US & ‘Israel’ at war with Iran | Second week

The Kuwait Armed Forces said two people were injured and material damage was reported after a drone targeted a residential building in southern Kuwait.

The 'Israeli' army says it has detected missiles fired from Iran targeting multiple areas in northern 'Israel', including Occupied cities like Haifa, Nazareth, the Galilee region, and the Golan Heights.

A projectile struck a container ship near the United Arab Emirates, the UK maritime agency said on Thursday, as Iran carries out a military campaign to disrupt global markets by choking trade in the Gulf.

"The container ship was struck by (an) unknown projectile causing a small fire onboard," the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said in a statement, adding the ship's crew had been reported as safe.

All clear in Jordan after air raid alarms

Air raid sirens sound across Jordan

Bahrain told residents to stay home after an Iranian attack on fuel tanks on Thursday as Tehran carries out a campaign in the Gulf to disrupt global energy markets.

"The blatant Iranian aggression targets fuel tanks at a facility in Muharraq Governorate," Bahrain's Ministry of Interior posted on X.

The ministry told residents in three parts of Muharraq to "remain in their homes, close windows and ventilation openings as precaution against potential effects of smokes from the fire currently being fought."

The UAE’s Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Authority said the country’s air defense systems engaged a missile threat.

'Israeli' media report that Iran launched strikes toward central 'Israel', while Hezbollah fired rockets toward the northern regions.

The 'Israeli' army says it has detected missiles launched from Iran targeting 'Israeli' territory.

The United States Department of Energy said Wednesday it will release 172 million barrels from the strategic petroleum reserve "beginning next week," as the Middle East war disrupted oil prices.

The release would "take approximately 120 days to deliver based on planned discharge rates," the agency said in a post to X.

The post also accused Iran of manipulating and threatening "the energy security of America and its allies."

Saudi Arabia intercepted a drone heading towards the Shaybah oil field on Thursday, as Iran targets the facility again in its campaign to disrupt global energy markets.

"A drone heading towards the Shaybah oil field was intercepted and destroyed," a spokesperson for the country's defence ministry posted on X.

Saudi Arabia had confirmed on Wednesday that it had intercepted several drones targeting the facility, which is crucial to the country's oil production.

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Iran was on the verge of defeat, but warned that US forces could escalate strikes such that the country would be "almost impossible" to rebuild.

"They are pretty much at the end of the line," Trump told reporters in Washington.

He added: "We can hit sections of Tehran and other places that if you do it, it'll be almost impossible for them to rebuild their country, and we don't want that."

An 'Israeli' strike on the Ramlet al‑Baida seaside road in Beirut killed at least seven people, Lebanese authorities say, as emergency teams work the scene and search for additional victims amid ongoing 'Israeli' attack on Lebanon. 

Video verified and shared by AFP shows an oil depot on fire at the port of Salalah in Oman in images posted on social media on March 11, 2026. Drones struck fuel storage tanks at the port, state media reported, as Iran continues to target Gulf infrastructure in retaliation for U.S.-'Israeli' attacks.

'Israeli' forces have carried out renewed airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs

An attack on oil tankers near Iraq killed one crew member, Iraqi state television reported on Thursday, citing port authorities.

Farhan Al-Fartousi, from Iraq's General Company for Ports, told state television that one crew member had been killed and 38 rescued so far, and the "search continues for the missing." He did not specify their nationalities or provide details on who was behind the attack.

The Iraqi government's media cell told the national news agency INA that "two tankers were subject to sabotage."

Authorities in Dubai are responding to an incident where a drone fell onto a building in the Dubai Creek Harbour area. No injuries have been reported so far.

Authorities responded to reports of a sound in Al-Hashimiyah, Zarqa governorate, Jordan.

A sweep of the area revealed a piece of shrapnel causing minor damage to a water pipeline. No other damage occurred, and reports of additional harm are false.

Iran launches new salvo of missiles toward 'Israel'

Iraqi authorities announced early Thursday that they rescued the crew of a foreign oil tanker that was “attacked” in the country’s territorial waters off the southern coast, amid the ongoing war in the Middle East.

Farhan Al-Fartousi, Director General of the Iraqi Ports Company, told the Iraqi News Agency that “Iraqi port crews managed to rescue the crew of a foreign oil tanker that was attacked in territorial waters, numbering more than 20 people.”

This comes as the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad warned that Iran and Iran-backed armed Iraqi factions may be “planning” to target U.S. energy facilities in Iraq.

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the United States must "finish the job" in Iran, hours after suggesting the war could be over soon because Washington had run out of targets.

"We don't want to leave early, do we? We've got to finish the job, right?" Trump said while talking about the US-Israeli operation against Iran during a speech in Hebron, Kentucky.

The British consulting firm PwC closed its offices in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, and Kuwait for the remainder of the week, a source told AFP.

The closure is described as a precautionary measure after Iran threatened to target US and Israel-linked economic sites in the Middle East. The source spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation.

The British consulting firm Deloitte instructed its employees to leave their offices in the Dubai International Financial Centre on Wednesday, a source told AFP.

The evacuation followed threats from Iran targeting US and Israel-linked economic centers across the Middle East. The source requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) described the recent incident at Salalah port in Oman as “highly suspicious,” according to a statement from the military.

The IRGC noted that the incident occurred in what it considers a friendly neighboring country, raising questions about the circumstances and intent behind the attack.

The Saudi Ministry of Defense announced that its air defense systems intercepted and destroyed three ballistic missiles aimed at Prince Sultan Air Base.

Kuwaiti authorities said that the country’s air defense systems are actively countering incoming missile and hostile drone attacks.

Sirens blare in Jordan signaling the end of the warning period.

Iran’s president said ending the war requires three key conditions, reaffirming Tehran’s position during talks with the leaders of Russia and Pakistan.

In a statement, he said: “The only way to end this war, ignited by the Zionist regime and the US, is recognizing Iran’s legitimate rights, payment of reparations, and firm international guarantees against future aggression.”

Tehran’s demands
The Iranian president outlined the following conditions:

• Recognition of Iran’s legitimate rights
• Payment of reparations for damages
• Binding international guarantees to prevent future attacks

He also reiterated Iran’s commitment to regional peace, while holding the United States and ‘Israel’ responsible for starting the war.

Sirens blare in Jordan amid ongoing regional tensions.

Sirens blare in Jordan signaling the end of the warning period.

The ‘Israeli’ army said Hezbollah launched 100 rockets in a single barrage during the current wave of attacks, according to ‘Israeli’ Army Radio.

‘Israeli’ media also reported that a building was hit in northern ‘Israel’ following the rocket fire from Lebanon.

Sirens blare in Jordan amid ongoing regional tensions.

Sirens blare in Jordan signaling the end of the warning period.

Sirens blare in Jordan amid ongoing regional tensions.

The Health Emergency Operations Center under Lebanon’s Ministry of Health reported that a strike on Tebnine, in the Bint Jbeil district, killed at least eight people.

A spokesperson for Iran’s Armed Forces said that allegations by the United States that IRGC ships are being hidden in commercial ports are false.

The statement added that US Central Command is allegedly “looking for pretexts to target our economic centers,” emphasizing that Tehran considers the claims baseless and politically motivated.

A critical infrastructure strike has been reported at the Salalah Port today. Footage shows massive plumes of black smoke and intense fire engulfing oil storage tanks following an Iranian drone attack.

US President Donald Trump made several remarks on Iran and Hezbollah, asserting that the group “has been a disaster for a long time” and needs to be eliminated.

Trump claimed that US forces have destroyed all Iranian naval defenses and mined ships, leaving Iran’s military “paying a heavy price” with no freedom of navigation and no operational aircraft.

He also said that oil tankers can safely use the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that US operations have ensured continued maritime traffic.

Iraqi authorities have intercepted and destroyed four drones near Baghdad International Airport, according to the Iraqi state news agency.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has carried out attacks on US military bases in regional countries as part of the 39th phase of Operation “True Promise 4”.

The US military has issued a warning for civilians in Iran to “immediately” avoid all port facilities along the Strait of Hormuz where Iranian naval forces are active.

A statement from CENTCOM said: “Iranian dockworkers, administrative personnel, and commercial vessel crews should avoid Iranian naval vessels and military equipment.”

United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Defense says its air defense systems are currently responding to incoming missiles and drones launched from Iran, with loud explosions heard across the country as the systems intercept these aerial threats.

The ministry stressed that the sounds being reported are the result of air defence operations countering ballistic missile and drone attacks from Iran.

An Omani security source told Oman News Agency that several drones were intercepted while others struck fuel tanks at Salalah port.

Authorities said that specialized agencies are exerting all efforts to counter the attacks and ensure the security of the nation.

The Jordanian Public Security Directorate announced that civil defense and police teams have responded to 259 reports of incidents involving falling shrapnel across most provinces since February 28, 2026, with no new injuries reported.

Authorities urged citizens to follow official safety guidelines and to contact the unified emergency number 911 for any sightings.

The directorate emphasized not approaching any suspicious object under any circumstances due to the severe danger they may pose. Citizens are reminded that reporting such objects promptly helps prevent accidents and ensures public safety.

A series of powerful explosions were heard across Tehran on Wednesday, marking the twelfth day of the US–‘Israel’ conflict with Iran.

The targets of the blasts were not immediately clear, but smoke columns were seen rising from a site in eastern Tehran, according to AFP.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guards said that any vessel planning to cross the Strait of Hormuz must first obtain authorization from Iran, according to remarks reported by Iranian media.

The headquarters of the law enforcement command in the city of Borujerd in western Iran was destroyed and dozens of vehicles blown up by the impact. 

Iran's military on Wednesday said any ships belonging to the United States, 'Israel' or their allies passing through the strategic Strait of Hormuz could be targeted.

"Any vessel whose oil cargo or the vessel itself belongs to the United States, the Zionist regime or their hostile allies will be considered legitimate targets," said the military's central operational command, Khatam Al-Anbiya, in a statement carried by state TV.

It reiterated that Iran's armed forces "will not allow a single litre of oil to transit" through the strait.

Video posted on social media on Wednesday show several explosions in Tehran. 

A woman was killed by shrapnel in eastern Iraq after an airstrike targeted a weapons depot belonging to an Iran-aligned Iraqi armed faction, a security official and a medical source told AFP on Wednesday.

The security official said the strike hit a weapons warehouse linked to Asaib Ahl al-Haq in the district of Al-Suwaira District in Wasit Governorate.

He said the attack resulted in the death of an elderly woman and left her son seriously injured after shrapnel from the explosion struck their nearby home.

A medical source in the governorate confirmed that one woman was killed after debris scattered following the airstrike on the weapons storage facility.

Warning period ends in Jordan.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Wednesday they had targeted several US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain during the war with the United States and ‘Israel’.

"Key infrastructure at the US base at Mina Salman port, the nerve centre of the US Fifth Fleet... was hit by Iranian missiles and drones," the Guards said on their website Sepah News, referring to US installations in Bahrain.

"At the same time Camp Patriot (in Kuwait), including equipment hangars, accommodation and assembly centres for American soldiers at the Mohammed Al-Ahmad and Ali Al-Salem naval bases, also suffered heavy losses," they said, adding that they also attacked the Camp Buehring base in Kuwait.

The son of Iran's last shah, who has positioned himself as a potential alternative should the Islamic Republic fall, is urging Iranians to stay off the streets, stock essential supplies and continue nationwide strikes, describing the country's unrest as a "decisive stage" in the struggle against the Islamic Republic.

In a video message posted on X, he calls on Iran's military and security forces to break with the authorities and "join your people," telling them to await his "final call".

Air raid sirens sounded in northern and central ‘Israel’ after authorities reported a suspected drone infiltration near Rosh HaNikra and detected Iranian missiles heading toward central areas, according to the 'Israeli' Home Front Command.

Jordan sounds sirens amid escalating tensions in the region.

Iran on Wednesday accused the United States and ‘Israel’ of attacking a marine ambulance vessel that was docked at a port in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian media reports.

The Mehr News Agency said the vessel was stationed near Hormuz Island when it was struck by a missile attack. 

Local media did not report any casualties following the incident.

• Hackers disabled the website of the academy, redirecting visitors to a page warning that Hebrew will not be needed “for much longer,” alongside an image of Handala.

Hackers have taken down the official website of the Academy of the Hebrew Language, the institution responsible for regulating modern Hebrew in ‘Israel’.

On Wednesday, both the Hebrew and English versions of the academy’s website redirected visitors to a page carrying the message: “No need to learn Hebrew anymore. You won’t need it for much longer.”

The page displayed a logo of Handala Hack, a group linked to Iran. The hacking group has previously claimed responsibility for infiltrating devices belonging to 'Israeli' politicians.

Notably, Handala is a well known symbol of Palestinian resistance created in 1969 by Palestinian cartoonist Naji al-Ali. The character has long been associated with the Palestinian national movement.

Read more: Trump says Iran “welcome” to play in World Cup: FIFA chief

Read more: Middle East aviation crisis: departures plummet over 50% amid Iran war

Germany and Japan are set to release part of their strategic oil reserve to counter high energy prices as a result of the war in the Middle East

Germany's Economy and Energy Minister Katherina Reiche was due to address the media in Berlin shortly, a government source told AFP Wednesday

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told reporters on Wednesday: "Without waiting for a formal decision on coordinated international stock releases with the IEA, Japan has decided to take the lead in easing supply-and-demand in the international energy market by releasing strategic reserves as early as the 16th of this month”.

Iran's army said Wednesday it had targeted Israel's military intelligence agency, a naval base in Haifa, and an ‘Israeli’ radar system.

"Since this morning, the army of the Islamic republic has targeted the Israeli military intelligence directorate known as Aman, as well as Israeli military unit 8200, the Green Pine radar, and the submarine headquarters building at Haifa naval base," the army said in a statement broadcast by state TV.

It added that the attacks were ongoing.

‘Israel's’ military said Wednesday it had begun a new "wide-scale wave of strikes" across Iran and was also hitting Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanon's capital Beirut.

The fresh strikes targeting what the ‘Israeli’ army called "Iranian terror regime infrastructure" came on the 12th day of the US-‘Israeli’ war with Tehran.

‘Israeli’ strikes shake the southern suburbs of Lebanon's capital Beirut, after ‘Israel’ issued evacuation warnings. 

Lebanon was drawn into the war when Hezbollah attacked ‘Israel’ in response to the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-‘Israeli’ strikes.

Palestinian man shares a video from inside his house in the West Bank city of Salfit, which caught fire following an Iranian missile salvo on Wednesday. 

A Thai bulk carrier travelling in the crucial Strait of Hormuz was attacked Wednesday, with 20 crew members rescued so far, the Thai navy said.

"The Thai-flagged bulk carrier 'Mayuree Naree'... was attacked while transiting the Strait of Hormuz," after departing from a port in the United Arab Emirates, the navy said in a statement.

"Efforts are currently underway to rescue the remaining three crew members," while 20 were rescued by the Omani navy, it said, adding that the cause of the attack was under investigation.

‘Israeli’ strikes have killed 570 people in Lebanon since the Middle East war spread to the country on March 2, the health ministry said on Wednesday.

The ministry provided a demographic breakdown of those killed, reporting that 439 of them were men, 45 women, and 86 children.

The toll includes 14 healthcare workers, the ministry said.

Smoke billows into the air after an ‘Israeli’ strike hit a building in central Beirut.

The ‘Israeli’ strike on an apartment in the Aisha Bakkar neighbourhood on Wednesday was the second targeting the heart of the Lebanese capital since the start of the latest war with Iran-backed Hezbollah.

Dascham footage of an unidentified projectile landing in a dish farm (antenna farm) in Western Jerusalem, amid the ‘Israeli’-US war against Iran.

The United Arab Emirates is “responding” to missiles and drones fired from Iran at the Gulf country.

“UAE air defences are currently responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran,” the UAE’s Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

“The sounds heard are the result of the Air Defence Systems intercepting missiles and drones”.

Iran's military vowed on Wednesday to launch strikes against US and ‘Israeli’ economic targets in the region, including banks, after overnight attacks reportedly hit an Iranian bank.

"The enemy has given us free rein to target economic centres and banks belonging to the United States and the Zionist regime," said the military's central operational command, Khatam Al-Anbiya, in a statement carried by state TV.

Iranian media said US and ‘Israeli’ strikes hit a bank in Tehran overnight, killing an unspecified number of employees.

 All-clear sirens sound across Jordan

Warning sirens sound across Jordan

Two drones “fell” in the vicinity of Dubai International Airport on Wednesday morning, Dubai’s media office said in a statement on X.

The incident resulted in minor injuries to two Ghanaian nationals and one Bangladeshi national, and moderate injuries to one Indian national, according to the statement.

Air traffic is operating as normal, the office also reported.

A second container ship was hit off the coast of the UAE by an unidentified projectile on Wednesday, a British maritime security agency said, as Iran presses attacks on the Gulf and Strait of Hormuz.

"The master of a bulk carrier has reported their vessel being hit by an unknown projectile. There is no report of any environmental impact. The crew are reported safe and well," said the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations.

It said the incident took place 50 nautical miles northwest of Dubai.

Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei is "safe and sound,” said the son of the Iranian president on Wednesday, after reports came out recently that he was injured in the opening strikes of the US-’Israeli’ war on Iran.

"I heard news that Mr Mojtaba Khamenei had been injured. I have asked some friends who had connections. They told me that, thank God, he is safe and sound," said Yousef Pezeshkian, who is also a government adviser, in a post on his Telegram channel.

State television had called Khamenei a "wounded veteran of the Ramadan war" but never specified his injury.

Media reports said he was injured in the leg.

Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared in public since the start of the war and his ascension to the country’s leadership.

Video by the Saudi Arabian military during a large-scale military exercise, highlighting what they said is operational readiness, amid the ongoing US-‘Israeli’ strike on Iran.

Video released by the Kuwaiti Ministry of Defense showing off the Gulf country’s military, amid the Iranian strikes on neighbouring countries in retaliation for the ‘Israeli’-US campaign against the Islamic Republic.

An unknown projectile hit a cargo ship in the strategic Strait of Hormuz abutting Iran, causing a fire and forcing the crew to evacuate, a maritime security agency said on Wednesday.

"It has been reported that a cargo vessel has been hit by an unknown projectile in the Straits of Hormuz which has resulted in a fire onboard," the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said.

Several blasts rang out across the Qatari capital Doha on Wednesday, as Iran's retaliatory strikes on the Gulf entered a twelfth day.

"The security threat level is high," the interior ministry posted on X, urging "everyone to adhere to staying at home, not going out, and staying away from windows and open areas to preserve public safety".

Iran's top police officer warned protesters who support the positions of the country's enemies that they would be treated as such by authorities, according to footage posted by state broadcaster IRIB late on Tuesday.

"If anyone comes forward in line with the wishes of the enemy, we will no longer see them as merely a protester, we will see them as an enemy. And we will do to them what we do to an enemy. We will deal with them in the same way we deal with enemies," said national police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan in comments aired by IRIB.

"All our forces are also ready, with their hands on the trigger, prepared to defend their revolution."

An 'Israeli' airstrike targeted a residential apartment in central Beirut’s Aisha Bakkar neighborhood.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Wednesday that at least two missiles targeted a United States base in Kuwait, according to Iranian news agencies Fars and Mehr.

"The American base in Arifjan was... hit by firing 2 missiles by the IRGC Ground Force missile unit," the Guards said, Fars and Mehr reported, referring to Camp Arifjan located south of Kuwait City.

Kuwaiti authorities have not yet commented on the reports.

The United Arab Emirates said Wednesday that its air defence systems were trying to intercept missiles and drones launched from Iran, after Tehran said it had fired a new salvo against US targets in the region.

"UAE air defences are currently responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran," the UAE defence ministry said in a post on X, adding sounds of explosions were a result of the systems "intercepting missiles and drones".

Saudi Arabia said on Wednesday that it had intercepted seven ballistic missiles in separate attacks targeting an air base and its eastern region.

"Six ballistic missiles launched towards Prince Sultan Air Base intercepted and destroyed," the Saudi defence ministry posted on X, adding in a separate post that it had intercepted another ballistic missile launched "towards the eastern region".

Qatar Airways will operate 29 flights to and from Doha on Thursday after "temporary authorisation from the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority", the company has announced.

"Following temporary authorisation from the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority allowing limited operating corridors, Qatar Airways plans to operate select flights in the coming days to support passengers affected by the disruption," the company said in a post on X late Tuesday.

The flights include departures to London, New York and Madrid, even as Iran continues its retaliatory strikes across the Gulf.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard said the 37th wave of Operation True Promise IV, which they just lauched targeted bases in Erbil and the U.S. Fifth Fleet, with the rocket barrage expected to continue for at least three hours.

'Israel's' military said Wednesday it had begun a "wave" of strikes allegedly on Hezbollah targets in Beirut alongside new bombing on Iran.

"In parallel to the strikes in Iran: The IDF has begun a wave of strikes in Beirut. A short while ago, the IDF has begun strikes against Hezbollah infrastructure in Dahieh, Beirut," the IOF said on its official Telegram account.

A fresh salvo of Iranian rockets has been fired toward 'Israel'.

Iranian television reported a fresh wave of rockets fired toward the U.S. military base in Bahrain, highlighting ongoing regional tensions.

The official spokesperson of the Saudi Ministry of Defense said two drones targeting the Shaybah oil field were intercepted and destroyed over the Rub’ al Khali desert.

Sources reported hearing explosions near the U.S. consulate in Erbil amid rising attacks in Iraq.

The US military said Tuesday it has destroyed 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels "near the Strait of Hormuz," following reports Tehran is mining the key waterway that has been virtually closed due to the Middle East war.

"US forces eliminated multiple Iranian naval vessels, March 10, including 16 minelayers near the Strait of Hormuz," the United States Central Command said in a post on X that included video footage of various boats being struck by projectiles and exploding.

The sound of explosions was reported in multiple locations across central 'Israel'.

Warning period ends in Jordan

Sirens blare in Jordan

All civilian aircraft stationed at Bahrain International Airport (BAH) appear to have been evacuated and relocated to alternative airports, according to reports from industry observers.

The operation involved the departure of 17 planes, leaving the airport virtually empty of commercial activity.

Reportedly, nine aircraft belonged to Gulf Air, Bahrain's national carrier, while seven were cargo planes primarily operated by DHL.

Additionally, one plane from Air India Express was among those relocated.

The video shows the aircraft heading toward destinations such as Riyadh in Saudi Arabia and other nearby hubs like Dammam and Muscat in Oman.

Sudden evacuation of 17 commercial and cargo aircraft from #Bahrain International Airport to other airports.#IranWar‌ #Bahreïn pic.twitter.com/bdXsXKpaej

— Contact Lines (@Izo526470677386) March 10, 2026

The move comes amid the ‘Israeli’-US war on Iran. It appears to be a precautionary measure to protect assets from potential threats.

Bahrain's Civil Aviation Authority has not yet issued an official statement on the evacuation.

The airport, a key hub for Gulf Air and a stopover for international carriers, typically handles millions of passengers annually.

‘Israeli’ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Port of Ashdod on Tuesday, saying the ports, skies, and the economy are all fully operational and working with “tremendous force,” amid the US-‘Israeli’ war on Iran. 

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense said air defenses intercepted and destroyed two drones over the Empty Quarter desert that were heading toward the Shaybah oil field.

Jordan activates all-clear alarm

Sirens activated in Jordan amid danger

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it carried out the 36th wave of “Operation True Promise IV” targeting sites in the ‘Israel’ and US bases, according to a statement.

The IRGC added that the latest wave involved the use of Qadr, Emad, and Kheibar Shekan missiles, in addition to suicide drones, as part of the operation.

US President Donald Trump warned Iran on Tuesday not to mine the Strait of Hormuz, after Tehran vowed that no Gulf oil would pass through the key waterway while the Middle East war is ongoing.

"If for any reason mines were placed, and they are not removed forthwith, the Military consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before," Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform.

Explosions were reported in the Iranian capital Tehran, state media Mehr News agency reported on Tuesday night.

The ‘Israeli’ military released a statement saying they carried out “combined strikes” in Tehran and Tabriz, claiming they struck central command centers.

The targets, according to the ‘Israeli’ military:

• A special units command center in Tabriz
• An “Imam Hassan” security unit military compound in Tehran
• A command center for the security unit responsible for ballistic missile launches and artillery fire
• A command center for the Intelligence and General Security Police in Maragheh Province
• A large Basij forces compound in Tabriz

Iran is not seeking a ceasefire in the war against the United States and ‘Israel’, the powerful Iranian parliament speaker said on Tuesday, adding that the "aggressor" should be punished.

"Certainly we aren't seeking a ceasefire," Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, a former top commander in Iran's Revolutionary Guards and key figure after the killing of former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, wrote in an English-language X post.

"We believe the aggressor must be punished and taught a lesson that will deter them from attacking Iran again," he added.

The Qatar Ministry of Defense said its forces successfully intercepted a new missile attack targeting the country.

In a statement, the ministry confirmed that the latest wave of strikes was neutralized, preventing any harm to civilian or military infrastructure.

The ministry did not mention details on the origin of the missiles or potential casualties.

The United States has not escorted any oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz, the White House confirmed Tuesday, after the energy secretary deleted a post that had said so and Iran issued a denial.

"I can confirm that the US Navy has not escorted a tanker or a vessel at this time, though of course that's an option," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told a briefing.

Explosions were heard on Tuesday in Bahrain's capital Manama, as Iran continued its retaliatory strikes across the Gulf, per AFP. 

Bahrain has been targeted by waves of Iranian drones and missiles, which have so far killed two people in the country, according to authorities.

The US Defense Department releases images of a destroyer firing a Tomahawk missile at sea on March 9 and a warship conducting flight operations on March 7 in support of Operation Epic Fury, as the war drags on in the Middle East.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Tuesday that no US Navy vessel has "dared" approach the Strait of Hormuz, after a senior official in Washington said a warship had escorted a tanker through the strategic waterway.

"None of the US warships have dared to approach even the Sea of Oman, the Persian Gulf or the Strait of Hormuz during the war," Guards spokesman Ali Mohammad Naini said, calling the claim a "pure falsehood".

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright had initially said the navy had escorted an oil tanker through the strait, but the post was deleted minutes after it was published.

Lebanese displaced by ‘Israeli’ bombardment take shelter at Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium in Beirut.

Jordan activates all-clear sirens

Sirens sound in Jordan amid regional tensions.

Three explosions were heard in the Iranian capital Tehran on Tuesday evening, more than a week into the Middle East war that began with US-‘Israeli’ strikes on the Islamic republic, according to AFP.

There was no immediate information as to the intended targets.

A post by US Energy Secretary Chris Wright saying that the US Navy had escorted an oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz was deleted on Tuesday, minutes after his account had posted it.

Markets have been roiled by the US-‘Israel’ war on Iran, and oil dropped sharply after Wright's initial announcement. It pared back some of those losses after the post was deleted.

British Airways has temporarily suspended flights to several Middle East destinations, including Amman, citing ongoing uncertainty and airspace instability across the region.

The airline said it has cancelled all flights to and from Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai and Tel Aviv until later this month, while flights to and from Abu Dhabi will remain suspended until later this year. The decision comes as tensions and security concerns continue to affect regional airspace.

British Airways stated that it is closely monitoring the situation and remains in contact with affected passengers to provide alternative travel options.

To assist stranded travelers, the airline scheduled a series of repatriation flights from Muscat in Oman to London Heathrow earlier in March. Several of these flights, including services on March 5, 6, 7 and 8, quickly reached full capacity due to high demand.

Additional flights from Muscat were later arranged for March 9, 10, 11 and 12, departing at 02:30 local time. The airline said limited seats remain available for passengers who already hold bookings and are currently in Oman or the United Arab Emirates.

British Airways advised travelers not to head to airports unless they hold confirmed bookings and urged passengers to follow safety guidance issued by local authorities and the United Kingdom’s Foreign Office.

The airline said it will continue reviewing conditions in the region and may add further flights if circumstances allow.

Lebanon's government said on Tuesday that nearly 760,000 people had been registered as displaced since the outbreak of the new war between ‘Israel’ and Hezbollah.

In an updated figure, the government's disaster management unit said the total number of people who registered their names on a website affiliated with the social affairs ministry reached 759,300, including 122,600 people staying in government shelters.

The United Nations rights chief voiced alarm Tuesday at the deepening impact of the Middle East conflict on civilians, warning of the dangers of the seeming "tit-for-tat dynamic" between the warring sides.

"This apparent tit-for-tat dynamic, involving essential infrastructure with extremely significant civilian impacts, will only increase risks for civilian populations more broadly, with potentially dire consequences across the entire region," Volker Turk said in a statement.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says attacks on Iran will ramp up Tuesday with the heaviest strikes since Washington launched the war 10 days ago.

"Today will be yet again our most intense day of strikes inside Iran," Hegseth tells a news conference at the Pentagon.

Iran launched a new salvo of missiles on Tuesday at ‘Israeli’ settlements including Tel Aviv and US targets in the region, the Revolutionary Guards said, as fighting between the foes showed no signs of letting up.

The latest salvo utilised "strategic" missiles, including some of the most powerful in Iran's arsenal, such as the Fattah, Emad and Khaibar missiles, the Guards said in their statement.

Air raid sirens sounded in the northern town of Kiryat Shmona after rockets were launched from Lebanon, according to initial reports.

Smoke billows from the site of an ‘Israeli’ air strike in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital Beirut.

Footage posted on social media showing smoke rising in the city Qods, Iran, amid the US-‘Israeli’ war on the Islamic Republic.

Iranian state television announced the launch of a new wave of missiles toward 'Israel', while 'Israeli' media said a missile fell west of Jerusalem.

According to initial reports, no injuries were immediately reported.

Warning period ends in Jordan, minutes after danger alert was activated.

Sirens blare in Jordan amid ongoing regional tensions.

Fatih Birol, the executive director of the International Energy Agency, said IEA member government representatives would meet Tuesday to assess "the current security of supply and market conditions" amid the US-‘Israel’ war on Iran.

"I have convened an extraordinary meeting of IEA member governments, which will take place later today to assess the current security of supply and market conditions to inform a subsequent decision on whether to make emergency stocks of IEA countries available to the market," Birol said following a meeting of G7 energy ministers.

Iran’s intelligence ministry announced on Tuesday the arrests of 30 people accused of spying, including one foreigner, on the 11th day of the Middle East war.

The foreigner, whose nationality was not revealed, “was spying on behalf of two Persian Gulf countries in the name of the American-Zionist enemy” and was arrested in northeastern Iran, the ministry said in a statement published by the judiciary’s Mizan Online news portal.

A strike hit Beirut's southern suburbs on Tuesday, state media reported, after the 'Israeli' military renewed its warning for people to evacuate the area.

"Israeli warplanes launched a raid a short while ago on the southern suburbs, the first after the warning issued by the enemy," Lebanon's state-run National News Agency said.

Footage showed smoke rising from the southern suburbs, where Hezbollah holds sway, while the 'Israeli' military said it began "striking Hezbollah infrastructure" in the area.

The aftermath of an 'Israeli' airstrike that leveled a multi-story building in the coastal city of Tyre.

This video shows a massive plume of white and gray smoke billowing over residential blocks, followed by the sight of the structural wreckage.

The UAE Ministry of Defense said its air defenses detected nine ballistic missiles on Tuesday, intercepting eight while one fell into the sea.

In a statement, the ministry added that 35 drones were also detected during the day. Air defenses intercepted 26 of them, while nine drones fell within the country’s territory.

All-clear sirens activate in Jordan

Sirens blare in Jordan

All-clear sirens activate in Jordan

Sirens blare in Jordan amid ongoing regional tensions. 

Sirens blare in Jordan signaling the end of the warning period.

A fire broke out at a facility inside the Al-Ruways Industrial Complex in Abu Dhabi after it was targeted by a drone, according to the Abu Dhabi Media Office.

Authorities said specialized teams are currently responding to the blaze at the industrial site.

Sirens blare in Jordan amid ongoing regional tensions.

The United States has lost 11 MQ‑9 Reaper drones so far, according to CBS, citing two unnamed military sources.

The drones, used for surveillance and strike missions, have a combined estimated value of $330 million, the sources said.

New footage released by the Iranian Red Crescent shows the extensive destruction in the Resaleh neighborhood of Tehran following a night of heavy airstrikes.

The video captures rescue workers navigating through the ruins of collapsed apartment buildings and commercial structures. Dust and smoke continue to rise from the debris as emergency teams search for survivors in the wreckage. Resaleh, a densely populated residential area, was caught in the crossfire during a wave of coalition strikes targeting nearby government and military installations.

The General Command of Bahrain’s Defense Force announced today that its air defense systems have successfully intercepted and destroyed 105 missiles and 176 drones targeting the kingdom since the beginning of the Iranian aggression.

The command praised the "advanced combat readiness and vigilance" of its personnel, saying their operations ensure the kingdom’s airspace remains secure.

Nine hospitals in Iran are no longer operational after sustained air attacks by the United States and ‘Israel’, a parliamentary health committee member said Tuesday.

Mohammad Jamalian, a lawmaker on the health committee, told Iranian media that the strikes have forced hospitals to cease working and damaged other emergency departments and health centres across the country.

Jamalian said non‑essential procedures such as cosmetic surgeries have been suspended. He added that pharmaceutical stockpiles are sufficient for at least six months even as the health system responds to mounting war injuries.

Nationwide, more than a thousand injured people are being treated as inpatients, he said.

During a late-night visit to 'Israel's' National Health Emergency Operations Center, 'Israeli' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a stern warning to the Iranian leadership, stating that the ongoing military campaign is far from over.

The Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority announced the extension of the country’s airspace closure to all arriving, departing, and overflying aircraft for 72 hours.

The measure, described as a “temporary precautionary” step, takes effect at 12 p.m. today and will last until the same time on Friday.

“This decision is based on the ongoing assessment of the security situation and regional developments, and it will be reviewed in light of any new updates,” the authority said.

Iran is experiencing one of the most severe government‑imposed internet blackouts on record, according to the global monitoring group NetBlocks. The shutdown has drastically cut connectivity, leaving most of the country offline or limited to tightly controlled domestic networks.

The nationwide disruption, triggered in late February amid regional war, has reduced internet access to around one percent of normal levels and persisted into its tenth day.

NetBlocks says the scale and duration of the outage place it among the longest and most complete worldwide shutdowns ever documented.

Update: At 240 hours, #Iran's internet blackout is now among the most severe government-imposed nationwide internet shutdowns on record globally, and the second longest registered in Iran after the January protests, with the country having spent a third of 2026 offline. pic.twitter.com/LPoVkOI9MM

— NetBlocks (@netblocks) March 10, 2026

Sirens blare in Jordan signaling the end of the warning period.

Sirens blare in Jordan amid ongoing regional tensions.

An 'Israeli' has died from wounds sustained in an Iranian rocket attack on central 'Israel' on Monday, according to Ynet.

The Iranian army announced that it carried out drone attacks on oil and gas refineries and fuel storage sites in Haifa, part of the ongoing conflict with 'Israel'.

'Israel' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the country hopes to see the Iranian people end what he called "tyrannical rule".

He added that the decision ultimately rests with the Iranian people themselves, emphasizing that 'Israel' would not dictate the outcome.

The Iranian government reported that US and 'Israeli' attacks have killed 193 children, describing the strikes as an effort to divide the country rather than promote democracy or freedom.

A government spokesperson emphasized that any mediation efforts must occur under a full ceasefire and ensure such attacks do not happen again.

'Israel' is preparing for a sustained military campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon, anticipating a longer operation than its recent actions against Iran, according to the Financial Times.

The report cites sources indicating the 'Israeli' army aims to weaken Hezbollah to reduce long-term threats to northern towns. 'Israel' currently holds at least 12 advanced positions along the Lebanese border.

Officials reportedly discussed a potential strike on Hezbollah even before beginning operations against Iran. Meanwhile, the Lebanese army has withdrawn from nearly all positions along the so-called Blue Line in southern Lebanon.

The development signals a potential escalation along the northern frontier, as 'Israel' positions itself for a campaign that could extend weeks or months.

Iran's foreign minister said Tuesday his country was prepared to continue attacks for as long as necessary and ruled out talks after President Donald Trump said the war with Iran would be over "very soon".

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told US broadcaster PBS News that his country was prepared to continue missile attacks and that negotiations with the United States were no longer on the agenda.

The United Arab Emirates said early Tuesday that its consulate general in Iraqi Kurdistan was targeted in a drone attack, leaving damage but no casualties.

A foreign ministry statement said the attack "represents a dangerous escalation and a threat to regional security and stability", adding that "targeting diplomatic missions and premises constitutes a flagrant violation of all international norms and laws".

The statement did not say where the drone had been launched from and called on local authorities to "investigate the circumstances of this attack to identify those responsible".

US Vice President JD Vance attends the dignified transfer ceremony for the seventh soldier killed in the Middle East war.

US Army Sgt. Benjamin Pennington, 26, died March 8 from injuries sustained in a March 1 strike on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.

Vance was joined by Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth and General Dan Caine, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, at Dover Air Force Base in the eastern state of Delaware.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi issued a warning on social media, accusing the United States of using neighboring Gulf states' territory to launch HIMARS rocket attacks against Iran, including civilian infrastructure like a desalination plant.

In a post that has garnered over 1.5 million views, Araghchi sarcastically thanked US Central Command (CENTCOM) for "admitting" the use of these systems and suggested that Iran could destroy them "wherever they are" in retribution without complaint from others.

Thank you CENTCOM for admitting that you are using our neighbors' territory to deploy HIMARS systems against our people, apparently including a desalination plant.

Nobody should complain if our powerful missiles destroy these systems wherever they are in retribution. pic.twitter.com/0qA5Oj5Jao

— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) March 9, 2026

The post references footage and reports of HIMARS launches from Kuwait and Bahrain, despite public denials from those governments.

Araghchi's statement comes amid the ongoing US-led Operation Epic Fury, a military campaign initiated on February 28, aimed at what the US and 'Israel' claim is dismantling Iran's nuclear and missile capabilities, as well as its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) infrastructure.

Background on Epic Fury

Operation Epic Fury, directed by US President Donald Trump, marks the largest concentration of U.S. military power in the region in decades. It began with coordinated strikes alongside Israel's Operation Roaring Lion, targeting IRGC command centers, air defenses, missile sites, and military airfields.

The White House has described the operation as "peace through strength," emphasizing the destruction of Iran's missile arsenal, navy, and nuclear ambitions.

By March 5, estimates from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) pegged the first 100 hours of the campaign at $3.7 billion, driven largely by munitions expenditures.

The conflict escalated rapidly after the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in initial strikes, prompting Iranian retaliation against US bases in Gulf states.

Iran has launched hundreds of missiles and drones at sites in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and others, claiming they are targeting American assets rather than the host nations.

‘Israeli’ strikes hit southern and eastern Lebanon overnight, state media reported on Tuesday/ 

"Enemy warplanes launched strikes overnight on the towns of Almajadel, Shaqra, and Srifa," the National News Agency (NNA) reported, adding strikes had also taken place in the Bekaa Valley.

The United Arab Emirates said it was intercepting a drone and missile attack from Iran on Tuesday.

"UAE air defences are currently responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran," the defence ministry posted on X.

Videos released by the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) showing what they say are airstrikes against hidden Iranian missile launchers during their “Operation Epic Fury”.  

The spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya military headquarters said that Iranian air defenses successfully shot down two American MQ-9 Reaper drones over Bushehr province in southern Iran.

Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters is the unified combatant command headquarters of the Iranian Armed Forces, under direct command of the General Staff. It is tasked with planning and coordinating joint military operations within the Iranian forces.

The spokesman said the interception was carried out with high precision to protect strategic centers, coinciding with Iranian defense systems in Tehran reportedly intercepting and destroying several cruise missiles aimed at vital locations.

Coordinated offensive targets US positions

The headquarters claimed coordinated strikes targeted assembly points and supply depots of the US Army at the Al-Adair Camp in Kuwait, claiming that it destroyed a significant portion of military equipment.

"They are safe here and they should feel at home here," says Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese after five players in Iran's visiting women's football team took asylum in Australia over fears of persecution at home for not singing the national anthem before a match.

US President Donald Trump vowed Tuesday to hit Iran “TWENTY TIMES HARDER” if it stops the flow of oil within the Strait of Hormuz.

“If Iran does anything that stops the flow of Oil within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States of America TWENTY TIMES HARDER than they have been hit thus far,” Trump said on Truth Social.

“Additionally, we will take out easily destroyable targets that will make it virtually impossible for Iran to ever be built back, as a Nation, again — Death, Fire, and Fury will reign upon them.”

Trump called this a gift from the United States to China, and all countries that rely on the Hormuz Strait for their oil imports.

Five players in Iran's visiting women's football team have taken asylum in Australia over fears of persecution at home for not singing the national anthem before a match, the government said Tuesday.

The Iranian players' silence during the anthem ahead of an Asian Cup tournament match in Australia last week was widely seen as an act of defiance against the Islamic republic.

Five players escaped the team hotel on Australia's Gold Coast overnight, holing up in a "safe location" while lodging their claims for asylum, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said.

"They were moved to a safe location by Australian police. I signed off last night on their applications for humanitarian visas," he told reporters.

"They are welcome to stay in Australia, and they are safe here, and should feel at home here."

The government said it was also ready to help other team members if they need it.

US President Donald Trump earlier said he had spoken with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to confirm the women were safe.

Bahrain's interior ministry said early Tuesday an Iranian attack on a residential area in the capital Manama killed one person and injured others.

"Initial reports indicate one person died and others were injured in a blatant Iranian attack targeting a residential building in the capital," the ministry said.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Tuesday they would "determine the end of the war" in the Middle East after US President Donald Trump said the conflict would end "soon".

"It is we who will determine the end of the war," the Guards said in a statement.

"The equations and future status of the region are now in the hands of our armed forces; American forces will not end the war," the statement added.

President Donald Trump says the US has struck more than 5,000 targets in 10 days of the Iran war.

"We've struck over 5,000 targets to date, some of them very major targets," he says at his golf club in Doral, Florida.

The Syrian army said Hezbollah launched “projectiles” toward its positions near the town of Sargaya, with the projectiles landing inside Syrian territory, according to a statement carried by the state news agency SANA.

The Syrian army said it had observed the arrival of reinforcements belonging to what it called “Hezbollah militias” along the Syrian-Lebanese border and was assessing the situation.

The Syrian army added that it is in contact with the Lebanese army and is studying “appropriate options to take the necessary measures.”

Bahrain's interior ministry said early Tuesday an Iranian attack on a residential area in the capital Manama killed one person and injured others.

"Initial reports indicate one person died and others were injured in a blatant Iranian attack targeting a residential building in the capital," the ministry said.

The United States is investigating a deadly strike on a school in the opening days of the US-Israeli war on Iran, President Donald Trump said on Monday.

"That's being investigated right now," Trump said of the strike on an elementary school in the southern city of Minab, which Iran said killed more than 150 people.

"Whatever the report shows, I'm willing to live with that report," Trump said, adding he did not "know enough about" the strike while also suggesting Iran may have used a Tomahawk missile -- a weapon it does not possess -- to hit the school itself.

US President Donald Trump on Monday threatened a larger attack on Iran if it blocks supplies of oil, whose prices have spiked over the Middle East war.

"I will not allow a terrorist regime to hold the world hostage and attempt to stop the globe's oil supply. And if Iran does anything to do that, they'll get hit at a much, much harder level," Trump told a news conference in Florida.

US President Donald Trump said Monday that the war on Iran would end soon, without setting a date, as he claimed the US-‘Israeli’ attack had achieved objectives.

"It's going to be ended soon, and if it starts up again they'll be hit even harder," Trump told a news conference.

The United States struck more than 5,000 targets during the first 10 days of the Iran war, the US military said on Monday.

Among the targets were more than 50 Iranian vessels, US Central Command -- which is responsible for American forces in the region -- said in a fact sheet.

Other targets include air defense systems, ballistic missile sites, missile and drone manufacturing, and military communications, the military command said.

US President Donald Trump says that the war against Iran will be a "short-term excursion".

"We took a little excursion because we felt we had to do that to get rid of some people. And I think you'll see it's going to be a short-term excursion," Trump tells a gathering of Republicans at his golf club in Doral, Florida.

President Donald Trump said Monday that the war against Iran would be a "short-term excursion," while insisting that the United States and ‘Israel’ "haven't won enough" against Tehran.

Trump's comments at a gathering of congressional Republicans at his golf club in Doral, Florida cast further uncertainty over his timeline after he said in a CBS News interview that the conflict was "very complete, pretty much."

"We took a little excursion because we felt we had to do that to get rid of some people. And I think you'll see it's going to be a short-term excursion," Trump said in a speech.

The 79-year-old repeated his boasts about the destruction of the Iranian navy, air force and missile program.

But Trump -- whose earlier CBS comments indicating an end to the war was in sight had caused stocks to jump and oil prices to drop -- added that the United States and ‘Israel’ had more to do.

"We've already won in many ways, but we haven't won enough," Trump said, calling for "ultimate victory" against Iran.

Referring to the killing of former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other Iranian leaders, Trump added that the United States "will not relent until the enemy is totally and decisively defeated."

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian spoke by phone with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday, after an incoming Iranian missile was intercepted in Turkey's airspace.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran has always declared its readiness to reduce tension in the region; provided that the airspace, soil and waters of our neighbours are not used to attack the Iranian people," Pezeshkian said in a statement about the call.

The missile was the second fired from Iran to be shot down in Turkish airspace in five days.

Oman News Agency reported that Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman sent a congratulatory message to Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei on his selection as the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Earlier on Sunday, the foreign minister of Oman said "the action taken by Israel and the United States against Iran was immoral and illegal."

He also described Iran’s retaliatory strikes against neighboring countries as “deeply regrettable and unacceptable,” urging restraint to prevent further escalation in the region.

The spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Military Headquarters said Iranian forces targeted five United States military bases overnight, including the US Fifth Fleet.

Iranian media reported the start of a new wave of missile attacks carried out by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps under the leadership of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense announced that its forces intercepted and destroyed three Iranian drones. 

Donald Trump said the war involving Iran has largely ended and could conclude soon, according to remarks reported by CBS. Trump stated the conflict has progressed far ahead of the initial timeline his administration estimated at four to five weeks.

Trump also revealed he has considered a potential figure to replace Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, without providing further details about the individual.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin confirmed that Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone call to discuss Iran and Ukraine. According to Moscow, the conversation was “constructive and frank,” with Putin presenting several proposals aimed at quickly ending the war involving Iran.

Warning period ends in Jordan as authorities sound the all-clear signal.

The Wall Street Journal, citing US officials, reported that President of the United States Donald Trump told his aides he would back the assassination of Mojtaba Khamenei if the new Iranian Supreme Leader does not meet his demands.

US sources also indicated that 'Israel' is likely to carry out an operation targeting Khamenei, reflecting heightened tensions over Iran’s leadership transition and regional security.

Sirens blare in Jordan amid regional tensions.

Emir of Kuwait said the country faced an attack from a neighboring state it considers a sister, despite not using its territory or airspace against it.

He affirmed Kuwait’s ability to overcome challenges, citing historical hardships that strengthened the nation.

The Emir stressed the full right to defend the country in response to the blatant aggression in accordance with the law.

He added that attacks on sister states threaten the security of the entire region and announced measures to raise readiness while maintaining public calm.

Iranian Foreign Ministry official Abbas Araghchi stated that Tehran will not allow the United States to launch attacks from bases in the region. He emphasized that Iran’s measures are defensive, not aimed at neighboring countries, but are focused on deterring sources of aggression.

The State of Qatar expressed full solidarity with the United Arab Emirates following the deaths of two UAE armed forces personnel.

In a statement, the Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed its support for all measures taken by Abu Dhabi to preserve its security and national sovereignty, highlighting the shared responsibility and unity of Gulf states amid regional threats.

The UAE soldiers were killed amid a series of regional drone and missile attacks, part of ongoing hostilities linked to US and ‘Israeli’ operations against Iran.

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan expressed its deepest condolences to the United Arab Emirates following the deaths of two UAE armed forces personnel.

The soldiers were killed when a helicopter crashed due to a technical fault while performing their national duties.

In a statement, the Jordan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates affirmed Jordan’s solidarity with the UAE government and people, offering heartfelt sympathy to the families of the two fallen soldiers.

Two deaths in UAE

UAE Ministry of Defense had announced that two members of the country’s armed forces were martyred in a helicopter crash caused by a technical malfunction while carrying out their national duties on Monday, March 9, 2026.

The ministry extended its deepest condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers, praying for God’s mercy on the martyrs and for patience and comfort for their loved ones.

In a solemn ceremony marked by grief and reverence, Kuwait laid to rest two border guards who were killed while performing their national duty following a cross-border attack attributed to Iran.

The official military funeral took place at Sulaibikhat Cemetery west of Kuwait City, with police officers carrying the coffins draped in the national flag. Senior officials, family members, and mourners attended the service to pay their last respects.

His Majesty King Abdullah II on Monday participated in a meeting via teleconference with leaders from countries in the region and the European Union to discuss the escalation in the Middle East.

During the meeting, His Majesty expressed appreciation for the support provided by EU countries to Jordan and Arab states, and their solidarity in response to the escalating situation, emphasising the need for continued cooperation and coordination to protect civilians, and achieve comprehensive and sustainable calm.

The King warned of the danger of attempts to expand the conflict by targeting a number of secure and stable Arab countries, underscoring the importance of utilising diplomacy and dialogue to end increasing tensions in the region.

His Majesty reaffirmed that Jordan will continue to take all necessary measures to protect its security, stability, and ensure the safety of its citizens, praising the Iraqi government’s efforts to de-escalate and contain tensions in the region. 

The King warned of the developments in Lebanon and Israel’s attacks on Lebanese territory, affirming Jordan’s continued support for the Lebanese people in their efforts to maintain their security, stability, and sovereignty.
His Majesty also warned that, in the midst of this regional crisis, Israel is seeking to escalate the latest conflict and exploit the situation to continue its attacks on Gaza and the West Bank during the holy month of Ramadan.

Participants in the meeting included European Council President António Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Egypt President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, Lebanon President Gen. Joseph Aoun, Syria President Ahmad Al Sharaa, Bahrain Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and Kuwait Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al Ahmad Al Sabah.

Qatar Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, United Arab Emirates Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Iraq Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al Sudani, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Oman Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidi, Türkiye Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, and Armenia Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan also participated in the meeting.

Alert period ends in Jordan.

Sirens blare in Jordan minutes after residents started breaking their fast.

All-clear sirens blare in Jordan

Sirens sound in Jordan amid regional tensions.

A senior official familiar with strategic planning told The Washington Post that Iran is not expected to surrender, even as US and ’Israel’ aerial operations near key military objectives. Reuters and other reporting show US leadership is demanding that Iran halt its resistance or face increased force, including calls for unconditional surrender, but Tehran shows no sign of capitulating.

The official noted rising costs of the war and questioned the feasibility of overthrowing the Iranian regime, saying outright regime change may not be in ‘Israel’s’ or Washington’s interest at this stage. They added that while military pressure has degraded some Iranian capabilities, there is no clear successor force ready to replace the current government.

In a continuing wave of precision strikes, another branch of the Al-Qard Al-Hassan Association, this one located on the critical Airport Road in Beirut, has been hit. New footage captures the moment of impact as a powerful explosion tears through the building's lower levels, sending a massive shockwave across the highway and surrounding commercial areas.

The US embassy in Ankara has warned American citizens not to travel to southeast Turkey, raising its advisory to level four, the highest warning level.

Turkish defense authorities said they shot down an Iranian missile, with its shrapnel landing in an open area near Gaziantep.

An airstrike struck a Popular Mobilization Forces base near Mosul, Iraqi security sources told Agence France-Presse.

A small fire broke out at Kuwait’s Al-Subiya power station after shrapnel from a drone hit a fuel tank, the Ministry of Electricity reported.

Sirens blare in Jordan signaling the end of the warning period. 

'Israeli' media reported that the latest cluster missile launched toward 'Israel' carried 24 small bombs that scattered across a wide area.

Channel 12 said each bomblet weighed between 2–5 kilograms and dispersed after the missile fell.

The 'Israeli' Public Broadcasting Corporation reported that the bomblets spread across six separate locations in the greater Tel Aviv area.

Sirens blare in Jordan amid ongoing regional tensions.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun has issued a formal statement condemning recent military operations against Iran. During a regular press briefing, Guo emphasized China's firm opposition to any form of external interference in the internal affairs of other nations.

Beijing has called for an immediate cessation of military hostilities and an urgent return to the negotiating table to prevent a wider regional war. Following the reported strikes on Iranian territory, China has reaffirmed its support for Iran’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity, urging major powers to uphold the UN Charter and reject the "law of the jungle".

'Israeli' newspaper Maariv reported that two people were killed after an Iranian missile struck central 'Israel'.

'Israeli' ambulance services reported that two people sustained serious injuries after an Iranian missile struck the town of Ehud, near Ben Gurion Airport east of Tel Aviv.

'Israeli' media reported that a cluster missile struck the city of Bat Yam, just south of Tel Aviv.

'Israel' Hayom reported two people were injured in central 'Israel', while Yedioth Ahronoth said injuries were reported in Tel Aviv and nearby areas.

Air raid sirens sounded across multiple 'Israeli' cities after missiles launched from Iran were detected, according to warnings and a statement from the 'Israeli' army.

Alerts were reported from northern cities, including Haifa, Tiberias, Beisan, and the Lower Galilee, as well as southern areas such as Tel Arad and Dimona near the Negev nuclear research center.

Sirens blare in Jordan amid ongoing regional tensions

Ali Jafarian, Iran’s deputy health minister, told Al Jazeera that more than 1,255 people have been killed and over 12,000 injured in the past nine days across Iran.

Victims range in age from eight months to 88 years. Among the dead are 200 women and 168 children who died in an attack on Minab elementary school. Additionally, 55 healthcare workers have been wounded and 11 killed, including four physicians, two nurses, and three emergency personnel.

Abu Dhabi authorities reported that two people were injured after missile shrapnel fell on separate sites following successful interceptions by the emirate’s air defenses.

The first incident left a Jordanian national with minor injuries, while the second injured an Egyptian national moderately.

Sadiq Larijani, head of Iran’s powerful Expediency Council, expressed support for the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s supreme leader, according to Iran’s Fars news agency.

Larijani said the move helps ease public distress amid the ongoing war and reinforces continuation along the “luminous” path set by Iran’s first supreme leader, Ruhollah Khomeini.

Turkey has deployed six F-16 fighter jets and air defense systems to the Turkish-controlled areas of Northern Cyprus, the country’s Defense Ministry announced on Monday.

Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health said 'Israeli' air raids targeting the town of Tirdiba in the Tyre District have killed three civilians and injured 15 others, according to preliminary reports.

Leaked footage from the Ekbatan neighborhood and other districts in Tehran captures residents chanting "Death to Mojtaba" from their windows under the cover of night. These protests follow the emergency announcement by the Assembly of Experts naming Mojtaba Khamenei as the third Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, succeeding his father, Ali Khamenei.

The appointment has sparked widespread domestic outrage, with many Iranians viewing the move as a transition toward "hereditary rule" or a "clerical monarchy". These demonstrations come amidst a period of intense regional conflict and a severe domestic economic crisis that has gripped the nation since late 2025.

India allowed three Iranian ships to dock at its ports after Iran requested permission, Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar told parliament on Monday.

One of the ships docked at the southern port of Kochi on March 4, with its crew receiving access to Indian naval facilities. Jaishankar said the government believed granting permission was the “right thing to do”.

Massive plumes of smoke rose over the skyline of Qom today as joint US-'Israeli' airstrikes targeted key sites in one of Shiite Islam's holiest cities. Local authorities reported explosions hitting military headquarters and residential areas in the Resalat and Harmony neighborhoods.

Bahrain’s News Agency reported that an Iranian attack on a facility in the village of Maameer triggered a fire. Authorities confirmed that no injuries occurred.

Firefighters and emergency teams are working to contain the blaze, while investigations into the cause and origin of the attack continue.

'Israel’s military said it carried out a series of air strikes on sites belonging to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), including its police headquarters and a command center used by the Basij militia in Isfahan.

“The strikes were completed as part of the phase of deepening the damage to the core arrays and foundations of the Iranian regime,” the military said in its latest war update.

The military also claimed attacks hit a rocket engine production facility and multiple launch sites for long-range ballistic missiles. No independent verification of the strikes has been reported.

Human Rights Watch on Monday accused 'Israel' of unlawfully using white phosphorus in populated areas of southern Lebanon. The rights group said the munitions were deployed over residential neighborhoods, posing serious risks to civilians.

HRW called the attacks a violation of international law, urging immediate investigations and accountability. 'Israel' has not publicly responded to the allegation.

Hezbollah announced that its fighters launched rockets at a gathering of 'Israeli' soldiers and vehicles near Khillat al-Mahafir, in the vicinity of the town of Al-Adaisseh in southern Lebanon.

The Lebanese group said the strike targeted 'Israeli' positions along the border area. 

Air defenses intercepted drones near Erbil International Airport in northern Iraq late Sunday, according to Kurdish media reports.

The Kurdish outlet Rudaw said the airport’s defense systems shot down drones approaching the area. 

Erbil International Airport hosts US forces as part of the international coalition operating in Iraq. The facility has been targeted several times in recent years by rocket and drone attacks.

Sources told CBS News that the U.S. may be responsible for the Feb. 28 bombing of a girls’ school in Iran that killed 168 people, many of them children.

Preliminary assessments suggest the attack was likely unintentional, possibly caused by outdated intelligence that misidentified the area as part of an Iranian military installation.

Fire erupts at Bahrain’s BAPCO oil refinery following Iranian attack

The Saudi defence ministry said Monday it had thwarted a drone attack targeting an oil field in the kingdom's east, near the Emirati border.

"Four drones heading towards the Shaybah oil field were intercepted and destroyed," a defence ministry statement said.

The ongoing U.S. military operation against Iran has already claimed seven American lives, and more casualties are expected, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Sunday.

“There will be more casualties, and no one is, I mean, especially our generation knows what it’s like to see Americans come home in caskets, but that doesn’t weaken us one bit, it stiffens our spine and our resolve to say this is a fight we will finish,” Hegseth said in an interview on CBS News’s 60 Minutes.

A US military base near Erbil Airport in Iraq was attacked by a drone, Reuters reported citing unnamed security sources. 

US President Donald Trump on Sunday dismissed the war-related spike in oil prices as a "small price to pay" for removing the threat of Iran's nuclear program.

"Short term oil prices, which will drop rapidly when the destruction of the Iran nuclear threat is over, is a very small price to pay for U.S.A., and World, Safety and Peace. ONLY FOOLS WOULD THINK DIFFERENTLY!" he wrote on his Truth Social platform.

The UAE is currently responding to missile and drone threats from Iran. The Ministry of Defense says the sounds heard across the country are from intercepts carried out by air defense systems against ballistic missiles and by fighter jets against drones and cruise missiles.

Iraqi security sources say a drone attack targeted a US military base near Erbil airport in Kurdistan, while Iraqi police reported rocket and drone attacks on a US diplomatic facility near Baghdad airport, with the projectiles intercepted.

President Donald Trump said he is “not happy” with Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, in remarks cited by Fox News.

Following an Iranian drone attack on Sitra, Bahrain’s Ministry of Health reports 32 people injured so far, including four serious cases requiring surgical intervention, some involving children.

Explosions hit Beirut’s southern suburbs amid 'Israeli' attacks

The US State Department has instructed its non-essential personnel to depart Saudi Arabia amid heightened security concerns.

Qatari Interior Ministry raised the security threat level before explosions were reported in the sky over Doha, caused by missile interceptions.

Following the appointment of the new Supreme Leader, Iran launched a rocket salvo at 'Israel', with reports indicating some missiles carried cluster warheads.

Yemen's Houthi rebels on Monday welcomed Iran's ruling clerics appointing their slain leader's son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as the country's new supreme leader, calling it a major blow for the Islamic republic's enemies as it fights a war with the United States and Israel.

"We congratulate the Islamic Republic of Iran, its leadership and people, on the selection of Sayyid Mojtaba Khamenei as Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution at this important and pivotal juncture," the group said in a statement on Telegram.

It called his selection "a new victory for the Islamic Revolution and a resounding blow to the enemies of the Islamic Republic and the enemies of the nation".

A Hezbollah official told AFP on Monday it downed an 'Israeli' helicopter in eastern Lebanon, amid the new war between the group and 'Israel'.

"An Israeli helicopter was downed in the mountains east of Baalbek," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Fujairah authorities respond to a fire in the Fawz oil area caused by falling interceptive debris, the government media office says.

The Bahrain Ministry of Interior reported that several citizens were injured, including one seriously, and homes were damaged in the Sitra area following an Iranian drone attack.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards pledged allegiance on Sunday to the country's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, after he was appointed his father's successor by the Assembly of Experts.

"The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps... is ready for complete obedience and self-sacrifice in carrying out the divine commands of the Guardian Jurist of the time, His Eminence Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei", the Guards said in a statement.

All-clear sirens blare in Jordan

Iran’s Assembly of Experts announced the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as the new leader of the country.

The decision follows an emergency session by the clerical body responsible for selecting Iran’s Supreme Leader.

Sirens warn of security alert across Jordan

Bahrain Defense Force said it has intercepted and destroyed 95 missiles and 164 drones since the beginning of what it described as Iranian attacks targeting the kingdom.

In a statement, the military said its air defense systems successfully neutralized the aerial threats, stressing that forces remain on high alert to protect Bahrain and its airspace.

The British government announced the temporary withdrawal of some diplomatic staff and their families from Lebanon amid rising regional tensions.

The United States Central Command said a US soldier has died from severe injuries sustained during the initial Iranian strikes that targeted a location in Saudi Arabia.

In a statement released Sunday, the military said the soldier was wounded on March 1, 2026, during the launch of Iran’s “True Promise 4” operations.

Medical teams at a US military base attempted to save the soldier over the past week, but he died Saturday due to complications from his injuries. 

‘Israeli’ army said it carried out a strike in central Tehran targeting the head of the political office of Iran’s Supreme Leader.

French President Emmanuel Macron called on Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to immediately stop military strikes in the region during a phone conversation between the two leaders.

In a statement posted on X, Macron said he stressed the need for Iran to “immediately cease its strikes against countries in the region.” He also called on Tehran to ensure freedom of navigation by ending what he described as the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route.

Macron added that the safety and return of French nationals Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris remains an “absolute priority” for France. The pair, previously imprisoned in Iran, are currently located within the grounds of the French Embassy.

The French president also reiterated Paris’ concerns regarding Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, along with what he described as Tehran’s destabilizing activities across the region.

Macron said both leaders agreed to remain in contact as the situation develops.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described recent threats by the President of the United States as “a prelude to escalating inhumane attacks against civilians and committing massacres.”

Araghchi stressed that Trump and anyone involved in these operations bear “individual criminal responsibility,” calling on the United Nations and the Security Council to intervene immediately to halt what he described as “war crimes.”

In a message of respect for the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Amman addressed the Jordanian people, highlighting deep appreciation for Jordan’s regional and international role.

The statement emphasized the longstanding historical and religious ties that bind the two nations.

Jordan a beacon of security and stability

The embassy praised the stance of the Jordanian people, describing the kingdom as an Arab and Islamic country with an important and respected position among the nations of the region.

The statement clarified that Iran fully recognizes Jordan’s aspirations, both leadership and people, to strengthen security and stability and avoid wars, aligning with the kingdom’s continuous pursuit of sustainable peace through dialogue.

Assurances on the kingdom’s safety and territorial sanctity

The embassy delivered firm and reassuring messages to Jordanians, stressing the following points:

• Outside the circle of targeting: Iran clearly confirmed that Jordan and its people have never been, and will never be, among its objectives.
• Strong ties: The statement emphasized that cultural and religious relations between the two peoples are very solid and cannot be undermined by false narratives.
• Mutual respect: Tehran expressed deep respect for Jordanian sovereignty, denying that its defensive measures are directed against friendly or neighboring countries, with Jordan foremost among them.

Call for solidarity and vigilance

The embassy concluded its message by commending the awareness of the Jordanian people, expressing confidence that “the conscious citizen” will not allow attempts to sow discord or misunderstanding to affect their perception of the facts.

It also called for solidarity among the sons of the Islamic nation, asking God to grant the region a safer and more just future under wisdom and unity.

Jordan offered condolences to Kuwait over the loss of two border security personnel and reaffirmed its full support for the country.

Sirens blare in Jordan signaling end of warning period.

'Israeli' Home Front Command reported that air raid sirens were activated in Beersheba and surrounding areas, as well as across the Negev region in southern 'Israel', signaling potential incoming threats. Authorities urged residents to seek shelter and follow safety protocols.

Sirens activate in Jordan amid regional tensions.

The Saudi Civil Defense confirmed that two people were killed and 12 others injured after a projectile struck a residential area in Al Kharj Governorate. 

US President Donald Trump warned that Iran’s next supreme leader “is not going to last long” without US approval, asserting that Washington must ensure the country does not obtain nuclear weapons.

In an interview Sunday with ABC News, he claimed Iran had planned to take over the Middle East and praised the ongoing military campaign for crippling Iran’s navy, air force, and missile systems.

Trump did not rule out sending special forces to secure Iran’s enriched uranium, saying “everything is on the table.” He also met with families of six US soldiers killed in the conflict, describing the event as “beautiful” and saying the families urged him to continue the operation.

On the war timeline, Trump declined to predict an exact duration, but reiterated the US-led strikes are ahead of schedule. He dismissed concerns over rising gasoline prices as a “little glitch” and insisted the campaign remains popular with his supporters.

Kuwaiti Ministry of Defense reported that its forces destroyed three ballistic missiles launched toward the southern part of the country and monitored a wave of drone activity over the past 24 hours.

Officials emphasized the readiness of Kuwait’s military to respond to aerial threats and protect national infrastructure.

Air raid sirens sounded across central 'Israel', including the Tel Aviv metropolitan area and several settlements in the West Bank, after a new wave of Iranian missiles were launched and intercepted.

Meanwhile, Iranian outlets reported explosions in Qom south of Tehran and a missile strike targeting Khorramabad in western Iran.

The foreign minister of Oman said "the action taken by Israel and the United States against Iran was immoral and illegal."

He also described Iran’s retaliatory strikes against neighboring countries as “deeply regrettable and unacceptable,” urging restraint to prevent further escalation in the region.

The United Arab Emirates’ Defence Ministry said its air defenses successfully intercepted Iranian ballistic and cruise missiles, along with incoming drones.

Sirens blare in Jordan signaling the end of the warning period.

The 'Israeli' military said five people were injured after fragments from a fissile rocket fell across 16 sites in greater Tel Aviv.

Sirens blare in Jordan amid ongoing regional tensions

'Israeli' media reported that fragments from rockets struck Tel Aviv and Petah Tikva, north of the city, injuring several people.

Multiple massive explosions rocked Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Ramallah.

Sirens blare in Jordan signaling the end of the warning period.

Sirens blare in Jordan amid ongoing regional tensions.

The Lebanese Health Ministry said 394 people have been killed, including 83 children, and 1,130 others injured in what it described as 'Israeli' attacks across Lebanon.

Officials said residential areas and civilian infrastructure were among the hardest hit.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it launched the 28th wave of its “True Promise 4” military operation.

In a statement, the force said it fired a new generation of missiles toward targets including Beersheba, Tel Aviv, and Azraq Air Base.

The United Arab Emirates said its air defenses intercepted Iranian missiles and drones detected on Sunday, according to the Ministry of Defense.

Officials said forces detected 17 ballistic missiles, destroying 16 of them.

The ministry also reported detecting 117 drones. Air defenses intercepted 113 of them, while four fell into the sea.

The 'Israeli' military announced that two of its soldiers were killed after a D9 bulldozer came under fire in southern Lebanon.

One of the soldiers belonged to the engineering corps, according to the military statement.

The 'Israeli' military claims it struck more than 400 missile launch platforms and weapons manufacturing sites in Iran in recent hours.

A military statement described the operation as a precision campaign against what it called "strategic military infrastructure" in Iran, without reporting casualties.

A member of Iran’s Assembly of Experts said the council has reached a decision and elected the new Supreme Leader of Iran.

The council’s secretariat is expected to formally announce the leader’s name in the coming hours.

The Iranian Red Crescent Society said that attacks by the United States and ‘Israel’ have damaged at least 6,668 civilian units across Iran since the start of the war, according to statistics cited by the Fars news agency. The aid organization’s report detailed widespread destruction of non‑military infrastructure.

According to the figures provided:

• 5,535 residential buildings were damaged.
• 1,041 commercial units were hit.
• 14 medical centers and 65 schools were struck.
• 13 facilities affiliated with the Red Crescent were also damaged.

The 'Israeli' Ministry of Health said 1,929 people have been transferred to hospitals since the start of the war with Iran. The figures cover civilians and military personnel injured by ongoing missile and drone attacks.

'Israeli' media sources reported that the army faced challenges intercepting drones that reached Haifa Bay and northern Acre. One of the drones struck a building, causing significant damage at Kibbutz Afaron in the Galilee region.

Russia’s ambassador to the United Kingdom said Moscow is not neutral in the ongoing war against 'Israel' and the US, affirming its support for Iran. 

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it targeted Camp Buehring military base in Kuwait using drones and missiles, causing “serious damage” to the facility. 

'Israel' has issued a forced displacement order for residents of Arnoun, Yohmor, Zrariyeh East, and Zrariyeh West in southern Lebanon, instructing them to move north of Nabatieh governorate immediately.

Avichay Adraee, Arabic-language spokesman for the 'Israeli' army, said the strikes would target Hezbollah fighters, facilities, and weapons. He added that “any home used by Hezbollah for military purposes may be subject to targeting”.

The 'Israeli' army said it struck central commanders of Iran’s Quds Force operating in Beirut overnight. The targeted officials are part of the Lebanese division aligned with Tehran’s elite Revolutionary Guard.

Iran’s National Fuel Distribution Company director said four oil storage sites and a petroleum products center in Tehran and Alborz were hit. Officials did not provide immediate details on casualties or the scale of the damage.

Bahrain’s Interior Ministry said an Iranian drone attack caused material damage to a water desalination plant, a critical facility supplying freshwater to the island nation.

The incident follows claims by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi that the US bombed a freshwater desalination plant on Qeshm Island in southern Iran, which he described as setting a “precedent”.

The 'Israeli' army claimed it struck F-14 jets belonging to Iran’s regime at Isfahan airport. Officials provided no immediate confirmation of casualties or damage.

 Ali Mohammad Naini, spokesman for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), told the Fars news agency that Iran could sustain an “intense war” at the current pace for six months against 'Israel' and the United States.

He said the country has so far relied on “first and second generation” missiles but warned that “advanced and less-used long-range missiles” will be deployed in the coming days, signaling a potential escalation in missile strikes.

Bahrain’s Interior Ministry said three people were injured after missile shrapnel fell in the Muharraq area, causing material damage to a university building.

Authorities said the injuries occurred when fragments from a missile landed near the site. The incident also caused structural damage to part of the university facility.

Emergency teams responded to the scene and the injured were transferred for medical treatment, according to the ministry.

An incoming passenger flight bound for Ben Gurion airport was forced to divert to an alternate destination after air-raid sirens were triggered due to Iranian missile alerts across central 'Israel'.

Airport authorities said the aircraft changed its course before landing as precautionary measures were implemented following warnings of incoming missiles.

The diversion came as sirens sounded in multiple areas, prompting residents to head to shelters while air-defense systems attempted interceptions.

The United Arab Emirates said its air defence systems were intercepting missiles and drones launched from Iran on Sunday.

"UAE air defences are currently responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran," the defence ministry said in a post on X, adding sounds of explosions were a result of the systems "intercepting missiles and drones".

All-clear sirens blare in Jordan

Kuwait’s defense ministry reported that its air defenses are actively engaging hostile missile and drone attacks.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Sunday that Canberra is considering requests from Gulf countries for assistance in defending against Iranian drone and missile attacks.

“Many countries not involved in the war have been targeted by Iran… we have been asked to provide assistance,” Wong told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

When asked if that meant helping protect these countries from Iranian drones and missiles, she replied, “Correct.”

Wong emphasized that Australia would act only in a defensive capacity and would not participate in any offensive operations against Iran. “We have made it clear that we will not deploy ground forces in Iran,” she said.

Sirens warn of security alert across Jordan

'Israeli' forces carried out a fresh airstrike on the southern suburbs of Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, amid ongoing regional tensions.

All-clear sirens blare in Jordan

Sirens warn of security alert across Jordan

Kuwait’s Interior Ministry reported that two members of the General Directorate of Land Border Security were killed at dawn while performing their national duties.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it launched precision missiles targeting U.S. personnel at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait.

China's top diplomat Wang Yi said on Sunday that the war in the Middle East should "never have happened".

"This is a war that should never have happened," he told a press conference in Beijing, adding that "a strong fist does not mean strong reason. The world cannot return to the law of the jungle."

Kuwait’s defense ministry reported that its air defenses are currently engaging hostile missile and drone attacks.

The 'Israeli' military said it carried out a "precise strike" in Beirut on Sunday, targeting commanders from Iran's Revolutionary Guards operating in Lebanon.

'Israeli' forces "conducted a precise strike targeting key commanders" in the Guards' Quds Force, its foreign operations arm, the military said in a statement, accusing the unidentified commanders of planning "terror attacks against the State of Israel and its civilians".

Saudi Arabia’s defense ministry reported successfully intercepting a drone aimed at the diplomatic district in Riyadh, preventing any damage or casualties.

Norwegian police reported a loud explosion near the U.S. embassy in Oslo, with no injuries reported so far.

Prime Minister of ‘Israel’ Benjamin Netanyahu announced the launch of a military operation called “Lion’s Roar,” aimed at enabling the Iranian people to “determine their own fate and free their country from tyranny.”

Netanyahu said his decisive measures have not only reshaped the Middle East but also strengthened the standing of his state after eliminating its enemies. He emphasized full coordination with President of the United States Donald Trump to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Lebanon’s Ministry of Health reported that an 'Israeli' strike targeted a hotel room in the capital, Beirut, killing at least three people and injuring nine others.

An 'Israeli' drone hit a hotel in the Roushha area of southern Beirut, killing one person and injuring about six others, according to initial reports. 

Kuwaiti Armed Forces said early Sunday they confronted a wave of hostile drones that breached the country’s airspace.

The attack targeted fuel storage tanks at Kuwait International Airport, in what officials described as a direct strike on vital infrastructure.

Authorities said the military responded to the incursion and is assessing the impact of the attack.

Bahrain’s Interior Ministry reported an Iranian attack on a facility near Salman Port, with civil defense teams working to control the fire.

The General Directorate of Traffic announced that traffic has resumed on the Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Bridge in both directions, after temporarily closing it and advising motorists to avoid the area.

US Navy Captain Tim Hawkins said: “The Iranian regime is doing everything it can to peddle lies and deceive. This is yet another clear example.”

A spokesperson from US Central Command (CENTCOM) echoed the denial in a statement to Al Jazeera, calling Iran’s statements “yet another example of its lies and deceptions.”

Qatar’s defense ministry said it intercepted six ballistic missiles on Saturday, with two falling in territorial waters and two in uninhabited areas, and also intercepted two Iranian-made cruise missiles, with no reported casualties.

Saudi Arabia’s defense ministry reported that eight drones were intercepted and destroyed after violating the kingdom’s airspace.

Bahrain’s Interior Ministry confirmed that one person was injured and several shops were damaged after missile debris fell on a public street in the capital, Manama.

Trump says Iran’s apology to targeted countries a victory for US and allies.

President Trump claims the US has destroyed Iran’s air force, struck missile sites, and says the war is progressing incredibly well, with operations expected to continue for some time.

President Trump said, “Based on what I’ve seen, that was done by Iran,” blaming Tehran for an airstrike that killed at least 168 children and 14 teachers, despite analyses suggesting U.S. involvement.

 Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had also previously blamed Iran, telling reporters, “The only side that targets civilians is Iran.”

'Israeli' jets carried out renewed airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs, escalating tensions in the region.

Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, claims several American soldiers have been taken hostage amid tensions with the US.

US President Donald Trump said Saturday that he did not want the Kurds to launch an offensive against Iran.

"We're not looking to the Kurds going in," he told reporters in a briefing aboard Air Force One. "We're very friendly with the Kurds, as you know, but we don't want to make the war any more complex than it already is."

Trump had told Reuters news agency Thursday that he would be "all for" an offensive by Iranian Kurdish fighters in support of the US-'Israeli' war against the Islamic republic.

US President Donald Trump on Saturday presided over a brief ceremony at the runway of Dover Air Force Base in the northeastern United States to receive the remains of six American soldiers killed in the war against Iran.

Wearing a white cap emblazoned with gold letters spelling “USA,” Trump rendered a military salute as the flag-draped caskets were transferred from a military plane to a vehicle.

The six soldiers, who were killed following the U.S. and 'Israeli' campaign against Iran, were reservists deployed in Kuwait. They were part of the 103rd Support Command, based in Des Moines, Iowa.

Warning period ends in Jordan.

For the fourth time tonight, sirens sounded across Jordan as missiles and drones were detected, warning residents to stay alert.

Air raid sirens sounded in Metula and Kfar Giladi in the Upper Galilee, according to 'Israel’s' Home Front Command as a strong salvo of rockets was launched from Lebanon toward northern ‘Israel’.

Sirens in Jordan blare signaling end of warning period.

Sirens blare across Jordan for the third time tonight.

The Embassy of the United States - Amman announced it is offering assisted departure options for American citizens seeking to leave Jordan.

According to the notice, the embassy is arranging one way flights from Queen Alia International Airport in Amman to Athens, Greece on March 8 and March 9. Another option includes a direct one way flight from Amman to Washington, DC on March 8.

Passengers are allowed one checked bag weighing up to 20 kilograms in addition to a carry on item. The embassy clarified that it will not provide further assistance in Greece or arrange onward travel beyond the country.

Officials said the primary goal of the operation is to help Americans who wish to depart leave Jordan safely.

The embassy asked citizens interested in the assisted departure to submit a photo or scanned copy of the passport bio page for all travelers, along with a contact phone number, preferably a Jordanian number.

The Dubai Media Office said that debris from an aerial interception fell onto a vehicle in the Al Barsha area, resulting in the death of an Asian driver.

Sirens activate in Jordan signaling start of warning period.

The Dubai Media Office said authorities in Dubai responded to an incident in which debris struck the facade of a tower in the Dubai Marina area following a successful aerial interception.

Officials confirmed that no injuries were reported.

An Iranian-made drone struck a high-rise residential tower in Dubai’s strategic Marina district, causing a powerful explosion.

Eyewitnesses reported debris scattering and smoke rising from the top of the building following the impact.

Authorities are assessing the damage and ensuring the safety of residents in the area.

Sirens blare in Jordan amid regional tensions.

Iraq’s Security Media Cell reported that two bases of the Popular Mobilization Forces were targeted by unidentified aircraft.

The attacks struck Brigade 40 and Regiment 33, resulting in the death of one fighter, injuries to three others, and material damage.

Authorities are investigating the origin of the strikes.

The Saudi Ministry of Defense confirmed that a ballistic missile landed in an uninhabited area after being fired toward Prince Sultan Air Base.

The United Arab Emirates will emerge "stronger" after the Middle East war, the president Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan tells Abu Dhabi TV in a rare address, as Iran continued its retaliatory strikes across the Gulf.

Qatar is currently under attack as Iranian missiles strike targets across the country.

Authorities in the United Arab Emirates confirmed that air defenses are currently engaging a missile threat. Residents are urged to stay in safe locations and follow official updates and warnings from government sources.

Loud explosions were heard Saturday in Bahrain's capital Manama, two AFP journalists reported, as Iran continued its retaliatory strkes across the Gulf.

One of the journalists said they heard at least five blasts in the city.

US President Donald Trump addressed the press at the Shield of the Americas Summit, saying that Iran was very close to obtaining nuclear weapons before US strikes were carried out.

He added that the US military has effectively targeted Iran, destroying 42 ships and dismantling its communications network.

Trump added that any US casualties in the conflict occurred in service to global security, not just the Middle East.

The British Ministry of Defense confirmed that the United States has begun using UK military bases to support defensive operations aimed at preventing attacks by Iran that could endanger British lives.

The President of Iran said recent attacks were directed at military targets belonging to the United States in the region, stressing that neighboring countries were not the intended targets.

He stated that the operations focused on US bases, facilities, and military capabilities, adding that Tehran had no intention of targeting nearby states.

The Iranian president also emphasized that his country has consistently sought to maintain friendly relations with neighboring nations based on mutual respect for sovereignty.

He added that maintaining such relations does not negate Iran’s right to 'defend itself against American and Zionist aggression.'

Sirens blare in Jordan signaling end of warning period.

Emergency sirens activated in Jordan 

Jordan said Saturday that Iran directly targeted sites in the kingdom, firing 119 missiles and drones in the one week since US-‘Israeli’ strikes triggered a regional war.

The toll includes 60 missiles and 59 drones.

“To be clear, the 60 missiles and 59 drones were directed exclusively at Jordanian targets,” Jordan army spokesman Brigadier General Mustafa Hayari told a news conference.

“They were not passing through, as some might believe."

Sirens activated in Jordan amid danger

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday his country’s military would hit Iran “very hard” and threatened to expand strikes to include new targets.

“Today Iran will be hit very hard!” Trump said on Truth Social.

“Under serious consideration for complete destruction and certain death, because of Iran’s bad behavior, are areas and groups of people that were not considered for targeting up until this moment in time.”

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian vows that his country would never surrender.

"[Iran's enemies] must take their wish for the unconditional surrender of the Iranian people to their graves."

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth says US troops were granted maximum authority by both President Trump and himself.

Aggressive Rules of Engagement: He describes their rules of engagement as "bold, precise and designed to unleash American power, not shackle it."

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian apologises to neighbouring countries for attacks launched during the Islamic republic's war with ‘Israel’ and the United States, saying in a televised speech that "no more attacks will be made on neighbouring countries.. unless an attack on Iran originates from those countries”.

Jordan activates all-clear alarm

UAE’s President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited several patients receiving treatment in hospitals on Saturday, following the recent Iranian attacks targeting Emirati territory. 

Explosions were heard and air raid sirens sounded in Jerusalem.

At least three explosions were heard, while over the past 24 hours at least six air raid alerts have been issued across ‘Israel’.

Sirens activated in Jordan amid danger

The Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF) and the Public Security Directorate (PSD) will hold a press briefing at 2:00 PM on Saturday at the National Center for Security and Crisis Management, a statement by the JAF just said.

During the briefing, the JAF and the PSD will present details and figures related to the impact of the regional war on Jordan over the past week since it began.

Dubai airport, the world's busiest for international traffic, said Saturday it was partially resuming services shortly after it suspended operations.

"We have partially resumed operations from today, 7 March, with some flights operating out of DXB and DWC," it said, referring to Dubai's main airport as well as the city's Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International Airport.

"Please do not travel to the airport unless you have been contacted by your airline that your flight is confirmed, as schedules continue to change," it told passengers, after an aerial interception in the area during attacks from Iran forced the airport to suspend operations.

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Saturday that his country would never surrender to ‘Israel’ and the United States, as Middle East war entered its second week.

Iran's enemies "must take their wish for the unconditional surrender of the Iranian people to their graves," Pezeshkian said, in a speech broadcast on state TV.

‘Israel's’ military began a new wave of air strikes on the Iranian cities of Tehran and Isfahan, it said Saturday, as the US-‘Israeli’ attack against the Islamic republic entered its second week.

"The IDF has begun a broad wave of strikes toward infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime in Tehran and Isfahan," a military statement said.

The military said earlier Saturday that 80 fighter jets had completed another wave of strikes on Tehran and central Iran.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Saturday they had targeted an oil tanker in the Gulf in their conflict with ‘Israel’ and the United States.

"This morning, an oil tanker with the trade name Prima was hit by an exploding drone after ignoring repeated warnings from the IRGC naval forces regarding the prohibition of traffic and the insecurity of the Strait of Hormuz," the Guards said in a statement carried by Tasnim news agency.

Dubai airport, the world's busiest for international traffic, said on Saturday that it had suspended operations after an object was intercepted by air defence over the area.

"For the safety of passengers, airport staff, and airline crew, operations at Dubai International (DXB) have been temporarily suspended. All procedures are being managed in line with established safety protocols," the government's Dubai Media Office said.

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian apologised on Saturday to neighbouring countries for attacks launched during the Islamic republic's war with ‘Israel’ and the United States.

"I apologise... to the neighbouring countries that were attacked by Iran," said Pezeshkian in a speech broadcast by state TV.

Emirates airline, a UAE flag-carrier, said Saturday that all its flights to and from Dubai have been suspended until further notice, a statement by the airline said on its X account. 

“Please do not go to the airport,” the statement said. 

“All city check‑in points across Dubai are temporarily closed until further notice…Emirates will share updates when available,” it added. 

Foreign ministers of the Arab League will hold an emergency meeting on Sunday to discuss "Iranian attacks on the territories of several Arab countries", the bloc's assistant secretary-general told AFP.

The meeting, which will be held via videoconference, was requested by Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Jordan and Egypt, Hossam Zaki said.

The United States military struck over 3,000 Iranian targets in the first week of what’s called “Operation Epic Fury”, according to the US Central Command (CENTCOM) on its X account.

‘Israel's’ military said more than 80 fighter jets completed a wave of strikes on Iranian military sites, missile launchers and other targets in Tehran and central Iran on Saturday.

"Over 80 Israeli Air Force fighter jets... completed an additional wave of strikes targeting infrastructure belonging to the Iranian terror regime," the military said in a statement.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Saturday they were waiting for US forces to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway where traffic remains strangled as the regional war rages.

"We are waiting for their presence," said Guards spokesman Ali Mohammad Naini, after the US energy secretary announced the Navy was preparing to escort ships through the strait "as soon as it's reasonable to do it".

"We recommend that before making any decision, the Americans remember the fire of the American supertanker Bridgeton in 1987 and the oil tankers that were recently targeted," Naini said, according to Fars news agency.

Iran's army said Saturday its navy had launched a wave of drone attacks targeting ‘Israel’ as well as US bases in the UAE and Kuwait, as the regional war raged into its second week.

"The Iranian Navy targeted American bases and occupied territories with a massive wave of drone attacks," the army said in a statement carried by the official IRNA news agency.

It said the targets included the UAE's Al Minhad base and another in Kuwait, as well as a "strategic facility" in ‘Israel’.

The ‘Israeli’ military said it detected the launch of ballistic missiles from Iran, for the fifth time since midnight on Saturday. 

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense announced Saturday that its air defense forces intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched toward Prince Sultan Air Base near the city of Riyadh.

Drone attack on energy sector foiled

In another development, the ministry said that another aerial attack targeting Saudi Arabia’s energy sector was thwarted.

Air defenses detected and destroyed four explosive-laden drones over the Empty Quarter desert as they were heading toward the Shaybah oil field.

The statement added that the incident did not disrupt operations at the Shaybah field, one of the key facilities operated by Saudi Aramco, ensuring that production activities continued without interruption.

An explosion was heard over Dubai airport on Saturday followed by a cloud of smoke in the air, according to AFP.

Dubai Media Office described "a minor incident resulting from the fall of debris after an interception", but dismissed unspecified social media reports about the airport in a post on X.

Saudi Arabia's Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman urged Iran on Saturday to "avoid miscalculation", following missile and drone launches at the kingdom.

In a series of statements early Saturday, the Saudi defence ministry said it had thwarted repeated missile launches at an air base which houses US military personnel and drone attacks at a major oil field.

Iran is pressing attacks across the Gulf, a week since US-'Israeli' strikes against the Islamic republic triggered regional war.

Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, reported at least two drone attacks earlier this week that targeted the Ras Tanura refinery in the east.

Prince Khalid posted on X after meeting with Pakistan's military chief that the pair had "discussed Iranian attacks on the Kingdom and the measures needed to halt them".

"We stressed that such actions undermine regional security and stability and expressed hope that the Iranian side will exercise wisdom and avoid miscalculation," he added.

The defence ministry earlier posted on X that "a ballistic missile launched towards Prince Sultan Air Base" southeast of the capital Riyadh was "intercepted and destroyed".

The official Saudi Press Agency later reported another missile attack at the same base, saying it was also intercepted, quoting a defence ministry spokesperson.

The news agency also reported a series of drone attacks targeting the Shaybah oil field near the Emirati border. The drones were "intercepted and destroyed", it said.

In a separate incident, a drone was intercepted east of Riyadh, according to the defence ministry.

AFP journalists heard explosions in Dubai and Bahrain's capital Manama on Saturday, one week into Iran's retaliatory attacks on targets around the Gulf.

Two blasts were heard in Dubai and one in Manama, where a warning siren sounded.

"Citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place," Bahrain's interior ministry posted on X.

Authorities report that missile interceptors were launched over Dubai, with explosions heard in the sky.

The military campaign that the United States is waging against Iran is going "very well," US President Donald Trump says at the White House.
"Their army is gone. They're just about, look, their navy is gone. Their communications are gone. Their leaders are gone," Trump says.

The 'Israeli' military said that air defences were responding to an Iranian missile attack on Saturday.

Forces had "identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel. Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat," the military said in a statement.

Air raid alerts across the country's north were lifted several minutes later.

Hezbollah said its fighters clashed with an 'Israeli' infantry force in the town of Nabi Sheet in Lebanon’s Bekaa region after what it described as an attempted helicopter insertion by 'Israeli' forces.

In a series of statements, Hezbollah said it detected four 'Israeli' helicopters infiltrating the area and dropping off an infantry unit near the tri-border area of the outskirts of Yahfoufa, Khraibeh and Ma’raboun.

According to the group, the 'Israeli' force advanced toward the eastern neighborhood of Nabi Sheet, where Hezbollah fighters said they engaged the troops near the town’s cemetery.

Hezbollah said the confrontation escalated after the 'Israeli' unit was exposed, claiming 'Israeli' forces then launched intense “fire belts,” or concentrated bombardment, in the area of the clash.

The group added that its artillery units fired concentrated strikes using appropriate weapons around the zone of fighting to support the engagement.

Hezbollah said the clash involved direct fighting with an 'Israeli' infantry unit inside Nabi Sheet, located in the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon.

Russian President Vladimir Putin voiced support for an “immediate” ceasefire in Iran during a phone call with Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian on Friday, the Kremlin says.

“Russia’s principled position on the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities was reaffirmed,” the Kremlin says, adding that Putin called for a “return to the path of political and diplomatic resolution.”

Reports indicate heavy shooting in Lebanon’s Nabi Sheet region, in the south, aimed at 'Israeli' helicopters, with claims of thwarting a potential 'Israeli' landing attempt.

Saudi Arabia said Saturday it had intercepted a ballistic missile fired at an air base southeast of the capital Riyadh, as Iran pressed attacks across the Gulf.

"A ballistic missile launched towards Prince Sultan Air Base was intercepted and destroyed," the Saudi defence ministry posted on X.

According to Iran’s state news agency, raids targeted the vicinity of Mehrabad Airport and the Ekbatan residential complex west of Tehran.

Interior Ministry urges citizens and residents to move to the nearest safe location immediately.

The Saudi Ministry of Defense says four drones targeting the Shaybah oil field in Rub’ al Khali were successfully intercepted and destroyed.

Iranian officials said the country’s future will be decided by Iranians, rejecting calls by the President of the United States, Donald Trump, to play a role in selecting the next supreme leader.

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf mocked Trump’s remarks, saying the fate of Iran would be determined by its people, not by foreign leaders.

“The fate of dear Iran, which is more precious than life, will be determined solely by the proud Iranian nation, not by [Jeffrey] Epstein’s gang,” he wrote on X.

His comments came after Trump suggested he wanted involvement in appointing a successor to Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, who was killed earlier in the war.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh also criticized the proposal, arguing that Trump has no authority to influence Iran’s political leadership. He described the idea as a “colonial approach,” questioning how a foreign leader could seek to shape Iran’s political system.

Under Iran’s constitution, the next supreme leader is selected by the Assembly of Experts, an elected council of 88 clerics. Analysts say all potential candidates are expected to remain loyal to the Islamic Republic system, making outside influence unlikely.

The remarks come as the war between Iran and the United States and ‘Israel’ enters its seventh day, with both sides exchanging strikes and escalating rhetoric over the future of the region.

President Donald Trump has privately discussed the idea of deploying a small contingent of U.S. troops in Iran for specific strategic purposes, according to multiple U.S. officials, but has not focused on a large-scale ground invasion, sources say.

Trump spoke by phone with NBC’s Tom Llamas, responding to recent comments from Iranian officials and mounting questions about how far the United States is prepared to go in the war.

“It’s a waste of time. They’ve lost everything. They’ve lost their navy. They’ve lost everything they can lose,” Trump said, dismissing remarks by Iran’s foreign minister that Tehran was ready for a ground invasion. He emphasized the United States is focused on continuing the air and missile campaign rather than planning a large‑scale ground operation.

Trump’s remarks come as the U.S. and 'Israel' continue Operation Epic Fury, the ongoing military campaign launched last week following joint strikes on Iranian targets, including the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The conflict has widened across the Middle East and triggered significant regional retaliation.

While ruling out near‑term troop deployments, Trump also reiterated a broader strategic goal of removing Iran’s current leadership structure. According to the NBC interview, he said the U.S. wants to “clean out everything” in Tehran and has ideas for what he called a “good leader” to replace the current regime, but did not offer names.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, addressing related speculation earlier this week, said there is currently no plan to send ground troops to Iran, but insisted all options remain “on the table.” She criticized reports based on anonymous sources as uninformed about official deliberations.

Outside experts have said that even limited U.S. troop deployments for specific objectives, such as special operations missions, could dramatically escalate American involvement and risks for U.S. forces. Such scenarios would mark a shift from the predominantly aerial and naval campaign pursued to date.

The war has already taken a toll: U.S. Central Command has reported American casualties from Iranian counter‑attacks, and Gulf allies have voiced frustration over the lack of coordination and increasing instability in the region.

President Donald J. Trump said Friday that the largest U.S. defense manufacturers have agreed to quadruple production of “Exquisite Class” weaponry, following a White House meeting with top industry executives.

In a Truth Social post, Trump described the session as “very good,” saying companies discussed production plans and schedules aimed at rapidly boosting output to “the highest levels of quantity.” He claimed that expansion of facilities began three months before the meeting and that many new plants and production lines are already under way.

Trump also said the United States has a “virtually unlimited supply” of medium and upper‑medium grade munitions, which he said have been used in operations in Iran and Venezuela, and that orders at those levels have also increased.

Executives from major defense contractors including BAE Systems, Boeing, Honeywell Aerospace, L3Harris Missile Solutions, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon attended the meeting, which Trump said will be followed up in two months.

The announcement comes as the U.S. military continues operations in the Middle East, where stockpiles of high‑end munitions such as interceptors have drawn scrutiny, and as lawmakers and Pentagon officials press for replenishment of key systems.

The Israeli Occupation Forces announced a new broad‑scale wave of strikes targeting Iranian regime infrastructure in Tehran and across Iran, as part of its ongoing campaign against what it calls the “Iranian terror regime.”

Sirens have sounded across southern 'Israel', including near the Dimona nuclear reactor, as Iran reportedly launches a new wave of rockets toward 'Israeli' territory, according to Fars News Agency.

Residents in Tehran reported hearing several explosions in Iran’s capital, Tehran.

A drone struck an oil facility housing foreign energy companies in southern Iraq for the second time on Friday, two security sources told AFP.

A security official in the Basra province said that "two drones were shot down over the Burjesia oil complex, but a third got through" and hit the site.

Another security source confirmed the drone strike.

The United States struck more than 3,000 targets during the first week of the Iran war, the US military said on Friday.

Targets include command-and-control centers, air defense systems, missile sites, and Iranian navy ships and submarines, US Central Command, which is responsible for American forces in the Middle East, said in a fact sheet.

Jordan’s Public Security Directorate announced that an unknown object fell in a vacant area in Irbid on Friday evening.

Authorities confirmed the object was remnants of an explosive device.

Security teams responded immediately, secured the site, and handled the device following standard safety procedures.

No injuries or property damage were reported.

Kuwait Airways has begun operating flights from several capitals to Saudi Arabia to return Kuwaiti citizens home safely.

The airline confirmed the flights are part of an organized effort to ensure timely and secure repatriation. A spokesperson said, “Flights are being dispatched to facilitate the return of our citizens, with support provided throughout the journey.”

Bahrain’s Civil Defense Council announced a ban on gatherings in streets and public squares to protect public safety amid ongoing Iranian missile and drone attacks targeting the Kingdom.

Authorities said the decision comes as part of precautionary measures to safeguard citizens and residents and to strengthen civil protection procedures during the current security situation.

Azerbaijan’s State Security Service announced it has prevented the preparation of “terrorist attacks” and the collection of intelligence in favor of Iranian Revolutionary Guards.

Authorities said the plots reportedly targeted the ‘Israeli’ embassy in Baku and an Ashkenazi synagogue.

Air raid sirens were heard across wide areas of Greater Tel Aviv as authorities warned of incoming aerial threats.

The 'Israeli' military on Friday accused Iran of using missiles equipped with cluster warheads in its strikes on 'Israel', launched in response to an ongoing military campaign by 'Israel' and the United States against the Islamic Republic since Feb. 28.

The army did not specify the exact location or timing of the alleged use of the weapons. However, video footage filmed overnight Thursday in central 'Israel' showed a barrage of bright points descending toward the ground, according to images captured by AFP.

AFP said that a munitions expert who reviewed the footage, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the images appear to show the detonation of a warhead containing cluster munitions.

Read more: US & ‘Israel’ at war with Iran | Day 7 coverage

'Israeli' military spokesperson Nadav Shoshani told reporters that Iranian forces had used cluster munitions on multiple occasions. "They are using cluster munitions. They have used them simultaneously in several incidents, and directing them against civilians is a war crime. We are monitoring the situation closely," he said.

Neither Iran nor 'Israel' is a signatory to the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions, which bans the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of the weapons.

Separately, 'Israeli' police released a video message warning residents about the dangers posed by cluster bombs. An explosives disposal technician explained that while the home front faces threats from missiles, drones and shells during the war, cluster munitions represent a lesser known but highly dangerous risk.

Police said earlier this week that a missile containing cluster bombs had been fired toward 'Israel', though authorities did not disclose the exact location or time of the launch.

In a statement, police said explosives experts examined debris from a projectile reportedly launched from Iran and determined it was a military component linked to cluster munitions.

Cluster munitions release numerous small explosive submunitions over a wide area. Some of these submunitions fail to detonate upon impact, posing a long term danger to civilians.

Military censorship rules in 'Israel' restrict journalists from filming or reporting damage to military or security facilities. Coverage of damage in civilian areas is permitted, but reporters are not allowed to disclose precise locations.

During the 12 day war between Iran and 'Israel' in June, Amnesty International accused Iran of firing cluster munitions into civilian areas in 'Israel', describing the act as a "flagrant violation of international humanitarian law."

A rocket attack targeted a Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) site at Camp Taji, north of Baghdad, Reuters reported.

More than 10 explosions across PMF headquarters in Nineveh province.

A fresh wave of missile attacks launched from Iran set off sirens across Greater Tel Aviv, 'Israeli' officials confirmed.

The ‘Israeli’ army reported that its air defense systems are actively engaging the incoming projectiles to 'protect civilian areas'.

Iranian state media confirmed the start of the new missile assault, marking another escalation in the ongoing regional war.

‘Israeli’ forces targeted a site belonging to the Ghanaian contingent of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in the town of Al-Qouzah.

The strike reportedly caused injuries among the peacekeeping troops stationed at the site. Details on the number of injured personnel have not been released.

Sirens sounded in Jerusalem and surrounding areas after Iran launched a salvo of missiles.

The ‘Israeli’ army announced extensive strikes in western Iran, targeting over 400 sites and infrastructure linked to missiles and drones.

The operation marks a significant escalation in the ongoing US–‘Israeli’ campaign against Iranian military capabilities. 

Military officials said the attacks aim to disrupt Iran’s missile and drone networks across the region.

The head of US Central Command (CENTCOM), Brad Cooper, claimed that Iranian forces launched 7 attack drones at residential neighborhoods in Bahrain Thursday evening.

Cooper claimed in a social media statement that the strikes “deliberately” targeted civilians across the Middle East.

“This is unacceptable and will not go unanswered,” he said, asserting that the US will respond to threats against civilians amid ongoing US-‘Israeli’ operations against Iran.

Russia has been providing Iran with intelligence to help target United States military forces in the Middle East, according to officials cited by The Washington Post.

The reported assistance includes information on the locations of American warships and aircraft operating in the region.

Officials said the intelligence sharing began after the war erupted and may have helped Iran carry out more precise strikes against US military infrastructure and defense systems.

The extent of Moscow’s involvement remains unclear, and Russian authorities have not commented on the claims.

Germany has withdrawn additional Bundeswehr forces from the Middle East as security concerns mount during the seventh day of the US–‘Israeli’ war on Iran, a military spokesperson confirmed to Reuters.

Soldiers deployed with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) are being pulled due to the escalating risk. Germany had previously reduced its military presence in Erbil, northern Iraq, while troops stationed in Bahrain have returned home. Withdrawals from Kuwait are reportedly in preparation.

Around 500 German soldiers remain deployed across the region, primarily in Iraq, though some personnel have already been moved from high-risk sites.

Hezbollah announced it has targeted several northern ‘Israeli’ settlements with missiles and drones, including Shomera, Kiryat Shmona, and Ramot Naftali.

The group said the attacks on Ramot Naftali and Kiryat Shmona were part of warnings previously issued to ‘Israeli’ communities near the Lebanese border.

The ‘Israeli’ army confirmed that 5 soldiers from the Givati Brigade were seriously injured after an anti-tank missile was fired from Lebanon.

Ma’ariv reports that a total of 8 soldiers were wounded, 5 in critical condition.

At least 217 people have been killed and 798 wounded in Lebanon since the start of a new war between 'Israel' and Hezbollah on Monday, Lebanon's health ministry announced Friday.

The previous toll from the ministry, published Thursday evening, was 123 dead and 683 wounded.

'Israeli' airstrikes hit south and east Lebanon as well as Beirut's southern suburbs on Friday.

Iranian state television reported that explosions were heard in the capital, Tehran, and in the northwestern Iranian cities of Tabriz and Urmia.

Iran launched missile and drone strikes on a site belonging to the Iranian Kurdistan Democratic Party in Iraq’s Kurdistan region, local reports confirmed.

Plumes of smoke were seen rising from the targeted site. No injuries were reported.

The attack comes amid ongoing tensions between Tehran and Kurdish opposition groups operating across the border in Iraq. 

US Embassy in Amman announced that all immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments are canceled until further notice due to the current security situation. The Embassy emphasized that the safety of applicants remains a top priority.

Applicants with scheduled appointments are advised not to visit the Embassy. Officials said they will be contacted to reschedule once visa services resume.

Jordan activates all-clear alarm

Iranian media said on Friday that explosions had rocked the key port city of Bandar Abbas on its Gulf coast amid US and ‘Israeli’ strikes on Iran.

"Several explosions were heard in the city of Bandar Abbas," the Etemad online website reported.

Other media including Shargh daily carried similar reports.

Air raid sirens were heard across Kuwait as authorities responded to a potential aerial threat. 

Warning sirens sound across Jordan

Several explosions were heard in the Bahraini capital Manama on Friday, with authorities sounding sirens as Iran pressed its retaliation campaign in the Gulf.

"The siren has been sounded. Citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place," the interior ministry said in a statement on X.

An Iranian military spokesman said Friday that forces targeted what he described as a US-owned oil tanker in the Gulf and that it was now "burning".

"An oil tanker vessel owned by the United States near the borders of Kuwait has been targeted and is burning," said Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesman for the military's central headquarters, according to state TV.

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Friday that some countries had begun mediation efforts to end the war with the United States and ‘Israel’, but said any talks should address those who started the war.

"Some countries have begun mediation efforts. Let's be clear: we are committed to lasting peace in the region yet we have no hesitation in defending our nation's dignity and sovereignty," said Pezeshkian in a post on X.

"Mediation should address those who underestimated the Iranian people and ignited this conflict."

The son of 'Israel' Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich was wounded along with other soldiers during a military activity near the Lebanon border, according to the 'Israel' Army Radio.

For the full list of updates since Feb 28 - visit the link below. 

Read more: US, 'Israel' launch full-scale attack against Iran