War in the Middle East: Donald Trump threatens Iran, Yemen fires missile at Israel, Lebanon under f

After 36 days, the prospect of a quick resolution to the conflict in the Middle East remains out of reach. Demonstrations took place in Israel and Iraq on Saturday, April 4, demanding an end to hostilities. In Tel Aviv, over a thousand people protested against Israel’s war with Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon, calling on Israeli authorities to stop it before being dispersed by the police. In Iraq, tens of thousands of followers of influential Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr gathered in Baghdad and across the country to condemn Israel and the United States for their joint operations against Iran on February 28, marking the start of the sixth week of the conflict in the Middle East. Here are the key points to note.

Approaching the end of his ultimatum, Donald Trump threatens to “unleash hell” on Iran. On March 26, the American president announced the suspension of strikes on Iranian power plants until Monday, April 6, at 8:00 p.m. Washington time, awaiting an agreement on hostilities and a possible reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Following a previous ultimatum extension, Trump ramped up pressure in a message posted on Truth Social on Saturday, emphasizing the urgency and giving Iran 48 hours to reach an agreement before unleashing the hells.

Shortly after this threatening message, Iranian authorities responded through the commander of the Iranian armed forces, criticizing Trump’s aggressive threats against Iran’s infrastructure and properties.

Iran and the United States are in a race to locate one of the two crew members of a crashed American F-15E fighter-bomber in Iran. Meanwhile, Iran claimed to have shot down an American A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft in the Gulf.

The conflict intensified with airstrikes targeting key strategic sites in Iran, including the Bouchehr nuclear power plant and a petrochemical site. Russian employees were evacuated following the attacks near the nuclear plant. The International Atomic Energy Agency stated there was no increase in radiation levels but called for maximum military restraint to prevent a nuclear accident.

The conflict escalated with Israel carrying out repeated deadly strikes on Lebanon, resulting in casualties and injuries. In response, Lebanon was dragged into the conflict, and Israel faced missile attacks from Iran and Yemen.

The situation in the Strait of Hormuz worsened as Iranian forces claimed to have struck an Israeli ship, leading to an activation of Israeli defense systems. The navigation in the crucial oil and gas supply route has been disrupted, with Iranian forces allowing Iraqi ships to pass freely.

In diplomatic efforts, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Turkey for discussions on Middle East and Ukrainian security, while Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni met with leaders in the UAE to discuss a ceasefire, the Strait of Hormuz, and energy crisis.