Live: Israel says it will control bridges and area south of Lebanon’s Litani River

Good morning Middle East Eye readers,

Iran has struck near a nuclear-linked site in Israel's Dimona, following earlier attacks on Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility. Israel has distanced itself from the Natanz strike, while US President Donald Trump has warned Iran it will be “obliterated” if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened within 48 hours.

Here are the latest updates from the escalating conflict, which has now taken on a nuclear dimension:

• US President Donald Trump warned Iran it has 48 hours to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face strikes on its power plants.

• Iran said it would retaliate against any attack on its energy infrastructure, warning it could target US and Israeli energy and technology facilities.

• Israel’s military said it struck Malek Ashtar University in Tehran, describing it as a site used to 'develop components for nuclear weapons'.

• Israel’s military chief Eyal Zamir said Iran’s long-range missile capabilities make Europe within range, citing a recent attack on a US base on Diego Garcia. A senior Iranian official told Al Jazeera that Tehran was not responsible.

• More than 100 people were injured in Iranian missile strikes on the southern Israeli cities of Dimona and Arad, according to medical sources cited by Israeli media.

• Qatar’s defence ministry said a helicopter crashed in its regional waters following a technical malfunction during a routine mission.

• A British nuclear-powered submarine has arrived in the Arabian Sea, according to local media reports.

• Authorities in Dimona said 485 people were evacuated after a missile strike in the area.

• More than 1,400 people have been killed in US-Israeli strikes across Iran since the start of the conflict, with attacks reported in over 200 cities, according to reports from Tehran.

Japan is considering a potential minesweeping role in the Strait of Hormuz if a ceasefire is reached in the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said in an interview.

He described the scenario as hypothetical and dependent on a complete halt in hostilities.

Motegi said Japan could act if naval mines posed a threat to shipping after a ceasefire, though Tokyo has ruled out deploying troops for security operations in the waterway.

The comments come amid international concern over the safety of a key global trade route. 

Hezbollah said it carried out 14 attacks targeting Israeli positions, including gatherings of soldiers and military vehicles, mostly in southern Lebanon. 4

The group said the operations involved missiles, drones and artillery fire.

The claims were made in a series of statements by Hezbollah’s military media, which said the attacks were conducted in what it described as defence of Lebanon.

The world’s largest airlines have lost about $53 billion in market value since the US-Israel war against Iran began, the Financial Times reported.

The conflict has disrupted major Gulf aviation hubs and forced flight suspensions, triggering a sharp downturn in the industry.

Airline executives have also warned of potential fuel shortages as the war continues.

Jet fuel prices have doubled since late February, increasing operational costs and raising the likelihood of higher ticket prices for travellers. 

The International Atomic Energy Agency said it has detected no signs of radiation following reports of a missile incident in the Israeli city of Dimona.

The UN nuclear watchdog said it had not received indications of damage at the Negev nuclear research centre.

The agency added that information from countries in the region does not show any abnormal radiation levels.

The statement comes after recent strikes near Dimona raised concerns about potential nuclear risks. 

Soroka Hospital in Beersheba said it treated 150 people following rocket attacks targeting the southern Israeli cities of Arad and Dimona, Israeli Army Radio reported. 

The report said that patients were admitted after strikes hit populated areas.

The attacks come amid ongoing exchanges between Israel and Iran, with repeated missile fire reported in recent days.

Officials did not immediately provide details on the severity of the injuries.

Iran’s military said it intercepted and downed an armed drone over Tehran before it could carry out operations, according to Tasnim news agency.

Officials said the drone was linked to US and Israeli forces, though there was no independent confirmation.

The military added that it has destroyed 127 drones since the start of the conflict.

The claim came as Israel said it launched a new wave of strikes on Tehran, with residents reporting explosions across the city.

The Israeli military said it is investigating the failure to intercept missiles that struck the southern cities of Dimona and Arad. The announcement came after air defence systems failed to stop projectiles during recent attacks.

Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir ordered the investigation to continue and conducted a security assessment with operations commanders and the Air Force.

Officials said the review would examine the circumstances behind the interception failure.

Israel’s military said it struck the Malek Ashtar University in Tehran, which it described as being "used to develop components for nuclear weapons".

The Israeli Air Force called the target a “strategic” facility linked to Iran’s military industries. The university is under Western sanctions as Iran has denied pursuing nuclear weapons.

Tensions have escalated following reported US strikes on the Natanz enrichment facility in Iran.

Authorities in the southern Israeli city of Dimona said 485 people were evacuated after an Iranian missile strike in the area. Iranian state media said the strikes targeted a nuclear research facility near Dimona in Israel. 

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said Israel must continue its war effort following a missile strike in the southern city of Arad.

Speaking at the site, he said the country remains determined to press forward.

“I came to strengthen, I came to embrace the residents over here. I came to strengthen them. The people of Israel, thank God, are strong,” he said.

“They are trying to harm us, but we remember one thing: we are at war. This is a war in which we must continue to crush, to achieve victory,” he added. 

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq said it carried out 21 operations over the past 24 hours, using drones and missiles to target “occupation bases” in Iraq and the wider region.  

The group also said "enemy forces were withdrawing" from some bases toward Jordan, adding it had detailed information about their movements. 

The United States has allegedly sought trillions of dollars from Gulf Arab allies in connection with the war on Iran, Omani journalist Salem Al-Juhouri said on the BBC Arabic channel. 

The commentator claimed that the Trump administration is exerting pressure on Gulf countries to participate in the war militarily and financially.

“Today we are talking about certain leaks in which the American president is demanding that the GCC states pay approximately $5 trillion if they want this war to continue, and if they want it to stop, they must pay $2.5 trillion to the United States for what has been accomplished over the past period,” Jahouri said.

There has been no official confirmation from the US or Gulf authorities regarding such demands.

الولايات المتحدة تطالب بتريليونات كـ(فدية حرب) من حلفائها العرب في دول الخليج
يطالب ترامب دول مجلس التعاون الخليجي بدفع 5 تريليونات دولار مقابل مواصلة الحرب على إيران، و2.5 تريليون دولار إذا أرادوا منه إيقافها.

👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻
صحفي عُماني متخصص في الشؤون الدولية اسمه سالم الجهوري أدلى… https://t.co/jBiCFnkV53 pic.twitter.com/ZG5Yf9GctK

— 🔻maryam_with_you 🔻 (@maryam_with_you) March 21, 2026

Reports of powerful explosions were reported in eastern and western parts of Tehran, including the suburbs of Pardis and the nearby city of Damavand.

The blasts were described as “extremely terrifying,” with multiple detonations heard across the capital region.

The reports came after Israel announced strikes on Iranian infrastructure and US President Donald Trump warned of attacks on Iran’s power plants if it fails to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s key power facilities include major plants near Tehran, Kerman and Khuzestan, as well as the Bushehr nuclear facility on the southern coast.

Saudi Arabia said it intercepted a ballistic missile launched toward Riyadh, while two others fell in uninhabited areas, according to the Saudi defence ministry.

The attack targeted the capital amid rising regional tensions.

Officials said air defences responded to the incoming missiles, preventing damage in populated areas.

There were no immediate reports of casualties as authorities continued to monitor the situation.

A drone attack targeted a logistics support camp near Baghdad airport, an Iraqi security source said, adding that air defences intercepted two drones in the vicinity.

Al Jazeera reported hearing loud explosions west of Baghdad around the time of the attack.