Israel Iran War Day 16 News Updates: Strikes, missile attacks, and global responses intensify

The war involving Iran, the United States and Israel entered its 16th day on Sunday, with tensions continuing to escalate across the region. Fresh threats, missile strikes and drone attacks have heightened fears of a wider regional conflict as both sides show little willingness to step back.

US President Donald Trump warned that further strikes could target Iran’s key oil export hub at Kharg Island, while Tehran signalled it would intensify its retaliation and ruled out any ceasefire until attacks on its territory stop.

Here’s what we know so far:

Germany won’t join Strait of Hormuz mission

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told ARD television that Germany will not participate in a naval mission in the Strait of Hormuz for now. He said security in the waterway can only be ensured through a negotiated solution and expressed skepticism over expanding the EU’s Red Sea mission, Operation Aspides, citing its limited effectiveness. Wadephul emphasized that Germany sees no immediate need for involvement.

Rockets hit Baghdad airport, 5 injured

Iraq’s Security Media Cell reported rockets struck Baghdad International Airport and surrounding areas, injuring four security staff and an engineer. A former U.S. base nearby was also targeted by drones and Katyusha rockets. Authorities seized the rocket launch platform and have relieved several sector commanders and intelligence officers over the incident.

Rafah crossing in Gaza to reopen

Israel announced that the Rafah crossing with Egypt will reopen Wednesday for limited movement of people only, restoring critical access for medical evacuations. Cargo traffic remains restricted.

UN peacekeepers fired upon in Southern Lebanon

The U.N. reported that peacekeepers in southern Lebanon came under gunfire, likely from non-state armed groups. Patrols returned fire, but no peacekeepers were injured.

Trump-era attacks on Iran cost $12 billion

U.S. National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett stated on CBS News that attacks on Iran under the Trump administration have cost $12 billion. Pentagon estimates placed first-week spending at $11.3 billion. Hassett said the government currently has adequate funding, though further requests to Congress could be considered.

Tehran shows damage from U.S.-Israeli strike

Journalists were shown heavy damage in Tehran’s Javadieh neighborhood after a strike hit a police station and nearby buildings. Residents described being thrown across rooms and glass shards injuring heads and faces.

Drone strike hits Italian base in Kuwait

Italy’s Chief of Defense Staff, Gen. Luciano Portolano, confirmed a drone strike destroyed an Italian drone at Kuwait’s Ali Al Salem base. No personnel were injured. Italian forces at the base are part of the coalition task force against ISIS, though assets have been reduced in recent days.

Missile fire continues in Northern Israel

Residents of northern Israel expressed concern over continued missile threats from Hezbollah, noting repeated ceasefire failures. Around 100,000 troops have been stationed along the Blue Line in anticipation of a possible ground invasion.

Israeli police raise civilians for following safety protocols

After a missile struck Tel Aviv, Shlomo Shlezinger of the Israeli police thanked civilians for entering safe rooms, noting no casualties at one of the impacted sites. At least 23 locations were hit in a barrage from Iran on Sunday.

UEFA cancels Argentina vs. Spain finalissima

UEFA canceled the Finalissima in Doha due to Middle East tensions. Scheduled for March 27 at Lusail Stadium, the game featured champions Argentina and Spain. Regional violence has also affected F1 races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

IEA to release emergency oil stocks

The International Energy Agency announced that 400 million barrels from emergency reserves will be made available, starting immediately in Asia and Oceania, and from late March in Europe and the Americas. Nearly 412 million barrels in total will be released to stabilize global markets.

Netanyahu debunks death rumors

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted a video showing he is alive, holding up both hands to confirm he has ten fingers. The video responded to viral rumors claiming he had died after an AI video caused confusion.

Israel maintains sufficient interceptors

An Israeli military source confirmed that Israel has enough missile interceptors to sustain its air defenses against Iranian threats, addressing speculation about potential shortages.

Egypt calls Gulf leaders for de-escalation

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi held calls with leaders from Qatar, Jordan, and the UAE, seeking ways to reduce tensions. Egypt’s foreign minister is touring the Gulf region to support dialogue and coordination.

Iran refuses talks with US envoys

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran sees no reason to engage with U.S. envoys following attacks. However, Iran remains open to dialogue with other nations regarding safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

Israel targets Hezbollah-linked militant

Israel reported killing Ibrahim Ghazali, the brother of a Michigan synagogue attacker, in an airstrike. Ghazali allegedly managed weapons for a Hezbollah unit. Several family members were also killed.

Funeral held for Turkish truck driver killed in Iran

Huseyin Firat, 29, died from wounds sustained in an attack on a convoy in Iran on March 6. His funeral took place in Reyhanli, Turkey.

US seeks global support on Hormuz

Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the U.S. is in discussions with other countries to secure shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. He expects support from nations like China and warns that shipping is currently unsafe.

Egypt supports Gulf nations

President el-Sissi pledged full solidarity with Qatar and other Gulf nations struck by Iran. Egypt’s foreign minister emphasized activating a Joint Defense Treaty to protect Arab states’ sovereignty and security.

Turkmenistan sends humanitarian aid to Iran

Four refrigerated trucks with medicine, food, and supplies were sent from Ashgabat to Iran, targeting children and vulnerable populations. Turkmenistan has also provided safe passage to foreigners amid the ongoing Middle East conflict.

Tel Aviv cleans up after missile strikes

Israeli authorities cleared shrapnel and debris from multiple impact sites in Tel Aviv. Four people were injured, one moderately. Cluster munitions posed particular hazards to residents.

Energy disruption will affect Americans for weeks

Chris Wright warned that Americans will feel short-term energy disruptions due to the conflict, but prices are expected to drop after the war ends.

Storm hits displaced Lebanese residents

Fierce winds and rain battered Beirut’s waterfront, damaging tents of displaced families. Over 830,000 people in Lebanon remain displaced due to ongoing conflict.

Pope appeals for ceasefire

Pope Leo XIV urged leaders in the Middle East to cease hostilities, emphasising that violence cannot bring justice, stability, or peace.

Norwegian PM worries about escalation

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre expressed concern over the conflict’s unpredictability and escalation, calling on the parties involved to end hostilities.

Strait of Hormuz open to all except US allies

Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi stated the Strait remains open to all vessels except those from the U.S. and its allies.

Aluminum Bahrain to cut production

Alba announced a phased shutdown of nearly one-fifth of its production due to blocked exports through the Strait of Hormuz, potentially affecting global aluminum supply.

UAE attacked by missiles and drones

The UAE reported being struck by four ballistic missiles and six drones from Iran. Damage and casualties were not immediately reported.

Latest Iranian missile attack injures Israelis

A missile barrage damaged an apartment building in Bnei Brak, Israel, injuring two people. Earlier attacks hit 23 sites in Tel Aviv.

Southern Beirut ravaged by airstrikes

Israeli airstrikes devastated southern Beirut’s Haret Hreik neighborhood. Over 800,000 people have been displaced in just 10 days, with more than 826 casualties reported, including children and women.

Fresh attacks reported across Gulf countries

Several Gulf states reported new attacks on Sunday morning, signalling a widening regional fallout from the war.

Sirens sounded in Bahrain ahead of an assault, while the United Arab Emirates confirmed a missile attack and urged residents to move to safe locations. Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry said its air defence systems intercepted and destroyed 10 drones over Riyadh and the kingdom’s eastern region.

The escalation came a day after Iran warned of possible strikes on three major ports in the UAE, alleging that the United States had used facilities there to launch attacks on Iran’s Kharg Island — home to the country’s main oil export terminal.

Iran signals openness to proposals to end war

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran would study any proposal aimed at achieving a “complete end” to the war involving the United States and Israel.

In an interview with the London-based Arab daily Al-Araby al-Jadeed, Araghchi said mediation efforts by neighbouring countries were underway and that proposals to de-escalate the conflict were being discussed.

He also maintained that Iran’s attacks in neighbouring Arab states had targeted only US bases and assets, adding that Tehran was willing to form a joint investigative committee with regional countries to examine the strikes.

Missile strikes continue between Iran and Israel

Iran launched another barrage of missiles toward Israel early Sunday, triggering sirens in Tel Aviv and other areas.

Israel’s emergency service Magen David Adom said two men were lightly injured in central Israel after an Iranian missile strike. Rescue teams reported damage at more than 20 locations, including shrapnel impacts on residential buildings and vehicles.

Meanwhile, Israel continued its military operations across the region, including strikes linked to Iranian positions and facilities.

Lebanon crisis deepens amid Israeli strikes

Israeli military operations have worsened the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon, where more than 800 people have been killed and over 850,000 displaced.

Aid agencies say the conflict has put increasing pressure on infrastructure and humanitarian resources across the country as displacement continues to rise.

Oil shipments continue at Iran’s Kharg Island

Despite recent US strikes targeting facilities near Kharg Island, tanker activity around the key oil export hub appeared to continue.

Satellite imagery reviewed by vessel-tracking platform TankerTrackers showed at least seven tankers near the anchorage. Five vessels had already loaded fuel oil, while two others were waiting to load cargo.

It was not immediately clear which companies or countries the vessels belonged to.

Bahrain intercepts hundreds of missiles and drones

Bahrain said its air defence systems have intercepted 125 missiles and 211 drones since the start of the conflict.

The island nation, which hosts the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, has been among the countries most affected by Iranian strikes. Authorities said attacks have damaged ports, a hotel, a refinery and a desalination plant. At least one person has been killed.

Displacement rises inside Iran

The International Organization for Migration warned that worsening conditions in Iranian cities were driving large-scale internal displacement.

According to the UN agency, residents from multiple cities are moving toward northern provinces in search of safety, while shelters across more than 20 provinces are already facing strain.

The agency said thousands of people have also crossed into neighbouring countries, including nearly 32,000 who have entered Afghanistan and around 4,000 who have fled to Pakistan.

Iran reports civilian casualties from strikes

Iran’s health ministry said airstrikes since the start of the war on February 28 have killed 425 women and children.

According to the ministry, 223 women and 202 children were among the casualties. Iran’s Red Crescent earlier said the total death toll from strikes had exceeded 1,300 people.

State media also reported that an airstrike hit housing units in the southern city of Shiraz early Sunday, destroying several homes in a residential neighbourhood and injuring multiple people.

Diplomatic tensions and military rhetoric escalate

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard vowed to pursue and kill Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to a statement reported by state media.

At the same time, the UAE rejected Tehran’s claim that US strikes on Iran’s Kharg Island were launched from Emirati territory, with presidential adviser Anwar Gargash describing the allegation as misguided.

In another development, Switzerland said it denied permission for two US reconnaissance aircraft to fly over its territory, citing neutrality laws that prohibit overflights linked to military operations in ongoing conflicts.

After attacks on Iran's oil facilities, toxic black rain endangers the public

Clouds of toxic smoke unleashed into the atmosphere by U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iranian oil facilities made a dangerous return to Earth in the form of "black rain," prompting international health officials to warn of serious risks to the public.

Residents in Tehran complained last week of burning eyes and difficulty breathing when the dark and oily precipitation fell near the Iranian capital after several fuel oil depots and a refinery were struck.

Plumes of dark smoke have also been seen across other parts of the region over two weeks of war, as Iran retaliates against U.S.-Israeli airstrikes by firing drones and missiles at the oil and natural gas facilities of its Persian Gulf neighbors.

Rain washes hazardous chemicals out of the atmosphere in a relatively short period of time, experts said, but people exposed to black rain should take precautions to avoid short- and long-term health risks.

Saudi Air Defences intercept and destroy 10 drones over Riyadh and eastern regions

The Saudi Ministry of Defence announced that its air defence forces successfully intercepted and destroyed 10 drones that were heading towards Riyadh and the eastern territories of the country.

The statement followed an earlier announcement made about an hour before, in which the ministry said it had also destroyed two other drones in the eastern region.

Before these incidents, Saudi authorities had already confirmed that seven drones had been intercepted and destroyed across the same areas. Officials said these operations demonstrate the ongoing efforts of Saudi air defence systems to protect the kingdom’s central and eastern regions from aerial threats.

Donald Trump News: US Threatens More Strikes on Kharg Island

Trump said recent US strikes had “totally demolished” much of Kharg Island, a strategic location for Iran’s oil exports. Speaking to NBC News, the president warned that more attacks could follow.

Read more: UK's Starmer may send thousands of drones to the Middle East



“We may hit it a few more times just for fun,” Trump said, adding that although Tehran appeared open to negotiations, the proposed terms were “not good enough yet”.

The comments marked a significant escalation in rhetoric from the White House. Earlier statements from Washington had suggested that US operations were aimed only at military facilities on the island.

Read more: Lebanon open to 'peace talks' with Israel but demands ceasefire first



Sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that the US administration had already rejected mediation efforts by Middle Eastern allies seeking to open talks aimed at ending the war.

Middle East Conflict Latest News: Strait of Hormuz Security in Focus

The conflict has raised serious concerns over the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important shipping routes for oil and gas.

Trump urged major economies to help secure the waterway.

“The countries of the world that receive oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage, and we will help, a lot,” he wrote on social media, suggesting nations such as China, France, Japan, South Korea and Britain could send warships to protect shipping.

However, none of those countries immediately confirmed they would deploy naval forces.

French officials said efforts were underway to build an international coalition to secure the strait once the security situation stabilises.

Iran Israel Tensions: Tehran Rejects Ceasefire Calls

Iran signalled defiance as the war stretched into its third week. Officials said any ceasefire would only be considered after US and Israeli airstrikes stop.

Iranian forces continued attacks across the region. A drone strike disrupted operations at a major energy hub in the United Arab Emirates, while the United States warned its citizens to leave Iraq after a missile attack near the US embassy in Baghdad.

Since the war began with US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran on February 28, more than 2,000 people have reportedly been killed, most of them in Iran.

Tehran Attack: Airstrike Hits Industrial Facility in Isfahan

Iranian media reported that an airstrike struck a refrigerator and heater factory in the city of Isfahan, killing at least 15 people.

Meanwhile, Iran warned civilians in the United Arab Emirates to stay away from ports, docks and locations linked to US forces, claiming those areas had been used to launch attacks on Iranian targets.

The UAE denied that strikes on Kharg Island had been launched from its territory.

Iran Retaliation News: UAE Energy Hub Disrupted

The escalating conflict also affected energy infrastructure in the Gulf.

A drone attack near the port of Fujairah in the UAE caused a fire after debris from an intercepted drone fell on the facility, according to local authorities. Civil defence teams worked to contain the blaze.

Fujairah is a major global ship-refuelling hub and a key outlet for Murban crude oil, which accounts for roughly 1 million barrels per day, or about 1% of global demand.

Some oil-loading operations were temporarily suspended as a precaution following the incident.

US Iran Israel News: Tehran Accuses US of Launching Attacks from UAE

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi accused the United States of launching attacks on Kharg Island and Abu Musa Island using rocket systems fired from locations in the UAE.

According to Iranian state media, Araqchi said rockets from the HIMARS system were launched from areas including Ras Al Khaimah and locations near Dubai.

He warned that Iran would respond but said its forces would attempt to avoid civilian areas.

Iranian military officials also warned that locations used to launch US missiles could become legitimate targets.

Dubai News: Iran Warns Residents to Avoid Ports and US-linked Facilities

Iran issued warnings for residents in the UAE to avoid areas near major ports, including Jebel Ali in Dubai, Khalifa Port in Abu Dhabi and Fujairah Port.

Iranian commanders said these locations could become targets if they were used for military operations against Iran.

Authorities in the UAE denied involvement in launching attacks on Iranian territory.

Baghdad Attack: US Embassy Targeted Amid Rising Regional Tensions

The war’s impact spread further into Iraq when a drone struck the US embassy complex in Baghdad on Saturday.

Security officials said the attack occurred shortly after airstrikes in Baghdad killed three members of the Iran-aligned group Kataeb Hezbollah.

The US embassy issued an emergency alert urging American citizens to leave Iraq immediately, citing the ongoing risk of missiles, rockets and drone attacks.

Several Iran-backed militias operating under the umbrella group Islamic Resistance in Iraq have claimed responsibility for repeated attacks on US bases across the region since the war began.

Kharg Island Damage: Iran Plays Down Impact of US Strikes

Despite US claims of heavy damage, Iranian officials said strikes on Kharg Island mainly hit military installations rather than energy infrastructure.

The US military said it targeted more than 90 locations, including missile storage sites, naval mine facilities and other military positions.

Iran has warned that any attacks on its energy infrastructure would trigger retaliation, raising concerns that the conflict could further disrupt global oil supplies.

Inputs from agencies