US-Israel-Iran War Highlights: US orders non-essential diplomats, their family members to leave Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia intercepted a drone heading to the Shaybah oilfield, says the country's defence ministry via a statement on X.

(With inputs from Reuters)
 

The US State Department said on Sunday it ordered non-essential US diplomats and US government employee family members to leave Saudi Arabia due to safety risks.

The United States began to pull out non-essential staff from Gulf Arab countries last Monday, three days into the war. The US ​embassy in Riyadh on Tuesday approved voluntary departures, four days into the war and on the same day that it was struck by Iranian drones that led to a fire that ​damaged the mission's facilities.

(Reuters)

Kuwait says a fire at a fuel tank at the Sabiya power and water distillation plant has been brought under control.

(With Reuters inputs)

Fire breaks out in the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone in the emirate of Fujairah in the UAE after debris from aerial interception falls in the area, according to the Fujairah government's media office. No injuries have been reported. A fire was reported at the industrial site last week as well. That blaze, too, was caused by interception debris.

(With agency inputs)

Iran's Assembly of Experts names Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's son, Mojtaba Khamenei, to succeed the slain cleric as the country's new Supreme Leader, according to Iranian state media.

(With Reuters inputs)

Another American military service member has succumbed to wounds sustained during the initial Iranian counter-attack a week ago, bringing the number of US troops killed in action during the ongoing war with Iran to seven, the US military said on Sunday.

"Last night, a U.S. service member passed away from injuries received during the Iranian regime’s initial attacks across the Middle East. The service member was seriously wounded at the scene of an attack on U.S. troops in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on March 1," the US Central Command said in a statement.

(With Reuters inputs)

The Foreign Office of the United Kingdom said on Sunday it has taken the precautionary measure of temporarily withdrawing some staff members and dependents from Lebanon.

The British Embassy in Lebanon is operating as normal, the agency said in a post on X.

(With Reuters inputs)

US President Donald Trump and his counterpart from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan discuss Iranian attacks over a phone call, according to the UAE's state news agency.

(With Reuters inputs)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his counterpart from the United Arab Emirates called on Sunday for an end to all attacks on both Iran and Gulf states and said renewed diplomacy was needed to ensure long-term regional security.

"Attention focused on the necessity of stopping attacks that lead to casualties among the civilian population and cause damage to civilian infrastructure both in the Arab countries of the ... Gulf and in Iran," the ministry said of Lavrov's telephone conversation with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed.

The UAE has maintained good relations with both Russia and Ukraine during their four-year-old war and acted as an intermediary in holding talks and arranging exchanges of prisoners of war.

(Reuters)

Israel's military has claimed that it has eliminated Abu al-Qassem Baba'iyan, the newly appointed head of the Military Office of Iran's Supreme Leader and the Chief of Staff of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters.

"Baba'iyan was responsible for coordinating between the Iranian terror regime’s various force employment organizations to execute operations and emergency operations," the IDF said in a tweet.

Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf reiterates the Islamic Republic's hardline stance on striking American interests in the Middle East. "If the enemy attacks us from any country, Tehran will respond decisively," he told the Iranian state media.

(With Reuters inputs)

Israel’s military said it destroyed the headquarters of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) air force in Tehran during a recent wave of strikes.

IDF spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said the Israeli Air Force targeted the facility because it was used to manage missile and drone attacks. According to Defrin, the headquarters directed launches of missiles and drones toward Israel and other countries in the region.

US President Donald Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to arrive in Israel on Tuesday for talks as the war between Israel and Iran continues, a senior American official told Channel 12.

The visit comes as differences have reportedly emerged between Washington and Israel over the scale of Israeli strikes on Iranian oil facilities carried out a day earlier. According to the report, Israeli officials had informed the United States in advance about plans to target oil infrastructure in Iran but did not indicate that the attacks would be as extensive as they were.

Iran’s Red Crescent Society said dozens of schools and medical facilities have been hit since the United States and Israel launched their military campaign against Iran. Pirhoussein Koulivand, head of the Red Crescent, said 65 schools and 32 medical facilities -- including hospitals and pharmacies -- were among the sites targeted, according to Al Jazeera.

The humanitarian organisation said nearly 10,000 civilian locations across the country have been damaged since the war began.

More than 32,000 Americans have returned to the United States from the Middle East since February 28, the US State Department said on Sunday.

The department said it has arranged nearly two dozen charter flights in recent days to evacuate thousands of US citizens from the region amid escalating tensions. Officials added that more than half of the Americans who requested assistance to leave later declined US government transportation.

French President Emmanuel Macron said he spoke with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian and urged Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and halt attacks against other countries in the region.

Emmanuel Macron said he stressed the need for Iran to stop strikes across the Middle East and restore maritime security in the strategic waterway, which carries about 20 per cent of the world’s oil shipments and has been heavily disrupted since the start of the war.

Israel has carried out around 3,400 strikes on targets in Iran over the past week, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said, as its military campaign against Tehran continues.

IDF spokesperson Effie Deffrin said Israeli forces have also disabled more than 150 Iranian air defence systems during the operation. According to the military, Israel has dropped about 7,500 munitions on Iran since the start of the strikes.
 

More than 517,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon after a week of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, Lebanese authorities said.

Officials said the figure includes those who registered on the government’s online displacement portal, though the actual number is likely higher as many families have not yet been recorded. The financially strained Lebanese government has struggled to accommodate the large number of people fleeing their homes, particularly from southern and eastern parts of the country.

Israel’s military said it carried out a precision overnight strike in Beirut that killed five senior commanders from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) Quds Force, targeting officials from its Lebanon and Palestine Corps. The Israeli Navy carried out the attack with intelligence guidance as the commanders were meeting at a hotel in the Lebanese capital, the military said.

Among those killed were Majid Hassani, accused of transferring funds and supporting weapons production for Hezbollah and other militant groups; Ali Reza Bay-Azar, head of intelligence for the Quds Force’s Lebanon Corps; and Ahmad Rasouli, the intelligence chief of the Palestine Corps. Israel said two other operatives — intelligence agent Hassin Ahmadlou and Hezbollah liaison Abu Muhammad Ali — were also killed, calling the strike a significant blow to Iran’s network and Hezbollah’s operations in Lebanon.

UK forces intercepted a one-way attack drone launched from Iran toward Iraq overnight, UK Ministry of Defence said. The engagement took place as Royal Air Force Typhoon and F-35 fighter jets continued to carry out defensive patrols across the region.

Iranian cleric Hossein-Ali Eshkevari said a new supreme leader has been selected following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, though the name has not yet been publicly announced.

The Iran Assembly of Experts said the chosen leader will continue Khamenei’s legacy and ideological line. The powerful clerical body, which is responsible for appointing the country’s supreme leader, has reached a consensus on the successor.

Indian airlines are planning to operate around 50 flights from West Asia on March 9 as authorities continue to monitor the evolving situation in the region, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said.

According to passenger movement data, a total of 51 inbound flights operated by Indian carriers arrived in India from West Asia on March 7, carrying 8,175 passengers.

For March 8, Indian carriers including Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo, SpiceJet and Akasa Air planned 49 inbound flights from regional airports such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Muscat and Jeddah, subject to operational feasibility and prevailing conditions. Officials said Indian carriers are currently planning to operate 50 flights from the region on March 9.

(With inputs from Amit Bhardwaj)

At least 104 people were killed and 32 others wounded after a US attack on an Iranian warship off Sri Lanka’s coast last week, the Iranian army said on Sunday, according to Reuters. A US submarine sank the Iranian frigate Dena in the Indian Ocean on Wednesday, about 19 nautical miles off the southern Sri Lankan port city of Galle.
 

Two people, including an Indian national, were killed and 12 others injured after a missile struck a residential location in Saudi Arabia’s Al-Kharj city on Sunday, Saudi Civil Defense said. Authorities said the second victim was a Bangladeshi national. All 12 injured were Bangladeshi residents.

Read the full report here.

Sri Lanka will grant a monthlong visa to Iranian sailors evacuated after a U.S. submarine attack sank another vessel in the area, killing over 80 crew members, according to news agency A Public Security Minister Anada Wijepala told reporters on Sunday that the government would provide a “free visa” for the sailors, noting that it may take some time for them to depart the country.

On Saturday, 204 sailors were transferred to a Sri Lankan naval base from their ship, IRIS Bushehr, which is now under Sri Lankan custody.

Residents along Israel's northern border with Lebanon watched anxiously on Sunday as the area became more militarised amid ongoing clashes with the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, according to news agency Associated Press. 

Military vehicles, including jeeps and tank-carrying trucks, were seen moving along roads near the border. Israel's latest offensive started last week after Hezbollah fired rockets toward northern Israel during the early days of the conflict.

The United States said Israeli strikes in Iran targeted local fuel depots, stressing that Washington has no plans to hit Iran's broader energy sector, including oil and gas. Speaking to CNN on Sunday, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright described the attacks as "Israeli strikes" on "local fuel depots to fill up the gas tank", referring to the Saturday strikes on oil storage facilities in and around Tehran that sparked large fires.

An official from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that the country would respond with similar actions in the region if Israeli attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure continue, state media reported.

The Israeli army has killed six people in strikes on a house and car repair shop in Nabatieh governorate, southern Lebanon. The attacks 'completely' destroyed the buildings in Doueir, claiming the lives of five family members and one acquaintance, the National News Agency (NNA) reported.

Civil defence teams and the Red Cross are working to recover the bodies and transfer them to local morgues.

Saudi Arabia has reported its first casualties in the ongoing Middle East conflict, saying a military projectile killed two foreign nationals, news agency Associated Press reported. According to authorities, an Indian and a Bangladeshi were killed in the attack. Details regarding the circumstances of the strike or the location have not been immediately released.

Israeli air raids struck multiple locations in southern Lebanon, according to Al Jazeera Arabic. The attacks targeted the towns of Biriqah and Toul, along with the Kfar Jouz area. Authorities have not yet reported any casualties or damage. Earlier in the day, Israel asked residents of south Lebanon to vacate the area at the earliest possible. 

President Donald Trump has faced criticism in Washington after the Treasury Department granted India permission to purchase Russian oil until April 4. Senior Trump administration officials described the decision as pragmatic. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the Russian oil destined for India was originally intended for Chinese refineries but had remained idle at sea.

"Instead of having it wait six weeks to unload there, let's just pull that oil forward, have it land at Indian refineries and tamp this fear of shortage of oil, tamp the price spikes and the concerns we see in the marketplace, Wright told CNN. 

In an ABC News interview, President Donald Trump reiterated that he wanted influence over who assumes power in Iran after the war, warning that any new leader would "not last long" without his approval. He also indicated openness to a candidate with connections to the current Iranian regime.

"I would, in order to choose a good leader I would, yeah, I would. There are numerous people that could qualify," he said. 

The war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran intensified on Sunday with fresh air strikes and missile launches across the region. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned that Tehran could expand attacks on American targets across the Middle East, stepping back from earlier remarks in which he had apologised to Gulf neighbours for Iranian strikes on their territory. Read here. 

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trump discussed the situation in the Middle East and ongoing military cooperation between the United Kingdom and the United States, the Prime Minister’s office said on Sunday. According to reports, the talks focused on coordinating responses to the escalating conflict in the region and strengthening defence collaboration between the two countries.

The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Defence on Sunday released its first footage showing the interception of Iranian drones targeting the United Arab Emirates amid escalating tensions with Iran.

The video shows air defence operations carried out by the UAE Air Force and the UAE Joint Aviation Command, with AH-64D Apache attack helicopters shooting down incoming unmanned aerial vehicles in mid-air.

Officials said the footage marks the first public release of combat visuals showing the UAE neutralising drones and aerial threats. The release comes days after the UAE government said it has the right to defend its sovereignty following repeated drone and ballistic missile attacks on its territory.

The Israel Defense Forces said it carried out a drone strike targeting commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force in Beirut early Sunday, marking the first strike inside the Lebanese capital since hostilities with Hezbollah resumed last week.

An Israeli military source said the strike targeted five senior Quds Force members, including intelligence and finance personnel. Israel said the commanders were involved in advancing attacks against the country while operating for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

According to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, four people were killed and 10 injured in the strike in Beirut’s Raouche district. The latest attack comes amid intense Israeli bombardment across Lebanon that has left 394 people dead, including 83 children and 42 women.

An irradiation facility in Isfahan was damaged in Israeli-US strikes on Saturday, but no radiation pollution has been detected, Iran’s Nuclear Security Center of Iran said, according to Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA). Authorities said monitoring systems showed no radioactive contamination following the attack.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Sunday claimed that it destroyed four radars connected to US THAAD missile defence systems in the region over the past 24 hours. According to Iran's state news agency IRNA, the radars were struck with precision-guided missiles during operations targeting US missile defence infrastructure.

The Israeli military on Sunday claimed that it carried out another round of airstrikes in Tehran, destroying the headquarters of Iran's space agency, which is linked to the Revolutionary Guard, news agency Associated Press reported. The military said the facility was "used by the IRGC to advance terrorist activities and monitor the State of Israel and its residents". 

Other targets reportedly hit included the Guard’s Internal Security command center, 50 ammunition bunkers, a compound of its Ground Forces, and a base of the volunteer Basij force.

The war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran has so far been fought largely through missiles and drones, but discussions in Washington have begun to include the possibility of limited ground operations. US President Donald Trump has privately expressed serious interest in deploying a small number of American troops inside Iran for specific missions, NBC News reported, citing officials familiar with the discussions. Read here.

The Israeli military reported that Iran has fired a fresh wave of missiles toward its territory, news agency Associated Press reported. Israeli air defences have been deployed to intercept the incoming attacks. Sirens warning of incoming missiles sounded in central Israel, including Tel Aviv and parts of Jerusalem.

Lebanon's Foreign Minister Youssef Raji on Sunday condemned Iranian strikes on multiple Arab countries, stressing that Hezbollah’s military actions do not reflect the Lebanese government. In a post on X summarising his comments at an Arab League meeting, Raji said Lebanon "strongly condemns" attacks targeting Gulf states, Jordan, and Iraq. Raji also reiterated calls for Hezbollah to surrender its weapons immediately.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Sunday said that Tehran has deliberately capped its ballistic missiles at a range of 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles), emphasising that the country does not want to be perceived as a threat globally.

Speaking to NBC's Meet the Press, Araghchi stated that Iran has no plans to extend missile ranges and that there is no evidence suggesting the country is developing long-range missiles capable of reaching US territory.

Ukraine plans to send experts next week to assist the United States and other Middle Eastern nations in countering Iranian drone attacks, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday. Speaking at a press conference in Kyiv alongside Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten, Zelenskyy said the Ukrainian specialists would be "on site" to evaluate the situation, though he did not provide details on their exact location or arrival date, news agency Associated Press reported. 

"Ukraine would help Washington and other countries with all necessary means — first and foremost expertise and the experience of our military in defending against Shahed drones, cruise missiles, and so on," he added. 

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that military cooperation with Russia is ongoing and part of a long-established strategic partnership. When asked whether Iran is receiving assistance from Moscow, he explained in an interview that the two nations have maintained military ties for several years.

"We have a strategic partnership with Russia. Military cooperation between Iran and Russia is not something new. It's not a secret. It has been in the past and it is still there, and will continue in the future," Al Jazeera quoted him as saying. 

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Sunday said the country's strikes on US targets in the Middle East are in retaliation for a war 'imposed' by Washington and Tel Aviv. Speaking to NBC, he stressed that Iran did not seek the conflict and is carrying out its actions solely in self-defence.

"This is not the war of our choice. This is imposed on us by the United States and by Israel," he said, calling the conflict "unprovoked, unwarranted and illegal".

US Central Command has accused the Iranian government of "blatantly disregarding the safety of innocent people" within its own borders. The command said Iran is conducting military operations, including drone and ballistic missile launches, from areas with high civilian populations.

"This dangerous decision risks the lives of all civilians in Iran since locations used for military purposes lose protected status and could become legitimate military targets under international law," according to the statement.

The Israeli military said on Sunday that it has hit over 3,400 targets in Iran and more than 600 in Lebanon since the Middle East conflict began last week, according to news agency Associated Press. 

Military spokesperson Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani stated that Israel believes about 60 per cent of Iran's missile launchers have been destroyed, creating a bottleneck in launches and significantly reducing the country’s firepower.

The United States Armed Forces said Iranian forces are launching attack drones and ballistic missiles from crowded areas, accusing Iran of using populated locations for military operations amid escalating regional tensions.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) issued a safety warning to civilians in Iran, urging them to remain indoors as the conflict between the United States and Iran continues.

In a statement, CENTCOM accused the Iranian regime of carrying out military operations from heavily populated civilian areas, including launching one-way attack drones and ballistic missiles.

“This dangerous decision risks the lives of all civilians in Iran since locations used for military purposes lose protected status and could become legitimate military targets under international law,” the statement said.

The US State Department reported that over 32,000 Americans have left the Middle East since the Iran war began last week. While most citizens traveled on commercial flights without government help, the department said Sunday that it had arranged nearly two dozen charter flights, carrying several thousand Americans from the region to Europe and the United States, according to news agency Associated Press. 

The United Arab Emirates’ Foreign Ministry said on Sunday that it is taking measures in self-defence following Iranian attacks on its territory. The statement came after Iran launched a fresh barrage of missiles and drones on the Gulf nation, further escalating tensions in the Middle East amid the ongoing US-Israel-Iran war. 

The Israeli military reported on Sunday that two of its soldiers were killed in southern Lebanon, the first casualties since hostilities with Hezbollah resumed last week amid intensified Israeli airstrikes on the country.

The military did not immediately release further information regarding the circumstances of the deaths.

The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the United Arab Emirates does not seek to be drawn into any conflict or escalation, but affirmed its full right to protect its sovereignty and national security following rising tensions involving Iran.

The death toll from Israeli strikes across Lebanon has risen to 394, including 83 children and 42 women, according to the health ministry.

An Israel Defense Forces spokesperson said Israeli operations in Lebanon have killed around 200 militants from Hezbollah.

At least 41 people were killed in eastern Lebanon during one of the deadliest Israeli airborne raids deep inside the country in the past two days.
 

An Israeli military source said the strike in Beirut targeted five senior members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force, including personnel linked to intelligence and finance operations.

Lebanese Ministry of Public Health said four people were killed and 10 injured in the Israeli drone strike on Beirut’s Raouche neighbourhood.

The United Arab Emirates' Foreign Ministry on Sunday said the country does not seek to be drawn into any conflicts or escalation in the region. In a statement, the ministry emphasised that while the UAE seeks to avoid involvement in hostilities, it reserves the full right to defend its sovereignty and protect its national security.

"UAE does not seek to be drawn into any conflicts or escalations, but has full right to protect its sovereignty and national security," the ministry said. 

The Israel Defense Forces said it carried out a drone strike targeting commanders of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force in the Beirut early Sunday, marking the first strike inside the Lebanese capital since hostilities resumed last week.

An Iranian official criticised the US-Israeli strikes on Iran's oil facilities, saying the attacks have escalated the conflict into a "dangerous phase". "These attacks on fuel storage facilities amount to nothing less than intentional chemical warfare against the Iranian citizens," Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said in a social media post.

Lebanon's top diplomat has condemned a drone strike from Lebanese territory that targeted a British airbase on Cyprus' southern coast. Youssef Rajji made the remarks on Sunday, following comments from his Cypriot counterpart, Constantinos Kombos, that the drone, which hit the British Royal Air Force's Akrotiri base on Monday, originated from Lebanon, where the Iran-backed terror group, Hezbollah, is engaged in conflict with Israel.

Israel's rescue services on Sunday reported that three citizens were injured during a missile barrage from Iran on Sunday afternoon. Emergency teams responded to impact sites in central Israel, treating a 40-year-old man in serious condition, a 25-year-old man with moderate injuries, and a 56-year-old man with minor wounds.

The missile strikes left a meter-deep crater and threw a car over a small wall.

The Israeli Army on Sunday confirmed that an Israeli soldier was killed in southern Lebanon, news agency Associated Press reported. The soldier was identified as Maher Khatar, 38, from Majdal Shams in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. He served in the combat engineering corps, the military said.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi on Sunday voiced concerns over the Middle East war, highlighting its "serious repercussions", including rising energy costs and disruptions to supply chains, as well as air and maritime traffic, news agency Associated Press reported. 

He warned that further escalation of the conflict could destabilise the entire region, potentially plunging it into chaos.

The Israeli military on Sunday reported that Iran has launched a fresh wave of missiles toward its territory, news agency Associated Press reported. Israeli air defences have been activated to intercept the incoming attacks.

The United Arab Emirates' air defences are actively responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran, the country’s Defence Ministry said on Sunday. A statement posted on X in both Arabic and English said the sounds reported were caused by the Air Defence Systems intercepting the missiles and drones.

The head of the Arab League on Sunday strongly criticised Iran for launching attacks on Arab countries during its war with the United States and Israel. Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit told a virtual meeting of Arab foreign ministers that Iran's strikes on its Arab neighbours "can't be justified" and described them as part of a "reckless policy".

He stressed that Arab countries were not part of the US-Israel war against Iran and said their territories would not be used as bases for American attacks. "This unjustified Iranian aggression reflects a confused understanding and further isolates Iran during this difficult and delicate period," he said.

The head of the Roman Catholic Church has called for an end to the violence and urged fresh efforts to create space for dialogue. Speaking during the Angelus prayer in Saint Peter’s Square, Pope Leo said deeply troubling news continued to emerge from Iran and across the Middle East.

"Let us raise our humble prayer to ⁠the Lord that the roar ⁠of bombs may cease, ⁠that weapons may fall silent, and that space may be opened for ‌dialogue in which the voices of people can ‌be heard," news agency Associated Press quoted the pontiff as saying. 

Firefighters in Kuwait brought blazes under control at Kuwait International Airport and a government office in Kuwait City after both locations were struck in missile and drone attacks early Sunday, according to news agency Associated Press. 

The General Fire Force said the fires broke out in fuel tanks at the airport and at the headquarters of the state-run Public Institution for Social Insurance, adding that emergency teams managed to contain the flames.

An extreme alert siren sounded in Tel Aviv on Sunday, followed by loud explosions across parts of the city. "Alerts are expected in a few minutes. Find the best protection around. When receiving an alert, enter the protected space until further notice," a text message sent to residents read.

Authorities said a missile was intercepted shortly after the alert was issued. Officials noted that the use of an "extreme alert" warning is uncommon and typically reserved for high-threat situations.

Amid the deepening crisis in the Middle East, Russia said that international law is effectively dead amid escalating tensions in West Asia following the US-Israeli strike on Iran, and called for reviving President Vladimir Putin's proposal to convene a summit of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the current global situation underscores the need to revisit Putin's proposal, first made before the COVID-19 pandemic, for a summit of the P-5 -- Russia, the US, China, France and the UK -- to discuss global security and stability. "We have all lost what we call international law... I don't even understand how anyone can be called upon to follow the norms and principles of international law. It effectively no longer exists," Peskov said in an interview with the state-run Rossiya TV.

(With inputs from PTI.)

Britain's top diplomat said the UK will not 'outsource' its foreign policy after fresh criticism from President Donald Trump over the country's stance on the Iran war.

Speaking to BBC, Yvette Cooper said that the government must take its own decisions on foreign policy. She added that it was important to "learn the lessons" of the 2003 Iraq War and its aftermath, when British troops fought alongside US forces.

Swiss Defence Minister Martin Pfister on Sunday said that the attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran violate international law, as reported by news agency Reuters.

"The Federal Council is of the opinion that the attack on Iran constitutes a violation of international law," Pfister told SonntagsZeitung, referring to the Swiss cabinet. "In our view, it constitutes a violation of the prohibition of violence," he further added.

Lebanon's Health Ministry on Sunday said that the Israeli strikes across the country have killed 394 people this week, including 83 children. The ministry said the casualties were recorded over the past several days as Israeli attacks intensified across parts of Lebanon. Officials did not immediately provide further details on the locations of the strikes.

Swiss Defence Minister Martin Pfister said the United States and Israel had violated international law with their attacks on Iran. In an interview published on Sunday, Pfister told SonntagsZeitung that the Swiss Federal Council believes the strikes on Iran amount to a breach of international law.

"The Federal Council is of the opinion that the attack on Iran constitutes a violation of international law. In our view it constitutes a violation on the prohibition of violence," he said. 

Reports are emerging of an explosion heard in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, according to Al Jazeera. More details are awaited as information about the incident continues to come in.

Norwegian police on Sunday said the explosion at the US Embassy may have been a deliberate attack possibly linked to the current security situation in the Middle East. Authorities said police presence around the embassy has been increased following the blast as investigations continue into the incident. Despite the explosion, police said the national threat level in Norway remained unchanged.

Officials also said security measures are being reinforced to protect the Iranian diaspora community living in the country.

Since the start of what UAE authorities described as Iranian aggression, a total of 238 ballistic missiles have been detected by the Arab nation, according to official figures. Of these, 221 were intercepted and destroyed, while 15 fell into the sea. Two missiles landed within the country’s territory.

Authorities also reported detecting 1,422 Iranian drones during the same period. Of these, 1,342 were intercepted, while 80 drones fell inside the country. In addition, eight cruise missiles were detected and all were destroyed, officials said.

An Iranian sailor aboard the warship IRIS Dena told his father that US forces had issued two warnings asking the crew to abandon the vessel, according to a report by Iran International, offering a new account of the moments leading up to the American submarine attack near Sri Lanka. Read here.

US and Israeli strikes across Iran have damaged around 10,000 civilian structures in the country, the Iranian Red Crescent Society said. In a social media post, the organisation said the damage includes 7,943 residential units and 1,617 commercial properties, along with several medical and educational facilities.

Iran's security chief, Ali Larijani, has vowed that Tehran will avenge the “blood of our leader” and warned US President Donald Trump that he will "pay the price" for the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as the US-Iran-Israel war in the Middle East intensifies. Larijani's remarks drew an immediate and a sharp response from Trump, saying "he couldn't care less". Read here.

Thick plumes of smoke hung over Tehran on Sunday (March 8) after strikes hit oil storage sites and refineries a day earlier. State media reported massive explosions in parts of the Iranian capital, while Israel said it had targeted missile positions, command centres and fuel depots on Saturday.

President Donald Trump said the war with Iran may only conclude with the destruction of its military and ruling leadership, even as Tehran on Sunday moved closer to selecting a new supreme leader amid ongoing missile and drone exchanges across the Middle East.

Iran's President warned that attacks on American targets across the Middle East could intensify as the US and Israel continued their air campaign against the Islamic Republic.

"When we are attacked, we have no choice but to respond. The greater the pressure placed on us, the stronger our reaction will be. Iran will not easily submit to bullying, oppression or aggression — it never has," President Masoud Pezeshkian said in video remarks on Sunday.

The body responsible for choosing Iran’s next supreme leader has taken a decision, members said, though the name of the candidate has not yet been made public, news agency Reuters reported.  "The most suitable candidate, backed by the majority of the Assembly of Experts, has been identified," said Mohsen Heydari, a member of the selection body representing Khuzestan province.

Another member, Mohammad Mehdi Mirbagheri, also confirmed in a video that a clear consensus reflecting the majority view had been reached.

US and Israeli strikes in Iran have killed about 200 children and nearly 200 women, Iran's Health Ministry said on Sunday, adding that the overall death toll in the war has crossed 1,200. Health Ministry spokesman Hossein Kermanpour said in a social media post that more than 1,000 people have also been injured since February 28, including around 400 women.

A Pakistani driver died overnight in Dubai after debris from an aerial interception struck a vehicle, authorities said on Sunday. The incident marks the second fatality involving a Pakistani national in the city in recent days, news agency Associated Press reported. 

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed sorrow over the deaths of the two Pakistanis in Dubai.

President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Britain was considering sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East, but added that the United States did not need their support to defeat Iran, in the latest strain between the two military allies.

The United Kingdom, our once Great Ally, maybe the Greatest of them all, is finally giving serious thought to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East. That's OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we don't need them any longer — But we will remember. We don't need people that join Wars after we've already won," he said in a post on Truth Social.

The Israeli military has issued an evacuation warning to residents living south of the Litani River in southern Lebanon, urging them to leave the area immediately amid ongoing military operations against Hezbollah, according to news agency Reuters. 

At least four people were killed after an Israeli strike hit an apartment inside the Ramada hotel building in central Beirut early Sunday, new agency Reuters reported. Israel said the target was Iranian commanders operating from the Lebanese capital.

The strike appeared to hit a corner suite on the fourth floor of the hotel. A Reuters reporter at the site said the suite’s windows were blown out and parts of the surrounding facade were blackened by the blast. Ten others were injured in the attack in Beirut’s Raouche district, according to a statement from Lebanon’s health ministry.

Qatar Airways has carried out repatriation flights from Doha to Amsterdam, Berlin, Frankfurt, London, and Zurich, following the arrival of six inbound flights from Paris, Madrid, London, Frankfurt, Rome, and Bangkok. The airline clarified that these operations do not signal a full resumption of commercial flights. Additional repatriation services are planned Tuesday for passengers traveling to Doha from European cities and Muscat.

Iran’s Red Crescent Society reported that nearly 10,000 civilian buildings and facilities have been damaged or destroyed in US‑Israeli attacks since the conflict began, Al Jazeera said. The figures include thousands of residential units and commercial properties hit across the country, highlighting the extensive impact on civilian infrastructure. The organisation called for urgent action to protect civilians and safeguard humanitarian efforts amid the ongoing hostilities.

Muhammad Marah, 55, from Abu Falah near Ramallah, died after choking on tear gas fired by IDF forces responding to a settler attack that killed two other Palestinians, The Times of Israel reported. Marah reportedly suffered heart failure before reaching a hospital, authorities said.

Israeli air strikes hit a three-storey building in Sire al Gharbiya, southern Lebanon, killing at least 19 people, including children, Al Jazeera reported. Civil defense and rescue teams are working to clear rubble and recover the bodies, while authorities continue efforts to assess the full impact of the attack.

The Israeli Ministry of Health reported that at least 1,929 people have been taken to hospitals since Iran’s retaliatory strikes, Al Jazeera said. Of these, nine are in serious condition, 42 moderate, and 70 minor. Many injuries occurred while residents were descending to protected areas during the attacks.

The Iranian Health Ministry said US and Israeli strikes have killed around 200 children and 200 women, part of more than 1,200 deaths in the conflict, the Associated Press reported. Spokesman Hossein Kermanpour added that over 1,000 others, including roughly 400 women, have been injured since February 28.

Local media report that Israel intercepted three drones launched from Lebanon over its northern region. Two were quickly neutralised, while the third was pursued over a longer distance. Authorities confirmed there were no injuries or damage from the drone incursions.

Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry reported that three crew members remain missing after the UAE-flagged tugboat Musaffah 2 sank in the Strait of Hormuz following an explosion, Al Jazeera reported. One Indonesian survivor is receiving burn treatment in Khasab, Oman, while local authorities continue searching for the missing crew. An investigation into the incident is underway.