An Israeli airstrike hit an elementary girls’ school in Minab, southern Iran’s Hormozgan province, killing 85 people and injuring 63 others, according to Iranian state media. The attack occurred on Saturday and is part of a broader wave of joint US-Israeli military operations across Iran. Iran’s Tasnim News Agency cited the local judiciary confirming the death toll, while workers continued clearing debris from the site.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the strike, calling it a crime against the Iranian people and vowing that it would not go unanswered. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei urged the United Nations Security Council to take action. Separately, Iran’s Mehr News Agency reported another Israeli strike east of Tehran that killed at least two students. Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Tehran said the attacks challenge US and Israeli claims that their targets are strictly military.

There has been no immediate response from the United States or Israel regarding Iran’s allegations. The report also recalled the June 2025 conflict, when similar attacks caused heavy civilian casualties and widespread infrastructure damage in Iran.

Nine months after a 12-day war ended with a truce, Iran is again under attack from both Israel and the United States. The new assault, launched on Saturday, targets Iranian officials, missile sites, and nuclear facilities, with both governments stating their goal of regime change in Tehran. The strikes come as nuclear negotiations between Iran and the US were showing progress in Geneva, where Omani mediator Badr bin Hamad Albusaidi announced that Iran had agreed to give up its enriched material stockpile and allow full IAEA verification.

Iran, which maintains its nuclear programme is for civilian use, retaliated by striking Israeli targets and US military bases across the Gulf region. The escalation follows years of Israeli opposition to Iran’s nuclear ambitions and the US withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal under President Trump. Netanyahu, backed by Washington, launched the June 13, 2025, attack amid Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza.

US officials have expressed concern about being drawn into a prolonged conflict, while Vice President JD Vance said there is “no chance” of a long-term Middle Eastern war. The situation remains volatile as talks are set to resume in Geneva.

Former Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus has vacated the state guesthouse Jamuna after completing his tenure. He had been residing there since August 8, 2024, when he took charge of the interim government formed in the aftermath of the July uprising. After about 19 months, he left the residence on Saturday afternoon, taking his personal belongings with him.

Public Works Department Chief Engineer Khalekuzzaman Chowdhury confirmed the development, stating that officials of the former chief adviser informed them about his departure. Some staff members and officials of the guesthouse bid farewell to Dr. Yunus around 3:15 p.m. before he left by car.

According to the report, Dr. Yunus will now reside at his own home in Gulshan. No further details about his next plans or official engagements were mentioned in the source.

Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by five runs in a Super Eight match held in Pallekele on March 1, 2026. Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman built a strong 176-run opening partnership, guiding Pakistan to 212 for eight in 20 overs. Farhan scored 100 runs while Fakhar added 84. For Sri Lanka, Dilshan Madushanka took three wickets for 33 runs and Dasun Shanaka claimed two for 42. In reply, Sri Lanka reached 207 for six, with Shanaka remaining unbeaten on 76 and Pavan Rathnayake contributing 56.

Despite the victory, Pakistan failed to qualify for the semi-finals due to net run rate calculations. To advance, they needed to restrict Sri Lanka to under 147 runs, but the bowlers could not achieve that margin. Abrar Ahmed took three wickets for 23 runs for Pakistan. The result marked Pakistan’s exit from the tournament at the Super Eight stage.

Sahibzada Farhan was named player of the match for his century, his second of the tournament.

The government has instructed all ministries and divisions to formulate short, medium, and long-term action plans. The Cabinet Division recently sent letters to 51 ministries, following the directives of the Prime Minister. The letters were issued on February 23, 2026, and emphasized the need for each ministry to prepare specific plans within their respective sectors.

According to the letter, the directive follows a meeting held on February 18, 2026, chaired by the Prime Minister, where secretaries from various ministries and divisions participated. During the meeting, the Prime Minister stated that the election manifesto of the party receiving the majority support in the 13th National Parliamentary Election has now become a national commitment.

The ministries and divisions have been asked to report their formulated short, medium, and long-term plans to the Cabinet Division to ensure implementation of the national commitments outlined in the 2026 election manifesto.

Following the joint strikes by Israel and the United States on Iran, several countries have voiced strong reactions. Pakistan, Norway, and Belgium each issued statements expressing deep concern and criticism of the attacks, calling for restraint and renewed diplomatic engagement to prevent further escalation.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar condemned what he described as an “unjustified attack” on Iran and urged an immediate halt to hostilities. He emphasized the need for urgent diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis through peaceful dialogue. Norway’s Foreign Minister Espen Barth said that although Israel claimed the strike was preventive, it did not align with international law, noting that preventive action requires an imminent threat. Belgium’s Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot expressed sorrow that earlier diplomatic efforts had failed and stressed that the Iranian people should not suffer for their government’s decisions.

All three nations highlighted the growing risk of military escalation and reiterated the importance of dialogue and diplomacy to restore stability in the region.

The National Citizens Party (NCP) celebrated its first founding anniversary with an iftar gathering at Abahani Sports Ground in Dhaka on Saturday. Party convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam said the NCP had advanced through diverse experiences over the past year and reaffirmed its commitment to establishing full democracy in Bangladesh. He declared that the party would continue movements to implement the July Charter, enforce referendum outcomes, and ensure justice for crimes committed under fascist rule.

Nahid Islam highlighted the NCP’s origins in the 2025 mass uprising and linked its political roots to earlier student and social movements. He urged members to prepare for upcoming local government elections, strengthen grassroots organizations, and pursue greater electoral success beyond the six parliamentary seats already won. The event also featured a short documentary on the party’s journey from the July movement to national elections.

Home Minister Salauddin Ahmed attended as a guest, praising the NCP’s emergence as a new democratic force and expressing hope that youth participation would enrich national politics. He emphasized that future political consensus should be built through parliamentary debate and cooperation.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that some American troops or personnel could be killed or injured in connection with an ongoing operation involving Iran. In a video shared on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said his administration had taken all possible measures to reduce risks to U.S. personnel in the Middle East. However, he cautioned that the Iranian leadership was seeking to cause harm.

Trump stated that while the loss of brave American lives was possible, such sacrifices were part of the realities of war. He emphasized that the operation was being carried out not only for immediate security but also for a greater purpose in the future. The statement came amid heightened regional tensions following reports of Iranian missile and drone attacks toward Israel and other related developments in the Middle East.

The warning underscores the potential for further escalation in U.S.-Iran relations as military activities continue in the region.

An Israeli attack on a girls’ school in southern Iran’s Hormozgan province has killed 53 students, according to Iran’s state news agency IRNA. The strike targeted a primary girls’ school in the city of Minab on Saturday, with reports indicating that three missiles were fired at the school. The Iranian Ministry of Education confirmed that 63 others were injured in the assault.

The incident occurred amid renewed hostilities across Iran, as both the United States and Israel reportedly launched attacks on Saturday morning. Tehran responded with retaliatory missile and drone strikes toward Israel, escalating tensions in the region. The IRNA report cited Al Jazeera as a source for additional details on the attack.

The strike marks one of the deadliest attacks on a civilian educational institution in Iran in recent years, highlighting the intensifying conflict between Iran and Israel and its growing humanitarian toll.

The BBC has reported that the United Kingdom is not participating in the joint military operation carried out by the United States and Israel in Iran. In response to the escalating situation in the Middle East, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called an emergency meeting of the government’s security-focused COBRA committee on Saturday, which he is expected to chair.

According to the report, London has expressed concern that the attack in Iran could trigger a wider regional conflict. A spokesperson for the British government stated that the UK does not want the conflict to expand into a broader regional war. The spokesperson also emphasized that ensuring the safety of British citizens in the region remains the government’s immediate priority.

The developments come amid heightened tensions following missile and drone attacks between Iran and Israel, raising fears of further instability across the Middle East.

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council and a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, has claimed that the United States used nuclear negotiations with Iran as a cover for preparing a military operation. His remarks were reported on February 28, 2026, by the outlet Amar Desh, citing Al Jazeera as the source.

Medvedev stated that the so-called peacemaker had once again revealed its true face, arguing that all discussions with Iran were merely a strategy to conceal an impending operation. He added that there was no real intention from any side to reach genuine agreement, and that no one had any doubts about the underlying motives.

The comments come amid heightened regional tensions, including reports of Iranian missile and drone attacks toward Israel and the killing of Iran’s defense minister in an Israeli strike, as referenced in related news items from the same source.

Iran carried out missile and drone strikes on several US military bases across the Middle East following attacks by Israel and the United States. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed the retaliatory action, targeting bases in Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh, Qatar’s Al-Udeid, Kuwait’s Al-Salem, the UAE’s Al-Dhafra, and Bahrain. According to Fars News Agency, one person was killed in Abu Dhabi. Explosions were reported in Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Abu Dhabi, while Bahrain confirmed a strike on a US Navy Fifth Fleet facility.

The United Arab Emirates condemned the attack as a violation of national sovereignty and international law, asserting its right to respond. Bahrain’s Interior Ministry issued emergency alerts and instructed citizens to move to safe locations. Qatar reported intercepting two Iranian missiles, and Kuwait activated warning sirens. The United States had recently withdrawn hundreds of troops from its bases in Qatar and Bahrain amid rising tensions with Iran.

The United States maintains military installations in more than a dozen Middle Eastern countries, hosting tens of thousands of personnel and extensive defense infrastructure, including air and naval assets.

Saudi Arabia has condemned Iran’s attacks on Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan and Kuwait, describing them as direct violations of the sovereignty of those nations and contrary to fundamental principles of international law. Riyadh warned that continued breaches of state sovereignty could lead to serious consequences.

According to the report, Iran launched strikes on Gulf countries hosting U.S. bases after the United States and Israel carried out attacks on Saturday. The Saudi statement came amid heightened regional tensions following these exchanges.

The condemnation underscores Saudi Arabia’s stance on protecting regional sovereignty and adherence to international law, as the situation in the Gulf remains volatile following the recent military actions.

British politician Baroness Saeeda Warsi has said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump have become uncontrollable following a joint U.S.-Israel attack on Iran. In a post on social media platform X, Warsi described the assault as a clear sign of their loss of restraint, noting that it occurred just as Oman announced progress in Iran-U.S. nuclear talks.

According to the report, the attack took place on Saturday, targeting multiple Iranian facilities. During the strikes, President Trump called for regime change in Iran, only hours after Oman's foreign minister had declared progress in nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington. An Iranian source told Middle East Eye that the attack was preplanned and that the talks were merely a cover. Israeli media, citing a security source, reported that the operation had been prepared for months.

The incident has drawn regional attention, with reports mentioning reactions from Russia and several Middle Eastern countries condemning the assault.

At least 86 students were killed in an Israeli attack on a girls’ school in Minab, a city in Iran’s southern Hormozgan province, according to Al Jazeera. The incident occurred on Saturday when three missiles struck the primary school, leaving many others injured. Iran’s Ministry of Education spokesperson Ali Farhadi confirmed the attack and the rising number of casualties.

The report added that the strike was part of a broader wave of assaults carried out by the United States and Israel across Iran earlier that morning. Tehran later launched retaliatory attacks in response. The Iranian government has also sent a letter to the United Nations urging action against the aggression.

The situation remains tense as Iran continues to assess the damage and casualties from the coordinated attacks, while international attention focuses on the escalating conflict in the region.