Israeli attacks near Beirut and Tripoli in Lebanon have killed five people, including a senior Hamas official, according to the Lebanese health ministry. The ministry reported that three people died in a strike near the road to Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport. Separately, a Hamas officer was killed in another Israeli attack.

Lebanon’s state news agency said the Hamas official died when an Israeli drone targeted his home in the Beddaoui area near Tripoli. The report identified the victims as Wasim Atallah al-Ali and his wife, describing al-Ali as a senior Hamas figure. The strikes occurred early Thursday morning, according to the report.

The incidents mark another escalation of Israeli operations in Lebanon, with attacks extending from the capital’s outskirts to northern refugee camps. The Lebanese health ministry and state media have confirmed the casualties, but no further details on the broader military or political context were provided.

US-Bangla Airlines has repatriated 27 flight crew members of Biman Bangladesh Airlines who had been stranded in Dubai since February 28 due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The crew had been stuck in the United Arab Emirates for five days following the outbreak of hostilities and were brought back to Bangladesh under special arrangements.

The airline stated that it undertook the operation as part of its corporate responsibility, securing permission from Dubai Airport authorities to operate two special flights for stranded Bangladeshis. The first flight landed safely at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on March 5 with 378 passengers, including the Biman crew. The second flight is scheduled to arrive on March 6 morning. Both flights are being operated using Airbus A330-300 aircraft with 436 seats.

The return of the crew has eased the anxiety of their families, who had been deeply concerned during the uncertain period.

Qatar Airways announced that it will operate special flights on Thursday from several Middle Eastern cities to major destinations across Europe. According to the airline, flights from Muscat, Oman will depart for London Heathrow, Berlin, Copenhagen, Madrid, Rome, and Amsterdam. Another flight will leave Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for Frankfurt.

The airline stated in a post on X that its main operations from Doha remain temporarily suspended due to the closure of Qatari airspace. Passengers have been advised not to go to airports until they receive official notifications from Qatar Airways regarding these special flights.

The announcement indicates a temporary adjustment in the airline’s operations as it seeks to maintain limited connectivity between the Middle East and Europe amid the ongoing airspace restrictions.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the ongoing war with Iran could last up to eight weeks. Speaking at a press conference held at the Pentagon on Wednesday, he said the United States possesses sufficient military equipment to defeat Iran. Hegseth noted that the duration of the conflict could vary, possibly lasting four, six, or even three weeks depending on developments.

He emphasized that the US military has already determined the pace of its operations and is proceeding according to plan. According to Hegseth, the enemy is currently in an unbalanced position, and the US intends to maintain that state. The remarks came as part of a broader briefing on the progress of the conflict and the readiness of US forces.

The statement reflects Washington’s confidence in its military capabilities while acknowledging uncertainty about the exact duration of the conflict.

Germany and Belgium have declined to participate in the ongoing joint military offensive by the United States and Israel against Iran. Both countries expressed concern over escalating tensions and called for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told lawmakers in Berlin on Wednesday that Germany would not take part in the conflict, emphasizing that the country is not a party to the war and will work to prevent further violence.

Pistorius warned that launching military operations without a reliable post-war plan risks prolonging instability, noting that history shows wars are easier to start than to end. He also acknowledged that the US-Israel assault targets a government seeking Israel’s destruction. In Brussels, Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken delivered a similar message to parliament, confirming that Belgium would not join the current campaign.

The statements from Berlin and Brussels highlight divisions among Western allies over the military approach toward Iran and underscore calls for restraint and diplomatic engagement.

Israeli media reported that the country's military has dropped more than 5,000 bombs on Iran since the start of the conflict. The announcement came from Tel Aviv five days after the war began, with the army indicating plans to continue operations in Iran for at least another one or two weeks. Israel also confirmed launching a new round of attacks against Tehran-backed Hezbollah forces in Lebanon.

According to the reports, thousands of Iranian targets have been struck, and an Israeli Air Force official claimed that thousands of Iranian soldiers were killed. The Israel Times stated that the military briefing outlined plans to hit thousands more targets within Iran’s regime structure. AFP correspondents in Paris reported new explosions in northeastern Tehran.

The Israeli military said it attacked Tehran’s security command center, several other sites, and a missile facility in Isfahan, and claimed to have shot down an Iranian fighter jet over Tehran’s airspace.

China has expressed strong condemnation of the joint Israel–United States attack on Iran but is prioritizing its own strategic and energy interests over direct military support for Tehran. Analysts cited in the report say Beijing is unlikely to risk confrontation with Washington despite disruptions to oil imports. The conflict has raised fears of a global energy crisis, especially as shipping through the vital Strait of Hormuz faces interruptions.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed full control of the waterway and continued missile and drone strikes across the Persian Gulf. China, heavily dependent on imported oil, has built large strategic reserves estimated at 1.2 billion barrels, enough to cover about 115 days of seaborne imports. Experts believe this stockpile will help China weather short-term supply shocks while focusing on upcoming diplomatic engagements, including a planned summit between Presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump on March 31.

Analysts add that Beijing views Iran as a strategic partner rather than a military ally and remains cautious about any action that could escalate tensions with the United States. The situation may benefit Russia as an alternative oil supplier if Middle Eastern flows are disrupted.

Iran carried out a series of missile attacks targeting Israel early Thursday morning, prompting thousands of Israelis to take shelter in bomb shelters. According to Israel’s emergency services cited by AFP, there were no immediate reports of casualties. Explosions were heard in Jerusalem, and within two hours, three separate alerts were issued. In some areas, the military advised residents to leave shelters after the warnings were lifted.

The attacks come as Iran announced plans to intensify strikes against Israeli and U.S. installations across the Middle East. The escalation follows ongoing hostilities in the region, including recent Israeli strikes in Lebanon that killed five people, among them a Hamas leader. The situation has heightened fears of a broader regional conflict.

No immediate information was available on the scale of damage or Israel’s potential response to the Iranian missile attacks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has offered assistance to Middle Eastern allies to help counter possible attacks from Iran. He announced that Ukraine is preparing a plan to deploy experts in the Gulf region to help partner nations defend against Iranian drones and missiles. Zelensky said he has spoken with leaders of the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan, and Bahrain regarding the initiative.

According to the Ukrainian president, he has instructed officials to design a plan that supports allied countries without weakening Ukraine’s own defense capabilities. In a post on X, Zelensky stated that Ukraine can contribute to saving lives and stabilizing the situation. He emphasized that Ukrainian military forces have the necessary capacity, and teams are already coordinating the deployment of specialists.

Zelensky added that Ukraine is ready to help protect civilians, restore safe maritime navigation, and maintain stability in the region, underscoring Kyiv’s willingness to extend its defense expertise beyond its borders.

Israeli attacks in Lebanon continued for a fourth consecutive day on Thursday, with ground forces entering several border towns and conducting airstrikes targeting Iran-backed Hezbollah positions. According to AFP footage from Beirut, smoke was seen rising from Hezbollah’s stronghold in southern Beirut after early morning strikes. Before the assault, the Israeli military had warned residents to evacuate, citing planned operations against Hezbollah-linked targets. Sirens were repeatedly sounded in northern Israel, urging civilians to seek shelter, though no immediate casualties or damage were reported.

The escalation follows the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint U.S.-Israeli strikes late last week. In retaliation, Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel on Monday, drawing Lebanon deeper into the regional conflict. Hezbollah’s deputy leader Naim Qassem vowed in a Wednesday speech to intensify operations, claiming at least 15 attacks across Israel, including in Tel Aviv.

Lebanese government figures indicate at least 72 people have been killed and 437 injured since Monday, with around 83,000 displaced from their homes.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that nearly 100,000 people left Tehran within the first two days following recent attacks. The agency said that escalating violence across the Middle East and other regions has displaced large numbers of people.

According to the report, Lebanon has seen around 58,000 people taking shelter in other people’s homes, on streets, or in open spaces. Meanwhile, Syrian authorities stated that on March 2, approximately 10,000 Syrians and about 1,000 Lebanese entered Syria, which is roughly three times the country’s average daily entry rate.

The UNHCR findings highlight a rapid surge in displacement linked to the latest wave of violence, reflecting the growing humanitarian pressure in the region.

Iran’s top security official Ali Larijani has claimed that more than 500 US soldiers have been killed since a war began on Saturday. He made the statement on Wednesday in a post on social media platform X. According to TRT World, the Pentagon has reported only six US military deaths since the conflict started, including four in Kuwait.

Larijani accused former US President Donald Trump of dragging the American people into what he called an unjust war with Iran, allegedly influenced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He questioned whether the United States now prioritizes its own interests or those of Israel after the reported casualties. Larijani also warned that the martyrdom of Imam Khamenei would come at a high cost.

The war reportedly began with a joint US-Israeli attack on Iran, resulting in the deaths of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several senior military commanders. Iranian authorities said around 1,050 Iranians have been killed in four days, including 165 schoolchildren in Minab. Larijani stated that Iran is prepared for a prolonged conflict.

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.