US-Israel-Iran War Highlights: Pentagon email says US aircraft shot down in Middle East

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One Egyptian citizen was killed, and four people suffered minor injuries after debris from an intercepted attack fell on Abu Dhabi's Habshan gas facilities on Friday, Abu Dhabi's media office said.

The Egyptian was killed during the evacuation of the site, while four others – two Egyptians and two Pakistanis – sustained minor injuries, the media office said.

"Significant damage has occurred at the facilities and an assessment is ongoing," it added.

(Reuters)

According to an email from the Pentagon obtained by The Associated Press, the US military said that it received notification of "an aircraft being shot down" in the Middle East. The email did not provide more details.

(Associated Press)

US President Donald Trump has been briefed on news reports that a US F-15 fighter jet was downed over Iran, says Fox News.

Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf mocks the US over the reported downing of an American jet over his country. "After defeating Iran 37 times in a row, this brilliant no-strategy war they started has now been downgraded from 'regime change' to 'Hey! Can anyone find our pilots? Please???' Wow. What incredible progress. Absolute geniuses."

The Israeli military said on Friday it has begun striking what it called "terror infrastructure" in the Lebanese capital Beirut.

Reuters reporters heard three loud blasts echoing across the city. Lebanese media outlets said the strikes hit Beirut's southern suburbs, after Israel's military spokesperson issued a new warning for the entire zone earlier on Friday.

(Reuters)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has held a phone call with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, the Kremlin said on Friday. Putin and Erdogan discussed the situation in the Middle East, the Kremlin added.

An unnamed US official has confirmed to news agency Reuters that an American fighter jet was indeed shot down over Iran and a search and rescue operation has been initiated for any survivors.

The official did not offer further details. 

(With Reuters inputs)

Kuwait's Army says the country's air defence system is dealing with a fresh wave of missile and drone attacks.

"The General Staff of the Army notes that if explosion sounds are heard, they are the result of the air defense systems intercepting the hostile attacks. Everyone is requested to adhere to the security and safety instructions issued by the competent authorities," it says in a post (in Arabic) on X.

The UAE Ministry of Defence said on Friday that its air forces engaged with 18 ballistic missiles, four cruise missiles and 47 drones, according to a statement posted on the social media platform X.
 

A US-Israeli attack killed one person and damaged a passenger terminal and civilian infrastructure at Iran’s Gulf port of Charak, Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported.
 

US President Donald Trump has proposed raising defense spending to $1.5 trillion in his 2027 budget, marking the largest such request in decades and underscoring his focus on military investment over domestic programmes.

The sharp increase for the Pentagon had been signaled by the Republican president even before the US-led war against Iran. Under the proposal, spending on non-defense programs would be cut by 10%, with some responsibilities shifted to state and local governments, according to the Associated Press.

“President Trump is committed to rebuilding our military to secure peace through strength,” the budget document said.

The annual presidential budget outlines the administration’s priorities but does not carry the force of law. Congress, which controls federal spending, can reject or modify the proposal and often does, the Associated Press reported.

The campus of a university in northern Tehran and the Mehrabad airport area in the western area of the city were hit in US-Israeli strikes, Iranian state media reported.

(With Reuters inputs)

Iran's state broadcaster, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) shares a map with an encircled area, saying it highlights the region where both Iranian and US forces are searching for two American pilots whose fighter jets Iranian official media claim were shot down successfully.

A channel affiliated with Iran's state television claimed on Friday that a US fighter pilot ejected from their aircraft over southwestern Iran.

The anchor on the channel in Iran’s Kohkilouyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province read the following announcement: "If you capture the enemy pilot or pilots alive and hand them over to the police, you will receive a precious prize."

(With AP inputs)

Iran's state-affiliated Tasnim News Agency reports that Iranian air defence systems successfully shot down a US UH-60 Black Hawk attack helicopter in Iraqi airspace, citing unconfirmed reports circulating on Iraqi media channels.

President Donald Trump on Friday said the US can open the Strait of Hormuz with a little more time.

"With a little more time, we can easily OPEN THE HORMUZ STRAIT, TAKE THE OIL,& MAKE A FORTUNE," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

(Reuters)

Twelve people, including 5 Indian nationals, were injured by the falling interception debris that caused a fire at an energy facility in Abu Dhabi on Friday, according to authorities. 

"As part of the ongoing follow-up to the previously reported incident in the Ajban area caused by falling debris following the successful interception by air defence systems, authorities confirm that the incident has resulted in minor to moderate injuries sustained by 6 individuals of Nepali nationality and 5 individuals of Indian nationality, and one major injury sustained by an individual of Nepali nationality," Abu Dhabi's Media Office said in a post on X.

Britain is deploying its Rapid Sentry air defence system to Kuwait to help protect British and Kuwaiti interests in the Gulf, Prime Minister Keir Starmer's office said on Friday, after an overnight Iranian drone attack on a Kuwaiti oil facility.

Starmer discussed the deployment in a call with Kuwait's Crown Prince Sabah al-Khalid al-Sabah on Friday morning, a Downing Street spokesperson said.

"The Prime Minister began by condemning the reckless overnight drone attack on a Kuwaiti oil refinery," the spokesperson said. "He reiterated that the UK stands with Kuwait and all our allies in the Gulf."

The spokesperson said the leaders discussed the deployment of the UK's air defence system – designed primarily to shoot down drones and other low-flying aerial threats – to Kuwait, which would protect Kuwaiti and British personnel and interests in the region, while avoiding escalation into a wider conflict.

Starmer and the crown prince also discussed disruption to global shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and welcomed a meeting chaired by British foreign minister Yvette Cooper on Thursday to draw up a plan to reopen the vital shipping route.

(Reuters)

Iranian ballistic missiles struck multiple US amphibious vessels stationed at the Al-Shuwaikh Port in Kuwait, claims Iranian state-affiliated media outlet Press TV.

Former Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Friday called for the end of suffering on both sides as his country remains engaged in a raging war with the joint front of Israel and the US .

"Prolonged hostility will cause a greater loss of precious lives and irreplaceable resources without actually altering the existing stalemate," the seasoned diplomat, who helped negotiate Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, wrote in a magazine.

(With AP inputs)

Russian President Vladimir Putin is spending much time on the escalating Middle East crisis, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday.

Nearly five weeks after it began with joint US-Israeli air strikes, the war in Iran continues to destabilise the region and unsettle financial markets, piling pressure on President Donald Trump to bring the conflict to a swift end.

(Reuters)

The Mina al-Ahmadi oil refinery port has been attacked for the third time in the past two weeks, as per Al Jazeera report. As one of the largest refineries in the Middle East, it plays a crucial role in Kuwait’s domestic energy supply. 

Debris from a neutralised aerial threat landed on Abu Dhabi’s Habshan gas facilities, causing a temporary halt in operations and a fire that emergency crews worked to control, with no injuries reported, according to the Abu Dhabi Media Office.

Japan’s planned acquisition of hundreds of Tomahawk missiles from the United States is expected to face delays as the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran strains missile inventories, Bloomberg News reported on Friday, citing sources familiar with the matter.

Washington has informed Tokyo that deliveries of its roughly 400-missile order, initially scheduled by March 2028, are likely to be disrupted. Reuters has not independently verified the report.

Israel’s military says it has identified missiles launched from Iran heading toward its territory, and its air defence systems are operating to intercept the threat, according to an army statement.

Alerts were issued by the Home Front Command, which urged the public to follow protective directives as defensive systems engaged the incoming projectiles. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

Kuwait reported that an Iranian strike on Friday caused damage to parts of a key power and desalination plant, as per AL Jazeera reports. Authorities said emergency teams are working under contingency plans to maintain operations and secure the facility, ensuring continued services amid rising regional tensions. No casualties have been reported so far.

Maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is showing signs of recovery, with intelligence firm Windward reporting that vessel transits rose to 16 on Wednesday, the third consecutive daily increase, according to Al Jazeera report.

All ships used a route via Larak Island, which the firm said may indicate that countries are negotiating with Iran to secure safe passage, suggesting flows could pick up further in the coming days.

Despite the uptick, traffic remains well below normal levels, with only a fraction of the roughly 130 daily transits recorded before the conflict began on February 28, according to UN Trade and Development.

“As an Iranian, outraged by Donald Trump’s reckless aggression & crude insults, yet proud of our armed forces & resilient people, I am torn about publishing this peace-plan in Foreign Affairs,” Zarif wrote. “Yet I’m convinced that war must end on terms consistent with Iran’s national interests.”

The World Health Organisation has raised alarm over damage to healthcare facilities in Tehran amid ongoing strikes, with Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reporting multiple attacks on medical infrastructure.

He said the Pasteur Institute of Iran has been significantly damaged and is no longer able to provide services, underscoring mounting concerns over the impact of the conflict on civilian health systems. 

The United Arab Emirates said its air defence systems are actively responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran, according to a statement by the Defence Ministry, as tensions in the region continue to escalate.

Iran has claimed that a second US F-35 stealth fighter jet was shot down over its central region, according to the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters. The statement said the F-35 Lightning II was targeted by Iran’s air defence systems and was part of a squadron linked to RAF Lakenheath in the UK.

Officials added that the aircraft exploded on impact, making pilot survival unlikely. However, there has been no independent confirmation of the claim.

The UN Security Council has postponed its vote on a Bahrain-backed proposal to safeguard ships in the Strait of Hormuz from Friday to Saturday, AL Jazeera reported. The resolution, aimed at protecting commercial shipping in the vital waterway that handles about a fifth of global oil and gas, reportedly authorises countries to use “all defensive means necessary.”

Its passage appears unlikely, as China, a permanent council member with veto power, opposes any resolution mentioning the use of force.

Iranian media on Thursday published a list of major bridges across the region, signalling a possible “tit-for-tat” retaliation after a US-Israeli strike on a key bridge in Karaj. The semi-official Fars News Agency reported that several prominent regional bridges could be targeted following two strikes on the B1 bridge earlier in the day.

The list includes Kuwait’s Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Sea Bridge, Saudi Arabia’s King Fahd Causeway linking it to Bahrain, the UAE’s Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Khalifa Bridges, as well as Jordan’s King Hussein, Damia, and Abdoun Bridges.

US President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that Iran’s “new regime leadership knows what has to be done, and has to be done, fast,” underscoring his aggressive stance in the ongoing conflict. Trump wrote that the US military, which he described as the “greatest and most powerful (by far!) anywhere in the world,” has “hasn’t even started destroying what’s left in Iran,” adding that bridges have been targeted and that electric power plants could be next. 

Tracking data shows three Omani vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz outside Iran’s designated “approved corridor,” according to shipping journal Lloyd’s List, according to Al Jazeera report. The convoy, two oil supertankers and a liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier, is sailing unusually close to the Omani coast near Larak Island.

If they complete the passage, they would be the first AIS-tracked ships to exit the strait without using the Iranian corridor in nearly three weeks.

Russia’s state nuclear company Rosatom is preparing a “final wave of evacuations” from Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant, potentially relocating over 200 staff while leaving a small team of volunteers to operate the reactor, CEO Alexey Likhachev told Tass. Moscow said it would seek a ceasefire from U.S. and Israeli forces to carry out the evacuation.

While Russia and Iran have reported multiple fires at the site, the International Atomic Energy Agency says there has been no damage to the reactor or any radiological release. Bushehr, a pressurised-water reactor built with Russian assistance and connected to Iran’s grid in 2011, produces up to 1,000 megawatts, enough to power hundreds of thousands of homes, but accounts for only 1-2% of the country’s electricity.

Iran is drafting a proposal with Oman to “monitor” the Strait of Hormuz in a move it says would ensure safer navigation, according to Iranian diplomat Kazem Gharibabadi, as quoted by state-run IRNA. He described the plan as aimed at facilitating secure passage and improving services for vessels transiting the vital waterway.

The development comes amid heightened tensions, with Iran accused of targeting shipping and reportedly demanding up to $2 million for safe passage, tightening pressure on the route. It remains unclear how the proposal would be implemented, and Oman has not publicly responded.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it carried out a fresh wave of attacks under the 91st phase of its “Operation True Promise 4,” targeting US-linked assets across the Gulf region. According to the IRGC, ballistic missiles struck a group of American fighter pilots and flight engineers outside a base in the UAE, with reports of casualties.

The force also said it launched four cruise missiles at the USS Abraham Lincoln in the northern Indian Ocean and targeted US drone units, including MQ-1 systems, at Ali Al Salem Air Base. The operation reportedly involved a combination of ballistic and cruise missiles as well as attack drones. There has been no independent verification of these claims.

The war in Iran is adding new strain to small business owners nationwide, who are already dealing with shipping delays, rising costs, and customers pulling back on spending. Many small business owners say the supply chain chaos during the pandemic was more severe—but they worry that if the conflict drags on for months, the impact could come close.

Gulf nations have backed a United Nations resolution authorising “all necessary measures” to ensure safe shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a phrase that can include military action. At a United Nations Security Council meeting, the secretary general of the Gulf Cooperation Council said Iran’s retaliatory attacks on neighbouring countries had crossed “all red lines,” underscoring rising tensions in the region.

Saraya Awliya al-Dam, part of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, has claimed responsibility for multiple attacks targeting US bases over the past 24 hours. The group said it carried out five strikes within this period and a total of 23 operations across Iraq and the wider region, adding that dozens of drones were deployed to execute the attacks.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed it carried out fresh strikes targeting Israeli forces and military-industrial facilities in Tel Aviv and Eilat. 

Pete Hegseth has asked the US Army’s top uniformed officer, Randy George, to step down, the Pentagon said, as the United States continues its war against Iran. A Pentagon official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, confirmed that Gen George has been asked to take early retirement from his role as Army Chief of Staff, a position he has held since August 2023.

At least eight people were killed and 95 others injured after strikes hit a major bridge in Iran, where crowds had gathered beneath it and along a nearby riverbank to celebrate “Nature Day,” according to state media citing authorities in Alborz province. The bridge, identified as the B1 bridge and still under construction, was reportedly targeted during the attack. Donald Trump referenced the strike in a social media post, calling it Iran’s biggest bridge and warning that “much more to follow.”

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed that its air defence systems successfully targeted an “enemy fighter jet” in the south of Qeshm Island, according to state media reports. The statement did not specify which country the aircraft belonged to. The IRGC further alleged that the jet crashed into the waters of the Gulf between Hengam Island and Qeshm Island after being hit. There has been no independent confirmation of the claim so far, and similar assertions in the ongoing conflict have previously been disputed by opposing sides.

Seyed Abbas Araghchi has issued a sharp warning, drawing a comparison between the present day and the Stone Age to criticise escalating tensions. He noted that unlike ancient times, today’s Middle East is central to global oil and gas supply, suggesting that any regression could have serious consequences. In a pointed remark, Araghchi questioned whether the US leadership and its citizens truly want to “turn back the clock,” hinting at the potential fallout for global energy stability and geopolitical order.

Seyed Abbas Araghchi has strongly condemned attacks on civilian infrastructure, stating that targeting unfinished bridges and other non-military sites will not force Iranians to surrender. In a sharp remark, he said such actions only reflect the “defeat and moral collapse” of an adversary in disarray. Araghchi asserted that while physical damage can be repaired and rebuilt stronger, the harm caused to the United States’ global standing would be far more difficult to recover from.

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi group said it had fired a ballistic missile targeting what it described as “vital Israeli enemy targets” in the Tel Aviv area. In a statement, the group claimed responsibility for the latest attack, marking another escalation as it continues to align with Iran in the wider conflict.

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has condemned reported attacks on hospitals and medical facilities, calling for urgent global action. In a post on X, he questioned the intent behind such strikes, saying, “What message does attacking hospitals, pharmaceutical companies and the Pasteur Institute as a medical research center in Iran convey?”

Iran said a strike has hit the Pasteur Institute, the country’s oldest medical research institution, raising concerns over damage to critical health infrastructure.

Health Ministry spokesperson Hossein Kermanpour called the attack “a direct assault on international health security” and urged the World Health Organization and the International Committee of the Red Cross to respond. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei described it as “heartbreaking, cruel, despicable, and utterly outrageous,” sharing images of destruction.

Israel’s military said it was not aware of the strike, while US Central Command did not respond to queries. The Pasteur Institute of Iran, established over a century ago, employs more than 1,300 people and plays a key role in vaccine and biopharmaceutical development.

Pakistan has sharply increased petrol prices by PKR 137 per litre, citing rising global oil costs.

Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik announced that the new price of petrol stands at PKR 458.40 per litre, effective from midnight. Diesel prices have also surged, reaching PKR 520.35 per litre, adding further pressure on consumers.

A senior aide to President Vladimir Putin said the Strait of Hormuz remains open for Russia, according to state-run TASS news agency. Yuri Ushakov made the remark amid ongoing disruptions in the key waterway.

The Israeli military said it detected a missile launched from Yemen towards its territory, marking the fourth such incident since the war began. According to Channel 14, Israel’s Home Front Command issued early warnings, with alerts covering most cities. Sirens were heard in several areas, including Jerusalem and the Dead Sea region.
 

US President Donald Trump has urged Iran to reach a deal “before it is too late”, as fresh strikes hit key infrastructure in the country.

In a strongly worded message, Trump said, “IT IS TIME FOR IRAN TO MAKE A DEAL BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE,” warning that continued conflict could leave little of the country intact. He posted video of B1 Bridge bridge, which was destroyed by Israeli attack. Multiple sites were hit in the Azimieh area near Karaj, including the B1 Bridge, which is described as the highest bridge in the Middle East.

The Israeli military says it has killed around 1,000 Hezbollah operatives in Lebanon since hostilities escalated alongside the Iran conflict.

According to the IDF, those killed include hundreds from Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force. In the past 24 hours, Hezbollah fired about 130 rockets into Israel. Most were intercepted or landed in open areas, though some struck cities, causing damage and lightly injuring several people.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they had launched an attack on an Amazon cloud computing centre in Bahrain, according to Iran’s ISNA news agency. According to Press TV, the IRGC carried out the third phase of the 90th wave of Operation True Promise 4.

A day before, IRGC had threatened to target 18 companies, including Microsoft, Google, Apple, Intel, IBM, Tesla and Boeing, warning that their regional operations could be hit.

Qatar said it intercepted an attack involving multiple drones launched from Iran on Thursday, according to its Defence Ministry.

“Our Armed Forces, by the grace of God, successfully intercepted and neutralized all incoming drones,” the ministry said in a social media post.

GCC Secretary-General Jassim al-Budaiwi said Gulf states do not seek war and remain committed to diplomacy as tensions rise in the region. “GCC states do not seek war,” he told the UN Security Council, stressing their focus on peace, security and stability.

“They seek the peace, security and stability that all peoples deserve,” he said, adding that dialogue and diplomacy remain the best path, while warning that continued escalation threatens regional security.
 

Iran and Oman are drafting a protocol to monitor transit through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iran’s state news agency IRNA. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said ship traffic through the key global oil route “should be supervised and coordinated” with the two countries.

“Of course, these requirements will not mean restrictions, but rather to facilitate and ensure safe passage and provide better services to ships that pass through this route,” he said.

Argentina has declared Iran’s chargé d’affaires, Mohsen Tehrani, “persona non grata” and ordered him to leave the country within 48 hours, the foreign ministry said. The move follows what Argentina described as “false, offensive, and unfounded accusations” made by Iran against the country and its leadership.

Earlier this week, President Javier Milei’s government had also designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has said his country is becoming a victim of a “war of others”, warning that Israeli actions signal a broader escalation. In a statement after a cabinet meeting, Salam pointed to “a significant expansion in the occupation of Lebanese territory” and raised concerns over talk of buffer zones and security belts.

“It has become clear that the Israeli aggression against Lebanon will not be limited” to current operations since the November 2024 ceasefire, he said, adding that more than one million Lebanese have already been displaced.

The UK Ministry of Defence has said military planners will meet next week at the Permanent Joint Headquarters to discuss the situation in the Strait of Hormuz. The meeting follows a global foreign ministers’ summit, with Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper confirming further coordination at the military level.

According to the MoD, discussions will focus on “viable options to make the Strait of Hormuz accessible and safe for navigation.”
 

Israeli air strikes have killed at least 1,345 people in Lebanon since the escalation with Hezbollah began, according to the Lebanese health ministry. In the past 24 hours alone, 27 people were killed and 105 others wounded, the ministry said. Overall, the toll includes 125 children and 91 women, with more than 4,000 people injured.

The ministry also reported that 53 health workers have been killed, while 82 emergency medical facilities have been targeted during the strikes.

Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi said the Iran-backed group will not stay on the sidelines as the conflict escalates, claiming involvement in recent attacks on US and Israeli targets. Speaking in a televised address, he said the group had launched missile and drone strikes this week as part of joint operations. “We will not stand idly by while the enemy achieves its goals, nor will we leave all the burdens on others as if we are not concerned,” he said.

Al-Houthi also praised Iran’s strikes on US and Israeli interests in the region and reiterated support for Tehran.

Global markets reacted sharply after US President Donald Trump signalled continued military action against Iran, with oil prices surging and stocks falling. The S&P 500 dropped 1.2%, the Dow Jones fell 600 points, and the Nasdaq declined 1.7% following the opening of US markets on Thursday.

At the same time, US crude oil prices jumped more than 10%, rising above $110 per barrel amid fears of prolonged conflict and supply disruptions.

Austria has rejected a US request to use its airspace for military operations related to Iran, citing its neutrality law, according to the defence ministry. A spokesperson said there had been “several” requests from Washington, though no exact number was disclosed, as reported by ORF.

The official added that any such requests would be reviewed individually in coordination with the Austrian Foreign Ministry.

At least two people have been killed in a strike on a highway bridge linking Tehran to the western city of Karaj, according Al Jazeera. The deputy governor of Alborz province told ISNA news agency that several others were injured and taken to medical centres for treatment.

The official added that the attack did not cause any electricity, water or environmental disruptions.

Israeli air strikes have targeted multiple areas in southern Lebanon, according to a Al Jazeera. The strikes reportedly hit the towns of Sultaniyeh, Aita al-Jabal, al-Jumayjimah and Tibnin.

Iranian authorities say five people have been arrested in the north-western province of Zanjan over alleged links to “hostile” networks.

According to a statement cited by Tasnim news agency, an IRGC security unit accused the individuals of being “affiliated with and acting as mercenaries for the enemy” through their engagement with such networks.

The UK has invited several countries, including India, for multilateral talks on the reopening of the conflict-hit Strait of Hormuz, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri will represent New Delhi in the meeting, scheduled to take place the same day, according to MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.

Read the full report here.

France’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux said the Group of Seven will hold talks with the Gulf Cooperation Council next week on the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.

France, which currently holds the G7 presidency, will lead the meeting as concerns over regional tensions continue to grow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss the evolving situation in the Middle East, according to media reports.

The two leaders also reviewed coordination under the OPEC+ framework, including oil production strategies amid ongoing global market uncertainty.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said around 600 Indian troops are currently serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

“We have around 600 Indian troops who are serving in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)… Our peacekeeping operations go back several decades. We are also the largest troop contributing country,” he said.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said 204 Indian nationals have exited Iran via the land border into Azerbaijan and are on their way home.

“Several of our Indian nationals, 204, to be precise, have been able to leave Iran for Azerbaijan through the land border… Several of them have returned, and others will be returning in the course of the next few days,” he said. He also thanked Azerbaijan for facilitating the evacuation.

Qatar has written to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, condemning a series of Iranian attacks on its territory. According to its Foreign Ministry, the letter details drone and cruise missile strikes between March 28 and April 1, including one that hit an oil tanker in Qatari waters.

Qatar described the attacks as “unlawful acts”, demanded compensation, and said it reserves the right to respond under international law.

Several people were wounded after US-Israeli strikes hit a major highway bridge linking Tehran and Karaj, Iran’s Fars news agency reported. 

The bridge, described as one of the tallest in the region, was targeted along the busy route between the two cities. Additional strikes were also reported in parts of Karaj, west of the capital.

The United Arab Emirates said its air defence systems intercepted 19 ballistic missiles and 26 drones on Thursday, according to a Ministry of Defence update on X. It added that since the war began, a total of 2,038 drones, 19 cruise missiles and 457 ballistic missiles have been recorded and countered.
 

Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf claimed that around 7 million Iranians are ready to fight in the event of a US ground invasion. In a post on X, Qalibaf said a nationwide campaign had mobilised millions within a week. “Right now… around 7 million Iranians… are ready to pick up arms and stand in defense of our nation,” he wrote.

Multiple strikes were reported across Iran’s southwestern Khuzestan province, according to the deputy governor, cited by Mehr news agency. Attacks hit Minu Island, while two strikes each were reported in Khorramshahr and the city of Abadan, where explosions were also heard.
 

French President Emmanuel Macron said military action will not resolve Iran’s nuclear issue, urging a diplomatic path instead. Speaking during a South Korea visit, he warned that without negotiations, tensions could return within years. Emmanuel Macron also dismissed any military move to secure the Strait of Hormuz as “unrealistic”, citing risks from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, including missiles and coastal threats.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Brad Cooper said the campaign, now in its fifth week, is showing clear results on the ground. In a brief statement shared by CENTCOM on X, Cooper described the progress as “undeniable”, pointing to what he called a visible decline in Iran’s operational strength.

“Now in our 5th week of the campaign, it is my operational assessment that we are making undeniable progress,” Cooper said.

An airstrike has severely wounded a former Iranian foreign minister, Kamal Kharazimi, who once suggested Tehran could seek a nuclear weapon, Iranian media outlets reported.

The attack killed his wife, the reports said.

Kharazi served as a foreign minister for Iran’s reformist President Mohammad Khatami, then as a foreign affairs adviser to the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they have targeted US-linked steel and aluminium facilities in Gulf states, describing the strikes as a warning and cautioning that if Iranian industries are hit again. Tehran’s next response would be “more painful,” they warned, according to state media.

An Israeli airstrike hit a four-story residential building in Lebanon's Nabatiyeh province, killing a municipal council member, his brother and their mother, the National News Agency said. 

Source: AP

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said that Islamabad is ready to host talks between the United States and Iran to help end the regional conflict, though no dates have been finalised and the two sides will decide the timing, news agency AP reported.

“Both Iran and the US have expressed their confidence in Pakistan to facilitate these talks,” ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said, adding that “we will be honoured to host and facilitate these talks between the two sides in the coming days for a comprehensive and lasting settlement of the ongoing conflict.”

He said it is up to Washington and Tehran to determine when they are ready to come to the negotiating table.

Chinese authorities said Beijing is in communication “with all parties” about the need to restore stability in the Strait of Hormuz. It urged everyone to work toward that end.

“We believe that an early ceasefire and restoration of peace and stability in the Strait of Hormuz and its adjacent waters is a common aspiration of the international community, and all sides should work towards this end,” China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Thursday, adding, “China is maintaining communication and coordination with all parties”.

 A man convicted of participating in an attack on a classified military facility during January's protests in Iran was executed on Thursday, news agency Reuters reported, citing Iran judiciary's news outlet.  The execution was carried out after his appeal was rejected, and the Supreme Court upheld his sentence.

The judiciary said Amirhossein Hatami was found guilty of entering a restricted military site in Tehran, damaging and setting fire to the facility, and attempting to seize weapons and ammunition,  charges he admitted during interrogation. 

Russia is willing to help address the conflict in Iran, with President Vladimir Putin continuing discussions with regional leaders, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday. "The president is continuing these contacts, and if our services are somehow required, we are, of course, ready to make our contribution to ensuring that the military situation transitions to a peaceful course as soon as possible," Peskov told reporters.

Britain is convening a virtual meeting on Thursday to discuss forming an international coalition to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, following President Trump’s remark that safeguarding the strategic waterway is for other nations to handle, news agency Reuters reported. 

British Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper will lead the session around midday from London, bringing together roughly 35 countries, including France, Germany, Italy, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates, to examine measures to ensure free navigation. The United States will not participate.

Israeli forces on Thursday said they killed senior Hezbollah commander Haj Youssef Ismail Hashem in a strike on Thursday, according to Al Jazeera. Hashem, described as head of Hezbollah's southern front, was targeted in Beirut while in his car. Israel called the operation a major intelligence and security success against the group.

Hossein Kermanpour, a spokesperson for Iran’s Health Ministry, claimed that an attack had severely damaged the Pasteur Institute of Iran. The historic medical research center, which has been in operation since 1920, sustained significant structural impact during the strike.

"The aggression against Pasteur Institute of Iran—a century-old pillar of global health & member of International Pasteur Network—is a direct assault on international health security. This violates the Geneva Conventions & IHL principles. We call on @WHO @ICRC & global health bodies to condemn this attack, assess damages & support reconstruction," he wrote on X.

Israel has carried out large-scale attacks in Tehran targeting the infrastructure of the Islamic Republic Guard Corps (IRGC) on Wednesday, Al-Jazeera reported, citing sources from the Israeli military.
 

The targets included the IRGC ground force base in Tehran.

Mao Ning, spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry, called on all parties involved in the conflict with Iran to halt military operations, following US President Donald Trump’s threat of intensified strikes on the Islamic Republic in the coming weeks.

“Military measures cannot fundamentally resolve the issue, and escalating the conflict is not in the interests of either side,” Mao said at a news conference, urging the parties concerned to immediately cease hostilities.

She added that the root cause of tensions in the Strait of Hormuz is “illegal military actions” in the waterway and stressed that all sides must act to prevent a more serious impact on global energy security and the world economy.

Iran’s Khuzestan Steel Company will require six months to a year to resume full operations after last week’s strike, a deputy director said, according to a judiciary-linked news outlet Thursday. The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that the facility, which uses sealed cobalt-60 and caesium-137 radioactive sources for measurement purposes, was affected in the attack.

“All modules and steel-making furnaces of this industrial complex have been damaged,” said Mehran Pakbin, Deputy Director of Operations, noting that reconstruction would depend entirely on domestic capabilities.