Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 27th of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has formally condemned the operation in a letter to the United Nations, describing the assassination as an "unjustified act of aggression" and a blatant violation of international law. As Tehran declares a 40-day mourning period and vows that it will not negotiate with Washington, Iranian armed forces have launched a wave of retaliatory missile and drone attacks targeting U.S. and Israeli interests across the Middle East, escalating fears of a widespread regional conflict.
The Israeli military launched heavy airstrikes on the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut on Monday, ordering residents of dozens of Lebanese villages to evacuate from the area amid the most intensive bombardment of the capital since 2024. The escalation follows a barrage of missiles and drones fired by the Iran-backed militant group into Israel, with Hezbollah stating the assault was a direct retaliation for the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has confirmed that the UK has granted the United States permission to use British military bases in southern Cyprus for "specific and limited" defensive operations to intercept Iranian missiles aimed at allied targets. Starmer stressed that Britain was not involved in the offensive strikes that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader. He said the decision follows a suspected drone attack on the RAF Akrotiri base in southern Cyprus, which caused limited damage and prompted the temporary dispersal of non-essential personnel.
Türkiye has raised the security level for its flagged vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz to Level 3, following explicit radio warnings from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps that "no ship is allowed to pass" the critical waterway. The heightened maritime alert, issued in the wake of the joint U.S.-Israeli strikes and the confirmation of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s death, has prompted major carriers to suspend transits and insurers to cancel war risk cover, threatening to severely disrupt global oil and LNG shipments through a chokepoint that handles approximately 20% of the world's crude flows.
Tens of thousands of passengers remain stranded as major Gulf aviation hubs, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha, stayed closed or heavily restricted for a third consecutive day following the escalation of the Iran-U.S. conflict. The unprecedented disruption to one of the world's most vital transit corridors has forced major carriers such as Emirates, British Airways, and Lufthansa to cancel or drastically reroute flights, with experts warning that the logistical fallout and subsequent strain on international travel networks could take weeks to fully resolve.
Qatar has confirmed that seven people, including four of its military personnel and three Turkish nationals, were killed on Sunday (22 March) ...
Georgia bid farewell to Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II on Sunday (22 March). He was considered one of the most influential spiritual leaders in ...
Palestinians have reported a surge in attacks by Israeli settlers on homes, vehicles, and residents across the West Bank, amid growing internati...
Belgium has marked the 10th-anniversary of the 2016 Brussels terror attacks, remembering the victims of the country’s deadliest peacetime ...
A drone attack on a hospital in East Darfur, Sudan, has killed at least 64 people and injured 89 more, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported...
Qatar has confirmed that seven people, including four of its military personnel and three Turkish nationals, were killed on Sunday (22 March) when a helicopter crashed in the country’s territorial waters.
Georgia bid farewell to Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II on Sunday (22 March). He was considered one of the most influential spiritual leaders in the country’s modern history.
Palestinians have reported a surge in attacks by Israeli settlers on homes, vehicles, and residents across the West Bank, amid growing international criticism.
Belgium has marked the 10th-anniversary of the 2016 Brussels terror attacks, remembering the victims of the country’s deadliest peacetime attack and reflecting on changes to national security.
President Donald Trump said the U.S. was considering "winding down" its military operation against Iran, as Iran and Israel traded attacks on Saturday (21 March) and Iranian media said the nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz had been attacked.
U.S. President Donald Trump warned that American forces could target Iranian power plants if the strategic Strait of Hormuz remains closed, and Iran, in return, warned that any attack on its energy infrastructure would trigger strikes on regional facilities.
Slovenia heads to the polls on Sunday (22 March) in a closely contested race between incumbent Prime Minister Robert Golob and right-wing former Prime Minister Janez Janša.
Italy is voting on 22 and 23 March in a judicial reform referendum that could reshape the justice system and test Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s political strength ahead of the 2027 general election.
Iceland could reopen talks on joining the European Union after a 13-year pause, as shifting security concerns and renewed economic debate bring EU membership back to the centre of national politics.
Qatar has confirmed that seven people, including four of its military personnel and three Turkish nationals, were killed on Sunday (22 March) when a helicopter crashed in the country’s territorial waters.
Belgium has marked the 10th-anniversary of the 2016 Brussels terror attacks, remembering the victims of the country’s deadliest peacetime attack and reflecting on changes to national security.
A drone attack on a hospital in East Darfur, Sudan, has killed at least 64 people and injured 89 more, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported on Saturday.
Cuba’s national power grid went down on Saturday, cutting electricity for millions, officials said. The outage marks the second nationwide blackout in a week and the third major grid failure in March.
A British nuclear-powered submarine armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles has reportedly taken up position in the Arabian Sea, the Daily Mail reported on Saturday (21 March). The deployment gives the UK the ability to carry out long-range strikes if tensions in the Gulf escalate.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment