India on Thursday offered condolences over the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited the Iranian embassy and signed the book of condolence. Khamenei, 86, was killed in joint US and Israeli strikes in Iran earlier this week. His death was first announced by US President Donald Trump. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi. He shared the update in a post on X. India had earlier not issued a statement on Khamenei’s death. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and called for an early end to hostilities. (PC: India Today)

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)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday about the rising tensions in West Asia. Both leaders expressed concern over the conflict and called for talks to restore peace. “Spoke with my friend President Emmanuel Macron today. We discussed our shared concerns over the evolving situation in West Asia and the need for a return to dialogue and diplomacy,” PM Modi said on X. He added that India and France will continue to work closely for the “early restoration of peace and stability in the region.” The call comes as tensions grow after recent US and Israeli strikes on Iran. France has also moved military assets to the Mediterranean. (PC: X)

England captain Harry Brook won the toss and chose to bowl against India in the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final in Mumbai on Thursday. The match is being played at the Wankhede Stadium.   India captain Suryakumar Yadav said the team was comfortable batting first despite losing the toss. “We were looking to bat first anyway,” he said at the toss.   India come into the match after beating West Indies in a key Super 8 game. Sanju Samson scored 97 in that win. England also arrive in strong form after winning their last five matches.   The winner of the semi-final will face New Zealand in the final on Sunday. (PC: BCCI)

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)

India conveyed condolences over the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei amid escalating regional tensions. India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited the Iranian Embassy in New Delhi and signed the condolence book to express sympathy on behalf of the Indian government. He also met Iran’s ambassador and conveyed condolences to the Iranian leadership and citizens. The gesture reflects India’s diplomatic outreach to Tehran during a period of heightened conflict in West Asia involving Iran, Israel and the United States. The development highlights India’s careful diplomatic approach as tensions continue to escalate across the region.

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.

A United States submarine sank an Iranian naval warship near Sri Lanka amid rising tensions in the Iran-US conflict. The ship, returning from naval exercises in the Indian Ocean, reportedly had dozens of sailors on board, with many feared dead and several rescued. The incident has drawn attention to India because the vessel had recently operated near Indian waters. Prime Minister Narendra Modi now faces growing diplomatic pressure to clarify India’s position as New Delhi maintains ties with both Washington and Tehran. The situation highlights India’s delicate balancing act in foreign policy while tensions in the Middle East and surrounding regions continue to escalate. (PC: AFP)

Iran condemned the US submarine attack that sank its naval frigate IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean, calling it an attack on a “guest of India”.   Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the ship was returning from naval exercises in India when it was struck.   “The US has perpetrated an atrocity at sea… Frigate Dena, a guest of India’s Navy, was struck in international waters without warning,” he wrote on X.   The attack killed 87 Iranian sailors. More than 60 remain missing.   Thirty-two survivors are being treated in a hospital in Galle, Sri Lanka.   The United States said the strike was part of its campaign against Iranian naval forces. (PC: X)