LIVE: Iran Is Pummeled By Airstrikes As It Launches A New Wave Of Attacks
By : Agencies
Update: 2026-03-05 00:58 GMT
2026-03-05 05:22 GMT
Iranian and Israeli ambassadors trade accusations in South Korea
Ambassadors of Iran and Israel held separate press conferences Thursday in South Korea’s capital, trading sharp accusations as their countries continued an escalating war in the Middle East.
Speaking through an interpreter, Iran’s Ambassador to South Korea Saeed Koozechi demanded Seoul — a key U.S. ally — to be more vocal in demanding a halt to what he called an illegal aggression by U.S. and Israeli forces, which launched attacks despite active negotiations.
He said “many coffins would return to the United States” if it decides to deploy ground forces, and defended Iranian strikes on Gulf states hosting U.S. military bases as unavoidable.
The Israel ambassador in Seoul, Raphael Harpaz, said the joint U.S.-Israeli military operations aim both to destroy Iran’s nuclear development facilities and ballistic missile sites, and to help free Iranian people from oppression.
South Korea has supported U.S.-led diplomatic efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions but has not explicitly endorsed the U.S.-Israeli attacks, instead calling for a swift restoration of dialogue.
2026-03-05 04:23 GMT
Israel says Iran launched third overnight missile salvo
For the third time in the early hours of Thursday, Israel’s military said Iran had launched missiles at the country and its defense systems were working to intercept them.
No casualties were reported in the first two incidents.
2026-03-05 04:22 GMT
Iranian state Media reported that preparations are underway at Tehran's Grand Mosalla for the placement of the body of the late Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei who was killed in the US-Israel led strike on Iran. - AP Photo
2026-03-05 03:08 GMT
New Zealand to deploy military planes to evacuate its citizens back home
New Zealand’s government will deploy two military planes to the Middle East so that New Zealanders can be evacuated when conditions permit, officials said Thursday.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defense Minister Judith Collins said in a statement that the government was also speaking to commercial airlines, including to discuss charter flight options. Commercial services from Dubai to Auckland, New Zealand, are not currently operating.
There are about 3,000 New Zealanders known to be living in the Middle East, officials said.
“We cannot be sure when and how any civilian evacuation operations might be possible, but we want to be ready if and when conditions on the ground make them possible,” Peters said.
2026-03-05 01:24 GMT
Israel says defensive systems working to intercept missiles from Iran
Israel said it identified missiles launched toward the country from Iran very early on Thursday morning, and its defensive systems were working to intercept them.
Shortly before that announcement, Israel had said its forces had begun strikes against Hezbollah in Beirut, as the war moved into its sixth day.
2026-03-05 01:09 GMT
Qatar evacuates residents near U.S. embassy as precaution
Qatar’s Interior Ministry said Thursday that authorities were evacuating residents near the U.S. Embassy in Doha as a temporary precaution.
No further details or threats were immediately reported.
Since the start of the U.S.–Israel war with Iran, American diplomatic missions across the Middle East have faced heightened threats, closures and evacuations as Iranian missiles and drones have targeted or prompted alerts at U.S. embassies and consulates.