Iran has launched a series of missile and drone attacks on Israel, prompting millions of Israelis to take refuge in bomb shelters. Since midnight on Friday, Israel detected at least five ballistic missiles fired from Iran. Explosions were heard in Jerusalem on Saturday after air raid sirens warned of incoming strikes.

According to Israeli military sources, Iran carried out a new round of missile attacks, while Israel’s air defense systems worked to intercept the threats. Israeli analysts believe Iran’s continued strikes and the mass movement of civilians into shelters are intended to pressure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

The situation has heightened regional tension, with reports suggesting that the conflict could further destabilize the Middle East if the attacks persist.

China has voiced concern over the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, condemning recent attacks and calling for a ceasefire. Foreign Minister Wang Yi criticized the United States and Israel for their actions in Iran, particularly the killing of a sovereign nation's leader. Despite its diplomatic stance, analysts note that China has remained largely a spectator in recent crises, including U.S. actions in Venezuela and Iran, revealing limits to its ability to assist allied nations.

Experts from the Royal United Services Institute and SOAS China Institute observed that while China seeks to present itself as a counterbalance to U.S. power, it lacks the military capacity to protect its partners. They added that President Xi Jinping may attempt to project himself as a stable global leader in contrast to U.S. President Donald Trump. Analysts also warned that disruptions to energy supplies and air travel could disproportionately affect developing nations, potentially leading to food shortages in the coming months.

China has initiated diplomatic outreach, with Wang Yi speaking to his counterparts in Oman and France and announcing plans to send a special envoy to the Middle East.

China is closely monitoring the escalating conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel, as the Middle East turmoil begins to affect its strategic and economic calculations. Although Beijing currently holds sufficient oil reserves for several months and could seek support from Russia if needed, officials are assessing the long-term consequences for China’s investments and energy security. The issue has surfaced during a major Communist Party meeting in Beijing, where delegates are already grappling with domestic economic challenges, including property market distress and high local debt.

China’s ties with Iran, while often described as close, remain largely transactional. Despite a 25-year strategic partnership agreement signed in 2021, only a fraction of the pledged $400 billion investment has materialized, though oil flows from Iran to China continue. Analysts note that China’s ability to assist partners like Iran is limited, as seen in its restrained response to recent U.S. actions in Venezuela and Iran.

Beijing has condemned the attacks and called for a ceasefire, while preparing for U.S. President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit. The meeting could clarify Washington’s stance on sensitive issues such as Taiwan and regional stability.

Israel has continued its assaults on Palestinians even as it carries out joint military aggression with the United States against Iran. According to reports, Israeli forces have launched simultaneous attacks on the blockaded Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank. Despite a ceasefire announced on October 10 last year through mediation by US President Donald Trump, Israeli forces have continued to strike Palestinian areas.

A statement from the Palestinian Health Ministry said that in the past 24 hours, three Palestinians were killed and one injured in Israeli attacks. Over the five months since the ceasefire, 636 people have been killed and 1,704 injured, while 753 bodies have been recovered. In total, more than 72,120 people have been killed and 171,802 injured in Israeli assaults over the past two years.

Following the outbreak of conflict with Iran, Israel has imposed a complete blockade on Gaza, closing all entry and exit routes. Israeli authorities also banned Friday prayers at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque, citing security reasons, and arrested 11 people across the region.

The United States Department of State has approved an emergency sale of weapons and military equipment worth $151 million to Israel. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the sale was necessary under the existing emergency situation. The announcement was made through an official statement from the State Department.

According to the statement, the proposed sale will support US foreign policy and national security objectives by strengthening the defense capabilities of a key regional ally. The package includes bombs, supplies, and other military equipment. The statement also emphasized that Israel remains an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East.

The approval reflects Washington’s continued commitment to its strategic partnership with Israel, particularly in the context of ongoing regional instability, as noted in the State Department’s communication.

Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman Al Saud met with Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir, according to a statement from the Saudi Ministry of Defense. The meeting focused on the recent Iranian attack in Saudi Arabia and the broader security situation in the region.

The ministry said both sides emphasized the importance of strengthening their long-standing fraternal ties and enhancing strategic defense partnerships between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. They also expressed hope that Iran would act with wisdom and reason and avoid taking any wrong steps.

The discussion reflects ongoing regional tensions and efforts by both countries to coordinate their defense and diplomatic responses to evolving security challenges in the Middle East.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Basent has warned that the largest airstrike ever on Iran will take place tonight. In an interview with Fox News, he said that Iran’s missile launch centers and missile production factories would be the main targets, adding that the attacks aim to render these facilities significantly inoperative. Basent also accused Tehran of attempting to create economic chaos through its control over the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, a major attack has already struck Mehrabad, one of Iran’s busiest airports. Social media videos showed burning aircraft and thick plumes of smoke rising from the site. Satellite images taken on Friday reportedly showed several aircraft stationed at the airport before the strike.

The developments come as tensions rise across the Middle East, with reports suggesting that US and Israeli forces have identified thousands of civilian sites in Iran as potential targets.

Saudi Arabia’s defense forces intercepted six drones aimed at an oil field and a ballistic missile targeting an air base, according to a statement from the country’s defense ministry spokesperson posted on social media platform X. The incident occurred in the southern desert region known as the Empty Quarter, where the Shaibah oil field is located.

The Shaibah field, operated by Saudi Aramco, produces about one million barrels of oil per day. The ballistic missile was reportedly heading toward Prince Sultan Air Base, which had been used by the United States Air Force as part of preparations for potential operations involving Iran. The ministry did not report any damage or casualties from the attempted attacks.

The report, citing BBC as its source, comes amid heightened regional tensions involving Iran and Western military activities in the Middle East.

A major attack struck Mehrabad Airport, one of Iran’s busiest airports, on Friday. Videos circulating on social media showed planes on fire and thick plumes of smoke rising from the site. Satellite images taken the same day showed several aircraft positioned at the airport. Iranian state media confirmed that parts of the airport were hit, though it remained unclear which sections were affected. Eyewitnesses described the bombing as intense.

The incident occurred shortly after Israel’s military announced the start of a new round of large-scale airstrikes on Iran. Earlier, on March 4, Israel had also targeted the same airport, claiming the strikes aimed to destroy defense and detection systems that posed a threat to its air force, including facilities linked to helicopter production.

The renewed attacks have raised concerns about escalating hostilities between the two countries, with regional and international observers warning of potential wider instability in the Middle East.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has announced full readiness for a long-term war amid escalating regional conflict. Spokesperson Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Nayini said Iran is prepared for extended confrontation and will soon deploy advanced weapons not yet used in the conflict. The statement follows continued Iranian missile strikes on Israel, including attacks on Tel Aviv and Ben Gurion Airport, and a reported strike on the Israeli embassy in Bahrain’s capital, Manama.

The United States and Israel have maintained heavy bombardments on Iranian targets, destroying missile launchers and defense systems. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth indicated that the scale of attacks on Iran will increase dramatically, while President Donald Trump ruled out sending ground troops but vowed to continue air operations. Iran’s Red Crescent reported over 1,300 deaths and thousands of damaged civilian structures since the joint assaults began. Meanwhile, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez condemned the war as a grave mistake.

Energy markets reacted sharply, with Qatar’s energy minister warning that oil prices could exceed $150 per barrel, threatening global economic stability.

U.S. President Donald Trump has hinted that Cuba could be Washington’s next major focus following recent military actions in Iran and Venezuela. Speaking at the White House while hosting Inter Miami football club, Trump praised Secretary of State Marco Rubio for his work on Cuba and said the administration had tightened sanctions to further pressure the island’s struggling economy. He suggested that the fall of Cuba’s communist government, established after the 1959 revolution, may be imminent, describing it as part of a broader U.S. strategy to weaken adversarial regimes through sanctions and political pressure.

Cuba is facing severe energy shortages, worsened after the U.S. halted Venezuelan oil exports to the island. The United Nations and the Pan American Health Organization have described the situation as a humanitarian and socio-economic crisis, with widespread power outages affecting hospitals, water supply, and food distribution. Recent diplomatic tensions have also escalated, as Ecuador expelled Cuba’s ambassador and several Latin American countries ended medical cooperation agreements under apparent U.S. influence.

Trump is scheduled to meet right-wing Latin American leaders at his Mar-a-Lago resort to discuss regional developments, signaling continued U.S. engagement in reshaping alliances across the hemisphere.

Iran has been carrying out continuous missile strikes across various regions of Israel, according to the report. Analysts suggest the objective is to strain Israel’s air defense network and gradually deplete its missile interception capacity. In recent hours, air raid sirens have sounded multiple times in Beersheba, a southern city in the Negev desert, as well as in northern parts of the country.

Experts believe Iran’s strategy is to keep Israel’s defense systems under constant pressure by forcing them to respond to simultaneous attacks in multiple areas. This approach is reportedly causing Israel’s interceptor stockpiles to be used up quickly, which analysts interpret as part of Iran’s broader plan to weaken Israel’s defensive readiness.

The report also notes that Iran seeks to demonstrate to the world that its military capabilities remain intact despite a week of sustained air and missile attacks by the United States and Israel. Analysts indicate that Iran continues to possess the capacity to strike Israel and other regional targets, using the current conflict to showcase its resilience.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghaei has criticized the United Nations for its response to recent attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel. In a message posted on social media platform X, he accused both countries of carrying out an “unprovoked aggression” against Iran and called on UN Secretary-General António Guterres to fulfill the organization’s legal and moral responsibilities.

Baghaei stated that the ongoing conflict poses a major threat not only to the Middle East but also to the global economy. He urged the international community to pay attention to civilian casualties in Iran, claiming that in the past week, attacks by the US and Israel in the city of Minab killed many civilians, including 165 children and school staff.

According to the report, there was no immediate response from the United States or Israel regarding Iran’s allegations.

An Iranian military spokesperson stated that the country has no plans to close the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. However, he acknowledged that ship traffic through the waterway has significantly decreased due to the ongoing war. The statement was reported on March 7, 2026.

The spokesperson clarified that Iran will not obstruct any vessel seeking to pass through the strait but emphasized that each ship must take responsibility for its own security. At the same time, he issued a stern warning that any ship belonging to what he described as a Zionist state, referring to Israel, or to the United States would be treated as a target if it attempted to cross the strait.

The remarks come amid heightened regional tensions and reduced maritime activity, underscoring the strategic sensitivity of the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route.

A group of 660 Sunni Muslim clerics from Iran’s southeastern Sistan and Baluchestan province have issued a joint statement calling for jihad against the United States and Israel. The statement, reported on March 6 by Pars Today, expressed support for Iran’s armed forces and conveyed condolences over the martyrdom of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.

The clerics praised Khamenei’s lifelong efforts to uphold truth, defend Islam, and stand with oppressed people, describing him as having attained martyrdom and divine proximity. They emphasized that the current aggression by Israel and the United States represents an attack not on a specific nation or territory but on Islam and the entire Muslim community.

The statement further described resistance to such aggression as both a historical and religious duty for scholars, thinkers, and freedom-seeking Muslims worldwide.