US-Israel-Iran War Highlights: Iran launches missiles at Israel; explosions heard in Jerusalem

Iran Israel War News: Iran launches missiles at Israel; explosions heard in Jerusalem

Iran launched missiles at Israel early Thursday as aerial attacks in the Middle East commenced for a sixth day after an American submarine sank an Iranian warship and Iran threatened the destruction of military and economic infrastructure across the region.

Israel announced multiple incoming attacks, and air sirens sounded in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem shortly after the Israeli military said it had begun new strikes in Lebanon targeting the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Beirut's southern suburbs.

The fighting continued after the US and Israel intensified their bombardment of Iran on Wednesday.

The tempo of the strikes on Iran was so intense that state television announced the mourning ceremony for Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed at the start of the conflict, would be postponed. Millions attended the funeral of his predecessor, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, in 1989.

The US and Israel launched the war Saturday, targeting Iran’s leadership, missile arsenal and nuclear program while suggesting that toppling the government is a goal. But the exact aims and timelines have repeatedly shifted, signaling an open-ended conflict.

Iran Israel War News: Iran strikes create 'unprecedented hostility' with neighbours, says Arab League chief

Arab League secretary-general Ahmed Aboul Gheit warned that the ongoing conflict is deepening an "unprecedented state of hostility" between Iran and its Gulf neighbours.

In a sharp condemnation of Tehran's recent actions, Aboul Gheit demanded an immediate end to the attacks, which he characterised as a "grave strategic mistake."

"Iran must come to its senses," the statement added, noting that targeting neighbouring states only serves to create a "deep rift" that will impact regional stability for years to come.

While the 22-member Arab League is tasked with promoting regional cooperation, it has historically struggled to effectively resolve such high-stakes conflicts.

Iran War News: Israel says working to intercept Iran missiles

The Israeli military said air defences were responding to missiles launched from Iran on Thursday, the first such report in over seven hours, triggering alerts in several areas, including Tel Aviv.

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

Israel Iran War: Israeli airstrikes hit Beirut’s Haret Hreik neighborhood

The Israeli military launched at least two airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs early Thursday morning, specifically targeting the Haret Hreik area.

The strikes followed an urgent evacuation warning issued by IDF spokesman Col Avichay Adraee, who identified buildings in the neighbourhood as being situated near Hezbollah facilities.

According to preliminary reports, there were no immediate casualties

Iran War News: Saudi Arabia intercepts three cruise missiles near Al-Kharj

The Saudi ministry of defense announced on Thursday that it successfully intercepted and destroyed three cruise missiles outside the city of Al-Kharj.

The ministry confirmed the military action via a post on X, marking a significant escalation in the regional spillover of the ongoing US-Israel-Iran war.

Iran War News: Senate rejects resolution to curb Donald Trump’s war powers

The US Senate rejected a bipartisan resolution on Wednesday that sought to limit President Donald Trump's authority to continue military strikes against Iran. The measure, introduced by Senator Tim Kaine (D) and Senator Rand Paul (R), would have required the withdrawal of U.S. forces from hostilities unless explicitly authorised by Congress.

The resolution fell short in a 53–47 vote, largely along party lines, signalling a narrow congressional show of support for the campaign. While most Republicans rallied behind the President, Democrats argued that the administration unconstitutionally bypassed Congress and failed to provide evidence of an "imminent threat" during classified briefings.

The vote occurred five days into a conflict that has already resulted in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several U.S. service members in Kuwait.

Only Senator Rand Paul crossed party lines to support the measure, while centrist Democrat John Fetterman voted against it. Furthermore, administration officials informed lawmakers that the operation could last weeks, potentially requiring emergency funding to replenish weapon stockpiles.

Despite the rejection, supporters of the resolution invoked the 1973 War Powers Act, emphasising that forcing a public vote was essential to hold the administration accountable as the conflict spread to previously stable areas like Dubai and Riyadh.

Israel Iran War: Iran threatens strike on Israel's Dimona nuclear site if regime change pursued

Iran has threatened to target Israel’s Dimona nuclear facility if the United States and Israel attempt to force regime change in the Islamic Republic, according to a report by the semi-official ISNA news agency on Thursday.

US Iran War News: IDF issues urgent evacuation warning for Hezbollah site in Beirut

The Israeli military issued an evacuation warning on Wednesday for a specific building in Beirut’s southern suburbs, a known Hezbollah stronghold, ahead of a planned airstrike.

IDF spokesman Col Avichay Adraee released a map of the location, stating that the military intends to "operate forcefully" against facilities and interests affiliated with Hezbollah in the immediate area.

"For your safety and the safety of your family members, you must evacuate this building and the adjacent ones immediately and move at least 300 meters away from them," Adraee warned.

This latest strike follows a series of targeted operations in the Lebanese capital as the conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed group continues to escalate.

Israel Iran War News: Drone strikes near Beirut airport kill three

Two near-simultaneous drone strikes hit vehicles travelling on Beirut’s coastal Airport Road on Wednesday, killing three people and wounding six others, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.

The strikes caused the vehicles to burst into flames, with footage from the scene showing bystanders attempting to assist a wounded man on the pavement.

The Israeli military confirmed the operation, stating it targeted a member of Hezbollah. This latest attack brings the total death toll in Lebanon to over 70 since the escalation began three days ago.

Those killed in recent strikes include at least one Hezbollah intelligence official and a senior Palestinian militant.

Iran War News: Macron urges de-escalation and sovereignty in Lebanon

French President Emmanuel Macron shared on X that he held high-level discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam regarding the "very concerning" situation in Lebanon.

During the talks, Macron reiterated the necessity for Hezbollah to immediately cease attacks against Israel, labeling the current strategy of escalation a "major fault" that jeopardizes regional stability. Simultaneously, he urged the Israeli Prime Minister to refrain from a ground offensive and to preserve Lebanon’s territorial integrity, calling for a return to the ceasefire agreement.

Macron also announced that France will take immediate action to support displaced populations in southern Lebanon and will continue to support the Lebanese Armed Forces in their mission to maintain sovereignty and end the threat posed by Hezbollah.

Israel Iran War: Israeli military strikes Hezbollah targets and drone facility

The Israeli military announced on Wednesday that it struck multiple Hezbollah targets across Lebanon, including rocket and missile launch sites south of the Litani River.

According to the IDF, the operation also successfully targeted a drone production facility.

The strikes were carried out hours after the military issued an urgent evacuation order for residents living in the targeted areas of southern Lebanon. The IDF stated that these operations are part of a broader effort to neutralise aerial and missile threats launched by Hezbollah since the group entered the conflict on Monday.

US Iran War News: Indian Embassy in Doha issues advisory amid airspace closure

The Embassy of India in Doha, Qatar, issued an "important advisory" on early Thursday, confirming that flight operations at Hamad International Airport remain temporarily suspended.

The disruption is due to the closure of Qatari airspace following the escalation of the regional conflict.

The advisory noted that flights for Qatar Airways and other carriers are currently halted. Passengers are strongly advised to stay in close contact with their respective airlines for updates on rescheduling.

The Embassy stated it remains in coordination with Qatari authorities and community leaders to ensure the safety and well-being of the estimated 740,000 Indian nationals in the country.

Additionally, the Qatari ministry of interior has urged residents to stay indoors and only venture out for cases of extreme necessity. The Embassy previously activated a 24/7 helpline (+974-55647502) and suspended regular walk-in consular services, prioritising emergency assistance for Indian citizens.

Nearly 900 People Have Been Killed in Fighting in the Middle East

More than 870 people have been killed in the fighting in the Middle East since the United States and Israel attacked Iran on Saturday, setting off an intensifying Iranian military response across the region.

The vast majority of deaths reported so far have been in Iran, which the US and Israeli militaries have been attacking relentlessly in what they say is an effort to destroy the Iranian regime's nuclear capabilities and to weaken its leadership.

But the conflict has led to deaths in Bahrain, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon and Israel as well. Six American soldiers have also fallen.

The cost of war is being felt around the world. Among the deaths in Israel was a Filipino woman working as a caretaker. In the UAE, Pakistani, Nepalese and Bangladeshi nationals were killed, the Defense Ministry said.

In Iran, the Red Crescent Society said Monday that 787 people had been killed across more than 150 counties since the hostilities began. Many of Iran's top leaders have been targeted and killed, so much so that President Donald Trump has acknowledged the U.S. and Israeli strikes have eliminated some of those he hoped might replace Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader who was killed Saturday in an attack on his compound in Tehran.

Still, civilians have been hard hit in Iran. On Tuesday, thousands thronged to a funeral for victims of a strike on a girls school on Saturday that left 175 people dead, most of whom were believed to be children. The attack on the Shajarah Tayyebeh school, which was close to a base belonging to the Revolutionary Guard in the town of Minab, appears to be among the worst mass casualty events in the war so far.

In Bahrain, a shipyard worker was killed at Khalifa bin Salman Port in an attack on an oil tanker in dry dock flying the US maritime flag, according to Crowley, the Florida-based company operating the vessel.

Kuwait's Defense Ministry said Monday that two of its soldiers were killed on duty. Their funerals were held Tuesday. An 11-year-old girl also died in Kuwait after being struck by shrapnel in a residential area, the country's Health Ministry said early Wednesday. Emergency services worked to save her, but she died at a hospital, it said.

The United States also lost six soldiers in Kuwait. US Central Command had reported three service members were killed and five were seriously wounded Sunday after an Iranian strike on a base housing U.S. troops in Kuwait.

On Monday, the military said one of the injured service members had died and, later in the day, Central Command said the remains of two soldiers, previously unaccounted for, were recovered "from a facility that was struck during Iran's initial attacks in the region," bringing American military fatalities to six.

The UAE Defense Ministry in a statement Tuesday said Iran had launched hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones at the UAE, most of which were intercepted. But at least one missile and more than four dozen drones have landed in Emirati territory, the ministry said.

"These attacks resulted in some collateral damage, three fatalities of Pakistani, Nepalese and Bangladeshi nationals, and 68 minor injuries among Emirati, Egyptian, Ethiopian, Filipino, Pakistani, Iranian, Indian, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Azerbaijani, Yemeni, Ugandan, Eritrean, Lebanese and Afghan nationals," according to the Defense Ministry.

In Lebanon, at least 52 people have been killed since Monday in Israeli attacks on the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, including near the capital, Beirut. The fighting and evacuation warnings from the Israeli military for people in dozens of towns across southern Lebanon, which neighbors northern Israel, has also forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes, according to the United Nations.

In Israel, an Iranian attack that directly hit a residential building in Tel Aviv in central Israel late Saturday killed a 32-year-old Filipino woman who was working as a caretaker, Israeli authorities said. The following day, nine people were killed in a direct hit on a residential district in Beit Shemesh, about 18 miles west of Jerusalem.

President Donald Trump has said that more American casualties are expected, but as the early days of the war have already shown, soldiers will most likely not be the only ones to pay with their lives.

Israel Iran War: UN Peacekeepers in Lebanon report violations as hostilities intensify

United Nations peacekeepers (UNIFIL) stated Wednesday that they observed rockets fired from Lebanon into Israel, alongside significant Israeli military activity and airstrikes near several southern Lebanese villages.

The mission identified movements by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) near areas including El Khiam, Beit Lif, Houla, and Kfar Kela.

According to the peacekeeping force, both sides are in violation of the 2006 UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which established a cessation of hostilities.

UNIFIL further noted that the Israeli ground incursions and continued air campaign constitute a breach of Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Despite the "extremely challenging circumstances," the 7,500-strong force confirmed it remains on the ground in southern Lebanon to monitor the situation and engage with both parties to prevent further escalation.

Israel eases war-related restrictions, permits limited activity

The Israeli military said its Home Front Command had eased some war-related restrictions effective midday Thursday, allowing limited activity and permitting public gatherings of up to 50 people.

"As part of the changes, all areas of the country will transition from an essential activity level to a limited activity level," the military announced, soon after it had said the number of missiles fired by Iran towards Israel had declined.

The military said schools and other educational institutions would remain closed.

US Iran War News: 'When crazy people have nuclear weapons, bad things happen', says Trump

Israel Iran War: Donald Trump claims 'strong position' as Iranian leadership degrades

US President Donald Trump stated on Wednesday that the United States and Israel hold a "very strong position" in the ongoing conflict with Iran, vowing to "continue forward" with the military campaign. Addressing a gathering of technology executives at the White House, the President highlighted the rapid attrition of the Iranian leadership.

"We're in a very strong position now, and their leadership is just rapidly going," Trump told the group. "Everybody that seems to want to be a leader, they end up dead."

US Iran War News: Macron urges Netanyahu to avoid ground offensive in Lebanon

France's President Emmanuel Macron said he urged Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday to "refrain from a ground offensive" in Lebanon in their first phone call since last summer.

"I called on the Israeli prime minister to preserve Lebanon's territorial integrity and to refrain from a ground offensive," Macron said on X, after Israeli ground forces pushed into several border towns and villages in southern Lebanon.

Lebanon, a former French protectorate, was drawn into the Middle East war on Monday when the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah attacked Israel in response to the death of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes at the weekend.

The French president said he also spoke to Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, stressing the need for Hezbollah "to immediately cease its attacks against Israel and beyond".

Relations between Macron and Netanyahu soured last summer after the French leader declared France's intention to recognise Palestinian statehood.

France formally recognised a Palestinian state in late September, before a fragile ceasefire took hold in the Gaza Strip the following month.

In a letter sent in mid-August, Netanyahu had complained the French plan to recognise a Palestinian state was fuelling antisemitism -- to which Macron responded that the fight against antisemitism should "not be weaponised".

Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said in early September that his government would not agree to Macron visiting so long as Paris planned to recognise a Palestinian state.

US President Donald Trump rang Macron late Wednesday to "inform him of the status of the military operations conducted by the United States in Iran", a member of the French president's team told AFP.

Macron alerted "Trump to the situation in Lebanon, to which France remains very attentive," they added.

US Iran War News: Hezbollah says will confront Israel-US 'aggression', will not surrender

Hezbollah will confront "Israeli-American aggression" and will not surrender despite the "imbalance in capabilities", the head of the Iran-backed Lebanese group Naim Qassem said Wednesday night in a televised speech.

"We are facing aggression... our choice is to confront it until the ultimate sacrifice, and we will not surrender," the Hezbollah leader declared in his first speech since his party launched rockets towards Israel on Monday and Israel began a bombing campaign in Lebanon.

Qassem rejected the notion that his party started the current round of fighting, saying: "What Israel did after the rocket salvo was not a response. It was an aggression that had been prepared in advance."

"Hezbollah and its Islamic resistance are responding to the Israeli-American aggression and this is a legitimate right... For us this is an existential defence."

The Middle East war expanded to Lebanon on Monday, and Israel later said its troops had entered south Lebanese towns and villages.

The Lebanese authorities said on Wednesday the Israeli campaign had killed at least 72 people and displaced more than 83,000.

The Lebanese government on Monday announced the "immediate ban" of Hezbollah's military activities and demanded the party surrender its weapons, months after it committed to a gradual disarming of the party, which the party has repeatedly rejected.

In his speech Wednesday, Qassem criticised the new decision by the Lebanese government, saying: "Instead of the Lebanese government moving to condemn the Israeli-American aggression and look for ways to confront it, it turned against the resistance to complete its error and align itself with Israeli demands."

"The topic of the resistance and the weapons of the resistance is not a subject of dispute for anyone or with anyone. It is a legitimate right. We are fighting in Lebanon in defence of our people, the future of our children and our country," he added.

Rubio says attacks on Turkey 'unacceptable' after Iran missile launch

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday that attacks on NATO ally Turkey's sovereignty were "unacceptable" after the alliance shot down an Iranian missile, which a Turkish official said had veered off course.

In a call with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Rubio said "that attacks on Turkey's sovereign territory were unacceptable and pledged full support from the United States," State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said.

Israel warns residents in dozens of Lebanese border villages to evacuate as strikes intensify

Israel's military issued warnings to residents of dozens of border villages in southern Lebanon to evacuate “immediately” Wednesday as airstrikes on suburbs of Beirut intensified and Hezbollah claimed more attacks.

Lebanon was dragged into the broader war in the Middle East early Monday when Hezbollah fired rockets and drones into northern Israel, triggering Israeli retaliatory airstrikes that killed more than 70 people, wounded more than 400 and displaced tens of thousands of people from southern Lebanon, the eastern Bekaa Valley and Beirut’s southern suburbs.

The ongoing conflict is not the first between Hezbollah and Israel. Hezbollah began firing into Israel a day after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on southern Israel triggered the war in Gaza. After months of low-level fighting, a full-scale war erupted in September 2024 and Israel later launched a ground invasion of Lebanon.

Israeli forces withdrew from most of southern Lebanon after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire halted the fighting in late 2024, but continued to occupy five points on the Lebanese side of the border. Israel also pressed on with near-daily strikes, primarily in southern Lebanon, saying that Hezbollah has been trying to rebuild its positions there, killing nearly 400 people while the ceasefire was in place.

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Kassem says the group had no choice but to fire rockets because of this. “As long as the occupation is present, then the resistance and its weapons are a legitimate right,” Kassem said in his first speech since this latest escalation.

Kassem slammed the Lebanese government's criticism of Hezbollah's rocket fire and its commitment to disarm the group, claiming that Israel cannot stop its attacks through diplomatic means alone.

“Why did you make a big deal out of this salvo of rockets? The reason is the ongoing aggression,” he said.

People in southern Lebanon ordered to immediately move north
The Israeli military issued a statement Wednesday telling people living in dozens of villages in southern Lebanon close to the border with Israel to evacuate and move “immediately” north of the Litani River.

The Israeli army’s Arabic spokesperson warned on X that if people decide to move south of the river, they will be endangering their lives.

The area south of the Litani River, about 8% of the territory of Lebanon, is mostly along the border with Israel. The Lebanese government says it has cleared the area of Hezbollah’s military presence there over the past months.

The order came after airstrikes overnight on the predominantly Christian southeastern suburb of Hazmieh that struck a hotel. Others hit the towns of Aramoun and Saadiyat just south of Beirut’s international airport, killing six and wounding eight. Another strike hit the eastern city of Baalbek, killing six people and wounding 15, according to state media.

The four airstrikes came without a warning in advance, which usually implies targeted assassinations. Security officials speaking on condition of anonymity in line with regulations said the man targeted in Hazmieh was a local official in Beirut’s southern suburb of Ghobeiri, and that the official was wounded.

“We live in a country where a missile can fall on your head at any moment,” said Maggie Shibli, wife of the owner of the Hotel Comfort in a Hazmieh neighborhood that was struck early Wednesday.

Abbas Najdeh, who was displaced from the southern port city of Tyre and was staying at the hotel, said: “We were sleeping then suddenly I, my children and my wife were thrown" by the blast.

Also Wednesday, the Israeli military issued several warnings to people to evacuate buildings in Beirut’s southern suburbs, which were struck shortly afterward.

Hezbollah said Wednesday that it carried out several attacks on Israel, including two in which the group claimed that it used precision-guided missiles.

Concerns that shelling may lead to a wider Israeli ground invasion
The warning for people to leave the area south of the Litani River came a day after Israel sent additional troops into southern Lebanon. Israeli forces had already been occupying several border points in Lebanon since the November 2024 cease-fire ended the previous Israel-Hezbollah war.

It was not immediately clear if Israel was preparing for a wider ground invasion. Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported Israeli artillery shelling on several Lebanese villages along the border, including Aid al-Shaab and Beit Lif.

The Lebanese military in a statement that it arrested 27 people for “illegally possessing weapons and munitions," and that it had redeployed some forces in the south and further to the east along the border with Syria. It did not say whether the 26 Lebanese and one Palestinian apprehended were affiliated with Hezbollah or other militant groups.

The cash-strapped army's move comes after Prime Minister Nawaf Salam's government and President Joseph Aoun urged state security agencies to pursue people firing rockets from Lebanon, as part of their broader policy of asserting the government's full sovereignty over the country, while also criticizing Israel's strikes and ground movements.

In eastern Lebanon, the main border crossing with Syria was briefly closed Wednesday after Lebanese officials received a warning of an impending Israeli strike, which officials later said turned out to be a false alarm.

Anxieties have also been running high in Lebanon in recent days over a buildup of Syrian forces on the border. The current Syrian government is hostile to Iran and Hezbollah, as they were on opposite sides of Syria's civil war that ended with the ouster of former President Bashar Assad in December 2024.

A high-ranking Syrian official told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the troop buildup was “purely defensive” and to “prevent smuggling and counter any unforeseen scenario.” The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to comment publicly.

Iran War News: EAM Jaishankar and Saudi foreign minister discuss regional stability

The ministry of foreign affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia issued a press release on Wednesday detailing a high-level diplomatic call between His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and the external mffairs Minister, Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

During the conversation, the two ministers discussed the latest developments in the region and their repercussions on both regional and international security and stability.

The discussion focused on the ongoing efforts being made to address the escalating conflict and its wider global impact.

Israel Iran War News: Hezbollah leader vows ‘will not surrender’

Hezbollah’s leader said the group “will not surrender” in his first speech since the Lebanese movement resumed fighting Israel after the US-Israeli attacks on Iran, signalling defiance as tensions escalate across the region.

Israel Iran War News: Powerful explosions rock Tehran, Bandar Abbas and Tabriz

A powerful explosion shook Tehran on Wednesday night, according to AFP journalists on the ground, as the joint US-Israeli military campaign entered its fifth day.

Iranian state media reported multiple blasts concentrated in the western part of the capital, though specific targets were not immediately identified.

Explosions were also reported in several other major Iranian cities, including the strategic southern port of Bandar Abbas on the Gulf and Tabriz in the northwest.

Israel says Iran firing fewer missiles at it 'every day'

The Israeli military said Wednesday that its strikes on Iran's missile launchers had led to a daily decline in the number of missiles the Islamic republic was firing at Israel.
"We've neutralised around 300 ballistic missile launchers. We believe our operations against those missile launchers and against those stockpiles are an integral part of the fact that we're seeing the amounts of missiles fired every day diminish," military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani told journalists.

US Iran War News: Powerful explosion heard in Tehran

A powerful explosion shook Tehran on Wednesday night, AFP journalists said, while state media reported multiple blasts in the west of the capital.

Iranian media also reported explosions in several other cities, including the southern port of Bandar Abbas on the Gulf and Tabriz in the northwest.

US Iran War News: Macron urges Netanyahu to avoid ground offensive in Lebanon

France's President Emmanuel Macron said he urged Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday to "refrain from a ground offensive" in Lebanon in their first phone call since last summer.
"I called on the Israeli prime minister to preserve Lebanon's territorial integrity and to refrain from a ground offensive," Macron said on X, after Israeli ground forces pushed into several border towns and villages in southern Lebanon.

Lebanon, a former French protectorate, was drawn into the Middle East war on Monday when the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah attacked Israel in response to the death of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes at the weekend.

The French president said he also spoke to Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, stressing the need for Hezbollah "to immediately cease its attacks against Israel and beyond".

Relations between Macron and Netanyahu soured last summer after the French leader declared France's intention to recognise Palestinian statehood.

France formally recognised a Palestinian state in late September, before a fragile ceasefire took hold in the Gaza Strip the following month.

In a letter sent in mid-August, Netanyahu had complained the French plan to recognise a Palestinian state was fuelling antisemitism -- to which Macron responded that the fight against antisemitism should "not be weaponised".

Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said in early September that his government would not agree to Macron visiting so long as Paris planned to recognise a Palestinian state.

Israel army says it has begun a new wave of strikes on Tehran

US Iran War News: UN report 100,000 flee Tehran following initial strikes

The United Nations reported on Wednesday that an estimated 100,000 people fled Tehran during the first two days of the US and Israeli military campaign against Iran.

According to a situation report from the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, the mass departure occurred immediately following the initial strikes on February 28 and March 1.

Despite the internal displacement from the capital, the UNHCR noted that there has been no significant increase in cross-border movements. The agency specifically highlighted that the situation at the Islam Qala border crossing with Afghanistan remains stable, with no major changes observed in international travel patterns linked to the recent escalations.

The war, which was sparked by a massive US-Israeli operation that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has led to a cycle of retaliatory Iranian missile and drone strikes across Israel and the Gulf region.

Trump 'actively considering' US role in Iran after war: White House

President Donald Trump is "actively considering" a US role in Iran after the American-Israeli operation against the country concludes, the White House said Wednesday.

"I think it's something the president is actively considering and discussing with his advisors and his national security team," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said of any post-war US role.

Israel Iran War News: US President Donald Trump to attend dignified transfer of fallen US service members

The White House announced Wednesday that President Donald Trump will attend the ceremony marking the return of American troops killed during the war in Iran. The event, known as a dignified transfer, honours service members who have died in the line of duty as their remains are returned to US soil.

"President Trump intends to attend the dignified transfer of these American heroes to stand in grief alongside their families," press secretary Karoline Leavitt told a news conference. While the President’s attendance is confirmed, Leavitt added that no specific date for the ceremony has been announced yet.

The announcement follows the recent deaths of six US service members in the conflict, including four Army Reserve soldiers killed in a drone strike on a command centre in Kuwait.

Iran War News: US Embassy in Riyadh issues level 3 travel advisory

The US Embassy in Riyadh issued a heightened travel advisory on Wednesday, raising the warning level to Level 3.

The alert urges Americans to reconsider travel to Saudi Arabia due to the increased risk of armed conflict, terrorism and potential exit bans.

The embassy also highlighted risks associated with local laws regarding social media activity and noted that certain areas within the Kingdom carry an even higher level of danger.

This advisory follows recent Iranian drone and missile strikes in the region, including a targeted attack on the US embassy compound in the Saudi capital.

Israel Iran War: Spain agrees to 'cooperate' with US military, claims White House

The White House announced Wednesday that Spain has agreed to "cooperate" with the US military in its ongoing war against Iran. This development follows Madrid's previous refusal to allow American warplanes to utilise its bases for the military operation.

"It's my understanding, over the past several hours, they've agreed to cooperate with the US military," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated during a news conference.

Leavitt did not provide specific details regarding the nature of the cooperation or whether the previous restrictions on base usage had been lifted.

US Iran War News: US military faces potential shortage of air defense interceptors

The US military is reportedly "days away" from being forced to conserve its air defence interceptors due to the high volume of Iranian attacks on American assets in the Middle East.

According to The Washington Post, which cited three unnamed sources familiar with the matter, the rapid expenditure of advanced munitions has raised concerns about the sustainability of current defence operations.

The report notes that the US has already used hundreds of sophisticated Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) interceptors to counter incoming threats. These high-end systems are being depleted at a rate that could soon require commanders to prioritise which targets to intercept.

Despite these reports, top military officials have publicly maintained that supplies remain adequate. During a briefing on Wednesday, General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated that the military has "sufficient precision munitions for the task at hand, both on the offence and defence."

He indicated that as Iranian defences are degraded, the US will be able to transition to using less sophisticated, more abundant munitions.

Iran War News: White House claims Iranian regime is being 'absolutely crushed'

The White House stated on Wednesday that the Iranian regime is being "absolutely crushed" by the ongoing joint US-Israeli military operations.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters during a news conference that under the leadership of President Donald J Trump, the "rogue Iranian terrorist regime" is facing overwhelming pressure.

US orders non-emergency consular staff in Karachi, Lahore to leave Pakistan

The United States said Wednesday it ordered non-emergency staff at two Pakistani consulates to leave the country and granted permission for staff to leave missions in Saudi Arabia, Cyprus and Oman as Iran retaliates to US-Israeli raids.

The State Department ordered non-emergency US government employees and their family members at the consulates in Lahore and Karachi to leave Pakistan due to "safety risks," the US embassy in Pakistan said in a statement.

It said there was no change to the status of its embassy in the capital Islamabad.

At least 25 people died in weekend protests in Pakistan against the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, according to an AFP tally, with hundreds of protesters attempting to storm the consulate in Karachi, the country's most populous city.

The State Department also authorized non-emergency US government employees and their families to leave Saudi Arabia, Oman and Cyprus and asked Americans to reconsider traveling to all three countries.

The US advice on Cyprus is unusual for a European Union member.

The move came after Iranian-made drones, likely fired by Iranian-backed movement Hezbollah in Lebanon, targeted a British military base in Cyprus, which historically has maintained a non-aligned foreign policy.

A drone also damaged the US embassy in Saudi capital Riyadh.

The State Department says it is planning charter flights to take Americans out of the region, with citizens until now relying on commercial flights which have been severely disrupted by the war.

The United States and Israel launched the attack on Saturday and quickly killed Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, two days after US envoys had been speaking to Iran in Geneva on a nuclear accord.

Since then, Iran has expanded its retaliatory missile and drone barrage across the Middle East.

Iran War News: Lebanon health ministry reports 72 killed and hundreds wounded

Lebanon’s health ministry stated Wednesday that 72 people have been killed and 437 wounded in Israeli strikes since the latest escalation with Hezbollah began three days ago.

Social affairs minister Haneed Sayed added that more than 83,000 people have been displaced.

Hezbollah entered the conflict Monday, launching missiles and drones into Israel for the first time in over a year. Israel has responded with widespread strikes and issued warnings for residents to evacuate parts of southern Lebanon.

Shipping firm Hapag-Lloyd suspends Gulf bookings

German shipping firm Hapag-Lloyd said on Wednesday it was suspending Gulf bookings until further notice due to the US-Israeli war with Iran.

"Due to the current operational and security constraints in the Upper Gulf region... Hapag-Lloyd has decided to implement a booking stop with immediate effect and until further notice for all cargo types" for countries in the region, it said in a statement.

It said the countries concerned were Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

Iran US War News: Leader of 2024 Trump assassination plot killed in Iran strikes, says Hegseth

US war secretary Pete Hegseth announced Wednesday that the leader of the Iranian covert unit responsible for a 2024 plot to assassinate President Donald Trump has been killed. The strike took place on Tuesday as part of the ongoing joint US-Israeli military campaign, "Operation Epic Fury."

Hegseth told reporters at the Pentagon that while the individual was not the primary objective of the broader operation, he had personally ensured those responsible for the plot were added to the target list. "Iran tried to kill President Trump and President Trump got the last laugh," Hegseth remarked, though he noted this was not a "mission accomplished" moment, acknowledging that the conflict is far from over.

The secretary expressed confidence in the current military trajectory, stating that the combination of U.S. and Israeli intelligence and combat power would achieve control over Iran "soon." The Pentagon briefing coincided with the fifth day of hostilities, during which officials claimed to have significantly degraded Iranian ballistic missile and naval capabilities.

The 2024 assassination plot surfaced during the US presidential campaign, leading to the arrest of Asif Merchant, a Pakistani national with ties to Iran who is currently on trial in New York. Prosecutors allege the plot was an attempt by the Iranian regime to avenge the 2020 death of Qassem Soleimani.

Iraqi government says working to restore power after nationwide blackout due to unknown cause

'Will target Israeli embassies worldwide': Iran warns against escalation in Lebanon

Iran’s armed forces on Tuesday warned they would target Israeli diplomatic missions worldwide if Israel strikes Tehran’s mission in Lebanon, according to a senior military spokesman.

Abolfazl Shekarchi, spokesperson for Iran’s armed forces, said on state television that any such move by Israel would compel Iran to treat Israeli embassies across the world as legitimate targets.

The warning came a day after Avichay Adraee, the Arabic-language spokesman for the Israeli military, said Israel “warns representatives of the Iranian terror regime who are still in Lebanon to leave immediately before being targeted,” giving them 24 hours to depart.

CIA station in Riyadh targeted by drones, no damage; US says Iran's 'ability to hit back declining'

Fox News, citing a source, has reported that a CIA station inside the US Embassy compound in Riyadh was hit in a drone attack. Two drones caused structural damage and smoke inside the compound, officials said. There were no immediate reports of injuries, said the news report.

Earlier, amid escalating tensions in the Middle East following military strikes on Iran, a fire that broke out near the premises of the US Consulate General in Dubai late Tuesday night, following a suspected drone strike, has been fully extinguished, with authorities confirming that no injuries were reported.

Dubai authorities have confirmed that a fire resulting from a drone-related incident near the US Consulate has been successfully contained. Emergency teams responded immediately. No injuries have been reported.

According to a source in the region cited by CNN, the consulate grounds were hit by what is believed to be an Iranian drone.

In a post on X, the Dubai Media Office wrote, "The fire near the US Consulate in Dubai has been fully extinguished, with no injuries reported. Dubai authorities reaffirm their commitment to ensuring everyone's safety and security.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a drone struck a parking lot adjacent to the US Consulate in Dubai. He said all personnel were accounted for after the incident.

The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, with air defence systems across the Gulf region on high alert.

Meanwhile, Admiral Brad Cooper, the commander of United States Central Command said that with the intensity of the US attack Iran's ability to hit back was diminishing.

"Now, we're less than 100 hours into this operation, and we've already struck nearly 2,000 targets with more than 2,000 munitions. We have severely degraded Iran's air defences and destroyed hundreds of Iran's ballistic missiles, launchers, and drones. In simple terms, we're focused on shooting all the things that can shoot at us," he said.

"Iran's ability to hit us and our partners is declining, while our combat power, on the other hand, is building. And my overall operational assessment is that we are ahead of our game plan. Along the way, every single branch of our military is achieving unprecedented success," he added.

The conflict in the Middle East has entered its fourth day following the US and Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, along with other key figures in the Persian Gulf country. In retaliation, Tehran has responded with counter-strikes targeting American military bases and other Israeli assets across the region.

Over 100 US marines killed in Dubai attack, claims IRGC

More than 100 US marines were killed in an attack on a US military base in Dubai, Iran's Khatam-al Anbiya Central Headquarters said on Wednesday. "There were approximately 160 Marines at the US military base in Dubai. Based on intelligence received, the United States lost more than 100 marines as a result of the attack on the base using drones and missiles," the statement said, as quoted by the Mehr news agency.

Israel Iran War News: Iraq hit by total blackout

Iraq suffered a nationwide power outage on Wednesday, leaving large parts of the country without electricity. Authorities are assessing the cause of the blackout while efforts are underway to restore power across major cities and critical infrastructure.

Israel-Iran war news: Explosion rocked city in Iran's Kurdistan province

An explosion rocked a city in Iran's western Kurdistan province on Wednesday, according to video verified by AFP, on the fifth day of the US-Israeli war against the Islamic republic.
Huge columns of smoke rose over the city of Baneh in the morning, according to the verified images. Videos shared of the explosion on social media said it hit a base belonging to Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC).

Strikes also hit across the border in Iraqi Kurdistan on Wednesday, as the war in the Middle East raged across multiple fronts.

An exiled Iranian Kurdish group in Iraq told AFP a strike around 11:30am 0830 GMT by Iranian forces killed one of its fighters, and the IRGC later confirmed it had fired missiles at armed opposition groups in Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region.

Iran has designated Kurdish opposition groups, which previously fought its security forces in Kurdish-majority areas along the border, as terrorist organisations.

But in recent years these groups have largely refrained from armed activity, although they continue to actively campaign in exile against Tehran.

Last month, five groups, including the PDKI and PAK, announced a political coalition to seek the overthrow of Iran's Islamic republic and ultimately to secure Kurdish self-determination.

US outlet CNN has reported that the CIA has been working to arm Kurdish forces and that Washington has been in discussion with Kurdish leaders with the aim of giving them military support, citing several people familiar with the plan.

Kurdish authorities in Iraq enjoy strong ties with the United States, which led the 2003 invasion that toppled longtime ruler Saddam Hussein, who had persecuted the Kurds.

Israel Iran War News: Israel army says new missiles launched from Iran

US Iran news: Hegseth says US 'can't stop everything' that Iran fires even as he asserts air dominance

The US has spared “no expense or capability” to enhance air defense systems to protect American forces and allies in the Middle East, Hegseth told reporters at the Pentagon days after the US and Israel attacked Iran in a war that has widened throughout the region.

“This does not mean we can stop everything, but we ensured that the maximum possible defense and maximum possible force protection was set up before we went on offense,” he said.

Qatar PM condemns Iran attacks in call with foreign minister

Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on Wednesday condemned Iran’s attacks on Gulf states during a phone call with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi — the first high-level contact since Tehran launched its missile and drone campaign.

According to Qatar’s foreign ministry, Sheikh Mohammed accused Iran of seeking to “harm its neighbours and drag them into a war that is not theirs” during the conversation with Araghchi.

Gulf countries have borne much of Tehran’s retaliation since the US and Israel began a large-scale air campaign against Iran over the weekend. On Wednesday, an 11-year-old girl was killed in Kuwait by falling shrapnel linked to the attacks.

Thirteen people — seven of them civilians — have died across Gulf countries since the conflict began.

The Pentagon has also confirmed the deaths of six US servicemen since Saturday, including four in Kuwait.

During the call, the Qatari prime minister urged “an immediate halt to these attacks” and said Iran had “struck civilian and residential areas,” despite Araghchi’s assertion that “the Iranian missile attacks were directed at US interests and did not target the State of Qatar.”

“These attacks cannot pass without a response,” Sheikh Mohammed added.

Israel Iran War News: Iran president Pezeshkian appeals to neighbouring nations

"Your Majesties, heads of friendly and neighbouring states, we have striven with you and through diplomacy to avoid war, but the American-Zionist military aggression has left us no choice but to defend ourselves. We respect your sovereignty, and we believe that the security and stability of the region must be achieved through the collective efforts of its states.," he said on X

China to send special envoy to mediate in Middle East: FM

China will send a special envoy to mediate in the Middle East, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday, as the war triggered by US-Israeli strikes on Iran continued its regional spread.

Beijing is a close partner of Iran and has said it backs Tehran in defending its sovereignty, while urging the United States and Israel to cease their attacks.

China "will send a special envoy on Middle East issues to regional countries for mediation", Wang said during a call with his Saudi Arabian counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan, according to a readout by Beijing.