An explosion has been reported in Manama, the capital of Bahrain, according to a correspondent from the AFP news agency based in the city. The incident occurred as regional tensions continue to rise, with similar reports of a powerful explosion earlier in the day in Doha, Qatar.

The developments come after Israel and the United States launched attacks on Iran last Saturday, prompting retaliatory strikes by Iran across several Gulf countries. The situation has heightened concerns among regional and international observers about the potential for wider instability in the Middle East.

The report did not provide details about casualties or the extent of the damage in Manama, leaving the immediate impact of the explosion unclear.

Several explosions were heard in Doha, the capital of Qatar, following Iranian attacks in the region, according to an AFP reporter based in the city. Al Jazeera reported that Qatar’s defense systems were intercepting missiles entering its airspace. The AFP correspondent described hearing four initial explosions, followed by six more, and later around twenty in total, with visible smoke where interceptors struck Iranian missiles or drones.

Earlier, Qatar had begun relocating residents living near the U.S. Embassy in Doha as a precautionary measure. The developments come after the United States and Israel jointly launched attacks on Iran last Saturday, prompting Iranian retaliatory strikes targeting U.S. installations across several Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, where American embassies were hit, and the U.S. consulate in Dubai.

The situation underscores rising regional tensions as Qatar now faces direct security threats linked to the broader Iran-U.S.-Israel confrontation.

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry has accused Iran of carrying out drone attacks that injured two civilians within Azerbaijani territory. According to the ministry, one drone directly struck the terminal building of an airport in the autonomous Nakhchivan region, while another drone landed near a school building in the village of Shakarabad. The attack caused damage to the airport structure and left two civilians wounded.

Following the incident, Azerbaijan summoned the Iranian ambassador in Baku to formally protest the alleged assault. The ministry stated that a strong protest would be conveyed to the Iranian side, along with an official note of objection. The event marks a new point of tension between the two neighboring countries, both of which have had sensitive relations in recent years.

The Azerbaijani government’s response indicates a diplomatic escalation, though no further details were provided on potential next steps or Iran’s reaction to the allegations.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has accused the United States of launching an unprovoked attack on an Iranian warship in international waters. He stated that the strike targeted the IRIS Dena, which was a guest of the Indian Navy, and warned that the United States would have to face the consequences of its actions.

According to the report, the attack occurred on Wednesday near Sri Lanka’s southern coast, when US forces allegedly fired from a submarine, causing the Iranian vessel to sink. Sri Lankan authorities confirmed that 87 bodies had been recovered and 32 survivors rescued and treated. The ship reportedly carried around 180 people.

Araghchi wrote on X that the United States would deeply regret the precedent it had set. The incident has heightened regional tensions, with Iran signaling that it will respond to what it calls an unjustified act of aggression.

Hundreds of Afghans held protests across border provinces against Pakistan, accusing it of killing civilians and expressing support for Afghan soldiers fighting along the frontier. Demonstrations took place in Gardez, the capital of Paktia province, and in Khost’s Gurbuz district, where participants placed flower garlands on soldiers and waved Taliban flags. The protests followed a week of intense border clashes that, according to the United Nations, left dozens of Afghan civilians dead and displaced thousands.

The UN mission in Afghanistan reported at least 42 civilian deaths and 104 injuries since February 26. Pakistan has not commented on civilian casualties but claimed to have killed over 430 Afghan soldiers, while Afghanistan said about 150 Pakistani troops were killed. The conflict reportedly began after Afghan forces launched operations in response to earlier Pakistani airstrikes. The International Organization for Migration said around 66,000 Afghans have been displaced, and humanitarian aid operations have been suspended.

The World Food Programme warned that the suspension of emergency food assistance has affected about 160,000 people, worsening Afghanistan’s existing food crisis.

Multiple explosions were reported in Doha, the capital of Qatar, according to an AFP correspondent based in the city. The Qatari government had earlier announced that residents living near the US Embassy in Doha would be relocated as a precautionary measure. The evacuation process was underway when the explosions were heard across the city.

The incident follows a series of escalating attacks in the Middle East after a joint US-Israeli strike on Iran last Saturday. In retaliation, Iran reportedly targeted American facilities across the region. US embassies in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait were attacked earlier in the week, and the US consulate in Dubai also came under assault.

The explosions in Doha add to growing regional instability, prompting heightened security measures around diplomatic missions and raising concerns among Gulf states about further escalation.

A United States submarine has sunk an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean, resulting in at least 87 recovered bodies. The vessel, identified by Sri Lanka’s foreign minister as IRIS Dena, had recently participated in a joint naval exercise hosted by India and was returning home from an eastern Indian port when it was destroyed. The attack occurred thousands of kilometers from the Gulf, marking the first time since 1945 that a US attack submarine used torpedoes to sink a warship.

Yale University lecturer Sushant Singh said the incident has created uncomfortable questions for New Delhi, a key US partner, as the strike took place shortly after India had hosted the Iranian crew. He described the sinking of IRIS Dena just hours after leaving Indian waters as a major blow to India’s regional credibility. The ship was reportedly traveling through an area under Indian naval observation but outside any active conflict zone.

Analysts noted that India faces the challenge of protecting trade and energy routes, avoiding US-Iran tensions, and preventing normalization of third-party military actions near its maritime sphere. India has not publicly commented on the incident.

The Iranian Red Crescent Society has reported that at least 105 civilian facilities were damaged in joint attacks by the United States and Israel across Iran. According to the organization, the assaults began on Saturday and have so far resulted in a total of 1,332 recorded strikes at 636 different locations nationwide.

Among the affected sites are at least 14 medical centers and seven buildings belonging to the Red Crescent itself. The organization stated that the attacks have impacted at least 174 cities across the country.

The Red Crescent warned that continued strikes on civilian infrastructure could further complicate the humanitarian situation in Iran. The information was reported by Al Jazeera and cited by the outlet Amar Desh.

Iranian General Kioumars Heydari has declared that Iran will not withdraw from the ongoing war until its objectives are fully achieved. Speaking to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency, Heydari stated that the country will continue fighting until it delivers a decisive blow to the United States. He emphasized that the duration of the conflict is not a concern for Iran.

Heydari, who serves as deputy commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said Iran’s military has gained extensive experience from its previous eight-year war and will only end the current conflict once its goals are met. He added that Iran aims to make its enemy regret and despair over its actions.

The statement, reported by Al Jazeera and Iranian media, underscores Tehran’s determination to sustain military operations despite regional tensions and growing international concern over the conflict’s escalation.

Former US President Donald Trump expressed gratitude to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte after Rutte commented that the United States had received broad support from allied nations for its military strikes in Iran. Trump conveyed his thanks through a social media post, calling Rutte a great NATO leader.

Earlier, Rutte stated that although NATO was not directly involved in the US attacks on Iran, many allied countries strongly supported Washington’s actions. He noted that allies were cooperating with the United States in efforts to dismantle Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities.

Rutte also suggested that several Western nations viewed the initiative to weaken Iran’s military strength as an important security measure within the alliance.

Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi has called for an immediate end to the ongoing war in the Middle East. In a post on social media platform X, he said that the Omani government is making every effort to assist all foreigners stranded in the country to return to their respective homelands.

According to his statement, Oman is cooperating with various countries and international airlines to facilitate the repatriation of those affected by the conflict. Al-Busaidi emphasized that regardless of nationality, every person has the right to safety and security as part of their human rights.

The minister’s remarks come amid heightened regional tensions, with reports of instability and concern across the Gulf region.

The Iranian Red Crescent Society reported that since Saturday, it has documented 1,332 attacks by US and Israeli forces across Iran. According to the organization, strikes have occurred in 636 locations, including at least 105 civilian sites. Among the civilian targets were 14 medical centers and seven Red Crescent buildings. The attacks reportedly affected at least 174 cities across the country.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated at a Pentagon press conference on Wednesday that the conflict with Iran could last eight weeks. He said the United States possesses sufficient military equipment to defeat Iran. The Red Crescent’s report highlights the scale of the ongoing strikes and their impact on civilian infrastructure.

The situation has raised regional concerns, with reports of Gulf countries expressing anxiety over the risk of civil war in Iran. The broader Middle East tensions have also affected financial markets, including a sharp decline in South Korea’s stock exchange.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for an attack on a US tanker in the northern Gulf on Thursday morning. The IRGC stated that its naval forces struck the vessel, asserting control over maritime movement in the region.

According to the IRGC, military and commercial ships belonging to the United States, Israel, and their European allies will not be allowed to pass through the area. The force warned that any such vessels spotted would be targeted. The statement reiterated Iran’s earlier position that it has the right, under international law and resolutions, to regulate navigation through the Strait of Hormuz during wartime.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, comes amid heightened regional tensions, with Gulf nations expressing concern over Iran’s internal instability and the broader security situation in the Middle East.

Israel has claimed responsibility for airstrikes targeting Iran’s ballistic missile launch system in the city of Qom. According to an Israeli military spokesperson, the country’s air force carried out the attack, destroying the system that was allegedly preparing for a strike. The spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, stated on social media that Israeli forces also destroyed an air defense system in Isfahan.

The Israeli military said the strikes were aimed at weakening Iran’s defense capabilities and expanding Israel’s control over regional airspace. Israeli media reported that the army plans to continue operations in Iran for at least another one to two weeks. The announcement came five days after the start of the conflict, with Israel claiming to have dropped more than 5,000 bombs on Iran by Wednesday.

In addition to the attacks in Iran, Israel said it had launched a new round of strikes against Tehran-backed Hezbollah forces in Lebanon.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak has claimed that U.S. President Donald Trump was drawn into the Iran war by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In an interview with Channel 4 News, Barak said Netanyahu was dissatisfied with the end of the Gaza war and sought to involve Israel in a new conflict with Iran. He added that while the United States made its own decision to join the war, Netanyahu influenced Trump to abandon his desire to be seen as the 'King of Peace' and instead become the 'Lord of War.'

Barak argued that the Iranian people themselves must ultimately bring down their government by standing up against it. He also stated that whether an attack on Iran was legal or not was less important than the belief that Iran deserved punishment. Warning against a ground war, Barak cautioned that such a move could destabilize the geopolitical balance beyond the Middle East.