The United Arab Emirates reported that at least 16 ballistic missiles and 121 drones targeted the country on Saturday, according to Al Jazeera. Authorities said all but one missile were intercepted, with one falling into the sea. At least 119 drones were shot down, while two crashed inside the UAE. Since the start of the conflict, the country has detected a total of 221 ballistic missiles, of which 205 were destroyed, 14 fell into the sea, and two landed inside the UAE. Officials also stated that 1,305 Iranian drones had been detected so far, with 1,229 intercepted and 76 falling within the UAE. Additionally, eight cruise missiles were identified and destroyed. The attacks have resulted in three deaths—citizens of Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan—and 112 people sustained minor injuries. The injured include nationals from the UAE, Egypt, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Iran, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Azerbaijan, Yemen, Uganda, Eritrea, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Comoros, and Turkey. The report highlights the continuing escalation of aerial attacks targeting the UAE amid ongoing regional tensions.

U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran has surrendered to its neighboring countries and issued a strong threat of a severe attack. His remarks came after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that Iran would not attack neighboring territories unless threatened first. Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that Iran would be hit very hard, arguing that Tehran apologized and surrendered to its Middle Eastern neighbors, promising not to attack them again. He asserted that this promise was made only because of pressure from the United States and Israel. Reiterating his aggressive stance, Trump warned that Iran’s complete destruction and certain death were being seriously considered due to its “bad behavior,” adding that new areas and individuals not previously targeted could now be included in future strikes.

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.

India has granted permission for the Iranian warship IRIS Lavan to anchor at Kochi port in Kerala. The decision follows a request from Iran on February 28, citing technical problems aboard the vessel. India approved the request on March 1, allowing the ship to dock, and its 183 crew members are currently stationed in Kochi. According to reports, IRIS Lavan had arrived in India to participate in the International Fleet Review 2026 in Visakhapatnam, similar to the Iranian warship IRIS Dena, which sank on March 4 after a reported torpedo attack from a U.S. submarine in the Indian Ocean. Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated that Iran had contacted India about the Lavan’s technical issues days before the Dena incident near southern Sri Lanka. An Indian government source told The Indian Express that India had also invited the IRIS Dena to take refuge in its waters amid escalating conflict conditions in Iran, but Tehran did not respond to that invitation.

Germany’s Vice-Chancellor Lars Klingbeil has announced that his country will not participate in the ongoing war against Iran led by the United States and Israel. In an interview with German media outlet RND, Klingbeil expressed serious doubts about the international legal legitimacy of the conflict. He stated clearly that it is not Germany’s war and warned that the world is heading toward a situation without rules. Klingbeil emphasized that Germany does not want to live in a world governed solely by the law of the powerful. His remarks directly contradict the position of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who had earlier expressed support for the US and Israeli objectives concerning Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, Tehran’s threats toward Israel, and its backing of terrorism and proxy groups. The divergence between the two leaders highlights internal differences within Germany’s leadership over how to respond to the escalating conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.

A total of 266 flights bound for the Middle East have been canceled from Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in recent days due to airspace closures and heightened security concerns across the region. On Saturday alone, 20 flights were canceled, including those operated by Kuwait Airways, Jazeera Airways, Air Arabia, Gulf Air, Qatar Airways, and Emirates Airlines. The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh confirmed the cancellations in an official statement. The closures followed a regional security crisis that prompted Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, and Jordan to shut their airspace. Biman Bangladesh Airlines has suspended all flights on six Middle Eastern routes until March 8, extending an earlier suspension that began on March 3. Travel agencies have been instructed to inform passengers of the changes. Emirates Airlines has resumed limited operations after partial reopening of regional airspace and expects to fully restore its network in the coming days, depending on airspace availability and operational conditions.

Police in Noakhali’s Begumganj upazila arrested two armed suspects with a foreign-made pistol and two rounds of ammunition. The arrests took place around 1:05 a.m. on Friday night at Kanchihata Sardar Dighi Par Mor in Amanullapur Union. The operation was confirmed on Saturday afternoon by Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration and Finance) Abu Tayeb Md. Arif Hossain. The detainees were identified as Forhad Islam Fahim, 20, and Tajul Islam Suman, 34, both residents of Amanullapur Union’s Ward No. 1. Police said the Begumganj team was on patrol for warrant execution and recovery of illegal arms and drugs when they spotted three suspicious men near a tea stall. Two were caught after a chase, and one escaped. A pistol and two live cartridges were recovered from Fahim’s possession. Begumganj police confirmed that a case under the Arms Act has been filed against the two detainees and their absconding accomplice. The arrested men were sent to court on Saturday afternoon.

A sudden shortage of petrol has been reported across multiple filling stations in Rangpur Division, where customers claim a syndicate is deliberately withholding fuel to create an artificial crisis. Despite government instructions on fuel distribution limits, petrol has become unavailable at most pumps, forcing consumers to buy octane instead. In response, the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) and the district administration launched joint drives, fining and warning pump owners for non-compliance. On Saturday, long queues formed at petrol stations as motorcyclists and car owners struggled to refuel. Several customers accused pump owners of hoarding petrol to manipulate prices, while some station managers argued that supply disruptions were due to depot closures on Friday and Saturday. However, mobile courts found evidence of petrol being withheld despite available stock. The mobile court fined the Shapla Uniq Petrol Pump Tk 10,000 and the City Petrol Pump Tk 20,000 for creating artificial shortages. Officials confirmed that sufficient fuel supply exists and urged the public not to panic or buy excessively. The inspection drives will continue across all pumps in Rangpur.

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.

Israel carried out overnight airstrikes across multiple areas in Lebanon, continuing a campaign that began on Monday. According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the attacks targeted Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley throughout the night. The strikes aimed to weaken Hezbollah’s operational capacity. In a statement posted on Telegram, the IDF said the air raids hit rocket launchers, weapons depots, and military installations belonging to Hezbollah. The military also reported that commanders of Hezbollah’s Radwan Force were specifically targeted, and two Radwan command centers in the Majdal Sel area of southern Lebanon were struck. The Radwan Force is described as Hezbollah’s elite commando unit. The IDF stated that operations against Hezbollah would continue as part of its broader effort to reduce the group’s military strength in Lebanon.

Foreign oil companies have begun withdrawing their employees from Iraq’s oil fields, according to footage obtained by Reuters showing workers crossing the Safwan border into Kuwait. A security guard from the US oil company Halliburton, Mohammad Ta’meh, told Reuters that foreign staff left Iraq due to the deteriorating security situation and will decide their next steps from Kuwait. Another US oil producer, HKN Energy, halted oil production on Friday after reports of attacks by terrorist groups. The withdrawals and production halt come as oil fields across the region have become targets during a week-long conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. The developments highlight the growing instability in Iraq’s energy sector and the potential disruption to regional oil operations as security threats intensify.

Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury announced that the government will assist expatriates whose visas are expiring because of flight cancellations. He said the ministry has launched a hotline to provide support and urged affected expatriates to contact the ministry for help. The minister emphasized the government’s commitment to resolving any problems faced by expatriates. He made these remarks on Saturday morning in Sylhet after attending a Holi festival organized by the Academy for Manipuri Culture and Arts. Responding to questions about Bangladeshis in Middle Eastern war zones, the minister said his ministry, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Civil Aviation are working jointly. He added that the government informs the respective foreign authorities about any casualties and follows due procedures. The ministry and embassies are monitoring the situation regularly, and the Prime Minister is also overseeing developments. The government is providing full cooperation in this regard. Addressing local law and order issues in Sylhet, the minister stated that those responsible for rising crime will not be spared and that the administration has been directed to take strict action.

Bahrain and Iraq have kept their airspace closed, leading to a temporary suspension of flights through Bahrain International Airport. The closure has caused major disruptions to international flight schedules, particularly on routes between Asia and Europe, as airlines are forced to take longer alternative paths. The closures follow escalating tensions in the Middle East after recent retaliatory attacks involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, which have made the region’s skies highly unsafe. Earlier, Kuwait, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates had also announced partial or full airspace closures due to the same security concerns. Hundreds of flights to and through the Middle East have already been canceled. Aviation experts warn that if the conflict continues, global airfares and cargo transport costs could rise sharply. Authorities in the affected countries are closely monitoring the situation, and flights are unlikely to resume until full safety is ensured.

A mobile court in Singra upazila of Natore fined a trader named Md. Rubel for illegally hoarding 10,000 liters of fuel to create an artificial shortage. The operation was conducted on Saturday afternoon in the Ningoin area of Singra municipality, led by Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Executive Magistrate Abdullah Al Rifat. The court imposed a fine of Tk 5,000 on Rubel, owner of Satata Traders, after discovering the fuel stored underground in a water tank. In separate drives at Sherkol and Hatianandah markets, District Executive Magistrate Mahmudul Hasan Dipu fined three other traders Tk 8,000 under the Consumer Rights Protection Act. Local authorities stated that some dishonest traders were attempting to manipulate the market by creating a false fuel crisis. Officials confirmed that similar operations would continue to prevent artificial shortages and protect consumers from unfair pricing practices.

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.