The Indian-flagged crude oil tanker Jag Laadki has docked safely at Adani Ports in Mundra, Gujarat, delivering a crucial cargo of approximately 80,886 metric tonnes of crude oil sourced from the United Arab Emirates. Loaded at Fujairah Port, this shipment arrives at a pivotal moment for India’s energy security, as the nation grapples with volatile regional dynamics.

With an overall length of 274.19 metres and a beam of 50.04 metres, the vessel boasts a deadweight tonnage of around 164,716 tonnes and a gross tonnage of 84,735 tonnes. These specifications highlight its capacity to transport substantial volumes of crude, supporting the operational needs of India’s major refineries.

Mundra Port, operated by Adani Ports, plays an indispensable role in handling such large-scale imports. The facility’s strategic location and advanced infrastructure ensure efficient berthing and discharge, minimising delays in the supply chain that feeds refineries across the country.

This delivery unfolds against escalating tensions in West Asia, where disruptions to key maritime routes threaten global energy flows. Recent conflicts have raised concerns over the safety of shipping lanes, prompting heightened vigilance from Indian authorities.

In a related success, two Indian-flagged LPG carriers—MT Shivalik and MT Nanda Devi—safely traversed the Strait of Hormuz earlier this month. Carrying a combined 92,712 metric tonnes of LPG, they crossed on 13 March 2026 and reached India on 16 and 17 March, demonstrating resilience in the face of regional instability.

India’s response includes the ongoing Operation Sankalp, a naval deployment dedicated to safeguarding commercial vessels in these waters. The Indian Navy maintains a robust presence to protect vital shipping lanes, ensuring the safe passage and berthing of tankers like Jag Laadki.

The Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping) is actively monitoring the situation, coordinating with ship owners, Recruitment and Placement Service License (RPSL) agencies, and Indian diplomatic missions abroad. This collaborative effort aims to mitigate risks to crew and cargo.

Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal is personally overseeing developments, as confirmed in an official release. Close coordination with ports, shipping lines, and logistics stakeholders seeks to prevent disruptions to maritime trade.

To support operations, ports have received directives to offer relief measures, including concessions on anchorage, berth hire, and storage charges. These steps help absorb potential cost escalations from rerouting or delays.

India’s reliance on imported crude and LPG underscores the importance of such secure transits. Over 80 per cent of the country’s oil needs come via sea routes through the Strait of Hormuz, making stability in West Asia critical for economic continuity.

The safe arrival of Jag Laadki not only replenishes refinery stocks but also signals the effectiveness of India’s maritime security apparatus. It reassures energy markets and stakeholders of the nation’s proactive stance.

As tensions persist, experts anticipate continued naval patrols and diplomatic engagements to shield commercial interests. Mundra’s role as a gateway for energy imports will remain central, bolstering India’s strategic resilience.

Indian Air Force

ANI

The Indian Navy has launched the second edition of its Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR initiative, underscoring India’s steadfast commitment to fostering maritime partnerships across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

This program brings together naval personnel from 16 friendly foreign nations, promoting collaborative maritime security in a strategically vital area.

India assumed the chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) in February 2026, a pivotal development that has shaped this edition of IOS SAGAR. The participating countries hail from the IONS membership within the IOR, reflecting a targeted effort to strengthen ties with regional partners.

At its core, IOS SAGAR embodies the Government of India’s SAGAR vision—Security and Growth for All in the Region. It extends this ethos through the broader MAHASAGAR framework, which emphasises Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security Across the Regions, aiming for inclusive maritime stability.

This unique operational engagement programme allows naval personnel from friendly foreign countries to train alongside Indian Navy crews aboard an Indian Naval Ship. Participants immerse themselves in shipboard activities, gaining hands-on experience that enhances practical cooperation and operational interoperability.

The current edition commences with intensive professional training at Indian Naval establishments in Kochi. Here, international participants engage with essential naval operations, seamanship techniques, and maritime security doctrines, building a foundational understanding of joint practices.

Following the shore-based phase, the programme transitions to sea deployment on an Indian Naval Ship. Sailors from the 16 nations will operate together, executing real-world maritime activities that simulate high-stakes scenarios and deepen mutual trust.

India’s maritime diplomacy has long prioritised such initiatives, evolving from bilateral exercises to multinational forums like IONS. IOS SAGAR represents a natural progression, addressing contemporary challenges such as piracy, illegal fishing, and humanitarian assistance in the IOR.

The IOR remains a nexus of global trade routes, with over 80 per cent of India’s energy imports traversing these waters. Strengthening naval interoperability through IOS SAGAR directly safeguards these lifelines, aligning with India’s Act East and Neighbourhood First policies.

By chairing IONS, India positions itself as a proactive leader in regional security architecture. This edition of IOS SAGAR amplifies that role, fostering goodwill and shared capabilities among diverse navies.

Participants benefit from exposure to India’s indigenous naval technologies, including advanced sensors and communication systems integrated into its warships. Such exchanges subtly promote India’s defence manufacturing prowess under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

The program also emphasises soft skills like leadership in multinational crews and crisis response coordination. These elements ensure that tactical training translates into strategic partnerships.

Kochi, as a hub of southern naval commands, offers world-class facilities for this training. Its proximity to key sea lanes enhances the realism of exercises conducted there.

At sea, the deployment phase tests endurance and adaptability, with participants manning watch stations, conducting drills, and navigating complex maritime environments. This culminates in a richer appreciation of collective defence postures.

IOS SAGAR builds on the success of its inaugural edition, which set benchmarks for people-to-people naval interactions. Feedback from prior participants has refined this iteration for greater impact.

Amid rising geopolitical tensions in the IOR—such as China’s expanding footprint—the initiative signals India’s resolve to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific. It countersbalance through cooperation rather than confrontation.

Economically, enhanced maritime security via IOS SAGAR supports trade growth, vital for India’s blue economy ambitions. Fisheries protection and disaster response modules address dual-use capabilities.

The 16 participating nations span the IOR’s diversity, from island states to continental powers, ensuring broad representation. This inclusivity strengthens the programme’s legitimacy and reach.

Indian Navy personnel serve as mentors, sharing expertise honed through missions like anti-piracy patrols off Somalia. Their guidance elevates the training’s quality.

Upon completion, participants return home with actionable insights, potentially influencing their navies’ doctrines and procurement choices. This ripple effect amplifies IOS SAGAR’s long-term value.

India envisions scaling IOS SAGAR under its IONS chairmanship, perhaps incorporating emerging technologies like unmanned systems. Such evolutions will keep the initiative at the forefront of maritime innovation.

IOS SAGAR exemplifies proactive diplomacy, weaving security with growth to secure a stable IOR for all stakeholders.

ANI

🚨 THE U.S. NAVY JUST USED A LASER WEAPON IN COMBAT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY. 🚨

CENTCOM released footage of the HELIOS system mounted on a destroyer off Iran’s coast. It’s shooting down drones with LIGHT.

Here’s why this is the most important military development since the atomic bomb:

THE PROBLEM:
→ Iran’s $20,000 Shahed drones were bankrupting the U.S. defense budget
→ Every Patriot interceptor costs $3-4 MILLION
→ Every THAAD interceptor costs $10 MILLION
→ The UAE alone intercepted 755 drones + 172 ballistic missiles — BILLIONS spent in ONE WEEK
→ Iran was WINNING the math. Spend $30K, force the enemy to spend $4M. Repeat.
→ That cost ratio was Iran’s most powerful weapon

THE SOLUTION:
→ HELIOS runs on ELECTRICITY
→ The cost of firing it: less than your monthly electric bill
→ No missiles to reload. No magazine to deplete. No resupply ship needed.
→ Unlimited shots. As fast as light. Against a $20,000 drone.
→ Iran spends $30,000 per drone. HELIOS spends PENNIES to destroy it.

THE MATH JUST FLIPPED:

⚠️ Before HELIOS: Iran spends $30K → U.S. spends $4M to stop it. Iran wins.
⚠️ After HELIOS: Iran spends $30K → U.S. spends $0.50 to stop it. Iran LOSES.

→ Iran spent YEARS developing Shahed drone doctrine
→ The entire strategy was: “flood cheap drones, bankrupt the defense”
→ HELIOS makes that strategy OBSOLETE overnight
→ A weapon designed to bleed the U.S. dry just became target practice for a laser that costs nothing to fire

This is the first real combat test of directed energy weapons in history.

If it works at scale — and early reports say it DOES — then:

💀 Iran’s drone advantage = GONE
💀 The 200-to-1 cost ratio = REVERSED
💀 Every drone Iran launches = destroyed for pennies
💀 Drone warfare as a strategy = DEAD before it even peaked
💀 Every military on Earth that invested in drones = back to the drawing board

Iran just found out that the weapon it spent a decade perfecting can be defeated by a LASER running on a ship’s generator.

The future of warfare isn’t drones. It isn’t missiles. It’s directed energy.

And the U.S. just tested it in a live war zone.

Prepare accordingly. 🚨🚨🚨
Being fwd as received, lot of sense.

MUST READ

ISRAELI JOURNALIST GIVES FULL ACCOUNT ON WAR ON THE FIFTH DAY

“THIS IS WHY OUR GOVT IS CENSORING US”
(Alon Mizrahi)

“We are witnessing history. Iran is, to the surprise of everyone, fucking up US bases so thoroughly and extensively and so decisively that the world isn’t ready to see it.”

“In 4 days, Iran has managed to expand its scope of military domination in the region. Iran has destroyed the most precious, most expensive military bases, assets and equipment in the whole world. American bases in Bahrain and Kuwait and Qatar and Saudi Arabia are some of the biggest military installations in the entire world. These are assets that took trillions to build over the course of several decades. We’re talking a major chunk of military expenditure for over 30 years, going up in smoke.

We are seeing radars costing hundreds of millions of dollars a piece being destroyed in an instant. We are seeing entire military bases being abandoned and burned, decimated and destroyed. And I’m telling you from my knowledge, the US has never suffered such devastation in its entire history, except maybe Pearl Harbor but that was one attack.

No enemy in a normal war has done to the US military what the Iranians are doing to the US military right now. This defies belief. The military situation is so bad that censorship blocks practically every piece of new information about this war. If you’ve noticed we’re being exposed to less and less every day.

Thirty-five years ago during the first Iraq war, we were being shown endless footage from Iraq. The smart bombs and the cameras were a novelty back then, but every night we were being shown night footage. Now we are seeing almost no video.

Understand this! This is supposedly the worlds biggest military power having the worlds biggest air capabilities and for 4 days when the US is on the offensive, supposedly and is supposed to be breaking through Iranian defenses we are seeing NO signs of American domination over Iranian skies. Where is all the footage of our planes flying over Tehran or any part of Iran for that matter?

American soldiers can not even dream of setting foot in Iran. And to understand how desperate this war is, that on the 4th day you’re already hearing the craziest suggestions and ideas from the Trump administration. They are suggesting to send military escorts for oil carrying vessels coming out of the Persian gulf. What are you even talking about?! You want to send American ships into the range of thousands of Iranian missiles? NO ONE can pass through the strait of Hormuz right now.

The Iranians have been preparing for this for decades. They’re flaunting this idea of arming Kurdish militias to invade Iran. What the FUCK are you talking about? Have you seen a map of Iran?! It seems like the Trump administration has never seen a map of Iran! Do you know how massive it is? What do you mean invade Iran?! You think a 10,000 man militia can invade Iran?! Or even 50,000?! Or 100,000?! Iran will swallow them.

The US and Israel have already lost this war. The US and Israel can kill millions of civilians in their homes. They have huge bombs and can explode buildings, but they will not win this war. Iranians military infrastructure and weaponry is so far underground ALL OVER IRAN. There is no way for the Americans and definitely not the Israelis to reach any of it. They are FUCKED.

They have started something they have no chance of bringing to an end. When this is over the US will never come back to West Asia. There will be no American presence in the Middle East. I’m telling you this now with certainty.”

Alon Mizrahi, Israeli journalist and peace activist on Substack

Despite global tensions across multiple flashpoints, India continues to balance its military ties with diverse partners. It is currently engaging simultaneously with the militaries of the US and Russia at Guam and Visakhapatnam, respectively.

Two warships — Sovershenny and Rezky — from the Vladivostok-based Russian Pacific Fleet arrived at the eastern port of Visakhapatnam on March 14. The ships’ crews will participate in cultural and sports events with Indian naval personnel, while also restocking supplies. The vessels, which departed Vladivostok on February 12, are on a long-distance Asia-Pacific deployment.

Meanwhile, at Guam — a US base in the western Pacific Ocean — the Indian Navy has joined an anti-submarine warfare exercise hosted by the US, along with fellow Quad partners Japan and Australia. New Zealand is also participating in the multinational exercise, ‘Sea Dragon 2026’, at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam. The drills began on March 9 and will continue for nearly three weeks.

These engagements come against the backdrop of tensions in West Asia. While the US and Israel are aligned against Iran, India has, for the past two weeks, hosted the Iranian warship IRIS Lavan at Kochi; the vessel and some of its crew remain in India. Meanwhile, the US and its NATO allies remain at odds with Russia over the ongoing war in Ukraine.

At Guam, all five participating navies are deploying long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft such as the Boeing P-8 and its variants, which are capable of tracking submarines. These aircraft can generate a shared operational picture of the maritime domain and enable seamless communication between forces.

According to a US Navy statement, Sea Dragon 2026 is aimed at enhancing aircrew proficiency in anti-submarine warfare (ASW), progressing from simulated targets to detecting and tracking a live submarine.

India has been steadily refining its military ties with both the US and Russia. In November last year, India and the US discussed ways to enhance bilateral and multilateral exercises, including adding complexity such as simulated submarine hunts and tracking “enemy vessels”, to strengthen maritime cooperation and advance shared strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific. India and the US are also part of multilateral frameworks such as the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), which operates in the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf.

Meanwhile, a joint statement issued after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in New Delhi in December said the six-decade-old India-Russia defence partnership would be “re-oriented” towards co-development and co-production of advanced technologies, setting a new benchmark in support of the ‘Make in India’ initiative.

GOC, Rising Star Corps, Lt Gen Rajan Sharawat, along with other officers, reviews operational preparedness of the troops in Machhedi sector of Kathua district on Wednesday.

Security forces on Wednesday launched multiple search operations across the Jammu region following reports of suspicious movements in several areas.

Joint teams of the Army, police, and CRPF conducted operations in Doda, Rajouri, and Poonch districts.

In Doda, searches were carried out in the Marmat area after locals reported suspected terrorist movement. The area is known as a transit route for militants moving between Doda and Basantgarh in Udhampur. Additional operations were conducted in the Sarlea area.

In Poonch district, search operations were underway in Dandi Dhara and Ari Sarooti, located along the Line of Control (LoC).

Meanwhile, in Rajouri, a combing operation was launched in Khandli and adjoining areas near Palma after a local reported sighting two suspicious individuals moving towards a nearby forest.As of Wednesday evening, no recoveries or encounters had been reported.

Senior Army officials also reviewed security arrangements in the region. The General Officer Commanding (GOC) of White Knight Corps, Lt Gen PK Mishra, visited forward areas in Akhnoor along the LoC and interacted with troops.

White Knight Corps in a statement said, “He interacted with troops deployed on the LoC and was briefed on measures undertaken to strengthen defences and enhance operational effectiveness. The GOC commended all ranks for their high morale, professionalism and steadfast commitment to duty.”

Similarly, GOC Rising Star Corps, Lt Gen Rajan Sharawat, reviewed operational preparedness in the Bani–Machhedi sector of Kathua. A statement said the GOC lauded their “battle readiness, high morale and steadfast commitment to mission success under all conditions”.

Kathua has witnessed multiple encounters during the past few years as it is located on the traditional infiltration route of Pakistani terrorists who enter into this side of the International Border and reach Doda, Udhampur and other districts through hills of Kathua.

New Delhi must adopt a ‘risk avoidance’ doctrine propelled by thorium, which is not merely an alternative fuel

Manish Tewari

THE convulsions in global energy markets, precipitated by the US-Israeli strikes on Iran and the subsequent choking of the Strait of Hormuz, have again laid bare the profound vulnerability of India’s energy infrastructure. The LPG shortage and over $100-a-barrel oil are not black swan events but the inevitable, cyclical consequence of a persistent failure of strategic vision.

India’s energy policy is a masterclass in ‘loss control’: a reactive exercise in the face of externally induced shocks. We scramble for alternative suppliers, dip into strategic reserves and engage in frantic diplomatic cajoling with a motley crew of nations. It is a doctrine of ‘risk retention’ that perpetually keeps our diplomacy off-balance, our exchequer bleeding and our national security hostage to the whims of global turmoil.

In view of 88% import dependence for crude oil and over 45% for natural gas, even a $10 increase in the per-barrel price adds $15-20 billion to our import bill, a bill that already haemorrhages $150-200 billion annually. The question before us is no longer one of diversification within a fossil-fuel paradigm. The question is, do we continue to manage a crisis or do we architect a sustainable exit from it? The answer, grounded in the immutable laws of physics and geology, lies in our own soil. India must adopt a ‘risk avoidance’ doctrine fuelled by thorium.

Paradoxically, there exists an ironic policy tragedy — the SHANTI (Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India) Act. Albeit it purports to boost nuclear capacity, in reality it’s a Trojan horse that privatises profit and socialises liability while fundamentally undermining India’s three-stage nuclear programme. This programme is a closed fuel cycle designed explicitly to bypass the global uranium cartel.

The first stage, using uranium in Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors, was meant to be the ignition key. The second stage centred on the Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR) as the engine. Expected to be commissioned this year, the 500-MWe (megawatt-electric) Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam is a crucial milestone as it is designed to ‘breed’ more fuel (plutonium-239) than it consumes, and crucially, to convert our vast thorium reserves into uranium-233. This is the gateway. The third stage is the thorium-based reactor, and the most promising, efficient and inherently safe design for this is the Molten Salt Reactor (MSR).

By incentivising and fast-tracking uranium-based Light Water Reactor technology, the SHANTI Act locks India into a perpetual cycle of fuel dependence. We will be importing not just the reactors, but the very fuel to run them, trading our reliance on Middle East oil for that on foreign uranium, likely from the uranium cartel of nations. It sidelines the MSRs just as the foundational technologies are maturing.

Thorium is not merely an alternative fuel; it is India’s oil. We sit atop the world’s largest proven reserves, around 1.07 million tonnes, comprising a quarter of the global total. Thorium-232 is itself not fissile. It is a ‘fertile’ material. In the crucible of a reactor, it absorbs a neutron to become thorium-233, which decays into protactinium-233 and finally to uranium-233, which is an artificial fissile material suitable for nuclear fuel.

One thousand megawatts of power from a uranium-fuelled reactor requires around 200 tonnes of natural uranium per year. A thorium-fuelled reactor, in a closed cycle, could theoretically produce the same power with less than one tonne of thorium annually. Multiply that by hundreds from our reserves, and the implications for perpetual, self-reliant energy generation are staggering. It is a national energy grid that, once the initial fissile inventory (from plutonium-239 bred in our FBRs) is established, can run on indigenous fuel, recycled and bred in situ, for millennia.

The PFBR is the vital, non-negotiable bridge to the thorium future. The technology for harnessing this white-silver metal is not a distant dream. It is here, evolving and being aggressively pursued by our strategic competitors. The most promising pathway is the MSR. Unlike conventional solid-fuel reactors, an MSR dissolves the thorium (and the bred uranium-233) in a molten fluoride or chloride salt, which serves both as the fuel and the coolant. The advantages are profound and manifold.

First, the breeding cycle occurs within the sealed reactor core, and the uranium-233 produced is contaminated with uranium-232, whose highly energetic gamma decay products make the fuel extraordinarily difficult and dangerous to handle for military purposes. It is, by its very physical nature, a more peaceful fuel.

Second, MSRs operate at atmospheric pressure, eliminating the risk of a catastrophic pressure vessel failure. The fuel is already molten; a runaway reaction causes the salt to expand, reducing reactivity passively, or a freeze plug can melt, draining the fuel into passively cooled dump tanks. The China Syndrome — the worst-case scenario of a nuclear meltdown — is near-impossible.

Third, MSRs can achieve very high burn-up rates, extracting far more energy from the fuel and drastically reducing the long-term radiotoxic waste. The waste stream is smaller and more manageable.

Recognising the strategic potency of this technology, China has made thorium MSRs a national priority. Through its Thorium Molten Salt Reactor project, it is aggressively pursuing a solid-fuel and liquid-fuel demonstration reactor, aiming for commercialisation within a decade.

If China succeeds in perfecting and mass-producing commercial thorium MSRs before India, it will not only achieve its own energy dominance but also corner the global market for this technology, leaving India (the country with the most thorium) as a potential technology purchaser and licensee. The irony would be Shakespearean in its tragedy.

India’s diplomatic and scientific outreach must be leveraged now. To lead, we need not go it alone. The US (with renewed interest in advanced reactors and companies like the Clean Core Thorium Energy exploring thorium-based fuel), Canada (with CANDU reactor expertise), Russia (with experience of fast reactors and closed fuel cycles) and Europe (through its nuclear research consortia) can be vital partners in regulatory innovation and high-assay, low-enriched uranium (HALEU) production for the initial fissile stock.

A successful thorium programme will permanently de-risk the Indian economy from the vagaries of the petro dollar and the weaponisation of energy. India needs a national mission on thorium, on par with the Green Revolution in its ambition and execution. This mission must aim to demonstrate a fully operational, grid-connected thorium-fuelled MSR within the next 10-12 years and to begin commercial deployment by 2040.

This requires establishing a dedicated thorium technology innovation hub, bringing together the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), IITs and the private sector in a synergistic partnership.

A thorium-powered grid, operating at high-capacity factors, provides the perfect, carbon-free baseload partner to other variable renewable energy sources. When the sun doesn’t shine and the wind doesn’t blow, the thorium reactor hums quietly, ensuring grid stability. This is how we truly decarbonise.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence on Wednesday recommended that the proposal to impose income tax on disability pensions for armed forces personnel be “examined” and reconsidered. Separately, it flagged the urgent need for upgradation of fighter aircraft as a priority.

The committee said it had been apprised of the proposal to bring disability pensions, currently non-taxable, under the ambit of income tax. While taxation falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance, it noted that the Ministry of Defence is a key stakeholder and should take up the issue at an appropriate level to examine the proposal.

The panel also stressed the need to prioritise next-generation fighter jet technology. “Technical upgrade of aircraft is required on top priority to enhance combat capability,” it said, adding that the Ministry of Defence should chart a clear trajectory for the development and acquisition of sixth-generation fighter aircraft to strengthen India’s air power in an increasingly contested environment.

On budgetary requirements, the committee recommended that additional funds, if needed, be allocated to the Ministry of Defence in the next fiscal beginning April 1, to ensure optimal combat preparedness of the armed forces.

It called for a greater focus on network-centric and cloud-enabled operations, and emphasised that indigenous research and development in glide missile technology would boost strategic preparedness and operational flexibility.

The panel also recommended the creation of a separate budget head for critical and emerging technology R&D to ensure timely execution of priority projects.

Further, it urged expediting ongoing efforts to exclude civil areas from select cantonments, stating that priority should be accorded to resolve issues faced by civilians in Cantonment Boards.

On technology infusion, the committee stressed that all initiatives and programmes must adhere to defined timelines to enable the armed forces to adopt and operationalise new capabilities in a timely manner. It also took note of efforts such as the national quantum mission and high-performance computing and AI cloud initiatives.

Dubai: Qatar said on Thursday that Iranian missile attacks damaged more liquefied natural gas sites in the energy-rich nation, “causing sizable fires and extensive further damage.”

Qatar Energy, the nation’s state-owned oil and gas company, announced the damage. It said firefighters were working to halt the blazes and no one had been hurt so far.

Qatar is a key source of natural gas for the world’s energy markets. It already shut in its production earlier in the war, but extensive damage could delay Qatar in getting its supplies to the market after the Iran war ends.

Israel killed Iran’s intelligence minister as it kept up its campaign against the Islamic Republic’s top leadership and reportedly attacked an Iranian offshore natural gas field on Wednesday, as the war escalated pressure on the region’s economic lifeblood: energy.

Iran condemned the strike on its massive South Pars natural gas field, with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warning of “uncontrollable consequences” that “could engulf the entire world.”

Iran escalated strikes on its Persian Gulf neighbours’ energy facilities, hitting gas facilities in Qatar after Israel launched an attack against Iran’s South Pars offshore natural gas field in the Persian Gulf that it shares with Doha. Qatar in response ordered Iranian Embassy officials to leave the country within 24 hours.

Tehran also struck the Habshan gas facility and Bab field in the United Arab Emirates, which the government there called a “dangerous escalation” in the Islamic Republic’s war against Israel and the United States. Authorities in Abu Dhabi say the gas operations had been shut down after interceptions over the sites. AP

Trump says US will retaliate if Iran attacks Qatar again

March 19, 2026 8:29 am

President Donald Trump pledged that Israel would make no more attacks on Iran’s major South Pars gas field, but if Iran attacked Qatar again, the US would retaliate and “massively blow up the entirety” of the field. Trump made his threat on social media on Wednesday night as the war roiled global energy markets and Iranian missiles hit Qatar. “I do not want to authorise this level of violence and destruction because of the long-term implications that it will have on the future of Iran,” Trump said, but added that he would “not hesitate to do so,” if Qatar’s liquified natural gas sites were attacked again.

Saudi Arabia reserves right to military action against Iran: Foreign Minister

March 19, 2026 8:29 am

Saudi Arabia reserves the right to act militarily against Iran and any trust with Tehran has been shattered, the Saudi Foreign Minister said early on Thursday, after Riyadh was targeted by Iranian ballistic missiles. Iran accused Israel of striking its facilities in the huge South Pars gas field on Wednesday, and retaliated by vowing attacks on oil and gas targets throughout the Gulf, firing missiles at Qatar and Saudi Arabia. In the harshest comments to come out of the Gulf kingdom in nearly three weeks of war, Farhan accused Iran of premeditated hostile actions against its neighbours, both directly and via an array of regional proxies which he urged Tehran to reign in.

Iran launches multiple-warhead missiles at Israel

March 19, 2026 8:19 am

Responding to the killing of Larijani, the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said Wednesday it had attacked central Israel with multiple-warhead missiles that have a better chance of evading defense systems. Footage filmed by The Associated Press showed at least one missile releasing a cluster of munitions over Israel.

Israel pressures Hezbollah in Lebanon

March 19, 2026 8:19 am

Keeping up pressure on Iran-backed Hezbollah militants, Israeli strikes hit multiple apartment buildings in Beirut, killing at least a dozen people. Israel flattened an apartment building in central Beirut about an hour after issuing an evacuation notice – the fourth time the building was targeted. Israel’s military claimed it was being used by Hezbollah to store “millions of dollars intended to finance its activities,” without providing evidence.

Iran keeps up strikes on Gulf countries’ oil facilities

March 19, 2026 8:19 am

QatarEnergy said on X that a missile hit its massive Ras Laffan liquefied natural gas facility, sparking a fire that caused “extensive” damage before it was extinguished. The company had already halted production there because of Iranian attacks. Since the war started, a small number of ships from Iran, Turkey, India and elsewhere have gotten through the Strait of Hormuz, which leads from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean. Iran insists the waterway is open, just not to the US or its allies.

The Army on Tuesday said it foiled an infiltration attempt along the Line of Control in the Rajouri district of the Jammu region, killing one militant while a search operation is underway to track down another.

According to officials, the incident occurred in the Nowshera sector after security forces received inputs about the movement of suspected terrorists in the area.

In a post on X, the Army’s White Knight Corps said that acting on credible intelligence inputs from security agencies, the movement of two militants was detected in the general area of Jhangar in Nowshera around 3 pm.

Alert troops responded with what the Army described as “swift and calibrated combat action,” engaging the infiltrators and foiling the attempt to cross the LoC.

“In the ensuing engagement, a Pakistan-sponsored terrorist was eliminated, effectively denying any breach of the LoC,” the Army said.

Officials said a search operation has been launched in the area to locate the second militant who is believed to have escaped during the encounter.

“Troops have been reoriented to track the second terrorist and ensure domination of the area, supported by integrated ground and aerial surveillance,” the Army added.

Security forces have maintained a robust operational posture and heightened alert across the sector following the incident.

Forest fire triggers landmine blasts along LoC

Some landmines exploded on Tuesday due to a forest fire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district, triggering panic among border residents, officials said. No casualties were reported in the blasts and efforts are on to douse the flames, they said. The fire broke out in forward area in Balakote sector, Dadote, around 9.55 am, causing some landmines to explode due to heat. The fire had not been put out till last reports, they said.

Forward areas are dotted with landmines as part of an anti-infiltration system.

Drone sighted near IB in Samba

Security forces detected suspected Pakistani drone movement late Monday night in the Daboh area along the International Border in Samba district

Following the alert, forces deployed additional personnel and initiated surveillance to check any possible air-dropping of weapons or narcotics

A coordinated search operation involving the Army, J&K Police and BSF was launched in the suspected area

Security teams also conducted searches in Bhai Nallah, Lala Chack and Malani in the Rajpura belt of Samba following reports of suspicious movement

Lt Karnaveer Singh Thakur with his family at OTA, Chennai.

Karnaveer Singh Thakur, a resident of Khandgadh village in Nichli Bhated gram panchayat of Bilasur district, has joined the Indian Army as a Lieutenant. He was commissioned as Lieutenant in the Army on March 7 after completing his training at the Officers Training Academy in Chennai. He will serve Assam Regiment of the Army.

Lt Karnaveer hails from a family having a history of national service for three generations. His father, Col Vikram Singh Thakur, is also serving in the Indian Army while his mother, Narisha Thakur, is a homemaker. His grandfather Ramdhan Verma had retired from the Indian Army as a Colonel while his uncle is Group Captain Ajay Singh Thakur is serving the Indian Air Force.

Col Ramdhan Verma said that Karnaveer had nurtured a dream since childhood of joining the Army to serve the nation. He had achieved this milestone due to his hard work, discipline and dedication. The family, relatives and local residents congratulated Karnaveer on his success and wished him a bright future.

Technical Education Minister Rajesh Dharmani said that Karnaveer’s achievement would inspire the youth of the region to step forward to serve the nation. MLA Trilok Jamwal extended his best wishes to Karnaveer. Members of Nichli Bhated gram panchayat and social organisations also extended their best wishes to.