According to Iranian authorities, 3,117 people were killed during anti-establishment protests that began in late December. Officials rejected claims by the United Nations and international human rights organizations that state forces were responsible for the deaths. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) previously reported verifying 6,872 deaths and investigating over 11,000 additional cases, while a UN special rapporteur suggested the toll could exceed 20,000. The executions follow a series of crackdowns, including the execution of a Swedish citizen accused of spying for Israel and the arrest of hundreds across Iran. The Ministry of Intelligence said it had dismantled 111 “pro-monarchy cells” in 26 provinces overnight.

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.

US President Donald Trump has expressed opposition to any new attacks on Iran’s energy installations following Israel’s strike on the South Pars gas field facilities. The Wall Street Journal, citing US officials, reported that Trump’s stance became clear after the Israeli operation took place on Wednesday. According to the report, Trump had initially supported the strike to send a strong message to Tehran after Iran allegedly attempted to disrupt navigation in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. With that objective achieved, he now opposes any further military action against Iranian energy infrastructure. However, the report noted that Trump’s position is not final. If Tehran again obstructs movement through the Strait of Hormuz, he may authorize renewed targeting of Iran’s energy sites.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf declared that Iran has awakened and a storm is coming, following recent attacks targeting the country’s energy infrastructure. In a post on social media platform X, he said the ongoing war is being fought under a 'eye for an eye' principle and has reached a new level of intensity. Ghalibaf claimed that the United States and Israel carried out strikes on Iran’s energy facilities in an attempt to conceal their own defeat. He asserted that the conflict has entered a new stage, emphasizing that the retaliatory equation is now active. In another post, Ghalibaf stated that a new 'revolution' has begun in Iran in response to the US-Israel attacks, spreading from one region to another.

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.

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated that the ongoing war is being fought under an 'eye for an eye' principle and that the situation has reached a new level. In a post on social media platform X, he claimed that the United States and Israel targeted Iran’s energy infrastructure in their attacks but were attempting to conceal their own defeat through these actions. Ghalibaf further said that the 'eye for an eye' equation is now in effect and that the conflict has entered a new phase. In another post, he asserted that a new 'revolution' has begun in Iran in response to the US-Israel attacks, spreading from one region to another. He added that Iran had been dormant but has now awakened, warning that a storm is rising. The remarks highlight Iran’s increasingly defiant tone amid ongoing hostilities, signaling a potential intensification of regional tensions.

The United Arab Emirates has temporarily shut down operations at the Habshan gas complex following an attempted missile attack by Iran targeting the Bab oil field and the gas facility. According to the Abu Dhabi Media Office, Iranian missiles did not make direct hits but their debris fell on the sites. The announcement was made after the incident, which occurred amid heightened regional tensions. Emergency service teams are currently working at both the Bab oil field and the Habshan gas complex, one of the world’s largest onshore gas processing centers. The Abu Dhabi Media Office confirmed that no casualties were reported in the incident. The report was sourced from Al Jazeera. The temporary closure underscores the vulnerability of critical energy infrastructure in the Gulf region and may affect short-term operations until safety assessments are completed.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned that escalating tensions could lead to consequences that spiral beyond control and affect the entire world. His remarks came shortly after an attack on Iran’s South Pars gas field, which heightened regional unease. Following the incident, Qatar reported a missile strike in its Ras Laffan area, resulting in fire and extensive damage. The site includes a major refinery previously identified by Iran as a potential target. Qatar’s Foreign Ministry condemned the attack as audacious and accused Iran of pursuing provocative policies that risk pushing the region into deeper crisis. The situation underscores growing instability in the Gulf, with both nations trading warnings and accusations as energy infrastructure becomes a focal point of confrontation.

The United States has spent more than $22.8 billion in the ongoing war against Iran, according to Senator Bernie Sanders. Despite the deaths of several top Iranian leaders in US-Israeli strikes, Iran continues to resist, maintaining control over the Strait of Hormuz and launching attacks on American-allied bases across the Middle East. Israel’s health ministry reported 192 hospitalizations in the past 24 hours from Iranian strikes, with a total of 3,727 Israelis injured since the war began. Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi told Al Jazeera that the killings of Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and security chief Ali Larijani, would not weaken Tehran’s political structure. He emphasized that Iran’s governance does not depend on any single individual. Iranian state media confirmed the death of Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani in the latest US-Israeli attack. Al Jazeera analyst Marwan Bishara criticized Israel’s targeted killings as violations of wartime norms. Araghchi stated that the conflict was initiated by the US and that Washington must bear responsibility for the resulting humanitarian and financial crises.

Iran launched a missile attack on British and Australian military bases in the United Arab Emirates, according to reports published on March 19, 2026. The British Ministry of Defence confirmed that no casualties occurred. Officials declined to comment on the number of personnel or the type of equipment stationed at Al Minhad Air Base, citing security concerns. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that an Iranian missile struck near Australia’s military headquarters in the UAE on Wednesday but caused no injuries. He confirmed that all Australian troops were safe. The missile caused minor damage to a residential block and a medical facility. Al Minhad Air Base, located 24 kilometers south of Dubai, has hosted Australian forces since 2003 and serves as the country’s main operational hub in the Middle East. In March 2024, the UK inaugurated a permanent military facility named Donnelly Lines at the same base, providing accommodation and welfare facilities for British troops, according to an earlier RAF statement.

The United States Navy’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, described as the world’s largest and most advanced, is en route to Greece for repairs following damage caused by a recent fire. A US official confirmed the information to CBS News, noting that the fire began in a laundry room and injured two sailors who have since received medical treatment. According to Reuters, citing two US officials, the carrier is currently in the Red Sea and will be taken to Souda Bay port on the Greek island of Crete for maintenance. The BBC reported that it took more than 30 hours to bring the fire under control after it broke out in the ship’s laundry section, leaving at least two sailors injured. The incident has temporarily sidelined one of the US Navy’s most powerful vessels as it undergoes necessary repairs in Greece.