Iran War News Highlights (March 3): Qatar says it dismantled two spy cells linked to Iran's Guards

A loud explosion was heard by an AFP journalist in the Lebanese capital Beirut shortly after midnight on Wednesday, as Israel and Hezbollah traded strikes and rocket fire.

Tehran-backed Hezbollah reprised its rocket and drone attacks on Israel on Monday after a long hiatus in retaliation for the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a wave of joint US-Israeli strikes.

Hezbollah said it targeted northern Israel's Haifa naval base on Tuesday, its 12th attack of the day as Israel continued to strike Lebanon, including Beirut's southern suburbs

In a statement, the Iran-backed group said that "in response to the criminal Israeli aggression that struck dozens of Lebanese cities and towns, including Beirut's southern suburbs", it targeted the base with "a barrage of high-quality missiles" at 8:00 pm local time.

An Iranian ballistic missile hit the United States' military base at Al-Udeid on Tuesday, Qatar's defence ministry said, as Tehran struck targets across the Gulf in retaliation for US-Israeli attacks.

The ministry said Qatar was targeted by two missiles, adding: "Air defence systems successfully intercepted one of the missiles, while the second missile struck Al-Udeid Qatari Base without causing any casualties."

Munitions debris fell late Tuesday in the Tel Aviv area, where a woman suffered mild shrapnel injuries, police said, after Iran launched two waves of missiles toward Israel within 30 minutes.

The Israeli military said Tuesday that it struck an underground nuclear site in Iran where it alleged scientists were "covertly" developing a key component for nuclear weapons.

Following the conflict in June, when Israel struck several Iranian nuclear sites, the military said it tracked Iranian scientists to "their new location at this site in a manner that enabled a precise strike on the covert underground compound".

The military also displayed a map showing the facility on the eastern outskirts of Tehran.

A drone was shot down on Tuesday near Baghdad International airport, Iraqi authorities said.

"A small drone was downed... on the outskirts of Baghdad International Airport, with no casualties or material damage reported," the Iraqi government's security media cell said.

Baghdad International Airport includes a military base that hosts American advisors and previously housed US-led coalition troops.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed a drone strike Tuesday adjacent to the US consulate in Dubai and said all personnel were safe.

"A drone unfortunately struck a parking lot adjacent to the chancellery building and then set off a fire in that place. All personnel are accounted for," Rubio told reporters in Washington.

The Israeli military said Tuesday that its strikes had disabled around 300 missile launchers in Iran since the United States and Israel launched a joint attack on the Islamic republic over the weekend.

"Since the start of Operation 'Roaring Lion', the Israeli Air Force has dismantled approximately 300 Iranian missile launchers. This is the result of more than 1,600 sorties and a systematic, around-the-clock effort to locate and target launchers and missile stockpiles in order to reduce fire toward the Israeli home front," the army said in a statement.

A strike on Tuesday hit Iraqi Kurdistan's Sulaimaniyah, the second-largest city in the autonomous northern region, an AFP correspondent said.

The strike -- either by a drone or a missile -- hit at around 10:30 pm (1930 GMT) near a building that previously served as a United Nations office in the city.

French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday that the United States and Israel's military operations in Iran were conducted "outside international law", but placed primary blame on the Islamic republic.

"The United States of America and Israel decided to launch military operations, conducted outside international law, which we cannot approve of," said Macron.

But "the Islamic Republic of Iran bears primary responsibility for this situation," Macron added, citing their "dangerous" nuclear programme, support for regional proxies, and orders to shoot "its own people" during protests in January.

President Donald Trump said Tuesday the US navy would escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz if needed amid the Iran war, and ordered Washington to provide insurance for shipping.

"If necessary, the United States Navy will begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, as soon as possible. No matter what, the United States will ensure the FREE FLOW of ENERGY to the WORLD," Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday that French forces downed drones "in self-defence" during the opening hours of the Middle East conflict sparked by strikes on Iran by the US and Israel.

"We reacted immediately and shot down drones in self-defence in the early hours of the conflict to defend the airspace of our allies, who know they can count on us," Macron said, referring to defence agreements with Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.

President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday said France was sending extra air defence forces and a French frigate to Cyprus following a drone attack on a British base on the Mediterranean island.

"I have ... decided to send additional air defence assets and a French frigate, the Languedoc, which will arrive off the coast of Cyprus this evening," he said in a televised speech, a day after Iranian-made drones hit the British Royal Air Force (RAF) base.

Iran fired another salvo of missiles at Israel on Tuesday evening, the Revolutionary Guards said in a statement carried by the Fars news agency.

"The sixteenth wave of 'Operation True Promise 4' has begun with a large number of missiles and drones launched by the aerospace forces of the Revolutionary Guards against the heart of the occupied territories," the statement said, referring to Israel.

Turkey's foreign minister said Tuesday that the United States should limit its attacks on Iran to degrading its military capabilities as forcing regime change would causes "risks" for the region.

Attacking military targets and regime change were the two main options for the war, Foreign Ministeer Hakan Fidan said in a television interview. "Moving toward the second (regime change) means introducing very different scenarios and risks for the region," he declared.

An air strike hit a military base in southern Iraq housing the Iran-backed Kataeb Hezbollah group on Tuesday, a source from the armed faction said.

The Jurf al-Nasr base, which serves as one of the main bastions of the powerful Tehran-backed group, has been struck several times since the start of the war in the Middle East.

Israel's military chief on Tuesday said his forces would keep attacking Hezbollah until the Iran-backed Lebanese group was disarmed, as the war in the Middle East raged for a fourth day.

"We are determined to eliminate the threat Hezbollah poses and will not stop until this organisation is disarmed," Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir was quoted as saying in a military statement.

The latest round of fighting between Hezbollah and Israel started early Monday when Hezbollah launched rockets towards Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli attacks on Saturday.

Loud bangs were heard Tuesday evening in Erbil, the capital of Iraq's northern Kurdistan region, which hosts US bases, AFP journalists said.

Explosions were heard mostly near Erbil airport, which hosts US-led coalition troops, an AFP journalist said.

Since the start of the US-Israel campaign against Iran, drones have repeatedly been intercepted over Erbil, which is also home to a major US consulate complex.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz voiced support Tuesday for the US-Israeli war on Iran but hoped it would end soon, saying it was hurting the global economy.

"This is, of course, damaging our economies. This is true for the oil prices, and this is true for the gas prices as well. So that's the reason why we all hope that this war will come to an end as soon as possible," Merz told reporters as he met US President Donald Trump at the White House.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday threatened to cut off trade with Spain, whose left-wing government refused to let US planes use its bases to attack Iran and objected to raising defense funding as part of NATO.

"Spain has been terrible," Trump told reporters as he met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

"We're going to cut off all trade with Spain. We don't want anything to do with Spain."

Trump said on Tuesday that he expects oil prices to drop as soon as his administration's military operations in Iran ends.

"As soon as this ends those prices are going to drop, I believe, lower than even before," he said.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he was upset with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has not joined the US-Israeli attack on Iran but did let US forces use UK bases.

"I'm not happy with the UK," Trump said as he met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the White House.

"It's taken three, four days for us to work out where we can land," Trump said. "This is not Winston Churchill that we're dealing with."

Donald Trump said the reason there wasn't an evacuation plan for embassies is that "it happened all very quickly."

"I thought we were going to have a situation where we were going to be attacked. They were getting ready to attack Israel. They were getting ready to attack others," said Trump referring to Iran.

Donald Trump also said:

The worst case is that we hit Iran and somebody takes over as bad as the previous person

We'd like to sees somebody in there that's better

We'll see what happens in Iran but first we have to finish off the military

Donald Trump says 'worst case' in Iran is new leader 'as bad' as Khamenei.

Trump said that the U.S. military had been successful against many Iranian defenses, saying "just about everything has been knocked out."

Donald Trump says 'not happy' with UK over Iran

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday boasted of wide damage on Iran inflicted by the US-Israel attack, which he said was going well.

"Just about everything's been knocked out," Trump told reporters as he met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Residents across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait and Doha reported simultaneous loud explosions on Tuesday as Iranian missile and drone attacks continued for a fourth consecutive day. Regional air defence systems were activated to intercept incoming projectiles, while military forces across the UAE and Qatar were placed on high alert.

An Islamic Revolutionary Guard general warned Tuesday that continued US-Israeli attacks would see Iran conduct reprisals against "all economic centres" in the Middle East.

"We are saying to the enemy that if it decides to hit our main centres, we will hit all economic centres in the region," said Ebrahim Jabbari.

"We have closed the Strait of Hormuz. Currently, the price of oil is above $80 and will soon reach $200," he was quoted as saying by Iranian news agency ISNA, as Brent crude climbed above $85 for the first time since July 2024.

Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that Israel was continuing to pound Iran and vowed to hit Hezbollah with increasing force as the war in the Middle East raged for a fourth day.

"We continue to strike Iran with force. Our pilots are over the skies of Iran and Tehran, and also over the skies of Lebanon. Hezbollah made a very big mistake when it attacked us. We have already responded forcefully, and we will respond with even greater force," Netanyahu said at an air force base in central Israel, according to a statement from his office.

Israel's military said Tuesday its air force had struck industrial sites "throughout Iran" that were used to produce weapons including ballistic missiles, on the fourth day of a joint US-Israel attack on the Islamic republic.

"During strikes conducted throughout Iran, the IDF (military) targeted industrial sites used by the Iranian regime to produce weapons, particularly ballistic missiles," the military said in a statement.

On Sunday, the UAE Capital Markets Authority said the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange and Dubai Financial Market would remain shut on March 2 and March 3 amid disruption caused by Iranian strikes on the Gulf country.

Israeli and US strikes on Tuesday hit the Tehran building of a body tasked with electing Iran's new supreme leader, local media reported.

"The American-Zionist criminals attacked the Assembly of Experts building in Qom," south of Tehran, according to the Tasnim news agency.

Local media showed footage of the building severely damaged in the strikes. Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in US and Israeli strikes on Saturday.

The Israeli air force launched a new wave of strikes in Tehran on Tuesday, the military said, marking the fourth day of its campaign against the Islamic republic.

"The military has launched a ninth wave of strikes in Tehran. The Air Force has now begun a large scale wave of strikes targeting the Iranian terror regime's infrastructure in Tehran," the military said in a statement.

Israel's Magen David Adom emergency services said they were treating seven people with injuries following the latest salvo of missiles fired from Iran.

"At three scenes in central Israel, MDA paramedics and EMTs are providing medical treatment to 7 injured people, including: a woman around 40 years old in moderate condition with blast injuries, and 6 additional casualties in mild condition suffering from glass shrapnel and blast-related injuries," an MDA statement said.

Israeli police said officers were operating at several sites in the central and Tel Aviv districts where shrapnel had fallen.

The US embassy in Riyadh on Tuesday warned of an imminent attack in the eastern Saudi city of Dhahran, home to much of the kingdom's energy installations along the Gulf coast.

"There is a threat of imminent missile and UAV attacks over Dhahran," the embassy wrote on its official X account.

Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Tuesday urged countries to cut their ties with Iran during a virtual meeting with around 60 envoys stationed in Israel, as it pressed its military campaign against the Islamic republic.

"The foreign minister told the ambassadors that following the Iranian regime's attacks on all its neighbours and the massacre of its own people, countries around the world must cut off their relations with it," a statement issued by Saar's office said, without specifying whether the 60 envoys' countries had ties with Iran in the first place.

In a post on Truth Social, Donald Trump claimed that the Iran's air defence systems, Air Force, Navy and leadership had been eliminated.  Donald Trump also said that Iran is now seeking talks, but declared it was “too late.”

The Israeli military said it hit a high-ranking Iranian commander in Tehran on Tuesday, in the fourth day of the war which started with US and Israeli strikes.

"A short while ago, the (Israeli military) struck a senior Iranian terror regime commander in Tehran," an army statement said, without providing further details.

A defence ministry spokesperson was the first speaker.

He said the United Arab Emirates has strategic reserves of air defence systems capable of countering aerial threats for a prolonged period.

The spokesperson added that the UAE will not accept any infringement on its sovereignty or the safety of its territory.

Three people were killed and 68 others injured across the UAE in Iranian attacks, a spokesperson for the UAE’s Defence Ministry said.

The UAE Ministry of Defence has reported that Iran launched a large salvo of missiles and drones toward the United Arab Emirates amid the ongoing regional escalation. According to the defence ministry: “186 missiles were launched against our country” and “812 Iranian drones were monitored,” with the majority neutralised by air defences.

The ministry added that “172 of them were destroyed, 13 of them in the sea” and that “one missile landed on our territories.” UAE forces also said that out of 812 drones detected, “755 of them were intercepted.”

The statement underscores the intensity of the attacks and the scale of the defence response by the UAE, which remains on high alert as tensions in the Gulf region continue to escalate.

Oil prices soared on Tuesday as the Iran war disrupted supplies, with the crucial Strait of Hormuz effectively closed off and energy infrastructure hit.

The Brent North Sea crude contract, the international benchmark, jumped more than eight percent to reach $85.12 a barrel, its highest level since July 2024.

The main US oil contract, West Texas Intermediate, climbed more than seven percent to $76.47 a barrel.

Iran on Tuesday urged the United Nations Security Council to take action to stop the Islamic republic's war with Israel and the United States.

"The United Nations Security Council has a duty... if it wishes, it can certainly act, because there is no obstacle to its action except its own will," said foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei during a foreign ministry briefing.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will convey to Iran concerns among Arab leaders about Tehran's strikes on oil infrastructure in the region, the Kremlin said.

Putin held a flurry of phone calls on Monday with four Arab Gulf state leaders, offering to use Moscow's ties to Tehran - with which it has a strategic partnership - to try and defuse tensions in the region.

"Putin will certainly make every effort to contribute to at least a slight easing of tensions," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday.

Iran on Tuesday urged the United Nations Security Council to take action to stop the Islamic republic's war with Israel and the United States.

"The United Nations Security Council has a duty... if it wishes, it can certainly act, because there is no obstacle to its action except its own will," said foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei during a foreign ministry briefing.

Oman downed two drones, while another crashed near its Salalah port on Tuesday, state media said, as Iran continues to target civilian and military infrastructure in the Gulf over US and Israeli attacks.

"A security source reported that two drones were shot down over the Dhofar Governorate, and a third crashed near the port of Salalah area, with no casualties or material damage reported," the Oman News Agency said in a statement.

PM Modi spoke to two important leaders from the Gulf region this afternoon. He had a phone call with Sultan of Oman, Sultan Haitham bin Tarik. He also had a conversation with Crown Prince of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah.

During both discussions, the Prime Minister expressed concern at the attacks in the respective countries and discussed the welfare and security of the Indian community residing there.

Qatar's military thwarted attacks on Hamad International Airport, the Gulf state's foreign ministry spokesman said on Tuesday, as Iran pressed a retaliatory campaign across the Gulf.

"There were attempts to attack Hamad International Airport, they were all thwarted... the missiles were downed by our defensive measures, and none of them have reached the airport," Majed al-Ansari told a press conference, adding that Qatar had not been in contact with Iran since the start of the strikes.

Qatar's state-run energy firm said Tuesday it would halt some downstream production a day after stopping the production of liquefied natural gas as Iran attacked facilities at two gas processing plants.

"Further to the decision by QatarEnergy to stop production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and associated products, QatarEnergy is stopping the production of some downstream products in the State of Qatar, including urea, polymers, methanol, aluminum and other products," the company said in a statement.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards warned on Tuesday they would unleash more intense attacks on the United States and Israel as the war raged for the fourth day.

"The enemy must await continuous punitive attacks; the gates of hell will open more and more, moment by moment, upon the United States and Israel," the Guards spokesman Ali Mohammad Naini told state TV.

Iran War News Live:US pulled out of deal, attack shows defending sovereignty is not aggression, says Araghchi

Iran FM Araghchi : We signed a deal, The US withdrew. We were negotiating, then they attacked. Defending sovereignty isn’t aggression. If this escalation isn’t condemned, what’s left of international law?

Etihad in a statement said,"

All Etihad’s scheduled commercial flights to and from Abu Dhabi remain suspended until UAE time on Thursday 5 March.

Some repositioning, cargo and repatriation flights may operate in coordination with UAE authorities and subject to strict operational and safety approvals.

Guests should not travel to the airport unless they have been contacted directly by Etihad and advised to do so. Access to the airport will be restricted for those without confirmed travel documentation.

The military issued evacuation orders for residents of more than two dozen towns in southern Lebanon.

Israel has been striking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon and carrying out incursions across the border.

AFP journalists in the Bahraini and Qatari capitals heard more explosions on Tuesday, as Iran carried out a fourth day of attacks on Gulf countries.

The correspondents said they heard several blasts in Manama and air raid sirens sounded, while explosions were also heard in Doha.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that Moscow had still not seen any evidence that Iran was developing nuclear weapons.

Trump has said the war was needed to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon and to thwart its long-range ballistic missile program.

Iran has denied it is seeking nuclear weapons and said the U.S. and Israeli assault was unprovoked, occurring as Tehran and Washington were in negotiations on a nuclear accord.

Trump withdrew from a prior international agreement curbing Iran's nuclear program during his first term in 2018, three years after it was signed.

Iran army says launched attacks on Israel, US base in Qatar

Iran War News Live: IAEA confirms some damage to Iran's Natanz nuclear site

Commercial satellite imagery had captured ​what appeared to be the first known strikes on an Iranian nuclear site since the start of the U.S.-Israeli air operation.

The U.N. nuclear watchdog IAEA has now confirmed there has been damage to Iran's Natanz Fuel Enrichment Plant.

Iran warned European countries on Tuesday against joining its conflict with Israel and the United States , after Germany, Britain and France said they could take "defensive action" to destroy Iran's missile-launching capabilities.

"It would be an act of war. Any such act against Iran would be regarded as complicity with the aggressors. It would be regarded as an act of war against Iran," foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said at a press briefing when asked about the statement.

The International Monetary Fund said it is too early to determine the economic impact of the Middle East conflict on the region and the global economy. The IMF noted that the extent of the fallout will depend on how long the crisis lasts and how widely it spreads.

A drone attack targeting an oil facility in Fujairah was intercepted by security forces, but falling debris sparked a fire in the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone, officials said. Authorities confirmed the blaze was quickly contained, no injuries were reported, and normal operations have resumed.

Iran has said that the death toll from US-Israeli strikes rose to 787, state media reported, citing the Iranian Red Crescent.

US President Donald Trump highlighted the country’s “virtually unlimited” stockpile of medium- and upper-grade weapons amid the Israel-Iran conflict, claiming the US is “stocked, and ready to WIN, BIG.” The United States ranks 2nd globally in military power, boasting dominant air, land, and naval capabilities with top-ranked aircraft, tanks, and submarines. (Read more)

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reports that the Lebanese army is pulling back from several "advanced positions" along its border with Israel.

Witnesses cited by Reuters said troops have evacuated at least seven forward operating positions in the area.

The withdrawals come amid Israel's military escalation, with Defence Minister Israel Katz stating that the Israeli army has been ordered to advance and seize additional strategic areas in Lebanon to prevent attacks on Israeli border communities.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Tuesday that it fired four cruise missiles at the US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. Multiple Gulf media outlets such as Al Arabiya and Shafaq.com have reported on the attack. However, there has been no immediate confirmation of the attack from US authorities. Earlier this week, the IRGC had also claimed it targeted the same carrier, asserting that the vessel was forced to withdraw following the strike. However, US Central Command (CENTCOM) denied these reports, stating that the aircraft carrier was not hit and continued its operations without interruption.

A magnitude 4.3 earthquake struck the Gerash region in southern Iran on Tuesday, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said, reporting the tremor occurred at a depth of about 10 km (6.2 m) beneath the surface. The moderate quake was recorded early on March 3 and was felt locally, though there were no immediate reports of significant damage or casualties. Gerash is located in Fars Province, an area that experiences regular seismic activity due to Iran's position along active fault systems.

The war between the United States and Iran, which has engulfed the broader Gulf region, is emerging as a fresh risk for Indian capital goods exporters with exposure to West Asia, analysts have said. The immediate concern is disruption of the Strait of Hormuz, which has pushed up crude prices and raised global market volatility. The strait carries 20 percent of world’s crude and 50 percent of India’s oil imports. (Read More)

The US Embassy in Jerusalem has informed American citizens that it is "not in a position" to help them evacuate Israel. In a security alert, the embassy shared details about shuttle buses operated by Israel's Ministry of Tourism to the Taba border crossing with Egypt. The advisory noted: "If you choose to avail yourself of this option to depart, the U.S. government cannot guarantee your safety. The information is provided as a courtesy to those wishing to leave Israel." The embassy also instructed US citizens wishing to use the buses to register with the tourism ministry via its official evacuation form.

Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz said he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have authorised the Israeli military to move forward and capture additional strategic locations in Lebanon to prevent attacks on Israeli border communities.

Katz said the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are continuing operations against Hezbollah targets, adding that the group "is paying - and will continue to pay - a heavy price" for launching fire toward Israel.

He said the government remains committed to protecting communities along the northern border, stating that Israel had promised security to residents of the Galilee and intends to fulfil that pledge.

Senior gas executives say China is pressuring Iranian officials to avoid action that would disrupt Qatari gas exports or other energy shipments making their way through the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime chokepoint. As the buyer of the vast majority of the Islamic Republic’s oil, China provides a vital economic lifeline for Iran. But the world’s largest energy importer depends more heavily on the wider Persian Gulf region for both oil and gas supplies, and cargoes of both require transit through the narrow waterway. Qatar, which accounts for a fifth of global liquefied natural gas, is a particular concern. After an Iranian drone attack on Monday, Qatar halted production at Ras Laffan, the world’s largest LNG export facility — the first complete halt in nearly three decades of operation. - Bloomberg

Canada's embassy in Riyadh has announced it will shut down operations today, citing the prevailing security situation in the region. The mission said all in-person services and appointments have been suspended through Friday, March 6.

The US State Department has directed the mandatory departure of non-essential government staff and their families from its missions in Jordan, Bahrain and Iraq, citing growing security threats.

In its advisory, the department said personnel in Jordan and Bahrain face continuing risks from potential Iranian drone and missile attacks, along with disruptions to commercial air travel and the possibility of terrorist activity. In Iraq, officials warned of elevated dangers including violence and kidnapping.

This marks the first ordered drawdown of staff from the three embassies since the United States and Israel began military operations against Iran. The move underscores the heightened security environment across the region as Tehran carries out retaliatory actions, particularly targeting US military and diplomatic sites.

The State Department also cautioned that ongoing flight disruptions could complicate efforts by American citizens to depart the affected countries.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced the postponement of Class 10 and Class 12 board exams slated for March 5 and 6, 2026, in several Middle Eastern countries. The decision follows rising instability in the region after US and Israeli military action against Iran and the subsequent escalation of hostilities. The board stated that the step was taken after conducting a careful assessment of the prevailing conditions in certain parts of the Middle East. As per Circular-2 dated March 3, 2026, examinations scheduled in the following countries have been put on hold:

Bahrain

Iran

Kuwait

Oman

Qatar

Saudi Arabia

United Arab Emirates (UAE)

CBSE added that fresh dates for the affected exams will be announced at a later stage.

Pakistani citizens were seen hauling suitcases across the border from Iran, describing missile launches and widespread travel disruption as they rushed to leave following US and Israeli strikes over the weekend.

AFP journalists reported a steady flow of people moving through the large metal gates at the remote crossing between Mirjaveh in Iran and Taftan in Pakistan's western Balochistan province.

Since Saturday, powerful explosions have shaken Tehran, prompting embassies from several countries to advise their nationals to depart.

"All our Pakistani brothers who were in Tehran and other cities had started to leave and were arriving at the terminal, which caused a lot of crowd pressure," Ameer Muhammad, a 38-year-old trader, told AFP on Monday. He added that heavy congestion led to serious transport difficulties.

The isolated Taftan crossing is about 500 kilometres (310 miles) from Quetta, the capital and largest city of Balochistan.

At the border, AFP journalists observed the Iranian flag flying at half-mast while soldiers stood guard. Most travellers pushed large suitcases across the pedestrian crossing, as freight trucks lined up in long queues nearby.

Historic Golestan Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Tehran, has been damaged by US-Israeli air strikes, Iranian state media and local reports say. The palace - one of Iran's most important cultural and architectural landmarks - sustained impact amid the ongoing conflict, with shockwaves and debris affecting parts of the complex. Iran's cultural heritage minister has acknowledged the damage and is preparing to report the incident to UNESCO, raising international concern over the protection of heritage sites amid the wider regional war. Iran's government condemned the attack, with officials saying that while war may destroy lives and history, the nation's culture will endure and not be erased.

The United States embassy in Riyadh confirmed an attack and urged people to stay away, saying it would be closed on Tuesday. "Avoid the embassy until further notice due to an attack on the facility," a statement said, urging American citizens to "shelter in place". - AFP

India's ace shuttler PV Sindhu shared a positive update with fans after being stranded in Dubai amidst the Middle East crisis. Sindhu, a double Olympic medallist, informed fans that she has arrived in Bengaluru after experiencing some of the most "intense and uncertain" days. "Back home in Bangalore and safe. The last few days have been intense and uncertain, but I’m truly grateful to be back to my house," she wrote on X. (Read More)

The escalating US-Iran war, which has ensnared the Gulf countries, could soon begin to show up in airline ticket prices in India, as rising global oil prices threaten to push up the cost of aviation turbine fuel (ATF), the single largest expense for air carriers. If crude prices remain elevated, Indian airlines may be forced to pass on a part of the cost burden to passengers, pushing up both international and domestic fares ahead of a busy travel season, as schools shut down for holidays. Domestic airfares could rise by around 10–15 percent if the situation persists and fuel costs continue to climb, Govind Gaur, CEO of travel platform WanderOn, told Moneycontrol. (Read More)

Air strikes have hit an area near Iran's former parliament building in central Tehran, according to a report by the Shargh newspaper. The publication said the attack occurred near the intersection of Valiasr and Jami streets, a district that houses several cultural sites and museums. There were no immediate reports of casualties following the strike.

South Korean stocks tumbled more than 5% as escalating instability in the Middle East weighed on global investor sentiment. The benchmark Kospi index fell 5.2% to 5,922.30 in afternoon trading, marking one of its sharpest declines this year. Despite the drop, the Kospi has been among the world's top-performing indexes since the start of the year, climbing about 50% on the back of a strong rally in technology heavyweights such as Samsung and SK hynix.

Indian airlines said Tuesday that they were resuming limited commercial services to the Middle East in a bid to collect thousands of passengers stranded by war. Millions of South Asian citizens live and work across the Middle East. IndiGo said it would operate four return flights to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia as part of efforts to "progressively normalise" operations between the countries. Air India Express said it would resume flights to and from the Omani capital Muscat from Tuesday. But services to and from Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates remain suspended, the airlines said in a statement. Budget carrier Akasa Air said it would operate select flights to Jeddah. - AFP

Conflict enters fourth day as US and Israeli forces continue military operations against Iran, following unprecedented joint strikes.

Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz closed and warned it will fire on any ship attempting to pass, threatening a major global oil route.

Iranian missiles and drones hit multiple Gulf cities and US sites, including drone strikes on the US embassy in Riyadh causing limited fire and damage.

Saudi Arabia intercepted several incoming drones near Riyadh and Al-Kharj.

Qatar reported it shot down two Iranian fighter jets amid the expanding conflict.

Flights to and within the Middle East were diverted or disrupted as regional airspace closures continued.

Hezbollah launched attacks on Israeli positions, including a claimed drone strike on an Israeli air base in retaliation for strikes in Lebanon.

Pro-Iranian groups in Iraq claimed a drone attack on a hotel in Erbil housing US troops.

At least six US service members have been killed in action, with remains of additional personnel recovered from earlier strike sites.

Rights groups reported rising casualties in Iran, with news agencies citing dozens killed in the past 24 hours and hundreds since the offensive began.

Global markets reacted, with oil prices extending gains and equities sliding as the wider conflict stoked fears of supply disruptions and inflation.

Amazon Web Services reported UAE and Bahrain data centres were damaged by drone strikes, urging customers to back up data

The United States Munitions Stockpiles have, at the medium and upper medium grade, never been higher or better - As was stated to me today, we have a virtually unlimited supply of these weapons. Wars can be fought “forever,” and very successfully, using just these supplies (which are better than other countries finest arms!). At the highest end, we have a good supply, but are not where we want to be. Much additional high grade weaponry is stored for us in outlying countries. Sleepy Joe Biden spent all of his time, and our Country’s money, GIVING everything to P.T. Barnum (Zelenskyy!) of Ukraine - Hundreds of Billions of Dollars worth - And, while he gave so much of the super high end away (FREE!), he didn’t bother to replace it. Fortunately, I rebuilt the military in my first term, and continue to do so. The United States is stocked, and ready to WIN, BIG!!! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP - POTUS on Truth Social

US military officials said Monday they destroyed command posts of Iran's Revolutionary Guards as well as Iranian air defense and missile launch sites, in the Middle Eastern war that broke out over the weekend. "US forces have destroyed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command and control facilities, Iranian air defense capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and military airfields during sustained operations," US Central Command wrote in an X post. - AFP

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Tuesday that it had carried out a drone and missile strike on a United States air base in Bahrain, according to a statement reported by the official news agency Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and carried by Islamic Republic News Agency. (Read More)

Hezbollah says it carried out an attack on the Ramat David Air Base in northern Israel. The Lebanese armed group said it deployed a "swarm of drones" at dawn, targeting radar installations and control rooms at the facility. Hezbollah described the strike as retaliation for what it called Israel's deadly attacks on multiple areas of Lebanon.

The Financial Times reports that the operation targeting Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was supported by years of intelligence penetration inside Tehran. According to the report, Israeli operatives had allegedly hacked nearly all traffic cameras in the Iranian capital over an extended period, allowing them to monitor movements around sensitive locations, including Pasteur Street, where members of the IRGC's Vali Amr Protection Unit - responsible for Khamenei's security - were based. The newspaper further reports that the CIA, rather than Israel's Mossad, provided a key human intelligence source who assisted in the effort, offering crucial on-the-ground insight that complemented the extensive surveillance operation.

Saudi Arabia's defence ministry said its forces intercepted and destroyed at least eight drones that were heading toward Riyadh and the nearby city of Al-Kharj. No further details were immediately provided. Earlier on Tuesday, the ministry confirmed that the US Embassy in Riyadh had been targeted by at least two drone attacks, causing what it described as a limited fire and minor material damage to a building within the embassy compound.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) said two of its data centres in the United Arab Emirates were directly struck by drone attacks in the region. The company also reported that another facility in Bahrain was affected by nearby drone strikes, according to service alerts issued on Monday.

AWS, which operates cloud infrastructure and digital services globally, said the incidents caused structural damage and disrupted power supplies at the impacted sites.

Data centres play a critical role in storing and processing information for businesses, websites and online applications, meaning any damage could result in significant service disruptions.

Citing the "unpredictable" security environment in the Middle East, AWS urged customers in the region to back up their data immediately and consider shifting operations to its platforms in the United States, Asia, Europe or other locations.

The US Embassy in Islamabad has suspended all visa appointments, citing the “current security situation” in the country. The directive applies to the embassy in Islamabad as well as US consulates in Lahore and Karachi, the mission said, adding that the cancellations will remain in effect until Friday, March 6. The move follows unrest on Sunday in which at least 10 people were reported killed after security forces opened fire on demonstrators who stormed the US consulate in Karachi. The protests erupted following reports that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been killed in joint US-Israeli strikes.

The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) says at least 96 people were killed in Iran over the past 24 hours following joint US-Israeli strikes. The Washington, DC-based organisation reported that 85 civilians and 11 military personnel were among the dead.

According to HRANA, the latest figures bring the total civilian death toll to at least 742 since the US-Israeli offensive began on February 28, including 176 children.

Earlier, the Iranian Red Crescent Society placed the overall death toll at 555. The casualty figures could not be independently verified.

HRANA said Monday's strikes targeted multiple locations and infrastructure sites, including several military bases, two residential areas and Shahid Bahonar Pier in Bandar Abbas.

Oil prices pushed higher for a second day while global equities declined on Tuesday, as investors monitored escalating tensions in the Middle East. The United States and Israel continued strikes on Iran, with Tehran launching additional attacks on neighbouring countries.

The assault on the Islamic Republic has disrupted regional energy dynamics, with the strategic Strait of Hormuz - a route that carries roughly a fifth of the world's oil supply - effectively shut, stoking concerns of a renewed energy shock that could intensify inflationary pressures.

Despite the escalation, market reactions have remained relatively contained, driven by expectations that the conflict may be short-lived and avoid triggering significant damage to the global economy.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview Monday that the Middle East conflict triggered by US and Israeli strikes on Iran won't be "an endless war" but could "take some time." He told Fox News the campaign would be "a quick and decisive action," later adding: "It may take some time, but it's not going to take years." - AFP

Video circulating online appears to show an Iranian Shahed-136 drone slamming into a building in Dubai that is believed to house American personnel.