Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in the Dahiyeh area of Beirut, Thursday, March 5, 2026. (Source: AP)
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.
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.
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 said.
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.
2:02 pm IST: Iran Red Crescent Society reported that at least 1,332 people were killed in the US-Israeli strikes in Iran.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
7:12 am IST: An Al Jazeera correspondent reported spotting missiles in the skies over the Jordanian city of Aqaba, heading towards Israel.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This post was last modified on March 6, 2026 2:13 pm