Iran-US war latest: Israel pounds Beirut as US warns attacks on Iran will ‘surge’

Kurdistan’s Regional Authorities has formally denied claims that it is going to be concerned within the ongoing struggle between the US, Israel and Iran.

Studies earlier this week steered that the CIA have been getting ready to arm Kurdish factions with a view to foment a insurrection in opposition to the Iranian authorities.

“Studies claiming a job for the Kurdistan Area and allegations asserting that we’re a part of a plan to arm and ship opposition Kurdish events into Iranian territory are fully baseless, and we categorically deny them in full, affirming that they’re being intentionally and maliciously disseminated,” wrote Beshwa Horamani, a authorities spokesperson, in a submit on X on Thursday.

“On the similar time, the federal government of the Kurdistan Area and the political events inside it aren’t a part of any marketing campaign to broaden the scope of struggle and tensions within the area.

“Quite the opposite, we name for peace and stability within the area, and we strongly condemn the cowardly assaults focusing on the Kurdistan Area, whereas demanding that the federal authorities and the worldwide group intervene to cease these aggressions and defend our land, our individuals, and our area.”

Maersk will briefly droop its FM1 service, connecting the Far East to the Center East, and its ME11 service, connecting the Center East to Europe, the delivery group mentioned in an announcement on Friday.

“This determination has been taken as a precautionary measure to make sure the protection of our personnel and vessels whereas minimizing operational disruption throughout our wider community,” Maersk mentioned in an advisory to prospects.

The Israeli navy mentioned it carried out a big wave of airstrikes in southern Beirut on Friday, focusing on what it described as Hezbollah infrastructure within the Dahieh district – a identified stronghold of the Iran-backed group.

In accordance with an replace from the Israel Protection Forces (IDF), the Israeli Air Drive performed 26 strikes within the space as a part of a “broad-scale” operation aimed toward degrading Hezbollah’s operational capabilities.

Among the many targets have been a command centre belonging to Hezbollah’s govt council and a facility that the navy mentioned was getting used to retailer unmanned aerial autos (UAVs) deployed in assaults in opposition to Israel.

The IDF mentioned steps have been taken earlier than the strikes to scale back the danger of civilian casualties.

“Previous to the strikes, measures have been taken to mitigate the danger of hurt to civilians,” the navy mentioned in an announcement, with out offering additional particulars on the precautions.

South Korean overseas minister Cho Hyun mentioned on Friday that america and South Korea are discussing the doable redeployment of some US Patriot missile defence methods presently based mostly in South Korea to be used within the struggle in opposition to Iran.

Cho was responding to a query throughout a parliamentary listening to.

Emirates and Etihad Airways started resuming restricted flight schedules to key international cities from their UAE hubs on Friday, although the specter of missile hearth continued to pile stress on airways scrambling to accommodate stranded travellers.

With a lot of the Center East’s airspace nonetheless closed on account of considerations over missile and drone assaults because the begin of the US–Israel struggle in opposition to Iran, authorities have been arranging constitution flights and securing seats on restricted industrial providers to evacuate tens of hundreds of individuals.

A government-chartered Air France flight despatched to convey French nationals dwelling from the United Arab Emirates was compelled to show again on Thursday on account of missile exercise within the space, French transport minister Philippe Tabarot mentioned.

“This case displays the instability within the area and the complexity of repatriation operations,” he mentioned.

Britain’s first repatriation flight from Oman landed at London’s Stansted Airport early on Friday after being rescheduled on account of operational points, together with delays in boarding passengers.

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad mentioned on Friday it might resume a restricted flight schedule by way of 19 March, working providers to and from Abu Dhabi to round 70 locations together with London, Paris, Frankfurt, Delhi, New York, Toronto and Tel Aviv.

Visitors at Dubai Airport – usually the world’s busiest worldwide hub – had nearly doubled on Thursday from the day gone by however remained solely about 25 per cent of regular ranges, flight-tracking web site Flightradar24 mentioned.

Dubai-based Emirates mentioned late on Thursday it was working a lowered schedule to 82 locations together with London, Sydney, Singapore and New York till additional discover. Passengers transiting in Dubai will solely be accepted if their connecting flight is working, the airline mentioned.

The disruption at Center Japanese hubs has notably affected travellers on routes between Europe and the Asia-Pacific area.

Qatar’s Doha hub stays closed, although authorities have been arranging a restricted variety of aid flights from Oman and Saudi Arabia.

Cirium information confirmed that between February 28 – when the battle started – and March 5, greater than 44,000 flights have been scheduled out and in of the Center East, with over 25,000 cancelled to this point.

The Indian authorities has mentioned that the navy has joined an ongoing search and rescue operation within the Indian Ocean after the US torpedoed and sank the Iranian warship.

The strike, which occurred off the southern coast of Sri Lanka this week, marked the time since World Struggle Two that america has sunk an enemy vessel with a torpedo. Sri Lankan authorities recovered our bodies of 87 sailors.

In accordance with an official assertion from the Indian authorities, the alert was first obtained by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Colombo within the early hours of 4 March 2026. The vessel was reported to be working about 20 nautical miles west of Galle, inside the search and rescue (SAR) area below Sri Lanka’s duty.

Quickly after the data was shared, the Indian Navy launched assist operations to help Sri Lanka within the rescue effort.An extended-range maritime patrol plane was dispatched at 10am on Wednesday to assist widen the search space and assist Sri Lankan authorities already conducting rescue efforts. The navy additionally saved one other plane geared up with air-droppable life rafts on standby for quick deployment if required.

The Indian Navy additionally redirected INS Tarangini, which was working close by on the time of the incident. The vessel reached the search space by round 4pm hours on the identical day to help within the rescue operation.

By the point the Indian ship arrived, Sri Lanka’s navy and different native businesses had already begun search and rescue operations within the waters off Galle.

As well as, INS Ikshak sailed from Kochi to strengthen the mission and stays deployed within the space to proceed trying to find lacking personnel. Officers mentioned the deployment is a part of India’s humanitarian response to help shipwrecked sailors.

The Iranian frigate had been “a visitor” of India’s navy, the Iranian overseas minister mentioned. It had come to take part in naval workout routines hosted by India earlier than heading out into worldwide waters.

The US navy strike has raised questions over the Indian’s authorities’s lack of response to the incident, saying the sinking of the warship so near India’s maritime neighborhood warranted an official assertion.

Kanwal Sibal, a former diplomat who served as India’s overseas secretary from 2002 to 2003, wrote on X that India was “removed from politically or militarily chargeable for the US assault,” however its “duty is at an ethical and human aircraft.”

“The US has ignored India’s sensitivities,” Sibal mentioned. “The ship was in these waters due to India’s invitation.”

Insiders informed the information web site Zeteo they’ve been involved over a number of situations, together with Weiss tweeting a hearth emoji above a phase the place a visitor slammed leftist New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani for criticizing the struggle.

The Unbiased has contacted CBS Information for remark.

The struggle is seen in media circles as maybe the strongest take a look at but of how Weiss’s personal right-leaning, pro-Israel views will affect the community’s protection.

India has requested all refiners to maximise manufacturing of liquefied petroleum gasoline (LPG) and provide the gas solely to 3 state-run corporations – Indian Oil, Hindustan Petroleum (HPCL) and Bharat Petroleum (BPCL), in keeping with a authorities order.

The order, issued on Thursday, additionally directed refiners to not use propane and butane for petrochemical manufacturing and instructed the general public sector corporations to promote LPG solely to home prospects.

Liquefied petroleum gasoline is a mix of propane and butane.

India is the world’s second-largest purchaser of liquefied petroleum gasoline (LPG) and sources greater than 90 per cent of its provide from the Center East, in keeping with information intelligence agency Kpler.

Japan mentioned on Friday {that a} second Japanese nationwide has been detained in Iran and referred to as for the early launch of each detainees.

Japan’s International Ministry mentioned the second individual had been detained earlier than the 28 February navy strikes on Iran by america and Israel. Officers mentioned the detainee is protected and in good well being however supplied no additional particulars, together with when the detention occurred or whether or not it’s linked to the detention of a Japanese journalist reported final month.

Japanese authorities had beforehand confirmed the detention of the primary particular person however didn’t disclose their identification.

International Minister Toshimitsu Motegi informed a parliamentary panel that officers had been in a position to contact each detainees after the 28 February strikes and confirmed they have been protected. The federal government was “doing every thing to assist them, their households and others concerned,” Motegi mentioned.

Motegi mentioned he had raised the significance of defending the detainees and securing their early launch when he met the Iranian ambassador earlier this week.

The Committee to Defend Journalists has recognized the primary detainee as Shinnosuke Kawashima, the Tehran bureau chief of Japanese public broadcaster NHK. In accordance with the group, Kawashima was arrested on 20 January by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and transferred to Evin Jail on 23 February.

The organisation referred to as for the quick launch of Kawashima and different journalists detained for his or her work.