Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine’s partners, including the United States, have asked Kyiv for help in defending against Iranian Shahed drones.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Thursday that the United States will “bitterly regret” the precedent it created by sinking an Iranian frigate off the coast of Sri Lanka the previous day. It was reported that on Wednesday a US submarine struck the Iranian warship IRIS Dena, with about 180 crew members on board. According to the information provided, at least 87 people were killed, 32 were injured and 61 were reported missing as a result. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said at a Thursday press conference that it was the first sinking of an enemy vessel by a US submarine using a torpedo since the Second World War.
The Israeli army earlier called for the evacuation of Beirut’s southern district and then carried out strikes on targets in the area, citing links to Hezbollah.
Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a notice with the highest level of warning for parts of the region and advised against planning travel there.
Qatar Airways said on Thursday on X that from Thursday it is operating “limited evacuation flights” from Muscat in Oman and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia for travellers stranded in Gulf states.