Hezbollah has ‘no option’ but continue fighting Israel Mohammad Raad, head of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc, said the group has no option but to continue fighting Israel. The official criticised the Lebanese government for condemning the group’s rocket attacks. “Lebanon today is not choosing between war and peace,” Raad said in a televised address.
Trump says war on Iran could be ‘short-term excursion’ US President Donald Trump said the US-Israeli war on Iran could be a “short-term excursion”. Speaking at a Republican gathering in Doral, Florida, Trump said the US military was already “very far” ahead of the four-to-five-week timeframe initially estimated for the assault on Iran. In an earlier interview with CBS, he said: “I think the war is very complete, pretty much.
Iran says Israel, US trying to drive wedge with neighbours Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan that Israel and the United States are trying to create “discord” between Tehran and neighbouring countries. According to Tasnim news agency, Pezeshkian said Iran remains ready to ease regional tensions if countries hosting US bases do not allow their territory to be used to launch attacks on Iran. He also said Tehran is willing to form a joint team with Turkey to investigate the “alleged” missile attack on Turkish territory.
Hezbollah launches rockets at Israeli military position near border Hezbollah said it launched rockets at an Israeli military position near the Lebanese border town of Houla. In a statement, the group said the attack took place this morning and was carried out in response to Israeli strikes on dozens of Lebanese towns and cities, including Beirut’s southern suburbs.
Iraqi armed group claims drone attack on base at Baghdad airport The Iraqi armed group Saraya Awliya al-Dam said it carried out a drone attack on the Victoria military airbase at Baghdad airport. The group claimed responsibility for the strike in a statement on its Telegram channel. The incident follows a series of drone attacks in Iraq in recent days, including two drones that targeted a US military base and a hotel in Erbil in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq.
Israeli minister’s son wounded in attack near Lebanon border Israel’s far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich said his son was wounded in an attack near the Lebanese border that injured eight Israeli soldiers. In a post on X, Smotrich said a mortar round was fired at troops on Friday and that his son, Benya Hebron, was among those hurt. He said shrapnel “penetrated his back and stomach” and that he was taken to hospital.
Macron proposes multinational mission to escort tankers after war French President Emmanuel Macron said he is discussing a French-led initiative to escort oil and gas tankers through the Strait of Hormuz once the most intense phase of the US-Israeli war on Iran ends, the Associated Press reported. Speaking during a visit to Cyprus, Macron said the mission could involve European and non-European countries and would aim to gradually reopen the key shipping route. He said the operation would be “strictly peaceful and defensive” and would only begin once major strikes have subsided.
White House says Trump reviewing options to control oil prices The White House said President Donald Trump is reviewing “all credible options” to stabilise oil prices after a surge since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran. Spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said the administration had already prepared a strategy to keep energy markets stable before the launch of Operation Epic Fury and would continue assessing further measures.
Many US soldiers opposed to war on Iran, conscientious objector group says Submitted by Sean Mathews on Mon, 03/09/2026 - 20:29 Group says more units have just been activated for deployment than the public knows about President Donald Trump salutes as US Army members move a flag-draped transfer case containing the remains of Sergeant 1st Class Nicole M Amor at Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Delaware, on 7 March 2026 (Anna Moneymaker /Getty Images via AFP) Off A non-profit that assists conscientious objectors said its phone has been "ringing off the hook” with US service members who object to serving in the US-Israel war on Iran. The group's executive director said in a post on X that there was fierce opposition to the war on Iran and the level of mobilisation of US troops echoed opposition to the 2003 US invasion of Iraq. “Phone has been ringing off the hook.
UK government unveils new definition of anti-Muslim hatred Submitted by Areeb Ullah on Mon, 03/09/2026 - 16:41 Steve Reed tells House of Commons that new definition will extend to those who are perceived to be Muslim Britain's Housing and Communities Secretary Steve Reed speaks during a televsion interview on the first day of the annual Labour Party conference in Liverpool, northwest England, on 28 September 2025 (AFP) Off The UK government has introduced a new definition of anti-Muslim hate after months of consultation and controversy surrounding the process. Speaking in the House of Commons on Monday, Communities Secretary Steve Reed unveiled the plan to parliamentarians. "Religious hate crimes targeted at Muslims are also at record levels, with almost half of these crimes targeted towards the Muslim community and many living in fear that they will be targeted because of how they look or assumptions over where they come from," Reed said in the House of Commons.
Iran says regional strikes are defensive Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran’s attacks across the region are defensive and aimed at preventing further US strikes. He affirmed Iran is targeting the sources of attacks launched from US bases across the Middle East rather than neighbouring countries themselves.
Iran war fuel crisis forces Pakistan to close schools, take austerity measures Submitted by MEE staff on Mon, 03/09/2026 - 19:21 The steep austerity measures come as the US-Israeli war on the Islamic Republic shows no signs of slowing Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the Congress Centre in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, on 12 December 2025 (Alexander Kazakov/Sputnik via Reuters) Off Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Monday the closure of all schools through the end of the month, and remote work for all university students and half the workforce, as his country implements steep austerity measures amid soaring global fuel prices. The US - Israel war on Iran is now into its second week, with few signs that US President Donald Trump plans to scale back the operation. Iran has been retaliating against US assets in the Gulf - a region that produces a quarter of the world's entire oil supply - and choking off the Strait of Hormuz.
Israel orders evacuation of village in southern Lebanon The Israeli military issued a forced evacuation order for residents of the village of al-Ansariya in southern Lebanon. In a statement, the army said it plans to carry out strikes targeting what it described as Hezbollah activity in the area and urged residents to move at least 1,000 metres away from the village.
Oman’s sultan congratulates Iran’s new supreme leader Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said sent a message congratulating Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. In the message, the sultan offered his “best wishes for his success and good fortune in assuming his leadership responsibilities in his friendly country”. Sultan Haitham is the first Arab leader to publicly congratulate Khamenei after he was selected to succeed his father, who was killed in a US-Israeli air strike last week.
Lindsey Graham threatens Saudi Arabia if they do not join war on Iran Submitted by Sean Mathews on Mon, 03/09/2026 - 18:53 US senator and close Trump ally said there should be 'consequences' for Gulf states that do not join a war they opposed Republican Senator Lindsey Graham speaks to the press at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on 3 March 2026 (Jim Watson/AFP) Off US Senator Lindsey Graham lambasted Saudi Arabia on Monday for not attacking Iran and threatened “consequences” against other Gulf countries if they do not join the US- Israeli war on Iran, which the kingdom has opposed from the outset. “It is my understanding the Kingdom refuses to use their capable military as a part of an effort to end the barbaric and terrorist Iranian regime who has terrorized the region and killed 7 Americans,” Graham wrote on X. “Should America do a defense agreement with a country like the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that is unwilling to join a fight of mutual interest?
US logistics site near Baghdad airport targeted A logistical support camp linked to the US embassy near Baghdad airport has been targeted, an Iraqi security source told Al Jazeera Arabic. Air defence systems at the facility were activated following the attack. Further details were not immediately available.
Three Iranian children killed in strikes on Lorestan province Three students were killed during US and Israeli strikes on Iran’s Lorestan province, according to the Tasnim news agency. The report said the victims included a fourth-grade student, a seventh-grade student and a second-grade student. One of the children was killed alongside her mother.
'Sharp spike' in anti-Muslim posts on X since US-Israel war on Iran, study shows Submitted by MEE staff on Mon, 03/09/2026 - 17:02 Only a third of the posts reported to X support were actually removed Two people use social media on their mobile phones in Arinaga, on the island of Gran Canaria, Spain, on 3 February 2026 (Borja Suarez/Reuters) Off There has been a "sharp spike" in anti-Muslim posts on Elon Musk's X platform since the US and Israel began their joint war on Iran on 28 February, a social media monitor revealed on Monday. The Washington, DC-based Center for the Study of Organized Hate (CSOH) said it tracked posts that explicitly dehumanised, excluded, and incited violence against Muslims from 1 January to 5 March. On the day the war began, the volume of such posts surged from just under 2,000 per day to more than 6,000, the report said .
WHO warns Iran war poses growing public health risks The head of the World Health Organization has warned that the US-Israeli war on Iran is creating serious public health risks across the region. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said damage to petroleum facilities in Iran could contaminate food, water and air, posing particular dangers to children, older people and those with existing health conditions. “Rain laden with oil has been reported falling in parts of the country,” Tedros said in a post.
Putin urges Russian firms to capitalise on energy market turmoil Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russian companies should “take advantage” of the current situation as the war disrupts global oil and energy markets. Speaking at a meeting in the Kremlin, Putin said the US-Israeli has triggered a worldwide energy crisis and warned that oil production relying on transport through the Strait of Hormuz could soon come to a halt. He added that Russia would be ready to supply European buyers if they were willing to engage in “long-term work without politics”.
