The Washington Post has reported that Russia is allegedly providing Iran with intelligence on the locations of US ships, aircraft, and radar systems in the Middle East. The information, reportedly shared by informed sources, is said to be aiding Tehran in carrying out attacks against US forces. While Moscow has condemned the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, it has otherwise maintained a largely silent stance in the conflict, despite being a close ally of Tehran.

According to the report, Russia’s actions amount to indirect involvement in the war, even though it has not taken part directly. The same sources indicated that China is not offering similar support to Iran. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Iran has not requested weapons from Russia and that Moscow’s position toward Tehran remains unchanged.

Moscow has not issued any official comment on the allegations of intelligence sharing, leaving uncertainty over the extent of its involvement in the conflict.

Eight Israeli soldiers were injured in an anti-tank missile attack near the Lebanon border, according to the Israeli military, as reported by Al Jazeera. The incident occurred on March 6, 2026. Among the injured, five soldiers from the Givati Brigade were reported to be seriously wounded, while three others sustained minor injuries. All the injured personnel were taken to a hospital for treatment.

The attack comes amid escalating tensions between Israeli forces and Hezbollah along the Lebanon border. In recent weeks, clashes have been reported in several areas as both sides exchange fire and increase military activity in the region.

The continued hostilities have heightened concerns of further escalation along the border, though no additional details about the perpetrators or the exact location of the attack were provided in the report.

Iran has carried out missile strikes targeting bases of Kurdish armed opposition groups in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region, according to the country’s state television, as reported by Al Jazeera. The attacks were directed at groups that Tehran identifies as anti-Iranian separatist organizations operating in northern Iraq.

The strikes occurred amid reports that U.S. authorities have been coordinating with Iraq-based Kurdish opposition groups. These groups have reportedly indicated a willingness to participate in the ongoing conflict against Iran. The timing of the attack suggests heightened regional tension involving Iran, Iraq’s Kurdish region, and external actors.

Further details on the scale of the strikes, casualties, or official responses from Iraq or the Kurdish regional government were not provided in the report.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has warned that if the ongoing war continues for an extended period, it could pose a serious threat to Europe’s security and regional stability, according to Al Jazeera. He stated that a prolonged conflict could also endanger the security of Israel and its partner countries in the Middle East.

Merz further noted that continuing the war serves no one’s interest and could jeopardize Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He cautioned that instability in Iran might undermine Europe’s energy security and trigger an uncontrolled wave of migration.

The Chancellor’s remarks highlight growing concerns in Europe about the broader geopolitical and economic consequences of the conflict, particularly its potential to disrupt energy supplies and regional balance.

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.