Iran-Israel War highlights: Iran strikes Israel’s Dimona 'nuclear site' in Natanz revenge attack

In a major retaliatory move, Iran launched a ballistic missile strike on Israel’s southern city of Dimona on March 21, following an earlier attack on its nuclear facility in Natanz.

Medics said more than 20 people were injured, including a 10-year-old child and a 40-year-old woman, both reported to be in moderate condition, Times of Israel and Jerusalem Post reported.

The missile made a direct hit on a building in the city, the Israeli media said citing rescue officials.

The Israel Defense Forces said Home Front Command search and rescue teams were deployed to the site of the Iranian ballistic missile strike in Dimona, according to Times of Israel.

Iranian outlet Tehran Times said Dimona houses Israel’s primary nuclear facility, describing the strike as retaliation for an “Israeli-American airstrike” on Iran’s Natanz nuclear site.

Iran outlined a set of conditions to end its conflict with the United States and Israel and ensure long-term regional peace during a telephone conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Masoud Pezeshkian on March 21.

According to the Iranian embassy in India, Pezeshkian underscored that a “prerequisite for ending the war and conflict in the region is the immediate cessation of aggressions by the US and Israel, along with guarantees against their recurrence in the future.”

The Iranian side said the two leaders discussed bilateral ties as well as global and regional developments “in light of the continued military aggressions by the United States and the Zionist regime against Iran.”

Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) posts, "STRUCK: Dozens of Iranian terror regime targets, during a wide-scale strike sortie in Tehran, Iran. Among the sites struck: A central IRGC compound utilized for the production and development of ballistic missile components. A missile production components storage facility. A compound belonging to the Ministry of Defense responsible for producing missiles fuel. Ballistic missiles components production site"

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.

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

Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iran on February 28, sparking a conflict that has since spread across the Middle East.

"An F-16 hostile enemy fighter jet belonging to the Zionist regime was struck at 3:45 am 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.

Russia condemned reported strikes on Iran's Natanz nuclear facility earlier Saturday, saying they created a risk of "catastrophe" in the Middle East.

The UN's atomic energy watchdog said it was looking into an Iranian report that the Natanz nuclear site, used for uranium enrichment, was attacked in the war with the United States and Israel.

"The international community... must immediately provide an objective and hardline assessment of these irresponsible actions, which pose a real risk of a catastrophe across the Middle East," Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement.

The Central government on Saturday announced an increase in the supply of commercial LPG to States and Union Territories, citing disruptions linked to the ongoing West Asia conflict.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said an additional 20% allocation has been approved, taking the total enhanced supply to 50%. The move builds on an earlier 10% increase and is aimed at supporting the “transition and expansion of piped natural gas (PNG),” according to the official statement.

The US said Iran’s ability to threaten marine traffic on the Strait of Hormuz has been “degraded” after it took out a facility along the Iranian coastline earlier this week.

The US military dropped several 5,000-pound bombs on an underground facility located along Iran’s coastline, according to Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of US Central Command. The facility was used to store equipment, including anti-ship cruise missiles and mobile missile launchers, he said.

“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,” Cooper said in a video posted on X. He said the military also destroyed Iranian intelligence support sites and missile radar relays used to monitor ship movements.

A Patriot air defence system was involved in the interception of an Iranian drone over a residential area of Bahrain on March 9, Bahrain's government told Reuters on Saturday, describing an incident that led to civilian injuries.

The interception prevented a drone strike and saved lives, the spokesperson said. The U.S. military had previously said an Iranian drone had struck a residential neighbourhood on March 9, injuring civilians.

India does not expect the Middle East crisis to affect its ability to meet soaring power demand this summer, as the country has lined up coal and renewable capacity to make up for any gas supply issues, a senior government official said on Saturday.

Although gas accounts for only around 2% of India's total power generation, the South Asian country uses about 8 gigawatts (GW) of gas power during peak-demand periods or heat waves.

"We are quite hopeful that this (Middle East) crisis is not going to impact us in terms of meeting demand," India's Power Secretary Pankaj Agarwal told Reuters on the sidelines of a power industry event.

Twenty-two countries on Saturday urged Iran to cease attacks and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Countries including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, the UK, Germany, France, Japan, South Korea and Australia have condemned Iran's attacks on commercial vessels as well as oil and gas facilities in the region.

"The effects of Iran's actions will be felt by people in all parts of the world, especially the most vulnerable,” they said in a joint statement Saturday.

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.

Iran’s military spokesperson accused the United States and Israel of targeting civilian and commercial vessels in the Gulf, warning that such actions would invite retaliation, state media reported.

Iran 'unsuccessfully' targeted Diego Garcia base, UK official source confirms to AFP.

President Donald Trump ends the third week of the Iran war confronting a crisis that seems to be slipping out of his hands: Global energy prices are surging, the United States stands isolated from allies and more troops are preparing to deploy despite his promise the war would be only a "short excursion."

A defensive Trump called other NATO countries "cowards" for refusing to help secure the Strait of Hormuz and insisted the campaign was unfolding according to plan. But his declaration on Friday that the battle "was Militarily WON" clashed with the reality of a defiant Iran that is choking off Gulf oil and gas supplies while launching missile strikes across the region.

Iran’s reported launch of two ballistic missiles toward the US-UK military base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean marks a significant shift in the ongoing West Asia conflict, highlighting both an expansion in Tehran’s strike capability and a potential widening of the theatre of confrontation.

According to Iran’s semi-official Mehr news agency, the targeting of the base was a “significant step” demonstrating that the range of its missiles extends “beyond what the enemy previously imagined.” The Wall Street Journal, citing US officials, reported that neither of the intermediate-range ballistic missiles struck the base, located about 4,000 km from Iran.

Despite the lack of impact, the attempted strike carries strategic weight. Diego Garcia, a key US-UK military hub in the Indian Ocean, has long been considered a secure rear base for operations across Asia, including past campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq. By targeting it, Iran has signalled that even distant installations linked to Western military activity are within its potential reach.

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.

PM Modi in a post on X: 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.

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.

Natanz has long been a core site in Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Built deep within mountainous terrain, it was designed to house thousands of centrifuges used to enrich uranium. This enrichment process serves civilian energy needs but can also produce material suitable for nuclear weapons if taken further. Its scale and technical capacity make it one of the most critical hubs in the programme. Read more

The war in the Middle East has triggered a nightmare scenario for the global energy system, slashing so much supply that consumers around the world must both pay up big and lower consumption.

The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow channel along the Iranian coast, has stopped the passage of 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas since the U.S. and Israel began airstrikes on Iran on February 28.

Meanwhile, ongoing strikes by Iran and Israel have targeted Middle East energy infrastructure, doing damage to gas fields, oil refineries, and terminals that industry representatives say will take years to repair.

An officer was killed after a drone launched by "outlaw groups" struck near the Iraqi intelligence headquarters in Baghdad on Saturday, the National Intelligence Service said in a statement.

Here are the latest developments in the Middle East war:

- Iran warns UAE -

Iran's military warned the United Arab Emirates on Saturday against allowing attacks from its territory on two disputed islands in the Gulf, near the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

- Arab nations slam Israel on Syria -

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

- Iran's Hormuz offer to Japan -

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

- Israel strikes Tehran -

The Israeli military said it launched strikes on "regime targets" in Tehran early Saturday.

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.

Iran, a majority-Shia nation, marked the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan a day after most other Muslim countries, which are mainly Sunni.

The Islamic republic's supreme leader traditionally leads the Eid prayers but Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not appeared in public since his appointment earlier this month, did not attend.

A drone attack targeted Iraqi intelligence services in an upscale residential neighbourhood in central Baghdad on Saturday morning, a senior security official said.

"A drone targeted the headquarters of the Iraqi National Intelligence Service in the Mansour district" at around 10:00 am local time (0700 GMT), General Saad Maan, head of the Iraqi government's security media unit, said in a brief statement.

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.

Israel and Iran attacked each other on Saturday as the U.S. was sending thousands more Marines to the Middle East and President Donald Trump accused NATO allies of cowardice over their reluctance to help open the Strait of Hormuz.

Israel also attacked Beirut, saying it was targeting Hezbollah as it steps up airstrikes targeting the Iran-backed Lebanese militia in the deadliest spillover from the war on Iran since Hezbollah fired on Israel in support of Tehran on March 2.

More than 2,000 people have been killed since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, while Americans appear increasingly concerned at signs the war could expand further as it enters its fourth week.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Iranian leaders on Nowruz, the Persian New Year, and reaffirmed that Moscow remains a loyal friend and reliable partner to Tehran, the Kremlin said.

Missiles were seen over the West Bank and Tel Aviv on Friday (March 20), as Iran fired another barrage towards the region. Projectiles could be seen through the clouds in the skies of Tel Aviv, as air raid sirens blared across the city.

Indian and other Asian refiners are looking at resuming purchase of Iranian crude. This follows Washington's temporary easing of sanctions to help alleviate an energy shortage caused by the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, traders said on Saturday.

At least three refining sources, as per a Reuters report, indicated that they plan to purchase Iranian oil but are waiting for government directions and further clarity from Washington, particularly issues like payment terms. Read more

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.

Lebanon was pulled into the Middle East war when Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel on March 2 to avenge the killing of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Israel has since launched strikes across Lebanon and sent ground troops into the country's south. (AFP)

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) on Saturday announced the execution of the 70th wave of its retaliatory Operation True Promise 4, saying the latest phase targeted more than 55 locations occupied by the US and the Israeli regime across the region. (ANI)

Iran's highest operational command unit has warned the United Arab Emirates against allowing its soil to be used again as a launch pad for aggression targeting the Iranian islands of Abu Musa and Greater Tunb in the Persian Gulf.

The warning was issued by the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, Iran's highest operational command unit that coordinates operations between the Army and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).

"We warn the United Arab Emirates that if any further aggression originates from its territory against the Iranian islands of Abu Musa and Greater Tunb in the Persian Gulf, Iran's powerful Armed Forces will subject Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE to heavy and crushing strikes," he added. (ANI)

Three weeks into the war triggered by US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, the conflict is expanding rather than easing. What began with targeted strikes that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has evolved into a wider regional confrontation, with Iran launching missiles at Gulf neighbours and energy infrastructure increasingly coming under attack. Markets remain volatile as oil and gas facilities across West Asia become flashpoints, raising fears of prolonged disruption.

A key question remains unanswered. When will the war end, and who is winning? Read the full story here

Saudi Arabia said its air defences intercepted and destroyed eight drones over its eastern region within two hours, according to the defence ministry.

The development comes as Iran continues missile and drone strikes across Gulf countries, citing the presence of US forces in the region.

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.

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.

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.

The Israeli military said it launched strikes on "regime targets" in Tehran early on Saturday, after reporting several rounds of Iranian missile fire at Israel.

"The IDF (military) is striking Iranian terror regime targets in Tehran," a brief statement said, AFP reported.

President Donald Trump said Friday that he was considering "winding down" military operations against Iran, as the United States temporarily eased sanctions on Iranian oil shipments to stem a global supply crisis.

His post was the strongest indication yet that he may be prepared to soon end hostilities that began on February 28.

At least three drone attacks targeted a US diplomatic and logistics hub near Baghdad International Airport that houses American military personnel, two security officials told AFP. One of the officials said the third strike triggered a fire near the facility, raising concerns about escalating attacks on US assets in Iraq.

US President Donald Trump on Friday said he does not support a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict with Iran, indicating that military operations will continue as tensions escalate in the region.

Speaking to reporters, Trump said dialogue remains possible but ruled out any pause in fighting, stating, “Look, we can have dialogue, but I don’t want to do a ceasefire. You know, you don’t do a ceasefire when you’re literally obliterating the other side.”

Read more

The U.S. Department of the Treasury has issued a temporary 30-day authorization permitting the delivery and sale of Iranian-origin crude and petroleum already loaded on vessels. The move is seen as a short-term step to ease global supply pressures as disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz continue to impact energy markets. Read more

As the conflict in the Middle East region entered day 22, Iran reportedly launched two intermediate-range ballistic missiles targeting the Diego Garcia military base in the Indian Ocean, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

One missile is said to have failed mid-flight, while a US warship deployed an SM-3 interceptor against the second. It remains unclear whether the interception was successful. Authorities in Washington and London have yet to officially comment.