Several Israeli soldiers were injured during a military operation along the Lebanon border, according to Israeli Army Radio as reported by Al Jazeera. Among the injured is the son of Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. The report did not provide details on how the soldiers were wounded or their current medical condition.

The incident occurred amid heightened tensions along the Lebanon-Israel frontier, where Israeli forces have recently increased military activity. The escalation follows a period of growing cross-border friction, prompting Israel to intensify its operations in the area.

Further information about the circumstances of the injuries or the broader military objectives has not yet been released by Israeli authorities.

The United States carried out its first B-2 bomber strike on Iran since the start of the war, according to reports on Friday. The operation targeted underground ballistic missile launchers in Tehran and other Iranian cities. The US and Israel have been conducting extensive attacks across Iran for seven consecutive days, with Israel announcing the beginning of a second phase of its assault.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the intensity of the bombing campaign is set to increase dramatically. Admiral Brad Cooper, head of the US Central Command, confirmed that several B-2 stealth bombers dropped dozens of 2,000-pound penetrator bombs designed to destroy underground facilities.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, indicates a significant escalation in the conflict, with both US and Israeli forces intensifying their operations against Iranian military infrastructure.

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced that the country’s navy rescued 208 crew members from the Iranian ship IRIS Bushehr, which was anchored within Sri Lanka’s exclusive economic zone near Colombo port. The ship had requested permission to enter Sri Lankan waters, and following discussions between the Iranian embassy and the Sri Lankan government, the ship’s captain decided to proceed with the rescue. The rescued personnel include 53 officers, 84 cadets, 48 senior sailors, and 23 sailors, who are being brought to Colombo port before being transferred to the Trincomalee area.

The rescue follows an earlier incident on March 4, when another Iranian vessel, IRIS Dena, was reportedly attacked near Sri Lanka’s coast. The United States claimed responsibility for sinking that ship with a submarine torpedo. Sri Lanka’s navy rescued 32 people from the Dena and admitted them to Galle National Hospital for treatment. Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath later confirmed that 84 bodies had been recovered from the incident, with the remains also taken to the same hospital.

The coordinated rescue operations highlight Sri Lanka’s ongoing maritime response efforts following consecutive Iranian naval incidents near its waters.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that several countries have initiated mediation efforts, though he did not specify which nations are involved. In a social media post, he emphasized Iran’s commitment to lasting peace in the region while asserting that the country would not compromise on its dignity and sovereignty. Pezeshkian added that mediation should be directed toward those who have underestimated the Iranian people and fueled the ongoing conflict.

His remarks come at a time when Iran has been carrying out retaliatory strikes targeting U.S. bases, facilities, and energy infrastructure in neighboring Arab countries. These missile attacks have drawn angry reactions from nearby states, according to the report.

The statement highlights Iran’s dual stance of supporting regional peace while maintaining a firm defense posture amid escalating tensions.

Health and Family Welfare Ministry’s Health Services Division Secretary Mohammad Kamruzzaman Chowdhury announced that broker networks will be eradicated from hospital complexes to ensure uninterrupted medical services for the public. He made the statement on Friday during a visit to the 50-bed Begumganj Health Complex in Noakhali, emphasizing that government hospitals are the last resort for many citizens and that no broker activity will be tolerated.

The secretary said strict monitoring has already been increased around hospitals, and authorities have been instructed to take necessary actions against fraudulent brokers who mislead patients into private clinics or diagnostic centers. Coordinated efforts among the administration, police, and hospital authorities are underway to identify and remove such brokers. Measures include tightening security at hospital entrances, installing CCTV cameras, setting up information centers, and raising awareness so patients seek services directly from official counters.

He further warned that any hospital staff found involved with brokers will face strict administrative action, including possible dismissal. The ministry is implementing various steps to ensure transparency, accountability, and zero tolerance for corruption in the health sector, following directives from the Prime Minister.

State Minister for Energy Anindya Islam Amit announced that Bangladesh will introduce a rationing system for fuel sales starting Sunday to prevent long-term energy shortages. He said written instructions will be sent to petrol pumps, following his inspection of a station in Paribagh on Friday. The minister emphasized that the government has sufficient fuel reserves and urged the public not to panic.

Amit explained that public concern over fuel availability is understandable given the ongoing war situation, but assured that there is no reason for alarm. He noted that fuel supply had been increased several times in recent days and that consumers were purchasing more than usual. The government, he said, is working to minimize public hardship.

The minister added that global fuel prices have risen sharply, creating pressure on the domestic market. While the government will try to avoid price hikes, he said any unavoidable adjustments will be shared transparently with citizens, seeking their understanding and support.

Iran has ended its long-held policy of 'strategic patience' following coordinated US and Israeli strikes on February 28, 2026. The attacks, which also targeted Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, and Syria, prompted Tehran to demonstrate its new doctrine of 'active and unprecedented deterrence' by launching missiles and drones across the Gulf. Within days, Iran struck Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan, Israel, and Cyprus, signaling a major escalation in regional hostilities.

The shift follows years of managed restraint by Iran, which had relied on a network of allies including Hezbollah, the Houthis, Hamas, and the Popular Mobilisation Forces to deter aggression. However, Israeli operations against Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, the fall of Syria’s al-Assad government, and the 12-day-war in 2025 eroded Iran’s deterrence framework. The destruction of Iran’s consulate in Damascus in 2024 marked the first major breach of its restraint policy.

The latest escalation has drawn in Gulf states such as Qatar and the UAE, exposing the fragility of their balancing strategies. Regional unrest is spreading, with protests in Bahrain and Iraq, and reports of US encouragement for Kurdish offensives against Iran, suggesting a widening and destabilizing conflict across the Middle East.

The Kremlin said on Friday that the ongoing United States-Israeli war on Iran has led to a significant rise in global demand for Russian oil and gas. The announcement came a day after the US Treasury granted India a 30-day waiver to purchase Russian oil stranded at sea. The conflict, now in its seventh day, has nearly closed the Strait of Hormuz, cutting off access to about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia remains a reliable supplier capable of maintaining all contracted deliveries but declined to disclose potential export volumes to India.

International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol warned that turning back to Russian gas would be economically and politically misguided, emphasizing Europe’s past overreliance on Russian energy. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pledged to present options to address rising energy prices at an upcoming EU summit. Meanwhile, Qatar’s Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi told the Financial Times that Gulf producers may halt exports if the conflict persists, potentially driving oil prices to $150 a barrel and gas to $40 per million British thermal units.

Benchmark US crude rose 4.1 percent to $84.36 per barrel, while Brent crude climbed 1.7 percent to $87, nearing its highest level since April 2024.

Ukraine is bracing for a potential shortage of US-made Patriot air defence missiles as Washington’s Middle Eastern allies use large quantities of the same systems to intercept Iranian attacks. Experts told Al Jazeera that Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to exploit the shortfall, which could occur within weeks, by intensifying missile assaults on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. The Patriots, first deployed in Kyiv in 2023, have been crucial in intercepting Russian ballistic missiles, including the Kinzhal, but their limited supply and high cost have constrained Ukraine’s defences.

Analysts warn that the shortage highlights broader weaknesses in Ukraine’s protection of energy and transport infrastructure. Moscow’s strategy of using drones and decoy missiles to exhaust Ukrainian air defences has already proven effective. European and Israeli reluctance to release additional Patriot stocks further complicates Kyiv’s situation. Ukraine currently operates fewer than a dozen Patriot batteries, far below the 25 it says are needed.

While France and Italy’s SAMP/T systems offer some backup, their effectiveness against Russia’s modified missiles remains untested. Experts caution that Russia may soon launch large-scale raids to deplete Ukraine’s remaining missile reserves.

The United States has granted India a temporary waiver allowing it to increase imports of Russian oil, reversing months of pressure on New Delhi. The license, issued late Thursday, permits transactions for Russian crude and petroleum products loaded before March 5, provided they are delivered to India and purchased by Indian firms. The waiver expires on April 4 at 12:01 a.m. Washington time. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the 30-day measure aims to keep oil flowing into global markets without providing significant financial benefit to Russia.

The decision comes as escalating conflict in the Persian Gulf disrupts energy flows, threatening supplies to major importers. The move offers immediate relief to India, one of the economies most affected by the turmoil, by allowing refiners to secure stranded Russian cargoes and stabilize operations. It also represents a policy shift by the Trump administration, which had previously imposed tariffs and sanctions to curb India’s Russian oil purchases.

Analysts noted that while the waiver is short-term, it could reshape Russian crude pricing and trade flows in the coming weeks as competition for supply intensifies.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has called on diplomats stationed in Dhaka to support Bangladesh’s candidate, Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman, for the presidency of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. The appeal was made on Friday, March 6, during an iftar reception hosted at the state guesthouse Jamuna in honor of the diplomatic community.

During the event, the Prime Minister emphasized his government’s commitment to protecting human rights, ensuring freedom of expression, and fostering a culture of tolerance. He also stated that firm measures would be taken to combat corruption at all levels of government.

The iftar gathering was attended by the Prime Minister’s family members, including his wife Dr. Zubaida Rahman and daughter Barrister Zaima Rahman, who were seated beside him at the event.

The Comilla Education Board has suspended teaching and academic recognition for 13 educational institutions under its jurisdiction due to poor performance in the 2025 Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination. The decision was confirmed through a letter signed by Exam Controller Professor Runa Nasrin on March 5, 2026. Board Chairman Professor Md. Shamsul Islam stated that the institutions failed to meet operational conditions and showed unsatisfactory results, prompting the suspension.

According to the board’s examination committee meeting held on January 7, 2026, institutions with pass rates between zero and five percent were deemed to have unsatisfactory outcomes. The suspended institutions include schools and colleges from Brahmanbaria, Lakshmipur, Comilla, and Chandpur districts. College Inspector Professor Md. Nurunnabi Alam said the suspension is temporary and that institutions may resume academic activities upon fulfilling required conditions.

The board emphasized that repeated poor performance and failure to improve despite prior warnings led to this action. Authorities also indicated that similar measures will be taken against other institutions if their results remain unsatisfactory.

Lionel Messi has come under criticism after meeting United States President Donald Trump and applauding his comments about the ongoing US and Israeli military attacks on Iran. The event, held at the White House in Washington, DC, on Thursday, was organized to honor Messi and his Inter Miami teammates for winning the Major League Soccer title in December. Trump praised Messi’s achievements and welcomed him to the White House, but his remarks began with a boast about the Iran conflict, claiming US and Israeli forces were demolishing the enemy. Messi, standing beside Trump, joined others in applauding the president’s statements.

The applause drew swift backlash on social media, where users accused Messi of being drawn into politics and endorsing Trump’s military rhetoric. Palestinian-American writer Ali Abunimah called the participants “vacuous selfish people,” while Spanish journalist Leyla Hamed described the players’ actions as “bizarre” amid reports of civilian deaths in Iran. Other fans expressed shock at seeing Messi and teammate Luis Suarez present during Trump’s war-related comments.

Trump used the occasion to blend sports celebration with political messaging, while Messi, who did not speak publicly, presented a signed football to the president.

Heavy airstrikes struck Tehran and several Iranian cities on the seventh day of the US-Israel war on Iran, with explosions reported across the capital and other regions. Israel’s military said it had entered a new phase of operations targeting regime infrastructure, while the US confirmed its B-2 bombers dropped dozens of penetrator bombs on buried missile launchers. Al Jazeera correspondents in Tehran described the bombardment as the most intense so far, with strikes hitting military, political, and residential areas, including near Tehran University and Pasteur Street. Iran’s Foreign Ministry reported that an elementary school in Niloufar Square was hit, and UNICEF said at least 181 children were among more than 1,300 people killed.

Attacks were also reported in Shiraz, Qom, Isfahan, and Kermanshah, with the Iranian Red Crescent confirming at least 1,332 deaths since the conflict began. Israel claimed to have destroyed missile launchers and defense systems, while the US military said Iranian targets were being “decimated.” Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian urged mediation directed at Washington and Tel Aviv, asserting Iran’s right to defend its sovereignty. Iran’s military later announced it had attacked a US-owned oil tanker off Kuwait’s coast.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that the bombardment would intensify, signaling a possible escalation in the coming days.

Iran’s armed forces have claimed responsibility for an attack on a US-owned oil tanker near the coast of Kuwait, according to a report by Al Jazeera. The announcement was made on Friday through Iran’s state radio, which cited the country’s wartime military command, Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters, as the source of the information. The report stated that the vessel was hit and caught fire following the strike.

As of now, no detailed information has been released regarding the extent of the damage or any possible casualties resulting from the incident. The report did not include any official confirmation or response from other parties involved.

The incident adds to a series of recent claims by Iran involving attacks on US-linked facilities in the region, though independent verification of these claims remains unavailable.