United News of Bangladesh

Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander General Mohammad Pakpour and Defence Minister Amir Nasirzadeh were reportedly killed in Israeli airstrikes inside Iran on Saturday morning. Israeli officials said Pakpour, Nasirzadeh, and Iran’s intelligence chief were likely among those targeted. The full number of casualties has not yet been confirmed. Several senior Iranian military and regime figures were reportedly targeted, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian, though their status remains unverified. If confirmed, Pakpour’s death would deal a major blow to Iran’s security establishment. As IRGC commander, he coordinated internal security and regional military operations, including responses to joint US–Israeli strikes. The IRGC is responsible for Iran’s missile and aerospace programs, elite overseas operations, domestic security, and major economic networks. Targeting the IRGC chief signals a shift from attacking military infrastructure to directly hitting Iran’s leadership core. Analysts warn that the strikes could disrupt command chains in the IRGC and Iran’s broader security apparatus. Iran has already started retaliatory actions in the region, and further escalation is possible. The situation remains fluid, and official confirmation from Iranian authorities is pending.   With inputs from Gulf News

Several leading oil producers and trading firms have temporarily halted fuel shipments through the Strait of Hormuz following escalating attacks in the region, according to media reports. A senior executive at a major trading company told Reuters that their vessels would remain stationary for the next few days as a precautionary measure, reports Al Jazeera. Roughly 20 million barrels of crude oil and other petroleum products pass daily through the narrow but strategically vital corridor between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Any prolonged disruption in shipments through the waterway could trigger significant turbulence in global energy markets, analysts warn. US-Israel attack on Iran: How world reacts

Global leaders have voiced deep concern following military strikes by Israel and the United States on Iran, and Tehran’s subsequent retaliation, warning of the risk of a wider regional conflict across the Middle East. The United Nations Human Rights Chief, Volker Türk, called for “restraint” and urged all parties to “see reason, to de-escalate, and for a return to the negotiating table.” “I deplore the military strikes across Iran this morning by Israel and the United States of America, and the subsequent retaliatory strikes by Iran,” he said, stressing that civilians ultimately bear the brunt of armed conflict. He reminded those involved that protecting civilians is “paramount” under international law. At least 51 students killed as US-Israel strikes on Iran escalate into regional crisis The European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, described the latest developments as “perilous.” In a statement on X, she noted that the European Union has imposed strong sanctions on Iran and supported diplomatic solutions, including on the nuclear issue. She added that she had spoken to Israel’s and other regional foreign ministers, underscoring that the protection of civilians and adherence to international humanitarian law remain a priority. A spokesperson for the Government of the United Kingdom said London does not want to see “further escalation into a wider regional conflict.” The statement emphasised that the immediate priority is the safety of UK nationals in the region, adding that Britain stands ready to protect its interests. Tehran hits back across region after US and Israel attack Iran Prime Minister Keir Starmer chaired a meeting of the government’s emergency Cobra committee and is expected to hold a series of calls with allies. The BBC reported that the UK was not involved in the US-Israeli strikes. Germany said it had been informed of the attack in advance, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz consulting relevant security ministers. In Rome, the office of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she had held a conference call with ministers and intelligence chiefs and would consult allies and regional leaders to support efforts aimed at easing tensions. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his country supported the US in acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and from continuing to threaten international peace and security. Meanwhile, Russia condemned the US-Israeli strikes, calling them a “reckless move.” The Russian foreign ministry said it was “condemnable” that the attacks were being carried out under what it described as the guise of renewed negotiations, referring to recent US-Iran nuclear talks. Moscow also urged the international community to assess what it termed “irresponsible actions aimed at undermining peace, stability, and security” in the region. As diplomatic activity intensifies, world leaders continue to call for restraint, warning that any further escalation could destabilise an already volatile Middle East.

Iranian state media reported that an Israeli strike hit an elementary girls’ school in Minab, Hormozgan province, killing at least 57 students dead and 60 others wounded. Iran's state news agency IRNA reported this information. The massive joint attack by the United States and Israel on Iran has escalated tensions across the Middle East, raising fears of a broader regional conflict. Iranian retaliation has targeted US assets in several Gulf Arab states, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, where American military bases are hosted. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for strikes against “all Israeli and US military targets in the Middle East,” vowing that the operation “will continue relentlessly until the enemy is decisively defeated.” At least one person was reported killed in Abu Dhabi after Iranian missiles were intercepted, while Bahrain reported a missile attack on the headquarters of the US Navy’s 5th Fleet. The attacks have triggered widespread disruption of civil aviation. At least eight countries — Iran, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the UAE — closed their airspace. Several international carriers, including Air France, British Airways, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, and Qatar Airways, canceled flights to the region. Middle East airspace closure also disrupts flights from Dhaka In Iran, explosions were reported in multiple cities, including Tehran, Kermanshah, Qom, Tabriz, Isfahan, Ilam, Karaj, and Lorestan province. Tehran strikes targeted University Street, Jomhouri area, and near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps headquarters. US President Donald Trump outlined the campaign’s objectives, saying the US aims to “destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground” and “annihilate their navy.” He urged Iranian military personnel to surrender, promising immunity to those who comply but warning of “certain death” for those who resist. Trump acknowledged possible US casualties in the operation, which the Pentagon has dubbed “massive and ongoing.” Regional actors are closely monitoring the conflict. Kataib Hezbollah, an Iraqi paramilitary group, has threatened imminent attacks on US bases in retaliation. Russia called for an immediate halt to US and Israeli attacks, urging diplomatic resolution, while Saudi Arabia condemned Iranian missile strikes on Gulf states, warning of “dire consequences” for continued violations of sovereignty. The European Union urged restraint and diplomacy to prevent nuclear escalation. Pakistan condemned attacks on Iran, while Indonesia signaled readiness to facilitate US-Iran dialogue. The Nobel Peace Prize-winning International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons condemned the military strikes, warning that the attacks “risk provoking further escalation” and increase the danger of nuclear proliferation. Source: Agencies

The United States and Israel have launched co‑ordinated military strikes on the Islamic Republic of Iran in a dramatic escalation of Middle Eastern tensions, with President Donald Trump describing the action as a “massive and ongoing” campaign that could continue for several days. Early on Saturday, explosions were reported in the Iranian capital, Tehran, and other cities as US and Israeli forces targeted a range of military and governmental sites across the country. Israel characterised its role as necessary to counter what it sees as an imminent threat from Tehran, while Washington said it was acting to degrade Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities. Iran vows to press on with missile campaign until enemies are defeated President Trump warned that American lives may be lost during the campaign and urged the Iranian people to “take over your government,” calling for a change of regime. He also accused Tehran of seeking to rebuild its nuclear programme despite earlier strikes on Iranian facilities that he previously claimed had destroyed them. The strikes appear to have been months in the making. The Israeli military stated they followed “close and joint planning” with the US armed forces, aimed at dozens of military targets across Iran. Iran’s Retaliation and Regional Impact In response to the strikes, Iran launched what officials described as an unprecedented wave of retaliatory missiles and drones towards Israel and United States military installations across the Gulf region. New wave of Iranian missiles launched toward Israel, army says Sirens and reports of explosions were heard in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, with airspace closures and air‑defence systems scrambled as countries braced for further attacks. At least one person was reported killed in the UAE after missiles were intercepted. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have said they view all US and Israeli assets in the Middle East as “legitimate targets with no red lines,” signalling a further broadening of the conflict. Wider Tensions and International Reaction The conflict comes amid a backdrop of failed nuclear negotiations between Washington and Tehran, and follows earlier clashes in 2025 that saw missile exchanges between Iran and Israel. International reaction has been mixed. While some US allies emphasise the need for regional security, others have expressed grave concern over the escalation and called for immediate de‑escalation to prevent a broader war. At this stage, the situation remains highly volatile, with the potential for further military action across the Middle East as both sides prepare for an intensification of hostilities. Source: Agencies

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said its military campaign would continue without pause until its adversaries are decisively beaten, claiming that Israeli and US military targets across the Middle East have already been hit by Iranian missiles. In a statement, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said all US assets in the region are now regarded as legitimate targets, warning of further strikes, reports Al Jazeera. Regional authorities reported heightened tensions as Bahrain said a missile attack targeted the headquarters of the US Navy’s 5th Fleet. A missile was intercepted over Qatar, while an explosion was reported in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Several countries in the region temporarily shut their airspace amid the escalating situation. Meanwhile, multiple explosions were heard in Tehran, with blasts also reported in other parts of Iran. There was no immediate official response from Iranian authorities, though state media reported that President Masoud Pezeshkian was safe.

Israel’s military reported that a fresh salvo of missiles fired from Iran triggered sirens in multiple parts of Israel shortly before the statement was issued. According to the army, the launches were detected coming from Iran, prompting immediate defensive action. “At this time, the Israeli Air Force is operating to intercept and strike threats where necessary to remove the threat,” the military said in a message on Telegram. One dead in Abu Dhabi after UAE intercepts Iranian missiles It cautioned civilians to remain alert, saying, “The defense is not hermetic, and therefore it is essential that the public continue to adhere to the Home Front Command’s guidelines. The public is requested to continue to follow the instructions of the Home Front Command.” Meanwhile, fresh explosions were reported in Doha, the capital of Qatar, shortly after the country’s defence ministry said all incoming missiles in a “second wave” had been intercepted, reports Al Jazeera In a separate development, Saudi Arabia strongly condemned the Iranian strikes on Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, warning of “dire consequence” over continued violations of state sovereignty and international law. Five killed in Israeli attack on elementary school in Iran Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency has reported that an Israeli strike hit an elementary girl’s school in Minab, a city located in the Hormozgan province of southern Iran. It added that five students were killed.

At least one person was killed in Abu Dhabi after several missiles fired from Iran were intercepted, the state news agency of the United Arab Emirates reported. In a statement, the UAE said the attack amounted to a blatant breach of its national sovereignty and a violation of international law, stressing that it reserves the full right to respond to what it described as a dangerous escalation, reports Al Jazeera.

A near-total internet blackout has been reported across Iran as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it was carrying out broad air strikes on military targets in the country’s western regions. Internet monitoring agency NetBlocks said connectivity across Iran had dropped sharply, indicating a widespread disruption to online services amid the ongoing military escalation involving Israel and the United States, reports BBC. The blackout is not unprecedented. Last month, Iran experienced a similar near-total shutdown during nationwide protests that were forcefully suppressed by authorities. During that period, some users managed limited access through satellite-based services operated by SpaceX as well as virtual private networks (VPNs), and similar workarounds may again be attempted. Meanwhile, the IDF said its air force was conducting “a broad strike on a number of military targets” in western Iran. Explosions were reported earlier in the western cities of Kermanshah and Tabriz, though Iranian authorities have not released details on casualties or damage. The developments come amid escalating tensions following coordinated strikes and threats of retaliation across the region. The communications blackout is expected to further restrict the flow of information from inside Iran as military operations continue.  

Iran has targeted United States forces across multiple Gulf countries, including Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, sharply escalating tensions in the Middle East. Bahrain confirmed that the headquarters of the US Navy’s 5th Fleet was hit in a missile attack, raising concerns over the security of key American military assets in the region, reports Al Jazeera. In Qatar, the Defence Ministry said an Iranian missile was intercepted by the Patriot air defence system, preventing damage. Following the developments, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates announced the closure of their airspace as a precautionary measure. Meanwhile, a loud explosion was reported in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, according to Reuters. Authorities in the UAE have not immediately disclosed details on the cause of the explosion. Earlier, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps confirmed it had launched missiles and drones towards Israel in response to recent US-Israeli attacks, signalling a widening of the conflict with potential regional and global implications.