United News of Bangladesh

Commercial flight operations have resumed at Imam Khomeini International Airport for the first time since the outbreak of war between Iran and the United States and Israel about two months ago. Iran’s state-run television said Saturday that flights from the airport are now operating to destinations including Istanbul in Turkey, Muscat in Oman and Medina in Saudi Arabia. Flight-tracking platform Flightradar24 showed at least three Istanbul-bound flights departing the airport in the morning, confirming the partial restoration of international air connectivity. Iran had earlier reopened parts of its airspace this month during a temporary ceasefire with the United States, allowing limited aviation activity to resume. Authorities have not yet announced when full-scale international flight operations will be completely restored.

Mali’s army said unidentified armed “terrorist” groups launched coordinated attacks on several military positions in the capital Bamako and other parts of the country on Saturday, with fighting ongoing. In a statement, the army confirmed that multiple locations came under attack, though it did not provide immediate details on casualties or the extent of damage, reports Al Jazeera. Witnesses and journalists reported hearing sustained gunfire and at least two explosions near key military sites, including areas close to the country’s main airport in Bamako. Gunfire was also reported near the main military camp in the capital, raising concerns over security in the military-ruled West African nation. The situation remained fluid, with authorities yet to disclose further operational details as clashes continued in several places.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has met Pakistan’s Army chief Asim Munir in Islamabad, according to Iranian state media, amid ongoing diplomatic efforts. The meeting comes as Iran intensifies consultations with regional partners over evolving developments in the Middle East and stalled international negotiations, reports BBC. Following his engagements in Pakistan, Araghchi said he will travel to Oman and Russia, noting in a social media post that the visits aim to “coordinate with our partners on bilateral matters and consult on regional developments.” No further details of the discussions between the two sides were immediately disclosed. The visit is being closely watched as diplomatic activity increases around efforts to revive stalled US-Iran dialogue and address regional security concerns.

An unexploded GBU “bunker buster” bomb dropped during recent US-Israeli attacks has been successfully neutralised in Iran’s Yazd province, according to local authorities. Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported that the bomb was buried about 13 metres underground beneath a residential area after failing to detonate. A deputy provincial governor for security in Yazd Province said the ordnance had struck the area during the conflict but remained lodged deep beneath the surface, posing a significant risk to residents, reports Al Jazeera. He added that the high-risk disposal operation was carried out jointly by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and local law enforcement bomb disposal units. Authorities did not report any casualties, and the situation is now under control following the successful removal of the device.

Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and parts of the Gaza Strip began voting on Saturday in municipal elections, the first since Israel’s war on Gaza began in October 2023. According to the Ramallah-based Central Elections Commission, nearly 1.5 million voters are registered in the West Bank, while about 70,000 people are eligible to vote in the Deir el-Balah area of the Gaza Strip, reports Al Jazeera. Polling stations opened at 7am (04:00 GMT), marking a significant political event amid ongoing conflict. The elections are being held as many residents in Gaza continue to face severe humanitarian challenges, struggling to meet basic needs due to continued Israeli military operations. Since the start of the war, at least 72,568 people have been killed and more than 172,338 injured in Gaza, according to available figures. The vote is the first electoral exercise among Palestinians since the outbreak of the war, taking place under difficult security and humanitarian conditions.

The European Union has warned that any new agreement with Iran could be weaker than the 2015 nuclear deal if ongoing US-Iran talks proceed without the involvement of nuclear experts. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Friday that excluding technical experts from negotiations would undermine the strength of any potential deal. “If the talks are only about the nuclear and there are no nuclear experts around the table, then we will end up with an agreement that is weaker than the JCPOA was,” she said. Kallas made the remarks as EU leaders gathered in Nicosia, Cyprus to discuss the economic and security implications of the ongoing Middle East conflict. The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was a landmark agreement between Iran and world powers including the United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia, China, Germany and the EU. Under the deal, Tehran agreed to limit its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. However, the United States withdrew from the agreement during the first term of former President Donald Trump. Kallas also said EU leaders emphasised that freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz is “non-negotiable” and called for increased EU military presence in the region. The warning comes amid renewed diplomatic efforts and rising tensions in the Middle East, with uncertainty surrounding the future of US-Iran negotiations.

More than 40 container ships are still stranded in the Middle East Gulf as major shipping companies continue to suspend operations due to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, according to a shipping industry report. Shipping journal Lloyd’s List said at least 43 vessels from the world’s 10 largest container carriers remain stuck in the region reported AL Jazeera Top global operators, including CMA CGM, COSCO, Hapag-Lloyd and MSC, have halted services in the area since the conflict began in late February. The disruption has caused major delays and increased costs for global trade, the report said. Some vessels from these companies managed to leave the region safely, but two ships belonging to MSC were seized by Iranian authorities, according to Lloyd’s List.

The White House announced that US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are set to visit Islamabad on Saturday for discussions related to Iran. However, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson denied any direct talks, stating that no meeting between Tehran and Washington is planned and that Iran’s position will instead be communicated through Pakistan. According to Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Islamabad, Pakistani mediators remain “cautiously optimistic” about the prospects of Iran-US engagement, following the arrival of Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in the capital during a regional tour. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces retain “full freedom of action” in Lebanon, despite a three-week extension of the ceasefire, which Hezbollah has dismissed as meaningless due to ongoing Israeli strikes. The Israeli military reported killing six Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon. The Lebanese Health Ministry, however, said Israeli attacks since March 2 have left 2,491 people dead and 7,719 others injured. Readers are advised to follow the live tracker for updated casualty figures across the region.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday said he had undergone treatment for prostate cancer and is now in good health. In his first public disclosure of the illness, the 76-year-old leader said he had prostate surgery around a year and a half ago. He added that doctors later found a small tumour about two and a half months ago, which was treated with radiation therapy at Hadassah Hospital. Netanyahu said he chose to delay announcing the treatment. “I requested to delay its publication by two months so that it would not be released at the height of the war” against Iran, he said, adding that he wanted to avoid “more false propaganda against Israel.” He described the tumour as a minor issue and said he is now healthy. His health had been widely speculated about earlier during the conflict with Iran, especially after fake, AI-generated images circulated online falsely claiming he had died. Aharon Popovtser, head of the oncology unit at Hadassah Hospital, said the cancer was detected early and noted that prostate cancer is common among men of Netanyahu’s age. “Based on the test results, we can say the disease has disappeared,” he said, referring to medical imaging and blood tests. Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, is currently leading the country through conflicts in Iran, Gaza and Lebanon. He has faced criticism in the past for not sharing details about his health. Earlier, he revealed that he had a pacemaker fitted to treat a heart condition about a week after he fainted at a public event.

A powerful tornado ripped through a town in Oklahoma, damaging at least 40 homes but leaving residents largely unharmed, officials said. Raeann Hunt rushed to her underground shelter as the tornado moved toward her home. “It is headed right for us,” she recalled thinking as she briefly looked outside. She took cover in a small concrete cellar with her husband, brother-in-law and a neighbour. Inside, they heard loud roaring sounds, metal hitting the door and glass shattering. When they came out, they found their single-storey brick house badly damaged, with broken windows and a partially destroyed roof. The storm hit Enid, a city of about 50,000 people, on Thursday night. According to the National Weather Service, the EF-4 tornado stayed on the ground for about 9 miles, with wind speeds reaching 170 to 175 mph and a width of around 500 yards at its peak. During the 30 to 40 minutes of destruction, dozens of homes were damaged, with some pushed off their foundations. However, no deaths were reported and only minor injuries occurred. Residents said people in the area are well prepared for such disasters. “People around here have a plan,” Hunt said, explaining that most residents either move to a central room in their homes or go underground during tornado warnings. Basements are rare in Oklahoma due to soil and water conditions, but many homes have storm shelters or reinforced safe rooms. Residents also rely on weather updates through television and mobile alerts, especially during spring when tornado risks increase. “Especially in Oklahoma, we have great meteorologists,” said Justin Hunt, describing the aftermath as a disaster. The storm caused widespread destruction in areas south of the city, where commercial buildings were reduced to piles of twisted metal and broken wood. Utility poles were knocked down, and power lines were tangled with debris. In some homes, roofs were torn apart, trees were stripped of branches, and parts of walls were ripped away, exposing interiors. “Usually when we see this level of damage, there are fatalities,” Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt said. “We are very thankful there was no loss of life.” Emergency teams, including police, firefighters and highway patrol officers, searched homes and rescued some trapped residents, said Enid Mayor David Mason. “Supplies have already started arriving,” Mason said, adding that the community is coming together to support those affected. Residents and volunteers also began clearing debris. Dave Lamerton spent the morning recovering items from his son’s damaged workshop, which was destroyed by the tornado. “The tornado came straight through here and hit us directly,” he said, pointing to piles of broken wood, furniture and machinery. Meteorologists said images of the tornado showed large clouds of debris on both sides, a sign of a very strong storm. “If you see something like that, you know it’s a violent tornado,” said Mark Fox of the National Weather Service. Nearby areas also reported flooded roads and damage to barns. Officials are surveying damage from several possible tornadoes in north-central Oklahoma. At Vance Air Force Base, fences and equipment were damaged, forcing the base to close temporarily as power and water services are restored. No injuries were reported there. More severe weather is expected in parts of Oklahoma through Friday night, with the possibility of strong thunderstorms on Saturday. Storms also hit other states. In Missouri, officials reported fallen trees, blocked roads and damage to homes, though no injuries were reported. Cleanup efforts continued on Friday.