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LIVE UPDATES: Middle East Tensions Mount After Strikes on Iran – Day 5

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The United States and Israel carried out a coordinated series of strikes on February 28 targeting multiple sites in Iran, including locations in Tehran. In response, Iran launched retaliatory strikes against Israeli territory and US military bases across the Middle East.

2026-03-04T04:29+0000

2026-03-04T06:31+0000

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the united states and israel carried out a coordinated series of strikes on february 28 targeting multiple sites in iran, including locations in tehran. in response, iran launched retaliatory strikes against israeli territory and us military bases across the middle east.

Trump's gift to the people of Iran: Iranian media share an aerial photo of 165 graves for girls killed in the Minab school attack - Sputnik International

LIVE UPDATES: Middle East Tensions Mount After Strikes on Iran – Day 5

04:29 GMT 04.03.2026 (Updated: 06:31 GMT 04.03.2026)

Being updated

The operation against Iran took place despite ongoing Oman-mediated talks between the US and Iran in Geneva aimed at addressing the Iranian nuclear issue.

Iranian authorities reported that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the strikes. Following the attacks, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced the launch of True Promise 4, describing it as the most extensive and forceful offensive operation in the country’s history, targeting Israel and US military bases in the region.

Follow Sputnik's live updates to find out more!

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12:10 GMT 04.03.2026

Ankara Says Ready to Retaliate After Missile Landing in Turkiye

Ankara is ready to repel any attack on the republic and to hold the necessary consultations with NATO after the fall of a rocket in the territory of the country, the head of communications in the presidential office, Burhanettin Duran, said on Wednesday.

"The missile launched from Iran, which flew through the airspace of Iraq and Syria and was heading into our country's airspace from the Hatay region, was destroyed by NATO air defense systems," Duran said in a statement.

12:04 GMT 04.03.2026

Ballistic Missile Allegedly Launched From Iran Destroyed Over Turkey - Turkish Military

A ballistic missile allegedly launched from Iran has been destroyed in the skies over Turkey for the first time since the start of the conflict, with no casualties reported, the Turkish Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.

"The NATO air and missile defense forces stationed in the Eastern Mediterranean promptly intercepted and neutralized a ballistic missile launched from Iran and heading for Turkish airspace after it passed through the airspace of Iraq and Syria," the ministry said in a statement.

Fragments fell in the Dortyol area of the Hatay province, the ministry said, adding that no one was injured.

12:04 GMT 04.03.2026

Death Toll From US, Israeli Strikes in Iran Rises to 1,045 - Reports

The death toll from US and Israeli strikes in Iran has risen to 1,045, Tasnim news agency reported, citing the Iranian Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs.

On Tuesday, the Iranian Red Crescent said that the death toll from the attacks increased to 787.

The victims reportedly include both civilians and military personnel.

12:04 GMT 04.03.2026

Israeli Army Says Detected Missile Launch From Iran, Intercepting It

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Wednesday that it detected a missile launch from Iran and was intercepting it.

"A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel. Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat," the IDF said on Telegram.

12:03 GMT 04.03.2026

Two UAVs Attack 2 Headquarters of Shiite Militia in Mosul in Northern Iraq - Reports

Two UAVs have attacked two headquarters of Shiite militia in the city of Mosul in northern Iraq, Reuters reported on Wednesday citing security sources.

Earlier in the day, Reuters reported, citing security sources, that the headquarters of an Iranian Kurdish opposition group had been attacked by a drone in the Iraqi Kurdistan region.

11:37 GMT 04.03.2026

Iran Attacks Positions of 'Separatist Groups' in Iraqi Kurdistan - IRGC

Iran has attacked the positions of "separatist groups" in the Iraqi Kurdistan region, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, Reuters reported, citing security sources, that the headquarters of an Iranian Kurdish opposition group had been attacked by a drone in the Iraqi Kurdistan region.

"The bases and locations of these groups [in Iraqi Kurdistan] were successfully hit with three missiles," the IRGC said in a statement.

11:28 GMT 04.03.2026

Iranian Authorities Decide to Postpone Farewell Ceremony for Khamenei - Official

Iranian authorities have decided to postpone the farewell ceremony for deceased Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Mohsen Mahmoudi, head of Tehran's Islamic Propaganda Coordination Council, said on Wednesday.

"This event is being postponed. I hope that at the earliest opportunity, as soon as conditions permit, the Coordination Council will make a corresponding statement calling for farewells" Mahmoudi told Iranian television.

The postponement is due to the need to prepare the "infrastructure" for the ceremony due to "enormous demand" from across the country to participate in the event, he added.

11:24 GMT 04.03.2026

Israeli Forces Seize Lebanese Border Settlement of Khiam - Reports

Israeli forces advanced deep into Lebanese territory and occupied the border settlement of Khiam, Lebanese national news agency NNA reported on Wednesday.

The Hezbollah group declared full solidarity with Iran, its leadership and people on Saturday, then carried out multiple strikes into Israeli territory. Israel responded by targeting the group's military sites in Lebanon.

11:14 GMT 04.03.2026

UAE Downs 3 Missiles, 121 drones in Past 24 Hours - Defense Ministry

The UAE has taken down three missiles and 121 drones in the past 24 hours, while eight drones have fallen on the country's territory, the UAE Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.

"The Ministry of Defense announced that today, on March 4, the UAE air defense forces successfully intercepted three ballistic missiles and detected 129 drones. Of these, 121 drones were intercepted, and eight fell into the country," the ministry wrote on X.

Additionally, three people from South Asian states have been killed and 78 people, including UAE nationals, have been injured in the country since the start of the escalation of the situation in the region, the ministry said.

11:14 GMT 04.03.2026

Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant Under Threat, Moscow Urges to Ensure Plant's Safety - Russian Foreign Ministry

There is threat to Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in Iran, and Moscow is calling through various channels for the nuclear facility's safety to be ensured, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday.

"According to Russian nuclear experts, the threat exists, as explosions are being heard literally kilometers from its line of defense. We would like to once again clearly convey Mr. [Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom CEO Alexey] Likhachev's call to the parties involved to prioritize the nuclear facility. We regularly communicate these signals through all available channels," Zakharova said at a briefing.

11:08 GMT 04.03.2026

IDF Says Attacks Underground Hezbollah Weapons Depot in Beirut

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Wednesday that it attacked an underground weapons depot of Hezbollah in Beirut and several command centers.

"The IDF struck an underground Hezbollah weapon storage facility and additional command centers in Beirut Over the past day, the IDF conducted a wave of strikes in Beirut targeting Hezbollah infrastructure. Targets included an underground weapon storage facility and additional command centers. The IDF also targeted a site used by Hezbollah for terrorist attacks, intelligence gathering, and for propaganda. The infrastructures struck were intended to be used by Hezbollah to execute terrorist attacks against IDF troops and Israeli residents," the IDF said on Telegram.

11:05 GMT 04.03.2026

Iraq Experiencing Difficulties With Oil Exports as Strait of Hormuz Shut - Foreign Ministry

Iraq is experiencing difficulties with oil exports due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein confirmed to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during a phone conversation that Iraq has become one of the countries directly affected by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the ministry said in a statement.

"Iraq is facing difficulties in exporting oil, a situation typical of a number of countries in the region, which threatens to have serious consequences for global energy markets and could lead to an energy market crisis and price increases," the statement read.

11:04 GMT 04.03.2026

IAEA Sees No Damage to Nuclear Facilities in Iran Based on Satellite Images - Statement

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Wednesday that it has not recorded any damage to facilities containing nuclear materials in Iran based on satellite images.

"Based on analysis of latest available satellite imagery, IAEA sees no damage to facilities containing nuclear material in Iran and therefore no radiological release risk at this time. Near Isfahan nuclear site, damage is visible at two buildings. No additional impact detected at Natanz after previously reported damage at entrances, and no impact at other nuclear sites, including Bushehr NPP," the IAEA said on X.

11:03 GMT 04.03.2026

Russia Slams Unprovoked US and Israeli Attacks on Iran as ‘Lawless’

10:34 GMT 04.03.2026

Debris Hitting Saudi Arabian Oil Refinery Did Not Affect Oil Supplies - Energy Ministry

Debris hitting the largest oil refinery in the city of city of Ras Tanura in eastern Saudi Arabia did not affect the supply of petroleum products, a source in the Saudi Energy Ministry said on Wednesday.

"As a result of debris falling on the refinery's territory, a limited fire broke out. No one was injured, and supplies were not disrupted," the source told the Saudi SPA news agency.

10:20 GMT 04.03.2026

Cypriot Transport Ministry Denies Reports About Airspace Closure Over Island

A spokesperson for the Cypriot Transport Ministry denied on Wednesday media reports about the island's airspace being closed due to the detection of a suspicious aerial object near the border with Lebanon.

Earlier on Wednesday, media reported that Cyprus had closed the airspace over Larnaca Airport after detecting a suspicious aerial vehicle near the Lebanese border.

Government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis denied the reports, insisting that Cypriot airspace was open.

"The airspace of the Republic of Cyprus was not closed at any time," Letymbiotis was quoted as saying by the Cyprus Mail newspaper.

10:20 GMT 04.03.2026

Syria Closes Main Border Checkpoint With Lebanon After Threat of Strikes - Reports

Syria closed its main border checkpoint with Lebanon after receiving threats from Israel about attacks on the checkpoint, Syria TV reported on Wednesday, citing the general directorate of border crossings and customs.

The movement of passengers through the Jdaidit Yabws checkpoint in both directions has been suspended after the Lebanese side received a warning about the need to evacuate due to the likelihood of shelling of the area by the Israeli enemy, the broadcaster reported.

10:19 GMT 04.03.2026

No Damage to Aramco Refinery in Saudi Arabia as Result of UAV Attack - Ministry of Defense

There was no damage to The Saudi Aramco oil company's refinery in the Saudi city of Ras Tanura as a result of a UAV attack, the Ministry of Defense said on Wednesday.

"According to preliminary results, the attack on the refinery was carried out using UAVs and caused no damage," the ministry wrote on X.

10:19 GMT 04.03.2026

Hezbollah Attacks 3 Major Israeli Military Facilities - Statements

Lebanese movement Hezbollah said on Wednesday that it has attacked two military command posts and a production facility in Israel with missiles and drones.

"In response to the criminal Israeli aggression that has affected dozens of Lebanese cities and settlements, including the southern suburbs of Beirut, Islamic Resistance fighters attacked the headquarters of the Israeli aircraft manufacturing company (IAI) [Israel Aerospace Industries] in central occupied Palestine using a group of attack drones," Hezbollah said in one of the statements.

The next two statements said that the strikes also included precision-guided missiles hitting the Giv'a base, which controls drones east of the city of Safed, and the headquarters of the Israel Defense Forces' Northern Command, the Dado base.

10:11 GMT 04.03.2026

Aramco Refinery Hit Again in Saudi Arabia - Reports

The Saudi Aramco oil company's refinery in the Saudi city of Ras Tanura, which is one of the largest oil refineries in the world, has come under attack in again, Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing two sources.

It was hit by an unknown missile, the news agency reported.