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Middle East crisis live: Israeli military tells hundreds of thousands to flee Beirut

As we’ve been reporting, intense waves of US-Israeli airstrikes have hit dozens of military positions, frontier posts and police stations along northern parts of Iran’s border with Iraq in what appears to be preparation by the US and Israel for a new front in their war. Iran has warned “separatist groups” in this region against joining the widening conflict and launched strikes against Iraq-based Kurdish groups it described as “opposed to the revolution”. In today’s edition of our Today in Focus: The Latest podcast, Nosheen Iqbal speaks to the Guardian’s deputy head of international news Devika Bhat to find out: could the involvement of these militant groups increase the risk of a civil war in Iran if the regime collapses?

Sirens over RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus are stark reminder of its proximity to war

The siren that warned a ballistic missile launched from Iran might be heading towards RAF Akrotiri sounded just as the defence secretary, John Healey, had sat down in a secure room on the base, preparing for the day’s Cobra meeting with the prime minister and cabinet. It was the second time the alert had been sounded that day, a sound that has driven many locals to leave the area in fear. When the siren blares, any officer or soldier out in the open air dons body armour and helmets and lies on the ground. Healey simply pressed mute on his video briefing. “The general advice is just to move away from windows,” Healey smiled, standing in the bright winter sunshine on the apron next to an F-45 jet and a Typhoon. “I was already in a windowless room. But it’s a reminder of the increasingly indiscriminate threat that Iran poses as we’ve seen from their first retaliatory strikes. Countries that are not involved in the conflict, civilian as well as military targets. It’s why we’re stepping up now.” Each time the all-clear has come quickly: the missile has gone up, but military intelligence quickly establishes the trajectory is not towards Cyprus. But each time the siren went off, it was a reminder just how close to the frontline the base is – and why British troops here might be a target. It has also terrified local people, many of whom have left the surrounding towns, and provoked anger at the lack of preparedness for the US-Israeli attacks on Iran and what they might provoke. The base is usually a hive of activity with 4,000 people, military personnel but also teachers, chefs, civilian personnel and families. In one of the rooms on the base where journalists gather to wait for Healey’s arrival, there are huge sheets of paper scrawled with children’s drawings, where families on the base had waited to be evacuated after a drone evaded the base’s defence systems on Sunday night. Families have moved to temporary accommodation in Paphos in the west of the island, as have catering staff. Stores have closed and the base is now on its highest alert. The drone that military officials believed was fired by the pro-Iranian militia Hezbollah in Lebanon hit an uneasy target – a hangar housing American U-2 spy planes. It is an indication that whoever fired it knew and understood it was aimed at a deliberate target. Healey and the UK have faced significant questions from the Cypriot government about why the base and the island were not better defended. Two wildcat helicopters will arrive at the base overnight, with more sophisticated air defence and detection systems that will be better equipped to spot the small slow-moving drones such as the one that evaded the systems on Sunday night and crashed into the hangar – leaving a 3ft hole. Small though it might be – the size of a Labrador puppy – the damage it did would have certainly caused casualties if it had hit a room on the base with people inside. The base has the highest concentration of British military personnel closest to the war – 200 miles across the eastern Mediterranean. Looking up at the cloudless night sky, you can see the pinprick light of missiles over Israel. The military presence in Cyprus is set to increase significantly, with warships on their way or already present from France and Greece, to be joined by a British ship next week – all of which will bolster the island’s air defences. As yet, there is no clear collaboration or command, which is the next focus for the leadership of the base here. Much of the past few days has been spent soothing nerves of the Cypriot government, which Healey met in Nicosia on Thursday morning. For now there is no threat to the future of the base, though local protests have been gathering to express anger at the British presence. As Healey returned to the vehicles after meeting troops by the jets, the sirens sounded again. The convoy started to move at great speed, passing troops in helmets taking cover behind white-washed walls. Again, it was a false alarm, the trajectory of the missile that was detected and it was not towards the base. There is a sense among officials that given one drone evaded detection, it is better to alert with an abundance of caution – meaning there are a lot of false positives. But the constant squawk of sirens will only add to the impression for many of the Cypriots living near the base that the war is really on their doorstep.

Celebrating women’s contribution in times of war and peace | Brief letters

Marina Hyde (To anyone who thinks Trump can bring peace and equality to Iran – I’ve got a bridge to sell you. Going cheap, 3 March) admires the master military strategist Carl von Clausewitz. We should also remember Marie von Clausewitz, especially as we celebrate International Women’s Day on Sunday. Marie organised and edited her husband’s heaps of papers for his great work, On War, and published the volume after his death. She was a formidable intellect yet her contribution, as so often, is underappreciated. Struan Macdonald Hayes, Kent • David Drew (Letters, 1 March) says his sons were identified as peaceniks on the basis of carrying a Guardian. When I was visited at home by my GP 40 years ago, a Guardian lay at my bedside. After examining me, he said that I would no doubt have questions about his diagnosis. When I asked what made him so sure, he said: “I’ve never known a Guardian reader not to have intelligent questions.” Chris Burgess Stockport, Greater Manchester • I must commend David Pope’s observations on talking to strangers (Letters, 1 March). Living in rural Wales and walking my dog along the same length of canal every day, I can confirm that I frequently meet Bryn, Polly and Milo, and Joe greets them all, while I exchange small talk with their anonymous owners. John Young Usk, Monmouthshire • As a resident of central London, I would be delighted if parliament moves out (Letters, 3 March). Not having the city centre gridlocked by demonstrations every weekend would be such a relief. Andy Smith London • Have an opinion on anything you’ve read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.

Jimmy Lai and the rule of law in Hong Kong | Letter

Regarding your editorial (The Guardian view on Jimmy Lai: what Britain’s caution says about its relationship to Beijing’s power, 10 February), I wish to make the following points. First, Jimmy Lai is by no means the “defender of democracy” portrayed in some western media narratives, but a principal figure behind the turmoil in Hong Kong. He was a key planner and participant in a series of anti-China incidents aimed at destabilising Hong Kong, and served as an agent and pawn of external anti-China forces. What he has done would constitute criminal offences in any country and must be punished in accordance with the law. Second, Hong Kong returned to China in 1997, and the Sino-British Joint Declaration has long fulfilled its historical mission. The constitutional and legal basis for the Chinese government’s governance of Hong Kong lies in China’s constitution and Hong Kong’s basic law. Since the enactment of the National Security Law in 2020, Hong Kong has restored stability, and the rights and freedoms of residents are better protected in a more secure environment. Third, Hong Kong affairs are China’s internal affairs, and Hong Kong’s judiciary does not allow external interference. Moreover, China does not recognise dual nationality. Jimmy Lai is regarded in Hong Kong solely as a Chinese citizen. We urge the Guardian to respect China’s sovereignty and the rule of law in Hong Kong and to report on related issues in an objective and fair-minded manner. Bi Haibo Spokesperson, Chinese embassy in the UK

Iran war briefing: Azerbaijan responds strongly to alleged Iranian drone strike

Azerbaijan has responded strongly to an alleged drone strike in the Nakhchivan region near the border of Iran. Although Iran has denied any involvement, Ilham Aliyev, the president of Azerbaijan, has ordered the country’s armed forces to be at “the highest level of readiness” for any retaliatory action and summoned Iran’s ambassador to the foreign ministry in Baku. Iran claimed it had hit a US oil tanker in the northern Persian Gulf and that the vessel was on fire. There was no immediate confirmation of the incident or comment from the US. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it maintains full control of the Strait of Hormuz and has effectively closed it to oil and gas exports. The UK defence secretary, John Healey, flew into Cyprus to calm the diplomatic fallout over a drone that hit an RAF base, prompting fury from local ministers. UK officials believe the drone evaded detection by flying low and slow when it was launched by pro-Iranian militia in Lebanon or western Iraq. Iran continued to launch a wave of missiles at Israel, sending millions of residents into bomb shelters, just hours after moves to limit Donald Trump’s ability to prolong the war were blocked in Washington. Other countries in the Gulf region continued to deal with the fallout: six people were injured in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates from falling debris after air defences intercepted a drone, and Qatar officials urged residents to stay inside as air defences worked to halt an attack. The ministry of defence in Bahrain said on Thursday that their air defences had destroyed 75 missiles and 123 drones since the start of the conflict. The Israeli military said it was beginning a new widespread wave of attacks in Tehran. Israel also said it carried out strikes on Beirut targeting Hezbollah while Lebanese state media reported an Israeli drone strike killed a Hamas official. The World Health Organization said it had verified more than a dozen attacks on health infrastructure in Iran amid the US-Israeli campaign. Four healthcare workers have been killed and 25 others injured, according to the organisation.

Iranian ship asks to dock in Sri Lankan port after US sinking of frigate

A second Iranian ship has been reported in waters close to Sri Lanka and has sought emergency permission to dock, a day after a US submarine sank an Iranian frigate, killing more than 80 people onboard. The Sri Lankan minister Nalinda Jayatissa told parliament that another Iranian vessel was sailing close to Sri Lanka’s territorial waters on Thursday morning. “We are making necessary interventions to resolve this issue, restrict the threat to lives and to ensure regional security,” said Jayatissa. Sources told the Guardian the second Iranian ship was a military logistical support vessel. It may be as close as 10 nautical miles from the western coast of Sri Lanka, putting it within the country’s sovereign waters. The sources said the ship, which is reported to have a crew of more than 100, had made an urgent request to dock at Colombo port for engine repairs. On Tuesday night, a US torpedo destroyed the IRIS Dena, an Iranian warship, as it headed back home after taking part in a military training exercise in India. The attack quickly sank the vessel and killed at least 84 sailors. According to the Sri Lankan opposition MP Namal Rajapaksa, the second ship has sought the government’s permission to make an urgent port call but is yet to be given clearance. The president of Sri Lanka, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, was meeting with his cabinet and defence officials on Thursday to decide on a response. The targeting of the IRIS Dena marked an escalation of the US-Israeli assault on Iran, which began over the weekend. In the first Iranian response to the ship’s sinking, the country’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said the US would “bitterly regret” the attack. “The US has perpetrated an atrocity at sea, 2,000 miles away from Iran’s shores,” he said, in a statement on X. “Frigate Dena, a guest of India’s Navy carrying almost 130 sailors, was struck in international waters without warning.” Sri Lanka’s foreign minister, Vijitha Herath, said he had spoken with Araghchi on Wednesday to “express grave concern” over the escalation of hostilities, and called for diplomatic dialogue. The Sri Lankan navy and coastguard responded to a distress call from the IRIS Dena in the early hours of Wednesday morning. But by the time they arrived, the vessel had sunk and there was only an oil slick remaining, with survivors clinging to life rafts. The navy’s rescue operation for missing sailors from the frigate continued on Thursday, with several more bodies reportedly retrieved from the sea. Military and police security remained tight at the main hospital in Galle, where 32 rescued Iranians were being treated. Most survivors were reported to have minor burns and fractures. GK Malani, 70, a lottery ticket seller in Galle, said there was a lot of fear locally after the incident. “There were so many bodies brought in,” she said. “Everyone is very scared about the attack.” KG Gunaratne, a patient at Galle hospital, said: “I was there when the injured were brought to the hospital. There was one who was completely unconscious, another with injuries to their hand.” The scale of the disaster threatens to overwhelm the morgue at Galle hospital, which has capacity for 25 bodies. Hospital staff said the authorities were rushing to set up refrigerated shipping containers to preserve bodies until legal formalities, including inquests and autopsies, were completed. Iranian diplomatic officials refused to make any comment on the incident. The Sri Lankan government confirmed that Iran had requested assistance in repatriating the bodies of its sailors once the formalities were completed. One official, Thushara Rodrigo, said no decision had been made yet about the repatriation of the survivors. “It should be internally coordinated with the army, navy, and air force and reach the diplomatic missions,” he said.

South Africa’s president calls Trump’s policy to offer refuge to white Afrikaners ‘racist’

South Africa’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa, has called Donald Trump’s policy of allowing white Afrikaners to apply for refugee status in the US “racist”, saying the US president was “truly uninformed” in a rare instance of direct criticism. Ramaphosa told the New York Times that last year’s Oval Office meeting with the US leader, when Trump turned down the lights and played a video that he falsely claimed showed there was a “white genocide” in South Africa, was a “spectacle” and an “ambush”. “I just thought that he is so uninformed, truly uninformed,” Ramaphosa said. “I realised that he is looking at South Africa through a completely, sort of, foggy lens, without realising the real, real harm that apartheid did. In my view, he was just dismissive.” Trump has targeted South Africa since starting his second term in office in January 2025. He has spread false allegations that the country’s white minority are undergoing a “genocide” and that their land is being seized by the government. In May, the US extended refugee status to Afrikaners – who once led the repressive minority apartheid government and who remain on average many times wealthier than Black South Africans – while slashing its refugee programme for people fleeing war and persecution. Trump refused to attend the G20 leaders meetings in Johannesburg in November and has banned South Africa from attending the US-hosted gathering in Miami later this year. “I do think the Afrikaner policy is racist,” Ramaphosa said. “It is that racist sort of demeanour that we want to be able to whittle down so that he can see the truth of the situation.” In a statement to the New York Times, the White House said that Trump was calling attention to “the harrowing stories of Afrikaners”. It said: “The South African government, at minimum, does not respond, but President Trump has a humanitarian heart. He will continue to speak the truth about these injustices.” Ramaphosa said: “There’s no white genocide and there is no grabbing of land, of white people’s land. And white farmers are not being driven out of the country and badly treated.” South Africa’s president, who is due to step down as head of the African National Congress party next year and as the country’s leader in 2029, was unusually forthright about Trump. He said: “We are rather amazed at the attention he gives to us. We are a small country, and we are no threat to the United States.”