Huge Explosions In Isfahan As US Targets Iranian Munitions Depot
- By RFE/RL
Huge explosions and fires lit up the night sky in the Iranian city of Isfahan which is home to the Badr military air base. The US reportedly used a large number of bunker-busting bombs overnight on March 30-31, with US President Donald Trump sharing video of explosions on his Truth Social platform.
Four Injured In Dubai
Four people were injured by debris from the interception of a projectile that fell on residential buildings in southern Dubai, local authorities said.
"Authorities confirm that they are responding to an incident caused by debris from a successful interception that fell on residential houses in southern Dubai, resulting in property damage and minor injuries to four Asian nationals," the Dubai Media Office said in a post on X on March 31.
It had earlier said that "sounds heard across parts of the city were the result of successful air defense interception operations."
Amnesty Says Deadly Iranian Strike In Israel 'Must Be Investigated As A War Crime'
A new report by Amnesty International says an Iranian missile strike on the Israeli city of Beit Shemesh on March 1 that killed nine civilians, including four teenagers, should be investigated as a possible war crime.
The strike -- which hit the Ramat Lehi neighborhood, destroying a synagogue and severely damaging a bomb shelter -- also injured dozens more.
Based on verified social media footage, satellite imagery, and witness interviews, Amnesty concluded that an Iranian ballistic missile was used and found no evidence of a nearby military target.
The closest known military site was located about 3.5 kilometers away, Amnesty said, while senior research director Erika Guevara-Rosas said the weapon used in the strike was "wildly inaccurate and carries a massive warhead, making it completely inappropriate for use in densely populated civilian areas."
Amnesty said that the attack was indiscriminate and therefore violated international humanitarian law. It called for an "independent and impartial investigation," adding that "anyone for whom there is sufficient evidence of responsibility must be prosecuted in a fair trial."
The strike occurred amid escalating regional hostilities following US and Israeli attacks on Iran, with both sides carrying out retaliatory strikes that have caused civilian casualties across the Middle East.
Iran Says It Executed 2 More Individuals Linked To Opposition Group
Iran’s judiciary announced on the morning of March 31, that two more individuals had been executed on charges of “membership” in the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK).
The two were identified as Babak Alipour and Pouya Ghobadi. The judiciary accused them of “armed rebellion” and carrying out “terrorist operations.”
On March 30, Mohammad Taqavi Sangdehi and Akbar Daneshvar-Kar were also executed on similar charges.
The MEK is an Iranian opposition group dating to the 1960s that has opposed both the Shah and the Islamic republic. It was previously designated by the United States as a foreign terrorist organization before being delisted in 2012.
In November 2025, Mai Sato, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Iran, warned that the cases of the men were marked by serious due process concerns, including delayed access to lawyers and allegations of torture, and said imposing the death penalty in such cases would violate international law.
Araqchi Calls Saudi Arabia A 'Brotherly Country' Despite Iranian Attacks
Amid rising regional tensions, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi says he has written to Saudi officials and told them that it is “high time to eject US forces.”
In a post published on X on March 30, he also said that “Iran respects the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and considers it a brotherly country.”
Araqchi's comments come as the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps has carried out retaliatory attacks on the United Arab Emirates and other Arab countries in the southern Persian Gulf, including Saudi Arabia, since the start of the war involving the United States and Israel against Iran.
Following the launch of US and Israeli military strikes, Iran has used missiles and drones to target US bases in several Persian Gulf countries, as well as some civilian locations such as an airport, several hotels in Dubai, and oil and gas facilities.
Chinese Container Ships Successfully Transit Strait of Hormuz
Three Chinese ships have recently passed through the Strait of Hormuz, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on March 31. The spokesperson was also quoted by Reuters as saying that Beijing appreciated the assistance provided by the relevant parties.
Earlier, vessel tracking data had shown that on March 30 two very large container ships belonging to Chinese shipping giant COSCO successfully passed through the strait and exited the Persian Gulf.
According to maritime traffic data, the two vessels transited the strait about 30 minutes apart, passing near Larak Island before entering the Gulf of Oman.
A third ship, a Hong Kong-flagged oil and chemical tanker called the Egret, crossed earlier on March 25 sailing from east to west, according to Reuters, citing the maritime analytics firm Kpler.
In recent weeks, following US and Israeli attacks on Iran and Iran’s retaliatory move to close the Strait of Hormuz, traffic through this strategic waterway has slowed significantly.
Iranian officials have said that passage through the strait remains open to "non-hostile vessels." China is considered one of Iran’s main strategic partners.
Kuwaiti Oil Tanker Damaged In Strike At Dubai Port, No Casualties Reported
A fire aboard the Kuwaiti oil tanker Al Salmi, struck in an apparent Iranian attack while anchored at Dubai port, has been extinguished, authorities said on March 31.
The drone strike damaged the vessel’s hull and raised concerns about a potential oil spill, though all 24 crew members were reported safe and no injuries occurred.
The Kuwait Petroleum Corporation confirmed the tanker was hit and said damage assessments are ongoing.
The incident is part of a broader pattern of attacks on commercial shipping in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz since US-Israeli conflict with Iran erupted in late February.
The Al Salmi, carrying around 2 million barrels of oil from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia bound for China, highlights the risks to global energy supply routes.
Oil markets reacted sharply, with Brent crude rising more than 2 percent early on March 31 before easing slightly. Prices remain on track for a record monthly surge amid escalating regional tensions.
Separate incidents were also reported near Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura, where projectiles landed close to a container ship.
No group has claimed responsibility for the latest attacks, and Iranian officials have not commented.
With reporting by Reuters.
Strikes Hit Isfahan As US Reportedly Targets Ammunition Depot
The United States and Israel reportedly carried out strikes on multiple cities in Isfahan Province overnight on March 30-31, alongside attacks on Tehran.
Footage circulating on social media shows very large explosions around Isfahan, and US President Donald Trump shared one of the videos without comment in a separate post on his social media platform, Truth Social.
Earlier, the security and law enforcement deputy governor of Isfahan Province said that “American and Israeli fighter jets” had targeted the cities of Isfahan, Najafabad, Mobarakeh, Kashan, and Shahreza on Monday evening. The same official said on the morning of March 31 that initial assessments indicated some “military targets” in Isfahan had been struck. He did not provide any further details
At the same time, The Wall Street Journal reported that an official said the United States struck a major ammunition depot in the city of Isfahan, Iran, using "2,000-pound bunker-buster bombs.”
There were also social media reports of multiple explosions early on March 31 in Tehran, Isfahan, Zanjan, and Shiraz.
According to these posts, several successive explosions were heard in eastern and northeastern Tehran, accompanied by power outages in some areas and the sound of fighter jets. Separate explosions were also reported in Zanjan and Shiraz.
These reports, apart from those concerning Isfahan Province, have not yet been confirmed by official Iranian sources. The Israeli military has not yet commented on the strikes on Isfahan.
According to the Dubai Media Office, authorities responded to "an incident" involving the Kuwaiti tanker Al Salmi off Dubai, with firefighting teams bringing the situation under control.
No casualties were reported, and technical teams are assessing structural and environmental risks.
Iranian Military Expanding Child Recruitment Efforts, Rights Group Says
A new report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) says Iran’s military is intensifying efforts to recruit children into its ranks, particularly amid the ongoing conflict.
According to HRW, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) is actively enlisting children as young as 12 under a campaign promoting them as “homeland defending combatants.”
The report highlights that children are being drawn into roles such as patrols, checkpoints, and logistical support, raising serious concerns about their exposure to danger and potential participation in hostilities. HRW warns that such practices are in violation of international law, which prohibits the recruitment of children under 15 for armed conflict.
HRW also notes that the campaign appears to be expanding, reflecting a broader mobilization effort by Iranian authorities as the war escalates. The organization stresses that even noncombat roles can place children at risk and contribute to their militarization.