United News of Bangladesh

The headquarters of the US Navy’s 5th Fleet in Bahrain has been “subjected to a missile attack”, the Bahrain News Agency reported on Saturday, citing an official statement from the National Communication Centre. The statement did not attribute responsibility for the strike but said further details would be released later. Authorities urged the public to follow official instructions and rely on verified information only, reports Al jazeera. Bahrain hosts the headquarters of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, whose area of responsibility covers the Gulf, Red Sea, Arabian Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean. There was no immediate comment from the US military. However, the US Embassy in Bahrain had earlier advised American citizens to shelter in place amid reported threats involving missiles and drones over the country. Meanwhile, a senior Iranian official warned that all US and Israeli assets in the region could become “legitimate targets”, signalling a possible escalation following recent regional hostilities. The official, speaking to media, said Tehran would deliver a public response with “no red lines”, adding that the conflict initiated by the United States and Israel could have wide and long-lasting repercussions. Calls for restraint or surrender, the official said, were “unacceptable”. Tensions across the Middle East remain high as military alerts and diplomatic warnings continue to intensify in the wake of the reported strike.  

Israel carried out a daytime assault on Tehran on Saturday, sending smoke billowing from the city center. The initial strike targeted areas near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The United States is participating in the operation, though the exact scale of its involvement remains unclear, according to a U.S. official and a source familiar with the mission, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of military operations. It is not known whether the 86-year-old Khamenei was present at his offices during the attack. He has not been seen publicly for several days amid escalating tensions with the United States. The strikes come as Washington has deployed a large fleet of fighter jets and warships to the region to pressure Iran into a nuclear deal. Authorities had closed roads leading to Khamenei's compound in central Tehran as other blasts were reported across the city. US President Donald Trump had aimed for a deal to limit Iran’s nuclear activities and see a chance while the country faces rising domestic unrest following nationwide protests. Iran had sought to avoid war but insists it has the right to enrich uranium and refuses to negotiate on other issues, including its long-range missile program or support for armed groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah. It is unclear whether Iran will retaliate immediately, but Tehran has warned that American military personnel and bases across the region would be targets for any response. Pakistan declares State of emergency in Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described the strikes as being carried out “to remove threats.” He did not provide further details. In Tehran, witnesses reported hearing the first blast near Khamenei's office. Iranian state television later covered the explosion without specifying a cause. Sirens sounded across Israel as the country closed its airspace. The Israeli military said it issued a “proactive alert to prepare the public for the possibility of missiles being launched toward the state of Israel.” Additional explosions were reported in Tehran following the Israeli attack, though authorities have not released casualty figures. Iran meanwhile closed its airspace and disrupted mobile phone services. Warnings to pilots coincided with the blasts reverberating across the Iranian capital.

At least six Palestinians were killed after Israeli drone attacks hit police sites in central and southern Gaza, amid continued fighting in the war-battered enclave. Local sources said the overnight strikes targeted a police post near the Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip and another checkpoint in the al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis in the south. Medical officials at Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis said four bodies and several injured people were brought to the hospital after a strike on a police checkpoint at the al-Maslakh intersection. Some of the wounded were in critical condition. In a separate attack, two more Palestinians were killed and others injured when an Israeli drone struck a police post at the entrance of the Bureij refugee camp. Hamas condemned the attacks, saying they showed Israel’s disregard for efforts by mediators to maintain calm. A Hamas spokesperson said the ongoing strikes reflect a continued campaign against the Palestinian people despite talk of ceasefire efforts. Meanwhile, the Gaza Crossings and Borders Authority said limited movement continued through the Rafah crossing. On Thursday, 50 Palestinians travelled to Egypt, including patients and their companions, while 41 people returned to Gaza. The authority also said 286 trucks entered Gaza on the same day, including commercial and aid vehicles. Aid groups say the number is far below what is needed to meet basic humanitarian needs, as shortages of food and medicine persist due to restrictions on aid entry. The situation in Gaza remains dire, with international agencies warning that continued attacks and limits on humanitarian access are deepening the crisis for civilians.   With inputs from ALJAZEERA

Israeli soldiers shot a 14-year-old Palestinian boy at close range in a refugee camp in the occupied West Bank and then prevented medical teams from reaching him as he lay critically wounded, according to eyewitnesses and verified accounts. The boy, Jad Jadallah, was shot last November in al-Far'a refugee camp. After the shooting, around 14 Israeli soldiers reportedly surrounded the area and stopped Palestinian ambulances from accessing the injured child. Witnesses said Jad remained on the ground for a long period while bleeding heavily. Although Israeli soldiers receive training in basic trauma care, no immediate life-saving assistance was provided to the boy, according to those present. Family members said Jad tried to signal for help, but soldiers nearby did not respond. The Israel Defence Forces said soldiers gave “initial medical treatment” after checking that the boy was not carrying explosives. However, the military did not provide details about what treatment was given or when it was administered. The Israeli army claimed the boy had thrown a stone, an act it says can justify the use of lethal force. Jad’s family and Israeli rights group B'Tselem rejected the claim and alleged attempts were made to falsely portray the boy as a threat. The military did not respond to specific questions on this allegation. Jad was later taken away in an Israeli military vehicle. It remains unclear when and where he died or how many times he was shot, as the authorities have not returned his body or disclosed medical findings. Paramedics from the Palestinian Red Crescent said they arrived near the scene quickly but were blocked by soldiers and forced to wait while the boy lay injured. Jad’s mother said she was also stopped when she tried to reach her son. The incident occurred in the West Bank, where Israeli military raids are frequent, particularly in refugee camps. The United Nations says dozens of Palestinian children have been killed by Israeli forces in the area in recent years. Human rights groups say the case raises serious concerns about the use of force and the denial of medical assistance. Many details of Jad’s death remain unknown due to the refusal of Israeli authorities to release his body or provide full information.   With inputs from BBC

Iran and the United States are set to open a third round of indirect nuclear negotiations in Switzerland, even as Washington ramps up pressure through new sanctions and renewed warnings of possible military action. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Geneva on Wednesday, where he met Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, who is mediating the talks scheduled for Thursday. Ahead of his departure, Araghchi said a “fair, balanced and equitable” agreement was achievable, reiterating that Iran was not pursuing nuclear weapons but would not relinquish what it calls its right to the peaceful use of nuclear technology. The negotiations are taking place against a backdrop of deep mistrust, with both sides alternating between diplomatic engagement and confrontational rhetoric. In Washington, DC, US Vice President JD Vance accused Tehran of attempting to revive its nuclear programme after US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities last June, warning that Iran should take US military threats seriously. He said the US position was clear: Iran must not acquire a nuclear weapon, adding that President Donald Trump preferred a diplomatic solution but retained other options. Trump hails ‘winning’ streak in State of the Union, seeks to soothe economic worries before midterms Meanwhile, the United States Department of the Treasury announced sanctions on more than 30 individuals, entities and vessels accused of financing Iran’s oil exports, ballistic missile development and weapons production. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Iran was exploiting global financial systems to fund illicit activities and support allied armed groups. A day earlier, Trump, in his State of the Union address, accused Iran of pursuing “sinister nuclear ambitions” and developing missiles capable of striking the United States. Iranian officials strongly rejected the claims. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei dismissed the accusations as “big lies,” comparing the US approach to Nazi-era propaganda. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking from Saint Kitts and Nevis, said the Geneva talks would centre on Iran’s nuclear programme but stressed Washington’s concern over Iran’s ballistic missiles, which he said Tehran was trying to extend to intercontinental range. Iran’s refusal to include the missile programme in negotiations, Rubio said, was “a big, big problem.” The current state of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure remains uncertain. While Trump has claimed last year’s US strikes “obliterated” the programme, inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency have not been allowed to verify conditions at key sites, including Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. On the US side, the negotiations are being led by Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, alongside the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. The first round of talks was held in Oman on February 6, followed by a second session in Geneva on February 17. After the previous round, Araghchi said both sides had reached a preliminary understanding on broad principles, though no concrete agreement was achieved. Iranian media reports suggest the gaps remain wide, particularly over uranium enrichment and Tehran’s demand for firm guarantees that sanctions would be lifted before it makes concessions. Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf underscored Tehran’s stance, warning that while Iran was open to diplomacy based on mutual respect, any attack during negotiations would draw a strong response. Iran has also warned that any US strike would trigger retaliation against American military bases across the Middle East and could lead to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil supplies. US Central Command spokesman Tim Hawkins said the United States was reinforcing its military posture to deter escalation and protect its forces in the region. US media reports say Washington’s strategy combines tougher rhetoric and sanctions to increase leverage at the negotiating table, with the aim of pushing Iran to curb uranium enrichment and, eventually, its missile programme and regional activities, in exchange for economic relief. #From ALJAZEERA  

Iran on Wednesday resisted pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump ahead of crucial talks in Geneva over Tehran’s nuclear program, alternating between condemning his statements as “big lies” and expressing cautious optimism for an agreement through “honorable diplomacy.” The comments by Iranian officials come as the U.S. has deployed its largest force of aircraft and warships to the Middle East in decades, part of Trump’s push for a deal amid growing domestic unrest in Iran following nationwide protests last month. Trump has repeatedly warned of military action if negotiations fail, raising fears of a wider regional conflict while the Israel-Hamas war continues. Tehran has already declared all U.S. bases in the region legitimate targets. Satellite imagery analyzed by The Associated Press shows U.S. warships normally stationed in Bahrain moving out to sea. Oman confirms fresh US-Iran nuclear talks in Geneva Responding to Trump’s State of the Union speech, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei compared the president to Hitler’s propaganda minister and accused Washington of spreading disinformation. Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf emphasized Iran’s readiness for diplomacy that respects its dignity, warning that any attack amid negotiations would provoke a “firm blow” from Iran’s defensive forces. The talks, mediated by Oman, mark the third round between the two nations. Uncertainty remains over the timing, objectives, and scope of potential U.S. military action, the status of Iran’s nuclear program, and the wider regional consequences. Oil prices have risen amid fears of escalation, while Tehran could retaliate against U.S.-allied nations in the Gulf or Israel.

Students at several universities across Iran staged anti-government demonstrations over the weekend, marking the first rallies of this scale since last month’s deadly crackdown by authorities. Verified footage showed hundreds of students marching on the campus of Sharif University of Technology in the capital Tehran on Saturday at the start of the new semester. Protesters chanted anti-government slogans, including “death to the dictator,” referring to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Scuffles later broke out between demonstrators and pro-government supporters. Peaceful sit-ins were also reported at Shahid Beheshti University, while chanting against the government was heard at Amir Kabir University of Technology. In the north-eastern city of Mashhad, students reportedly shouted slogans demanding freedom and rights. The protests were held to honour thousands killed during mass demonstrations in January, which began over economic grievances and evolved into the largest unrest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said at least 7,015 people were killed in that wave, including protesters, children and government-affiliated individuals, while Iranian authorities put the toll at more than 3,100, many of them security personnel or bystanders. It was not immediately clear if arrests were made, though some reports suggested protests continued into Sunday. The unrest comes amid rising tensions between Tehran and Washington over Iran’s nuclear programme. The US and European allies suspect Iran is moving toward developing a nuclear weapon, a claim Tehran denies. Talks between US and Iranian officials in Switzerland earlier this week reportedly made progress, but President Donald Trump said a decision on a deal or possible military action could come within days. US envoy Steve Witkoff said Trump was “curious” why Iran had not yielded despite Washington’s military build-up. Meanwhile, opposition groups remain divided, with some calling for US intervention and others warning against outside involvement. With inputs from BBC

At least one person was killed and 11 others injured when Yemeni security forces fired on protesters linked to the Southern Transitional Council (STC) who tried to storm the al-Maashiq Presidential Palace in Aden, an Al Jazeera correspondent reported. The incident occurred Thursday during the first session of Yemen’s internationally recognised government, led by Prime Minister Shaya Mohsen al-Zindani, amid opposition demonstrations. Footage obtained by Al Jazeera showed several wounded individuals at the site. The Aden Governorate Security Committee said security forces responded lawfully to armed protesters attempting acts of sabotage and warned against any attacks on personnel. The STC, backed by the United Arab Emirates, claimed at least 21 people were wounded, condemning the use of live ammunition and calling for an investigation. The group urged the international community to act against “systematic repression” in southern Yemen. Earlier, the STC had controlled Aden and much of southern Yemen until a Saudi-backed government offensive pushed them back in January. On Friday, the STC refused to recognise the new government in Aden, calling it a “de facto authority” without political or popular support and warning that any official presence in the south would not bind southern representatives politically. Yemen has faced ongoing conflict and instability since Houthi rebels seized much of the country, including the capital Sanaa, in 2014. The STC, formed in 2017, seeks independence for southern Yemen.   With inputs from ALJAZEERA

Israeli authorities have imposed tight restrictions on Palestinian access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem for the first Friday prayers of Ramadan, allowing only a limited number of worshippers from the occupied West Bank to enter. Israel said a maximum of 10,000 Palestinians from the West Bank would be permitted to attend prayers on Friday, far fewer than the hundreds of thousands who traditionally gather at the site during Ramadan in previous years. Entry is being allowed only with special permits. According to the restrictions, only children under 12, men over the age of 55 and women aged 50 and above are eligible to enter Jerusalem from the West Bank for the prayers. From early morning, hundreds of Palestinians queued at the Qalandiya checkpoint, hoping to reach the holy site. Israeli media reported that by mid-morning only about 2,000 people had managed to cross, amid heightened Israeli military alert at checkpoints separating the West Bank from East Jerusalem. Palestinian officials later said Israeli authorities claimed the daily quota for West Bank worshippers had already been filled, effectively barring further entry to the mosque compound. Palestinian journalists and officials said the restrictions were unprecedented in scale. In previous years, up to 250,000 worshippers have attended Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa during Ramadan, including Palestinians from the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Palestinian citizens of Israel. Observers say the measures are deepening the separation between occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the West Bank, disrupting long-standing religious and social traditions linked to Ramadan prayers and communal gatherings at Al-Aqsa. The restrictions come amid rising violence in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. Palestinian authorities, human rights groups and the United Nations have reported an increase in attacks by Israeli settlers, often under the protection of Israeli forces, involving shootings, home burnings and land seizures. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, more than 1,100 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since 2023, while over 10,000 have been forcibly displaced. Earlier this week, Israel approved a plan that Palestinian officials and international critics describe as a de facto annexation of large areas of the occupied West Bank by declaring them Israeli “state property”. The move has drawn condemnation from more than 80 UN member states, who say it undermines Palestinians’ right to self-determination and further erodes prospects for a future Palestinian state.   With inputs from ALJAZEERA

At least 18 people, most of them fishermen, were killed and three others injured after a truck collided with a passenger pick-up in Egypt’s northeastern Port Said province, according to media reports. The crash took place around 12:30 pm local time on Thursday on the 30 June Axis highway, south of Port Said, Egypt’s state-run daily Al-Ahram reported. Survivors were taken to hospital for treatment, while public prosecutors opened an investigation to determine the cause of the accident, the newspaper said. Six women among experienced skiers killed in deadly California avalanche Photos shared online showed the pick-up badly crushed between two large cargo trucks, with wreckage scattered across the roadway. The Associated Press reported that the vehicle was carrying fishermen to fish farms in the coastal Port Said area. Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, who was attending the inaugural meeting of US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace in Washington, DC, offered condolences to the victims and ordered financial support for the families of those killed and injured. In a Facebook statement, Madbouly said he was monitoring the situation through updates from the governor of Port Said province. Road accidents remain a serious problem in Egypt, claiming thousands of lives every year. Collisions frequently involve heavy trucks and passenger vehicles, with speeding, poor road conditions and weak enforcement of traffic laws often cited as major causes. Last June, a separate truck and minibus crash killed 19 people, most of them teenage girls, local officials said at the time.  #From ALJAZEERA