Major Escalation Across West Asia: US-Israeli Strikes Hit Multiple Sites in Iran as Iranian Missiles Target Gulf and Israel in Last 24 Hours

 

Major Escalation Across West Asia: US-Israeli Strikes Hit Multiple Sites in Iran as Iranian Missiles Target Gulf and Israel in Last 24 Hours

In the last 24 hours, the conflict between Iran, Israel, and the United States has dramatically intensified, marked by a series of sophisticated airstrikes, missile barrages, and drone attacks that have spread across multiple countries in West Asia. The situation as of March 31, 2026, reflects a significant escalation in what is now the 32nd day of a regional war that began with a joint US-Israeli strike that killed Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Middle East Crisis 2026: Iran, Israel and USA War Situation Explained

A wave of coordinated US and Israeli strikes targeted multiple locations inside Iran. The central city of Isfahan was hit hard, with verified video footage showing at least two massive explosions and columns of smoke rising from the area. Reports indicate that a 2,000-pound bunker buster bomb was used in this attack, which was shared in a video posted by President Donald Trump. In the northwest, the city of Zanjan saw its Grand Husseiniya, a significant Shia religious centre, damaged by the airstrikes. The capital, Tehran, also experienced explosions and subsequent power outages in parts of the city, creating a tense atmosphere where residents try to maintain a sense of normalcy amidst the chaos. Beyond these, the strikes also hit a pharmaceutical plant that produces cancer drugs and anaesthetics, as well as a desalination plant on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, which was put completely out of service 

In response, Iran launched its own offensive, firing missiles across the region. A significant attack was carried out on a Kuwaiti oil tanker, the Al Salmi, which was anchored at Dubai Port. An Iranian drone struck the vessel, setting it ablaze, though all 24 crew members were reported safe. The attack on such a critical piece of infrastructure in a major Gulf financial hub sent shockwaves through global energy markets. Additionally, Iran fired a barrage of missiles toward central Israel. Sirens sounded in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, with at least 10 blasts heard in the Jerusalem area. Israeli emergency services reported that eight people received minor injuries from falling munitions fragments in Bnei Brak, near Tel Aviv, as its air defence system intercepted incoming projectiles 

The conflict has also drawn in other regional powers and opened new fronts. In the Gulf, Saudi Arabia's air defence systems intercepted eight ballistic missiles targeting Riyadh, as well as 10 drones. Falling debris from interceptions caused injuries in Dubai, where four Asian nationals were wounded. The war has spilled heavily into Lebanon, where Israeli forces are battling the Iran-backed Hezbollah. The Israeli military reported that four of its soldiers were killed in combat in southern Lebanon over the past 24 hours. The fighting there also had a tragic international toll, as three United Nations peacekeepers from Indonesia were killed in two separate incidents in southern Lebanon, prompting France to call for an emergency UN Security Council meeting 

Amidst the military operations, a complex political and diplomatic battle is unfolding. US President Donald Trump issued stark warnings, stating that if a deal is not reached soon and the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened, the US will destroy all of Iran's electric generating plants, oil wells, and the Kharg Island export terminal. However, contradictory reports emerged that Trump also told aides he was willing to end the war even if the strait remains closed, a move that could strengthen Tehran's control over the waterway. While Trump claimed to be in direct contact with a "more reasonable regime" in Tehran and that negotiations were ongoing, Iranian officials, including Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei and parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, firmly denied any direct talks, acknowledging only that messages had been received via intermediaries like Pakistan. Pakistan has positioned itself as a potential mediator, ready to host talks between the US and Iran in the coming days 

The international community has been reacting with alarm. Gulf leaders from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Jordan condemned the attacks on civilian infrastructure. The European Union urged Iran to engage diplomatically to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. In a notable development, France refused to allow Israel to use its airspace to transport American weapons, a move that President Trump publicly criticized. The economic impact is already severe, with oil prices surging past $111 per barrel for Brent crude, and global markets remain highly volatile as fears of a wider ground operation and further disruptions to energy supplies persist