The death toll in Iran has risen to 1,045 following joint airstrikes carried out by the United States and Israel, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency on Wednesday. The attacks took place on Saturday and reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei along with several senior officials.

In response, Tehran has launched retaliatory strikes targeting US bases in the Middle East and Israeli installations, as reported by Al Jazeera. The escalation marks a significant intensification of hostilities involving Iran, Israel, and the United States.

The situation remains volatile as both sides continue military actions, raising concerns about broader regional instability.

Turkey has claimed that Iran attempted to launch a missile targeting Turkish territory, but the projectile was destroyed before reaching its destination. According to a report by AFP citing Turkish officials, NATO’s air defense system intercepted and neutralized the missile while it was still over Iraqi and Syrian airspace.

In a statement, Turkey’s Ministry of Defense said the ballistic missile was launched from Iran and was heading toward Turkey after crossing Iraq and Syria. NATO’s air and missile defense system deployed in the eastern Mediterranean detected and destroyed it in time, preventing any damage.

The incident follows a series of escalating attacks in the region after the United States and Israel jointly launched strikes on Iran the previous Saturday. Since then, Iran has reportedly fired multiple missiles and drones targeting various installations in Middle Eastern countries.

US-Bangla Airlines has announced a special flight operation on the Dhaka–Chattogram–Abu Dhabi–Dhaka route to bring back Bangladeshi nationals stranded in the United Arab Emirates amid the ongoing Middle East situation. The first flight is scheduled to depart from Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 6:35 p.m. on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, via Chattogram, and from Chattogram at 8:20 p.m. The return flight from Abu Dhabi will depart at 1:00 a.m. local time on March 5. The operation will use a 189-seat Boeing 737-800 aircraft under flight numbers BS-349 and BS-350.

The Abu Dhabi Airport Authority has permitted US-Bangla Airlines, Etihad, and several other carriers to operate such special flights considering the current circumstances. Separately, US-Bangla has also arranged a special Dubai–Dhaka flight (BS-342) on March 4 to repatriate 28 Biman Bangladesh Airlines crew members stranded in the UAE since February 28 due to the conflict situation.

Priority will be given to Bangladeshi passengers whose visas have expired or are about to expire. Travelers are advised to contact US-Bangla sales centers or travel agencies in Bangladesh and the UAE for ticketing information.

An Iranian naval frigate reportedly sank off the coast of Sri Lanka following an attack from a submarine, according to Sri Lankan authorities. The incident occurred early in the morning when the vessel, identified as IRIS Dena, sent a distress signal. Sri Lanka’s navy and air force were deployed to assist in the rescue operation after receiving the alert.

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told parliament that the ship had 180 people on board. Thirty injured sailors were rescued and taken to a hospital in Galle port for treatment. Authorities confirmed that 32 people have been located so far, while the fate of the remaining 150 crew members remains uncertain.

Rescue efforts are ongoing as Sri Lankan forces continue to search the area for survivors. Officials have not yet provided details on the source of the submarine attack or the current condition of the wreckage.

Lebanon’s Minister of Social Affairs, Haneen Saeed, told Al Jazeera that more than 65,000 people have registered at shelters after being displaced by recent Israeli attacks. The ministry is responsible for providing shelter and supplies to those affected. Saeed added that an additional 10,000 to 20,000 people may also have been displaced, many of whom initially stayed on the streets or with friends and relatives but now require assistance.

Saeed described the situation as difficult and said that people remain anxious, recalling the memories of the 2024 war with Israel and the daily sounds of drones and explosions. She also stated that the government has declared Hezbollah’s military activities illegal and aims to establish full state authority across all regions.

The report highlights the growing humanitarian strain in Lebanon as displacement numbers rise and the government seeks to manage both security and relief efforts amid ongoing tensions.

A missile struck Saudi Aramco’s largest oil refinery at Ras Tanura on Wednesday, according to reports. It remains unclear which part of the complex was damaged. The refinery had been temporarily shut down on Monday following a drone attack.

Monday’s incident had led to accusations against Iran, but Tehran denied involvement, stating that it only targets facilities linked to U.S. and Israeli interests. Iranian officials claimed that Israel carried out a “disguised attack” on the Aramco site instead.

The renewed strike adds to regional tensions surrounding energy infrastructure in the Gulf, though the extent of the latest damage and potential impact on operations were not immediately known.

Iran has claimed responsibility for shooting down another US F-15 fighter jet. According to a report by Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency on Wednesday, the country’s air defense unit targeted and destroyed the aircraft. This follows an earlier announcement on Monday by Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, which stated that three US fighter jets had been downed using domestically developed air defense systems.

Images and reports related to the downed US aircraft and pilot ejections have since circulated across social media and various news outlets. On Monday morning, Iran’s armed forces had also shot down an F-15 jet in the airspace near the Iran-Kuwait border, an incident confirmed by Kuwait’s Ministry of Defense.

The latest claim adds to a series of escalating military incidents between Iran and the United States, though independent verification of the reported shootdowns was not mentioned in the source.

Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said Madrid was surprised by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s support for U.S. pressure on Spain over the Iran issue. In an interview with state broadcaster TVE, Albares remarked that he could not imagine former German leaders Angela Merkel or Olaf Scholz making such comments.

During a visit to the White House on Tuesday, Merz stated that Madrid should be “satisfied” after agreeing to NATO’s higher defense spending target of 3.5 percent of GDP, following Trump’s threat to reduce trade with Spain. The U.S. president issued the threat after Spain refused to allow Washington to use its bases for an attack on Iran.

The exchange highlights growing diplomatic tension between Spain, Germany, and the United States over defense commitments and Iran-related policy coordination within NATO.

A United Nations expert committee has expressed deep concern over the deaths of children in a bombing at a girls’ school in southern Iran. The attack took place on Saturday at Shajareh Tayyebeh School in Minab, during the first day of US and Israeli strikes. According to UN experts, at least 160 children were killed in the incident.

In a statement, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child said it was alarmed by reports of attacks on civilian infrastructure, including schools and hospitals, which have injured and traumatized children and claimed many young lives. The committee, composed of 18 independent experts, monitors the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which protects children’s right to education and safety from violence.

Earlier, Iran’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Ali Bahreini, raised the issue in a letter to UN human rights chief Volker Türk on March 1, describing the attack as “unjustified” and “criminal.”

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez sharply criticized U.S. President Donald Trump after Trump threatened to halt trade with Madrid over Spain’s stance on the Middle East conflict. In a televised address to the nation, Sánchez said that humanity’s greatest disasters begin this way and warned that one cannot play 'Russian roulette' with the fate of millions of people.

The tension between the two NATO allies has escalated following Spain’s opposition to U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, which Sánchez described as reckless and illegal. He also blocked the use of Spanish naval and air bases for U.S. operations targeting Tehran. The dispute underscores growing divisions among Western allies over the handling of the Middle East crisis.

According to Reuters, the confrontation adds strain to transatlantic relations as both nations navigate their differing approaches to regional security and diplomacy.

China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning announced that more than 470 Chinese nationals have been safely evacuated from Iran following the start of attacks by the United States and Israel. The evacuation was carried out to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens amid escalating regional tensions.

Mao Ning emphasized the need to maintain security and stability in the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters, describing their importance as vital to global trade. The statement reflects China’s concern over the potential impact of regional instability on international shipping and commerce.

The report also mentioned related developments in the region, including the indefinite postponement of a memorial event for Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei, displacement of over 65,000 people in Lebanon due to Israeli attacks, and a missile strike on Saudi Arabia’s largest oil refinery.

The Israeli military has announced that it has launched a major new airstrike in Tehran, the capital of Iran. According to a statement from the Israeli army, the operation specifically targets Iran’s ruling leadership. The statement added that further details would be provided later. The announcement marks a significant escalation in tensions between the two countries.

An AFP correspondent reported that an explosion occurred in the northeastern part of Tehran around the time of the Israeli claim. No additional information about casualties, damage, or the scale of the attack was immediately available from the report.

The situation remains developing, with both the extent of the strike and Iran’s potential response yet to be confirmed.

US President Donald Trump has criticized British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for refusing to assist Israel in conducting airstrikes on Iran. Trump said the relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom is no longer what it used to be. His remarks came after the UK declined to allow its bases to be used for the operation.

Earlier, Starmer had sharply criticized Trump’s actions in Iran, stating that the United Kingdom does not believe in changing a country’s regime through aerial attacks. He defended his decision not to permit the use of British bases for such strikes. However, Starmer clarified that the UK would allow its bases to be used to protect allied forces and its own troops in the Gulf and Middle East amid the Iran-Israel conflict.

In an interview with The Sun, Trump expressed disappointment, saying he never expected such a stance from the UK. He added that the world has changed and that the bilateral relationship now feels different and diminished.

Syria has closed its border crossings with Lebanon after receiving a warning from Israel that Israeli forces might target the crossings. The decision was reported by Al Jazeera on Wednesday, citing the Syrian land and sea port authorities. The closure follows heightened regional tensions and security concerns along the Syrian-Lebanese frontier.

According to the report, the Syrian land and sea port authorities stated that the move came after Israel issued a warning about potential strikes on the crossings. A media officer at the Jdeidet Yabous border crossing said that while the crossings are closed, entry will remain open for Syrians fleeing from Lebanon.

The closure comes amid reports of displacement in Lebanon due to Israeli attacks, with more than 65,000 people reportedly affected. The situation underscores the growing instability in the region and the potential for further humanitarian challenges if border restrictions continue.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has described the joint US and Israeli attacks on Iran as the beginning of a 'catastrophe for humanity.' Speaking on March 4, 2026, Sánchez made clear that Spain does not support war and that the Spanish people stand against what he called a growing disaster. He strongly criticized the military actions and reaffirmed his country's stance for peace.

Sánchez recalled that the 2003 invasion of Iraq had made the world less safe and argued that a new war against Iran would not lead to a fairer international order, a healthier environment, or better lives for ordinary people. His comments came as tensions escalated following the attacks in Iran and the broader regional fallout.

In response to Spain’s refusal to allow US forces to use its bases for the Iran operation, former US President Donald Trump threatened to cut all trade ties with Spain, further straining diplomatic relations between the two nations.