War in the Middle East: latest developments

Published: 08:38 PM, 28 Mar, 2026
War in the Middle East: latest developments
AFP

Here are the latest developments in the Middle East war:

Iran navy arms complex hit 

The Israeli military said it had struck an industrial complex in Tehran used for the research and development of naval weapons as part of a wave of attacks conducted overnight.

"This headquarters is responsible for the research, development, and production of a wide range of naval weaponry, including surface and sub-surface vessels, manned and unmanned equipment, as well as engines and weapons," the military said.

Iraq paramilitary fighter killed  

A strike in Iraq's northern Kirkuk city killed one fighter from the former paramilitary coalition Hashed al-Shaabi, a medical and security source told AFP.

Two missiles fired from a fighter jet targeted a base of the Hashed al-Shaabi, or Popular Mobilisation Forces -- now part of Iraq's regular armed forces -- near the international airport, according to a security official.

Aluminium firm damaged

The firm Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) said one of its sites in Abu Dhabi suffered significant damage after an Iranian attack that left six people wounded, according to authorities.

In its statement, EGA -- one of the world's largest aluminium producers -- said its "Al Taweelah site sustained significant damage during the Iranian missile and drone attacks at Khalifa Economic Zone Abu Dhabi".

Lebanon rescuers, medics killed  

Lebanese Health Minister Rakan Nassereddine said that 46 rescuers and five medical staff had been killed by Israel since the start of the war with Hezbollah on March 2.

Nassereddine said in a press conference that "the number of martyrs in the health sector... is 51 martyrs... including 46 paramedics and five health workers, including nine new paramedic martyrs today".

 10-year Gulf deals 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said deals he signed with Gulf nations during a tour in the region envisaged a decade-long cooperation on defence, including on establishing joint production lines.

"We are talking about a 10-year cooperation. We have already signed a relevant agreement with Saudi Arabia, we have just signed a similar agreement with Qatar, also for 10 years, we will sign one with the Emirates," Zelensky told reporters, including from AFP, at a briefing.

Syria repels drone attack 

The Syrian army said that it had repelled a drone attack from neighbouring Iraq that targeted a southern Syrian base which previously housed US forces, state media reported.

Syria's official SANA news agency quoted the army as saying that its units were able to "repel a drone attack on the al-Tanf military base in the south of the country".

Iran tackles 'cluster bombs 

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had found and dismantled more than 120 unexploded cluster bombs, alleging they were dropped during US and Israeli attacks on a southern province.

"So far, 122 cluster bombs have been discovered and destroyed around Shiraz and in several towns," the ISNA news agency quoted Jalal Yarmohammadi, deputy head of public relations for the Guards in Fars province, as saying.

Israel kills journalists 

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned an Israeli strike that killed three journalists, including one for Hezbollah's Al Manar TV and another for the pro-Hezbollah Al Mayadeen channel, in southern Lebanon as "a blatant crime".

The Israeli military claimed the Al Manar journalist was a "terrorist in the intelligence unit of Hezbollah's Radwan Force".

A military source told AFP that the three were killed in an Israeli strike in Jezzine.

Iran hails Pakistan mediation  

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian hailed mediation efforts by Pakistan, which is preparing to host foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey for talks on the Middle East war.

Kyiv denies UAE drone depot hit  

Kyiv denied Iran's claim that Tehran had targeted and destroyed a Ukrainian anti-drone system depot in the United Arab Emirates, calling it a "lie" and a "disinformation".

Iran's military said it had hit and destroyed the depot, which it said was used to assist US forces.

 Jerusalem blasts  

AFP journalists reported two blasts heard over Jerusalem, after the Israeli military said it had detected incoming missiles launched from Iran.

The apparent attack came shortly after the Israeli military said it had completed a wave of strikes across the Iranian capital Tehran.

Indonesia says tankers to pass Hormuz 

Indonesia is in talks with Iran to secure safe passage for its tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, with Tehran responding favourably to Jakarta's diplomatic efforts, a foreign ministry spokesman said.

Maersk halts Oman port ops  

Danish shipping giant Maersk said operations had been temporarily halted at Oman's port of Salalah after a drone attack injured a foreign worker and damaged a crane.

Maersk, whose subsidiary APM Terminals runs the port, said "it was immediately evacuated and operations across the facility were temporarily suspended", predicting it would remain closed for 48 hours.

Iran said it had targeted a US logistics vessel "at a considerable distance from the port".

Iran says dozens killed  

Iranian media said US-Israeli strikes hit multiple residential areas, killing more than a dozen people overnight, though AFP was not able to independently verify any of these tolls.

Israel's military earlier said it launched strikes on Iranian "regime targets", as an AFP journalist in the capital Tehran reported hearing around 10 intense blasts and seeing a plume of black smoke.

Categories : Latest, Middle East Tags :

Agence France-Presse is an international news agency.