United News of Bangladesh

Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is reportedly “safe and sound” following unconfirmed reports of an injury during the ongoing war, a government adviser said. Yousef Pezeshkian, son of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, told Instagram followers that he had inquired with contacts and was assured that Khamenei had not been harmed, reports Al Jazeera. State television had earlier referred to Khamenei as a “wounded veteran of the Ramadan war” but did not provide details about the alleged injury.

Two Iranian drones struck near Dubai International Airport on Wednesday, injuring four people, authorities said, though flights continued at the world’s busiest international hub. The Dubai Media Office reported minor injuries to two Ghanaian and one Bangladeshi national, and moderate injuries to one Indian national. The attack comes amid rising regional tensions as Iran maintains pressure on the oil industry and shipping routes in the Gulf. Earlier Wednesday, a projectile hit a container ship off Oman in the Strait of Hormuz, forcing the crew to abandon the vessel. Kuwait intercepted eight Iranian drones, while Saudi Arabia reported destroying five drones aimed at its Shaybah oil field. Iran has effectively halted cargo traffic through the strait, a key route for nearly 20% of global oil shipments. Israel, which launched military operations with the U.S. on Feb. 28, renewed strikes on Tehran and Lebanon. Explosions were reported in Beirut and southern Lebanon, including attacks on Iran-linked Hezbollah targets, killing at least seven people and bringing Lebanon’s death toll since the conflict began to nearly 500. The U.N. Security Council is set to vote on a Gulf Cooperation Council-backed resolution condemning Iran’s attacks on Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Jordan, calling for an immediate halt to hostilities. Oil prices remain elevated due to fears of prolonged disruption in global energy supplies. Some tankers are making “dark” transits through the Strait of Hormuz, turning off tracking systems. Iran has resumed exports from its Jask terminal on the Gulf of Oman. Concerns have also grown over the health of Iran’s new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not been seen publicly since assuming office. Meanwhile, foreign nationals are leaving the region, with over 45,000 U.K. citizens and around 40,000 Americans evacuated since the war began.

Iran continued to target oil infrastructure in the Gulf and disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, raising global energy concerns as the Middle East conflict shows no signs of easing. Iran has effectively blocked cargo traffic through the strait, a critical route for nearly a fifth of global oil, and launched attacks on oil fields and refineries in Gulf Arab states. Early Wednesday, a projectile hit a container ship off Oman, setting it ablaze and forcing the crew to abandon the vessel. Kuwait and Saudi Arabia reported intercepting Iranian drones and missiles aimed at strategic sites. Israel, which began its operations with the U.S. on Feb. 28, renewed strikes on Tehran and Lebanon, targeting Iran-linked Hezbollah. Explosions in Beirut and southern Lebanon killed at least seven people, including a Red Cross worker, while nearly 500 have died in Lebanon since the latest conflict erupted. The U.N. Security Council is set to vote on a Gulf Cooperation Council-backed resolution demanding Iran cease attacks on Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Jordan. Oil prices remain high amid fears of prolonged disruption. Some tankers are navigating the strait through “dark” transits with AIS trackers turned off, while Iran has resumed exports via its Jask terminal. Concerns have also emerged over the health of Iran’s new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not been seen publicly since taking office. Foreign nationals are leaving the region in large numbers. The U.K. evacuated over 45,000 citizens, while around 40,000 Americans have returned home. The U.S. has reported seven military fatalities and eight serious injuries since the conflict began.

Iran has launched a fresh wave of missile and drone strikes targeting Israeli and US-linked sites across the Middle East, with Tehran claiming it also struck a major US military facility in Kuwait, according to media reports. Iranian state media said the latest barrage was the “most intense and heaviest” since the conflict began, AFP reported. Israel said it detected missiles launched from Iran earlier, prompting alerts in several areas. However, Israeli authorities later said it was safe for citizens to leave shelters. Regional tensions also triggered defensive responses in neighbouring countries. Saudi Arabia said its air defence systems intercepted and destroyed two drones that were heading towards an oil field. Warning sirens were also heard in Bahrain, which hosts the largest US air base in the Middle East. Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it fired four missiles at the headquarters of US forces in the region. According to the IRGC, two of the missiles targeted Camp Arifjan, a major US military installation in Kuwait. There was no immediate confirmation from US or Kuwaiti authorities regarding the claimed strike. #With inputs from Agencies

Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon have killed at least five people and injured several others, while more than 40,000 American citizens have left the Middle East since tensions escalated following the conflict with Iran, officials said. Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health said successive Israeli strikes targeted the town of Qana in the Tyre district of southern Lebanon, leaving five people dead. At least five other people were also injured in the attacks near the border, according to the ministry. Lebanese officials said Israel’s renewed attacks on Lebanon since last Monday have killed at least 570 people. Meanwhile, the United States said tens of thousands of its citizens have left the Middle East since hostilities between the US and Iran began on February 28. A spokesperson for the US State Department said more than 43,000 American citizens have returned to the United States from the region during this period. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said about 30,000 of them were assisted through a special task force created to support evacuation efforts. The United States has completed more than two dozen charter flights to help Americans leave the region. However, the State Department said the charter flights operated at less than 40 percent capacity on average, as many Americans opted to use commercial flights instead. Charter flights and ground transportation operations from the Middle East are continuing, and any American citizen in the region can request assistance, the department added. #From Agencies

Three US B-1 bombers have arrived at the Royal Air Force base in Fairford, Gloucestershire, which regularly hosts US Air Force bomber deployments. The deployment follows a decision by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to allow the United States to use British bases, including RAF Fairford, for what London called “defensive” operations related to the ongoing conflict with Iran, reports Al Jazeera. The newly arrived bombers joined other US military aircraft already stationed at the base after a B-1 Lancer landed on Friday, followed by two more on Saturday.

The Ruwais oil refinery, the largest single-site refinery in the Middle East and one of the world’s top four, has been shut down as a precaution following a drone attack, Bloomberg reported Tuesday. Earlier, Abu Dhabi authorities said a fire broke out at a facility within the Ruwais industrial complex after the drone strike, with no injuries reported so far. There was no immediate confirmation on whether the refinery itself was directly hit. The facility has a refining capacity of about 922,000 barrels of crude oil and condensate per day. Iran launches missile attacks on Israel, Qatar and UAE The closure comes as the deadly regional conflict enters its 11th day. On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and other Iranian cities, killing Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei along with senior military officials and civilians. Iran retaliated with waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israeli and U.S. assets across the Middle East. On Tuesday, the UAE Defense Ministry said its air defense systems had detected 262 ballistic missiles, 1,475 drones, and eight cruise missiles since the start of Iranian attacks. The systems intercepted eight of nine ballistic missiles and 26 of 35 drones launched toward the country on Tuesday alone. Six nationals from the UAE, Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh have been killed, while 122 residents of various nationalities sustained minor to moderate injuries amid the escalating tensions.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that Iran would face unprecedented retaliation if it attempts to disrupt oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking at a press conference, he said Iran would be “hit harder than ever” if it takes any action to block the flow of oil through the strategic waterway. Hegseth also referred to yesterday’s phone call between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying it was clearly conveyed during the discussion that Russia should not be involved in the ongoing war against Iran. Iran launches missile attacks on Israel, Qatar and UAE

Israel, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have reported new missile attacks from Iran. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said its defence systems are active to intercept the missiles and warned residents in affected areas to take necessary precautions. The UAE Ministry of Defence stated that its air defence systems are responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran and urged people in nearby areas to follow safety instructions. Meanwhile, the Qatar Ministry of Defence confirmed that its armed forces successfully intercepted a missile aimed at the country. #From BBC

The number of people displaced in Lebanon due to intensifying Israeli attacks has risen sharply. Speaking to reporters in Geneva from Beirut, the UN refugee agency’s representative in Lebanon said more than 100,000 people were newly displaced across the country within the past 24 hours. Karolina Lindholm Billing said that, as of now, over 667,000 people in Lebanon have registered as displaced on the Lebanese government’s online platform, marking an increase of 100,000 in just a single day. Israel accused of using white phosphorus in southern Lebanon She noted that the current situation reflects a “faster pace of displacement” compared with 2024, when Israel and Hezbollah were engaged in their previous war. Sources- Al Jazeera