Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it targeted a US air combat centre and a satellite communications hub at Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates amid the escalating US-Israel-Iran conflict. The base near Abu Dhabi hosts American military forces and is a key facility for regional air operations. Iranian officials described the strike as retaliation for US and Israeli attacks on Iran. Gulf states have heightened air defences, with several missiles and drones intercepted in the region. The attack marks a significant escalation, as Iran expands its strikes against US military installations across the Middle East during the ongoing conflict. (PC: India Today)

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has apologised to neighbouring countries for missile and drone strikes launched from Iranian territory during the ongoing Middle East conflict. In a televised address, he said Iran holds no hostility toward regional nations and announced that the country will halt attacks on neighbouring states unless they initiate aggression against Iran. The decision was approved by Iran’s interim leadership council amid escalating tensions involving the United States and Israel. Pezeshkian also rejected calls from the U.S. for Iran’s unconditional surrender, asserting that the country will defend itself if provoked. The statement is seen as an attempt to ease regional tensions. 

India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said the Indian Ocean was “caught on the wrong side of events” after the United States sank the Iranian warship IRIS Dena near Galle during the escalating Iran–US conflict. The frigate, which had earlier participated in a naval exercise in Visakhapatnam, was torpedoed by a US submarine about 40 nautical miles off Sri Lanka on March 4. Around 87 sailors were reported dead while dozens were rescued. Jaishankar said India responded to the situation from a humanitarian perspective, allowing another Iranian vessel facing technical issues to dock at Kochi. (PC: NDTV)

Operations at Dubai International Airport partially resumed after a brief suspension triggered by security alerts linked to the escalating Iran–Israel conflict. Flights were temporarily halted as missile alerts and regional tensions disrupted airspace across the Gulf. Authorities confirmed that safety protocols were activated before gradually allowing aircraft movements to restart. Meanwhile, Emirates issued updated flight schedules, advising passengers to check their flight status due to possible delays and rerouting. Several flights to and from Dubai were affected, as airlines closely monitor security conditions and airspace restrictions across the Middle East. (PC: Reuters)

At least seven civilians, including two children, were killed after a Russian missile struck a residential building in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city. The ballistic missile hit a five-storey apartment block, causing major structural damage and trapping residents under rubble. More than ten people were injured, including several children, while emergency teams launched rescue operations to search for survivors. The attack was part of a broader overnight Russian assault involving dozens of missiles and hundreds of drones targeting Ukrainian infrastructure across multiple regions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the strikes and urged international allies to strengthen air-defence support for Ukraine.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced that Tehran will halt military strikes on neighbouring countries unless attacks against Iran originate from their territory. The statement came after Iranian missile and drone strikes targeted several Gulf states hosting U.S. military assets during the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. Pezeshkian also apologised to neighbouring nations for the recent attacks, stressing that Iran does not seek confrontation with regional countries. However, he warned that Iran would respond forcefully if those nations allow their territory to be used for strikes against Iran, signalling a conditional attempt to de-escalate tensions. (PC: Reuters)

Thousands of residents fled southern Beirut after intense Israeli airstrikes targeted areas believed to house Hezbollah infrastructure. The bombardment followed rocket attacks from Hezbollah into Israel, prompting large-scale retaliation and evacuation warnings from the Israeli military. Entire neighbourhoods in Beirut’s southern suburbs were rapidly emptied as civilians rushed to escape the strikes. Reports indicate that more than 500,000 people have been displaced, with hundreds killed and many injured as buildings and infrastructure were destroyed. Lebanon’s government has struggled to accommodate the influx of displaced residents, while shelters in safer regions quickly filled. The escalating violence has deepened fears of a wider regional war and triggered a severe humanitarian crisis. (PC: X)

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday apologised to neighbouring countries for recent attacks linked to the regional conflict. He said Iran has no intention of invading other nations. In a televised address, Pezeshkian said Iran’s temporary leadership council had decided to stop missile strikes on neighbouring states. He said attacks would only happen if Iran is directly targeted by those countries. “The temporary leadership council announced yesterday that there will be no more attacks on neighbouring countries unless attacks originate from them against Iran,” he said. Pezeshkian also rejected reported US calls for unconditional surrender. “They will take their dreams of us surrendering unconditionally to the grave,” he said. (PC: India Today)

The ongoing US–Iran conflict has disrupted shipping routes in the Gulf, leaving nearly 800–1,000 export containers from Maharashtra stranded at Jebel Ali Port. The shipments mainly contain perishable agricultural products such as grapes, bananas, pomegranates, onions and vegetables destined for Gulf markets. Exporters fear major financial losses as delays increase the risk of spoilage. The crisis comes during Ramadan, when demand for fresh produce in Gulf countries typically surges. Trade bodies have urged the Indian government to intervene and support exporters, warning that prolonged disruption could cause crores of rupees in losses and severely impact Maharashtra’s agricultural export sector. (PC: MSN)

Before the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena was sunk by a U.S. submarine in the Indian Ocean on March 4, 2026, India had reportedly offered the vessel shelter at one of its ports. The warship had earlier participated in India’s International Fleet Review and MILAN naval exercises in Visakhapatnam and was returning to Iran when it came under attack near Sri Lanka. Sources said New Delhi was willing to provide safe harbour if required amid escalating tensions in the region. The U.S. torpedo strike sank the ship roughly 40 nautical miles off Sri Lanka’s coast, triggering rescue operations by the Sri Lankan Navy and raising diplomatic concerns across the region. (PC: PTI)