Peloni: This was a good day
Pahlavi tells Iranians to reclaim streets for ‘Festival of Fire’ | Lebanese Army claims one soldier killed in Israeli airstrike | Iran escalates strikes across Gulf states
| Published: March 17, 2026
16:31 – IDF detects Hezbollah preparations for large-scale rocket attack later today
“In recent hours, the IDF has detected expanded preparations by the Hezbollah terrorist organization to launch rocket barrages toward the State of Israel in the coming hours,” the IDF warned.
Several days ago, the IDF had apologized for not issuing a warning to the public after receiving similar intelligence.
“The IDF is operating in order to thwart Hezbollah’s activities. The aerial defense array and IDF soldiers deployed along the border are alert and prepared, both in defense and in offense. The public is requested to follow the Home Front Command’s defensive guidelines,” the military stated.
Moshe Davidovich, the head of the Mateh Asher Regional Council, which lies on the western sector of the border with Lebanon, warned his residents: “Around 19:00, an attack from Lebanon is expected. I ask that you follow the instructions and remain near a protected space for as long as required.”
15:50 – Netanyahu: ‘We eliminated Iranian gangsters’, urges Israelis to keep avoid ‘channels of gloom’
“This morning, we eliminated Ali Larijani. Ali Larijani is the boss of the Revolutionary Guards, that group of gangsters that effectively runs Iran,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared.
“Alongside him, we also eliminated the commander of the Basij – they are the gangsters’ assistants who are terrorizing the population in the streets of Tehran and other Iranian cities.”
“We are undermining this regime in the hope of giving the Iranian people an opportunity to remove it. It will not happen all at once, and it will not happen easily. But if we persist, we will give them the chance to take their destiny into their own hands,” he added.
Turning to the Israeli people, he urged them to “simply ignore the ‘channels of gloom.’ We are achieving historical milestones. With G-d’s help, we have reached a point where, after October 7, when we were on the brink of an abyss, we are now a formidable power, almost a global one, fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with our friend, the global superpower.”
14:37 – Pahlavi, Netanyahu, and Herzog issue messages of support to Iranians ahead of Fire Festival
Reza Pahlavi, Iran’s exiled crown prince and leading opposition figure, urged Iranians to take to the streets for the Zoroastrian “festival of fire”: Chaharshanbe Suri.
Notably, Pahlavi had called on Iranians to stay indoors and not take to the streets in the preceding weeks, pointing to the ongoing Israeli and U.S. airstrikes. His call followed the assassination of the regime’s de facto leader, Ali Larijani, and several commanders of the Basij militia, which was instrumental in suppressing protests and the killing of thousands of demonstrators.
“On the eve of Chaharshanbe Suri, I call on you to kindle the fire of peace and life in your streets and neighborhoods,” he said on Tuesday in a video posted on X.
A day earlier, Pahlavi called on the international community to keep their eyes on Iran after the regime “issued threats of deadly force” to suppress the celebrations.
Addressing security forces, he added: “The people will hold Chaharshanbe Suri peacefully tonight. From 6 p.m., vacate the streets and do not stand against them.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also addressed Iranians ahead of Nowruz, wishing them “a year of freedom and a new beginning filled with hope,” adding that this year’s observance carries “special meaning.”
President Isaac Herzog echoed the message, expressing hope that the festival would bring “real change — in the region, in Iran, and for the future of our children.”
14:08 – Lebanese Army reports soldier killed in Israeli airstrike
A Lebanese soldier has died from injuries sustained in an Israeli airstrike, the Army said.
Earlier today, the Lebanese Army reported that five soldiers were injured, including two critically, in an Israeli airstrike on Qaaqaait al-Jisr in southern Lebanon.
13:42 – Israeli railway line suspended due to falling shrapnel, no injuries reported
Israel Railways has temporarily suspended service between Tel Aviv and Rishon LeZion-Moshe Dayan following Iranian missile fire, KAN News reported.
No injuries have been reported since the closure of the Holon Junction station after reports of falling shrapnel in the area.
13:09 – Shrapel from Iranian missile injures two paramedics in Kuwait
Two Kuwaiti paramedics were injured on Tuesday after falling shrapnel struck an ambulance center, Ministry of Health spokesperson Dr. Abdullah Al-Sanad said.
Their condition is reported as stable.
12:54 – Pakistani national killed by Iranian missile debris in UAE
A Pakistani national was killed by falling shrapnel in the United Arab Emirates after the interception of an Iranian ballistic missile, the Abu Dhabi Media Office announced on Tuesday.
The fatality brings the UAE’s death toll to eight, since Iran began targetting the country at the end of February.
On Monday, Maritime sources reported that Pakistan’s “Karachi” became the first commercial vessel to transit the Strait of Hormuz without incident since regional hostilities escalated, as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi thanked Pakistan on ? for its “full-throated expression of solidarity and support” with Iran.
12:29 – Sirens sound in central Israel amid fresh missile launch from Iran
Another ballistic missile launch from Iran has been detected, targetting central Israel.
Preliminary reports suggest the missile may have carried a cluster warhead.
Magen David Adom (MDA) reports that there are currently no known casualties as their teams scan areas where impact reports were received.
11:50 – Missile launch from Iran to northern Israel
The IDF detected a ballistic missile launch from Iran towards northern Israel.
The Home Front Command has since announced that Israelis permitted to leave protected spaces.
11:33 – Israel confirms elimination of top Iranian security official Ali Larijani
Shortly after the IDF announcement of the elimination of Basij Commander Gholamreza Soleimani, Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the elimination of top Iranian security official Ali Larijani.
“Larijani and the Basij commander were eliminated overnight and joined the head of the annihilation program, Khamenei, and all the eliminated members of the axis of evil, in the depths of hell,” Katz said.
“The Prime Minister and I instructed the IDF to continue hunting the leadership of the terror and oppression regime in Iran,” he added.
The confirmation comes as Iranian sources claim that a statement by Larijani is about to be released.
11:10 – Lebanese Army says five soldiers Injured in Israeli air strike
Five soldiers of Lebanon’s Army were injured, two of them critically, in an Israeli air strike on Qaaqaait al-Jisr in southern Lebanon, the Lebanese Army announced this morning.
In a post on X, the statement said they were moving by car and motorcycle at the moment of the strike, and have since been evacuated to the hospital for treatment.
10:45 – IDF eliminates the Commander of the Iran’s Paramilitary Basij Forces in a precise strike
Israeli forces have eliminated Gholamreza Soleimani, commander of Iran’s Basij militia, the IDF spokesperson confirmed, underscoring the close coordination between the Israeli Air Force and IDF intelligence.
“The elimination of Soleimani adds to that of dozens of senior commanders from the Iranian regime’s armed forces and delivers another significant blow to the regime’s security command-and-control structures,” the statement said.
The IDF also highlighted the Basij forces’ role in suppressing domestic protests in Iran earlier this year. “During internal demonstrations, particularly as protests intensified, Basij forces under Soleimani’s command led the main repression operations, employing severe violence, widespread arrests, and force against civilian demonstrators,” the announcement noted.
10:06 – Israeli source says IDF attempted to assassinate Ali Larijani last night
An Israeli source told Kan News that the IDF attempted to assassinate Iranian security official Ali Larijani during strikes carried out in the country last night.
Amid rumors of his elimination, Iran’s Mehr News Agency reported that a statement from Larijani will be posted shortly.
Larijani was seen among a crowd of regime-supporting Iranians late last week in Tehran’s annual al-Quds (Jerusalem) Day procession.
Last Tuesday, in reponse to Trump’s warning that Iranian disruption of oil through the Strait of Hormuz would be met with overwhelming U.S. retaliation, Larijani threatened the U.S. President: “Be careful not to get eliminated yourself.”
09:27 – IDF urges Lebanese evacuation South of Zahrani River amid ‘intensified strikes’
Residents in southern Lebanon were urged to evacuate immediately from areas south of the Zahrani River, the IDF Arabic-language spokesperson said. The statement said operations against Hezbollah targets are underway in the area, including intense airstrikes, and called on civilians to leave their homes and move north of the river for their safety.
“Remaining south of the Zahrani River poses a direct threat to you and your families,” the spokesperson said, adding that “anyone in close proximity to Hezbollah operatives, facilities, or weaponry is placing their life at risk.”
08:20 – 70 people hospitalized due to Iran war in past 24 hours, Health MInistry says
The Health Ministry reported this morning that 70 people have been hospitalized with injuries as a result of the conflict with Iran and Hezbollah in the past 24 hours.
The ministry did not identify the causes of the injuries, and some of the people may have sustained mild injuries from falls while trying to reach shelter.
The ministry stated that since the beginning of the war, 3,530 people have been admitted to hospitals. Of those, 86 remain hospitalized, with 8 in serious condition.
08:08 – Another IDF division joins ground operation in Lebanon
The IDF’s Division 36 forces joined the expansion of ground operations focused in southern Lebanon, the military announced.
07:30 – Gulf states urge U.S. to neutralize Iranian threat
Gulf Arab states were not involved in the U.S. decision to go to war with Iran, but many are now urging it to neutralize the Islamic ?Republic’s ability to threaten oil infrastructure Reuters reports, citing three Gulf state officials.
The officials, along with other sources, told Reuters that the U.S. is pressing the Gulf states to join the war effort against Iran, saying President Donald Trump wants to show regional backing for the campaign, to bolster international and domestic support.
Iran began attacking targets in Gulf states within the first few hours of the war. So far, the Gulf states have been reluctant to respond miitarily.
07:10 – Fire reported in Doha following interception
A fire broke out in an industrial area in Qatar after an incoming missile was intercepted, the country’s interior ministry said.
06:10 – Expolosions reported in Doha, Qatar
Explosions were reported in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday morning.
Qatar’s Defense Ministry later said it intercepted a missile attack on the country.
05:40 – UAE repels another attack from Iran
The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Defense reports that it has intercepted several missiles and drones coming from Iran.
This is the second wave of attacks the country has reported this morning.
04:58 – Israeli strikes reported in Beirut
Lebanese state media reported Israeli airstrikes on three Beirut neighborhoods, claiming that one strike targeted a residential building.
“Israeli warplanes launched a series of raids targeting a number of southern towns at dawn today,” Lebanon’s National News Agency reports.
“Israeli warplanes launched two airstrikes targeting the Kafaat and Haret Hreik areas,” the agency reported. “In another raid, the aircraft struck a residential apartment on the upper floors of a building located at the end of Venice Street in the Doha Aramoun area.”
04:46 – Tanker hit off the coast of UAE
A tanker anchored off the UAE’s eastern coat was hit by a projectile early Tuesday morning, the Associated Press reports.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center, which is run by the British military, reported the attack, saying the vessel was in the Gulf of Oman off Fujairah.
Since the start of the Iran war, around 20 vessels have come under attack by Iranian forces.
04:35 – Drone attack reported on US Embassy in Baghdad
The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad was targeted by a drone attack early Tuesday, the Associated Press reports.
According to the report, the embassy’s C-RAM air defense shot down all four drones targeting the facility, but some shrapnel landed in the embassy compound.
However, a report from Reuters claimed that one of the drones was not shot down, but hit inside the compound. It reported smoke rising from the site of the attack.
03:55 – Strike in Baghdad kills Iranian advisers to proxy militias
A report in Agence-France Presse claims that two people were killed in a missile strike on a house in Baghdad. A security official told AFP they are “Iranian advisers” to Tehran-backed groups.
Two other sources from Iran-backed factions confirmed that the strike hit a house hosting Iranian advisers in the al-Jadiriyah neighborhood, the report said.
03:40 – IDF launches simultaneous strikes in Iran and Lebanon
The IDF has begun a wave of extensive strikes targeting infrastructure of the Iranian regime throughout Tehran, the military announced.
Simultaneously, the military said it has also begun another wave of strikes targeting infrastructure of the Hezbollah terror organization in Beirut.
03:15 – U.S. asks diplomats to push allies to designate IRGC and Hezbollah as terror organizations
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is asking its diplomats to push allies to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its Lebanese proxy, Hezbollah, as terror organizations, Reuters reported.
According to Reuters, the directive, which was issued Monday and signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, was sent to all U.S. diplomatic posts.
01:50 – UAE closes airspace due to ‘incoming missile and drone threats from Iran’
The United Arab Emirates’ General Civil Aviation Authority announced it has temporarily closed its airspace as its military is “responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran.”
The Aviation Authority said it made the decision to close its airspace as “an exceptional precautionary measure aimed at ensuring the safety of flights and air crews, and safeguarding the UAE’s territory.”
01:15 – Saudi Arabia intercepts Iranian drone attack
The Saudi Ministry of Defense reports the successful interception of 3 drones in the eastern part of the country.
01:13 – UAE intercepts Iranian missiles
The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Defense reports that it has intercepted several missiles and drones coming from Iran.
00:05 – IDF eliminates commander in Hamas anti-tank unit
The IDF announced that in response to a violation of the ceasefire by Hamas, in which a terrorist fired at Israeli soldiers two days ago, the IDF attacked and eliminated the terrorist Kamal Ayash, a key commander in the anti-tank unit in the Gaza Strip.
“The anti-tank unit is responsible for providing combat means to advance and carry out terror plots against IDF forces and the State of Israel,” the military said.
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