U.S. President Donald Trump indicated that despite the Iran war entering its fourth week, he is not considering deploying American troops to the Middle East. He made the remarks on Thursday in response to a journalist’s question, emphasizing that he is not sending troops anywhere and that necessary actions will be taken as required. The statement came during a joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the White House Oval Office.

According to the report, Trump’s comments come as the Iran conflict continues to escalate. The situation in the region remains tense, with reports of downed Israeli drones in Iran and European nations preparing post-ceasefire assistance in the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, The Economist has criticized Trump’s stance on the Iran issue, calling his decision misguided.

The ongoing conflict and uncertainty have cast a shadow over Eid celebrations across the Middle East, reflecting the broader regional instability linked to the Iran war.

Iran’s military announced that it carried out a drone strike on Israel’s Ministry of Internal Security in Jerusalem. The attack was described as retaliation for the killing of senior Iranian officials, including Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib. The statement said the operation was conducted under the banner of avenging the ‘blood of the heroes’ from the warship IRIS Dena. The extent of damage or casualties from the strike has not yet been confirmed.

Earlier, on March 4, a U.S. torpedo attack on the Iranian warship IRIS Dena off southern Sri Lanka killed more than 80 naval personnel as the vessel was returning home from exercises in India. Since February 28, the United States and Israel have continued joint operations against Iran, resulting in over 1,300 deaths, including Iran’s then-supreme leader Ali Khamenei, according to the report.

In response, Iran has launched drone and missile attacks targeting U.S. military facilities in Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries, signaling a widening regional confrontation.

President Md. Shahabuddin and his wife Rebekah Sultana will exchange Eid-ul-Fitr greetings with people from all walks of life at Bangabhaban on Saturday. According to a senior official of the presidential residence, the President will perform Eid prayers at the National Eidgah in the High Court premises at 8:30 a.m. and will meet guests at Bangabhaban from 11:00 to 11:30 a.m.

The President will extend Eid greetings to the nation through the media from the Credential Hall of Bangabhaban. Distinguished guests including senior politicians, judges, poets, writers, journalists, teachers, intellectuals, and civil and military officials are expected to attend the event. Around 8,000 people have been invited to the reception, where traditional dishes will be served to guests.

After the formal program, President Shahabuddin is scheduled to spend time with his family members at Bangabhaban.

Japan and five European countries have announced their readiness to join a coordinated effort to reopen the Hormuz Strait and ensure safe maritime passage. In a joint statement, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Japan said they would participate in an 'appropriate effort' to stabilize global energy markets disrupted by recent conflicts. The announcement follows multiple attacks on energy facilities in the Gulf region amid the ongoing U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, which has sent oil and gas prices soaring.

The countries did not specify what form their 'appropriate effort' would take but urged an immediate halt to attacks on oil, gas, and civilian infrastructure. They also pledged to take necessary measures to stabilize international energy markets and to work with certain energy-producing nations to boost production and restore balance.

Since February 28, when U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran began, shipping through the Hormuz Strait has been nearly halted. Before the conflict, about one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas exports passed through this vital waterway.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel and the United States are protecting the entire world through a military operation against Iran. He claimed that Israeli strikes have significantly reduced Tehran’s military capabilities and asserted that Iran can no longer enrich uranium or produce ballistic missiles, though he provided no evidence to support these claims.

Netanyahu said the operation aims to eliminate Iran’s nuclear and missile threats by targeting facilities buried deep underground. He also suggested that the campaign would give the Iranian people a chance to take control of their own destiny. Addressing reports that Israel had drawn the United States into the conflict, Netanyahu dismissed them as “fake news,” adding that no one could dictate actions to President Trump.

The remarks were reported by Middle East Eye and come amid ongoing regional tensions and reports of Israeli drone activity over Iran.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed on Thursday that Iran no longer has the capacity to enrich uranium or produce ballistic missiles following joint airstrikes by the United States and Israel. Speaking at a press conference, he said Iran’s missile and drone stockpiles had been severely weakened and that facilities producing related equipment were being destroyed. Netanyahu added that Israel was also targeting factories involved in nuclear weapons development.

However, Netanyahu did not provide evidence to support his claim that Iran’s uranium enrichment capability had been eliminated. The statement came weeks after Oman’s foreign minister said Iran had agreed not to stockpile enriched uranium during indirect talks with the United States, before the February 28 airstrikes. Iran responded with missile attacks on Israel and other Gulf countries and disrupted oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

Netanyahu noted that the conflict has so far remained largely aerial but suggested that ground operations may be necessary, without giving details. He denied accusations that he had drawn the United States into the conflict.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the attack on Qatar’s Ras Laffan energy complex involved only a small portion of Iran’s military capability. In a post on social media platform X, he said Iran exercised restraint out of respect for requests to reduce tensions.

Araghchi indicated that if Iranian infrastructure is attacked again, the country will no longer maintain restraint. He also emphasized that any effort to end the ongoing conflict must include addressing the damage caused to Iran’s civilian facilities.

The statement comes amid heightened regional tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Gulf countries, with Iran signaling readiness to respond more forcefully if provoked further.

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 US F-35 stealth fighter jet was damaged by Iranian defense fire while conducting an operation inside Iran’s airspace, according to a CNN report citing two sources. The aircraft made an emergency landing at a US airbase in the Middle East after being hit. Captain Tim Hawkins, spokesperson for the US Central Command (CENTCOM), confirmed that the fifth-generation jet was on a wartime mission over Iran when it was struck and forced to land.

Hawkins stated that the aircraft landed safely and the pilot is in stable condition. The incident is currently under investigation. This marks the first reported instance of an Iranian strike damaging a US warplane since the conflict began in late February. Both the United States and Israel have been deploying F-35 jets in the ongoing war, each costing over 100 million dollars.

The emergency landing occurred as senior US officials were publicly claiming major progress in operations against Iran. Earlier on Thursday, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asserted that the US was achieving decisive victories and had neutralized Iran’s air defense systems.

An Iranian missile strike caused a fire at an oil refinery in Israel’s key port city of Haifa on Wednesday morning, according to initial reports. The blaze is believed to have started after debris from the missile fell on the facility. It was not immediately clear whether the fire had been brought under control, and no casualties were reported at the time of publication.

Air raid sirens sounded across northern and central Israel, including Jerusalem, shortly before the fire was reported. The Haifa refinery has previously been targeted during periods of Iran-Israel tension, including damage sustained during a 12-day conflict between the United States and Iran last year.

The attack followed an earlier Israeli airstrike on a petrochemical complex at Iran’s South Pars gas field, one of the world’s largest, partly controlled by Qatar. In response, Iran reportedly launched retaliatory strikes on energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates, with fires breaking out at Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG complex.

A US F-35 fighter jet made an emergency landing after reportedly being damaged by suspected Iranian fire amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East, according to sources familiar with the matter. The aircraft, which was on a combat mission, landed safely at a US base in the region, and the pilot was unharmed. US Central Command spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins confirmed that the fifth-generation stealth jet was forced to land while operating near Iranian airspace and that an investigation is underway.

This marks the first reported incident since the conflict began in late February in which a US warplane was allegedly hit by Iranian fire. Both the United States and Israel have been deploying F-35 jets in the conflict, each valued at over 100 million dollars. Defense Minister Pete Hegseth stated that the United States is maintaining an advantage in the war and that Iran’s air defense systems have been largely dismantled.

The investigation’s outcome may influence future US operational strategies in the region as tensions remain high.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been re-elected with 99.93 percent of the votes in the Supreme People’s Assembly election held on March 15. His ruling Workers’ Party of Korea and allied groups secured an overwhelming victory, according to state media reports. The election featured only one approved candidate per seat, giving voters the option to either accept or reject the nominee.

The 0.07 percent of votes cast against the official candidates drew notable attention, as it was seen as a rare expression of dissent. The state news agency KCNA acknowledged that no opposition candidates participated in the election. This marks the first time since 1957 that state media publicly admitted the existence of “no” votes. A total of 687 members, including workers, farmers, intellectuals, and military representatives, were elected.

Kim Jong-un has ruled North Korea since 2011 following the death of his father, Kim Jong-il. His authority was further consolidated in 2019 through constitutional amendments, granting him full control over the country’s military and government institutions.

Three unnamed Israeli officials told Reuters that Israel’s attack on Iran’s South Pars gas field was carried out in coordination with the United States. They said the operation was pre-planned and conducted with Washington’s involvement, though they suggested that similar strikes were unlikely to happen again soon.

Their statements came after US President Donald Trump publicly denied any American knowledge of the specific strike. On Wednesday night, Trump wrote on social media that Washington had no prior awareness of the attack and that Israel would not strike the gas field again unless Iran launched another assault on Qatar.

The Israeli officials added that they were not surprised by Trump’s remarks, recalling a similar situation after previous Israeli strikes on Iranian energy depots when US Defense Chief Pete Hegseth had also denied American involvement.

Two journalists from the Russian state-controlled network RT were injured in an Israeli missile strike while on assignment in southern Lebanon on Thursday. According to Lebanon’s National News Agency, cited by Al Jazeera, correspondent Steve Sweeney and cameraman Ali Rida were near the Al-Qasmiya Bridge, close to a local military base, when the missile hit nearby. RT confirmed the incident on its website.

Ali Rida alleged that the Israeli forces deliberately targeted them despite their visible press uniforms and identification. A video circulating online shows the missile striking less than ten meters behind Sweeney as he was reporting on camera, forcing him to take cover amid smoke and debris. The footage was captured live by Rida’s camera.

In a later video message, Rida said both he and Sweeney were safe. As of now, the Israeli military has not issued any official statement regarding the attack.

After being missing for about three years, the body of Khairul Islam from Kurigram’s Ulipur upazila was returned to Bangladesh from India on Thursday, March 19. The handover took place through the Chengrabandha–Burimari immigration point in the presence of officials from both countries, including representatives of the Bangladesh High Commission in Kolkata, Border Guard Bangladesh, India’s Border Security Force, police, and customs officers. Khairul’s uncle, Ful Mia, received the body on behalf of the family.

According to family sources, Khairul had gone missing three and a half years earlier and was later reported to have illegally crossed into India, where he worked as a garment laborer. He was arrested by Indian police in Jalpaiguri for illegal entry. On February 10, his wife received a phone call from an Indian number informing her that his body was found near the Jalpaiguri jail gate. Following a petition to the Kurigram district administration, both countries coordinated for 38 days to repatriate the body.

Local officials and Radio Chilmarie assisted the family throughout the process. Burial was scheduled to take place at the family graveyard the same night.