Live! Iran makes ominous threat to Netanyahu; Trump urges allies to send warships to Hormuz
The IRGC calls Israeli PM a “child-killing criminal” and vows to target him, hours after his office dismissed viral reports claiming he had been assassinated
Here is the top, trending news of Sunday, March 15, 2026, including Iran war, Indian politics, states' politics, geopolitics, federal issues, economics, development issues, sports, entertainment, and so on.
Scroll below for updates.
Live Updates
- 15 March 2026 1:21 PM IST
Trump urges US allies to send warships to Strait of Hormuz
Gulf states reported new missile and drone attacks Sunday after Tehran threatened to widen its campaign and called for the evacuation of three major ports in the United Arab Emirates as Iranian strikes there — part of a broader war with the United States and Israel — progress into their third week.
Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE warned people that they were working to intercept incoming projectiles, a day after Iran called for the port evacuations, threatening for the first time a neighbouring country's non-US assets.
Iran earlier accused the United States of using “ports, docks and hideouts” in the UAE to launch strikes on Kharg Island, home to the main terminal handling Iran's oil exports, without providing evidence. The UAE and other Gulf countries that host US bases have denied allowing their land or airspace to be used for military operations against Iran.
Iranian strikes have killed at least a dozen civilians in Gulf states, most of them migrant workers. At least 13 members of the US military have been killed since the war began, including seven in combat and six who died in a plane crash over Iraq last week.
US President Donald Trump said he hoped allies would send warships to secure the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, Lebanon's humanitarian crisis deepened, with over 800 people killed and 850,000 displaced as Israel launched waves of strikes against Iran-backed Hezbollah militants. - 15 March 2026 1:19 PM IST
Iran war, crude prices to drive stock market this week: Analysts
Developments surrounding the ongoing conflict in West Asia and crude oil price movement will be the major factors driving trends in the equity market this week, say analysts.
Besides global trends, the US Fed interest rate decision and inflation data would also influence trading in markets.
“This week is packed with several important developments and data releases, both domestically and globally. Geopolitical developments will remain the key factor to watch, as their impact on crude oil prices is likely to influence overall market direction.
“On the domestic front, market participants will closely track key macroeconomic indicators, such as WPI inflation, balance of trade data and foreign exchange reserves,” PTI quoted Ajit Mishra, SVP, Research, Religare Broking Ltd, as saying.
Globally, investors will focus on the US Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision and the FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) economic projections, he added.
Last week, the BSE benchmark Sensex tanked 4,354.98 points or 5.51 per cent, and the NSE Nifty dropped 1,299.35 points, or 5.31 per cent.
Since February 27, the 30-share BSE benchmark has nosedived 6,723.27 points or 8.27 per cent.
“The week ahead is expected to remain highly volatile, with market direction largely influenced by developments surrounding the ongoing conflict in the Middle East,” Ponmudi R, CEO of Enrich Money, an online trading and wealth tech firm, said. - 15 March 2026 1:05 PM IST
Three police sub-inspectors killed in road accident in Karnataka
Three police sub-inspectors were killed and two others sustained serious injuries after their car crashed into a lorry on the Bengaluru-Ballari highway in Chitradurga district on Sunday morning, police said.
The accident occurred around 7 am near the Prakash Sponge Iron Company when the car, carrying five sub-inspectors travelling from Bengaluru to Ballari, collided with a lorry moving ahead of it. The impact was so severe that the car was dragged for nearly 300 metres, officials said.
Three police personnel, Amaresh, Manjunath and Sachin, died on the spot, while the injured Lakshman and Eshwar were initially admitted to the Challakere Government Hospital before being shifted to a private hospital in Chitradurga and later referred to Davanagere for further treatment.
Superintendent of Police Ranjith Kumar Bandaru, Hiriyur DySP Shivakumar and other senior police officers visited the spot soon after the accident. A case has been registered and investigation into the incident is underway, police said.
- 15 March 2026 12:02 PM IST
Iran’s IRGC threatens Netanyahu amid viral assassination rumours
Amid rumours of his assassination, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Sunday vowed to “pursue and kill” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who they described as a “child-killing criminal”.
"If this child-killing criminal is alive, we will continue to pursue and kill him with full force," the Guards said in a statement on their website Sepah News. The statement came just hours after the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office dismissed the reports, clarifying that Netanyahu is safe and the claims were false.
The rumours had gained traction on social media following a video posted on Netanyahu’s X account that appeared to show him with six fingers, prompting speculation that the footage was manipulated or AI-generated. Speculation were also rife over Netanyahu’s son, Yair, with claims that he had not posted on X since March 9, allegedly due to a family matter, though these reports remain unverified.
- 15 March 2026 10:52 AM IST
US identifies 6 killed in military aircraft crash
The US Department of Defense on Saturday identified six service members who died when the military refueling aircraft they were aboard crashed Thursday while supporting operations against Iran.
The service members were Maj. John A. Klinner, 33; Capt. Ariana G. Savino, 31; Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34; Capt. Seth R. Koval, 38; Capt. Curtis J. Angst, 30; and Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons, 28, according to US officials.
The crash in western Iraq followed an unspecified incident involving two aircraft in “friendly airspace,” according to U.S. Central Command. The other plane landed safety.
- 15 March 2026 10:52 AM IST
Iran says the US attacked from close to Dubai
Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said the US attacked Kharg Island and Abu Musa Island from two locations in the UAE, Ras Al-Khaimah and a place “very close to Dubai,” calling that dangerous and saying Iran “will try to be careful not to attack any populated area” there.
US Central Command said it had no response to Iran's claim. A diplomatic adviser to the UAE's president, Anwar Gargash, said on social media the country has the right to defend itself but “still prioritises reason and logic, and continues exercising restraint.” Iran has fired hundreds of missiles and drones at Arab Gulf neighbours during the war, but it has said it was targeting US assets, even as hits or attempts were reported on civilian ones such as airports and oil fields.
Araghchi said the Strait of Hormuz was closed only to “those who are attacking us and their allies.”
- 15 March 2026 10:50 AM IST
Telangana drug bust: 11 people detained, ex-BRS MLA Rohith Reddy tests positive
Eleven people, including TDP MP from Andhra Pradesh Putta Mahesh Yadav and former BRS MLA Pilot Rohith Reddy, were detained following a raid at a farmhouse in Moinabad near Hyderabad over alleged drug consumption, officials said on Sunday.
Rohith Reddy tested positive for alleged narcotics consumption, while the TDP MP tested negative, they said. One of those who was detained had opened fire three rounds after noticing the police team.
"Rohith Reddy tested positive for drug consumption while the MP tested negative," sources said. The farmhouse belongs to Rohith Reddy.
On reliable information that a drug party was going on at the farmhouse, the Elite Action Group for Drug Law Enforcement (EAGLE) Force and a police team raided it on Saturday night.
The party was attended by a group of realtors, businessmen, as well as political persons, a police official said.
- 15 March 2026 10:40 AM IST
Viral rumours about Netanyahu’s death debunked by Prime Minister’s Office
The office of Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday dismissed viral social media claims suggesting the Israeli Prime Minister had been assassinated amid the escalating conflict involving Israel, US and Iran.
Responding to a query from Turkey-based Anadolu Agency about the circulating reports, the Prime Minister’s Office denied the claims outright. “These are fake news; the Prime Minister is fine,” the office said.
The rumours gained traction after a video shared by Netanyahu on his X account on Friday showed him addressing a press conference on the ongoing Israel-US-Iran conflict. Soon after the video was posted, some social media users claimed they had spotted what appeared to be six fingers on Netanyahu’s right hand when he briefly raised it during the speech.
- 15 March 2026 9:47 AM IST
Pakistani terrorist killed as army foils infiltration bid in J-K
The army on Sunday said that it has foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control in Uri sector of Jammu and Kashmir, killing a Pakistani terrorist.
"Based on a specific intelligence input provided by #JKP regarding an infiltration attempt, a joint operation was launched on intervening night of 14-15 Mar 26 in Gen area Buchhar, Uri sector," Srinagar-based Chinar Corps of the Army posted on its X handle.
It said troops spotted suspicious movement of a terrorist in the thicket.
"The ambush was readjusted and the terrorist was challenged resulting in terrorist opening indiscriminate fire. In the Contact a Pak terrorist was eliminated. Warlike stores including an AK rifle, pistols and large quantity of ammunition have been recovered," the army said.
The operation was going on till last reports came in.
- 15 March 2026 8:27 AM IST
Haryana govt okays committees to ensure supply of commercial LPG as per need
The Haryana government has approved committees headed by deputy commissioners of districts to ensure a steady supply of commercial LPG to essential categories such as hospitals and educational institutions, including hostels.
The deputy commissioners may also, on priority, allot commercial LPG cylinders for marriage functions as per need and priority.
The order issued by Additional Chief Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, Raja Sekhar Vundru on Saturday stated that priority may be accorded to marriage functions.
The Government of India is prioritising LPG for domestic cooking and essential sectors, like hospitals, while restricting supply to non-essential commercial enterprises, including restaurants.
Vundru's order further stated that the committee may include the superintendent of police, chief medical officer, and district education officer as members, with the district food and supplies controller as member secretary.
This committee may allot LPG based on urgency and priority, and also as per the availability of commercial LPG stock in the district, reads the order. District Food and Supplies Controller (DFSCs) shall coordinate with the local officer of oil marketing companies to enable the availability of 20 per cent LPG stock, as per the order.
