On the seventh day of the war on Iran on Friday, March 6, the United States (US) and Israel continued intensive attacks on Iranian targets, amid conflicting signals from Israel about the direction of the war in the coming days and Iranian assertions that it is prepared for a long-term conflict.
In retaliation, Iran launched fresh missile attacks on Israel and US bases in Gulf countries, with Israel intercepting incoming strikes. Israeli forces also hit Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, where at least eight people were killed.
The conflict has killed more than 1,230 people in Iran, 123 in Lebanon and about a dozen in Israel, while six US troops have died. The fighting has rattled global markets, pushed oil prices higher and slowed shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has signalled interest in influencing Iran’s next leadership.
If you have just joined us, here are the major updates
- Iran tells India to seek answers from US over ship strikes in Indian Ocean.
- Brent crude hits highest level since 2023.
- Lebanon said at least 217 people have been killed and 798 wounded in Israeli airstrikes since Monday.
- Trump says there will be no deal with Iran unless it agrees to “unconditional surrender.”
- Trump appears to rule out negotiations with Iran, says US will help Iran rebuild after the war
- ‘Kill them wherever you find them,’ Hezbollah command tells fighters
- Jordan’s US Embassy cancels visa appointments
- German leader urges preservation of Iran’s territorial integrity
- Post-mortem concluded on Iranian sailor deaths in Sri Lanka
- Israel launches new strikes on Tehran, Isfahan
- Israeli minister’s son injured at Lebanon border
- Israeli army ‘dismantles’ Khamenei’s hideout
Follow our live updates here:
Kuwait army warns residents over missiles,
11:36 pm IST: Kuwait’s army urged citizens and residents to follow safety guidelines if they observe missiles or foreign objects falling, amid escalating regional tensions.
The General Command advised people to stay away from the site, avoid touching debris, and immediately report the incident to authorities.
Brent crude surges to highest level since 2023
11:15 pm IST: The price of Brent crude oil has climbed to USD 93 per barrel, its highest level since 2023, as tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate
Iran asks India to question US over ship strikes
11:01 pm IST: Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said India should ask the United States why it is targeting Iranian ships in the Indian Ocean.
He added that Iran remains a “responsible power” and has not closed the Strait of Hormuz, amid concerns about disruption to global shipping routes.
Iran attacked 12 countries, says top US commander
10:55 pm IST: The commander of US Central Command said the Iranian regime has launched attacks on 12 different countries and continues to deliberately target civilians.
He said seven Iranian attack drones were launched at civilian residential areas in Bahrain on Thursday, adding that the attacks are unacceptable and will not go unanswered.
World’s largest aircraft carrier operating round the clock: US
10:44 pm IST: US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the world’s largest aircraft carrier is continuing operations around the clock, with US Navy F/A-18 fighter jets on high alert.
Iran defends strikes on US bases in neighbouring states
10:40 pm IST: Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Tehran regrets the presence of US military bases in neighbouring countries but claims it is forced to target them in self-defence.
The spokesperson added that Iran does not intend to attack neighbouring states, insisting its strikes are aimed specifically at US military installations in the region.
Iran says attack on US base in Bahrain caused deaths, injuries
10:23 pm IST: Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya military headquarters said its strike on a US forces site in Bahrain resulted in deaths and injuries.
Trump says US moving thousands out of Middle East countries
10:15 pm IST: US President Donald Trump said the United States is moving thousands of people out of various countries across the Middle East “quietly, but seamlessly.”
In a post on Truth Social, Trump also praised Secretary of State Marco Rubio, saying the State Department was doing a “great job”. The remarks appear to refer to US evacuation efforts following military strikes on Iran.
Bahrain activates sirens, urges residents to seek safe locations
10:11 pm IST: Bahrain’s Interior Ministry said alarm sirens have been activated and urged citizens and residents to remain calm and head to the nearest safe location.
Authorities advised the public to follow updates through official channels.
Israel says Hezbollah fired 70 rockets since midnight
10:09 pm IST: Israel’s military said Hezbollah has fired about 70 rockets toward Israel since midnight, many of them launched from southern Lebanon.
Military spokesperson Lt Col Nadav Shoshani said Israeli forces have struck more than 500 targets across Lebanon and killed 70 Hezbollah fighters since operations began earlier this week.
50,000 Syrians flee Israeli strikes in Lebanon: UN
10:02 pm IST: Around 50,000 Syrians have fled Lebanon following Israeli strikes, according to the UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The figure does not include people who may have fled after Israel ordered residents of Beirut’s southern suburbs to evacuate on Thursday.
Israel says Iran, Hezbollah launched coordinated missile attacks
9:58 pm IST: Israel’s military said it had identified “simultaneous and coordinated” missile launches by Iran and Hezbollah aimed at overwhelming Israeli air defence systems.
Military spokesman Lt Col Nadav Shoshani said missiles were launched from both Iran and Lebanon at the same time. He added that there had been no significant hits on Israel in the past 24 hours.
300,000 displaced in Lebanon after Israeli evacuation orders
9:53 pm IST: Humanitarian aid agency Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) said about 300,000 people in Lebanon have been forced to flee after Israel issued evacuation orders and carried out air strikes.
The mass evacuation orders cover hundreds of villages in south Lebanon, parts of the Bekaa region, and the southern suburbs of Beirut, the agency said.
NRC warned the number of displaced people could potentially exceed one million if the situation continues to escalate.
Saudi Arabia says fiscal position strong as tensions rise
9:49 pm IST: Saudi Arabia’s fiscal position remains strong and economic activity across the Kingdom is operating normally, a finance ministry spokesperson told Reuters on Friday.
The spokesperson added that the Kingdom’s energy export infrastructure remains resilient and that Saudi Arabia has the flexibility to use multiple export routes, including through the Red Sea.
UN rights chief urges investigation into Iran school bombing
9:43 pm IST: UN human rights chief Volker Turk called for answers after a deadly strike on an elementary school in Minab, southern Iran, reportedly killing at least 150 people.
Turk described the incident as “absolutely tragic” and urged a prompt and transparent investigation. The US Department of Defense said it is investigating the strike, while neither the United States nor Israel has claimed responsibility.
Israel warns of cluster bombs fired from Iran
9:39 pm IST: Israeli police warned residents about the threat of cluster bombs fired by Iran after saying at least one such munition struck Israel during recent missile barrages.
Police said bomb disposal experts found evidence of cluster munitions after Iranian missiles were detected earlier this week.
Iran says it targeted US bases in UAE, Kuwait
9:34 pm IST: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it targeted US forces at two military bases in the Gulf, according to Iranian state media.
The report said the attacks targeted Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates and Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, both of which host US military personnel. No immediate details were provided on damage or casualties.
Saudi Arabia intercepts cruise missile near Al-Kharj
9:30 pm IST: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence said air defence forces intercepted and destroyed a cruise missile east of Al-Kharj Governorate. The ministry did not provide further details.
EU leaders invite Middle East officials to video summit on March 9
9:25 pm IST: The President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission have invited Middle Eastern leaders to a video summit on Monday, March 9, the European sources told Al Jazeera.
The meeting will discuss opportunities to end the war and ways to coordinate efforts to de-escalate the conflict.
Senior Khamenei aide Ali Asghar Mir Hejazi targeted in Tehran strike: Source
9:19 pm IST: Israeli Channel 12, citing a source, reported that the target of the recent strike in Tehran was Ali Asghar Mir Hejazi, a senior official in the office of Iran’s Supreme Leader.
Hejazi served as a deputy chief of staff and political-security official in the Supreme Leader’s office, coordinating with Iran’s intelligence and security institutions.
Kuwait civil defence reports missile and drone incursions
9:14 pm IST: Kuwait’s Civil Defence said it responded to reports related to missile and drone attacks that penetrated the country’s airspace. Authorities did not immediately provide further details.
Lebanon says 217 killed since start of Israel-Hezbollah conflict
9:09 pm IST: At least 217 people have been killed and 798 wounded in Lebanon since the start of the latest conflict between Israel and Hezbollah on March 2, Lebanon’s health ministry said on Friday, March 6.
Qatar announces ‘elevated’ security threat level
8:06 pm IST: Qatari authorities have issued an “elevated” security alert, advising residents to “remain indoors.”
Ship struck in Strait of Hormuz
7:54 pm IST: Iranian Press TV reported a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz was hit by a drone and caught fire. Another report from the UK Maritime Trade Operation said a tugboat was attacked six nautical miles north of Oman.
US says more charter flights are bringing Americans back from Mideast
7:46 pm IST: The State Department says more U.S. government chartered flights are bringing stranded Americans home from the Middle East daily, including one plane emblazoned with the New England Patriots’ logo.
The assistant secretary of state for public affairs posted a photo of Americans boarding the Patriots plane, at least the second such flight that landed at Dulles International Airport outside Washington on Friday.
Trump calls for Iran’s ‘unconditional surrender’
7:40 pm IST: US President Donald Trump completely ruled out any negotiations with Iran, saying, “There will be no deal except unconditional surrender.”
In a Truth Social post, Trump said that following the “surrender,” will come the selection of a “GREAT and ACCEPTABLE leader(s).
“We, and many of our wonderful and very brave allies and partners, will work tirelessly to bring Iran back from the brink of destruction, making it economically bigger, better, and stronger than ever before,” he said.
“IRAN WILL HAVE A GREAT FUTURE. ‘MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN (MIGA!).'”
‘Kill them wherever you find them,’ Hezbollah command tells fighters
7:30 pm IST: Hezbollah’s military command is calling on the group’s gunmen to fight to the death, saying that the war they are fighting is similar to that fought by one of Shiite Islam’s most important religious figures 13 centuries ago.
The group’s command also said in a statement directed to fighters that they should “defend the nation” to keep Hezbollah’s yellow banner flying.
“Kill them wherever you find them,” the command said, describing the ongoing war as a religious battle similar to the one fought by Imam Hussein in Karbala.
Imam Hussein was killed in a climactic battle in Karbala, which is now part of Iraq, in A.D. 680.
“Karbala is happening again,” the statement said.
Drones hit oil fields, Basra airport in Iraq
7:30 pm IST: Four drones hit Basra airport and t two oil storage facilities in southern Iraq, AFP reported.
“One drone crashed into the cargo terminal at Basra airport,” a security official said, adding that two other drones hit a US company and another struck the Rumaila oil field, where the energy major, BP operates.
Jordan’s US Embassy cancels visa appointments
7:13 pm IST: Citing the “current security situation,” the US Embassy in Amman, Jordan, cancelled all immigrant and non-immigrant visa appointments until further notice.
“The safety of our applicants remains a top priority. If you have a scheduled appointment, please do not come to the Embassy. We will contact you to reschedule once visa services resume,” the Embassy said in a statement.
German leader urges preservation of Iran’s territorial integrity
7:05 pm IST: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says he doesn’t want to see a “Syrian scenario” in Iran, referring to Syria’s long civil war.
Merz says that “we want this state to be capable of functioning by itself.”
He says his appeal in his discussions with the U.S. and Israel is “to create as quickly as possible the preconditions for this country to be stabilized, for it to get a democratically legitimized government and for it to continue to exist as a state.”
Post-mortem concluded on Iranian sailor deaths in Sri Lanka
7:04 pm IST: The post-mortem conducted on the bodies of Iranian sailors recovered from the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena has been concluded, hospital sources said on Friday.
Sri Lanka said on Wednesday it had recovered 84 bodies of Iranian sailors after the US submarine attack sank the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena off Galle on the island’s southern coast.
The ship had been returning to Iran from Visakhapatnam, India, where it had participated in a naval fleet review exercise.
Israel launches new strikes on Tehran, Isfahan
7:04 pm IST: Israel’s military said it has begun new airstrikes targeting Iran’s capital, Tehran.
In a statement on X, the Israeli military said it initiated the “15th airstrike.”
The IDF has begun a wave of attacks against the infrastructure of the Iranian terrorist regime in Tehran.
Fresh strikes target Iranian Kurdish militants in Iraq
7:02 pm IST: An official from the exiled Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan said New strikes hit the Iranian Kurdish opposition group in northern Iraq. “Our bases are under attack from the Iranian enemy,” a PDKI official was quoted by AFP.
“After an attack this morning, our sites were targeted again 20 minutes ago with six drones,” he said. “The attack continues.”
Over 15 strikes launched at Beirut’s suburbs
6:53 pm IST: Lebanese media reported that more than 15 Israeli air strikes hit Beirut’s southern suburbs in the latest wave of attack. The Israeli military has continued to pound Lebanon on Friday.
Israeli minister’s son injured at Lebanon border
6:45 pm IST: The son of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich was injured during military operations on the Lebanese border, Israeli Army Radio reported.
Iran force says targeted US-owned oil tankers in Gulf
6:15 pm IST: An Iranian military spokesperson stated that their forces targeted a “US-owned oil tanker” in the Gulf and that it was “burning” now.
“An oil tanker vessel owned by the United States near the borders of Kuwait has been targeted and is burning,” said Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for the central headquarters of the military, according to state TV.
UAE intercepted 109 drones, 9 missiles
6:12 pm IST: The UAE Ministry of Defence said it destroyed nine ballistic missiles, intercepted 109 drones, and added that three other drones crashed inside the country’s territory.
Israeli airstrikes attack southern Lebanon
6:08 pm IST: Israeli airstrikes targeted southern Lebanon towns Harouf and Kfour, Al Jazeera reported.
US bases in Iraqi Kurdistan hit
5:55 pm IST: Two drones attacked a US base near Erbil airport in Iraqi Kurdistan, Reuters reported, citing Iraqi security sources.
Emirates transported 30,000 passengers from Dubai
5:43 pm IST: An Emirates spokesperson told Reuters that the airline flew around 30,000 passengers on Thursday, March 5. It expects a return to 100 per cent of its system in the coming days.
Over 140 flights cancelled at four airports in India
5:40 pm IST: More than 140 international flights were cancelled at Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Kolkata airports on Friday as the West Asian crisis continued to impact flight operations.
Airlines have partially started operations, and some of them are operating limited services to and from some destinations in West Asia.
Officials said at least 142 flights were cancelled at the four airports, with 39 departures and 34 arrivals cancelled at the Mumbai airport.
IEA chief warns of likely bidding war for gas
5:37 pm IST: The International Energy Agency director says the conflict in Iran has halted exports of Iranian gas to largely Asian markets, a stoppage that if drawn out will likely lead to a bidding war between Europe and Asia and energy prices will soar.
“If the crisis continues this way, the Asian buyers and the European buyers will need to compete for the LNG which will get scarce and scarce,”
IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said during a news conference in Brussels.
“So this will be the challenge for European countries if the crisis continues in the next days or weeks to come.”
Iran’s foreign ministry says US, Israel hit Tehran elementary school
5:28 pm IST: Esmail Baghaei, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, accused the US and Israel of carrying out a targeted attack on an elementary school in Tehran’s Niloufar Square.
Baghei shared footage of the school with its windows shattered and entire classrooms in rubble.
Israeli army ‘dismantles’ Khamenei’s hideout
5:18 pm IST: Around 50 Israeli fighter jets destroyed Khamenei’s underground bunker in Tehran, which is used as the central command headquarters, the Israeli army said in a statement.
Iranian Revolutionary Guard says they hit US bases in Gulf countries
5:15 pm IST: Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said they used the Khorramshahr-4 missile with a two-ton warhead to expand and escalate their attacks against US bases in Gulf countries.
Our new generation missiles hit American bases in the Gulf states, Ben Gurion Airport, Haifa and Tel Aviv,” the IRGC said. “We are moving towards expanding the war against the targets of the Zionist entity and America in the region, and the initiative is in our hands”
Visuals from Lebanon, Tehran
Witnesses say intense airstrikes hit Iran’s capital, Tehran, on Friday afternoon.
Iranians display pictures of late Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei as they arrive for Friday prayers
Iran’s internet blockout continues
4:45 pm IST: According to the global internet monitor Netblocks, “Iran remains in digital darkness after six full days under an internet blackout, with 1 per cent connectivity at the 144 hour mark.”
War could bring down the economies of the world: Qatari minister
4:32 pm IST: Qatar’s energy minister Saad al-Kaabi said that it would take Qatar “weeks to months” to return to a normal cycle of deliveries even if the war ended now.
The war could “bring down the economies of the world,” the minister told Financial Times. He predicted a total shutdown of Gulf energy production within weeks, potentially driving oil prices to USD 150 a barrel.
Red Cross says ‘hundreds of thousands’ displaced in Lebanon
4:27 pm IST: Hundreds of thousands of people in Lebanon have been displaced so far in the days-long conflict between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group, the International Committee of the Red Cross says.
“Across Lebanon, hundreds of thousands of people have had to flee their homes,” said Hachem Osseiran, ICRC spokesperson for the Middle East.
“The intensification of hostilities, coupled with evacuation orders covering entire districts in Beirut, southern Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley, has sown panic and confusion. Many people have fled, some on foot, with nothing but the clothes on their backs and no clear sense of where to go.”
5 killed, 7 wounded in Israeli raid in Lebanon
4:21 pm IST: The Lebanese Ministry of Health announced that five people were killed and seven were injured during an Israeli raid in the southern city of Sidon.
UK to aid in ‘defending’ Bahrain
4:19 pm IST: The British ambassador to Bahrain says the U.K. would be part of “defending” Bahrain by having Royal Air Force fighter jets flying over the island kingdom as it faces attacks from Iran.
Ambassador Alastair Long announced in an Instagram post.
“Today, I’m delighted to tell to people that the U.K. will be flying RAF jets above Bahrain as a contribution to the defense of Bahrain, one of our closest allies in the whole world,” Long said.
“This matters hugely to the U.K. that we are part of defending Bahrain and making sure it prevails in this terrible attack against it by Iran.”
We attacked Kuwait’s US bases: Iranian army
4:15 pm IST: The Iranian army said that it attacked the US bases in Kuwait with several drones, adding that it would resume the attack in the next few hours.
“Over the past few hours, various types of destructive drones of the Army’s ground forces have targeted American military bases in Kuwait in large numbers. These attacks will continue in the coming hours,” the army said, according to Iranian state TV.
Sirens heard in several cities in northern Israel
4:13 pm IST: The Israeli Home Front Command reported that sirens are sounding in Haifa, Acre, and several cities across northern Israel due to fears of a drone infiltration.
UN health agency’s Dubai hub beginning to resume operations
4:10 pm IST: The World Health Organization said earlier this week that operations were on hold because of insecurity, airspace closures and restrictions of the Strait of Hormuz.
But WHO’s eastern Mediterranean chief, Dr. Hanan Balkhy, said Friday that after the “temporary pause,” they are resuming as airspace reopens.
Balkhy said that more than 50 emergency supply requests regarding 25 countries, meant to benefit more than 1.5 million people, had been hit by the enforced pause. Those included shipments destined for Lebanon, Gaza, Yemen and Somalia.
She said, “What we’ll be doing over the next few days is to identify now the urgent shipments that need to go out quicker than others.”
Qatar condemns Iranian attack on Bahrain
4:10 pm IST: Qatar has denounced an Iranian attack on Bahrain that targeted buildings housing elements of its forces there.
Doha says the attack targeted the unified military command of the Gulf Cooperation Council, a six-nation bloc in the region.
It says none of the Qatari sailors were hurt and called the assault “a direct threat to its security and stability and the security of the region.”
Iran launches a new missile attack
4:08 pm IST: Iranian state television announced a new missile attack, including the Islamic Republic firing off its larger Khorramshahr-4 missiles.
Two Israeli strikes hit towns in southern Lebanon
4:07 pm IST: Two Israeli airstrikes targeted the Marwaniyeh and Yahmar al-Shaqif towns in southern Lebanon, Al Jazeera reported.
2,328 Israelis evacuated from their homes
4:03 pm IST: The Israeli Ministry of Health reported that 2,328 people have been evacuated since the war began, with nearly half originating from the Tel Aviv area.
1 injured in Israel by fallen debris
3:50 pm IST: One person was injured by falling debris in central Israel after a missile interception, according to local reports. A total of 11 people have been killed since the start of the war.
UN chief pleads with warring parties to ‘give peace a chance’
3:46 pm IST: Volker Türk, the UN high commissioner for human rights, says that “the world urgently needs to see steps to contain and extinguish this blaze.”
He lamented that “instead we are only seeing more inflammatory, bellicose rhetoric, more bombings, more destruction, killings and escalation, that fuels it further.”
Türk is urging the countries involved in the war “to take immediate steps to de-escalate, to give peace a chance.” And he says that other countries should “call clearly on those involved to pull back.”
He says he’s particularly worried about what he described as “blanket, massive displacement orders” by Israel to civilians in Lebanon.
Türk says that colleagues on the ground “hear every day about the anguish that people face, about not knowing where to go, not knowing how long it will take.”
He says that “obviously, this raises serious concern under international humanitarian law and in particular when it comes to issues around forced transfer.”
Lebanon’s Prime Minister calls for international help
3:43 pm IST: Prime Minister Nawaf Salam is calling on the international community to help Lebanon amid the ongoing Israel-Hezbollah war.
“A humanitarian disaster is looming” because of huge displacements of people, Salam said.
Salam criticized both Israel and Hezbollah over the current crisis saying that the Lebanese state and people “did not choose this war.”
Speaking to heads of diplomatic missions in Beirut, Salam appealed to the friends of Lebanon to support “us in this endeavor” and called on the international community to help stop Israel’s attacks and spare the country’s infrastructure.
Israel strikes Sidon in Lebanon, rescuers gather human remains
3:33 pm IST: A main thoroughfare was struck in the southern city of Lebanon, Sidon, without prior warning, state media said. The Israeli strike reportedly targeted the tenth floor of an office building with two shelters nearby. An AFP photographer said rescuers removed at least one body and were gathering human remains.
Gulf states to review overseas investments to alleviate potential economic strain
3:33 pm IST: A Gulf official told Financial Times that the pressure on the Middle Eastern states’ budgets could have an impact on anything from investment commitments made to foreign countries, contracts with businesses and investors or sales of holdings.
The officials said the major Gulf economies, namely Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, and Qatar, had discussed the strains on their budgets and economies. The review was conducted to alleviate some of the anticipated economic strain from the current war. “Especially if the war and related expenses continue at the same pace,” the official said.
Azerbaijan withdraws diplomats from Iran
3:23 pm IST: Azerbaijan has withdrawn its diplomats from Iran, Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said. The move after Baku claimed that Iranian drones crossed its border and injured four in the Nakhchivan exclave. Iran, however, denied launching the attack.
Bahrain destroyed 78 Iranian missiles
3:20 pm IST: The Bahrain Defence Force said that its air defence systems have destroyed around 78 missiles and 143 drones targeting Bahraini territory in what it described as “treacherous” attacks by Iran.
Baseless, preposterous: India denies assisting US in Iranian ship sinking
3:06 pm IST: Top government sources dismissed claims that the Indian Navy provided intelligence to the US regarding a sunken Iranian frigate as “baseless and preposterous.”
There is no question of providing any input to the US on it and the claims are completely baseless, the sources told PTI.
The US sank the Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka on Wednesday, triggering shard reaction from Iran.
The Iranian frigate, IRIS Dena, was returning home after participating in the Milan multilateral naval exercise hosted by India. At least 87 Iranian sailors were killed in the attack, which marked a major escalation in the conflict between the US and Iran outside of the Persian Gulf.
Israeli military targets Lebanon’s capital again
3:00 pm IST: The Israeli military said it is conducting a fresh wave of strikes in the Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh in Lebanon. It claims to be targeting Hezbollah infrastructure.
US forces likely behind the strike on Iranian girls’ school
2:33 pm IST: US military investigators suspect that the strike on Iran’s girls’ school that killed around 50 children was a result of precision strikes carried out by the US forces.
The girls’ school in southern Iran’s Minab was hit on the first day of the US and Israeli attacks on the country. The strike reportedly killed 150 students, according to Iran’s UN ambassador Ali Bahreini.
The New York Times reported that the US claims of targeting naval sites near the Strait of Hormuz, where the IRGC base is located, suggest that they were most likely the ones behind the strike on the school as well.
When asked if the United States had conducted the airstrike, the White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “not that we know of,” adding that the Department of War is currently investigating the matter.
The Sharajah Tayyebeh elementary school is located in the small southern town of Minab, which is near the critical Strait of Hormuz. According to the NYT, the analysis of social media posts that reported the strike shows that the school was hit at the same time as the naval base.
However, the strike is still under investigation, and no official conclusion has been made.
Sirens sound in Tel Aviv, at least 5 missiles taken down
2:13 pm IST: Israeli media said that at least five missiles were intercepted over Tel Aviv. Minutes before, the Israeli Home Front Command announced that sirens sounded in Greater Tel Aviv and central Israel.
London police arrest 4 men on suspicion of aiding Iran
2:07 pm IST: London police say four men have been arrested on suspicion of aiding Iran by spying on the Jewish community, Associated Press reported.
In a statement on Friday, the Metropolitan Police said the suspects, one Iranian and three dual British-Iranian nationals, were taken into custody on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service.
The force said the men, aged 22, 40, 52 and 55, were arrested at addresses in and around north London shortly after 1 am.
The men are suspected on spying on locations and individuals.
Death toll reaches 1,332 in Iran
2:02 pm IST: Iran Red Crescent Society reported that at least 1,332 people were killed in the US-Israeli strikes in Iran.
Dubai residents get potential missile threat alert
1:46 pm IST: According to Al Jazeera, residents of Dubai in the UAE received an alert on their mobile phones from the Emirati interior ministry, ordering them to take shelter from potential missile threats.
“Due to the current situation, potential missile threats, seek immediate shelter in the closest secure building and steer away from windows, doors and open areas,” the alert read.
Indonesia to begin evacuating citizens from Iran
1:34 pm IST: Indonesia will start evacuating its citizens from Iran on Friday, a foreign ministry official told reporters.
Heni Hamidah said the evacuation process will be gradual and “this first phase will be carried out via Azerbaijan.” The first group of 32 Indonesians will arrive in Jakarta on Monday or Tuesday, she said. As many as 329 Indonesian citizens are in Iran, most of them are students in Iran’s Qom.
Although half a million Indonesians live in the Middle East, the Indonesian government is not considering evacuation from other Gulf countries, the ministry said.
IRGC shoots down Israeli Heron drone in Isfahan
1:12 pm IST: The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it intercepted a Heron drone spotted over Isfahan city in Iran, Tehran Times reported. Heron drones are Israel’s largest unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and were introduced into service in 2007.
Iranian leadership council meets, state TV says
1:06 pm IST: Iranian state television reported Friday that a leadership council in the country met and discussed how to hold a meeting of the country’s Assembly of Experts, which will select the nation’s new supreme leader.
The leadership council includes President Masoud Pezeshkian, judiciary chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejehi and cleric Ayatollah Ali Reza Arafi.
The statement provided no timeline on the selection of the supreme leader, nor information on whether the Assembly of Experts would meet in person or remotely for the vote.
Warnings on social media use sent to Dubai residents
1:04 pm IST: Residents of Dubai have been receiving mass text messages warning them about their social media activity.
A message attributed to Dubai police said that “photographing or sharing security or critical sites, or reposting unreliable information, may result in legal action and compromise national security and stability.”
It comes as Bahrain issued a similar, but sterner warning as the Iran war rages on across the Mideast.
South Korea’s foreign minister declines to comment on possible shift of US assets
1:01 pm IST: South Korea’s foreign minister told a legislative hearing that the United States has not requested military or non-military assistance from Seoul over the war in the Middle East, but declined to comment on reports that Washington could relocate some of its assets in South Korea to support the fighting.
When asked by a lawmaker about a media report that US forces were moving some of its Patriot anti-missile defence systems to a major airbase near Seoul, Cho Hyun said he couldn’t confirm details related to US military operations.
Six wounded in Iran’s Lorestan
12:58 pm IST: At least six people were injured in an Israeli air strike on residential areas of Iran’s Poldokhtar city in Lorestan province, Tasnim news agency reported.
Israeli military conducted 26 strikes in Lebanon’s Dahieh
12:48 pm IST: The Israeli military claimed to have conducted a broad-scale wave of 26 strikes in the Dahieh area of Lebanon, “targeting Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure.”
Among the targets were an executive council’s command centre and a facility with a stash of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) used for attacks against Israel, the military said in a statement. The Israeli military also said its air force struck six Iranian missile launchers overnight, before it fired at Israeli territory.
Two emergency workers killed in Iran: Report
12:40 pm IST: Iran’s Tasnim news agency said two paramedics working for an ambulance centre were killed in US-Israeli attacks in the city of Shiraz, Iran. They were stationed at the Shiraz Emergency Medical Services (EMS) base.
Israeli Ministry of Health says 1,619 people shifted to hospital since the start of war
12:30 pm IST: As of Friday morning, 1,619 people have been evacuated to hospitals since the beginning of Operation Lion’s Roar, the Israeli Ministry of Health said. Among them, 87 are currently hospitalised and in intensive care, it added.
Iran downs two drones in Tehran, Lorestan
12:26 pm IST: Iranian television broadcast reported the downing of an MQ-9 drone in Lorestan province and a different drone near Tehran. The latest airstrikes in Tehran were reportedly targeted at a parking lot, a medical centre and a residential area.
Saudi Arabia intercepts another drone
12:23 pm IST: Saudi Arabia’s Defence Ministry stated that it shot down another drone after intercepting it in the northeast region of the country’s capital, Riyadh. Previously, it had announced the interception of three drones east of Riyadh.
IndiGo extends fee waiver on Middle East, Istanbul flights
12:08 pm IST: Indian airline IndiGo has extended fee waivers on cancellations for flights to and from the Middle East and Istanbul until March 31 amid the volatile situation in the region. The airline said the move is aimed at supporting passengers affected by the ongoing conflict and airspace disruptions.
Over 3,000 homes damaged in Iran strikes, says Red Crescent
12:03 pm IST: Iran’s Red Crescent Society said more than 3,000 homes and 500 commercial centres have been damaged by US and Israeli strikes across the country, with Tehran bearing the brunt of the attacks.
The organisation said 14 medical and pharmaceutical centres were also hit, while several hospitals, the Tehran bazaar, Mehrabad airport and Azadi Stadium were among the sites damaged. It added that five aid workers were injured.
Indian airlines partially resume Middle East flights amid conflict
11:56 am IST: Indian airlines including IndiGo, Air India and SpiceJet have begun gradually restoring limited flight operations to and from the Middle East, though thousands of services remain cancelled due to airspace restrictions linked to the US-Israel and Iran war.
Air India and Air India Express resumed flights to Jeddah and Muscat after Saudi and Omani airspace reopened, while IndiGo said it would operate 17 departures to eight Middle East destinations on Friday. SpiceJet also announced special flights from the UAE to India to help ease passenger movement.
Qatar Airways extends flight suspension as airspace remains closed
11:50 am IST: Qatar Airways said it will continue the temporary suspension of its flights as Qatari airspace remains closed, according to the Qatar News Agency (QNA).
The airline said operations will resume only after authorities confirm that the country’s airspace has safely reopened, urging passengers to follow official channels for updates on flight schedules.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard warns of ‘long war’
11:44 am IST: A spokesman for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the country is prepared for a long war until the “aggressor is punished”. He warned that the enemy should expect “painful blows” as the conflict escalates.
Oman airports remain fully operational despite regional conflict
11:30 am IST: Oman’s airports authority said Muscat International Airport, Salalah Airport and Sohar Airport remain fully operational despite the ongoing regional conflict.
The authority said Oman is among the few countries in the region where airports continue to operate 24 hours a day without slot restrictions.
Bahrain to cover repair costs for homes damaged in Iranian attacks
11:22 am IST: Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa has ordered the government to bear the costs of repairing homes damaged in Iranian attacks at Al Hidd Housing City.
Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa visited the area to check on the safety of residents and assess the damage to affected homes.
Sending US troops to Iran ‘waste of time’: Trump
11:15 am IST: US President Donald Trump said sending American ground troops to Iran “would be a waste of time”, as Washington continues its military campaign against Tehran, NBC News quoted him as saying.
He said Iran had already “lost everything”, including much of its military capability, amid ongoing US-Israeli strikes.
Saudi Arabia intercepts three drones near Riyadh
11:08 am IST: Saudi Arabia’s Defence Ministry said it intercepted three drones to the east of the Riyadh region. The ministry did not immediately provide further details about the drones or their origin.
Video shows aftermath near Kuwait air base
10: 55 am IST: A video circulating online shows the aftermath of an Iranian missile striking near Kuwait’s Ali Al-Salem Air Base, which hosts US forces. The footage shows smoke and debris in the area following the reported strike near the base.
370 Punjabis stranded in Gulf amid conflict, says Punjab CM
10: 38 am IST: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said 370 people from the state are stranded in the Gulf amid the escalating regional conflict, the Press Trust of India (PTI) reported. He said the Punjab government is coordinating with the Centre to ensure their safe return.
Two senior officers have been deployed to monitor the evacuation process, while a round-the-clock helpline has also been set up to assist stranded residents and their families.
Nearly 200 children killed in Middle East escalation since weekend: UNICEF
10:25 am IST: Nearly 200 children have been reported killed across the Middle East since the weekend’s US and Israeli military escalation against Iran, UNICEF said.
At least 181 children were killed in Iran, seven in Lebanon, three in Israel and one in Kuwait. The UN agency said children are paying an “unacceptably high price” as the conflict intensifies.
Kurdish groups deny joining fight against Iran
10:11 am IST: Anti-Iran Kurdish militias have dismissed reports that they are joining the fight against Tehran, saying they are “not entering and fighting in Iran”. The statement came amid speculation that Kurdish groups could support the United States in operations against Iran, NDTV reported.
‘No civilian should die in wars’: Sri Lanka President calls for peace
10:06 am IST: Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has called for peace and stressed that civilian lives must be protected during conflicts. In a post on X, he said “no civilian should die in wars” and reiterated that Sri Lanka would uphold its non-aligned policy while prioritising humanitarian values and efforts to save lives.
He also urged all parties to demonstrate a firm commitment to peace, saying Sri Lanka stands ready to support steps aimed at ending hostilities.
Iranian drone intercepted near Bahrain’s Financial Harbour Towers
9:53 am IST: Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency reported that overnight strikes targeted the Financial Harbour Towers commercial complex in Bahrain’s capital, Manama, claiming the site housed the Israeli embassy.
HRW raises alarm over Israeli displacement orders in Lebanon
9: 41 am IST: Human Rights Watch warned that forced displacement of civilians could amount to a war crime after the Israeli military ordered evacuations in southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs, affecting hundreds of thousands of residents.
Indian Embassy in Doha to remain open for consular services
9:09 an IST: The Embassy of India in Doha said it will remain open on March 6 and 7, 2026, to provide consular services, particularly tatkal passport renewals, amid the current situation.
The embassy also said its 24×7 helpline numbers and email support are available to address queries from Indian nationals.
Saudi Arabia intercepts cruise missile over Al-Kharj
8:43 am IST: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence said a cruise missile was intercepted and destroyed east of the central Al-Kharj governorate. The ministry did not provide further details.
Hezbollah warns Israelis near Lebanon border to evacuate
8:27 am IST: Lebanon’s Hezbollah has warned Israeli residents to evacuate towns within 5km of the border between the two countries.
“The aggression of your army against Lebanese sovereignty… will not pass without a response,” the group said in a statement posted on Telegram early Friday.
Trump says he wants ‘competent leader’ in Iran
8:13 am IST: US President Donald Trump told NBC that he would like Iran to have a “competent leader” and said there are people he believes could do a good job leading the country.
Trump also said the United States has “enormous quantities of ammunition,” adding that the scale of US stockpiles is something many people have not realised.
UAE considering freezing billions in Iranian assets: Report
8:05 am IST: The United Arab Emirates is considering freezing billions of dollars in Iranian assets held in the country, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
The move could target what the report described as Iran’s shadow financing networks, potentially limiting Tehran’s access to foreign currency and global trade. Emirati authorities are also weighing action against companies and currency exchanges used to move Iranian funds outside formal banking channels.
US issues 30-day waiver for Indian refiners to buy Russian oil
7:59 am IST:US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the Treasury Department is issuing a temporary 30-day waiver allowing Indian refiners to purchase Russian oil.
In a post on X, Bessent said the short-term measure is intended to keep oil flowing into global markets and would not provide significant financial benefit to the Russian government as it only covers oil already stranded at sea.
US says Iranian ‘drone carrier’ struck and set on fire
7:50 am IST: The US military said it struck an 5 vessel described as a “drone carrier”, which it said “is now on fire”.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a post on X that US forces targeted the ve1ssel as the joint US-Israeli military attack on Iran entered its seventh day.
CENTCOM described the drone carrier as “roughly the size of a WWII aircraft carrier”. The location of the strike was not specified. A video shared by CENTCOM showed the vessel engulfed in thick smoke after being hit.
Qatar intercepts drone attack targeting Al Udeid Air Base
7:25 am IST: Qatar’s Ministry of Defence said its air defence forces successfully intercepted a drone attack targeting Al Udeid Air Base in Doha.
Missiles seen over Jordan heading towards
7:12 am IST: An Al Jazeera correspondent reported spotting missiles in the skies over the Jordanian city of Aqaba, heading towards Israel.
Israel launches ‘broad-scale’ strikes on Tehran infrastructure
7:05 am IST: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it has begun a “broad-scale wave of strikes” targeting key regime infrastructure in Tehran.
Iran’s semi-official Mehr news agency reported that the sound of a fighter jet and an explosion was heard over the capital.
Air raid sirens sound across Kuwait as explosions reported
6:56 am IST: Air raid sirens have begun wailing across Kuwait, coinciding with the sound of powerful explosions reported in several areas, Al Jazeera reported.
Qatar issues security alert as explosions reported in Doha
6:49 am IST: Qatari authorities have issued an alert warning that the security threat level has been elevated.
“Everyone is required to remain indoors, refrain from going out, and stay away from windows and exposed areas,” the alert said.
Residents in the capital, Doha, reported hearing explosions.
Saudi Arabia intercepts three ballistic missiles targeting Prince Sultan Air Base
6:42 am IST: Saudi Arabia intercepted and destroyed three ballistic missiles targeting Prince Sultan Air Base, the kingdom’s Ministry of Defence said in a post on X early on Friday.
The air base, located south of Riyadh, has previously hosted US military aircraft and supports American air and missile defence operations in the region.
Kuwait air defences intercept missile after airspace breach
6:38 am IST: Kuwait’s Ministry of Defence said the country’s air defences repelled a missile that had breached its airspace. The ministry added that debris from the intercepted missile caused only minor damage.
Etihad to resume limited flights to major cities
6:35 am IST: Etihad Airways said it will resume limited commercial flights between March 6 and 19 to and from Abu Dhabi, including routes to Cairo, Delhi, London, Frankfurt, New York, Paris, Moscow, Toronto and Zurich.
Trump offers immunity to IRGC commanders if they step down
6:25 am IST: US President Donald Trump has called on Iranian diplomats at embassies worldwide to defect and seek asylum.
He also repeated his earlier offer to commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), saying they would receive complete immunity if they stepped down, but warning they would be killed if they refused.
Iranian attack targets three sites in Bahrain’s capital Manama
6:18 am IST: Bahrain’s Interior Ministry said an Iranian attack targeted three separate locations in the capital, Manama.
According to official statements posted on X, the strikes hit two hotels and a residential building. Authorities said the attacks caused material damage but there were no reported casualties.
US says it struck 200 targets in Iran in 72 hours
6:12 am IST: US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it has struck around 200 targets in Iran over the past 72 hours. It added that B-2 bombers dropped bunker-buster bombs on underground missile launchers, while more than 30 Iranian vessels have been sunk so far.
Trump praises Israeli strikes, claims Iran’s air defences destroyed
6: 05 am IST: Speaking at the White House, US President Donald Trump thanked “wonderful Israeli partners” who he said were “demolishing the enemy ahead of schedule”.
He added that the US was destroying more of Iran’s missile and drone capabilities “every single hour”. Trump also claimed Iran now has “no air force, no air defence” and that its planes “are gone”, without providing evidence.
