United News of Bangladesh

A missile struck a helipad inside the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad, security officials said. The projectile landed within the embassy grounds, located in the heavily fortified Green Zone, which hosts Iraqi government offices and foreign missions. Video footage obtained by The Associated Press showed smoke rising from the compound. No immediate comment was issued by the embassy following the strike. On Friday, the embassy had renewed its Level 4 security alert, citing threats from Iran and Iran-aligned militia groups, which have previously targeted U.S. personnel, facilities, and infrastructure, and may continue to do so. The sprawling embassy complex, among the largest U.S. diplomatic facilities worldwide, has been repeatedly hit by rockets and drones in past years. Recently, Iran-aligned militias have intensified attacks on bases hosting U.S. and coalition troops. A drone strike in northern Iraq on Thursday killed a French soldier and injured several coalition personnel.

France and Italy have reportedly opened discussions with Iran to secure safe passage for their ships through the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Financial Times. The talks, described as tentative, aim to restart oil and gas exports from the Middle East, citing three sources familiar with the matter. Independent verification by other media outlets has not been possible, reports Al Jazeera. Separately, France is reportedly coordinating with European, Asian, and Gulf Arab states to assemble a coalition to escort tankers through the strait once the security situation stabilizes, Reuters reported. In 2024, about 6.2 percent of crude oil and 8.7 percent of LNG imported from non-EU countries passed through the strait, according to the Germany-based CESifo research network. The negotiations reflect growing international concern over the security of one of the world’s most strategic shipping routes amid ongoing regional tensions.

About 2,500 US Marines, part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, are the first US ground troops deployed in the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran. The unit has departed from its home port in Okinawa, Japan, aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli. The Marines are expected to deploy “in theatre,” either to respond to crises or potentially to secure areas of Iranian territory, reports Al Jazeera. Although Marines operate both on land and at sea, this marks the first significant ground troop deployment by the US in the conflict. Military analysts say the move indicates a gradual increase in US military posture, signaling that Washington is not planning a swift end to its operations in the region.

The United States can provide “reliable” energy supplies to the Asia-Pacific region as the war involving Iran disrupts global oil and gas flows, US Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said. Speaking at the Indo-Pacific Energy Security Ministerial and Business Forum in Tokyo, Burgum said the energy policy of US President Donald Trump aims to ensure domestic prosperity while enabling the US to supply energy to allies and partners, reports Al Jazeera. Trump’s “energy dominance” policy is designed to guarantee that the US has enough energy resources at home while also exporting them to friendly countries, Burgum told the gathering of representatives from 17 Asia-Pacific nations. He said such supplies would help ensure the region has “reliable, affordable and secure” energy that cannot be disrupted by hostile actors. Burgum also stressed the importance of securing critical mineral supplies as countries seek to reduce dependence on China, the world’s leading exporter of many key minerals. The forum was organized before the 2026 Iran–Israel War erupted on Feb 28 but has taken on added significance as the conflict affects energy markets. The event brought together regional political leaders and US energy companies seeking to strengthen cooperation and explore commercial deals in energy and mineral supply chains.  

Analysts and rights groups have criticized US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for saying there would be “no quarter, no mercy” for Iran, warning that such rhetoric could violate international law. Hegseth made the remarks on Friday as the United States and Israel continue military strikes against Iran, reports Al Jazeera. Experts say threatening to give “no quarter”—meaning no mercy or acceptance of surrender—is prohibited under the Hague Conventions and other international agreements governing armed conflict. The policy is also banned under US domestic law, including the War Crimes Act of 1996. Brian Finucane of the International Crisis Group said the comments raise concerns about whether such rhetoric could influence battlefield conduct. “It raises questions about whether this belligerent language is being translated into how the war is being fought,” he said. The remarks came amid growing criticism of US strikes in Iran, including an attack on a girls’ school in southern Iran that reportedly killed more than 170 people, most of them children. Overall, the conflict has left at least 1,444 people dead and displaced millions. International law prohibits executing combatants who surrender or are unable to fight, a rule reinforced during the Nuremberg Trials after World War II. Rights groups say dismissing such legal restrictions is alarming. Sarah Yager of Human Rights Watch said language from senior officials can shape how troops behave in combat. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has defended the military campaign, saying the goal is to win the war. Analysts warn that rhetoric rejecting legal restraints could increase the risk of civilian casualties and undermine safeguards meant to limit harm during war.

France and Italy have begun discussions with Tehran in an effort to ensure the safe passage of their vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, the Financial Times reported. Citing three sources familiar with the matter, the report said the two European countries are trying to negotiate an arrangement with Iran that would guarantee safe navigation for their ships through the crucial maritime route. The talks remain at an early and tentative stage, the report added. The effort comes as European states seek to revive oil and gas exports from the Middle East amid heightened regional tensions. Al Jazeera said it could not independently verify the report. Separately, Reuters reported that France is also working to assemble a broader international coalition aimed at securing the Strait of Hormuz once the security situation improves. According to two French officials cited by Reuters, Paris has been consulting European, Asian and Gulf Arab countries on a plan that could involve deploying warships to escort oil tankers through the narrow waterway. The strait is a vital corridor for global energy supplies. Data from the Germany-based CESifo Research Network shows that in 2024 about 6.2 percent of crude oil and 8.7 percent of liquefied natural gas imported from non-EU countries passed through the passage.

As rising tensions and missile threats linked to the Middle East conflict push many residents to leave the region, animal welfare groups in Dubai say they are seeing a sharp increase in abandoned pets. Rescue organisations report that dogs, cats and even smaller pets such as fish and turtles are being left behind as families rush to depart the UAE amid growing uncertainty. Shelters and rescue centres across Dubai say they are struggling to cope with a sudden surge in deserted animals, reports NDTV. One of the organisations facing mounting pressure is K9 Friends, which says it has received an overwhelming number of requests from pet owners asking to surrender their animals or seeking help to rehome them before leaving the country. Animal welfare groups believe the trend is linked to residents making hurried plans to relocate because of the ongoing regional tensions. Many pet owners reportedly find it difficult to manage the complicated procedures involved in taking animals overseas. Rescue experts advise owners to use commercial pet boarding facilities available across the UAE and keep their animals there until they return or arrange for the pets to travel abroad. Veterinarians in Dubai also say they have received an unusual rise in inquiries from pet owners asking about euthanising their animals. According to veterinarians, some owners have allegedly requested that even healthy pets be put down due to the high cost of relocation, complex paperwork and the limited availability of flights that allow pets. Images circulating on social media platform X appear to highlight the scale of the problem. Some photos show dogs tied to lamp posts without food or water, while others appear to depict animals abandoned on streets under intense heat. Volunteers say they have also found cats and puppies left in crates outside homes or near rescue shelters. In one reported incident, an animal rescuer discovered a cat and four kittens abandoned in a crate outside a house. Rescue organisations are now scrambling to find foster homes and temporary shelters as the number of deserted animals continues to grow. Local social media groups have seen hundreds of posts about abandoned pets, with volunteers sharing pictures and urging residents to adopt or temporarily care for the animals. Some reports also suggest that pets have been left along desert roads leading towards the Oman border as residents attempt to leave the region by car. Animal welfare advocates say the situation highlights how domestic animals often become vulnerable during times of conflict, instability and displacement. For shelters that were already operating near capacity, the sudden influx of abandoned animals has created a serious challenge and underscores how, in moments of panic, pets are often the most helpless victims.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued a warning against any upcoming protests, describing demonstrators as “neo-ISIS” and cautioning that harsher measures than those in January await them. BBC Persian reported that a mass text message sent by the IRGC’s Intelligence Unit on Monday stated, “The evil enemy… is once again seeking to create fear and chaos in the streets. A blow harder than January 8 is awaiting the neo-ISIS [Islamic State].” Anti-establishment protests in Iran, which began on December 28, saw deadly clashes on January 8 and 9. According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (Hrana), at least 7,000 people were killed during the unrest. On March 8, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Iranians to rise against the regime, though on March 12 he admitted he could not confirm whether the protests would topple the government.   With inputs from BBC

Nato assets destroyed a missile launched from Iran that entered Turkish airspace, Turkey’s Defence Ministry said on Monday. In a statement posted on X, the ministry said, “A ballistic munition launched from Iran and entering Turkish airspace was neutralised by Nato air and missile defence assets deployed in the eastern Mediterranean.” The ministry added that “all necessary measures are being taken decisively” to address any threats to the country and its airspace.   With inputs from BBC

US President Donald Trump has said he believes Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is probably still alive but may have been seriously injured following the recent US-Israeli strikes on Iran. In an interview with Fox News, Trump said Khamenei might have been “damaged” during the attacks. “I think he probably is. I think he is damaged, but I think he’s probably alive in some form,” Trump told Fox News host Brian Kilmeade. His remarks came after Iranian state television aired a statement attributed to Khamenei on Thursday, marking his first message since assuming the role of supreme leader. Earlier this week, Iran’s ambassador to Cyprus told The Guardian that Khamenei had been injured in the February 28 strikes that killed his father, former supreme leader Ali Khamenei, along with several members of his family. The ambassador’s comments echoed earlier reports in US media that Mojtaba Khamenei was wounded in the attacks. #From ALJAZEERA