West Asia conflict Day 6: UAE explosions, Modi–Macron call among key highlights

The USIsrael military operations against Iran which began on February 28 entered their sixth day with continued exchanges of fire and widening regional impact Herersquos are the developments that took place on Thursday March 5Lebanon casualties rise sharplyLebanons Health Ministry stated that Israeli strikes since Monday have killed 102 people and wounded 638 Officials noted the toll is expected to increase as more injured reach hospitals This escalation follows Hezbollahs involvement in the broader conflict triggered by Irans retaliatory actionsUK reinforces Gulf and Cyprus defencesUnited Kingdom UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the dispatch of four additional Typhoon fighter jets to Qatar to strengthen defensive operations in the Gulf and wider region Defence Secretary John Healey visited Cyprus after an Iranianmade drone hit RAF Akrotiri earlier this week two other drones were downed by British forces Starmer confirmed two Wildcat helicopters with Martlet antidrone missiles will arrive in Cyprus on Friday and HMS Dragon Type 45 destroyer will deploy next week The UK also temporarily withdrew some embassy staff and families from Bahrain due to the serious ongoing security situationExplosions and air defence action in Abu DhabiLoud explosions were heard in Abu Dhabi as the United Arab Emirates UAE air defence systems intercepted a missile threat The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority confirmed active response measures amid Irans retaliation campaign in the GulfIran denies Azerbaijan drone attack blames IsraelIrans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in a call with Azerbaijans counterpart denied any Iranian role in a drone attack on Nakhchivan exclave that wounded four people He accused Israel of staging the incident to damage Irans relations with neighbours Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev called it a terrorist act from the Iranian side placed forces on high mobilisation alert and vowed retaliationNATO confirms Iran missile targeted TurkeyA NATO Spokesperson stated that a ballistic missile from Iran was aimed at Turkey before being intercepted by alliance defences This contradicted an earlier Turkish suggestion that it veered toward Cyprus NATO condemned the targeting of TuumlrkiyePM Modi dials President MacronPrime Minister PM Narendra Modi spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron discussing shared concerns over the West Asia situation and the urgent need to return to dialogue and diplomacy Both leaders agreed to coordinate closely for early restoration of peace Meanwhile Finnish President Alexander Stubb in comments to Indian media criticised actions by Iran and the IsraelUS side as outside international law calling Irans attacks on Gulf states a strategic mistake that could unite Gulf nations against TehranIndian nationals in UAE Embassy advisory remains activeThe Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi reiterated its advisory urging nationals to stay vigilant follow UAE safety guidelines and use 24X7 helplines tollfree 80046342 WhatsApp 971 543090571 emails pbskdubaimeagovin and caabudhabimeagovin Limited nonscheduled repatriation flights to India continue consular services function normally and UAE ICP has waived overstay fines for visitors stranded after February 28 due to exceptional circumstancesNaval humanitarian response ongoingThe Indian Navy continues SAR operations off Sri Lanka for the distressed Iranian frigate IRIS Dena sunk March 4 with INS Ikshak still searching for missing crew as a humanitarian gesture in close coordination with Sri Lankan authoritiesWith PTI and AFP inputs