The Israeli military said it launched a “broad wave” of strikes in Tehran early on Wednesday, just hours after Iranian state media reported that the Revolutionary Guard had carried out a fresh barrage of missile and drone strikes on Israel.
IDF said the strikes targeted “the Iranian terror regime’s launch sites, aerial defence systems and additional infrastructure”.
The US Central Command said American and Israeli forces had struck over 1,700 targets in Iran since the start of the war and “severely degraded” Iranian air defences.
The Pentagon, meanwhile, named the first four American personnel killed in the widening conflict with Iran.
Capt Cody A Khork, 35, Sgt 1st Class Noah L Tietjens, 42, Sgt 1st Class Nicole M Amor, 39, and Sgt Declan J Coady, 20, were identified on Tuesday, two days after they were killed in Kuwait.
They were killed in a drone attack on a military facility at Port Shuaiba while “supporting Operation Epic Fury”.
The Donald Trump administration had yet to identify two other American service members killed in the conflict.
Israel issued evacuation warnings for multiple villages in southern Lebanon ahead of a likely offensive, while Saudi Arabia said it intercepted nine drones overnight.
Earthquake of 4.3 magnitude hits Iran, no casualties reported
An earthquake hit Iran’s southern city of Gerash in Iran’s Fars province on Tuesday, according to the US Geological Survey.
The quake was at a depth of 10 km (6.21 miles), USGS said.
No injuries or casualties have been reported.
Maira Butt4 March 2026 07:49
Sri Lanka rescues 30 people on board distressed Iranian ship
The Sri Lankan navy has rescued at least 30 people on board a sinking Iranian ship on Wednesday.
A rescue mission was dispatched after a distress call from the Iranian ship, a defence ministry spokesperson said.
Foreign minister Vijitha Herath did not give further details but said Sri Lanka would take appropriate action.
Local media reported the ship called for help off the coast of Galle in the southern part of the country, and that the injured had been admitted to a hospital in Galle.
Maira Butt4 March 2026 07:41
In pictures: Israeli attacks on southern Beirut continue
A plume of smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike in the southern suburbs of Beirut’s Haret Hreik neighborhood on Wednesday.
Israel launched fresh strikes on Iran and Lebanon, where state media reported a residential building was hit on 4 March, as Iran’s Guards said they had sealed off one of the world’s most vital shipping routes for energy.
Maira Butt4 March 2026 07:31
Iranians to bid farewell to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at Tehran ceremony
A three-day ceremony is to be held in Tehran for Iranians to mourn the death of their supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Hojjatoleslam Mahmoudi, head of Iran’s Islamic Propagation Council, said the event would continue for three days and the funeral procession would be announced later.
Mr Mahmoudi the public will be able to pay their respects to the body of the Ayatollah at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Prayer Hall starting at 10 pm (6.30pm GMT).
“The Mosalla (prayer hall) will be receiving visitors and the dear people can attend and take part in the farewell ceremony and mark a strong presence once again,” he said in comments carried by Iranian media.
Maira Butt4 March 2026 07:17
UK Maritime Trade Operations receives report of incident east of UAE’s Fujairah
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said it had received a report of an incident about seven nautical miles east of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates.
According to UKMTO, the captain of a vessel reported it had been hit by an unidentified projectile, damaging its steel hull.
The crew were safe, and there were no reports of fire on board or water entering the ship.
Maroosha Muzaffar4 March 2026 07:00
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says it launched 40 missiles against US and Israeli targets
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps says it fired over 40 missiles in what it described as the 17th wave of aerial attacks against US and Israeli targets.
Maroosha Muzaffar4 March 2026 06:54
Suspected CIA station inside US embassy in Saudi was struck by drone – report
A suspected Iranian drone struck the CIA station inside the US embassy in Riyadh on Monday, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Reuters reported that there is no indication the facility was the intended target, and the CIA has declined to comment.
The embassy, located in the Saudi capital, was hit by two drones, Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry said, causing a small fire and limited material damage.
Maroosha Muzaffar4 March 2026 06:53
Limited commercial options available for Britons in UAE, UK embassy says
The British Embassy in UAE has warned that only limited commercial options remain for UK citizens trying to leave the UAE amid regional disruption.
In updated travel advice, the embassy said flights are operating from the UAE and Oman but cautioned: “Travel within or out of UAE is at your own risk.”
It urged Britons to check airline updates, follow local authority guidance and confirm bookings before heading to the airport.
Meanwhile, the UK government has announced that its first chartered commercial evacuation flight for British nationals in the Middle East will depart from Oman later today.
Maroosha Muzaffar4 March 2026 06:34
Drone shot down near Baghdad international airport – report
A drone was reportedly shot down near Baghdad International Airport, the site of an earlier attempted strike on the US embassy’s logistical support camp, AFP, citing security sources, reported on Wednesday.
A security source said the incident caused no casualties or damage.
The development comes a day after another drone attack was thwarted on the airport’s outskirts, according to Iraq’s security media cell.
Maroosha Muzaffar4 March 2026 06:00
US commander Cooper says Epic Fury ‘ahead of game plan’
Maroosha Muzaffar4 March 2026 05:50
