This article is published in association with United Nations.

On day six of the war in the Middle East, there’s been no let-up in bombs, drones and rockets targeting Iran, Israel, Lebanon and many Gulf States, while NATO forces reportedly intercepted a missile fired at Türkiye by Iran, a claim denied by Tehran. We’ll bring you the latest from the United Nations and our partners at headquarters and in the field. UN News app users can follow the coverage here.

Highlights

• The crisis has entered its sixth day, with continued strikes and counter-strikes across the region and the UN maintaining calls for restraint and a return to diplomacy.
• WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned the conflict is now affecting 16 countries, with rising civilian casualties and verified attacks on health care facilities.
• Displacement continues to surge in Lebanon, with tens of thousands forced from their homes in two days, many sheltering in overcrowded schools.
• UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon helped transport civilians – including children, older people and persons with disabilities – to safety amid ongoing exchanges of fire.
• The UN Security Council met in New York to discuss the links between energy and security. Managing growing global demand for ‘rare earths’ requires coordination global action, the UN political affairs chief underscored.

Production team: Daniel Johnson, Vibhu Mishra, Matt Wells, Conor Lennon5 Mar 2026  11:29 pm

Escalation strains fragile infrastructure across the Middle East

The UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) has warned that the escalating conflict in the Middle East is placing additional pressure on already fragile civilian infrastructure across the region. In countries where poverty and humanitarian needs are already widespread, millions rely on basic services such as health care, water and education that are increasingly at risk.

UNOPS says it continues working in some of the region’s most challenging environments to help maintain essential services and repair damaged infrastructure.

Executive Director Jorge Moreira da Silva stressed that civilians – especially children and the elderly – are always the first to suffer in conflict and called for renewed efforts to end the violence and pursue lasting peace.

Read more here.5 Marρ 2026  11:09 pm

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Council members outline national positions on energy and critical minerals

Security Council ambassadors are now presenting their national perspectives and policies on the links between energy, critical minerals and security; follow detailed coverage of the meeting here.5 Mar 2026  10:31 pm

Call for stronger governance and diplomacy over critical minerals

Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo told Security Council members that managing the growing demand for critical minerals requires coordinated global action to prevent exploitation from fueling conflict.

She outlined three priorities: ensuring that mineral extraction delivers fair and equitable benefits for producing countries; strengthening international cooperation to improve governance, traceability and supply-chain transparency; and using diplomacy and mediation to address disputes linked to natural resources.

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Across the UN system, efforts are underway to help governments negotiate fair mining agreements, build domestic processing capacity and reduce illicit exploitation by armed groups, she said.

She noted that if managed responsibly, critical minerals could support sustainable development and lift millions out of poverty, and help promote peace.

“Achieving these goals will require concerted action – by Member States, the private sector, civil society and the United Nations”5 Mar 2026  10:27 pm

Critical minerals shaping geopolitics and global economy, Security Council hears

Briefing the Security Council, UN political affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo said critical minerals have become central to the 21st-century economy, powering technologies from smartphones and electric vehicles to advanced medical equipment. 

Demand for minerals such as lithium, cobalt and nickel is expected to surge in the coming decades as countries accelerate the energy transition. Trade in raw and semi-processed minerals reached roughly $2.5 trillion in 2023 – more than 10 per cent of global trade – and demand could triple by 2030.

But Ms. DiCarlo warned that the rapid growth is also fueling geopolitical competition and straining supply chains. 

Mining operations have been linked to human rights abuses, environmental damage and illicit exploitation in conflict-affected countries. She noted that control over mineral-rich areas can drive violence, citing eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo where armed groups profit from illegal mining and smuggling.5 Mar 2026  10:13 pm

Security Council meeting on energy and security underway

The UN Security Council has begun its meeting on “Maintenance of international peace and security: Energy, critical minerals, and security.”

Ambassadors are expected to discuss how competition over energy resources and critical minerals is shaping global stability and conflict risks.

UN News