Middle East – Several Gulf nations came under missile and drone attacks throughout the night and this morning as the US-Israeli war on Iran entered its 35th day, with Iranian forces striking critical infrastructure across the region.
Iran has also claimed a second US F-35 fighter jet was shot down over central Iran, though there was no immediate comment from the US military to confirm the report. The incident comes as Iran continues firing on targets across the Middle East, including missiles at Israel and Bahrain, and drone attacks setting ablaze an oil refinery in Kuwait.
Key developments:
- Iran claims second US F-35 fighter jet shot down over central Iran
- Kuwait's Mina al-Ahmadi oil refinery struck by Iranian drones, sparking fires
- Power and water desalination plant in Kuwait suffers "material damage"
- Bahrain reports air raid sirens sounding three times overnight
- UAE reports falling debris at Habshan gas facilities and Ajban area
- Saudi Arabia intercepts and destroys more than a dozen drones
- IDF kills 15 Hezbollah members in southern Lebanon
- UN chief warns world "on the edge of a wider war"
Summary of Attacks in the Middle East as War Nears 6th Week
Several Gulf nations came under missile and drone attacks throughout the night and this morning as the US-Israeli war on Iran entered its 35th day.
🇰🇼 Kuwait
- Mina al-Ahmadi oil refinery struck by Iranian drones, sparking fires
- Refinery hit multiple times during the war
- Power & water desalination plant suffered "material damage"
- These plants supply most drinking water to Gulf states
🇧🇭 Bahrain
- Sirens sounded three times overnight
- Residents urged to head to "nearest safe location"
- Sirens activated when potential threats detected
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
- Habshan gas facilities hit by falling debris
- Operations suspended; fire reported — no injuries
- Ajban area also reported falling debris after interception
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
- Intercepted and destroyed more than a dozen drones overnight
- Air defence systems actively engaged
🇮🇷 Iran
- Strikes reported around Tehran and Isfahan
- Newly constructed Tehran-Karaj bridge heavily damaged by US bombing
- Pasteur Institute medical centre in Tehran damaged
- Iran claims second US F-35 jet shot down over central Iran
🇮🇱 Israel & 🇱🇧 Lebanon
- Ballistic attack from Iran targeted northern Israel
- One person injured in Kiryat Ata missile attack
- IDF killed 15 Hezbollah members in southern Lebanon
UK Deploys Air Defence to Kuwait
The UK will deploy its Rapid Sentry air defence system to Kuwait to help protect British and Kuwaiti interests in the Gulf, Keir Starmer's office said. The UK prime minister discussed the deployment in a call with Kuwait's emir, Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah, this morning, a Downing Street spokesperson said.
"The prime minister began by condemning the reckless overnight drone attack on a Kuwaiti oil refinery," the spokesperson said. "He reiterated that the UK stands with Kuwait and all our allies in the Gulf." The Rapid Sentry is a ground-based short-range air defence system aimed at countering drone threats.
Former Iranian FM Proposes Peace Plan
Javad Zarif, the former Iranian foreign minister, has proposed a peace plan in an article in the US publication Foreign Affairs. Zarif suggested Iran should "declare victory and make a deal that both ends this conflict and prevents the next one."
Key terms in his plan include Iran committing to never seeking nuclear weapons, including China and Russia in any deal, the US and allies dropping all sanctions against Iran, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and a nonaggression pact between Iran and the US.
Trump Mocks UK's Starmer Again
Donald Trump has again mocked the UK's Sir Keir Starmer as weak and had a fresh dig at the UK's navy as Britain leads diplomatic efforts to reopen the critical strait of Hormuz shipping lane. In a video that has emerged from a private Easter White House lunch, the US president impersonated the British prime minister as he recounted Sir Keir saying he had to ask his team about sending "two old broken-down aircraft carriers" to the Middle East.
UN Security Council Postpones Hormuz Vote
Iran has warned the UN security council against "provocative action" ahead of a vote on the use of "defensive force" to protect shipping in the strait of Hormuz. The security council postponed the vote scheduled for Friday, with the reason given being that the United Nations observes Good Friday as a public holiday.
"Any provocative action by the aggressors and their supporters, including in the UN security council regarding the situation in the strait of Hormuz, will only complicate the situation," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said.
UN Chief Warns of Wider War
UN secretary general António Guterres warned that the Middle East conflict risked spiralling into a wider war, as he called for an immediate halt to US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Iranian attacks on its neighbours. "We are on the edge of a wider war that would engulf the Middle East with dramatic impacts around the globe," he said in New York.
Philippines Secures Oil Passage Assurance
The Philippines said Iran has pledged to allow safe passage of oil shipments through the strait of Hormuz. Officials said a "productive phone conversation" between the Philippine foreign secretary, Theresa Lazaro, and her Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, had opened the door to crucial oil shipments.
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