THE TIMES OF INDIA | Mar 07, 2026, 14:12:17 IST
US-Israel-Iran War Live Updates: The US-Israel war on Iran is rapidly widening, with missile exchanges, naval strikes and regional spillover pushing the Middle East into one of its most volatile crises in decades. Iran has launched fresh missiles at Israel, while Israel has expanded strikes to Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. A US submarine has sunk an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean, marking a dramatic escalation at sea.
Casualties continue to mount, with more than 1,000 reported dead in Iran and dozens killed in Lebanon and Israel. Tehran is under sustained bombardment, and the search for a successor to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei adds further uncertainty to Iran’s political future. The United Nations says tens of thousands have fled the capital.
In Washington, Senate Republicans blocked an effort to limit President Trump’s war powers, signalling strong political backing for continued operations. The White House maintains that US ground troops are not part of the current plan but has not ruled out future options.
The conflict is also disrupting global trade and energy supplies. Missile attacks in and around the Strait of Hormuz have sharply reduced tanker traffic, sending oil prices higher and unsettling financial markets. Shipping giants are suspending routes as security risks grow.
Stay with this live blog for real-time updates, key statements, battlefield developments, diplomatic moves and economic fallout as the crisis unfolds.
US Iran War News: Dubai airport ‘partially’ reopens operations
16 killed, 35 injured in Israeli strikes on Lebanon; Hezbollah engages forces in eastern mountains
Lebanese Health Ministry said that at least 16 people were killed and 35 others injured in overnight Israeli airstrikes in the mountain town of Nabi Chit, reported AP.
The Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah said its fighters engaged with an Israeli force that landed late Friday in the eastern mountains of Lebanon.
Israel has not yet commented on the reported clashes.
Middle East crisis news: Dubai airport operations suspended; Emirates halts all flights until further notice
Dubai authorities have suspended all operations at the city’s airport following a recent attack.
Long-haul carrier Emirates has also announced that all flights to and from Dubai will remain suspended until further notice, according to reports from AP.
‘Must take wish for surrender of Iranians to graves’: Iran President’s reply to Trump; apologises to neighbouring countries
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday vowed that the country will not surrender to Israel or the United States as the conflict entered its second week.
“The enemies must take their wish for the surrender of the Iranian people to their graves,” Pezeshkian said in a speech broadcast on state TV.
In the same address, he issued an apology to neighbouring countries affected by Iran’s military actions. “I apologise… to the neighbouring countries that were attacked by Iran,” he said.
Iran War News: Iran Revolutionary Guards say they struck oil tanker ‘Prima’ in Strait of Hormuz
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said that they had targeted an oil tanker in the Gulf amid ongoing tensions with Israel and the United States.
According to a statement carried by Tasnim news agency, the ship — identified by the trade name Prima — was struck by an exploding drone.
“This morning, an oil tanker with the trade name Prima was hit by an exploding drone after ignoring repeated warnings from the IRGC naval forces regarding the prohibition of traffic and the insecurity of the Strait of Hormuz,” the statement said.
‘They got caught on wrong side of events’: Jaishankar on Iran ship struck by US in Indian Ocean
At the Raisina Dialogue 2026, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar addressed the incident involving an Iranian ship struck by the US in the Indian Ocean, saying it “got caught on the wrong side of events.”
“I too support UNCLOS and international law… We got a message from the Iranian side that one of the ships, which presumably was closest to our borders at that point of time, wanted to come into our port. They were reporting that they were having problems… On the 1st March, we said you can come in and it took them a few days to sail in and then they docked in Kochi… There were a lot of young cadets… When the ships had set out and when they came here, the situation was totally different… They were coming in for a fleet review and then they got in a way caught on the wrong side of events… One obviously had a similar situation in Sri Lanka, they took the decision which they did and one of them unfortunately didn’t make it… We approached the situation from the point of view of humanity, other than whatever the legal issues were and I think we did the right thing,” he said.
He added, “There are a lot of social media debates going on over this…. Please understand the reality of the Indian Ocean. Diego Garcia has been in the Indian Ocean for the last five decades…The fact that there are foreign forces based in Djibouti happened in the early first decade of this century. Hambantota came up during this period…”
US Iran War News: Eight dead, 80 houses damaged in Israeli and US attacks on Isfahan, official says
Israeli and US attacks on Iran’s central province of Isfahan killed at least eight people on Saturday, a provincial official said, as the regional conflict entered its second week.
“Eight citizens, including a woman, were martyred in these terrorist attacks,” said Akbar Salehi, a security official at the governor’s office in Isfahan province. AFP could not independently verify the toll.
“American and Zionist regime fighter jets attacked areas of Isfahan city and seven other cities in the province,” Salehi added, according to Tasnim news agency.
He also said that 80 houses were severely damaged in Isfahan city as well as in the Lenjan and Borkhar areas.
Middle East crisis news: Iran says it hit ‘separatist’ groups in Iraq’s Kurdistan region, reports AFP
Israel Iran War News: Israel says 80 fighter jets strike Iranian military targets in Tehran and central Iran
Israel’s military said that more than 80 fighter jets carried out a fresh wave of strikes on Iranian targets in Tehran and central parts of the country.
According to a military statement, the Israeli Air Force targeted Iranian military infrastructure, missile launchers and other facilities during the operation.
“Over 80 Israeli Air Force fighter jets… completed an additional wave of strikes targeting infrastructure belonging to the Iranian terror regime,” the military said.
US Iran War News: Iran army says it targeted Israel and US bases in UAE, Kuwait
US Iran War News: ‘Waiting’ for US forces to escort ships through Hormuz Strait, say Iran’s Revolutionary Guards
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they were “waiting” for US forces to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway where shipping traffic has been severely disrupted as the regional conflict continues.
Guards spokesman Ali Mohammad Naini made the remarks after the US energy secretary said the Navy was preparing to escort vessels through the strait “as soon as it’s reasonable to do it”.
“We are waiting for their presence,” Naini added.
He also warned Washington to remember past incidents before taking such a step. “We recommend that before making any decision, the Americans remember the fire of the American supertanker Bridgeton in 1987 and the oil tankers that were recently targeted,” Naini said, according to Fars news agency.
US Iran War News: Blast heard over Dubai airport as officials report minor debris incident
An explosion was heard over Dubai airport, followed by a cloud of smoke in the sky, a witness told AFP, as Iran continued attacks across the Gulf.
The flight-tracking website Flightradar24 showed several aircraft circling above the airport in what appeared to be a holding pattern. In a post on X, the Dubai Media Office described the latest incident as “a minor incident resulting from the fall of debris after an interception,” while also dismissing reports circulating about the airport.
Limited flights had resumed from Dubai’s main airport — the world’s busiest for international traffic — on Monday, despite daily drone attacks on targets in the United Arab Emirates.
Last Saturday, four staff members were injured and a concourse was damaged at Dubai airport after war broke out following US-Israeli strikes against Iran.
Dubai Airports said at the time that the incident had been “quickly contained,” without providing further details.
Iranian attacks have also struck Abu Dhabi airport, the Palm Jumeirah development and the Burj Al Arab luxury hotel. Drone debris also caused a fire at the US consulate in Dubai on Tuesday.
4.1 magnitude earthquake strikes near Iran’s Bandar Abbas
An earthquake of magnitude 4.1 struck near Bandar Abbas in Iran at around 8:48 am (IST), according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).
Iran War News: Flights circle above Dubai airport after debris incident following interception
Several flights bound for Dubai are currently circling above the airport, according to online flight tracker Flightradar24.
The aircraft appear to be in a holding pattern over Dubai International Airport.
Earlier, the Dubai Media Office said a “minor incident resulting from the fall of debris after an interception” had occurred but was successfully contained.
Officials also denied reports circulating on social media claiming that any incident had taken place at Dubai International Airport.
Middle East crisis news: Saudi defence minister urges Iran to ‘avoid miscalculation’ after attacks
Saudi Arabia’s defence minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, urged Iran to “exercise wisdom and avoid miscalculation” after repeated missile and drone launches at the kingdom.
Following a meeting with Pakistan’s military chief, the Saudi minister said the discussions focused on the Iranian attacks and ways to stop them.
“We discussed Iranian attacks on the Kingdom and the measures needed to halt them… We stressed that such actions undermine regional security and stability and expressed hope that the Iranian side will exercise wisdom and avoid miscalculation,” he wrote in a post on X.
US Iran War News: US says over 3,000 targets struck in Iran during first week of ‘Operation Epic Fury’
US Central Command announced a major escalation in its military campaign, saying thousands of strikes have been carried out against targets inside Iran over the past week.
In a statement posted on X, the command said the attacks were part of the ongoing mission named Operation Epic Fury.
“U.S. forces have struck over 3,000 targets in the first week of Operation Epic Fury, and we are not slowing down,” US Central Command said.
The announcement came as US President Donald Trump ruled out negotiations with Iran unless it accepts unconditional surrender. “There would be no deal with Iran except unconditional surrender,” Trump said, adding that Tehran must capitulate before any diplomatic talks can begin.
Iran War News: Blasts heard in Dubai, Manama as Iran’s retaliatory attacks continue across Gulf
Explosions were heard in Dubai and Bahrain’s capital Manama, according to AFP, as Iran’s retaliatory attacks around the Gulf entered their second week.
Two blasts were heard in Dubai, while another explosion was reported in Manama, where a warning siren also sounded.
Bahrain’s Interior Ministry urged people to remain calm and move to safe locations.
Iran War News: Clashes erupt as Israeli forces attempt landing near Lebanon-Syria border, Hezbollah says
Lebanon’s official media reported that clashes broke out as Israeli forces attempted a landing operation along the Lebanon-Syria border, with Hezbollah saying its fighters were involved in the confrontation.
The state-run National News Agency (NNA), citing the Lebanese health ministry, said Israeli strikes on Nabi Sheet killed at least three people and wounded 16 others.
There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military, which has carried out numerous strikes and deployed ground troops into Lebanon since the Iran-backed group Hezbollah fired missiles at Israel on Monday in retaliation for the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei.
If confirmed, the reported raid would mark the deepest Israeli operation inside Lebanon since special unit troops captured Hezbollah operative Imad Amhaz in the northern city of Batroun in November 2024.
According to the NNA, “clashes are taking place on the eastern mountain range along the Lebanese-Syrian border… to repel Israeli landing attempts,” as quoted by AFP.
The agency said the fighting occurred in Nabi Sheet in the eastern Baalbek district, an area where Hezbollah holds significant influence.
Hezbollah said in a statement that its fighters had “observed the infiltration of four Israeli enemy army helicopters from the Syrian direction”.
After landing, advancing troops “were engaged by a group” of Hezbollah fighters when they reached the Nabi Sheet cemetery, the group said, adding that light and medium weapons were used in the clash.
“The clash escalated after the enemy force was exposed,” Hezbollah added, saying Israeli troops launched heavy strikes before beginning an evacuation.
Middle East crisis news: Bahrain activates alarm sirens, urges residents to move to safe locations
Bahrain’s Interior Ministry said alarm sirens had been activated and urged citizens and residents to remain calm, move to the nearest safe location, and follow updates through official channels.
Iran War News: Dubai authorities say debris from interception caused minor incident, no injuries reported
Dubai authorities said a minor incident caused by falling debris after an interception has been successfully contained, with no injuries reported. Officials also dismissed reports circulating on social media claiming that any incident had taken place at Dubai International Airport.
US Iran War News: US approves emergency sale of 12,000 bomb casings to Israel
The United States approved an emergency arms sale worth $151.8 million to Israel as the conflict in the Middle East continues to escalate.
The US State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs approved the sale of 12,000 requested 1,000-pound (450-kilogram) bomb casings, according to a press release issued on Friday.
The munitions are intended to strengthen Israel’s military capabilities amid the intensifying conflict.
In addition to the bomb casings, the deal includes engineering, logistics and technical support services provided by US government and contract personnel. Some of the equipment will be supplied from existing US stockpiles.
“The proposed sale will improve Israel’s capability to meet current and future threats, strengthen its homeland defense, and serve as a deterrent to regional threats,” the bureau said in a statement cited by AFP.
The State Department said Secretary of State Marco Rubio approved the deal using emergency authority under the Arms Export Control Act, allowing the administration to bypass the usual congressional review process.
Middle East crisis news: Saudi Arabia destroys 16 drones headed for key Shaybah oil field
Saudi Arabia said it intercepted and destroyed 16 drones heading toward the Shaybah oil field in the early hours, according to a statement from the kingdom’s defense ministry on X. The ministry did not provide details about the origin of the drones.
Shaybah, located in the remote Empty Quarter desert with few residents, is one of the largest oil and gas fields in the Middle East. The site produces about one million barrels of crude per day, according to Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil company Aramco, which operates the field.
Israel-Iran War: Explosion reported in Jerusalem after Iranian missile alert
Explosions were heard in Jerusalem following an Iranian missile alert, according to AFP.
The Israeli military said it had detected new missile launches heading toward Be’er Sheva, communities near the Gaza border and other southern regions of the country.
Air raid sirens were also activated in Jerusalem, the southern Negev and large parts of southern Israel.
Israel-Iran War News: Iran’s Mehrabad Airport on fire after Israel launches ‘broad-scale’ strikes
Israeli strikes hit Tehran on Saturday as the conflict between Iran, Israel and the United States intensified, with explosions reported at the capital’s Mehrabad International Airport and other parts of the city.
Footage posted on social media showed strikes and large fires at Tehran’s Mehrabad International Airport, with eyewitnesses reporting burning planes on the tarmac after explosions rocked one of the Iranian capital’s main commercial airports.
US Iran War News: US treasury secretary Bessent warns of ‘biggest bombing campaign tonight’; set target Iran’s missile infrastructure
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Iran is now confronting pressure on two fronts, as he warned that the country will face a major military operation from US forces.
Speaking on “Kudlow” on Friday, Bessent said the United States was preparing a significant bombing campaign targeting Iran’s missile infrastructure.
“Tonight will be our biggest bombing campaign, and we’ll do the most damage to the Iranian missile launchers, the factories that build the missiles, and we are substantially degrading them,” Bessent told FOX Business host Larry Kudlow Friday.
Bessent said Iran had struggled to respond effectively to what he described as the United States’ “overwhelming” strike campaign. He added that after facing setbacks on the battlefield, Tehran was now attempting to shift its strategy toward economic disruption.
“Having not been able to succeed there [militarily], they’re trying to create economic chaos, and I don’t think they’re going to be able to do it,” he added.
His remarks came as the Trump administration moved to strengthen insurance coverage for US vessels traveling through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil transit chokepoint largely controlled by Iran.
Israel Iran War News: Israel launches ‘broad-scale’ strikes on Tehran; Iran fires missile toward Saudi base
Israel announced a new wave of “broad-scale” airstrikes on Tehran, as Donald Trump said the escalating Middle East conflict would end only if Iran agreed to “unconditional surrender.”
At the same time, Iran launched attacks against Israel and its Gulf neighbours. Saudi Arabia said its air defences intercepted a ballistic missile targeting Prince Sultan Air Base, a facility that hosts US military personnel.
Global oil markets reacted sharply to the intensifying conflict and fears of supply disruptions. Concerns also grew over potential pressure on the vital shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz.
The international benchmark Brent Crude surged to $92.69 per barrel on Friday, rising 8.5% in a single day and nearly 30% over the week.
Earlier Saturday, the Israeli military said it had carried out a “broad-scale wave of strikes” targeting government facilities in Tehran. Iranian state television later reported an explosion in the western part of the capital, though further details were not immediately available.
Israel Iran War News: Israel accuses Iran of using cluster munitions in ongoing conflict
Israel accused Iran of launching cluster munitions multiple times since the start of the ongoing conflict, which began after a US-Israeli attack on the Islamic Republic over the weekend.
Cluster bombs detonate in mid-air and release smaller bomblets over a wide area. Some of these bomblets fail to explode immediately, posing long-term risks to civilians, particularly children.
Neither Iran nor Israel is a signatory to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which prohibits the use, production, transfer and stockpiling of such weapons.
Israeli military spokesperson Nadav Shoshani said Iran had used cluster munitions several times, though he did not specify when or where they were allegedly deployed.
“They’ve used it multiple times, which is a war crime when directed at civilians, and we are monitoring the situation,” Shoshani said during a briefing.
US Iran War News: Third US carrier USS George HW Bush heads to Middle East: Report
The United States is reportedly deploying the aircraft carrier USS George H. W. Bush to the Middle East as tensions surrounding the ongoing conflict with Iran continue to escalate.
According to a report by Fox News, the move marks the third US aircraft carrier deployment to the region.
Iran War News: Iran FM, EAM Jaishankar hold call amid rising West Asia tensions
Abbas Araghchi on Friday held a phone conversation with EAM S Jaishankar to discuss the evolving regional situation amid rising tensions in West Asia following recent developments involving the United States and Israel.
According to a statement from Iran’s foreign ministry, Araghchi also spoke separately with Vijitha Herath, with the two leaders discussing the deteriorating regional climate as well as bilateral ties.
During the calls, Araghchi described the recent actions by the United States and Israel against Iran as “military aggression,” urging governments worldwide and the United Nations to condemn what he called “criminal actions.”
He also strongly condemned the US strike on the Iranian naval vessel IRIS Dena, which he said was attacked in international waters without prior warning.
Araghchi added that Iran plans to pursue the matter through legal and international mechanisms at relevant global bodies.
US Iran War News: Iran FM accuses US of launching attacks from ‘lands of our Arab friends’ to target children, innocent
Abbas Araghchi strongly criticised the United States, accusing Washington of carrying out strikes that killed civilians, including children, in Iran. He warned that Tehran’s response would inevitably target American military bases and institutions.
In a post on X, Araghchi alleged that the United States launched the attacks from the territories of “our Arab friends” to strike civilians in Iran.
“Iran and our Arab brothers have lived side by side for centuries in a spirit of affection, friendship, and mutual respect. The American aggressors launch from the lands of our Arab friends to target children and the innocent. As for Iran’s response, it will inevitably be directed at the bases of the United States and its institutions,” he wrote.
His remarks come amid international outrage following strikes that hit the Minab Girls’ Primary School in Hormozgan Province, reportedly killing more than 160 people and injuring about 100 others.
A recent report by CNN said preliminary analysis suggests the United States was likely responsible for the deadly strike on the elementary school.
The war between the United States, Israel and Iran has entered its seventh day, expanding across multiple fronts in the Middle East and sending shockwaves through global markets. Iran launched a new wave of missiles toward Israel early Thursday, triggering interceptions and fresh explosions, even as Israel confirmed new strikes in Beirut’s southern suburbs targeting the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group. The escalation follows intense US and Israeli bombardment of Iranian security forces, missile sites and symbols of state power.
In a major development, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that an American submarine torpedoed and sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean. Sri Lankan authorities said 87 bodies have been recovered and dozens rescued. The conflict has also drawn in Bahrain, Kuwait and Turkey, where NATO air defences intercepted a ballistic missile launched from Iran.
Inside Iran, strikes have hit buildings linked to the Revolutionary Guard’s Basij force and internal security command. State television showed widespread destruction in Tehran and Qom. The mourning ceremony for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed at the start of the war, has been postponed amid relentless attacks. Iran’s leadership is scrambling to choose a successor as more than 100,000 people have reportedly fled Tehran in the first days of fighting.
On Capitol Hill, Senate Republicans rejected a war powers resolution seeking to curb President Donald Trump’s authority to continue military operations without congressional approval. Trump has praised US military performance, rating it “about a 15” on a scale of 10, while the White House says no US ground troops are currently planned.
The humanitarian toll continues to rise. More than 1,000 people have been killed in Iran, over 70 in Lebanon and around a dozen in Israel, according to officials. Six US troops have also died. The conflict has disrupted global oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, slashed tanker traffic by nearly 90 per cent and driven up energy prices, rattling stock markets worldwide.
This live blog brings you verified updates on military developments, political reactions, civilian impact, global diplomacy and the unfolding energy crisis.
