Hezbollah announced that it attacked an Israeli tank in southern Lebanon

Hezbollah said in a post on Telegram that its fighters struck an Israeli Merkava tank near the southern town of Taybeh.

According to Hezbollah, the attack was carried out with a guided missile, causing the tank to burst into flames.

US Energy Secretary: The war with Iran will end within weeks

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said today that he expects the US war with Iran to end within “the next few weeks,” anticipating that this will then be followed by a recovery in oil supplies and a decline in energy costs.

“I believe this war will definitely end in the next few weeks — it could happen sooner than that. But the war will end in the next few weeks, and we will see a recovery in supply and a drop in prices after that,” Wright said on ABC’s This Week.

Total destruction of homes in Shiraz

Residential areas in Shiraz in Iran, came under attack by the US and Israel, according to Iran’s Tasnim news agency.

According to the report: “The Zionist-American regime attacked a residential and deprived area of Shiraz in a terrorist and inhumane act.”

The intensity of the attack was such that, according to the report, the targeted homes were completely destroyed (100%), while residents suffered significant financial losses.

Shiraz, also known as the City of Wine, is home to the Eram Garden, which is listed by UNESCO.

Iranian missile attacks hit central Israel, three injured, extensive damage

Cars burned and one overturned in a suburb of the Tel Aviv metropolitan area due to debris from a series of Iranian missile attacks that struck central Israel early on Sunday, March 15.

Three people were lightly injured, according to the local police commander, while authorities are inspecting buildings that were damaged.

As the conflict enters its third week, both sides appear to be preparing for a prolonged battle. Iran has rejected any possibility of a ceasefire until US and Israeli airstrikes come to an end.

Iran arrested 20 people for spying for Israel

In northwestern Iran, 20 people were arrested on charges of attempting to collaborate with Israel, according to Tasnim, citing a statement from the prosecutor’s office of West Azerbaijan province. The accused allegedly sent information about Iranian military and police facilities to Israel.

According to the prosecutor’s statement: “Multiple networks of mercenaries collaborating with the Zionist regime, including the transmission of details about military, police, and security facilities to the enemy, were dismantled, and 20 people were arrested and are being held by judicial order.”

Israel has launched a new phase of attacks against Iran, targeting security checkpoints based on intelligence from spies on the ground, according to Reuters.

How governments are reacting to Trump’s call to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz

Trump’s post on Truth Social on Saturday said that five countries — China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom — are about to send, or that he wants them to send, warships to the Strait of Hormuz so that the area will “no longer be a threat” from Iran.

However, reactions from those countries vary:

United Kingdom: Discussing options for maritime security, without making any immediate commitment.
China: Calling for an immediate halt to hostilities, without confirming participation.
Japan: Has not yet responded, noting that it makes decisions based on its own independent judgment.
France: Denied that it will send warships, maintaining its defensive posture.
South Korea: No immediate response.

The situation remains sensitive, as Trump’s initiative is being met with skepticism by several international partners, while shipping security and regional stability remain critical issues.

At least 15 dead in Isfahan due to attacks on factories and military facilities

Isfahan is one of many cities being bombed across Iran. More than 200 cities, including the capital Tehran, have been targeted since the war began.

Isfahan is one of the country’s most densely populated cities and hosts numerous industrial and military complexes. As in other cities, factories and infrastructure are being hit in the attacks.

It is reported that at least 15 people have died there. Although Isfahan plays a critical industrial and military role in Iran, the broader picture shows that residential areas are also being struck, with some partially or completely destroyed.

The US does not comment on Iran’s claims about the UAE being used in attacks

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that the United States attacked the islands of Kharg and Abu Musa from two locations in the United Arab Emirates — Ras Al Khaimah and an area he described as “very close to Dubai.”

Araghchi called the move dangerous and assured that Iran “will try to avoid hitting any residential area” there.

According to the Associated Press, US Central Command declined to comment on Araghchi’s claims.

At the same time, a diplomatic adviser to the UAE president said on social media that the country has the right to self-defense, but “prioritizes reason and prudence, while maintaining restraint.”

Over the past two weeks, Iran has launched hundreds of missiles and drones against neighboring Gulf countries, saying it is targeting American facilities, even as strikes or attempted strikes have also been reported on civilian infrastructure such as airports and oil fields.

Dozens of drones and ballistic missiles intercepted in the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia

Over the past day, thick smoke and flames filled the sky over the port of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates. The port’s press office said the smoke was caused by debris after intercepted attacks.

In the UAE alone, at least 33 drones and nine ballistic missiles were intercepted. In Kuwait, seven drones entered the country’s airspace, two of which hit Ahmad al-Jaber Air Base, injuring three soldiers. The international airport was also struck and its radar was damaged, although the Iranians denied any involvement.

In Qatar, the Ministry of Defense announced on Saturday that four ballistic missiles and several drones were intercepted. In Saudi Arabia, waves of drones entered the country’s airspace and were intercepted, with multiple attacks recorded in the eastern regions and near the Shaybah oil field. At the same time, six ballistic missiles were intercepted in the al-Kharj area.

The conflict is now entering its third week and the situation continues to escalate, causing concern among both officials and civilians in the region.

Japan cautious about sending warships to Hormuz

Takayuki Kobayashi, policy chief of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, said that sending Japanese warships to the Strait of Hormuz is not a simple matter and that such a move carries high risk.

The comments came just hours after Donald Trump called on countries such as Japan to help escort tankers through this waterway, which is critical to international trade.

Speaking on public broadcaster NHK, Kobayashi explained: “Legally, we do not rule out sending ships, but given the current situation with the conflict continuing, I believe this is an issue that must be considered with great caution.”

Lebanon says it is ready for direct talks with Israel to prevent Beirut from being destroyed

Lebanon’s prime minister and president expressed willingness to hold immediate talks with Israel, a particularly significant development given that the two countries have officially been in a state of war for decades.

This move comes during a period of intense diplomatic activity aimed at stopping not only an Israeli ground invasion of southern Lebanon, but also the threat of destruction in Beirut’s southern suburbs.