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On Thursday, Iran initiated a fresh series of assaults, with numerous explosions echoing throughout the region. Tehran issued a stark warning, declaring that the United States would “bitterly regret” the sinking of an Iranian warship.
The strikes orchestrated by Iran on this day were aimed at Israel, American military sites, and several neighboring nations. In response, Israel reported several missile attacks, which triggered air raid alerts in both Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
In Azerbaijan, the Ministry of Defense reported that Iran deployed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to attack Nakhchivan International Airport along with other civilian targets. The ministry indicated that they are currently investigating the specifics of the assault and the UAVs’ capabilities.
“The Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan unequivocally condemns the attacks by the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran on Azerbaijani civilian infrastructure, which lacked any military justification. The Islamic Republic of Iran is fully accountable for this incident,” stated the ministry’s official statement.
Explosions were both seen and heard in Azerbaijan as Iran launched counterattacks across the Middle East, further escalating tensions. (East2West)
Iran has not acknowledged targeting Azerbaijan, despite the country’s ministry of defense pointing the finger at Tehran.
Qatar evacuated residents near the U.S. Embassy in Doha on Thursday, with its Ministry of Defense confirming that the country was “subjected to a missile attack” and that its air defense systems were able to intercept it. The ministry urged the public to remain calm and avoid unofficial information.
Abu Dhabi announced that its authorities were responding to an incident involving falling debris in ICAD 2, which is part of the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi. Six people, identified by Abu Dhabi as Pakistani and Nepali nationals, suffered minor to moderate injuries.
A plume of smoke rises over buildings in Doha, Qatar, on March 5, 2026. (Mahmud Hams/AFP via Getty Images)
Iran has carried out retaliatory strikes since the launch of Operation Epic Fury, with the latest wave coming one day after the U.S. sunk an Iranian warship, killing at least 87 Iranian sailors. Sri Lankan navy spokesman Cmdr. Buddhika Sampath said 32 people were rescued from the wreck and were admitted to a hospital.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth defended the move during a news briefing at the Pentagon.
“An American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters. Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo — Quiet Death. The first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War II. Like in that war, back when we were still the War Department, we are fighting to win,” Hegseth said.
Missile interceptions are seen in the sky on March 5, 2026, in Central Israel. (Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images)
Iranian leaders condemned the attack, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accusing the U.S. Navy of committing “an atrocity at sea.” Meanwhile, Ayatollah Abdollah Javadi Amoli appeared on state television and called for the shedding of Israeli and “Trump’s blood.”
“Fight the oppressive America, his blood is on my shoulders,” he said in a rare call for violence from an ayatollah, one of the highest ranks within the clergy of Shiite Islam.
The U.S. and Israel launched the war on Saturday with strikes targeting Iran’s leadership, including the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed. Iran’s missile arsenal and nuclear facilities were also hit.
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