Morning recap Good morning, Middle East Eye readers. US senators have voted down a measure that sought to curb President Donald Trump’s authority to launch a war against Iran. The proposal aimed to require the withdrawal of US forces involved in the conflict unless Congress formally approved continued attacks.
Iran's foreign minister vows US will 'bitterly regret' targeting its ship In response to a US attack on an Iranian warship, Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said in a post on X that Washington "perpetrated an atrocity at sea". He added that the Iranian frigate Iris Dena was "struck in international waters without warning". "Mark my words: The U.
Iran denies firing missile towards Turkey Iran’s armed forces say they did not launch any missile towards Turkey. In a statement carried by Iranian state media on Thursday, the military said it respects Turkey’s sovereignty and denied targeting the country with any projectile. The response came after the Turkish Ministry of National Defence said a ballistic missile reportedly launched from Iran on its way towards Turkish airspace.
Exclusive: Iranian girls killed by ‘double-tap’ strikes on Minab school The girls’ school in Iran , where 165 people were killed by an apparent US - Israeli attack, was hit with two strikes, with the second missile killing sheltering survivors, two first responders and the parent of a slain child have told Middle East Eye. “When the first bomb hit the school, one of the teachers and the principal moved a group of students to the prayer hall to protect them,” one of the Red Crescent medics said, citing conversations he had at the time with survivors. “The principal called the parents and told them to come and pick up their children.
Australia declares deployment of 'military assets' to the Middle East Australia's Prime Minister told parliament on Thursday that "military assets" had been deployed to the Middle East as a contingency plan. "I thank those Australians going into a dangerous situation in order to help their fellow Australians," Anthony Albanese said. The Australian PM did not provide further details on the nature of the assets, though local news outlet SBS News reported that they were planes.
American-Israeli attacks on Iran recorded across 29 provinces and 172 cities The head of Iran's emergency services reported that US and Israel launched assaults on 29 provinces and 172 cities in the country since the war began over the weekend.
Israel kills first Hamas official since start of war on Iran: Report An Israeli strike in Lebanon killed a senior Hamas official early on Thursday, the public broadcaster National News Agency (NNA) reported, making him the first member of the Palestinian movement reported killed since the war on Iran began. According to NNA, Wassim Atallah al-Ali and his wife were killed when an Israeli drone targeted their home in the Palestinian Beddawi refugee camp in the coastal city of Tripoli.
Iran announces targeting of Kurdish forces in Iraqi Kurdistan Iran said it had targeted headquarters of Kurdish forces in Iraqi Kurdistan, state media reported. "We targeted the headquarters of Kurdish groups opposed to the revolution in Iraqi Kurdistan with three missiles," Iran's official IRNA news agency wrote, quoting a military statement. The announcement follows strikes on Kurdish regions in both Iran and Iraq.
US congress official: Cost of war on Iran estimated to be a billion dollars daily The preliminary Pentagon cost estimate of the war in Iran is a billion dollars daily, The Atlantic reported based on a US congress official.
Isaac Herzog: 'Israel does not drag America into war' Israeli President Isaac Herzog said on Wednesday that Tel Aviv and the US did not have "much of a choice" but to "take action" and attack Iran. In an interview with CBS, Herzog was asked by anchor Tony Dokoupil whether it was President Donald Trump or Israeli leaders who made the decision to carry out the assault on Iran. "Israel does not dictate to President Trump anything, and Israel does not drag America into a war, God forbid," the Israeli president responded.
Israel kills at least two in attacks on residential building in northern Lebanon An Israeli strike on the Beddawi refugee camp in Tripoli, northern Lebanon, has killed two and wounded another, according to the country's health ministry. The attack on Thursday morning targeted a residential building.
Israel launches more strikes on Lebanon, killing three Israel has launched attacks on the southern suburbs of Beirut, targeting Haret Hreik, Bir al-Abed and Ghobeiri, state-owned National News Agency reported. Another strike targeted a car on a road near the town of Al-Qlailah, southern Lebanese city of Tyre, resulting in the death of three. The latest Israeli assault comes hours after heavy strikes were reported in Qabrikha, south Lebanon.
Reports of large explosion 60 km away from Kuwait port The master of a tanker reported seeing a large explosion nearby Kuwait's Mubarak al-Kabeer port, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said. "There is oil in the water coming from a cargo tank which could have some environmental impact, the vessel has taken on water, there are no fires reported and the crew are safe," UKMTO noted in an advisory note. Kuwait's interior ministry said in a later statement that the incident occurred outside the country's territorial waters, at least 60 km (37 miles) from the port.
Canadian PM says 'can never categorically rule out participation' in war on Iran Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney indicated on Thursday that he could not rule out the country's military participation in the escalating war on Iran. "One can never categorically rule out participation," he said, adding that Canada "will stand by our allies". This comes a day after Carney said he supported efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, while simultaneously characterising the US-Israeli war on Iran as the “failure of the international order”.
Iran and Israel exchange a new barrage of attacks Reports of strikes on Iranian and Israeli soil has been reported after nearly seven hours of calm. According to the Israeli military, missiles launched from Iran have triggered alerts in several areas including Tel Aviv, with no immediate reports of casualties. Meanwhile, an Al Jazeera correspondent reported the sounds of explosions in Tehran.
Exclusive: Iranian officials say Israel carried out some strikes on Gulf energy sites Iranian officials have accused Israel of carrying out some of the drone strikes on energy and civilian sites in the Arabian Gulf, calling the attacks a calculated bid to spark regional fury and pull Arab states into the war on Tehran. An Iranian foreign ministry official told Middle East Eye that Israel was behind several of the drone strikes against Saudi Arabia and claimed that they were also responsible for at least one of the attacks on Oman. "I can categorically say that some of the attacks were not carried out by us [Iran]," the official, who requested anonymity, said.
Qatar evacuates residents living near US embassy Qatar has announced that it is evacuating residents living nearby the US embassy in Doha as a "temporary precautionary measure". "Suitable accommodation has been provided for them as part of necessary preventive measures," the interior ministry said early on Thursday.
California governor Newsom questions US support for 'apartheid state' Israel Submitted by Mera Aladam on Thu, 03/05/2026 - 00:07 Newsom criticises Israel's rationale in attempting a regime change in Iran, saying 'they haven’t even been able to solve the Hamas question' A Palestinian boy stands next to an Israeli military vehicle during a raid in Jenin, occupied West Bank, on 17 February, 2026 (AFP/Mohammed Mansour) Off California governor Gavin Newsom putting into question US military backing of Israel in their war on Iran , likening it to an "apartheid state". Newsom on Tuesday criticised President Donald Trump's administration for its attack on Iran during an event in Los Angeles. When asked by Pod Save America host Jon Favreau if Washington should consider rethinking its military support for Israel in the long term, the California governor aired his disappointment with the current Israeli government.
Iranian strike kills 11-year-old Iranian in Kuwait Submitted by MEE staff on Wed, 03/04/2026 - 21:10 The incident marks a new phase in the US-Israeli war on Iran as Gulf nations face the brunt of Iran's retaliation Mourners carry the coffin of Alna Abdullah, 11, ahead of her burial in Kuwait City, Kuwait, on 4 March 2026 (Screengrab) Off An 11-year-old girl in Kuwait was killed in her home when the remnants of an Iranian rocket hit a residential building in Al-Asimah, the capital governorate. The health ministry said doctors tried to resuscitate Alna Abdullah for nearly 30 minutes before she was declared dead in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Four other members of Abdullah's family present in the home did not sustain any serious injuries.
Tensions soar as Hegseth and Rubio feud over US troops in Iran Submitted by Sean Mathews on Wed, 03/04/2026 - 21:30 US Secretary of State is warning against deploying troops as Hegseth takes a hawkish turn US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, left, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth look on during a bilateral meeting with President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office of the White House, on 3 March 2026 (Win McNamee/Getty Images/AFP) Off Tensions are rising between US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio over the US’s approach to the war on Iran , three former US officials and a senior regional official familiar with the matter told Middle East Eye. Rubio and Hegseth were described as “at each other's throats” over the question of whether the US should deploy troops to Iran at Israel’s request, the sources told MEE. Hegseth is supportive of the position, while Rubio is deeply wary of entangling the US in a long war, the sources told MEE.
