Israel launched fresh airstrikes on Iran and Lebanon while the US reportedly struck an Iranian drone carrier at sea, escalating the week-long conflict across the Middle East. Iran retaliated by firing missiles and drones toward Israel, triggering alerts in several regional cities
-1772788661796_d.png "Israeli strikes pound Iran and Lebanon as US warns attacks will intensify")
Smoke rises following airstrikes in a central area of the Iranian capital Tehran on March 6. PIC/AFP
Israeli airstrikes pounded the capitals of Iran and Lebanon as the US apparently struck an Iranian drone carrier at sea, intensifying its campaign targeting the Islamic Republic's fleet of warships.
Iran launched new retaliatory attacks early Friday against neighbouring countries that host US forces. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
The latest strikes mark a full week of attacks affecting countries across the Middle East. The Israeli military said the fighting has destroyed most of Iran's air defences and missile launchers, while US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that strikes against Tehran were "about to surge dramatically."
Tehran has warned of the destruction of the Middle East's military and economic infrastructure, and the war has rattled financial markets.
Here is the latest:
Israeli military warns of missile fire coming from Iran
The Israeli military is warning its public about incoming missile fire from Iran.
Phone alerts go off in Dubai
Mobile phone alerts sounded just before noon in Dubai, warning of a possible missile attack.
Indonesia holds off on Board of Peace discussions
The Indonesian government is currently holding off on all discussions related to Trump's Board of Peace as the country focuses on the safety of Indonesian nationals in the Middle East, officials said Friday.
Yvonne Mewengkang, spokesperson for Indonesia's Foreign Affairs, said "any decision regarding Indonesia's participation in any international mechanism will be based on the principle of Indonesia's foreign policy and the most important thing, our national interests."
More than 5,19,000 Indonesian nationals live across the Middle East, including 329 in Iran, mostly students. Indonesia plans to begin evacuating its citizens from Iran on Friday.
Australia's government says 3 of its personnel were on US submarine that fired torpedo
Australia's government revealed on Friday that three Australian personnel were aboard a US submarine that sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean this week, killing at least 87 people.
The Australians were part of the trilateral US, Australian and British AUKUS training programme. Neil James, executive director of the Australian Defence Association policy think tank, says it is "reasonably rare" for Australians embedded with another nation's military to go to war against a country such as Iran that Australia wasn't at war with.
James said an Australian would not have fired the torpedo that sank the Iranian ship.
South Korea says it will receive 6 million barrels of oil from UAE
South Korea says it reached an agreement with the United Arab Emirates to receive 6 million barrels of crude oil, aiming to stabilize energy prices spiked by the escalating war in the Middle East. Kang Hoon-sik, chief of staff for South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, said in a briefing Friday that the emergency supplies are intended to curb fuel costs which surged this week.
Iran's semiofficial news agency says wave of missiles, drones fired at Israel
Iran launched a new wave of missiles and drones targeting Tel Aviv, Israel, on Friday morning, the semiofficial ISNA news agency reported.
Saudi Arabia says it destroyed another drone near Riyadh
Saudi Arabia's Defence Ministry reported the destruction of another drone near Riyadh, this one to its northeast. Earlier, it said, it destroyed three drones in the eastern areas of Riyadh. The ministry said earlier Friday that it intercepted a cruise missile over the city of Kharj.
Iranian leadership council meets, state TV says
Iranian state television reported Friday that a leadership council in the country met and discussed how to hold a meeting of the country's Assembly of Experts, which will select the nation's new supreme leader.
The leadership council includes President Masoud Pezeshkian, judiciary chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejehi and cleric Ayatollah Ali Reza Arafi. The statement provided no timeline on the selection of the supreme leader, nor information on whether the Assembly of Experts would meet in person or remotely for the vote.
Buildings associated with the Assembly of Experts, an 88-member clerical panel, have been attacked during the Israeli-US airstrike campaign.
Warnings on social media use sent to Dubai residents
Residents of Dubai have been receiving mass text messages warning them about their social media activity. A message attributed to Dubai police said that "photographing or sharing security or critical sites, or reposting unreliable information, may result in legal action and compromise national security and stability."
There was no elaboration in the message. It comes as Bahrain issued a similar, but sterner warning as the Iran war rages on across the Mideast. The United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven autocratic sheikhdoms home to Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The UAE, while socially liberal in many regards compared with its Middle Eastern neighbors, has strict laws governing expression and bans political parties and labour unions.
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