LIVE: Moment Iranian missile explodes ‘near US troops’ in Saudi Arabia

Brad Cooper, the head of the US military’s Middle East-based Central Command (CENTCOM) has said Iran fired seven attack drones in residential areas of Bahrain yesterday evening.

‘This is unacceptable and will not go unanswered,” he said in a statement, while adding Tehran had targeted 12 countries in retaliatory strikes..

‘We will continue working with regional partners to address this threat to innocent people across the region.’

Sir Keir Starmer has promised Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammed bin Salman that the UK is ready to back the defence of his country.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt took a swipe at members of President Donald Trump’s MAGA base who have criticized his military action in Iran.

‘X is not real life,’ Leavitt said. ‘This President lives in the real world.’

Leavitt had stopped to gaggle with reporters Friday on the White House driveway when asked about Republican Party infighting.

Donald Trump said his meetings with US defense contractors was ‘very good,’ and they have agreed to ‘quadruple production’ of weapons.

‘We just concluded a very good meeting with the largest U.S. Defense Manufacturing Companies where we discussed Production and Production Schedules,’ he wrote on Truth Social.

‘They have agreed to quadruple Production of the “Exquisite Class” Weaponry in that we want to reach, as rapidly as possible, the highest levels of quantity.’

The son of Bazelel Smotrich, Israel’s finance minister, has been injured in a conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon, the country’s defence minister said.

Israel Katz, Israel’s defence minister, said the following via X:

Strengthening Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and his family, and wishing a speedy recovery to his fighter son who was wounded in Lebanon while carrying out his duties against the terrorist organization Hezbollah.

I embrace and strengthen all the fighters and female fighters of the IDF who are fighting bravely and devotedly in all arenas for the security of the State of Israel. The entire people of Israel stand behind you and are proud of you “

In a phone interview with Axios, the US President elaborated on his earlier statement:

Unconditional surrender could be that [the Iranians] announce it. But it could also be when they can’t fight any longer because they don’t have anyone or anything to fight with

White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, told reporters Trump’s administration would consider Iran was in a place of ‘unconditional surrender’ once the US President deems it no longer poses a threat.

When he as commander in chief of the U.S. armed forces determines that Iran no longer poses a threat to the United States of America and the goal of Operation Epic Fury has been fully realized, then Iran will essentially be in a place of unconditional surrender,

Qatar’s Ministry of Defence said the country’s air defence fought against several Iranian drone attacks today.

Nine of the ten drons launched towards Qater were intercepted, with the tenth striking an are which was uninhabited. No injuries were caused.

Explosions have been heard near the city of Natanz, Iranian state media has reported.

The city, located in central Iran, has one of the country’s largest nuclear enrichment facilities, according to AlJazeera.

It was also struck previously during the current conflict as well as during a 12-day conflict in 2025.

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian alleged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was deceiving audiences based on their geography.

See his full statement below:

Finnair announced it will restart flights from Muscat and Oman from March 10 onwards.

The flights are scheduled to bring back Finnish citizens who are stranded in Dubai between February 28 and March 9.

The IDF have taken to X to confrim an additional wave of strikes on Beirut, adding they have struck at least four targets in the capital.