BAGHDAD, March 4, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Iraq's electricity ministry said on Wednesday that the entire country had been affected by a total power outage, without identifying the cause. "The power grid has completely shut down across all Iraqi provinces," the ministry said, according to the Iraqi News Agency (INA). It added that it was looking to determine the cause of the blackout, and had begun restoring power stations and transmission lines. Parts of the country have come under repeated attack since the war between Israel, the US and Iran broke out.

File PhotoVIENNA, March 4, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The UN nuclear watchdog IAEA said Wednesday facilities housing nuclear material in Iran suffered no damage in the recent US-Israeli strikes and there was no risk of a radiation leak. "Based on analysis of latest available satellite imagery, IAEA sees no damage to facilities containing nuclear material in Iran and therefore no radiological release risk at this time," the agency said on X. Near the Natanz site near the central city of Isfahan, "damage is visible at two buildings" and there was "no additional impact detected"after "damage at entrances" reported on Tuesday, it said. IAEA inspectors have had no access to the key Natanz site since it was targeted by bombings in June during the 12?day war triggered by an Israeli attack. The IAEA reported "no impact at other nuclear sites, including Bushehr" in the southeast.

ISTANBUL, March 4, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - A ballistic missile launched from Iran and heading towards Turkish airspace via Iraq and Syria was destroyed by NATO air defence systems, Turkish officials said Wednesday. The defence ministry said it had been "engaged and neutralised by NATO air-and-missile defence assets deployed in the eastern Mediterranean". Iran has been hitting sites across the region in retaliation after the US and Israel launched strikes against it on Saturday. "NATO stands firmly with all allies, including Turkiye, as Iran continues its indiscriminate attacks across the region," NATO spokeswoman Allison Hart said, using Turkey's official name. "Our deterrence and defence posture remains strong across all domains, including when it comes to air and missile defence."

"Air strikes have become fewer," Abu Mohsen told AFP from his tent in the north of Gaza. Despite a US-brokered ceasefire in place since October 10, explosions still rock Gaza, Abu Mohsen said. "Israel is taking advantage of the world's preoccupation with the war on Iran and increasing restrictions on Gaza," Abu Mohsen said. In a displacement camp in Gaza City, retired teacher Safiya Hammouda described panic-buying as soon as the Iran war began. "From the first day of the Iran war, people were afraid and began buying anything in the market.

JERUSALEM, March 4, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The Israeli military said it detected multiple missile barrages from Iran on Wednesday, as well as launches from Lebanon, triggering air raid sirens across the country. AFP journalists heard several blasts and multiple rounds of sirens from Jerusalem, while alerts also sounded in Tel Aviv, central Israel, Haifa and several other northern regions. "The IDF identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel. In a statement shortly after the first salvo was announced, the military said that "several launches... from Lebanon toward Israeli territory were successfully intercepted" after sirens sounded in central Israel. The military said that the "majority of the launches" from Lebanon were intercepted.

The country's electricity ministry said the entire country had also been affected by a total blackout without specifying the cause. The towns included Khiam, six kilometres (four miles) into Lebanese territory, as the Israeli military tries to set up a buffer zone against Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. - 'Clownish antics' -"Mr Trump, with Netanyahu's clownish antics, dragged the American people into an unfair war with Iran," Iran's security chief Ali Larijani posted on X. - State media: 1,000 killed -Iran's official IRNA news agency said US-Israeli strikes had killed 1,045 military personnel and civilians since the start of the war. - Iran targets Israel -Air raid sirens wailed in Jerusalem after the Israeli military said it had detected two incoming missile barrages from Iran, which the military later said were intercepted.

BAGHDAD, March 4, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Two drones were shot down on Wednesday evening near Baghdad's international airport, hours after a similar attack on the facility, two security sources told AFP. "Two drones were downed near Baghdad airport, with no casualties or material damage reported," an Iraqi security source said. Another security source in Baghdad confirmed the incident. The airport includes a military base that hosts a US diplomatic facility and previously housed US-led coalition troops.

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JERUSALEM, March 4, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Israeli troops from three divisions, including infantry, armoured and engineering units were operating inside southern Lebanon, the military said Wednesday. "Troops from the 91st Division are operating in the east of southern Lebanon, troops from the 210th Division are operating in the Mount Dov area, and troops from the 146th Division are operating in the west of southern Lebanon," the military said. Video footage shared by the military showed soldiers carrying large backpacks and sleeping mats, as well as tanks manoeuvring in south Lebanon.

BAGHDAD, March 4, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - A drone was shot down on Wednesday near Baghdad's international airport, a day after a similar attack on the facility, two security sources told AFP. "A drone was downed near Baghdad airport, with no casualties or material damage reported," an Iraqi security source said. Another security source in Baghdad confirmed the incident. The airport includes a military base that hosts a US diplomatic facility and previously housed US-led coalition troops. On Tuesday evening, a drone was intercepted near Baghdad airport, hours after security forces announced that they seized nine rockets and a launchpad that were set up to target the facility.

File PhotoMOSCOW, March 4, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Ukraine was behind an attack that sunk a Russian gas carrier off the coast of Libya earlier this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday. "This is a terrorist attack. This isn't the first time we've seen this kind of thing," Putin told a reporter from Russian state television, accusing Kyiv of being responsible.