Iran-Israel war LIVE: Trump, Netanyahu differ on gas field attack; Iran fires at Israel after Netanyahu boasts of war gains

• March 20, 2026 08:27 Gulf states say responding to missile, drone attacks Emirati and Kuwaiti air defences were responding to missile fire early Friday (March 20), authorities in the Gulf states said, while Saudi Arabia intercepted drone attacks.Elsewhere in the Gulf, Bahrain’s Interior Ministry said that shrapnel from an “Iranian aggression” caused a fire at a warehouse, which was brought under control and resulted in no injuries. The Ministry earlier said air raid sirens were activated.- AFP

Emirati and Kuwaiti air defences were responding to missile fire early Friday (March 20), authorities in the Gulf states said, while Saudi Arabia intercepted drone attacks.

Elsewhere in the Gulf, Bahrain’s Interior Ministry said that shrapnel from an “Iranian aggression” caused a fire at a warehouse, which was brought under control and resulted in no injuries. The Ministry earlier said air raid sirens were activated.

• March 20, 2026 08:23 Japan's Takaichi tries to reaffirm alliance with Trump as he seeks help securing Strait of Hormuz Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has sought to reaffirm her alliance with President Donald Trump after the president this week seemed to complain that Japan was among the nations that did not quickly join his call to help protect the Strait of Hormuz.Ms. Takaichi, who met with Mr. Trump at the White House, told the Republican President that Japan has opposed Iran’s development of its nuclear programme and appealed to his desire to be seen as a peacemaker, despite his launching a war of choice with Iran.Japan's Takaichi tries to reaffirm alliance with Trump as he seeks help securing Strait of HormuzJapan's Prime Minister Takaichi seeks to strengthen ties with Trump while addressing security concerns in the Strait of Hormuz.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has sought to reaffirm her alliance with President Donald Trump after the president this week seemed to complain that Japan was among the nations that did not quickly join his call to help protect the Strait of Hormuz.

Ms. Takaichi, who met with Mr. Trump at the White House, told the Republican President that Japan has opposed Iran’s development of its nuclear programme and appealed to his desire to be seen as a peacemaker, despite his launching a war of choice with Iran.

Japan's Takaichi tries to reaffirm alliance with Trump as he seeks help securing Strait of Hormuz

Japan's Prime Minister Takaichi seeks to strengthen ties with Trump while addressing security concerns in the Strait of Hormuz.

• March 20, 2026 08:22 Iranian attack hits Israeli oil refinery in Haifa, some damage reported An Iranian missile attack hit Israel’s Oil Refineries in the northern port city of Haifa but did ‌not cause “significant damage”, Israel’s Energy Ministry said on Thursday (March 19, 2026).Energy Minister Eli Cohen said ⁠power was briefly disrupted, with electricity restored to most of those who were affected.Iranian attack hits Israeli oil refinery in Haifa, some damage reportedIranian missile attack on Haifa oil refinery causes minor damage and brief power disruption, with no casualties reported.

An Iranian missile attack hit Israel’s Oil Refineries in the northern port city of Haifa but did ‌not cause “significant damage”, Israel’s Energy Ministry said on Thursday (March 19, 2026).

Energy Minister Eli Cohen said ⁠power was briefly disrupted, with electricity restored to most of those who were affected.

Iranian attack hits Israeli oil refinery in Haifa, some damage reported

Iranian missile attack on Haifa oil refinery causes minor damage and brief power disruption, with no casualties reported.

• March 20, 2026 08:21 U.S. may remove sanctions on Iranian oil stranded in tankers, Bessent saysThe U.S. may soon remove sanctions from Iranian ‌oil that is stranded on tankers to help lift global supplies and reduce prices, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent ⁠said on Thursday (March 19, 2026).“In the coming days, we may unsanction the Iranian oil that’s on the water. It’s about 140 million barrels,” Mr. Bessent told Fox Business ‌Network’s “Mornings with Maria” program. “So, depending on how you count it, that’s 10 days to two weeks of supply,” ‌he added.U.S. may remove sanctions on Iranian oil stranded in tankers, Bessent saysU.S. may lift sanctions on Iranian oil in tankers to boost global supplies and lower prices, says Treasury Secretary Bessent.

The U.S. may soon remove sanctions from Iranian ‌oil that is stranded on tankers to help lift global supplies and reduce prices, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent ⁠said on Thursday (March 19, 2026).

“In the coming days, we may unsanction the Iranian oil that’s on the water. It’s about 140 million barrels,” Mr. Bessent told Fox Business ‌Network’s “Mornings with Maria” program. “So, depending on how you count it, that’s 10 days to two weeks of supply,” ‌he added.

U.S. may remove sanctions on Iranian oil stranded in tankers, Bessent says

U.S. may lift sanctions on Iranian oil in tankers to boost global supplies and lower prices, says Treasury Secretary Bessent.

• March 20, 2026 08:20 Six allies ready to help ‘efforts to ensure safe passage’ through Hormuz Strait Six major international powers, including Britain, France, Germany and Japan, said Thursday (March 19, 2026) they were ready “to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz”.“We welcome the commitment of nations who are engaging in preparatory planning” the grouping — which also includes Italy and the Netherlands said in a joint statement, as they condemned “in the strongest terms recent attacks by Iran on unarmed commercial vessels in the Gulf”.Six allies ready to help ‘efforts to ensure safe passage’ through Hormuz StraitSix allied nations pledge support for safe passage through the Hormuz Strait amid ongoing Iranian blockades affecting global shipping.

Six major international powers, including Britain, France, Germany and Japan, said Thursday (March 19, 2026) they were ready “to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz”.

“We welcome the commitment of nations who are engaging in preparatory planning” the grouping — which also includes Italy and the Netherlands said in a joint statement, as they condemned “in the strongest terms recent attacks by Iran on unarmed commercial vessels in the Gulf”.

Six allies ready to help ‘efforts to ensure safe passage’ through Hormuz Strait

Six allied nations pledge support for safe passage through the Hormuz Strait amid ongoing Iranian blockades affecting global shipping.

• March 20, 2026 08:18 EU asks for reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and no more strikes on energy, water sites European leaders have demanded the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and a moratorium on strikes on water and energy infrastructure in the West Asia as they met in Brussels to grapple with rising energy prices caused by the war.All heads of the 27 European Union nations known collectively as the European Council issued a joint statement Thursday calling for the stabilization of energy shipments and “de-escalation and maximum restraint” from warring parties.“The European Council deplores the loss of civilian life and is closely monitoring the far-reaching impact of the hostilities, including on economic stability,” the statement read. The leaders also asked Iran to stop striking neighbours across the Persian Gulf, sought international cooperation to prevent any large-scale refugee crises in the West Asia, and said some EU nations are exploring ways “to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.”EU asks for reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and no more strikes on energy, water sitesEU leaders call for reopening the Strait of Hormuz and a halt to strikes on energy and water infrastructure amid rising tensions.- AP

European leaders have demanded the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and a moratorium on strikes on water and energy infrastructure in the West Asia as they met in Brussels to grapple with rising energy prices caused by the war.

All heads of the 27 European Union nations known collectively as the European Council issued a joint statement Thursday calling for the stabilization of energy shipments and “de-escalation and maximum restraint” from warring parties.

“The European Council deplores the loss of civilian life and is closely monitoring the far-reaching impact of the hostilities, including on economic stability,” the statement read. The leaders also asked Iran to stop striking neighbours across the Persian Gulf, sought international cooperation to prevent any large-scale refugee crises in the West Asia, and said some EU nations are exploring ways “to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.”

EU asks for reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and no more strikes on energy, water sites

EU leaders call for reopening the Strait of Hormuz and a halt to strikes on energy and water infrastructure amid rising tensions.

• March 20, 2026 07:44 Lebanon president calls for Israel truce as French minister visits Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said a proposed framework to halt fighting between Israel and Iran-backed militant Hezbollah was “still on the table”, as he hosted French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on Thursday.Lebanon was pulled into the regional war on March 2, when Hezbollah fired rockets toward neighbouring Israel in response to the killing of its ally Iran’s supreme leader in Israeli-US attacks.-AFP

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said a proposed framework to halt fighting between Israel and Iran-backed militant Hezbollah was “still on the table”, as he hosted French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on Thursday.

Lebanon was pulled into the regional war on March 2, when Hezbollah fired rockets toward neighbouring Israel in response to the killing of its ally Iran’s supreme leader in Israeli-US attacks.

• March 20, 2026 07:43 Iran fires at Israel after Netanyahu boasts of war gains Iran launched multiple rounds of missiles towards Israel late on Thursday, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared the Islamic republic has been “decimated” by war.Israel’s military said it had identified three rounds of missile fire in the hour and a half preceding midnight, and another a few hours later.AFP reporters heard several loud blasts over Jerusalem as air raid sirens rang out across the city during one of the earlier attacks.The Magen David Adom emergency services reported no casualties, but police said there was damage in several locations.-AFP

Iran launched multiple rounds of missiles towards Israel late on Thursday, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared the Islamic republic has been “decimated” by war.

Israel’s military said it had identified three rounds of missile fire in the hour and a half preceding midnight, and another a few hours later.

AFP reporters heard several loud blasts over Jerusalem as air raid sirens rang out across the city during one of the earlier attacks.

The Magen David Adom emergency services reported no casualties, but police said there was damage in several locations.

• March 20, 2026 07:42 UAE says it dismantled 'terrorist network' funded by Iran and HezbollahUnited Arab Emirates authorities said on Friday they had dismantled ‌a “terrorist network” funded and operated by Lebanon’s Hezbollah and ⁠Iran, and arrested its members.According to the state news agency, the network was ‌involved in “money laundering, financing terrorism and threatening national security.”There ‌was no immediate comment ‌from ⁠Hezbollah or Iran.“The network had been operating within the country under a fictitious commercial cover ⁠and sought to infiltrate the national economy ⁠and carry out external schemes threatening the country’s financial ‌stability,” the UAE state news agency said. -Reuters

United Arab Emirates authorities said on Friday they had dismantled ‌a “terrorist network” funded and operated by Lebanon’s Hezbollah and ⁠Iran, and arrested its members.

According to the state news agency, the network was ‌involved in “money laundering, financing terrorism and threatening national security.”

There ‌was no immediate comment ‌from ⁠Hezbollah or Iran.

“The network had been operating within the country under a fictitious commercial cover ⁠and sought to infiltrate the national economy ⁠and carry out external schemes threatening the country’s financial ‌stability,” the UAE state news agency said.

-Reuters

• March 20, 2026 07:16 Trump, Netanyahu split on gas field attack, raise questions about whether they’re in sync on war U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s diverging language on Israel’s decision to attack a critical Iranian gas field marks the most notable difference of opinion between the two leaders since the start of the 20-day war against Iran.The attack by Israel on the South Pars gas field prompted Iran to retaliate against energy infrastructure in other West Asian countries. The Iranian strikes led to already elevated global energy prices further surging and spurred Gulf allies to call for Mr. Trump to rein in Mr. Netanyahu.Read the full story here:Trump, Netanyahu split on gas field attack, raise questions about whether they’re in sync on warTrump and Netanyahu's divergent views on the gas field attack raise concerns about their alignment in the ongoing Iran conflict.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s diverging language on Israel’s decision to attack a critical Iranian gas field marks the most notable difference of opinion between the two leaders since the start of the 20-day war against Iran.

The attack by Israel on the South Pars gas field prompted Iran to retaliate against energy infrastructure in other West Asian countries. The Iranian strikes led to already elevated global energy prices further surging and spurred Gulf allies to call for Mr. Trump to rein in Mr. Netanyahu.

Read the full story here:

Trump, Netanyahu split on gas field attack, raise questions about whether they’re in sync on war

Trump and Netanyahu's divergent views on the gas field attack raise concerns about their alignment in the ongoing Iran conflict.

Published - March 20, 2026 07:00 am IST