CAIRO, March 4 (Xinhua) -- The regional exchange of fire triggered by the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran entered its fifth day on Wednesday, with ripple effects spreading further across the region.
Here's a quick overview of the latest developments and the impact of the retaliatory attacks on countries directly caught up in the regional crisis:
The United States
-- U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that a U.S. submarine sank an Iranian warship in international waters.
-- Iran's missile launches have declined sharply since the United States and Israel launched massive strikes, U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine said at the Pentagon briefing.
Israel
-- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that its air force shot down an Iranian fighter jet over Tehran as part of an ongoing U.S.-Israeli operation in Iran.
-- At least two people were injured in central Israel during two joint missile and rocket attacks launched by Iran and Hezbollah, as Israeli forces carried out a wave of airstrikes across southern Lebanon.
Iran
-- A senior cleric and member of Iran's Assembly of Experts said that the country will select its next supreme leader soon, with candidates determined.
-- Iran said that 1,045 people have been killed in the country since Saturday as a result of U.S.-Israeli strikes.
-- The Israeli military said it carried out large-scale airstrikes in eastern Tehran, targeting a sprawling military compound that houses multiple command centers for Iran's security and intelligence organizations.
Iraq
-- The Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority extended the closure of the country's airspace for an additional 72 hours amid ongoing regional tensions.
-- One Iraqi soldier was killed and two others wounded in an unidentified air and ground attack during a security operation in central Iraq's desert region.
-- During a phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein emphasized that the solution of the ongoing conflict lies in an "immediate ceasefire." Hussein cautioned that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and continued hostilities have disrupted maritime traffic in the region, creating increasing difficulties for Iraq and neighboring countries in exporting crude oil.
-- The U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Iraq issued a statement on its website, saying that U.S. citizens in Iraq are strongly encouraged to depart as soon as they are safely able to do so, and shelter in place until such time as conditions are safe to depart.
Kuwait
-- Kuwait's Health Ministry said that an 11-year-old girl was killed after being hit by falling shrapnel following waves of attacks across the Gulf.
The United Arab Emirates
-- The Ministry of Defense of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) said that its air defense forces detected 189 ballistic missiles, eight cruise missiles, and 941 drones during the recent attacks. Of the total, 175 ballistic missiles and all eight cruise missiles were intercepted, while 876 drones were shot down.
-- UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemi reaffirmed the country's balanced approach in confronting regional conflicts, emphasizing that the UAE does not seek to widen the scope of confrontation.
-- Stock markets in the UAE fell sharply as trading resumed after a two-day precautionary suspension.
Qatar
-- Qatar's state-run energy firm QatarEnergy announced force majeure following attacks on two of its main facilities during the ongoing conflict between Iran and a U.S.-Israeli coalition.
Saudi Arabia
-- Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defense said that two cruise missiles were intercepted over an area southeast of the capital Riyadh, adding that separate drone attacks were thwarted.
Lebanon
-- At least 20 people were killed, and 283 others injured in Israeli attacks across Lebanon over the past 24 hours, raising the casualty toll since Monday to 72 deaths and 437 injuries, Lebanon's Public Health Emergency Operations Center at the Ministry of Public Health said.
-- Israeli military vehicles advanced along the border strip in southern Lebanon, constructing earthen berms and carving field roads up to 2 km inside Lebanese territory, as a UN agency reported that 7 children were killed in a single day amid intensifying hostilities.
Cyprus
-- A suspected aerial object was detected approaching Cyprus on Wednesday morning, triggering an air security alert before being intercepted by two Greek fighter jets.
Türkiye
-- The Turkish Defense Ministry announced that a ballistic projectile allegedly launched from Iran was successfully intercepted by NATO air and missile defense units deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Britain
-- Britain had taken the precautionary measure to temporarily withdraw some of the staff members and their dependents from its embassy in Bahrain amid the escalating tensions in the Middle East, a statement from the government's website said.
France
-- French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said that French Rafale fighter jets had "neutralized" Iranian drones targeting French military bases in the United Arab Emirates.
-- French President Emmanuel Macron said that France is sending its Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier battle group to the Mediterranean as part of its military buildup in the region. ■
