US Iran ‘war’ news highlights: Saudi Arabia intercepts ballistic missile fired at air base

US Iran ‘war’ news highlights: A protester holds an Iranian flag as supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite armed groups attempt to move toward the U.S. embassy located in Baghdad's Green Zone, while riot police deploy to block their advance, following the Israel and U.S. strikes on Iran and the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, in Baghdad, Iraq, March 1, 2026.

US Iran ‘war’ news highlights: The escalating conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran entered its seventh day on Friday, widening across multiple countries in the Middle East and beyond. What began with a joint US-Israel strike that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has evolved into a rapidly expanding military confrontation involving missile attacks, air strikes, naval incidents and political divisions in Washington.

The death toll from Israeli strikes in Lebanon has risen to 217, the country's health ministry said. Lebanon was drawn into the war after Iran-backed Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel after the death of Khamenei.

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Iran on Friday carried out retaliatory strikes against US bases and energy facilities, as well as other sites, in UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Israel continued pounding the capitals, as well as other cities in Iran as well as Lebanon.

Conflict enters seventh day as Israeli strikes hit Beirut

The war entered its seventh day on Friday after Israeli forces announced a “next phase” in the conflict and carried out air strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs, according to news agency AFP.

The Israeli military had earlier issued an unprecedented evacuation warning covering the entire area, urging residents to “save your lives and evacuate your residences immediately”. The warning triggered panic among civilians and mass evacuations from the suburbs.

Lebanon was drawn into the conflict earlier this week when Hezbollah launched attacks against Israel to avenge the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Israel responded with air strikes and sent ground troops into some Lebanese border villages before expanding operations to Beirut’s southern suburbs on Thursday, targeting what it described as “Hezbollah infrastructure”.

Lebanese authorities said at least 123 people have been killed since Monday, with 683 injured and at least 90,000 displaced, as per the agency.

Massive US air campaign targets Iranian missile infrastructure

The United States said it has launched one of the largest strike campaigns against Iran’s military infrastructure in recent decades. US Central Command (CENTCOM) commander Admiral Brad Cooper on Thursday said American forces have struck nearly 200 targets deep inside Iran in the past 72 hours, news agency ANI reported.

“In just the last 72 hours, America’s bomber force has struck nearly 200 targets deep inside of Iran. In just the last hour, U.S. B-2 Spirit bombers dropped dozens of 2,000lb Penetrator bombs targeting deeply buried ballistic missile launchers,” Cooper said during a press conference, as quoted by the agency.

The operation, named Operation Epic Fury, is targeting Iran’s missile launchers, drone facilities and industrial infrastructure tied to the country’s ballistic missile programme.

Cooper said the strikes have significantly reduced the intensity of Iran’s retaliatory attacks.

“We're not just hitting what they have, we're destroying their ability to rebuild. We will systemically dismantle Iran's missile production capability for the future,” he stated.

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US defence secretary warns Iran of prolonged war

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Thursday warned that Washington is prepared to sustain a prolonged military campaign if necessary.

“Iran is hoping that we cannot sustain this, which is a really bad miscalculation for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Iran," Hegseth said during a press conference at US Central Command, ANI reported.

“Our commitment to our mission objectives only increases as our advantages continue to increase… We have only just begun to fight and fight decisively,” he added.

Hegseth also dismissed concerns about a potential influx of refugees into the United States due to the conflict. “I think it's safe to say there's no plan for a wave of new Middle Eastern refugees to the United States of America,” he said.

Israeli military kills senior Hezbollah commander

Israel also confirmed that it eliminated a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut during the latest round of strikes. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said Zaid Ali Jumaa, Hezbollah’s head of artillery operations in southern Lebanon, had been killed in Beirut, as per news agency ANI.

According to the IDF, Jumaa was responsible for launching thousands of rockets, missiles and drones toward Israeli territory.

“ELIMINATED: Hezbollah firepower management commander Zaid Ali Jumaa in Beirut. Jumaa served as Hezbollah's head of artillery in southern Lebanon and was responsible for launching thousands of rockets, missiles and UAVs from Lebanon toward Israel,” the IDF said in a post on X.

The military also said he was involved in a 2015 anti-tank missile attack in Mount Dov that killed an Israeli officer and soldier.

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War spreads across Gulf region

The conflict has also impacted several Gulf countries, with Iranian missiles and drones targeting cities and military facilities across the region.

According to AFP, 13 people have been killed in Gulf countries since the war began, including seven civilians and an 11-year-old girl in Kuwait. Bahrain said Iran had targeted two hotels and a residential building in the capital Manama, although there were no casualties.

Saudi Arabia said it intercepted three ballistic missiles aimed at an air base, while Qatar also said it intercepted a missile attack over Doha, where AFP journalists reported loud explosions and thick black smoke rising over the city.

Meanwhile, falling debris from an intercepted drone injured six people in Abu Dhabi, as per AFP.

Azerbaijan earlier today announced that it is withdrawing its diplomatic staff from Iran following drone attacks on an airport and a school in the country’s border region.

Naval incident near Sri Lanka raises tensions

A US submarine sank the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena near Sri Lanka earlier this week, Bloomberg reported.

The attack killed at least 84 Iranian sailors, while 32 crew members were rescued and more than 100 remain missing or dead. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the incident marked the first time since World War II that an American submarine attacked a surface vessel.

Sri Lanka’s President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the country would take control of a second Iranian vessel carrying about 200 crew members in its maritime zone and move it to the northeastern port of Trincomalee due to rising regional tensions, the Bloomberg report stated.

Iran death toll rises as missile attacks continue

An Iranian state-run foundation said the death toll from US and Israeli strikes has risen to 1,230 people, although the figure could not be independently verified, reported AFP. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran had not sought a ceasefire and had no intention of negotiating with Washington.

“We do not see any reason why we should negotiate with the US,” Araghchi told NBC News, according to AFP. He warned that a ground invasion would be disastrous for American forces. “We are confident that we can confront them, and that would be a big disaster for them,” he said.

War enters seventh day, conflict spreads across gulf | Latest developments

• Israel struck the capital cities of Iran and Lebanon, saying it had begun “a broad-scale wave of strikes” on Tehran. According to locals, the Israeli airstrikes were intense, shaking homes in the area, the Associated Press reported.

• Iran, meanwhile, launched new retaliatory attacks in the Middle East, as it fired missiles and drones towards Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. It targeted all countries which host US bases and military installations.

• United States said that it had struck an Iranian drone carrier at sea, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warning that the conflict was about to “surge dramatically.”

• Israel said that strikes have destroyed most of Iran’s air defenses and missile launchers, AP reported. The conflict has also spread to Lebanon, where Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah are embroiled in fighting. Israel conducted a series of strikes late Thursday into Friday in the southern suburbs of Beirut and other areas, according to the AP report.

• In Washington, however, political divisions have emerged over President Trump's decision to launch strikes on Iran without congressional approval. The US House of Representatives narrowly rejected a war powers resolution seeking to halt the attacks, with the measure failing 212-219, AP reported.

• Kuwait's armed forces said they are “dealing with” incoming missiles and drone attacks. Earlier today, Iran targeted US bases in Kuwait, vowing that the strikes would continue “in the coming hours.” Meanwhile, fresh explosions were heard in Bahrain.