Iran targets Israel and Gulf Arab states even as Trump says US is in talks to end the war

On March 16, 2026, Israel launched strikes on Tehran and Beirut, targeting Hezbollah infrastructure in the Lebanese capital. In response, Iran fired missiles that sent shrapnel falling on Jerusalem. The conflict, which began on February 28, 2026, has also seen Iran target Gulf neighbors, with a drone strike hitting a fuel tank near Dubai International Airport, causing flight disruptions. The airport has been repeatedly targeted by Iranian drones and shut down for several days since the start of the war. The U.S. has also been involved, with a U.S.-Israeli strike hitting a police station in Tehran on Friday, March 15, 2026.

On March 17, 2026, the US and Israel are continuing attacks on Iranian cities, marking the 18th day of the conflict. The fighting has spread regionally, with Iran retaliating against US assets in neighboring countries and Israel bombing Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Attacks on Iranian cities, including Tehran and Arak, have resulted in civilian casualties, including children. Amnesty International has reported that a US attack on a primary school in Minab, Iran, killed at least 170 people. The conflict has caused a global energy crisis by disrupting shipping and displacing millions of civilians. As of today, at least 1,444 people have been killed and 18,551 injured in Iran due to the attacks.

A ballistic missile strike, launched by Iran's Revolutionary Guard, hit Ramat Gan near Tel Aviv overnight Tuesday, killing two people. The attack, captured in video footage showing a fiery aftermath, was claimed as retaliation for the deaths of senior Iranian officials, including Ali Larijani. Iran stated it launched Khorramshahr-4 and Qadr missiles designed to evade defense systems. The strike is part of an escalating conflict that began after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February. Israel has retaliated, and Iran has broadened its attacks to include targets in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain. The escalating conflict raises concerns about a regional war and potential disruptions to global energy supplies.

The UN human rights office stated on March 17, 2026, that Israeli attacks on Lebanon, including strikes on residential buildings and healthcare facilities, may constitute war crimes. This statement follows intensified Israeli air strikes and ground operations in Lebanon as part of the wider Middle East conflict. According to the UN, hundreds of buildings have been destroyed, and displaced civilians and healthcare workers have been killed in the attacks. The UN spokesperson emphasized that international law requires distinction between military and civilian targets and protects healthcare workers and vulnerable populations. Since March 2, Israeli attacks have reportedly killed at least 912 people, including 111 children, and wounded 2,221. The intensified strikes began after Hezbollah launched rockets into northern Israel following the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

In Lebanon, over 800,000 people, approximately one in seven of the population, have been displaced in the first ten days of the current conflict. This displacement follows just over a year after a previous conflict uprooted over a million Lebanese. Many of those displaced lack adequate shelter, with government-run shelters already full and unaffordable housing options. The Lebanese government, facing financial constraints, has only been able to accommodate around 120,000 people. Individuals like Fatima Nazha, displaced from Beirut's southern suburbs, are struggling to find suitable shelter, highlighting the dire circumstances faced by many. The ongoing conflict with Israel is the cause of this mass displacement.

On March 2, 2026, Iran's retaliatory strikes against US assets in the Gulf region entered their third day, escalating fears of a prolonged conflict. Explosions were reported in Dubai, Doha, and Kuwait, with Kuwaiti air defenses intercepting drones near residential areas. Iran stated the attacks were in response to ongoing US-Israeli strikes on Iran, targeting US military assets and impacting civilian areas across Gulf cities. Bahrain activated air raid alerts and closed a major bridge. Casualties have been reported in Kuwait, the UAE, and Qatar, while US-Israeli attacks have resulted in significant casualties in Iran and Israel. The US, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE jointly condemned Iran's attacks and affirmed their right to self-defense.

A US-Israeli war against Iran began on Saturday with bombing and missile attacks, escalating into a regional conflict. The initial strikes, dubbed Operation Lion's Roar by Israel and Operation Epic Fury by the US, targeted key security and political sites in Tehran and other Iranian cities, reportedly killing at least 555 people. Iran retaliated with strikes across the Middle East, leading to Israeli bombings in Lebanon after Hezbollah attacks. Cyprus also reported a drone attack on a British base. The UK, France, and Germany have expressed readiness to counter Iranian attacks. Civilian casualties are likely as security institutions are located in residential areas, and authorities have instructed citizens to flee major cities.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released a video showing the destruction of Iranian missile launchers and defense systems in western Iran. The IDF stated that over 60 strikes targeted vehicles carrying ballistic missiles, UAVs, and loaded missile launchers in response to Iran firing missiles containing cluster sub-munitions toward Israeli civilians. The IDF, along with U.S. forces, are working to degrade Iran's military capabilities. In addition to the strikes in Iran, the IDF conducted preventative strikes on Hezbollah military infrastructure in Lebanon after the group launched rockets and UAVs at northern Israel. The IDF is reinforcing its borders, including positioning troops in southern Lebanon, to protect Israeli civilians from potential expanded attacks by Hezbollah.

Residents of Dahieh, a southern Beirut suburb, have left their homes due to evacuation orders and ongoing air strikes by Israel. The area is considered a Hezbollah stronghold. People are sleeping in tents and cars as they await further instructions. The exact timing of the evacuations is not specified. The situation has been ongoing for some time, with residents forced to flee their homes amidst the conflict. The reasons behind the evacuation orders remain unclear, but it is believed to be related to the ongoing air strikes by Israel.

Following a large displacement order from the Israeli army, over 500,000 people fled the southern suburbs of Beirut on Friday due to intensified Israeli bombing. The order, impacting an area the size of lower Manhattan, followed a previous order displacing residents from the entire region south of the Litani River. The Lebanese government reported that shelters in Beirut were full, directing evacuees to seek refuge further north. The mass exodus was triggered by Israeli airstrikes in response to Hezbollah launching rockets at Israel, marking a return to war for Lebanon. Residents were forced to leave their homes with few belongings, as the Israeli military expanded the areas under evacuation orders.

Lebanon is at a critical juncture as the government considers disarming Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militant group. The potential disarmament is a significant development for the country, which has long struggled with Hezbollah's influence. The Lebanese government's decision to pursue disarmament comes at a time of heightened tensions in the region. The central question is whether the government will proceed with disarming Hezbollah and how the militant group will react to such a move. The outcome will likely have profound implications for Lebanon's stability and future.

Following drone attacks on U.S. embassies in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, the U.S. State Department has closed its embassies in those two countries. The State Department also issued an urgent advisory, recommending that American citizens immediately depart from 14 unspecified countries. These actions come as tensions escalate in the region, with Iran reportedly increasing retaliatory measures. Simultaneously, the Israeli military announced it has seized additional territory in Lebanon amidst ongoing conflict with Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran. The closures and travel advisory highlight growing concerns about the safety of American personnel and citizens in the Middle East.