Hezbollah’s deputy leader Naim Qassem declared that the Iran-backed group will not surrender despite intensifying conflict with Israel. His televised address on Monday marked his first public statement since the regional fighting spread into Lebanon. Qassem said Hezbollah had adhered to the ceasefire agreement reached at the end of 2024, but accused Israel of violating all its terms.

In his speech, Qassem stated that Hezbollah had agreed to a diplomatic solution as part of its national responsibility but warned that their patience had limits. He emphasized that the group was determined to confront Israel, even at the cost of extreme sacrifice, and would not capitulate under pressure.

The renewed hostilities followed U.S. and Israeli strikes that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In response, Hezbollah launched rocket and drone attacks on Israel, prompting Israeli airstrikes and troop deployments in southern Lebanon. The escalation has forced hundreds of thousands of civilians to flee their homes, deepening the humanitarian crisis in the region.

A total of 189 Bangladeshi nationals who had been stranded in Dubai have returned home. They were unable to travel earlier due to suspended flights caused by an ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The returnees arrived in Dhaka on Thursday, March 5, at 7:07 a.m. aboard a special US-Bangla Airlines flight that landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, according to airport sources.

The repatriation effort began on Wednesday, March 4, when the first special flight departed from Dhaka at 7:20 p.m. for Dubai. It later took off from Dubai late at night local time and arrived in Dhaka the following morning. Another flight is scheduled to leave Dhaka at 5:15 p.m. on Thursday for Dubai and will return with more stranded Bangladeshis at around 10 p.m. local time.

The operation marks a coordinated effort to bring back citizens affected by flight disruptions linked to the regional conflict, ensuring their safe return to Bangladesh.

Qatar’s Ministry of Interior announced that residents living near the US Embassy in Doha are being temporarily relocated to safe areas. The ministry said in a statement on social media platform X on Thursday, March 5, that the move is a precautionary measure to ensure public safety. It also confirmed that alternative housing arrangements have been made for those affected.

In a separate incident, a powerful explosion occurred on a tanker anchored off the coast of Kuwait. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that the blast took place about 30 nautical miles southeast of Mubarak Al-Kabir port. According to the ship’s master, the explosion was heard on the port side, followed by smoke, and a small boat was seen leaving the area shortly afterward.

UKMTO added that one of the ship’s cargo tanks was damaged, causing an oil spill that poses an environmental threat. Water also entered the vessel, but all crew members were confirmed safe.

Iran has announced that it will continue retaliatory attacks against the United States and Israel. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi conveyed this decision to his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan during a phone conversation, according to Al Jazeera. The Iranian Foreign Ministry stated on X that Araghchi said Iran’s armed forces would not stop until what he called the ‘enemy’s malicious activities’ cease. He added that Iran is only targeting bases used to plan and conduct attacks against it, describing the actions as consistent with international law.

The call followed Turkey’s summoning of Iran’s ambassador in Ankara after a ballistic missile flew toward Turkish airspace. Reuters reported that the missile, launched from Iran, was destroyed over the eastern Mediterranean by NATO’s air defense system. The intended target of the missile remains unclear. Turkey’s Defense Ministry confirmed that debris from the destroyed missile fell near the coastal area of Dortyol, without causing casualties.

US President Donald Trump has threatened to continue war indefinitely amid ongoing US and Israeli attacks on Iran. In a post on Truth Social on Tuesday night, Trump said the United States has enough weapons to fight forever, responding to expert discussions suggesting US stockpiles were running low. The conflict, now in its fifth day, has already left over a thousand people dead in Iran, with additional casualties reported in Lebanon and across the region.

Iran has reportedly launched missiles toward Turkey and Saudi Arabia, attacked a major Aramco refinery, and claimed full control of the Strait of Hormuz. The US confirmed sinking an Iranian warship near Sri Lanka, killing 80, while Iran retaliated with missile strikes on Israel and US bases in Qatar. Tehran has postponed the state funeral of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in earlier strikes.

Iranian officials declared readiness for a prolonged war and rejected further talks with Washington. Meanwhile, Israel warned that whoever succeeds Khamenei will be targeted if hostile actions continue, signaling an escalation with no clear end in sight.

The Arab League has condemned Iran’s attacks on neighboring Arab countries, describing them as a clear violation of international law. In a statement issued on Wednesday, Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said the assaults not only breach international law but also strike at the fundamental principles of good neighborly relations.

Gheit added that Iran’s aggression has created an unprecedented hostility between Tehran and Arab nations, which could have a profound impact on future relations among these states. He emphasized that while Arab countries recognize the internal crisis Iran is facing, such challenges cannot justify attacks on any sovereign state.

The statement underscores growing regional tension following the reported Iranian strikes, with the Arab League warning of long-term consequences for diplomatic and security dynamics in the Middle East.

Iran has sharply criticized US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, calling him the 'Minister of War Crimes'. The statement came from Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei, who made the remarks in a social media post citing Hegseth’s public comments. According to Baghaei, Hegseth had said that US and Israeli warplanes were flying over Tehran, bringing death and destruction from the skies.

Baghaei described Hegseth’s words as an admission of war crimes and crimes against humanity. He further stated that only a 'Nazi mentality' could coldly unleash death and destruction on another nation merely to fulfill a leader’s wishes. The comments were reported by Al Jazeera.

The exchange comes amid reports of heavy attacks on Tehran and significant civilian displacement, with the UNHCR noting that around 100,000 people left the city within the first two days of the assault.

Iran has accused the United States and Israel of carrying out recent airstrikes that damaged numerous civilian facilities across several Iranian cities. According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, at least 33 sites, including hospitals, schools, residential areas, and markets, were targeted. The ministry’s spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, stated on social media that civilian infrastructure such as schools and hospitals had been deliberately chosen as targets.

The list of affected locations includes residential buildings in Tehran’s Niloufar Square, hospitals in Tehran and Ahvaz, Tehran’s Grand Bazaar, the historic Golestan Palace complex south of the capital, and a primary school in Minab. Additional sites reportedly hit include residential areas in Maragheh and a sports hall in Lamard, Fars Province. Iran also claimed that civilian casualties occurred during the attacks.

Iranian officials said they have evidence of 33 targeted sites but noted that neither the United States nor Israel has yet issued an immediate response to the allegations.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has warned of 'terrorist activity' near the Iraq border, as reports emerge of a ground operation by Kurdish-Iranian militias in Iran’s northwestern region. The claim of the operation has not yet been officially confirmed by any side.

Araghchi has reportedly spoken with Bafel Talabani, leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, while U.S. President Donald Trump also held a conversation with Talabani earlier this week. According to Axios journalist Barak Ravid, a U.S. official said that Kurdish-Iranian militias had launched a ground offensive in northwestern Iran. However, Al Jazeera has not independently verified this information.

Despite the lack of confirmation, indications of possible military activity in Iran’s western region are reportedly increasing, suggesting heightened tensions along the Iran-Iraq border.

Iran has warned that it could target Israel’s Dimona nuclear facility if the United States and Israel attempt to change the Iranian government. The warning was issued by an Iranian military official, according to the country’s semi-official ISNA news agency, and reported by Al Jazeera. The statement specifically mentioned the Dimona site in southern Israel as a potential target.

The Dimona facility, located in Israel’s Negev desert, is widely regarded as the center of the country’s nuclear program. For many years, it has been considered a key site for Israel’s nuclear research and capabilities. The Iranian warning highlights ongoing tensions between Tehran and both Washington and Tel Aviv over regional security and political influence.

The report did not include any immediate response from Israel or the United States, leaving uncertainty about how the warning might affect future diplomatic or military developments.

The United States offered Iran a joint civilian nuclear program before launching a military attack, according to White House spokesperson Caroline Levitt. Speaking to reporters, Levitt said President Donald Trump’s negotiators engaged with Tehran in good faith, but Iran rejected the proposals. The offers reportedly included lifting economic sanctions, supplying nuclear fuel for peaceful use, and establishing a US-funded joint civilian nuclear initiative. In return, Iran would have had to dismantle its uranium enrichment infrastructure permanently.

However, Oman’s foreign minister, who mediated the talks, presented a different account. He claimed Iran had agreed to make significant concessions on its nuclear program and that the US attack occurred while negotiations were still ongoing. Observers expressed concern that the situation could heighten regional tensions.

The conflicting narratives from Washington and Muscat highlight uncertainty over the final stages of the talks and the motivations behind the US strike on Iran.

The United States has claimed that more than 2,000 targets in Iran have been struck as part of its ongoing military campaign. White House spokesperson Caroline Levitt told reporters on Wednesday that hundreds of Iranian ballistic missiles and drones were destroyed, asserting that the US and Israel have now established full air dominance over Iranian airspace. She also said that 20 Iranian naval vessels were destroyed, including a submarine sunk near the Sri Lankan coast.

International analysts cited in the report said the continuing conflict between the United States and Iran has heightened tensions across the Middle East. They warned that the situation could impact global energy prices, trade, and security conditions.

Experts in Bangladesh noted that prolonged instability in the Middle East could affect the safety of Bangladeshi expatriate workers and the flow of remittances. Rising global oil prices could also increase domestic energy costs and put pressure on the national economy.

Spain has rejected a White House claim that it agreed to assist the United States in a military operation against Iran. According to Al Jazeera, the Spanish government dismissed the statement made by White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt, who said President Donald Trump had threatened to halt trade with Madrid before Spain allegedly agreed to cooperate.

Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares refuted the claim, stating that Spain’s position on the Middle East conflict and any attack on Iran remains unchanged. In an interview with Cadena SER radio, he reiterated that Spain would not allow U.S. bases in southern Spain to be used for any military action outside the framework of the United Nations Charter.

The Spanish government’s statement directly contradicts the White House’s assertion, creating a clear diplomatic rift between the two allies. Observers suggest that this disagreement could further strain U.S.–Spain relations in the near term.

The White House announced that Spain has agreed to cooperate with the United States in its military operation against Iran in the Middle East. The decision reportedly came after President Donald Trump threatened to halt all trade with Madrid. White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt said Spain had clearly understood the president’s message and confirmed that coordination between US forces and Spanish authorities is now underway.

Earlier, President Trump had declared that he would end all trade with Spain. Just a day before that, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares stated that his country would not allow the United States to use jointly operated bases in southern Spain for any attack outside the UN Charter. The Spanish government has not yet issued an official comment on the reported change in position.

The development marks a significant shift in Spain’s stance amid rising tensions over US military actions against Iran, though the extent of Spain’s involvement remains unclear.

Two drones were shot down near Baghdad International Airport in Iraq, according to an Iraqi official quoted by AFP. The incident occurred just hours after another drone attack targeted the same facility. Authorities confirmed that there were no casualties or significant damage from the latest incident.

A separate security source in Baghdad also verified the event. The airport complex includes a military base that houses a U.S. diplomatic facility and previously hosted troops from the U.S.-led coalition. The recurrence of drone attacks near such a sensitive site has drawn attention to the fragile security conditions in the area.

The incidents come amid heightened tensions across the Middle East, raising renewed concerns about regional stability and the safety of diplomatic and military installations in Iraq.