Middle East conflict escalates as Iran fires missiles at Israel, Qatar evacuates U.S. embassy personnel nearby

(Agence France-Presse Washington, 5th) The United States and Israel launched a large-scale attack on Iran on February 28, conducting hundreds of airstrikes that killed Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei and several high-ranking military officials. This dramatic change has severely impacted the regional situation. Here are the latest significant events related to the Middle East war: ● Iran launches missiles at Israel According to the Israeli military and Tehran's official media, Iran launched a new round of missiles at Israel early this morning, triggering air raid alarms in multiple locations, including Tel Aviv. There are currently no immediate reports of casualties. ● Airstrikes hit Hezbollah stronghold After Israel issued evacuation warnings to local residents, an airstrike this morning targeted a Hezbollah stronghold located in the southern suburbs of Beirut. The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported that Israel conducted two attacks on vehicles on the highway near Beirut Airport, resulting in three deaths. Prior to this attack, officials noted that since the outbreak of a new round of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, 72 people have been killed, and over 83,000 have been displaced. ● Oil spill incident off the coast of Kuwait The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a tanker encountered a "massive explosion" off the coast of Kuwait, leading to an oil spill. The agency stated, "There is currently oil leaking from the cargo hold on the surface of the sea, which may have some environmental impact." ● Evacuations near the U.S. Embassy in Qatar Qatar's Ministry of Interior announced that authorities have begun evacuating residents near the U.S. Embassy in the capital Doha as a precautionary measure following Iran's attacks. ● Historic progress Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office stated that Israel and the United States have made "historic progress" in combating Iran's military actions. Netanyahu's spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian also pointed out in a video that this attack was imperative, as Iran is using "new underground bunkers" to rebuild its nuclear program. ● Turkey claims to have shot down a missile from Iran Turkish officials stated that a ballistic missile launched from Iran, flying through Iraq and Syria towards Turkish airspace, has been destroyed by NATO's air defense system. The Turkish Ministry of Defense did not specify the intended target of the missile. Since the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28, Iran has continued to strike multiple locations in the region in retaliation. ● Trump: We are performing very well U.S. President Trump praised the performance of the U.S. military in the conflict, stating that Iran's leadership is being rapidly eliminated and vowed to continue military operations. He said, "We are performing very well on the front lines; that’s putting it mildly. I would say, if someone asked me, on a scale of 1 to 10, how would I rate it? I would say about 15." ● Canada does not rule out the possibility of joining the war Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that he "cannot rule out the possibility of participation" in this ongoing expanding war. He made the remarks while meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra, saying, "We will stand with our allies." ● Spain denies U.S. cooperation claims After Trump threatened trade retaliation, Spain took a firm stance, reiterating its opposition to Washington using its bases to confront Iran. The White House stated that Madrid has now agreed to cooperate, but Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares refuted this, asserting that Spain's position on "military bases, Middle East wars, and bombing Iran" has not changed at all. ● China to send envoy for mediation Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated that Beijing will send a special envoy for Middle East issues to the region for mediation. As a close partner of Iran, Beijing has expressed support for Tehran in maintaining its national sovereignty while urging the U.S. and Israel to cease military attacks. ● Qatar in fury Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani harshly criticized the Iranian Foreign Minister during a call, accusing Tehran of attempting to drag neighboring countries into war. ● Freight crisis intensifies Container shipping giants Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd announced that, after risk assessments, they will suspend cargo bookings in the Persian Gulf until further notice. Previously, China Ocean Shipping Group also announced a suspension of new booking services for related routes. As Iran warned vessels not to use the Strait of Hormuz, international oil prices surged. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the busiest waterways in the world and is crucial for tanker transportation. ● Crew rescued in the Strait of Hormuz A cargo ship was hit by a missile in the Strait of Hormuz, and the Oman Navy subsequently rescued 24 crew members. The day after Trump stated that the U.S. Navy was ready to escort tankers through the waterway, the Iranian military claimed to have "fully controlled" the Strait of Hormuz. ● Sri Lanka finds 87 bodies A U.S. submarine sank an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka with a torpedo. Sri Lankan naval officials told AFP: "We have found 87 bodies and are still searching for other missing persons."