Hezbollah claims attack on Israeli troops near Lebanon's Khaim Hezbollah has claimed an attack on Israeli troops near the southern Lebanese town of Khiam. In a statement, the group said its fighters detonated an explosive device, which was followed by clashes with Israeli troops. It added that there were casualties among Israeli soldiers.
Israeli strikes kill 72 people since Monday: Lebanese health ministry Lebanon's health ministry is reporting that Israeli attacks across the country have killed 72 people and displaced 83,000 more since Israel renewed its assault on Monday. The ministry confirmed in a statement that another 437 had been wounded in the attacks, while the minister of social affairs said that 83,847 displaced people are now housed in official shelters. Israel launched strikes across Lebanon on Monday following retaliatory attacks by Hezbollah in response to the assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.
Israeli security forces believe Iran government 'not close to collapse' Submitted by Nadav Rapaport on Wed, 03/04/2026 - 16:51 Source tells Israeli news site Walla that Iran is functioning militarily despite heavy blows A flight deck crew member signalling an F‑35 jet on a US aircraft carrier (Centcom via Reuters) On The Israeli security forces believe that Iran’s ruling establishment, despite suffering heavy losses from US -Israeli bombardment, is not close to collapsing, Walla reports. A source within the security forces told the Israeli news site that "the Iranians have learnt" from the last war between Israel and Iran in June 2025. "They are still functioning militarily at a level that is between moderate and weak, but they are functioning.
Israel 'approved Lebanon attack' hours before Hezbollah rocket fire Submitted by Nadav Rapaport on Wed, 03/04/2026 - 15:22 Sources close to Hezbollah tell MEE the group expected an imminent Israeli attack and decided to act first Israeli military vehicles at the Israel-Lebanon border, following an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, as seen from northern Israel, 4 March 2026 (Reuters) Off The Israeli government approved an attack on Lebanon on Sunday night, hours before Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel in retaliation for the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday, Israel's Channel 12 News has reported . According to the report, senior Israeli security officials presented intelligence to the cabinet indicating that Hezbollah was planning to attack Israel. As ministers weighed possible military responses, the report said their primary concern was securing international legitimacy for striking Lebanon.
Iran to target Israeli embassies worldwide if Israel attacks Lebanon mission Iran's military has threatened to target Israeli embassies worldwide if Israel attacks the country's mission in Lebanon. Abolfazl Shekarchi, spokesman of the Iranian armed forces said that the move would "make all Israeli embassies around the world our legitimate target". The statement comes after the Israeli military's Arabic-language spokesman, Avichay Adraee warned "representatives of the Iranian terror regime who are still in Lebanon to leave immediately before being targeted”, giving them 24 hours to leave.
Israeli forces claim attack on major Iranian military compound Israeli forces have claimed an attack on a major Iranian military compound in Tehran housing command centres of the Revolutionary Guards, the elite Quds Force and the Basij paramilitary force. "A short while ago, the Israeli Air Force, precisely guided by IDF (military) intelligence, completed a wide-scale strike targeting a large... military compound in eastern Tehran" that contained "headquarters of all of the Iranian security organisations", the Israeli military said in a statement.
Fidan reveals failed Turkish attempts to stop Iran war Submitted by Ragip Soylu on Wed, 03/04/2026 - 15:44 Ankara couldn't convince Iran to meet Trump or its representatives in multilateral formats and Iran failed to understand the pressure on Trump, says foreign minister Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (R) speaks with Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Istanbul, on 21 June 2025 (Yasin Akgul/AFP) Off Turkey's foreign minister on Tuesday disclosed repeated Turkish initiatives to prevent a war between the United States and Iran , saying Tehran had failed to understand the mood in Washington. Hakan Fidan said Turkey took its first steps to bring Iran and the US back to negotiations after a phone call between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US President Donald Trump on 27 January. Middle East Eye previously reported that Erdogan had proposed holding a teleconference between Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Doha rejects Iran's claim that attacks only targeted US sites Qatar's foreign minister "categorically rejected" statements by his Iranian counterpart that Iran's attacks had targeted only US assets in the country and not civilian infrastructure. Qatar's foreign ministry said in a post on X that Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani called for an immediate halt to the strikes. The diplomat added that Qatar would confront any aggression with its "right to self-defence", stressing that Doha has always been inclined towards dialogue and diplomacy conducted in good faith.
US military claims to have struck or sunk over 20 Iranian ships US forces have struck or sunk over 20 Iranian ships since the country launched its attacks on Tehran, the US Central Command said on Wednesday.
At least 87 killed in US attack on Iranian warship off Sri Lanka's coast Submitted by MEE staff on Wed, 03/04/2026 - 13:41 US defence secretary confirmed the submarine strike, saying Iran's navy 'rests at the bottom of the Persian Gulf' Galle coast after a US submarine attack on the Iranian military ship Iris Dena, off Sri Lanka, in Galle, Sri Lanka, on 4 March 2026 (Thilina Kaluthotage/Reuters) Off At least 87 people were killed in a deadly US strike on an Iranian warship off Sri Lanka's coast, the country's deputy foreign minister said on Wednesday. The Sri Lankan navy said rescue efforts are underway after a US submarine fired a torpedo at the Iranian frigate Iris Dena, which was manned by 180 people. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed to reporters at a Pentagon briefing on Wednesday that a submarine had conducted the attack, adding that "the Iranian navy rests at the bottom of the Persian Gulf".
Israeli forces enter several Lebanese villages: Report Israeli forces have entered several towns and villages in southern Lebanon, AFP is reporting, citing a source from the UN peacekeeping force in the country, Unifil. According to the source, troops were present in several villages, including Kfar Kila, Houla, Kfar Shouba, Yaroun and Khiam, which lies 6km from the border. This follows an order by Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on Tuesday for forces to seize additional positions in southern Lebanon in a bid to establish a buffer zone against Hezbollah.
Oil tanker traffic through Strait of Hormuz plummets by 90 percent: Report Oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has plummeted by 90 percent since Israel and the US launched its five-day onslaught on Iran, energy market intelligence firm Kpler reported. This comes after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced they had "complete control" over the passage, through which a fifth of the world's oil is shipped. On Monday, Brig Gen Ebrahim Jabbari, a senior adviser to the commander-in-chief of Iran’s revolution guards, threatened to "attack and set ablaze any ship attempting to cross".
Turkey summons Iranian envoy over missiles fired towards airspace The Turkish foreign ministry has summoned the Iranian ambassador to Ankara to express concerns over a ballistic missile fired from Iran into its airspace, a Turkish diplomatic source said. Nato air defences destroyed the missile launched from Iran into Turkish airspace earlier on Wednesday, marking the first time a Nato member has been drawn into the conflict.
Oman rescues 24 people from ship following attack Oman's navy has rescued 24 people from a Maltese-flagged cargo ship after it was attacked by missiles near the Strait of Hormuz, Oman's news agency reported. According to the report, the 24-strong crew were rescued and provided with medical treatment.
Explosions heard over Jerusalem: Report AFP reported that fresh blasts were heard over Jerusalem following a missile alert issued by the Israeli military. The explosions came shortly after a salvo of missiles was detected about two hours earlier.
Sri Lanka recovers 87 bodies of Iranians from sunk warship Sri Lanka's navy has recovered 87 bodies of sailors from an Iranian warship that was sunk on Wednesday by a US submarine off the island's southern coast, police and defence officials said. "We have collected 87 bodies, and a search is still on for the others who are still missing," a navy official told AFP. Police and navy spokespeople said 61 sailors were still missing.
‘Isolated’ Iranian forces suspected of firing missile towards Turkey Submitted by Ragip Soylu on Wed, 03/04/2026 - 13:12 Ankara insiders believe further Iranian missiles fired into Turkey would escalate tensions between two neighbours Debris from a Nato air defence system that intercepted a missile launched from Iran is seen in Dortyol, in southern Hatay province, Turkey, 4 March 2026 (Ihlas News Agency via Reuters) Off An Iranian ballistic missile that was heading towards Turkish airspace before being intercepted by Nato air and missile defence systems near the southern city of Hatay on Wednesday may have been fired by “isolated” Iranian elements, Middle East Eye understands. Since the beginning of the joint US-Israeli strikes over the weekend, Iran has avoided Turkish airspace, refraining from firing any missiles or drones toward the Nato ally, which hosts American forces and installations. The downed missile, possibly intercepted by Nato ships deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean, was flying nearly 100km east of Turkey’s Incirlik Air Base, which previously hosted US military troops.
Hegseth confirms US sinking of Iranian warship off Sri Lanka coast US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has confirmed that the US military sank an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka, calling it the first sinking of an enemy ship by torpedo since World War Two. "An American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters. Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo.
Turkey says Iranian missile over its airspace destroyed by Nato defences Submitted by MEE staff on Wed, 03/04/2026 - 14:40 Ankara warns it reserves the 'right to respond to any hostile actions' The southern Turkish port city of Iskenderun, in Hatay province, on 6 August 2022 (Omar Haj Kadour/AFP) Off Nato air defence systems have shot down an Iranian ballistic missile heading into Turkish airspace, the Turkish defence ministry said on Wednesday. The ministry said the missile had crossed Iraqi and Syrian airspace and was "neutralised in a timely manner" by Nato's air and missile defences deployed in the eastern Mediterranean. "The fragment of the missile that fell in Dortyol district of Hatay province has been identified as belonging to the air defence missile that intercepted the threat in the air," the ministry said.
Armed Iranian Kurds weigh role in potential US-backed ground assault Submitted by Wladimir van Wilgenburg on Wed, 03/04/2026 - 13:19 Opposition groups neither confirm nor deny possible advance as Washington remains undecided A person carries a flag of Kurdistan as people demonstrate on International Mother Language Day in Qamishli, Syria, 21 February 2026 (Reuters/Orhan Qereman) Off Iranian Kurdish opposition groups have neither confirmed nor denied reports of a possible ground advance from Iraq into western Iran amid the ongoing US-Israeli war . Despite reports that Washington is considering backing an opposition-led assault, the White House has yet to take a final decision on its next move, sources have told Middle East Eye. A source within the Komala party, which has waged an insurgency against the Iranian state for decades, told MEE that it was the "right time now" to return to their hometowns after 47 years in exile.
