DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Intense Israeli airstrikes pounded the capitals of Iran and Lebanon early Friday as the U.S. apparently struck an Iranian drone carrier at sea, intensifying its campaign targeting the Islamic Republic’s fleet of warships.

Iran launched new retaliatory attacks in the Middle East at the end of a full week of bombardment, which U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned was “about to surge dramatically.”

Israel’s military said Friday morning it had begun “a broad-scale wave of strikes” on Tehran, Iran’s capital. Witnesses described the Israeli airstrikes as particularly intense, shaking homes in the area. Others reported explosions around the Iranian city of Kermanshah in an area that is home to multiple missile bases.

The Israeli military said strikes have already destroyed most of Iran’s air defenses and missile launchers.

The war has escalated to affect countries across the Middle East and beyond. Early Friday, Iran fired missile and drone attacks into Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, all countries that host U.S. forces. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

In Lebanon, where the war has intensified fighting between Israel and Iran-allied Hezbollah militants, Israel launched a series of airstrikes late Thursday into Friday in the southern suburbs of Beirut and other areas. Motorists jammed roads trying to flee or seek shelter.

The U.S. and Israel have battered Iran with nationwide strikes, targeting their military capabilities, leadership and nuclear program.

Iran’s attacks have targeted their Arab neighbors, disrupted oil supplies and snarled global air travel. The war has killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, more than 120 in Lebanon and around a dozen in Israel, according to officials in those countries. Six U.S. troops have been killed.

U.S. says it struck an Iranian drone carrier

The U.S. military said early Friday that it struck an Iranian drone carrier, setting it ablaze.

The U.S. military’s Central Command released black-and-white footage of the burning carrier. The Iranian military did not immediately acknowledge the attack.

The drone carrier, the IRIS Shahid Bagheri, is a converted container ship with a 180-meter-long (yard) runway for drones. The vessel can travel up to 22,000 nautical miles without needing to refuel in ports, reports said at the time of its 2005 inauguration.

Adm. Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command, described the carrier as “roughly the size of a World War II aircraft carrier.”

“And as we speak, it’s on fire,” Cooper told reporters.

Speaking alongside Cooper, Hegseth gave few details Thursday when he promised an upcoming surge.

“It’s more fighter squadrons, it’s more capabilities, it’s more defensive capabilities,” Hegseth said. “And it’s more bomber pulses more frequently.”

Iran targets country’s hosting U.S. forces

Qatar’s Defense Ministry reported early Friday it intercepted a drone attack targeting Al Udeid Air Base, which hosts the forward headquarters of the U.S. Central Command.

Saudi Arabia intercepted and destroyed three ballistic missiles fired early Friday toward Prince Sultan Air Base south of Riyadh, which hosts U.S. forces, said a spokesperson for Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense.

Air raid sirens sounded in Bahrain, where the Interior Ministry said Iranian strikes targeted two hotels and a residential building. It said there were no casualties. In Kuwait, where the six U.S. soldiers were killed Sunday, the Kuwaiti army said its air defenses were activated when missile and drone attacks breached Kuwait’s airspace.

Trump again urges Iranians to “take back” their country

In brief remarks at the White House on Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump again urged the Iranian people to “help take back your country.” This time he promised the U.S. would grant them “immunity” amid the war and ongoing dangers under the current Iranian regime.

“So you’ll be perfectly safe with total immunity,” Trump said, without giving any details about what that meant. “Or you’ll face absolutely guaranteed death.”

In an interview with the news website Axios, Trump said he should be involved in choosing Iran’s new supreme leader to replace Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the opening strikes of the war. Trump spoke dismissively of Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, being a front-runner to replace his father, calling him “a lightweight.”

“We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran,” Trump said.

Iranian official says there’s no trust to resume talks with U.S.

Iran has not requested talks with the U.S. to bring an end to the widening war, Iran’s ambassador to Egypt told the Associated Press on Thursday. Ambassador Mojtaba Ferdousi Pour denied comments by Trump that Iran wants to negotiate.

He said a lack of trust makes such engagement impossible after talks for a possible nuclear deal twice failed and ended with war.

“There will be no trust in Trump,” Ferdousi Pour said.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the U.S. Navy of committing “an atrocity at sea” for sinking the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean, killing at least 87 crew members.

The Iranian ship was returning from an exercise hosted by the Indian navy that the U.S. also joined. Sri Lankan authorities said 32 crew members were rescued. Araghchi said it had been carrying “almost 130” crew.

An Iranian cleric later called on state television for the shedding of both Israeli and “Trump’s blood.”

Israel hits Lebanon with multiple airstrikes around Beirut

Israel carried out at least 11 airstrikes late Thursday and early Friday, targeting the southern suburbs of Beirut. Fires broke out near a gas station.

The Israeli army issued a warning Thursday evening, urging residents to “save your lives and evacuate your homes immediately.” Two hospitals evacuated patients and staff. No casualties were immediately reported.

The Lebanese health ministry said the death toll has risen to 123 since the resurgence of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, which struck Israel in the opening days of the war.

A spokesperson for the U.N. peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, Tilak Pokharel, said Thursday that peacekeepers had seen and heard clashes, including ground combat, in southern Lebanon as more Israeli forces have moved across the border.

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Bynum reported from Savannah, Georgia, and Abou AlJoud from Beirut, Lebanon. AP journalists around the world contributed.

The news spread like wildfire and within minutes, the streets of Beirut were gripped with panic.

We saw residents stuffing themselves into cars – or trying to leave on foot with whatever they could carry on their back.

Iran war latest – follow live updates

The Israeli military had issued an evacuation order on four separate districts in the city’s southern suburbs and half a million people or more had taken to the streets.

They were united by one single aim: to flee the capital as quickly as they could.

The fear was self-evident – that Israeli planes and drones will obliterate their homes.

‘It’s so dangerous’

We managed to grab a word with one man preparing to flee. His wife cradled a small child on the back of his battered-looking moped.

“The whole place is under threat; it seems they’re going to strike, we’ve got to pick up our family and flee,” he said.

His wife added: “With all these threats and strikes, it’s so dangerous, it is not safe at all.”

He then guided his bike into the snarling traffic.

Read more on Sky News:
China projects unity amid chaos
UK won’t rule out joining strikes

The words of a far-right Israeli cabinet minister have amplified the anxiety here.

The Beirut suburb of Dahiya, said Bezalal Smotrich, would resemble the decimated city of Khan Younis in Gaza.

“You wanted to bring hell on us, you brought hell on yourselves. Dahiyah will look like Khan Younis. Our citizens of the north will live quietly, in peace and in security,” he declared.

What seems clear to people in Lebanon is that the Israelis are now making the rules.

Residents in southern Lebanon have also been ordered to leave their homes and head north beyond the Litani River – and we discovered their air campaign was well under way in the coastal city of Tyre.

‘We have nowhere to go’

We were taken to a bomb site by a member of Hezbollah’s media arm, who told us we were looking at the city power station.

A giant tank holding diesel was punctured with holes and a tower supporting solar panels had collapsed. The site was stinking, smoking wreck and Tyre no longer had electricity.

We wondered why some city residents had decided to stay.

Hussein Chehadeh told us the reason was simple – he had “no money”, he said, and had the pressure of paying for children, petrol, houses, and rent.

“Our problem here in the south”, he said, [is] “we have nowhere to go”.

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‘Month of death and destruction’ in Lebanon

Israel ‘will not stop’

Mr Chehadeh and many others in the south are putting themselves at risk.

In exclusive footage passed to Sky News, we saw the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) taking up positions in the southern Lebanese hills, with the country’s military chief of staff suggesting that Israel was prepared to go much further.

“We are striking forcefully, deeper inside Lebanon, and we will strengthen control in the south. We will not stop until Hezbollah is disarmed,” said Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir.

It seems this military conflict may morph into all-out war – a contest and a potential catastrophe that could sweep up all in its path.

Officers were called to an address on Stoneleigh Road, Oldham, at around 5.12pm after reports of a serious assault.

They found a man with several injuries who was taken to hospital, but sadly died a day later on Monday, March 2.

Police have formally identified the man as Kenneth Turner.

Dwaine Turner, 35, of Stoneleigh Road, Oldham, has now been charged with murder and is being held in police custody.

He is due to appear at Tameside Magistrates Court tomorrow (Thursday, March 5, 2026).

Detective Chief Inspector Louise Edwards, of GMP’s Major Incident Team, said: “Our priority is understanding the full circumstances which led to this tragic incident and getting justice for the victim.

“Our thoughts are with Kenneth’s family, who are being supported by specialist officers.

“We recognise that this investigation may cause concern within the local community, but I want to assure the public that this is an isolated incident.

“You will notice an increased presence in the area whilst we conduct enquiries, but also across the coming days as the local neighbourhood team look to provide reassurance to those living close by.

“Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact police on 101 quoting the log number 2358 of 01/03/26, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

Yorkshire Water contractors will divert a sewer at the end of Derwent Terrace, in Norton, into a sewer pumping station on Church Street, reducing the risk of flooding to properties on Derwent Terrace, St Nicholas Street and Brunswick Terrace.

Long standing flooding campaigner, Liberal Democrat councillor, Di Keal, said: “This scheme has been a long time coming and has, for this area of Norton, been the missing piece in the flood alleviation jigsaw ever since we campaigned for the main flood defences that run through Malton, Norton and Old Malton were completed in 2001 at a cost of £10.3 million.

“It will mean that people in this area will sleep easier in the beds when we see the heavy rain such as that which has come down over the winter this year.

“With the changes we have seen in weather patterns as a result of climate change, intense rain has become a regular event which can overwhelm the drains and lead to flooding from sewers very quickly.

“In terms of inundation in the UK there is no worse form of flooding than from sewers – it is absolutely disgusting and a health hazard. It will be a great relief for residents in Norton not to have this risk hanging over them numerous times every year.

“There is still a considerable amount of work to do in Malton and Old Malton to further alleviate flooding, but this work in Norton is a huge step in the right direction.”

Mark Allsop, partnerships officer at Yorkshire Water said contract partners, B Jeffrey Construction, will be diverting the existing combined sewer network away from Derwent Terrace, towards the wastewater pumping station on Church Street, to reduce the risk of sewer flooding in the area, and subsequent disruption.

He said: “A combined sewer network carries both wastewater and surface water flows, and flooding has occurred here previously when the network has been overwhelmed with rainfall.

“The work is expected to take around six weeks, and contract partners will be using directional drilling techniques to lay the pipe instead of a traditional excavation in order to reduce the impact to nearby properties during construction.

“This scheme is incredibly important for residents of Derwent Terrace and St Nicholas Street, and we’re pleased to be able to start the work. Our teams will be working as quickly as possible, so that residents can start to feel the benefit of the work in the very near future.”

Yorkshire Water, the Environment Agency and North Yorkshire Council organise monthly Flood Hub drop-ins, alternately at Norton on Derwent and Malton Town Council offices where members of the public can ask questions about this flood scheme and other flood related issues. For more information go to https://www.norton-on-derwent-tc.gov.uk/

Rebecca Bean was arrested after concerns were raised about the welfare of the children, Teesside Crown Court heard.

The 25-year-old was discovered to have cocaine, ketamine and prescription drugs in her system at the time of her arrest after returning from McDonald’s and slurring her words.

James Yearsley, prosecuting, said there was a cannabis grinder and other paraphernalia in a house in Consett, County Durham, when social services and the police searched the property.

Tests revealed that both children had traces of cocaine in their system while one child had alcohol in their urine.

Bean, of Chapel View, Rowlands Gill, Gateshead, pleaded guilty to two charges of child neglect.

Michael Forrest, mitigating, said his client had pleaded guilty to the charges in this ‘tragic case’ at the earliest opportunity.

Read more:

He added: “She is mortified, remorseful and deeply ashamed of what happened after looking at the photographs.”

Recorder Mark McKone KC sentenced Bean to 12 months in custody suspended for 18 months and ordered her to attend 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

“You have good prospects of rehabilitation,” he said. “You have no previous convictions and you pleaded guilty.

“You now recognise the enormity of what you did or did not do. I don’t believe that you will take drugs again.”

President Donald Trump has boasted of “totally demolishing” Iranian military forces as world famous soccer star Lionel Messi and his Miami teammates stood awkwardly behind him.

“The United States military, together with the wonderful Israeli partners, continues to totally demolish the enemy far ahead of schedule and at levels that people have never seen before,” the president said Thursday.

Trump made the comments at the top of the White House event to honor Inter Miami’s 2025 victory in the MLS Cup. The winning squad, including Luis Suárez and coach Javier Mascherano were present, while Messi entered the room with the president.

“We’re destroying more of Iran‘s missiles and drone capability every single hour, knocking them out like nobody thought was possible,” the president said, as the players fidgeted uncomfortably.

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“As soon as they set off a missile, within four minutes, the launcher gets hit, they don’t know what’s happening, but we have the greatest military anywhere in the world, their navy is gone – 24 ships in three days. That’s a lot of ships.”

Trump went on to justify the campaign, nicknamed Operation Epic Fury – which Iran claims has killed 1,200 of its people – saying: “We had really no choice, they were gonna hit us if we didn’t hit them, because they’re crazy.”

“We blew up their party,” he said, adding that Iranian officials were now “calling” to ask about a deal. “I said, you’re being a little bit late, and we want to fight now more than they do.”

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After giving brief remarks on the economy and operations in Cuba, singling out Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump finally turned to the players – boasting that he was the only president who had been able to get Messi to the Oval Office.

“It’s my distinct privilege to say what no American president has ever had the chance to say before. Welcome to the White House, Lionel Messi,” he declared, adding that his youngest son, Barron Trump, had been especially excited about the event.

“My son said, ‘Dad, you know who’s going to be there today? I said, ‘No, I got a lot of things going on.’ He said, ‘Messi,’ I said, ‘Really?’ He’s a big fan. He’s a big fan of yours. He thinks you’re just a great person,” Trump said to the Argentinian superstar, who smiled and nodded politely.

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Trump continued: “I think you [and Barron] got to meet a little while. He’s a big soccer fan, but he’s a tremendous fan of yours. And a gentleman named Ronaldo. We have Cristiano – is great. You’re great to play some, some big champions, some great, great athletes in that sport, and people that really love what they’re doing, and they’re doing it well.

“And it’s an honor for us and everybody at the White House to be honoring you today.”

Other members of Trump’s cabinet showed up for the ceremony including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, and Attorney General Pam Bondi. They were joined by former professional baseball player Alex “A-Rod” Rodriguez.

A pink Inter Miami shirt emblazoned with “Trump” and the number 47 was presented to the president by Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas.

CLEVELAND (AP) — The mother of two young girls found buried inside suitcases in Cleveland was charged Thursday with two counts of aggravated murder, police said.

Aliyah Henderson, 28, is accused of killing Mila Chatman and Amor Wilson, whose remains were recovered after a dog walker led authorities to the suitcases four days earlier.

Mila’s father, DeShaun Chatman, said Thursday that he had been looking for his daughter and pursuing custody for five years before investigators told him late Wednesday she was dead.

Chatman said he repeatedly sought emergency custody and had tried to locate Mila through a child welfare agency, but those efforts were unsuccessful because he did not know where they were living.

“It’s very much horrible,” Chatman said, adding that it turned out Mila had been living within view of where their bodies were found. He said he felt “useless — I couldn’t save my baby.”

Phone numbers linked to Henderson were no longer hers, and it was unclear if she was represented by a lawyer.

A police case report said the two suitcases were found about 25 feet (8 meters) apart in the field near Ginn Academy in Cleveland’s South Collinwood neighborhood.

The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the names late Thursday and said DNA relationship testing helped identify them. The office said Mila would have been 8 years old and her half-sister Amor 10.

Sgt. Wilfredo Diaz said earlier Thursday that police detained Henderson on Wednesday evening after detectives completed initial interviews and examined evidence. A child, seemingly in good health, was located inside a house that investigators searched and placed in the custody of the Department of Children and Family Services, police said.

Chatman, a restaurant cook, said he and Henderson were not married but lived together for about a year after their daughter was born. He last saw Mila in 2020, when she was 3 years old.

“Mila was happy-go-lucky, always smiling,” Chatman said. “Favorite color was pink — she swore that she was a princess. She was always happy. She was a kid’s kid.”

He said authorities have not told him how the girls died.

“We are hoping to find answers,” Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy Todd told reporters earlier this week. “This is a terrible, tragic situation.”

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Scolforo reported from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

The average price for 500 litres of home heating oil has risen by 80% in the past week in Northern Ireland. The Consumer Council’s Home Heating Oil Price Checker, which is updated every Thursday, shows a substantial price rise across all quantities of oil compared to last week’s figures.

On February 26, the average price of 500 litres of home heating oil was £307.38, while today it has risen to £555.59 – an increase of 80%. Last week, 900 litres came to £536.72, while today it has risen 75% to £948.41.

Today, 300 litres of oil will set you back an average of £347.19, while last week it was £202.12, representing a price rise of 71% in seven days.

READ MORE: Northern Ireland home heating oil prices ‘jump by over £100’ due to conflict in IranREAD MORE: Firmus energy announces price reduction in Ten Towns from April

It comes as Israel and the US launched attacks on the Iranian capital and other parts of the country last weekend, with Iran retaliating against US personnel across the Middle East.

The latest oil prices fluctuate depending on location in Northern Ireland, too. In the Newry City, Mourne & Down area, 300 litres of oil is currently £10.81 above the regional average at £358, while in Derry City & Strabane, prices are £13.20 below average at £333.99.

Fermanagh & Omagh is currently the most expensive place to purchase 500 litres of oil, with prices £13.66 above average at £569.25. In Derry City & Strabane, prices for 500 litres are £18.29 below average at £537.30.

When it comes to 900 litres, Fermanagh & Omagh is again the most expensive area, with prices £23.64 above average at £972.05. Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon is currently the cheapest area for 900 litres, with prices £12.41 below average at £936.

Cheapest Oil, an independent price comparison service for home heating oil across the UK, explained what they are currently seeing across Northern Ireland. They said: “We’ve seen many suppliers no longer providing quotes for heating oil, removing prices from their websites or listing “go away” prices perhaps until they can be sure at what price they can buy at.”

The Consumer Council said crude oil prices are “rising and remain unpredictable in the short term” due to the ongoing conflict.

Raymond Gormley, Head of Energy Policy at the Consumer Council said: “As we import all our home heating oil, Northern Ireland is at the mercy of volatile global oil markets and the price that consumers pay is impacted by a complex range of factors, including geopolitical tensions which can result in price fluctuations.”

Consumer Council advice

If you need a fill of oil, the Consumer Council has issued the following advice:

Shop around for the best price

Check the Consumer Council weekly home heating oil price checker to see what typical oil prices are for 30, 500 and 900 litres of oil. Then contact a few oil suppliers to compare prices to find the most competitive deal – Don’t settle for the first quote you receive.

Join a heating oil buying group