Israeli air strikes targeted Blat and Wadi Barghouti in southern Lebanon’s Iqlim al-Tuffah region, marking another breach of the November 2024 ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, according to Al Jazeera. The Israeli military said it was attacking Hezbollah infrastructure, while local reports indicated that most raids struck open areas in forests and hills, with no casualties reported so far. Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV said Israeli drones dropped explosives in Markaba for the third time, and Al-Mayadeen confirmed multiple raids on the al-Tuffah heights.

The strikes follow a deadly attack on Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley that killed one person and wounded 29 others, including a 16-year-old Syrian boy, according to Lebanon’s Ministry of Health. The United Nations reports that more than 300 people, including 127 civilians, have been killed since the ceasefire began. Israel’s war on Lebanon, which started in October 2023, has left over 4,000 dead and 17,000 injured.

Lebanon’s government says it is close to completing its ceasefire pledge to disarm Hezbollah south of the Litani River, but Hezbollah rejects full disarmament while Israeli attacks and occupation continue.

The Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment announced that it will arrange overnight accommodation for passengers affected by the cancellation of flights to the Middle East. The cancellations occurred due to a state of war in the region, causing unexpected difficulties for travelers. The announcement was made through an official information release on Saturday night.

According to the ministry, passengers whose flights have been canceled are requested to contact the Expatriate Welfare Desk or lounge for assistance with lodging arrangements. The initiative aims to ease the inconvenience faced by travelers stranded in Bangladesh as a result of the disrupted flight schedules.

The ministry’s statement reflects the government’s effort to provide immediate support to affected passengers while the situation in the Middle East remains unstable.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has decided to close the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Tasnim News Agency, which is affiliated with the IRGC. The report stated that the move was made due to the strait’s strategic importance. The Strait of Hormuz, located between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman in southern Iran, serves as a vital maritime route for global shipping.

Tasnim reported that the IRGC has sent messages to vessels, informing them that no ships will be permitted to pass through the strait until further notice. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed receiving multiple reports about this warning. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical trade routes, carrying roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies.

The closure could have significant implications for international energy transport and maritime trade, given the strait’s central role in global oil and gas distribution.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed that at least 200 US soldiers were killed in its latest counterattack amid the ongoing direct conflict between Iran and the United States. According to Tasnim News, the strikes targeted American military bases in the Middle East and allegedly caused severe damage to a US Central Command (CENTCOM) warship. Tehran described the operation, named “Truthful Promise 4,” as a major success.

In response, a CENTCOM spokesperson told Al Jazeera that the Iranian claims were entirely false, rejecting reports of casualties or damage to any US vessel. CENTCOM stated that its defense systems intercepted most of the Iranian attacks and that there were no significant losses among US forces so far.

The conflicting statements highlight an escalating information war between Tehran and Washington, with both sides seeking to control the narrative of the confrontation.

The Iranian Red Crescent spokesperson Mojtaba Khaledi stated that at least 20 of Iran’s 32 provinces have been targeted in recent attacks. Citizens have been urged to stay away from the affected areas. The strikes began on Saturday morning, reportedly carried out by the United States and Israel across multiple locations in Iran. In Hormozgan province alone, two separate attacks have killed at least 70 people, according to Al Jazeera.

The report indicates a widespread assault affecting a majority of Iran’s provinces, marking a significant escalation in hostilities involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. The Iranian Red Crescent’s emergency warning highlights the scale of the crisis and the potential humanitarian impact across the country.

Iran has also sent a letter to the United Nations urging action against the aggression, underscoring Tehran’s diplomatic response to the attacks and its appeal for international intervention.

More than 15 people were killed in a joint United States–Israel strike on a gymnasium in Lamerd city, Iran, according to Iran’s Fars News Agency. The attack occurred while children were playing and others were exercising inside the facility.

In a separate incident, the death toll from an Israeli strike on a girls’ school in Minab city, Hormozgan province, rose to 86, Al Jazeera reported. Iranian official Araghchi stated on social media that the destroyed building was a primary school bombed in daylight while full of students, calling the victims innocent children. He warned that the Iranian people would not remain silent in response. Education Ministry spokesperson Ali Farhadi confirmed that three missiles struck the school on Saturday, injuring many civilians.

The reports come amid escalating violence across Iran, with the Red Crescent noting attacks in at least 20 of the country’s 32 provinces.

Bangladesh embassies in Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Iraq have issued separate warnings for Bangladeshi nationals following escalating conflict in the Middle East. The alerts come after U.S. and Israeli attacks in Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory strikes on American installations, creating a warlike situation in the region. Each embassy has also opened hotline numbers for emergency contact.

The Bangladesh Embassy in Doha, Qatar, urged expatriates to remain cautious, avoid military areas, and stay indoors or in safe locations. It advised citizens to keep essential items such as cash, identification, health cards, medicines, chargers, and dry food ready. The embassy also reminded residents to respect Qatari laws, follow official instructions, and refrain from sharing related photos or videos on social media.

Similar advisories were issued by the Bangladeshi embassies in the UAE, Bahrain, and Iraq, instructing citizens to avoid open spaces and large gatherings. The embassies emphasized safety and compliance with local regulations until the situation stabilizes.

Fires and scattered damage were reported across Israel as Iranian projectiles struck several areas, prompting residents to rush into bomb shelters. Interceptors were seen detonating over Tel Aviv and other cities as Israel attempted to block further incoming fire. The attacks marked a significant escalation in hostilities between the two nations.

According to Iran’s state-run IRIB news agency, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi sent a letter to the United Nations secretary-general and the president of the UN Security Council. In the letter, Iran asserted that recent air strikes by the United States and Israel constituted a violation of the UN Charter and an act of armed aggression. Iran stated that it was acting under Article 51 of the UN Charter, which allows for self-defence, and vowed to continue its defensive actions until the aggression ceases completely.

The letter further declared that all bases, facilities, and assets of hostile forces in the region would be considered legitimate military targets as part of Iran’s right to self-defence.

Iran launched retaliatory attacks on US assets in several Gulf Arab states following a joint US-Israel strike on Iranian territory early Saturday, according to Al Jazeera. The Iranian government confirmed that multiple targets were hit in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, all of which host American air bases.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that all Israeli and US military targets in the Middle East were struck by powerful Iranian missiles. The report also noted that Iran had fired waves of missiles and drones toward Israel, intensifying tensions across the region.

The developments mark a sharp escalation in hostilities between Iran and its adversaries, with potential implications for regional security and the stability of US alliances in the Gulf.

An Israeli airstrike hit an elementary girls’ school in Minab, southern Iran’s Hormozgan province, killing 85 people and injuring 63 others, according to Iranian state media. The attack occurred on Saturday and is part of a broader wave of joint US-Israeli military operations across Iran. Iran’s Tasnim News Agency cited the local judiciary confirming the death toll, while workers continued clearing debris from the site.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the strike, calling it a crime against the Iranian people and vowing that it would not go unanswered. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei urged the United Nations Security Council to take action. Separately, Iran’s Mehr News Agency reported another Israeli strike east of Tehran that killed at least two students. Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Tehran said the attacks challenge US and Israeli claims that their targets are strictly military.

There has been no immediate response from the United States or Israel regarding Iran’s allegations. The report also recalled the June 2025 conflict, when similar attacks caused heavy civilian casualties and widespread infrastructure damage in Iran.

Nine months after a 12-day war ended with a truce, Iran is again under attack from both Israel and the United States. The new assault, launched on Saturday, targets Iranian officials, missile sites, and nuclear facilities, with both governments stating their goal of regime change in Tehran. The strikes come as nuclear negotiations between Iran and the US were showing progress in Geneva, where Omani mediator Badr bin Hamad Albusaidi announced that Iran had agreed to give up its enriched material stockpile and allow full IAEA verification.

Iran, which maintains its nuclear programme is for civilian use, retaliated by striking Israeli targets and US military bases across the Gulf region. The escalation follows years of Israeli opposition to Iran’s nuclear ambitions and the US withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal under President Trump. Netanyahu, backed by Washington, launched the June 13, 2025, attack amid Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza.

US officials have expressed concern about being drawn into a prolonged conflict, while Vice President JD Vance said there is “no chance” of a long-term Middle Eastern war. The situation remains volatile as talks are set to resume in Geneva.

Following the joint strikes by Israel and the United States on Iran, several countries have voiced strong reactions. Pakistan, Norway, and Belgium each issued statements expressing deep concern and criticism of the attacks, calling for restraint and renewed diplomatic engagement to prevent further escalation.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar condemned what he described as an “unjustified attack” on Iran and urged an immediate halt to hostilities. He emphasized the need for urgent diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis through peaceful dialogue. Norway’s Foreign Minister Espen Barth said that although Israel claimed the strike was preventive, it did not align with international law, noting that preventive action requires an imminent threat. Belgium’s Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot expressed sorrow that earlier diplomatic efforts had failed and stressed that the Iranian people should not suffer for their government’s decisions.

All three nations highlighted the growing risk of military escalation and reiterated the importance of dialogue and diplomacy to restore stability in the region.

An Israeli attack on a girls’ school in southern Iran’s Hormozgan province has killed 53 students, according to Iran’s state news agency IRNA. The strike targeted a primary girls’ school in the city of Minab on Saturday, with reports indicating that three missiles were fired at the school. The Iranian Ministry of Education confirmed that 63 others were injured in the assault.

The incident occurred amid renewed hostilities across Iran, as both the United States and Israel reportedly launched attacks on Saturday morning. Tehran responded with retaliatory missile and drone strikes toward Israel, escalating tensions in the region. The IRNA report cited Al Jazeera as a source for additional details on the attack.

The strike marks one of the deadliest attacks on a civilian educational institution in Iran in recent years, highlighting the intensifying conflict between Iran and Israel and its growing humanitarian toll.

The BBC has reported that the United Kingdom is not participating in the joint military operation carried out by the United States and Israel in Iran. In response to the escalating situation in the Middle East, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called an emergency meeting of the government’s security-focused COBRA committee on Saturday, which he is expected to chair.

According to the report, London has expressed concern that the attack in Iran could trigger a wider regional conflict. A spokesperson for the British government stated that the UK does not want the conflict to expand into a broader regional war. The spokesperson also emphasized that ensuring the safety of British citizens in the region remains the government’s immediate priority.

The developments come amid heightened tensions following missile and drone attacks between Iran and Israel, raising fears of further instability across the Middle East.

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council and a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, has claimed that the United States used nuclear negotiations with Iran as a cover for preparing a military operation. His remarks were reported on February 28, 2026, by the outlet Amar Desh, citing Al Jazeera as the source.

Medvedev stated that the so-called peacemaker had once again revealed its true face, arguing that all discussions with Iran were merely a strategy to conceal an impending operation. He added that there was no real intention from any side to reach genuine agreement, and that no one had any doubts about the underlying motives.

The comments come amid heightened regional tensions, including reports of Iranian missile and drone attacks toward Israel and the killing of Iran’s defense minister in an Israeli strike, as referenced in related news items from the same source.