The conflict in the Middle East, which erupted on February 28 with the US and Israeli attacks on Iran, continues. Meanwhile, Italy has prevented two armed American fighter jets bound for the Iranian war zone from landing at the Sigonella base in Sicily. On Friday, the Ministry of Defense denied a US bomber permission to land: after determining that it was not a non-logistical aircraft, the decision was made to ground it. "I only enforced the agreements," Crosetto says. Relations with Washington are "solid," Palazzo Chigi assures.

Rubio, however, attacks countries that refuse to allow the use of the bases and states: "The US will reexamine its relationship with NATO." "Learn to defend yourselves and go get the oil from Hormuz," Trump adds. An "important update on Iran" is scheduled for this evening from the US president.

Yesterday afternoon, however, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni issued an official statement emphasizing that the decision to deny the base to American F-15s should not be considered a break with the United States. This position differs from that of Spain, which completely denied access to its airspace to U.S. military assets involved in the conflict in Iran. The statement reiterated that the government is acting "in full compliance with existing international agreements."

News from April 1, 2026

8:40 a.m. – Iran: Former US Embassy in Tehran hit

Iranian media reported that the former US Embassy building in Tehran was targeted in an attack in the early hours of this morning, claiming the United States had struck the facility. Iran International reports. According to witnesses cited by the media, the eastern side of the complex, at the intersection of Taleghani and South Mofatteh streets, was damaged. Authorities have not yet released details of the attack or the extent of the damage. The former US Embassy was converted into a museum after being occupied in November 1979 and has since been largely controlled by institutions linked to the

Revolutionary Guards and Basij.

7:36 AM – WSJ: Emirates ready to take the field to force Hormuz

The United Arab Emirates is preparing to help the United States and other allies forcefully open the Strait of Hormuz, Arab officials said, a move that would make it the first Persian Gulf country to become a combatant after being hit by Iranian attacks, the Wall Street Journal reports. The UAE, the US newspaper reports, is lobbying the United Nations Security Council to adopt a resolution authorizing such action, the officials added.

6:51 a.m. – Israel launches a "major attack" on Tehran, explosions in the Iranian capital

The Israeli military said it carried out attacks in Tehran today, where Iranian state broadcaster IRIB reported explosions in several areas. A brief military statement said Israeli forces had "completed a wave of large-scale attacks against Iranian terrorist regime infrastructure sites in Tehran." Explosions were heard "in the northern, eastern, and central districts" of the Iranian capital, IRIB reported.

6:47 AM – Israel intercepts a missile launched from Yemen

The Israeli military announced this morning that it intercepted a missile launched from Yemen, from where pro-Iranian Houthi rebels have recently launched attacks against the Jewish state. "The army detected a missile launched from Yemen toward Israeli territory," a statement posted on Telegram read, before a second message lifted the alert "in all areas of the country" a few minutes later. According to local media, the projectile was intercepted and no injuries were reported.

4:59 AM – Iranian drones attack Kuwait airport, fuel tanks set ablaze

Kuwait's Civil Aviation Authority said the Gulf country's international airport was targeted today by an Iranian drone attack, causing "a large fire" in fuel tanks but no casualties. "Kuwait International Airport has been targeted by drone attacks launched by Iran and the armed factions it supports," said Abdullah Al-Rajhi, spokesman for the General Directorate of Civil Aviation, quoted by the Kuwait News Agency (KNA). The spokesman stated that "fuel storage tanks were targeted, causing a large fire at the site."

12:06 a.m. – Trump: "The war in Iran will be over in 2-3 weeks."

Donald Trump said he believes the military operation in Iran will end "in 2-3 weeks." "We'll finish the job," said the president, who has repeatedly postponed the conflict date since February 28.

(Unioneonline)

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