The Daily Populous Saturday April 4th, 2026 night edition
Authored by bbc.com and submitted by Affectionate_Bee6434

Strikes continue across region as key Gulf infrastructure hit

Image source, Reuters Image caption, People gather outside a residential building damaged by a strike in the Iranian city of Karaj

It is day 35 of the US-Israeli war with Iran. Here's the latest news and analysis if you're just joining us.

Iran has continued to strike Israel and its Gulf neighbours, with hits on significant infrastructure.

In Kuwait, a drone strike caused a fire to break out at the Mina al-Ahmadi oil refinery - the third time it has been hit. A power and water desalination plant in the country has also been hit, resulting in "material damage to some components", according to officials.

Falling debris caused a fire at a gas facility in Abu Dhabi, authorities say.

In Israel, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported another wave of Iranian missiles earlier today. It comes after the US hit a bridge in the Iranian city of Karaj yesterday, killing eight and injuring nearly 100, according to local officials.

We've been receiving analysis from BBC correspondents about the situation in the Middle East throughout the day - here's a look at what they've had to say.

Strikes on desalination plants could make an arid Gulf unlivable, says our correspondent in Doha.

Meanwhile, in Iran, the regime continues to use executions and arrests to suppress dissent. The sound of patrols moving through the streets is preventing some from sleeping at night, BBC Persian reports.

Elsewhere, the BBC's international editor Jeremy Bowen writes that Donald Trump's latest moves show he has sidelined the rules of international order. "It's clear he wants to find a way out - but no deal is looking at all possible at the moment," he says.

lostinspacs on April 3rd, 2026 at 16:23 UTC »

Have to think that Iran is mobilizing every resouce to capture the remaining pilot.

Having both downed US pilots snatched from your own territory would be a significant propaganda defeat.

Capturing the other one or even finding a body would still be a big win.

Affectionate_Bee6434 on April 3rd, 2026 at 15:58 UTC »

Axios is reporting both the crew members ejected with the pilot being rescued. The fate of the WSO remains unknown.

Update : Israel is helping the United States with the search and rescue operation, according to an Israeli military officer briefed on the information who spoke on condition of anonymity ahead of a U.S. announcement.

OP_Skis_In_Jeans on April 3rd, 2026 at 15:57 UTC »

Good. Hopefully they can rescue the other pilot as well.