Mar 05, Kathmandu - Iran launched missile attacks on Israel early Thursday morning, prompting millions of residents to seek refuge in bomb shelters. The assault occurred hours after attempts to halt U.S. airstrikes in Washington failed. Iranian sources confirmed that the Iranian military has initiated a new series of widespread attacks against Israel.

Israel responded by conducting strikes targeting Hezbollah in Beirut, while Lebanese state media reported that an Israeli drone attack resulted in the death of a Hamas official. 

In the United States, Republican senators voted against a proposal that would require congressional approval for halting air campaigns and military actions. Meanwhile, NATO's air defense system intercepted an Iranian ballistic missile launched towards Turkey, marking the first time Turkey has been drawn into the conflict. Iran’s armed forces, however, denied any missile strikes against Turkey and pledged to respect Turkey’s sovereignty.

A significant incident occurred near Sri Lanka’s coast on Wednesday, where an American submarine sank an Iranian warship, resulting in at least 80 casualties. Iran claimed to have targeted Kurdish groups in Iraq and warned against any activities by separatist factions amid the escalating conflict.

Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Iran’s Supreme Leader, has emerged as a leading contender to succeed him, signaling internal political developments amidst the turmoil. Despite mounting pressure from the U.S. and Israel, which have launched military campaigns resulting in hundreds of deaths and causing global market upheaval, Tehran remains resistant to bending.

The war has also halted maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting vital oil and gas supplies in the Middle East. As a result, oil prices rose on Thursday. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wray stated on Fox News that the U.S. Navy is prioritizing rapid passage through the Strait to ensure the safety of oil tankers, although current focus remains on the ongoing conflict.

Amid the chaos, governments are rushing to evacuate tens of thousands of stranded civilians. Flights departing from the Middle East to bring citizens home have begun, though a scheduled flight to evacuate British nationals from Oman was delayed to Thursday, according to Sky News.

Additionally, plans for the funeral of Iran's top leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in Israeli strikes, face uncertainty. His body was expected to be laid to rest at a mosque in Tehran on Wednesday evening, but Iran announced that a three-day mourning ceremony has been postponed indefinitely, with no new date set.