• US and Israel continue strikes on cities across Iran, hitting hospitals, schools, homes and markets, and killing at least 1,045 people since Saturday.
• The US military has torpedoed an Iranian naval vessel off the coast of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean, killing at least 87 people. Some 32 were rescued.
• NATO air defences in the eastern Mediterranean intercepted and shot down an Iranian ballistic missile inside Turkey's airspace. The Pentagon says it doesn’t anticipate the incident will bring the Western alliance into war.
• The US Senate backed President Donald Trump’s military campaign against Iran, voting 53 to 47 to block a resolution to stop the air attacks. All but one Republican voted against the motion, and all but one Democrat supported it.
• The conflict has throttled global oil and gas supplies, with cargo vessels avoiding the vital Strait of Hormuz after the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced its closure.

Top US, Saudi diplomats discuss Iran conflict

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud has held a phone call with his US counterpart, Marco Rubio, according to a statement from Riyadh.

The pair discussed the ongoing Iranian attacks on Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region, the statement said.

Trump insists Iran war is necessary but most Americans disagree

US President Donald Trump tends to be a glass-half-full type of person and tends to project positively even in the face of irrefutable evidence of things to the contrary.

The US president has been speaking at the White House, as has the White House press secretary earlier for a briefing, and they are insistent that this war was necessary to stop an imminent threat from Iran, which they said had nuclear ambitions and was close to developing a nuclear weapon.

The US president has been saying that the risk was as real as two weeks away, even though 24 hours earlier, he said it was one month away.

The US president, as well as the White House press secretary, are making the point that Iran essentially abandoned diplomacy. This is messaging trying to convince the American public that a sustained campaign against Iran is a necessary and inevitable course of action.

It is an intensely unpopular war, with less than a third of the Americans supporting the president’s action thus far.

Republican-controlled Senate’s vote on Iran war comes as no surprise

The US Senate has failed to rein in Trump’s war powers on Iran.

This is not surprising for two reasons.

First, the Senate is controlled by Republicans, and most Republican lawmakers support the war against Iran. And so it was expected that this measure would not go ahead.

Trump was not worried about this action on Capitol Hill for another reason. And that’s because any legislation that is passed in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, which is also controlled by the Republicans, needs the president’s signature in order to become law.

And we were pretty confident that Trump would veto this, given that this is his war and he is in favor of it. The only way Trump’s veto could have been overridden is if two-thirds of the Senate were in favor of limiting the president’s power.

So the US president knew in advance from the Republican leaders in both the House and Senate that this was unlikely to pass in the Senate. There is still legislation in the House that will also seek to limit the president’s powers, but again, it is not expected to pass. It’s not clear if this legislation will even go to a vote, given the results in the Senate.

US House vote unable to rein in Trump’s war after Senate resolution fails

The House of Representatives is going to take up its own version of the Democratic resolution to try to restrict or end this current military operation by the Trump administration.

That will be happening at some point on Thursday.

But, even if the measure were to pass – ostensibly with all of the Democrats supporting it, and picking up enough Republicans to get a majority vote on that resolution – because the Senate measure went down in defeat, it would not take effect.

Is there a lawsuit that could be filed?

Theoretically, it is possible. But it is probably a long shot at this point because it appears that members of the US Congress are still trying to do this through the accepted process as outlined by the US Constitution.

US Senate vote on Iran war powers largely symbolic amid party divide

The vote through the United States Congress is largely symbolic because it did not pass the Senate, and it is not going to pass the House, according to Speaker Mike Johnson.

Republicans say they agree with the US president’s decision and argue that ordering a halt to the action would be destabilizing for troops.

Democrats say the move is unconstitutional and that the Trump administration does not have a clear plan.

So far, the war is proving unpopular with the American public, and Democrats want to be on the record ahead of the midterm elections.

Republicans believe it will eventually become popular with US citizens, so they also want their position on the record.

Oil prices could rise to $150 per barrel if Strait of Hormuz is blocked, analyst warns

Fuel prices will continue to spike in the global market if the interruption of supply persists due to the ongoing US-Israel military attacks against Iran, says energy economist Ed Hirs.

“If half of the oil coming through the Strait of Hormuz is stopped, perhaps because the US Navy could not escort [tankers] any more, then we could see the price of oil spike up to $150 a barrel for a period of time,” said Hirs, a lecturer at the University of Houston.

“We have already seen the impact in the LNG market, with prices up 40 percent plus on the first day. Natural gas prices across European nations have almost doubled during the Monday-Tuesday timeframe,” he said.

“We have also seen the prices of diesel jump disproportionately,” Hirs said, noting that some nations depending on gas have started to buy up petroleum, affecting future orders for some US states.

“This will have a tremendous impact on the New England states in the US”, he added. “In that scenario, it will go very badly for US President Trump domestically, especially with the upcoming midterm elections.”

South Korean chip industry worries Iran crisis could affect Middle East data center plans

South Korean lawmaker Kim Young-bae says the country’s chip industry has raised concerns that a prolonged conflict in Iran could set back plans by Big Tech firms to build AI data centers in the Middle East, according to the Reuters news agency.

Kim, who spoke to Reuters after a meeting with executives from companies such as Samsung Electronics, warned that these setbacks could weigh on the strong demand for chips.

He added that the chip industry also raised concerns that the conflict could disrupt supplies of some key chip-making materials like helium from the Middle East.

Attack on Turkey ‘could pose serious consequences’ for Iran

Mark Kimmitt, the retired US general, said that Iran’s shooting of a ballistic missile at Turkey was more problematic than the US sinking an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean.

Kimmitt described the incident as intentional.

“This was a deliberate attempt by the Iranian military to shoot out of their country, into a country that is not directly associated with the Gulf,” he said, adding that it also poses “serious consequences” for Iran since Turkey is a NATO partner.

NATO air defense systems destroyed the missile on Wednesday, and the alliance condemned the attack. Turkey has condemned the incident by summoning the Iranian envoy.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also told his Turkish counterpart in a phone call afterwards that Iranian forces will continue their military response to the US and Israel until “the evil of the enemies” has been repelled.

Iran denies launching missile towards Turkey

The General Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces has released a statement denying firing any missile towards Turkey, which yesterday said NATO defences downed a missile from Iran as it headed into its airspace.

“The armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran respect the sovereignty of the neighbouring and friendly country, Turkey, and deny any missile launches toward that country’s territory,” said the Iranian army statement, carried by Iran’s Mehr news agency.

The missile approached Turkish airspace after flying over Iraq and Syria, according to Turkey's Defense Ministry.

It caused no casualties after being intercepted. President Erdogan said Turkey was “taking all the necessary precautions” in consultation with its NATO allies and was issuing “warnings in the clearest terms to prevent similar incidents from happening again”.

On March 4, 2026

• Turkey says missile from Iran intercepted
• Turkey says no casualties, ‘has ‘right to respond’ after missile intercepted.
• NATO denounces ‘Iran’s targeting of Turkey’
• Turkey conveys protest to Iran over missile fired towards airspace.
• Rubio says attacks on Turkey ‘unacceptable’ after Iran missile launch.

Comment:

• None of the above mentioned provided evidence, such as a radar log concerning the direction from where the projectile launched.

Article Five ‘not on table’ over Turkish missile incident: Rutte

Reuters news agency has more comments from NATO chief Mark Rutte on the situation in Iran.

He said yesterday’s incident in which a missile approaching Turkish airspace was shot down by NATO air defences was “serious”, but that “nobody’s talking about Article Five”.

NATO’s Article Five ⁠stipulates that an attack on one of its ⁠members is an attack ⁠on all the others.

The incident underlined NATO’s vigilance, he said.

Rutte added it was difficult to assess how the situation in Iran would end, but his sense was that the US knew what it was doing.

Saudi Arabia reports drone interception

The Saudi Defense Ministry says it intercepted three drones east of al-Kharj Governorate.

Qatari police ask residents near US embassy to leave

Qatar’s Ministry of Interior has ordered the evacuation of residents living near the US embassy in Doha as a precautionary measure.

We’ve spoken to people living near the US embassy in Doha. They told us police officers are in the area and calmly asking people to leave.

They said they are being provided with accommodation, and one person said some people have been instructed to go to a nearby metro station.

We don’t know if there is any imminent threat at this moment, and this comes in light of the warning that the US State Department has issued to American citizens to immediately leave the Middle East, even if they have to travel to countries like Oman and Saudi Arabia if there are no available commercial flights where they are.

Canada’s Carney says can’t rule out participation in Iran war

Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney, who previously said that the US and Israel’s strikes on Iran are “inconsistent with international law”, says his country will “stand by our allies”.

“One can never categorically rule out participation,” he said alongside his Australian counterpart, Anthony Albanese, in Canberra.

Iran announces 19th wave of attacks against Israel, US assets in Middle East

The IRGC has begun a “combined missile and drone operation” against Israel and US bases in the Middle East, according to the Tasnim news agency.

Middle East conflict testing global economic resilience ‘yet again’, says IMF chief

International Monetary Fund’s Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva made the comment during the 'Asia in 2050' conference in Bangkok.

“This conflict, if proven to be more prolonged, has obvious potential to affect global energy prices, market sentiment, growth and inflation, and place new demands on the shoulders of policymakers everywhere,” she said, according to the AFP news agency.

Saudi Arabia intercepts another drone

The Saudi Ministry of Defense said the latest drone was shot down near the al-Jawf region, which is in the north of the country.

This came after the ministry announced intercepting three drones east of al-Kharj Governorate.

US releases names of remaining soldiers killed in Kuwait

The Pentagon has identified the last two soldiers killed in a drone strike on Kuwait on Sunday.

They are Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, 54, of Sacramento and Major Jeffrey O’Brien, 45, of Indianola, Iowa.

The Pentagon identified the first four on Tuesday.

S Korea’s Lee calls emergency meeting as Iran conflict hits economy

Heading into that meeting, President Lee Jae Myung issued a statement outlining some of his demands from officials from the Foreign Ministry and the Finance and Economy Ministry.

Most of those measures are around the prospect of long-term oil shortages if the conflict is protracted. This has already had a huge impact on the stock market here. Yesterday, we saw a sharper fall than even the 9/11 attacks on the US. And we also saw the Korean won falling to the lowest level briefly against the US dollar since the financial crisis.

Lee had been overseas through all of this. He flew back yesterday looking grim.

The market has rebounded today, and he has ordered officials to unleash the emergency stabilization mechanism they had prepared for the market, worth nearly $69bn. So that’s to be put into effect to ensure stability in the market and also of the Korean won.

He also announced measures on oil, ordering officials to speed up the diversification of sources of oil imports. But that will be difficult because everyone in the region is trying to do that at the same time. It will also be more expensive because shipping costs are rising. So he also said there must be financial support immediately for Korean shipping countries operating in the region.

US continuing to target Iran’s mobile missile launchers

United States Central Command says efforts to “eliminate” Iran’s mobile missile launch capabilities are continuing as the joint US-Israel military operation against Tehran enters its sixth day.

“We are finding and destroying these threats with lethal precision,” it said in a statement on X.

A video clip posted by CENTCOM showed a series of strikes the US military carried out to destroy what it claimed were mobile missile launchers.

Qatar Airways to operate some relief flights today from Muscat, Riyadh

Qatar Airways says it will run some relief flights for stranded passengers from Muscat and Riyadh starting today.

However, its flights from Doha are still suspended as Qatar’s airspace remains closed.

‘Considerable portion’ of Tehran’s residents have fled amid US-Israel attacks

The Tehran metropolis and nearby areas have an estimated 14 million people.

It’s very hard to talk about moving this large number of people in a very short period of time. But indeed, a considerable portion of Tehran’s population has decided to evacuate the city amid the ongoing US and Israeli strikes.

Those are the people who are able to leave and have homes outside of the Iranian capital.

Still, there are many others who are left behind. They are living amid all these concerns, frustrations and anxiety.

Of course, compared to last year’s US and Israel strikes, which were mostly limited to Tehran, the strikes now are much broader and include many more cities. According to the latest report, more than 150 cities across Iran have already been hit by the US and Israel strikes. So other cities are not safe either.

 

Oman Oil Marketing Company says fuel storage tank damaged

The company says one of its storage tanks was damaged in an “incident”, which preliminary assessments said was only minor.

Out of caution, the company said, operations at the affected site were taken offline, according to the Reuters news agency.

Australia PM says ‘military assets’ sent to Middle East

Anthony Albanese has announced that Australian “military assets” have been deployed to the Middle East as a contingency plan.

Albanese told the Australian parliament the government had sent six crisis response teams to the region.

“We’ve already deployed military assets as part of our contingency planning earlier this week,” he said.

He did not give further details but Australian broadcaster SBS News reported that two military planes have been deployed.

There are Australian troops in the UAE.

‘Let’s stop the war now,’ says Omani FM 

Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi has issued another appeal to end the war, saying his country would do its part to help repatriate all people stranded within its territory due to the conflict.

“The Omani government is working with your governments and international airlines to organise flights to get you home,” he wrote in a post on X. “We mean everyone, whatever passport you hold. The citizens of all countries have the human right to safety and security.

“Let’s stop this war now.”

Iran reports damage to water, electricity supply facilities

Minister for Energy Abbas Aliabadi says the US-Israeli attacks have caused damage to water and electricity supply facilities in various parts of the country, according to the IRIB broadcaster.

But he said repairs are continuing to ensure uninterrupted service delivery.

People should be careful about their water and electricity consumption, he added.

US-Israeli forces have attacked 105 civilian sites in Iran so far: Red Crescent

The Iranian Red Crescent Society says it has recorded 1,332 attacks by US and Israeli forces in Iran since Saturday, with raids documented at 636 locations, including at least 105 civilian sites.

These include 14 medical facilities and seven Red Crescent buildings, it said, adding that at least 174 cities have been hit.

Iran says US, Israel ‘deliberately target civilian areas’

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei has accused the US and Israel of intentionally hitting civilian areas during the war.

“Our people are being brutally slaughtered as the aggressors deliberately target civilian areas and any location they believe will inflict the maximum possible suffering and loss of life,” Baghaei said on X.

‘It doesn’t matter to us how long this war lasts,’ says Iranian general

Iranian general Kioumars Heydari has pledged Iran “will not abandon this war” until it achieves its goals and delivers severe blows to the US.

“It does not matter to us how many days this war lasts,” said Heydari, the deputy commander of Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters, in comments carried by Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency.

“We have experienced an eight-year war, and we will end this war only when we have achieved our objectives and made the enemy regret and despair over its disgraceful act.”

IRGC claims it hit US tanker in northern Gulf

The IRGC has claimed its navy hit a US tanker in the northern Gulf this morning, noting that military and commercial vessels belonging to the US, Israel and European countries that support them “will not be allowed to pass through”.

“If they are observed, they will certainly be hit,” IRGC said.

“We had previously said that, based on international laws and resolutions, in times of war, the Islamic Republic of Iran will have the right to control the passage through the Strait of Hormuz,” IRGC said, Iran’s Tasnim News reports.

Iranian sailors recovering in Sri Lankan hospital after US submarine attack, authorities say

Iranian sailors who survived a US submarine strike in the Indian Ocean are recovering at a hospital in the Sri Lankan port city of Galle, authorities say, a day after at least 87 were killed in the attack.

Authorities at the National Hospital in Galle and navy sources said 87 bodies were brought in by military rescuers who responded to an early-morning distress call from the IRIS Dena on Wednesday, according to the Reuters news agency.

Search and rescue operations for an estimated 60 people on board who remain unaccounted for would continue on Thursday, authorities said.

The 32 rescued sailors were being treated for minor injuries and could be released from hospital on Thursday, according to authorities. Two policemen guarded the entrance to ward No 58 of the hospital as nurses milled about and doctors conducted morning rounds.

Sri Lanka says trying to rescue people on another Iranian ship off its coast

Sri Lanka is trying to “safeguard ⁠lives” on another ⁠Iranian ship off its coast, the country’s cabinet ‌spokesperson said, adding that the vessel was in the ⁠economic zone beyond ⁠the South Asian island nation’s territorial ⁠waters.

“We are doing ⁠our ⁠utmost to safeguard lives,” spokesperson Nalinda Jayatissa ‌said.

More than 80 bodies recovered from US torpedo strike on Iranian frigate

Thirty-two sailors were rescued by Sri Lanka’s navy and air force on Tuesday after a distress call was received from an Iranian navy frigate, about 40km (25 miles) off the coast.

Rescue crews scoured the waters for survivors, but sources said there were no visible signs of the frigate or debris.

Reports of a torpedo or submarine strike could not be confirmed for several hours until US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth revealed a US submarine had struck a frigate with a torpedo in international waters.

The Dena and other Iranian ships had been returning from the International Fleet Review 2026 – a multinational naval gathering attended by 54 countries in Visakhapatnam, India.

More than 80 bodies have been recovered from the water and taken to a hospital in Galle, with nearby facilities cleared to accommodate the dead.

Retired general claims Iranian navy ship in Indian Ocean was a threat to US troops

Mark Kimmitt, a retired US general, says the Pentagon sank an Iranian warship in international waters off Sri Lanka’s coast because it considered the vessel a threat.

Kimmitt, who is a former assistant secretary of state for political affairs, said that if any ship is identified as a ship of war or has the capability to shoot at the US, “it is well within the rules of engagement to attack and sink that ship.”

“I am not too fussed about [the US] sinking this ship in the Indian Ocean,” he said. “It was a target of opportunity returning from an international port. But if it was able to get inside the Persian Gulf, it would have been a threat to our ships operating there,” he added.

According to Sri Lanka’s navy, at least 87 bodies have been recovered, and 32 sailors have been rescued after the Iranian military ship sank just outside the island’s territorial waters on Wednesday.

US has committed ‘atrocity’, will ‘bitterly regret’ sinking frigate: Iran FM

Iran’s Foreign Minister says the US has “perpetrated an atrocity at sea” by sinking the Iranian naval frigate Dena, which it would come to “bitterly regret”.

“The US has perpetrated an atrocity at sea, 2,000 miles (3219km) away from Iran’s shores,” Abbas Araghchi said in a post on X.

“Frigate Dena, a guest of India’s Navy carrying almost 130 sailors, was struck in international waters without warning.”

He added: “Mark my words: The U.S. will come to bitterly regret (the) precedent it has set.”

Second Iranian warship moving towards Sri Lanka’s waters

A second Iranian warship is heading towards Sri Lanka’s territorial waters, the same area where a US submarine destroyed an Iranian frigate yesterday.

Sri Lanka’s media minister Nalinda Jayatissa said the warship, reported to be carrying more than 100 crew, is just outside Sri Lankan waters.

The statement comes after Sri Lanka’s cabinet ‌spokesperson said the country is trying to “safeguard ⁠lives” of an ⁠Iranian ship off its coast.

On Wednesday, a US submarine sank an Iranian warship with a torpedo in international waters off Sri Lanka’s coast.

Second Iranian vessel indicated to Sri Lanka it is facing engine trouble

The second Iranian warship to pass near Sri Lanka’s territorial waters since yesterday is believed to be part of a group of three Iranian navy vessels returning from an international maritime event in India.

We already know what happened to the first ship, the Dena, which was sunk yesterday by the US.

The second ship contacted local authorities in Sri Lanka, indicating it is running into engine trouble and asking to call into port. That is not happening, but there is some communication, from what we’re hearing.

We heard from Sri Lanka’s media minister, who told parliament that the government is aware of all the facts regarding the second vessel and is intervening in order to resolve this issue, minimize the loss of life and safeguard regional peace. So the minister is kind of putting it on record that Sri Lanka is looking to see what it can do.

Sri Lanka’s government has to walk on eggshells. Even though it has not taken either side in the ongoing war and is far from the centre of operations, the country has almost been drawn into this conflict.

Sri Lanka evacuates crew of Iranian naval ship after US sank an earlier vessel

Sri Lanka has evacuated 208 crew members of an Iranian navy vessel, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said, a day after a US submarine struck and sank another Iranian frigate.

He said Sri Lanka’s navy will also take over the second vessel and shift it to the northeastern port of Trincomalee for safekeeping amid fears that it could be a target for an attack.

IRGC launches what it says is 20th wave of attacks on American, Israeli targets

In a statement carried by Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps says it launched the 20th wave of strikes on “American and Zionist targets”.

It said the strikes are being carried out in memory of its personnel who were killed when a US submarine attacked one of its naval ships off the coast of Sri Lanka yesterday.

Indian FM Jaishankar speaks to Iran’s Araghchi

Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar has spoken with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi.

While neither side disclosed details of the conversation, their phone call came a day after a US submarine torpedoed an Iranian warship that was returning home from military exercises hosted by India.

The ship sank off Sri Lanka, whose navy helped rescue more than 30 sailors. But more than 80 other sailors died, and dozens are missing.

The Jaishankar-Araghchi call also comes at a time when India is increasingly anxious about its energy supplies, following Iran’s decision to try to close the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway through which more than 20 percent of the world’s oil passes. That includes a large chunk of the oil India imports, from Gulf nations including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Trump thanks NATO chief for comments expressing ‘massive’ support for Iran strikes

President Trump has thanked NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte for his comments, saying that allies were supportive on “a massive scale” of Washington’s strikes on Iran.

“Thank you to our great NATO Secretary General!” Trump posted on social media.

Rutte said that although NATO was “not involved in the strikes on Iran, Washington’s actions had “large-scale support” from allies.

“Obviously, allies are basically, [on] a massive scale… supportive of what the president is doing and are also enabling what the US is doing now in the region, taking out this nuclear capability of Iran and, of course, the missile capability.”

NATO chief: Iran ‘close’ to becoming threat to Europe

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has told Reuters that Iran is “close” to becoming a threat to Europe, and expressed support for Trump for taking out Tehran’s nuclear and missile capabilities.

The NATO chief said in an interview with the agency that it was important to make sure Iran no longer poses a threat.

Italy to send air defense aid to Gulf states: PM Meloni

Italy is planning ⁠to ⁠send air defense aid to Gulf countries facing Iranian air strikes, Prime Minister ⁠Giorgia Meloni has said.

“Like the UK, France and Germany, Italy ‌intends to send assistance to Gulf countries, specifically in the field of defense and in particular, air defense,” she told ⁠an Italian radio station, according to the Reuters news agency.

“This ⁠is not only because they are friendly nations, but above ⁠all because tens of thousands ⁠of Italians live ⁠in the region and around 2,000 Italian troops are deployed there – people ‌we want to, and must, protect.”

Starmer says UK has deployed four additional fighter jets to Qatar

The United Kingdom will deploy four additional Typhoon fighter jets to Qatar, Prime Minister Keir Starmer says.

Speaking at Downing Street, Starmer said the aircraft would join UK forces already stationed in Qatar to strengthen Britain’s defensive posture in the region.

He said the UK had moved defensive assets, including air defense systems, to Qatar in January and February to ensure forces were in a “heightened state of readiness” before any potential escalation.

Starmer also said the UK had used aerial refueling aircraft to support allied operations and that London was responding to further requests for assistance from partners in the region.

UK sending helicopters with anti-drone capabilities to Cyprus

Starmer says Wildcat helicopters with anti-drone capabilities will arrive in Cyprus on Friday.

At a news conference, the prime minister added that the UK’s defense secretary is currently on the island coordinating operations and meeting military personnel.

Britain is also deploying the HMS Dragon destroyer to the eastern Mediterranean.

UK allows US to use British bases for ‘defensive missions’

The United Kingdom has reiterated that the United States can use British bases for what Prime Minister Keir Starmer described as “defensive missions” aimed at intercepting Iranian missiles before they are launched.

Starmer said London had permitted the US to operate from British bases for “a specific and limited defensive purpose”, targeting Iranian missile launchers and storage sites used in attacks against UK personnel and allies.

It comes after US President Donald Trump criticised Starmer for initially refusing to allow United States forces to use British bases during the first US-Israeli strikes on Iran on Saturday, saying the prime minister was “no Winston Churchill”.

Starmer had previously told Parliament that the UK would not take part in offensive operations and that the US would only be allowed to use British facilities for limited defensive purposes.

• Trump had declared war on Iran after he decided to join Netanyahu's resumption of the 2025 12-day preemptive war on Iran. Trump has been a war belligerent since then.
• Trump and Netanyahu are waging a war across borders, meaning that they are attacking Iran by crossing airspaces of other countries, which means he needs a mandate from the UN Security Council. They don't have one thus is their war illegal also on grounds of Iran's territorial and political sovereignty (UN Charter).
• Starmer had already allowed the arrival of US B-1 long distance bombers at the airbase on Gloucester, England, from where attacks on Iran are taking place, while the US is a attacking belligerent.
• Starmer cannot describe US B1 flights to Iran as "defensive" because Iran is not attacking the territory of the US but assets in countries in the Middle East who have been like Britain, namely host countries who became co-belligerent.

Starmer warns escalation risk ‘clearly a concern’

Starmer warns of the risk of escalation in the conflict, saying Britain is pushing for de-escalation through ongoing discussions with the US.

“We don’t know how long this will last,” the prime minister said, adding that a wider escalation was “clearly a concern”.

Starmer said he last spoke with Trump on Saturday evening before the latest tensions between the two leaders over Britain’s decision not to allow US forces to use UK bases during the initial US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

Starmer said discussions with US officials were continuing “at all levels” as the UK seeks to reduce tensions.

EU sends military aid to Cyprus amid security fears

European Union members are sending military aid to bolster defences in Cyprus, fearing the conflict in the Middle East is spreading.

Authorities on the Mediterranean island closed the international airport on Wednesday after a suspected drone neared its airspace.

It’s the third such incident since Sunday, when an Iranian-made drone caused minor damage at an air base.

France authorizes temporary presence of US aircraft at local bases

France ⁠has ⁠authorized a temporary presence of US ⁠aircraft on ”certain bases” ⁠in the country, an official with the French joint defense staff says.

The move comes as the US conducts its joint campaign with Israel against Iran.

“Considering the context, France demanded that the concerned resources do ⁠not participate in ⁠any way in operations conducted by the United ⁠States in Iran ⁠but strictly ⁠for the support of the defense of our partners ‌in the region,” the official ‌said.

Germany says it has no plans to send extra forces to Middle East

Germany says it has no plans to send additional military forces to the Middle East despite rising tensions in the region.

In a statement cited by Reuters, Germany’s Defense Ministry said Berlin was not planning to deploy further military capabilities beyond its existing contributions to international missions.

Germany’s navy currently participates in the United Nations UNIFIL monitoring mission in Lebanon, but the ministry said the military’s focus remained on NATO defense operations in eastern Europe.

The statement echoed comments by Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who told parliament, “Germany is not a party in this war.”

“Germany is not a party in this war.”

The largest US base in Europe is the Ramstein Airbase from where US war related flights to the Middle East are carried out. So, as a host country of a war belligerent, Berlin is part of the war when it silently allows these flights from its soil. The Germans are co-belligerent.

French foreign minister speaks to Iranian counterpart

Jean-Noel Barrot has had a phone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and urged for de-escalation in the conflict, his ministry says.

The ministry said Barrot had “condemned the Iranian strikes, reaffirmed France’s commitment to stability in the Middle East, to de-escalation, and to the resumption of a demanding diplomatic dialogue, in compliance with international law”.

Barrot also expressed concern over the fate of French nationals “detained in Iran”, calling for their immediate release.

Iran freed French citizens Jacques Paris and Cecile Kohler in November, following more than three years in prison on espionage charges their families say were fabricated. But they are still waiting to leave the country.

Azerbaijan says drones from Iran land on its territory

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry has said several drones fired from Iran have hit its territory, one striking a terminal building in Nakhchivan International Airport and another landing near a school building in the village of Shakarabad.

“We strongly condemn these drone attacks carried out from the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which resulted in damage to the airport building and injuries to two civilians,” said the Foreign Ministry in a statement.

Azerbaijan summons Iran’s ambassador over drone incident

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry on the reported drones from Iran hitting its territory:

The ministry said the “attack” on its territory violates international law and demanded that Iran quickly clarify the situation and take measures to ensure such incidents do not happen again.

“The Azerbaijani side reserves the right to take appropriate response measures,” the ministry said, adding that it had summoned Iran’s ambassador to the country to express “a strong protest”.

Azerbaijan joins long list of countries affected by ongoing war

Azerbaijan has said that two drones were launched from Iran into its territory of Nakhchivan.

Nakhchivan is an autonomous republic, an exclave sandwiched between Turkiye, Iran and Armenia. It’s the only autonomous republic that Azerbaijan has. It’s not very densely populated. The city is quite small with around 100,000 people.

Two drones dropped there. One hit an airport building, which, from the videos we’ve seen, looked largely empty. Social media footage we saw showed smoke billowing from the building and some debris inside the building. It looks like the roof suffered some damage.

Another drone fell in a nearby village in the schoolyard, so schools have been evacuated.

Baku has expressed condemnation of the attack and demanded that Tehran explain everything that has happened. Baku also summoned the Iranian ambassador for an official note of protest. As far as we know, two people were injured in this attack.

This brings Azerbaijan into a list of countries that have been affected by the violence in the Middle East.

Iran denies targeting Azerbaijan

Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi has denied that Iran has targeted Azerbaijan, which earlier said two Iranian drones had hit its autonomous Nakhchivan exclave, including an airport building.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has not targeted the Republic of Azerbaijan,” Gharibabadi said in comments carried by Iran’s Tasnim news agency. “We do not target our neighbouring countries.”

He said: “Iran’s policy is only to strike the military bases of its enemies” that are active in the region and are used to attack Iran, including those of the US and Israel.

Iran denies launching missile towards Turkey

The General Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces has released a statement denying firing any missile towards Turkey, which yesterday said NATO defences downed a missile from Iran as it headed into its airspace.

“The armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran respect the sovereignty of the neighbouring and friendly country, Turkey, and deny any missile launches toward that country’s territory,” said the Iranian army statement, carried by Iran’s Mehr news agency.

The missile approached Turkish airspace after flying over Iraq and Syria, according to Turkey's Defense Ministry.

It caused no casualties after being intercepted. President Erdogan said Turkey was “taking all the necessary precautions” in consultation with its NATO allies and was issuing “warnings in the clearest terms to prevent similar incidents from happening again”.

Azerbaijan’s president says Iran must apologize for ‘ugly’ drone incident

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Alliyev has said Iran must apologize after a drone injured two people in its autonomous exclave of Nakhchivan, and that those responsible must be held accountable.

In a post on the presidential website, Aliyev said he had convened a meeting over the incident, in which he said Nakhchivan International Airport, its terminal building, a school and other areas were “subjected to cowardly fire”.

“The territory of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic was subjected to fire by the Iranian state with unmanned aerial vehicles. The targets of the fire were civilian objects,” Aliyev said in a statement.

“The Azerbaijani state strongly condemns this ugly terrorist act, and those who committed it must be immediately held accountable.”

Azerbaijan has summoned Iran’s ambassador to the Foreign Ministry in Baku following the incident, which Tehran denies it carried out.

Turkey denounces drone attack on Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan

Turkey's foreign ministry has issued a strong condemnation over drone strikes that hit Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan exclave, and urged for third countries to not become targets in the war.

“We emphasize once again the need to stop attacks targeting third countries ⁠in the region ⁠and carrying the risk of spreading the war,” ⁠said Turkiye’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, following a call between its top diplomat, Hakan ⁠Fidan, and his Azerbaijani counterpart, ⁠Jeyhun Bayramov.

As we reported earlier, Azerbaijan’s government said two drones from Iran landed in its territory of Nakhchivan, one hitting an airport building. Azerbaijan’s President Aliyev promised “retaliatory measures”.

Iran’s armed forces have denied being behind the drone attack.

Iran tells Azerbaijan it was not behind drone attack

Iran’s foreign minister has told his Azerbaijan counterpart that Tehran was not behind a drone attack on Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan exclave.

During a phone call, Araghchi denied that Iran fired any projectiles towards Azerbaijan and said that Iran’s armed forces are conducting the necessary investigation and review.

Araghchi also pointed out the role of Israel in such attacks in order to distort public opinion and destroy Iran’s good relations with its neighbours, Tasnim news agency reported.

Iran has denied being behind of two attacks happened today. Those about a missile attack on Turkey may be by the Israelis as only debris of a Patriot missile are known. Israelis have Patriot missiles.

The drone attack on Azerbaijan's international airport was by an Shahed-shaped drone. The US has deployed LUCAS drones to the Middle East. They are a counterfeit version of Iran's Shahed kamikaze drones. We do not rule out that the Israelis have some of them received from the US.

Azerbaijan shuts airspace near Iran border for 12 hours

Azerbaijan has closed part of its southern airspace near the Iranian border for 12 hours after reporting that Iranian drones had crossed into its territory.

The move comes after Azerbaijan said drones from Iran crossed the border and struck areas in the country’s autonomous Nakhchivan exclave, damaging infrastructure and injuring civilians.

Iran has denied responsibility for the incident, saying it does not attack neighbouring countries.

Pakistan expresses support for Azerbaijan after alleged Iranian attack

Pakistani President Shehbaz Sharif says on X that his country is expressing “serious concern over the recent attacks on the brotherly country of Azerbaijan”, tagging Azeri president Ilham Aliyev.

Aliyev today sought Iran’s apology after a drone attack targeted the autonomous Nakhchivan exclave, opening yet another front in the ongoing war launched by the United States and Israel and the retaliation from Tehran.

Two people were injured in Thursday’s drone attack in the exclave, which borders Iran and Turkey.

In a call with his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi insisted that Tehran was not behind the attack, according to a ministry readout.

“Pakistan stands firmly with the leadership and people of Azerbaijan and condemns such deplorable actions that risk further escalation and undermine regional peace and stability,” Sharif’s statement said.

Moscow, Beijing are keeping distance

Russia and China, Tehran’s two most powerful diplomatic partners, have labelled the US-Israeli war on Iran that has killed more than 1,000 people a clear violation of international law.

Russia and China jointly requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.

The reaction reflects the close relationship between Iran, Russia and China. Moscow and Beijing have signed bilateral deals and expanded coordination through joint naval drills, projecting a united front against what they describe as a US-led international order that has long sought to isolate them.

Yet despite their sharp rhetoric, neither has indicated a willingness to intervene militarily to support Iran.

Russia accuses US and Israel of ‘trying to drag’ Arab countries into war

Russia’s Foreign Ministry has accused the US and Israel of “trying to drag” Arab nations into war with their strikes on Iran as it says there are no signs of de-escalation in the conflict.

“They deliberately provoked Iran into retaliatory strikes against targets in some ‌Arab countries, which led to human and material losses, which the Russian side deeply regrets,” the ministry said in a statement.

“In doing so, ⁠[the US and Israel] ⁠are trying to drag the Arabs into a war for someone else’s interests.”

The ministry said the only path to stabilization was to stop the attacks on Iran, but there were no signs for now of this happening.

Russia says Iran has not asked it to supply arms

Kremlin ⁠spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said Russia has not received a request from Iran to send it weapons during the ongoing war.

Asked by a reporter whether Moscow plans to offer material support to Iran, including arms, Peskov said: “In this case, there were no requests from the Iranian side. Our consistent position ‌is well known to everyone, and there have been no changes ‌in ‌this regard.”

Last year, Iran sealed ‌a 20-year strategic partnership agreement with Russia.

Russia is building two new nuclear units at Bushehr, the site of Iran’s only nuclear power plant, and Iran supplied ⁠Russia with Shahed drones ⁠for use against Ukraine.

 

European countries send naval assets to Cyprus in wake of drone attack

Italy, Spain, France and the Netherlands are sending naval assets ⁠to Cyprus to protect the island in the coming days, Italian ‌Defence Minister Guido Crosetto has told parliament.

Spain’s Defense Ministry said in a statement that Madrid would send a frigate. Greece and France said they would send assets to the island after a British airbase there was attacked by an Iranian-made drone on Monday.

EU, Gulf states call for ‘protection of civilians’, return to dialogue to resolve war

The EU and the GCC have issued a joint statement urging for “dialogue and diplomacy” to resolve the ongoing war.

“The ministers reiterated their commitment to ‌regional stability and called for protection of civilians and full respect of international law,” said the EU and GCC, following ⁠a videoconference of European ⁠and Gulf foreign ministers.

“The ministers reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to dialogue and diplomacy as ⁠means to resolve the crisis,” they said, ⁠adding that they ⁠agreed on “joint diplomatic efforts to bring about a lasting solution” to prevent Iran from ‌acquiring a nuclear weapon and “ultimately allow the Iranian people to determine ‌their ‌future”.

EU countries will ‘pay price’ if they fail to speak up over attacks: Iran

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei has warned that European Union countries will “pay the price, sooner ⁠or later” if ⁠they remain silent over US-Israeli attacks on Iran.

Baghaei made the comments to Spanish broadcaster TVE.

Middle East chaos stems from erosion in international law, EU’s Kallas says

The current war in the Middle East is a direct result of the erosion in international law, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has said.

In a speech at the University of Zurich, Kallas said the international order has been undermined by major powers acting unilaterally, pointing the finger particularly at Russia, but also directing criticism at China and the US.

“Today, the chaos we see around us in the Middle East is a direct consequence of the erosion of international law,” she said, arguing that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine had encouraged others to act with impunity.

The EU is contributing to that erosion by ignoring the fact that itself is a co-belligerent, as it is responsible under states responsibility laws over contribution to the war on Iran by some of its member states.

Iran is ‘exporter of war’ seeking ‘chaos’: EU’s Kallas

European Union’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.

“Iran is an exporter of war,” Kallas told reporters as she visited Zurich, Switzerland. “Right now, the regime tries to drag as many countries into this war as possible.”

Tehran is looking to “sow chaos” in the region by attacking other countries “indiscriminately”, Kallas added, emphasizing that the EU will continue to pursue diplomatic channels for de-escalation.

In another speech earlier today, Kallas said the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East are the “direct consequence of the erosion of international law”.

Kallas is spreading falsehood by ignoring the fact that:

• Netanyahu has been obsessed with Iran for more than 30 years.
• the Israelis began targeting Iran in 2010
• the current war is a resumption of the June 2025 war on Iran
• the current war spilled over to Lebanon after Netanyahu assassinated Khamenei, which prompted Hezbollah to respond.

Kallas is resorting to Zionist-style politics.

EU-GCC joint statement condemns Iranian attacks

A joint statement issued by the European Union and Gulf Cooperation Council after consultations on Thursday has condemned Iran’s attacks on its Arab allies.

The GCC nations underscored their “commitment that their territories would not be used to launch attacks against Iran”.

They “reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to dialogue and diplomacy as means to resolve the crisis, commending the constructive role of Oman in this regard, and highlighted the need to restore regional stability and security”.

Statement goes completely against the fact that the Israelis and the US started the war, and that the GCC countries are host countries of US presence.

Multiple blasts in Iran’s Sanandaj

Multiple explosions reported in the western city of Sanandaj.

Local sources said the target appears to be a radio and television authority and that the explosion broke windows of neighbouring homes.

Explosion reported near tanker off Kuwait, UKMTO says

The United ⁠Kingdom ⁠Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) says it received a ⁠report of an incident 30 nautical ⁠miles (about 55.5km) southeast of Kuwait’s Mubarak al-Kabeer.

The master of a ‌tanker at anchor reported hearing and seeing a large explosion on the port side before observing ⁠a small craft leaving ⁠the area, it said.

Oil was seen in the ⁠water from a ⁠cargo tank, potentially causing ⁠environmental impact, and the vessel had taken on ‌water. All crew were safe, UKMTO added.

Kuwait says explosion on tanker occurred outside its territorial waters

The country’s Ministry of Interior is saying the incident occurred outside its territorial waters, more than 60 kilometers (37 miles) away from the Mubarak al-Kabeer port.

Earlier, the UKMTO said the master of a tanker at anchor reported hearing and seeing a large explosion on the vessel’s port side before observing ⁠a small craft leaving ⁠the area.

It said all crew were safe, but that the vessel had taken on water and that oil was seen in the ⁠water from a ⁠cargo tank, potentially causing ⁠environmental impact.

Qatar evacuates residents close to US embassy in Doha

The Qatar government has announced that it is evacuating residents who live in houses close to the US embassy in the capital Doha.

“In the framework of maintaining public safety, the Ministry of Interior announces that the relevant authorities are evacuating residents living in the vicinity of the US Embassy as a temporary precautionary measure,” Qatar’s Ministry of Interior said in a statement on X. “Suitable accommodation has been provided for them as part of necessary preventive measures.”

The US embassies in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, and the US consulate in Dubai, have all been targeted by drones this week, as Iran has increasingly launched attacks against its Gulf neighbours – and especially, though not only, against US military and diplomatic facilities.

Explosions over Qatar and Bahrain

Explosions have been heard in Qatar and Bahrain amid Iranian missile strikes across the region.

Qatar’s move to evacuate homes near US embassy ‘made out of abundance of caution’

The decision to clear out this area around the US embassy in Doha was made out of an abundance of caution to avoid the risk of any sort of threat that other US embassies in the region have seen in recent days.

The embassy compound occupies a very large area near houses. There are also shopping areas, a petrol station and a main road connecting the embassy to different parts of the city. We’ve seen buses, police and the Interior Ministry crew to assist.

What the government wants to avoid is any sort of fallout they’ve seen happen in other cities, such as in Riyadh, where the US embassy came under attack and caused a fire.

In Dubai, the US consulate also came under attack in a very densely populated part of the city.

Multiple explosions over Qatar

Multiple explosions are being heard in the skies above Qatar’s capital Doha.

The defense systems are intercepting missiles entering Qatari airspace.

Six injured by falling debris in Abu Dhabi

Six people have been injured by falling debris from drones that were intercepted by air defense systems over Abu Dhabi, the emirate’s media office says.

In a post on X, the office said authorities had responded to debris falling in two locations in the Industrial City (ICAD II) district.

The affected individuals, who were nationals of Pakistan and Nepal, received minor to moderate injuries from the debris, the statement said.

Qatar’s air defense systems intercepting missile attack: Defense Ministry

Qatar’s Defense Ministry says its air defense systems are intercepting a missile attack.

The statement comes as multiple explosions are being heard in the skies above Doha.

Bahrain says it destroyed dozens of Iranian missiles and drones

The Bahrain Defense Force has said it has destroyed 75 missiles and 123 drones “targeting the Kingdom since the start of the brutal Iranian aggression”, in a post on its Instagram account.

‘Elevated’ threat level alert in Qatar

Authorities in Qatar have sent out an “elevated” emergency alert to residents.

This comes after multiple explosions were heard above Doha.

IRGC says inflicted significant damage on US military targets in Kuwait, Bahrain, UAE

Iran’s IRGC is claiming to have inflicted significant damage on 20 US military targets in Kuwait, Bahrain and the UAE.

Death toll in Iran from US, Israeli attacks rises

The death toll in Iran from the US and Israeli attacks since Saturday has risen to 1,230, Iran’s semiofficial Tasnim news agency reported.

Drone shot down over Qasr-e Shirin, Iranian media reports

Iranian forces have shot down a Hermes drone over Qasr-e Shirin in Kermanshah province, the semi-official Tasnim news agency is reporting.

US suspending operations at embassy in Kuwait

The United States ⁠has suspended operations ⁠at its embassy in Kuwait ‌City, the State Department said in a statement, ⁠amid US and Israeli ⁠strikes against ⁠Iran.

Iran says it attacked US oil tanker in the Gulf

Iran’s IRGC says it attacked a US oil tanker in the Gulf.

The IRGC’s public relations department said in a statement carried by the state IRNA news agency that Iranian naval forces “successfully targeted an American oil tanker”. No further details were provided.

White House says US navy to begin escorting tankers through Strait of Hormuz ‘if necessary’

President Trump has stated he will task the US Navy with “escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz” if necessary, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

Iran’s IRGC has declared the strategic waterway closed during the war and threatened to attack passing vessels.

Leavitt also said Trump has announced that crude oil carriers and cargo ships moving in or near the Gulf region would be eligible for political risk insurance from the United States Development Finance Corporation “at a very reasonable price”.

UN says 20,000 seafarers, 15,000 passengers stuck in Gulf

The UN’s International Maritime Organization has told the AFP news agency that about 20,000 seafarers and 15,000 cruise ship passengers are stuck in the Gulf.

The shipping regulator’s secretary-general, Arsenio Dominguez, said the “IMO is ready to work with all stakeholders to help ensure the safety and wellbeing of the seafarers affected”.

Since war erupted on Saturday, the IMO has recorded seven incidents involving ships in the region that have resulted in two deaths and seven people wounded.

“Beyond the economic impact of these alarming attacks, it is a humanitarian issue. No attack on innocent seafarers is ever justified,” Dominguez said.

“I reiterate my call for all shipping companies to exercise maximum caution when operating in the affected region,” he added.

Iran has in effect shut down the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s crude oil and considerable supplies of liquefied natural gas travel.

Iran says claim it closed Strait of Hormuz is ‘baseless’

Iran’s mission to the United Nations has denied claims that Tehran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, calling the accusation “baseless and absurd”.

On Monday, Iranian state media reported the Strait of Hormuz had been closed and Iran would fire on any ship trying to pass.

In a post on X, Iran’s UN mission insisted the country remained committed to international law and freedom of navigation, arguing that it was the United States that had endangered maritime security.

The statement also accused the US of sinking the Iranian frigate Dena in international waters without warning while it was visiting India with 130 sailors on board.

Iran said the attack, which it said killed more than 100 sailors, violated international law and the principle of freedom of navigation.

Seafarers can refuse voyages through Strait of Hormuz, union says

Seafarers can refuse to sail through parts of the Middle East Gulf, including the Strait of Hormuz, after the threat level for the region was raised to its highest level, labour union and shipping industry groups have said.

In a statement carried by Reuters, maritime sector bodies said crews have the right to decline voyages through the area due to the heightened security risks.

UAE says one missile, six drones fell inside country

The UAE’s Defense Ministry is saying that one missile and six drones fell inside the country.

Earlier, Abu Dhabi’s media office said six people were injured by falling debris from drones that were intercepted by air defense systems over Abu Dhabi.

UAE air defences intercepting missile and drone threats: Defense Ministry

Air defense systems in the UAE are responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran, the Ministry of Defense says.

In a brief statement on X, the ministry instructed the public to adhere to safety and security measures.

Bahrain says facility in oil infrastructure area attacked

Bahrain’s Ministry of the Interior says that a facility in an oil infrastructure area was attacked.

“One facility in Maameer was targeted, and the relevant authorities are handling the incident”, it said in a post on social media.

Maameer is home to the Bahrain Petroleum Company refinery, along with a number of other factories that produce materials including concrete and asphalt.

Iran begins wave of attacks on Israel

Iran began its 19th wave of missile and drone attacks against Israel and US assets in the Middle East.

 

Missile attack hits two schools in Iran’s Parand: Iranian media

Missiles fired by the US and Israel have hit two schools in the town of Parand, southwest of Tehran, Iran’s semiofficial Fars news agency reports.

It shared photos of damage and debris in what appeared to be a classroom and said several nearby residential units also sustained damage.

Iran claims to have launched drone attacks against US forces in Kuwait

Iran says it has launched further drone attacks against US forces at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait, the semi-official Tasnim news agency is reporting.

Iran crisis could continue for months, says UK minister

Hamish Falconer, the UK’s minister for the Middle East, has told parliament that it was possible the Iran crisis could continue for months.

“The situation is evolving, but there ⁠are indications that this ⁠is a crisis, not ⁠of days, ⁠but of ⁠weeks and possibly months,” he said.

IRGC claims to have shot down US fighter jet, US dismisses claim

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claim to have shot down a US F-15E strike fighter near the country’s southwest borders, the semiofficial Tasnim news agency is reporting.

The US military has denied such reports.

Tasnim, citing the IRGC, reported that the twin-seat fighter had been “targeted and crashed”, without specifying when the incident allegedly occurred.

US CENTCOM posted on X that “rumors circulating on social media of a US F-15E crash in Iran early Wednesday are baseless and NOT TRUE.”

Iranian army says it downed drone in Khorramabad

Iranian forces have shot down a Hermes 900 drone flying over the western city of Khorramabad, according to an Iranian army statement.

Qatar says 14 ballistic missiles, four drones from Iran intercepted this morning

Qatar’s Defense Ministry says 14 ballistic missiles and four drones from Iran were intercepted this morning.

The ministry also addressed citizens, residents and visitors, urging them to “remain calm, adhere to official instructions issued by the security authorities, avoid rumors, and rely solely on information released through official channels”.

Bahrain sounds sirens, asks people to shelter

Sirens can be heard in Bahrain, as the country’s Ministry of Interior has issued an alert to citizens and residents to head to the nearest safe place.

Iranian army says shot down 7 drones since morning

Iran’s army says that it has shot down several missiles in conjunction with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

“Our forces and the Revolutionary Guard have shot down 7 drones of the Hermes and MQ-9 types since this morning,” it said in a statement.

US embassy in Kuwait to evacuate: CBS

CBS, the American broadcaster, is citing anonymous government sources to report that the US is evacuating its embassy in Kuwait.

The embassy had already been shut after it had been targeted in an Iranian strike. The US embassy in Riyadh and the US consulate in Dubai have also been targeted.

Kuwait repels missile attack

Kuwait’s Ministry of Defense has said that the country’s air defenses have repelled a missile attack.

The missile, the ministry said, had breached the country’s airspace.

Kuwait: Debris from the missile caused minimum damage

Kuwait’s Ministry of Defense has now said that debris from the intercepted missile led only to some small damage.

US deploys LUCAS, a drone modeled on Iran’s Shahed

At a media briefing on Thursday on the US-Israel war on Iran, Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM, referred to a drone that the US military has been using in the conflict: LUCAS.

While drones are now a staple in modern warfare, and Iran has been launching hundreds of drones at its Gulf neighbours and Israel since these hostilities broke out, LUCAS is different: It’s actually modelled on the Iranian Shahed drone, only “Made in America”.

As Cooper explained in the briefing, US authorities had captured a Shahed drone, “pulled out its guts”, and redesigned it into the US LUCAS, which is now being used on the battlefield for the first time since its makeover.

It costs about $35,000, and is a kamikaze drone — meant to strike its target, even if it gets destroyed itself in the process.

It can carry a range of payloads and communication systems, and explodes on contact with its target.

Iran has launched more than 2,000 drones so far: Fars news agency

The Fars News Agency, believed to be close to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, has quoted a military source as telling it that the country has launched more than 2,000 drones so far in the war that began last Saturday when Iran was attacked by the United States and Israel.

If that’s true, it amounts to more than 330 drones used every day — or one launched every four minutes.

Bahrain says oil refinery blaze from Iranian missile strike contained

A fire sparked by an Iranian missile strike at Bahrain’s main oil refinery has been fully contained, authorities said.

In a statement, Bahrain’s National Communication Centre said the blaze broke out at a unit of the Bapco Energies refinery on the island of Sitra following the strike.

Officials said there were no reported injuries and refinery operations were continuing, with an assessment of the damage under way.

The refinery is run by Bahrain’s state oil company Bapco and is located on the east coast of Sitra, south of the capital Manama.

Kuwait’s army says facing new attacks

The army’s general staff says that Kuwait’s air defences are currently dealing with missile and drone attacks in its airspace.

“The armed forces note that the sounds heard in scattered areas of the country are the result of the air defenses intercepting the missile attacks and drones”, it said in a statement on X.

Saudi and UAE defense ministers speak on regional crisis

Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz and Dubai Crown Prince, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum spoke on Thursday about the deepening regional crisis.

The leaders “condemned the aggressive attacks” that Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and all other Gulf nations have faced over the past week from Iran.

WHO says it has verified 13 attacks on health infrastructure in Iran

The WHO says it has verified more than 10 attacks on Iran’s health infrastructure amid the US-Israeli campaign, killing four healthcare workers and injuring 25.

“WHO has verified 13 attacks on healthcare in Iran and one in Lebanon,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a news conference.

Another WHO official at the same briefing added that four ambulances were also affected and that hospitals and other health sites suffered minor damage due to strikes nearby.

Iran says 11 hospitals damaged by US-Israeli strikes

Iran’s Health Ministry says 11 hospitals, seven emergency centres, nine ambulances and four other medical facilities have been damaged by US-Israeli attacks on Iran.

The WHO had earlier verified “13 attacks on healthcare in Iran”.

Iran says more than 3,600 civilian sites damaged in US-Israeli attacks

More than 3,600 civilian sites have been damaged in attacks it attributes to the United States and Israel, according to figures released by the Iranian Red Crescent, cited by the Iranian government on X.

The head of the Iranian Red Crescent reportedly said 3,643 civilian locations had been targeted so far, including 3,090 homes, 528 commercial centers, 13 medical facilities and nine Red Crescent centers.

The official said several major hospitals had been damaged, including Khatam Hospital, Gandhi Hospital and other rehabilitation and welfare centers.

Iranian authorities said some patients were injured when hospital structures collapsed during the strikes, while facilities, such as Valiasr Burn Hospital, had been rendered inoperable.

The Iranian Red Crescent said reports documenting the damage had been submitted to the International Committee of the Red Cross and other international bodies for potential legal action.

Iran condemns strike on Tehran’s Azadi Sports Complex

Iran’s government has condemned a US and Israeli strike on the Azadi Sports Complex in Tehran.

In a post on X, Iranian officials said a strike hit the 12,000-seat stadium at the complex, describing it as a site deeply embedded in the country’s collective memory.

Iran’s sports minister, Ahmad Donyamali, visited the site and called the attack a violation of international law and the Olympic Charter, urging global accountability.

Iran said the stadium was heavily damaged in the strike. The United States and Israel have not commented on the claim.

Analysis suggests US behind school strike that killed at least 165: Report

Evidence assembled by The New York Times suggests a strike that hit an elementary school in the southern Iranian town of Minab were carried out by the US.

The newspaper reports that satellite imagery, social media posts and verified videos indicate the school building was severely damaged by a precision strike at roughly the same time as attacks on an adjacent naval facility operated by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.

Iran held a mass funeral ceremony for 165 schoolgirls and staff killed in the strike. US officials have not confirmed responsibility for the strike, and no side has publicly claimed it.

According to The New York Times, statements by US officials about strikes on naval targets near the Strait of Hormuz suggest US forces were the most likely to have carried out the attack.

General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in a briefing that US forces were conducting strikes along southern Iran at the time. A map shown during the briefing indicated an area including Minab had been targeted during the early phase of the operation.

Caine also said Israeli forces had largely been operating farther north in Iran, according to the report.

US demonstrating ‘lack of understanding about makeup of Iranian state’

President Trump’s administration has a “lack of understanding about the makeup of the Iranian state”, Abdullah al-Arian, a professor at Georgetown University in Qatar, said.

“I think there was an assumption that it mirrors something like in Gaddafi’s Libya or Saddam’s Iraq, in which you basically sideline or get rid of a figurehead and then all of a sudden the entire state nearly collapses or that you had such internal opposition that it would coalesce into something in support of the US air strikes,” he said.

“None of those things have happened as of now, so the US finds itself in an incredibly difficult position, which is why we’re continuing to hear about this idea of arming opposition groups on the basis of necessity.”

The Iranian government has certain “contingencies in place” and has maintained enough stability that allows it to remain in power, “despite these disruptions taking place”.

It is also not surprising that Iran hasn’t rushed to name a new supreme leader, given that the US has threatened to attack them, said al-Arian.

‘Plan A failed’, Iran’s foreign minister warns Trump

Abbas Araghchi has directly addressed US President Donald Trump in his latest statement.

“Plan A for a clean rapid military victory failed, Mr. President”, Iran’s top diplomat wrote on social media platform X. “Your Plan B will be [an] even bigger failure.”

He concluded by saying the chance for a “unique deal” was “burned” during the latest round of negotiations.

“‘Israel First’ always means ‘America Last’,” the minister added.

WHO suspends operations at Dubai emergency logistics hub

The Middle East war has forced the WHO to suspend operations at its global emergency logistics hub in Dubai, Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says.

“Operations at WHO’s logistics hub for global health emergencies in Dubai are currently on hold due to insecurity,” he said at a news conference.

Last year, the logistics hub processed more than 500 emergency orders for 75 countries around the world, Hanan Balkhy, the WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean regional director, told reporters.

“Humanitarian health supply chains are now being jeopardized,” she warned.

Balkhy explained that “the hub’s operations are temporarily on hold due to insecurity, airspace closures and restrictions affecting access to the Strait of Hormuz”.

The disruption, she said, was “preventing access to $18m in humanitarian health supplies while another $8m in shipments cannot reach the hub”.

Price of US oil benchmark up more than 5% due to US-Israel war on Iran

Benchmark US oil contracts of West Texas intermediate have soared more than 5 percent to $78.88 per barrel, the highest level since January last year, as the US-Israel war on Iran threatens supplies.

The international benchmark Brent North Sea crude jumped 3.6 percent to $84.34 per barrel.

Iran in effect has closed the Strait of Hormuz, which handles roughly one-fifth of the world’s traded oil and significant volumes of liquefied natural gas exports from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. About 20 percent of global daily oil consumption – roughly 20 million barrels – passes through the narrow corridor.

Iran’s internet blackout exceeds 120 hours: Monitor

Cyber security watchdog NetBlocks says Iran’s near-total internet shutdown has now reached its fifth day, with internet use “around 1 percent of ordinary levels”.

It warned of an “increasingly Orwellian environment” as people who try to use the global internet face threats of legal repercussions.

Erdogan tells Macron Turkey pushing for return to Iran negotiations

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has told French President Emmanuel Macron that Ankara is pushing for a return to negotiations on Iran.

In a phone call today, Erdogan said Turkey was making “intensive efforts” to strengthen the conditions for diplomacy, according to a statement from his office.

He also warned that prolonging the conflict involving Iran would create instability for both the region and the wider world.

The Turkish leader added that the situation underscored the need for greater defense cooperation among NATO allies.

Iran thanks Saudi Arabia for not allowing territory to be used during war

Iran’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Alireza Enayati, says his country appreciates Saudi Arabia’s pledge not to allow its airspace or territory to be used during the ongoing war with the US and Israel.

“We appreciate what we have repeatedly heard from Saudi Arabia – that it does not allow its airspace, waters, or territory to be used against the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he told AFP.

Before the outbreak of war, Riyadh had thrown its support behind diplomatic efforts to diffuse tensions between Tehran and Washington and vowed that its airspace would not be allowed to be used for attacks against Iran.

‘We don’t see any reason to negotiate’: Araghchi

In a live interview with NBC, Abbas Araghchi said Iran is “not asking for a ceasefire”.

“We don’t see any reason why we should negotiate with the US”, he said. “When we negotiated with them twice, every time, they attacked us in the middle of negotiations.”

Araghchi also emphasized that Iran has not closed the Strait of Hormuz, saying “it is the ships and tankers” that have refused to cross the waterway.

“We have no intention to close it right now, but as the war continues, we will consider every scenario,” he added.

‘Waiting for you’: Larijani on potential US ground invasion

Ali Larijani, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, has responded to some reports suggesting US openness to a limited ground invasion by claiming his country was more than ready.

“Some American officials have stated that they intend to enter Iranian territory on the ground with several thousand troops. The valiant sons of Imam Khomeini and Imam Khamenei are waiting for you, ready to disgrace those corrupt American officials by killing and capturing thousands,” he wrote in a post on X.

“The sacred land of Iran is no place for the servants of hell,” he added at the top of the post.

Netanyahu praises ‘historic’ military cooperation with US

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has highlighted what he described as “historic” military cooperation between Israel and the United States during the ongoing conflict.

In a post on X, Netanyahu said he had visited an air force base in southern Israel where Israeli and US pilots are operating together.

Netanyahu added that Israel would continue striking what he described as targets linked to Iran as well as armed groups in Lebanon.

“I thank my friend President Trump for the cooperation between us and between Israel and the US,” he said.

US asked for Ukraine’s support against Iranian drones: Zelenskyy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he received a request from the United States “for specific support” in dealing with Iran’s Shahed attack drones.

“I gave instructions to provide the necessary means and ensure the presence of Ukrainian specialists who can guarantee the required security,” Zelenskyy wrote on X. “Ukraine helps partners who help ensure our security and protect the lives of our people.”

Zelenskyy previously said in his nightly address yesterday that Ukraine remained in daily contact with US officials, including about the war in Iran.

NATO says in good position to ‘defend allied populations against ballistic threats’

NATO says it is in a good position to defend members of the alliance from attacks by Iran.

During a meeting in Brussels of the alliance’s 32-member counties, Secretary General Mark Rutte “praised the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) and all the Allied personnel involved for their joint efforts, which allowed Iran’s ballistic missile to be identified, tracked and successfully intercepted”, read a statement.

“This is a tangible demonstration of the Alliance’s ability to defend our populations against all threats, including those posed by ballistic missiles,” it added.

NATO also “strongly condemned” Iranian strikes on fellow member Turkey yesterday, “and expressed their full solidarity with Ankara.”

In a separate statement on X, NATO spokesperson Martin O’Donnell said that NATO allies have increased their alliance-wide ballistic missile defence posture in the wake of the Turkey incident.

Rubio discusses Iran with Kuwaiti counterpart

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has spoken with Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.

In a phone call, the duo discussed joint efforts to counter Iran, the US Department of State said in a readout of the conversation.

Rubio also offered condolences for the deaths of two members of the Kuwaiti army.

Crown prince of Dubai holds phone call with Saudi defence minister

Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, crown prince of Dubai, deputy prime minister and defense minister, has held a phone call with Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

The two discussed “the most important developments on the regional scene, and the blatant attacks that the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, along with a number of brotherly countries, were subjected to in the past few days”, said Dubai Media Office in a post on social media.

“Both sides condemned the heinous attacks that represent a clear violation of international covenants, the sovereignty of states, and the security and safety of their peoples.”

In addition, “both sides affirmed the two countries’ right to take all measures deemed necessary to protect their capabilities and ensure the safety of all who live on the soil of the two countries,” concluded the post.

Europol warns US-Israel war on Iran raises threat of terror, extremism and cyber attacks

The Middle East conflict will have “immediate repercussions” for European Union security with an increased threat of “terrorism”, serious and organized crime, as well as violent extremism and cyber attacks, European police body Europol has told Spanish news agency EFE.

Europol spokesperson Jan Op Gen Oorth said he expected to see more cyber attacks against European infrastructure and an increase in online fraud using increasingly sophisticated AI and exploiting the flurry of information swirling about the conflict online, EFE reported.

Groups linked to Iran could seek to carry out “destabilising activities” within the EU, he added, referring to groups linked to the so-called “axis of resistance”, the network of anti-US and Israeli militias in countries including Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen. These could include “terrorist attacks”, intimidation campaigns, “terrorist financing” and cyber crime.

“The level of terrorist threat and violent extremism in EU territory is considered high,” Oorth told the news agency.

The threat of “terrorism” could be heightened by individuals acting alone or small cells acting on their own initiative, he said.

“The rapid spread of polarizing content on the internet can accelerate short-term radicalization processes among diaspora communities within the EU and other individuals,” he noted.

It is not the war but what leaders and politicians are saying and spreading about and against Iran.

Egypt in ‘state of near-emergency’ economically as war spreads

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has warned the country is in a “state of near-emergency” economically as the Middle East war threatens to drive up prices.

Speaking at an event at a military academy, Sisi said the conflict could have serious repercussions for Egypt’s economy, particularly through rising inflation.

“The current crisis might have some repercussions on prices”, he said, warning that traders accused of price gouging could face military courts.

Although Egypt has not been directly involved in the US-Israeli war on Iran, the conflict has disrupted trade routes and heightened economic pressures across the region.

Sisi also warned the conflict could affect traffic through the Suez Canal, a major source of foreign currency for Egypt, as shipping companies reroute vessels away from the region.

He said Egypt was making “sincere and honest mediation efforts to stop the war”.

Italy temporarily closes embassy in Tehran

Rome is temporarily closing its embassy in Tehran and moving staff to Azerbaijan, Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has said.

“We have decided for security reasons to temporarily close our embassy in Tehran and move the personnel to Baku,” Tajani told journalists at the Senate.

His spokesman confirmed the closure to AFP but stressed Italy “has not broken off diplomatic relations”.

French evacuation plane turns around amid missile threat

The Air France plane was supposed to pick up citizens stranded in the United Arab Emirates.

But before it could get to the UAE, it had to turn around amid missile fire, the country’s Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot said.

Trump says he must be involved in selecting Iran’s next leader

US President Donald Trump has said he believes he should be personally involved in selecting Iran’s next leader following the death of the country’s supreme leader.

In an interview with Axios, Trump said Iran was “wasting its time” if it tried to appoint a successor without US involvement.

He acknowledged that Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the assassinated Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, is widely seen as the most likely successor, but said he would not accept that outcome.

“Khamenei’s son is a lightweight,” Trump said. “I have to be involved in the appointment.”

Trump added that he would reject any new Iranian leader who continued the policies of the previous leadership, warning that doing so would risk renewed conflict with the United States “in five years”.

“Khamenei’s son is unacceptable to me. We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran”, he said.

US choosing Iran’s next leader? ‘Won’t happen again’

US President Donald Trump has said that he expects to have a role in choosing Iran’s next leader, after the country’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was assassinated last Saturday.

But within Iran, the mood is very different, Mohamed Vall reports from Tehran.

The mood, broadly is it that it “won’t happen again”, he said.

Vall was referring to the US-backed coup in 1953 that led to the ouster of democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh.

Trump asks IRGC commanders, Iranian diplomats to step down

The US president has called on Iranian diplomats at embassies around the world to defect and seek asylum.

Trump also repeated his earlier offer-cum-threat to commanders of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, asking them to step down: If they did, they would get complete immunity, he said; if they didn’t, they would be killed.

Trump claims to destroy Iran’s capabilities ‘every single hour’

In his ongoing remarks at the White House, US President Donald Trump has thanked “wonderful Israeli partners” who “continue to demolish the enemy totally ahead of schedule and at levels people have never seen before”.

“We’re destroying more of Iran’s missile and drone capability every single hour – knocking them out”, he added.

The president claimed Iran has “no air force, no air defense” and that all their planes “are gone”, without offering evidence.

Cuba is ‘just a question of time’ after Iran: Trump

The president has now turned his gaze towards Cuba.

“We want to finish this one first, but that will be just a question of time,” he said of Cuba, adding that people are “going to be going back to Cuba”.

“Hopefully not to stay … we don’t want to make it so nice that you stay,” he said. “But some people probably do want to stay. They love Cuba so much.”

US has no shortage of munitions for Iran campaign: Hegseth

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said the United States has the resources and determination to sustain its military campaign against Iran.

Speaking about the conflict, Hegseth said Iran was miscalculating if it believed the United States could not maintain the operation.

“Iran is hoping that we cannot sustain this – which is a really bad miscalculation”, he said.

Hegseth added that the United States had both the will and the military capacity to continue.

“We have no shortage of munitions – our stockpiles of defensive and offensive weapons allow us to sustain this campaign as long as we need to.”

‘Iran hoping we can’t sustain this; they’re wrong’ : Hegseth

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that Iran was hoping that “we can’t sustain this”, adding that this was a mistaken assessment on the part of Tehran.

“We’ve got no shortage of will … we’ve got no shortage of munitions,” he said, addressing a media briefing on the US-Israel war on Iran.

“Our capabilities: We’ve only just started … and we have no shortage of authorities,” he added.

US will control timeline of Iran war: Hegseth

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said the United States has both the resources and the determination to sustain its military campaign against Iran.

Speaking about the conflict, Hegseth said Iran was miscalculating if it believed the United States could not maintain the operation.

“Iran is hoping that we cannot sustain this – which is a really bad miscalculation,” he said.

“Our munitions are full up and our will is iron-clad, which means our timeline is ours to control,” he said.

“The dumb politically correct wars of the past are the opposite of what we are doing here,” he added.

‘There will come a moment’ for Iranians to protest

When asked to comment on the future of Iranian protests, Hegseth has claimed that “no one’s done more than President Trump to reopen the opportunity for those who want to free Iran to do so”.

“Don’t go out and protest while bombs are dropping inside Tehran,” he continued.

But “there will come a moment where he determines – or they determine – it’s time to seize that advantage,” the defense secretary added.

Hegseth says US objectives in Iran war have not expanded

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said there has been no expansion of US objectives in the conflict, responding to reports that President Donald Trump wanted a say in Iran’s future leadership.

“Our objectives have not expanded,” he said.

Hegseth denies Iran war is sowing regional chaos

Hegseth has also pushed back on criticisms that the US and Israel have created regional instability, saying “nothing could be further from the truth”.

Countries including the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia are saying, “‘We’ll shoot with you, we’ll fly with you, we’ll defend with you'”, the defence secretary claimed.

“It’s firming up the unity of the resistance,” he said, adding of the war’s scope: “This idea that it’s expanding … it’s actually simplifying in a number of ways.”

US says 200 Iranian targets hit in past 72 hours

US Central Command says it has struck approximately 200 targets in Iran over the past 72 hours. According to CENTCOM, this includes:

• In the last hour alone, B-2 bombers dropped dozens of bunker-buster bombs targeting deeply buried ballistic missile launchers.
• The US struck what it described as Iran’s equivalent of a space command.
• Iranian ballistic missile attacks have decreased by 90 percent since the first day of the conflict.
• Sunk more than 30 Iranian vessels so far, including a drone carrier ship that is now on fire.
• The next phase of the operation will focus on dismantling Iran’s missile production capability.

US House rejects war powers resolution on Iran

The US House of Representatives rejected an effort to stop President Donald Trump’s war on Iran and require that any hostilities against Iran be authorized by Congress, backing the Republican president’s military campaign on the sixth day of the expanding conflict.

The vote was 219 to 212 in the House, where Trump’s fellow Republicans control a narrow majority of seats.

A similar measure was voted down yesterday in the US Senate.