An Iranian-made Shahed drone struck Britain's Royal Air Force base at Akrotiri, Cyprus overnight, causing limited damage and no casualties, confirmed Cypriot and British officials. The attack marked a significant escalation, effectively drawing an EU member state into the Iran conflict. Two additional unmanned aerial vehicles targeting the base were subsequently intercepted on Monday, with sirens sounding and aircraft scrambling shortly after midday local time. Cyprus firmly stated it has no involvement in any military operations. The European Union reaffirmed solidarity with its members against any threats. Local residents fled the area overnight amid the strikes. Reuters witnesses reported aircraft taking off from the base following the alerts.

US President Donald Trump declared the "big wave" in the war against Iran is yet to come, telling CNN "we're knocking the crap out of them" as Tehran launched fresh missile barrages at American Gulf bases. Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer clarified before Parliament that Britain was not involved in initial strikes on Iran and that British bases would only serve "defensive purposes," refusing to join the US-Israeli offensive. Starmer called for a negotiated settlement and urged Iran to renounce nuclear weapons ambitions as the best path forward. The UK government simultaneously activated measures to repatriate British citizens stranded across the conflict-affected region. (PC: X)

Indian-American venture capitalist Asha Jadeja Motwani revealed she spent two hours dining with President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago on the night the US and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iran. Among approximately 20 guests, Motwani witnessed senior officials including Marco Rubio, Jared Kushner, Pete Hegseth, and Steve Witcoff moving between the "war room" and Trump's residential area. Phones were strictly banned. She described the atmosphere as confident and historically significant. The strikes, codenamed "Operation Epic Fury," launched February 28, killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and multiple senior figures. Iran has since retaliated with missile attacks across the Gulf. Four US service members and at least 555 Iranians have been killed. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday publicly thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "standing with the truth" amid the ongoing Israel-US war with Iran. Netanyahu, reportedly present in Beit Shemesh following an Iranian missile strike that killed nine people on Sunday, confirmed he had spoken with Modi and other regional leaders the previous day. "I spoke to my great friend PM Narendra Modi yesterday. I thank him for standing with us, standing with the truth," Netanyahu told NDTV. His statement came amid Iran's claims of targeting Netanyahu's office in Monday's attack, though it remained unclear whether he was present at the time of the strike. (PC: X)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held telephonic conversations with Bahrain's King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman on Monday, condemning Iran's attacks on both nations and reaffirming India's solidarity. Modi thanked both leaders for safeguarding the Indian community during the crisis. He also previously spoke with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Israeli PM Netanyahu. Modi chaired a Cabinet Committee on Security meeting and emphasized dialogue and diplomacy as the path forward. India remains in active contact with multiple nations to ensure safety of its citizens abroad. The escalating conflict follows coordinated US-Israeli strikes on February 28 that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.

An Indian crew member was killed after an unmanned drone boat struck oil tanker MKD VYOM approximately 52 nautical miles northwest of Oman's Port Sultan Qaboos on March 1. The attack triggered a fire and explosion in the main engine room, forcing evacuation of all 21 crew members including 16 Indians, four Bangladeshis, and one Ukrainian by merchant vessel MV SAND. Authorities have not identified the perpetrators, though Iran remains suspected amid escalating Middle East tensions following Ayatollah Khamenei's assassination. This marks the second such maritime attack near the Strait of Hormuz. Earlier, Palau-flagged tanker Skylight, carrying 15 Indians, was also struck near Oman's Musandam peninsula, injuring four. (PC: Reuters)

A satellite image shows smoke rising from the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet base in Bahrain after Iranian strikes. The image was taken on March 1 in Manama.   Bahrain said it intercepted 61 missiles and 34 drones launched toward the country. One person was killed by shrapnel from an intercepted missile. Officials said some projectiles struck buildings and parts of the naval base.   Iran’s Revolutionary Guards earlier said they targeted the US Fifth Fleet.   The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said a ship was hit in Bahrain port. “The fire has been extinguished and the vessel remains in port,” it said. (PC: NDTV)

3 US F-15E fighter jets were shot down by Kuwaiti air defences in separate incidents, the United States Central Command said on Monday. The military called it “friendly fire”, meaning the jets were hit by mistake during operations. All six crew members ejected safely and were rescued. They are in stable condition. Kuwait has accepted the mistake and is working with US officials. The incident comes during rising tensions in the Gulf. Iran has launched missile and drone attacks after US and Israeli strikes on its military targets. Fighting has spread across the region, raising fears of a wider war.

The wife of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has died from injuries suffered during recent US-Israel strikes, according to media reports.   Khamenei was killed in the same attack along with several family members. Reports said his daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter also died in the strikes.   His wife was injured during the operation and later succumbed to her wounds two days after his death.   There has been no detailed official statement on the deaths. The strikes have sharply raised tensions in the region.   The situation remains tense as Iran and Israel continue hostilities. (PC: India Today)

Israel’s military said it killed a senior Hezbollah leader in a strike in Beirut. The Israel Defense Forces said the target was Hussein Makled, head of Hezbollah’s intelligence unit.   “The IDF now confirms that in a precise strike in Beirut last night, the terrorist Hussein Makled has been eliminated,” the statement said.   The strike risks raising tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. The two sides ended a year-long war 15 months ago under a ceasefire deal.   Hezbollah recently launched rocket and drone attacks. Israel responded with strikes. Both sides have fought several wars in the past, including in 2006 and 2023-24. (PC: X)