The Iranian armed forces have denied launching drones into Azerbaijani territory. Nonetheless, Aliyev said Azerbaijan \u201cstrongly condemns this heinous terrorist act\u201d and that his government has summoned Iran\u2019s ambassador to the foreign ministry in Baku.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose responsible must be brought to justice without delay,\u201d he said. \u201cThe Iranian side must provide an official explanation to Azerbaijan, issue an apology, and ensure that the perpetrators are held criminally accountable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Aliyev said Azerbaijan\u2019s armed forces \u201chave been placed at the highest level of combat readiness and are prepared to carry out any required operations\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will not tolerate this unprovoked act of terror and aggression against Azerbaijan,\u201d Aliyev said.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.12 EST<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n Today so far<\/p>\n Azerbaijan has responded strongly to the alleged drone strike in the Nakhchivan region near the border of Iran. Though Iran has denied any involvement, Ilham Aliyev, the president of Azerbaijan, has ordered the country\u2019s armed forces to be at \u201cthe highest level of readiness\u201d for any retaliatory action and summoned Iran\u2019s ambassador to the foreign ministry in Baku.<\/p>\n Iran claimed it had hit a US oil tanker in the northern Persian Gulf and that the vessel was on fire. There was no immediate confirmation of the incident or comment from the US. Iran\u2019s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it maintains full control of the Strait of Hormuz and has effectively closed it to oil and gas exports.<\/p>\n UK defence secretary John Healey flew into Cyprus to calm the diplomatic fallout over a drone that evaded detection and hit an RAF base, prompting fury from local ministers. UK officials believe a drone that hit an RAF base in Cyprus evaded detection by flying low and slow when it was launched by pro-Iranian militia in Lebanon or western Iraq.<\/p>\n Iran continued to launch a wave of missiles at Israel, sending millions of residents into bomb shelters, just hours after moves to limit Donald Trump and his ability to prolong the war were blocked in Washington. Other countries in the Gulf region continued to deal with the fallout: six people were injured in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates from falling debris after air defences intercepted a drone and Qatar officials urged residents to stay inside as air defences worked to halt an attack. The ministry of defence in Bahrain said on Thursday that their air defences had destroyed 75 missiles and 123 drones since the start of the conflict.<\/p>\n The Israeli military said it was beginning a new widespread wave of attacks in Tehran. Israel<\/a> also said it carried out strikes on Beirut targeting Hezbollah while Lebanese state media reported an Israeli drone strike killed a Hamas official.<\/p>\n The World Health Organization (WHO) said it has verified more than a dozen attacks on health infrastructure in Iran amid the US-Israeli campaign. Four healthcare workers have been killed and 25 others injured, according to the organisation.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Hundreds of thousands of people in southern Lebanon told to flee by Israeli military<\/p>\n The Israeli military has issued an evacuation order for all of the southern suburbs of Beirut, in an area called the Dahiyeh which it says is a Hezbollah stronghold.<\/p>\n There\u2019s no definitive figure on how big the population is here but some estimates put it between 300,000 to 700,000. It is believed to be the first time the Israeli military has ordered large swathes of the Lebanese capital to flee, when before they would force people out of specific buildings that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would then strike.<\/p>\n The IDF\u2019s Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, said the latest order covers four major neighbourhoods in the southern suburbs of Beirut \u2013 Bourj el-Barajneh, Hadath, Haret Hreik and Shiyyah.<\/p>\n \u201cSave your lives and evacuate your homes immediately,\u201d he said in a message posted on social media.<\/p>\n \u201cBeware, heading south is prohibited. Any southward movement could endanger your lives.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will inform you of the safe time to return to your homes.\u201d<\/p>\n Traffic jam on a street after the Israel’s military issued evacuation orders of entire neighbourhoods in Beirut’s southern suburb. Photograph: Claudia Greco\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.19 EST<\/p>\n Key points from Starmer press conference<\/p>\n UK prime minister Keir Starmer addressed the nation in a press conference this afternoon to give an update on the escalating conflict in the Middle East. Here are the main points from the briefing:<\/p>\n Starmer said he stands by his decision not to join the US-Israeli strikes on Iran. He added that the best way forward for both Iran and the world is a negotiated settlement.<\/p>\n Responding to questions on Trump\u2019s remarks that he has \u201cruined the special relationship\u201d, Starmer said it was \u201cin operation right now\u201d. He added that it was up to Trump to make the right decisions for the US, and for him to do the same for the UK. \u201cThere\u2019s nothing controversial about that.\u201d<\/p>\n The UK is sending four additional Typhoon jets to Qatar, as well as Wildcat helicopters with anti-drone capabilities being sent to Cyprus. Starmer said the US has been allowed to use British airfields to carry out defensive missions and that HMS Dragon is heading for the Mediterranean.<\/p>\n The first charter flight from Oman took off today. The prime minister said more than 4,000 people have arrived back in the UK on commercial flights from the UAE. This comes after a repatriation flight from Oman scheduled last night was delayed due to what officials said were \u201coperational issues\u201d.<\/p>\n There was no specific request from US to use UK bases until Saturday afternoon. When asked to responds to reports that he wanted to give the US permission to use UK airfields last week but was blocked by cabinet ministers, he said there was no request from the US on Friday and therefore there was no decision to be made. The US-Israeli strikes on Iran began on Saturday morning.<\/p>\n For more details on the news conference, head over to our UK politics blog here:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.23 EST<\/p>\n More than 2,000 people had arrived in the UK on Wednesday on eight flights from the UAE, MPs have been told by a Foreign Office minister, Hamish Falconer. A further eight flights are expected from the UAE today.<\/p>\n British Airways has also now agreed to lay on new flights from Muscat, the capital of Oman, which were expected to fly every day following talks with the government, he added.<\/p>\n However, there was criticism from MPs including the shadow foreign secretary, Priti Patel, who pressed the government on the failure of the first repatriation flight chartered by the UK government to take off via Oman on Wednesday evening. She asked why the Iranian ambassador had not been expelled when Falconer summoned him to the Foreign Office on Wednesday.<\/p>\n \u201cThis situation is shameful and embarrassing and never in the history of this great nation has government been so feeble when our people are under assault,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Concerns were also raised by Labour MPs, including Adam Jogee, who praised the government\u2019s response but told of constituents whose flights through the Middle East had been cancelled and were now being asked to pay \u00a31,000 a night in accommodation costs for the next three weeks.<\/p>\n He called on the government to \u201cgo further and faster in ensuring that airlines and travel agents don\u2019t take advantage of people and let them down\u201d.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The World Health Organization (WHO) said it has verified more than a dozen attacks on health infrastructure in Iran amid a US-Israeli campaign.<\/p>\n Four healthcare workers have been killed and 25 others injured, according to the organisation.<\/p>\n \u201cWHO has verified 13 attacks on health care in Iran<\/a> and one in Lebanon,\u201d the organisation\u2019s director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a press conference, without attributing blame.<\/p>\n Regional directed Hanan Balkhy said four ambulances in Iran were also affected and that hospitals and other health sites suffered minor damage due to strikes nearby.<\/p>\n She said the WHO logistics hub in Dubai which provides health supplies to dozens of countries is temporarily out of service because of transport restrictions in the region.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Azerbaijani president orders armed forces to prepare for ‘highest level of combat readiness’<\/p>\n Ilham Aliyev, the president of Azerbaijan, called a security meeting on Thursday regarding the alleged drone strike in the Nakhchivan region and delivered a speech<\/a> stating that \u201cany hostile force will feel the full might of our \u2018Iron Fist\u2019\u201d.<\/p>\n The Iranian armed forces have denied launching drones into Azerbaijani territory. Nonetheless, Aliyev said Azerbaijan \u201cstrongly condemns this heinous terrorist act\u201d and that his government has summoned Iran\u2019s ambassador to the foreign ministry in Baku.<\/p>\n \u201cThose responsible must be brought to justice without delay,\u201d he said. \u201cThe Iranian side must provide an official explanation to Azerbaijan, issue an apology, and ensure that the perpetrators are held criminally accountable.\u201d<\/p>\n Aliyev said Azerbaijan\u2019s armed forces \u201chave been placed at the highest level of combat readiness and are prepared to carry out any required operations\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will not tolerate this unprovoked act of terror and aggression against Azerbaijan,\u201d Aliyev said.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.12 EST<\/p>\n US lawmaker on Iranian leadership: ‘Just keep killing them until they\u2019re gone’<\/p>\n In the US, Senate Republicans voted down<\/a> on Wednesday a war powers resolution that would have required Donald Trump to seek congressional approval before continuing the war with Iran.<\/p>\n The vote broke down along party lines, with John Fetterman of Pennsylvania as the sole Democrat to vote against the measure. On Wednesday, prior to the vote, Fetterman went on CNN News Central<\/a> to voice his support of the US-Israeli strikes on Iran and say that this was a situation of \u201ccountry over party\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat I\u2019m trying to establish is that every single senator in the Congress says we should never allow Iran<\/a> to acquire a nuclear weapon. That now has made that possible after that. And now they\u2019ve eliminated this leadership,\u201d Fetterman said. \u201cNow, do you really want those things? Does it really matter? Were you really serious about that? Because if you were, why can\u2019t we just acknowledge \u2013 I\u2019m not with all of it \u2013 but this was a great development for the region.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Anchor Kate Bolduan asked Fetterman if he thought the US and Israel<\/a> were aligned in their war goals, specifically in regards to comments made by Israeli defence minister Israel Katz that \u201cany leader appointed by the Iranian terror regime\u201d would become \u201can unequivocal target for elimination\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah just keep killing them until they\u2019re gone,\u201d Fetterman said. \u201cI mean, absolutely. I\u2019ve read that they\u2019re (Israel is) going to target who they (Iran) ever elect to be their next leader and kill them. Absolutely. I fully support it. So, that\u2019s what\u2019s entirely appropriate.\u201d<\/p>\n When Bolduan pushed further on the issue, asking Fetterman who should decide the leader of Iran\u201cif you think the United State should take part in taking out every next leader going forward\u201d if the leader doesn\u2019t meet the right measure, he responded by saing he \u201cabsolutely\u201d supports killing the leadership of Iran.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, I\u2019m sorry, I absolutely support killing, you know, the leadership of the Iranian. Absolutely. I absolutely support that,\u201d Fetterman said. \u201cI think that\u2019s entirely appropriate until hopefully they\u2019ll pick someone that realizes that they need to live and coexist in peace in the region and stop trying to destroy Israel and to stabilize the region.\u201d<\/p>\n The US House of Representatives is set to vote on a similar measure later today. For more, follow along with our live coverage here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.22 EST<\/p>\n Azerbaijan says drone attacks ‘will not remain unanswered’<\/p>\n Azerbaijan vowed to respond after a drone attack on an airport in its territory, which the Baku government said came from the direction of Iran<\/a>.<\/p>\n Iran denied involvement and has blamed the attack on Israel<\/a>, but the Azerbaijani defence ministry placed the blame squarely on Iran.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Islamic Republic of Iran bears the entire responsibility for the incident,\u201d the ministry said in a statement.<\/p>\n It added: \u201cThese acts of aggression will not remain unanswered.\u201d<\/p>\n The ministry said it would \u201cprepare necessary retaliatory measures\u201d without specifying what they would be. It added that it would investigate the types of drones that were used in the attack in the Nakhchivan exclave close to the border with Iran, which injured four people.<\/p>\n Iran\u2019s deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi denied Tehran had targeted Nakhchivan, telling the Azerbaijani outlet AnewZ that his country is \u201cnot targeting neighbouring countries\u201d.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Pictures: Damage at Azerbaijani airport and school following reported drone attack<\/p>\n The newswires have uploaded images from a video appearing to show the damage at Nakhchivan airport after what Azerbaijani officials said was a drone attack carried out by Iran. Iran has denied involvement and blamed Israel<\/a>.<\/p>\n Photograph: AP Photograph: AP Photograph: Social Media\/Reuters<\/p>\n Azerbaijan said one drone fell on the terminal building of the Nakhchivan airport, which is about six miles across the border from Iran<\/a>, and another drone landed close to a school building in a nearby village.<\/p>\n The AP news agency has issued this photograph which it says shows damage to a school in Julfa, about 20 miles south of the airport and less than two miles from the Iranian border at the Aras river.<\/p>\n This image shows the damage of a school in Julfa. Photograph: APShare<\/a>Iran denies launching drone attack on Azerbaijan<\/p>\n The Iranian armed forces denied launching a drone attack on Azerbaijan, following reports that two drones flying from the direction of Iran<\/a> fell near the airport in the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Islamic republic of Iran \u2026 denies its armed forces launched a drone toward the Republic of Azerbaijan,\u201d the general staff of the armed forces said in a statement carried by Iran\u2019s semi-official Tasnim news agency.<\/p>\n Blaming the attack on Israel<\/a>, it said: \u201cSuch actions by the Zionist regime to disrupt relations between Muslim countries through various means are well documented.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Iranian ship attacked by US was sailing home after naval exercise hosted by India, officials say<\/p>\n The Iranian warship that was sunk by a US submarine was on its way home after taking part in naval exercises hosted by India, officials in New Delhi have said.<\/p>\n The Iris Dena sank in international waters off the coast of Sri Lanka yesterday after a US torpedo attack, killing more than 80 people. Scores of people are still missing while 32 people were rescued by Sri Lankan authorities.<\/p>\n India\u2019s defence ministry said the Iranian warship had participated in the International Fleet Review \u2013 a ceremonial event designed to showcase the maritime capabilities of the Indian navy and international partners \u2013 and the multilateral naval exercise Milan 2026 in the port of Visakhapatnam from 15 February to 25 February. The ministry said 74 countries had joined the events.<\/p>\n A second Iranian ship has been reported in waters close to Sri Lanka today and has sought emergency permission to dock. Sources told the Guardian the ship was a logistical pipe-laying vessel, which is not categorised as a warship. It may be as close as 10 nautical miles from the western coast of Sri Lanka, putting it within the country\u2019s sovereign waters.<\/p>\n You can ready more on this story here:<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Consternation in Cyprus over British sovereign base areas following strike on RAF Akrotiri Over in Cyprus, British defence minister John Healey has just wrapped up talks with his Cypriot counterpart.<\/p>\n Emphasizing the two countries\u2019 long- standing friendship, Healey said talks had focused on \u201chow the UK is further reinforcing our air defences to support our shared security,\u201d following Sunday\u2019s drone attack on the RAF Akrotiri airbase.<\/p>\n The presence of UK sovereign base areas – a remnant of British colonial rule – has long been a bone of contention among both Greek and Turkish Cypriots. The drone strike, which caused marginal damage to the military installation\u2019s landing strip, has brought that disgruntlement out into the open at an official level as never before.<\/p>\n For the first time the island\u2019s political and diplomatic elite has expressed consternation over the dangers posed by the facilities, saying Britain has not done enough to protect the installations and surrounding areas where locals live.<\/p>\n The UK, unlike Europe, is perceived to have dragged its feet in deciding to deploy military support.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a sense of there being too little too late,\u201d one senior official told The Guardian this morning. \u201cThere\u2019s been a lot of talking at the highest level and the defense minister\u2019s visit is part of that. But now we\u2019ve gone beyond words. Now is a time for serious cooperation regarding the bases. Now is the time for action.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Bahrain: air defences have intercepted 75 missiles and 123 drones<\/p>\n Bahrain air defences have destroyed 75 missiles and 123 drones since the start of the conflict, the Bahrain Defence Force said<\/a> on Thursday.<\/p>\n The general command urged residents to stay home and not go out unless absolutely necessary.<\/p>\n![\"Ben](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Ben_Quinn.png\")
Ben Quinn<\/p>\n![\"Helena](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1772725089_342_helena.jpg\")
Helena Smith<\/p>\n