DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Iran’s state news agency reported on Saturday that Israel’s defense minister issued a warning regarding an uptick in future attacks on Iran. This comes as the Middle Eastern conflict reached its fourth week following an airstrike on Iran’s Natanz nuclear enrichment plant.
Defense Minister Israel Katz stated in a video that there would be a “significant increase” in the “intensity of attacks” by Israel and the U.S. on Iran’s government in the coming week.
His remarks came after Iranian missile fragments struck an unoccupied kindergarten near Tel Aviv. Israeli military spokesperson Nadav Shoshani shared a video of the site, confirming there were no injuries since the building was empty during the incident.
Residents noted heavy airstrikes in Tehran overnight into the morning. In Iraq, a drone crashed into an intelligence facility in Baghdad, resulting in one officer’s death, though no group claimed responsibility for this attack.
President Donald Trump mentioned on Friday that the U.S. is contemplating “scaling back” its military presence in the Middle East, even as the country deploys three amphibious assault ships and around 2,500 additional Marines to the area.
Trump’s comments followed Iran’s threats to target entertainment and tourist sites worldwide.
The conflicting messages from the U.S. arrived after a market downturn linked to rising oil prices and following an announcement that sanctions would be lifted on Iranian oil already loaded on ships, a measure aimed at stabilizing fuel prices.
On Friday, Britain condemned what it deemed a “reckless attack by Iran” after a missile was fired at a British and American air base located on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.
Details regarding the attempted strike were not disclosed by British authorities, and it remains uncertain how near the missiles came to the base, which is approximately 2,500 miles from Iran.
The Ministry of Defense of the UK stated on Saturday that Iran’s regional aggression and interference with the Strait of Hormuz threaten both UK interests and those of its allies.
Although Britain has not directly participated in U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, it has permitted U.S. bombers to use British bases for operations against Iranian missile sites.
Additionally, the British government declared on Friday that U.S. bombers could operate from British bases, including Diego Garcia, to counteract Iranian shipping threats in the Strait of Hormuz. This statement came after Iran’s prior targeting of the base.
Iran’s state news agency Mizan reported that there were no radiation leaks following the attack on the Natanz facility, located roughly 220 kilometers southeast of Tehran.
The Natanz site, key for Iran’s uranium enrichment, had been attacked during the initial week of the ongoing conflict, with satellite images indicating several damaged structures. The International Atomic Energy Agency indicated no expected radiological consequences from this former attack, and Natanz was also targeted during previous clashes in June of the prior year.
On Saturday, the IAEA noted that Iran had reported no elevated radiation levels following the Natanz incident, and investigations are underway.
The justifications offered by the U.S. and Israel for these military actions have varied, from aiming to incite an uprising to dismantling Iran’s nuclear and missile capacities. Yet, there’s little evidence of such an uprising or resolution to the conflict.
Trump noted on social media that “We are considering reducing our major military efforts in the Middle East,” which sounds a bit contradictory when juxtaposed with the current military escalations and the request for an additional $200 billion to support the war.
Officials confirmed that the U.S. is deploying three additional amphibious assault ships and about 2,500 Marines to the area. There was no clear information on their destination, as sources spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Previously, another group of amphibious assault ships carrying 2,500 Marines was redirected from the Pacific to the Middle East to join over 50,000 U.S. troops already present.
Even with Trump claiming there are no plans to deploy ground troops in Iran, he maintains that all options are open.
A top Iranian military spokesperson, General Abolfazl Shekarchi, warned that “parks, recreational areas, and tourist destinations” around the world aren’t secure for enemies of Iran, raising concerns that extreme actions might be revived as a tactic.
Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei expressed his admiration for the Iranian people’s resilience during the conflict in a message meant for Nowruz, which was aired on national television. He has not made a public appearance since reportedly taking over leadership following an Israeli airstrike.
Information from Iran is scarce, and the extent of damage to its facilities, including weapons and nuclear sites after U.S. and Israeli strikes on February 28, remains unclear. Nevertheless, Iranian attacks continue to upset oil supply chains and drive up food and energy prices beyond the Middle East.
The Israeli military conveyed early Saturday that it had conducted a series of operations against Iranian-backed Hezbollah in the southern suburbs of Beirut.
Residents reported smoke, fires, and loud explosions in central Beirut, shortly after the Israeli military issued evacuation orders for several neighborhoods.
According to the Lebanese government, Israeli airstrikes against Hezbollah have resulted in over 1,000 deaths and displaced more than a million people.
In Iran, the conflict has claimed over 1,300 lives, while in Israel, 15 fatalities resulted from Iranian missile impacts, and four more from the occupied West Bank. At least 13 U.S. military personnel have also died.
The price of Brent crude oil spiked during the hostilities, jumping from about $70 prior to the war to around $106 per barrel.
Recent U.S. sanctions suspensions target Iranian crude oil that was on ships as of Friday, set to last until April 19. However, this suspension does not necessarily enhance production flow, which is critical to addressing escalating prices. Iran has circumvented U.S. sanctions over recent years, implying that much of its oil has already found buyers.
In an effort to increase global oil supply during the Iran conflict, the Trump administration previously eased sanctions on certain Russian oil shipments for 30 days, a step that critics suggest has had minimal market influence while benefiting the Kremlin.
