Middle East Conflict: Iran-Israel Tensions Escalate – Live Updates

The United States has begun utilizing British bases for specific defensive operations aimed at preventing Iranian missile launches in the region, a move intended to protect British lives, the UK’s Defense Minister confirmed Saturday on social media.

The minister also stated that Royal Air Force Typhoon and F-35 aircraft continued aerial operations over Jordan, Qatar, Cyprus, and the broader region, in defense of British interests, and allies.

The death toll from Israeli bombing campaign in Lebanon has reached 294 since it began on Monday, after 41 people lost their lives in an attack in the east of the country.

The Health Ministry also detailed in a statement that 1,023 people have been injured in various locations across the country. (efe/afp)

The Chief of the Defence Staff of the United Kingdom, Air Marshal Richard Knighton, said Saturday that the Shahed-type drone that reached a British base in Cyprus on Monday was launched from Lebanon by “a group affiliated with the Iranian regime.”

Knighton revealed this information in statements to British media, while firmly rejecting claims that the British government responded slowly to the attack on the Akrotiri base, which sustained only minor damage. The Defense Ministry first reported Wednesday that the drone had not been launched from Iran, though the origin was not specified at that time. (EFE)

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened Lebanese President Joseph Aoun Saturday, stating that his government would pay “a high price” for failing to disarm Hezbollah. “We call and warn: act before we do even more,” Katz said, accusing Aoun of not fulfilling the agreement to disarm Hezbollah: “They committed to complying with the agreement,” he said, “and they are not doing so.”

“We have no territorial claims on Lebanon,” Katz asserted, but insisted Israel would not allow Hezbollah to regain the ability to attack Israel. The Israeli Defense Minister’s remarks come amid escalating bombing campaign against Lebanon – already displacing at least 100,000 people – and after Israel occupied new military positions in southern Lebanon (“less than ten” in total, according to the armed forces). (EFE, AFP)

Authorities in the United Arab Emirates reported Saturday the interception of 15 ballistic missiles and 119 drones, while one missile fell into the sea and two drones impacted its territory. According to a statement from the Emirati Defense Ministry, since the start of “Iranian aggression” a week ago, the country’s air defense systems have detected 221 missiles, of which 205 were destroyed, 14 fell into the sea, and only two impacted the territory.

1,305 drones were detected, 1,229 of which were destroyed, while 76 hit some of the seven emirates that make up the country. (EFE, dpa)

Jordan registered the launch of 60 missiles and 59 drones against “vital facilities” within its territory originating from Iran since Israel and the U.S. Began attacks against the Islamic Republic a week ago, with only eleven failing to be intercepted.

This was indicated Saturday by the director of Military Media for the Jordanian Armed Forces, Major General Mustafa al Hayari, in a press conference, also noting that these attacks have left only 19 injuries that have already been discharged, all due to falling debris or remnants of the projectiles after being intercepted.

According to the official Jordanian news agency Petra, none of the missiles launched against the Arab nation were cruise missiles. (EFE, AFP)

The Lebanese Health Ministry reported that at least 41 people were killed and another 40 injured in a series of Israeli bombings against the Nabi Chit area in eastern Lebanon, where the Hezbollah group reported an overnight incursion with helicopters. Three Lebanese army soldiers were also among the dead, according to the Lebanese military. (EFE, AP, AFP)

Former U.S. President Donald Trump stated Saturday that Iran would be “hit very hard” today, and that he was considering the possibility of expanding the areas and groups of people targeted, without providing details.

“Today Iran will be hit very hard! Because of the bad behavior of Iran, the destruction of areas and the certain death of groups of people that were not considered targets until now is being seriously considered,” Trump declared in a post on his Truth Social network.

He also noted that Tehran had apologized to its neighbors for the attacks launched by Iranian forces, which he called a surrender. (Reuters, dpa)

The Israel Defense Forces reported Saturday that its special forces carried out an operation deep inside Lebanon to try to gather information about Ron Arad, an Israeli navigator missing for nearly 40 years.

An IDF spokesperson posted on X (Twitter) that no evidence related to pilot Ron Arad was found. Arad was taken alive after his plane crashed over southern Lebanon in 1986. He was held by Hezbollah and is believed to have died between 1988 and 1997, with the exact location of his remains unknown.

According to Lebanese state media, Israeli forces landed in the city of Nabi Chit, in eastern Lebanon, Friday night and were intercepted by Hezbollah members, sparking a shootout that continued into the early hours of Saturday. (AFP, AP)

Dubai Airport, the world’s busiest international airport, announced Saturday the partial resumption of its operations, following a brief suspension announced amid an operation to intercept projectiles. “We have partially resumed our operations this March 7, with some flights operated from Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC),” the institution said in a statement on X (Twitter).

“We strongly advise passengers not to come to the airport unless their airline has contacted them to confirm their flight, as schedules may be subject to change,” the airport advised its users.

Earlier, Dubai International Airport (DXB) had announced the temporary suspension of operations citing “the safety of passengers, airport personnel and airline crews.” A witness reported hearing a loud explosion near the airport Saturday morning, followed by a smoke cloud. The Dubai Media Office described the incident on X (Twitter) as a “minor incident resulting from the interception of debris.” (AFP, AP)