France has announced the deployment of its warship Charles de Gaulle to the Mediterranean Sea to assist Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Iraq. President Emmanuel Macron made the announcement on Tuesday, stating that the move is part of France’s defense commitments with these partner nations.

Macron confirmed that, in addition to the warship, France has already deployed Dassault Rafale fighter jets, air defense systems, and radar equipment in recent hours. These assets are intended to help intercept missiles and drones originating from Iran, according to the French president.

The deployment underscores France’s ongoing military cooperation with Middle Eastern allies under existing defense agreements, reflecting its commitment to regional security and deterrence efforts.

Iran’s Defense Ministry has declared that the country is prepared for a prolonged conflict against the United States and Israel. The ministry’s spokesperson, Reza Talaei-Nik, stated that Iran possesses the capability to maintain resistance and continue offensive defense over an extended period. He emphasized that the nation has not yet deployed its most advanced weapons and military equipment.

The statement comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and both the United States and Israel. According to the ministry, the current confrontation has been imposed on Iran, but the country remains confident in its long-term military endurance. The remarks reflect Tehran’s effort to project strength and deterrence at a time of escalating regional hostilities.

The ministry’s comments suggest that Iran may be holding back its most sophisticated arsenal, signaling potential for further escalation if the conflict continues.

Arab leaders are facing severe consequences after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran, triggering a regional war that has engulfed much of the Arab world. The killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei marked a turning point, prompting Iran to unleash its vast missile and drone arsenal despite lacking advanced air power. U.S. military bases across the Middle East, from Cyprus to Bahrain, have come under Iranian attack, exposing the limits of Washington’s security guarantees to its Arab allies.

The conflict has destabilized oil-rich Arab states, disrupted energy supplies, and driven up global fuel prices. Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz and drone strikes on Saudi and Qatari energy facilities have intensified market turmoil. For Bangladesh, which depends heavily on Middle Eastern remittances and fuel imports, the war poses grave risks. Millions of Bangladeshi workers in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar may lose jobs, while rising oil prices threaten inflation and trade costs.

Analysts cited in the report warn that the war could reshape Middle Eastern geopolitics, strain Arab economies, and trigger long-term global energy and financial instability.

The US-based Human Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA) reported that at least 1,097 civilians have been killed in Iran since February 28 amid ongoing violence. According to the agency, the victims include 181 children under the age of ten. The number of injured has risen to 5,402, with at least 100 children among them.

HRANA’s report stated that in the past 24 hours alone, at least 104 attacks occurred across the country, targeting military bases, medical centers, and residential areas. The organization also noted that reports of several hundred additional deaths are still being verified.

The figures highlight the scale of the recent escalation in Iran, though the report indicates that casualty numbers may continue to rise as verification continues.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged that Washington launched preemptive strikes in Iran to support Israel and prevent potential Iranian retaliation against American forces in the Middle East. Rubio said intelligence indicated Israel would attack Iran, prompting fears that Tehran might target US troops and bases. Republican congressional leader Mike Johnson echoed this justification, while UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer refused to endorse the legality of the US action under international law.

The conflict entered its fourth day with heavy Israeli and US bombardments across Tehran and other Iranian cities, including strikes on the presidential office and state broadcaster IRIB. Iran reported 787 deaths nationwide. In response, Iran continued missile and drone attacks on US and Israeli targets across the region, hitting bases in Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain. The US closed its embassies in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait after drone strikes and urged citizens to leave 14 Middle Eastern countries.

President Donald Trump said the war could last four to five weeks, while Iran vowed to continue fighting until US and Israeli aggression ends. The situation has triggered widespread regional instability and diplomatic fallout.

Thousands of Bangladeshi expatriates have been stranded across the Middle East after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran, prompting several countries to close their airspace. The resulting flight cancellations have left many unable to return to their workplaces, with expiring visas and mounting financial strain. At Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport alone, 147 international flights were canceled in four days, while Chattogram’s Shah Amanat Airport saw 35 cancellations. Biman Bangladesh Airlines suspended all flights on six Middle Eastern routes until March 5.

The Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment said it has formed a four-member committee and a special cell to assist affected workers and resolve visa complications. Qatar’s Interior Ministry extended all expiring visas by one month without fees, while the UAE embassy in Dhaka will issue temporary travel permits once flights resume. Expatriates described living in fear and uncertainty, unable to work or move freely amid the conflict.

Officials said the government is monitoring the situation and coordinating with embassies to address visa and repatriation issues, hoping for a quick resolution.

The United States and Israel have continued heavy air and missile strikes on Iran, marking the fourth day of coordinated attacks across Tehran and other cities. Israeli forces targeted Iran’s presidential office and state broadcaster, while US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, defended the strikes as preemptive measures to prevent Iranian retaliation. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer refused to endorse the legality of the US attack under international law. The assaults have killed at least 787 people, including civilians, and damaged more than 150 cities, according to Iranian sources.

Iran has launched counterstrikes across the region, hitting US bases, embassies, and allied infrastructure in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Bahrain. The US closed its embassies in Riyadh and Kuwait City after drone attacks, and President Donald Trump warned of further retaliation. Iran’s envoy to the UN vowed to continue defensive operations until US and Israeli aggression ends. Meanwhile, Hezbollah joined the conflict from Lebanon, attacking Israeli military sites as Israel expanded operations into Lebanese territory.

The US has urged its citizens to leave 14 Middle Eastern countries immediately, underscoring the escalating regional instability and risk of broader conflict.

US President Donald Trump announced that the US Navy will provide security for oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz if necessary. He made the statement on Wednesday in a post on the social media platform Truth Social. Trump also directed his administration to arrange insurance coverage for ships operating in the area.

In his message, Trump emphasized that the US Navy would begin protecting tankers through the strategic waterway as quickly as required. He added that the United States would ensure the safe global supply of energy under any circumstances.

The announcement comes amid heightened regional tensions, as the source also mentioned reports of US strikes on Iranian targets and other related incidents in the Middle East.

Iran launched a missile attack on the US Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, according to a statement from Qatar’s Ministry of Defense. The ministry reported that two ballistic missiles were fired from Iran, one of which was intercepted by Qatar’s air defense system, while the other struck the Al-Udeid base. The incident occurred on Wednesday, and no casualties have been reported so far.

The report, carried by Al Jazeera and cited by the Qatari defense authorities, marks a significant escalation involving Iranian missile activity in the Gulf region. The Al-Udeid base is known as a key US military installation in Qatar, and the attack underscores heightened regional tensions. The ministry’s statement did not provide further details about the extent of the damage or any immediate response measures.

Authorities have not yet released additional information regarding potential follow-up actions or investigations into the missile strike.

French President Emmanuel Macron stated that the recent unprovoked attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran violated international law, while emphasizing that Tehran remains 'primarily responsible' for the current tensions. His remarks were reported by Al Jazeera and published on March 4, 2026.

Macron said that both the US and Israel conducted military operations outside the bounds of international law, which France cannot endorse. However, he pointed to Iran’s nuclear activities, its support for regional proxy groups, and its internal repression as reasons for assigning primary responsibility to Tehran. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has clarified that there is no evidence Iran is developing a nuclear bomb.

Analysts cited in the report suggested that Macron’s comments reflect an effort to balance France’s position between Western allies and the ongoing Middle East crisis.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint attack by the United States and Israel, will be buried in the city of Mashhad, according to Fars News Agency on Wednesday. The 86-year-old leader was targeted in an assault last Saturday morning. Before his death, Khamenei had served as Iran’s highest religious authority for 36 years.

Mashhad, considered a holy city by Iranians, is also Khamenei’s birthplace. His father was buried at the Imam Reza shrine there, and Khamenei had reportedly expressed his wish to be laid to rest at the same site. However, the exact date of his burial has not yet been announced.

The report highlights the symbolic importance of Mashhad in Iran’s religious and political landscape, as it houses one of the country’s most revered shrines and now will become the final resting place of its long-serving leader.

US-Bangla Airlines has announced two special flights on the Dhaka–Dubai–Dhaka route to repatriate Bangladeshi nationals stranded in the United Arab Emirates due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East. The first flight will depart from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 7:20 p.m. today and return from Dubai at 12:20 a.m. local time. The second flight will leave Dhaka at 5:15 p.m. tomorrow and return from Dubai at 10:00 p.m. local time.

The flights will be operated using Airbus A330-300 aircraft with 436 seats. The flight numbers are BS-341 for Dhaka–Dubai and BS-342 for Dubai–Dhaka. The Dubai Airport Authority has granted permission to US-Bangla Airlines, Emirates, Air India, and several other carriers to operate special flights considering the overall situation.

Priority will be given to Bangladeshi passengers whose visas have expired or are about to expire. Passengers are advised to contact US-Bangla Airlines sales centers or nearby travel agencies in Bangladesh or the UAE for ticket booking information.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the Trump administration launched a preemptive strike on Iran to prevent potential attacks on American forces following Israel’s confirmed plans to strike Iran. He said Washington acted to destroy Tehran’s capabilities before it could retaliate, as Israel remained firm on its decision to attack in self-defense.

After a closed-door briefing on March 2 at Capitol Hill, sharp divisions emerged among US lawmakers. Vice President JD Vance told Fox News that the president’s main goal was to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Democratic leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, criticized the conflict as “Trump’s war” and a “strategy-less operation,” calling the administration’s justification inadequate. Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chair Mark Warner warned that entering a war without a direct threat to the US set a dangerous precedent.

Reports indicate that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the ongoing airstrikes, with over 500 Iranian deaths reported. The US military confirmed six American fatalities. Republican leaders backed the operation as defensive, while Democrats sought to halt the war through a War Powers Resolution, though passage appears unlikely in a Republican-controlled Congress.

Smoke was seen rising near the United States consulate in Dubai after what officials described as a drone attack, according to Reuters. The Dubai Media Office confirmed that a fire caused by the incident was successfully brought under control and that no casualties were reported.

The attack follows a similar incident in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, where the US embassy was targeted earlier. That event also resulted in damage but no reported injuries. Regional sources indicated that Iran has been targeting US interests across the Middle East following recent deadly strikes by Israel and the United States.

Authorities have not provided further details about the extent of the damage or the type of drone used in the Dubai incident.

Iran has warned that it will target all major economic centers in the Middle East if attacks by the United States and Israel on Iranian sites continue. The threat was issued on Tuesday by General Ebrahim Jabbari of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. He stated that Iran would retaliate decisively if its key facilities were struck, emphasizing the country’s readiness to escalate its response.

General Jabbari also announced that Iran had closed the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil transit route. He noted that oil prices had risen above 80 dollars per barrel and could soon reach 200 dollars, with Brent crude surpassing 85 dollars per barrel for the first time since July 2024. The Strait of Hormuz handles about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply and significant liquefied natural gas exports from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

The statement underscores heightened regional tensions and the potential for further disruption in global energy markets if the situation escalates.