Iranians haul their belongings across the Kapikoy border crossing into Turkey's Van province as the war at home rages. Photo taken late Friday. AP/PTI
Live! War escalates; US warns of intense bombing
Videos show explosions flashing and smoke rising over Tehran as Israel said it has begun a broad wave of strikes
There is no foreseeable end to the war.
Explosions sent up clouds of dark smoke in the Iranian capital city early Saturday (March 7) and Tehran retaliated by firing missiles at Israel as the United States warned of a forthcoming bombing campaign that officials said would be the most intense yet in the weeklong conflict.
US President Donald Trump's administration approved a new USD 151 million arms sale to Israel after Trump said he would not negotiate with Iran without its “unconditional surrender.” Iran's UN ambassador said the country would “take all necessary measures” to defend itself.
An Associated Press video showed explosions flashing and smoke rising over western Tehran as Israel said it had begun a broad wave of strikes. Also early Saturday, the Israeli military said it was moving to intercept a new salvo of missiles launched from Iran.
Alarm in Saudi, Bahri
In a sign of the widening nature of the conflict, sirens sounded early Saturday in Bahrain as an Iranian attack targeted the island kingdom. And Saudi Arabia said it destroyed drones headed toward its vast Shaybah oil field and shot down a ballistic missile launched toward Prince Sultan Air Base, which hosts US forces.
Here is the top, trending news of Saturday, March 7, 2026, including Iran war, Indian politics, states' politics, geopolitics, federal issues, economics, development issues, sports, entertainment, and so on.
Scroll down for all Live updates.
Live Updates
- 7 March 2026 8:53 AM IST
Saudi Arabia intercepts drones, missile targeting oil field and air base
Saudi Arabia shot down six drones and a ballistic missile aimed at a major oil field and an air base, the country's Defence Ministry said.
The drones were intercepted over the Empty Quarter desert, where they were targeting the Shaybah oil field — one of Saudi Arabia's most productive, pumping a million barrels a day. A ballistic missile aimed at an air base was also downed, the ministry said on X.
- 7 March 2026 8:17 AM IST
Join the war on Iran and face retaliation, warns Tehran
Iran has warned European nations they would become "legitimate targets" for retaliation if they joined the US and Israel in their war against Tehran.
"If any country joins America and Israel in the aggression against Iran, they will also be legitimate targets," Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi told France 24.
Takht-Ravanchi said Iranian officials had been negotiating "in good faith" with Washington before the US and Israel launched strikes on Saturday.
- 7 March 2026 7:17 AM IST
India granted emergency docking to Iranian ship in Kochi
Updating our earlier report:
Days before the United States sank the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena, India had quietly approved emergency docking for another Iranian naval vessel at Kochi after it developed a technical fault, government sources said late Friday.
The warship IRIS Lavan, carrying 183 crew members, docked at Indian naval facilities on March 4 on humanitarian grounds after Tehran made an urgent request on February 28. India approved the docking on March 1.
Both Iranian vessels had been in the region for naval exercises hosted by India — IRIS Dena for the Milan multilateral exercise, and IRIS Lavan for the International Fleet Review — when the US struck.
IRIS Dena was sunk by an American submarine off the coast of Sri Lanka on Wednesday, killing at least 87 sailors, as it made its way home. IRIS Lavan, meanwhile, remains docked in Kochi.
- 7 March 2026 7:09 AM IST
War decision taken soon after PM Modi left, says Israeli minister
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar has said Prime Minister Narendra Modi could not be briefed on Israel's strikes against Iran during his recent visit to the country as the decision on the military action was made after he had concluded the trip.
Modi undertook a two-day visit to Israel, which concluded on February 26. Two days later, Israel and the US launched a joint military offensive against Iran that killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Sa'ar, participating virtually in the Raisina Dialogue, said Israel has "great relations" with Modi and India that have deepened over the years.
"But we could not brief Prime Minister Modi on this because the decision was taken only on Saturday early morning," he said.
The decision to launch the attack was taken as the negotiations between the US and Iran collapsed, he indicated.
Israel's military action against Iran is aimed at removing "existential threats" emanating from Iran, he said.
Sa'ar said Iran is continuing its nuclear programme, developing ballistic missiles and backing Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis.
"Probably we will have to see a change in the regime in Iran," he said
- 7 March 2026 6:56 AM IST
No deal with Iran unless unconditional surrender, says Trump
US President Donald Trump has said that he would not seek a deal with Iran without the country's “unconditional surrender” as Washington warned of a forthcoming bombing campaign that officials said would be the most intense of the weeklong conflict.
Israel said it began a broad wave of strikes on Tehran early Saturday, with Associated Press video showing explosions and large plumes of smoke billowing over the western part of the capital city.
As Israeli warplanes bombed the Iranian capital and Beirut, Iran launched more retaliatory strikes against Israel and Gulf countries on the seventh day of the war. Many thunder-like booms rumbled over Jerusalem just past midnight local time as Israel said it was working to intercept missiles launched from Iran.
The US and Israel have battered Iran with strikes, targeting its military capabilities, leadership and nuclear program. The stated goals and timelines for the war have repeatedly shifted, as the US has at times suggested it seeks to topple Iran's government or elevate new leadership from within.
