Iran says war death toll rises to 1,045

An Iranian government agency says at least 1,045 people have been killed in the war so far, as fighting between Iran, the United States and Israel continues to intensify. The figure was released by Iran’s Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs, which said the number reflects bodies that have been identified and prepared for burial so far.

The toll could rise further as rescue and identification efforts continue following ongoing airstrikes and missile exchanges across the country.

NATO intercepts Iranian ballistic munition heading toward Turkey

Turkey’s defence ministry said a ballistic munition launched from Iran and heading toward Turkish airspace was intercepted and neutralised by NATO air and missile defence systems. According to the ministry, the projectile travelled through Iraqi and Syrian airspace before being engaged by NATO elements deployed in the eastern Mediterranean. Officials said debris that landed in the Dörtyol district of Hatay province was identified as part of the air-defence munition used during the interception. No casualties or injuries were reported.

Israel kills IRGC special operations chief; Iran claims radar strike in Qatar

Israel has reportedly killed Rahman Makdam, head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) special operations unit, in a targeted strike, according to Israeli media reports. He was allegedly linked to an assassination attempt on Donald Trump ahead of the 2024 US election. Meanwhile, the IRGC said its naval forces destroyed the US strategic radar system AN/FPS-132 in Qatar during an attack carried out at dawn.

Iran launches missiles in 17th wave of Operation True Promise 4

Iran has launched a fresh round of missile attacks as part of the 17th wave of “Operation True Promise 4,” targeting positions linked to the United States and Israel, according to Iranian state media. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said its aerospace forces fired more than 40 missiles toward what it described as American and “Zionist” targets as part of its ongoing retaliatory campaign. The strikes come amid escalating military exchanges between Iran, Israel and the US, with both sides carrying out repeated waves of attacks across the region.

Azerbaijan’s president pays tribute to Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei

Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev visited the Iranian embassy in Baku to offer condolences following the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Aliyev expressed sympathy to Iran’s leadership, Khamenei’s family and the Iranian people, describing his death as a major loss for the country and its political life.

State funeral for Khamenei postponed: State media

Iran’s planned state funeral for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, which was scheduled for Wednesday evening, has been postponed, according to Iranian state media. Authorities did not immediately provide a reason for the delay or announce a revised date for the ceremony.

Israeli troops enter southern Lebanon, evacuation ordered up to Litani River

Lebanese state media reports that Israeli forces have entered the southern town of Khiam, located about six kilometres from the Lebanon–Israel border. At the same time, the Israeli military has ordered residents of towns in southern Lebanon to evacuate and move north of the Litani River. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said civilians have been instructed to immediately leave their homes and relocate to safer areas further north.

Iranian FM Araghchi accuses Trump of bombing Iran "out of spite"

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has accused US President Donald Trump of ordering strikes on Iran “out of spite” amid escalating tensions between the two countries. In a post on X on Wednesday, Araghchi criticised Trump’s handling of diplomacy, saying complex nuclear negotiations were being treated “like a real estate transaction”. "When complex nuclear negotiations are treated like a real estate transaction, and when big lies cloud realities, unrealistic expectations can never be met," he wrote. He added that the strikes amounted to “bombing the negotiation table out of spite”, accusing Trump of betraying diplomacy as US military operations against Iranian targets continue to intensify.

Israel says F-35I shot down Iranian Yak-130 in first such incident

The Israeli Air Force said one of its F-35I “Adir” stealth fighters shot down an Iranian Yak-130 aircraft over Tehran, marking what it described as the first time an F-35 has downed a manned combat aircraft. The Israeli military said the engagement took place during ongoing operations against Iranian targets as the conflict between the two countries continues to escalate.

Israel launches tenth wave of strikes on Iranian targets

The Israeli military said it has launched a tenth wave of large-scale strikes on Iranian regime infrastructure in Tehran, continuing its campaign against key command and military sites as the conflict intensifies. According to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), the attacks are aimed at regime command centres and strategic military infrastructure in the Iranian capital. The latest operation comes amid escalating exchanges between Israel and Iran, with both sides carrying out missile and drone attacks across the region in recent days.

CIA evacuates stations within range of Iranian missiles: Reports

The CIA has reportedly ordered the evacuation of its stations located within range of Iranian ballistic missiles following a drone strike on its facility at the US Embassy in Riyadh. According to reports, Iranian drones hit the embassy compound, causing structural damage. There has been no official confirmation from US authorities regarding broader evacuation orders.

Iran claims missile strike destroyed key US radar in Gulf

Iran says it destroyed the AN/FPS-132 radar at Al Udeid with a missile strike, a system used to guide Patriot and THAAD air-defence systems in the Gulf. The reported attack comes amid escalating tensions in the region. Concerns have also grown over maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, with energy markets reacting sharply to the developments.

US–Israeli strikes hit Bushehr airport, aircraft reportedly destroyed

US–Israeli strikes have damaged an airport in the southern Iranian port city of Bushehr, which is also home to a nuclear power plant, Iran’s Mehr news agency reported. According to an AFP report cited by the agency, a projectile struck an Airbus aircraft during the attack, completely destroying the plane. The blast’s shockwave also caused damage to the airport terminal. Officials said a second aircraft was also hit in the strike. The full extent of damage or disruption to airport operations was not immediately clear. The reported attack comes as military exchanges between Iran and Israel continue to escalate, raising concerns about strikes near sensitive infrastructure in the region.

Iran to hold state funeral for Supreme Leader Khamenei

Iran will hold a state funeral for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday evening, according to state television, as the country continues nationwide mourning following confirmation of his death earlier this week. Authorities said public ceremonies will allow mourners to pay their respects, with large gatherings expected as the country marks the passing of the leader who ruled Iran for more than three decades.

Israel evacuates some embassy staff from UAE after alleged Iran-linked plots

Israel has quietly evacuated non-essential staff from its embassy in the United Arab Emirates after two suspected Iran-linked plots targeting its diplomatic mission were foiled, an Israeli official said. According to a senior official cited by Channel 12, the alleged attempts were part of a broader effort to target Israeli diplomats. Thousands of Israelis remain in the UAE, including tourists stranded due to cancelled flights, residents and dual nationals seeking assistance to leave as regional tensions escalate. Since the conflict began on Saturday, the UAE has reportedly faced more than 800 drone attacks and 200 missile strikes, according to the country’s defence ministry.

NYC Mayor Mamdani condemns Iranian repression, cautions against regime-change war

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has criticised Iran’s leadership over alleged human rights abuses while warning against military intervention aimed at regime change. Commenting on rising tensions in the Middle East, Mamdani described the Iranian government as “brutal” and accused it of carrying out systematic repression, including the killing of thousands of protesters earlier this year. At the same time, he cautioned that past US-led regime-change wars in the region had led to devastating consequences, urging policymakers to avoid another prolonged conflict as tensions escalate.

SpiceJet to operate special UAE flights to bring stranded Indians home

SpiceJet will run eight special flights from Fujairah in the UAE on March 4 to bring stranded Indian nationals back to the country. The services include four flights to Delhi, three to Mumbai and one to Kochi. The airline had earlier operated four similar flights on March 3 to help passengers affected by the ongoing disruptions.

Drone targets US embassy support camp near Baghdad airport

A drone struck a logistical support camp linked to the US embassy near Baghdad International Airport, Al Jazeera Arabic reported. There were no immediate details on casualties or damage. The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the region and growing security concerns around US diplomatic and military facilities in Iraq.

“I defy anybody to justify this”: Mary Trump on graves of 165 Iranian schoolchildren

Mary L. Trump, niece of US President Donald Trump, condemned the deaths of 165 schoolgirls in Iran after recent US–Israel strikes, saying, “I defy anybody to justify this.” The schoolgirls from Minab Primary School in southern Iran were killed on Saturday and buried on Tuesday. Due to the scale, their 165 graves were dug by bulldozers. Widely shared images of the funeral have been described as some of the most heartbreaking of the conflict.

UK suspends student visas for four countries over asylum misuse concerns

The UK government has immediately suspended certain visa routes for nationals from four countries, citing concerns over alleged misuse of the asylum system. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said student visas for applicants from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan have been halted. In addition, work visas for Afghan nationals have also been suspended. The Home Office described the move as “unprecedented”, saying it is aimed at preventing individuals from using visa routes to enter the UK before claiming asylum.

Who was Savitha Shan?

A 21-year-old Indian-American student was among three people killed in a deadly shooting at a crowded nightlife area in Austin, Texas, prompting authorities to investigate a possible connection to the ongoing tensions between the US and Iran. Read full story here.