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# Israel launches 'wide-scale' strikes on Iran as Trump says US not ready to make deal to end war

US Citizens Warned to Leave Iraq

BBC News

## Summary

- Israel launches "wide-scale" strikes on targets in western Iran, the Israeli military says

- Iran and Israel traded strikes overnight, while missile and drone interceptions have been reported in Gulf states

- Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump says Iran wants to make a deal to end the war, but he doesn't want to yet "because the terms are not good enough"

- Any hopes the US may have had that its massive firepower would somehow force Iran to sue for peace on Washington's terms have been frustrated, writes our security correspondent

- In an interview with NBC, Trump adds the US has "totally demolished" Kharg Island - Iran's critical oil export hub - but that "we may hit it a few more times just for fun"

- Elsewhere, UK says it is discussing a "range of options" to secure the Strait of Hormuz after the US called for countries to help secure the shipping lane

## Live Reporting

Edited by Matt Spivey and Rorey Bosotti, with Jon Donnison in Jerusalem, Frank Gardner in Riyadh, Barbara Plett Usher in Doha, Nick Beake in Dubai and Wyre Davies in Lebanon

1. ### Damage caused by overnight strikes in Holon, Israel published at 08:27 GMT
   08:27 GMT

   Image source, Getty Images

   New images this morning show some of the damage caused by overnight strikes in Holon, a city south of Tel Aviv.

   A car is overturned, debris is scattered around and there is a large hole in the side of a residential building.

   The Magen David Adom (MDA) emergency service says it provided treatment to two people at the scene for minor injuries.

   An 80-year-old man was treated for glass fragments, and an 80-year-old woman for smoke inhalation. A number of victims were also treated for panic, MDA says.

   Image source, Getty Images
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2. ### Israel launches 'wide-scale' strikes against Iran - IDF published at 08:10 GMT
   08:10 GMT Breaking

   Israel has launched a further "wide-scale" wave of strikes against targets in western Iran, the Israel Defense Forces say.

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3. ### For Iran, this conflict is about survivability published at 08:08 GMT
   08:08 GMT

   Frank Gardner
   Security correspondent, in Riyadh

   Iran has two major factors on its side in this war: geography and resilience.

   It is possible that both have been underestimated by the White House. Iran was never going to be a match for the military might wielded by CENTCOM, the part of the Pentagon that runs US military operations in the Middle East.

   But to measure who is 'winning' this conflict in terms of how many targets in Iran have been hit or how many of its commanders have been killed is to look at this conflict through the wrong lens.

   This is about survivability.

   The Islamic Republic regime, deeply unpopular with millions of its people before this war began, needs only to survive to be able to declare victory.

   Any hopes the US may have had that its massive firepower would somehow force Iran to sue for peace on Washington’s terms have been frustrated.

   And meanwhile, by dint of geography, Iran now has a partial chokehold on global oil supplies by effectively controlling which ships pass by its coastline through the Strait of Hormuz.

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4. ### Twenty people arrested in northern Iran for sharing military locations with Israel - reports published at 07:42 GMT
   07:42 GMT

   Twenty people have reportedly been arrested in the Iranian city of Urmia accused of sending military, police and security locations to Israel.

   The Tasnim News Agency, which is affiliated with the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, says several networks of mercenaries linked to Israel's agents have been hit and the 20 individuals have been detained following an judicial order, citing West Azerbaijan's central prosecutor.

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5. ### IDF says it struck Hezbollah command centres and launch sites published at 07:30 GMT
   07:30 GMT

   The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says it continues to strike infrastructure belonging to the Iranian backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon.

   It says it struck several launch sites in the Al-Qatrani area of Lebanon on Saturday, and claims Hezbollah planned to "launch rockets imminently" from the sites.

   The IDF also says it struck command centres belonging to Hezbollah's Radwan Force in the Lebanese capital of Beirut.

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6. ### Iran's military vows to 'pursue and kill' Israeli PM Netanyahu published at 07:20 GMT
   07:20 GMT

   Iran's military has vowed to kill Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, state media reports.

   Iran's semi-official Mehr news agency reports that the IRGC - Islamic Revolution Guard Corps - will "continue to pursue and kill him with force".

   The IRGC also claims targets in Israel and three American bases in the region have been destroyed in its 52nd wave of attacks.

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7. ### Attacks on Gulf nations continue - what's the latest?published at 06:55 GMT
   06:55 GMT

   Image source, Getty Images
   Image caption,

   A fire raged at the port of Fujairah on Saturday

   Throughout the night, Saudi Arabia's defence ministry announced that it had taken down 26 Iranian drones over its territory, primarily near the capital Riyadh and in the eastern regions of the country.

   At about 03:30 GMT, the United Arab Emirates announced that its air defence systems were responding to incoming missile and drone attacks from Iran. It comes after a fire raged at the port of Fujairah, home to a major oil export terminal on the country's east coast, following a drone strike on Saturday.

   At around the same time, Bahrain announced that that its sirens were sounding and urged resident to head to the nearest shelter.

   Overnight, the US ordered non-emergency government employees and their family members to leave Oman due to safety concerns.

   Kuwait announced on Sunday its National Guard had downed five Iranian drones over the previous 24 hours.

   Qatar posted an update late on Saturday detailing missile and drone attacks it had repelled throughout the day, but has not reported fresh strikes overnight.

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8. ### IDF says Iran has launched missiles towards Israel published at 06:30 GMT
   06:30 GMT

   The Israel Defense Forces says Iran has launched missiles towards Israel.

   It says that defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat and a precautionary message has been sent to mobile phones in affected areas.

   It warns members of the public to enter protected spaces and remain there until further notice.

   The Iranian Fars News Agency, which is linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reports that a new wave of missiles has been launched from Iran while the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah have also launched missiles or drones towards northern regions in Israel.

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9. ### Strikes continue overnight, Trump says Kharg Island demolished - recap published at 06:04 GMT
   06:04 GMT

   Jon Donnison
   Reporting from Jerusalem

   For several days now President Trump has signalled that he might be preparing to wind the war up. But it’s not happening yet.

   In an interview with NBC news he said Tehran appeared ready to make a deal to end the conflict but said “the terms weren’t good enough.” Iran has denied this.

   Trump said the US military had totally demolished Iran’s Kharg Island where he has threatened to destroy the country’s oil facilities based there.

   He said he may hit the island again "just for fun."

   This weekend Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz said the war was entering a decisive phase that would continue as long as necessary.

   Overnight and this morning Iran continued to fire missiles towards Israel most of which were intercepted by the country’s air defence system.

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10. ### FCC Chair threatens broadcast licences over Iran war 'hoaxes'published at 05:40 GMT
    05:40 GMT

    The head of the US federal communication agency has accused American broadcasters of "hoaxes and news distortions" during their coverage of the conflict in the Middle East.

    Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chair Brendan Carr criticised "fake news" in a social media post on Saturday, threatening to revoke broadcast licences if the industry doesn't "correct course".

    "Broadcasters must operate in the public interest, and they will lose their licenses if they do not," Carr said.

    His post attached a Truth Social post from Donald Trump complaining about "misleading" and "terrible reporting" during the conflict.

    Speaking to the BBC's US partner, CBS News, Carr said: "People have gotten used to the idea that, you know, licenses are some sort of property right, and there's nothing you can do that can result in losing their license."

    "I try to sort of help reorient people that, no, there is a public interest, and broadcast is different."

    Image source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr.

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11. ### BBC visits aftermath of Israeli strike on Lebanon that killed family published at 05:09 GMT
    05:09 GMT

    Image caption,

    The yellow flag of the Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah was hanging on top of a pile of rubble

    As Israel continues to attack targets connected to Hezbollah in Lebanon, the BBC visited the remains of a home where eight members of a family, including three children, were killed in a strike.

    The strike hit a home and shop on Wednesday evening as an extended family, including three children - aged five, nine and 14 - were gathering to break the Ramadan fast, locals said.

    It is one of hundreds of strikes the Israeli military has carried out in Lebanon since the war with Hezbollah resumed almost two weeks ago.

    The Israeli military told the BBC it had targeted "Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure while Hezbollah operatives were present".

    Neighbours and relatives at the scene said they had no knowledge of this.

    Read more from BBC reporter Alice Cuddy in Younine, Lebanon here.

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12. ### How countries have responded to Trump's call to secure Strait of Hormuz published at 04:33 GMT
    04:33 GMT

    In a post on his platform Truth Social on Saturday, Trump wrote that he hoped five countries - China, France, Japan, South Korea and the UK - would send warships to the Strait of Hormuz so it can "no longer be a threat" by Iran.

    Here's how some of the countries have responded so far:

    UK: "As we've said previously, we are currently discussing with our allies and partners a range of options to ensure the security of shipping in the region," a UK Ministry of Defence spokesperson says.

    China: A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington told CNN that China calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities.

    The spokesperson did not say whether Beijing would accept Trump's request, but said all parties have a responsibility to ensure a stable and unimpeded energy supply, adding that China would continue to strengthen communication with relevant parties.

    Japan: Tokyo, which sees the US as its closest ally, has not officially responded to Trump's call yet. But officials told Japanese outlet NHK Sunday that this issue could be on the agenda of PM Sanae Takaichi's upcoming trip to the US, which starts Wednesday.

    A foreign ministry official told the outlet that Japan will not immediately dispatch naval vessels just because Trump asked. "Japan decides its own response, and independent judgment is fundamental," the official said.

    France: The French government has not issued an immediate response either.

    But on Saturday, hours after Trump's post, the foreign ministry's official response account on X denied reports that the country was sending its warships to the Strait of Hormuz.

    "No, [the French] aircraft carrier and its group [are] staying the eastern Mediterranean. Posture has not changed: defensive it is," the post reads.

    South Korea: There has been no immediate response from Seoul.

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13. ### F1 cancels two upcoming races in Middle East published at 03:53 GMT
    03:53 GMT

    Image source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    The Bahrain Grand Prix in 2025

    The Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grand Prix events have officially been cancelled, Formula One has announced.

    They were initially scheduled for 12 April and 19 April respectively.

    In a statement, Formula One says the cancellation is due to the "ongoing situation in the Middle East" and while alternatives were considered, no substitutions will be made for the races.

    The cancellations mean there will be a five-week gap between the Japanese Grand Prix on 27-29 March and Miami on 1-3 May.

    "The FIA will always place the safety and wellbeing of our community and colleagues first. After careful consideration, we have taken this decision with that responsibility firmly in mind," said FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

    You can read more about the impact of the decision here.

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14. ### Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Qatar report interceptions published at 03:26 GMT
    03:26 GMT

    The Saudi Arabian defence ministry says on its official X account that it has recently intercepted and destroyed seven drones in Riyadh and the Eastern Region.

    Earlier this morning, authorities in Dubai and Qatar also reported air defence interceptions.

    Dubai’s media office posted on X, saying the sounds heard in the Marina and Al Sufouh areas were the result of successful interceptions.

    Kuwait has also reported several drone interceptions.

    Meanwhile, the Qatari defence ministry said it had intercepted four ballistic missiles and a number of drones launched by Iran on Saturday.

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15. ### Americans urged to leave countries across Middle East published at 02:54 GMT
    02:54 GMT

    As we reported earlier, the US embassy in Baghdad has issued a fresh warning for its citizens to leave Iraq after a missile hit the embassy building earlier on Saturday.

    In its warning, the US embassy said citizens should "leave Iraq now".

    "US citizens choosing to remain in Iraq are strongly encouraged to reconsider in light of the significant threat posed by Iran-aligned terrorist militia groups," the embassy wrote.

    As Iran has launched strikes at US targets across the Middle East, the US has urged its citizens to leave more than a dozen countries.

    Separately, the US said on Saturday it had ordered non-emergency government employees and the relatives of government employees to leave Oman, according to Reuters.

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16. ### Israel intercepts Iranian missiles published at 02:23 GMT
    02:23 GMT

    The Israeli military says it has been intercepting missiles launched from Iran in the early hours of the morning.

    The missile barrage was targeted at central Israel, emergency services say.

    No injuries have been reported so far by Israeli authorities.

    Image source, Reuters
    Image source, Reuters
    Image source, AFP
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17. ### Tokyo cautious over Trump's Strait of Hormuz call, reports say published at 01:54 GMT
    01:54 GMT

    Image source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is visiting the US soon for talks with Trump

    Tokyo has not officially responded to Trump's call for its warships to be sent to the Strait of Hormuz.

    But the Japanese government believes the issue could be on the agenda during Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's upcoming trip to the US, which starts on Wednesday, according to local media.

    A defence ministry official told Japanese outlet NHK on Sunday morning that Japan could be "forced to make difficult decisions" if it dispatches its Self-Defence Forces.

    The official added that the government needs to "carefully assess" whether there will be special requests regarding this during the Japan-US summit.

    Meanwhile, a foreign ministry official told the outlet that Tokyo will not immediately dispatch naval vessels just because Trump asked.

    "Japan decides its own response, and independent judgment is fundamental," the official said.

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18. ### US identifies six soldiers killed in refuelling aircraft crash published at 01:26 GMT
    01:26 GMT

    The US Department of Defense has identified the six soldiers who died in a military refuelling aircraft crash in Iraq on 12 March.

    A statement released on Saturday named them as John A. Klinner, Ariana G. Savino, Ashley B. Pruitt, Seth R. Koval, Curtis J. Angst and Tyler H. Simmons.

    They were crew members of a KC-135 aircraft, a tanker that was involved in ongoing US operations against Iran.

    The Pentagon has said the incident is under investigation. The US previously said neither hostile nor friendly fire was involved in the loss of the aircraft.

    Image source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Captain Ariana G. Savino was one of the US personnel killed in the crash

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19. ### Iraq to fly private plane to World Cup play-off in Mexico published at 01:08 GMT
    01:08 GMT

    Image source, Reuters

    Iraq’s football team plans to travel to Mexico by private plane for their World Cup play-off, though coach Graham Arnold has asked to postpone the match because of the US-Israeli war with Iran.

    Iraq’s team is due to play either Bolivia or Suriname in Monterrey on 31 March, with the winner of the inter-continental play-off booking their place at the 2026 World Cup.

    Airspace across much of the Middle East has been closed since 28 February.

    In a video statement carried by the Iraqi News Agency, Iraq Football Association chief Adnan Dirjal said he had written to Fifa to explain the "difficulty of the journey" because of the war.

    "The national team will depart at the end of the week to Mexico via a private plane,” he said.

    "My message to everyone: only 17 days remain, and we must focus and prepare for the match. We have one goal, which is qualifying for the World Cup," Dirjal added.

    - Read more here: Iraq taking private plane to Mexico for World Cup play-off
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20. ### Trump questions whether Iran's new supreme leader alive published at 00:36 GMT
    00:36 GMT

    In that interview with NBC on Saturday, Trump also raised questions about the fate of Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Iran's slain former leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

    “I don’t know if he’s even alive. So far, nobody’s been able to show him,” Trump said, because Khamenei issued his first statement via writing rather than speaking on camera on Thursday.

    “I’m hearing he’s not alive, and if he is, he should do something very smart for his country, and that’s surrender,” Trump added, before describing the news of his death as a "rumour".

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