Seven rockets fired from southern Lebanon towards northern Israel, report says Seven rockets have been fired from southern Lebanon toward northern Israel, Al Jazeera reported. The Israeli Home Front Command said sirens sounded in Nahariya and parts of the Western Galilee following the launches.
US confirms downed aircraft is F-15E After previous reports suggested a fighter jet that was downed in Iran on Friday was an F-35, US authorities have now confirmed the plane was an F-15E. Both jets are considered fighter aircraft and both were developed for the US by defense contractor firms McDonnell Douglas and Lockheed Martin. The F-15E is understood to be considerably faster and handles larger payloads designed to strike and withdraw as quickly as possible, while the F-35 is slower and generally considered to be used for more stealthy missions.
Over 100 legal experts declare strikes on Iran possible war crimes Over 100 US -based legal experts and practitioners have signed a letter declaring the war launched by President Donald Trump, jointly with Israel, on Iran a violation of international law, with the strikes potentially constituting war crimes. The letter emphasised that the war was illegal from its very beginning on 28 February. “The initiation of the campaign was a clear violation of the United Nations Charter, and the conduct of United States forces since, as well as statements made by senior government officials, raise serious concerns about violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, including potential war crimes,” said the letter.
US aircraft seen over Iran in rescue mission, says Iranian media US forces have begun a search and rescue mission for the crew of an F-35 jet that was downed by Iranian defences on Friday. Iranian news outlets with IRGC affiliations have reported aircraft including helicopters belonging to US forces flying over central Iran. News agency Tasnim reported a US Hercules C-130 aircraft was involved in the search for the missing crew and that one aircraft had retreated after receiving heavy fire.
Commendation for capture or killing of F-35 crew, says province governor The governor of a southwestern province of Iran has promised whoever captures or kills the crew of an F-35 jet that was downed earlier on Friday "will be specially commended by the governorate", according to Isna news agency. The announcement is part of an effort of Iranian authorities to be the first to find the pilot of the fighter at the same time the US scrambles to put together a search and rescue team.
Turkey establishes Istanbul maritime command for Ukraine security mission Submitted by Ragip Soylu on Fri, 04/03/2026 - 14:52 Command will oversee the Black Sea component of post-war force in Ukraine, with support from Romania and Bulgaria as littoral states The Turkish aircraft carrier TCG Anadolu takes part in a military parade on the Bosphorus marking the 100th anniversary of the republic, in Istanbul, on 29 October 2023 (Bulent Kilic/AFP) Off Turkey has established a maritime command in Istanbul that will lead the naval mission under prospective security guarantees for Ukraine, the Turkish defence ministry said on Thursday. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said in January, following the Coalition of the Willing summit in Paris, that Ankara would assume responsibility for a mission to help provide security in the Black Sea if Ukraine and Russia reach a final settlement to end the war that began in 2022. The defence ministry said on Thursday that, within the framework of this initiative - for which 33 countries have declared their willingness to participate - an operational headquarters for the force, known as the Multinational Force Ukraine (MNF-U), had been established in Paris with a core staff.
Over 100 US-based legal experts declare Trump's strikes on Iran as possible war crimes Submitted by Sondos Asem on Fri, 04/03/2026 - 11:14 Prominent scholars, former government legal advisors and military law experts sign letter denouncing illegality of the US war A woman reacts inside her brother's home, which was damaged by a strike, as the US-Israeli war on Iran continues, in Tehran, 30 March 2026 (Majid Asgaripour/WANA via Reuters) Off Over 100 US -based legal experts and practitioners have signed a letter declaring the war launched by President Donald Trump, jointly with Israel, on Iran a violation of international law, with the strikes potentially constituting war crimes. The letter emphasised that the war was illegal from its very beginning on 28 February. “The initiation of the campaign was a clear violation of the United Nations Charter, and the conduct of United States forces since, as well as statements made by senior government officials, raise serious concerns about violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, including potential war crimes,” said the letter.
Three peacekeepers wounded in blast in Lebanon, says UN In the third such incident in the last week, a blast on Friday in southern Lebanon has left three peacekeepers wounded, two of them seriously. UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNFIL) spokesperson Kandice Ardiel said in a statement, "this afternoon, an explosion inside a UN position... injured three peacekeepers, two seriously.
Iranian army begins search for pilot of downed US jet: Reports Iran's army has begun searching for the pilot of an F-35 jet shot down earlier on Friday, according to the Fars news agency. The jet, which the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said was launched from a British base in Suffolk, is the second of its type to be downed by Iran since the war began. Elsewhere, unverified reports have surfaced of local Iranian TV announcing a reward for anyone who captures the pilot alive.
US mercenary 'paid millions to carry out killings for UAE' A former US special forces commando made millions of dollars carrying out assassinations for the United Arab Emirates in Yemen , according to court documents. The documents were cited in a report by the New York Post (NY Post) published on Thursday. Abraham Golan, a mercenary who was allegedly behind the attempted assassination of Anssaf Ali Mayo, was named as a defendant by the Yemeni lawmaker who narrowly avoided death.
Reward promised for capture of F-35 pilot, says Turkish outlet Local Iranian TV has announced there will be a reward for the capture of a US pilot whose F-35 jet was shot down earlier on Friday. Clash Report, a popular Turkish social media account that aggregates news, said that Iranian state media is reporting that anyone who "captures the US pilot alive will receive a valuable reward". Middle East Eye was unable to immediately verify the report.
US mercenary 'was paid millions to carry out killings for UAE in Yemen' Submitted by MEE staff on Fri, 04/03/2026 - 13:04 Court documents reportedly show former US special forces commando admitting to assassinations sanctioned by Emirates Fighters drive through the streets of the port city of Aden, Yemen, on 8 January 2026 (AFP/Saleh al-Obeidi) Off A former US special forces commando made millions of dollars carrying out assassinations for the United Arab Emirates in Yemen , according to court documents. The documents were cited in a report by the New York Post (NY Post) published on Thursday. Abraham Golan, a mercenary who was allegedly behind the attempted assassination of Anssaf Ali Mayo, was named as a defendant by the Yemeni lawmaker who narrowly avoided death.
Israel plans 'Yellow Line' in Lebanon The Israeli army is proposing to replicate its Gaza “Yellow Line” model in southern Lebanon by seizing territory and destroying entire villages. In a briefing to Israeli media on Friday, military officials said disarming Hezbollah was not a realistic objective, and instead called for the creation of a “deep defensive line” inside Lebanese territory. The plan would involve demolishing dozens of homes in front-line villages to establish a de facto demarcation line, similar to the one imposed in the Gaza Strip.
Israel plans 'Yellow Line' model in Lebanon by razing southern villages Submitted by MEE staff on Fri, 04/03/2026 - 12:53 Army proposes ‘buffer zone’ inside Lebanese territory as war with Hezbollah escalates First responders work on the rubble of a building targeted by an Israeli airstrike in the southern Lebanese village of Hanouiyeh, east of Tyre, on 30 March 2026 (AFP/Kawnat Haju) Off The Israeli army is proposing to replicate its Gaza “Yellow Line” model in southern Lebanon by seizing territory and destroying entire villages. In a briefing to Israeli media on Friday, military officials said disarming Hezbollah was not a realistic objective, and instead called for the creation of a “deep defensive line” inside Lebanese territory. The plan would involve demolishing dozens of homes in front-line villages to establish a de facto demarcation line, similar to the one imposed in the Gaza Strip.
UK deploys Rapid Sentry anti-drone air defence system to Kuwait Britain has deployed its Rapid Sentry air defence system to Kuwait to help protect British and Kuwaiti interests, the UK has announced. A drone strike hit a power and desalination plant in Kuwait on Friday morning, following an attack overnight on the Mina al-Ahmadi oil refinery in the country, which Kuwaiti state media reported caused fires in a "number of operational units". Kuwait is around 80 kilometres from Iran.
First French passes through Hormuz Strait since February The first French ship has passed through the Strait of Hormuz since the war began after changing its destination to signal French ownership. The development comes soon after a Japanese liquefied natural gas tanker was also given safe passage earlier on Friday. Exactly how the French-owned container ship secured passage is unknown but French president Emmanuel Macron has previously advocated for diplomacy in order to end the blockage.
Drone strike hits aid warehouse, says Red Cross A drone strike in the southern province of Bushehr destroyed two containers on Friday, a spokesperson for the International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) and Red Crescent Societies has said. The strike reportedly destroyed two containers, two buses and an unspecified number of emergency vehicles, though the spokesperson did not assign blame for the attack. As the only humanitarian organisation working in the country, the IFRC has been under huge pressure to provide support where need has risen and has lost three responders to US strikes since the war started.
F-35 jet shot down by Iran came from British base in Suffolk, says IRGC Submitted by Imran Mulla on Fri, 04/03/2026 - 11:27 The incident puts a spotlight on RAF Lakenheath in eastern England, which the US is believed to be using to launch attacks on Iran A US Air Force F-15E Eagle fighter jet is pictured as it prepares to land at RAF Lakenheath, east of England, on 15 June 2020 (AFP) Off It has been widely reported that US bombers have been using a base in Gloucestershire in southwest England, RAF Fairford, to launch bombing missions over Iran. But a new incident has put a spotlight on another, less well-known, base in England that the US military is also believed to be using to attack Iran: RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, eastern England. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Friday that its air defences shot down a US F-35 fighter jet over central Iran that came from a squadron based at RAF Lakenheath.
At least 12 injured by missile debris after interception in Abu Dhabi Twelve people were injured after missile debris fell in Abu Dhabi’s Ajban area following a successful interception, according to the Abu Dhabi Media Office.
Gaza health minister warns of disease risk as Israeli siege continues Gaza’s Health Minister Majid Abu Ramadan has warned of mounting health risks across the Strip as worsening environmental conditions fuel a surge in rodents. In a statement on Friday, he said widespread destruction, rubble and untreated waste have created conditions for rats and mice to spread rapidly, increasing the risk of disease transmission through bites, contamination and parasites. Abu Ramadan warned that illnesses such as hantavirus, plague, leptospirosis, salmonella and tularemia could spread more easily under current conditions.
