The latest Middle East conflict, now in its sixth day, continues to escalate, with the US sinking an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka and Iran being accused of attacking Azerbaijan in its first attack since the conflict began, a claim Iran denies.
Here’s what you need to know:
What are the main headings?
New attack: Explosions rocked Iran’s capital Tehran again this morning, according to state media. Overnight, Israel launched a new wave of attacks against Iran, hitting Hezbollah targets in Beirut. According to the Israeli military, Iran also launched three waves of missiles toward Israel overnight.
First attack on Azerbaijan: A drone attack injured two people and damaged a terminal building at an airport near the Iran-Azerbaijan border, Azerbaijani authorities say, the first attack on the country since the outbreak of the civil war. The Iranian military denied launching the drone into Azerbaijan, and the incident suggested the possibility of a false flag operation by Israel.
Senate vote: Republicans on Wednesday rejected a resolution to curb U.S. President Donald Trump’s war powers. The Senate voted 47-53 to repeal the bill. The House is scheduled to vote on the same issue Thursday. U.S. officials warned Wednesday that the United States will launch strikes deep into Iran, but the operation is still in its early stages.
Warship torpedo attack: Iran’s foreign minister condemned the deadly US torpedo attack on an Iranian warship as an “atrocity” and warned the US would come to regret it. The Iris Dena sank off the coast of Sri Lanka on Wednesday, leaving more than 80 people dead and some missing.
Evacuation underway: The first U.S. evacuation flight left the Middle East on Wednesday after the Trump administration faced backlash for not having an evacuation plan in place. The State Department announced late Wednesday that more than 17,500 Americans have returned to the United States from the Middle East since February 28.
What is happening in Iran and Lebanon?
Death toll: More than 1,100 civilians have been killed in Iran since Saturday, according to a US-based human rights group. According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, at least 77 people were killed in Lebanon due to Israeli shelling, including three emergency workers.
Lebanon attacks: In addition to new attacks in Tehran, Israeli night attacks hit several Hezbollah-affiliated headquarters in the Lebanese capital Beirut, according to the Israel Defense Forces. Late Thursday, the Israeli military issued what it called an emergency evacuation alert for the entire neighborhood in Beirut’s southern suburbs, a significant expansion from previous orders that were usually limited to specific buildings.
Dire situation: Many residents of southern Lebanon embark on a grueling journey after Israel ordered an evacuation. Some displaced families are forced to sleep on the streets at night. Many of Tehran’s residents have fled to the countryside, but those who remain have taken shelter in their homes and live in fear of constant airstrikes.
Next supreme leader: Iran’s top clerics continue to choose a successor to Ayatollah Khamenei, who was killed in a U.S. and Israeli attack on Saturday. Israel warned that the new leader would be an “obvious target for removal”.
School bombing: The White House did not rule out that the US military bombed an Iranian girls’ elementary school during the first joint US-Israel attack, killing at least 168 children, according to Iranian state media.
Iran’s counterattack: In addition to a barrage of new missiles aimed at Israel overnight, Iran continues to bombard neighboring Gulf states with American weapons and air defenses, although the United States claims the pace of Iranian airstrikes has slowed. Iran has launched a drone attack on Amazon’s data center in Bahrain, state news agency reported. Iranian drones also targeted two Amazon facilities in the United Arab Emirates.
The number of deaths is increasing in this region. The highest death tolls have been in Iran and Lebanon, but more than 20 people have been killed elsewhere in the region, as a result of Iranian attacks on Israel and Gulf states, as well as U.S. and Israeli airstrikes in Iraq.
Iran targets separatist groups: Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence says it has targeted “separatist terrorist groups intent on infiltrating Iran’s western borders” with US support. The ministry’s statement, carried by state media, is believed to be a reference to attacks by Iranian forces against Kurdish groups based in Iraq. This came after sources told CNN that the CIA was working on arming Kurdish forces with the aim of inciting a popular uprising in Iran.
Identification of U.S. soldiers: On Wednesday night, the Pentagon released the identities of the two remaining service members killed in Sunday’s drone strike in Kuwait. The remaining four soldiers who died had already been identified on Tuesday.
International reaction: France said it was allowing U.S. non-combat aircraft to use air bases on mainland France, with “full guarantees” that they “will not participate in any way in U.S. operations in Iran” but only if they protect regional partners. Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he “absolutely cannot rule out” participation in the U.S.-Israel war against Iran, after previously saying Canada would not participate.
Turkish Interception: Iranian military leaders insist they did not fire any missiles at Turkey, state media reported on Wednesday after NATO air defenses intercepted what Turkey claimed was a missile fired from Iran. This appears to be the first time NATO forces have intercepted an Iranian missile heading toward a member state since the conflict began.
Diplomatic departures: The United States on Wednesday allowed non-emergency personnel and their families to leave several Middle Eastern countries, and Qatari authorities are evacuating residents near the U.S. embassy following Iranian attacks this week targeting U.S. facilities across the region.
Travel disruption: Israel has begun restarting incoming flights at its main international airport, with the first of two return flights landing on Thursday. Although some flights have departed from major Middle East hubs such as Dubai and Jeddah, many travelers are still looking for a way out of the region.
Markets: Asian stocks rebounded on Thursday after falling sharply the previous day. European stock indexes rose slightly in early trading, but U.S. futures were almost flat.
