All you need to know about Day 7 of US-Israeli war on Iran

This live blog follows updates for Day 7 of the US-Israel war on Iran.

• Britain 'ready to support' Saudi defense
• Lebanese PM says 'a humanitarian disaster is looming' from displacement
• Danish shipping giant Maersk suspends routes over Mideast war
• Total of 67 Kuwait army personnel injured in Mideast war: Statement
• UN urges Middle East warring parties to 'give peace a chance'

Iran's UN envoy rejects US 'interference' in leader succession

Published March 6, 2026 | 23:15 GMT

Iran's ambassador to the United Nations on Friday condemned US interference after President Donald Trump insisted that he should be involved in selecting the successor of slain supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Amir Saeid Iravani said that Trump's reported comments "constitute a clear violation of the principles of non-interference in the internal affairs of states and enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations."

"Iran is a sovereign and independent state. It does not accept and will never allow any foreign power to interfere in its internal affairs," Iravani told reporters in New York.

"The selection of Iran's leadership will take place strictly in accordance with our constitutional procedures and solely by the will of the Iranian people, without any foreign interference," he added.

New drone attack on Baghdad airport: security sources

Published March 6, 2026 | 22:15 GMT

A drone attack just after midnight Friday targeted the Baghdad airport complex, which houses a military base and a US diplomatic facility, security sources said.

A security official told AFP that "the airport came under a series of attacks" with drones and missiles, adding that ambulances were dispatched to the scene.

Another security source confirmed there was a drone attack followed by a fire at the airport.

Britain 'ready to support' Saudi defense: PM Starmer

Published March 6, 2026 | 21:15 GMT

Britain is ready to help defend Saudi Arabia, Prime Minister Keir Starmer told Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in a call on late Friday as the Middle East war escalates.

Starmer assured the Saudi crown prince that "the UK stood ready to support the defense of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia should it be needed," his spokesperson said.

Rockets target Baghdad airport complex: Iraqi authorities

Published March 6, 2026 | 20:15 GMT

Rockets targeted on Friday evening the Baghdad airport complex that hosts a military base and a US diplomatic facility, Iraqi authorities said.

The Iraqi government's security media cell said in a statement that "at 8:20 pm (1720 GMT), a number of rockets were launched" from the Abu Ghraib district near Baghdad.

It added that several rockets "fell on empty areas far from Baghdad International Airport", though it did not specify whether they crashed in or near the military base.

A security official later told AFP that "two rockets and not drones" fell inside the base.

The attack did not cause casualties or significant material damage.

Iran says fired new salvo of drones, missiles at Israel

Published March 6, 2026 | 18:45 GMT

Iran said Friday it had fired a new salvo of drones and missiles at Israel, on the seventh day of the Middle East war that began with US-Israeli strikes on the Islamic republic.

The Revolutionary Guards, the ideological arm of the Iranian military, had started firing drones and missiles "against targets in the occupied territories (Israel) and US bases in the region", a presenter for state television said.

UN Ghanaian peacekeepers wounded after position hit in south Lebanon: state media

Published March 6, 2026 | 18:05 GMT

Several United Nations peacekeepers were wounded when their base was hit in southern Lebanon on Friday, state media reported, without specifying the source of the attack.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency said that several Ghanaian members of the UN force were "wounded after their position in the town of Qawzah was targeted".

The incident came during the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

France deploys helicopter carrier to Mediterranean: military

Published March 6, 2026 | 16:27 GMT

France has sent a helicopter carrier to the Mediterranean in response to the Middle East war, the French military told AFP on Friday.

"An amphibious helicopter carrier has been deployed in the Mediterranean to reinforce the presence of the French armed forces in the context of the Middle East crisis," a spokeswoman said, after France decided to deploy its flagship aircraft carrier and a frigate earlier in the week.

A similar ship was sent off the shore of Lebanon as a precautionary measure to help with repatriations if needed during the 2024 war between Israel and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. The current conflict has already drawn in Lebanon.

Saudi defense ministry says intercepted 'cruise missile'

Published March 6, 2026 | 16:16 GMT

Saudi Arabia's defense ministry on Friday said it had intercepted and destroyed a cruise missile near the central Al-Kharj area.

"A cruise missile was intercepted and destroyed east of Al-Kharj governorate," the ministry said in a post on X.

US oil price soars over 10% after Trump demand on Iran

Published March 6, 2026 | 15:43 GMT

The price of the benchmark US oil contract soared more than 10 percent Friday on fears of extended disruption to crude supplies after President Donald Trump demanded Iran's "unconditional surrender".

West Texas Intermediate surged 10.63 percent to $89.62 per barrel, while international benchmark Brent North Sea crude reached $91.89, the highest level in nearly two years.

Israel army says Hezbollah fired around 70 rockets towards Israel since midnight

Published March 6, 2026 | 15:33 GMT

The Israeli military on Friday said Hezbollah had fired around 70 rockets toward Israel since midnight, many of them from southern Lebanon.

"After midnight yesterday, around 70 rockets were launched towards the direction of Israel," military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani told journalists, adding that "a lot of these launches were from southern Lebanon".

Shoshani also said that since Israel began striking in Lebanon this week, it had hit "more than 500 targets across Lebanon and eliminated over 70 Hezbollah terrorists".

Iran state TV reports fire on ship struck by drone in Strait of Hormuz

Published March 6, 2026 | 14:49 GMT

Iranian state television on Friday reported a fresh drone strike on a ship in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, resulting in a fire, on the seventh day of the war with the US and Israel.

The television channel did not specify the type of vessel or its provenance. Earlier, an Iran military spokesman said a US oil tanker was "on fire" after having been targeted by Iranian forces.

Trump says only 'unconditional surrender' of Iran will end war

Published March 6, 2026 | 14:11GMT

US President Donald Trump on Friday demanded Iran's "unconditional surrender" as the only acceptable outcome to end hostilities, while promising to help rebuild the country's economy if Tehran complied and installed new leadership.

"There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, adding that his intention was to "MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN."

Drones hit oil fields, airport in Iraq's Basra: security official

Published March 6, 2026 | 13:44 GMT

Four drones struck Basra airport and two oil facilities in southern Iraq, a security official told AFP.

"One drone crashed into the cargo terminal at Basra airport," the official said, adding that two others hit a US company in the Burjesia oil complex, and a fourth struck the Rumaila oil field, where energy major BP operates.

New blasts heard in Kuwait City

Published March 6, 2026 | 12:58 GMT

Explosions were heard on Friday in the Kuwaiti capital, an AFP journalist said, as authorities said they were confronting missile and drone strikes on the country.

"Kuwaiti air defenses are currently dealing with missile and drone attacks that penetrated Kuwaiti airspace," the defense ministry said on X, after authorities said 67 soldiers were injured in Iranian strikes over the past week.

Iran media say explosions hit port city on Gulf

Published March 6, 2026 | 12:41 GMT

Iranian media said on Friday that explosions had rocked the key port city of Bandar Abbas on its Gulf coast amid US and Israeli strikes on Iran.

"Several explosions were heard in the city of Bandar Abbas," the Etemad online website reported. Other media including Shargh daily carried similar reports.

Iran president says some countries 'have begun mediation efforts' to end war
Published March 6, 2026 | 11:55 GMT

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Friday that some countries had begun mediation efforts to end the war with the United States and Israel, but said any talks should address those who started the war.

"Some countries have begun mediation efforts. Let's be clear: we are committed to lasting peace in the region yet we have no hesitation in defending our nation's dignity and sovereignty," said Pezeshkian in a post on X.

"Mediation should address those who underestimated the Iranian people and ignited this conflict."

Iran army says US bases in Kuwait attacked, vows strikes to 'continue'

Iran's army said on Friday it had attacked US bases in Kuwait and vowed that it would press on with further strikes.

"Over the past few hours, various types of destructive drones of the Army's ground forces have targeted American military bases in Kuwait in large numbers," the army said, according to Iranian state TV.

"These attacks will continue in the coming hours."

UN rights chief says US probe of Iran school strike must 'happen very quickly'

Published March 6, 2026 | 09:50 GMT

The United Nations rights chief stressed Friday the need for "transparent and impartial investigations" into an alleged deadly strike on a school in Iran, urging Washington to move "very quickly" with its announced probe.

"What we have asked for is obviously prompt, transparent and impartial investigations, which we understand has been announced by the United States of America," Volker Turk told reporters in Geneva, stressing that "we need this to happen very quickly and we need to also make sure that there is accountability as well as redress for the victims".

Lebanese PM says 'a humanitarian disaster is looming' from displacement

Published March 6, 2026 | 09:45 GMT

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam warned on Friday that "a humanitarian disaster is looming" as a result of Israeli evacuation orders that are causing a massive displacement of the population.

"The humanitarian and political consequences of this displacement could be unprecedented," the premier told foreign ambassadors.

Danish shipping giant Maersk suspends routes over Mideast war

Published March 6, 2026 | 09:45 GMT

Danish shipping giant Maersk said on Friday it was suspending two intercontinental transit routes because of the war in the Middle East.

The firm had already said it was suspending bookings in the Gulf "until further notice".

"Considering the escalating conflict affecting safe navigation in the Gulf region, we have made the decision to temporarily suspend the FM1 Service (connecting Far East to Middle East) and as well the ME11 Service (connecting Middle East to Europe)," the firm said.

Total of 67 Kuwait army personnel injured in Mideast war: Statement

Published March 6, 2026 | 09:45 GMT

Kuwait's defense ministry said early on Friday that 67 army personnel have been injured since the beginning of Iran's retaliation campaign -- the highest number by far of any Gulf military.

"Sixty-seven Kuwaiti military personnel have been injured" since the beginning of the attacks, according to Colonel Saud Al-Atwan, the defense ministry spokesman.

He did not specify where the soldiers were injured.

Kuwait had identified and "dealt with" 212 ballistic missiles and 394 drones since Saturday, he added.

Kuwait also has the highest death toll in the region so far, with eight out of 13 people killed in the Gulf having died in the tiny country.

UN urges Middle East warring parties to 'give peace a chance'

Published March 6, 2026 | 09:42 GMT

The United Nations rights chief called on Friday for cool heads to prevail in the Middle East and urged the warring sides to pull back and give peace a chance.

"The world urgently needs to see steps to contain and extinguish this blaze -- but instead we are only seeing more inflammatory, bellicose rhetoric, more bombings, more destruction, killings and escalation, that fuels it further," Volker Turk told reporters.

"I urge the states involved to take immediate steps to de-escalate, to give peace a chance. And on other states to call clearly on those involved to pull back. Cool heads must prevail if we are to prevent further terror and devastation for civilians."

US cannot provide enough missiles for Gulf states and Ukraine: EU commissioner

Published March 6, 2026 | 09:42 GMT

The United States is not in a position to provide enough missiles to the Gulf states and Ukraine to defend themselves, EU defense and space commissioner Andrius Kubilius said Friday.

"It's very clear that after Iranian crisis, if we can call it so, it became more urgent for us in Europe to ramp up production of air defense and anti-ballistic missiles," he said.

"Because Americans really will not be able to provide enough of those missiles, both for the Gulf countries, for American army itself, and also for Ukrainian needs."

Kubilius said Europe was facing a "huge challenge" in developing anti-missile defense.

New strike on Beirut southern suburbs

Published March 6, 2026 | 09:42 GMT

A new Israeli air strike targeted Beirut's southern suburbs on Friday morning, state media reported, as AFPTV footage showed plumes of smoke rising from a building in the area.

"Hostile warplanes carried out an air raid on the southern suburbs," the National News Agency said, a day after the Israeli military ordered the evacuation of the area, home to hundreds of thousands of people and a Hezbollah stronghold, before launching a series of raids.

Blasts heard over Tel Aviv 

Published March 6, 2026 | 08:44 GMT

Several blasts were heard over Israel's commercial hub of Tel Aviv on Friday, AFP journalists reported, after the military said it had detected new missiles launched from Iran towards the country.

"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 military said.

'Potential missile threats' alert on phones

Published March 6, 2026 | 08:44 GMT

Residents of Dubai received an Emirati interior ministry alert on their phones on Friday urging them to shelter from potential missile threats, AFP correspondents reported, as Iran pressed on with its Gulf retaliation campaign.

"Due to the current situation, potential missile threats, seek immediate shelter in the closest secure building and steer away from windows, doors and open areas," the alert read.

'Broad-scale' strikes in Beirut

Published March 6, 2026 | 08:40 GMT

The Israeli military said on Friday it had hit a Hezbollah command center and drone depot in a "broad-scale wave of strikes" overnight in Beirut's southern suburbs.

The strikes came after the Israeli army issued an evacuation warning for the area, home to hundreds of thousands of people and a stronghold of Hezbollah, sending residents fleeing in panic.

"As part of the strikes, an executive council's command centre and a facility storing UAVs (drones) utilised by Hezbollah for conducting attacks against the State of Israel were struck," the Israeli military said in a statement.

20 people killed in strikes on Shiraz

Published March 6, 2026 | 08:30 GMT

An Iranian official said on Friday that at least 20 people have been killed in US and Israeli strikes in the southern city of Shiraz.

AFP could not independently verify the toll.

"Twenty innocent citizens have been martyred and 30 others have been injured in this terrorist attack," said Jalil Hasani, deputy governor of Fars province, the official IRNA news agency reported.

He said the attack took place in a "residential area in the town of Zibashahr in Shiraz."

South Korea strikes crude oil deal with UAE

Published March 6, 2026 | 08:30 GMT

South Korea struck a deal Friday to ship around four million barrels of oil from the United Arab Emirates, bolstering supplies as the US-Israel war on Iran upends energy markets.

Iran claims it is now in control of the crucial Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf chokepoint through which a fifth of the world's crude oil flows.

Heavily reliant on oil shipped through the strait, South Korea said it had dispatched tankers to secure alternative supplies of fuel.

"We plan to immediately berth two South Korean-flagged oil tankers -- each with a capacity of 2 million barrels -- at alternative ports within the UAE that do not require passage through the Strait of Hormuz," said presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik.

Seoul also secured a pledge that "up to 2 million barrels from the jointly held strategic reserves that the UAE stores in South Korea can be made available at any time upon request," Kang said.

South Korea is the fourth-largest importer of crude oil in the world, according to US government figures.

Sri Lanka denounces war deaths, houses Iran sailors

Published March 6, 2026 | 08:30 GMT

Sri Lanka on Friday denounced the toll of the Mideast fighting, as the nation opened its arms to over 200 Iranian sailors who sought help after a deadly torpedo strike on another of Iran's ships.

The crew were brought ashore Thursday and were being accommodated at a military camp near the capital Colombo and their ship, IRIS Bushehr, was under Sri Lankan control.

The vessel reported engine trouble and sought port entry after another Iranian vessel, IRIS Dena, was hit by a US torpedo off Sri Lanka's southern coast on Wednesday.

Washington later announced it carried out the attack, which killed at least 84 Iranian sailors aboard and left 64 more missing.

"Our approach is that every life is as precious as our own," Sri Lanka's President Anura Kumara Dissanayake wrote on X, and urged peace after the Israeli-US campaign led to Iranian retaliatory strikes.

Thirty-two sailors were rescued by the Sri Lanka Navy and were being treated at a hospital in the southern port city of Galle.

Indonesia begins evacuating citizens from Iran as war rages

Published March 6, 2026 | 08:30 GMT

Indonesia began evacuating dozens of its citizens from Iran on Friday, a foreign ministry official said, as war rages in the Middle East.

Attacks by the United States and Israel on the Islamic Republic and Iran's retaliatory strikes in the region have stranded tens of thousands of foreigners, with flights cancelled and airspace shuttered.

They include 329 Indonesians in Iran, most of them students in the city of Qom.

"The evacuation of Indonesian citizens in Iran will begin gradually today, and this first phase will be carried out via Azerbaijan," Heni Hamidah -- the official charged with the welfare of citizens abroad -- told reporters in Jakarta.

A first batch of 32 Indonesians was expected to arrive in Jakarta on Monday or Tuesday, she said.

Lufthansa warns of increased 'uncertainty' 

Published March 6, 2026 | 08:30 GMT

German aviation giant Lufthansa warned Friday it faces heightened "uncertainty" due to the unfolding conflict in the Middle East, which has closed airspace across the region and roiled energy markets.

The war in the Middle East -- which began last weekend with US-Israeli attacks on Iran, triggering retaliatory strikes from the Islamic republic -- has caused the biggest disruption to global air traffic since the Covid pandemic.

"Developments in the Middle East and the associated geopolitical consequences for the global economy increase the medium- and long-term forecast uncertainty," the group said as it outlined its 2026 outlook.

"Disruptions to supply chains in the Strait of Hormuz are leading to increased volatility in the oil markets."

But the group -- which operates Eurowings, Austrian, Swiss and Brussels Airlines and has acquired a stake in Italy's ITA -- also said it had also seen a "sharp rise in demand for long-haul flights" since the conflict started, particularly on routes to and from Asia and Africa.

The aviation giant reported its 2025 annual results on Friday, with net income dropping about three percent to 1.34 billion euros ($1.55 billion) during a year when the group pushed through a turnaround program.

Arab states running low on interceptors, officials say

Published March 6, 2026 | 06:00 GMT

Arab states in the Persian Gulf are running dangerously low on interceptors to take down Iranian-fired missiles, CBS News reported, citing two regional officials. 

Governments in the region have asked the US to expedite new supplies, and they have been told that officials in Washington are creating a task force to do so — but it is not happening as fast as needed. 

The hundreds of drones launched by Iran are an added complication. 

The officials speculated that Iran is intentionally hitting the Arab states to get them to pressure the US to end the war.  

Saudi Arabia says intercepted three drones east of Riyadh

Published March 6, 2026 | 05:40 GMT

Saudi Arabia said it destroyed three drones east of Riyadh on Friday, as Iran presses on with attacks across the Gulf.

"Three drones were intercepted and destroyed east of the Riyadh region," the Saudi Defense Ministry posted on X, quoting a spokesperson.

Tokyo says second Japanese citizen held in Iran

Published March 6, 2026 | 05:35 GMT

Tokyo said Friday that a second Japanese national was being held in Iran, calling for their immediate release.

Japan had previously said that one Japanese citizen was arrested on Jan. 20, with reports saying he was the Tehran bureau chief of public broadcaster NHK.

The identity of the second Japanese person held, and the date, as well as other details of their arrest, were unclear.

Trump says not currently mulling US troops in Iran

Published March 6, 2026 | 05:24 GMT

President Donald Trump said Thursday it would be a "waste of time" currently to consider sending US ground troops into Iran, NBC News reported, dismissing the Iranian foreign minister's warning that such a move would spell disaster for invaders.

"It's a waste of time. They've lost everything. They've lost their navy. They've lost everything they can lose," he told NBC by telephone, adding that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's earlier remark that Iran was ready for a US or Israeli ground invasion was a "wasted comment."

Trump also indicated he is keen to see Iran's leadership structure removed and that "we want to go in and clean out everything" quickly.

"We don't want someone who would rebuild over a 10-year period," he said. 

He added that he had ideas for a new leader but declined to name anyone.

Trump said earlier he would "have to be involved" in the appointment of Iran's next leader after US-Israeli strikes killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei when the conflict began on Saturday.

Heavy attacks were reported in Tehran on Friday after Israel said it was hitting "regime infrastructure" in a "new phase" of the war it launched with the US against Iran.

Heavy attacks hit Tehran as Israel says war in 'new phase'

Published March 6, 2026 | 05:00 GMT

Heavy attacks were reported in Tehran on Friday after Israel said it was hitting "regime infrastructure" in a "new phase" of the war it launched with the United States against Iran.

As the conflict entered its seventh day, its regional repercussions continued -- with Qatar saying it intercepted a drone targeting a US base, and Lebanon reporting the death toll from Israeli strikes had risen to 123.

Israel launched air strikes on Lebanon: Lebanese state media

Published March 6, 2026 | 04:15 GMT

Lebanese state media said Friday that Israel had launched air strikes on several towns in southern Lebanon.

"Enemy warplanes launched nighttime strikes on the towns of Srifa, Aita al-Shaab, Touline, Sawana and Majdal Selm," the official National News Agency (NNA) reported.

Another strike targeted the eastern Lebanese town of Dours at dawn, the NNA said.

Hezbollah claims responsibility for strikes on Israeli army

Published March 6, 2026 | 04:15 GMT

Lebanese group Hezbollah claimed responsibility on Friday for a wave of strikes targeting Israeli forces, in retaliation for Israeli strikes on Lebanon the day before.

The group said in three separate statements on Telegram that its fighters had launched rockets and artillery shells at border positions early Friday, hours after firing rockets at Israeli barracks in the occupied Golan Heights and at a navy base in the Haifa port.

There were no reports of casualties.

Iran Guards launch missiles at Israel's Tel Aviv: Report

Published March 6, 2026 | 02:25 GMT

Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards announced a wave of missile launches on the Israeli commercial hub of Tel Aviv, AFP reported, citing Iran's state news agency IRNA.

"Missiles headed toward Tel Aviv," IRNA said, reporting a Guards statement on "a combined missile and drone attack... targeting locations in the heart of Tel Aviv."

Qatar says intercepted drone attack targeting US military base

Published March 6, 2026 | 02:25 GMT

The Qatari defense ministry said air defenses thwarted a drone attack targeting the US air base at Al-Udeid, Washington's largest military facility in the Middle East.

"Qatar Emiri Air Defense Forces successfully intercepted a drone attack targeting Al-Udeid Air Base," the ministry said.

Israel says striking Iranian 'regime infrastructure' in Tehran

Published March 6, 2026 | 02:03 GMT

Israel said it launched a wave of strikes on Tehran, targeting "regime infrastructure" in the Iranian capital.

Israeli forces launched a large-scale "wave of strikes against Iranian terror regime infrastructure in Tehran", a military statement said.

Iranian state TV reported explosions in several parts of the city.

Bahrain says Iran targeted hotels, residential building in Manama

Published March 6, 2026 | 00:30 GMT

Bahrain said that Iran had targeted two hotels and a residential building in the capital Manama.

"Iranian aggression targets two hotels and a residential building in Manama, causing material damage but no loss of life," the interior ministry posted on X.

US says it has sunk more than 30 Iranian ships

Published March 5, 2026 | 23:22 GMT

The United States has sunk more than 30 Iranian ships during the ongoing war, while ballistic missile and drone attacks by Tehran's forces are down substantially, a top US military officer said, according to AFP.

"We're now up over 30 ships (sunk), and in just the last few hours, we hit an Iranian drone carrier ship, roughly the size of a World War II aircraft carrier. And as we speak, it's on fire," Admiral Brad Cooper told a news conference.

Meanwhile, Iranian "ballistic missile attacks have decreased by 90 percent since day one. Drone attacks have decreased by 83 percent since day one," said Cooper, the head of Central Command, which is responsible for US forces in the Middle East.

The United States launched a massive air campaign against Iran in concert with Israeli forces on February 28, and Iran has responded by firing waves of attack drones and missiles at other countries in the region.

Destroying Iran's ballistic missile capabilities and its navy are two of Washington's main stated goals for the mission against Iran, which the United States has dubbed "Operation Epic Fury."

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