The conflict in the Middle East continues unabated. Iran, the Wall Street Journal reports, launched two intermediate-range ballistic missiles against the island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean in a failed attempt to hit a joint American-British military base. During the night between Friday and Saturday, the IDF launched new attacks in Beirut and Tehran, with the Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces warning: "The Iranian missiles have a range that can reach European capitals: Berlin, Paris, and Rome, and they are all within direct fire."
US President Donald Trump has asked NATO countries for assistance, but has been denied. Washington's leader reacted harshly: "They don't want to join the fight to stop a nuclear Iran. Cowards, we will remember that. Without the US, NATO is a paper tiger." Trump himself also stated that the United States "is close to achieving its objectives in the war in Iran" and that "a scaling back of the military operation" is being considered. However, at least 2,500 Marines are reportedly arriving in the region.
The G7 countries united against Iran: "Stop attacks on civilians and secure Hormuz."
Live news for Saturday, March 21, 2026
10:20 PM – Israel, a missile hits Arad: dozens injured, one child seriously injured
A missile struck Arad, a city in southern Israel, causing severe damage. Dozens were injured, including a five-year-old girl in serious condition. Magen David Adom (Israel's National Health Service) says its doctors are treating several dozen injured.
10 p.m. – Iraq: "An officer was killed in a drone strike in Baghdad."
An officer was killed today in a drone strike targeting the Iraqi intelligence building in a residential area of central Baghdad, the intelligence services announced in a statement.
8:20 PM – IDF: "Iranian missiles have the range to hit Rome and Paris."
Scott Bessent was the face of the US economic pressure campaign on Tehran
the war
the war
Iran Threat: IDF: "Berlin, Paris, and Rome are within Tehran's reach." G7 countries: "Hormuz must be secured."
The conflict in the Middle East continues. Missiles are targeting Israel, drones are targeting the Emirates, Dubai, and Qatar. Putin: "Moscow and Tehran are loyal friends."
Aid to Kiev, tensions within the government. Moscow, Ukraine, and the US hold talks in Abu Dhabi.
The 13th military support package has been approved, but Borghi (Lega) warns: "We are against it."
The case of the links between the founder of the microchip giant and the Chinese manager Alice Huang, accused of spying for Beijing, shakes the markets and opens a front on national security
The investigation concerns an alleged intermediation system for issuing visas and residence permits to foreign citizens.
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said that Iranian missiles have a "range that can reach European capitals: Berlin, Paris, and Rome, and they are all within direct fire range." The Times of Israel reports Zamir's comments after Iran launched an intercontinental ballistic missile with a range of 4,000 kilometers toward a U.S. target on the island of Diego Garcia.
8:08 PM – G7 calls on Iran for an "immediate and unconditional end" to attacks
The G7 countries are calling on Iran for an "immediate and unconditional end" to its "unjustifiable" attacks. The G7 foreign ministers, in a statement, wrote that they "called for an immediate and unconditional end to all attacks by the Iranian regime."
5:50 PM – Sirens sound in northern Israel due to rockets from Lebanon.
Alarm sirens are sounding in Safed, Ma'alot-Tarshiha, and other Galilee towns following Hezbollah attacks from Lebanon, the Times of Israel reports. In the previous attack—which occurred about two hours ago after an eight-hour pause—a rocket hit Safed, causing damage to a road and surrounding buildings but causing no injuries.
4:00 PM – IDF: "Targets linked to missile production in Tehran hit."
The IDF claimed to have struck dozens of targets linked to Iran's ballistic missile production during a series of air strikes on Tehran overnight, the Times of Israel reports. According to the Israeli military, the targets hit by the Israeli Air Force included a key Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps complex used to produce ballistic missile components; a missile components warehouse; an Iranian Defense Ministry complex responsible for producing rocket fuel; and another ballistic missile components factory.
3:00 PM – Bahrain, explosions in Manama
Several explosions were heard in Bahrain's capital, Manama, according to an AFP correspondent, as Iran intensifies its campaign against the Gulf states. Two missiles were intercepted in flight, and several detonations shook the city after air raid sirens were activated.
2.30pm – The number of countries ready to commit to Hormuz after the truce rises to 22.
The number of countries ready to commit to Hormuz after the truce has risen to 22. This is evident from the Downing Street website, which states that, following the declaration made in recent days, 16 more countries have joined the joint statement by the leaders of the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Japan. "Following the publication, Canada, the Republic of South Korea, New Zealand, Denmark, Latvia, Slovenia, Estonia, Norway, Sweden, Finland, the Czech Republic, Romania, Bahrain, Lithuania, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates" have joined the initiative.
1:30 PM – Iranian missile intercepted by Israeli fighter jet
"During an operation conducted by the Air Force in Iran, a surface-to-air missile was detected launched at an Israeli fighter jet, which managed to evade it. The plane was not damaged," an IDF spokesperson was quoted as saying by Tel Aviv media. Iranian media had earlier reported the downing of an Israeli fighter jet.
12:22 PM – Natanz, "no increase in radiation"
"The IAEA has been informed by Iran that the Natanz nuclear site was attacked today. No increased radiation levels outside the site have been reported. The IAEA is reviewing the report," the United Nations Atomic Energy Agency wrote in X. "Director General Rafael Grossi reiterates his call for military restraint to avoid any risk of a nuclear accident."
11:04 a.m. – Iraq halts oil production in foreign concessions
Iraq has declared a state of force majeure on all oil fields developed by foreign oil companies, ordering a complete shutdown of production in the affected concession areas, without any compensation provided for in the contracts. Reuters reports.
10:36 a.m. – "Natanz nuclear plant hit."
The United States and Israel have struck Iran's Natanz nuclear facility, the Islamic Republic's Atomic Energy Organization (IAO) said. "Following the criminal attacks perpetrated by the United States and the usurping Zionist regime against our country, the Natanz enrichment complex was targeted this morning," the organization said in a statement carried by the Tasnim news agency, adding that "no leakage of radioactive material has been reported" in the central Iranian region.
10:15 am – IDF launches ground operation in Lebanon against Hezbollah
The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) announced it had launched a ground operation in Lebanese territory against Hezbollah "terrorists." Four people were reportedly killed.
9:31 a.m. – Drones hit a building in Baghdad
A drone strike has targeted a residential area in central Baghdad, Iraq, AFP reports. The target included the building of the
telecommunications from an Iraqi security service that is working with U.S. military advisers deployed in Iraq to fight jihadists.
9:15 a.m. – Iran confirms attack on Diego Garcia base
Tehran confirms it has launched two ballistic missiles against the joint Anglo-American base on the island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, 3,810 kilometers from Iran, Mehr reports. "This launch represents a significant step in its confrontation with the United States," the agency emphasizes. Iran's targeting of the island suggests its missiles have a longer range than previously estimated.
8:55 a.m. – Putin: "Russia is a loyal friend of Tehran."
"Moscow remains a loyal friend and reliable partner of Tehran," President Vladimir Putin emphasized in a message of good wishes for Nowruz, the Persian New Year. "Vladimir Putin wished the Iranian people strength to overcome these difficult trials and emphasized that, in this difficult time, Moscow remains a loyal friend and reliable partner of Tehran," the Kremlin statement, cited by Russian media, reads.
7:40 a.m. – Iran launches new attacks on Gulf countries
Iran launched new attacks in the Gulf overnight in Italy. Saudi Arabia intercepted and destroyed 10 drones in eastern Saudi Arabia. Kuwait also declared it had activated its defenses due to "hostile missile and drone attacks."
7:00 AM – Iranian missiles heading towards the Indian Ocean
Iran launched two intermediate-range ballistic missiles at Diego Garcia, but failed to hit the joint US-British military base on the Indian Ocean island. The Wall Street Journal reported, citing several US officials. One of the missiles malfunctioned during flight, while a US warship launched an SM-3 interceptor against the other, the newspaper said. It is unclear when the attack occurred.
6:50 a.m. – Trump: "I'm considering scaling back the operation."
«We are now very close to achieving our objectives and we are considering
"To scale back our massive military efforts in the Middle East against the terrorist regime in Iran," US President Donald Trump wrote on social media.
