United News of Bangladesh

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told neighbouring Gulf countries that Iran had “no choice” but to respond to recent US and Israeli attacks. He said the attacks on 28 February forced Iran to fire hundreds of missiles and drones targeting US military bases and civilian infrastructure in Gulf states, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Oman. In a post on X, Pezeshkian said Iran tried, “with your assistance,” to avoid a war. He added that the US-Israel strikes left Iran with no option but to defend itself. The president emphasised that he respects the sovereignty of neighbouring countries and believes peace in the region “must be ensured by the countries of the region.”   With inputs from BBC

A torpedo fired by a U.S. submarine sank an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka, whose navy said Wednesday it recovered 87 bodies and rescued 32 people. The Iranian vessel sunk in the Indian Ocean was the Islamic Republic’s “prize ship,” U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said. It was one of the few instances of a submarine sinking a ship since World War II. The sinking of the IRIS Dena illustrates a U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran that is stretching beyond its borders. U.S. President Donald Trump has said one of the key objectives of the war is to wipe out Iran's navy. “An American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters,” Hegseth said at a Pentagon news briefing. “Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo.” After Sri Lanka's navy received a distress signal from the IRIS Dena, which had 180 people on board, it sent ships and planes on a rescue mission, the country's foreign minister, Vijitha Herath, told Parliament. But by time Sri Lanka's navy reached the location, there was no sign of the ship, “only some oil patches and life rafts," navy spokesman Commander Buddhika Sampath said. "We found people floating on the water.” A video released by the U.S. Department of War on X showed the moment of the torpedo attack. The Iranian ship appears to be hit by an underwater explosion that causes it to break apart, as a large plume of water rises up in the air. The 32 people rescued were admitted to a hospital in Galle, a town on Sri Lanka's southern coast, Sampath said. The bodies recovered were also being brought to land, he said. At the National Hospital in Galle, Iranian sailors' bodies were arriving in trucks and being stored in a makeshift mortuary. The hospital was guarded by Sri Lankan police and naval personnel, as workers unloaded bodies away from view. Dr. Anil Jasinghe, a top health ministry official, said one of those rescued is in critical condition, seven are receiving emergency treatment and others are being treated for minor injuries. The IRIS Dena — one of Iran’s newest warships — patrolled in deep water, and was armed with heavy guns, surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles and torpedoes. It carried one helicopter. The ship had been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in February 2023, along with eight executives of an Iranian drone manufacturer that supplied weapons to Russia for use against civilian targets in Ukraine. At least 17 Iranian naval vessels have been sunk during the ongoing war, said U.S. Adm. Brad Cooper, who leads the American military’s Central Command.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday that a US submarine sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean using a torpedo, as the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran entered its fifth day. Speaking at the Pentagon, Hegseth said the Iranian vessel “thought it was safe in international waters” but was destroyed by a US torpedo strike. He did not name the ship. Earlier, Sri Lanka’s navy reported that an Iranian naval ship, identified as IRIS Dena, went down off the coast of Galle after issuing a distress call. Authorities said 32 people were rescued, while around 140 are believed to be missing. According to ship documentation, about 180 people were on board. Sri Lankan officials initially said the cause of the sinking was unknown and rejected reports of a submarine attack. At the Pentagon briefing, Hegseth described the US campaign as decisive and warned of further military action. “More and larger waves are coming. We are just getting started,” he said, adding that the Iranian regime’s military capabilities were being systematically dismantled. He also claimed that Iran had attempted to assassinate US President Donald Trump and said the US had killed the leader of the unit allegedly responsible. No further details were immediately provided. When asked about reports of a strike on a girls’ school in Minab that Iran says killed at least 153 people, including children, Hegseth said the US was investigating and insisted that American forces do not target civilians. Meanwhile, Israel said it struck “security headquarters” and other regime-linked infrastructure across Tehran as joint US-Israeli air operations continued. Images from the Iranian capital showed extensive damage to residential and public buildings. In Lebanon, the Israeli military ordered civilians south of the Litani River to evacuate immediately ahead of planned military operations against Hezbollah. Heavy gunfire was reported near the Israel-Lebanon border, and strikes were reported in Beirut’s outskirts. Elsewhere in the region, Saudi Arabia reported an attempted drone attack on the Ras Tanura oil refinery, believed to be the country’s largest. Authorities said the drone caused no damage. Kuwait said it was intercepting a wave of incoming missiles and drones, while Turkey’s defence ministry said Nato air defences shot down an Iranian missile heading toward Turkish airspace. The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency also said a container ship was hit by an “unknown projectile” in the Strait of Hormuz, causing a fire in its engine room. No environmental damage was reported. Amid escalating violence and widespread flight disruptions, several countries are working to evacuate their citizens from the region. The UK confirmed that a government-arranged repatriation flight will depart from Muscat later on Wednesday night. With missile exchanges, airstrikes and naval engagements unfolding across multiple fronts, concerns are growing that the conflict could expand further across the Middle East.   With inputs from BBC

The death toll from five days of US-Israeli attacks on Iran has surpassed 1,000, according to state media reports. The strikes, which targeted multiple sites across the country, have drawn sharp international criticism. An independent UN investigation into human rights violations in Iran strongly condemned the attacks, saying they violate international law. Country by country, here’s how the unfolding war is affecting the Middle East “These attacks … run counter to the UN Charter, which prohibits the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State,” the UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran said in a statement. The report called for urgent measures to protect civilians and hold those responsible accountable, while warning that such military actions could have far-reaching consequences for regional stability.

Sri Lanka’s navy and air force have launched rescue operations after an Iranian naval vessel began sinking near the island’s southern coast, authorities said Wednesday. Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told parliament that a distress signal was received at dawn from the vessel identified as IRIS Dena. According to initial reports, around 180 people were on board at the time of the incident. Herath said 30 injured sailors have been transported to a hospital in the port city of Galle for treatment. Rescue efforts are ongoing to account for the remaining crew members. The cause of the sinking remains unclear. During the parliamentary session, an opposition lawmaker questioned whether the vessel may have been bombed as part of the ongoing US-Israeli attacks against Iran. Authorities have not provided any official confirmation regarding the circumstances surrounding the incident. Further details are expected as rescue operations continue. Source: BBC

Israel’s military announced a new wave of strikes on government infrastructure in Tehran Wednesday, following reports of a heavy explosion in the eastern part of the city. Meanwhile, France has deployed Rafale fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates to intercept Iranian drones targeting French forces stationed there, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said, reports Al Jazeera. The jets, based at Dhafra Air Base near Abu Dhabi, were tasked with protecting hundreds of French navy, air force, and army personnel from Iranian attacks. President Emmanuel Macron also announced that France is sending its flagship aircraft carrier to the Mediterranean in response to the widening conflict in the Middle East. Barrot emphasized that the deployments aim to safeguard French personnel and facilities in the UAE while maintaining regional stability amid escalating hostilities following Israeli and US strikes on Iranian targets.

Iran has ruled out negotiations with the United States and warned citizens against any cooperation with Washington or Israel as the conflict intensifies. Mohammad Mokhber, a senior aide to the late supreme leader, said Iran has no intention of engaging in talks with the US and maintains no form of contact with Washington, report Al Jazeera. “We have no trust in the Americans, and we have no basis for any negotiations with them,” Mokhber said on Iranian state television. He added that Tehran is prepared to continue the war “as long as we want.” Mokhber previously served as Iran’s acting president and first vice president. Separately, Iran’s judiciary chief Gholam Hosseini Mohseni Ejehe warned the public against expressing support for the United States or Israel during the ongoing war. “We have announced that those who cooperate with the enemy in any way will be considered an enemy,” Ejehe said in remarks broadcast on state television. He stressed that individuals who “say or do anything in line with the will of America and the Zionist regime” would be treated as siding with the enemy and dealt with under what he described as “revolutionary, Islamic principles” appropriate to wartime conditions. The warnings come after both the US and Israel publicly called on Iranians to rise up against their government. Former US President Donald Trump said the conflict could represent the Iranian people’s “only chance for generations” to overthrow the leadership. Earlier this year, nationwide protests in Iran resulted in thousands of deaths, according to UN officials and international human rights organizations, which documented widespread use of deadly force against demonstrators. The latest statements signal Tehran’s firm stance against external pressure and suggest continued domestic crackdowns as hostilities with the US and Israel persist.

Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Wednesday that whoever is chosen as Iran’s next supreme leader will be “a target for elimination.” In a post on X, Katz said, “Every leader appointed by the Iranian terror regime to continue and lead the plan to destroy Israel, to threaten the United States and the free world and the countries of the region, and to suppress the Iranian people — will be a target for elimination.” The warning comes as Israel struck a building linked to Iran’s Assembly of Experts on Tuesday. The assembly is responsible for selecting the country’s next supreme leader following the death of 86-year-old Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in an Israeli strike on Saturday, which marked the beginning of the current conflict.

The escalating Middle East conflict is affecting nearly every country in the region, causing casualties, property damage, and major disruptions to airspace, shipping routes, and diplomatic operations. Governments are urging citizens to leave as commercial flights are canceled, Gulf airspace closes, and ports such as the Strait of Hormuz are disrupted. The U.S. has evacuated personnel from six nations, including the UAE, and advised citizens from 14 countries to leave. Iran: The country has suffered the highest casualties, with at least 787 killed, including over 160 in a strike on an elementary school in Minab. U.S.-Israeli operations have targeted nuclear facilities, missile launchers, government buildings in Tehran, and leadership compounds, reportedly killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and senior military officials. Airspace is closed. Israel and Palestinian Territories: Iranian missile attacks have killed 11 people. The extent of damage to military installations remains undisclosed. Commercial airspace is closed. Lebanon: Israeli airstrikes targeted Hezbollah sites in Beirut following missile and drone attacks. At least 52 people were killed and 154 wounded. The U.S. Embassy has closed temporarily, though flights are partially operational. Saudi Arabia: Iranian drones targeted the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh and Ras Tanura oil refinery, causing minor damage. Airspace is partially closed. Kuwait: U.S. Embassy attacks and Iranian strikes killed several personnel, including six U.S. soldiers. Civilian casualties include one dead and 32 injured migrant workers. Airspace is closed. United Arab Emirates: Three foreign workers were killed in strikes. Dubai’s airport and hotels along the coast sustained damage, and Iranian drones hit two Amazon data centers. Airspace is closed. Egypt: Shipping disruptions through the Suez Canal are impacting the economy. Commercial flights operate with some cancellations. Jordan: Intercepted Iranian projectiles injured five people. Airspace is restricted at night. Qatar: Iranian attacks targeted energy facilities. Airspace is closed. Senators to vote on limiting Trump’s military authority after Iran strikes Iraq: U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian proxy sites killed militia members. Drone and missile attacks targeted U.S. bases in Irbil. Oil production at Rumaila fields halted due to shipping disruptions. Airspace is closed. Bahrain: A strike killed one Asian worker and injured two others; drone debris impacted an Amazon data center. Airspace is closed. Syria: Iranian missile debris caused minor injuries in southern provinces. Airspace is closed. Oman: Drone attacks struck major ports at Salalah and Duqm, and at least one vessel was hit offshore. Airspace remains open, though many flights are canceled. The conflict continues to escalate, with civilian casualties mounting and regional economies and travel networks under severe strain.

A suspected Iranian drone struck the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) station located at the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Tuesday. The source added that there was no indication the CIA station was the intended target. The Washington Post reported that a State Department alert said the building sustained structural damage. The attack comes amid escalating strikes across the Middle East following US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran on Saturday. The US Embassy in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, is among several American facilities affected. Saudi Arabia’s Defence Ministry said two drones hit the embassy, causing a small fire and some material damage. Following the incident, the US mission in Saudi Arabia warned American citizens to avoid the embassy until further notice due to the threat of attacks. Routine and emergency consular services were also cancelled on Tuesday. In a separate alert, the mission cautioned that “there is a threat of imminent missile and UAV attacks over Dhahran” and advised people not to visit the US Consulate.   #With inputs from TRT World