{"id":1806805,"date":"2026-03-04T04:23:58","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T01:23:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1806805"},"modified":"2026-03-04T04:23:58","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T01:23:58","slug":"spains-prime-minister-reaffirms-no-to-war-against-iran","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1806805","title":{"rendered":"Spain&#8217;s Prime Minister reaffirms &#8216;no to war&#8217; against Iran"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76210332_6.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article class=\"s1sfzv1a sk6xmai\">\n<div class=\"content-area sa7l9jt s9mg977\">\n<section data-tracking-name=\"sharing-icons-inline\" class=\"c75t7t0 hh5424a in-line closed\">\n<div class=\"copy-button-wrapper closed\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/59kwE<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<figure class=\"s4bcs45\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76210332_800.webp 50w, https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76210332_801.webp 129w, https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76210332_802.webp 352w, https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76210332_803.webp 575w\" media=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 575px)\" height=\"100\" width=\"100\" \/><figcaption class=\"c1oedowi lofg86o m4xla6a s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">Israeli strikes hit a number of cities in Lebanon including Beirut, Aramoun and Saadiyat<small class=\"copyright c19ed66t ihwmx5 idu7i8u lxmvniw icns9en rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">Image: AFP\/Getty Images<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-live-blog-rich-text-overview\" id=\"live-blog-rich-text-overview\" class=\"c1800ln sq3xutt atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-israel-lebanon-strikes-kurdish-talks\/live-76207066#post-live-blog-rich-text-overview\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section What you need to know<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"c2fyhwl ctymiyf content-block i1if36d6 i1ytahzz\">\n<h2 class=\"cp7bjxx h1du6kc5 lt5vbch pohyj9x s16w0xvi m1u0isv1 b1fzgn0z\">What you need to know<\/h2>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<ul>\n<li><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/nato\/t-19016346\">NATO<\/a> air defenses destroy Iranian ballistic missile fired towards Turkey, Ankara says<\/li>\n<li>The incident marks the first time a NATO member&#8217;s territory\u00a0has been impacted by\u00a0the widening conflict<\/li>\n<li>The US has sunk an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean after a torpedo strike, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says<\/li>\n<li><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/lebanon\/t-19131661\">Lebanon<\/a>&#8216;s Health Ministry says at least six\u00a0were killed in the latest round of Israeli strikes<\/li>\n<li><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/israel\/t-19067044\">Israel<\/a> announces a new &#8216;broad wave of strikes&#8217; on <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran\/t-18996175\">Iran<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Israel also says it will assassinate whoever is chosen to succeed Supreme Leader Khamenei, <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/irans-supreme-leader-khamenei-is-dead-state-media-confirms\/live-76161011\">who was killed on Saturday<\/a><\/li>\n<li>US President <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/us-president-donald-trump-russia-ukraine-israel-gaza-tariffs-trade-war\/t-19434433\">Donald Trump<\/a> says he has spoken to at least three Kurdish groups in Iraq<\/li>\n<li>Spain&#8217;s PM Sanchez slams Trump for &#8216;playing Russian roulette&#8217; in Iran attacks<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>Follow along for the latest developments in the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/us-israel-war-with-iran\/t-76168615\">US-Israeli war with Iran<\/a> on Wednesday, March 4:<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"s1ogwy7c ev9ivjh\">\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76220252\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-israel-lebanon-strikes-kurdish-talks\/live-76207066#post-liveblog-post-76220252\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section White House says Spain agrees to work with US military<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/04\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 4, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">White House says Spain agrees to work with US military<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday that <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/spain\/t-18996264\">Spain<\/a> had agreed to cooperate with the US military amid its war against Iran.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s my understanding, over the past several hours, they&#8217;ve agreed to cooperate with the US military,&#8221; she said.<\/p>\n<p>Spanish Prime Minister <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/pedro-sanchez\/t-75997232\">Pedro Sanchez<\/a> had previously refused to let the US use jointly operated naval and air bases in southern Spain.<\/p>\n<p>A clarification from Madrid would be necessary to confirm this announcement, since Sanchez earlier in the day reaffirmed his government&#8217;s position against the war.<\/p>\n<p>Trump on Tuesday said he wanted to cut all US trade with Spain over its position. It was not immediately clear how that would work as Spain is part of the European Union which is a free-trade zone.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/59oMu<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76219038\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-israel-lebanon-strikes-kurdish-talks\/live-76207066#post-liveblog-post-76219038\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section Blackout and blasts reported in Iraq<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/04\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 4, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Blackout and blasts reported in Iraq<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>There are several reports coming out from <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iraq\/t-19037666\">Iraq<\/a> right now that include a nationwide blackout.<\/p>\n<p>News agency AFP and Iraqi Kurdish news outlet Rudaw both cited the Electricity Ministry. It wasn&#8217;t immediately clear how much of the country was impacted and what the cause was.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, there were reports of more explosions in Erbil, in the Kurdish north, while Reuters said drones had been shot down close to\u00a0Baghdad airport.<\/p>\n<p>The US Embassy in Baghdad also recommended its\u00a0citizens leave the country.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;US\u00a0citizens in Iraq are strongly encouraged to depart as soon as they are safely able to do so, and shelter in place until such time as conditions are safe to depart,&#8221; it said in a post on X.<\/p>\n<p>We will bring you more on these reports as more updates come through.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/59o3K<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76218804\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-israel-lebanon-strikes-kurdish-talks\/live-76207066#post-liveblog-post-76218804\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section WATCH: Spain&#8217;s Prime Minister reaffirms &#8216;no to war&#8217; against Iran<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/04\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 4, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">WATCH: Spain&#8217;s Prime Minister reaffirms &#8216;no to war&#8217; against Iran<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Spanish Prime Minister <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/pedro-sanchez\/t-75997232\">Pedro Sanchez<\/a> has doubled down on his opposition to the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/us-israel-war-with-iran\/t-76168615\">US-Israeli war against Iran<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>He appeared unimpressed by US President Trump&#8217;s threats to punish Spain by cutting off all trade to the country.<\/p>\n<div class=\"vjs-wrapper embed big\">\n<h2 aria-label=\"Embedded video \u2014 Spain's Prime Minister reaffirms 'no to war' against Iran\" class=\"headline\">Spain&#8217;s Prime Minister reaffirms &#8216;no to war&#8217; against Iran<\/h2>\n<p><video id=\"video-76218255\" controls playsinline preload=\"none\" poster=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" data-id=\"76218255\" data-posterurl=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76218403_605.webp\" data-duration=\"01:21\"><source src=\"https:\/\/hlsvod.dw.com\/i\/vps\/webvideos\/ENG\/2026\/DWVG\/DWVGENG260304_Q_SPAINREAX_16C_PH_01SMW_,AVC_480x270,AVC_512x288,AVC_640x360,AVC_960x540,AVC_1280x720,AVC_1920x1080,.mp4.csmil\/master.m3u8\" type=\"application\/x-mpegURL\" \/><\/video><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/59nzY<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76218624\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-israel-lebanon-strikes-kurdish-talks\/live-76207066#post-liveblog-post-76218624\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section Iran threatens Israeli embassies worldwide<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/04\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 4, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Iran threatens Israeli embassies worldwide<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran\/t-18996175\">Iran<\/a>&#8216;s armed forces have threatened to carry out attacks on Israeli embassies around the world if Israel strikes the Iranian mission in <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/lebanon\/t-19131661\">Lebanon<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Military spokesperson\u00a0Abolfazl Shekarchi said in a televised address that\u00a0&#8220;if Israel commits such a crime, it will force us to make all Israeli embassies around the world our legitimate target.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The threat followed comments on Tuesday by Israel&#8217;s Arabic-language military spokesperson Avichay Adraee, telling Iranian officials to leave Lebanon within 24 hours.<\/p>\n<p>He said the Israeli military\u00a0&#8220;warns representatives of the Iranian terror regime who are still in Lebanon to leave immediately before being targeted.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"vjs-wrapper embed big\">\n<h2 aria-label=\"Embedded video \u2014 Israel launches ground offensive into southern Lebanon\" class=\"headline\">Israel launches ground offensive into southern Lebanon<\/h2>\n<p><video id=\"video-76203012\" controls playsinline preload=\"none\" poster=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" data-id=\"76203012\" data-posterurl=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76192644_605.webp\" data-duration=\"02:02\"><source src=\"https:\/\/hlsvod.dw.com\/i\/vps\/webvideos\/ENG\/2026\/DWVG\/DWVGENG260303_QIran16_PH_01SMW_,AVC_480x270,AVC_512x288,AVC_640x360,AVC_960x540,AVC_1280x720,AVC_1920x1080,.mp4.csmil\/master.m3u8\" type=\"application\/x-mpegURL\" \/><\/video><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/59nwe<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76218572\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-israel-lebanon-strikes-kurdish-talks\/live-76207066#post-liveblog-post-76218572\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section Germany says &#8216;military force alone&#8217; won&#8217;t end the conflict<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/04\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 4, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Germany says &#8216;military force alone&#8217; won&#8217;t end the conflict<\/h2>\n<div class=\"a9wq4ao author-details\"><span><span class=\"separator lxmvniw m4xla6a s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"> | <\/span><span class=\"no-link m1ho1h07 l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi sngcpkw w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">Simon Young<\/span><span class=\"extra-info lxmvniw m4xla6a s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"> DW Political Correspondent<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>German Defense Minister <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/boris-pistorius\/t-66121275\">Boris Pistorius<\/a> made somewhat critical remarks about the US and Israeli strikes on Iran <span data-teams=\"true\">during a debate in the German parliament on the war in Iran<\/span>.<\/p>\n<p>He described their approach as &#8220;illusory,&#8221; saying conflicts cannot be resolved\u00a0&#8220;by military force and unilateral action alone.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We must emphasize\u00a0this repeatedly to our American and Israeli friends, and we will continue to do so,&#8221; <span data-teams=\"true\">Pistorius said<\/span>.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, he made clear that Germany is not party to the war, adding:\u00a0&#8220;The German <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/bundeswehr\/t-17430904\">Bundeswehr<\/a> will not take part in this war.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>He also stressed the importance of abiding by international law, but added that Iran had ignored these rules for decades. The international community had tried to curb Iran&#8217;s destructive role, but &#8220;without success,&#8221; Pistorius said.<\/p>\n<p><span data-teams=\"true\">It was clear during the debate that many in parliament were concerned about the lack of clear justification in international law for the military action by the US and Israel.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-teams=\"true\">Typical of the comments was this from Norbert R\u00f6ttgen,\u00a0a member of <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/christian-democratic-union-cdu\/t-17351950\">Chancellor Friedrich Merz&#8217;s party<\/a>: &#8221; War is an evil, no question, but I say just as clearly: the regime of the mullahs is the greatest evil for the region, for the people in Iran and beyond.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"vjs-wrapper embed big\">\n<h2 aria-label=\"Embedded video \u2014 US-Israel strikes on Iran 'obviously not legal,' lawyer says\" class=\"headline\">US-Israel strikes on Iran &#8216;obviously not legal,&#8217; lawyer says<\/h2>\n<p><video id=\"video-76189217\" controls playsinline preload=\"none\" poster=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" data-id=\"76189217\" data-posterurl=\"https:\/\/tvdownloaddw-a.akamaihd.net\/stills\/images\/je\/je20260302_GissouNia_image_512x288_3.jpg\" data-duration=\"04:24\"><source src=\"https:\/\/hlsvod.dw.com\/i\/dwtv_video\/flv\/je\/je20260302_GissouNia_,AVC_480x270,AVC_512x288,AVC_640x360,AVC_960x540,AVC_1280x720,AVC_1920x1080,.mp4.csmil\/master.m3u8\" type=\"application\/x-mpegURL\" \/><\/video><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/59nvo<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76218449\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-israel-lebanon-strikes-kurdish-talks\/live-76207066#post-liveblog-post-76218449\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section Iranian president to Arab neighbors: &#8216;We respect your sovereignty&#8217;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/04\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 4, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Iranian president to Arab neighbors: &#8216;We respect your sovereignty&#8217;<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian wrote a message on X to Iran&#8217;s neighbors that have borne the brunt of its retaliatory strikes.<\/p>\n<p>He said the neighboring countries had supported efforts to avoid this war, but the US and Israeli attacks had left Iran no other option.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We respect your sovereignty,&#8221; Pezeshkian added, saying regional peace should be up to the countries in the region.<\/p>\n<p>Iranian strikes have targeted not only US military targets, but also US embassies as well as its <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-attacks-on-gulf-oil-and-gas-sites-trigger-energy-fears\/a-76199281\">neighbors&#8217; oil and gas infrastructure<\/a> as Iran\u00a0seeks to make the war as costly as possible for the US.<\/p>\n<p>This has led to fears that the countries on the receiving end of the strikes <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-saudi-arabia-united-arab-emeriates-bahrain-qatar-involvement\/a-76175593\">may fire back in turn<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/59ntp<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76218096\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-israel-lebanon-strikes-kurdish-talks\/live-76207066#post-liveblog-post-76218096\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section Charting the US-Israel war with Iran<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/04\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 4, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Charting the US-Israel war with Iran<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Following weeks of\u00a0negotiations between\u00a0US\u00a0and\u00a0Iranian\u00a0officials over\u00a0Iran&#8217;s\u00a0nuclear program, the US\u00a0and Israel on February 28\u00a0launched a coordinated cooperation dubbed Operations <a rel=\"noopener follow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"external-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/articles\/2026\/03\/peace-through-strength-president-trump-launches-operation-epic-fury-to-crush-iranian-regime-end-nuclear-threat\/\" title='External link \u2014 \"Epic Fury'>&#8220;Epic Fury<\/a>&#8221; and &#8220;Roaring Lion&#8221; against the Iranian regime.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>To better understand the conflict, <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/charting-the-us-israel-war-with-iran\/a-76209201\">here is a breakdown<\/a> of what happened and its consequences in maps and charts.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/59no8<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76218134\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-israel-lebanon-strikes-kurdish-talks\/live-76207066#post-liveblog-post-76218134\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section What you need to know if you&#8217;re just joining us<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/04\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 4, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">What you need to know if you&#8217;re just joining us<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Here is a recap of the main developments of the US-Israel war against Iran\u00a0so far on Wednesday:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Turkey says NATO air defenses destroyed an Iranian missile<\/strong> that was heading towards its airspace<\/li>\n<li>Debris landed in Hatay province near the border with Syria, with no casualties reported<\/li>\n<li>The incident is the first time a NATO member&#8217;s territory has been impacted by Iran&#8217;s escalating retaliation<\/li>\n<li><strong>The US has torpedoed an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka<\/strong>, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said<\/li>\n<li>It is the first US sinking of an enemy warship by\u00a0torpedo strike since World War II<\/li>\n<li><strong>Israel has continued its air strikes on Hezbollah targets<\/strong> across Lebanon<\/li>\n<li><strong>Iran is scrambling to elect a new supreme leader\u00a0<\/strong>after the killing of Ayatollah Khamenei on Saturday<\/li>\n<li>Israel has warned thatany successor to the slain Supreme Leader Khamenei\u00a0<strong>would be a &#8220;certain target for assassination&#8221;<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/59nok<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76216944\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-israel-lebanon-strikes-kurdish-talks\/live-76207066#post-liveblog-post-76216944\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section BEFORE AND AFTER \u2014 Attacks on Iranian nuclear facility at Natanz<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/04\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 4, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">BEFORE AND AFTER \u2014 Attacks on Iranian nuclear facility at Natanz<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/59nVY<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76215567\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-israel-lebanon-strikes-kurdish-talks\/live-76207066#post-liveblog-post-76215567\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section Fact check: Debunking claims in the US-Israel war with Iran<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/04\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 4, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Fact check: Debunking claims in the US-Israel war with Iran<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Videos claiming to show the US-Israel-Iran war are flooding social media.<br \/>\nAnd while many look dramatic or terrifying, a lot of them are fake, AI-generated, or taken completely out of context.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/fact-check\/t-56584214\">DW Fact Check<\/a> debunks a few viral claims and puts together a list that will <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/fact-check-debunking-social-media-claims-about-the-iran-war\/a-76196001\">help you tell what&#8217;s fake and what&#8217;s real.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/59n9L<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76216668\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-israel-lebanon-strikes-kurdish-talks\/live-76207066#post-liveblog-post-76216668\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section Iranian warship sunk after US torpedo strike, Hegseth says<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/04\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 4, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Iranian warship sunk after US torpedo strike, Hegseth says<\/h2>\n<div class=\"a9wq4ao author-details\"><span><span class=\"extra-info lxmvniw m4xla6a s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"> Editor<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<figure class=\"placeholder-image master_landscape big\"><img data-format=\"MASTER_LANDSCAPE\" data-id=\"76216358\" data-url=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76216358_${formatId}.jpg\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16\/9\" alt=\"Iranian warship IRIS Dena is seen in the Bay of Bengal during International Fleet Review held at Visakhapatnam, India,\"><figcaption class=\"img-caption\">Sri Lanka deployed two naval vessels and an aircraft to search for missing sailors from the Iranian warship IRIS Dena [FILE: February 2026]<small class=\"copyright\">Image: AP Photo\/picture alliance<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>A United States submarine sank an Iranian warship in international waters in the Indian Ocean, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;An American submarine sunk [sic] an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters,&#8221; Hegseth told reporters at the Pentagon. &#8220;Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Hegseth did not provide further details on the ship, but an Iranian warship was reported to have sunk off the coast of Sri Lanka earlier this week.<\/p>\n<p>Hegseth told the press conference that the strike on the Iranian warship came on Tuesday night, US time. The ship had issued a distress call at dawn on Wednesday local time.<\/p>\n<p>He added that it was the first time the US had sunk an enemy ship by torpedo strike since World War II.<\/p>\n<p>Sri Lankan authorities said they had rescued 32 crew members from the IRIS Dena frigate, but that 148 other sailors were still unaccounted for.<\/p>\n<p>The US has said one of the main objectives of its joint operation with Israel against Iran is to eradicate Tehran&#8217;s naval capabilities.<\/p>\n<p>For more on this story, <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/us-submarine-torpedoes-iranian-warship-in-indian-ocean\/a-76216943\">read our full report<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/59nR6<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76214610\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-israel-lebanon-strikes-kurdish-talks\/live-76207066#post-liveblog-post-76214610\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section NATO air defenses destroy Iranian missile nearing Turkey, Ankara says<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/04\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 4, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">NATO air defenses destroy Iranian missile nearing Turkey, Ankara says<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/nato\/t-19016346\">NATO<\/a> air defenses in the eastern Mediterranean have destroyed an Iranian missile that was heading toward\u00a0Turkish airspace, officials in Ankara said Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>In a statement, Turkey&#8217;s Defense Ministry said the ballistic missile, which flew over Iraq and Syria, &#8220;was engaged in a timely manner \u2026 and rendered inactive.&#8221;\u00a0There were no casualties, the ministry said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Any steps necessary to defend our territory and airspace will be taken decisively and without hesitation,&#8221; the statement added.<\/p>\n<p>This is the first time that Turkey \u2014 a <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/nato-russia-ukraine-article-5-security-defense-alliance-poland\/a-60688639\">NATO<\/a> member which shares a border with Iran \u2014 has been directly involved in the escalating conflict that began on Saturday when the United States and Israel launched a large-scale air attack on Iran.<\/p>\n<p>Tehran&#8217;s response in the days since has seen it launch drones and missiles at several countries across the Gulf, as well as Israel.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We warn all parties to refrain from actions that would lead to further escalation of conflict \u200cin the region,&#8221; the Turkish Defense Ministry said.<\/p>\n<p>A Turkish official told the AFP news agency that Ankara believes that Turkey was not a\u00a0target of the missile, which veered off its course to\u00a0a base in Cyprus.<\/p>\n<p>NATO\u00a0spokesperson \u200cAllison \u2060Hart said the alliance condemns the incident.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;\u200bNATO stands \u200bfirmly with \u200call allies, including Turkiye, \u200cas Iran continues \u200cits indiscriminate \u200battacks across the region. Our deterrence \u200band defence posture remains strong \u2060across \u200ball domains, \u200bincluding when it \u200bcomes to \u200cair and missile \u200bdefence,&#8221; \u2060Hart said.<\/p>\n<p>Turkey has summoned Iran&#8217;s ambassador to Ankara over the incident, a Turkish diplomatic source told Reuters news agency.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/59mtu<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76214841\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-israel-lebanon-strikes-kurdish-talks\/live-76207066#post-liveblog-post-76214841\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section BEFORE AND AFTER \u2014 Attacks on Iranian missile facilities<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/04\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 4, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">BEFORE AND AFTER \u2014 Attacks on Iranian missile facilities<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Use\u00a0the sliders to reveal the extent of the damage to the missile facilities at several sites in Iran.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/59mxd<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76213948\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-israel-lebanon-strikes-kurdish-talks\/live-76207066#post-liveblog-post-76213948\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section Iran strikes highlight Dubai influencers&#8217; free speech limits<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/04\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 4, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Iran strikes highlight Dubai influencers&#8217; free speech limits<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<figure class=\"placeholder-image master_landscape big\"><img data-format=\"MASTER_LANDSCAPE\" data-id=\"76203944\" data-url=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76203944_${formatId}.jpg\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16\/9\" alt=\"A woman views the Burj al-Arab and Burj Khalifa towers from a promenade overlooking the Dubai skyline on January 4, 2025\"><figcaption class=\"img-caption\">View of the luxury Burj al Arab hotel before the Iran war: Dubai has been touted as a safe paradise for decades<small class=\"copyright\">Image: Giuseppe Cacace\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Dubai influencers are accused of generating &#8220;tone-deaf&#8221; social media posts as they react \u2014 or avoid reacting \u2014 to the Iranian missile attacks on the United Arab Emirates.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-strikes-highlight-dubai-influencers-free-speech-limits\/a-76202896\">in our in-depth report<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/59mjE<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76214024\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-israel-lebanon-strikes-kurdish-talks\/live-76207066#post-liveblog-post-76214024\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section Iraq, caught in the middle, braces for Iran war impact<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/04\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 4, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Iraq, caught in the middle, braces for Iran war impact<\/h2>\n<div class=\"a9wq4ao author-details\"><span><span class=\"separator lxmvniw m4xla6a s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"> | <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<figure class=\"placeholder-image master_landscape big\"><img data-format=\"MASTER_LANDSCAPE\" data-id=\"76203003\" data-url=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76203003_${formatId}.jpg\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16\/9\" alt=\" Iraqi Shiites shout slogans as they carry a portrait of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and wave Iran flags in Baghdad on February 28, 2026\"><figcaption class=\"img-caption\">The relationship between Iran and Iraq is more than political or financial; some Shiites in Iraq saw Khamenei as their spiritual leader, too<small class=\"copyright\">Image: Ahmad Al-Rubaye\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Iraq is the only country in the Middle East to be targeted by both sides in the current conflict. There, the war could impact everything from the next government to intercommunal violence and civil servants&#8217; salaries.<\/p>\n<p>Read more on how the conflict in Iran is affecting neighboring Iraq <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-impact-on-iraq-politics-economy-middle-east-stability-explained\/a-76202543\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/59mkS<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"bp605kw center\">\n<div role=\"button\" data-tracking-name=\"show-more\" class=\"show-more-button s1va3u11 t1y9040i m7i2pic e3w9kkf b19vsmfu cx4rgdt ih9bob8 sngcpkw w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">Show more posts<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<ul>\n<li><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/nato\/t-19016346\">NATO<\/a> air defenses destroy Iranian ballistic missile fired towards Turkey, Ankara says<\/li>\n<li>The incident marks the first time a NATO member&#8217;s territory\u00a0has been impacted by\u00a0the widening conflict<\/li>\n<li>The US has sunk an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean after a torpedo strike, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says<\/li>\n<li><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/lebanon\/t-19131661\">Lebanon<\/a>&#8216;s Health Ministry says at least six\u00a0were killed in the latest round of Israeli strikes<\/li>\n<li><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/israel\/t-19067044\">Israel<\/a> announces a new &#8216;broad wave of strikes&#8217; on <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran\/t-18996175\">Iran<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Israel also says it will assassinate whoever is chosen to succeed Supreme Leader Khamenei, <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/irans-supreme-leader-khamenei-is-dead-state-media-confirms\/live-76161011\">who was killed on Saturday<\/a><\/li>\n<li>US President <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/us-president-donald-trump-russia-ukraine-israel-gaza-tariffs-trade-war\/t-19434433\">Donald Trump<\/a> says he has spoken to at least three Kurdish groups in Iraq<\/li>\n<li>Spain&#8217;s PM Sanchez slams Trump for &#8216;playing Russian roulette&#8217; in Iran attacks<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>Follow along for the latest developments in the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/us-israel-war-with-iran\/t-76168615\">US-Israeli war with Iran<\/a> on Wednesday, March 4:<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em>Follow along for the latest developments in the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/us-israel-war-with-iran\/t-76168615\">US-Israeli war with Iran<\/a> on Wednesday, March 4:<\/em><\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday that <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/spain\/t-18996264\">Spain<\/a> had agreed to cooperate with the US military amid its war against Iran.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s my understanding, over the past several hours, they&#8217;ve agreed to cooperate with the US military,&#8221; she said.<\/p>\n<p>Spanish Prime Minister <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/pedro-sanchez\/t-75997232\">Pedro Sanchez<\/a> had previously refused to let the US use jointly operated naval and air bases in southern Spain.<\/p>\n<p>A clarification from Madrid would be necessary to confirm this announcement, since Sanchez earlier in the day reaffirmed his government&#8217;s position against the war.<\/p>\n<p>Trump on Tuesday said he wanted to cut all US trade with Spain over its position. It was not immediately clear how that would work as Spain is part of the European Union which is a free-trade zone.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday that <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/spain\/t-18996264\">Spain<\/a> had agreed to cooperate with the US military amid its war against Iran.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s my understanding, over the past several hours, they&#8217;ve agreed to cooperate with the US military,&#8221; she said.<\/p>\n<p>Spanish Prime Minister <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/pedro-sanchez\/t-75997232\">Pedro Sanchez<\/a> had previously refused to let the US use jointly operated naval and air bases in southern Spain.<\/p>\n<p>A clarification from Madrid would be necessary to confirm this announcement, since Sanchez earlier in the day reaffirmed his government&#8217;s position against the war.<\/p>\n<p>Trump on Tuesday said he wanted to cut all US trade with Spain over its position. It was not immediately clear how that would work as Spain is part of the European Union which is a free-trade zone.<\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>There are several reports coming out from <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iraq\/t-19037666\">Iraq<\/a> right now that include a nationwide blackout.<\/p>\n<p>News agency AFP and Iraqi Kurdish news outlet Rudaw both cited the Electricity Ministry. It wasn&#8217;t immediately clear how much of the country was impacted and what the cause was.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, there were reports of more explosions in Erbil, in the Kurdish north, while Reuters said drones had been shot down close to\u00a0Baghdad airport.<\/p>\n<p>The US Embassy in Baghdad also recommended its\u00a0citizens leave the country.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;US\u00a0citizens in Iraq are strongly encouraged to depart as soon as they are safely able to do so, and shelter in place until such time as conditions are safe to depart,&#8221; it said in a post on X.<\/p>\n<p>We will bring you more on these reports as more updates come through.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>There are several reports coming out from <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iraq\/t-19037666\">Iraq<\/a> right now that include a nationwide blackout.<\/p>\n<p>News agency AFP and Iraqi Kurdish news outlet Rudaw both cited the Electricity Ministry. It wasn&#8217;t immediately clear how much of the country was impacted and what the cause was.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, there were reports of more explosions in Erbil, in the Kurdish north, while Reuters said drones had been shot down close to\u00a0Baghdad airport.<\/p>\n<p>The US Embassy in Baghdad also recommended its\u00a0citizens leave the country.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;US\u00a0citizens in Iraq are strongly encouraged to depart as soon as they are safely able to do so, and shelter in place until such time as conditions are safe to depart,&#8221; it said in a post on X.<\/p>\n<p>We will bring you more on these reports as more updates come through.<\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Spanish Prime Minister <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/pedro-sanchez\/t-75997232\">Pedro Sanchez<\/a> has doubled down on his opposition to the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/us-israel-war-with-iran\/t-76168615\">US-Israeli war against Iran<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>He appeared unimpressed by US President Trump&#8217;s threats to punish Spain by cutting off all trade to the country.<\/p>\n<div class=\"vjs-wrapper embed big\">\n<h2 aria-label=\"Embedded video \u2014 Spain's Prime Minister reaffirms 'no to war' against Iran\" class=\"headline\">Spain&#8217;s Prime Minister reaffirms &#8216;no to war&#8217; against Iran<\/h2>\n<p><video id=\"video-76218255\" controls playsinline preload=\"none\" poster=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" data-id=\"76218255\" data-posterurl=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76218403_605.webp\" data-duration=\"01:21\"><source src=\"https:\/\/hlsvod.dw.com\/i\/vps\/webvideos\/ENG\/2026\/DWVG\/DWVGENG260304_Q_SPAINREAX_16C_PH_01SMW_,AVC_480x270,AVC_512x288,AVC_640x360,AVC_960x540,AVC_1280x720,AVC_1920x1080,.mp4.csmil\/master.m3u8\" type=\"application\/x-mpegURL\" \/><\/video><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Spanish Prime Minister <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/pedro-sanchez\/t-75997232\">Pedro Sanchez<\/a> has doubled down on his opposition to the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/us-israel-war-with-iran\/t-76168615\">US-Israeli war against Iran<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>He appeared unimpressed by US President Trump&#8217;s threats to punish Spain by cutting off all trade to the country.<\/p>\n<p class=\"vjs-no-js\">To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that <a href=\"https:\/\/videojs.com\/html5-video-support\/\" target=\"_blank\">supports HTML5 video<\/a><\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran\/t-18996175\">Iran<\/a>&#8216;s armed forces have threatened to carry out attacks on Israeli embassies around the world if Israel strikes the Iranian mission in <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/lebanon\/t-19131661\">Lebanon<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Military spokesperson\u00a0Abolfazl Shekarchi said in a televised address that\u00a0&#8220;if Israel commits such a crime, it will force us to make all Israeli embassies around the world our legitimate target.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The threat followed comments on Tuesday by Israel&#8217;s Arabic-language military spokesperson Avichay Adraee, telling Iranian officials to leave Lebanon within 24 hours.<\/p>\n<p>He said the Israeli military\u00a0&#8220;warns representatives of the Iranian terror regime who are still in Lebanon to leave immediately before being targeted.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"vjs-wrapper embed big\">\n<h2 aria-label=\"Embedded video \u2014 Israel launches ground offensive into southern Lebanon\" class=\"headline\">Israel launches ground offensive into southern Lebanon<\/h2>\n<p><video id=\"video-76203012\" controls playsinline preload=\"none\" poster=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" data-id=\"76203012\" data-posterurl=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76192644_605.webp\" data-duration=\"02:02\"><source src=\"https:\/\/hlsvod.dw.com\/i\/vps\/webvideos\/ENG\/2026\/DWVG\/DWVGENG260303_QIran16_PH_01SMW_,AVC_480x270,AVC_512x288,AVC_640x360,AVC_960x540,AVC_1280x720,AVC_1920x1080,.mp4.csmil\/master.m3u8\" type=\"application\/x-mpegURL\" \/><\/video><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran\/t-18996175\">Iran<\/a>&#8216;s armed forces have threatened to carry out attacks on Israeli embassies around the world if Israel strikes the Iranian mission in <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/lebanon\/t-19131661\">Lebanon<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Military spokesperson\u00a0Abolfazl Shekarchi said in a televised address that\u00a0&#8220;if Israel commits such a crime, it will force us to make all Israeli embassies around the world our legitimate target.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The threat followed comments on Tuesday by Israel&#8217;s Arabic-language military spokesperson Avichay Adraee, telling Iranian officials to leave Lebanon within 24 hours.<\/p>\n<p>He said the Israeli military\u00a0&#8220;warns representatives of the Iranian terror regime who are still in Lebanon to leave immediately before being targeted.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"vjs-no-js\">To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that <a href=\"https:\/\/videojs.com\/html5-video-support\/\" target=\"_blank\">supports HTML5 video<\/a><\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>German Defense Minister <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/boris-pistorius\/t-66121275\">Boris Pistorius<\/a> made somewhat critical remarks about the US and Israeli strikes on Iran <span data-teams=\"true\">during a debate in the German parliament on the war in Iran<\/span>.<\/p>\n<p>He described their approach as &#8220;illusory,&#8221; saying conflicts cannot be resolved\u00a0&#8220;by military force and unilateral action alone.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We must emphasize\u00a0this repeatedly to our American and Israeli friends, and we will continue to do so,&#8221; <span data-teams=\"true\">Pistorius said<\/span>.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, he made clear that Germany is not party to the war, adding:\u00a0&#8220;The German <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/bundeswehr\/t-17430904\">Bundeswehr<\/a> will not take part in this war.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>He also stressed the importance of abiding by international law, but added that Iran had ignored these rules for decades. The international community had tried to curb Iran&#8217;s destructive role, but &#8220;without success,&#8221; Pistorius said.<\/p>\n<p><span data-teams=\"true\">It was clear during the debate that many in parliament were concerned about the lack of clear justification in international law for the military action by the US and Israel.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-teams=\"true\">Typical of the comments was this from Norbert R\u00f6ttgen,\u00a0a member of <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/christian-democratic-union-cdu\/t-17351950\">Chancellor Friedrich Merz&#8217;s party<\/a>: &#8221; War is an evil, no question, but I say just as clearly: the regime of the mullahs is the greatest evil for the region, for the people in Iran and beyond.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"vjs-wrapper embed big\">\n<h2 aria-label=\"Embedded video \u2014 US-Israel strikes on Iran 'obviously not legal,' lawyer says\" class=\"headline\">US-Israel strikes on Iran &#8216;obviously not legal,&#8217; lawyer says<\/h2>\n<p><video id=\"video-76189217\" controls playsinline preload=\"none\" poster=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" data-id=\"76189217\" data-posterurl=\"https:\/\/tvdownloaddw-a.akamaihd.net\/stills\/images\/je\/je20260302_GissouNia_image_512x288_3.jpg\" data-duration=\"04:24\"><source src=\"https:\/\/hlsvod.dw.com\/i\/dwtv_video\/flv\/je\/je20260302_GissouNia_,AVC_480x270,AVC_512x288,AVC_640x360,AVC_960x540,AVC_1280x720,AVC_1920x1080,.mp4.csmil\/master.m3u8\" type=\"application\/x-mpegURL\" \/><\/video><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>German Defense Minister <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/boris-pistorius\/t-66121275\">Boris Pistorius<\/a> made somewhat critical remarks about the US and Israeli strikes on Iran <span data-teams=\"true\">during a debate in the German parliament on the war in Iran<\/span>.<\/p>\n<p>He described their approach as &#8220;illusory,&#8221; saying conflicts cannot be resolved\u00a0&#8220;by military force and unilateral action alone.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We must emphasize\u00a0this repeatedly to our American and Israeli friends, and we will continue to do so,&#8221; <span data-teams=\"true\">Pistorius said<\/span>.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, he made clear that Germany is not party to the war, adding:\u00a0&#8220;The German <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/bundeswehr\/t-17430904\">Bundeswehr<\/a> will not take part in this war.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>He also stressed the importance of abiding by international law, but added that Iran had ignored these rules for decades. The international community had tried to curb Iran&#8217;s destructive role, but &#8220;without success,&#8221; Pistorius said.<\/p>\n<p><span data-teams=\"true\">It was clear during the debate that many in parliament were concerned about the lack of clear justification in international law for the military action by the US and Israel.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-teams=\"true\">Typical of the comments was this from Norbert R\u00f6ttgen,\u00a0a member of <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/christian-democratic-union-cdu\/t-17351950\">Chancellor Friedrich Merz&#8217;s party<\/a>: &#8221; War is an evil, no question, but I say just as clearly: the regime of the mullahs is the greatest evil for the region, for the people in Iran and beyond.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"vjs-no-js\">To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that <a href=\"https:\/\/videojs.com\/html5-video-support\/\" target=\"_blank\">supports HTML5 video<\/a><\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian wrote a message on X to Iran&#8217;s neighbors that have borne the brunt of its retaliatory strikes.<\/p>\n<p>He said the neighboring countries had supported efforts to avoid this war, but the US and Israeli attacks had left Iran no other option.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We respect your sovereignty,&#8221; Pezeshkian added, saying regional peace should be up to the countries in the region.<\/p>\n<p>Iranian strikes have targeted not only US military targets, but also US embassies as well as its <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-attacks-on-gulf-oil-and-gas-sites-trigger-energy-fears\/a-76199281\">neighbors&#8217; oil and gas infrastructure<\/a> as Iran\u00a0seeks to make the war as costly as possible for the US.<\/p>\n<p>This has led to fears that the countries on the receiving end of the strikes <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-saudi-arabia-united-arab-emeriates-bahrain-qatar-involvement\/a-76175593\">may fire back in turn<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian wrote a message on X to Iran&#8217;s neighbors that have borne the brunt of its retaliatory strikes.<\/p>\n<p>He said the neighboring countries had supported efforts to avoid this war, but the US and Israeli attacks had left Iran no other option.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We respect your sovereignty,&#8221; Pezeshkian added, saying regional peace should be up to the countries in the region.<\/p>\n<p>Iranian strikes have targeted not only US military targets, but also US embassies as well as its <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-attacks-on-gulf-oil-and-gas-sites-trigger-energy-fears\/a-76199281\">neighbors&#8217; oil and gas infrastructure<\/a> as Iran\u00a0seeks to make the war as costly as possible for the US.<\/p>\n<p>This has led to fears that the countries on the receiving end of the strikes <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-saudi-arabia-united-arab-emeriates-bahrain-qatar-involvement\/a-76175593\">may fire back in turn<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Following weeks of\u00a0negotiations between\u00a0US\u00a0and\u00a0Iranian\u00a0officials over\u00a0Iran&#8217;s\u00a0nuclear program, the US\u00a0and Israel on February 28\u00a0launched a coordinated cooperation dubbed Operations <a rel=\"noopener follow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"external-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/articles\/2026\/03\/peace-through-strength-president-trump-launches-operation-epic-fury-to-crush-iranian-regime-end-nuclear-threat\/\" title='External link \u2014 \"Epic Fury'>&#8220;Epic Fury<\/a>&#8221; and &#8220;Roaring Lion&#8221; against the Iranian regime.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>To better understand the conflict, <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/charting-the-us-israel-war-with-iran\/a-76209201\">here is a breakdown<\/a> of what happened and its consequences in maps and charts.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Following weeks of\u00a0negotiations between\u00a0US\u00a0and\u00a0Iranian\u00a0officials over\u00a0Iran&#8217;s\u00a0nuclear program, the US\u00a0and Israel on February 28\u00a0launched a coordinated cooperation dubbed Operations <a rel=\"noopener follow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"external-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/articles\/2026\/03\/peace-through-strength-president-trump-launches-operation-epic-fury-to-crush-iranian-regime-end-nuclear-threat\/\" title='External link \u2014 \"Epic Fury'>&#8220;Epic Fury<\/a>&#8221; and &#8220;Roaring Lion&#8221; against the Iranian regime.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>To better understand the conflict, <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/charting-the-us-israel-war-with-iran\/a-76209201\">here is a breakdown<\/a> of what happened and its consequences in maps and charts.<\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Here is a recap of the main developments of the US-Israel war against Iran\u00a0so far on Wednesday:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Turkey says NATO air defenses destroyed an Iranian missile<\/strong> that was heading towards its airspace<\/li>\n<li>Debris landed in Hatay province near the border with Syria, with no casualties reported<\/li>\n<li>The incident is the first time a NATO member&#8217;s territory has been impacted by Iran&#8217;s escalating retaliation<\/li>\n<li><strong>The US has torpedoed an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka<\/strong>, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said<\/li>\n<li>It is the first US sinking of an enemy warship by\u00a0torpedo strike since World War II<\/li>\n<li><strong>Israel has continued its air strikes on Hezbollah targets<\/strong> across Lebanon<\/li>\n<li><strong>Iran is scrambling to elect a new supreme leader\u00a0<\/strong>after the killing of Ayatollah Khamenei on Saturday<\/li>\n<li>Israel has warned thatany successor to the slain Supreme Leader Khamenei\u00a0<strong>would be a &#8220;certain target for assassination&#8221;<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>Here is a recap of the main developments of the US-Israel war against Iran\u00a0so far on Wednesday:<\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Videos claiming to show the US-Israel-Iran war are flooding social media.<br \/>\nAnd while many look dramatic or terrifying, a lot of them are fake, AI-generated, or taken completely out of context.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/fact-check\/t-56584214\">DW Fact Check<\/a> debunks a few viral claims and puts together a list that will <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/fact-check-debunking-social-media-claims-about-the-iran-war\/a-76196001\">help you tell what&#8217;s fake and what&#8217;s real.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Videos claiming to show the US-Israel-Iran war are flooding social media.<br \/>\nAnd while many look dramatic or terrifying, a lot of them are fake, AI-generated, or taken completely out of context.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/fact-check\/t-56584214\">DW Fact Check<\/a> debunks a few viral claims and puts together a list that will <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/fact-check-debunking-social-media-claims-about-the-iran-war\/a-76196001\">help you tell what&#8217;s fake and what&#8217;s real.<\/a><\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<figure class=\"placeholder-image master_landscape big\"><img data-format=\"MASTER_LANDSCAPE\" data-id=\"76216358\" data-url=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76216358_${formatId}.jpg\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16\/9\" alt=\"Iranian warship IRIS Dena is seen in the Bay of Bengal during International Fleet Review held at Visakhapatnam, India,\"><figcaption class=\"img-caption\">Sri Lanka deployed two naval vessels and an aircraft to search for missing sailors from the Iranian warship IRIS Dena [FILE: February 2026]<small class=\"copyright\">Image: AP Photo\/picture alliance<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>A United States submarine sank an Iranian warship in international waters in the Indian Ocean, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;An American submarine sunk [sic] an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters,&#8221; Hegseth told reporters at the Pentagon. &#8220;Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Hegseth did not provide further details on the ship, but an Iranian warship was reported to have sunk off the coast of Sri Lanka earlier this week.<\/p>\n<p>Hegseth told the press conference that the strike on the Iranian warship came on Tuesday night, US time. The ship had issued a distress call at dawn on Wednesday local time.<\/p>\n<p>He added that it was the first time the US had sunk an enemy ship by torpedo strike since World War II.<\/p>\n<p>Sri Lankan authorities said they had rescued 32 crew members from the IRIS Dena frigate, but that 148 other sailors were still unaccounted for.<\/p>\n<p>The US has said one of the main objectives of its joint operation with Israel against Iran is to eradicate Tehran&#8217;s naval capabilities.<\/p>\n<p>For more on this story, <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/us-submarine-torpedoes-iranian-warship-in-indian-ocean\/a-76216943\">read our full report<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>A United States submarine sank an Iranian warship in international waters in the Indian Ocean, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;An American submarine sunk [sic] an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters,&#8221; Hegseth told reporters at the Pentagon. &#8220;Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Hegseth did not provide further details on the ship, but an Iranian warship was reported to have sunk off the coast of Sri Lanka earlier this week.<\/p>\n<p>Hegseth told the press conference that the strike on the Iranian warship came on Tuesday night, US time. The ship had issued a distress call at dawn on Wednesday local time.<\/p>\n<p>He added that it was the first time the US had sunk an enemy ship by torpedo strike since World War II.<\/p>\n<p>Sri Lankan authorities said they had rescued 32 crew members from the IRIS Dena frigate, but that 148 other sailors were still unaccounted for.<\/p>\n<p>The US has said one of the main objectives of its joint operation with Israel against Iran is to eradicate Tehran&#8217;s naval capabilities.<\/p>\n<p>For more on this story, <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/us-submarine-torpedoes-iranian-warship-in-indian-ocean\/a-76216943\">read our full report<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/nato\/t-19016346\">NATO<\/a> air defenses in the eastern Mediterranean have destroyed an Iranian missile that was heading toward\u00a0Turkish airspace, officials in Ankara said Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>In a statement, Turkey&#8217;s Defense Ministry said the ballistic missile, which flew over Iraq and Syria, &#8220;was engaged in a timely manner \u2026 and rendered inactive.&#8221;\u00a0There were no casualties, the ministry said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Any steps necessary to defend our territory and airspace will be taken decisively and without hesitation,&#8221; the statement added.<\/p>\n<p>This is the first time that Turkey \u2014 a <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/nato-russia-ukraine-article-5-security-defense-alliance-poland\/a-60688639\">NATO<\/a> member which shares a border with Iran \u2014 has been directly involved in the escalating conflict that began on Saturday when the United States and Israel launched a large-scale air attack on Iran.<\/p>\n<p>Tehran&#8217;s response in the days since has seen it launch drones and missiles at several countries across the Gulf, as well as Israel.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We warn all parties to refrain from actions that would lead to further escalation of conflict \u200cin the region,&#8221; the Turkish Defense Ministry said.<\/p>\n<p>A Turkish official told the AFP news agency that Ankara believes that Turkey was not a\u00a0target of the missile, which veered off its course to\u00a0a base in Cyprus.<\/p>\n<p>NATO\u00a0spokesperson \u200cAllison \u2060Hart said the alliance condemns the incident.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;\u200bNATO stands \u200bfirmly with \u200call allies, including Turkiye, \u200cas Iran continues \u200cits indiscriminate \u200battacks across the region. Our deterrence \u200band defence posture remains strong \u2060across \u200ball domains, \u200bincluding when it \u200bcomes to \u200cair and missile \u200bdefence,&#8221; \u2060Hart said.<\/p>\n<p>Turkey has summoned Iran&#8217;s ambassador to Ankara over the incident, a Turkish diplomatic source told Reuters news agency.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/nato\/t-19016346\">NATO<\/a> air defenses in the eastern Mediterranean have destroyed an Iranian missile that was heading toward\u00a0Turkish airspace, officials in Ankara said Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>In a statement, Turkey&#8217;s Defense Ministry said the ballistic missile, which flew over Iraq and Syria, &#8220;was engaged in a timely manner \u2026 and rendered inactive.&#8221;\u00a0There were no casualties, the ministry said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Any steps necessary to defend our territory and airspace will be taken decisively and without hesitation,&#8221; the statement added.<\/p>\n<p>This is the first time that Turkey \u2014 a <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/nato-russia-ukraine-article-5-security-defense-alliance-poland\/a-60688639\">NATO<\/a> member which shares a border with Iran \u2014 has been directly involved in the escalating conflict that began on Saturday when the United States and Israel launched a large-scale air attack on Iran.<\/p>\n<p>Tehran&#8217;s response in the days since has seen it launch drones and missiles at several countries across the Gulf, as well as Israel.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We warn all parties to refrain from actions that would lead to further escalation of conflict \u200cin the region,&#8221; the Turkish Defense Ministry said.<\/p>\n<p>A Turkish official told the AFP news agency that Ankara believes that Turkey was not a\u00a0target of the missile, which veered off its course to\u00a0a base in Cyprus.<\/p>\n<p>NATO\u00a0spokesperson \u200cAllison \u2060Hart said the alliance condemns the incident.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;\u200bNATO stands \u200bfirmly with \u200call allies, including Turkiye, \u200cas Iran continues \u200cits indiscriminate \u200battacks across the region. Our deterrence \u200band defence posture remains strong \u2060across \u200ball domains, \u200bincluding when it \u200bcomes to \u200cair and missile \u200bdefence,&#8221; \u2060Hart said.<\/p>\n<p>Turkey has summoned Iran&#8217;s ambassador to Ankara over the incident, a Turkish diplomatic source told Reuters news agency.<\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Use\u00a0the sliders to reveal the extent of the damage to the missile facilities at several sites in Iran.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Use\u00a0the sliders to reveal the extent of the damage to the missile facilities at several sites in Iran.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<figure class=\"placeholder-image master_landscape big\"><img data-format=\"MASTER_LANDSCAPE\" data-id=\"76203944\" data-url=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76203944_${formatId}.jpg\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16\/9\" alt=\"A woman views the Burj al-Arab and Burj Khalifa towers from a promenade overlooking the Dubai skyline on January 4, 2025\"><figcaption class=\"img-caption\">View of the luxury Burj al Arab hotel before the Iran war: Dubai has been touted as a safe paradise for decades<small class=\"copyright\">Image: Giuseppe Cacace\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Dubai influencers are accused of generating &#8220;tone-deaf&#8221; social media posts as they react \u2014 or avoid reacting \u2014 to the Iranian missile attacks on the United Arab Emirates.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-strikes-highlight-dubai-influencers-free-speech-limits\/a-76202896\">in our in-depth report<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Dubai influencers are accused of generating &#8220;tone-deaf&#8221; social media posts as they react \u2014 or avoid reacting \u2014 to the Iranian missile attacks on the United Arab Emirates.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-strikes-highlight-dubai-influencers-free-speech-limits\/a-76202896\">in our in-depth report<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<figure class=\"placeholder-image master_landscape big\"><img data-format=\"MASTER_LANDSCAPE\" data-id=\"76203003\" data-url=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76203003_${formatId}.jpg\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16\/9\" alt=\" Iraqi Shiites shout slogans as they carry a portrait of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and wave Iran flags in Baghdad on February 28, 2026\"><figcaption class=\"img-caption\">The relationship between Iran and Iraq is more than political or financial; some Shiites in Iraq saw Khamenei as their spiritual leader, too<small class=\"copyright\">Image: Ahmad Al-Rubaye\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Iraq is the only country in the Middle East to be targeted by both sides in the current conflict. There, the war could impact everything from the next government to intercommunal violence and civil servants&#8217; salaries.<\/p>\n<p>Read more on how the conflict in Iran is affecting neighboring Iraq <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-impact-on-iraq-politics-economy-middle-east-stability-explained\/a-76202543\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Iraq is the only country in the Middle East to be targeted by both sides in the current conflict. There, the war could impact everything from the next government to intercommunal violence and civil servants&#8217; salaries.<\/p>\n<p>Read more on how the conflict in Iran is affecting neighboring Iraq <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-impact-on-iraq-politics-economy-middle-east-stability-explained\/a-76202543\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-israel-lebanon-strikes-kurdish-talks\/live-76207066&#8243;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76210332_6.jpg&#8221;] https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/59kwE Israeli strikes hit a number of cities in Lebanon including Beirut, Aramoun and SaadiyatImage: AFP\/Getty Images Skip next section What you need to know What you need to know NATO air defenses destroy Iranian ballistic missile fired towards Turkey, Ankara says The incident marks the first time a NATO member&#8217;s territory\u00a0has [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,74],"class_list":["post-1806805","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-dw-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1806805","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1806805"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1806805\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1806805"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1806805"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1806805"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}