EXPLAINERAs the war enters its fourth week, here’s a look at the latest on the US-Israel attack on Iran and across the Middle East. Published On 21 Mar 202621 Mar 2026The war launched by the United States and Israel on Iran has entered its fourth week, with more than 1,400 people reported killed in Iran.Iran has attacked Israel and US bases in retaliation, threatened Western countries and Gulf states, and warned that global shipping and energy infrastructure could be at risk, as millions of Iranians mark Eid al-Fitr and Nowruz under the shadow of war.Separately, the US said it was considering “winding down” the conflict while ruling out a ceasefire, and the United Kingdom has allowed the US to use military bases to carry out attacks on Iranian missile sites.In Iran
Casualties: The war has killed 1,444 people in Iran, including at least 204 children. Air defences were activated over the capital, Tehran, and nearby areas following reports of explosions as the country celebrated the first day of the Persian new year, Nowruz.
United Kingdom: Iran fired two ballistic missiles at the US-UK military base Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had said Iran will “exercise its right to self-defence” and had warned British lives were in danger after the UK allowed the US to use its bases to launch strikes on Iranian targets.
70th wave of attacks: The Iranian armed forces have announced their 70th wave of attacks, launching missiles and drones towards Israel and US bases in the Gulf. This comes as Iran has stepped up its attacks on energy sites across Gulf Arab states in retaliation for an Israeli strike on Iran’s South Pars natural gasfield.
Holidays marked amid war: Millions of Iranians marked a rare alignment of Eid al-Fitr and Nowruz (the Persian New Year) under the threat of bombardment. Large crowds gathered at holy sites like the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, with many gatherings turning into anti-Western protests.
A candle burns on a Haft-sin table, an arrangement of seven symbolic items to celebrate the spring holiday of Nowruz, in the home of an Iranian family in Tehran, March 20, 2026 [Atta Kenare/AFP]In the Gulf Advertisement
Direct threats to the United Arab Emirates: Iran’s military warned it will deliver “crushing blows” to the port city of Ras al-Khaimah if there is any “further aggression” launched from UAE territory against the disputed Gulf …
