Officials in Azerbaijan have said they have stopped terror attacks in Azerbaijan including on an Israeli Embassy, the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline and a Synagogue. Tensions between regional and global powers escalate. Military activity, security alerts and travel disruptions continue.
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Jeyhun Bayramov, the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister, has written to the UN Secretary-General António Guterres regarding the Iranian drone attack on the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan.
The official representative of the UN Secretary-General Stephane Dujarric confirmed the letter had been recieved. According to Ms Dujarric, a copy has been passed to members of the UN General Assembly and Secruity Council.
The Azerbaijani State Security Service has said it has stopped Iran committing terror attacks against 4 targets in the country: Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, the Israeli Embassy in Azerbaijan, a leader of the Mountain Jews religious community and the "Ashkenazi" synagogue.
The report says three explosive devices were smuggled into the country and disposed of.
It also says they prevented terrorist intelligence-gathering activities planned in Azerbaijan by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)
THIS STORY IS DEVELOPING
Alper Coşkun, the former Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan, has told Sky News: "Both of these are escalations that were very concerning as far as Turkey is concerned.
"Turkey has made quite clear - the foreign minister has stated that in his view, Iran's policy of escalating and widening the conflict by attacking the Gulf countries and obviously Turkey and Azerbaijan, is a mistake."
He continued "The fact that the missile was intercepted over Turkey drags in or brings in a NATO component, given the fact that Turkey is a member of the NATO alliance, and it was the NATO ballistic missile architecture that intercepted that missile".
Qasim Mohiuddin, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the Republic of Azerbaijan, has posted the following message on social media platform X:
Today, I called on Deputy Foreign Minister H.E. @ElnurIMammadov. Reaffirmed Pakistan's strong condemnation of drone attacks in Nakhchivan.
🇵🇰 Stands in Solidarity with 🇦🇿
Thanked @AzerbaijanMFA for continued support in evacuating 🇵🇰 nationals from Iran. pic.twitter.com/fLf5ZnNsKH — Qasim Mohiuddin 🇵🇰 (@QasimMFA) March 6, 2026
The Lebanese Health Ministry has said 217 people have been killed and 798 injured since Israel aggression began.
It last hit this price in April 2024, despite assurances this week that the U.S. will take action to calm the market.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said the only deal he is willing to make with Tehran involves its surrender in a post on Truth Social.
"...we, and many of our wonderful and very brave allies and partners, will work tirelessly to bring Iran back from the brink of destruction," he added.
German foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, has called on Iran to immediately stop what he described as “irresponsible” attacks on third countries.
"It is completely unjustified that Iran is attacking uninvolved states that did not participate in the attacks against Iran," he said on Friday.
The Israeli military says it has destroyed an underground bunker beneath Iran’s leadership complex in Tehran that it claims was built for former supreme leader Ali Khamenei, the IDF said on X.
Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov stated that Azerbaijan is evacuating its entire diplomatic staff from Iran during a press briefing in Baku. Bayramov said the decision was taken by President Ilham Aliyev to fully evacuate the country’s diplomatic mission from Iran.
“This process includes both the embassy in Tehran and the consulate general in Tabriz. Work is currently underway in this regard,” Bayramov noted.
A senior official from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said the situation in the Middle East has been declared a “major humanitarian emergency.”
The official added that around 96,000 people are currently being sheltered in 441 collective facilities across Lebanon, while more than 33,000 Syrian refugees in the country have so far returned to Syria
Iran has announced a gradual resumption of administrative operations in Tehran Province, with ministries, organisations and executive bodies set to operate with 20% of staff present on-site starting Sunday, 8 March, despite ongoing U.S.-Israeli attacks.
Under the directive, all female employees in the province will work remotely, while certain banks will remain open.
Operational units of service-providing bodies, municipalities, medical centres, as well as military, law-enforcement and security institutions are exempt from the measure.
Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the president of Sri Lanka, has called for peace and the protection of civilians. His comments come after Sri Lanka took in 200 Iranian sailors who sought help following a deadly U.S. torpedo strike on another Iranian vessel.
“No civilian should die in wars,” Dissanayake said, urging all sides to demonstrate a firm commitment to peace.
He added that Sri Lanka stands ready to support efforts to end the hostilities, stressing that all actions are aimed at saving lives and ensuring that humanity prevails.
Türkiye has responded to a call by U.S. President Donald Trump for armed Kurdish militias in the region, which Ankara views as terrorist groups, to enter the war against Iran.
On Thursday evening, the Turkish Defense Ministry warned that such groups contribute to ethnic separatism and adversely affect both the security of Iran and regional peace and stability.
Stressing that Türkiye supports the territorial integrity of its neighbors, the defense ministry said it was closely monitoring the movements of the so-called Kurdistan Free Life Party, or PJAK.
Based in the mountains of Iran’s northern Kurdish region, PJAK is the Iranian offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, which is viewed as a terrorist group by Ankara, Brussels, and Washington.
Türkiye on Thursday ‘strongly’ condemned a drone strike on Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan exclave earlier the same day, which injured four people.
‘Attacks targeting third countries in the region and increasing risk of war spreading must cease immediately,’ the Turkish Foreign Ministry said. Türkiye will continue to stand by Azerbaijan, as it has historically, the statement added.
Baku has blamed Iran for the incident and has vowed to respond, while Iran – home to a large Azerbaijani minority – has denied targeting its neighbor.
The incident came a day after NATO air-defenses intercepted a ballistic missile that entered Turkish airspace.
Turkmenistan’s customs service reported that border checkpoints with Iran, including Serakhs, Artik, Hovdan and Altyn Asyr, are operating normally. Authorities say goods and vehicles are passing through the crossings in line with their capacity. The checkpoints are also used for transit shipments to countries such as Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. Officials added that measures are in place to prevent congestion and ensure timely delivery of goods.
An evacuation flight carrying 85 Kyrgyz citizens arrived in Bishkek from Oman overnight on 6 March. The aircraft landed at Manas International Airport and was organised through coordination between the Foreign Ministry, the Civil Aviation Agency and airport authorities.
Officials said about 22,000 Kyrgyz citizens remain in the Middle East, mainly in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. No casualties among them have been reported so far.
Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev condemned drone attacks on Azerbaijan during a phone call with President Ilham Aliyev.
He expressed concern over the escalation of tensions in the Middle East and wished a speedy recovery to those injured in the incident. Mirziyoyev also thanked Azerbaijan for assisting in the evacuation of Uzbek citizens from Iran through its territory.
According to Azerbaijani authorities, two drones fell in Nakhchivan, injuring civilians and damaging infrastructure.
Iran’s Martyr Foundation said on Thursday that the country’s war death toll has climbed to 1,230 people as a result of U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran.
Iran’s UN Ambassador Amir Saeed Iravani condemned US and Israeli strikes on civilian areas, saying, “During this criminal war against my country, the aggressors have deliberately targeted densely populated civilian areas and vital civilian infrastructure. These actions constitute a clear violation of the Charter of the United Nations.”
Army Spokesman General Mohammad Akraminia stated, “Iran did not shut the Strait of Hormuz… Our resilience in this war is certainly far greater than that of the enemy. We have absolutely no hostile intentions against the countries of the region.”
The Deputy Commander of Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters added, “We have not closed the Strait of Hormuz. We treat the ships passing through it according to international protocols. We confront with military ships that try to present themselves as commercial ships.”
Four people have been arrested by British counter-terrorism police on suspicion of spying for Iran on locations and individuals linked to the Jewish community in the London area, Scotland Yard has said.
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Miao Deyu went to the Iranian Embassy in Beijing on Thursday to offer deep condolences on behalf of China over the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
China will send Zhai Jun, special envoy of the Chinese government on the Middle East issue, to the region in the near future to work for the deescalation of the tense situation, spokesperson Mao Ning said at a press briefing.
The airline has extended the suspension of several regular flights to the Middle East amid ongoing regional disruptions, as authorities continue efforts to bring citizens home.
Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry is operating a 24/7 headquarters to coordinate evacuations, organise flights, and assist citizens in the region. Priority is being given to pensioners, children with parents, pregnant women, minors, and people with disabilities.
Senate Speaker Maulen Ashimbayev, on behalf of President Kassym-Jomart Kemeluly Tokayev, conveyed Kazakhstan’s condolences to Iran over the tragic attacks, stressing commitment to diplomacy and peaceful conflict resolution.
Following Iranian drone strikes on Nakhchivan Airport in Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has issued a strong condemnation of the attacks, emphasising support for Azerbaijan, describing it as a brotherly nation and ally of Kazakhstan.
"At the same time, the head of state expressed hope for a thorough, joint investigation with Iran into the incident, as well as for the resolution of the conflict situation through diplomatic means to avoid escalation of tensions in the region," stated Aibek Smadiyarov, Presidential Advisor and Press Secretary.
French transport minister Philippe Tabarot said on Friday that 52 French ships are stuck in the Gulf because of Iran crisis.
"There are around fifty ships - 52 to be precise - in the Persian Gulf and eight in the Red Sea, and we are also in permanent contact with the crews, as there are French sailors aboard a number of these vessels," Tabarot told French broadcaster CNews/Europe 1.
The Iranian Red Crescent Society reported that U.S. and Israeli strikes across Iran have damaged more than 3,000 homes and 500 commercial centres, with Tehran suffering the heaviest impact.
The organisation said 14 medical and pharmaceutical centres were also affected. CNN reported that the IRCS stated that “most of the targets of the attacks have been densely populated areas,” although the media outlet said it's not been able to independently verify these figures.
Among the locations damaged were several hospitals, the Tehran bazaar, Mehrabad Airport, and Azadi Stadium. Five Red Crescent aid workers were reported injured in the strikes.
The Israeli army says it has carried out 26 strikes in the southern Beirut suburb of Dhahiyeh, where it had earlier urged civilians to evacuate to safety.
The military stated that it targeted infrastructure used by Hezbollah, including the group’s Executive Council headquarters and a drone storage facility.
Lebanon’s Ministry of Health reported that Israeli attacks across the country, including Beirut, since Monday have killed 123 people and injured 683.
South Korea’s foreign minister said that the South Korean and U.S. militaries are discussing the possible deployment of Patriot missile defence systems based in South Korea to the war in Iran.
Saudi Arabia’s Defence Ministry announced that it has intercepted three drones in the eastern Riyadh region.
United Arab Emirates' Etihad Airways announced it will restart a limited flight schedule starting 6 March, confirming the update through official channels.
Iran says it is fully prepared for a prolonged conflict and plans to deploy advanced weaponry not yet used in the current fighting, according to a spokesperson for the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps.
Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naeini said Iran’s enemies “should expect painful blows” in the coming attacks and added, “Iran’s new initiatives and weapons are on the way. These technologies have not yet been deployed on a large scale.”
He also noted that Iran is more prepared now compared to last year’s 12-day war launched by United States and Israel, describing the ongoing confrontation as a “sacred and legitimate war.”
U.S. President Donald Trump said today he is not concerned about rising U.S. gas prices amid the war in Iran, saying “If they rise, they rise.”
Trump added, “I don’t have any concern about it. They’ll drop very rapidly when this is over, and if they rise, they rise, but this is far more important than having gasoline prices go up a little bit.”
The conflict with Iran has pushed U.S. gas prices up 20 cents per gallon, or roughly 7%, in just a few days.
He also said he has no plans to tap the nation’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
Regarding the crucial Strait of Hormuz, through which one in five barrels of global oil passes, Trump expressed confidence it will remain open, saying Iran’s navy is at the “bottom of the sea.”
Hezbollah has warned Israeli residents to evacuate towns located within 5 km of the border with Lebanon.
The warning was issued in Hebrew early Friday (6 March) through the group’s Telegram channel. Hezbollah said Israel’s military actions in Lebanon, including strikes on civilian infrastructure and what it described as the displacement of residents, “will not go unchallenged.”
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a wave of strikes across Lebanon late Thursday after urging residents to leave the southern suburbs of Beirut, a known Hezbollah stronghold.
Shortly afterward, the Israeli military also said it had begun a “broad-scale wave of strikes” targeting what it described as Iranian regime infrastructure in Tehran.
Explosions lit up the night sky over southern Beirut early Friday (6 March), as seen from Baabda district in Lebanon, amid escalating regional tensions.
Bright flashes and loud blasts were observed, followed by thick clouds of dark smoke rising over the area.
U.S. President Donald Trump said that he wants Iran’s current leadership structure to be completely removed and indicated he has potential candidates in mind for a future leader.
Speaking to NBC News by phone on Thursday (5 March), Trump said, “We want to go in and clean out everything. We don’t want someone who would rebuild over a 10-year period.”
He added that he believes there are individuals who could lead Iran effectively but declined to identify them. Trump also said he is taking steps to ensure those people survive the conflict, noting, “We are watching them.”
The first evacuation flight chartered by the UK government to bring British citizens out of the Middle East has landed at London Stansted Airport. The aircraft departed earlier from Muscat, the capital of Oman.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Thursday (5 March) that additional charter flights will depart in the coming days to bring British nationals from the region.
Hundreds of thousands of European citizens have been stranded in Gulf states since Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iran on 28 February, followed by retaliatory attacks by Iran against countries in the Gulf.
Britain estimates that around 300,000 of its citizens are currently in Gulf countries, either on holiday, in transit, or living there permanently.
Iran is not seeking war but will only accept a settlement that ensures a permanent end to the conflict, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi...
A marine drone struck a Turkish crude oil tanker that had departed Russia, causing an explosion in the Black Sea near I...
There’s little indication that recent developments between the United States and Iran have shifted either side’s core positions, accord...
An industrial area near one of Russia's biggest oil refineries was damaged in a Ukrainian drone attack, a R...
At least 24 people have died after a passenger bus plunged into the Padma River while attempting to board a ferry in Bangladesh, officials confirme...
Iran is not seeking war but will only accept a settlement that ensures a permanent end to the conflict, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said, as tensions between Iran, Israel and the United States continue to fuel fears of a wider regional escalation - latest on the Middle East conflict.
A marine drone struck a Turkish crude oil tanker that had departed Russia, causing an explosion in the Black Sea near Istanbul's Bosphorus strait on Thursday, Türkiye's transportation minister said.
There’s little indication that recent developments between the United States and Iran have shifted either side’s core positions, according to political analyst James Dorsey who spoke to AnewZ on the Daybreak programme.
An industrial area near one of Russia's biggest oil refineries was damaged in a Ukrainian drone attack, a Russian official said on Thursday.
Both the United States and Iran are giving conflicting messages about trying to end the conflict in the Middle East as the rest of the world battle with the consequences of the war. Welcome to AnewZ's coverage of the tensions in the Middle East.
Afghan authorities say Pakistani jets entered northern Afghanistan, while Pakistan insists its actions target terrorism, highlighting continued strain after a temporary Eid ceasefire ended.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen resigned on Wednesday after her coalition suffered a heavy election defeat, triggering negotiations over who will form the next government.
A drone has flown into Estonian airspace from Russia. It happened early on Wednesday morning and slammed into a chimney at a local power station, the Baltic country's Internal Security Service told public broadcaster ERR.
The Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has stated Tehran’s stand on the latest developments in the Israel and the United States war in Iran following U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement to postpone bombing the country's energy infrastructure.
A marine drone struck a Turkish crude oil tanker that had departed Russia, causing an explosion in the Black Sea near Istanbul's Bosphorus strait on Thursday, Türkiye's transportation minister said.
There’s little indication that recent developments between the United States and Iran have shifted either side’s core positions, according to political analyst James Dorsey who spoke to AnewZ on the Daybreak programme.
At least 24 people have died after a passenger bus plunged into the Padma River while attempting to board a ferry in Bangladesh, officials confirmed on Thursday. The accident happened on Wednesday at the Daulatdia ferry terminal in Rajbari district, around 100 km (62 miles) from Dhaka.
Iran is reviewing a U.S. proposal to end the war in the Gulf but has no intention of holding talks to wind down the widening Middle East conflict, the country's foreign minister said on Wednesday
Iran is not seeking war but will only accept a settlement that ensures a permanent end to the conflict, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said, as tensions between Iran, Israel and the United States continue to fuel fears of a wider regional escalation - latest on the Middle East conflict.
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