Israel urges evacuation of south Lebanon village forward of assault
The Israeli navy has issued an pressing warning to residents in a southern Lebanese village to evacuate as the military is about to assault what it calls navy infrastructure linked to Hezbollah.
The Arabic-language spokesperson for the Israel Defence Forces, Avichay Adraee, mentioned in a publish on X notably addressing residents of Arab al-Jal village that residents ought to transfer a minimum of 300 metres from a constructing it marked on a map.
He mentioned the constructing was utilized by the Iran-backed militant group and that the military would assault within the “close to timeframe”.
Remaining within the space of the required buildings exposes you to hazard
#عاجل ‼️ إنذار عاجل إلى سكان لبنان وتحديدًا في قرية عرب الجل
🔸سيهاجم جيش الدفاع على المدى الزمني القريب بنى تحتية عسكرية تابعة لحزب الله الإرهابي
🔸نحث سكان المبنى المحدد بالأحمر في الخريطة المرفقة والمباني المجاورة له: أنتم تتواجدون بالقرب من مبنى يستخدمه حزب الله الإرهابي فمن… pic.twitter.com/JSss59XQA1— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) March 17, 2026
Key occasions
Monitoring organisation NetBlocks mentioned the web blackout in Iran has entered its 18th day.
“Iran’s web blackout is now getting into its 18th day after 408 hours with out worldwide connectivity for most people. Chosen customers are granted privileged entry, whereas the rest are left with a restricted home intranet below more and more tight management,” NetBlocks mentioned.
These with out entry to Starlink or other ways to speak – which are sometimes costly – are minimize off, not solely from the skin world however the blackout additionally severely curtails Iranian’s potential to speak with one another, making mobilisation, for instance, way more troublesome.
Mass civilian displacement in Lebanon brought on by ‘relentless’ Israeli bombing and blanket evacuation orders, charity says
Authorities say a couple of million folks in Lebanon have been compelled to flee their houses since Israel started bombing the nation on 2 March after Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Lebanese militant group, launched rockets on Israel in response to the killing of Iran’s supreme chief, Ali Khamenei, in joint US-Israeli airstrikes.
This mass civilian displacement has been brought on by “relentless Israeli bombings and blanket evacuation orders that aren’t sparing anybody,” according to medical charity Medicine Sans Frontières (MSF), which mentioned individuals are being systematically compelled from their villages.
“We’re seeing a similarity to what we noticed prior to now two and a half years in Gaza: broad evacuation orders, fixed displacement of 1000’s of households, and systematic bombing on densely populated areas,” the MSF coordinator in Lebanon, Lou Cormack, mentioned.
“After 15 months of a fragile ceasefire that did not cease the violence in Lebanon, households are as soon as once more trapped between fleeing or going through bombs.”
Tons of of faculties and public buildings have been transformed into emergency shelters as Israeli assaults proceed throughout the nation, together with on residential neighbourhoods. Many individuals are being compelled to sleep in makeshift tents or on the streets as shelters turn into overwhelmed.
Israel’s navy mentioned yesterday that its troops had begun a floor assault in new areas of southern Lebanon, fuelling issues that the warfare will likely be a chronic one. Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, warned displaced Lebanese people forced from their homes wouldn’t be allowed to return till the security of Israelis close to the border was assured.
At the very least 886 folks, together with 111 youngsters, have been killed in Israeli assaults in Lebanon since 2 March, in keeping with Lebanese authorities.
Israel’s well being ministry has said 3,530 folks have been taken to hospital for the reason that begin of the US-Israeli warfare on Iran on 28 February, with 86 presently hospitalised, eight of whom are reported to be in a critical situation.
Over the previous day, 70 injured folks have been admitted to hospitals, together with 4 in average situation, the ministry mentioned. The ministry doesn’t give a breakdown of the causes of accidents. The IDF mentioned early this morning that missiles have been launched from Iran in the direction of Israel. There have been no speedy reviews of any casualties.
Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry says it has intercepted and destroyed three drones within the nation’s “japanese area”. The spokesperson didn’t say the place the drones originated from.
Interim abstract
In case you’re simply simply becoming a member of us, right here’s a snapshot of the most recent developments within the US-Israel war on Iran. It’s 10.30am in Tehran, 9am in Tel Aviv and Beirut and 3am in Washington DC.
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A reported drone and rocket assault concentrating on the US embassy in Baghdad early on Tuesday got here as a strike killed 4 folks at a home reportedly internet hosting Iranian advisers, safety officers mentioned, pulling Iraq deeper into the Center East warfare.
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Donald Trump has mentioned his journey to China this month to satisfy with Xi Jinping may very well be delayed by “a month or so”. “We’ve acquired a warfare occurring. I feel it’s necessary that I be right here,” Trump mentioned on the White Home. Treasury secretary Scott Bessent earlier insisted the transfer was to not press Beijing to assist unblock the strait of Hormuz.
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The top of the Worldwide Maritime Organisation mentioned naval escorts by way of the strait of Hormuz wouldn’t “100% assure” the security of ships making an attempt to transit the important thing waterway, the Monetary Occasions reported on Tuesday.
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Operations on the UAE’s Shah gasoline subject remained suspended on Tuesday after a drone assault, whereas a recent assault precipitated a hearth within the Fujairah oil business zone. No accidents have been reported in both incident, native media places of work mentioned
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The Reserve Financial institution of Australia elevated rates of interest amid the vitality shock worldwide. The Center East warfare is including to cost pressures worldwide, forcing central banks to organize for larger rates of interest. Australia’s had been the one one anticipated to hike so quickly, with central banks within the US, UK, EU, Japan, Canada, Switzerland and Sweden all anticipated to go away charges on maintain this week.
Iran’s Guards say 10 ‘overseas spies’ arrested
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have mentioned their forces arrested 10 “overseas spies” amid the warfare with Israel and the US.
“Ten mercenary, treacherous parts have been recognized and arrested,” the Guards’ intelligence organisation within the north-eastern Razavi Khorasan province mentioned on Tuesday, in keeping with Isna information company, cited by Agence France-Presse.
Isna didn’t establish their nationalities.
The Guards mentioned 4 amongst them have been gathering data “on delicate websites and financial infrastructure” whereas others have been linked to a “monarchist terrorist group”.
Falling shrapnel from the interception of a ballistic missile in Abu Dhabi has killed a Pakistani nationwide, the media workplace within the United Arab Emirates capital has mentioned.
The incident occurred within the Bani Yas space, the workplace posted on X.
The exiled son of Iran’s final shah has introduced a brand new committee to put the groundwork for a future fact fee in Iran and named a Nobel peace prize winner to steer it.
US-based Reza Pahlavi, who wields affect among the many diaspora however holds no official place, mentioned on Monday that the transitional justice committee would draft “rules for a truth-finding fee and court docket”, the AFP information company is reporting.
In accordance with the previous crown prince, the crew would search justice for “victims of injustice, torture and repression by the Islamic Republic”.
Pahlavi mentioned on X that Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi would lead the committee of “skilled Iranian specialists spanning 4 completely different generations”. He additionally named Dutch Iranian regulation professor Afshin Ellian, activist Iraj Mesdaghi and physician Leila Bahmani as members.
Pahlavi leads one in all a number of opposition actions primarily based exterior of Iran. His prominence grew after he inspired protests in January in opposition to Iran’s clerical system, with some demonstrators calling for a return of the deposed monarchy.
As many as 30,000 Iranians have been reportedly killed within the ruling regime’s crackdown on the protests.
Naval escorts by way of strait of Hormuz no assure of security, says maritime chief
The top of the Worldwide Maritime Organisation (IMO) has mentioned that naval escorts by way of the strait of Hormuz is not going to “100% assure” the security of ships making an attempt to transit the waterway, the Monetary Occasions reported on Tuesday.
Navy help was “not a long-term or sustainable answer” to opening up the strait, Arsenio Dominguez informed the newspaper.
We’re collateral injury of a battle when the foundation causes don’t have anything to do with delivery.
Dominguez mentioned the IMO additionally had critical issues about ships caught within the Persian Gulf working out of meals and provides for his or her crews.
Reuters reviews that the IMO council will meet for a unprecedented session at its London headquarters on Wednesday and Thursday to deal with the impacts on delivery and seafarers on account of the persevering with Center East disaster.
Dominguez referred to as for ship managers “to not sail and to not put seafarers in danger and to not put the vessels in danger”, the report mentioned.
Israel urges evacuation of south Lebanon village forward of assault
The Israeli navy has issued an pressing warning to residents in a southern Lebanese village to evacuate as the military is about to assault what it calls navy infrastructure linked to Hezbollah.
The Arabic-language spokesperson for the Israel Defence Forces, Avichay Adraee, mentioned in a publish on X notably addressing residents of Arab al-Jal village that residents ought to transfer a minimum of 300 metres from a constructing it marked on a map.
He mentioned the constructing was utilized by the Iran-backed militant group and that the military would assault within the “close to timeframe”.
Remaining within the space of the required buildings exposes you to hazard
#عاجل ‼️ إنذار عاجل إلى سكان لبنان وتحديدًا في قرية عرب الجل
🔸سيهاجم جيش الدفاع على المدى الزمني القريب بنى تحتية عسكرية تابعة لحزب الله الإرهابي
🔸نحث سكان المبنى المحدد بالأحمر في الخريطة المرفقة والمباني المجاورة له: أنتم تتواجدون بالقرب من مبنى يستخدمه حزب الله الإرهابي فمن… pic.twitter.com/JSss59XQA1— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) March 17, 2026
Australia hikes rates of interest amid inflation fears from Iran warfare
The Reserve Financial institution of Australia has elevated rates of interest amid the vitality shock worldwide.
The hike takes the central financial institution’s money fee goal from 3.85% to 4.1%, again to the place it was in February 2025, wiping out the aid provided by two cuts final 12 months.
The broadening Center East battle has triggered fears of fuel shortages and is including to cost pressures around the globe, forcing international central banks to organize for larger rates of interest, report Luca Ittimani and Patrick Commins.
Australia’s Reserve Financial institution (RBA) had been the one one anticipated to hike so quickly, with central banks within the US, UK, European Union, Japan, Canada, Switzerland and Sweden all anticipated to go away charges on maintain this week.
In a press release accompanying the choice, the RBA board mentioned:
Developments within the Center East stay extremely unsure, however below a variety of doable eventualities might add to international and home inflation.
Operations on the United Arab Emirates’ Shah gasoline subject remained suspended on Tuesday after a drone assault, whereas a recent assault precipitated a hearth within the Fujairah oil business zone.
No accidents have been reported in both incident, the native media places of work mentioned.
Individually, an unknown projectile struck a tanker 23 nautical miles (43km) east of Fujairah, inflicting minor structural injury, the UK Maritime Commerce Operations mentioned on Tuesday.
Reuters reviews that Monday’s assault on the Shah subject – positioned about 180km south-west of Abu Dhabi and one of many world’s largest bitter gasoline fields – provides to disruptions to the UAE’s vitality sector.
The nation’s day by day oil output is down by greater than half for the reason that Iran warfare battle broke out, with the efficient closure of the strait of Hormuz forcing state oil big Adnoc to implement widespread manufacturing shut-ins, two sources informed Reuters.
Oil loading operations on the UAE’s port of Fujairah, a key export terminal, have been suspended twice in latest days after separate drone assault incidents, though some loading has since resumed, sources mentioned.
Qatar intercepts missile assault as particles sparks fireplace
Qatar says it has intercepted a missile assault whereas the ensuing falling particles precipitated a hearth however there have been no reported accidents.
The phrase got here in social media posts from the ministries of defence and the inside.
Civil defence was coping with the minor fireplace in an industrial space, the interior ministry said.
Qatar is amongst a number of Gulf states that Iran has focused with drones and missiles in latest days in retaliation for US-Israeli assaults.
US embassy assault got here after Iran-backed group’s commander killed
Following from the earlier publish, the assaults in Iraq got here shortly after the highly effective Tehran-backed Kataeb Hezbollah group introduced that its senior safety commander Abu Ali al-Askari had been killed.
It didn’t present particulars on the circumstances of his loss of life. Iraq’s inside ministry initially mentioned {that a} “projectile” fell on the roof of the posh al-Rasheed Resort in Baghdad’s closely fortified inexperienced zone, earlier than clarifying that it was a drone, AFP is reporting.
The ministry didn’t specify whether or not the constructing itself was the goal. “The incident precipitated no casualties or materials injury,” it mentioned.
A road resulting in the resort – which hosts diplomatic missions together with the US embassy – was blocked by a big safety deployment, with firefighters and ambulances current, in keeping with an AFP correspondent.
Witnesses noticed a hearth escape on the roof of the resort.
Shortly after the resort incident, a loud blast was heard in Baghdad, as air defences have been seen intercepting an assault over the US embassy. A safety official mentioned “air defences thwarted an assault with 4 rockets” on the embassy.
The Iraqi prime minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, who’s head of the armed forces, denounced the assaults – together with a strike on a southern oil subject – calling them threats to his nation’s “safety and stability”.
US embassy focused as 4 reportedly killed in Baghdad home linked to Iran
Extra now on Iraq: the reported drone and rocket assault concentrating on the US embassy in Baghdad early on Tuesday got here as a strike killed 4 folks at a home reportedly internet hosting Iranian advisers, safety officers mentioned, pulling Iraq deeper into the Center East warfare.
The strikes got here hours after air defences thwarted a rocket assault on the embassy and a drone precipitated a hearth at a luxurious resort frequented by overseas diplomats in Baghdad’s fortified inexperienced zone, Agence France-Presse reported.
Iraq was drawn into the Center East warfare after having lengthy been a proxy battleground between the US and Iran, with strikes concentrating on Iran-backed teams which have claimed day by day assaults on US pursuits in Iraq and throughout the area.
In the meantime, a strike on a home in Baghdad killed 4 folks early on Tuesday, with preliminary reviews suggesting that two of the lifeless have been “Iranian advisers” to Tehran-backed teams, a safety supply informed AFP.
One other supply from an Iran-backed faction confirmed that 4 folks have been killed within the strike on a home internet hosting Iranian advisors in al-Jadiriyah neighbourhood.
The United Arab Emirates’ air defences are presently responding to incoming missile and drone assaults from Iran, the Gulf state’s ministry of defence has simply mentioned.
It posted on social media that sounds being heard there are from air defences intercepting ballistic missiles and fighter jets intercepting drones and loitering munitions.
Trump seeks to delay China journey due to Iran warfare
Donald Trump has mentioned his journey to China this month to satisfy with the nation’s chief, Xi Jinping, may very well be delayed by “a month or so”.
However a key Trump administration official insisted the transfer was to not press Beijing to assist unblock the strait of Hormuz.
Trump mentioned:
We’re talking to China. I might like to, however due to the warfare, I need to be right here.
Now we have requested that we delay it a month or so, and I’m wanting ahead to assembly with him. We’ve acquired a warfare occurring. I feel it’s necessary that I be right here. So it may very well be that we delay it a little bit bit, not a lot.
Trump’s treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, earlier forged doubt on the journey however insisted this was to not stress Beijing to assist unblock the strait of Hormuz, telling CNBC:
We’ll see whether or not the go to takes place as scheduled. However what I do need to parse, and there’s a false narrative on the market that if the conferences are delayed, it wouldn’t be delayed as a result of the president’s demanded that China police the straits of Hormuz.
Welcome abstract
Hey and welcome to our persevering with reside protection of the US-Israel war on Iran and the repercussions for the area, the world and the worldwide financial system.
Listed below are the most recent developments:
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A wave of drone and rocket assaults focused the US embassy in Baghdad early on Tuesday, Iraqi safety sources mentioned. They described it as probably the most intense assault for the reason that assaults started, with a minimum of 5 drones used, Reuters reported. It quoted a witness as saying a robust explosion was heard within the Iraqi capital.
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Air visitors operations within the United Arab Emirates have returned to regular after the temporary closure of its airspace earlier on Tuesday, the Gulf state’s aviation authority has mentioned, quoted by the state information company. The UAE’s ministry of defence mentioned earlier that the nation’s defences have been responding to incoming missiles and drones from Iran.
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Donald Trump mentioned he’ll “quickly” announce nations which have agreed to assist the US reopen the strait of Hormuz, as he criticised his many allies – together with Nato and the UK – which have thus far declined to get entangled. He mentioned South Korea, Japan and China must be serving to the US, additionally warning that Nato confronted a “very dangerous” future if it didn’t assist and saying he was “not pleased” with the UK.
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Allies responded by saying “this isn’t Nato warfare”, with the EU insisting it has “no urge for food” to develop its naval mission to the strait of Hormuz. German chancellor Friedrich Merz earlier mentioned this warfare “shouldn’t be a matter for Nato”, whereas Nato mentioned “allies have already stepped as much as present extra safety within the Mediterranean”. UK prime minister Keir Starmer had earlier resisted Trump’s name to ship warships to the strait, saying the UK “is not going to be drawn right into a wider warfare” however was working with allies on a plan to reopen the strait.
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Trump additionally mentioned the warfare can be “wrapped up” quickly, and that it wouldn’t be this week however “it received’t be lengthy”.
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US vice-president JD Vance deflected and attacked the media when requested if he supported Trump’s warfare on Iran, given his prior criticisms of open-ended US overseas interventionism. It adopted US media reviews that he had privately expressed scepticism and counselled Trump in opposition to putting Iran. Vance accused the media of attempting to “drive a wedge” between him and his president, and repeated Trump’s declare that Tehran was near growing a nuclear weapon. “I belief President Trump to get the job completed,” he mentioned.
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Iranian overseas minister Abbas Araghchi denied latest contact with US particular envoy Steve Witkoff and mentioned their final contact was earlier than the US-Israel assault on Iran. Araghchi wrote on X: “My final contact with Mr. Witkoff was previous to his employer’s determination to kill diplomacy with one other unlawful navy assault on Iran. Any declare on the contrary seems geared solely to mislead oil merchants and the general public.” It adopted an Axios report {that a} direct communications channel between Witkoff and Araghchi had been reactivated in latest days, with Araghchi making an attempt to have interaction with Witkoff about ending the warfare.
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The leaders of the UK, France, Germany, Canada and Italy expressed “grave concern” after Israel launched a ground invasion of Lebanon. They referred to as for significant engagement by Israeli and Lebanese representatives to barter a sustainable political answer. A big Israeli floor offensive would have devastating humanitarian penalties, they warned in a joint assertion, including that it might result in a protracted battle with “devastating humanitarian penalties”.
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Earlier on Monday, the Israeli Defence Forces mentioned its troops had begun what it described as “restricted and focused” floor operations in opposition to Hezbollah strongholds in southern Lebanon, and informed tons of of 1000’s of Lebanese civilians they may not return to their houses.
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It got here as the most recent reviews point out that Israeli strikes have killed a minimum of 850 folks in Lebanon, together with a minimum of 107 youngsters, and left more than a million displaced.
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Operations on the UAE’s Shah gasoline and oil subject have been suspended after a hearth that broke out attributable to a drone assault. Abu Dhabi authorities mentioned on Monday night time that the fireplace had been introduced below management.
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Qatar mentioned it intercepted a second wave of missiles from Iran after an assault earlier on Monday.
