A report by The Washington Post says Russia has been providing intelligence to Iran to help target American military assets across the Gulf during the ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel. Iranian strikes have damaged or targeted facilities linked to communications and radar systems at US military sites in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Officials say Moscow shared information on US warships and aircraft positions, helping Tehran plan precise attacks after its own tracking capabilities weakened. Iranian strikes have also hit embassies and energy infrastructure, including the major Al Udeid Air Base. (PC: India Today)

The United States plans to deploy naval escorts to secure shipping through the Strait of Hormuz as tensions escalate during the US-Israel conflict with Iran. Speaking on Fox News, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the United States Navy will escort vessels through the strategic waterway once conditions allow. The move aims to restore disrupted maritime traffic and safeguard global energy shipments passing through the strait. Earlier, Donald Trump confirmed the plan, saying US naval forces would begin escorting oil tankers “as soon as possible.” The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, and continued hostilities have significantly disrupted shipping and oil flows through the region. (PC: Reuters)

Pedro Sánchez has criticised the United States’ war on Iran, calling it an “extraordinary mistake” as the conflict in the Middle East enters its first week. The Spanish prime minister reiterated his government’s opposition to the war, summarising Madrid’s position in three words: “No to war.” Sánchez also defied a request from Donald Trump to jointly operate US bases in southern Spain for strikes against Iran. While several countries have rallied behind Washington and Benjamin Netanyahu under the US-led operation known as Operation Epic Fury, Spain has maintained its opposition to the military campaign. The conflict has heightened tensions across the region, with European governments increasingly drawn into debates over support for Washington’s strategy.

Donald Trump has ruled out negotiations with Iran, declaring that the United States will accept nothing less than the country’s “unconditional surrender.” In a post on Truth Social, the US president said there would be “no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER,” outlining his clearest war aims since the conflict began on February 28. Trump also linked post-war reconstruction to a leadership change in Tehran, calling for the selection of “GREAT & ACCEPTABLE Leader(s).” Iran is currently led by an interim council following the killing of Ali Khamenei. Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian acknowledged mediation efforts by several countries but said those responsible for provoking the conflict should be the focus of diplomacy.

Rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah appears to be headed for a historic victory in Nepal General Election 2026, with his Rastriya Swatantra Party taking a commanding lead in early vote counting. Out of 275 seats in Nepal’s lower house, counting is underway for 165 directly elected seats, while 110 seats will later be allocated through proportional representation. Shah’s party is leading in around 110 constituencies, putting it on course for a landslide and positioning him as a likely prime minister. Traditional parties have struggled, with KP Sharma Oli’s Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) trailing significantly. The vote follows months after a Gen Z-led protest movement forced Oli’s government from power in September 2025. (PC: X)

The son of Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich was wounded during Israeli military operations along the Lebanon–Israel border, according to Israeli media reports on Friday. The incident reportedly occurred while Israeli forces were carrying out operational activities in the border region. Initial reports said the finance minister’s son sustained light injuries and his condition is stable. Details about the circumstances of the incident or the specific operation were not immediately disclosed. The report comes amid continued military tensions along Israel’s northern frontier with Lebanon. Smotrich currently serves as Israel’s finance minister and leads the Religious Zionist Party. There has been no detailed official statement released yet regarding the injuries or the exact nature of the incident. (PC: Al Jazeera)

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in a coordinated US-Israeli strike using the Blue Sparrow missile, an air-launched weapon capable of briefly travelling near space before diving toward its target. Fired from fighter aircraft such as the McDonnell Douglas F‑15 Eagle, the missile follows a quasi-ballistic trajectory, climbing high above the atmosphere before re-entering at extreme speed. The strike targeted Khamenei’s compound on Pasteur Street in Tehran during a meeting of senior officials. Part of Israel’s broader operation known as Operation Epic Fury, the attack involved around 30 precision-guided munitions. Israeli intelligence agencies Mossad and Unit 8200 reportedly spent years mapping the compound and monitoring communications before launching the carefully timed strike. (PC: X)

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa that four UK jets being deployed to Qatar could provide defensive air cover for Bahrain against potential missile and drone attacks from Iran. According to a statement from UK Prime Minister’s Office, the offer was made during a phone call on Thursday night. The aircraft could help strengthen Bahrain’s air defence amid rising regional tensions and concerns about Iranian strikes on Gulf states. King Hamad welcomed the confirmation, and both sides agreed that operational teams would coordinate on plans in the coming days. The move signals London’s readiness to extend defensive support to partners in the Gulf during the escalating Middle East crisis. (PC: Reuters)

The Israeli Air Force destroyed the underground bunker of Iran’s former supreme leader Ali Khamenei in Tehran on Friday, according to the Israel Defense Forces. Around 50 fighter jets dropped roughly 100 bombs on the bunker located beneath Iran’s “leadership complex,” which spans several streets and contains multiple entrances and meeting rooms for senior officials. The military said the bunker was designed as a secure wartime command center for Khamenei, who had already been killed in a strike on Saturday before he could use it. The complex reportedly continued to host senior regime members afterward. The site was mapped over years by the Military Intelligence Directorate’s Unit 8200 and Unit 9900, enabling the precise strike.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said several countries have initiated mediation efforts as tensions escalate between Iran and the US-Israel alliance in West Asia. Posting on X (formerly Twitter), Pezeshkian stated that Tehran supports a lasting peace in the region but remains prepared to defend its sovereignty and national dignity. He emphasized that diplomatic mediation should be directed toward those responsible for provoking the conflict rather than Iran itself. His remarks come amid intensifying regional instability and ongoing military exchanges. While welcoming diplomatic initiatives, Pezeshkian signaled that Iran would not hesitate to respond firmly to any threats against the country’s authority or security.