double quotation mark”Among the targets were an executive council\u2019s command center and a facility storing UAVs used for attacks against Israel.<\/p>\n
The IDF had earlier issued forced evacuation orders for the whole population of Beirut\u2019s southern suburbs \u2013 home to 500,000 people \u2013 sparking widespread panic and leading to huge queues of traffic as people tried to flee<\/a>.<\/p>\n It comes in spite of calls from world leaders including Emmanuel Macron urging Israel<\/a> not to expand the war into Lebanon. According to the Lebanese health ministry, Israeli strikes have killed at least 123 people and injured 683 in Lebanon since Monday.<\/p>\n Lebanon\u2019s Iran-backed Hezbollah militia warned Israeli residents on Friday to evacuate towns within 5 km (3 miles) of the border.<\/p>\n \u201cYour military\u2019s aggression against Lebanese sovereignty and safe citizens, the destruction of civilian infrastructure and the expulsion campaign it is carrying out will not go unchallenged,\u201d Hezbollah said in a message posted on its Telegram channel in Hebrew.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Iran and Lebanon were hit with a wave of intense Israeli strikes overnight.<\/p>\n Israel\u2019s military said Friday morning it had begun \u201ca broad-scale wave of strikes\u201d on Tehran, Iran\u2019s capital.<\/p>\n Witnesses described the airstrikes as particularly intense, shaking homes in the area. Others reported explosions around the Iranian city of Kermanshah in an area that is home to multiple missile bases, AP reported.<\/p>\n In Lebanon, Israel launched a series of airstrikes late Thursday into Friday in the southern suburbs of Beirut and other areas. Motorists jammed roads trying to flee or seek shelter.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Iran fired missile and drone attacks into Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain on Friday, all countries that host US forces. There were no immediate reports of casualties.<\/p>\n Fire blazing at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted Beirut\u2019s southern suburbs Haret Hreik neighborhood on March 5, 2026. Photograph: Anwar Amro\/AFP\/Getty ImagesPeople walk past wreckage of Qard al-Hassan building, the financial institution of pro-Iranian Hezbollah that was destroyed in an Israeli air raid in the village of Douirs, in Lebanon eastern Bekaa valley. Photograph: ZUMAPRESS.com\/AvalonA displaced boy with his family fleeing Israeli airstrikes in Beirut\u2019s southern suburb of Dahiyeh sets fire to warm themselves on the Beirut corniche in Lebanon. Photograph: Hussein Malla\/APSmoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted Beirut\u2019s southern suburbs on March 5, 2026. Photograph: Ibrahim Amro\/AFP\/Getty ImagesLebanese boys, on their bicycles near the wreckage of Qard al-Hassan building in the village of Douirs, in Lebanon eastern Bekaa valley. Photograph: Marwan Naamani\/ZUMA Press Wire\/ShutterstockMourners carry the coffins of victims, draped with pro-Iranian Hezbollah flag, who were killed in an Israeli air raid in the city of Baalbek, in Lebanon eastern Bekaa valley. Photograph: Marwan Naamani\/ZUMA Press Wire\/ShutterstockSmoke rises over buildings following explosions in the central region of the city of Tehran, Iran. Photograph: Majid Saeedi\/Getty ImagesThe 12,000-seat hall of Azadi Sports Complex in Tehran, Iran, was destroyed following U.S-Israeli strikes on Thursday. Photograph: EPN\/Newscom\/AvalonA man stands overlooking the city of Tehran with mountain skyline, during the air attacks by US and and Israel. Photograph: Arash Khamooshi\/Polaris\/eyevineA mourner holds a portrait of Iran\u2019s slain supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on March 5, 2026, during a funeral procession for members of Iraq\u2019s pro-Iran paramilitary group Hezbollah Brigades (Kataeb Hezbollah) who were killed in a strike in Baghdad the previous day. Photograph: Ahmad Al-Rubaye\/AFP\/Getty ImagesIranian flags hang from a building in Shahid Borujerdi residential complex in south east Tehran which was heavily struck and destroyed by Israel and U.S. during Operation Epic Fury. Photograph: Kaveh Kazemi\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a>Philippines mulls shorter weeks, less air-con as fuel costs bite<\/p>\n The Philippines government is urging the country to limit their air conditioner use and restrict non-essential travel while it mulls a four-day working week, as tensions in the Middle East push global fuel costs higher, Bloomberg reports<\/a>.<\/p>\n The country imports nearly all of its oil, and the war in Iran<\/a> could spur inflation that already hit a 13 month high in February.<\/p>\n Its department of energy said while it does not import crude oil directly from Iran, its dependence on the region leaves makes it vulnerable when shipping lanes are disrupted.<\/p>\n President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.\u2019s administration this week ordered government offices to set their air-cons to no lower than 24 degrees C (75 degrees fahrenheit) and adopt flexible work arrangements to help conserve fuel.<\/p>\n Marcos, who plans to seek emergency authority from Congress to slash taxes<\/a> on petroleum products, is also entertaining the idea of a four-day work week.<\/p>\n Some government agencies have said they will provide fuel subsidies<\/a> to fisherfolk, farmers and public transport drivers.<\/p>\n Protesters burn a composite image depicting (L-R) United States President Donald Trump, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a rally near the US embassy in Manila, Philippines, 06 March 2026. Photograph: Rolex dela Pe\u00f1a\/EPAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a001.18 EST<\/p>\n Two Japanaese nationals detained in Iran, Japan calls for release<\/p>\n Two Japanese nationals have been detained in Iran, Japan\u2019s Foreign Ministry said on Friday and requested the early release of both people.<\/p>\n Japan hasn\u2019t confirmed the names of the two citizens, but said one person had been detained before the US-Israel military strikes on Iran.<\/p>\n The ministry said the detainees are safe in good health.<\/p>\n The Committee to Protect Journalists has named the one of the detainees as Shinnosuke Kawashima, the Tehran bureau chief of Japanese public broadcaster NHK. Its report quoted an unidentified source who spoke on condition of anonymity due to fear of retribution.<\/p>\n The committee said Kawashima was arrested on 20 January by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and was transferred on 23 February to Evin Prison.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Evacuated British nationals return to UK, as crisis continues to disrupt flights<\/p>\n The first government-chartered plane evacuating British nationals back to the UK from the Middle East touched down on Friday.<\/p>\n The plane took off from Muscat, the capital city of Oman, at 1.36pm GMT on Thursday and arrived at London Stansted just before 1am on Friday.<\/p>\n More than 140,000 Britons have registered their presence in the Middle East with the Foreign Office and 4,000 have returned home so far.<\/p>\n In Australia, passengers who had secured seats on the first flight from Abu Dhabi to Sydney, said only about a third of its seats were filled, prompting accusations against the Australian government that it was not doing enough to fill the planes, AAP reports.<\/p>\n A passenger said she had to use her own connections to find a flight out but many others were struggling to board a flight. Foreign minister Penny Wong said she was disappointed at reports flights were arriving with hundreds of empty seats and was seeking to \u201cwork even more closely with the airlines\u201d.<\/p>\n Emirates and Etihad Airways resumed limited flight schedules to key global cities from their United Arab Emirates hubs on Friday, though the ongoing threat of missile fire piled pressure on airlines as they scrambled to accommodate travellers.<\/p>\n With most airspace in the Middle East still closed over missile and drone concerns since the start of the US-Israel war against Iran, authorities have been arranging charter flights and securing seats on limited commercial services to evacuate tens of thousands of people.<\/p>\n A government-chartered Air France flight to bring French nationals back from the United Arab Emirates was forced to turn back on Thursday due to missile fire in the area, French transport minister Philippe Tabarot said.<\/p>\n A family from Yorkshire who were living in Dubai greet a relative, as passengers from the first government\u2011chartered flight for British nationals, which departed from Oman, arrive at London Stansted Airport. Photograph: Isabel Infantes\/ReutersShare<\/a>Trump responds to Iranian claims that ground invasion would be ‘big disaster’ Donald Trump has pushed back against Iranian claims that it is ready for a ground invasion by US and Israeli forces.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a waste of time,\u201d the US president told NBC News<\/a>. \u201cThey\u2019ve lost everything. They\u2019ve lost their Navy. They\u2019ve lost everything they can lose.\u201d<\/p>\n He was responding to Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, who told the US network on Thursday that such a move would be a \u201cbig disaster\u201d for the US and Israel. \u201cWe are confident that we can confront them,\u201d said Araghchi.<\/p>\n In a phone interview with NBC, Trump also spoke further about his plan to influence the future of Iran \u2013 talking in vague terms about who he wants to lead the country, but declining to name names.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to go in and clean out everything,\u201d said Trump. \u201cWe don\u2019t want someone who would rebuild over a 10-year period.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe want them to have a good leader,\u201d he added. \u201cWe have some people who I think would do a good job.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Gulf states intercept missiles amid reports of regional discontent<\/p>\n Persian Gulf states have fended off a wave of Iranian missiles, amid reports of growing frustrations within the nations the US is not providing its partners with enough warning or support.<\/p>\n The Qatari defence ministry said air defences thwarted a drone attack targeting the US air base at Al-Udeid, Washington\u2019s largest military facility in the Middle East on Friday.<\/p>\n double quotation markQatar Emiri Air Defense Forces successfully intercepted a drone attack targeting Al-Udeid Air Base.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia\u2019s defence ministry said it had \u201cintercepted and destroyed\u201d three ballistic missiles launched towards an air base.<\/p>\n In Kuwait, air defences were working to intercept \u201chostile missile and drone attacks,\u201d the Kuwait army said in a post to X.<\/p>\n The Trump administration is confronting mounting discontent from allies in the Gulf who have complained they were not given adequate time to prepare for the torrent of Iranian drones and missiles bombarding their countries in retaliation for strikes launched by the US and Israel<\/a>, AP reports.<\/p>\n A Gulf official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told AP Gulf countries were frustrated and angry, and there was a belief in the region that the operation has focused on defending Israel and American troops, while leaving Gulf countries to protect themselves.<\/p>\n The White House said Donald Trump was in close contact with its regional partners.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Explosions in Tehran, as Israel launches more strikes<\/p>\n Israel said it launched a wave of strikes on Tehran early Friday, targeting \u201cregime infrastructure\u201d in the Iranian capital.<\/p>\n Israeli forces launched a large-scale \u201cwave of strikes against Iranian terror regime infrastructure in Tehran\u201d, a military statement said.<\/p>\n Iranian state TV reported explosions in several parts of the city.<\/p>\n The 12,000-seat hall of Azadi Sports Complex in Tehran, Iran, was destroyed following U.S-Israeli strikes on Thursday March 5, 2026. Photograph: EPN\/Newscom\/AvalonThe Diplomatic Police Center was targeted during US – Israeli strikes on Iran, leaving the building destroyed and causing damage to surrounding structures. Updated at\u00a022.25 EST<\/p>\n Hezbollah warns Israeli residents to evacuate near border<\/p>\n Lebanon\u2019s Hezbollah warned Israeli residents to evacuate towns within 5 km (3.11 miles) of the border between the countries in a message posted on its Telegram channel in Hebrew early on Friday, Reuters reports.<\/p>\n double quotation markYour military\u2019s aggression against Lebanese sovereignty and safe citizens, the destruction of civilian infrastructure and the expulsion campaign it is carrying out will not go unchallenged.<\/p>\n Hezbollah\u2019s message comes as the Israeli army began a new wave of strikes on Beirut\u2019s southern suburbs<\/a>, after earlier issuing forced evacuation orders for the area\u2019s whole population – home to 500,000 people.<\/p>\n Cross-border fighting intensified on Monday, after Hezbollah launched missiles and drones towards Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran\u2019s supreme leader,<\/a> Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.<\/p>\n Israel has said it will not evacuate its border towns and has sent more soldiers into Lebanon, saying this was a defensive measure meant to protect its citizens who live nearby.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a023.34 EST<\/p>\n Ukraine to help US and allies counter Iranian drones<\/p>\n Ukraine will help the US and its allies counter Iran\u2019s Shahed drones<\/a>, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said, after the US requested assistance.<\/p>\n Russia has sent tens of thousands of Shaheds into Ukraine since it invaded its neighbour just over four years ago, at one point launching a swarm of more than 800 drones and decoys<\/a> in its biggest night-time barrage.<\/p>\n Iran has responded to joint US-Israeli strikes by launching the same type of drones at countries in the Middle East.<\/p>\n In a post to social media, Zelenskyy said he had received a US request for support to defend against the drones in the Middle East and had given the order for equipment to be provided along with Ukrainian experts, without providing further details.<\/p>\n double quotation markUkraine helps partners who help our security and the protection of our people\u2019s lives.<\/p>\n Ukraine has pioneered the development of cut-price drone-killing equipment that cost as little as $1,000, rewriting the air defence rulebook<\/a> and making other countries take notice.<\/p>\n President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during a joint briefing with government officials on 6 March. Photograph: Danylo Antoniuk\/Ukrinform\/Cover ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.46 EST<\/p>\n Opening summary<\/p>\n Hello and welcome to our continuing coverage of the US-Israeli war on Iran.<\/p>\n The US treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, has just announced<\/a> that the US has issued a 30-day waiver<\/a> to allow Indian refiners to purchase Russian oil.<\/p>\n The remarkable u-turn comes amid concerns in markets around the world<\/a> that there will be no quick resolution to the conflict in the Middle East.<\/p>\n \u201cThis deliberately short-term measure will not provide significant financial benefit to the Russian government as it only authorizes transactions involving oil already stranded at sea,\u201d Bessent added.<\/p>\n The treasury secretary said the \u201cstop-gap measure\u201d was implemented in response to what he called \u201cIran\u2019s attempt to take global energy hostage\u201d.<\/p>\n On Tuesday, Donald Trump said the US navy would begin escorting tankers through the strait of Hormuz, which Iran has effectively closed off, \u201cif necessary\u201d.<\/p>\n The IDF has begun striking<\/a> what it describes as Hezbollah infrastructure in densely populated commercial and residential areas in the southern suburbs of Beirut. The IDF had earlier issued forced evacuation orders for the whole population of Beirut\u2019s southern suburbs \u2013 home to 500,000 people \u2013 sparking widespread panic and leading to huge queues of traffic as people tried to flee<\/a>. It comes in spite of calls from world leaders including Emmanuel Macron urging Israel not to expand the war into Lebanon. According to the Lebanese health ministry, Israeli strikes have killed at least 123 people and injured 683 in Lebanon since Monday.<\/p>\n Here are the other key developments of the past few hours:<\/p>\n Iran is ready to face American troops, if there is a ground invasion, Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi told NBC. Trump has sent mixed signals<\/a> about whether he is willing to deploy US forces in a \u201cboots on the ground\u201d capacity. Araghchi said there would be \u201cno winner in this war\u201d and Iran is not asking for a ceasefire.<\/p>\n Donald Trump has claimed \u2013 without evidence \u2013 that Iran\u2019s air force and navy are \u201cgone\u201d. Speaking during an event at the White House, the US president said: \u201cWe\u2019re destroying more of Iran\u2019s missile and drone capability every single hour \u2013 knocking them out.\u201d He went on: \u201cSo [Iran] have no air force, they have no air defence. All of their airplanes are gone, their communications are gone. Other than that, they\u2019re doing quite well. Their navy is gone, [they lost] 24 ships in three days, that\u2019s a lot of ships,\u201d he said, along with 60% of Iran\u2019s missiles and 64% of its missile launchers.\u201d Echoing comments he made earlier this week, Trump added that the US military and Israel are \u201ctotally demolish[ing]\u201d Iranian targets \u201cfar ahead of schedule\u201d.<\/p>\n The US president also said he must \u201cbe involved in the appointment\u201d of Iran\u2019s next leader as he was in Venezuela, and dismissed the idea of the assassinated ayatollah\u2019s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, succeeding his father as supreme leader as \u201cunacceptable\u201d. More on that here<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Trump administration has meanwhile allowed Indian refiners to buy Russian oil for 30 days \u2013 just a month after Trump claimed India had agreed to stop purchasing it, in a shift that he said would \u201chelp END THE WAR in Ukraine\u201d by cutting off a key source of funds for Russia. Today US treasury secretary Scott Bessent claimed the reversal \u201cwill not provide significant financial benefit\u201d to Moscow. More details here<\/a>.<\/p>\n The war has escalated each day, now affecting an additional 14 countries across the Middle East and beyond. On Thursday, Azerbaijan accused Iran of drone attacks, which Tehran denied.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the US House of Representatives has voted down a Democratic-backed measure to halt hostilities with Iran, as Republicans cleared the way for Trump to continue the conflict that has drawn in countries across the Middle East, but criticized as having unclear goals. Our story here<\/a>.<\/p>\n The UK\u2019s defence secretary John Healey declined to rule out Britain joining US-Israeli strikes on Iran. More on that here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Canada\u2019s top general said allies were in talks about possibly helping Persian Gulf States defend themselves. Defence chief Gen. Jennie Carignan said a meeting was set for Friday to discuss such a proposal among allied militaries, and the Canadian Armed Forces would present a recommendation to the Canadian government. She did not specify what type of support this might involve but said Canada is not taking part in the US bombing of Iran and confirmed the discussions were not about participating in Operation Epic Fury.<\/p>\n Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he received a request from the United States \u201cfor specific support\u201d in dealing with Iran\u2019s Shahed attack drones, as the US and its allies in the Middle East seek Ukraine\u2019s expertise in countering such attacks from Russia. \u201cI gave instructions to provide the necessary means and ensure the presence of Ukrainian specialists who can guarantee the required security,\u201d Zelenskyy wrote<\/a> on X. \u201cUkraine helps partners who help ensure our security and protect the lives of our people.\u201d More on that here<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Callum](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Callum_Jones.png\")
Callum Jones<\/p>\n
\n Photograph: Sobhan Farajvan\/Pacific Press\/ShutterstockShop owners clean up the rubble caused by missile explosion in the vicinity of a building in Shahid Borujerdi residential complex in south east Tehran which was heavily struck and destroyed by Israel and U.S. during Operation Epic Fury. Photograph: Kaveh Kazemi\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n