Qatar’s Ministry of Defense reported that Iran fired two ballistic missiles toward Qatar. One missile was intercepted by Qatar’s air defense system, while the other was neutralized from the US Al Udeid Air Base, the largest American military facility in the Middle East. No casualties have been reported by Qatari authorities.

Separately, a drone attack targeted the CIA station at the US Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Monday, March 2. A source confirmed to Reuters on Tuesday, March 3, that Iranian drones were used in the assault, though it remains unclear whether the CIA station was the intended target. The CIA has declined to comment on the incident.

The developments come amid heightened regional tensions, with recent reports of Israeli strikes in Iran’s Isfahan and Lebanon, and the United States ordering non-essential personnel to leave Karachi and Lahore in Pakistan.

The Israeli military has issued an urgent warning for residents of 16 towns and villages in southern Lebanon to evacuate immediately. The announcement, made on Wednesday, came ahead of a potential military operation against Hezbollah fighters. According to a report from Jerusalem citing AFP, the warning urged civilians to leave their homes and move to open areas for their safety.

The statement was delivered by Avichay Adraee, the Israeli army’s Arabic-language spokesperson, who emphasized the need for residents to act swiftly. The military identified the specific border locations affected by the evacuation order. The warning reflects heightened tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border, where clashes with Hezbollah have previously occurred.

The development follows a series of regional incidents, including reported Israeli strikes in Iran’s Isfahan and Lebanon, as well as missile attacks in Qatar and U.S. directives for non-essential staff to leave Pakistan, indicating a broader regional escalation.

At least 12 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon on March 4, 2026, according to the country’s state-run National News Agency. The report said six people died when a residential building was hit in the eastern city of Baalbek. Separate attacks in Aramoun and Saadiyat, both located in the southern part of the capital Beirut, claimed six more lives.

The agency added that at least 23 others were injured in the strikes, while two people remained missing. The attacks targeted both residential and urban areas, causing casualties and damage in multiple locations.

No further details were provided on the reasons behind the strikes or any official responses from the parties involved.

The US Department of State announced on Wednesday that non-essential American government employees and their families stationed at the US consulates in Karachi and Lahore have been instructed to leave Pakistan due to security concerns. The directive was confirmed in a statement released by the US Embassy in Pakistan.

According to the embassy statement, the decision applies specifically to personnel at the consulates in Lahore and Karachi, while operations at the US Embassy in Islamabad remain unchanged. The embassy emphasized that the move was taken as a precautionary measure in response to unspecified security risks.

No further details were provided regarding the nature of the threats or the duration of the departure order, and the State Department did not indicate any change in its diplomatic presence in the Pakistani capital.

Professor Dr. Ehteshamul Haque, a kidney specialist, explained that fasting during Ramadan may not be safe for patients with elevated serum creatinine levels. He stated that when serum creatinine remains below 3, fasting can be allowed, but if it rises above that level, fasting should be avoided to prevent further kidney deterioration. The risk of dehydration during long fasting hours can worsen kidney weakness and increase creatinine levels.

He recommended that kidney patients who fast should drink adequate water and eat simple foods such as flattened rice, yogurt, and khichuri at iftar. Light meals like roti with chicken curry and fruits such as papaya, wood apple, apple, and pear are suitable, while fried foods should be avoided. Dr. Haque also identified nephritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, and repeated urinary infections as major causes of kidney disease in South Asian countries.

He advised regular serum creatinine and urine tests for those with a family history of kidney disease or chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension to detect problems early.

The government of Bangladesh has issued a notification redistributing the portfolios of two advisers and eight state ministers. The Cabinet Division released the order on Tuesday afternoon, formalizing the new assignments across several ministries.

According to the notification, Prime Minister’s Political Adviser Nazrul Islam has been assigned to the Ministry of Agriculture, while Political Adviser Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed will now oversee the Ministry of Industries. Among the state ministers, Md. Shariful Alam has been given charge of the Ministry of Textiles and Jute, Sultan Salauddin Tuku of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, and Habibur Rashid of the Railways and Road Transport and Highways Division. Md. Rajib Ahsan will handle the Ministry of Shipping and the Bridges Division.

Additionally, Junaid Abdur Rahim Saki has been assigned to the Ministry of Planning, Farzana Sharmin to the Ministry of Social Welfare, Md. Nurul Haque Nur to the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, and Bobby Hajjaj to the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education.

An Iranian Navy vessel has reportedly sunk near the coast of Sri Lanka, according to Sri Lankan authorities. After receiving a distress signal from the ship identified as 'IRIS Dena' early in the morning, Sri Lanka deployed naval and air force units to rescue the crew. The vessel had 180 people on board, and 30 injured sailors were rescued and taken to a hospital in the port city of Galle for treatment.

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Wijitha Herath informed parliament about the incident, confirming the distress signal and the ongoing rescue efforts. The cause of the sinking remains unknown, and no official explanation has been provided by either government.

A member of the opposition in Sri Lanka questioned whether the ship might have been attacked as part of ongoing hostilities involving Iran, the United States, and Israel, but the government did not respond to that query.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has warned that whoever becomes Iran’s next supreme leader will be assassinated. He issued the warning on Wednesday in a post on social media platform X, days after Iran’s current supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in a joint U.S.-Israeli strike on Saturday.

Katz wrote that any leader chosen by Iran’s ruling establishment to continue its plans to destroy Israel, threaten the United States and its allies, and oppress the Iranian people would be marked for killing, regardless of name or location. He added that both he and the Israeli prime minister had instructed the Israel Defense Forces to prepare and act on this mission.

The statement comes amid heightened regional tensions following multiple attacks, including Israeli strikes in Iran’s Isfahan that killed five people and in Lebanon that left twelve dead, as well as an Iranian missile attack on a U.S. air base in Qatar.

In Jhenaidah, a man named Abu Zafar formally disowned his son for continuing political activities with the banned Chhatra League. On March 2, 2026, he appeared at the Jhenaidah District Notary Public Office and made the declaration through an affidavit. The document stated that his son, Nahid Hasan Sabuj, joint general secretary of the KC College unit of Chhatra League, had been living separately and engaging in political activities despite repeated warnings.

According to the affidavit, Abu Zafar said his son had been disobedient and living an undisciplined life for a long time. He alleged that even after the organization was banned in August 2024, Sabuj continued to participate in its programs, including raising the flag at the abandoned office of the district Awami League on February 21, which later went viral on social media. Feeling embarrassed, the father decided to sever all familial and legal ties.

The affidavit clarified that the family would bear no responsibility for Sabuj’s actions or financial matters. The legal process was completed through Advocate Md. Sadatur Rahman Hadi. Attempts to contact Sabuj for comment were unsuccessful.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint U.S.-Israeli attack in Tehran on Saturday, will be buried in the holy city of Mashhad, his birthplace. The information was reported by Iran’s Fars News Agency on Tuesday. The exact date of the burial has not yet been announced. Khamenei’s father is also buried in the Imam Reza shrine complex in Mashhad.

Before the burial, a large farewell ceremony will be held in the capital, Tehran, according to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), though no details of the program have been released. Khamenei, 86, had served as Iran’s Supreme Leader since 1989, following his role in the Islamic Revolution under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and his presidency during the Iran-Iraq war.

During his nearly 37-year rule, Khamenei faced multiple political and economic challenges, including widespread protests over the sharp fall of the Iranian rial that began in December last year and spread nationwide.

Bangladesh Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has confirmed that a full investigation is underway into the killing of Sharif Osman bin Hadi, spokesperson of Inquilab Moncho. He said a new investigation process began after the current administration took office, and details will be disclosed once the inquiry is completed. The minister made the remarks on Wednesday while speaking to journalists at the Dhaka Metropolitan Police headquarters on Minto Road during a meeting with senior police officials.

During the same event, the minister also discussed efforts to address Dhaka’s traffic congestion, noting that the challenges posed by battery-powered rickshaws would be resolved gradually. Inspector General of Police Md Ali Hossain Fakir and Acting DMP Commissioner Md Sarwar, among others, attended the meeting.

The ongoing investigation and the minister’s comments indicate the government’s intent to pursue the case thoroughly while simultaneously focusing on urban management issues in the capital.

Leaked Pentagon assessments reported by US media suggest that if the current strikes on Iran continue beyond 10 days, the United States could face shortages of key missiles. The US and Israel began coordinated attacks on Iran while diplomatic talks over Tehran’s nuclear program and regional activities were still underway. Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes across the region, targeting Israel and US military assets in several Middle Eastern countries. The Pentagon reportedly cautioned President Donald Trump that a prolonged campaign would carry serious risks, including the high cost of replenishing munitions. Trump, however, insisted that US stockpiles were sufficient to sustain extended operations.

Analysts told Al Jazeera that interceptor missiles such as THAAD, Patriot, and SM‑3 could run low within weeks if the conflict persists. The US military’s Central Command confirmed the use of more than 20 weapons systems, including advanced bombers, drones, and missile defense platforms. Experts warned that manufacturing replacements takes months, and high-end interceptors are designed for limited engagements, not prolonged wars. Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that Iran can produce far more offensive missiles monthly than the US can build interceptors.

Reports also indicate that the US has already depleted some ship-borne interceptors and suffered friendly-fire losses. Sustaining the campaign is expected to be extremely costly, with early operations estimated to have cost over a billion dollars.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has declared that it now holds complete control over the Strait of Hormuz. The statement was made by IRGC naval officer Mohammad Akbarzadeh, who said the strategic waterway is under the full authority of the Islamic Republic’s naval forces. The announcement was reported by Iran’s Fars News Agency.

The IRGC had previously warned that it could close the strait if necessary. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical maritime route for global oil shipments, and control over it has long been a point of contention in regional security. The report also recalled that U.S. President Donald Trump had earlier stated his readiness to deploy naval forces to protect oil tankers in the area.

The claim of full control adds to the ongoing military and political friction in the region, where recent incidents have included U.S. strikes on Iranian targets and heightened tensions involving Israel and Saudi Arabia.

The verdict in the Rampura war crimes case, scheduled for announcement today, has been postponed after the prosecution requested a four-week delay to submit new evidence against the accused. Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam stated that after assuming his role, he discovered additional evidence that he deemed necessary to present in the interest of justice. The application was submitted to the International Crimes Tribunal-1, chaired by Justice Golam Mortuza Majumder, with Justices Shafiul Alam Mahmud and retired District Judge Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury as members.

The tribunal had earlier fixed today’s date for the verdict on February 15. The case involves charges of crimes against humanity during the July uprising, including the shooting of Amir Hossain and the killing of two others. Fourteen witnesses testified for the prosecution, while accused Chanchal Chandra testified in his defense. The prosecution completed its arguments on January 29, asserting that evidence and witness statements proved the involvement of five accused individuals, four of whom remain absconding.

The tribunal had formally framed charges against the five accused on September 18 last year, following the submission of the formal charge on August 7.

Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Ahmed announced that the government will soon publish a list of extortionists and terrorists and launch an operation against them. He stated that maintaining law and order remains the government’s biggest challenge. The minister made these remarks on Wednesday afternoon while speaking to journalists.

He emphasized that, unlike the previous government, the current administration will not use the police force for political purposes. The statement signals a renewed focus on law enforcement and accountability in tackling criminal networks.

Further details of the planned operation and the list of individuals involved have not yet been disclosed, but the announcement suggests that action will begin shortly.