US-Israel-Iran War: War Enters Second Month As Israel hits Iran naval research site

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps has denounced a drone attack on the residence of Nechirvan Barzani, the president of the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq, in Duhok.

According to Press TV news outlet, the IRGC blamed US and Israel for the attack and described it as an assassination attempt and a “clear act of terrorism”.

The IRGC said the aggression follows a pattern of “cowardly assassinations” of senior Iranian officials by the US and Israel, and said the “malicious efforts” were aimed at undermining peace, stability, and regional cooperation between the Kurdsh region and neighbouring countries.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, who spoke to Nechirvan in the aftermath of the attack early on Saturday, has ordered an investigation.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. It comes amid a surge in attacks on both Iran-aligned armed groups and Kurdish forces in Iraq as the US-Israeli war against Iran spills over into the neighbouring country.

Another Palestinian detainee has died while in detention in Israel, according to the Palestinian Prisoners and Freed Prisoners Affairs Authority and the Palestinian Prisoners Society.

The Palestinian news agency Wafa quoted the two organisations as saying that Marwan Harzallah died while being detained at Israel’s Megiddo prison.

Harzallah is among the more than 100 Palestinian detainees who have died in Israeli prisons and detention centres since October 2024, when Israel launched what Palestinian authorities describe as a “genocidal campaign”.

Harzallah had previously been shot by Israeli forces in 1995, resulting in the amputation of one of his legs, the report said.

Iran’s Press TV has listed the various sites targeted by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the Iranian army and Tehran’s allies in the Middle East on Saturday.

It said the IRGC “used long-range and medium-range solid and liquid-fueled systems and attack drones to target several industries belonging to the Israeli-American enemy” in Israel and other locations.

It claimed IRGC shot down a US MQ9 drone and also hit an F-16 fighter jet.

The Iranian army meanwhile targeted an electronic warfare and radar centre, operated by the Israeli defence technology company, Elta, at the Israeli military aerospace complex in the port city of Haifa, as well as a fuel storage centre at David Ben Gurion Airport.

The Yonhap news agency, citing bourse data, is reporting that the market capitalisation of defense stocks have risen on the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) about a month after US-Israeli air strikes on Iran,

According to Yonhap, defence giant Hanwha Aerospace saw its market capitalisation increase 11.7 percent to 68.8 trillion won ($45.1bn) from 61.6 trillion won ($40.8bn) over the cited period.

Aerospace company LIG Nex1’s market value also surged 44.4 percent, while military and aviation company Hanwha Systems Co. rose 9.2 percent.

Despite the rise in defence stocks, auto and shipbuilding shares fell in the same period, Yohap reported. For instance, carmaker Hyundai Motor Co’s market value declined 26.6 percent between March 27 and February 27, a day before the outbreak of the US-Israeli attack on Iran.

The UAE Ministry of Defence says its air defences are responding to missiles and drone threats and that sounds across the country are that of “engaging operations”.

An Israeli airstrike on southern Lebanon on Saturday (March 28, 2026) killed three journalists who were covering the latest Israel-Hezbollah war, their TV stations said.

Hezbollah’s al-Manar TV said that its longtime correspondent Ali Shoeib was killed on Saturday (March 28, 2026) in southern Lebanon.

The Israeli military said that it had targeted Shoeib, accusing him of being a Hezbollah intelligence operative without providing evidence.

The military has identified the solder as Moshe Yitzhak HaCohen Katz and said he was killed in battle in southern Lebanon.

In a post on X, the military said three other soldiers were wounded in the same battle.

As we’ve been reporting, Israel has been expanding its ground offensive in southern Lebanon in a bid to create what Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called a “buffer zone”.

An Israeli airstrike on southern Lebanon on Saturday (March 28, 2026) killed three journalists who were covering the latest Israel-Hezbollah war, their TV stations said.

Hezbollah’s al-Manar TV said that its longtime correspondent Ali Shoeib was killed on Saturday (March 28, 2026) in southern Lebanon.

The Israeli military said that it had targeted Shoeib, accusing him of being a Hezbollah intelligence operative without providing evidence

The Israeli Embassy in Tokyo has refused to accept a statement from four groups representing atomic bomb survivors that criticised the US and Israel’s war on Iran.

The statement was returned to the groups in Nagasaki Prefecture by the post office, which said the embassy “refuses to accept” it, the Kyodo news agency reported, citing the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Survivors Council.

“The document was sent back without even being read. I think they are becoming close-minded,” said Shigemitsu Tanaka, the 85-year-old head of the council.

Nagasaki was devastated by a US atomic bomb, along with Hiroshima, in the closing days of World War II. Survivors of the US bombings have been campaigning for a global ban on nuclear weapons.

Sirens sounded in northern Israel throughout the early hours of this morning due to incoming rocket fire from Lebanon.

Hezbollah has now issued a series of statements detailing the targets of those attacks.

It said its fighters targeted the town of Metula with a rocket salvo at 5am local time, and attacked the village of Shtul with a rocket salvo at 6:20am. The group said it also carried out a drone attack on the Rawiya base in the occupied Golan Heights and launched rockets at a site in the village of Ghajar at 6:25am.

Source: Al Jazeera

China’s Xinhua news agency says diesel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices are continuing to rise in Cambodia due to the impact of the war on Iran.

Xinhua quoted Cambodia’s commerce ministry as saying that diesel price has risen 1.4 percent from 7,100 riels ($1.78) to 7,200 riels ($1.8) per litre. Meanwhile, the price of LPG climbed to 3,400 riels ($0.85 dollars) per liter, up 6.2 percent from 3,200 riels ($0.80).

The regular gasoline price recovered to about 5,000 riels ($1.25), down 8.2 percent from 5,450 riels ($1.37) in the past three days, Xinhua quoted the ministry as saying.

On March 20, the government reduced import duties and taxes on gasoline and diesel products, aiming at mitigating the impact of rising fuel cost.

People took to the streets in cities across Europe and the US to protest against the war on Iran.

The Israeli army announced on Sunday (March 29, 2026) the death in combat of a soldier in south Lebanon.

“Sergeant Moshe Yitzchak hacohen Katz, aged 22, from New Haven, Connecticut, a soldier of the 890th battalion, Paratroopers Brigade, fell during combat in southern Lebanon,” a military statement said.

Five Israeli soldiers have now been killed in fighting in south Lebanon since Hezbollah began launching rocket attacks against Israel on March 2 to avenge the killing of Iran’s supreme leader.

Source: AFP

The Israeli military said it had struck an Iranian research facility for naval weapons, while a series of loud explosions rattled Tehran as night fell on Saturday (March 28, 2026). 

The fresh attacks on the capital came after Yemen’s Houthi rebels announced their entry into the West Asian war by launching a missile towards Israel.

The intervention of Iran’s Yemeni allies is sure to spark concern about disruptions to Red Sea shipping, which would only compound the widening economic fallout from the effective closure of the vital Strait of Hormuz off Iran.

Source- AFP

Syria’s assistant defence minister said on Sunday (March 29, 2026) that his country’s forces had repelled a drone attack from neighbouring Iraq targeting one of Syria’s last U.S. military bases.

“Earlier today, the U.S. base in Qasrak, located on our territory, was attacked by four drones launched from Iraqi territory,” Sipan Hamo said on X, adding that “the drones were shot down without casualties”.

“We hold Iraq responsible and call upon it to prevent the recurrence of attacks that threaten our stability.”

The attack came a day after Syria’s Army said it repelled another drone attack from Iraq aimed at al-Tanf, a base in the southeast which used to house U.S. forces.

Source: AFP

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (March 29, 2026) appealed to all citizens to come together to face the challenges emerging due to the ongoing “fierce war” in West Asia and said everyone should stay vigilant and not fall prey to rumours.

Addressing his monthly radio broadcast ‘Mann Ki Baat’, Mr. Modi also said he was deeply grateful to the Gulf countries for providing every possible assistance to more than 1 crore Indians living and working there.

He said a “fierce war” has been raging in “our neighbourhood” for over a month.

“This is undoubtedly a challenging time. Through today’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’, I once again urge all 140 crore fellow citizens that we must come together as one to overcome this challenge. I appeal to all my fellow citizens to stay vigilant and not fall prey to rumours,” the Prime Minister said.

ran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Sunday (March 29, 2026) condemned Israel’s killing of three journalists in Lebanon the day before.

On his official Telegram channel, Araghchi said the killings amounted to “targeted assassination” and “flagrant violation of international law”.

Source: AFP

Regional powers plan to meet on Sunday (March 29, 2026) in Pakistan to discuss how to end the fighting in the West Asia as about 2,500 U.S. Marines arrived in the region and Iranian-backed Houthi rebels entered the monthlong war.

Pakistan said Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Egypt will send top diplomats to Islamabad for talks. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian held “extensive discussions” on regional hostilities.

The war has threatened global supplies of oil and natural gas, sparked fertilizer shortages and disrupted air travel. Iran’s grip on the strategic Strait of Hormuz has shaken markets and prices.

The United States and Israel continue to strike Iran, whose retaliatory attacks have targeted Israel and neighboring Gulf Arab states. More than 3,000 people have been killed.

Source: AP

Internet access in Iran has dropped to about one percent of normal levels, according to the monitoring group NetBlocks, which added that the internet disruption has now entered day 30.

The Israel Broadcasting Authority said Iran fired three missiles at southern Israel, two of which were intercepted while the third landed in an open area.

In a separate update, Israeli radio reported that sirens had sounded around 40 times across the country in the past 24 hours. Channel 12 added that air defence systems intercepted missiles in the south, with no injuries reported.

-Al Jazeera

Fatemeh Mohajerani, spokesperson for the Iranian government, said Iran did not initiate the conflict and has suffered "significant losses", including human casualties as well as damage to civilian homes and infrastructure.

She said compensation must be a key issue in any negotiations, alongside Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz and the lifting of sanctions.

"We are willing to move toward a sustainable peace," she said.

-Al Jazeera

Bahrain says it has intercepted 174 missiles and 391 drones launched from Iran since the start of the conflict.

-Al Jazeera

The Israeli military said it is “working in very close coordination” with the United States to respond after Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed they had launched missiles at Israeli targets.

Military spokesperson Col Nadav Shoshani, speaking to reporters on Sunday (March 29, 2026), did not disclose operational details but noted that Israel has grown accustomed to repeated attacks from the Iran-backed group.

The Houthis, who control parts of Yemen, have for over two years launched missiles and drones targeting Israel as well as shipping routes in the Red Sea.

Pope Leo XIV has condemned the use of religion to justify war, rejecting claims that God endorses violence.

Speaking during a Palm Sunday Mass before tens of thousands in St Peter’s Square, the Pope addressed ongoing conflicts, including the US-Israel war on Iran and Russia’s campaign in Ukraine, emphasising that faith cannot be invoked to legitimise war.

“Jesus, King of Peace, rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war,” he said. “He does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them.”

An adviser to the United Arab Emirates has called for any settlement to the war in the Middle East to include “clear guarantees” that Iranian attacks on its neighbors won’t be repeated.

In a social media post, Anwar Gargash said the Iranian government has become “the main threat” to the Persian Gulf security.

He called for compensation for attacking civilian and vital infrastructure.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan arrived in Pakistan on Sunday to attend a meeting of diplomats from Islamic countries focused on ongoing efforts to end war in the Middle East.

According to a statement from Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, the two sides will hold talks on the evolving regional situation.

Prince Faisal is also expected to meet with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other Pakistani officials during his visit.

AP

According to the United Arab Emirates, its air defence systems are reacting to an increase in drone and missile attacks.

Sounds heard nationwide on Sunday, according to the defence ministry, were the result of interception attempts.

According to the ministry, 42 drones and 16 missiles attacked the UAE in the last 24 hours.

Foreign ministers from key regional powers are meeting in Pakistan’s capital to discuss ways to end the fighting in the Middle East, officials said.

Prior to the meeting on Sunday, state-run Pakistan Television showed Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar welcoming Prince Faisal bin Farhan of Saudi Arabia, Badr Abdelatty of Egypt, and Hakan Fidan of Turkey at the Foreign Ministry.

According to authorities, the discussions would examine measures to further diplomatic efforts to put an end to the crisis and assess the status of the ongoing indirect contacts between Washington and Tehran.

The meeting on Sunday takes place one day after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had what officials called "extensive discussions" about the changing regional landscape.

Italy formally protested to Israel on Sunday after Jerusalem police prevented top Catholic officials from reaching the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani instructed Italy’s ambassador to Israel to convey the protest “and to reaffirm Italy’s commitment to protecting religious freedom at all times and under all circumstances.”

Tajani also summoned the Israeli ambassador to Italy for talks Monday at the foreign ministry to seek clarification for the decision.

“It is unacceptable that they were prevented from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem,” Tajani said in a statement posted on X. “For the first time, Israeli police denied the leaders of the Catholic Church the opportunity to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass in one of the holiest sites for millions of faithful around the world.”

Earlier, Premier Giorgia Meloni condemned the incident as an “offense” to believers.

AP

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Jordan Sunday, part of his tour of Gulf Arab states as Kyiv continues to offer its drone expertise to help governments blunt Iranian attacks during the war in the Middle East.

“Security is the top priority, and it is important that all partners make the necessary efforts toward it. Ukraine is doing its part. Important meetings ahead,” Zelenskyy wrote on his social media channels, alongside a video that showed him arriving by air.

Jordan’s state news agency reported that Zelenskyy would meet with King Abdullah II for talks on regional developments and bilateral relations.

High-level diplomacy intensified in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad over the US-Israeli war on Iran as Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud met Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.