War returns to Iran with Israel, US strikes

Switzerland has said it is “deeply alarmed by today’s strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran”.

In a statement, its foreign ministry called for “full respect of international law, including the UN Charter” and international humanitarian law.

“We urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint, protect civilians and civilian infrastructure. The Swiss Embassy remains operational. Our good offices remain at the disposal of the parties involved.”

Air India has suspended flights to all destinations in the Middle East after Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iran, AFP reports.

“In view of the developing situation in parts of the Middle East, all Air India flights to all destinations in the Middle East have been suspended,” the airline said in a statement posted on X.

Meanwhile, Turkish Airlines also cancelled some of its Middle East flights due to airspace closures.

Flights to Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran and Jordan are cancelled until March 2, while flights to Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Oman are cancelled for February 28.

UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Counter Terrorism Prof Ben Saul has strongly condemned the “Israeli & US aggression against Iran, in violation of the most fundamental rule of international law - the ban on the use of force”.

“All responsible governments should condemn this lawlessness from two countries who excel in shredding the international order,” he said on X.

UN Special Rapporteur to the occupied Palestinian territories Francesca Albanese has noted as “unprecedented clarity about what — from and through Palestine — the Israel/US axis is doing to the entire region”.

“It pains to see what is unfolding. How come so many did not see it coming? Greater Israel, unveiled.”

UK MP Jeremy Corbyn has termed the attacks by Israel and the US on Iran as “illegal, unprovoked and unjustifiable”.

Pakistan’s Ambassor to Iran Mudassir has urged Pakistanis in Iran to “take great care of themselves and very carefully assess the evolving situation” amid the Iran-Israel-US hostilities.

“In any case , it’s advisable that they keep their travel documents ready and undertake appropriate arrangements to meet their daily needs.

“Those who wish to travel, may thoroughly check their plans of travel keeping in mind instructions of Iran’s civil aviation authority as well as relevant border timings.”

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has criticised the Israeli strikes and the American military action for bringing the “Middle East to the edge of catastrophe”.

“Israel’s initiation of these strikes was a vile attempt to sabotage ongoing negotiations and to drag other nations into a conflict that could prove impossible to contain,” he said on X.

“An immediate and unconditional cessation of hostilities is imperative. I urge the United States and Iran to pursue a diplomatic off-ramp rather than further escalation, and the international community to act with urgency and without double standards.

“Furthermore, my concern at this time is the safety of Malaysians in Iran and elsewhere in the region. I will be in touch with regional partners on the next steps in this regard.”

The US Embassy in Manama has urged US citizens in Bahrain to shelter in place, review security plans in the event of an attack, and to stay alert in case of additional future attacks.

The United Arab Emirates has said it intercepted Iranian missiles and reserved its right to respond to the attacks, while Kuwait also engaged incoming strikes, AFP reports.

“The Ministry of Defence announced that the United Arab Emirates was subjected today to a blatant attack by Iranian ballistic missiles. The UAE’s air defences responded with high efficiency and successfully intercepted a number of the missiles,” it said in a statement.

Abu Dhabi said it “reserves its full right to respond” slamming the attacks as “a dangerous escalation”.

Kuwait’s Chief of Staff said in a statement that “air defence systems engaged incoming missiles detected in the airspace”.

Russia’s former president Dmitry Medvedev has criticised the United States for striking Iran, casting doubt on whether Washington entered negotiations to avert the conflict in good faith, AFP reports.

“The peacemaker has shown its true face once again,” Medvedev, an ally of President Vladimir Putin currently serving as the deputy chairman of Russia’s security council, said in a post on Telegram.

“All the talks with Iran were just a cover. No one ever doubted that. Nobody was interested in negotiating anything in particular.”

The UK has said it does not want the US-Israel conflict with Iran to spiral into “wider regional conflict”, AFP reports.

Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior has posted on X a public safety reminder urging motorists to respond appropriately when hearing emergency alarm sirens while driving.

“When you hear the sound of the alarm siren while driving your car, you must follow these instructions:

“Adhere to the speed limit, drive cautiously, and clear the left lane to avoid accidents,” it said.

“Continue driving and make way for emergency vehicles, such as civil defence vehicles, ambulances, traffic police, and security patrols, so that they can perform their duty,” it added.

Iran has said it will “respond decisively” after Israel and the United States launched strikes on the country despite talks underway on Tehran’s nuclear programme, AFP reports.

“The armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will respond decisively to the aggressors,” a foreign ministry said in a statement, insisting Iran had done “everything necessary to prevent war”.

“Just as we were ready for negotiations, we are now more prepared than ever to defend the Iranian nation,” it said.

The US has named its sweeping strikes against Iranian military targets “Operation Epic Fury”, the Pentagon says.

The Defence Department announced the name in a social media post that included an American flag emoji, but has otherwise provided no details so far on the strikes.

Australia supports US action against Iran, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said after the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran, AFP reports.

“It has long been recognised that Iran’s nuclear program is a threat to global peace and security,” Albanese posted on X.

“We support the United States acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent Iran continuing to threaten international peace and security,” he said.

The US Mission in the UAE has issued a security alert, instructing its staff in the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the US Consulate in Dubai to “shelter-in-place (ie, take cover)”.

“We recommend all Americans in the UAE do the same until further notice.”

The Israeli army has warned Iranians in or near military infrastructure across Iran to evacuate, after announcing it was conducting a “broad strike” on multiple military targets, AFP reports.

“To all individuals who are inside or in the vicinity of military weapons production factories and military infrastructure facilities across Iran: You are located near weapons and military facilities that are considered dangerous,” the army said on its Farsi X account.

“For your safety and well-being, we urge you to immediately evacuate these areas and remain outside of them until further notice. Your presence in these locations puts your lives at risk,” it added.

A bombing that targeted an Iraqi military base housing a pro-Iran group killed at least two fighters, sources from the powerful group Kataeb Hezbollah told AFP.

“There are two martyrs from Kataeb and another five wounded in the aggression” on the Jurf al-Sakher base, also known as Jurf al-Nasr, in southern Iraq, a Kataeb Hezbollah source said.

Another source said three fighters were killed.

A bombing that targeted an Iraqi military base housing a pro-Iran group caused casualties, a security official and sources in the former paramilitary coalition Hashed al-Shaabi told AFP.

The Jurf al-Sakher base in southern Iraq belongs to Hashed al-Shaabi or the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) but mostly hosts the powerful pro-Iran group Kataeb Hezbollah.

“The bombing targeted the 47th brigade of Kataeb Hezbollah,” a source in the Hashed al-Shaabi told AFP. A security official and another Hashed source confirmed that the base was targeted.

All sources reported casualties.

AFP correspondents in the Saudi capital Riyadh have heard loud explosions, after Qatar and a US base in Bahrain were struck.

Two correspondents in Riyadh said they heard a loud bang and several explosions, after Iran vowed retaliation following US and Israeli attacks.

Qatar’s defence ministry has said the country has “repelled a number of attacks” targeting its territory, AFP reports.

Explosions have been reported in Doha, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi and Manama, officials and news outlets said.

This comes after the US and Israel jointly struck Iran, with the IRGC saying the first wave of retaliatory missile and drone attacks has been launched.

A Qatari official said Qatar has intercepted two Iranian missiles over its country.

A centre for the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain has been hit in a “missile attack”, Bahrain said.