Israel reports fresh airstrikes on Iranian targets east of Tehran, including areas around Nur, as the military says it will continue operations until all objectives are achieved against both Iran and Hezbollah. The Israel Defense Forces adds that ground operations are expanding deeper into southern Lebanon, with troops clearing threats near the border while responding to continued rocket fire from the north. Iran remains defiant, launching a new wave of attacks on Israeli positions and U.S. bases across the region and warning of “zero restraint” if its energy facilities are targeted again. Officials say missile production is continuing despite heavy losses, and the country’s leadership has vowed to strip security from its enemies. There are also growing concerns after Iran issued threats linked to global tourism sites after Israeli strikes coincided with the Persian New Year. Across the Gulf, several Gulf Cooperation Council states are on high alert after intercepting waves of Iranian drones and missiles aimed at energy infrastructure. In Kuwait, the Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery was hit in a drone attack, triggering a fire. Bahrain reported falling shrapnel that sparked a warehouse blaze, while Saudi Arabia said it shot down multiple drones targeting its eastern province. All three have issued strong condemnations and warned that they reserve the right to respond.
UAE air defence systems on March 20 engaged four ballistic missiles and twenty-six unmanned aerial vehicles launched from Iran. Since the start of the escalation, UAE defences have intercepted 338 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and 1,740 UAVs. The UAE’s State Security Apparatus has also announced the dismantling of a network it says was funded and operated by Hezbollah and Iran, with several suspects now under arrest. The United Arab Emirates remains on high alert following a tense period of activity. Authorities have temporarily shut down the Habshan gas facility in Abu Dhabi as a precaution after attempted strikes.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps spokesperson Ali Mohammad Naini has reportedly been killed in an Israeli strike. In response, Iran has issued a strong warning of further escalation, signalling zero restraint as attacks continue on energy and military infrastructure across the region.
The situation in Lebanon is also deteriorating rapidly. Israeli fighter jets have carried out fresh dawn raids on southern towns, including Bafliyeh and Hanine, leaving several people injured.
The Lebanese government is grappling with a deepening humanitarian crisis, with more than one million people now displaced. As international calls grow louder for an immediate halt to displacement orders, the administration, formed just last year, faces mounting pressure, struggling to assert control even as Hezbollah continues rocket exchanges with Israeli forces across the Litani River.
