Lebanon’s Minister of Social Affairs, Haneen Saeed, told Al Jazeera that more than 65,000 people have registered at shelters after being displaced by recent Israeli attacks. The ministry is responsible for providing shelter and supplies to those affected. Saeed added that an additional 10,000 to 20,000 people may also have been displaced, many of whom initially stayed on the streets or with friends and relatives but now require assistance. Saeed described the situation as difficult and said that people remain anxious, recalling the memories of the 2024 war with Israel and the daily sounds of drones and explosions. She also stated that the government has declared Hezbollah’s military activities illegal and aims to establish full state authority across all regions. The report highlights the growing humanitarian strain in Lebanon as displacement numbers rise and the government seeks to manage both security and relief efforts amid ongoing tensions.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has accused U.S. President Donald Trump of betraying both diplomacy and the American people who elected him. Araghchi made the remarks following a U.S. attack that he said occurred while constructive discussions on Iran’s nuclear program were underway. In a post on X, Araghchi criticized Trump’s approach to negotiations, saying that treating complex nuclear talks like a land deal and covering reality with lies leads to unrealistic expectations. He added that such actions result in hatred and metaphorically described the situation as bombing the negotiation table. The comments reflect Iran’s frustration over the disruption of diplomatic progress and signal renewed tension between Tehran and Washington following the attack.

A missile struck Saudi Aramco’s largest oil refinery at Ras Tanura on Wednesday, according to reports. It remains unclear which part of the complex was damaged. The refinery had been temporarily shut down on Monday following a drone attack. Monday’s incident had led to accusations against Iran, but Tehran denied involvement, stating that it only targets facilities linked to U.S. and Israeli interests. Iranian officials claimed that Israel carried out a “disguised attack” on the Aramco site instead. The renewed strike adds to regional tensions surrounding energy infrastructure in the Gulf, though the extent of the latest damage and potential impact on operations were not immediately known.

Iran has claimed responsibility for shooting down another US F-15 fighter jet. According to a report by Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency on Wednesday, the country’s air defense unit targeted and destroyed the aircraft. This follows an earlier announcement on Monday by Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, which stated that three US fighter jets had been downed using domestically developed air defense systems. Images and reports related to the downed US aircraft and pilot ejections have since circulated across social media and various news outlets. On Monday morning, Iran’s armed forces had also shot down an F-15 jet in the airspace near the Iran-Kuwait border, an incident confirmed by Kuwait’s Ministry of Defense. The latest claim adds to a series of escalating military incidents between Iran and the United States, though independent verification of the reported shootdowns was not mentioned in the source.

Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said Madrid was surprised by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s support for U.S. pressure on Spain over the Iran issue. In an interview with state broadcaster TVE, Albares remarked that he could not imagine former German leaders Angela Merkel or Olaf Scholz making such comments. During a visit to the White House on Tuesday, Merz stated that Madrid should be “satisfied” after agreeing to NATO’s higher defense spending target of 3.5 percent of GDP, following Trump’s threat to reduce trade with Spain. The U.S. president issued the threat after Spain refused to allow Washington to use its bases for an attack on Iran. The exchange highlights growing diplomatic tension between Spain, Germany, and the United States over defense commitments and Iran-related policy coordination within NATO.

Bangladesh has sought assistance from the United States to address its ongoing energy crisis, according to Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku. He made the statement on Wednesday afternoon after a meeting at the Secretariat in Dhaka with Paul Kapur, the US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, who is currently visiting Bangladesh. The minister said that Paul Kapur would discuss the matter with senior US officials before conveying Washington’s decision to Bangladesh. He added that the government plans to manage the situation using existing fuel reserves until normal supply resumes. Emphasizing conservation, he urged citizens to use available resources efficiently and noted that the ministry would soon issue a detailed directive to guide the public during the crisis. The meeting reflects Bangladesh’s efforts to secure international cooperation amid supply constraints, with the government focusing on prudent resource management until external support or supply stabilization occurs.

A United Nations expert committee has expressed deep concern over the deaths of children in a bombing at a girls’ school in southern Iran. The attack took place on Saturday at Shajareh Tayyebeh School in Minab, during the first day of US and Israeli strikes. According to UN experts, at least 160 children were killed in the incident. In a statement, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child said it was alarmed by reports of attacks on civilian infrastructure, including schools and hospitals, which have injured and traumatized children and claimed many young lives. The committee, composed of 18 independent experts, monitors the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which protects children’s right to education and safety from violence. Earlier, Iran’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Ali Bahreini, raised the issue in a letter to UN human rights chief Volker Türk on March 1, describing the attack as “unjustified” and “criminal.”

A Dhaka court has issued an order prohibiting Mohammad Abu Noman, business partner of former finance minister A H M Mustafa Kamal and his daughter Nafisa Kamal, from leaving Bangladesh. The order was given on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, by Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Sabbir Foyez. Court bench assistant Md Riaz Hossain confirmed the decision following a petition from Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Director Abul Hasnat seeking a travel ban. According to the ACC petition, Kamal, his wife Kashmiri Kamal, and their daughters Kashfi Kamal and Nafisa Kamal allegedly earned money through irregularities including labor export syndicates to Malaysia and share manipulation, and laundered the funds abroad. The ACC is investigating allegations that Noman, a permanent resident of Canada and Dubai, laundered money and owned several medical checkup centers that may be subject to closure and state confiscation. Investigators reported that Noman frequently travels abroad and may hold multiple citizenships. The ACC argued that he might flee the country, potentially obstructing the ongoing investigation, prompting the court to impose the travel restriction.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez sharply criticized U.S. President Donald Trump after Trump threatened to halt trade with Madrid over Spain’s stance on the Middle East conflict. In a televised address to the nation, Sánchez said that humanity’s greatest disasters begin this way and warned that one cannot play 'Russian roulette' with the fate of millions of people. The tension between the two NATO allies has escalated following Spain’s opposition to U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, which Sánchez described as reckless and illegal. He also blocked the use of Spanish naval and air bases for U.S. operations targeting Tehran. The dispute underscores growing divisions among Western allies over the handling of the Middle East crisis. According to Reuters, the confrontation adds strain to transatlantic relations as both nations navigate their differing approaches to regional security and diplomacy.

China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning announced that more than 470 Chinese nationals have been safely evacuated from Iran following the start of attacks by the United States and Israel. The evacuation was carried out to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens amid escalating regional tensions. Mao Ning emphasized the need to maintain security and stability in the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters, describing their importance as vital to global trade. The statement reflects China’s concern over the potential impact of regional instability on international shipping and commerce. The report also mentioned related developments in the region, including the indefinite postponement of a memorial event for Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei, displacement of over 65,000 people in Lebanon due to Israeli attacks, and a missile strike on Saudi Arabia’s largest oil refinery.

Israeli police have arrested four individuals in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron on allegations of supporting Iran during the ongoing war. According to police statements, the detainees include three men and one woman accused of praising Iran, expressing sympathy, encouraging violent acts, and maintaining contact with or supporting an enemy organization. Among those arrested is a legal adviser to the Palestinian Authority, who allegedly posted messages on social media praising Iran’s late leader Khamenei. The arrests were announced on March 4, 2026, as part of Israel’s broader security operations in the region. The report also noted related developments in the region, including the indefinite postponement of a memorial event for Khamenei and the displacement of over 65,000 people in Lebanon due to Israeli attacks, indicating heightened regional tensions.

The Ministry of Home Affairs of Bangladesh has issued an official order transferring ten police officers holding the rank of Superintendent of Police. The notification, signed by Deputy Secretary Tawsif Ahmed from the Police-1 branch, was released on Wednesday. The reshuffle affects key districts including Bogura, Sylhet, Barishal, Jamalpur, Mymensingh, and Khagrachhari, where new superintendents have been appointed. According to the order, Bogura Superintendent Md. Shahadat Hossain has been reassigned to the Armed Police Battalion (APBn), while Khagrachhari Superintendent Mirza Sayem Mahmud will now serve as Bogura Superintendent. Dhaka Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Md. Mostak Sarkar has been appointed as Khagrachhari Superintendent. Mymensingh Superintendent Md. Mizanur Rahman has been transferred to the Police Training Center in Noakhali, and DMP Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Kamrul Hasan will take over as Mymensingh Superintendent. Additionally, Sylhet Superintendent Kazi Akhtar Ul Alam has been moved to the APBn, and Jamalpur Superintendent Chowdhury Md. Jaber Sadeq will now serve in Sylhet. DMP Deputy Commissioner Mosammat Farhana Yasmin has been appointed as Jamalpur Superintendent, while Barishal Superintendent Farzana Islam has been transferred to the River Police, with A.Z.M. Mostafizur Rahman from Police Headquarters taking her place in Barishal.

The Israeli military has announced that it has launched a major new airstrike in Tehran, the capital of Iran. According to a statement from the Israeli army, the operation specifically targets Iran’s ruling leadership. The statement added that further details would be provided later. The announcement marks a significant escalation in tensions between the two countries. An AFP correspondent reported that an explosion occurred in the northeastern part of Tehran around the time of the Israeli claim. No additional information about casualties, damage, or the scale of the attack was immediately available from the report. The situation remains developing, with both the extent of the strike and Iran’s potential response yet to be confirmed.

US President Donald Trump has criticized British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for refusing to assist Israel in conducting airstrikes on Iran. Trump said the relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom is no longer what it used to be. His remarks came after the UK declined to allow its bases to be used for the operation. Earlier, Starmer had sharply criticized Trump’s actions in Iran, stating that the United Kingdom does not believe in changing a country’s regime through aerial attacks. He defended his decision not to permit the use of British bases for such strikes. However, Starmer clarified that the UK would allow its bases to be used to protect allied forces and its own troops in the Gulf and Middle East amid the Iran-Israel conflict. In an interview with The Sun, Trump expressed disappointment, saying he never expected such a stance from the UK. He added that the world has changed and that the bilateral relationship now feels different and diminished.

Prime Minister Tareq Rahman has directed authorities to ensure exemplary punishment for those responsible for the killing of seven-year-old Jannatul Naima Ira in Sitakunda, Chattogram. The directive was conveyed by State Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Barrister Mir Helal after meeting Ira’s family on Wednesday afternoon. He said the Prime Minister was deeply saddened by the incident and assured that all necessary steps would be taken to bring the perpetrators to justice. Mir Helal emphasized that such a tragic event has shaken the nation and that measures will be taken to prevent similar brutality in the future. He also stressed the importance of ensuring a safe environment for children so they can grow and play without fear. The government, he added, stands by the bereaved family. Ira was found with her throat slit in Sitakunda’s Eco Park area on Monday and later died in hospital. Police have arrested a suspect named Babu Sheikh and said multiple teams are investigating the case seriously.