Iran War Updates: Iran Blames US For Strait Of Hormuz Disruption; Air India Express To Operate 6 Special Flights From Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah

The claim that Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz is baseless and absurd. Iran remains committed to international law and freedom of navigation. In reality, it is the U.S. that has endangered maritime security.

Just yesterday, nearly 2,000 miles from Iran’s shores, the Iranian…

— I.R.IRAN Mission to UN, NY (@Iran_UN) March 5, 2026

• Air India Express to operate 6 special flights from Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah 
• AI Express to continue operating scheduled flights to and from Muscat tomorrow
• AI Express to operate flights to and from Delhi, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mangaluru, Mumbai, and Tiruchirappalli to Muscat

Source: Official Statement

Top govt shipping body calls for urgent stakeholder meet as DGFT forms inter-ministerial group 
 
- DG of Shipping calls meeting at 12 PM tomorrow
- Meet to be attended by ship and cargo owners, charters, container carriers for concerns affecting vessel ops due to Middle East situation
- Concerns will be forwarded to ministerial group
 

Bahrain says Iranian missile hit state-run oil refinery, reports AP

Sri Lanka will be assisting the second Iranian vessel that was found outside its territorial waters, after a US submarine had sun a similar ship the frigate IRIS Dena, killing 87 sailors the previous day.

US President Donald Trump stated that US must be involved in picking Iran's next leader saying that Mojitaba Khameini, the son of the Ayatollah Ali Khameini who was assasinated by the Israeli Force is not an acceptable successor, as per Axios.

The UAE's city of Fujjirah reported facing a missile threat.

Aegean Airlines reported that flights from Tel Aviv have been cancelled until the morning of March 13, as per Bloomberg.

Iran's Red Crescent reported that over 3,600 civilian sites were damaged from the US and Israel's attacks.

The head of Iran's Red Crescent said that 3,643 civilian locations had been targeted, which included 3,090 homes, 528 commercial centres, 13 medical facilities and nine Red Crescent centres.

Israeli strikes have killed 102 people and wounded 638 since Monday, according to information from the Lebanon Health Ministry cited by Lebanese National News Agency.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation reported that 281 international flights by Indian carriers were been cancelled on Thursday. The flights were cancelled due to airspace closure in the Middle East.

It further said that it is closely monitoring the evolving situation in West Asia. Upto 1,461 grievances have been addressed till now by the Passenger Assistance Control Room, the aviation body said.

Several explosions were heard in parts of Tehran, according to ISNA.

US President Donald Trump called Spain a "loser" and reiterated his disapproval with Spain after the two countries did not permit the US to use its military bases in its war against Iran.

“We have a lot of winners, but Spain is a loser, and UK has been very disappointing,” Trump said in a phone interview with The  New York Post.

“[Spain is] very hostile to NATO," he added.

“Not a team player, and we’re not going to be a team player with Spain either," he further said.

The World Health Organisation will be suspending operations at its global emergency logistics hub in Dubai due to the Iran War, according to Secretary-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

“Operations at WHO’s logistics hub for global health emergencies in Dubai are currently on hold due to insecurity,” he said at a press conference cite by Al Jazeera.

The UAE's air defenses are currently dealing with incoming missile and drone threats from Iran, according to an 'X' post from the UAE's Ministry of Defence.

"The Ministry of Defense (MOD) confirmed that the sounds heard in scattered areas of the country are the result of the air defense systems intercepting ballistic missiles, and fighter jets intercepting drones and loitering munitions," the Ministry said.

"UAE air defences are currently responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran. MOD asserts that the sounds heard are the result of the Air Defence Systems intercepting missiles and drone," it added.

تتعامل حالياً الدفاعات الجوية الإماراتية مع تهديدات صاروخية وطائرات مسيرة قادمة من إيران
وتؤكد وزارة الدفاع أن الأصوات المسموعة في مناطق متفرقة من الدولة هي نتيجة اعتراض كل من منظومات الدفاع الجوي للصواريخ البالستية، والمقاتلات للطائرات المسيرة والجوالة.

UAE air defences are… pic.twitter.com/4egUVjHXFU

— وزارة الدفاع |MOD UAE (@modgovae) March 5, 2026

Iran says Strait of Hormuz closed to ships linked to US, Israel and Europe. Indian vessels may be allowed to move freely as per NDTV

India is tapping the United States to secure marine cover for vessels to ferry oil from the Middle East as it looks for continuity in energy supplies beyond its current stockpile, a top oil ministry official said.

(Source: PTI)

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

• Sending four Typhoon jets to Qatar.

• Sending choppers to Cyprus.

• Have allowed U.S. to use bases.

• Deploying HMS Dragon to Mediterranean.

• UK military has shot down drones heading towards base housing UK military.

"My decision was in national interest, but now the situation has changed. Iran has attacked 10 countries. We are ready to provide additional military capabilities: fighter jets and air defense missiles," Starmer said while briefing the press on Thursday. 

CBSE cancels exams for Class 10 boards from 7th March to 11th in the Middle East. Class 12 exam postponed, revised date to be announced

Iran has targeted US forces in Iraq with drones, Fars news agency said. 

US Targets Iran Air Force Hangar and air force planes. 

(Source: NDTV)

Govt sources on impact on fertilizers due to war:

- No disruption or shortage in the gas supply seen for fertiliser industry 
- Geopolitical situation continuously monitored, necessary contingencies being evaluated

The United States launched an attack on an Iranian warship in the Indian ocean, as per NDTV reports.

At least 38,000 people have crossed from Lebanon into Syria, UN refugee agency says.

The Israeli military’s Arabic-language spokesperson has urged residents of Beirut’s southern suburbs to immediately flee their homes to “save their lives”.

The spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, specifically called for residents of the Bourj el-Barajneh and Hadath neighborhoods to flee eastwards towards Mount Lebanon on the Beirut–Damascus road.

He said residents of the Haret Hreik and Shiyyah neighbourhoods should flee to the north towards Tripoli on the Beirut–Tripoli road, as well as to the east toward Mount Lebanon “via the Metn Expressway.”

(Source: Al Jazeera)

According to media reports, two Indian sailors, who went missing after an attack on an oil tanker ‘Skylight’ in the Gulf of Oman, have been killed, according to reports. While the official confirmation was still awaited, the reports identified the deceased sailors as Captain Ashish Kumar from Bihar and crew member Dalip Singh from Rajasthan.

Spoke with my friend President Emmanuel Macron today. We discussed our shared concerns over the evolving situation in West Asia and the need for a return to dialogue and diplomacy. We will continue to engage closely and coordinate efforts towards the early restoration of peace…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 5, 2026

Missiles fired by the US and Israel have hit two schools in the town of Parand, southwest of Tehran, Iran’s semiofficial Fars news agency reports.

It shared photos of damage and debris in what appeared to be a classroom and said several nearby residential units also sustained damage.

(Source: Al Jazeera)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Thursday said that Moscow will do everything possible to create conditions that would make any US-Israel military operations against Iran "impossible" amid the escalating tensions in the Middle East.

(Source: ANI)

Iran has not yet elected the successor of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Syed Ali Khamenei, who was assassinated in a joint US-Israeli airstrike last week, a senior Iranian official said Thursday.

Ayatollah Dr Abdul Majeed Hakeemelahi, the representative of Iran's supreme leader in India, also said that the process to elect a new leader is still underway.

"This news is not true because, till now, they (the council) have not chosen or nominated anyone, and the process is still underway," Hakeemelahi told PTI when asked about some media reports claiming that Ayatollah Khamenei's son, Mojtaba Khamenei, has been elected as his successor.

"There are several candidates for this position, and Ayatollah Mojtaba is one of them. It is not because he is the son of Ayatollah Khamenei. Rather, because of his qualifications, they may consider choosing him. But it is not finalised, and they are still assessing to find the qualified person for this position," he said.

Explaining the process of the election of the supreme leader of Iran, Hakeemelahi said an 88-member Assembly of Experts council is elected by vote during the elections in Iran.

(Source: NDTV)

Israel’s army says it has identified missiles fired by Iran towards Israel and is working to intercept them.

“People should enter protected spaces upon receiving the alert and remain there until further notice,” said the military.

S. Jaishankar, the Indian Minister of External Affairs said that he spoke with Iranian FM Araghchi on Thursday afternoon, in a post on X.

Had a telecon with Iranian FM Seyed Abbas Araghchi this afternoon. @araghchi

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 5, 2026

The Iranian authorities have requested Sri Lanka to hand over all the bodies of the sailors who died in the attack onboard the IRIS Dena so they can be repatriated for final rites.

Sri Lanka MP Harsha De Silva says, "all international protocol will be followed in handing over the bodies of Sailors to Iran. There are around 80-odd bodies of Iranian Sailors now." 

The death toll in Iran from the US and Israeli attacks since Saturday has risen to 1,230, Iran’s semiofficial Tasnim news agency reported.

Abu Dhabi authorities have responded to an incident of debris falling in two locations in ICAD 2, following the successful interception of drones by air defence systems. The incident resulted in minor and moderate injuries to six Pakistani and Nepali nationals.

The public is reminded to obtain information from official sources only, and to avoid the spreading of rumours or unverified information.

(Source: X)

This savage, unprovoked, and utterly unjustified aggression against the Islamic Republic of #Iran extends far beyond the battlefield. It reverberates through global markets, driving up energy prices, destabilizing currencies, and eroding the purchasing power of ordinary people…

— Esmaeil Baqaei (@IRIMFA_SPOX) March 5, 2026

Iran’s IRGC is claiming to have inflicted significant damage on 20 US military targets in Kuwait, Bahrain and the UAE.

(Source: Al Jazeera)

Iran’s IRGC says it attacked a US oil tanker in the Gulf.

The IRGC’s public relations department said in a statement carried by the state IRNA news agency that Iranian naval forces “successfully targeted an American oil tanker”. No further details were provided.

(Source: Al Jazeera)

#WATCH | Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, on behalf of Government of India, signed the Condolence Book at the Embassy of Iran in New Delhi today, and offered condolences to the slain Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. pic.twitter.com/A3IP2d0diX

— ANI (@ANI) March 5, 2026

Multiple explosions are being heard in the skies above Qatar’s capital Doha. 

(Source: Al Jazeera)

The Israel Defence Force (IDF) shared a footage from the historic shoot down of an Iranian Yak-130 fighter jet by an IAF 'Adir' F-35I fighter jet. Watch video here:

🎥WATCH: Footage from the historic shoot down of an Iranian Yak-130 fighter jet by an IAF “Adir” F-35I fighter jet pic.twitter.com/o6BAqiaNXk

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 5, 2026

The Embassy of  India in UAE has issued the following advisory on March 5:

1. In view of the prevailing situation in the United Arab Emirates and the region, all Indian Nationals currently in the UAE are advised to continue to remain vigilant, calm, adhere to the safety guidelines of the UAE Authorities and also follow official advisories issued from time to time.

2. In view of the exceptional circumstances, the airspace and regular scheduled flight operations continue to be temporarily suspended. However, the Indian and the UAE airlines have commenced limited non-scheduled flight operations to multiple destinations in India, in coordination with the UAE authorities, subject to operational and safety approvals of relevant authorities. The stranded Indian nationals may avail of these flights by contacting their respective airlines.

3. For those stranded after 28 February and whose visas have expired, the UAE Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Custom & Port Authority (ICP) have announced a waiver of overstay fines for visitors (tourist/visit visas) and others unable to depart due to these exceptional circumstances. The media advisory issued by UAE ICP can be accessed at https://www.wam.ae/a/bz190lg.

4. The Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi and the Consulate in Dubai and their outsourced passport, consular and visa services are continuing to function normally.

5. For any query and concern, Indian nationals in the UAE can contact the following 24x7 helplines:
Toll free number : 800-46342
WhatsApp: 971 543090571

Email: pbsk.dubai@mea.gov.in and ca.abudhabi@mea.gov.in.
 

Residential areas were struck, homes were set ablaze in Tehran after Israeli strike, reports NDTV.

The ongoing war with Iran could cost Israel an estimated NIS 9.4 billion ($3 billion approximately) per week under current restrictions on economic activities, the Israeli Finance Ministry has warned.

"In a letter sent to the Home Front Command chief, Maj. Gen. Shai Klapper, Finance Ministry Director General Ilan Rom asked to ease restrictions to allow for a gradual, partial reopening of businesses and workplaces as early as Thursday," the Times of Israel reported.

“There is no dispute about the need to preserve a defence policy adapted to the security situation, but at the same time, shutting down the economy on a broad scale carries heavy economic costs,” Rom warned.

“We need a solution that addresses both the security needs of the Home Front and the needs of the economy, after two and a half years in which the economy has been paying a heavy economic price in light of the increase in security needs and the repercussions of the war,” the top Finance Ministry executive reportedly said.
 

(Source: PTI)

Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses concerns about the Middle East war's impact:

• Iran supplied Russia with weapons, but now likely can't due to the conflict.
• Iran transferred missile/drone tech licenses to Russia, which is now producing them.
• US might reduce air defense supplies to Ukraine if the Middle East war continues.
• Global energy prices affected by hostilities and oil import disruptions.

Answering a question about concerns over the consequences of the war in the Middle East:

The Iranian regime supplied Russia with weapons that were used to kill our people. Those concerns have somewhat diminished now, because Iran is unlikely to be able to supply Russia with… pic.twitter.com/uSV3vsBfYI

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 5, 2026

The following is a statement on drone attacks against the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of the Republic of Azerbaijan from the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran, March 5, 2026 12:40

At around midday on March 5, drone attacks were carried out against the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of the Republic of Azerbaijan from the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

One drone struck the terminal building of the airport in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, while another drone fell near a school building in the village of Shakarabad.

We strongly condemn these drone attacks launched from the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which resulted in damage to the airport building and injuries of two civilians.

This attack against the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan constitutes a violation of the norms and principles of international law and serves to increase tensions in the region.

We demand from the Islamic Republic of Iran to provide, within the shortest possible timeframe, a clear explanation regarding the case, conduct an appropriate investigation, and take the necessary urgent measures to ensure that such attacks are not repeated in the future.

The Azerbaijani side reserves the right to take appropriate response measures.

The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mojtaba Demirchilou, has been summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where a strong protest will be conveyed to the Iranian side, and a corresponding note of protest will be presented.

US loses another F-15 fighter? Big claim by aviation analyst and war historian Tom Cooper

🔴#BREAKING | Day 6 of Iran war: US loses another F-15 fighter? Big claim by aviation analyst and war historian Tom Cooper

NDTV's @ShivAroor joins @GargiRawat with more details pic.twitter.com/MUkiipTTbD

— NDTV (@ndtv) March 5, 2026

Sri Lankan MP Namal Rajapaksa voices concerns about an Iranian vessel seeking permission to dock at a Sri Lankan port. He has urged the government to be transparent about its decision and consider historical precedent. 

It has been brought to our notice that another Iranian vessel is in Sri Lanka’s Exclusive Economic Zone, just outside our territorial waters and has sought the government’s permission to make an urgent port call. However it is yet awaiting the government’s clearance.

The…

— Namal Rajapaksa (@RajapaksaNamal) March 5, 2026

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister said Iran is ready to abandon its nuclear program on condition that the United States presents a satisfactory alternative offer, as reported by Sky News Arabia.

نائب وزير الخارجية الإيراني: إيران مستعدة للتخلي عن برنامجها النووي بشرط تقديم الولايات المتحدة عرضاً بديلًا مجزيًا

— سكاي نيوز عربية-عاجل (@SkyNewsArabia_B) March 5, 2026

Sri Lanka on Thursday said it is deliberating appropriate action after a second Iranian ship has sought entry to its territorial waters, a day after a frigate belonging to the Islamic country was attacked near the island nation.

Sri Lanka on Wednesday said it had recovered over 80 bodies of Iranian sailors killed after a US submarine attack sank the Iranian frigate - IRIS Dena - off Galle, the island's southern coastal town.

Government spokesman and minister Nalinda Jayathissa was responding to a query by the main opposition leader Sajith Premadasa in parliament about the second Iranian ship.

The ship, according to Jayathissa, awaits in Sri Lanka’s Extended Economic Zone (EEZ) but is out of its territorial waters.

Sources said the ship had requested emergency assistance.

The Israeli military has released the video of its F-35 stealth fighter jet shooting down a piloted Iranian Air Force YAK-130 plane over Tehran on Wednesday.

The 16-second clip, posted on the Israeli Air Force's X account on Thursday, showed the 'Adir' jet making its first air-to-air combat kill of a piloted aircraft by the fighter plane.

"I executed, the target was hit, we will continue the attack," the pilot can be heard saying in the video.

"ביצעתי, המטרה נפלה, נמשיך לתקיפה": תיעוד ראשון ממטוס ה״אדיר״ (F-35I) מפיל מטוס קרב איראני (YAK-130) מעל שמי טהרן.

חיל-האוויר ממשיך לתקוף עשרות תשתיות של משטר הטרור האיראני וסולל את הדרך ליצירת עליונות אווירית בשמי טהרן. pic.twitter.com/RGUX4x1bFK

— Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) March 5, 2026

The trifecta of rule of law, dialogue and diplomacy is essential to resolve any conflict, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday, adding that a military conflict alone is not the answer amid an escalating US-Israel and Iran war and the Russia-Ukraine war. 

"We are unanimous that a military conflict alone will not resolve any issue: whether it is Ukraine or West Asia. We will continue to support every effort for peace and a speedy end to the conflict," PM Modi said during a joint press briefing with Finland president in Delhi.
 

• As on March 3, 36 Indian flagged vessels stranded in Persian gulf region
• 24 vessels west of Strait of Hormuz; 12 east of Hormuz & Gulf of Oman
• Two Indian-flagged vessels in Gulf of Aden; none in Red Sea
• Seven Shipping Corporation of India vessels operating in Persian Gulf region
• Government steps up monitoring of Indian vessels in high-risk zone
• Vessel monitoring frequency increased from 6 hours to 1 hour
• 1,074 Indian seafarers onboard Indian-flagged vessels in the region
• Majority of vessels near Hormuz carrying crude, LPG and cargo

Break-up of Vessels stranded at West of Strait of Hormuz

• Six Crude Oil Tankers
• One Product Oil Tanker
• 10 LPG Carriers
• One LNG Carrier
• Three Container Ships
• Two Bulk Carriers
• One Dredger

Meanwhile, Air India has denied flying over restricted air space in the Middle East. 
In a statement on X, the company put out, "These claims circulating on social media are incorrect and do not reflect our actual flight operations or safety protocols."

Fake News Alert – “Air India flew over restricted airspace in the Middle East despite tensions in the region.”

These claims circulating on social media are incorrect and do not reflect our actual flight operations or safety protocols.

Actual Information - Air India does not… pic.twitter.com/b8YTisS3SG

— Air India Newsroom (@AirIndia_News) March 5, 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "Today, the world is going through a period of instability and uncertainty. From Ukraine to West Asia, conflicts and tensions continue to persist. In such a global environment, India and Europe—two major diplomatic powers of the world—are entering a golden phase in their relationship. Our growing cooperation is providing new strength to global stability, development, and shared prosperity."

Explosions sounded in Tehran on Thursday as Iran's war with the US and Israel entered a sixth day following earlier strikes on an Iranian nuclear site and retaliatory strikes by the Islamic Republic across the Gulf region.

Explosions were also heard in Qatar and Bahrain amid Iranian missile strikes across the region.

Iranian state television aired a message from an Ayatollah in Iran calling for the 'shedding' of blood from Israelis and US President Donald Trump. The message came from Ayatollah Abdollah Javadi Amoli and represented one of the few clerical statements coming from Iran as it faces a combined airstrike campaign from Israel and the United States.

"We are now on the verge of a great test and we must be careful to fully preserve this unity, to fully preserve this alliance," he said in the statement.

He called for "the shedding of Zionist blood, the shedding of Trump's blood."

"The Imam of the time says, Fight the oppressive America, his blood is on my shoulders," the ayatollah added.

Aditya Raj Kaul, Senior Executive Editor, NDTV spoke to the family members of slain Captain Ashish Kumar, who said that they are in touch with the government of Oman through the Oman embassy. 

Indian Captain has been killed in the Iranian missile strike at the Oman Port. The victim has been identified as Ashish Kumar and is a resident of Bettiah, Bihar. The bones of two bodies were recovered as they were burnt after the attack, reports NDTV

Just IN: Two Indians killed in attack on oil tanker in Iranian strike at Oman port

#BREAKING | 2 Indians killed in attack on oil tanker in Iranian strike at Oman port

NDTV's @AdityaRajKaul joins @vedikas, with more details pic.twitter.com/hd3CANzlKs

— NDTV (@ndtv) March 5, 2026

Aditya Raj Kaul, Senior Executive Editor, NDTV shared a video on X sharing a video on how Israel's Iron Dome and other air defence systems successfully intercepted and stopped Iranian missiles from hitting civilian areas in Israel. 

He wrote,"Midnight this is how Iron Dome and other Air Defence Mechanism in Israel thwarted attempts by Iranian Regime to target civilian areas by Iranian Missiles."

Day 6 of the War in the Middle East.

Midnight this is how Iron Dome and other Air Defence Mechanism in Israel thwarted attempts by Iranian Regime to target civilian areas by Iranian Missiles.

This is what I recorded on my phone. pic.twitter.com/UHqRojQFb2

— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) March 5, 2026

On US-Israel vs Iran conflict, Russian Ambassador to India, Denis Alipov, says, "Resolution is always through negotiations. This conflict should be resolved as soon as possible..."

#WATCH | Delhi: On US-Israel vs Iran conflict, Russian Ambassador to India, Denis Alipov, says, "Resolution is always through negotiations. This conflict should be resolved as soon as possible..." pic.twitter.com/0tixU5yXba

— ANI (@ANI) March 5, 2026

 Iran's foreign minister said Thursday that America “will come to bitterly regret (the) precedent it has set” after a US submarine sank an Iranian frigate off the coast of Sri Lanka.

The comment by Abbas Araghchi represents the first Iranian government acknowledged of the sinking of the IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean.

Araghchi made the comment on X, saying “the US has perpetrated an atrocity at sea, 2,000 miles away from Iran's shores.”

“Frigate Dena, a guest of India's Navy carrying almost 130 sailors, was struck in international waters without warning,” he wrote. “Mark my words: The US will come to bitterly regret (the) precedent it has set.”

The U.S. has perpetrated an atrocity at sea, 2,000 miles away from Iran's shores.

Frigate Dena, a guest of India's Navy carrying almost 130 sailors, was struck in international waters without warning.

Mark my words: The U.S. will come to bitterly regret precedent it has set. pic.twitter.com/cxYiI9BLUk

— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) March 5, 2026

Sri Lankan Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa, the son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa spoke to NDTV after a United States submarine sunk an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean off the southern coast of Sri Lanka. Rajapaksa said, "This is a serious concern for Sri Lanka and also the Indian Ocean, and I'm sure for India as well. The war is happening miles away and we can see movements in the Indian Ocean just 40 nautical miles from the Gulf in Sri Lanka."

Qatar Airways flight operations remain temporarily suspended due to the closure of Qatari airspace. Qatar Airways will resume operations once the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority announces the safe reopening of Qatari airspace by the relevant authorities. A further update will be provided on March 6 by 09:00 Doha time (06:00 UTC).

Qatar Airways will start operating a limited number relief flights from 05 March to support passengers who are stranded due to the current situation across the region. The following services are planned:

• Flights from Muscat to: London Heathrow, Berlin, Copenhagen, Madrid, Rome, and Amsterdam
• Flight from Riyadh to Frankfurt

Passengers are kindly requested not to proceed to the airport unless they have received an official notification from Qatar Airways for these flights.

Qatar Airways said that they will contact affected passengers directly with their assigned flight details, travel arrangements and next steps.

Israel announced multiple incoming attacks, and air sirens sounded in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem shortly after the Israeli military said it had begun new strikes in Lebanon targeting the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Beirut's southern suburbs. 

The development came after Hezbollah fired rockets and launched drones toward northern Israel. Israel retaliated with a wave of airstrikes that killed many civilians in Lebanon, including seven children as well as a Palestinian militant and a Hezbollah intelligence official in Beirut's southern suburbs.
 

🔴#BREAKING | Israel launches massive attack on Hezbollah; Explosion shakes airport road in Beirut

NDTV's @VishalV054 joins @ParmeshwarBawa with more details pic.twitter.com/BscXPiBHZ7

— NDTV (@ndtv) March 5, 2026

The Canadian and Australian prime ministers called for a de-escalation of the Iran war. Canada's Mark Carney and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese discussed the war during their meeting in Australia's capital, Canberra.

"We want to see a broader de-escalation of these hostilities with a broader group of countries than just the direct belligerents involved," Carney said at a press conference with Albanese.

Albanese said, "The world wants to see a de-escalation and wants to see Iran cease to spread the destinations of its attacks."

The Turkish defence ministry said NATO air defence systems destroyed an Iranian ballistic missile heading towards Turkish airspace via Iraq and Syria.

The missile was "engaged and neutralised" by NATO assets deployed in the eastern Mediterranean, but didn't specify the intended target. No casualties were reported, and Turkey warned it reserves the right to respond to any hostile actions, said the Ministry.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has left the door open for potential military involvement in the Middle East conflict, stating that Canada 'can't rule out participation' in the escalating war.

Speaking in Canberra, Carney said that while the situation is hypothetical, Canada will stand by its allies and defend its citizens. He also expressed support for efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, but criticised the US-Israeli strikes as "inconsistent with international law".
 

The US Senate on Wednesday cleared the way for President Donald Trump to continue military attacks on Iran in a vote. The 47-53 vote also put every senator on the record on the war as Congress heads into midterm elections in November.

A Democratic-backed attempt to stop US strikes failed a procedural vote that largely broke down along party lines. Only one Democrat, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, joined GOP senators in support of the war, offset by one Republican, Rand Paul of Kentucky, who joined the effort to halt attacks.
 

Israel's military issued warnings to residents of dozens of border villages in southern Lebanon to evacuate 'immediately' on Wednesday as airstrikes on suburbs of Beirut intensified and Hezbollah claimed more attacks.

Lebanon was dragged into the broader war in the Middle East early on Monday when Hezbollah fired rockets and drones into northern Israel, triggering Israeli retaliatory airstrikes that killed more than 70 people, wounded more than 400 and displaced tens of thousands of people from southern Lebanon, the eastern Bekaa Valley and Beirut's southern suburbs.
 

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the offensive against Iran was originally planned for mid-2026, but "the need arose to bring everything forward to February." He listed events inside Iran, Trump's positions and the possibility of “creating a combined operation” as reasons.

The protests in Iran put unprecedented pressure on its leadership. Trump threatened military action in response to the crackdown before shifting his attention to Iran's disputed nuclear program.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday that the US launched its operation partly out of concern Iran might strike American personnel and assets in the region first. A phone call between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before the airstrikes began was also "important with respect to the timeline," she said.
 

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has launched its 19th wave of attacks against US and Israeli targets in the Middle East, dubbed "True Promise 4". The operation involves missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and American military bases in the region, including the Persian Gulf.

French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed deep concern over the escalating situation in Lebanon, urging Hezbollah to immediately stop its attacks on Israel and calling on Israel to preserve Lebanon's territorial integrity and avoid a ground offensive. 

Macron spoke to the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President of the Lebanese Republic, Joseph Aoun, and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, to discuss the situation in Lebanon.

In a post on X, Macron wrote, "I reiterated the need for Hezbollah to immediately cease its attacks against Israel and beyond. This strategy of escalation is a major fault that is jeopardising the entire region. Likewise, I urged the Israeli Prime Minister to preserve Lebanon’s territorial integrity and to refrain from a ground offensive. It is important that the parties return to the ceasefire agreement."

I spoke today with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as with the President of the Lebanese Republic, Joseph Aoun, and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, to discuss the situation in Lebanon, which is very concerning.

I reiterated the need…

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) March 4, 2026

Israel said it had begun new strikes in Lebanon targeting the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Beirut's southern suburbs.

The war has killed more than 1,000 people in Iran, more than 70 in Lebanon and around a dozen in Israel, according to officials in those countries.

It has disrupted the supply of the world's oil and gas, snarled international shipping and stranded hundreds of thousands of travellers in the Middle East.
 

The Ministry of Interior - State Of Kuwait denied what has been circulated through some media outlets and social media sites regarding an incident occurring off the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port. The Ministry affirmed that what is being circulated is untrue, and that the incident referred to occurred outside the territorial waters of the State of Kuwait, at a distance of no less than (60) kilometers from Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port, urging everyone to exercise accuracy and to source information solely from official authorities in the country.

تنفي وزارة الداخلية
ما تم تداوله عبر بعض وسائل الإعلام ومواقع التواصل الاجتماعي بشأن وقوع حادث قبالة ميناء مبارك الكبير.

وتؤكد الوزارة أن ما يتم تداوله غير صحيح، وأن الواقعة المشار إليها حدثت خارج المياه الإقليمية لدولة الكويت، وتبعد بما لا يقل عن (60) كيلومتراً عن ميناء مبارك… pic.twitter.com/CuKKqTT7WH

— وزارة الداخلية (@Moi_kuw) March 5, 2026

Israel announced it will ease several wartime restrictions, allowing a limited resumption of daily activity beginning midday Thursday, according to a statement from the Israeli military. The Home Front Command said the updated guidelines — which will remain in effect until 1800 GMT on March 7 — permit public gatherings of up to 50 people, provided they are held near accessible shelters, as per AFP reports.

Under the revised measures, all regions of the country will shift from operating under “essential activity” rules to a “limited activity” framework. The announcement came shortly after the military noted a decline in the number of missiles launched from Iran toward Israel.

AFP also reported that despite the partial easing, schools and educational institutions will stay closed, and workplaces may reopen only if they are located close to shelters, ensuring quick access in the event of renewed attacks.

South Korea’s Kospi rose more than 12% on Thursday, rebounding from the previous session’s drop and tracking its strongest day.

The South Korean won strengthened 0.14% against the dollar to 1,460.60.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 4%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index futures traded at 25,534 versus the prior close of 25,249.48.

Kurdish Iranian dissident groups based in northern Iraq say they are preparing for a possible cross‑border offensive into Iran, according to Kurdish officials quoted by the Associated Press. The officials also said the United States has asked Iraqi Kurdish authorities to back these groups, signaling a potential widening of the conflict.

These Kurdish factions are considered the most organized and militarily capable part of Iran’s otherwise fragmented opposition, with several thousand trained fighters. Their involvement would pose a serious new challenge for Tehran, adding pressure on Iranian forces already stretched by the regional war. However, such a move also risks drawing Iraq deeper into the conflict, raising fears of further destabilization across an already volatile region.

Saudi Arabia announced that it had intercepted and destroyed three cruise missiles amid the ongoing US‑Israel‑Iran conflict. In a statement posted on X, the Saudi defence ministry said the missiles were taken down outside the city of Al‑Kharj, as regional tensions continue to escalate.

المتحدث الرسمي لـ #وزارة_الدفاع: اعتراض وتدمير ثلاثةِ صواريخ من نوع كروز خارج مدينة الخرج. pic.twitter.com/kIGJ8nQPgK

— وزارة الدفاع (@modgovksa) March 4, 2026

A federal judge has opened the door for thousands of businesses to receive refunds on tariffs that the US Supreme Court struck down last month.

In a ruling issued Wednesday, the US Court of International Trade directed Customs and Border Protection to return duties that had been imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), a tariff program introduced by former President Donald Trump last year, as per Bloomberg reports.

Judge Richard Eaton wrote that “all importers of record whose entries were subject to IEEPA duties are entitled to the benefit” of the Supreme Court’s decision, clearing the way for widespread refunds to affected companies.

According to CENTCOM, US forces have now destroyed or sunk more than 20 Iranian regime vessels, as American strikes intensify and push deeper into Iranian airspace by the hour. The military said these ships were taken out using coordinated firepower across air, land, and sea, marking one of the most aggressive phases of the operation so far.

Over the past four days, the US command claims they have has also significantly reduced Iran’s offensive capabilities, with American forces claiming a 73% drop in drone launches and an 86% decline in ballistic missile launches from Iranian positions. 

More fake news from the Iranian regime:
🚫The regime claims U.S. forces are withdrawing.
🚫They say they sank a U.S. destroyer.
🚫IRGC claims to have taken down U.S. fighter aircraft.
🚫The regime says they killed 100 U.S. Marines.
ALL LIES.

Reality:
✅U.S. forces are… pic.twitter.com/X0P0X4VdTa

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 4, 2026

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the United States and Israel remain in a strong position as their conflict with Iran intensifies, insisting they will “keep moving forward” against the Islamic republic. He also claimed that potential successors to the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei “end up dead,” and asserted that Iran’s ballistic‑missile capabilities are being rapidly dismantled as the military campaign continues.

"We're doing well on the war front, to put it mildly. Somebody said on a scale of 10, where would you rate it? I said about a 15," Trump told a gathering at the White House. "We're in a very strong position now, and their leadership is just rapidly going. Everybody that seems to want to be a leader, they end up dead."