U.S. President Donald Trump has demanded Iran’s ‘unconditional surrender’ as the joint U.S. and Israeli offensive against Iran entered its seventh day. According to Al Jazeera, Trump made the statement in a social media post, declaring that there would be no deal with Iran and that surrender was the only path forward.

Trump further stated that he does not consider Iran’s current leadership acceptable and called for the formation of a new government in Tehran. He suggested that once new leadership is in place, the United States and its allies could assist in rebuilding Iran.

Analysts noted that Trump’s remarks could further escalate tensions between Washington and Tehran, as the term ‘unconditional surrender’ is typically associated with the final stages of war and represents a severe demand.

Several Israeli soldiers were injured during a military operation along the Lebanon border, according to Israeli Army Radio as reported by Al Jazeera. Among the injured is the son of Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. The report did not provide details on how the soldiers were wounded or their current medical condition.

The incident occurred amid heightened tensions along the Lebanon-Israel frontier, where Israeli forces have recently increased military activity. The escalation follows a period of growing cross-border friction, prompting Israel to intensify its operations in the area.

Further information about the circumstances of the injuries or the broader military objectives has not yet been released by Israeli authorities.

The United States carried out its first B-2 bomber strike on Iran since the start of the war, according to reports on Friday. The operation targeted underground ballistic missile launchers in Tehran and other Iranian cities. The US and Israel have been conducting extensive attacks across Iran for seven consecutive days, with Israel announcing the beginning of a second phase of its assault.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the intensity of the bombing campaign is set to increase dramatically. Admiral Brad Cooper, head of the US Central Command, confirmed that several B-2 stealth bombers dropped dozens of 2,000-pound penetrator bombs designed to destroy underground facilities.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, indicates a significant escalation in the conflict, with both US and Israeli forces intensifying their operations against Iranian military infrastructure.

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced that the country’s navy rescued 208 crew members from the Iranian ship IRIS Bushehr, which was anchored within Sri Lanka’s exclusive economic zone near Colombo port. The ship had requested permission to enter Sri Lankan waters, and following discussions between the Iranian embassy and the Sri Lankan government, the ship’s captain decided to proceed with the rescue. The rescued personnel include 53 officers, 84 cadets, 48 senior sailors, and 23 sailors, who are being brought to Colombo port before being transferred to the Trincomalee area.

The rescue follows an earlier incident on March 4, when another Iranian vessel, IRIS Dena, was reportedly attacked near Sri Lanka’s coast. The United States claimed responsibility for sinking that ship with a submarine torpedo. Sri Lanka’s navy rescued 32 people from the Dena and admitted them to Galle National Hospital for treatment. Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath later confirmed that 84 bodies had been recovered from the incident, with the remains also taken to the same hospital.

The coordinated rescue operations highlight Sri Lanka’s ongoing maritime response efforts following consecutive Iranian naval incidents near its waters.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that several countries have initiated mediation efforts, though he did not specify which nations are involved. In a social media post, he emphasized Iran’s commitment to lasting peace in the region while asserting that the country would not compromise on its dignity and sovereignty. Pezeshkian added that mediation should be directed toward those who have underestimated the Iranian people and fueled the ongoing conflict.

His remarks come at a time when Iran has been carrying out retaliatory strikes targeting U.S. bases, facilities, and energy infrastructure in neighboring Arab countries. These missile attacks have drawn angry reactions from nearby states, according to the report.

The statement highlights Iran’s dual stance of supporting regional peace while maintaining a firm defense posture amid escalating tensions.

Iran has ended its long-held policy of 'strategic patience' following coordinated US and Israeli strikes on February 28, 2026. The attacks, which also targeted Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, and Syria, prompted Tehran to demonstrate its new doctrine of 'active and unprecedented deterrence' by launching missiles and drones across the Gulf. Within days, Iran struck Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan, Israel, and Cyprus, signaling a major escalation in regional hostilities.

The shift follows years of managed restraint by Iran, which had relied on a network of allies including Hezbollah, the Houthis, Hamas, and the Popular Mobilisation Forces to deter aggression. However, Israeli operations against Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, the fall of Syria’s al-Assad government, and the 12-day-war in 2025 eroded Iran’s deterrence framework. The destruction of Iran’s consulate in Damascus in 2024 marked the first major breach of its restraint policy.

The latest escalation has drawn in Gulf states such as Qatar and the UAE, exposing the fragility of their balancing strategies. Regional unrest is spreading, with protests in Bahrain and Iraq, and reports of US encouragement for Kurdish offensives against Iran, suggesting a widening and destabilizing conflict across the Middle East.

Ukraine is bracing for a potential shortage of US-made Patriot air defence missiles as Washington’s Middle Eastern allies use large quantities of the same systems to intercept Iranian attacks. Experts told Al Jazeera that Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to exploit the shortfall, which could occur within weeks, by intensifying missile assaults on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. The Patriots, first deployed in Kyiv in 2023, have been crucial in intercepting Russian ballistic missiles, including the Kinzhal, but their limited supply and high cost have constrained Ukraine’s defences.

Analysts warn that the shortage highlights broader weaknesses in Ukraine’s protection of energy and transport infrastructure. Moscow’s strategy of using drones and decoy missiles to exhaust Ukrainian air defences has already proven effective. European and Israeli reluctance to release additional Patriot stocks further complicates Kyiv’s situation. Ukraine currently operates fewer than a dozen Patriot batteries, far below the 25 it says are needed.

While France and Italy’s SAMP/T systems offer some backup, their effectiveness against Russia’s modified missiles remains untested. Experts caution that Russia may soon launch large-scale raids to deplete Ukraine’s remaining missile reserves.

Heavy airstrikes struck Tehran and several Iranian cities on the seventh day of the US-Israel war on Iran, with explosions reported across the capital and other regions. Israel’s military said it had entered a new phase of operations targeting regime infrastructure, while the US confirmed its B-2 bombers dropped dozens of penetrator bombs on buried missile launchers. Al Jazeera correspondents in Tehran described the bombardment as the most intense so far, with strikes hitting military, political, and residential areas, including near Tehran University and Pasteur Street. Iran’s Foreign Ministry reported that an elementary school in Niloufar Square was hit, and UNICEF said at least 181 children were among more than 1,300 people killed.

Attacks were also reported in Shiraz, Qom, Isfahan, and Kermanshah, with the Iranian Red Crescent confirming at least 1,332 deaths since the conflict began. Israel claimed to have destroyed missile launchers and defense systems, while the US military said Iranian targets were being “decimated.” Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian urged mediation directed at Washington and Tel Aviv, asserting Iran’s right to defend its sovereignty. Iran’s military later announced it had attacked a US-owned oil tanker off Kuwait’s coast.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that the bombardment would intensify, signaling a possible escalation in the coming days.

Iran’s armed forces have claimed responsibility for an attack on a US-owned oil tanker near the coast of Kuwait, according to a report by Al Jazeera. The announcement was made on Friday through Iran’s state radio, which cited the country’s wartime military command, Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters, as the source of the information. The report stated that the vessel was hit and caught fire following the strike.

As of now, no detailed information has been released regarding the extent of the damage or any possible casualties resulting from the incident. The report did not include any official confirmation or response from other parties involved.

The incident adds to a series of recent claims by Iran involving attacks on US-linked facilities in the region, though independent verification of these claims remains unavailable.

European Union Commissioner for Defense and Space Andreas Kubilius has warned that the United States is struggling to maintain adequate missile supplies amid the ongoing Middle East instability and the war in Ukraine. In a statement on Friday, he said the recent crisis centered on Iran has made it urgent for Europe to increase production of air defense and anti-ballistic missiles.

Kubilius explained that the U.S. is finding it difficult to meet the simultaneous demands of its own military, Gulf allies, and Ukraine, posing a major challenge for Europe. The warning comes as Ukraine continues to face Russian missile attacks and Gulf nations remain on high alert over possible Iranian strikes.

Reports indicate that Washington’s stockpiles of key weapons, including Tomahawk land-attack missiles and SM-3 interceptors, have fallen sharply. Pentagon sources say heavy use of Patriot missiles during the four-year Ukraine conflict has worsened the shortage. The EU commissioner called for urgent steps to strengthen Europe’s defense capabilities and accelerate missile production.

An Iranian warship, IRIS Dena, sank in the Indian Ocean after being struck by a US submarine torpedo, triggering renewed regional tension and questions about India’s maritime security capacity. The vessel had departed from India’s Visakhapatnam port on February 26 after participating in the multinational naval exercise ‘Milan’ and was attacked in international waters about 44 nautical miles south of Sri Lanka on March 4. According to Al Jazeera, Sri Lanka’s navy recovered over 80 bodies and rescued 32 sailors, including the ship’s commander, while more than 100 remain missing.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that an American submarine torpedoed the Iranian vessel, calling it a “silent death.” Tehran condemned the attack as a serious crime, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warning that the United States would one day pay a heavy price. Iran emphasized that the Dena had been an invited guest of the Indian Navy returning home after the exercise.

India’s delayed official response drew criticism, and analysts said the incident undermined India’s image as a regional maritime security provider, exposing limits to its influence near its own waters.

A missile strike on a girls’ school in the southern Iranian city of Minab has killed nearly a hundred students, according to early reports. US military investigators suspect that American forces may have been involved in the attack, though the investigation remains ongoing and no final conclusion has been reached. The incident occurred on Saturday at a primary school in Minab, and officials have said the strike could have originated from either US or Israeli missiles.

Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva stated that 165 students were killed in the attack. Large-scale funeral and burial ceremonies were later held across the country to honor the victims. The tragedy has drawn growing international concern as observers await the outcome of the investigation to determine responsibility for the strike.

The final findings of the US investigation are expected to clarify whether American forces were directly responsible, a determination that could have significant diplomatic repercussions if confirmed.

Iran’s army has claimed responsibility for recent attacks targeting US military bases in Kuwait, according to a report by Al Jazeera. The Iranian state television, citing the army, stated that various types of destructive drones were used by the ground forces to strike the American installations. The statement added that these attacks would continue for several more hours.

The report comes amid heightened regional tensions, with Iran asserting that its military operations are directed at US positions in the Gulf region. The announcement follows a series of incidents involving Iran and Western powers, including reports of missile shortages in the United States and other regional disputes mentioned in local media.

The continuation of drone strikes, as indicated by Iranian officials, suggests a possible escalation in hostilities between Iran and the United States in the Persian Gulf area.

France’s Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot has confirmed that 52 French ships are currently stranded in the Persian Gulf due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. In an interview with French media outlet C-News/Europe-1, Tabarot stated that an additional eight French vessels are located in the Red Sea. He added that authorities are maintaining constant communication with the crews, as several French sailors are onboard these ships.

The disruption follows a series of military strikes in the region. The United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran last Saturday, prompting retaliatory strikes by Iran on Israeli targets and U.S. bases across several Middle Eastern countries. As a result, maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil and gas shipments, has been severely restricted. Approximately 20 percent of the world’s energy supply typically passes through this corridor.

The situation has raised concerns about the safety of maritime operations and the potential impact on global energy transport, though no resolution has yet been reported.

Multiple explosions were heard around 4 a.m. in Doha, Qatar, as Iranian drones were intercepted near the US Al-Udeid Airbase, according to Al Jazeera. Qatar’s Interior Ministry confirmed that the airbase was the target of the attack. On the fifth day of the incident, two ballistic missiles were reportedly fired at the base, one striking nearby and the other destroyed midair by defense systems. The extent of damage remains unclear.

Following the attack, Qatar increased security around key military and security installations. Analysts cited in the report said Iran appears to be pursuing a sustained strategy of targeting US military bases and relatively weaker sites across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.

They warned that despite some failed strikes, Iran continues daily attempts, raising concerns that similar attacks on Qatar could persist in the coming hours and days.