Photo courtesy of Mehr News Agency
MINSK, 1 March (BelTA) – The entire world is watching the Middle East conflict escalate. The standoff between Iran, Israel, and the United States has spilled over into other Persian Gulf countries. Here is a recap of the latest developments.
Official sources are reporting casualties not only on the Iranian and Israeli sides.
In particular, the attack killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Residents of Tehran and other cities will gather in major squares to commemorate the late supreme leader, the Fars news agency reports citing local officials. Iranian state television informed that the leadership council is assuming the duties of the supreme leader. In a comment to Al Jazeera, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the United States and Israel should not expect a change in the political system in Iran. According to him, the death of Ali Khamenei will not help “the other side” achieve their targets.
At least eight people were killed and 28 injured in the Israeli city of Beit Shemesh following a rocket attack by Iran. Medics are providing assistance to the injured, TASS reports citing Magen David Adom, Israel’s national ambulance service. The Ynet portal reports damage to approximately 40 buildings in central Israel as a result of the Iranian attack.
In the United Arab Emirates, three people have been killed since the Iranian attacks began, the UAE Ministry of Defense reported. The victims were citizens of Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh. Fifty-eight people were injured. These included citizens of the UAE, Egypt, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Iran, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Azerbaijan, Yemen, Uganda, Eritrea, Lebanon, and Afghanistan.
The Qatari Ministry of Interior confirmed that the number of injured in Qatar has risen to 16 following air strikes by Iran. Property damage has also been recorded. Residents are urged to remain indoors unless absolutely necessary.
In Kuwait, one person was killed and 32 other injured as a result of Iranian strikes. All of the injured are foreign nationals, according to the Kuwaiti news agency KUNA. Meanwhile, the Asharq television channel reported power outages in several areas of Kuwait following a missile attack from Iran.
Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior reported an attack on the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Manama. Property damage was caused, but there were no casualties.
According to the Fars news agency, Iran used hypersonic missiles for the first time in strikes against US bases in the Middle East.
All eyes are also on the Strait of Hormuz. According to Reuters, more than 100 oil tankers have been unable to reach the strait and are now sitting in the open sea off the coast of major Persian Gulf oil producers. A second vessel has already come under fire off the coast of Oman. A shell hit caused a fire. A ship was also attacked near the Mina Saqr Port in the UAE. The shell hit sparked a fire that was extinguished.
Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani called on all parties to immediately end the escalation in the region and return to the negotiating table. His words were quoted by Al Araby Television Network. The prime minister emphasized that Iranian missile strikes on Qatari territory are an unacceptable violation of state sovereignty.
UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy said in an interview with CNN: “We are prepared to (defend ourselves). We hope it doesn’t come to it, but… we’re not going to sit idly by as we continue to be recipients of such a barrage of attacks,”
Pope Leo XIV expressed concern about the situation in the Middle East. The pontiff called for moral responsibility and the prevention of a “spiral of violence.”
Israel and the United States launched a large-scale military operation against Iran on 28 February. Iran’s largest cities came under attack. Iran announced a retaliatory operation. Missile and drone launches were reported against Israel and US military bases in Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia.
Photos by AP, Reuters, screengrab from TASS video
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