Lebanese armed group Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for several recent attacks on Israeli forces in southern Lebanon. In messages posted on Telegram, the group said its fighters engaged Israeli troops who had landed by helicopter in the Serghaya plain area. Hezbollah also reported using artillery and machine guns against Israeli units advancing toward the border town of Odaisseh and the Khallat al-Mahafir area, forcing them to retreat. Additionally, the group claimed to have shelled Israeli forces moving toward the town of Aitaroun.

According to the report, Israeli authorities have not issued any immediate comment regarding these alleged attacks. The claims were reported by Al Jazeera and published by the outlet Amar Desh. The incidents highlight continuing tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border, where exchanges of fire have occurred intermittently.

No independent confirmation of the attacks or casualty details was available at the time of reporting, and the situation remains fluid.

The United States has instructed all non-emergency officials and family members of its embassy staff in Saudi Arabia to return home due to escalating security risks linked to the ongoing war in the Middle East. The US State Department issued a notice on March 8, citing a deteriorating security situation following a series of Iranian missile and drone attacks on Saudi territory over the past week.

The advisory also urged American citizens planning to travel to Saudi Arabia to reconsider their decisions. It warned of potential threats including Iranian drone and missile strikes, risks to US installations, armed conflict, terrorism, travel restrictions, and social media limitations.

The tensions follow the collapse of nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington in late February, after which the US launched “Operation Epic Fury” in Iran and Israel began “Operation Roaring Lion.” In retaliation, Iran has targeted US military bases, embassies, and oil facilities across the Middle East, including multiple attacks in Saudi Arabia over the past week.

Sri Lanka has announced plans to issue free one-month visas to Iranian sailors rescued from outside its territorial waters. Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala said the temporary visa arrangement aims to assist the sailors while they await repatriation to Iran. On Saturday, 204 sailors from the Iranian warship IRIS Bushehr were brought to a Sri Lankan naval base after the vessel experienced mechanical failure and sought assistance.

Earlier in the week, the Iranian warship IRIS Dena sank near the Sri Lankan coast following a torpedo attack by a U.S. submarine, killing more than 80 sailors. The Sri Lankan Navy reported rescuing 32 survivors and recovering 87 bodies from the incident. The attack marks the first time since World War II that a warship has been sunk by a submarine torpedo.

Sri Lanka’s decision to provide temporary visas reflects its humanitarian response to the crisis while coordination continues for the sailors’ return to Iran.

A United States soldier has died after being wounded in an Iranian attack on a US base in Saudi Arabia, according to the US Central Command. The soldier was critically injured during the March 1 assault and succumbed to his injuries on Sunday night. The incident was part of ongoing hostilities in the Middle East, where Iranian forces launched initial strikes earlier this month.

Central Command confirmed that the death brings the total number of US soldiers killed in Operation Epic Fury to seven. The command also stated that the soldier’s identity will be released 24 hours after notifying family members. The attack occurred amid a major military operation currently underway in the region.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, indicates that tensions remain high as multiple Iranian attacks have recently targeted areas in Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

In the past week, Israel’s military campaign across Lebanon has killed around 400 people, displaced more than half a million, and expanded ground incursions into the country’s south. The Israeli army ordered residents of southern Lebanon to move north of the Litani River and those in Beirut’s southern suburbs, including Dahiyeh, to evacuate. Analysts told Al Jazeera that Israel’s actions are redefining Lebanon’s landscape, aiming to pressure Hezbollah and sever its connection with its Shia support base.

The escalation followed the February 28 assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei by Israel and the United States, which triggered a new war on Iran and retaliatory attacks by Hezbollah. Israel subsequently declared the November 2024 ceasefire void after repeated violations. Lebanese officials reported that 517,000 people have registered as displaced, including over 117,000 in government shelters. Analysts said Israel’s strategy could reshape Lebanon’s demographics and impose new political or economic conditions once the war ends.

Experts warned that the displacement and destruction could have long-term social and economic consequences, straining host communities and deepening instability in Lebanon’s already fragile state institutions.

At least two people were killed and 12 others injured in an attack on a residential building in Saudi Arabia’s Al Kharj city, according to the country’s Civil Defense agency on Sunday. The victims include one Bangladeshi and one Indian national, though their identities have not yet been released. The attack involved a projectile strike on the building, the agency said in a post on X.

The incident comes amid heightened regional tensions following a series of retaliatory attacks between Iran, Israel, and the United States. On February 28, Israel and the U.S. jointly carried out strikes in Iran, prompting Tehran to respond with missile and drone attacks on Tel Aviv and U.S.-linked facilities across Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Bahrain.

Authorities have not yet provided further details about the perpetrators or the motive behind the Al Kharj attack, and investigations are ongoing.

Oman's foreign minister has condemned the recent military actions by the United States and Israel against Iran, describing them as unethical and illegal. He stated that the measures taken against Iran violated international law and risked escalating tensions across the region.

In his remarks, the Omani foreign minister also expressed regret over Iran’s retaliatory attacks on neighboring countries, calling them unacceptable. He urged all parties involved to exercise restraint to prevent further deterioration of the situation.

The statement reflects Oman's consistent diplomatic stance of promoting regional stability and adherence to international law, as reported by Roya News.

Reports from various official sources indicate rising casualties as hostilities between the United States, Israel, and Iran continue. According to Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, 1,332 civilians have been killed in US-Israeli strikes since the conflict began. Lebanon’s health ministry reported 394 deaths, including 83 children and 42 women. Israel’s emergency service MDA said 10 people have been killed since its operations against Iran started, while 1,929 have been hospitalized, though not all due to missile attacks. The Pentagon confirmed six US soldiers were killed in a drone strike on a base in Kuwait.

The United Arab Emirates’ defense ministry reported four deaths, while Kuwait’s interior ministry said two soldiers and two border guards were killed, along with a girl struck by metal fragments. Bahrain’s interior ministry reported one worker killed by debris last week. The figures have not been independently verified by the BBC, which compiled the data from official statements.

The ongoing conflict has drawn regional concern, with Oman calling attacks on Iran unethical and illegal, and another European country opposing US strikes on Iran.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for destroying four radar units connected to the United States’ THAAD anti-missile defense system within the past 24 hours, according to a report by Al Jazeera. The Iranian state news agency IRNA stated that the radars were struck using precision-guided missiles during an operation targeting U.S. missile defense infrastructure.

The THAAD system is a key component of the U.S. missile defense network, designed to detect and intercept ballistic missiles in midair. The IRGC described the strikes as part of an ongoing military campaign, though no further operational details were provided in the report.

The report did not specify the location of the attack or provide independent verification of the IRGC’s claim.

French President Emmanuel Macron spoke by phone with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to condemn Iran’s recent attacks, according to a statement from the Emir’s office. During the call, Macron expressed France’s full solidarity with Qatar and praised the effective role of Qatar’s armed forces in protecting residents, including French nationals, within the country.

The statement added that both leaders emphasized the importance of ensuring the stability of energy supplies and freedom of navigation through key maritime routes. They also called for prioritizing dialogue and diplomatic initiatives to de-escalate tensions and resolve the situation peacefully.

The conversation reflects ongoing international concern over regional security and the need for cooperative measures to maintain stability in the Gulf area.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Tehran’s attacks on US targets in the Middle East are a response to what he described as a war imposed on Iran. In an interview with NBC, he said Iran did not choose the conflict and is acting in self-defense, according to Al Jazeera.

Araghchi characterized the ongoing conflict as unprepared, irrational, and illegal, asserting that it was forced upon Iran by the United States and Israel. He explained that Iran’s retaliatory military actions have targeted US bases, installations, and assets in the region, even when those are located within neighboring countries’ territories.

The report also mentioned related developments in the region, including casualties in Saudi Arabia and statements from Oman condemning attacks on Iran as unethical and illegal.

China has issued a warning against any attempt to change Iran’s government amid ongoing US-Israeli attacks. Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of an annual meeting in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that any plan for a “color revolution” or regime change in Iran would not gain public support. He called for an immediate end to military operations in the Middle East to prevent further escalation and regional spillover.

Wang emphasized respect for the sovereignty of all nations, stating that force cannot provide solutions and that armed conflict only fuels hatred and new crises. He urged all parties to return to dialogue to resolve differences and ensure collective security. China, he said, is ready to work with regional countries to restore order and peace in the Middle East.

According to a classified US National Intelligence Council report cited by The Washington Post, large-scale US military strikes are unlikely to topple Iran’s political or religious power structure, undermining claims by President Donald Trump that he could replace Iran’s leadership with his preferred successor.

Lebanon’s armed group Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for multiple attacks on Israeli military installations and several northern cities, including a strike on the Haifa naval base. The group announced the operations on March 8, 2026, stating that they targeted Israel’s Misgav base with rockets, describing it as a logistics facility. Hezbollah said the attacks were carried out in response to Israeli strikes on various Lebanese areas, particularly in Beirut’s southern suburbs.

In a separate statement, Hezbollah said its fighters launched advanced missiles at the Haifa naval base, marking the second such claim in two days. The group also reported two drone attacks on the northern Israeli city of Nahariya, which it described as part of a previously issued warning to the city.

The statements highlight the continued escalation between Hezbollah and Israel, with both sides trading attacks across the border. No independent confirmation of the claimed strikes or their impact was provided in the source.

Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has warned U.S. President Donald Trump that the ongoing tensions in the Middle East could have dangerous consequences for international peace and security. According to Qatar’s state news agency, the two leaders held a telephone conversation on Saturday, March 7, to discuss the current regional situation.

Reports from Qatari and Saudi media said the discussion took place amid continued Iranian attacks in Qatar and other Gulf countries. During the call, the Emir emphasized the importance of controlling the crisis and intensifying diplomatic efforts to halt the conflict. He cautioned that prolonged tensions could threaten global stability.

Both leaders agreed on the need for joint initiatives to maintain regional and international stability. They also expressed support for political solutions aimed at reducing tensions and preventing further conflict.

The Israeli military reported that two of its soldiers were killed in Lebanon, according to a statement released on March 8, 2026. One of the deceased was identified as 38-year-old Maher Khattar, a resident of Majdal Shams in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and a member of the Combat Engineering Corps. The army did not disclose details about how Khattar or the second soldier were killed, and no further information about the second victim was made public.

The incident occurred as fighting continued along the Israel-Lebanon border amid heightened tensions between Israel and Hezbollah following a joint U.S.-Israeli strike in Iran. The Israeli Defense Forces have not provided additional operational details regarding the circumstances of the deaths or the ongoing clashes.

The continued hostilities underscore the fragile security situation along the border, with no indication from the source of any immediate de-escalation or ceasefire efforts.