Page 45 - Latest Updates on West Asia Conflict

No end in sight: West Asia conflict escalating costs for global economy

Countries in Asia heavily dependent on West Asian fossil fuel are already struggling to contain the inflationary impact and hardships of fuel shortages

Iran-backed Houthis enter West Asia war, may disrupt global shipping

Iranian-backed Houthi rebels entered the month-old war in the Middle East on Saturday, claiming two missile launches at Israel. About 2,500 US Marines arrived in the region. And Pakistan's government said that regional powers plan to meet Sunday to discuss how to end the fighting. The war has threatened global supplies of oil and natural gas, sparked fertilizer shortages and disrupted air travel. Iran's grip on the strategic Strait of Hormuz has shaken markets and prices. The United States and Israel continue to strike Iran, whose retaliatory attacks have targeted Israel and neighbouring Gulf Arab states. More than 3,000 people have been killed. The Houthis' entry could further hurt global shipping if they again target vessels in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait off the Red Sea, through which about 12 per cent of the world's trade typically passes. There could be limited relief after Iran on Friday agreed to allow humanitarian aid and agricultural shipments through the Strait of Hormuz ..

Iran warns US over ground attack as regional powers meet in Pakistan

Washington has dispatched thousands of Marines to the West Asia, with the first of two contingents arriving on Friday aboard an amphibious assault ship, the US military has said

Gulf nations prioritising safety of Indians in war zone: PM Modi in Keralam

PM Modi noted that many people from Keralam are working in the war-affected areas in the Gulf and the government is working to ensure that the impact of this war on India is minimised

Bahrain's Alba assesses damage after Iranian strikes on aluminium plants

Two employees at Aluminium Bahrain were hurt in Saturday's attack, the state-controlled company said, while regional peer Emirates Global Aluminium's site sustained significant damage

Pak set to host summit with Saudi, Egypt, Turkey to discuss West Asia war

Pakistan is set to host a quadrilateral summit of foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkiye on Sunday, to discuss the ongoing conflict in West Asia and efforts to negotiate peace, the Foreign Office said. According to the Foreign Office (FO), the foreign ministers of Egypt and Turkiye have already reached Islamabad while their Saudi Arabian counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud was scheduled to arrive on Sunday. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan arrived in Islamabad on Saturday at the invitation of Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, the FO said. During the visit, the leaders will hold consultations on regional developments and also call on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the FO added. In a press statement on Saturday, the FO said the visiting foreign ministers will hold "in-depth discussions on a range of issues, including efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region". Separately, the FO

Trump's war with Iran may be ushering in a new nuclear age for the world

China and Russia, both longstanding members of the exclusive club of nuclear-armed nations, have raised alarm about the risk of weapons proliferation in Japan and South Korea

West Asia war: PM Modi urges citizens not to be misled by misinformation

In Mann Ki Baat, PM Modi called on citizens to stay united and rely on official information amid ongoing West Asia conflict and energy crisis

IDF launches 'wide-scale' strikes on Iranian military infrastructure

In a post on X, the IDF said the operation targeted multiple sites linked to the "Iranian terror regime", including dozens of weapons storage and production facilities

Pentagon preparing for weeks of ground operations in Iran: Report

Trump administration has deployed US Marines to the West Asia as the war in Iran stretches into its fifth week, and also has been planning to send thousands of soldiers from the US Army's 82nd Airbase

Bihar forms crisis management group amid ongoing West Asia conflict

In view of the ongoing conflict in West Asia, the Bihar government constituted a crisis management group to ensure uninterrupted supply of essential goods and services, safeguard the interests of migrant workers and coordinate response measures to any potential fallout. According to a statement issued by the state's Disaster Management Department, the group will be headed by Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit. The group comprises senior officials from key departments, including the development commissioner, the additional chief secretary (Home), and the DGP. The statement said the Food and Consumer Protection Department has been designated as the nodal department for the group. The crisis management group will be responsible for ensuring the availability of essential commodities, monitoring supply chains, protecting the interests of migrant workers, and formulating coordinated strategies to address any emerging emergencies. The first meeting of the group is scheduled on March 30 at th

Air raid sirens activated across Kuwait, Bahrain amid missile threats

In Bahrain, the Interior Ministry urged citizens to take shelter and "remain calm" after warning sirens were sounded across affected areas

Street stalls in Delhi show cost of India's energy crunch amid Iran war

War-driven fuel shock hits fast in India as urban poor struggle with LPG costs, forcing labourers in tenements to rely on black market cylinders and making home cooking increasingly unaffordable

Explosions rock Iraq's Irbil as attacks target US consulate, bases

Interceptions and drone activity were heard for hours overnight Saturday across Irbil, the capital of the semi-autonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq, including drones shot down while attempting to target the US consulate and nearby bases. AP journalists in the area reported non-stop loud explosions and saw at least one drone headed toward American facilities, in one of the most intense days of attacks since the war began. Iran-aligned militias in Iraq have stepped up repeated drone and missile attacks on US bases, including in Irbil. In a statement on Saturday, the US condemned what it called "despicable terrorist attacks" by Iran's militant groups, saying the strikes on Kurdish regional President Nechirvan Barzani's residence in Irbil earlier that day were "a direct assault on Iraq's sovereignty, stability and unity." The attack caused material damage but no casualties, and the residence was empty at the time.

Yemen's Houthis carry out 'second military operation' against Israel

This comes moments after the Iranian-backed group in Yemen officially joined the conflict in the region, earlier on Saturday

West Asia conflict impact on India's economy likely significant: CEA review

It said that early high-frequency indicators for March 2026 suggest a moderation in economic momentum, reflecting the initial impact of these global developments

Over 300 US troops wounded as Iran targets Saudi base in fresh attack

The number of Americans wounded in the Iran war has grown beyond 300, with more than two dozen troops injured this week from attacks on a Saudi air base. Iran fired six ballistic missiles and 29 drones at Saudi Arabia's Prince Sultan air base in an attack Friday that injured at least 15 troops, including five seriously, according to two people briefed on the matter. US officials initially reported that at least 10 US troops were injured, including two who were seriously wounded. More American forces are reaching the Middle East, with a Navy ship carrying about 2,500 Marines having now arrived in the region, US Central Command announced Saturday. The USS Tripoli, an amphibious assault ship, as well as the elements from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit that are aboard, are based in Japan. They were conducting exercises in the area around Taiwan when the order came to deploy to the Middle East almost two weeks ago. Central Command said that in addition to the Marines, the Tripoli a

Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon kills 3 journalists covering conflict

An Israeli airstrike on southern Lebanon on Saturday killed three journalists who were covering the latest Israel-Hezbollah war, their TV stations said. Hezbollah's al-Manar TV said that its longtime correspondent Ali Shoeib was killed Saturday in southern Lebanon. The Israeli military said that it had targeted Shoeib, accusing him of being a Hezbollah intelligence operative without providing evidence. Meanwhile, Beirut-based pan-Arab Al-Mayadeen TV said reporter Fatima Ftouni was killed in the same airstrike in the southern district of Jezzine along with her brother Mohammed, a video journalist. She had just been on air with a live report from southern Lebanon before the strike. Top officials in Lebanon condemned the strike, with President Joseph Aoun calling it a "flagrant crime that violates all laws and agreements that protect journalists." Al-Manar said in a report that an Israeli airstrike targeted journalists, leading to the "martyrdom of the icon of resistance media." A ..

India warns of growth risks from Middle East conflict as energy costs rise

This is raising concerns over inflation and growth in ‌India, the government review said

PM Modi speaks to Saudi Prince, stresses need to keep shipping routes open

PM Modi stressed the need to keep shipping routes open and ensure freedom of navigation amid rising tensions in West Asia that have sent energy prices soaring