US‑Israel war on Iran, Day 22: Iran says its Natanz nuclear facility hit; Trump says US considering ‘winding down’ war

Day 20: UK to let US use bases for strikes on Iran threats

Day 20: Trump vows to destroy Iran gas field; UAE intercepts threats

Day 19: Iran warns of 'consequences' after gas field hit

Day 18: Iran confirms security chief Ali Larijani killed

Day 17:  Trump urges allies to secure Strait of Hormuz,

Day 16: Trump calls for allies on Strait of Hormuz security

Day 15: Trump threatens Iran’s oil infrastructure after US bombs Kharg

Day 14: Trump vows intense strikes against Iran in coming days

Day 13: US refueling aircraft crashes in Iraq

Day 12: Donald Trump says Iran near point of defeat

Day 11: US says today will be the 'most intense' of attacks

Day 10: UAE intercepts 15 missiles and 119 drones

Day 9: Gulf nations face fresh attacks

Day 8: US forces hit Iran hard, Trump touts battlefield gains

Day 7: Thousands being evacuated from Middle East: Trump

Day 6: Spring break for schools, moved up; some exams cancelled

Day 5: UAE waives overstay fines caused by airspace closure

Day 4: Dubai contains fire near US Consulate

Day 3: Trump lists 'clear' Iran war objectives

Day 2: UAE airlines extend flight cancellations

Day 1: UAE intercepts missiles; regional airspaces closed

Trump was asked while leaving the White House on Friday afternoon about plans to have US forces further target Kharg Island in the Arabian Gulf, which is vital to Iran’s oil network.

He responded, “I may have a plan I may not” but said he wouldn’t tell reporters one way or the other.

“It’s certainly a place that people are talking about. But I can’t tell you that,” Trump added.

A series of blasts were heard from Jerusalem on Friday after sirens sounded in northern Israel, AFP journalists said, following a warning that Iran had fired missiles.

"A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel. Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat," the Israeli military said on its official Telegram channel.

The UAE Ministry of Defence has issued an urgent alert, advising residents to take immediate shelter due to a potential missile threat.

The message, sent to mobile phones in multiple areas, instructed people to go to the nearest secure building and avoid windows, doors, and open spaces until authorities provide further guidance.

Authorities in Dubai have confirmed that the sounds heard across parts of the city were the result of successful air defence interception operations.

In a statement, the Dubai Media Office said the noises reported by residents were linked to defensive measures carried out as part of security operations.

Officials urged the public to rely only on verified updates from official channels and avoid circulating unconfirmed information.

US President Donald Trump on Friday ruled out reaching a ceasefire agreement with Iran, saying Washington has the upper hand in the three-week-old war.

UAE residents have received a new mobile alert from authorities confirming that the situation in the country is currently safe following earlier warnings about potential missile threats.

Trump says he is considering ‘winding down’ Middle East military operation even as US sends more troops to region. The president made the comment in a post on social media Friday evening after another climb in oil prices sent the US stock market sharply lower.

Trump’s statement seemed at odds with his administration’s move to send more troops and warships to the region and request another $200 billion from Congress to fund the war.

In his post, the president also left a muddled picture of whether the US would police the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lane. Trump had said this week that the US didn’t need help, while also complaining that other countries did not help.

Though his administration for weeks has maintained that its four objectives remained “unchanged, unambiguous, and consistent” since the operation began, Trump in his social media post added a fifth one.

The four objectives had been to block Iran’s path to a nuclear weapon, stop it from arming proxy militant groups, destroy its navy and destroy its ballistic missile capacity.

In his post Friday, Trump enumerated those and added a fifth: “Protecting, at the highest level, our Middle Eastern Allies” and listed America’s Gulf partners.

The move comes as the White House tries to bring down soaring oil prices.

The pause applies to Iranian oil loaded on ships as of Friday and is set to end on April 19.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent previously suggested the move as a way to prevent China from being the sole beneficiary of Iranian oil.

The Trump administration also eased sanctions on certain Russian oil shipments for 30 days as it looks for ways to boost global oil supplies during the Iran war.

The license has limits including a restriction on sales involving anyone in North Korea or Cuba.

An Iraqi security source announced today that Baghdad International Airport was targeted by three drones.

The source stated that two drones targeted the vicinity of the logistics support center surrounding Baghdad International Airport, adding that the attack was thwarted by air defenses.

In the same context, a security source also reported that the logistics support headquarters at Baghdad International Airport was targeted following the crash of a third drone in its vicinity.

In southern Kirkuk, northern Iraq, a medical source announced that an unidentified projectile killed two people and left others injured after it was tampered with by children

Saudi Arabia intercepted 22 drones in the east of the country, the defence ministry said on Saturday, as Iran continues striking Gulf nations.

"10 drones intercepted and destroyed in the eastern region," the Saudi defence ministry posted on X.

The ministry later posted that its air defences had shot down 12 more drones, also in the east.

Iran has kept up retaliatory attacks on Saudi Arabia and nearby nations in response to US and Israeli strikes that have sparked a war that has spread across the Middle East since late last month.

Qatar's Minister of State for Energy Affairs Saad bin Sherida Al Kaabi said Qatar had warned the United States about the potential regional fallout if Iranian oil and gas facilities were targeted, urging Washington to exercise restraint.

He told Reuters that damage to facilities worth $26 billion could disrupt LNG shipments to Europe and Asia for up to five years. The recent attack on Ras Laffan halted 17% of Qatar’s LNG export capacity and may delay expansion projects that would have increased production from 77 mtpa to 126 mtpa by next year.

Al Kaabi said no casualties were reported, but the delay in North Field expansion could push back deliveries to countries including France, Germany, and China. Full resumption of QatarEnergy operations would take at least three to four months once hostilities cease.

He warned that the broader impact of the conflict could set back the Gulf region’s economy by 10–20 years.

 The General Command of the Bahrain Defence Force announced today that its air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 143 missiles and 242 drones since the start of the brutal Iranian aggression against the country.

The General Command emphasized that the use of ballistic missiles and drones to target civilian objects and private property constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and the United Nations Charter, and that these heinous and indiscriminate attacks represent a direct threat to regional peace and security.

The Israeli military said it launched a wave of strikes on Lebanon's capital Beirut targeting Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah early Saturday, after calling on residents of several areas to evacuate.

In a brief statement, the military said its forces were "currently striking Hezbollah terrorist organisation targets in Beirut".

A military spokesman earlier issued a warning to residents of Beirut's southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold, to evacuate ahead of strikes.

Iran recently fired two ballistic missiles toward the joint US-UK military base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday, citing US officials.

Neither missile hit the target, which is around 2,500 miles (4,000 kilometers) from Iranian territory, but the launch suggests that Tehran has missiles with longer ranges than previously thought, the report said.

One of the missiles failed in flight, and the other was targeted by an interceptor fired from a US warship, though it was not clear if the missile was hit, The Journal reported.

Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands is one of two bases Britain is allowing the United States to use for "defensive" operations in Iran.

The Israel Defence Forces says it has launched a fresh wave of airstrikes on “Iranian terror regime targets” in Tehran, targeting government and military infrastructure in the Iranian capital.

The announcement followed recent Israeli strikes in Beirut aimed at Hezbollah positions, after evacuation warnings were issued for several neighbourhoods in the south of the city.

Iran strikes: Israeli military launched attacks on Iranian government sites in Tehran; Ali Mohammad Naini, IRGC spokesman, was killed. Iran confirmed his death.

Iran’s leadership: New Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei issued a statement; he has not been publicly seen since succeeding his father, Ali Khamenei.

Nowruz in Iran: Iranians marked the New Year amid mourning for those killed in protests and US-Israeli strikes; economic crisis and currency collapse overshadowed celebrations.

Hormuz tensions raise: US military intensified strikes against Iranian drones and naval vessels to secure the Strait of Hormuz amid soaring oil prices.

Gulf states under attack: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and UAE intercepted drone and missile strikes, reportedly launched from Iran; Kuwaiti refinery fires reported.

Lebanon: Eid Al Fitr celebrations disrupted as Israel and Hezbollah continued hostilities; hundreds of thousands remain displaced.

Israel: Iran launched missiles at Israel; fires reported in Haifa, missile fragments fell in Jerusalem including near Old City; no casualties reported.

US military moves: President Trump considers winding down operations in Iran, while sending 2,500 additional Marines to the region; wartime emergency declared to expedite $23B in weapons sales.

Death toll: Over 2,300 killed since the start of the war—mostly in Iran; 1,000+ in Lebanon; at least 13 US service members and 14 Israelis dead.

Indian casualty in Saudi Arabia: A second Indian national was killed in Riyadh after an Iranian missile attack on March 18, following an earlier Indian fatality on March 8

The airline’s CEO said the company is also preparing for oil to not return to $100 a barrel until the end of next year.

Scott Kirby said in a message to United employees on Friday that jet fuel prices that have more than doubled in the last three weeks already would cost the airline $11 billion a year if they remain where they are now.

The price of Brent crude has zigzagged from roughly $70 per barrel before the Iran war began to as high as $119.50 this week.

Of United’s worst-case assumption, Kirby said, “I think there’s a good chance it won’t be that bad, but ... there isn’t much downside for us to preparing for that outcome.”

 Iran is willing to help Japanese ships sail a vital route for global fuel supplies, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Kyodo News in an interview published on Saturday.

Japan depends on crude oil imports from the Middle East, most of which transits the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has effectively closed the strait in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes, sending countries reliant on the shipping lane scrambling for alternative routes and tapping reserves.

In a telephone interview with Kyodo News on Friday, Araghchi denied closing the passageway, insisting instead that countries attacking Iran face restrictions, while others were being offered assistance.

"We have not closed the strait. It is open," he said.

He added that Iran was prepared to ensure safe passage for Japan.

Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry condemned on Saturday Israel's strikes on Syrian army camps as "aggression", joining Turkey in calling on the international community to intervene.

The Saudi foreign ministry said in a statement that the Kingdom condemned "the blatant Israeli aggression... in flagrant violation of international law and Syrian sovereignty".

It urged the international community "to put an end to Israel's violations of international laws and norms".

Global oil prices rose again on Saturday as geopolitical tensions tightened supply flows, with Middle East crude leading gains.

Murban crude, a key UAE benchmark, surged 18% to $146.40 per barrel after jumping 6% to $131 a day earlier. Brent crude climbed back above $100 to $112 per barrel, up 3.3%, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose into the low-$90s.

The rebound follows losses on Friday. The US has been worling to boost supply, while allies are coordinating efforts to stabilize flows through the Strait of Hormuz, including deploying additional troops to secure key shipping routes.

The Israeli military said it launched a wave of strikes on Beirut claiming to target the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah early Saturday, while Lebanese state media reported strikes in the country's south.

In a brief statement on Saturday, the Israeli military said its forces were "currently striking Hezbollah terrorist organisation targets in Beirut".

A military spokesman earlier issued a warning to residents of Beirut's southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold, to evacuate ahead of strikes.

Iran's attack this week on Qatar's natural gas export facility threatens to disrupt not just world energy markets but also global technology supply chains because the helium it produces is crucial for a range of advanced industries.

Best known as the gas that makes party balloons float, helium is also a key input in chipmaking, space rockets and medical imaging.

Qatar supplies a third of the world's helium, according to the US Geological Survey, but the nation had to halt production shortly after the war erupted three weeks ago. The latest Iranian strikes against the region's energy producing infrastructure have added to supply worries, with Qatar's state-owned gas company saying it would crimp helium exports by 14%.

Thousands of Muslims held Eid Al Fitr prayers in Iran on Saturday to mark the end of the Ramadan fast against the backdrop of the Middle East war, state television footage showed.

At dawn, a crowd of worshippers gathered at central Tehran's Imam Khomeini grand mosque, named after the founder of the Islamic republic.

For lack of space, many worshippers followed the prayer outside, with state television showing images of crowded areas around the mosque, despite the risk of strikes.

Overnight strikes again targeted several districts of Tehran and its outskirts, as well as the central city of Isfahan, according to the Fars news agency.

Iranian television also showed prayer gatherings elsewhere in the country, including in Arak in the centre, Zahedan in the southeast and the western city of Abadan.

Saturday’s funeral service for Minister of Intelligence Esmail Khatib was held in Iran’s holy city of Qom, the Islamic Republic’s state-run media reported.

Addressing neighbouring countries Saturday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian posted on social media that “the only beneficiary of our differences is the Zionist entity,” referring to Israel.

South Korea said it’s also in talks with Iran after the Islamic Republic’s foreign minister said Teheran may allow Japanese vessels to pass the Strait of Hormuz.

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it was having “multifaceted” talks with Iran and other related nations to find ways to “protect our citizens and secure energy transport routes.”

Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, has expressed willingness to consider any initiative that could bring the ongoing Middle East conflict to a “complete end,” describing the war as one “imposed” on the country, according to the BBC.

Speaking to Japanese media outlet Kyodo, Araghchi said Iran is “ready to listen and to consider such proposals.” However, he added that while some nations are seeking solutions, “it does not appear that the United States is prepared to halt its aggression.”

Araghchi clarified that Iran is not calling for a ceasefire, but aims for “a complete, comprehensive, and lasting end to the war.”

The interview was shared on Araghchi’s Telegram account, and a transcript was published by Mehr News Agency, linked to the Islamic Propagation Organisation.

The United States and Israel struck Iran's Natanz nuclear facility on Saturday, the Islamic republic's atomic energy organisation said.

"Following the criminal attacks by the United States and the usurping Zionist regime against our country, the... Natanz enrichment complex was targeted this morning," the organisation said in a statement carried by the Tasnim news agency.

It added that there was "no leakage of radioactive materials reported" in the area in central Iran.

Iraq’s National Intelligence Service described Saturday’s strike as a “terrorist attack” and vowed to bring those responsible to justice.

On 21 March 2026, UAE air defences successfully intercepted three ballistic missiles and eight drones launched from Iran.

Since the start of the attacks, UAE air defenses have dealt with 341 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and 1,748 drones.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that the United States and Israel would intensify their strikes on Iran in the coming week starting Sunday.

"This week, the intensity of the strikes to be carried out by the IDF and the US military against the Iranian terror regime and the infrastructure on which it relies will rise significantly," Katz said in a statement issued by the defence ministry on Saturday.

The UN atomic watchdog said it was looking into a report by Iran that the Natanz nuclear site was attacked in the war with the United States and Israel.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) head Rafael Grossi repeated a "call for military restraint to avoid any risk of a nuclear accident", the agency posted on X.

"The IAEA has been informed by Iran that the Natanz nuclear site was attacked today. No increase in off-site radiation levels reported," it added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday that his country remains Tehran’s “loyal friend and reliable partner” in a message to congratulate Iranians on the new year festival of Nowruz.

The Kremlin press service quoted Putin as saying that he wishes the Iranian people " to overcome these severe trials with dignity.”

Britain has condemned ‘Iran's reckless attacks’ after its military fired missiles at the UK-US air base on the island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.

UK officials have not given details of the attempted strike, which was unsuccessful. It's unclear how close the missiles came to the base, which is about 4,000 kilometres from Iran.

The Ministry of Defence said Saturday that Iran's "lashing out across the region and holding hostage the Strait of Hormuz, are a threat to British interests and British allies."

Britain has not participated in US-Israeli attacks on Iran, but has allowed American bombers to use UK bases to attack Iran's missile sites.

On Friday, the British government said US bombers can also use UK bases, including Diego Garcia, in operations to prevent Iran attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

India Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday spoke with Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian conveying to him Eid and Nowruz greetings and also discussing the current security situation in the West Asia region.

During the call, PM Modi condemned attacks on critical infrastructure in the region and also asserted the significance of safeguarding freedom of navigation along with keeping the shipping lanes open and secure.

"Spoke with President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian and conveyed Eid and Nowruz greetings. We expressed hope that this festive season brings peace, stability and prosperity to West Asia. Condemned attacks on critical infrastructure in the region, which threaten regional stability and disrupt global supply chains," PM Modi posted on X after the phone call.

"Reiterated the importance of safeguarding freedom of navigation and ensuring that shipping lanes remain open and secure. Appreciated Iran's continued support for the safety and security of Indian nationals in Iran," Prime Minister Modi added.

Iran was "unsuccessful" in targeting the joint UK-US Indian Ocean military base at Diego Garcia, a UK official source confirmed to AFP on Saturday, after the Wall Street Journal reported Tehran fired two ballistic missiles at it.

The source said the "unsuccessful targeting of Diego Garcia" took place before the UK government announced Friday that it would allow the United States to use some of its bases to target Iranian sites being used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

Several blasts were heard in Bahrain's capital of Manama on Thursday, according to an AFP journalist, as Iran presses its aerial campaign against Gulf states.

Two missiles were seen being intercepted in the sky and a number of explosions rocked the city after warning sirens sounded. Tehran has targeted Bahrain and other neighbouring countries in retaliatory strikes following US-Israeli attacks on Iran beginning 28 February.

The US military said Saturday that Iran's ability to threaten the Strait of Hormuz has been "degraded" by the bombing this week of an underground facility where it stored cruise missiles and other weaponry.

"We not only took out the facility, but also destroyed intelligence support sites and missile radar relays that were used to monitor ship movements," Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command said in video message posted on X.

"Iran's ability to threaten freedom of navigation in and around the Strait of Hormuz is degraded as a result, and we will not stop pursuing these targets," he added.

With global concerns over where the price of oil will end up, the Trump administration has said it will lift sanctions on Iranian oil stranded at sea under a 1-month license.

The pause applies to Iranian oil loaded on ships as of Friday and is set to end on April 19.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent previously suggested the move as a way to prevent China from being the sole beneficiary of Iranian oil.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova called the strikes on the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility “a brazen violation of international law.”

In a statement posted on the ministry’s website on Saturday, Zakharova said such “irresponsible actions” posed a “real risk of catastrophic disaster throughout the Middle East” and were “clearly aimed at further undermining peace, stability, and security in the region.”

Trump took the United States to war without a vote of support from Congress, but lawmakers are increasingly questioning when, how and at what cost the war with Iran will come to an end.

Three weeks into the conflict, the toll is increasing: At least 13 US military personnel have died, and more than 230 wounded. A $200 billion Pentagon request for war funds is pending at the White House. Allies are under attack, oil prices are spiking and thousands of US troops are deploying to the Middle East with no endgame in sight.

“The real question is: What ultimately are we trying to accomplish?” Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., told The Associated Press. “I generally support anything that takes out the mullahs,” he said. “But at the end of the day, there has to be a kind of strategic articulation of the strategy, what our objectives are.”

Kuwait’s Defence Ministry confirmed that nine hostile ballistic missiles were detected over the past 24 hours and successfully intercepted by the country’s air defense systems without causing any material damage.

During a media briefing, the ministry also confirmed the detection, engagement, and destruction of four hostile drones, KUNA reported.

Authorities stressed that air defense systems remain on high alert amid ongoing regional tensions.

A hospital and tourist site in southwestern Iran have been damaged from US or Israeli strikes, killing at least one child, according to Iranian news agencies.

Strikes killed a child at the Ritaj entertainment complex in Ahvaz, according to Iran’s state news agency, and damaged the Andimeshk’s Imam Ali Hospital hospital, according to the semi-official Mehr and Fars news agencies. Both are in the Khuzestan province on the border with Iraq. The hospital said the blast created significant damage and it is no longer accepting patients, but did not give any other information.

The death toll has risen to more than 1,300 people in Iran, more than 1,000 people in Lebanon, 15 in Israel and 13 US military members in the region as the war enters its fourth week.

The Israeli military denied that Israel was responsible for a strike that hit Iran’s Natanz nuclear enrichment facility. An official Iranian news agency reported on Saturday that the site was damaged in an airstrike but there was no radiation leakage. The Israeli military said it wasn’t aware of Israeli strikes in that region.

The denial came as Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a video statement that next week, “the intensity of the attacks” by Israel and the United States against Iran’s ruling theocracy will “increase significantly.”

The Israeli military on Saturday said its forces struck ballistic missile production facilities belonging to Iran's Revolutionary Guards in overnight attacks on Tehran.

"Facilities utilised for the production of critical components for the development of ballistic missiles belonging to the Iranian regime's security apparatus were targeted," the military said.

The strikes hit a central Guards' compound, a missile components production facility, and a separate compound belonging to Iran's defence ministry, it said.

"The strikes significantly degrade the Iranian terror regime's capabilities to continue producing critical components for ballistic missiles at these sites," the military said.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Saturday they had targeted an Israeli F-16 fighter jet over the country's centre.

"An F-16 hostile enemy fighter jet belonging to the Zionist regime was struck at 3:45am in central Iran," the Guards said on their Sepah News website.

The Israeli military earlier said a surface-to-air missile had been launched at an Israeli aircraft during "an operational activity" in Iran, without specifying the type of jet.

It added that "no damage was caused to the aircraft".

It was not immediately clear if the Iranian and Israeli statements referred to the same incident.

Trump’s fellow Republicans appear unlikely to directly challenge him, even as the conflict drags on. House Speaker Mike Johnson has said the military operation will be over quickly.

“I do think the original mission is virtually accomplished now,” Johnson, R-La., told the AP and others at the Capitol this week. “We were trying to take out the ballistic missiles, and their means of production, and neuter the navy, and those objectives have been met.”

Johnson acknowledged that Iran’s ability to threaten ships in the Strait of Hormuz is “dragging it out a little bit,” especially as US allies have largely rebuffed the president’s request for help, but said “As soon as we bring some calm to the situation, I think it’s all but done.”

Egypt’s president Abdel Fattah Al Sisi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stressed Saturday that the Iranian escalation against Gulf states endangers the safety and the stability of the region.

The state-run Saudi Press Agency reported that Al Sisi reiterated his country’s rejection of the Iranian attacks on the Gulf states, adding the the Egyptian president expressed solidarity with the Kingdom against threats.

Also Saturday, Arab League chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit welcomed the visits of Al Sissi and his Jordanian counterpart King Abdullah II to multiple Gulf states over the past few days, saying that these visits “reflect full Arab solidarity.”

The UAE Ministry of Defence has confirmed that its air defence systems are responding to new missiles and drones launched from Iran amid the ongoing regional conflict.

The SMS alert does not specify exact locations, but all residents are urged to stay vigilant and follow official safety instructions.

The ministry said the loud sounds reported across parts of the UAE are the result of defensive interceptions, and there have been no direct impacts on civilian areas.

The authority has advised the public to stay in safe locations and monitor official channels for real-time updates.

Iranian media reported that US and Israeli airstrikes struck a passenger terminal at Bushehr Port in southern Iran.

Reports also said an empty passenger vessel near Kharg Island, a major oil export hub in the Gulf, was hit. There were no immediate reports of casualties, and the extent of the damage remains unclear.

Ras Al Khaimah authorities have confirmed that the sounds heard across parts of the city were the result of successful air defence interception operations against Iranian missile and drone threats, the Ras Al Khaimah Government Media Office said.

Officials urged residents to rely on official sources for updates and further information.

The UAE Ministry of Interior has issued an all-clear to residents across the country, saying the security situation is now stable after a precautionary alert earlier this evening.

An SMS sent to mobile phones nationwide thanked the public for their cooperation and confirmed that daily life could resume as normal. Residents were urged to remain alert, exercise caution, and follow official government channels for updates.

The announcement came after the ministry said the country’s air defence systems had been activated to intercept ballistic missiles and drones reportedly launched from Iran.

Britain has reassured Cyprus that the UK air base on the island won’t be used for American attacks on Iran.

The UK is allowing the US to use bases in England and on the island of Diego Garcia to strike Iran’s missile program.

The British government says Prime Minister Keir Starmer told Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides on Saturday that RAF Akrotiri “would not be involved in the UK’s continuation of its agreement with the US to use UK bases in collective self-defence of the region.”

Akrotiri was hit by an Iranian-made drone early in the conflict, causing damage but no injuries.

Several people in northern Israel were wounded by shrapnel as the area came under constant missile fire from Lebanon. Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue services said at least five people were injured in a barrage Saturday evening.

Israel has also been striking hundreds of targets in southern Lebanon and the suburbs of Beirut after Hezbollah joined the war in support of Iran.

Rescue services also treated two people in southern Israel, including a 10-year-old boy, for shrapnel injuries from missiles launched from Iran.

Rescue services also treated nearly two-dozen people in the southern Israeli city of Dimona, including a 10-year-old boy and a 40-year-old woman in moderate condition. Some had shrapnel injuries from missiles launched from Iran.

The remote desert city of Dimona houses Israel’s main nuclear research center, which opened in 1958. Israel is widely believed to possess nuclear weapons, though its leaders neither confirm nor deny this.

Iran said it is targeting Dimona after the Natanz nuclear enrichment site was targeted earlier. Israel’s military said it was not responsible for striking Natanz.

The US announcement that it will lift sanctions on Iranian crude stranded at sea is an attempt to manipulate the market, since there is no such oil, Iran’s Oil Ministry spokesperson, Saman Ghodousi told Iran’s state media.

“At present, Iran essentially has no crude oil left in floating storage or any surplus available for supply to other international markets, and the US Treasury Secretary’s remarks are solely intended to reassure buyers and manage the market psychologically,” he said late Friday.

Top envoys for the Group of Seven advanced economies and the European Union on Saturday urged an "immediate and unconditional" end to Iran attacks against allies in the Middle East.

"We call for the immediate and unconditional cessation of all attacks by the Iranian regime," the foreign ministers for Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States as well as the EU foreign policy chief said in a joint statement.

They expressed "support to our partners in the region in the face of the unjustifiable attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran and its proxies".

"We support the right of the countries unjustifiably attacked by Iran or by Iranian proxies to defend their territories and protect their citizens," it added.

US-Israeli bombardment of Iran on February 28 sparked a region-wide war, with Iran retaliating with strikes across the Middle East and beyond.

Israel is only at the halfway point in the war with Iran, the military’s chief of staff said on Saturday, as the country entered the fourth week of war against Iran.

“Dear citizens of Israel — we are at the midway point, but the direction is clear,” Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said. “In about a week, on Passover, the Festival of Freedom, we will continue to fight for our freedom and our future.”

We are closing coverage for now. Follow our live updates for the latest developments here.