US-Israel-Iran War LIVE: S Jaishankar, Russian Counterpart Lavrov Discuss West Asia Conflict

US-Israel-Iran War LIVE: Russia is assisting Iran with advanced drone tactics drawn from its war in Ukraine to target the United States and Gulf nations in the Middle East, CNN reported citing a Western intelligence official. The official said the support includes tactical guidance on the use of Shahed drones, which were designed by Iran but are mass produced by Russia for use in Ukraine.

The drones have reportedly been unexpectedly successful in penetrating the air defences of several Gulf states. While Russian intelligence sharing with Iran had previously been described as general assistance with targeting, the official said the latest cooperation includes more specific operational guidance on unmanned aerial systems. Russia has used Shahed drones in Ukraine in coordinated waves, often launching multiple drones together and altering flight paths to evade air defence systems.

US-Israel-Iran War LIVE: US Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Admiral Brad Cooper said Operation Epic Fury has been targeting Iran’s military infrastructure since it was launched on February 28 at the direction of the US president. According to Cooper, the operation has struck thousands of targets, including Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) headquarters, missile and drone sites, air defence systems and naval vessels. Satellite imagery released by the US military showed before-and-after views of a destroyed Iranian ship.

The operation involves more than 50,000 troops, over 200 aircraft, two aircraft carriers and bomber units.

Cooper said US forces have also defended against Iranian counterattacks with minimal impact on American forces so far. He added that the mission is ongoing and aimed at eliminating threats and preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons, saying the operation has “only just begun”.

US-Israel-Iran War LIVE: Qatar issued another “elevated” threat level alert, urging residents to remain indoors. The message marks the third such alert sent out in the country today.

Earlier, Qatar’s Defence Ministry said a missile attack had been intercepted.

US-Israel-Iran War LIVE: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said he exchanged assessments on the West Asia conflict with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot.

“Appreciate the exchange of assessments today with FM Jean-Noël Barrot of France on the West Asia conflict,” Jaishankar said in a post on X.

He added that he looks forward to continuing the discussion in person.

US-Israel-Iran War LIVE: Almost 20,000 civilian buildings across Iran have been damaged during the ongoing Israeli-US war, according to the Iranian Red Crescent Society. The humanitarian organisation said preliminary assessments indicate that about 19,734 civilian structures have been affected.

Among the sites reported damaged are hospitals, schools and aid facilities. The organisation said 77 medical centres and 65 educational institutions were among the buildings hit.

US-Israel-Iran War LIVE: The Israeli army said its military chief has ordered reinforcements to the Northern Command sector along the Lebanon border. The army said the decision followed a situation assessment.

It added that reinforcements would be sent to the north, including the redeployment of the Golani Brigade’s combat team from the Southern Command.

US-Israel-Iran War LIVE: Spain supports a reported proposal by the Energy Agency (IEA) to release strategic oil reserves to stabilise global crude prices, Energy Minister Sara Aagesen said.

The move comes as oil prices rise sharply following the US-Israel war on Iran. If approved, the plan could become the largest coordinated release of oil reserves in the IEA’s history.

Iran’s military has said it will target economic and banking interests in the Middle East after what it described as strikes on an Iranian bank by United States and Israeli forces.

A spokesman for Iran’s Khatam ol Anbia joint command said the move was in response to the attack and that financial institutions linked to the US and Israel are now considered potential targets. The government warned civilians to avoid banks associated with those countries due to heightened risk. The announcement comes amid the ongoing conflict involving Iran and regional powers.

An Israeli air strike in east Lebanon killed seven people and wounded 18 others on Wednesday, the Lebanese health ministry reported, as the war in Lebanon entered its 10th day.

The ministry said the strike in Tamnin al-Tahta, Bekaa, resulted in “seven martyrs and 18 wounded.” State media added that the raid targeted a building inhabited by a Syrian family. The incident highlights the escalating violence in the region. Emergency services responded promptly to the scene, providing medical care to the injured. Investigations into the attack are ongoing.

Several explosions were heard across Doha on Wednesday, according to correspondents from Agence France-Presse, as Iran’s retaliatory strikes in the Gulf entered their twelfth day.

Authorities warned that the security situation remained serious. The Qatar Interior Ministry said the security threat level was high and urged residents to remain indoors for their safety.

In a message posted on X, the ministry called on people to stay at home, avoid going outside and keep away from windows and open areas. Officials said the advisory was issued to help preserve public safety amid the rising regional tensions.

The Kuwait Guard said it shot down eight hostile drones in areas under its jurisdiction. Spokesman Brig. Jadaan Fadhel Jadaan confirmed the interceptions, stating that the drones were neutralised by defence systems as authorities continued monitoring the situation amid rising regional tensions.

The U.S. Embassy in Manama has issued a shelter-in-place advisory for Americans in Bahrain amid rising tensions in the Middle East.

Officials said the safety and security of American citizens remain the top priority for Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, and the U.S. Department of State. Authorities said they are working on additional options to help Americans depart the region.

The embassy advised U.S. citizens to remain inside secure structures and stay away from windows until further notice. It said the situation is being closely monitored and timely updates will be provided to help Americans make informed decisions about their safety.

A cargo ship caught fire after being hit by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important waterway near Iran, a maritime security agency said on Wednesday.

According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, the strike triggered a blaze on board and forced the crew to evacuate the vessel.

“It has been reported that a cargo vessel has been hit by an unknown projectile in the Straits of Hormuz which has resulted in a fire onboard,” the agency said.

The incident occurred in one of the world’s most vital shipping lanes, raising concerns over maritime safety in the region. Further details about the vessel and the cause of the projectile were not immediately available.

As the war entered 12th day, Iran’s police chief warned that the protesters will be treated as ‘enemies’, reports AFP.

An Israeli airstrike hit a residential building in central Beirut on Wednesday. Witnesses reported that Israeli warplanes targeted the structure in a crowded district of the Lebanese capital. The strike caused a loud explosion and rising smoke in the area. Details on casualties or damage were not immediately available.

Saudi Arabia said on Wednesday that its air defences intercepted a wave of drones heading towards a strategic oil field as regional attacks intensified. The attempted strike came as Iran renewed fire on Gulf neighbours and energy infrastructure.

Saudi authorities also said they intercepted seven ballistic missiles in separate attacks targeting the kingdom’s eastern region and Prince Sultan Air Base.

Officials said the drones and missiles were destroyed before reaching their targets. The incidents highlight growing threats to oil facilities and military installations across the Gulf as the wider conflict in the region continues to escalate.

Explosions were seen near Mehrabad Airport in Tehran. The video footage, posted on social media Wednesday morning, shows several loud blasts and a large orange flash. The development came as Israel Defense Forces said it had launched a new wave of strikes on the Iranian capital.

Moscow avoids commenting on reports about warning against sharing intelligence information with Iran, reports AFP. This comes amid the war in West Asia.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Wednesday that at least two missiles targeted a United States military base in Kuwait. Iranian news agencies reported that the missiles were launched by the IRGC Ground Force missile unit.

According to reports by Fars and Mehr, the missiles struck Camp Arifjan, a major US military base located south of Kuwait City. The Guards said the base was hit after two missiles were fired at the installation.

Kuwaiti authorities have not yet issued any official statement regarding the reported attack. Independent confirmation of the strike has also not yet been released by officials in Kuwait or the United States.

The IDF army said that missiles have been launched from Iran towards Israel on Wednesday morning.

An Iranian drone reportedly struck a facility housing US diplomats near Baghdad in Iraq.

Amid the ongoing West Asia conflict, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a phone conversation with Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, during which the two leaders discussed regional developments.

During the call, Araghchi detailed what he described as crimes committed by the United States and Israel against Iran over the past 11 days. He referred to a missile attack on a girls’ elementary school in Minab on the first day of the war and said there had been widespread strikes on civilian sites and public service centres. He stressed Iran’s determination to fully defend the country’s integrity.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry said Araghchi described the actions of the United States and Israel as violations of the United Nations Charter and international law. The ministers also discussed the impact of military actions on shipping and vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

Jaishankar stressed the importance of continuing and strengthening bilateral relations between Tehran and New Delhi and called for ongoing consultations to help restore regional stability, the Iran Foreign Ministry post on X reads.

North Korea said on Wednesday it supports the Iranian people’s choice of new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who was named on Monday to succeed his father killed in the initial strikes against the country by the U.S. and Israel, state media said.

North Korea’s foreign ministry also said it strongly denounces acts of aggression by the U.S. and Israel of “illegal” attacks against Iran, which are destroying peace and escalating instability worldwide, KCNA state news agency said.

UAE defence ministry says its air defences are currently responding to incoming missiles and drone threats from Iran.

The ministry said the sounds heard in the country “are the result of the air defence systems that are intercepting the projectiles”.

The IRGC says it has carried out a 37th wave of attacks against Israel and on US assets in the Middle East, firing the “super-heavy ‘Khoramshahr’ missiles” in sustained, multi-layered barrages lasting more than 3 hours.

In a statement carried by the Fars news agency, the IRGC said it targeted the Haela satellite communications center south of Tel Aviv for a second time, as well as military sites in Beer Yaqub, West Jerusalem, and Haifa.

Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health has said that successive Israeli attacks have killed five people in Qana in the Tyre district of southern Lebanon.

At least five other people were also injured in the attacks on the border.

At least 570 people have been killed in Israel’s renewed attacks on Lebanon since last Monday, according to Lebanese officials.