President Donald Trump on Sunday, in a social media post laden with expletives, vowed to strike Iran’s power plants and bridges. He vowed the “crazy bastards” would be “living in Hell” if the Strait of Hormuz isn’t opened to all marine traffic by Tuesday, just hours after announcing the U.S. had rescued the final airman shot down in Iran last week.

“Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!!” Trump said in a Truth Social post.

Later on Sunday, Trump posted on Truth Social the date “Tuesday, 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time!” without further explanation. The White House on Sunday told MS NOW that the date is now the deadline for Iran to reach a deal with the U.S.

Trump has repeatedly threatened Iran’s critical infrastructure, vowing to send Iran back to the “stone age” if it does not meet the U.S. demands as the war entered its second month and the conflict in the Middle East showed no signs of slowing.

Destroying civilian infrastructure could constitute a war crime under international humanitarian law.

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., speaking on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” said the president’s comments were “embarrassing and juvenile,” and warned it could place future downed airmen at greater risk if they are captured in Iran.

“If you send the message that there’s no quarter for the folks on the other side, that really encourages them to mistreat our folks,” Kaine, who serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said. “It’s people trying to act like they’re puffed up and tough, when what we really see from the administration in this war is the absence of a plan, the absence of a clear rationale, no effort to get allies on board.”

Iran, meanwhile, has shown no signs of backing down, striking economic and infrastructure targets in neighboring Gulf Arab countries.

On Sunday, Iran’s state TV aired a video showing what it claimed were parts of an American aircraft shot down by Iranian forces, along with a photo of thick, black smoke rising into the air. The broadcaster said Iran had shot down an American transport plane and two helicopters that were part of the rescue operation.

However, a regional intelligence official briefed on the mission told The Associated Press that the U.S. military blew up two transport planes due to a technical malfunction, forcing it to bring in additional aircraft to complete the rescue. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the covert mission.

Iran’s military joint command on Sunday claimed that four U.S. aircraft were destroyed during the rescue operation and warned of stepping up retaliatory attacks on regional oil and civilian infrastructure if the U.S. and Israel attacked such targets in the Islamic Republic, according to state television.

“We once again repeat: if you commit aggression again and strike civilian facilities, our responses will be more forceful,” a spokesman said in comments run by IRNA news agency.

Countdown to Trump’s deadline

Meanwhile, the U.S. has been ramping up pressure on Tehran to open the Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint linking Iran and the Arabian Peninsula through which a large proportion of the world’s oil and gas supplies pass.

Trump said Saturday in a Truth Social post: “Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT. Time is running out – 48 hours before all Hell will reign [sic] down on them.”

Oman’s foreign ministry said on Sunday that it met with Iranian officials a day earlier to discuss “possible options for ensuring the smooth flow of transit through the Strait of Hormuz.”

“During the meeting, experts from both sides presented a number of visions and proposals that will be studied,” the Omani statement on X read.

On March 26, Trump said he would extend a pause in attacking Iran’s energy facilities by 10 days to April 6 at the request of the government of the Islamic Republic.

In a televised address from the White House on Wednesday, Trump told Americans that he expects the Iran war to last another two to three weeks, but said the conflict was close to an end.

“We are going to finish the job, and we’re going to finish it very fast,” he said.

The spot price for current physical cargoes of Brent crude oil soared Thursday to $141.36, the highest level since the 2008 financial crisis, according to S&P Global, which tracks the data.

The spot price reflects demand for Brent oil to be delivered in the next 10 to 30 days. The high price of immediate oil deliveries points to current physical supply constraints due to the huge disruption triggered by Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

The price was $32.33 higher than the Brent crude futures contract for June delivery, which closed at $109.03 on Thursday.

Iran’s foreign minister, ⁠in principle, ‌left the door open for peace talks with the U.S. amid talks about mediation from Pakistan, but he gave no sign ⁠of Tehran’s willingness to bow to Trump’s demands.

“We are deeply grateful to Pakistan for its efforts and have never refused to go to Islamabad. What we care about are the terms of a conclusive and lasting END to the illegal war that is imposed on us,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on X.

Pakistan told the Associated Press on Saturday that efforts to broker a ceasefire are “right on track.”

U.S. rescues last airman shot down by Iran

Trump said Sunday the U.S. has rescued a service member who went missing after Iran downed a fighter jet, while vowing to strike key infrastructure if Tehran doesn’t reopen the Strait of Hormuz by Tuesday.

Trump confirmed that a U.S. airman who had gone missing after an F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet was shot down in Iran has been rescued. The jet’s pilot had been rescued soon after the aircraft was downed.

“WE GOT HIM!” Trump said in a Truth Social post referring to the second officer.

“Over the past several hours, the United States Military pulled off one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in U.S. History,” Trump said.

The president later said the rescued airman, an officer, was “seriously wounded.”

“We have rescued the seriously wounded, and really brave, F-15 Crew Member/Officer, from deep inside the mountains of Iran,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social. “He is a highly respected Colonel.”

Trump said his administration did not initially confirm the rescue of the first crew member in order to avoid jeopardizing the operation.

The president also said he will speak about the military operation in Iran at a news conference at the Oval Office on Monday at 1 p.m. ET.

U.S. Central Command issued a brief statement, saying, “U.S. forces successfully completed the rescues of two American service members from Iran after their F-15E fighter jet was shot down April 2 during a combat mission. The service members were safely recovered during separate search and rescue missions.”

CENTCOM added that strikes into Iran would continue in an attempt to “dismantle the Iranian regime’s ability to project power beyond its borders.”

Tehran and Washington confirmed Saturday that Iran downed the two-seat F-15E jet. The incident marks the first time Iranian forces have successfully shot down a U.S. combat aircraft since the U.S. and Israel began their airstrikes on Iran on Feb. 28.

Separately, two U.S. officials said Saturday the pilot of a U.S. A-10 Warthog jet ejected from the aircraft that crashed in Kuwait after being hit by Iranian fire. The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post were the first to report that the A-10 had been shot down.

Petrochemical zone struck in Iran

However, Iran appeared to maintain its retaliatory attacks on neighbors in the Gulf region, and seemed to be targeting petrochemical facilities.

Abu Dhabi’s media office said in a post on X that authorities in the city responded to multiple fires at the Borouge petrochemical plant “caused by falling debris following successful interceptions by air defense systems.”

Operations at the plant have been suspended, the Abu Dhabi Media Office said.

Borouge did not immediately respond to CNBC’s email on Sunday requesting confirmation.

The company operates a petrochemical complex in Al Ruwais Industrial City​ in the United Arab Emirates, according to its website.

Bahrain’s state news agency reported that the Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (GPIC) confirmed a “number of its operational units were subject to an attack by Iranian drones, in the early hours of Sunday morning.”

GPIC also did not immediately respond to CNBC’s emailed request for comment.

On Saturday, Iranian state media reported air strikes at a petrochemical zone in southwestern Iran, with at least five people injured.

A projectile also hit an auxiliary building near the perimeter of Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant, the Tasnim news agency said, killing one person. The operations of the plant were unaffected.

Russia’s state nuclear company Rosatom evacuated a further 198 of its staff from the site on Saturday, Russian news agencies reported, in evacuations already planned before the latest incident.

The Israeli military, meanwhile, said it had carried out “a wave of strikes” on ‌Tehran.

Iran attacks targets in three Gulf states

In Kuwait, Iranian drone attacks caused significant damage to power plants and a petrochemical plant. They also put a water desalination station out of service, according to the Ministry of Electricity. No injuries were reported, the ministry said.

In Bahrain, a drone attack caused a fire at one of the national oil company’s storage facilities and a state-run petrochemical plant, the kingdom’s official news agency said.

In the United Arab Emirates, authorities responded to fires at a petrochemical plant in Ruwais that they said were caused by intercepted debris, halting operations.

The strikes came a day after Israel struck a petrochemical plant in Iran that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said generated revenue that it had used to fund the war.

The petrochemical industry is a key sector in many Gulf states. Plants in Bahrain, Kuwait, the UAE and Iran convert oil and gas into products like plastics, polymers and fertilizer, bringing in billions in export revenue.

Kuwait Petroleum reports damage after drone attacks

Iranian drone attacks hit ⁠various targets in Kuwait on Sunday, with the state energy company, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, reporting fires and “severe material damage” at some operating units. KPC said in a statement that teams were working ⁠to ‌contain the fires at affiliates Petrochemical ⁠Industries Company and National Petroleum Company.

In a separate incident, KPC earlier said a fire broke out in its Shuwaikh ‌oil sector complex, which houses the oil ministry and KPC headquarters, after a ​drone attack.

Kuwaiti state media, citing the finance ministry, said an Iranian drone hit an office complex for government ministries, causing ⁠significant material damage but no casualties.

Two power generation ‌units were also taken out ‌of service after Iranian drones targeted two power and water desalination plants, causing significant damage, Kuwait’s electricity ⁠and water ministry said.

No injuries were reported in any ⁠of the incidents.

The U.S.-Israeli ⁠war on Iran is in its sixth week, with Tehran striking Israel and Gulf ​Arab states hosting ‌U.S. military installations.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed responsibility for attacks on petrochemical plants in Kuwait, as well as the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

CNBC

Tensions remained high on day 37 of the US–Israel war on Iran as U.S. President Donald Trump warned Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by Monday or face “all hell.” Amid the escalating conflict, US Special Forces successfully rescued a downed crew member of an F15-E, from deep behind enemy lines in Iran. This comes after another pilot was recovered yesterday, marking an unprecedented double rescue from enemy territory. Follow all the latest updates here:

10:44 PM, 5 April 2026

Jordan intercepts missiles, UAVs in 24 hours

The Jordanian Armed Forces announced today that Iranian forces targeted the Kingdom’s territory with two missiles and two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over the past 24 hours.

The Jordan News Agency (Petra), quoting the Military Media Directorate, confirmed that the Royal Jordanian Air Force intercepted and downed the projectiles, which were directed atsites within Jordanian territory.

The Public Security Directorate reported that relevant units responded to 18 reports of falling fragments and projectiles during the same period.

10:18 PM, 5 April 2026

Qatar successfully intercepts UAV, cruise missile attacks

The State of Qatar announced today that its Armed Forces successfully intercepted an attack involving a number of unmanned aerial vehicles and two cruise missiles.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed the interceptions in a statement reported by the Qatar News Agency.

09:37 PM, 5 April 2026

Four hurt in Khorfakkan Port fire

In a follow-up to the incident reported earlier on Sunday at Khorfakkan Port, resulting from falling debris after a successful interception by air defence systems, the competent authorities confirmed that a fire broke out at the site. Emergency response teams were immediately deployed and dealt with the situation swiftly and efficiently, bringing the fire under control, with cooling operations ongoing.

The incident resulted in one Nepalese national sustaining serious injuries and being transferred to hospital for treatment, while three Pakistanis suffered injuries ranging from minor to moderate.

09:25 PM, 5 April 2026

UK police arrest protesters near base used by US

British police said they arrested seven people on Sunday at a protest near an air base in eastern England used by US forces, accusing them of supporting the banned group Palestine Action.

Activists had gathered to protest the alleged use of the Royal Air Force Lakenheath base as a departure point for US aircraft involved in the war in the Middle East.

The Lakenheath Alliance for Peace, which organised the protest, said the seven had been arrested wearing clothing with the message: “We oppose genocide, we support Palestine Action.”

Police said the five men and two women had been arrested “on suspicion of supporting a proscribed organisation”.

09:05 PM, 5 April 2026

Trump issues new ultimatum to Iran

US President Donald Trump on Sunday appeared to extend his deadline for Iran to make a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face devastating bombardment, posting a message stating simply: “Tuesday, 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time!”

The new deadline, 0000 GMT Wednesday, would push back his ultimatum on Tehran by one day, after which Trump has vowed to destroy the country’s power plants and bridges.

08:53 PM, 5 April 2026

Iran parliament speaker warns Trump ‘whole region going to burn’

Iran’s powerful parliament speaker warned US President Donald Trump on Sunday that his “reckless moves” would mean “our whole region is going to burn”.

“Your reckless moves are dragging the United States into a living HELL for every single family, and our whole region is going to burn because you insist on following Netanyahu’s commands,” Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf wrote in an X post in English, referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Ghalibaf added that the “only real solution is respecting the rights of the Iranian people and ending this dangerous game”.

08:46 PM, 5 April 2026

Russia’s Lavrov says US should ‘abandon language of ultimatums’

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Sunday said Washington should abandon “the language of ultimatums” and return to negotiations, in a telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart, his office said.

Lavrov’s comments came after US President Donald Trump threatened in an expletive-laden post Sunday to strike Iran’s power plants and bridges if it did not reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz.

“The Russian side expressed hope that the efforts undertaken by a number of states to de-escalate tensions around Iran will be successful,” said a Moscow read-out of Lavrov’s conversation with Iran’s Abbas Araghchi.

That, it added, “would be facilitated by the United States abandoning the language of ultimatums and returning the situation to a negotiating track”.

Lavrov and Araghchi also called on Washington to halt “illegal attacks on civilian infrastructure”, such as the Bushehr nuclear power plant, where Russian staff have been working as technicians.

07:26 PM, 5 April 2026

OPEC+ hikes oil production quotas by 206,000 barrels per day

The OPEC+ oil cartel agreed to again increase oil production quotas Sunday, as the ongoing war in Iran and retaliation across the Middle East continues to roil energy markets.

The cartel, which includes key oil producers Saudi Arabia and Russia as well as several Gulf states, “decided to implement a production adjustment” of 206,000 barrels per day (bpd) from May.

07:21 PM, 5 April 2026

Israel’s El Al airline has cancelled all flights

Israel’s El Al airline announced it has cancelled all flights until April 18, citing ongoing disruptions, as the carrier adjusts operations amid heightened regional tensions and continued uncertainty affecting travel schedules.

06:57 PM, 5 April 2026

Kuwait Petroleum reports material losses after Iranian attack

Hesham Ahmed Al Refae, spokesperson for the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC), said significant material damage occurred at the Oil Sector Complex building and several operational facilities following what he described as an Iranian aggression.

During a media briefing, he confirmed that emergency and firefighting teams efficiently handled multiple fires and that no human injuries were reported.

Al Refae added that the corporation is coordinating with relevant authorities to assess the damage and has taken all necessary measures to ensure the safety of employees.

06:48 PM, 5 April 2026

Kuwait intercepts 9 missiles, 35 drones in 24 hours

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence of Kuwait said that over the past 24 hours, the country’s air defenses detected and neutralised 9 ballistic missiles, 4 drones, and 31 unmanned aerial vehicles.

He confirmed that the attacks caused significant material damage and scattered fires at vital facilities, but no human casualties were reported.

06:44 PM, 5 April 2026

OPEC+ says repairing hit energy facilities ‘takes a long time’

OPEC+ warned on Sunday that repairing energy facilities damaged in recent attacks “is both costly and takes a long time”, potentially hitting global oil supplies well into the future.

Its statement also stressed “the critical importance of safeguarding international maritime routes to ensure the uninterrupted flow of energy”.

Iranian attacks on infrastructure and threats against tankers in the Strait of Hormuz have badly restricted exports from the Gulf.

06:32 PM, 5 April 2026

Sharjah deals with attack on Khor Fakkan Port

Authorities in Sharjah said on Sunday they were responding to an incident that targeted Khor Fakkan port earlier in the day, confirming that no injuries had been reported so far.

The Sharjah Government Media Bureau said the relevant authorities in the emirate had immediately dealt with the situation following the incident, which occurred on Sunday, April 5.

It added that no casualties had been recorded to date, without providing further details on the nature of the incident.

Authorities urged the public not to circulate rumours and to rely solely on official sources for information, saying updates would be provided.

06:10 PM, 5 April 2026

Trump tells Fox News ‘good chance’ of deal with Iran on Monday

US President Donald Trump said Sunday he believes there is a “good chance” of making a deal with Iran on Monday, ahead of his deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face heavy bombing.

“I think there is a good chance tomorrow, they are negotiating now,” the president told a Fox News journalist.

“If they don’t make a deal and fast, I’m considering blowing everything up and taking over the oil,” he added.

05:58 PM, 5 April 2026

Anwar Gargash praises Bahrain’s resilience in face of Iranian aggression

Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President, paid rich tribute to the Kingdom of Bahrain’s resilience and unity in the face of what he described as blatant Iranian aggression, underscoring GCC’s solidarity at a time of heightened regional tensions.

In a post on his X account, Dr Gargash said: “At a moment when the region faces the treachery of blatant Iranian aggression, I can only commend the resilience and steadfastness of the sisterly Kingdom of Bahrain, standing tall with unbreakable resolve, under wise leadership and a conscious people united in defence of its sovereignty, security and achievements.”

He added: “Nations are measured in times of hardship, and Bahrain, as we have always known it, will remain a formidable bastion against every threat. From the UAE, we express our appreciation and pride, and together we will overcome the forces of aggression and darkness.”

05:14 PM, 5 April 2026

Dubai turns moments of crisis into opportunity 

Dubai Media Office calls on people to look beyond fake news and AI-generated videos, to look at how Dubai and the UAE have coped with crises in the past and turned them into moments of opportunity. It released a video explaining its argument:

In every crisis the region faces…
or the world goes through…
some Western media outlets return
with the same headlines…
the same predictions…
the same narrative

But headlines are one thing…
reality is another.
Throughout its history,
Dubai has faced crises,

05:09 PM, 5 April 2026

Israel renews strikes on Lebanon, forces Syria border crossing to close

Israeli strikes on south Beirut and its suburbs killed at least four people on Sunday, a day after Israel threatened to hit Lebanon’s main border crossing with Syria, forcing it to close.

The Israeli military also carried out deadly attacks on Lebanon’s south, one of which killed seven people including a family of six.

Israel has launched airstrikes across Lebanon as well as a ground invasion in the south since March 2, when armed group Hezbollah entered the war in the Middle East on the side of its backer Iran.

Hezbollah on Sunday claimed to have fired a cruise missile at an Israeli warship off the coast, but the Israeli military told AFP it was “not aware” of such an incident.

05:07 PM, 5 April 2026

Trump to hold major news conference on Monday

US President Donald J. Trump will be holding a major news conference alongside the country’s military in the Oval Office, on Monday at 1pm US Time, tweeted the White House.

President Donald J. Trump to hold a major news conference alongside our Military in the Oval Office, Monday at 1:00 P.M.

God Bless our great MILITARY WARRIORS! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/RHjVKLyYEH

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 5, 2026

04:58 PM, 5 April 2026

Netanyahu hails ‘incredible’ rescue of US airman from Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated US leader Donald Trump Sunday on the operation to rescue an airman downed in Iran.

“Congratulations President Trump! All Israelis rejoice in the incredible rescue of a brave American pilot by America’s dauntless warriors,” Netanyahu said in a recorded speech.

“This rescue operation reinforces the sacred principle: no one is left behind,” he said.

The latest US operation was to rescue an airman whose fighter jet crashed over Iran, while a previous one hours before had brought a pilot to safety.

The Israeli premier further drew parallels between the “daring rescue operations” conducted in the past by the Israeli military and the one carried out by the US inside Iran.

04:57 PM, 5 April 2026

Trump says US airman rescued in Iran was ‘seriously wounded’

US President Donald Trump said an airman rescued from inside Iran after his warplane was downed was “seriously wounded”, and added he would give a news conference the next day.

“We have rescued the seriously wounded, and really brave, F-15 Crew Member/Officer, from deep inside the mountains of Iran,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform, after previously describing the airman as only “injured” and “safe and sound.”

“I will be having a News Conference, with the Military, at the Oval Office, on Monday, at 1:00 P.M. (1700 GMT),” he wrote.

04:34 PM, 5 April 2026

Abu Dhabi fires now under control

Authorities in Abu Dhabi confirmed that three fires broke out at the Borouge Petrochemicals plant after debris fell following a successful air defense interception. Emergency response teams acted swiftly to contain the situation.

No injuries were reported. Damage to the site has occurred, and an assessment is currently underway.

The public is urged to rely only on official sources and avoid spreading unverified information.

04:33 PM, 5 April 2026

Israeli strike on south Beirut kills 4, wounds 39: ministry

An Israeli strike on south Beirut killed at least four people and wounded 39 on Sunday, the Lebanese health ministry said in a preliminary toll.

The strike hit near Lebanon’s largest public hospital, where an AFP team later saw around 20 people leaving the facility, some in tears, as smoke rose from the area and Israeli warplanes were heard overhead.

The area lies adjacent to Beirut’s southern suburbs, a stronghold of Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.

04:14 PM, 5 April 2026

Trump issues threats to Iran

US President Donald Trump expressed frustration at the situation in the Middle East, threatening greater aggression. In a particularly tough note posted on his Truth Social platform, he wrote: “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!|”

03:19 PM, 5 April 2026

Pope urges those who ‘unleash wars’ to ‘choose peace’

Pope Leo XIV on Sunday urged “those who have the power to unleash wars” to “choose peace” and criticised global indifference to conflicts, in his first Easter blessing.

“We are growing accustomed to violence, resigning ourselves to it, and becoming indifferent. Indifferent to the deaths of thousands of people,” he told a crowd of faithful in St Peter’s Square, also announcing a prayer vigil at the Vatican for April 11.

In a break with a tradition observed for years by his predecessors, Leo did not directly refer to any country in his blessing but this year’s Easter celebrations are taking place in the shadow of war in the Middle East.

03:16 PM, 5 April 2026

Saudi Arabia condemns riots, vandalism targeting UAE Embassy in Damascus

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expressed the Kingdom’s condemnation and denunciation of the acts of rioting, assaults, and attempted vandalism that targeted the Embassy of the brotherly United Arab Emirates and the residence of its head of mission in the Syrian capital, Damascus, as well as the unacceptable offenses directed at the national symbols of the brotherly United Arab Emirates.

In a statement carried by Saudi News Agency (SPA), the ministry affirmed the Kingdom’s rejection of these attacks and all forms of violence against diplomats, stressing the necessity of ensuring the protection of diplomats and diplomatic missions in accordance with relevant international laws and conventions.

03:10 PM, 5 April 2026

UAE reports no new casualties today

No new martyrs, fatalities, or injuries have been reported in the past hours, the Ministry of Defence said. Since the start of Iran’s attacks, two UAE personnel and one Moroccan civilian contracted with the Armed Forces have been martyred.

Civilian deaths now total 10, involving Pakistani, Nepalese, Bangladeshi, Palestinian, Indian, and Egyptian nationals. Injuries have reached 217, affecting people of various nationalities, including Emirati, Egyptian, Sudanese, Ethiopian, Filipino, Pakistani, Iranian, Indian, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, and more.

The Ministry of Defence reaffirmed that it is fully prepared to respond to any threat and will protect the country’s sovereignty, security, and stability.

03:02 PM, 5 April 2026

UAE intercepts 9 missiles, 50 drones and 1 cruise missile today

The UAE Ministry of Defencse reported that on April 5, its air defences engaged 9 ballistic missiles, 1 cruise missile, and 50 drones launched from Iran.

Since the start of Iran’s attacks, UAE air defenses have intercepted a total of 507 ballistic missiles, 24 cruise missiles, and 2,191 drones.

02:43 PM, 5 April 2026

Israeli military says it struck 120 targets in Iran 24 hours

The Israeli military said on Sunday the strikes focused on air defense, drone and missile systems.

The announcement comes in the wake of Iran’s downing of two US warplanes.

02:37 PM, 5 April 2026

Kuwait Petroleum reports drone attack on facilities

Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) said several of its operational sites, including Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) and Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC), were hit in a drone attack, causing fires and significant material damage.

Emergency and firefighting teams, supported by the Kuwait Fire Force, quickly implemented response plans to contain the fires and prevent them from spreading.

KPC confirmed there were no human casualties and that all precautionary measures were taken to protect personnel and secure the facilities. The corporation is coordinating with authorities to assess the damage and reiterated its commitment to the highest safety and security standards.

02:26 PM, 5 April 2026

Oman, Iran hold talks on Strait of Hormuz

Oman and Iran held a meeting at the level of undersecretaries from their foreign ministries, with specialists from both sides in attendance, to discuss ways to ensure smooth maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz amid regional tensions.

Experts from both countries presented proposals and insights aimed at maintaining the safe flow of vessels through the strategic trade and energy route.

02:18 PM, 5 April 2026

4 year-old girl among 7 killed in Israeli strike in Lebanon

Lebanon’s Health Ministry’s statement was issued after Israeli struck the town of Kfar Hatta near the coastal city of Sidon.

The Israeli military had called on the entire town late Saturday to evacuate.

Kfar Hatta hosts many displaced people who fled from southern Lebanon.

01:48 PM, 5 April 2026

Iran says US rescue operation used abandoned airport in Isfahan

Iran’s military said on Sunday that the US operation to rescue a missing airman from a downed American fighter jet used an abandoned airport in southern Isfahan province.

“The so-called US military rescue operation, planned as a deception and escape mission at an abandoned airport in southern Isfahan under the pretext of recovering the pilot of a downed aircraft, was completely foiled,” said Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesman for the military’s central command, Khatam Al Anbiya.

He added that “two C-130 military transport planes and two Black Hawk helicopters were destroyed” during the operation.

01:23 PM, 5 April 2026

Another India-flagged tanker crosses Strait of Hormuz 

An India-flagged vessel, Green Asha, has safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz, marking the ninth Indian tanker to transit the crucial maritime corridor since the onset of the ongoing West Asia conflict.

The development comes even as tensions remain elevated and security concerns continue to disrupt one of the world’s most vital oil and energy supply routes.

According to reports, Green Asha is an LPG carrier and its successful passage highlights India’s continued reliance on the strait despite mounting risks.

The transit follows a series of similar crossings by Indian vessels navigating the conflict-hit region under heightened surveillance.

01:21 PM, 5 April 2026

Bahrain intercepts 13 drones in last 24 hours

The Bahrain Defence Force (BDF) confirmed that its air defence systems intercepted and destroyed 13 drones over the past 24 hours, continuing to counter hostile attacks targeting the Kingdom.

Since the start of Iran’s aggression, Bahrain’s air defences have successfully intercepted 188 ballistic missiles and 466 drones, the BDF General Command said.

The announcement praised the unwavering vigilance and operational readiness of BDF personnel, noting that their performance ensures the Kingdom’s skies remain secure.

12:30 PM, 5 April 2026

US-Israeli strikes kill five Guards members in northwest Iran

US-Israeli strikes killed five fighters with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in the country’s northwest on Sunday, state media said.

“Following the brutal attacks of the American-Israeli enemy on the Moghan Plain… five IRGC fighters have attained martyrdom,” said Iran’s official IRNA news agency, citing a statement by the Guards in the northwestern Ardabil province.

12:24 PM, 5 April 2026

Iran internet blackout is longest shutdown on record

Iran’s internet blackout, first imposed well over a month ago, is now the longest nationwide shutdown on record, according to the monitor NetBlocks.

“Iran’s internet blackout is now the longest nation-scale internet shutdown on record in any country, exceeding all other comparable incidents in severity having entered its 37th consecutive day after 864 hours,” NetBlocks said in a tweet.

In another tweet, the monitor noted some countries had experienced intermittent or regional-level shutdowns over longer periods, while North Korea had never been connected to the global internet at all.

12:17 PM, 5 April 2026

UAE President, Italian PM discuss regional developments

UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Her Excellency Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of the Italian Republic, discussed the latest regional developments and their serious implications for security and stability, as well as their impact on maritime security, energy supplies, and the global economy.

The meeting took place during the Italian Prime Minister’s visit to the UAE.

11:59 AM, 5 April 2026

Lebanon president calls for negotiation with Israel

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun reiterated on Sunday a call for negotiations with Israel, saying he wanted to spare his country’s south from destruction on the scale seen in Gaza.

“It is true that Israel might want to do in southern Lebanon what it did in Gaza,” Aoun said in a televised address, after Israel launched airstrikes and a ground offensive against Hezbollah, destroying several southern Lebanese villages.

“Gaza was destroyed, over 70,000 people were killed, and they eventually sat down and negotiated, so why don’t we negotiate… until we can at least save the homes that have not yet been destroyed?” he added.

11:25 AM, 5 April 2026

Five killed in Iran strikes during US pilot rescue

Strikes killed five people overnight in Iran’s southwest during the rescue of a missing US crewmember of a downed American fighter jet, Iranian media reported Sunday.

“Five people were martyred in last night’s attack on the Kouh-e Siah area” in southwestern Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, the Tasnim news agency cited provincial official Iraj Kazemijou as saying.

He said the killings took place while the US was trying to find “the pilot or pilots” of the downed fighter jet.

11:10 AM, 5 April 2026

Hezbollah says targeted Israeli warship with cruise missile

Hezbollah on Sunday said it had targeted an Israeli warship with a cruise missile off the Lebanese coast, the first such claim by the group since the start of the Middle East war.

In a statement, the Iran-backed group said it targeted the vessel 68 nautical miles off the Lebanese coast, claiming the warship was “preparing to launch attacks on Lebanese territory”.

Israeli warships have been used on several recent occasions to launch strikes on Lebanon.

10:32 AM, 5 April 2026

Fires break out at petrochemicals factory in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi authorities are responding to multiple fires at the Borouge Petrochemicals Factory after debris fell from a successful air defense interception.

Operations at the factory have been suspended while damage is assessed. No injuries have been reported. Authorities urged the public to follow official sources and avoid sharing unverified information.

10:23 AM, 5 April 2026

How the US rescued a downed airman deep inside Iran

The dramatic rescue of a US Air Force officer deep inside Iran — after his F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down — has spotlighted one of the most complex and high-risk military operations: Recovering a pilot behind enemy lines.

According to reports from The New York Times and Axios, US special operations forces carried out a massive, multi-layered mission to extract the injured weapons systems officer, who had evaded Iranian forces for more than 24 hours in mountainous terrain.

The operation unfolded as a high-stakes race between US rescue teams and Iranian forces searching for the downed airman — a scenario military planners consider among the most dangerous in modern warfare.

Why this mission stands out.

09:59 AM, 5 April 2026

BAPCO Energies confirms Iranian drone attack

BAPCO Energies has confirmed that a hostile Iranian drone struck one of its storage facilities earlier today, triggering a tank fire. Emergency response teams, working alongside Civil Defense and relevant authorities, acted swiftly to extinguish the blaze.

09:33 AM, 5 April 2026

Iran hangs two convicted of links with Israel in pre-war protests

Iranian authorities on Sunday executed two men convicted of acting on behalf of Israel and the United States during a wave of anti-government protests earlier this year, the judiciary said.

“Mohammad-Amin Biglari and Shahin Vahedparast… were hanged after the case was reviewed and the final verdict was confirmed by the Supreme Court,” said the judiciary’s Mizan Online website.

The two men were involved in anti-government protests that peaked in January, it said.

08:56 AM, 5 April 2026

Iran Guards say destroyed US aircraft searching for missing pilot

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said a US aircraft that had been searching for the crewmember of a missing American fighter jet had been destroyed, Iranian media reported on Sunday.

“An American enemy aircraft that was searching for the pilot of a downed fighter jet was destroyed by the fighters of Islam in the southern region of Isfahan,” the Tasnim news agency quoted the Guards as saying.

US President Donald Trump said early Sunday the second crew member from the American fighter jet that crashed inside Iran was “SAFE and SOUND” following a search and rescue operation.

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08:18 AM, 5 April 2026

Second F-15E crew member rescued in Iran by US special forces

US forces have successfully rescued a downed airman from deep behind enemy lines in Iran. President Donald Trump hailed the mission as ‘one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in US history,’ noting that the pilot sustained injuries but is now safe.

The miraculous operation comes after a separate rescue of another pilot yesterday, marking the first time in memory that two US pilots were rescued separately from enemy territory without any American casualties. The President praised the military’s overwhelming air superiority and called the operation a moment of national pride.

07:50 AM, 5 April 2026

Bahrain extinguishes fire after ‘Iranian aggression’

Civil Defence crews have successfully extinguished the blaze at a facility, and no injuries have been reported according the Ministry of Interior. Sirens sounded earlier, and residents were urged to remain calm and move to the nearest safe location.

06:36 AM, 5 April 2026

UAE’s air defence systems responding to incoming missile, drone threats

The UAE’s air defence systems are responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran, the Ministry of Defence said early on Sunday, as loud sounds were reported in several parts of the country.

05:49 AM, 5 April 2026

Pope marks first Easter under cloud of Mideast war

Pope Leo XIV is set to mark Easter Sunday for the first time as pontiff, with the Middle East war casting a pall over the most important date in the Christian calendar.

The US-born pope, who has emerged as a leading voice against the war, will hold mass in St Peter’s Square from 0830 GMT in front of thousands of faithful.

Speaking during an Easter Vigil on Saturday, the pontiff called for “a new world of peace and unity” and decried the divisions created by “war, injustice and the isolation of peoples and nations”.

Leo has repeatedly called for peace in the Middle East and this week directly urged US President Donald Trump to find an “off-ramp”.

05:26 AM, 5 April 2026

Power substations and a water desalination facility targeted in Kuwait

Kuwait’s Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy said two power substations and a water desalination facility were targeted by Iranian drones, resulting in significant material damage and the temporary shutdown of two electricity generation units, but with no reported injuries.

The ministry said technical and emergency teams were immediately deployed and are working around the clock, in coordination with relevant authorities, to safeguard the stability of the power and water systems and ensure the continuity of essential services.

04:05 AM, 5 April 2026

Kuwait’s  air defences responding to missile, drone attacks

Kuwait’s military said on Sunday its air defences were working to intercept missiles and drones, as Tehran continued its campaign in the Gulf in response to US-Israeli strikes.

“Kuwaiti Air Defenses are currently responding to hostile missile and drone threats,” the Kuwaiti army posted on X, adding that any explosions heard were the result of air defence interceptions.

An Iranian drone attack had also caused “significant” damage to a government building in Kuwait City on Saturday evening, a finance ministry statement said, adding there were no reports of deaths or injuries.

03:10 AM, 5 April 2026

Iranian missiles fired towards Israel: Israeli military

Israel was targeted by missiles launched from Iran on Sunday, the Israeli military said, in the latest salvo in the Middle East war.

“A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel,” the military said on social media.

01:51 AM, 5 April 2026

Trump says Iran military leaders killed in Tehran strike

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that “many” of Iran’s military leaders were killed in a huge strike on the Islamic republic’s capital.

“Many of Iran’s Military Leaders, who have led them poorly and unwisely, are terminated, along with much else, with this massive strike in Tehran!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

The post included a video showing explosions lighting up a city’s skyline at night but did not specify when the military action took place.

The war erupted more than a month ago with US-Israeli strikes on Iran, triggering a retaliation that has spread the conflict throughout the Middle East and convulsed the global economy.

01:10 AM, 5 April 2026

US says it arrested relatives of slain Iran general Soleimani

Two family members of slain Iranian general Qassem Soleimani have been arrested in the United States after their residency permits were rescinded, the US State Department said Saturday.

“Last night, the niece and grand niece of deceased Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Major General Qassem Soleimani were arrested by federal agents following Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s termination of their lawful permanent resident (LPR) status,” a department statement said.

It identified the niece as Hamideh Soleimani Afshar. Her daughter was not named.

Both “are now in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),” the statement said, without specifying their whereabouts.

But Iranian media quoted two daughters of Soleimani as saying the pair are not relatives.

“The US State Department’s claim is a lie: the people arrested in the United States have no connection to the family,” Zeinab Soleimani told the Fars news agency.

Another daughter, Narjes Soleimani, who is a member of Tehran’s Islamic City Council, told Iranian state TV: “To this day, no member of the family nor any relative of Martyr Soleimani has resided in the United States.”

GN

Two US military planes have been shot down in separate incidents, marking a sharp escalation in the ongoing war with Iran. The developments come on day 36 of the conflict, just days after Donald Trump claimed the US had ‘decimated’ Iran and would end the war swiftly. At the same time, Trump has unveiled a record $1.5 trillion defence budget proposal, signalling a deeper military push. Follow all the latest updates here:

10:35 PM, 4 April 2026

Iran says five killed in US-Israeli attack on petrochemical hub

Iranian media is reporting that at least five people have been killed in an attack on the Mahshahr Petrochemical Zone.

The Israeli military said that earlier its air force struck a petrochemical complex in Mahshahr, in southwestern Iran. It alleged the complex was “responsible for producing and exporting chemical materials to the regime’s armed forces” and that the targeted facilities were “used to produce materials for explosives, ballistic missile, and additional weaponry.”

“After we destroyed 70% of its ability to create steel, which is used as the raw material for the weapons used against us, today we attacked their petrochemical factories,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video statement posted on his X account.

“I promised you that we will continue to crush the terrorist regime in Tehran, and that is exactly what we are doing,” Netanyahu said.

10:07 PM, 4 April 2026

IAEA expresses deep concern over Bushehr nuclear strike

Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Mariano Grossi, on Saturday expressed “deep concern” over the strike near Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, while confirming that no increase in radiation levels has been detected.

In a statement shared on X, the UN’s Nuclear Energy watchdog said that it had been informed by Iran that a projectile struck close to the plant’s premises earlier in the day, marking the fourth such incident in recent weeks amid escalating West Asia conflict.

According to the agency, one member of the site’s physical protection staff was killed due to projectile fragments, and a building within the facility sustained damage from shockwaves and debris.

“The IAEA has been informed by Iran that a projectile struck close to the premises of the Bushehr NPP this morning, the fourth such incident in recent weeks. Iran also informed the IAEA that one of the site’s physical protection staff members was killed by a projectile fragment and that a building on site was affected by shockwaves and fragments. No increase in radiation levels was reported,” the statement read.

10:03 PM, 4 April 2026

Israel reports ballistic missile launched from Yemen

The attack triggered sirens across the Tel Aviv metropolitan area. There were no immediate reports of injuries.

The Houthis in Yemen have launched several missiles on Israel since joining the war last week in support of Iran.

10:01 PM, 4 April 2026

Netanyahu says Israel targets Iran’s petrochemical factories

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel has carried out attacks on Iran’s petrochemical factories, which he described as a key source of revenue for the Iranian government.

In a video message posted on his X account, Netanyahu said the strikes followed earlier attacks on Iran’s steel facilities, claiming that Israel has destroyed 70 percent of Iran’s steel production capacity.

“We will continue to hit them, as I promised,” he added.

09:46 PM, 4 April 2026

Power outage hits parts of Al Jahra, Kuwait

Kuwait’s Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy (Kuwait) announced that a main transformer station in the Al Jahra Governorate has gone out of service, leading to a power outage in limited parts of the area.

According to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), the disruption affected several neighbourhoods in Al Jahra after the station stopped operating.

The ministry said emergency teams were immediately dispatched to the site and that restoration work is currently underway to bring electricity back as quickly as possible.

Authorities also thanked residents for their understanding and cooperation while technical teams work to resolve the issue.

09:17 PM, 4 April 2026

US revokes green cards and visas of several Iranian nationals

The Trump administration has revoked the green cards or U.S. visas of at least four Iranian nationals connected to the current or former Iranian government, including two who’ve been detained by immigration authorities and are to be deported.

The latest actions were taken just this week when U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio determined they were no longer eligible for either lawful permanent resident status, or to enter the United States. The steps follow a move late last year in which the visas of several diplomats and staffers at Iran’s mission to the United Nations were also revoked.

In a statement Saturday, the State Department said the niece and grand-niece of former Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps chief Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. airstrike near the Baghdad airport in 2020, had been arrested late Friday by immigration agents after Rubio revoked their green cards.

09:12 PM, 4 April 2026

Iran says Iraq shipping free to cross Strait of Hormuz

Iran will allow Iraqi shipping to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, despite its broader blockade of the key sea lane at the mouth of the Gulf, its military command said Saturday.

“We announce that our brotherly country of Iraq is exempt from any restrictions we have imposed on the Strait of Hormuz, and these restrictions only apply to enemy countries,” spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari told state television.

09:00 PM, 4 April 2026

Several injured in Israel by Iran missile fire

Israeli emergency services said its crew treated five people who were injured Saturday in Tel Aviv and surrounding areas after Iran fired several rounds of missiles toward Israel.

Since midnight, seven waves of Iranian missiles have been launched towards Israel, according to the Israeli military.

Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency services said a 45-year-old man was treated for minor injuries from glass shrapnel in the central city of Bnei Brak and taken to hospital.

As the day progressed, rescue teams said they had treated three additional casualties – two men in their 20s hit by glass fragments and one injured by blast.

A 52-year-old man “lightly injured by the blast wave” was also transferred to a hospital in Ramat Gan, in central Israel, the emergency service said.

In a residential neighbourhood of Ramat Gan, AFP images showed the top floor of a house completely blown out, exposing its gutted interior, with a crushed bookcase and an exercise bike amid the debris.

The military said its air defences were working to down missiles fired from Iran, each a time it announced incoming projectiles.

08:07 PM, 4 April 2026

Blasts over Jerusalem after Iran missiles detected

Several loud explosions were heard over Jerusalem on Saturday after the Israeli military warned it had detected missiles inbound from Iran.

AFP journalists heard at least six blasts, more than a month into a conflict that was triggered by Israel and the United States striking Tehran.

Earlier in the day five Israelis were wounded in missile attacks on Tel Aviv and parts of central Israel, according to the rescue services.

07:33 PM, 4 April 2026

US arrests relatives of slain Iranian general Soleimani

US federal agents have arrested the niece and grand‑niece of the late Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani, the US State Department said on Saturday.

Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter were taken into custody by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after Secretary of State Marco Rubio revoked their lawful permanent resident (green card) status, according to an official statement.

The State Department said the arrests followed the termination of their residency, and both women are currently in ICE custody as part of the action.

In its statement, the department noted that Soleimani Afshar has been an outspoken supporter of the Iranian regime, citing her social media commentary and press reports identifying her as a vocal backer of Iran’s leadership.

Afshar’s husband is also banned from entering the United States, the statement added.

The move underscores Washington’s continued scrutiny of individuals linked to figures associated with Iran’s military and reflects broader tensions between the United States and Tehran. ▶ Read more

Until recently, Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter were green card holders living lavishly in the United States.

Afshar is the niece of deceased Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani. She is also an outspoken supporter of the Iranian regime who celebrated attacks on…

— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) April 4, 2026

07:12 PM, 4 April 2026

Kuwait’s utilities remain stable despite Iranian strike

Kuwait’s Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy has affirmed that the country’s electricity and water systems remain stable and fully under control, despite recent attacks linked to the conflict with Iran, state news agency Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reported.

In a statement carried by KUNA, the ministry’s spokesperson, Engineer Fatima Hayat, said that an Iranian strike on one of Kuwait’s power and water desalination plants caused material damage to parts of the facility on Friday, but technical and emergency teams were immediately deployed under contingency plans to secure the site and maintain operations.

Despite the damage, national infrastructure has continued to function normally, and authorities have stressed that essential services are being delivered without disruption.

06:54 PM, 4 April 2026

Another global waterway is at risk

Iran’s parliament speaker has made a veiled threat against another crucial waterway in the Middle East. The Bab el-Mandeb strait is at the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula and sees about a quarter of global container shipping traffic to and from the Suez Canal.

But concerns have emerged around the Bab el-Mandeb with the recent entry into the war of Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. The Houthis previously targeted more than 100 merchant vessels on the Red Sea — between the Bab el-Mandeb and the Suez Canal — because of the war in Gaza. Those attacks stopped after US and Israeli airstrikes.

Now the Houthis, and perhaps Iran itself, could resume attacks. The Houthis have said they won’t allow the US and Israel to use the Red Sea for attacks on Iran.

06:22 PM, 4 April 2026

Trump says Iran has 48 hours to make deal or US will unleash ‘Hell’

US President Donald Trump on Saturday said Iran had 48 hours left to make a deal on opening the vital Strait of Hormuz or face “Hell.”

“Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, referring to his ultimatum issued on March 26.

“Time is running out – 48 hours before all Hell will reign (sic) down on them,” the president said, adding: “Glory be to GOD!”

The president made his comment as he remained at the White House on Saturday morning. The Trump administration hasn’t made an official comment on the US fighter jet shot down in Iran.

In another post, after focusing on the gains tariffs have brought to the US economy, he signed off with: “All of this and, simultaneously, getting rid of a Nuclear Iran. MAGA!!!”

05:58 PM, 4 April 2026

WHO: Over 3,300 dead, 4.3m displaced in early conflict

The World Health Organization (WHO) has highlighted the devastating impact of the Iran war during its first weeks.

Hanan Balkhy, WHO’s Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, described the fighting as one of the most “far-reaching crises” in recent decades, with consequences including:

• 3,300+ deaths
• 30,000+ reported injuries
• 4.3 million+ people displaced
• 116 verified attacks on healthcare facilities

Balkhy shared the figures during a media briefing, emphasising the urgent humanitarian and medical needs arising from the ongoing conflict.

05:56 PM, 4 April 2026

Israel tells Lebanese to evacuate

Israel, which is simultaneously going after the Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah in Lebanon, issued an “urgent warning” for residents in parts of the Lebanese city of Tyre and nearby areas to evacuate.

Earlier, Lebanon’s health ministry said Israeli airstrikes in Tyre that wounded 11 people damaged several buildings, including a major hospital.

05:51 PM, 4 April 2026

India confirms purchase of Iranian oil

The sale comes after the Trump administration eased sanctions on Iran’s oil.

“Indian refiners have secured their crude oil requirements, including from Iran; and there is no payment hurdle for Iranian crude imports,” the Indian Foreign Ministry said Saturday.

Last month, the US paused sanctions on Iranian oil stranded on tankers at sea until April 19. The move was part of Washington’s efforts to curb soaring energy prices as a result of the war in the Middle East.

05:46 PM, 4 April 2026

Missile from Iran strikes central Israel, one hurt

As sirens rang out again in large parts of Israel on Saturday afternoon, the country’s Fire and Rescue services said their teams were treating impact sites from an earlier attack in Ramat Gan, Givataim, Bnei Brak, and Petah Tikvah. All are cities in central Israel that have already sustained damage in previous Iranian attacks.

Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue service said a 52 year-old man was taken to hospital with light injuries.

Images released by rescue services show an apartment building with blown out walls and windows. Mangled metal, bricks and debris were strewn across the scene. At another site, a tall plume of black smoke rose from a burning car that was hit by fragments of a missile or an interceptor. Lior Paz, a paramedic, said he arrived at the scene within minutes “and saw destruction, fire, shattered glass on the floor and a lot of smoke.”

05:45 PM, 4 April 2026

Russia evacuates 198 workers from Iran nuclear plant

Russia started a planned evacuation of 198 workers from Iran’s Bushehr atomic plant shortly after a US-Israeli projectile hit near the facility, Russian state media said on Saturday.

“As planned, we began the main phase of the evacuation today. About 20 minutes after that ill-fated strike, buses set off from Bushehr station towards the Iranian-Armenian border. 198 people, to be precise – this is the largest evacuation,” Russia’s nuclear agency Rosatom head Alexey Likhachev was quoted as saying by TASS news agency.

05:44 PM, 4 April 2026

Iran says new air defence system used to down US fighter jet

Iran’s Khatam Al Anbiya joint military command said on Friday that it employed a new air defence system to bring down a US fighter jet.

A spokesperson for the command stated that Iran would “definitely achieve full control” over its airspace, according to state media reports.

05:33 PM, 4 April 2026

Peacekeepers killed in Lebanon arrives in Indonesia

The remains of three Indonesian United Nations peacekeepers, who were killed while on escort duty supporting UN operations in southern Lebanon, arrived in Jakarta on Saturday evening, where President Prabowo Subianto led a solemn welcome ceremony.

The caskets were received at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport’s VIP terminal, draped in Indonesia’s red-and-white national flag, as military honor guards stood at attention.

Devastated families leaned against the caskets. Wives rested their foreheads on the flags covering the caskets, their sobs breaking the silence of the military honors.

Prabowo, accompanied by senior government officials and top military commanders, bowed his head and observed a moment of silence. He offered condolences to the families before the caskets were returned to their hometowns for official military funerals.

04:13 PM, 4 April 2026

Iran to allow essential goods vessels through Strait of Hormuz

Iran has announced it will permit vessels carrying “essential goods” to pass through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, according to the state-run Tasnim news agency.

Details remain unclear on which items qualify as “essential” and whether ships from nations Tehran considers hostile will be allowed safe passage.

A document from Iran’s ports and maritime organisation specifies the directive. Houman Fathi, deputy for commercial development, said:

The order applies to vessels heading to Iranian ports or already operating in the region, Tasnim reported.

Iranian authorities also noted that a list of ships prepared to transit the waterway will be sent for coordination, signalling controlled but eased movement through one of the world’s busiest maritime chokepoints.

04:06 PM, 4 April 2026

US-Israeli strikes hit 30 universities in Iran since war began

US-Israeli strikes have hit more than 30 universities across Iran since the war broke out in late February, Iran’s science minister said on Saturday.

“To date, more than 30 universities have been directly targeted,” Hossein Simai Sarraf told reporters during a visit to the Shahid Beheshti University in northern Tehran, which was struck on Friday.

04:02 PM, 4 April 2026

Iran denies US pilot captured, offers reward

A sub-unit of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Kohgiluyeh and Boyerahmad province, along with the provincial governor, have denied reports that a second US crew member has been arrested, BBC reported.

Separately, the governor rejected claims that the first pilot was rescued by US forces, calling the report an “enemy tactic.”

State-affiliated Iranian media have urged citizens to capture the pilot alive, offering financial incentives. In one widely circulated example, Iranian outlets reported a reward of approximately £50,000 ($66,100).

Authorities’ messaging reflects heightened tensions and the use of local networks to involve civilians amid ongoing military and political escalation.

03:54 PM, 4 April 2026

Attacks on nuclear facilities will ‘end life’ in Gulf cities: Iran’s FM

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on social media on Saturday that radioactive fallout from further attacks on the Bushehr nuclear power plant would have disastrous repercussions in regional capitals, not Tehran.

Araghchi accused Western governments of remaining silent regarding repeated attacks on the Bushehr plant, located some 465 miles (750 kilometers south of Iran’ capital.

The facility uses low-enriched uranium from Russia, along with Russian technicians, to supply about 1,000 megawatts of power for Iran.

03:46 PM, 4 April 2026

Iran Guards say targeted Israel-linked ship in Gulf

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said on Saturday they targeted an Israel-linked ship in the Gulf in a drone attack, setting it on fire.

On their Sepah News website, the Guards said they targeted a commercial vessel, the MSC Ishyka, “owned by the Israeli regime and flying the flag of a third country” at the Khalifa Bin Salman port in Bahrain.

The Guards naval forces had earlier said in a post on X that the ship was attacked “in the Strait of Hormuz”.

“A drone struck the vessel … linked to the Zionist regime in the Strait of Hormuz; the ship caught fire,” they said.

The MarineTraffic website said the Liberian-flagged ship was still moored at the port in Bahrain on Friday night.

03:42 PM, 4 April 2026

13 killed, 217 injured in UAE since Iranian attacks began

The recent attacks on the UAE resulted in the martyrdom of two UAE Armed Forces personnel while performing their national duty. A Moroccan civilian contracted by the Armed Forces was also killed.

In addition, 10 civilians of various nationalities — including Pakistani, Nepali, Bangladeshi, Palestinian, Indian and Egyptian — lost their lives.

A total of 217 people were injured, with injuries ranging from minor to severe.

Those injured include nationals from the UAE, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Iran, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Azerbaijan, Yemen, Uganda, Eritrea, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Comoros, Türkiye, Iraq, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Jordan, Palestine, Ghana, Indonesia, Sweden, Tunisia, Morocco and Russia.

UAE ready to confront any threats

The Ministry of Defence said the armed forces remain on high alert and fully prepared to deal with any threats. Authorities affirmed that the UAE will firmly confront any actions aimed at undermining the country’s security, ensuring the protection of sovereignty, stability and national interests.

03:29 PM, 4 April 2026

UAE intercepts 23 ballistic missiles and 56 drones today

The UAE’s air defence systems engaged 23 ballistic missiles and 56 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) launched from Iran on Saturday, the Ministry of Defence said.

The latest interceptions come amid continuing regional escalation, with Emirati defence forces maintaining heightened readiness to counter incoming aerial threats.

Nearly 500 ballistic missiles intercepted since attacks began

Since the start of what officials described as blatant Iranian attacks, UAE air defences have intercepted a significant number of missiles and drones targeting the country.

• Ballistic missiles intercepted: 498
• Cruise missiles intercepted: 23
• Drones intercepted: 2,141

Authorities said the operations demonstrate the effectiveness of the country’s layered air defence systems in protecting national airspace and critical infrastructure.

03:14 PM, 4 April 2026

Iraq-Iran border crossing temporarily closed after attack

Omar al-Waeli, head of Iraq’s Border Ports Authority, said on Saturday that the strike on the Shalamcheh border crossing killed one person and wounded five others.

Authorities did not offer further details on the strike.

The Iraqi government said it was directing traders and travelers to alternative crossings.

03:12 PM, 4 April 2026

US-Israeli strike hits cement plant in Iran

A US-Israeli strike on Saturday hit a cement plant in southern Iran, media reported, adding that operations were not interrupted.

“The American-Zionist attack against the cement plant of Bandar Khamir did not leave any casualties,” said Tasnim news agency, quoting Ahmad Nafisi, the deputy governor of the southern Hormozgan province.

He added that operations at the plant have “continued as normal”.

03:05 PM, 4 April 2026

India-flagged LPG tanker crosses Strait of Hormuz

An Indian-flagged tanker carrying LPG has safely passed through the Strait of Hormuz, India’s government said on Saturday.

Following US-Israel military strikes, Iran has effectively halted maritime traffic in the key waterway which is a critical route for global crude oil and gas.

But New Delhi, which is the world’s second-largest buyer of liquefied petroleum gas, has managed to secure passage for several Indian-flagged vessels over the last three weeks.

On Saturday, the shipping ministry confirmed that LPG carrier Green Sanvi had transited through the chokepoint.

“Green Sanvi has safely transited the Strait of Hormuz, carrying 46,650 MT of LPG cargo with 25 seafarers on board”, a statement said, without giving further details on its final destination.

It added that 17 Indian-flagged vessels, with 460 Indian seafarers, “remain in the western Gulf region”.

Data from ship tracking company Marine Traffic’s website confirmed that the Green Sanvi was an Indian-flagged tanker.

03:03 PM, 4 April 2026

Italian PM arrives in Qatar after Saudi Arabia visit

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni arrived in Qatar on Saturday after a visit to Saudi Arabia, where she met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Meloni’s trip to the Gulf, which has been targeted on a daily basis by Iranian missile and drone attacks in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes, was not announced in advance.

According to the Qatari press agency QNA, Meloni “arrived in Doha on Saturday morning on a working visit to the country”, and was welcomed by Mohammed Al Khulaifi, the state minister for foreign affairs, as well as the Italian ambassador.

The source said Meloni was the first leader of a European Union or NATO country to travel to the Gulf since the war broke out on February 28 with a wave of US-Israeli attacks that killed Iran’s supreme leader.

02:56 PM, 4 April 2026

Bahrain air defences destroy 188 missiles, 453 drones

Bahrain’s Defence Force has said its air defences have successfully intercepted and destroyed 188 missiles and 453 drones since Iranian attacks targeting the country began.

In a statement, the military condemned the strikes on civilian areas, describing them as violations of international law and a serious threat to regional security.

02:21 PM, 4 April 2026

Strike hits cement plant in southern Iran

A US-Israeli strike on Saturday hit a cement plant in southern Iran, media reported, adding that operations were not interrupted.

“The American-Zionist attack against the cement plant of Bandar Khamir did not leave any casualties,” said Tasnim news agency, quoting Ahmad Nafisi, the deputy governor of the southern Hormozgan province.

He added that operations at the plant have “continued as normal”.

07:06 AM, 4 April 2026

Debris from aerial interception hits Dubai Internet City building

Authorities responded to a minor incident in Dubai Internet City after debris from an aerial interception fell on the facade of the Oracle building, the Dubai Media Office said.

Officials confirmed that there were no injuries and the situation was quickly brought under control.

05:58 AM, 4 April 2026

Debris from aerial interception hits Dubai Marina building

Authorities responded to an incident in Dubai Marina after debris from an aerial interception struck the facade of a building, the Dubai Media Office said. Officials confirmed that the situation was brought under control, with no reports of injuries or fire.

04:57 AM, 4 April 2026

French, Japanese ships cross Hormuz for first time since war

A French-linked vessel has crossed the Strait of Hormuz for the first time since the US-Israeli war effectively choked the vital artery of global trade more than a month ago.

The Malta-flagged container ship, owned by French shipping giant CMA CGM, made the transit, according to BFM TV — also owned by the company — though CMA CGM itself declined to comment.

Data firm Kpler says it is the first ship tied to a major Western European operator to pass through the strait since the conflict began.

Tehran has maintained that “non-hostile vessels” may still use the waterway, but repeated attacks on commercial shipping have all but frozen normal traffic.

Tracking data shows the vessel stayed unusually close to Oman’s coastline— keeping distance from Iranian waters — as it navigated the narrow passage. Its cargo remains undisclosed.

A separate Japanese liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier also successfully exited the strait, with shipping firm MOL confirming all crew and cargo were safe and reiterating that safety remains its top priority, CNN reported.

Maritime intelligence outlet Lloyd’s List noted that several ships making the passage adopted similar tactics, hugging Oman’s coast “unusually close” as they moved through one of the world’s most strategically sensitive chokepoints.

04:05 AM, 4 April 2026

Kuwait engaged 9 missiles, 26 drones in past 24 hours

The Kuwaiti Ministry of Defence announced that Kuwait’s air defence systems have detected and engaged nine missiles, seven ballistic and two cruise, in the last 24 hours on Friday amidst the current regional military escalation.

The spokesman added that the army bomb disposal squad responded to 22 reports.

12:51 AM, 4 April 2026

Trump says downed US jet won’t affect Iran talks

President Donald Trump told NBC News that the recent downing of a US fighter jet would not impact any negotiations with Iran, while declining to comment on the ongoing search and rescue mission.

“No, not at all. No, it’s war. We’re in war,” Trump said in a brief phone interview.

On Truth Social, he posted cryptic messages about oil, including: “KEEP THE OIL, ANYONE?” Earlier Friday, he suggested the US could “easily” reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a shift from his previous stance that other countries were responsible for clearing the waterway.

“With a little more time, we can easily OPEN THE HORMUZ STRAIT, TAKE THE OIL, & MAKE A FORTUNE,” Trump wrote.

12:58 AM, 4 April 2026

Second US aircraft went down

A second US Air Force combat aircraft went down in the Middle East on Friday, according to a US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive military situation.

It was not clear if the aircraft crashed or was shot down or whether Iran was involved. Neither the crew’s status nor where the aircraft went down was immediately known.

The New York Times earlier reported that the second aircraft went down.

Also Friday, a US fighter jet was shot down in Iran and one crew member was rescued.

GN