At least 31 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon on Friday, according to the state-run National News Agency (NNA). The attacks struck multiple regions, leaving many others injured. In the eastern outskirts of Sidon, an Israeli strike on a residential building killed eight people and injured nine. Rescue teams in Kleileh city of Tyre district recovered two bodies from a collapsed building early Saturday. In other incidents, one person was killed in a drone strike between Kafartabnit and Arnoun in Batih district, and another in an airstrike on Yater city in Bint Jbeil district. Two more were killed in Bar Elias city in the Bekaa Valley, while a strike in Beirut’s Jannah area targeted a car, killing one person. Additional casualties were reported in Shebaa and Nabatieh al-Fawqa. The widespread attacks caused significant civilian casualties, including children, as families in southern Lebanon buried their dead following the strikes.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for unity and solidarity in the face of ongoing regional crises. Speaking at a party meeting in Ankara, he emphasized that Turkey has never divided people along sectarian or ethnic lines and has always stood by those facing injustice or conflict. Erdogan stated that in the region, people may identify as Shia, Sunni, Turk, or Kurd, but Turkey views them all as brothers and equals. He further stressed the importance of humanity and national unity, saying that for the Turkish nation, there are no distinctions such as Turk, Kurd, Arab, Shia, or Sunni—only people and humanity. His remarks underscored Turkey’s position of inclusiveness and its call for cooperation among neighboring communities. The speech comes amid heightened regional tensions, including reports of conflict and casualties in Iran’s Kurdistan region and drone attacks in Oman, highlighting the urgency of Erdogan’s appeal for solidarity.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman stated that a nation cannot become strong if its citizens remain weak. He made the remarks on Saturday at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka while inaugurating an honorarium program for imams, muezzins, caretakers, priests, temple attendants, and monastery heads. Rahman said that after forming the BNP government, his administration began implementing its promises immediately. The Prime Minister emphasized that the participants in the event are respected by people without any obligation and provide guidance during difficult times. He reiterated his government’s commitment to reducing inequality by offering financial assistance or employment opportunities to economically disadvantaged groups, fulfilling pledges made before the national election. According to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, honorariums will be provided to officials from 4,908 mosques, 990 temples, 144 Buddhist monasteries, and 396 churches. Under the pilot project, each mosque will receive 10,000 taka, each temple 8,000 taka, distributed among respective religious leaders and staff.

U.S. President Donald Trump declared that Iran has been 'completely defeated' in a post on his social media platform Truth Social on Friday. He stated that Iran wants to make a deal, but he will not accept it. Trump also criticized what he called 'fake news media' for not reporting how well the U.S. military performed against Iran. He did not provide further details about his claim or the nature of the alleged deal. According to the report, Iranian officials have pledged to continue fighting despite Trump’s assertion of their defeat. The comments come amid ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran, though the article does not specify the current status of the conflict or any official response from Tehran. The report, citing The Guardian, does not clarify whether any negotiations are underway or what specific developments led to Trump’s statement.

The Punjab state government and several Indian farmers’ unions have publicly expressed solidarity with Iran amid continued US and Israeli attacks and the Indian government’s silence. Last week, the Punjab assembly observed a one-minute silence in support of the Iranian people. During a budget session recording, legislator Sukhwinder Kumar Sukhi condemned the attacks that began on February 28, calling a school bombing that killed about 165 children inhumane. Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan urged members to honor the victims with silence. Sukhi told The Wire that he raised the issue at the state level to alert other Indian states. Despite a meeting between India’s foreign secretary and Iran’s ambassador in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has not issued any formal statement on the war or the killing of Iran’s leader. Meanwhile, thousands of farmers across Punjab protested a recent US-India trade deal, expressing solidarity with Iran. Farmer leader Jagmohan Singh said both the war and the trade pact were anti-farmer. Student and civil society groups in Punjab, as well as demonstrators in Indian-administered Kashmir, continue protests against US-Israeli aggression and in support of Iran and Palestine.

Prime Minister Tareq Rahman inaugurated an honorarium distribution program for imams, muezzins, khadems, priests, sebayets, and heads of Buddhist monasteries at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka on Saturday around 11:15 a.m. During the event, he personally handed over honorarium payments to several religious representatives. According to an announcement from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the initiative will cover 4,908 mosques, 990 temples, 144 Buddhist monasteries, and 396 churches. The program aims to provide financial recognition to those responsible for religious services across different faiths. The Ministry of Public Administration stated that under the pilot project, each mosque will receive 10,000 taka, distributed among the imam, muezzin, and khadem, while each temple will receive 8,000 taka, divided between the priest and sebayet. The program marks a government effort to extend financial support to religious service providers across multiple faith communities in Bangladesh.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that all military targets on Iran’s Kharg Island, the country’s main oil export hub, have been completely destroyed. As nearly 90 percent of Iran’s crude exports depend on the island, the attack is being viewed as a major blow to Iran’s economy. A retired U.S. Army officer told CNN that the global oil market could spiral out of control following the strike. In a statement issued Friday night, Trump warned that if Tehran continues to obstruct shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, the island’s oil infrastructure will also be directly targeted. Former U.S. Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt said the attack has significantly increased the risk of war, noting that the U.S. is now targeting Iran’s economic core rather than just its military or government. CNN, citing Pentagon sources, reported that a U.S. Marine Expeditionary Unit is being deployed to the Middle East to address escalating tensions. Iran’s state media, however, claimed that no oil-related infrastructure on Kharg Island was damaged.

US President Donald Trump stated that the United States would escort ships passing through the Hormuz Strait if necessary. In an interview broadcast on Fox News on Friday, he also said that the US would launch a very strong attack on Iran next week. When asked about assisting oil tankers navigating the key waterway, Trump replied that the US would act if required, expressing hope that the situation would progress positively but offering no further details. In a social media post, Trump warned that if Tehran continued to obstruct ship movements through the Hormuz Strait, the US would target Iran’s oil infrastructure on Kharg Island. The statements come amid heightened tensions over maritime security and energy transport routes in the region. The remarks suggest a possible escalation in US-Iran tensions, though no specific timeline or operational details were disclosed in the source.

A drone attack struck the United States Embassy in Baghdad on Saturday, according to a report by AFP. An official confirmed that a drone hit the embassy compound, and another security source verified the authenticity of the attack on the diplomatic mission. The incident occurred in the Iraqi capital, though no details were provided about casualties or damage within the embassy premises. Reports cited by AFP indicated that the attack took place shortly after two Iran-backed fighters were killed in Baghdad. The timing of the strike has drawn attention to the ongoing tensions in the region, where multiple armed groups operate with varying allegiances. The report did not specify who was responsible for the drone assault or whether any group had claimed responsibility. Further information about the extent of the damage or the response from US or Iraqi authorities was not available at the time of reporting.

A reported US attack on Iran’s Kharg Island has intensified concerns over rising global oil prices. Energy economist and lecturer Ed Hirs of the University of Houston told Al Jazeera that the strike could disrupt Iran’s oil exports. He noted that although former US President Donald Trump claimed he did not target oil infrastructure, Kharg Island is small, making it unlikely that export facilities escaped damage. Hirs warned that if the assault permanently damages Iran’s export capacity and if oil production or exports from Iraq and Kuwait also halt, prices could climb further, especially if the conflict continues for weeks or months. He added that such a scenario would severely impact Asian economies, which are major importers of crude and refined petroleum products. Earlier, Trump said on social media that US forces carried out one of the most powerful bombing operations in Middle East history, claiming all military targets on Kharg Island were destroyed.

Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury has directed that all industrial factories in Bangladesh must pay workers’ pending wages and bonuses before the upcoming Eid holidays. He issued the instruction during a high-level meeting at his official residence on Bailey Road, Dhaka, aimed at resolving labour unrest in both RMG and non-RMG sectors. The ministry later confirmed the directive in a press release on Saturday. The minister also announced that lists of vulnerable factories would be prepared and shared with respective Members of Parliament, who will coordinate with factory authorities to ensure timely payments. He instructed officials to engage with banks delaying loan disbursements, including UCBL, Trust, and Premier Bank, to expedite financial support. Chowdhury further urged vigilance against labour leaders inciting unrest and ordered the preparation of a list of absconding owners to prevent disturbances. BGMEA and BKMEA leaders reported that most factories have already paid February wages and Eid bonuses, expressing optimism that no major labour unrest will occur. The ministry’s secretary suggested creating an emergency fund to permanently address wage and bonus issues.

Iran’s Unified Combatant Command has warned that any attack on its oil and energy infrastructure will trigger immediate retaliation against energy facilities owned by US-linked oil companies in the region. The statement followed a recent assault on Kharg Island, a key terminal responsible for nearly 90 percent of Iran’s oil exports. According to a declaration from Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, any strike on Iranian energy sites would lead to the destruction of US-affiliated oil and energy infrastructure. The warning came shortly after the US president announced that American forces had destroyed military targets on Kharg Island, though he stated that oil facilities were not targeted. The US president also cautioned that if Iran or any other actor attempted to disrupt free and safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, the decision not to attack oil infrastructure could be reconsidered. Earlier, the US administration had shown reluctance to strike Iranian energy facilities, even indirectly condemning an Israeli attack on a major oil depot in Tehran.

US President Donald Trump claimed that American forces carried out one of the most powerful airstrikes in Middle Eastern history, completely destroying all military targets on Iran’s Kharg Island near the Strait of Hormuz. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump stated that the US Central Command executed the operation but deliberately avoided damaging the island’s oil infrastructure. He warned that this restraint could be reconsidered if Iran or others interfered with the free and safe passage of ships through the strait. Iran’s Fars news agency reported that black smoke was seen rising from Kharg Island following the attack, but the Iranian military remained intact and continued operations from the site. The agency added that more than 15 explosions were heard during the assault, confirming that no oil facilities were damaged. The situation underscores heightened tensions in the region, though both sides have provided differing accounts of the strike’s impact and aftermath.

One of the two units at the Ashuganj Power Plant in Brahmanbaria resumed electricity generation after being shut down due to a fault in the national grid line. The plant authorities confirmed that production restarted around 8:15 p.m. on Friday, March 13, 2026. The outage had occurred earlier in the afternoon when a technical fault disrupted the Ashuganj–Bhulta 400 kV grid line, causing both the 450-megawatt North unit and the 400-megawatt East unit to trip offline. According to the plant’s executive director for operations and maintenance, the technical team repaired the fault and brought the 450-megawatt North unit back online after nearly six hours of downtime. However, the 400-megawatt East unit will require at least three more days before it can resume operation. In the meantime, gas allocated for the East unit is being used to generate 50 megawatts of power from another unit, which is now supplying electricity to the national grid. The restoration of one major unit is expected to partially stabilize power supply in the region while full capacity recovery awaits further repairs.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud, is participating in the two-day Indo-Pacific Energy Security Ministerial and Business Forum that began on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. The conference, jointly organized by the US National Energy Dominance Council and Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, will conclude on Sunday with the adoption of energy-related recommendations. The event brings together energy ministers from Bangladesh, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, and several Southeast Asian nations including Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam. Discussions are focused on strategies to build a strong and stable energy system in the Indo-Pacific region, emphasizing reliable, affordable, secure, and dispatchable energy supply. On the sidelines, Minister Mahmud is expected to hold bilateral meetings with delegations from the United States, Japan, and Brunei, as well as representatives of international private organizations, to attract foreign investment and explore new areas of cooperation in Bangladesh’s energy sector.