Middle-East Tracker

Iran has ability to prolong war on US and Israel, says military expert

Israel punishes Gaza as it attacks Iran Two Palestinian men shot and killed by rampaging settlers in occupied West Bank.

Israel punishes Gaza as it attacks Iran

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Video: Thousands of Lebanese shelter in schools, fleeing Israeli bombs

Saudi defence ministry says it intercepted cruise missile

Israel says eight soldiers wounded near Lebanese border Israel says eight soldiers wounded near Lebanese border Israel's military said a projectile fired at its territory on Friday wounded eight soldiers near the Lebanese border. "Earlier today, five [Israeli] soldiers were severely injured as a result of projectile fire toward Israeli territory near the Lebanese border," the military said. "Three additional soldiers were lightly injured in the same incident," it said, adding that all eight soldiers had been evacuated for medical treatment.

Israel says eight soldiers wounded near Lebanese border

Egypt’s Taba airport becomes escape route for Israelis fleeing Iran war Egypt’s Taba airport becomes escape route for Israelis fleeing Iran war Taba, a small resort town on  Egypt ’s border with  Israel , has become a transit hub for Israelis and foreign nationals seeking to leave the country or return home after Israel closed its airspace amid its ongoing  war on Iran . Since Israel and the  US  launched their first strikes on 28 February, thousands of travellers have streamed across the Taba border crossing in both directions. Some enter Egypt to catch flights to Europe and beyond, while others cross into Israel by bus after landing at Taba’s small international airport, which has been reopened to accommodate the surge in passengers. The influx of passengers has turned the normally quiet Red Sea town into a busy transit point as governments evacuate citizens and airlines reroute flights across the region. On 1 March, one day after the closure of Israeli airspace, the Israeli airline Arkia  announced  flights between Taba and Athens. Israir later  said  it would operate flights to Taba from six European destinations, in addition to several routes operated by a Cypriot and Greek carrier. Read more:  Egypt’s Taba airport becomes escape route for Israelis fleeing Iran war Passengers waiting to check-in at the Taba Airport, 5 March 2026 (Eli Siegel-Bernstein/MEE)

Egypt’s Taba airport becomes escape route for Israelis fleeing Iran war

Israel bans Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque despite Purim celebrations proceeding Israel bans Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque despite Purim celebrations proceeding Israel has banned Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque, citing the “security situation” amid the war with Iran, while Jewish Purim celebrations have been allowed to take place elsewhere in the city. Palestinians accuse Israel of using the war as a pretext to empty Al-Aqsa Mosque of worshippers, particularly during Ramadan, when tens of thousands of people would normally gather at the site. Aouni Bazbaz, director of international affairs at the Islamic Waqf, which administers Al-Aqsa Mosque, said the closure could have serious consequences. “The continued closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque for a prolonged period, particularly at a time when signs of normal life are returning elsewhere, could carry risks and future consequences that cannot be ignored,” he told Middle East Eye. Bazbaz warned that keeping the mosque closed for extended periods could “heighten tensions and public anger”, potentially affecting stability in the region. Read more:  Israel bans Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque despite Purim celebrations proceeding A drone view shows the Dome of the Rock inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex empty as worshippers are no longer permitted to attend Friday prayers, 6 March 2026 (Ilan Rosenberg/Reuters)

Israel bans Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque despite Purim celebrations proceeding

US oil prices soar over 10 percent after Trump demands Iranian surrender US oil prices soar over 10 percent after Trump demands Iranian surrender The price of the benchmark US oil contract soared more than 10 percent on Friday, amid fears of extended disruption to crude supplies after President Donald Trump demanded Iran's "unconditional surrender". West Texas Intermediate surged 10.63 percent to $89.62 per barrel, while international benchmark Brent North Sea crude reached $91.89, the highest level in nearly two years.

US oil prices soar over 10 percent after Trump demands Iranian surrender

Israel bans Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque despite Purim celebrations proceeding While Israel cites wartime security concerns, Palestinians say the move is aimed at emptying the mosque and redefining access to one of Islam’s holiest sites

Israel bans Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque despite Purim celebrations proceeding

Israel killed 217 in Lebanon since start of March, health ministry says Israel killed 217 in Lebanon since start of March, health ministry says The Lebanese health ministry announced that the death toll from Israeli attacks since 2 March have risen to 217 people.  Nearly 800 others were wounded.

Israel killed 217 in Lebanon since start of March, health ministry says

Majority of Israeli public supports war on Iran Majority of Israeli public supports war on Iran In a survery conducted in early March, 82 percent of the Israeli public supported the war on Iran, including 93 percent Jewish respondents and a minority of Palestinian citizens of Israel.  The survey was conducted by the Viterbi Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research at the Israel Democracy Institute and included 500 interviewees in Hebrew and 99 interviewees in Arabic. While the majority of Israeli respondents (74 percent) feel protected against Iranian attacks, the majority of Palestinians do not.  Palestinian citizens of Israel have repeatedly reported the lack of access to shelters and safe rooms due to discriminatory building policies. This often leads many in the community vulnerable amid strikes on Israel.

Majority of Israeli public supports war on Iran

Donald Trump: No deal with Iran, unconditional surrender only | The Jerusalem Post Trump asserted that following Iran’s surrender, the US and its allies would “work tirelessly to bring Iran back from the brink of destruction, making it economically bigger, better, and stronger."

Trump: No deal with Iran, US will only accept regime's ‘unconditional surrender’

Egypt’s Taba airport becomes escape route for Israelis fleeing Iran war Hundreds queue daily at the Sinai border crossing for onward flights, as airport workers say every departure from the Red Sea town is already full

Egypt’s Taba airport becomes escape route for Israelis fleeing Iran war

Israeli army says it attacked Iranian commander in Tehran Israeli army says it attacked Iranian commander in Tehran The Israeli army said it attacked a senior Iranian commander in Tehran.

Israeli army says it attacked Iranian commander in Tehran

Spanish PM: US-Israeli strikes on Iran 'extraordinary mistake' Spanish PM: US-Israeli strikes on Iran 'extraordinary mistake' Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Friday reiterated criticism of US-Israeli attacks on Iran, saying that they are an "extraordinary mistake" and "not in accordance with international law". He added that "loyal cooperation" between Madrid and Washington should prevail over "confrontation" following tensions with the US over Spain's opposition to use its bases against Iran.  "Between allied countries, it is good to help when the other is right, but also to tell them when they are wrong or make a mistake, as is the case here," Sanchez remarked.

Spanish PM: US-Israeli strikes on Iran 'extraordinary mistake'

Iranian TV: Vessel hit in Hormuz Strait, missiles launched at US base in Kuwait Iranian TV: Vessel hit in Hormuz Strait, missiles launched at US base in Kuwait Iranian state TV has reported that a "violating vessel" in the Strait of Hormuz was hit by a drone strike, and caught fire.  It also announced the launch of missiles at a US base in Kuwait.

Iranian TV: Vessel hit in Hormuz Strait, missiles launched at US base in Kuwait

Israel targets several areas across Lebanon, including site near Iranian embassy Israel targets several areas across Lebanon, including site near Iranian embassy The Israeli army has targeted the al-Janah area, south of Beirut, nearby the Iranian embassy, state-owned National News Agency (NNA) reported.  The Israeli attack is one of many targeting various areas in Lebanon, particularly Beirut and the southern part of the country.  In one attack, described as a "massacre" by NNA, in the southern town of Dweir, at least five were killed. They were identified as retired officer Youssef Rammal, his wife Nidal Hattit and their daughter as well as a Syrian national and his wife.  Nine others were also injured in the strike, including the former mayor of Doueir, Ibrahim Reda Rammal.

Israel targets several areas across Lebanon, including site near Iranian embassy

Trump says only 'unconditional surrender' will end war on Iran

Gaza’s fragile humanitarian lifelines in Israel’s crosshairs Israeli plan to ban dozens of critical aid groups leaves Palestinians with limited options for survival

Gaza’s fragile humanitarian lifelines in Israel’s crosshairs

Trump: No deal with Iran, except 'unconditional surrender'

US embassy in Jordan halts services amid war on Iran US embassy in Jordan halts services amid war on Iran The US embassy in Jordan has issued a notice that all immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments are canceled "until further notice". "If you have a scheduled appointment, please do not come to the Embassy. We will contact you to reschedule once visa services resume," it said.  The closure of the US embassy is among several in the region following US attacks on Iran over the weekend.

US embassy in Jordan halts services amid war on Iran

Sri Lanka denounces rising Middle East death toll, shelters Iranian sailors Sri Lanka denounces rising Middle East death toll, shelters Iranian sailors Sri Lanka has denounced the rising death toll as a result of ongoing exchange of attacks between Israel and America against Iran.  The country has also opened it arms to over 200 sailors following a US assault on Iranian vessels.  The crew were brought ashore on Thursday and were being accommodated at a military camp near Colombo. At least 84 Iranian sailors have been killed in the US attack on Iris Dena, leaving 64 others missing. "Our approach is that every life is as precious as our own," Sri Lanka's President Anura Kumara Dissanayake wrote on X, and urged peace in the region.

Sri Lanka denounces rising Middle East death toll, shelters Iranian sailors

A boat hit 6 nautical miles north of Oman, UKMTO alerts A boat hit 6 nautical miles north of Oman, UKMTO alerts The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said it received a report of a tug hit by unknown projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz. The incident occured 6 nautical miles north of Oman.

A boat hit 6 nautical miles north of Oman, UKMTO alerts

US air defence systems intercepting attacks on Iranian Kurdish groups

Conservative Party of Iran unveils vision for Iran's future | The Jerusalem Post IRAN AFFAIRS: Conservative Party of Iran founder Rayan Amiri told The Jerusalem Post that the project is intended to provide political structure for a moment that could come sooner than expected.

Iran's exiled conservatives launch party, building blueprint for a post-regime monarchy

Moscow providing Tehran intelligence to target American forces | The Jerusalem Post Russia has given Iran the locations of US military assets, including warships and aircraft, since the start of the war.

Russia providing Iran intelligence to target US forces, officials say - report

IDF launches 15th wave of Iran strikes | The Jerusalem Post The IDF noted that it had struck infrastructure belonging to the Islamic regime in Tehran and Isfahan.

IDF launches 15th wave of strikes on Iranian regime, targets infrastructure in Tehran and Isfahan

Estimated half a million displaced in Lebanon, social affairs minister says Estimated half a million displaced in Lebanon, social affairs minister says There are approximately half a million displaced people in Lebanon, the country's Minister of Social Affairs told Al Jazeera. Hanine Sayyed noted that most of them are residents of Beirut's southern suburbs and various areas south of the country. "We are working to provide shelter requirements for the displaced, but we have not been able to reach everyone," she said.  Around 30 percent of those displaced do not have basic needs met, with access to shelters becoming difficult amid road traffic.

Estimated half a million displaced in Lebanon, social affairs minister says

UK deputy prime minister: British strikes on Iran 'legal' to conduct UK deputy prime minister: British strikes on Iran 'legal' to conduct The UK deputy prime minister said on Friday that it would be "legal" for the British military to conduct strikes directly targeting Iran. “It is entirely legal to protect our people and protect our staff, and therefore all operational capability is available to us in those circumstances,” David Lammy told the BBC.  Lammy confirmed that the UK has the satellite and intelligence capabilities to identify Iranian target sites. Currently, the UK has given permission to the US to use British air bases to launch attacks.

UK deputy prime minister: British strikes on Iran 'legal' to conduct