Morning Briefing: March 5, 2026

ISTANBUL

Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Thursday, including NATO condemning Iran’s targeting of Türkiye and reaffirming strong deterrence across all domains, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer saying that Britain will not join a war without a clear legal basis and detailed plan, and reports saying that at least 87 sailors are dead after a US torpedo struck an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka.

TOP STORIES

• NATO condemns Iran's targeting of Türkiye, vows strong deterrence across all domains

NATO condemned Iran's targeting of Türkiye and reaffirmed its unwavering support for all alliance members, a spokesperson told Anadolu.

"We condemn Iran’s targeting of Türkiye. NATO stands firmly with all Allies, including Türkiye, as Iran continues its indiscriminate attacks across the region," the spokesperson said.

"Our deterrence and defense posture remains strong across all domains, including when it comes to air and missile defense," she added.

Earlier, a ballistic munition fired from Iran toward Turkish airspace was intercepted and neutralized by NATO air and missile defense units in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Turkish Defense Ministry said.

• UK will not join war without lawful basis, clear plan: British premier

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he is “not prepared” for the UK to join a war without a clear legal basis and a detailed plan after facing questions over why Britain has not launched offensive strikes against Iran.

“What I was not prepared to do on Saturday was for the UK to join a war unless I was satisfied there was a lawful basis and a viable, thought-through plan. That remains my position,” Starmer said during Prime Minister's Question Time.

“We need to act, therefore, with clarity, with purpose, and with a cool head,” he said.

• At least 87 dead after Iranian warship struck by US torpedo off Sri Lanka

At least 87 sailors are confirmed dead after an Iranian warship was attacked by a US torpedo near Sri Lanka, according to media reports.

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijhita Hearth said the bodies of 87 sailors were recovered and search and recovery operations are continuing in the waters off the southern city of Galle, the Daily Mirror newspaper reported.​​​​​​​

Another 32 sailors of the IRIS Dena were wounded and are being treated at Karapitiya Teaching Hospital in Galle.

The Iranian warship was carrying around 180 crew members.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that American forces attacked the Iranian warship, which had participated in a naval drill off the Indian coast last month.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• The US has lost nearly $2 billion worth of military equipment amid its military operations against Iran since Saturday, according to estimates and data compiled by Anadolu.
• Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the latest situation in the Middle East and a neutralized missile that had been directed toward Turkish airspace from Iran.
• Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares "categorically" denied that Spain has agreed to military cooperation with the US following tensions over base access amid the ongoing US-Israeli offensive on Iran.
• Iraq’s Electricity Ministry said the national power grid is completely down throughout the country but work is being done to restore it.
• The White House said deploying US troops to Iran is not currently part of the Trump administration’s military strategy while leaving open the possibility that options could change.
• Germany's defense minister ruled out joining the ongoing US and Israeli military strikes targeting Iran, underscoring the need for a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
• Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken ruled out the possibility of Belgium providing military support to the US and Israel in their attacks against Iran.
• Forty nations in The Hague have proposed a sweeping package of sanctions against Israel, including arms embargoes and traveler screenings, to counter the "de facto annexation" of the West Bank.
• As global attention shifts to the escalating war in the Middle East, Ukraine should not "slip off" the international agenda, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said.
• US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said “Iran cannot outlast us” as the US signaled a widening military campaign following coordinated strikes with Israel since Saturday.
• The Vatican warned that the world risks being "set ablaze" if nations continue to embrace the logic of preventive war.
• The South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) confirmed that officers were involved in the killing of 16 civilians, including eight children and five women, last month in Jonglei state, local media reported.
• California’s governor compared Israel to an apartheid state, arguing that Tel Aviv has pushed Washington to the point where reconsidering its longstanding military support is no longer avoidable.
• Israeli fighter jets launched fresh airstrikes on the Lebanese capital Beirut as regional escalation following US-Israel attacks on Iran continued to spike.
• Health facilities and medical staff are being affected amid the ongoing conflict in Iran, the head of the World Health Organization warned after several hospitals and emergency centers were reportedly damaged.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Gas prices in Europe retreat below €50 on reports of Iran peace initiative

European gas prices fell over 9% to below €50 per megawatt-hour following reports of a secret Iranian peace initiative.

The gas price per megawatt-hour for April futures contracts on the TTF, the Netherlands-based virtual natural gas trading venue with the most depth in Europe, closed Tuesday at €54.29 ($63.13)

Natural gas prices fell by 9.2% from the previous close to €49.3 as of 3.35 pm local time (1235GMT).

• After halting LNG production, QatarEnergy declares force majeure to affected buyers

QatarEnergy declared force majeure to affected buyers after halting production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and related products, the company said in a statement.

The state-owned energy giant said on the US social media company X’s platform that the declaration -- which attributes the halt to an extraordinary event -- follows its earlier decision to stop LNG production and associated output, without providing further details on the duration of the disruption.

"QatarEnergy values its relationships with all of its stakeholders and will continue to communicate the latest available information," the firm noted.

• Iraq cuts crude oil production over closure of Strait of Hormuz

Iraq has announced a reduction in its crude oil production due to decreased and halted exports following Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid an ongoing regional escalation.

The Iraqi Ministry of Oil said in a statement that the reduction in crude oil production will not affect the operation of refineries or the continued production of petroleum derivatives, which are needed to meet domestic oil demands.

The ministry said all refineries in the southern, central and northern regions “are operating continuously at full capacity to produce various petroleum products, ensuring sufficient supply for daily local use and storing any surplus.”