Category: Middle East

INTERNATIONAL (NPA) — March 8, 2026 — The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has issued a safety advisory urging civilians in Iran to remain indoors, citing concerns that the Iranian government is conducting military operations from heavily populated areas. According to CENTCOM, these operations include the launch of one-way attack drones and ballistic missiles.

In a statement released on March 8, CENTCOM described the Iranian strategy as “a dangerous decision that risks the lives of civilians,” noting that under international law, locations used for military purposes lose their protected status and may become legitimate military targets.

The statement alleged that Iranian forces are operating from crowded urban areas in cities such as Dezful, Esfahan, and Shiraz. CENTCOM warned that this tactic places civilians at risk, while also accusing Iranian forces of targeting civilian airports, hotels, and residential neighborhoods across the Middle East.

“Iran’s terrorist regime is blatantly disregarding civilian lives by attacking Gulf partners while compromising the safety of their own people,” said Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM.

CENTCOM further reported that since February 28, Iran has launched hundreds of ballistic missiles and thousands of one-way attack drones. However, it claimed that launch rates have declined significantly due to U.S. and partner forces degrading Iran’s military capabilities.

The statement emphasized that the U.S. military takes “every feasible precaution to minimize harm to civilians” but cautioned that it cannot guarantee civilian safety near facilities being used by Iranian forces for military purposes.

Lagos, Nigeria (NPA) — March 8, 2026— Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, has declared that any individual appointed as the next Supreme Leader of Iran will be targeted for elimination by Israel. His remarks follow an Israeli strike on an oil refinery and storage facility in Iran, which left parts of the city engulfed in fumes.

In a post on his verified X account on March 4, Katz stated: “Every leader appointed by the Iranian terror regime to continue and lead the plan to destroy Israel, to threaten the United States and the free world, and to suppress the Iranian people—will be an unequivocal target for elimination. It does not matter what his name is or where he hides.”

Katz added that both he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had instructed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to prepare for action under Operation Lion’s Roar. He emphasized that Israel, working alongside the United States, would continue to act “with full force” to weaken Iran’s regime and create conditions for its overthrow.

Israel has previously carried out targeted killings of senior Hamas and Hezbollah leaders shortly after their appointments, raising questions about how Tehran will respond to this latest warning. Iran has continued to launch missile and drone attacks against Israel and neighboring Gulf states in retaliation for ongoing U.S. and Israeli strikes that have severely damaged key national infrastructure.

Tampa, Fla. (NPA) — March 7, 2026 — U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) convened a virtual meeting of the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement (C-SIPA) Defence Working Group with representatives from Bahrain, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

According to a statement issued by USCENTCOM on March 6, participants included HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, National Security Advisor and Secretary General of the Supreme Defence Council of Bahrain; Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, Chief of the Defence Staff of the United Kingdom; and Adm. Brad Cooper, Commander of U.S. Central Command.

Discussions focused on the current regional security environment, with emphasis on what officials described as deliberate aggression by the Iranian regime and attacks on civilians across the Middle East. The parties underscored the importance of cooperation to safeguard peace and stability.

The meeting followed recent developments in the Gulf, where Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian issued an apology to neighboring states after Iranian missile and drone strikes. In a televised address, Pezeshkian pledged to halt the attacks and called for diplomacy over escalation, attributing the strikes to miscommunication within Iran’s military ranks.

Tehran, Iran (NPA) — March 7, 2026 — Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has issued an apology to Gulf nations following Iranian missile and drone strikes on neighbouring states amid ongoing military operations in the Persian Gulf involving the United States and Israel.

In a televised address, Pezeshkian acknowledged the attacks, pledged to halt them, and called for diplomacy over escalation. “I should apologise to the neighbouring countries that were attacked by Iran, on my own behalf,” he said, attributing the strikes to miscommunication within Iran’s military ranks.

The president clarified that the response came after heavy assaults on Iran and the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, describing the strikes as unintended escalations. He warned, however, that Iran would retaliate against any future attacks launched from external territories.

Analysts note uncertainty over whether the apology reflects a weakened military position, as both the U.S. and Israel have claimed to have destroyed more than 80 per cent of Iran’s military capabilities, including its navy.

Meanwhile, Pezeshkian rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s demand for unconditional surrender, dismissing it as “a dream they should take to their grave.”