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

Amazon said on Monday its Amazon Web Services region in Bahrain has been "disrupted" amid the current conflict in the Middle East, marking the second time in a month that its operations have been affected by the war.

The disruption is due to drone activity in the area, an Amazon spokesperson said, following a Reuters inquiry. As of Monday night, AWS had not updated its status page to reflect the impact.

Amazon did not immediately respond to a query on whether its Bahrain facility was directly hit by a drone attack or if the disruption was due to nearby strikes.

A US-Israeli strike killed at least six people and injured nine in one of the residential areas of East Azerbaijan Province, the Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA) reported, citing provincial officials.

The officials said the strike hit the Shahid Mofatteh region of the province, located northwest of Iran near the border with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Open-source flight-tracking data indicated possible movement of US military personnel from the East Coast toward the Middle East, with multiple flights departing from Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

The data reported by the Anadolu news agency suggests elements of the 82nd Airborne Division’s Immediate Response Force could be involved, though it remains unclear who is on board.

Defence officials told The New York Times that such forces had been considered in planning but that no deployment had been ordered.

Flight data shows dozens of US military transport aircraft heading to bases in Israel and Jordan since the conflict began, as Washington maintains heightened readiness. 

Speaking to Tucker Carlson, Avraham Burg, former speaker of the Knesset and interim president of Israel, stated that there have been at least five attempts by Israeli extremists to destroy Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock since 1967.

Speaking to Tucker Carlson, Avraham Burg, former speaker of the Knesset and interim president of Israel, stated that there have been at least five attempts by Israeli extremists to destroy Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock since 1967 pic.twitter.com/kccW7oKj5U

— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) March 24, 2026

At least six people were injured in Tel Aviv after an Iranian air strike, The Times of Israel reported. 

Meanwhile, Channel 12 reported the Police saying that a munition carrying some 100 kilograms of explosives impacted in central Tel Aviv, leading to widespread damage to buildings and vehicles.

The Philippines said grounding planes due to a shortage of jet fuel brought on by the US-Israeli war with Iran is a "distinct possibility", Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday, citing an interview with the South East Asian country's president.

Several countries have informed Philippine airlines they cannot refuel aircraft, forcing Philippine operators to carry fuel for both outbound and return journeys, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told Bloomberg.

Other Asian countries, including Vietnam, have said airlines are preparing to ​implement fuel surcharges on international routes from early April.

The number of children killed in Iran since the war began on 28 February has risen to 208, the head of the emergency service said in a video statement on Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting.

Jafar Miadfar said 168 of those children were killed in the US strikes on the girls’ school in Minab city at the start of the war. Thirteen of the children killed were aged below five years, including a three-day-old newborn.

More than 1,500 civilians have been killed across the country so far, according to the Iranian government.

Miadfar also said around 318 healthcare infrastructure units have been damaged during the war, including 49 emergency bases, 186 health centres, and 40 hospitals.

He said about 12 of the damaged hospitals are now out of service.

Good morning, Middle East Eye readers, 

Here are some of the latest key updates from the Iran war:

• Iran launched a new wave of missiles against Israel Tuesday, hours after US President Donald Trump hailed "very good" talks to end the war despite Tehran denying any dialogue had taken place.

• Israel targeted seven areas of Beirut's southern suburbs overnight, Lebanese state media reported on Tuesday. 

• Al Jazeera Arabic is reporting that at least two people were killed and five others were injured in Bechamoun, a town south of Lebanon’s capital, Beirut.

•  The US will continue its strikes on Iran, with the pause applying only to attacks on Tehran's energy sites, Semafor reported on Monday, citing a US official.

• Air strikes targeting a site belonging to Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces in the western province of Anbar killed at least 10 fighters, including the Anbar operations commander, and wounded 30 others, Reuters reported.

• Israeli settlers have struck for a third straight night in the occupied West Bank, attacking vehicles near the Zaatara military checkpoint, south of Nablus, according to Wafa news agency.

• Saudi Arabia said it intercepted a wave of more than 20 drones in the eastern part of the country during several hours of incursions overnight, while Kuwait responded to drone and missile attacks. Sirens were activated in Bahrain.

• Global air travel remains severely disrupted after the war in Iran forced the closure of major Middle Eastern hubs, including Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi, stranding tens of thousands of passengers.

Iran launched a new wave of missiles against Israel, hours after US President Donald Trump said there had been “very good” talks to end the war, despite Tehran denying any negotiations.

The claims briefly lifted markets and pushed oil prices lower ahead of a US deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump said his administration was in contact with a “top person” in Iran and warned that if talks failed within five days, “we’ll just keep bombing our little hearts out.”

Axios, citing an Israeli official, identified the interlocutor as parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, with reports that US officials could meet an Iranian delegation in Pakistan.

Traders placed more than $500 million in oil futures bets minutes before President Donald Trump announced “very good and productive conversations” with Iran, the Financial Times reported.

Data showed thousands of Brent and West Texas Intermediate contracts were traded shortly before the statement, which later triggered a sharp drop in prices.

The timing of the trades has raised concerns in financial markets about possible insider activity.

“My gut… is this is really abnormal,” one portfolio manager said, adding: “Somebody just got a lot richer.”

Iran has denied the talks as officials accused Trump of attempting to manipulate oil and financial markets with the comments.

A senior Iranian lawmaker warned officials to “think wisely” before entering talks with the United States, citing past instances where negotiations coincided with military action, Fars news reported.

Esmaeil Kowsari, a member of parliament’s national security committee and a major general in the military, said Washington could not be trusted.

“This is not the first time they have lied about negotiations,” Kowsari said, adding: “Trump, Netanyahu and their ilk are inherently liars.”

He said their approach is “to create division” and undermine confidence in authorities.

An Iranian official said the United States has shifted its position on the Strait of Hormuz, describing it as a sign of retreat amid escalating tensions.

“First they said the Strait of Hormuz must be opened, then they said they would insure and escort ships, and now they say they are willing to manage it jointly with Iran,” Saeed Jalili said in a post on X.

"This is the very definition of a retreat: Iran’s power has brought the United States to the table of realities,” the Iranian Supreme Leader’s representative said. 

His remarks followed US President Donald Trump’s ultimatum that Iran reopen the waterway or face strikes on its power plants, a deadline that was later extended.

Trump has also suggested the possibility of joint management of the strait, as global markets react to disruptions in the vital shipping route.

First, they said: “The Strait of Hormuz must be opened.”
Then, they said: “I will insure and escort the ships.”
Now, they say: “I am willing to manage it jointly with Iran.”

This is the very definition of a retreat: Iran’s power has brought the United States to the table of… https://t.co/dI8UgFQY0W

— Saeed Jalili | سعید جلیلی (@DrSaeedJalili) March 23, 2026

The Pentagon said it will close media offices and relocate press operations after a federal court struck down the Trump administration’s credential rules for reporters.

Reporters will still be able to attend briefings and interviews, but will need to be escorted while inside the building.

Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the “Correspondents’ Corridor” will be shut and press offices moved to an annex.

The policy had required journalists to agree not to publish classified material or seek unauthorised information to obtain access. 

Pro-government demonstrators gathered across Tehran, voicing support for authorities and denouncing the US-Israeli war, local media reported.

Crowds assembled along major streets, including Valiasr, waving flags and chanting slogans despite rain and threats of further attacks.

Hundreds also gathered at Enghelab Square, where images of Iran’s leadership were displayed. 

Mehr news reported similar rallies in cities including Karaj, Ilam and Sari, according to Mehr news agency. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he spoke with US President Donald Trump about a potential agreement with Iran, as Israeli strikes continued in Iran and Lebanon.

“Earlier today, I spoke with our friend, President Trump,” Netanyahu said, adding that Trump sees an opportunity to “leverage the tremendous achievements” to reach a deal.

Netanyahu said Israel is “smashing” Iran’s missile and nuclear capabilities and confirmed strikes against Hezbollah, noting that two more nuclear scientists had been “eliminated.”

He said Israel “will safeguard our vital interests under all circumstances,” as Trump’s reported five-day pause on strikes against Iranian energy sites remains in place.