LIVE US-Israel attack Iran Day 6: Air India offers free refunds and rescheduling

Authorities in Bahrain said four men were arrested after publishing videos online showing the impact of Iranian attacks on the kingdom.

The Interior Ministry said the content included sympathy for the strikes and footage of military sites, adding that such actions constitute treason and violate national laws.

Qatar Airways said its flight operations remain temporarily suspended due to the closure of Qatari airspace, with the next update expected on March 6 at 09:00 Doha time.

The airline said it will operate a limited number of relief flights from March 5 for stranded passengers, including services from Muscat to several European cities and a Riyadh–Frankfurt flight. Passengers have been advised not to travel to the airport unless officially notified by the airline.

China’s foreign minister said Beijing will send a special envoy to mediate in the Middle East, calling for an immediate halt to military operations.

He also urged all sides to ensure the safety of shipping lanes and global oil supplies.

Massive explosions were reported on Thursday in Iran’s southern port city of Bandar Abbas, according to reports by Iran International.

The blasts were said to have occurred near Bandar-e Bahonar in the First Naval Zone of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), close to the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

The cause of the explosions and extent of damage were not immediately clear.

A fuel storage tank belonging to Oman Oil Marketing Company was damaged in an incident, according to Reuters citing the company.

Initial assessments said the impact caused minor physical damage, and operations at the site have been temporarily suspended as a precautionary measure.

Air India has introduced complimentary rescheduling or full refunds for passengers affected by flight disruptions linked to the escalating Middle East conflict.

The offer applies to tickets booked on or before February 28 for travel up to March 10 to and from the Middle East, the UK and Europe, if flights are cancelled. Passengers have been advised to check the latest flight status on airindia.com or contact the airline’s helpline.

The Indian Embassy in Doha has urged Indian citizens in Qatar to follow safety guidance issued by local authorities amid the ongoing regional tensions.

The embassy said flights from Hamad International Airport remain suspended due to the closure of Qatari airspace, advising passengers to stay in contact with airlines for travel updates.

It also issued new emergency helpline numbers for Indian nationals.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense said its air defences intercepted another drone approaching from the east on Thursday morning.

The drone was destroyed near the northern Al-Jawf region close to the Jordanian border, following earlier interceptions of three drones.

The Israeli military said Iran launched several missiles toward Israel early Thursday, triggering alerts across multiple areas and explosions heard in Jerusalem.

Emergency service Magen David Adom said there were no immediate reports of casualties, and residents were later allowed to leave shelters.

Dubai Airports said most flights remain suspended, urging passengers not to travel to the airport unless their airline has confirmed their departure.

Authorities said entry to airport terminals will be restricted to passengers with confirmed flights, advising travellers to check directly with airlines for the latest updates to avoid congestion.

Kuwait’s General Administration of Customs has ordered a suspension of food exports through all land, sea and air crossings, according to a statement issued on Wednesday.

The move follows a decision by the Minister of Commerce and Industry aimed at protecting food security and stabilising the domestic market. Authorities also said radiation monitoring systems at border points remain within safe limits.

Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that a drone strike targeted the Tyre–Naqoura road near the town of Qalila in southern Lebanon.

At least three people were killed in the attack.

Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported that several explosions were heard in Tehran over the past hour, with the country’s air defence systems activated.

Local reports also said blasts were heard in Sanandaj, the capital of Iran’s Kurdistan province.

The Israeli military said it has begun another wave of attacks targeting Iranian military infrastructure across Tehran.

In a statement, the army said its forces were striking sites linked to the Iranian regime’s military facilities in the capital. Earlier, the Israeli air force said it had carried out a large-scale strike on a compound in eastern Tehran housing command centres and internal security forces.

The Pentagon said the sixth US soldier killed in the drone attack on Shuaiba port in Kuwait is believed to be Staff Sergeant Major Robert M Marzan, 54, of Sacramento, California.

It said final identification will be confirmed by a forensic examiner.

The attack on March 1 targeted a command centre at the port after a drone breached air defences. The strike killed six US soldiers, including Major Jeffrey O’Brien of Iowa, according to US officials.

The US Energy Secretary said the US Navy will begin escorting oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz as soon as it is able to do so, amid rising tensions and threats to maritime traffic in the vital shipping route.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said his country’s military involvement in the Middle East conflict cannot be categorically ruled out.

Speaking alongside Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra, Carney said Canada would stand by its allies, despite earlier saying US-Israeli strikes on Iran violated international law.

A third missile salvo from Iran was launched toward central Israel, according to a report by Al Jazeera.

The Israeli military confirmed missile launches from Iran, saying its air defence systems were working to intercept the incoming threats.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group continues operating from the Mediterranean Sea as part of ongoing military operations.

Officials said the US is now deploying two aircraft carriers in the region, increasing pressure on Iran as the conflict escalates. The carriers include the USS Gerald R. Ford and USS Abraham Lincoln, forming one of the largest US naval deployments in the Middle East in recent years.

The Indian Embassy in Doha issued an advisory confirming that flight operations at Hamad International Airport are temporarily suspended after Qatar closed its airspace amid escalating regional tensions.

Passengers have been advised to stay in contact with their airlines for updates, while authorities urged residents to remain indoors except in cases of extreme necessity.

The embassy said it is coordinating with Qatari authorities to ensure the safety of around 740,000 Indian nationals in the country and has activated a 24/7 helpline for emergency assistance.

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani said Tehran will not tolerate any actions by separatist groups, adding that the country’s armed forces are in full control of the situation.

The UK Foreign Office has advised British nationals not to travel to Lebanon except in cases of extreme necessity, citing the escalating regional conflict

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said escalating violence across the Middle East has triggered significant displacement. Around 100,000 people fled Tehran in the first two days of the attacks.

In Lebanon, about 58,000 people are staying in collective shelters, while in Syria roughly 10,000 Syrians and 1,000 Lebanese crossed the border from Lebanon on March 2, nearly three times the usual daily average.

Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom reported that the Northern Command has instructed residents of border towns near Lebanon and the northern Golan Heights to move to fortified areas.

Meanwhile, the Home Front Command said sirens sounded in Metula and Kiryat Shmona in northern Israel after rockets were detected.

US President Donald Trump said the United States was in a “very strong position” in the conflict with Iran, claiming Tehran’s ballistic missile arsenal was being rapidly destroyed.

Speaking at a White House meeting with tech executives, Trump said the US was performing “about a 15 out of 10” on the war front.

Qatar has begun evacuating residents living near the US embassy in Doha as a precautionary measure, the Interior Ministry said.

Authorities said temporary accommodation has been arranged for those affected. The move comes after drone attacks targeted US diplomatic facilities in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Dubai earlier this week.

US President Donald Trump said the recent strikes were carried out to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, claiming Tehran could have developed one within weeks.

Speaking during a White House roundtable, Trump said “dangerous things happen when reckless people possess nuclear weapons”.

The head of the UN’s International Maritime Organization, Arsenio Dominguez, said around 20,000 sailors are stranded due to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.

Speaking to the BBC, he said threats against ships have caused a near halt in maritime traffic. About 15,000 cruise ship passengers have also been affected.

A tanker reported a large explosion about 30 nautical miles southeast of Kuwait’s Mubarak al-Kabeer port, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

Oil was seen leaking into the water, but all crew members were reported safe.

At least four explosions were reported in Sulaymaniyah province in Iraq’s Kurdistan region, near Arabat, Zarkuiz and Surdash.

The blasts reportedly targeted the headquarters of Komala, an Iranian Kurdish armed group. It was not immediately clear who carried out the attacks.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry said three people were killed in two Israeli strikes targeting vehicles on the airport highway in Beirut late on Wednesday.

The attacks came after a third day of Israeli bombardments, launched in response to renewed Hezbollah attacks.

The US Senate voted 53–47 to block a resolution seeking to restrict President Donald Trump’s military powers in Iran.

The vote largely followed party lines, though Republican Rand Paul backed the measure while Democrat John Fetterman opposed it.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv is preparing to send experts to the Gulf region to help allies counter Iranian drones and missiles.

He said he held talks with leaders of the UAE, Qatar, Jordan and Bahrain and asked officials to develop support plans without affecting Ukraine’s defence capabilities.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine is ready to help protect lives and stabilise the situation.

Saudi officials said on Thursday that three cruise missiles were intercepted and destroyed outside the city of Al-Kharj.

In a post on X, the Saudi Ministry of Defense said its air defences successfully intercepted the missiles before they reached the city. Authorities did not immediately provide details on casualties or damage.