Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the expansion of a controversial security “buffer zone” in southern Lebanon as Iran warned that President Donald Trump is leading US troops into the “swamp of death”.
“I have just instructed to further expand the existing security buffer zone. We are determined to fundamentally change the situation in the north,” Netanyahu said in a video statement from the Northern Command.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps released a new video on Sunday amid reports of a US ground invasion with military spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaqari saying: “Unfortunately, the leaders of the United States have delegated the authority to command the armed forces to someone who, due to imbalance, dangerous and wrong positions and decisions, has led the US army into the swamp of death.”
It follows speculation that Pentagon officials are preparing for potential ground operations in Iran, which could last for weeks, The Washington Post reported on Saturday. Thousands of US marines arrived in the region aboard the USS Tripoli on Saturday, according to US Central Command.
However, secretary of state Marco Rubio said on Friday that the US could achieve its goals without a ground invasion.
U.S.-Iran war in numbers: Thousands dead, billions spent, and the global economy in crisis
Russian spy satellites used to photograph Chagos military base for Iran, Zelensky claims
Two Australian states make public transport free as soaring fuel prices hit commuters
Royal Navy fits ship with advanced minehunting drones ahead of possible Hormuz deployment
Key Points
- Iran warns Trump leading US troops into 'swamp of death'
- Yemen's Houthis say they launched second attack on Israel in less than 24 hours
- Oil prices on track for record monthly surge
- Pentagon considering plans for ground operations in Iran, according to reports
- Ship carrying thousands of Marines arrives in Middle East
Watch: RFK Jr. says Trump is 'an empath' since he talks about war casualties
19:10 , Bryony GoochIsraeli military says no negligence in probe into accidental killing of farmer near Lebanon border
18:50 , Bryony GoochThe Israeli military said on Sunday no negligence was found nor any ethical failure on the part of officers involved in the accidental killing of Israeli farmer Ofer Moskovitz near the Lebanese frontier earlier this month.
Mr Moskovitz, 60, an avocado farmer from Misgav Am, became the first Israeli civilian killed in the border conflict, which is unfolding alongside the war in Iran.
Mr Moskovitz had expressed concerns about the border fighting to Reuters just last week.
Pakistan says Islamabad will soon host talks between the US and Iran
18:40 , Bryony GoochPakistan's foreign minister says Islamabad will soon host talks between the US and Iran, according to AP.
Pakistan, which like Turkey borders Iran, has leveraged its close ties to both Tehran and Washington to emerge as a key diplomatic channel in the conflict. Ankara and Cairo have also played a role.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt discuss ways to bring permanent end to Iran war, Pakistan says
18:30 , Bryony GoochPakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt discussed "possible ways to bring an early and permanent end to the war" in the Middle East on Sunday, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said.
The four nations held joint talks to seek a de-escalation in the US Iran war in Islamabad. In a video recorded statement, Dar said all sides had expressed confidence in Pakistan's facilitation and that China "fully supports" the initiative to host the potential US-Iran talks in Islamabad.
Iran agrees to allow 20 Pakistan-flagged vessels through Strait of Hormuz
18:10 , Maira ButtIran has agreed to allow 20 more Pakistan-flagged ships to pass through the beleaguered Strait of Hormuz, Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and deputy foreign minister confirmed this weekend.
“I am pleased to share a great news that the Government of Iran has agreed to allow 20 more ships under the Pakistani flag to pass through the Strait of Hormuz; two ships will cross the Strait daily,” he wrote in a post on X on Sunday.
“This is a welcome and constructive gesture by Iran and deserves appreciation. It is a harbinger of peace and will help usher stability in the region.
“This positive announcement marks a meaningful step toward peace and will strengthen our collective efforts in that direction. Dialogue, diplomacy, and such confidence-building measures are the only way forward.”
Pakistan has been leading diplomatic efforts to come to a resolution on the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran accuses Trump of deflecting from Epstein case with war
17:50 , Maira ButtThe Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has accused President Donald Trump of starting the war in Iran in order to deflect from the ongoing Epstein controversy in the US that has seen several high-profile figures named.
Trump has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in regards to the ongoing scandal and said he has “done nothing wrong”. A mention in the files is not an implication of guilt.
Military spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaqari said in a video broadcast on state media on Sunday that there was “no doubt” that the US president had been “under pressure” by Israel to commence the war “due to his record in the Epstein case”.
“The President of the United States, who has become known as the most lying president of the world, and has no stability of thought or discourse, is not trustworthy in any way, and unfortunately, the leaders of the United States have delegated the authority to command the armed forces to someone who, due to imbalance, dangerous and wrong positions and decisions, has led the US army into the swamp of death.”
Watch: Iran warns Trump leading US troops into 'swamp of death'
17:30 , Maira ButtIran vows to set US troops on fire if Trump launches ground invasion
17:20 , Maira ButtIran says it is ready and waiting for US troops to launch a ground invasion and threatened to “set fire” to President Trump’s forces if they enter the Islamic Republic’s territory.
Speaker of Iran’s parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Tehran is “waiting for the arrival of American troops on the ground to set them on fire”, in a published message broadcast on Iranian state media including the official IRNA news agency on Sunday.
It follows overnight reports that the Pentagon is awaiting President Trump’s approval for weeks of ground operations in Iran, according to the Washington Post.
On Saturday, thousands of US sailors and marines moved to the Middle East aboard the USS Tripoli warship, US Central Command confirmed.
Ghalibaf, who has been eyed by the US as a potential figurehead to lead negotiations in Iran amid the absence of newly-appointed supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, said: “The enemy signals negotiation in public, while in secret it plots a ground attack”.
Iran vows to set US troops on fire if Trump launches ground invasion
Breaking: Netanyahu orders expansion of security buffer zone in southern Lebanon
16:53 , Maira ButtIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday he had instructed the military to further expand the existing security buffer zone in southern Lebanon, vowing to fundamentally change the security situation there.
“I have just instructed to further expand the existing security buffer zone. We are determined to fundamentally change the situation in the north,” Netanyahu said in a video statement from the Northern Command.
He said the decision aimed to strengthen Israel's security posture along the northern frontier, amid ongoing tensions along Israel's northern border, where cross-border hostilities have raised fears of a broader regional escalation.
In pictures: A US command and control aircraft split in two in suspected Iranian missile attack
16:40 , Maira Butt
Kuwaiti army says 10 army personnel injured in attack on military camp
16:30 , Maira ButtKuwait’s army has said that 10 of its personnel were injured in an attack on a military camp on Sunday.
The camp sustained material damage, the army said in a post on X, adding that Kuwait had dealt with 14 ballistic missiles and 12 drones over the past 24 hours.
It did not specify the location of the attacks.
ADAMA plant in southern Israel hit by Iranian missile or debris
16:10 , Maira ButtIsrael's ADAMA plant, a maker of active ingredients and crop protection materials, said its Makhteshim plant in southern Israel had been hit by either an Iranian missile or debris from a missile on Sunday.
ADAMA, part of Chinese owned Syngenta Group, said the damage to the plant was not immediately known. No injuries were reported.
Iranian state media shares message by supreme leader thanking Iraq's people and religious leadership for their support
15:57 , Maira ButtIran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has thanked the Iraqi people and religious leadership for their support of Iran “in the face of aggression”, Iran's state media reported on Sunday, without saying how this message was conveyed.
Khamenei has not been seen in public since the outbreak of war. His father, the slain supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in US-Israeli strikes on his compound on 28 February.
Iranian state media have shared written messages by Mojtaba Khamenei to the public via its channels.
Analysis: I’m a naval expert. Here’s why the US military hasn’t used force to reopen the Strait of Hormuz
15:40 , Maira ButtSince the United States and Israel launched their war against Iran in late February, Iran has retaliated by targeting commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, effectively shutting down the narrow channel of water.
It’s caused a global fuel crisis, even though some ships are managing to get through the strait. US President Donald Trump has given Iran an ultimatum to fully reopen the waterway to oil and gas shipments, and called on NATO allies to help in the effort.
We asked naval expert Jennifer Parker, who served for 20 years with the Royal Australian Navy, to explain what kind of military force would be required to reopen the strait to commercial shipping and why the US hasn’t yet taken this step.
Why the US military hasn’t used force to reopen the Strait of Hormuz
Qatari television station condemns attacks on Tehran office
15:20 , Maira ButtAl-Araby, a Qatari news channel, has condemned a missile attack on its Tehran offices on Sunday.
At least 10 people have been injured as a result of the incident, according to the Iranian Red Crescent.
In a statement, Al-Araby wrote that it “condemns this attack on a civilian commercial building and affirms that endangering journalists or considering them targets runs counter to international law”.
It is currently unclear who launched the missile.
Pakistan hosts regional powers for Iran talks with focus on Hormuz proposals
15:00 , Maira ButtPakistan has hosted talks with Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia on Sunday as part of its efforts to negotiate an end to the ongoing Iran war, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.
Foreign ministers from the three regional powers landed in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad for the talks as Iran warned the US it would be “waiting” for US troops amid reports an American ground invasion and global oil prices surged.
The countries meeting in Pakistan have floated proposals to Washington tied to maritime traffic and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, five sources familiar with the matter told Reuters, as part of wider efforts to stabilise shipping flows.
The Strait of Hormuz is a vital shipping route through which a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies pass, but Iran has effectively halted shipping flows through it in response to the US and Israeli air strikes that began a month ago.
Who are the Houthis? How rebel group could disrupt global trade amid Strait of Hormuz chaos
14:42 , Maira ButtThe Houthis, a Yemeni rebel group known for its attacks on shipping, have joined the Iran war just as it enters its fifth week.
Their involvement escalates a rapidly worsening conflict that has already placed global oil supplies in a chokehold amid the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and reports of an impending ground invasion by US troops.
Backed by Iran, the Houthis had stayed out of the conflict until they launched attacks on Israel on Saturday.
They carried out a second attack within 24 hours of the first on Sunday and vowed to continue fighting until US-Israeli “aggression” is ended on all fronts.
However, with a history of bombing maritime trade routes and disrupting shipping lanes, experts told The Independent that their entry into the fray will add further pressure on an already-stretched region with global effects.
Who are the Houthis? How rebel group could disrupt global trade and Strait of Hormuz
Watch: Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon kills three journalists covering the war
14:21 , Tara CobhamDiplomats meet to discuss ending war but progress uncertain as strikes continue
14:01 , Tara CobhamTop diplomats from key regional powers are meeting in Pakistan to discuss how to end the fighting in the Middle East, but there were few signs of progress as Israel and the US kept up strikes on Iran, and Tehran responded by firing missiles and drones across the region.
Pakistan said foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt are participating in the talks in Islamabad. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian held "extensive discussions" on regional hostilities.
More than 3,000 people have been killed throughout the month-long war that began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran, triggering Iran's attacks on Israel and neighbouring Gulf Arab states.
The US and Israel are not participating in the Islamabad talks.
Iran's parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, dismissed the talks as a cover while the US sends additional troops to the Middle East.
Anger at Iran war is growing among ‘more-right wing White House staffers,’ insider claims
13:29 , Tara CobhamAs the Iran war stretches into its second month, anger is mounting among some White House officials, according to a new report.
Discontent over the Middle East conflict is concentrated among younger, “more-right wing” staffers, an unnamed source with knowledge of the matter told Politico.
“They’re very frustrated,” the individual said. “They didn’t love the war to start with, and since it began, the constantly contradictory messaging from the president himself, is just brutal, brutal for staff to deal with and making their life really hard. He puts his people in a really tough position, especially people who are public-facing.”
Read more here:
Anger at Iran War is growing among ‘more right-wing’ White House staffers: report
Royal Navy fits ship with advanced minehunting drones ahead of possible Hormuz deployment
13:10 , Maira ButtThe Royal Navy is preparing to equip one of its landing ships with advanced minesweeping drones, as ministers explore options to facilitate the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. RFA Lyme Bay is slated for a refit that will integrate high-tech equipment, transforming it into a “mothership” capable of deploying both underwater drones and crewless minehunting boats.
This upgrade is understood to be central to the Navy's strategy for utilising autonomous minehunters to clear the critical Strait of Hormuz, should such an operation become necessary. The UK is currently collaborating with international allies to develop military plans for re-establishing access through the strait, a vital shipping artery for global oil and gas supplies that has been effectively blockaded by Tehran.
A defence source said: “Whilst no decisions have yet been taken on whether these capabilities will be sent to the Strait of Hormuz, this preventative step gives ministers options should they be needed to help resume the normal flow of merchant shipping.”
Royal Navy fits ship with minehunting drones ahead of possible Hormuz deployment
Oil prices on track for record monthly surge amid Iran war chaos
12:50 , Maira ButtThe price of Brent crude is on track to break records this month, surging by 51 per cent according to LSEG data.
The previous monthly record was held in September 1990 when the price of crude rose by 46 per cent amid Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait, leading to the first Gulf war.
On Friday, the price of oil closed at $112 a barrel amid conflicting comments by the US and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz, which has held up millions of barrels of oil since the outbreak of war on 28 February.
'Avoid Yemeni water at all times' warns EU maritime security body
12:28 , Maira ButtShips have been warned to avoid entering Yemeni territorial waters as the Houthis could resume “attacks on merchant ships” in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, the European Union's maritime security body has warned.
The European Union Naval Force Aspides has advised ships to avoid Yemeni territorial waters amid an increased risk of attack.
In a report published on Saturday, it assessed the threat level as “high” for Israeli-linked vessels and as “medium” for vessels not linked to Israel or the United States.
In pictures: War enters fifth week as strikes across Middle East continue
12:12 , Maira ButtThe US-Israeli war against Iran has entered its fifth week as attacks continued across the region.
On Sunday, a funeral was held for three journalists killed in southern Lebanon by Israeli strikes.
Pope Leo says God rejects prayers of leaders who wage war
11:45 , Maira ButtPope Leo XIV said on Sunday that God rejects the prayers of leaders who start wars and have “hands full of blood”, in unusually strong remarks amid the ongoing war in Iran.
Addressing tens of thousands of people in St Peter's Square on Palm Sunday, the pontiff said that Jesus cannot be used to justify any wars.
“This is our God: Jesus, King of Peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war,” he said.
“Jesus) does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them, saying: 'Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen: your hands are full of blood',” he said, quoting a Bible passage.
Two Australian states make public transport free as soaring fuel prices hit commuters
11:25 , Maira ButtThe governments of Tasmania and Victoria have made public transport free from this week amid rising fuel costs in the country.
Tasmanian state premier Jeremy Rockliff said on X that buses and ferries would be free until 1 July 2026. “From tomorrow, Tasmanian public transport will be free. We'll be keeping it free until 1 July,” Mr Rockliff said.
The decision was taken to ease the cost of living, he said.
“We know the rising cost of fuel is impacting the family budget, and that's why we have again taken strong and decisive action to protect Tasmanians,” the premier said in a joint statement with Kerry Vincent, the minister for infrastructure and transport.
Two Australian states make public transport free as soaring fuel prices hit commuters
Watch: Israeli military release video they claim shows strike on journalist Ali Shoeib
11:05 , Maira ButtRussian spy satellites photographed Chagos military base for Iran, says Zelensky
10:45 , Maira ButtRussian spy satellites photographed the UK-US based on Diego Garcia “in the interests of Iran”, according to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.
The pictures were taken after Iran launched two ballistic missiles at the site, according to the leader.
Images of bases in the Middle East housing American and British troops were also taken.
The Ministry of Defence has previously said it is “highly likely” that Russia shared intelligence with Iran even before the outbreak of war last month.
In a post on X, Zelensky said he had received an intelligence briefing on Saturday setting out Russian satellite activity.
He said: “On March 24, they imaged the US–UK joint military facility on Diego Garcia located in the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean. They also captured pictures of Kuwait International Airport and parts of the infrastructure of the Greater Burgan oil field.
“On March 25, they took pictures of the Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. The Shaybah oil and gas field in Saudi Arabia, Incirlik Air Base in Turkey, and Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar were all imaged on March 26.
“There are no Ukrainian facilities on this list. But who is helping whom when sanctions are lifted from an aggressor that earns daily revenue and provides intelligence for strikes against American, Middle Eastern, UK, and US–UK bases and so on?”
US has only destroyed a third of Iran's missiles, says American intelligence sources
10:23 , Maira ButtThe United States has only destroyed a third of Iran’s missile and drone capabilities, according to Reuters who spoke with sources familiar with American intelligence.
Most of the country’s stockpile is immediately inaccessible but a sizeable arsenal remains available, according to the five sources.
A third of Iranian missiles have been destroyed and another third are likely damaged or buried underground, according to the report, with a similar assessment made for its drone arsenal.
Pentagon waits for Trump’s approval after planning ‘weeks of ground operations’ in Iran, report says
09:55 , Maira ButtPentagon officials are preparing for potential ground operations in Iran, which could last for weeks, The Washington Post reported Saturday.
These potential operations wouldn’t amount to a full invasion, but could include raids by infantry troops and Special Operations forces, according to the outlet, which cited anonymous U.S. officials.
One source told the Post the goals being considered could take “weeks, not months,” while another estimated it could take “a couple of months.” It’s still unknown whether President Donald Trump will approve any of the plans, according to the report.
“It’s the job of the Pentagon to make preparations in order to give the Commander in Chief maximum optionality,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told the Post. “It does not mean the President has made a decision.”
Katie Hawkinson reports from Washington DC:
Iranian armed forces waiting for US land arrival, says Ghalibaf
09:34 , Maira ButtIranian armed forces are waiting for the arrival of US forces by land and are ready to “punish” America’s regional partners, speaker of Iran’s parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has said on Sunday, according to state media.
He said that the US had spoken of negotiations in public while planning a ground invasion in private.
It comes amid reports by the Washington Post that the US is preparing for a ground invasion.
Watch: Waves of airstrikes hit Tehran as thousands of US Marines arrive in the Middle East
09:10 , Tara CobhamIran embassy in South Africa accuses US commanders of 'killing 168 innocent children'
08:50 , Vishwam SankaranIran's embassy in South Africa accused US commander Leigh R Tate and executive officer Jeffrey E York aboard the USS Spruance of killing children at a school in Minab.
"Remember these two criminals. Leigh R. Tate, the commander, and Jeffrey E. York, the executive officer of the USS Spruance, who ordered the launch of Tomahawk missiles three times, killing 168 innocent children at a school in Minab," the Iranian embassy said.
Remember these two criminals. Leigh R. Tate, the commander, and Jeffrey E. York, the executive officer of the USS Spruance, who ordered the launch of Tomahawk missiles three times, killing 168 innocent children at a school in Minab.
— Iran Embassy SA (@IraninSA) March 28, 2026
Don’t they have children of their own? pic.twitter.com/urVURioWb3
"In this war, Iran is fighting on behalf of humanity and freedom-seekers against those responsible for genocide," it said in another post on X.
Yemen's Houthis say they launched second attack on Israel in less than 24 hours
08:46 , Tara CobhamYemen's Iran-aligned Houthis said they carried out a second attack on Israel in less than 24 hours using missiles and drones, and vowed to continue military operations in the coming days, the group's military spokesperson Yahya Saree said in a televised speech on Saturday.
The Houthis' entry into the conflict adds to regional tensions, particularly given their ability to strike targets far beyond Yemen and disrupt shipping lanes around the Arabian Peninsula and the Red Sea, as they did in support of Hamas in Gaza following the 7 October 2023 attacks.
Israel rejects and sends back statement by Nagasaki atomic bomb survivors
08:30 , Vishwam SankaranThe Israeli embassy in Tokyo refused to accept a statement from atomic bomb survivors' groups, which criticised attacks by Israel and the US on Iran.
Four groups part of the peace council issued a statement calling for an immediate ceasefire following US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran.
They sent the joint statement to the embassies of the countries involved.
"The document was sent back without even being read. I think they are becoming close-minded," said Shigemitsu Tanaka, the 85-year-old head of the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Survivors Council.
ICYMI: Iran's exiled prince wants US to continue war
08:10 , Vishwam SankaranPakistan to host talks with Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt on Iran war
07:50 , Vishwam SankaranPakistan is hosting talks with Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt on the Iran war today, according to Pakistan's foreign ministry.
Foreign ministers from the four countries are set to hold "in-depth discussions on a range of issues, including efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region" today and tomorrow.
“We would discuss where the negotiations in this war are heading and how these four countries assess the situation and what can be done," Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told broadcaster A Haber on Friday.
In recent weeks, Pakistan has positioned itself as a potential venue for indirect US-Iran negotiations.
It has conveyed to Tehran a US proposal for ending the war and offered to host talks between the two sides.
Oman says no party has claimed responsibility for attacks on its territory
07:36 , Tara CobhamOman's foreign ministry said on Sunday that it condemns attacks on its territory, adding that no party has claimed responsibility.
It said authorities were investigating the attacks' "sources and motives" without providing further details.
Oman said on Saturday that a worker was injured in a drone attack on the Gulf country's Salalah port and Danish container shipping group Maersk said later that it temporarily halted its operations at the port after Saturday's attack.
Yemen condemns Iran's 'attempts to drag' it into war
07:30 , Vishwam SankaranThe Yemen government strongly condemned Iran's "frequent attempts to drag" it into wars through its allied militias, the Yemeni News Agency (Saba) reported yesterday.
Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebel group claimed responsibility for launching missiles towards Israel yesterday, marking their entry into the US-led war against Iran for the first time since February.
"The new round of subversive Iranian policies, which the Houthis terrorist militias have joined, reproduces the catastrophic model experienced by other countries in the region, where armed groups outside the law continue to seize the decision over war and peace, and involve their countries in destructive confrontations," Yemen's internationally recognised government said in a statement.
Kuwait's main airport suffers 'significant' damage from drone attacks
07:10 , Vishwam SankaranKuwait International Airport has suffered "significant damage" to its radar system following multiple drone strikes by Iran and its proxies, the country's Civil Aviation Authority said yesterday.
You can read more on the situation here:
Major airport suffers ‘significant’ damage in Iranian drone attacks
Israeli strikes kill three journalists in Lebanon as CPJ probes attack
06:50 , Vishwam SankaranIsraeli strikes have killed three journalists in Lebanon, including a reporter working for a Hezbollah-owned television network accused of being a "terrorist".
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said it was investigating the attack, with Lebanon calling the strike a “blatant crime".
“Once again, the Israeli aggression is violating the most basic rules of international laws and international humanitarian law and the laws of war, by targeting press reporters, who are ultimately civilians performing a professional duty,” the Lebanese presidency posted on X.
“We have seen a disturbing pattern in this war and in the decades prior of Israel accusing journalists of being active combatants and terrorists without providing credible evidence," CPJ said in a statement.
US destroyed only third of Iran's missiles, report finds
06:30 , Vishwam SankaranCountering Donald Trump’s claims that Tehran had “very few rockets left”, a new report by Reuters suggests that only about a third of Iran’s missile and drone arsenal has been destroyed.
Another third is likely damaged or buried in underground tunnels and bunkers, according to the report, which is based on people familiar with US intelligence.
It suggests that Tehran still has a sizeable stockpile.
US officials earlier stated that the war in Iran eliminated Tehran's missiles, with both Washington and Tel Aviv claiming that degrading Iran’s ballistic missile capacity is one of the chief aims of the war.
Israel said it “neutralised” nearly 70 per cent of Tehran’s missile launchers spread across Iran, but the Islamic Republic has continued to hit targets in Israel and the Gulf.
US condemns drone attack on Kurdish president's residence
06:10 , Vishwam SankaranUS has said it "unequivocally and forcefully condemns" attack by Iran's proxies on the private residence of Iraqi Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani.
"These actions by Iran and its proxies are a direct assault on Iraq’s sovereignty, stability, and unity. We categorically reject the indiscriminate and cowardly terrorist acts that Iran and its terrorist proxies have unleashed in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region and throughout Iraq," the US department of state posted on X.
However, Iran claimed that the attack was a US-Israeli assassination attempt, calling it a clear "act of terrorism".
ICYMI: Trump warns Cuba is 'next'
05:50 , Vishwam SankaranUAE says it is actively engaging with drones from Iran
05:30 , Vishwam SankaranThe UAE defence ministry said today it is actively engaging with missiles and drones from Iran.
"Authorities in Dubai confirm that the sounds heard across parts of the city were the result of successful air defence interception operations," the government of Dubai's media office posted on X.
"The concerned teams continue to monitor the situation and take the necessary measures to ensure everyone's safety, and they urge the public to obtain information from its official sources," it said in a statement.
Pentagon awaits Trumps approval for 'weeks of ground operations'
05:10 , Vishwam SankaranThe US Pentagon is planning for potential ground operations in Iran, which could last for weeks.
While not amounting to a full scale invasion, these operations may include targeted raids by troops, according to The Washington Post.
You can read more on this here
Iran threatens to bomb US universities throughout Gulf
04:50 , Vishwam SankaranIran has threatened to bomb the campuses of US universities in the Middle East after American strikes destroyed two Iranian colleges.
Several US universities including, the Texas A&M University and the New York University have campuses in the Gulf region.
"If the US government wants its universities in the region to be free from retaliation... it must condemn the bombing of the universities in an official statement by 12 noon on Monday, March 30, Tehran time," Iran's Revolutionary Guard said in a statement today, according to Fars news agency.
"We advise all employees, professors, and students of American universities in the region and residents of their surrounding areas" to stay kilometre away from campuses, it said, according to the statement published by Iranian media.
Iran's politicians push for exit from nuclear weapons treaty
04:30 , Vishwam SankaranAmid the US and Israel-led war in Iran, the regime's politicians are pushing for Tehran's exit from the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
"The NPT treaty has not only failed to protect our country from attacks by nuclear powers, but our nuclear facilities have been repeatedly targeted, and international documents and agreements have been entirely disregarded," said Ebrahim Rezaei, a spokesperson for Iran's national security commission of parliament.
"Iran's continued membership in the NPT is meaningless; the NPT has brought us no benefits," Rezaei posted on X.
The spokesperson added that a piece of legislation has been uploaded to an online parliamentary portal to be reviewed soon.
He said the priority legislation seeks to withdraw Iran from the NPT, revoke a law that adopted nuclear restrictions, and “support a new international treaty with aligned countries on developing peaceful nuclear technologies”.
Iran's daily warns Washington's troops will 'leave only in a coffin'
04:10 , Vishwam SankaranIran's English-language daily, the Tehran Times, carried a warning for incoming US troops that those setting foot on Iranian soil will "leave only in coffin".
Special issue of the Tehran Times
— Tehran Times (@TehranTimes79) March 27, 2026
Stay tuned for straight truth pic.twitter.com/GGXRGuFkMv
The warning under the headline "Welcome to Hell" comes as the US announced the deployment of additional troops to the Middle East, including thousands of Marines, making it the largest buildup of American forces in the region in 20 years.
It remains unclear where the new troops would be based, and US president Donald Trump has also not made it clear if they would be committed to ground operations against Iran.
Trump warns ‘Cuba’s next’ – before telling media to ‘pretend I didn’t say that’
04:00 , Katie HawkinsonU.S. President Donald Trump said “Cuba’s next” while discussing the ongoing conflict in Iran at an investment forum in Miami, Florida.
Watch below:
UK ‘weeks away from medicine shortages’ if Iran war continues, experts warn
03:40 , Bryony GoochThe UK is reportedly “a few weeks away” from major medicine shortages if the Iran war continues, experts have said, while the conflict could also prompt a surge in drug prices.
Keep reading:
UK ‘weeks away from medicine shortages’ if Iran war continues, experts warn
Recap: Marco Rubio says US can achieve goals 'without ground troops'
03:25 , Katie HawkinsonU.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday that the nation can achieve its goals in Iran “without ground troops.”
“We can achieve all of our objectives without ground troops, but we are always going to be prepared to give the president maximum optionality and maximum opportunity to adjust to contingencies, should they emerge,” he told reporters.
Rob Schneider calls to ‘restore the military draft’ in the US amid war with Iran
03:00 , Tom MurrayComedy actor Rob Schneider has suggested that the U.S. should reinstate conscription as the nation’s conflict with Iran rages on.
“We must once again recommit ourselves to one nation under God, indivisible,” The Hot Chick actor, 62, wrote in a post on X Friday.
Rob Schneider calls to ‘restore the military draft’ in the US amid war with Iran
Pentagon considering plans for ground operations in Iran: report
02:50 , Katie HawkinsonThe Washington Post reported Saturday that the Pentagon is preparing for potential ground operations in Iran, which could last for weeks.
The outlet’s sources reportedly said the potential operations wouldn’t amount to a full invasion, but could involve specific raids.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also told The Washington Post: “It’s the job of the Pentagon to make preparations in order to give the Commander in Chief maximum optionality. It does not mean the President has made a decision.”
The Independent has contacted the White House and Pentagon for comment.
Anger at Iran War is growing among ‘more-right wing White House staffers,’ insider claims
02:30 , Brendan RasciusAs the Iran war stretches into its second month, anger is mounting among some White House officials, according to a new report.
Discontent over the Middle East conflict is concentrated among younger, “more-right wing” staffers, an unnamed source with knowledge of the matter told Politico.
Keep reading:
Anger at Iran War is growing among ‘more right-wing’ White House staffers: report
Watch: Ship carrying thousands of Marines arrives in Middle East
02:00 , Bryony GoochEgypt enters curfew to ration electricity consumption
00:00 , Bryony GoochThe Egyptian prime minister has confirmed that all commercial establishments such as malls, shops and cafes will close at 9pm, except on Thursdays and Fridays when they will close at 11pm), starting Saturday and lasting for a month to ration electricity consumption due to the shortage of petroleum products resulting from the ongoing war between the US, Israel and Iran.
Bahrain's Alba confirms Iranian attack on its facilities
Saturday 28 March 2026 23:36 , Bryony GoochAluminium Bahrain, also known as Alba, confirmed early Sunday that its facilities were targeted in an Iranian attack a day earlier, Bahrain's state news agency reported.
Alba said two people were mildly injured in the attack, adding that it was assessing damage in the facilities. The confirmation comes after Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they targeted Alba and Emirates Global Aluminium in response to attacks on two Iranian steel plants.
Watch: 'We must finish the job': Iran’s exiled prince Reza Pahlavi calls on Trump to continue Iran war
Saturday 28 March 2026 23:00 , Bryony GoochAir defences shoot down drone near residence of Iraqi Kurdish leader, sources say
Saturday 28 March 2026 22:33 , Bryony GoochAir defences shot down a drone near the residence of the leader of the Iraqi Kurdish ruling party, Masoud Barzani, in Erbil, security sources told Reuters.
Security sources said on Saturday that a drone attack targeted the home of the president of Iraq's Kurdistan Region in an incident that comes as tensions continue to rise across northern Iraq.
Israel says it intercepted first incoming missile from Yemen as war in Middle East intensifies
Saturday 28 March 2026 22:00 , Bryony Gooch
Israel says it intercepted first incoming missile from Yemen as war in Middle East intensifies
