US-Israel-Iran War LIVE: Israel Begins ‘Wide-Scale’ Strikes On Western Iran, Blasts Heard In Tel Aviv

Israel’s army says it has begun a “wide-scale” wave of strikes on western Iran. Meanwhile, reports say explosions were heard across Israel as tensions escalate in the ongoing conflict.

Dramatic footage shows Iran’s space centre destroyed after a US-Israel air strike hit the facility, triggering massive explosions and thick smoke.

Clouds of toxic smoke unleashed into the atmosphere by US-Israeli airstrikes on Iranian oil facilities made a dangerous return to Earth in the form of “black rain,” prompting international health officials to warn of serious risks to the public.

Residents in Tehran complained last week of burning eyes and difficulty breathing when the dark and oily precipitation fell near the Iranian capital after several fuel oil depots and a refinery were struck.

Plumes of dark smoke have also been seen across other parts of the region over two weeks of war, as Iran retaliates against US-Israeli airstrikes by firing drones and missiles at the oil and natural gas facilities of its Persian Gulf neighbours.

IDF has identified that a short time ago, missiles were launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel

Defense systems are operating to intercept the threat. In the last few minutes, the Home Front Command has issued a preliminary directive directly to mobile phones in the relevant areas.

The public is requested to exercise responsibility and act in accordance with the directives – they save lives.

One must enter protected spaces upon receiving the alert and remain in them until a new announcement.

Exit from the protected space will be permitted only after receiving an explicit directive; continue to act in accordance with the Home Front Command’s directives.

Twenty ⁠people ⁠have been arrested in northwestern Iran for attempting ⁠to cooperate with Israel, according to a Tasnim news ⁠agency report citing a statement by the prosecutor’s office in the West Azerbaijan ‌province.

They are accused of sending location details on Iran’s military and security assets ⁠to Israel.

Air India said that following instructions from UAE airport authorities, Air India and Air India Express have curtailed their ad-hoc operations for March 15, 2026.

Air India will operate only one Delhi–Dubai return flight, with four of the five planned Dubai flights cancelled.

Air India Express will operate one Delhi–Dubai return flight, while five of six Dubai flights have been cancelled.

All five Air India Express flights to Abu Dhabi have also been cancelled.

IndiGo has further restricted its flight operations in Dubai due to the “evolving situation in the Middle East”. The airline said it has changed its flight schedules and advised passengers travelling to and from Dubai to check their flight status before heading to the airport.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has vowed to continue pursuing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying that the latter would remain a target “if still alive” amid the escalating war in West Asia.

In a statement, the IRGC described Netanyahu as a “criminal Zionist Prime Minister” and said that the “pursuit and killing” of him would continue if he remained alive.

“If the criminal and child killer Netanyahu is still alive, we will continue to pursue him,” it said.

US President Donald Trump said he is not yet ready to make a deal with Iran to end the war, and renewed calls for international allies to help secure the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s foreign minister said the critical waterway was closed only to Tehran’s “enemies,” and its military warned it could target ports in the United Arab Emirates following US strikes on an island crucial to Iranian oil exports.

The United Arab Emirates has rejected accusations from Iran that a recent US strike on Kharg Island originated from Emirati territory, calling the claim “a part of a confused policy that has misdirected its aim, lost its compass, and forsaken wisdom.”

Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, said in a post on X that the allegation made by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was baseless and misdirected.

Israel and Lebanon are expected to hold direct talks in the coming days, Israel’s Haaretz newspaper reported on Saturday (March 14, 2026), in what would be a diplomatic ‌milestone between the two states as Israel and the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah wage war.

Three Lebanese officials said Beirut is forming a delegation for talks but no date has been set. One of the officials said Lebanon ⁠needed clarity on whether Israel would abide by President Joseph Aoun’s first point – a demand for a full ceasefire to allow negotiations to take place.

Australia’s vulnerability to liquid fuel shortages and price hikes has intensified amid reports China has told oil refiners to halt all fuel exports. This adds to continued global uncertainty about the duration of the Iran conflict and its impact upon oil supplies.

On Friday, the Australian Financial Review reported China had notified oil refiners to halt all exports, casting doubt over at least two cargoes due to be shipped to Australia.

Two transport ships in the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most important transport route, have also been blown up making it likely future ships will not make this journey while the conflict continues.

This means Asian refineries like those in China are receiving significantly less oil. This reduction in supply mean these refining countries must, in turn, assess their own strategic requirements for petrol, diesel and jet fuel.

The Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil shipping route, remains open and under Iranian control, a senior Iranian commander said, amid rising tensions with the United States and its allies.

Alireza Tangsiri, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, said in a statement that claims by the United States about destroying Iran’s navy or providing safe escort for oil tankers were false, Xinhua news agency reported quoting Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency.

“The Strait of Hormuz has not been militarily blocked and is merely under control,” the statement said.

Israeli Army Radio says the military has intercepted the latest missile barrage from Iran, while some of the projectiles fell in open areas.

Debris from interceptors fell in the central city of Ramla, causing a fire, it added.

No casualties were reported, it added.

The Kuwaiti Guard says it has shot down five drones in the past 24 hours.

Earlier, Kuwaiti authorities said drones struck facilities at the Kuwait international airport, damaging part of its radar system. They also said two missiles struck the perimeter of the Ahmad Al-Jaber airbase, wounding three soldiers.

Several cities were hit on Saturday, just like every day, but the most significant was the one in Isfahan, where 15 factory workers were killed.

According to the Reuters news agency as well as Iranian media, the targeted site was a civilian one. It’s a factory that produces refrigerators and heaters. Many more workers were wounded.

Amid the global fuel crisis triggered by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday has said the strait “remains open” to most vessels and is only closed to ships belonging to the United States, Israel and their allies.

Speaking to MS Now, Araghchi said ships from other countries are allowed to pass through the key shipping route. “As a matter of fact, the Strait of Hormuz is open. It is only closed to the tankers and ships belonging to our enemies, to those who are attacking us and their allies. Others are free to pass,” he said.

The airmen are 33-year-old Maj. John A. Klinner of Auburn, Alabama; 31-year-old Capt. Ariana G. Savino of Covington, Washington; 34-year-old Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt of Bardstown, Kentucky; 38-year-old Capt. Seth R. Koval of Mooresville, Indiana; 30-year-old Capt. Curtis J. Angst of Wilmington, Ohio; and Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons, 28, of Columbus, Ohio.

Klinner, Savino and Pruitt were assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. Koval, Angst and Simmons were assigned to the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air Guard Base in Columbus.

The crew members were aboard a US Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft when it crashed in western Iraq on Thursday, the US military said, adding that the incident was “not due to hostile fire or friendly fire.”
The Pentagon said Saturday the incident is still under investigation.

US President Donald Trump on Saturday said that the United States may carry out more strikes on Iran’s Kharg Island even as Tehran has vowed retaliation in response to Friday’s attack. Trump, in an interview to NBC News, said while Tehran appears ready to make a deal to end the conflict, “the terms aren’t good enough yet.”

Trump said the US strikes had “totally demolished” most of Kharg Island, adding that “we may hit it a few more times just for fun.”

US President Donald Trump on Saturday said that the United States may carry out more strikes on Iran’s Kharg Island even as Tehran has vowed retaliation in response to Friday’s attack. Trump, in an interview to NBC News, said while Tehran appears ready to make a deal to end the conflict, “the terms aren’t good enough yet.”

Trump said the US strikes had “totally demolished” most of Kharg Island, adding that “we may hit it a few more times just for fun.”