Amid the deepening crisis in Iran, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, advocated for de-escalation. He said that the world needs to find ways to de-escalate the ongoing conflict.

One was killed in central Israel’s Yehud area as fresh missiles targeted the country on Monday, a news report by Al-Jazeera confirms.

The report also confirmed that one person suffered critical injuries during the same missile attack.

The death toll in the country rises to 11.

The G7 countries are considering a coordinated release of oil from strategic reserves as prices surge amid the escalating West Asia conflict, the Financial Times reported. The move, potentially involving 300–400 million barrels, could be organised through the International Energy Agency to stabilise global markets. According to the report, three G7 countries, including the United States, have expressed support for the proposal so far. US officials believe a joint release in the range of 300 million to 400 million barrels would be appropriate to ease supply pressures. G7 nations currently hold around 1.2 billion barrels of oil in their combined strategic reserves.

The Israel Defense Forces said its troops advanced further into southern Lebanon overnight to establish a “forward defense” after attacks by Hezbollah. According to The Times of Israel, forces from the 7th Armored Brigade raided the Rab al-Thalathine area following air and artillery strikes. The military said over 700 targets in Lebanon have been hit in the past week, killing more than 300 Hezbollah members and destroying dozens of buildings in Beirut.

No injuries or direct impacts were reported after concurrent missile and rocket attacks from Iran and Hezbollah on northern Israel, medics said. The Israel Defense Forces later allowed civilians to leave shelters after sirens stopped, according to The Times of Israel.

A fire at a facility in the Maameer, reportedly caused by Iranian aggression, has been brought under control by the Bahrain Civil Defence. Authorities confirmed no injuries or fatalities, according to Gulf News.

Air-raid sirens sounded across northern Israel as Iran launched a ballistic missile attack. Shortly earlier, alarms were triggered near Haifa following rocket fire from Lebanon, The Time of Israel reported. The Israel Defense Forces said the incidents occurred around the same time but noted there is no intelligence suggesting the Iranian strike and Hezbollah rocket fire were part of a coordinated attack. Authorities urged residents to remain alert amid the escalating security situation.

China said it opposes any attempt to target Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, calling his appointment an internal matter for Iran. Beijing urged respect for the country’s sovereignty and warned against interference in its domestic affairs.

Human Rights Watch on Monday said the Israeli military “unlawfully” shelled the southern Lebanese village of Yohmor with white phosphorus, a controversial incendiary munition. The rights group said it verified seven images and geolocated them to confirm that Israel used white phosphorus artillery against residential areas in the village. The attack reportedly came hours after the Israeli military had issued warnings for residents of Yohmor and dozens of other villages in southern Lebanon to evacuate. Human Rights Watch said it could not independently confirm whether civilians remained in the area or if anyone was injured.

The rights group warned that firing white phosphorus into populated areas violates international law, as the substance can ignite buildings and cause severe burns down to the bone, with long-term risks including infections and organ or respiratory failure. Ramzi Kaiss, Lebanon researcher at Human Rights Watch, said the strikes were “extremely alarming” and could have “dire consequences for civilians.” The Israeli military has not immediately commented, though it has previously claimed white phosphorus is used for smoke screens, not to target people. Human rights organisations, including Amnesty International, noted the munition was also used repeatedly during Israel’s last conflict with Hezbollah over a year ago.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said a barrage of missiles was launched from Iran toward Israeli territory, with air defence systems activated to intercept the incoming threats. In a statement, the IDF said the Home Front Command had issued preliminary alerts to mobile phones in affected areas, urging residents to immediately move to protected spaces and remain there until further instructions. Authorities said people should exit shelters only after receiving an explicit directive and continue to follow official safety guidelines.

Senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi visited the Iranian Embassy in New Delhi to pay tribute to Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and offered condolences following his death. The embassy had opened a condolence book for visitors to record messages of sympathy. In a post on X, Naqvi said war was not a solution to any problem and stressed the need for peace. “War is not a solution to any problem but itself is a problem. Peace is essential for safety of humanity. I pray that may ‘Amrit of peace’ emerge from this sea of crisis,” he wrote, tagging the Iranian Embassy in India.

Authorities in Abu Dhabi said they responded to two incidents of debris falling in separate locations following the successful interception of projectiles by air defence systems. According to officials, the first incident resulted in a minor injury to a Jordanian national, while the second left an Egyptian national moderately injured. Authorities urged the public to rely only on official sources for information and avoid spreading rumours or unverified reports.

Saudi Arabia on Monday warned Iran it would be the “biggest loser” if attacks on Arab states continued, after a fresh drone assault targeted key sites in the kingdom. According to the Saudi Defence Ministry, a barrage of drones was fired toward the country early Monday and was intercepted in the northern Jawf region as well as near the massive Shaybah oil field. The attack came hours after an earlier strike in the kingdom killed two Bangladeshi nationals, further escalating tensions in the region.

Iran launched fresh attacks on Israel and several Gulf countries on Monday, hours after Iranian state television reported that Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the country’s late supreme leader, had been named his successor. Long seen as a potential contender, the younger Khamenei is expected to play a central role in shaping Tehran’s war strategy, with the powerful Revolutionary Guard answering directly to the supreme leader.

Bahrain’s state-owned oil company Bapco Energies has declared force majeure on its shipments after an Iranian attack struck the country’s only oil refinery, disrupting operations at a key energy facility in the Gulf kingdom. The refinery, located on the island of Sitra off Bahrain’s east coast, was hit by a missile strike that triggered a fire at one of its units. Authorities said the blaze was later contained and there were no reported injuries, while operations continued as damage assessments were carried out.

The declaration of force majeure, a contractual clause that allows companies to suspend delivery obligations due to extraordinary circumstances, effectively halts some of the company’s export commitments as the situation is assessed.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told the Rajya Sabha that protecting the interests of Indian consumers remains the government’s overriding priority amid the escalating Iran war, warning that the conflict could trigger serious supply chain disruptions. Read full story here

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Monday said its air force carried out another wave of strikes in Iran, targeting missile launch infrastructure and facilities linked to the country’s security forces. Guided by military intelligence, the strikes reportedly hit a rocket engine production facility and several long-range ballistic missile launch sites that Israel said were intended for attacks against its territory. The IDF also said it targeted installations linked to Iran’s Internal Security Forces and the Basij, including a regional corps headquarters, a security forces headquarters in Isfahan, and additional bases used by the Revolutionary Guards and Basij. According to the Israeli military, the strikes form part of its ongoing campaign to degrade what it described as key military systems of the Iranian regime.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday told Parliament that the government has expressed its “deep concern” over the escalating conflict in West Asia and emphasised that dialogue and diplomacy must be pursued to address the crisis. Speaking in the House, Jaishankar said the conflict had intensified and stressed that the region must remain stable and peaceful, underlining India’s position amid rising tensions.

Saudi Arabia has strongly condemned Iran over recent attacks targeting the kingdom and other Gulf nations, describing the actions as “reprehensible,” according to a statement from the Saudi Foreign Ministry.

In the statement posted on the ministry’s official X account, Riyadh reiterated its firm rejection of what it called Iranian aggression against Saudi Arabia and its regional partners.

Saudi Arabia “renews the Kingdom’s categorical condemnation of the reprehensible Iranian aggressions against the Kingdom, the Gulf Cooperation Council states, a number of Arab and Islamic countries, and friendly nations, which cannot be accepted or justified under any circumstances,” the statement said.

Iraqi air defence systems intercepted and shot down a drone that was approaching Victoria Base, a US-operated military facility located within Baghdad International Airport, a security source told the Associated Press on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to speak to the media.

No injuries or damage were reported following the incident.

Authorities have not yet determined who was responsible for the attempted attack.

In the past, pro-Iranian Iraqi militia groups, including Saraya Awliya al-Dam, have carried out similar attacks targeting the base.

(with inputs from AP and The Times of Israel)

Rising Middle East tensions, a sharp spike in crude oil prices and renewed foreign investor selling triggered a steep sell-off on Dalal Street, sending benchmark indices sharply lower in early trade. READ MORE HERE

Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of Iran’s long-time leader Ali Khamenei, has taken on what analysts describe as an extremely difficult role and may serve only as a “transitional figure” after being named the country’s new Supreme Leader.

Karim Sadjadpour, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and CNN’s global affairs analyst, said Mojtaba is stepping into leadership at a time when Iran is facing unprecedented pressure.

Speaking to CNN’s Anderson Cooper, Sadjadpour said the new leader is inheriting “a government that is at war with the greatest superpower in the world, the United States, the greatest military power in the Middle East, Israel, and his own society.”

Sadjadpour also claimed that Mojtaba Khamenei is currently injured and living in hiding, adding that he has “a bull’s eye on his back.” He further said protests inside Iran have intensified, with demonstrators reportedly chanting for his death.

As the US and Israel fight Iran, China might look to be a silent spectator, but it is much more than that. Tehran is crucial for Beijing’s oil supply, influence in the Middle East, and long-term Taiwan strategy. This makes the Middle East conflict far more significant for China than it might appear to be. READ MORE HERE

A video verified by The New York Times suggests a US Tomahawk cruise missile struck a naval base beside an elementary school in Iran’s Minab on February 28, where 175 people were reportedly killed, many of them children. The findings appear to contradict remarks by US President Donald Trump, who had suggested that Iran may have been responsible for the strike. READ MORE HERE

The United States began a large military exercise with South Korea involving thousands of troops on Monday while also waging an escalating war in the Middle East.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff has said about 18,000 Korean troops will take part in Freedom Shield, which runs through March 19. US Forces Korea has not confirmed the number of American troops participating in the training in South Korea.

The allies’ combined exercise comes amid South Korean media speculation that Washington is relocating some assets from South Korea to support fighting against Iran.

(with inputs from AP)

The United Arab Emirates’s air defence systems are responding to a fresh wave of missile and drone threats from Iran, signalling that the threat to Gulf nations remains far from over.

According to the UAE Ministry of Defence, air defence units are currently intercepting incoming missiles and drones targeting the country.

Authorities said the loud sounds heard in parts of the UAE are the result of air defence systems destroying aerial threats midair.

US President Donald Trump said the decision on when to end the war with Iran would be taken in consultation with Israel, but indicated that the United States would ultimately have the final say.

In a brief telephone interview with The Times of Israel, Trump said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would be part of the discussions on ending the conflict.

“I think it’s mutual… a little bit. “We’ve been talking. I’ll make a decision at the right time, but everything’s going to be taken into account,” Trump said.

When asked whether Israel could continue the war even if the US decides to halt its strikes, Trump replied, “I don’t think it’s going to be necessary.”

Israel’s strikes on 30 Iranian fuel depots went far beyond what the US had anticipated when it was notified in advance, marking the first major disagreement between the two allies since the war began on February 28, Axios reported. READ MORE HERE

New satellite images show extensive damage to several Iranian military installations and aviation facilities following recent airstrikes. The visuals include damage at a drone base in Ahvaz and structures near Isfahan International Airport, along with before-and-after views of a tunnel complex at a missile base near Isfahan.

Additional imagery shows multiple damaged buildings across a military garrison in the area, suggesting targeted strikes on key infrastructure linked to Iran’s drone and missile capabilities.

(Reuters)

A drone attack targeted a US military base near Erbil International Airport in Iraq’s Kurdistan region, security sources said. The strike was reported close to facilities used by US forces stationed near the airport. There were no immediate details on casualties or damage, and officials have not yet confirmed who was behind the attack.

(Reuters)

Low-cost drones are reshaping warfare, as seen in Ukraine for the last four years, and now in the Iran war. Iran’s low-cost Shahed drones have inspired the US’s LUCAS. In India, low-cost, deep-strike drone projects like Sheshnag-150 and Project KAL are picking pace. READ MORE HERE

Around 10 vessels in or near the Strait of Hormuz have been targeted since Iran blocked the strategic waterway in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes, according to data analysis groups.

The incidents, reported throughout the week after the war broke out on February 28, have nearly brought maritime traffic along the crucial shipping route to a halt. The strait is a key passage for global oil shipments and other goods.

Britain’s maritime security agency, UKMTO, has issued about 10 alerts related to attacks and suspicious activity in the area, though it has disclosed limited details about the vessels involved.

(with inputs from AFP)

The Israeli military said it had begun a fresh wave of missile and drone attacks in central Iran and struck key infrastructure belonging to Tehran-backed Hezbollah in Beirut.

(with inputs from Reuters)

At least 32 Bahrainis have been injured in an Iranian drone attack on Sitra area, state media reported.

CENTCOM posted on X that a US National Guard Soldier died in a health-related incident in Kuwait on March 6 during a medical emergency. The exact cause of death is under review. So far, seven US personnel have been killed since the Iran war began on February 28.

CENTCOM on X

Embassy of India in Saudi Arabia said no Indian casuality in the incident in Al Kharj on Sunday evening, adding that one injured Indian is receiving treatment at a government hospital.

The embassy said it is in touch with Saudi authorities and that Counsellor (CW) Y. Sabir visited the injured Indian at the hospital in Al Kharj.

India in Saudi Arabia on X