Thursday 5 March 2026

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi says that Iran is not seeking a ceasefire or negotiations with the United States.

Suspected Iranian drones strike Nakhchivan International Airport in Azerbaijan, targeting the passenger terminal. At least two people are injured.

The Bahraini military reports that 74 Iranian missiles and 117 hostile drones have been intercepted and destroyed. A missile hit an oil refinery, causing a fire.

The Israeli military issues an evacuation order for Dahieh, Beirut, Lebanon, a densely populated suburb which is also a stronghold of Hezbollah, telling residents to "save your lives and evacuate your homes immediately". Thousands of people flee following the warning.

United States president Donald Trump says U.S. Air Force jets will provide "extensive air cover" for Kurdish forces in any ground offensive against the Iranian government.

The Ukrainian Navy shoots down a Russian Naval Aviation Kamov Ka-27 helicopter over the Black Sea.

Spain announces that the frigate Cristóbal Colón will join French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and Greek Navy ships to protect the British military bases in Cyprus.

The Qatari military says that the country was targeted today by 14 ballistic missiles and four drones coming from Iran; all of them were intercepted and no casualties were reported.

China is reportedly in talks with Iran to allow crude oil and Qatari liquefied natural gas vessels safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

Italy announces that it will dispatch naval assets to Cyprus. The Dutch navy is also joining the European naval task force.

Iraqi forces shoot down a drone that attempted to attack the United States' airbase near Baghdad.

Russia and Ukraine exchange prisoners of war, with 200 soldiers returned to each side.

Australia and New Zealand deploy military assets, including two RNZAF aircraft, and crisis response teams to the Middle East to assist and evacuate their respective nationals.

The Lebanese cabinet bans activities by members of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps within Lebanon and instructs authorities to detain and deport individuals linked to the group. The cabinet also introduces a visa requirement for Iranian nationals entering the country.

French president Emmanuel Macron announces that France will strengthen its cooperation with the Lebanese Armed Forces and provide them with armored transport vehicles as well as operational and logistical support.

Ecuador declares Cuba's ambassador to the country a persona non grata and orders him and all his diplomatic staff to leave the country within 48 hours. Shortly after the announcement, a man was filmed by the Associated Press on the roof of the Cuban embassy in Quito burning a bag of papers.

The United States and Venezuela agree to re-establish diplomatic and consular relations.

In Kosovo, the 120 members of the Kuvendi fail to elect the president. The Kuvendi is expected to dissolve, with parliamentary elections scheduled to be set within 45 days.

Brandon Herrera, a gun manufacturer and youtuber presumptively becomes the GOP's nominee for the district, after incumbent representative Tony Gonzales drops from the race following a scandal involving a former aide.

Nepalis vote to elect 275 seats of the House of Representatives nearly six months after the Gen Z protests.

Around 24 U.S. states file a lawsuit against the Trump administration after president Trump imposed a 10% global tariff, the first lawsuit challenging those tariffs.

At least six people are killed, eight others are rescued, and six are trapped when a nursing home collapses in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Four people are killed and two others are injured when a Beechcraft 1900 of the Algerian Air Force crashes at Boufarik Airport near Boufarik, Blida Province, Algeria.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reports that an explosion struck a tanker anchored in waters about 60 kilometers off the coast of Kuwait, causing an oil spill from a damaged cargo tank.