Iran War: Iran fires missiles at US Navy warship Abraham Lincoln soon after warning

Antonio Guterres has raised serious concern over the escalating tensions in the Middle East, warning that the situation is “out of control” and could lead to a much larger war. According to reports, he urged both the United States and Israel to stop military action against Iran, while also calling on Tehran to avoid targeting neighbouring countries not directly involved in the conflict. Stressing the need for peace, he said the focus must now shift from escalation to diplomacy and a return to international law.

The Israeli military has said its air force carried out overnight strikes on multiple weapon production facilities in Tehran, according to official statements. As per reports, Israel claimed the targeted sites were used by Iran to manufacture aerial and naval weapons, including those allegedly supplied to groups like Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Kuwait’s fire authorities have said they are battling a major blaze at Kuwait Airport after a fuel tank was hit by what they described as “hostile” drones. According to reports, Brigadier General Mohammed Al-Ghareeb stated that multiple agencies, including army and national guard firefighting teams, are working to contain the situation.

The central government has called an all-party meeting on 25th March to discuss the ongoing West Asia crisis. The meeting will take place inside the Parliament building and is expected to bring together leaders from across political parties to review the situation. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will chair the meeting. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, along with senior officials, will brief leaders on recent developments and India’s preparedness. Read the full story here. 

Commenting on Pakistan’s attempt to position itself as a mediator in the tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, former Israeli spokesperson Eylon Levy expressed strong reservations. He noted that Israel is likely to remain cautious about Pakistan’s involvement, given the country’s long-standing hostile stance and the fact that it does not officially recognise Israel. According to Levy, Israel does not view Pakistan as a neutral or trustworthy partner in such sensitive matters. He also raised concerns about Pakistan’s growing connections with countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Qatar, suggesting that these relationships add to Israel’s unease.

Speaking about the recent conversation between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump, former Israeli spokesperson Eylon Levy highlighted the importance of regional stability for future economic growth. He said that for Israel, ensuring maritime and regional security is essential to move forward with a major trade corridor project. This proposed route aims to connect India with Europe through countries like the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Israel.

Iran has received an American 15-point plan for a ceasefire for the Iran war through intermediaries from Pakistan, officials in Islamabad said today. The proposal was sent even as Washington began to move paratroopers to the Middle East to back up a contingent of Marines already heading there. Iran's military scoffed at the diplomatic efforts and launched more attacks today on Israel and the Persian Gulf region, including an assault that sparked a huge fire at Kuwait International Airport, sending black smoke billowing into the sky.

Iran has halted a ship that was headed to Karachi after it reportedly did not obtain the required clearance to transit through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a statement issued by the Iranian Embassy in Kabul. The strategic waterway, responsible for nearly one-fifth of global oil and gas movement, has experienced severe disruptions amid the escalating conflict in West Asia.

The Israeli Defence Forces said that they had struck two key naval cruise missile production sites in Tehran. In its post on X, IDF said, "IAF fighter jets targeted facilities used by the Iranian regime to develop and manufacture long-range naval cruise missiles capable of destroying targets at sea and on land."

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday briefed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman about Islamabad's diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the tenuous West Asia situation. The prime minister said in a statement on X that he spoke with the crown prince and discussed the regional situation in addition to exchanging traditional Eid greetings. The call comes a day after Sharif offered to host talks between the US and Iran for a comprehensive settlement of the ongoing conflict.

Thick plumes of smoke billowed over Kuwait International Airport after Iranian drones struck the airport and multiple other locations. The Gulf state's civil aviation authority confirmed on Wednesday that a fuel tank was hit. triggering a fire at the site. "Kuwaiti air defences are currently responding to hostile missile and drone attacks," the military posted on X.

Israel said it carried out an extensive series of strikes on Iranian "production sites," without providing more information. In Tehran, a massive blast was heard in northern neighbourhoods and another in the city centre. Iran also fired at least a dozen waves of missiles at Israel, and first responders said three people were wounded in southern Israel, and four others suffered minor wounds in Tel Aviv.

Israeli attacks in Lebanon resulted in nine deaths and dozens of injuries, according to the Lebanese health ministry. The strikes caused three fatalities and 18 injuries in Nabatiyeh, while Sidon reported six deaths and five wounded. In Tyre, 29 people were injured as cross-border tensions with Israel continued to escalate.

Israeli Media has reported that US and Israel have granted temporary immunity for two key figures in Iran, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf. This after Israel's defence minister Israel Katz had publicly said that any leader of the Islamic regime was a legitimate target in the ongoing war. According to Israel's Channel 14, the immunity granted is valid at least for the entire five days of negotiations underway with Tehran. This revelation comes after US President Trump revealed that negotiations were on with Iran, a claim denied by Iran's government.

The Iranian mission in New York said that they will allow the passage of what it called "non-hostile vessels" through the Strait of Hormuz. The mission announced in a post on X, "Non-hostile vessels, including those belonging to or associated with other States, may--provided that they neither participate in nor support acts of aggression against Iran and fully comply with the declared safety and security regulations--benefit from safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz in coordination with the competent Iranian authorities."

The American military is preparing to deploy around 1,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East, a person with knowledge of the plans told The Associated Press. The troops are to be sent in the coming days, the person said. The unit is considered the Army's emergency response force and can typically be deployed on short notice. The force would include a battalion of the 1st Brigade Combat Team as well as Maj Gen Brandon Tegtmeier, the division's commander, and the division staff.

Lebanon's Foreign Ministry declared Iran's ambassador to Beirut persona non grata and ordered him to leave the country by the end of the week. The decision was the clearest sign yet of deteriorating relations between the two countries and raises tensions within Lebanon over the role of Tehran and its Lebanon-based ally, the militant Hezbollah group.

Iraq's government has authorised its security forces and state-backed militias to respond in self-defence as the country faces a surge in attacks, according to the state-run Iraq News Agency. The move comes as the Popular Mobilisation Forces, a powerful Shiite-led political and military bloc, continue to be targeted following strikes on locations linked to the United States inside Iraq. The escalation is tied to the wider conflict involving Iran, which has intensified tensions across the region. 

The Trump administration has offered a 15-point ceasefire plan to Iran, according to a person briefed on the contours of the plan but who was not authorised to speak publicly about it. The ceasefire plan was submitted to Iran by intermediaries from Pakistan, who have offered to host renewed negotiations between Washington and Tehran.