US, Israel War on Iran: Conflict Escalates as Missile Strikes, Drone Attacks, and Explosions Rock Major Cities

Iran War News Key Developments: US, Israel war on Iran LIVE: Israel’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein on Sunday accused Iran of deliberately targeting civilians with ballistic missiles, calling the strikes “war crimes” and maintaining that Israel’s military operations are directed only at military targets. Speaking to IANS from a residential area in Tel Aviv hit by a missile, Marmorstein said the damage at the site reflected what he described as Iran’s “ballistic terror.” "What you see behind me is the result of the Iranian regime's ballistic terror. As you can see, the ballistic missile was aimed at a civilian neighbourhood. We had children here, elderly people. They are targeting civilians," the Spokesperson added. US, Israel war on Iran LIVE: UAE authorities have rolled out precautionary steps to safeguard residents, workers and tourists amid recent regional tensions. Measures include - - Temporary closure of major landmarks, remote work advisories for private sector employees and operational adjustments in key business hubs - Officials have urged the public to follow only verified official sources for updates and instructions - Jebel Jais (Ras Al Khaimah): All facilities, activities and dining outlets temporarily closed until the situation is deemed safe - Dubai attractions: Global Village and Dubai Parks & Resorts were closed on March 1 in line with national safety directives US, Israel war on Iran LIVE: The US military said three service members were killed in action and five seriously wounded during operations against Iran. Several others suffered minor shrapnel injuries and concussions and are being cleared to return to duty, US Central Command said. “Major combat operations continue and our response effort is ongoing,” the statement added. The command said further details, including the identities of those killed, would be withheld for 24 hours until next of kin are notified, noting that the situation remains fluid. CENTCOM Update TAMPA, Fla. – As of 9:30 am ET, March 1, three U.S. service members have been killed in action and five are seriously wounded as part of Operation Epic Fury. Several others sustained minor shrapnel injuries and concussions — and are in the process of being… Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said Sunday they launched four ballistic missiles at the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, state media reported. The vessel is one of two U.S. carriers deployed to the region and the closest to Iran. US, Israel war on Iran LIVE: Speaking to Al Jazeera, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that the country has no intention of closing the Strait of Hormuz at present, nor any plans to do “anything that would disrupt navigation in it at this stage”. “We have no problem with the countries on the other side of the Persian Gulf, we have friendly relations and good neighbourly relations with all of them and we are determined to continue these relations. What we are doing is in fact an act of self-defence and retaliation to the American aggression against us,” he further said. “We are not attacking our brothers in the Persian Gulf, we are not attacking our neighbours, but we are attacking American targets,” he told Al Jazeera. US, Israel war on Iran LIVE: Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has sought to project calm following the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, insisting that the country’s constitutional succession process is firmly on track. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Araghchi said the mechanism outlined in Iran’s constitution has already been activated. US, Israel war on Iran LIVE: At least three people have been killed and 58 others injured in the United Arab Emirates since Iran launched its retaliatory strikes across the Gulf following US and Israeli attacks. “The incidents resulted in three fatalities of Pakistani, Nepali and Bangladeshi nationalities, and 58 minor injuries among Emirati, Egyptian, Ethiopian, Filipino, Pakistani, Iranian, Indian, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Azerbaijani, Yemeni, Ugandan, Eritrean, Lebanese and Afghan nationals,” the ministry posted on X. According to the UAE Ministry of Defence, the country detected 165 ballistic missiles, of which 152 were destroyed and intercepted two cruise missiles. Authorities also reported detecting 541 Iranian drones, with 506 successfully intercepted and neutralised. US, Israel war on Iran LIVE: Pakistan PM Shehbaz Shariff has condemned the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader and called it a violation of international laws. "The Government and the people of Pakistan join the people of Iran in their hour of grief and sorrow and extend the most sincere condolences on the martyrdom of His Eminence Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. Pakistan also expresses concern over violation of the norms of international law. It is an age old convention that the Heads of State/Government should not be targeted," Shariff posted on X. US, Israel war on Iran LIVE: President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran will continue its forceful response, declaring that the country’s armed forces will persist in striking and destroying what he described as enemy military bases. Pezeshkian said Iran would follow in the footsteps of its supreme leader and framed the leader’s killing as the culmination of years of sacrifice. He stressed that the Islamic Republic remains committed to pressing ahead with its military campaign despite the escalating conflict. US, Israel war on Iran LIVE: Indian missions across West Asian countries are in contact with Indian nationals and have issued necessary advisories in view of the evolving situation, the Ministry of External Affairs said. Emergency numbers shared by the various missions of India: +989128109115/+989128109109 (Iran), +972-54-7520711/+972-54-2428378 (Israel), +966-11-4884697 (Saudi Arabia), +96565501946 (Kuwait), +974-55647502 (Qatar), +973-39418071 (Bahrain), +968-98282270 (Oman), +963-993385973 (Syria), +964-771-651—1185 (Iraq) US, Israel war on Iran LIVE: The death toll from an Iranian missile strike on central Israel’s Beit Shemesh has risen to six people, the Magen David Adom ambulance service said. Barrage of retaliatory missiles continued following strikes on Iran by US and Israeli forces. The projectile hit a residential area in Beit Shemesh, causing significant damage and injuries, with dozens of others reported hurt as medics treated multiple victims including children, according to local emergency services. The strike is part of an intensified round of Iranian attacks on Israel and allied positions after the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which has sharply escalated the regional conflict. US, Israel war on Iran LIVE: In the wake of the Middle East conflict triggered by US-Israeli strikes on Iran, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to chair a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) after returning to Delhi on Sunday night, Hindustan Times reported. The PM is expected to land in Delhi at around 9.30 pm. He is currently in Tamil Nadu. US, Israel war on Iran LIVE: Lufthansa said on Sunday it has suspended flights to Tel Aviv, Beirut, Amman, Erbil, Dammam and Tehran through March 8, citing the ongoing security situation in the Middle East and extending existing cancellations. The airline added that airspace over Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Dammam and Iran will remain closed until and including March 8. Services to and from Dubai and Abu Dhabi have been suspended until and including March 4, and Lufthansa said it will avoid using United Arab Emirates airspace during the same period. Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior said the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Manama was targeted, resulting in material damage but no reported casualties. In a post on X, the ministry urged residents to seek shelter after warning sirens were activated. “The siren has been sounded. Citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place,” the statement said. According to Al Jazeera, new explosions are being heard in Dubai. There are no clear reports on the locations of the latest explosions. Explosions were heard earlier today as well (Sunday morning) across Dubai, as well as in Manama, the capital of Bahrain, and Doha, the capital of Qatar. The blasts rattled cities long regarded as islands of stability in an otherwise volatile Middle East. In Dubai, a key regional business and aviation hub, another wave of explosions echoed through the skyline. Plumes of white smoke — believed to be from missile interceptions — were visible overhead, while thick, dark smoke billowed from the direction of Jebel Ali port, one of the region’s busiest maritime gateways. In a major development, OPEC+ has agreed in principle to raise oil production by about 206,000 barrels per day (bpd), even as the US-Israel military action against Iran has disrupted shipments across the Gulf, Reuters reported citing five OPEC+ sources. - via Reuters At least 150 oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers have anchored in open Gulf waters outside the Strait of Hormuz, according to ship-tracking data. Dozens more vessels were reported stationary on the opposite side of the strategic chokepoint, as shipping movements slowed sharply after US and Israeli strikes on Iran pushed the region into open conflict. Based on MarineTraffic data analysed by Reuters, the tankers were clustered in international waters off major Gulf energy exporters, including Iraq and Saudi Arabia, as well as LNG heavyweight Qatar, reflecting growing caution among ship operators amid escalating security risks. US, Israel war on Iran LIVE: 15 Indian nationals were on board an oil tanker struck in the Strait of Hormuz near Oman’s coast, as Iran intensified its retaliation following the US and Israeli killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Palau-flagged vessel, Skylight, was hit off Oman’s Musandam Peninsula, in an incident that followed drone attacks on the country’s Duqm port. Oman’s Maritime Security Centre (MSC) said at least four crew members were injured. The tanker was carrying a 20-member crew — 15 Indians and five Iranians — when it was attacked about five nautical miles from Khasab Port. Authorities said the crew was evacuated after the strike. Iran has stopped three Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) vessels from proceeding towards the Strait of Hormuz amid rising tensions in West Asia, ARY News reported on Sunday. According to the broadcaster, directives were issued for the oil-carrying ships Karachi, Lahore and Khairpur. Sources told ARY News that Lahore and Khairpur have been instructed to remain at Fujairah port in the United Arab Emirates, while Karachi has been ordered to anchor at Gwadar port in Pakistan, ANI reported. All three vessels had Pakistani crew members on board. The development comes after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that the Strait of Hormuz has been closed to all maritime traffic, including commercial and naval vessels, significantly escalating concerns over global oil supplies and regional security. US, Israel war on Iran LIVE: Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday that the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and members of his family was "cynical" murder that violated ⁠all ​the norms of human morality and international law. "Please accept my deep condolences in connection with the ​murder of ​the Supreme Leader of ⁠the Islamic Republic of Iran, Seyed Ali Khamenei, and ‌members of his family, committed in cynical violation of all norms of human morality and international law," Putin said in a note to Iranian ⁠counterpart Masoud ⁠Pezeshkian released by the Kremlin. "In our country, Ayatollah Khamenei ⁠will ‌be remembered as an outstanding ​statesman who made ‌a huge personal contribution to the development of friendly Russian-Iranian ‌relations and bringing ​them ​to ​the level of a comprehensive strategic partnership," Putin said. "I ​ask you to convey ⁠my most sincere sympathy and support to the family and friends ‌of ⁠the Supreme Leader, the government and the entire people ​of Iran." - via Reuters US, Israel war on Iran LIVE: An advisory has been issued for Indian seafarers and maritime stakeholders amid the evolving security situation in Iran. The Directorate General of Shipping has urged Indian crew members operating in the region to remain vigilant, strictly follow advisories issued by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Embassy of India in Tehran, and exercise utmost caution at sea. The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said maritime stakeholders have also been asked to closely monitor the safety and status of Indian crew members and promptly share relevant updates with authorities to ensure coordinated response and support if required. US, Israel war on Iran LIVE: Alireza Arafi has been appointed as the jurist member of Iran’s temporary Leadership Council, the ISNA news agency reported on Sunday. The council is tasked with carrying out the duties of the Supreme Leader until the Assembly of Experts selects a successor. Arafi, a cleric and member of the Guardian Council, will serve alongside President Masoud Pezeshkian and Chief Justice Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei on the interim body, Reuters reported. US, Israel war on Iran LIVE: A Palau-flagged oil tanker was struck off Oman’s Musandam peninsula on Sunday, injuring four crew members, according to the Oman Maritime Security Centre. The incident followed drone strikes on the Gulf nation’s commercial port of Duqm, marking the first time targets in or near Oman have been hit since Tehran launched retaliatory attacks on Gulf states after joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran. The tanker, Skylight, was attacked about five nautical miles north of Khasab Port. Its 20-member crew was evacuated after the strike. Initial reports indicated that four sailors sustained injuries of varying severity. The crew comprised 15 Indian and five Iranian nationals. Authorities did not specify the nature of the weapon used. Musandam sits along the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint shared with Iran through which roughly 20% of global oil supply passes. Earlier, two drones hit Duqm port, injuring one expatriate worker, while debris from another fell near fuel tanks without causing further damage. - With inputs from Reuters US, Israel war on Iran LIVE: Protesters in Lahore reportedly stormed another US Consulate on Sunday, leading to clashes with police officers deployed at the site. Security forces attempted to push back the demonstrators after altercations broke out, but a large crowd continued to gather outside the consulate premises. The financialexpress.com cannot independently verify the authenticity of the following video at the time of reporting. 🇵🇰| ‼️BREAKING: SECOND US CONSULATE IN LAHORE STORMED BY PROTESTORS Protesters in Lahore storm the US Consulate, and altercations occur between the protestors and the police officers Protestors remain outside of the consulate https://t.co/7u7DmRrsm5 pic.twitter.com/d5QVzlIcad US, Israel war on Iran LIVE: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said avenging the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior officials is both a “duty and legitimate right” of the country. In a statement offering condolences, Pezeshkian said the Islamic Republic regards pursuing justice and retaliating against those responsible for what he described as a historic crime as a national obligation. He added that Iran would deploy all its capabilities to carry out this responsibility. US, Israel war on Iran LIVE: Slamming the killing of Iran's Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday said the targeted assassination of the leadership of a sovereign nation by the "so called leaders of the democratic world" and the killing of multitudes of innocent people is despicable and deserves strong condemnation. The targetted assassination of the leadership of a sovereign nation by the so called leaders of the democratic world and the killing of multitudes of innocent people is despicable and deserves strong condemnation, no matter what the proclaimed reason for it is. It is tragic that… US, Israel war on Iran LIVE: A massive explosion shook Tehran on Sunday after the Israeli military said it was striking targets in the heart of the Iranian capital. The blast sent a towering plume of smoke into the sky and rattled buildings across the city. It was not immediately clear what had been hit, though the apparent impact zone includes a neighbourhood housing Iran’s police headquarters and state television offices. Earlier, Iran launched missiles at targets in Israel and several Gulf Arab states, vowing sweeping retaliation for the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israeli airstrike on his Tehran office on Saturday. Khamenei’s death has plunged the Islamic Republic into uncertainty, intensifying fears of wider regional instability as the confrontation between Iran, Israel and the United States escalates. Heavy Israeli Air Force airstrikes ongoing in Iran’s capital, Tehran right now. pic.twitter.com/BvAGnTgkF4 US, Israel war on Iran LIVE: Pakistani police fired tear gas on Sunday to disperse protesters who breached the outer wall of the US consulate in Karachi, following news of US and Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Reuters reported. Protesters were eventually pushed back from the consulate, a local government spokesperson told Reuters. No casualties were reported. Reuters further reported that pro-Iranian demonstrators gathered outside the Green Zone in Baghdad, home to the US Embassy. In Pakistan’s northern city of Skardu in Gilgit-Baltistan, protesters set fire to a United Nations office building. “A large number of protesters have gathered outside the UN office in GB and burned down the building,” local government spokesperson Shabbir Mir told Reuters, adding there were no casualties. In Lahore, hundreds gathered outside the US consulate, though no violence was reported. Eyewitness Aqeel Raza told Reuters that police stopped some protesters from damaging a security gate without using force. A person recording a video claims that a UN office in Skardu in Gilgit‑Baltistan was set on fire by protestors in support of Iran. There is a known UN Military Observer Group in Skardu, According to reports hundreds of locals in skardu protesting in support of Iran. pic.twitter.com/F8rOX5FAdu US, Israel war on Iran LIVE: Massive explosion strikes Iran's capital as Israeli military said it is targeting 'heart' of city, Associated Press reported. Oman’s Duqm commercial port was struck by two drones on Sunday, injuring one expatriate worker, Reuters reported citing the state news agency reported. Debris from a third drone landed near fuel storage tanks, though authorities said there were no additional casualties or material damage, the report added. Notably, this is the first time since the escalation between US-Israel and Iran that the friendly meditator Oman has been hit by Iran.