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.

Tensions between Israel and Iran have escalated, marked by increased attacks on both sides. Israel intensified its military actions in Lebanon, conducting deadly strikes in Beirut and other cities targeting Hezbollah militants. This escalation follows the killing of an Iranian leader. In response, Iran launched missile strikes into Israel, near Tel Aviv, resulting in two fatalities. The exchange of attacks highlights a significant increase in direct confrontation between Israel and Iran, raising concerns about regional stability. The attacks occurred recently, with Israel's actions focused on Lebanon and Iran's strikes reaching into Israeli territory.

In Tel Aviv on March 19, 2026, Israelis protested against the ongoing war with Iran and conflict with Hezbollah. The demonstration occurred as millions sought shelter from attacks. Protesters demanded an end to the war, citing the lack of a clear timeline or defined goals from the government. Since the war's beginning, at least 18 people have been killed and over 3,000 injured in Israel. The demonstration reflects growing public discontent with the prolonged conflict and its consequences.

Since March 2, over 1,000 people in Lebanon, including 40 healthcare workers, have been killed in intensified Israeli attacks, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health. The attacks, which have also wounded over 2,500, followed rocket launches by Hezbollah into northern Israel after the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Israeli bombardment, targeting Hezbollah, has displaced over one million people and included residential buildings and infrastructure. Hezbollah has responded with rocket fire into Israel and ground engagements. The UN human rights chief's office has stated that some Israeli attacks may constitute war crimes, emphasizing the need to distinguish between military and civilian targets.

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.

Following Israeli attacks in March 2026, over 800,000 people in southern Lebanon, approximately 15% of the population, have been displaced and are seeking refuge in schools, stadiums, and with relatives in Beirut. The displacement stems from Israeli bombardments in response to rocket launches by Hezbollah, which cited the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader as the reason for the attacks. The conflict marks an escalation after a period of relative calm following the November 2024 ceasefire. Lebanese authorities report that only a fraction of the displaced are in collective shelters, with many scattered and lacking adequate housing. The United Nations has launched a $308 million appeal to provide aid to Lebanon, where the attacks have killed at least 850 people.

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.

An Israeli strike on a Beirut hotel killed at least four people and wounded ten others on Sunday, according to Lebanon's health ministry. Israel stated the strike targeted commanders from Iran's Revolutionary Guards. The strike occurred in central Beirut, hitting a hotel room. This incident follows increased Israeli strikes across Lebanon and ground troop movements into border areas this week. Lebanon was drawn into the conflict after Hezbollah attacked Israel in response to the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Israeli military announced additional strikes targeting Hezbollah strongholds in Beirut's southern suburbs.

Following renewed fighting between Israel and Hezbollah after the US-Israel war on Iran, over 500,000 people in Lebanon have been displaced as of March 8, 2026. The Lebanese Social Affairs Minister reported that over 100,000 of those displaced are in government shelters. The conflict has escalated with Israel striking Beirut for the first time, resulting in 394 deaths in Lebanon within a week. An Israeli drone strike in Beirut's Raouche neighborhood killed at least four and wounded ten, with Israel claiming the target was commanders of Iran's Quds Force. This marks a significant escalation since the 2024 ceasefire, which had been frequently violated by Israel.

Recent Israeli strikes have targeted Hezbollah in Beirut, raising concerns that the conflict is escalating beyond the group's usual areas of operation. The attacks hit parts of the city center, previously considered relatively safe. Simultaneously, reports indicate new strikes occurring in Iran, Iraq, and Israel. These widespread attacks suggest a potential expansion of the conflict to multiple countries in the region. The reasons behind the broadened scope of attacks remain unclear, but the events have heightened regional tensions. The timing of these events was not specified in the article.

As of March 11, 2026, war has displaced over 800,000 people in Lebanon in just ten days, according to the Norwegian Refugee Council. This figure represents approximately one in seven residents of the country. The displaced are fleeing Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon and the southern suburbs of Beirut. Many are seeking refuge in temporary shelters such as technical institutes, sports stadiums, and churches in Beirut. Aid groups are warning of a potential humanitarian crisis due to the scale of displacement, which follows another conflict that displaced over a million people just a year prior.

Aid groups are warning of a humanitarian crisis in Lebanon as war has displaced over 800,000 people in just 10 days, approximately one in seven Lebanese citizens. This displacement follows a recent escalation between Hezbollah and Israel, with Israeli strikes becoming more intense and unpredictable. Many of the displaced are without shelter, as government-run shelters are overwhelmed, and the government struggles to provide adequate assistance to the affected population. The strikes, targeting areas beyond specific locations, have resulted in over 700 deaths, including 103 children, according to Lebanon's health ministry. The current situation is reportedly more difficult than the previous conflict, leaving many like Fatima Nazha struggling to find adequate shelter and basic necessities.

On March 12, 2026, an Israeli strike on Beirut's beachfront resulted in at least eight deaths and dozens of injuries, according to the Lebanese health ministry. The attack targeted an area where displaced families were sheltering in cars and tents. The location was being used as temporary housing due to ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. The incident occurred amidst escalating tensions between the two groups. The reason for the specific targeting of the beachfront area remains unclear.

Israeli troops entered southern Lebanon on Tuesday amid ongoing strikes against Hezbollah. The Israeli military also conducted airstrikes in Beirut, targeting areas including the Al-Manar channel studios and a building in the southern suburbs. Hezbollah has stated it is ready for "open war." The strikes have caused damage and civilian displacement, with people fleeing southern Lebanon towards Syria. The Israeli military said it conducted a "targeted attack" on senior Hezbollah members in Beirut and southern Lebanon on Monday.

On March 2, 2026, Israel bombed the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon. This action followed a rocket attack by Hezbollah on northern Israel. Hezbollah's attack was reportedly in retaliation for the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. The Israeli strikes on Beirut were described as heavy. The events signal an escalation of conflict in the region following Khamenei's death.

The Israeli military has ordered civilians in a large area of southern Lebanon to evacuate north of the Litani River due to planned military action against Hezbollah. This order comes amidst escalating hostilities between Israel and the Iran-backed group, with Israel initiating a wave of strikes in the south. Tens of thousands of Lebanese civilians have already been displaced since the recent surge in fighting. Displaced individuals are fleeing from southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley, and southern Beirut, seeking refuge in shelters, roadsides, and parks, with concerns rising about the capacity to meet the growing demand for aid. The escalation follows Hezbollah's rocket and drone attacks on Israel, which were a response to US and Israeli strikes.

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.

Following Israeli strikes in Lebanon, thousands of Syrian refugees are attempting to return to Syria. The exodus is occurring as reported by Al Jazeera on March 6, 2026. The refugees are fleeing Lebanon due to the recent strikes. The situation is unfolding at the border between Lebanon and Syria. There are growing concerns about a potential humanitarian crisis as a result of the mass movement of people. Al Jazeera's Obaida Hitto is reporting from the border, providing updates on the developing situation.

The United Nations called for urgent legal investigations into Israeli strikes in Lebanon on Friday, March 6, 2026, amid mass displacement of civilians. A UN rights office spokeswoman cited the "devastating impact" on civilians and urged de-escalation. Israeli strikes and ground incursions, along with displacement orders, are causing increased suffering. Lebanon's Prime Minister warned of a looming humanitarian disaster due to the large number of people fleeing their homes. The UN is seeking to determine if the strikes adhere to international law, as the conflict threatens to escalate further.