Israel launched air strikes on southern Lebanon, targeting multiple locations, including the municipality of Kfar Tebnit and the vicinity of Braiqaa town. At least one person has been killed in these strikes. The attacks come as a response to ongoing rocket fire from Hezbollah militants operating near the Israeli border.
Iran has issued a warning that it will shut down the Strait of Hormuz and launch retaliatory attacks on regional energy and water infrastructure if the US attacks its power plants. The Iranian government says it will not hesitate to defend itself against any aggression.
The escalating tensions have raised concerns among Gulf states, with Saudi Arabia intercepting incoming ballistic missiles and a man injured in Abu Dhabi. In Qatar, a helicopter accident killed a seven-man crew.
As the conflict intensifies, China has urged all parties involved to end military operations and return to negotiations. “Should hostilities continue to escalate and the situation deteriorate further, the entire region will be plunged into chaos,” said Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian.
The US, Israel, and Iran are engaged in a high-stakes game of cat and mouse, with each side vying for control of strategic locations. The International Energy Agency has warned that the crisis is worse than the twin oil shocks of the 1970s and the fallout of the Ukraine war combined.
As tensions continue to escalate, markets have taken notice, with gold prices plummeting 6 percent amid fears of inflation and higher global interest rates.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2026/3/23/iran-war-live-tehran-vows-to-completely-close-hormuz-if-power-plants-hit