Iran live: Germany to join US and Israel?

Authorities in Abu Dhabi said debris fell on a warehouse in the ICAD area and a commercial facility in Mussafah after air defence systems intercepted incoming drones. According to a statement from the Abu Dhabi media office, the incident caused minor structural damage but no injuries were reported.

Even where interceptions are successful, falling debris impacting civilian facilities raises legal considerations under international humanitarian law, particularly regarding the protection of civilian objects and the obligation to minimise incidental harm.

France’s Foreign Minister Jean Noel Barrot said Paris is prepared to help defend Gulf countries and Jordan if required amid escalating tensions with Iran. He expressed full support and solidarity with states he said had been deliberately targeted by missiles and drones launched by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, naming Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Jordan. He added that France stands ready to participate in their defence if necessary.

Such a commitment would engage principles of collective self defence under the United Nations Charter and could carry significant legal and strategic implications depending on the scope and nature of any French involvement.

Rob Geist Pinfold, a lecturer in defence studies at King’s College London, told open sources that Iran appears to be deliberately focusing on Gulf countries because it views them as more vulnerable than Israel. He suggested Tehran may be calculating that Gulf governments have limited appetite for direct confrontation and could push for a ceasefire, potentially increasing pressure on the Trump administration. So far, however, there is no clear indication of such pressure emerging.

Pinfold said Gulf states are publicly projecting unity and resilience, but underlying divisions remain over whether and how to engage Iran. He noted that deeper involvement could be seen as aligning fully with US and Israeli operations, narrowing diplomatic space and complicating efforts to balance sovereignty, regional stability and alliance commitments.

Any expansion of hostilities involving additional Gulf states would further engage the UN Charter framework on collective self defence and raise complex questions about neutrality, regional security arrangements and proportional response.

The Israel Defense Forces said it has carried out what it described as a “precise” strike targeting a senior Hezbollah member in Beirut. The military added that further details will be released shortly.

Targeted strikes against senior figures in non state armed groups raise significant legal considerations under international humanitarian law, particularly regarding lawful military objectives, proportionality and the protection of civilians in densely populated urban areas.

Several Gulf cities witnessed renewed tensions on the third day of the conflict. In Doha, residents reported hearing multiple loud explosions around 8am local time, consistent with Patriot missile intercepts. Bahrain also experienced fresh attacks and air raid sirens amid ongoing retaliatory barrages.

In Kuwait, videos showed a US F 15E Strike Eagle descending in flames before both pilots ejected safely. Further footage appeared to show another jet crashing elsewhere. Kuwait’s Ministry of Defence later confirmed that several US aircraft went down during the morning and said it is coordinating with Washington to determine the cause, adding that all pilots survived. Smoke was also reported near the US Embassy in Kuwait, with emergency crews seen at the scene.

The widening geographic spread of interceptions and military incidents raises serious legal questions under the United Nations Charter regarding the use of force across multiple states, as well as obligations governing foreign military presence and civilian protection during active hostilities.

Israeli military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said Israel will intensify operations against what he described as “key elements of the regime” in Iran. Speaking during a televised briefing, he stated that strikes would increasingly focus on these targets as part of an expanded campaign.

Targeting state infrastructure or leadership elements raises significant legal questions under the United Nations Charter and the law of armed conflict, particularly regarding lawful military objectives and the risk of wider regional escalation.

Israel said it is conducting attacks on Hezbollah positions across Lebanon after the group claimed responsibility for firing rockets and drones into Israeli territory. The Israeli military issued evacuation warnings to residents in about 50 towns and villages, while an AFP journalist reported civilians leaving parts of southern Lebanon by car.

Large scale cross border strikes and evacuation orders engage core rules of international humanitarian law, including the obligation to protect civilians, ensure proportionality and provide effective advance warning where feasible.

France’s Foreign Minister Jean Noel Barrot has suggested that the United States and Israeli attacks on Iran lack proper international legitimacy, stating that such unilateral actions should have been addressed within established collective bodies such as the United Nations. Speaking in Paris after a ministry meeting, he said that only engagement before the UN Security Council can confer the necessary legitimacy on the use of force. He also confirmed that no French nationals have been reported harmed at this stage.

His remarks underscore the central role of the UN Charter framework, under which the use of force is generally lawful only with Security Council authorisation or in cases of self defence, making questions of process and multilateral approval legally significant.

The sound of drones has been persistent over Beirut, with Israeli unmanned aerial vehicles observed above the city and the southern suburb of Dahiyeh, an area known as a Hezbollah stronghold. The aircraft are understood to include surveillance platforms such as the Hermes 450, operating in support of Israel’s ongoing offensive against Hezbollah targets. The activity follows overnight Israeli air strikes launched after Hezbollah fired rockets and drones towards Haifa in northern Israel.

The deployment of reconnaissance drones over densely populated urban areas raises legal considerations under international humanitarian law, particularly regarding distinction, precaution and the protection of civilians during surveillance and targeting operations.

An Israeli military spokesperson said “all operations remain on the table” when asked about the prospect of a ground offensive in Lebanon following the opening of a new front. The remarks came after Hezbollah fired six projectiles into northern Israel early Monday, triggering a significant wave of Israeli air strikes in Beirut and southern Lebanon.

At a press briefing, Brigadier General Effie Defrin said nearly 100,000 reservists have been mobilised and deployed along the northern border, with forces prepared for both defensive and offensive scenarios. He stated that the Israel Defense Forces struck dozens of Hezbollah command centres and launch sites, including senior commanders. While Israel has conducted strikes since the 2024 ceasefire, officials described the latest operations as substantially larger. Defrin warned that Hezbollah would “pay a heavy price” for opening fire.

Escalation to a ground offensive would markedly raise the legal stakes under international humanitarian law, particularly regarding proportionality, civilian protection and compliance with the existing ceasefire framework.

The International Atomic Energy Agency said it has found no indication of any radiological impact following recent United States and Israeli strikes on Iran. In its latest statement, the agency added that there is currently no evidence that Iranian nuclear installations were damaged or directly targeted.

The assessment is significant under international nuclear safety and safeguards obligations, as attacks affecting protected nuclear facilities could raise serious concerns under the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty framework and international humanitarian law.

Indian equity benchmarks remained under heavy pressure on Monday, March 2, 2026, amid a sharp rise in crude oil prices driven by escalating tensions in West Asia. The BSE Sensex fell 2,743.46 points, or 3.37 percent, to 78,543.73 in early trade, before trimming some losses to trade 1,633.23 points, or 2.01 percent lower, at 79,653.96 in the afternoon. The NSE Nifty dropped 533.55 points, or 2.11 percent, to 24,645.10 initially and later stood 505.35 points, or 2.01 percent down, at 24,674.75.

Heightened geopolitical risk and oil price volatility can trigger regulatory responses from market authorities, including volatility controls and liquidity measures, while also raising broader concerns over energy security and macroeconomic stability.

JPMorgan has lowered its outlook for non oil economic growth across Gulf states after the Iran conflict intensified over the weekend, cautioning that further revisions may be possible. The bank reduced its regional non oil growth projection by 0.3 percentage points, with Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates facing the steepest downgrades at 0.5 and 0.4 percentage points respectively. Analysts warned that risks remain elevated and highly dependent on how the conflict unfolds.

The bank also revised its expectations for monetary policy in Turkiye, saying it no longer anticipates an interest rate cut at the March 12 meeting. It raised its end 2026 policy rate forecast to 31 percent from 30 percent and increased its inflation projection to 25 percent from 24 percent. JPMorgan added that, given Israel’s direct involvement in the conflict, it is unlikely the Bank of Israel will reduce rates in March.

Prolonged regional instability may have significant cross border financial and regulatory implications, particularly affecting sovereign risk assessments, capital flows and central bank policy coordination under global financial stability frameworks.

Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz has declared that Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Qassem is now a “target for elimination”. The statement follows Israeli air strikes in Lebanon that reportedly killed at least 31 people, after Hezbollah said it carried out rocket and drone attacks on a military base near Haifa in northern Israel, describing the assault as retaliation for the killing of Khamenei. Qassem took over leadership of Hezbollah after Hassan Nasrallah was killed by Israel on September 27.

Public designation of an individual leader as a military target raises serious legal questions under international humanitarian law, particularly concerning the criteria for lawful targeting, distinction and proportionality, as well as the broader risk of regional escalation.

More than 3,400 flights have been cancelled in the opening days of the conflict as several Gulf states keep their airspace closed. Reporting from Doha indicates that an estimated 300,000 passengers are stranded across the region, with the United Kingdom reportedly dispatching teams to support evacuation efforts.

Major hubs including Dubai International, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and Hamad International Airport in Doha have suspended operations, with six or seven key airports shut. Given the Gulf’s role as a global aviation crossroads linking Europe, Asia and Africa, the closures are triggering widespread international disruption. Travellers at affected airports report overcrowding, long queues and limited assistance as they await rebooking.

Prolonged airspace closures engage international civil aviation law under the Chicago Convention, which permits restrictions on safety grounds but also places obligations on states and carriers to ensure passenger welfare and coordinated air traffic management.

German political and military sources told Israel’s Army Radio that Berlin is considering joining United States and Israeli operations against Iran if Tehran does not halt attacks in the region. The report says planning with Washington is under way, potentially ranging from direct air strikes to logistical or aerial support. Officials from Germany’s Foreign Ministry and members of the Bundestag’s Foreign Affairs Committee were cited.

On Sunday night, France, Germany and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement condemning Iran’s regional strikes, warning they are prepared to take “defensive action” to protect their interests and allies in the Gulf if required.

Any direct German military involvement would engage constitutional constraints under German law as well as international legal standards on the use of force, including questions of collective self defence under the United Nations Charter.

The Iranian Red Crescent says 131 cities across the country have been affected by United States and Israeli attacks. It stated that relief efforts are continuing without interruption, with rescue teams deployed in impacted areas and more than 100,000 responders placed on full alert nationwide. The organisation added that a volunteer network of around four million people remains on standby to provide humanitarian aid and psychosocial support.

The reported scale of impact may heighten legal scrutiny under international humanitarian law, particularly regarding civilian protection and obligations to facilitate humanitarian relief operations.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they carried out missile attacks targeting an Israeli government complex in Tel Aviv, along with military and security sites in Haifa and a strike in east Jerusalem. In a statement broadcast on state television, the Guards said Kheibar ballistic missiles were used in what they described as the tenth wave of operations.

Such cross border missile strikes engage the United Nations Charter framework on the use of force and may trigger assessments under international humanitarian law, particularly concerning the targeting of military objectives and the risk to civilian areas.

The Iranian Red Crescent Society reports that at least 555 people have been killed in United States and Israeli strikes across Iran. Further details are expected.

If confirmed, the scale of casualties would intensify scrutiny under international humanitarian law, particularly regarding the principles of distinction and proportionality in the conduct of hostilities.

Saudi Arabia’s Defence Ministry said two drones that attempted to strike the Ras Tanura oil refinery were intercepted and destroyed, according to reports carried by the state run SPA news agency. Officials stated that debris from the interception caused a small fire, but no civilian casualties were reported.

Any attempted attack on major energy infrastructure may engage international humanitarian law principles concerning the protection of civilian objects, particularly where facilities serve predominantly commercial purposes.

Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides confirmed that a Shahed drone crashed into RAF Akrotiri shortly after midnight, causing minor damage. He said Cyprus will not take part in any military operation and remains in contact with European leaders. The UK has begun relocating family members from the base.

A strike on British sovereign territory raises serious questions under international law concerning the use of force and potential state responsibility if attribution is confirmed.

The International Atomic Energy Agency convened an extraordinary session on March 2, 2026, following US and Israeli strikes on Iran. The meeting, requested by Russia after a similar call from Tehran, precedes the agency’s scheduled Board of Governors session of 35 member states.

The move reflects the IAEA’s mandate to address nuclear safety and safeguards concerns, particularly when military action risks escalating into a wider international security crisis.

Amazon Web Services has reported power and connectivity disruptions at its data centres in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates as Iran’s retaliatory strikes unfold. According to the company’s status page, two availability zones in the UAE lost power. AWS stated that one zone was impacted after “objects” struck the facility, causing sparks and a fire, prompting a shutdown. It later confirmed that a separate, localised power issue affected another zone in the UAE region.

If the disruption is conflict related, attacks impacting civilian digital infrastructure may raise serious concerns under international humanitarian law, particularly regarding the protection of civilian objects and critical commercial systems not directly used for military purposes.

At least 35 people have reportedly been killed in US and Israeli attacks on Iran’s Fars province, according to the IRGC affiliated Mehr news agency, which cited a local official.

Civilian casualties, if confirmed, would engage core principles of distinction and proportionality under the law of armed conflict, potentially intensifying international scrutiny over the conduct of hostilities.

Verified footage broadcast by open sources shows heavy smoke billowing from an oil installation in Ras Tanura, a key energy hub in eastern Saudi Arabia.

If linked to hostilities, any strike on critical energy infrastructure could raise serious issues under international humanitarian law, particularly rules protecting civilian objects unless they are being used for military purposes.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei has condemned deadly Israeli air strikes in southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs, calling them repeated breaches of Lebanon’s sovereignty and the November 2024 ceasefire. He described the silence of states that claim to defend human rights as “shameful” and warned the escalation threatens international peace.

Legally, such cross border strikes raise serious questions under the UN Charter’s prohibition on the use of force and obligations tied to ceasefire agreements.

The United States did not request access to the British military base in Cyprus where a drone struck the runway overnight, UK Foreign Secretary David Cooper told Times Radio. He added that the Royal Air Force base at Akrotiri remains fully operational despite the incident.

Legally, the clarification is significant in the context of host state consent and allied military coordination. The use of overseas bases is governed by bilateral defence arrangements, and the absence of a US request may limit claims of joint operational involvement, particularly in assessing responsibility or escalation risks under international law.

British Foreign Secretary David Cooper stated that an unmanned aerial vehicle struck the runway of a United Kingdom military base in Cyprus. Speaking to Sky News, he described it as a drone attack targeting the airfield infrastructure and said precautionary security measures have been implemented, though further operational details have not been disclosed.

Under international law, a drone strike against military infrastructure on the territory of a third state raises questions concerning attribution, the prohibition on the use of force under the United Nations Charter and Cyprus’ sovereignty. The legal implications will depend on the identity of the actor responsible and whether the incident meets the threshold of an armed attack.

Several United States fighter aircraft have gone down in Kuwait, according to fresh details from the country’s Defence Ministry. All personnel on board survived. Kuwaiti authorities swiftly carried out search and rescue operations, evacuated the crews and transferred them to hospital, confirming that their condition is stable. Officials added that they are working in coordination with the United States, and a formal investigation into the cause of the incident is now under way.

From a legal perspective, such incidents on foreign soil typically engage status of forces agreements between host and sending states, governing jurisdiction, investigation protocols and liability. The outcome of the inquiry will determine whether mechanical failure, operational error or other factors are implicated.

Iran has remained largely offline for over 48 hours as US and Israeli military operations continue, according to monitoring group NetBlocks. The organisation stated on X that nationwide shutdowns are frequently used by authorities during crises, noting that a similar disruption in January lasted several weeks and coincided with reported human rights concerns that were difficult to verify due to restricted access.

Under international human rights law, particularly protections relating to freedom of expression and access to information, prolonged blanket internet shutdowns may raise serious proportionality and necessity concerns, even when governments invoke national security grounds.