A US submarine sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean with a torpedo, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday. Speaking about the incident, Hegseth said the Iranian vessel believed it was safe in international waters. “An Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters was sunk by a torpedo,” he said. He did not name the ship. Earlier, Sri Lankan authorities reported that an Iranian naval ship had sunk off the coast of Galle. Around 140 crew members were reported missing after the vessel went down. The announcement came as US and Israeli forces continued strikes on Iranian targets. Military tensions across the Middle East remain high. (PC: BBC)

The United States said it is gaining the upper hand in the war with Iran and expects to control Iranian airspace within a week. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said American and allied forces have strong military capacity and can sustain operations for as long as needed. “Our air defenses and that of our allies have plenty of runway. We can sustain this fight easily for as long as we need to,” he said. Hegseth added that Iran’s position is weakening as US and Israeli strikes continue on Iranian targets. He said further waves of attacks are planned as the campaign expands. The conflict has intensified across the region with rising casualties in Iran, Lebanon, Israel and among US forces. (PC: India Today)

A ballistic missile fired from Iran toward Turkey was intercepted by NATO air defence systems over the eastern Mediterranean Sea, Turkey’s Defence Ministry said on Wednesday. The ministry said the missile was tracked after passing through Iraqi and Syrian airspace. It was destroyed before entering Turkish territory. Officials said there were no casualties. “Turkey reserves the right to respond to any hostile actions against it,” the ministry said, while urging all sides to avoid steps that could worsen the conflict. The incident comes as the Iran war expands across the region. Turkey, a NATO member that shares a long border with Iran, had earlier called for restraint and warned against further escalation. (PC: X)

An Iranian Navy frigate, the IRIS Dena, sank off Sri Lanka’s southern coast after what local sources described as a submarine attack, leaving at least 101 sailors missing and 78 wounded as search-and-rescue operations continue. Sri Lankan authorities said a few bodies of crew were recovered from the sea and 32 critically wounded personnel were taken to hospital in Galle for treatment. The ship had issued a distress call before going down about 25–40 miles south of the island. The cause of the incident remains under investigation amid wider regional conflict. (PC: X & AP)

Pakistan has indicated it could be drawn into the Iran war because of its defence pact with Saudi Arabia. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said he warned Iran against attacking Saudi territory. “I made them understand that we have a defence agreement,” Dar said. It is the first time a Pakistani official has said the pact could apply to the current conflict. The agreement, signed last year, states that an attack on one country will be treated as an attack on both. Pakistan’s involvement could be risky. The country shares a border with Iran and has a large Shia population. It is also facing security tensions along its border with Afghanistan. (PC: India Today)

Israel intensified its offensive with coordinated airstrikes on military and security installations in Tehran and Beirut, marking a significant escalation in the regional conflict. In response, Iran launched missile and drone attacks targeting US military bases and diplomatic-linked facilities across Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar. Explosions were reported in multiple locations, raising fears of a wider Gulf confrontation. Casualty figures continue to rise, and international leaders have urged restraint as the conflict threatens oil supplies, regional stability and broader Middle East security.

A five-day US–Israeli military campaign has driven Iran’s reported death toll to 1,145, with heavy bombardment in Tehran and spillover strikes reported in Beirut. Iranian retaliation has targeted US, Israeli and Gulf-linked sites, escalating regional tensions. Turkiye confirmed that its air defenses intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile over the eastern Mediterranean, preventing casualties. Meanwhile, an Iranian drone strike caused a fire near the US consulate in Dubai, though no injuries were reported. Diplomatic missions across the region are shutting down, oil markets remain volatile, and fears are mounting of a wider Middle East conflict. (PC: NDTV)

An Iranian naval frigate sank off the coast of Sri Lanka after sending a distress call, triggering a large rescue operation. The ship, identified as IRIS Dena, had recently taken part in naval exercises in India. Sri Lankan officials said the vessel went down about 40 nautical miles south of the island in international waters. Around 180 crew members were believed to be on board. Authorities rescued 32 injured people and recovered several bodies from the sea. Some defence sources said the ship may have been attacked by a submarine and that many crew members were missing. However, the Sri Lankan navy rejected these claims and said the cause of the sinking remains unknown. (PC: India Today)

Israeli forces have intensified air and ground strikes on southern Lebanon after Hezbollah fired missiles toward Israel, killing dozens and prompting Beirut to ban the group’s military actions, Reuters and other outlets report. Israel has also launched attacks deeper into Lebanon, vowing to make Hezbollah “pay a heavy price.” Meanwhile, Iran confirmed it is working to swiftly appoint a new supreme leader after the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in recent U.S.–Israeli strikes. The Assembly of Experts aims to name a successor soon despite ongoing war challenges, and Israel has warned the next leader could be targeted. (PC: Reuters)

Iran has reportedly fired ballistic missiles armed with cluster munitions toward Israel, marking a dangerous escalation in the ongoing Middle East conflict. Israeli defence officials say these weapons disperse many smaller bomblets over wide areas, posing increased risk to civilians and leaving unexploded hazards. Several missiles struck near Tel Aviv, injuring civilians and damaging homes, though no confirmed deaths have been reported so far. The use of such weapons—controversial due to their indiscriminate impact—has stirred suspicion about foreign technology links. This development adds to hostilities triggered by recent U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iran’s leadership and strategic sites.