Middle East

Loud Explosions Heard Across the Gulf
Loud Explosions Heard Across the Gulf

AFP correspondents heard a loud explosion in Dubai on Saturday and one of them saw a plume of smoke rising from the city. The explosions came in the wake of wide-ranging Iranian attacks on the Gulf, in retaliation for US and Israel strikes on Iran. Residents and AFP correspondents in the Emirati, Qatari and Bahraini capitals heard more ...

Israelis Shelter Underground as Iran Fires Missiles
Israelis Shelter Underground as Iran Fires Missiles

Across Israel, city streets stood deserted on Saturday as residents took cover in shelters, while the blasts from Iranian missiles being intercepted reverberated overhead. It was the second time in under a year that Israelis were undertaking this grim wartime routine, having first fled Iranian missiles during a 12-day war between the arch-foes ...

Top Turkey Diplomat Spoke to Iran FM Over 'Ways to End the Attacks': Ministry Source
Top Turkey Diplomat Spoke to Iran FM Over 'Ways to End the Attacks': Ministry Source

Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan spoke by phone to his Iranian counterpart and several other regional diplomats Saturday about ways to "end the attacks" triggered by Israel-US strikes on Iran, a ministry source said. During his talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, "the latest developments in our region were ...

Inside the Historic 2026 U.S. Military Buildup Leading to the Iran Strikes
ExplainerInside the Historic 2026 U.S. Military Buildup Leading to the Iran Strikes

The U.S. and Israel have begun conducting joint strikes on Iran on February 28 following a historic U.S. military buildup in the Middle East.  This is Beirut compiled a timeline of the 2026 buildup leading up to the attacks, revealing preparations for using large amounts of force against Iranian targets. The 2026 U.S. Military Buildup The U.S. ...

U.S. Embassy Urges Americans to Leave Lebanon Immediately as Security Situation Deteriorates
U.S. Embassy Urges Americans to Leave Lebanon Immediately as Security Situation Deteriorates

The United States Embassy in Lebanon has issued an urgent advisory calling on U.S. citizens to depart the country immediately while commercial flights remain available, citing the “volatile and unpredictable security situation” in the region. In a statement posted on X, the U.S. Embassy said the Department of State “urges U.S. citizens to ...

Gulf Countries Respond to Regional Escalation
Gulf Countries Respond to Regional Escalation

United Arab Emirates In an official statement, the UAE said, “The Iranian attack on our territory is a serious escalation and a cowardly act.” The UAE added that it reserves the right to respond to the missile attack in accordance with international law after Iranian ballistic missiles targeted U.S. military bases in the Gulf. The ...

Five Killed in South Syria by Depot Explosion, Not Iran Missile: State TV
Five Killed in South Syria by Depot Explosion, Not Iran Missile: State TV

A detonation in an ammunition and missile depot in southern Syria's Sweida killed five people on Saturday, state media said, after initial reports blamed an Iranian missile. "The explosion that occurred today in the city of Sweida was caused by the detonation of an ammunition and missile depot belonging to the National Guard," a ...

France Seeks UN Security Council Meeting on Iran-U.S. Conflict
France Seeks UN Security Council Meeting on Iran-U.S. Conflict

French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday called for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council after the US and Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran's retaliation, saying the escalation "must stop". "France is calling for an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council," Macron wrote on X. "The ongoing ...

Iran Claims Missile Attacks on U.S. Bases in the Gulf, Iraqi Militias Struck
Iran Claims Missile Attacks on U.S. Bases in the Gulf, Iraqi Militias Struck

The U.S.-Israel-Iran confrontation escalated sharply Saturday as Iran launched ballistic missile attacks on multiple U.S. bases across the Gulf and Iraqi militia positions were struck in a joint U.S.-Israel operation. U.S. bases hit in the Gulf Iran’s Fars News Agency, which is affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), ...

Son of Iran's Late Shah Says 'Final Victory' Near
Son of Iran's Late Shah Says 'Final Victory' Near

The son of Iran's last shah voiced confidence Saturday in victory against the Islamic republic after the United States and Israel launched an attack. Reza Pahlavi released a video message online shortly after the strikes, suggesting coordination after he repeatedly urged President Donald Trump to intervene. "We are very close to final victory. I ...

Iran Fires Ballistic Missile Barrage at Israel as Air Defenses Activated Nationwide
Iran Fires Ballistic Missile Barrage at Israel as Air Defenses Activated Nationwide

Iran launched a barrage of ballistic missiles toward Israel on Saturday, triggering nationwide air raid sirens and marking a dramatic escalation in what has now become an open confrontation involving Israel, Iran, and the United States. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed it had identified missiles launched from Iranian territory toward ...