The US-Israeli war in Iran has now entered its eighth day, with no signs of easing. The conflict, which began on February 28 and targeted key Iranian leaders, including its military and naval forces, has plunged the Middle East region into renewed military confrontation. The US-Israeli strike on Iran resulted in the killing of several top officials in Tehran, including the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. After Khamenei’s death, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian vowed that Tehran would avenge his death, with the country now deciding on his successor to lead the position.
Here are the main updates on the US-Israel and Iran conflict:
1. Fresh explosions were reported across the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Saturday, with the country saying it intercepted 15 ballistic missiles and 119 drones as Iran stepped up attacks on its Gulf neighbours. In a post on X, the UAE Ministry of Defense said the noises reported in several parts of the country were caused by air defense systems intercepting ballistic missiles while fighter jets engaged drones and stray munitions in the air. The ministry added that security forces are actively responding to missile and drone threats originating from Iran.
2. Earlier today, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologized to Iran’s Arab neighbors and said Tehran would stop attacking them if no attacks on Iran came from those countries. In a video message, Pezeshkian said: “The Interim Leadership Council approved yesterday that neighboring countries should no longer be targeted and missiles should not be launched unless an attack on Iran comes from those countries.” Iran’s president added that the country’s armed forces have so far acted with authority “at will” but have now been warned not to attack neighboring countries or attack them with missiles and drones.
3. Following Pezeshkian’s statement, US President Donald Trump issued a warning to Iran, saying the country “is going to be hit very hard today.” In his post on Truth Social, Trump promised “total destruction, death” and said that Tehran was no longer the “tyrant” of the Middle East, but instead the “loser of the Middle East.”
4. In a speech to the Shield of Americas summit on Saturday, Trump claimed that the US had knocked out 42 Iranian navy ships, its air force and all communications amid the ongoing conflict. He further claimed that “they are bad” and that the strikes “had to be done”.
5. United Arab Emirates President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in his first public comments since Iran launched strikes on Gulf countries, said his country was at war. In a message to his enemies, the UAE president warned that it was “no easy prey”. He added: “The UAE has thick skin and bitter flesh – we are not easy prey. We will fulfill our duty to our country, our people and our residents who are also part of our family.”
6. The Israeli military claimed to have shot down 16 Iranian aircraft at Tehran’s Mehrabad International Airport. According to an AFP report, Israel’s military added that the country’s air force had completed a broad wave of strikes across Tehran overnight.
7. According to an AP report citing sources, Russia has provided Tehran with information that could help it attack US warships, aircraft and other assets in the region, the first sign that Moscow is seeking to join the war.
