Iran has claimed to have shot down 13 advanced US and Israeli drones in a series of surprise attacks across multiple regions. According to a statement from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, the drones were intercepted between February 27 and March 7 using missile and artillery defense systems. The statement specified that MQ-9, Hermes, and Orbiter models were among the aircraft destroyed in Iran’s northwest, west, south, and in areas including Isfahan, Kerman, and Tehran.

The announcement came as the conflict between Iran and the US-Israel alliance entered its second week. During the same period, explosions were reported in West Jerusalem, where air raid sirens were heard. AFP journalists confirmed hearing at least three blasts, while Israeli authorities issued six air raid alerts across various regions within 24 hours.

The developments mark a continued escalation in hostilities, with both sides reporting attacks and counterattacks across multiple fronts.

Hamidreza Gholamzadeh, director of Iran’s think tank Diplo House, dismissed former U.S. President Donald Trump’s assertion that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s recent statement amounted to a surrender. Gholamzadeh said Trump’s claim was completely false and misrepresented the president’s message.

According to Gholamzadeh, Pezeshkian’s video message stated that Iran would not target neighboring countries unless attacked first. He clarified that Iran’s actions are directed not at its neighbors but at U.S. or Israeli interests and facilities in the region. Gholamzadeh added that Iran has urged neighboring states not to allow their territories or airspace to be used by the United States or Israel for attacks against Iran.

He described this request as both normal and lawful, emphasizing that it reflects Iran’s defensive stance rather than any sign of capitulation.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has declared that Iran will never surrender, responding to U.S. President Donald Trump’s call for the country’s unconditional surrender. The statement was reported on Saturday by Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera.

According to Iranian officials, the country will resist any military pressure, warning that continued attacks could further expand the conflict. Trump had earlier posted on social media urging Iran to surrender unconditionally and stated that he wanted to be involved in the selection of Iran’s next leader. He also said that any new leader chosen without U.S. consultation would not be accepted.

The exchange underscores escalating tensions between the two nations, with Iranian authorities emphasizing defiance in the face of external pressure.

Iran has launched its 25th round of attacks, employing hypersonic missiles for the first time in this phase, according to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The announcement, reported by Iranian state media citing an IRGC statement, said the strikes targeted US military bases and support centers using both missiles and drones.

The report specified that the IRGC used the hypersonic Fattah missile and the Emad ballistic missile in the operation. Hypersonic missiles are capable of traveling at speeds more than five times the speed of sound, reaching approximately 6,174 kilometers per hour or 3,836 miles per hour.

The information was reported by Al Jazeera, which cited Iranian state media as its source.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has reported that an oil tanker named ‘Prima’ was struck by a drone while passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The announcement was made through a statement shared on Telegram, where the IRGC reiterated that it had repeatedly warned against vessel movement through the strait, declaring the area off-limits.

According to the IRGC, ships belonging to countries maintaining friendly relations with what it called ‘enemy nations’ are also being barred from crossing the strait. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical energy transport routes, carrying nearly one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies. Ongoing conflict in the Middle East has already brought maritime traffic in the area to a near standstill.

Earlier in the week, Iran had warned that any ship attempting to pass through the region could be set on fire. In response, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the U.S. Navy could escort vessels through the strait if necessary.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) headquarters, Khatam al-Anbiya, stated that the country respects the national interests and sovereignty of its neighboring states. However, it warned that if attacks on Iran continue, U.S. and Israeli military bases and interests across the region would become targets. The statement was reported by Al Jazeera.

The IRGC’s declaration followed remarks by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who said the country’s interim leadership council had decided that no attacks would be launched on neighboring states unless they initiated aggression against Iran. The IRGC reiterated through state media that Iran’s armed forces have not taken any aggressive action against neighboring countries so far.

The statement added a clear warning that continued hostile acts would prompt Iran’s armed forces to deliver powerful and destructive strikes against U.S. and Israeli military assets on land, sea, and air throughout the region.

The head of Iran’s Red Crescent Society, Pirhossein Kolivand, has claimed that 65 schools and 13 centers affiliated with the organization were targeted in attacks allegedly carried out by Israel and the United States. According to a report by BBC News Farsi cited in the statement, the strikes affected multiple regions across Iran.

Kolivand stated that a total of 6,668 civilian units were hit, including 5,535 residential and 1,041 commercial buildings. He added that several Red Crescent rescue vehicles were also damaged during the incidents. The report did not specify the exact timing or locations of the attacks.

As of the report’s release, there had been no immediate response from either Israel or the United States regarding the allegations.

The Iranian Red Crescent has reported that at least 6,668 civilian sites across Iran were targeted in joint airstrikes carried out by the United States and Israel. According to figures cited from Fars News Agency and reported by Al Jazeera, the targeted locations included 5,535 residential buildings, 1,041 commercial facilities, 14 medical centers, 65 schools, and 13 centers belonging to the Iranian Red Crescent Society.

The report also stated that several rescue and relief vehicles were damaged during the attacks, and some Red Crescent workers were injured while conducting emergency operations. The strikes have caused widespread disruption to civilian infrastructure and humanitarian activities.

No further details were provided about the timing or specific areas affected by the attacks, and there was no mention of official responses from the governments involved.

Experts analyzing evidence have suggested that U.S. forces were likely responsible for a deadly strike on a school in Iran, according to a CNN report. The White House has not dismissed this possibility. The attack on February 28 targeted a primary school in Minab, southern Iran, killing 165 children. Satellite imagery, local videos, statements from U.S. officials, and assessments by weapons experts indicated that the strike coincided with a U.S. attack on an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps naval base in the same area.

An Israeli Defense Forces spokesperson stated that he was unaware of any Israeli operation in that region. Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Ali Bahraini, initially reported 150 student deaths, later revised to 165. A large funeral and mourning ceremony was held in Iran for the victims.

The report also noted that under international humanitarian law, deliberate attacks on schools, hospitals, or other civilian facilities constitute war crimes.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) carried out a drone strike on an oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday morning, according to Tasnim news agency. The attack reportedly targeted the vessel after it ignored a prior warning from the IRGC prohibiting navigation through the area. The tanker, named Prima, was sailing under the Maltese flag and was carrying oil and chemicals through the strategic waterway.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical maritime route for global energy shipments, and the reported strike underscores ongoing tensions in the region. The incident was first reported by Tasnim, with vessel tracking data from Marine Traffic confirming the tanker’s identity and route.

The report did not mention any casualties, damage details, or official responses from Iran or Malta following the attack.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced that the country’s interim leadership council has decided not to carry out further attacks on neighboring countries unless Iran is attacked from U.S. bases located there. He stated that Iran would only retaliate if an assault on its territory originates from a neighboring state. Pezeshkian expressed regret that Iran had to target Arab neighbors in recent operations.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghei said on state television that Iran’s actions against neighboring countries were driven by the presence of U.S. military bases on their soil, emphasizing that Iran holds no hostility toward its neighbors. He confirmed that the decision was approved in a meeting of the interim leadership council.

The announcement follows a joint U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran on February 28 that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior officials in Tehran. In response, Iran launched counterstrikes on Israel and U.S. bases across the Middle East, led by the Revolutionary Guard Corps.

UNICEF has reported that more than 190 children have been killed within a week of escalating military conflict across the Middle East following attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel. In a statement shared on social media, the organization warned that the growing violence is having a devastating impact on children, emphasizing that while children do not start wars, they pay the highest price.

According to UNICEF’s statement, 181 children were killed in Iran, seven in Lebanon, three in Israel, and one in Kuwait since the weekend surge in hostilities. The agency called for urgent protection of children across the region as fighting intensifies.

The statement underscores the worsening humanitarian toll of the conflict and highlights the need for immediate measures to safeguard children amid the expanding regional violence.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that it carried out large-scale coordinated attacks on US installations across the Middle East using a new generation of missiles and drones. According to the IRNA news agency, one of the main targets was the Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates.

The IRGC stated that the assault destroyed an advanced warning radar system, a hangar used for MQ-9 drone maintenance, and facilities linked to US intelligence aircraft. It also claimed responsibility for a heavy missile strike on Kuwait’s Ali Al Salem Air Base, saying that cruise and ballistic missiles damaged the base’s radar system, fuel storage facilities, and two runways used by the US Air Force.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, did not mention any immediate response from the United States or regional governments, leaving the broader impact of the attacks unclear.

Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to discuss ongoing regional tensions in the Middle East, according to a Kremlin statement. During the call, Putin expressed condolences over the deaths of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, his family members, and senior military officials in a joint U.S.-Israel attack.

The Kremlin said Putin emphasized the urgent need to end hostilities and return to political and diplomatic solutions, reaffirming Russia’s stance against the use of force. It also noted that Putin has been maintaining regular contact with leaders of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries as tensions in the region escalate.

According to the statement, Pezeshkian thanked Moscow for its support during the crisis and expressed gratitude for Russia’s solidarity with the Iranian people defending their sovereignty and independence. He also briefed Putin on the latest developments, and both sides agreed to continue communication through various channels.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Basent has warned that the largest airstrike ever on Iran will take place tonight. In an interview with Fox News, he said that Iran’s missile launch centers and missile production factories would be the main targets, adding that the attacks aim to render these facilities significantly inoperative. Basent also accused Tehran of attempting to create economic chaos through its control over the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, a major attack has already struck Mehrabad, one of Iran’s busiest airports. Social media videos showed burning aircraft and thick plumes of smoke rising from the site. Satellite images taken on Friday reportedly showed several aircraft stationed at the airport before the strike.

The developments come as tensions rise across the Middle East, with reports suggesting that US and Israeli forces have identified thousands of civilian sites in Iran as potential targets.