Russia has accused the United States and Israel of deliberately pushing Arab countries toward war. According to a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry, Washington and Tel Aviv have created conditions that could compel Iran to retaliate against certain Arab states. The ministry expressed deep regret over the resulting loss of life and property damage.

The statement further alleged that the US and Israel are attempting to involve Arab nations in conflict for the benefit of others. Russia emphasized that halting attacks on Iran is the only way to prevent further destabilization in the region. However, the ministry noted that there are currently no signs of the conflict easing.

The report also referenced related developments, including Iran’s denial of attacks on Azerbaijan and concerns from Gulf countries and the European Union about potential civil unrest in Iran, alongside market reactions in South Korea.

Iran’s Armed Forces General Staff has denied reports that a missile was fired toward Turkey. The denial came after Turkey announced that a missile approaching its airspace had been intercepted by NATO’s defense system on Wednesday. According to Iran’s Mehr News Agency, the military stated that the Islamic Republic respects Turkey’s sovereignty and rejected claims of launching any missile toward its territory.

Turkey’s defense ministry said the projectile had flown over Iraq and Syria before nearing Turkish airspace, but no casualties occurred after it was intercepted. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Turkey is consulting with NATO allies and taking all necessary precautionary measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The exchange occurred as regional hostilities intensified, with Iran launching missiles toward Israel the previous night amid ongoing airstrikes across the Middle East. Israeli and U.S. forces had recently increased bombardments on Iranian targets, while explosions were also reported in Tehran and casualties rose in Lebanon due to Israeli air raids.

Iranian military leader General Kiomars Heydari stated that Iran is not concerned about how long the ongoing war with the United States and Israel will last. Speaking in an interview with the semi-official Tasnim News Agency, the deputy commander of Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said the country's defense forces are focused on achieving their objectives and delivering a strong response to the United States.

Heydari emphasized that Iran’s experience from the eight-year Iran-Iraq war has prepared it for prolonged conflict if necessary. He added that the current war would continue until Iran meets its goals and gives what he described as a tough reply to the United States.

The statement reflects Iran’s stance of resilience amid ongoing hostilities involving the US and Israel, highlighting a focus on strategic outcomes rather than the duration of the conflict.

Iraq has stated that it will not tolerate any form of threat against Iran from within its territory. The assurance came from Iraqi Prime Minister Shia al-Sudani, according to a written statement released by Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday. The statement followed a telephone conversation between Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and the Iraqi leader amid Iran’s ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel.

According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s post on social media platform X, the Iraqi prime minister expressed respect for Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during the call. He also reaffirmed that his government would not permit any hostile activities against Iran to be launched from Iraqi soil or along its borders.

The statement underscores Iraq’s attempt to balance its regional relations while maintaining stability amid heightened tensions involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has verified 13 attacks on hospitals and health facilities in Iran amid ongoing hostilities involving the United States and Israel. According to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the organization also confirmed one attack on a healthcare center in Lebanon. The incidents resulted in the deaths of four healthcare workers and injuries to 25 others.

WHO official Hanan Balkhy stated that four ambulances in Iran were also targeted, while nearby bombings caused minor damage to several hospitals and other health centers. The organization earlier reported that one hospital in Tehran had to be evacuated following the attacks. WHO did not assign direct responsibility for the assaults.

The confirmation highlights growing concerns about the safety of medical infrastructure in conflict zones, as repeated strikes continue to disrupt essential health services in the region.

A tanker ship flying the Maltese flag was struck by two missiles fired by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical trade routes. The attack occurred on Wednesday, leaving the vessel heavily damaged. Oman’s navy responded swiftly, rescuing all 24 crew members from the stricken tanker. No fatalities were reported, though several crew members sustained injuries.

According to a report by the British outlet Middle East Monitor, the injured crew received necessary medical treatment following their rescue. Oman’s navy confirmed the operation in an official statement, noting that all crew members were accounted for and safe. The incident underscores the ongoing tensions in the region’s maritime routes, which are vital for global oil transport.

The report did not specify the tanker’s cargo or the broader response from regional or international authorities following the strike.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast rain or thundershowers in five divisions, including Dhaka, by the end of the week. The change in weather is linked to an active low-pressure area over West Bengal and adjoining regions, along with a normal monsoon low over the southern Bay of Bengal. The forecast issued on Thursday, March 5, indicates that from Sunday evening, March 8, scattered rainfall may occur in Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Khulna, and Barishal divisions, with the trend likely to continue for 48 hours.

According to the department, skies across the country may remain partly cloudy over the next 24 hours, with a slight rise in both day and night temperatures. Friday’s weather is expected to remain mostly dry nationwide. On Saturday, daytime temperatures may drop by 1 to 2 degrees Celsius, while nighttime temperatures could rise slightly.

The agency added that light rain or thundershowers could occur again on Sunday and Monday in the same divisions, while other regions will likely remain dry. Overall, a tendency for rain or thundershowers is expected within the next five days due to the combined influence of the western low and moisture from the Bay of Bengal.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the ongoing joint war involving the United States and Israel against Iran could last up to eight weeks. He made the remarks during a press conference held at the Pentagon on Wednesday, responding to questions about the possible duration of the conflict.

Hegseth explained that the war might continue for three to eight weeks, depending on developments, and emphasized that the US military had already set its operational pace. He added that the enemy was currently in a state of imbalance, and the US intended to maintain that situation.

The statement comes amid heightened regional tensions, with reports of Iranian drone activity prompting Azerbaijan to close its southern airspace and Iran asserting that it is not concerned about the war’s duration.

Hezbollah announced that it carried out a missile attack on Israeli forces advancing near the town of Markaba in southern Lebanon. According to the group’s statement, its fighters targeted the Israeli troops around 12:30 p.m. after spotting their movement from the Manara site. Hezbollah claimed that two missiles directly hit the Israeli forces.

The group described the strike as a response to Israeli attacks on Beirut’s southern suburbs and other cities across Lebanon. The report did not include any confirmation or comment from the Israeli side regarding the incident.

The exchange marks another episode in the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, with both sides citing retaliatory motives for their actions.

Iran has the capability to disrupt the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz for several months through drone attacks, according to military analysts and intelligence sources. In response to recent U.S. and Israeli strikes, Iran launched over a thousand drones and hundreds of missiles targeting American bases in Gulf countries, causing significant damage despite most being intercepted. Attacks on six ships have nearly halted maritime traffic through the strait, which handles about 20 percent of global oil and gas shipments.

The UK-funded Center for Information Resilience reported that Iran can produce around 10,000 drones monthly, placing it among the world’s top drone manufacturers. Estimates of Iran’s missile stockpile vary between 2,500 and 6,000, with analysts noting that supply shortages and destroyed launchers could limit sustained attacks. Despite these constraints, Iran’s Shahed-136 drones can strike targets up to 1,000 kilometers away, and recent strikes have hit infrastructure in the UAE and Bahrain.

If missiles and drones are depleted, Iran could deploy its 5,000–6,000 naval mines, which experts warn could take months to clear, potentially triggering a prolonged global energy crisis as oil and gas prices continue to rise.

Exiled Iranian royal Reza Pahlavi has called for the immediate transfer of power following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. According to Al Jazeera, Pahlavi made the appeal in a post on social media platform X on March 5, 2026, urging officials of the Islamic Republic to hand over authority without delay.

In his statement, Pahlavi warned that any attempt to appoint a successor to Khamenei would fail, arguing that no new leader could gain legitimacy in the eyes of the Iranian people. His remarks come amid heightened political uncertainty in Iran after the reported assassination of its top leader.

The call reflects continuing opposition sentiment among exiled figures and adds to questions about Iran’s political transition following Khamenei’s death.

Adelaide University has cancelled a scheduled literary festival event featuring UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese. The event, part of the Constellations: Not Writers’ Week festival, was to be held at the university’s Elder Hall on Thursday night. Organisers said the university informed them on Monday that certain procedural requirements had not been met and revoked the booking. A new venue, Norwood Concert Hall, has been secured to host the 650 ticket holders, with Albanese participating via video link alongside academics Henry Reynolds and Lana Tatour.

The Association for the Promotion of International Law (APIL), which organised the event, disputed the university’s claim of procedural lapses, saying it had been in contact with Elder Hall management since early February. Adelaide University stated it was unaware of the external event until the previous Friday and could not approve the booking without proper review. The cancellation followed a report suggesting that hosting Albanese might breach US sanctions, as she was previously placed on a sanctions list by the Trump administration.

Festival organisers and speakers accused the university of bowing to media pressure and undermining free speech, while the university maintained it supports open exchange of ideas within policy guidelines.

Iran has carried out another attack on US forces stationed in Kuwait, this time using drones. According to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, the strike targeted the US military base at Arifjan. No further details about the scale of the attack or potential casualties have been released.

The report follows a previous Iranian strike in Kuwait that killed six US soldiers. Tehran began retaliatory operations last Saturday in response to earlier attacks by the United States and Israel on Iranian territory. The US has confirmed the deaths of six of its service members from those earlier incidents.

The renewed drone assault underscores escalating hostilities between Iran and the United States in the region, though the immediate consequences of the latest strike remain unclear.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer reaffirmed his decision not to involve the United Kingdom in the joint United States and Israel attack on Iran. He also refused to allow American aircraft to use British bases for the operation. Starmer explained his stance at a press conference on March 5, 2026, aiming to reassure a concerned public amid rising tensions.

During the briefing, Starmer emphasized that his goal was to provide calm and prudent leadership in the national interest. He stated that the UK must have the strength to stand firmly by its values and principles regardless of external pressure. His remarks were seen as a signal that he would not yield to pressure from US President Donald Trump.

Starmer reiterated that the UK’s long-standing position on Iran is to seek a resolution through dialogue, encouraging Iran to halt its nuclear program. He described his decision to stay out of the initial wave of attacks as a carefully considered move made in the national interest.

Qatar announced that its air defense systems intercepted 14 ballistic missiles and four drones launched from Iran on Saturday morning, according to a statement cited by Al Jazeera. The country’s defense ministry confirmed that all incoming threats were successfully neutralized and that security forces remain on high alert to monitor the situation.

Authorities in Qatar urged citizens, residents, and visitors to remain calm and to follow official guidance. They also advised the public to avoid spreading rumors and to rely solely on verified information from government sources.

The report comes as regional tensions remain high, with neighboring countries taking precautionary measures in response to aerial threats. Qatar’s swift response underscores its readiness to defend its airspace and maintain internal stability.