37 stories for 2026-03-12
An Israeli attack on Aramoun, a town in the hills overlooking Beirut, killed three people and injured a child, according to Lebanon's National News Agency and the Ministry of Public Health's Emergency Health Operations Centre.
Israeli attacks on the Ramlet al-Bayda seafront in Beirut have killed at least seven to eight people, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health. Dozens more were wounded in the strikes.
Hezbollah announced a large-scale military operation called "The Devouring Storm" involving over 100 rockets fired toward northern Israel on Wednesday evening, marking a significant escalation in the conflict. The strikes coincided with Israeli airstrikes on southern Beirut and southern Lebanese towns. Analysts observe that synchronized rocket attacks from Iran and Hezbollah reflect advanced military coordination and represent a new phase of escalation.
Lebanese Health Ministry reported at least seven people killed and 21 injured in an Israeli airstrike on the White Sand area of Beirut's waterfront. The strike marks the third attack on central Beirut since the outbreak of Middle East conflict. The incident occurs amid escalating regional tensions, including reported attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Lebanon is experiencing a new wave of displacement as strikes intensify in the southern regions, forcing thousands of families to flee their homes. Official shelter capacity is strained, prompting some displaced people to seek refuge in private initiatives and community organizations, while others are sleeping in streets. A monastery in Jezzine has opened its doors to displaced families, reflecting efforts to transcend sectarian divides during the crisis.
Israeli airstrikes targeted Beirut during the night, killing several people. Oil prices rose in Asian markets on Thursday, surpassing $100 per barrel, despite major powers agreeing to release unprecedented quantities of emergency oil reserves.
Hundreds of thousands of residents from southern Lebanon and southern Beirut have fled their homes following Israeli military evacuation orders. According to the Ministry of Social Affairs, the number of officially registered displaced persons exceeded 780,000 as of Wednesday morning. Private initiatives have been mobilized to provide basic assistance to the displaced population.
Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon have resulted in 634 deaths and approximately 800,000 displaced persons since the beginning of the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. The casualty toll also includes over 1,500 wounded according to updated government figures.
Authorities are failing to adequately respond to the needs of refugees, with assistance amounts described as insufficient to support families.
According to Al-Akhbar, approximately 667,000 displaced persons are in Lebanon, while around 78,000 Syrians have returned to their homeland.
Airstrikes have targeted a residential building in Aicha Bakkar and resulted in casualties in the Bekaa region, according to reporting from Al-Akhbar.
Israeli forces and settlers have imposed sieges on villages in the Tubas area of the West Bank, surrounding dozens of families and cutting off water supplies. Settlers set fires in homes in Yarza village after forcibly displacing residents. Human rights organizations and medical teams report that Israeli settlers are exploiting movement restrictions imposed during regional conflict to attack Palestinians.
Six Palestinians have been killed in settler attacks in the West Bank since the start of Israel's war, according to the UN. The EU and UK are calling on Israel to stop the escalating violence.
Amnesty International has accused Israel of destroying reproductive healthcare infrastructure in Gaza. The organization's report documents damage to healthcare facilities affecting women's access to reproductive services.
Israeli occupation authorities have revoked the permanent residency ID of released Jerusalem prisoner Rashid al-Rashq. The revocation denies him rights and prevents him from living in Jerusalem's Old City, continuing a forced displacement policy affecting thousands of Jerusalemites since 1967.
Israel has imposed strict military censorship on journalists and news operations, which has intensified in recent years. The military has banned direct broadcasts of Israeli airspace, particularly regarding missile strikes and interceptions. Video footage of air defense systems intercepting strikes was largely prohibited from coverage during recent military operations.
Israel has established a new settlement on Mount Ebal near the Palestinian city of Nablus. The location is strategically significant due to its geographical position overlooking Nablus and surrounding Palestinian villages.
Following the Israeli-Palestinian war, there were expectations that security conditions would improve with discussions about Hamas's potential withdrawal from governance in Gaza. However, reports indicate Hamas has killed Palestinians, triggering angry reactions and renewed concerns about the security situation in the territory.
A Palestinian was killed in western Gaza City following an Israeli airstrike on a civilian vehicle, with additional casualties reported from a separate strike in central Gaza. The closure of the Rafah crossing has prompted warnings of intensifying siege conditions, with prices reportedly rising 300%. Six tankers of cooking gas entered Gaza through an alternative crossing to distribute to approximately 15,000 beneficiaries.
Israeli forces are using double-tap airstrike tactics, a practice where a second strike is conducted shortly after an initial strike, often hitting first responders and civilians in the vicinity. This tactic has been documented as a method resulting in additional civilian casualties.
Iraqi security sources and media outlets reported several airstrikes targeting the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a government umbrella organization overseeing various paramilitary groups. Strikes on PMF headquarters and positions in al-Qaim, Anbar province, and Kirkuk killed at least ten to twenty personnel, with additional casualties reported. The attacks are part of a series of recent strikes on PMF targets.
A prominent Iraqi women's rights activist was shot and killed outside her home in Baghdad on March 2, 2026, by two gunmen on motorcycles, according to Human Rights Watch.
Two oil tankers came under attack by armed men near Fao port in Basra, Iraq, resulting in fires on both vessels and the death of one crew member. Iraqi authorities rescued 38 people and suspended port operations. Concerns have been raised about potential expansion of attacks on energy infrastructure amid regional tensions.
Iraq's Defense Ministry condemned repeated aerial attacks on its military bases, while security sources reported an airstrike on a Popular Mobilization Forces camp in al-Suwayra district south of Baghdad. The U.S. and Israel have been attributed responsibility for ongoing strikes against the militia group.
Iran's police chief warned citizens on Wednesday against participating in protests calling for regime change, following statements by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu encouraging Iranians to rise up.
Erbil has experienced drone attacks for eleven consecutive nights. The source provides minimal details about the attacks, their origin, casualties, or impact.
Bahrain has arrested four citizens accused of communicating with Iran's Revolutionary Guard and distributing videos related to regional military operations. Human Rights Watch has called on Bahrain to urgently release detainees as the region faces increased risks during ongoing military strikes.
Bahrain announced on Thursday that it was targeted by an Iranian attack on fuel storage facilities in Al-Muharraq governorate in the north. According to Bahrain's Interior Ministry, the attack was described as an Iranian aggression targeting fuel storage at one of the facilities, with relevant authorities taking measures in response. No further details about the attack or its nature were provided.
Several Bahraini nationals have been arrested on allegations of connections to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
A former Syrian official identified as Salim Michel al-Salam has appeared in a British court facing charges of crimes against humanity for alleged actions in Syria in 2011 and 2012.
Security forces in the Latakia province have arrested 15 individuals accused of participating in a massacre in the village of Qushayyah on the Syrian coast in 2013, which resulted in more than 30 deaths. The Interior Minister stated that justice will not be compromised.
Hundreds of detainees held by the Syrian government and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were released in Al-Hasakah governorate in a first exchange between the two parties in northeastern Syria.
Egyptian police have detained Sudanese journalist Umar Henry since February 28, according to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.
Artificial intelligence has been used to conduct rapid strikes in an Iran conflict, resulting in the deaths of 110 children. The incident has raised concerns about failures in automated targeting systems and human oversight of military AI technology.
A drone struck a residential building in southern Kuwait on Thursday, according to the Ministry of Defense. The attack resulted in two injuries and material damage to the building. Civil defense reported a fire at the residential structure following the strike.
Human Rights Watch called on Libyan authorities to urgently surrender Osama Elmasry Njeem to the International Criminal Court, where he is wanted for serious crimes. The organization also urged authorities to ensure full cooperation with the ICC.
Sea-Watch reported that ten migrants who departed from Libya have been stranded on an oil platform off Tunisia's coast for four days following a boat capsize. The organization is calling on Italian and Maltese authorities to intervene and rescue them.