US & ‘Israel’ at war with Iran | Day 21 coverage

US President Donald Trump said that while the United States could engage in dialogue with Iran, he does not support a ceasefire. He added that a truce is not negotiated when one side is effectively overwhelming the other.

'Israeli' newspaper Haaretz reported the human and material toll from 20 days of Iranian bombardment of ‘Israel’ since the start of the war. According to the report:

• 21 people have been killed.
• 4,000 others wounded.
• 3,000 vehicles damaged.
• 9,000 buildings affected.

Alert period ends in Jordan.

A security source in Iraq told Al Jazeera that drones carried out a new attack on the US logistics support base surrounding Baghdad airport. 

Sirens blare in Jordan amid ongoing regional tensions.

Saudi Arabia’s Defence Ministry said its forces intercepted and destroyed three more drones in the Eastern Province, bringing the total to 12 in the last few hours.

The Russian Foreign Ministry summoned the 'Israeli' ambassador in Moscow on Monday in protest over the targeting of "RT" journalists while covering events on the ground in Lebanon.

In an official statement, the ministry said the protest was formally delivered to the ambassador. It called on 'Israeli' authorities to conduct an urgent and transparent investigation into the circumstances of the crew’s injuries, hold those responsible accountable, and take strict measures to ensure journalists are not targeted in conflict zones.

According to CNN, US intelligence officials say Iran’s influence over the Strait of Hormuz poses a significant and unresolved challenge. Defense intelligence assessments indicate Tehran could potentially keep the vital shipping route closed for one to six months.

Hezbollah issued a statement denying claims by UAE security authorities that it manages a network attempting to infiltrate and destabilize the national economy. The UAE’s State Security Agency said it had dismantled a “terrorist network” allegedly funded and run by Hezbollah and Iran under the cover of a fake commercial operation.

The party stated it has no presence in the UAE or any other country under any commercial or other cover, calling the accusations “completely false” and politically motivated. Hezbollah also criticized the Lebanese Foreign Ministry for quickly endorsing the foreign narrative.

The video shows debris falling from the sky, followed by an explosion and a massive plume of dust near the Western Wall and Al-Aqsa Mosque area. Ground-level footage revealed shattered stone walkways, twisted metal railings, and a partially collapsed retaining wall overlooking a public park.

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian delivered a Nowruz message emphasizing that Iran does not seek war with neighboring countries and has no intention of acquiring nuclear weapons, according to state media.

He said regional tensions stem from “the interference of enemies” and addressed neighboring nations as “our brothers”, calling for resolution of all differences. Pezeshkian proposed creating a regional security structure led by Islamic countries, without the involvement of outside powers.

A spokesperson for the ‘Israel’ army said the estimated cost of the ongoing war is around $10.5 billion, of which $5.4 billion has already been obtained. The remainder is expected to be allocated as the war

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said attempts by the US and ‘Israel’ to destabilize Iran have failed, calling their expectations “a gross miscalculation.” He claimed the attackers believed that targeting top officials would spread fear and allow them to dominate and dismember the country.

Instead, Khamenei said, Iranians have shown a “strange unity” across religious, intellectual, cultural, and political lines, while the enemy has begun to fracture. He framed the war as a test that has strengthened national cohesion in the face of external pressure.

Iranian leader Mojtaba Khamenei said the attacks in Turkey and Oman “did not in any way come from Iran’s armed forces,” adding that they were orchestrated by the “Zionist enemy” to create division within the Muslim world.

The ‘Israel’ military said it killed a senior Iranian intelligence official in a strike on Tehran. In a statement posted on X, the military said the air force carried out the operation two days ago as part of a joint intelligence effort.

The target, identified as Mehdi Rostami Shamastan, was described as a key figure in Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence. The claim has not been independently verified, and Iran has not issued a comment.

President Donald Trump on Friday sharply criticized NATO allies for not backing the US-‘Israel’ military campaign in Iran, labeling the countries 'cowards' in a social media post.

Trump argued that while the United States has led the war, which began on February 28 with US-‘Israel’ strikes, NATO members have avoided participating, yet continue to complain about high oil prices. He stressed that securing shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key factor in rising energy costs, would require minimal risk for them.

“Without the U.S.A., NATO is a paper tiger,” Trump wrote, adding that he would remember the perceived lack of support.

NATO has temporarily withdrawn most of its mission from Iraq as security concerns mount amid the ongoing regional war, according to Iraqi officials and alliance statements.

Two Iraqi security officials told AFP that the withdrawal is precautionary and not linked to any dispute with the Iraqi government. “There is no disagreement”, one official said, describing the move as temporary and driven by concerns over the current situation.

A second official said nearly all NATO personnel have left the country, with only a small contingent remaining.

A NATO spokesperson confirmed Friday that the alliance is “adjusting” its mission in Iraq, without detailing the scale or duration of the changes.

Iran's military threatened on Friday to hunt down officials and army commanders from the United States and ‘Israel’ even while they were vacationing or visiting entertainment centres.

"We are watching your cowardly officials and commanders, pilots and wicked soldiers," armed forces spokesman Abolfazl Shekarchi said, quoted by state TV.

"From now on, based on the information we have on you, the promenades, resorts and tourist and entertainment centres in the world will not be safe for you either."

Footage showing a house on fire in Tel Aviv, central ‘Israel’, after an Iranian missile salvo which included cluster munitions.

‘Israel’s’ emergency service Magen David Adom said it treated two people lightly injured in an initial toll.

Switzerland decided Friday it will not authorise the export of war materiel to the United States during the Middle East conflict, in line with its long-standing principle of military neutrality.

"The export of war materiel to countries involved in the international armed conflict with Iran cannot be authorised for the duration of the conflict," the government said in a statement.

"Exports of war materiel to the USA cannot currently be authorised," and existing US licences will now face regular review, it said, whilst adding that Switzerland has not issued war materiel export licences to ‘Israel’ or Iran for years.

Two ‘Israelis’ are lightly injured in Rehovot, central ‘Israel’, by impact from Iranian cluster bomb munitions, Magen David Adom says, cited by Hebrew media.

The ‘Israeli’ emergency service says that it treated a man and a woman in their 70s who were hit in a blast and are now in good condition.

Footage of the missile debris that landed in a street in the capital Amman earlier on Friday.

No injuries have been reported.

All-clear sirens sound across Jordan

An Iranian cluster munition hit a house in Rehovot, central ‘Israel’, Hebrew media says in early reports, following an Iranian missile salvo.

There are no reports of injuries so far.

The munitions hit several areas in central ‘Israel’, Hebrew media added.

בעקבות השיגור מאיראן: בית נפגע ברחובות, שריפה פרצה במקום | תיעוד @Itsik_zuarets pic.twitter.com/PCo2FrQaE3

— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) March 20, 2026

Sirens activated in Jordan amid danger

All-clear sirens sound across Jordan

Emergency sirens activated in Jordan

Iran has launched its 5th missile salvo targeting ‘Israel’ since Friday morning, after the ‘Israeli’ Home Front Command issued a missile launch warning.

Alarm sirens blared in Dimona, Negev, and other areas in south ‘Israel’, according to Hebrew media.

The United States and ‘Israel’ struck 16 Iranian cargo vessels in port towns on the Gulf on Friday, local media reported, saying the ships were burnt.

"Following the American–Zionist air attack, at least 16 cargo vessels belonging to citizens of the towns of Bandar Lengeh and Bandar Kong were completely burnt in the fire," a local official from the southern Hormozgan province said, quoted by the Tasnim news agency.

The ‘Israeli’ military said it began striking Iranian targets east of Tehran.

“The IDF has begun to strike Iranian terror regime targets in the area of Nur, east of Tehran,” the ‘Israeli’ military said in a statement.

All-clear sirens sound across Jordan

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Coprs (IRGC) said it has carried out the 67th wave of its ongoing operation, “True Promise 4” employing a combination of ballistic missiles and suicide drones.

A statement from the Guard described the strike as a “new and massive wave” in the series of coordinated air attacks.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told his British counterpart Yvette Cooper in a phone call that any US use of British bases would be seen as "participation in aggression" against the Islamic republic.

It was not clear when the call with Cooper took place.

"These actions will certainly be regarded as participation in aggression and will be recorded in the history of relations between the two countries," said Araghchi, according to a statement released Friday by the foreign ministry.

Sirens activated in Jordan amid danger

The spokesman for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was killed on Friday morning, Iranian media just reported.

“Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naini was killed in an Israeli-US attack early today,” the statement by the IRGC said, as reported by state media.

Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said the killing of the intelligence minister Esmail Khatib must be met with intensified efforts by Iranian officials and staff.

In a message addressed to President Masoud Pezeshkian carried by Iranian media, the son of late leader Ali Khamenei stressed that the loss should be compensated through “doubled efforts” by those in charge.

The Supreme Leader also called for stripping enemies of security “both inside and outside” the country.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Friday that the Islamic republic has continued to produce missiles despite the war with ‘Israel’ and the United States.

"Our missile industry deserves a perfect score... and there is no concern in this regard, because even under wartime conditions we continue missile production," Guards spokesman Ali Mohammad Naini said, quoted by the Fars news agency.

On Thursday, ‘Israeli’ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that "Iran no longer has the capacity to enrich uranium and manufacture ballistic missiles".

Sri Lanka refused permission to the United States to station two of its warplanes at an airport in the island's south in early March, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake told parliament on Friday.

"They wanted to bring two warplanes armed with eight anti-ship missiles from a base in Djibouti to the Mattala International Airport from March 4 to 8 and we said 'no'," Dissanayake said.

Sri Lanka maintains close ties with the United States, its biggest export market, and Iran which is a key buyer of tea, its main export commodity.

Jordan activates all-clear alarm

For the first time in 59 years, the call to prayer was absent from Al-Aqsa Mosque as 'Israel' prevented worshippers from performing Eid al-Fitr prayers, leaving its courtyards empty and its halls heavy with silence.

'Israeli' authorities did not allow Eid prayers this year, following a prolonged closure that included the last Friday of Ramadan, the Night of Decree (Laylat al-Qadr), and the last ten days of the holy month.

Footage released by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launching wave 66 of “Operation True Promise 4” amid the ‘Israeli’-US war on the Islamic Republic.

Emergency sirens activated in Jordan 

One Iranian missile fell in an “open area” in central ‘Israel’, after the army said it had detected a salvo launched from Iran, according to Hebrew channel 12.

The ‘Israeli’ military said Friday morning it has struck “a command center and weapons in military compounds” belonging to what it called the “Syrian regime” in southern Syria.

The military claims it is in response to “attacks against the Druze population in As-Suwayda” that allegedly happened on Thursday.

All-clear sirens sound across Jordan

The ‘Israeli’ military said it identified missiles launched from Iran toward ‘Israel’. 

“Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat,” the military said in a statement. 

‘Israel’ carried out strikes on towns in southern Lebanon, causing multiple injuries, state media reported on Friday.

"Israeli enemy fighter jets struck at dawn, targeting the towns of Bafliyeh and Hanine in the Tyre and Bint Jbeil districts," the official National News Agency (NNA) reported, adding that ‘Israeli’ forces had hit five other towns in the south of the country.

Drone attacks hit Kuwait's Mina Al-Ahmadi oil refinery on Friday, causing several fires but no casualties, state media said, citing the national oil company.

"The Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery... was subjected early today to several hostile drone attacks, causing fires in some of its units," the official Kuwait News Agency said, adding that "several refinery units were shut down".

Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry said its air defenses intercepted and destroyed 14 drones in the Eastern Province, with no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

Kuwait’s military reported that its air defense systems successfully countered hostile missile and drone strikes targeting the country.

'Israeli' PM Netanyahu jokes about false reports of his death, declaring “I’m alive,” right before updating the press and claiming that 'Israel' is winning Operation Roaring Lion against Iran and that "Iran is being decimated".

Multiple explosions were reported in Tehran, prompting the city’s air defense systems to activate in the northeast.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard reported launching 66 missiles, including Qadr, Khoramshahr, and Khaibar Shekan, along with kamikaze drones, while 'Israeli' residents remained in shelters for extended periods.

The 'Israeli' Home Front Command reported air raid sirens in northern 'Israel', including Haifa and surrounding areas.

Multiple explosions were reported in Jerusalem following the launch of missiles from Iran, triggering widespread alerts across the occupied city.

Sirens sound to announce end of alert period

Air raid sirens blare across Jordan

Iranian state television reported the launch of a new wave of missiles.

Sirens sound to announce end of alert period

Air raid sirens sounded in Jerusalem after 'Israeli' authorities reported detecting an Iranian missile attack aimed at the city and other parts of central and southern 'Israel'.

Air raid sirens blare across Jordan.

The 'Israeli' military said it carried out a new wave of airstrikes across Iran, targeting more than 130 sites linked to what it described as the country’s “terror regime.”

In a statement, the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) said the strikes, conducted by the 'Israeli' Air Force over the past day, focused on western and central Iran based on military intelligence.

According to the IOF, the targets included ballistic missile launchers, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and air defense systems. The military said the operations are part of ongoing efforts to degrade Iran’s missile capabilities and defensive infrastructure.

The IOF added that it will continue strikes in the area to reduce threats against 'Israel' and expand its aerial superiority over Iranian territory.

The claims could not be independently verified.