We're hearing that the UK government will charter a commercial flight out of Dubai to help British nationals hoping to leave the Middle East.

The flight is scheduled to leave the United Arab Emirates early next week, and there is expected to be a charge for seats.

British nationals, their spouses or partners, and children under the age of 18 are eligible to register their interest through the gov.uk website.

The Foreign Office will contact people directly to issue them a ticket and will prioritise those who are vulnerable, such as those with urgent medical needs.

The government says it is working with commercial operators to increase their capacity so more Brits can get home, and says they will continue to work with the airlines to find more routes for people to return. 

More from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi, who warns US President Donald Trump that if he seeks escalation, "it is precisely what our powerful armed forces have long been prepared for".

"Responsibility for any intensification of Iran's exercise of self-defence will lie squarely with the US administration," he adds.

It comes after Iran's president earlier suggested that Tehran would not target its neighbouring Gulf states, "unless attacked first".

Aragchi follows up by suggesting that Iran's "openness to de-escalation" provided its neighbour's territory is not used to attack Iran has been "almost immediately killed" by Trump's "misinterpretation" of Iran's capabilities and intent.

Earlier, Trump appeared to characterise the Iranian president's comments as "surrender" to its neighbours, and warned the US would hit Iran "very hard".

Image source, Getty Images

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi says Iran's "openness to de-escalation" has been "almost immediately killed" by US President Donald Trump.

In a statement following Trump's comments earlier today, Aragchi says Trump has misinterpreted Iran's "capabilities, determination and intent".

Adam Goldsmith
Live reporter

Image source, EPA/Shutterstock

Around the Gulf states

After Iranian President Masoud Pezekshian promised Gulf states that Tehran would not attack them "unless attacked first", Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have continued to report drone attacks through the day.

The UAE's president Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan says his country is in a "time of war" but stresses they are "no easy prey" as footage shows a drone strike near Dubai International Airport.

In Iran

Satellite images show damage to numerous aircraft at Tehran's Mehrabad airport - where the Israeli military says it struck 16 aircraft in an overnight bombing raid.

As the war continues, there are reports that a new supreme leader could be chosen within 24 hours.

In Lebanon

In Lebanon, where Israel continues its ground and air campaign against Hezbollah fighters, 294 people have been reported killed by the country's health ministry. It says a further 1,023 have been wounded.

There are few signs the offensive in Lebanon is set to slow; the Israeli military today warned residents in the southern suburbs of Beirut to evacuate while it targets Hezbollah.

In the UK

HMS Prince of Wales, one of the UK's two aircraft carriers, is being readied to sail, raising speculation it might be sent to the Middle East to defend British interests.

And, five US B-1 bomber jets have been seen landing at RAF Fairford, after Donald Trump declared today that the US "knocked out 42 Iranian navy ships" in three days of the conflict.

The UAE says it's responding to "incoming missile and drone threats from Iran".

Officials say air defence systems are intercepting ballistic missiles, while fighter jets are targeting drones and other aerial vehicles.

This is another attack, following the one reported about two hours ago.

Image source, Getty Images

A woman living in Tehran has told BBC Persian that she and her three-year-old are "just trying to get through the bombing".

"This love of war that some people have is something I just can't stand," she says, adding that she hasn't stepped outside since arriving in the city.

Another Tehran resident, a man in his 40s, tells us that no media is reporting on the "ordinary people inside Iran".

"You know what’s strange? That the media only talk about the war… what Trump said and how Iran responded. About where the US bombed and which American base Iran targeted."

"I'm watching with my own eyes how people are breaking down and collapsing inside themselves. When I call someone and they don't answer, I almost have a heart attack," he says.

A man living in Isfahan says the situation has become "really, really, really terrifying", as he can see F‑35s circling the city with his own eyes.

"My cousin and his wife were killed in Tehran. We never imagined a day like this for Iran, not even in our worst dreams," he says.

Satellite image shows damage to numerous aircraft at airport in Tehranpublished at 17:29 GMT

17:29 GMT

By Paul Brown

Numerous aircraft were damaged in overnight Israeli strikes on Tehran’s Mehrabad airport, new satellite imagery has revealed.

The image, captured by Planet Labs PBC at 11:20 GMT (14:50 Tehran time) shows damage to 17 aircraft, some of which appear completely destroyed.

At least seven of these aircraft are situated around the airport's main apron and runway. Others are spread out in other parts of the airport. It is unclear how many of these were operational when targeted.

In addition to planes, a number of small buildings also appear to have suffered damage.

Verified footage from last night showed fires in various parts of the airport.

Earlier today the Israel Defense Forces said it had "destroyed 16 “Quds Force” aircraft that it said “were transporting weapons to the terrorist organisation Hezbollah" at Mehrabad.

Amira Mhadhbi
BBC Arabic

There were 250 people in the small Christian village, on the Lebanese borders with Israel.

After the Israeli evacuation orders earlier this week, 96 of the residents decided not to leave their town.

I've spoken to the Mayor of Alma al-Shaab, Shadi Sayah, who tells me that “the evacuation orders, brought back memories of leaving in 2023 and returning in 2025 to find 60% of the town destroyed”.

The villagers feel they are not ready to live through the same experience again. They say they have a feeling that if they leave this time, they would never be back.

In the town’s church, 96 people, including children and elderly, gather to spend the night praying and supporting each other. Sayah says they do this despite the feelings of “injustice done to them - paying the price while they were not part of the decision making".

For lack of bedding, the villagers take sleeping shifts, prioritising the elderly. Small amounts of food are available to them and some in reserve, which they are not sure how long it could last, while no-one knows when all this would will end.

Saudi Arabia's defence ministry has announced that a ballistic missile has been launched toward Prince Sultan Air Base, near the city of Al-Kharj, but that it fell in an "unpopulated area".

The Israeli military has been striking Lebanon as its offensive against Hezbollah continues.

As we've reported, the Lebanese health ministry says so far 294 people have been killed since Israel's attacks began.

From the east of the country, Wyre Davies reports at the scene of a missile strike.

The Lebanese health ministry says the number of people killed since Israel's recent operations began in the country has risen to 294.

It adds that a further 1,023 have been wounded. The BBC is unable to independently verify these figures.

Iran's military, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, says it has "hit" a US military base in Bahrain with "precision missiles".

The IRGC says the strike is in response to unconfirmed reports that the US has struck a freshwater desalination plant on an island in the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, a siren has been sounded in Bahrain, according to its Ministry of Interior, which has urged citizens and residents to head to a safe place.

In the last few minutes, Bahrain's interior ministry has also posted on X reporting "fire and material damages" to a house and surrounding buildings in the capital, Manama. It says the country's civil defence is tackling the fire.

Residents in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital Beirut have been issued with a new evacuation order by the Israeli military.

In an update, the Israel Defense Force's Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee warns citizens in the south of the Lebanese capital: "Save your lives and evacuate your homes immediately".

He says the activity by the Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Dahieh "is forcing the Israel Defense Forces to act against it forcefully".

The military spokesperson shares a map of the most heavily affected areas and warns: "Failure to comply with the warnings and remaining in this area may endanger your lives and the lives of your families."

A member of the body that will choose the next supreme leader of Iran says he has “strong hope” a decision will be made in the next 24 hours, reports Fars news agency, which is affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Hossein Mozzafari, a member of Iran's Assembly of Experts, has urged the public to refrain from speculation while the process is continuing, reports Fars.

Image source, Reuters

United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has spoken publicly today, saying "all is well in the UAE", despite being in "a time of war".

Directly addressing the UAE's so-called "enemies", he says: "The UAE has thick skin and bitter flesh - we are no easy prey".

He also expresses his "obligation to protect our people and our country", and promises the country that it will "emerge stronger than before".

The country has been hit by Iranian attacks, and footage shared on social media this morning appears to show a drone strike near Dubai International Airport.

Nick Beake
Europe correspondent reporting from Dubai

Here in Dubai, it’s more than 10 hours since a drone strike was filmed very near the international airport.

But the authorities have chosen to practically ignore an attack that was captured on video and later verified by the BBC.

All that officials have said today has come in a post on X this morning, following the explosion, which announced a temporarily suspension of operations “for the safety of passengers”.

There has still been no public acknowledgement of the strike, nor any explanation given as to what was behind the decision to stop flights at the world’s busiest airport for international passenger traffic.

There has not been any detail provided either on why it was deemed safe for the airport to restart operations a short time later.

The sight of a strike so near to a terminal, with planes parked on the tarmac nearby, has shaken people here and the video of the drone plummeting to the ground has been shared around the world.

The decision to reopen so quickly may have puzzled, particularly as it was it later announced the United Arab Emirates had successfully intercepted 15 ballistic missiles and 119 drones.

Freya Scott-Turner
Live reporter

Image source, Barry Wagner

Flight cancellations have stranded travellers across the Middle East, including in the United Arab Emirates' most populous city Dubai - which earlier saw its principle airport hit in an apparent drone attack.

Among those stranded are Barry and Jackie, who were due to fly home back to Staines in England on 1 March. Their flight, and two subsequent reschedules, were cancelled and they say they've not been offered any more since.

"Lots of companies are inflating their prices massively," says Barry.

The only seats he can see available to book are first-class and going for around £16,000, he says: "That sort of money is out of my budget."

"There were a couple of days when we didn’t hear any interceptions. That made us feel very hopeful," he adds.

But Iran and Israel continue to strike each other. "Every time you hear an interception or a bang, it sort of disarms you. It's the uncertainty that's very, very worrying," Barry tells the BBC.

Barry says the process of securing a flight feels "really random" and they've been passed around several airlines.

"Please get us on a flight home soon; that’s all I want from anyone," he says.

Satellite images show damage to several Iranian military sitespublished at 16:11 GMT

16:11 GMT

By Paul Brown

BBC Verify has received a new batch of satellite imagery captured by the intelligence firm Vantor showing damage to a number of military sites across Iran.

Among them are images of damage to multiple buildings at the Parchin military complex about 30km (19 miles) east of Tehran.

Similarly, there is widespread damage at the Barukh naval base in the southwestern province of Bushehr, including to what Vantor identifies as a drone facility.

President Trump has declared the depletion of Iran's naval capability as a key priority in the military operation.

The Vantor images also show at least five burned out aircraft at Shiraz airbase, which Vantor identifies as one Ilyushin Il-76, two C-130 transport planes and two Su-22 fighter bombers.

Image source, Vantor

Qatar's Ministry of Defence says it has intercepted a "missile attack" targeting the state of Qatar.

It does not say who fired the missiles, but follows a statement from Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian who earlier said that Iran will not attack neighbouring countries "unless attacked first".

The Iranian Ambassador Seyed Ali Mousavi has warned the UK about becoming involved in attacks on Iran.

In an interview with Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg due to be broadcast tomorrow - some of which we brought you earlier - Mousavi is asked if British jets would be considered legitimate targets if they shoot down Iranian missiles or drones.

He says “there is no doubt we will defend ourselves” and "we expect other people, including the British government, to be very delicate… very careful for their own activities”.

The ambassador says it was “good” that Britain was not “involved with this aggression” and that he believes the British government has learnt from the Iraqi invasion, and “they know the illegality of this aggression”.