Sri Lanka evacuated 208 crew members from an Iranian naval support vessel after a US submarine sank the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena near the island’s southern coast. The rescue operation took place a day after the warship was torpedoed in the Indian Ocean, killing dozens of sailors and leaving many missing. Sri Lankan authorities launched humanitarian operations to evacuate the crew from another Iranian vessel in nearby waters as tensions escalated. The incident marks a rare modern naval sinking and has intensified the ongoing US-Iran conflict, raising fears that the confrontation could spread beyond West Asia into the wider Indian Ocean region. (PC: X)

Iran has warned Gulf nations to expel Americans and remove all US military bases if they want protection from Iranian missile attacks, as the US-Israel war with Tehran entered its sixth day. An Iranian MP said leaders of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Turkey must end American military presence to avoid further escalation. Iran continues missile strikes on Tel Aviv and Gulf military facilities following coordinated US-Israeli attacks on February 28. The death toll in Iran has reached at least 1,230. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi termed the US strike on warship Dena near Sri Lanka an “atrocity at sea.” Iran also claimed hitting a US tanker in the Gulf. (PC: AFP)

The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed that a “Shahed-type” drone that struck the Royal Air Force base at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus on March 2 was not launched from Iran, despite its Iranian-made design, officials said. The strike reportedly the first on the British military facility in Cyprus since 1986 caused only minimal damage and no injuries. While it is widely believed the drone may have been launched from Lebanon and possibly tied to Iranian-linked groups, UK authorities emphasised Iran was not the direct launch point. London has since bolstered allied air-defence systems in the region and plans counter-drone deployments to better protect forces amid the wider US-Israel–Iran conflict. (PC: X)

The conflict between Iran, Israel, and the United States intensified as Iran reportedly targeted a US military headquarters in Erbil, Iraq, with missile attacks. The strike came amid escalating retaliation following ongoing US-Israel airstrikes on Iranian military and security targets. At the same time, heavy bombardment continued in Tehran, with Israeli forces striking facilities linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and other security units. The war, which began after coordinated US-Israel strikes on Iran in late February 2026, has expanded across the region, with missile exchanges, drone attacks, and rising casualties. The widening conflict is increasing fears of a broader regional war and further instability in West Asia. (PC: X)

Iran has claimed it carried out a strike on a U.S. oil tanker in the Persian Gulf, according to reports from Iranian state media. The country’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the tanker was hit during ongoing regional tensions and caught fire after the attack. However, there has been no immediate confirmation from the United States, international shipping authorities, or independent sources about the incident or the tanker’s condition. The claim comes as tensions continue to escalate across the Middle East, raising concerns about the security of global energy supplies and commercial shipping routes in the strategically important Gulf region. (PC: Reuters)

The United States has rejected reports claiming that a US F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet crashed inside Iran, calling the allegations “baseless and not true.” US officials clarified that no American aircraft had been shot down or crashed in Iranian territory. The claims had circulated widely on social media amid rising tensions in the Middle East. The Pentagon stated that the reports were misinformation and urged people not to rely on unverified sources during the ongoing conflict. The denial comes as the US remains involved in regional military operations, while speculation and unconfirmed reports continue to spread online about alleged air combat incidents. (PC: X)

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has rejected reports that a US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle crashed inside Iran. The claim had spread widely on social media. “Rumors circulating on social media of a US F-15E crash in Iran early Wednesday are baseless and not true,” CENTCOM said in a statement. The reports had suggested the fighter jet went down in southwestern Iran during ongoing tensions in the region. US officials quickly denied the claim and said no such incident had occurred. The statement comes as military exchanges between the US, Israel and Iran continue. Officials have not reported any US aircraft losses inside Iran.  (PC: X)

Missiles fired by the United States and Israel hit two schools in Parand, a town southwest of Tehran, Iranian media reported on Thursday. Iran’s semiofficial Fars news agency shared images showing damaged classrooms and debris. It said several nearby residential buildings were also damaged in the strikes. At the same time, air raid sirens sounded across central Israel. Two blasts were heard in Jerusalem, AFP journalists reported. Israel’s military said it had detected missiles launched from Iran. Authorities activated warning systems and asked residents to follow safety instructions. Iran later said another missile attack struck two more schools. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan said it would respond after accusing Tehran of launching an earlier attack. (PC: X)

A second Iranian warship is moving toward Sri Lanka a day after a US submarine torpedoed and sank the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean, killing at least 87 sailors. Sri Lankan authorities confirmed the new vessel is currently just outside the country’s territorial waters with more than 100 crew members on board. Officials say they are monitoring the situation and trying to safeguard lives amid rising tensions. The earlier attack occurred about 19 nautical miles off Sri Lanka’s coast and has intensified the ongoing US-Iran conflict. The presence of another Iranian ship near Sri Lanka has raised concerns about further escalation in the region. (PC: AP)

Iranian drones struck Nakhchivan International Airport in Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan exclave on March 5, marking a new escalation in the expanding regional conflict. According to Azerbaijani officials, at least two drones crossed the border from Iran, with one hitting the airport terminal and another landing near a school in a nearby village. The attack injured several civilians and caused structural damage at the airport. Azerbaijan strongly condemned the strike, summoned Iran’s ambassador and warned that the incident would not go unanswered. The drone attack highlights how the wider Iran-related conflict is spreading beyond the Middle East and raising fears of broader regional instability.