U.S. President Donald Trump. File
| Picture Credit score: Reuters
U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday (March 22, 2026) threatened to “obliterate” Iran’s energy vegetation if Tehran does not absolutely reopen the Strait of Hormuz inside 48 hours, a dramatic escalation that got here barely a day after he talked about “winding down” the struggle.
“If Iran doesn’t FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, inside 48 HOURS from this precise level in time, america of America will hit and obliterate their numerous POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!” Mr. Trump mentioned on social media.
The menace landed because the battle entered harmful new territory.
Israeli officers mentioned that Iranian forces had for the primary time fired long-range missiles, increasing the threat of assaults past West Asia, whilst an Iranian strike injured dozens of individuals not removed from Israel’s nuclear web site.
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Iran launched two 4,000-kilometre-range ballistic missiles on the U.S.-UK navy base Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, Israeli navy chief Eyal Zamir mentioned. The Israeli navy mentioned it was the “first time” Iran had used long-range missiles since america and Israel started attacking Iran on February 28.
“These missiles are usually not meant to strike Israel. Their vary reaches European capitals – Berlin, Paris, and Rome are all inside direct menace vary,” Mr. Zamir mentioned in an announcement.
A supply at Britain’s Defence Ministry mentioned the assault had occurred earlier than the federal government gave particular authorisation on Friday (March 21) for the U.S. to make use of British navy bases to hold out strikes on Iranian missile websites.
Greater than 2,000 folks have been killed in Iran because the U.S. and Israel started their assaults. In Israel, 15 folks have been killed in Iranian strikes because the struggle began.
Late on Saturday (March 21, 2026), Iranian missiles hit the southern Israeli cities of Dimona and Arad, injuring dozens of individuals, together with kids, in separate strikes. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards mentioned in an announcement early Sunday (March 22, 2026) that they focused “navy installations” and safety facilities in southern Israel.
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Israeli military spokesperson Brigadier Common Effie Defrin mentioned in a submit on X that the nation’s air defenses had been functioning however didn’t intercept the strikes. “We are going to examine the incident and study from it,” he mentioned.
Israel’s secretive nuclear reactor is about 13 kilometers southeast of Dimona. Each cities lie close to a number of navy websites, together with Nevatim Air Base, one of many nation’s largest. “This has been a really troublesome night within the battle for our future,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned in an announcement launched by his workplace following the strike on Arad.
“We’re decided to proceed putting our enemies on all fronts,” the assertion mentioned.
Printed – March 22, 2026 06:32 am IST