The United States urged its citizens to leave Israel and the UAE “now” as a fresh wave of strikes was launched against Iran.
Israeli military reportedly began a fresh bombardment on Tehran on Monday evening, as strikes entered a third day.
Reports say a series of powerful explosions were heard, including two major explosions around state broadcaster Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting’s (IRIB) headquarters.
The US state department advised Americans to leave the countries and 12 others in the region, immediately.
The US listed Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel,the West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates and Yemen as countries to evacuate.
Writing on X, Mora Namdar, the US assistant secretary for consular affairs said that Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, “urges Amercians to DEPART NOW from the countries below using available commercial transportation, due to serious safety risks.”
Israel also issued an evacuation warning for residents in Tehran, particularly those residing near IRIB’s headquarters.
Iran responded with a barrage of strikes on gulf states.
Our live coverage has moved
Follow the latest updates on the conflict in the Middle East in Tuesday’s blog here.
Watch: US strikes Iranian missile lorry
JD Vance breaks silence on Iran conflict
JD Vance has made his first public comments on the Iran conflict since the US and Israel conducted strikes on Saturday.
In a wide-ranging interview with Fox News, the US vice-president said Donald Trump was “looking for Iran to make a significant long-term commitment that they would never build a nuclear weapon”, and decided to take action when he saw the weakened regime was still attempting to do so.
Mr Vance, a powerful figure in the isolationist wing of the Republican Party, was outspoken about his opposition to intervention in foreign wars before falling silent once Mr Trump began his military campaign.
While the US president was at Mar-a-Lago with his more hawkish advisers, Mr Vance was seen in pictures at the White House with an anti-war “B team” which also included Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence.
The US vice-president reiterated that “there’s just no way” the hostilities in Iran would turn into a years-long conflict akin to Iraq and Afghanistan.
He said: “He is not going to let his country go to war unless there’s a clearly defined objective. He’s defined that objective as Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and has to commit long term to never trying to rebuild the nuclear capability.”
Trump: ‘You’ll find out soon’ our response to attacks on US forces
Donald Trump said “you’ll find out soon” about a US response to the killing of American troops by Iranian strikes, and attacks on US embassies across the Middle East.
The US president demurred in an interview with NewsNation when asked about retaliation for the deaths of six US soldiers since the beginning of the conflict, and a strike which set ablaze the US embassy in Riyadh earlier in the night.
The US embassy in Kuwait also came under attack by UAVs on Monday.
When asked who is in control of Iran, Mr Trump said: “You’ll be finding out very soon.”
Iranian state media announced on Saturday night that power would be in the hands of a three person council consisting of Masoud Pezeshkian, the Iranian president, as well as the head of the judiciary and a member of the influential Guardian Council.
Two drones hit US embassy in Riyadh
The US embassy in Riyadh was struck by two drones, causing a “limited fire and minor material damage to the building”, a spokesman for the Saudi ministry of defence said.
Reuters reported that Saudi air defences intercepted four drones targeting the Riyadh diplomatic quarter.
The building was empty at the time of the strike and there were no injuries.
Since the onset of the conflict on Saturday morning, numerous US embassies and consulates throughout the Middle East have been subject to attacks and threats.
Earlier today, the US embassy in Kuwait was hit by UAVs, and personnel at the embassy in Amman, Jordan were temporarily evacuated due to an unspecified threat.
Protesters have also attempted to storm US government buildings in Pakistan and Iraq in retaliation for the killing of Ayatollah Khamenei.
Pictured: Stranded Brits return home from Middle East warzone
US issues shelter in place order after blast near Saudi Arabia embassy
The US embassy in Saudi Arabia has ordered Americans in the country to shelter in place, minutes after a blast set the embassy building ablaze.
The US mission issued the directive for its nationals in Jeddah, Riyadh and Dhahran, and said it would limit non-essential travel to military installations in the region.
Earlier that day, the US recommended that citizens make arrangements to leave Saudi Arabia and more than a dozen other countries in the Middle East.
Israel strikes Hezbollah TV building
Israel has struck a building housing the Hezbollah-owned TV channel Al-Manar news, the outlet claimed.
The structure is in the town of Haret Hreik in Beirut’s southern suburbs, which are a known stronghold for the militant group.
Although the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has not directly commented on the attack, it announced an hour ago that it had begun striking “command centres and weapons storage facilities” belonging to Hezbollah near the Lebanese capital.
Late Monday night, the IDF issued an evacuation order for parts of Haret Hreik located by a building associated with the group, warning locals they were “near facilities and assets affiliated with Hezbollah”. It is unclear if this was the Al-Manar headquarters.
Fire at US embassy in Saudi Arabia
A fire has broken out at the US embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, two people told Reuters.
A blast was heard nearby before the blaze erupted, the sources said, but it is not yet known if a strike was the cause.
“I heard two explosions followed by smoke rising over the quarter,” a witness told AFP.
It is understood Saudi air defences intercepted four drones targeting the Riyadh diplomatic quarter.
The US earlier urged its nationals to leave Saudi Arabia and a dozen other countries in the Middle East as the conflict enters its fourth day.
Australia’s Middle East military HQ hit
Australia said its military headquarters in the Middle East was hit by an Iranian drone attack over the weekend and that all staff were safe.
Speaking on Monday evening, Defence Minister Richard Marles said he could confirm reports the Al Minhad Air Base – just 24 kilometres (15 miles) south of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates – had been hit over the weekend.
“There was some drones which did attack that base on the first night,” Marles, also deputy prime minister, said.
“We have a number of Australians who operate from a headquarters that we’ve had at Al Minhad now for many, many years,” he said.
“They are all safe and accounted for.”
US prepares for ‘major uptick’ in attacks on Iran
The US is preparing for a “major uptick” in attacks on Iran over the next 24 hours, a senior US official told CNN.
The official said that “the first round of attacks has achieved the goal of weakening Iranian defences, and the next phase will heavily focus on destroying the country’s missile production, unmanned aerial vehicles and naval capability”, according to Jim Sciutto, a CNN Anchor.
Donald Trump also hinted he might escalate attacks in an interview earlier on Monday, saying, “We haven’t even started hitting them hard. The big wave hasn’t even happened. The big one is coming soon.”
Iran’s state broadcaster ‘struck and dismantled’
Israel’s military has claimed to have “struck and dismantled” the headquarters of Iran’s state radio and television broadcaster, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), saying it had “called for the destruction of the State of Israel and for the use of nuclear weapons.”
“A short while ago, the Israeli Air Force struck and dismantled the Iranian terrorist regime’s communications centre” in Tehran, the military said, referring to IRIB.
‘Safety and security’ is ‘priority’ Rubio tells Americans
New barrage of strikes on UAE
UAE air defences are dealing with a fresh barrage of strikes from Iran.
The Iranian defence ministry launched a barrage of ballistic missiles on Monday evening.
Fresh blasts were reportedly heard in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha, Manama and Kuwait City as Iran continued bombardment on Monday.
It follows a new wave of attacks on Tehran from Israel.
Melania Trump pays tribute to ‘lost heroes’ at UN
Melania Trump has paid tribute to families who “lost their heroes” who “sacrificed their lives for freedom”.
The first lady made the comments in an unprecedented address to the United Nations.
“My heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their heroes, who sacrificed their lives for freedom,” Mrs Trump said.
Mrs Trump did not make any specific reference to Iran. Six US service members have so-far been killed since Iran launched counterattacks to the US and Israel’s bombardment on Saturday.
Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed in one of the first waves of strikes unleashed on Tehran.
Rubio: ‘The hardest hits are yet to come’
Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, warned that the “hardest hits are yet to come”.
Speaking to Fox news, he said: “The hardest hits are yet to come. The next phase will be even more punishing on Iran than it is right now. The world will be a safer place when we are done with Operation Epic Fury.”
He added that “the purpose of Operation Epic Fury is to destroy Iran’s missile capacity” and also said that “the United States is conducting an operation to eliminate the threat of Iran’s short range ballistic missiles and the threat posed by their navy, particularly to naval assets”.
US urges citizens to immediately depart over a dozen Middle Eastern countries
The U.S. Department of State on Monday called on Americans to immediately depart more than a dozen countries in the Middle East amid U.S-Israeli strikes against Iran.
Americans were urged to depart using commercial means from Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates and Yemen, according to Mora Namdar, the State Department’s assistant secretary for consular affairs.
Israeli military begins new wave of strikes on Tehran
Israeli military has begun a new wave of strikes on Tehran.
Reports say a new series of powerful explosions have been heard there, including two explosions around state broadcaster IRIB’s headquarters.
The strikes came after Israel issued an evacuation warning for residents in Tehran, particularly those residing near IRIB’s headquarters.
It is the latest wave of strikes as the US and Israel launch hundreds of attacks across Iran since Saturday morning.
Over 500 targets have been struck in Iran since the start of the operation.
Earlier on Monday, Mr Trump’s top general said that the US military was sending more troops to the Middle East as it continued to attack Iran.
Death toll rises to six troops, US military says
The US military has announced the number of Americans killed by Iran has reached six following the recovery of two more bodies, reports Tom Cotterill, the Telegraph’s Defence Editor in Tel Aviv.
The two new casualties were previously unaccounted for following the bombing of a US base in Iran’s opening attack.
In a statement on Monday, US Central Command said: “As of 4 pm ET, March 2, six U.S. service members have been killed in action. U.S. forces recently recovered the remains of two previously unaccounted for service members from a facility that was struck during Iran’s initial attacks in the region.
“Major combat operations continue. The identities of the fallen are being withheld until 24 hours after next of kin notification.”
‘The Israeli spirit will never be beaten’
The indefatigable spirit of under-siege Israelis was on full display in the bunkers of Tel Aviv as Iranian missiles streaked towards the city, writes Tom Cotterill, The Telegraph’s defence editor.
Thousands of people were once again sent into hiding on Monday evening as the latest barrage of ballistic warheads from Tehran targeted the coastal city.
In the basement shelter of the InterContinental David hotel, families were entertained by people in fancy dress, including one man dressed as the biblical figure Moses.
The group, who were celebrating the Jewish holiday of Purim, spent time keeping children calm and posing for pictures as air raid sirens blared outside.
“This is a holiday that celebrates reversals in history, and this is a moment of reversal in history,” said Andrea Gardenhour, 58, who was singing “A Spoonful of Sugar” while dressed as Julie Andres’ Mary Poppins.
The 58-year-old American, who was born in London and whose mother was evacuated during the Blitz as a child, said the latest attacks by Iran felt wildly unpredictable.
“We are used to the air raids and missiles but this feels different. Iran is striking countries everywhere. We’re still trying to work out what they are doing,” she added.
Hillel Meye, 56, of Tel Aviv, was dressed as Moses and said it was important to maintain normal life while under the bombs. He added: “The Israeli spirit will never be beaten. We are courageous.”
Iran closes Strait of Hormuz
The Strait of Hormuz is closed, Iran’s revolutionary guards have declared and Iran has said it will set fire to any ship trying to pass through.
The narrow waterway, just 24 miles wide at its narrowest point, is one of the world’s most critical energy choke points, with approximately 21 million barrels of oil passing through daily.
Experts say that closure of the Strait will send oil prices soaring and inflict severe global economic damage.
Oil prices had already surged ahead of the closure. Brent crude jumped 13 per cent to around $82 (£61) a barrel when oil markets opened on Sunday night, as airstrikes on Iran continued for a second day.
US claims to have wiped out Iranian naval fleet
US Central Command claimed on social media that Iran’s naval presence in the Gulf of Oman has vanished within 48 hours.
“Two days ago, the Iranian regime had 11 ships in the Gulf of Oman, today they have ZERO,” Centcom wrote. “The Iranian regime has harassed and attacked international shipping in the Gulf of Oman for decades. Those days are over.”
The post added that freedom of maritime navigation has underpinned global prosperity for more than 80 years and said US forces would “continue to defend it.”
Picture: rubble at site of Tehran air strike
Iran still capable on coordinated strikes: analysts
Iran’s military leadership remains capable of co-ordinating strikes despite sustained US and Israeli attacks, writes Tom Cotterill, The Telegraph’s defence editor.
After largely ineffective missile barrages across the Middle East, Tehran is now targeting “weak points” in allied defences, shifting to one-way attack drones against critical infrastructure such as Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura refinery and Qatar’s LNG facilities at Ras Laffan.
Oil fields in Iraqi Kurdistan and Israeli offshore gas sites have also been hit, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
“Despite comments from the leadership in Tehran that the IRGC was acting independently, Iranian commanders appear to co-ordinate attacks across the region, indicating some remaining command and control,” said Sascha Bruchmann of IISS.
Iran responded to weekend strikes by firing ballistic missiles at US bases in Qatar, Kuwait and the UAE, and at the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, though most were intercepted.
Israel now assesses Tehran is struggling to sustain large, co-ordinated barrages as its air force hunts missile launchers.
Photo: US fighter jet prepares for take off
How long will the war go on for?
US officials sent out mixed messages over how long they are prepared to see the war go on for on Monday, writes Lottie Tiplady-Bishop from The Telegraph’s Washington bureau.
Speaking in the morning (US east coast time), the US defence secretary insisted Donald Trump’s attack on Iran would not spark a “forever war,” like Iraq.
“This is not Iraq, this is not endless,” Mr Hegseth, an Iraq war veteran, said. “Our generation knows better, and so does this president. This operation is a clear, devastating, decisive mission.”
In the same briefing, the US joint chief of staff General Dan Caine said military reinforcements would be sent to the region. More “tactical aviation” would be sent to the region after three days of air strikes, he said.
Later on, at a Medal of Honour ceremony at the White House, Donald Trump said: “We projected four to five weeks, but we have capability to go far longer than that.”
A journalist had suggested the US president would get “bored” and abandon the strikes, Mr Trump told the crowd gathered in the East Room. “We don’t get bored. I never get bored,” he said.
‘All options on table’ in Lebanon, says IDF spokesman
Israel’s military spokesman, Brigadier General Effie Defrin, on Monday said “all options are on the table” when asked by a journalist whether Israel was going to expand its strikes on Lebanon into a ground offensive.
“We are operating in Lebanon as well in order to remove a significant threat… Bottom line, all options are on the table. We will act to disarm Hezbollah,” Mr Defrin said in response to the question during a televised briefing.
Earlier on Monday, the military’s international spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani said there was no reason to launch a ground invasion of Lebanon “imminently” after an overnight attack from Lebanese armed group Hezbollah prompted Israel to retaliate with strikes.
Two US defence staff injured in drone strike in Bahrain
Two US Defence Department employees were injured in an Iranian drone strike on a hotel in Bahrain, according to a State Department cable seen by The Washington Post.
The cable, sent on Sunday, confirmed that “two U.S. DoD personnel were injured” but gave no further details. It remains unclear whether those hurt were civilian staff or serving military personnel.
A hotel in Manama, the Bahraini capital, was struck on Sunday morning. The Crowne Plaza, a luxury property in the city, was hit, though officials have not formally confirmed that it was the site of the injuries.
In a statement, the US Embassy in Bahrain warned that hotels “might be a target for attacks” and urged American citizens to avoid such locations in Manama.
In Iran, terror comes from two directions
For the residents of Tehran, terror comes from two directions, writes Akhtar Makoii, The Telegraph’s London-based foreign correspondent.
Above, Israeli and US jets continue to race across the sky, raining missiles on the heart of the city.
On the ground, streets are patrolled by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) soldiers and Basij militiamen.
Those who dare to leave the city must navigate their way out of it under fire, along destroyed roads.
Those who dare to celebrate the death of Ali Khamenei, the Iranian supreme leader, are spirited away in pick-up trucks.
“There are regime supporters and government agents everywhere on the streets when bombs are not falling,” says Javad, who owns an independent grocery shop in Tehran.
The Telegraph is the only international media outlet to have contacted civilians sheltering in the city since the war began on Saturday morning, despite the internet being shut off once again.
Read the full report here.
Iran accuses US, Israel of attacking nuclear site at Natanz
Iran accused Israel and the United States on Monday of having attacked its nuclear facility at Natanz, one of the main targets of the previous conflict between the three countries last June.
“The criminal regimes of the United States and Israel, pursuing their aggression, again targeted the Natanz nuclear site on Sunday afternoon in two brutal attacks,” Iran’s atomic energy chief Mohammad Eslami said in a letter to the UN’s nuclear watchdog quoted by the IRNA news agency.
The UN agency’s head had said on Monday that there was “no indication” any nuclear installations had been hit.
US and Israel no longer safe in own homes, threatens Iranian military
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warned on Monday that the United States “will no longer be safe”, on the third day of joint US-Israeli attacks against the Islamic republic.
“The enemy should know that their happy days are over and they will no longer be safe anywhere in the world, not even in their own homes,” the Guards’ Quds force, which oversees its foreign operations, said in a statement carried by state TV.
Iran’s president calls on world to condemn ‘missile attack on school’
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Monday that his country “will not remain silent” after what he described as US-Israeli strikes on a school and a Tehran hospital.
“Attacks on hospitals strike at life itself. Attacks on schools target a nation’s future… The world must condemn it,” he wrote on X.
“Iran will not remain silent or yield to these crimes,” he added. Iran has claimed 168 were killed at the school in the south on Saturday but neither the United States nor Israel have confirmed the strike, while the incident at Tehran’s Gandhi hospital took place on Sunday.
US embassy in Kuwait struck by drones
Black smoke was seen rising from the US embassy in Kuwait on Monday in the latest round of strikes from Iran, writes Natasha Leake, The Telegraph’s US correspondent.
According to a State Department cable reviewed by The Washington Post, the department was not attacked by missiles but by unmanned aerial vehicles.
The embassy did not announce it had been hit, but issued a security alert urging people to stay away.
“There is a continuing threat of missile and UAV attacks over Kuwait. Do not come to the embassy,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, US government buildings in Karachi and Baghdad were targeted by crowds after the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei over the weekend.
At least 22 people were pronounced dead in Pakistan while in Iraq security forces fired tear gas at protestors.
Photo: Emirates plane leaves Dubai airport
Commercial carriers have begin to leave Dubai international airport after the UAE closed its airspace in the wake of Iranian attacks on Gulf neighbours during the US-Iran war.
Iran’s strikes on Gulf neighbours since February 28th, following the US-Israeli attack, forced the UAE to shut its airspace, blind-siding travellers who thought they were headed to one of the region’s safest holiday destinations.
“Emirates will begin operating a limited number of flights commencing on the evening of March 2,” the airline said.
“We are accommodating customers with earlier bookings as a priority, and those who have been rebooked to travel on these limited flights will be contacted directly by Emirates.”
Death toll in Lebanon rises to over 50
Israeli strikes on Lebanon killed at least 52 people and wounded 154 on Monday, the Lebanese government said in an updated toll.
A previous toll shared by the health ministry said 31 people were killed and 149 wounded.
The bombings of southern and eastern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs also displaced more than 28,500 people, according to the government’s disaster and management unit.
Iran hits oil tanker with drones in Strait of Hormuz
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said on Monday that they had attacked an allegedly US-linked oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz as part of a wave of strikes retaliating against a US-Israeli assault.
“The ATHE NOVA tanker, one of the American allies in the Strait of Hormuz, is still on fire after being hit by two drones,” the IRGC said in a statement.
On Saturday, the Guards said they had closed the waterway, which is vital for oil and gas shipments, after the start of US and Israeli attacks.
Hezbollah chides Lebanese govt for not supporting it
Hezbollah, A Shiite proxy of Iran based in southern Lebanon, has condemned the Lebanese government’s decision to ban its military activities.
In a statement, Mohammed Raad, the head of the group’s parliamentary bloc, condemned Beirut’s “swaggering decisions”, saying that “the Lebanese were expecting a decision rejecting the (Israeli) aggression”.
Earlier on Monday, the Shiite militia fired a salvo of rockets at Israel, leading to a counter barrage from Israeli that has hit several regions of its northern neighbour.
Nato head praises ‘important’ US strikes, says Nato won’t be involved
Mark Rutte, the Nato Secretary General, has praised military action by the US and Israel against Iran, saying it has degraded Tehran’s ability to get its hands on nuclear and ballistic missile.
He said Nato itself would not be involved.
“It’s really important what the US is doing here, together with Israel, because it is taking out, degrading the capacity of Iran to get its hands on nuclear capability, the ballistic missile capability,” he told Germany’s ARD television in Brussels.
“There are absolutely no plans whatever for NATO to get dragged into this or being part of it, other than individual allies doing what they can to enable what the Americans are doing together with Israel,” he added.
Swiss diplomatic channel between Tehran and Washington ‘still open’
Switzerland said on Monday that its diplomatic channel between the United States and Iran has remained active since the US-Israeli air war against Iran began on Feb 28.
“It is available to both parties and operates in both directions,” the Swiss foreign ministry said in an email to Reuters, without providing details.
Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution when Washington and Tehran cut ties, Switzerland has had a mandate of a neutral “protecting power” representing US diplomatic interests in Iran.
Erdogan says attacks on Iran are clear violation of international law
Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish president, has criticised attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel, calling them a “clear violation” of international law.
He addded that Turkey shared the pain of the Iranian people on Monday.
Speaking at a Ramadan fast-breaking dinner in Ankara, Mr Erdogan said Turkey would intensify its contacts at all levels until a ceasefire was reached and calm achieved in the region, adding the continuation of the conflict carried serious risks for the region and the world that nobody could handle.
Watch: Iranian drone intercepted over UK air base in Cyprus
Pictured: Aftermath of attack on Tehran
Pictured: US fighter jet returns from operation
Trump: We had to do it the right way
Donald Trump said the US had believed it was close to securing a deal with Iran before Tehran “backed out”, leaving Washington with no choice but to act.
“We thought we had a deal and then they backed out,” he said. “We had to do it the right way.”
The president insisted American forces would “easily prevail” and claimed operations were already “substantially ahead of time projections”.
While the initial timeline had been “four to five weeks”, Mr Trump said the US had the capability to continue for longer if necessary. “I don’t get bored — there’s nothing boring about this,” he added.
He also boasted that a plan projected to take four weeks to eliminate Iran’s military leadership had been completed “within an hour”.
Iran ‘ignored warnings not to build nuke’, says Trump
The United States will continue “large-scale operations” to eliminate what Donald Trump described as the “grave threat posed by a terrible terrorist regime”, the president said at a press conference on Tuesday.
Mr Trump claimed Washington had warned Iran not to attempt to rebuild military capabilities at alternative sites, but said the regime had “ignored those warnings” and refused to abandon its pursuit of nuclear weapons.
According to the president, Tehran already possessed missiles capable of striking Europe and would “soon have had missiles capable of hitting our beautiful America”.
“Everyone was behind us — they just didn’t have the courage to say so,” he added, arguing that the US itself would have been under direct threat had it not acted.
“For almost 47 years this regime has been attacking the United States and killing Americans,” Mr Trump said. “Every time you see someone with a shattered face or killed violently, it was almost certainly the Iranians.”
He described the current campaign as the regime’s “last best chance to strike”, signalling that further action could follow.
Waiting for Trump to speak at White House
Donald Trump will hand out medals at a Medal of Honour ceremony in Washington. The ceremony has not started but Mr Trump is expected to also speak on the war in Iran.
First Italians to evacuated from Gulf to arrive in Rome
Italy said on Monday that it was helping hundreds of its citizens to evacuate the United Arab Emirates (UAE), estimating there were currently around 30,000 Italian nationals there.
Speaking in the Italian Senate, Antonio Tajani, the foreign minister, said a group of 98 Italians had left the UAE for Oman on Sunday and would arrive in Rome later on Monday.
Another group of around 200 Italian students who had been stranded in Dubai is due to be evacuated on a UAE flight to Milan on Tuesday.
“We are creating corridors and networks of embassies to facilitate the movement of Italians to countries where there are flights available,” Mr Tajani said.
Starmer says UK doesn’t believe in ‘regime change from the skies’
Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, said he did not believe that an attempt to remove Iran’s leadership through aerial bombardment without a land invasion would work, which was one reason the UK did not join strikes against Iran.
“This government does not believe in regime change from the skies,” Starmer said on Monday, emphasising that military action needed a lawful basis and a “viable thought-through plan, with an objective that can be achieved.”
“They’re the principles that I applied to the decision not to get involved in the offensive strikes of the US and Israel,” he said.
Mr Trump told the Telegraph on Monday that he was “very disappointed” with Starmer’s initial refusal to let Washington use British military bases.
“President Trump has expressed his disagreement with our decision not to get involved in the initial strikes, but it is my duty to judge what is in Britain’s national interest,” Mr Starmer told parliament.
“That is what I have done and I stand by it,” he added.
Follow the latest developments in Britain with our live blog.
Trump started war with the words ‘no aborts, good luck’
Donald Trump gave the command to start the war on Friday, top US military officer General Dan Caine told a news conference on Monday.
“The president directed, and I quote, ‘Operation Epic Fury is approved. No aborts. Good luck,’” said Gen Caine.
The general also described the initial stages of the attack.
“The first movers were US CYBERCOM and US SPACECOM, layering non-kinetic effects, disrupting and degrading and blinding Iran’s ability to see, communicate and respond,” Gen Caine said, referring to Cyber and Space Commands.
Major US combat operations then began Saturday at 9:45 am in Tehran, or 1:15 am Saturday on the east coast of the United States.
“More than 100 aircraft launched from land, sea – fighters, tankers, airborne early warning, electronic attack, bombers from the States and unmanned platforms – forming a single synchronised wave,” according to the general.
The start of the campaign “marked the culmination of months, and in some cases, years, of deliberate planning and refinement against this particular target set.”
Qatari air force shoots down two Iranian aircraft
Qatar’s air force shot down two aircraft inbound from Iran on Monday, Doha’s defence ministry said in a statement after the Islamic republic earlier targeted gas facilities in the Gulf state.
“Qatar Emiri Air Force successfully shot down two (SU24) aircraft coming from the Islamic Republic of Iran. They also successfully intercepted seven ballistic missiles through air defences, and intercepted five drones by Qatar Emiri Air Force and Qatar Emiri Navy Forces, which targeted several areas in the state today,” the defence ministry said.
New York police step up patrols over terror attack fears
The New York Police Department has said it is closely monitoring the escalating hostilities in the Middle East, warning of a heightened threat environment in the city.
In a statement, the NYPD said it would maintain enhanced, high-visibility patrols at sensitive locations across New York, particularly as Jewish communities marked the festival of Purim.
The move follows a mass shooting in Austin, Texas, on Sunday which is being treated as a potential terror attack linked to the war on Iran.
Police said the stepped-up presence was a precautionary measure taken “out of an abundance of caution”.
“As always, we remind the public to remain vigilant and notify the NYPD of suspicious activity,” the statement added.
Head of Tehran emergency services wounded in strike on HQ
The head of Tehran’s emergency services organisation was wounded along with several staff members when a strike hit its headquarters.
“In the damage that happened to the Tehran provincial emergency services organisation building this afternoon, the head of the organisation along with several colleagues were injured,” the organisation’s spokesman said.
“Following these injuries, the Tehran emergency crisis operations office was damaged, but immediately the forces were stationed in a new location and emergency operations are ongoing,” the statement said.
Telegraph journalist runs for shelter seconds after entering Israel
Less than a minute after entering Israel, the sirens began blaring, warning of an incoming missile strike, writes Tom Cotterill, the Telegraph’s defence editor.
I had just crossed the Allenby Bridge, east of Jerusalem, when alerts from Israel’s Home Front Command app flashed on my phone: “In your area, rocket and missile fire: enter the protected space.”
I scrambled into a minivan with journalists as our driver sped towards a shelter. “It’s just another day in Israel,” he said.
Inside the concrete bunker, dozens waited as missiles raced overhead. Hours earlier, an Iranian strike had killed nine people in the town of Beit Shemesh, including three teenage siblings sheltering in a bunker.
Then the all-clear sounded. Outside, a man smiled: “Welcome to Israel.”
Madrid refuses assistance to US naval vessels
The US has removed naval vessels from two Spanish ports after the government in Madrid refused to provide assistance.
Margarita Robles, the Spanish defence minister, said “no assistance of any kind has been provided” to US military vessels, according to a report in El Espanol newspaper.
The Pentagon has reportedly withdrawn KC-135 tanker aircraft, used to refuel bombers, deployed at the Morón de la Frontera (Seville ) and Rota (Cadiz ) bases.
Of the vessels, Ms Robles said: “they have not carried out, nor will they carry out, any maintenance or support operations.”
Pictures: Israelis take cover near site of fatal rocket attack
Video: smoke rises from missile strike in Beirut
Iranian official vows to continue fight ‘regardless of the cost’
Ali Larijani, a senior Iranian official, has said on social media that the country’s armed forces had “not engaged in any attacks except in defence.”
“We will fiercely defend ourselves and our six thousand year old civilisation regardless of the costs and will make our enemies sorry for their miscalculation,” he wrote on X.
British horse trainer witnessed missile intercepts in Dubai
British racehorse trainer Jamie Osborne has described the “surreal” scene of watching missiles being intercepted in the sky above him while his horses raced in Dubai, writes Dan Bates.
Mr Osborne, who was in the UAE for the Emirates Super Saturday race day, found himself trapped in the emirate along with dozens of other trainers and jockeys after the air strikes began.
Speaking to Thoroughbread Daily News, he said that he was stranded in Dubai and had been told the airport will not open until Monday afternoon at the earliest.
He said: “It was kind of surreal. We were racing and you could see missiles being hit out of the air above us.”
According to Mr Osborne, his horses at the stables at the Meydan racecourse had not been affected despite some “loud bangs” nearby.
He said: “We’ll just have to sit it out. Obviously, there’s a backlog of people trying to get out of the country, so I don’t know quite how long it’s going to take us to do it.”
Francis Graffard, a renowned horse trainer from France who was also stuck in Dubai, told the Thoroughbred Daily News that he was so unnerved after getting an alert on his phone that he “slept with my jeans on and my passport in my pocket”.
Germany to fly nationals out of Gulf
Germany has announced it will send planes to the Middle East to evacuate stranded tourists, with priority given to children, the infirm and pregnant women, writes James Rothwell in Berlin.
Johann Wadephul, the German foreign minister, said the planes will fly out to Muscat in Oman, and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia.
“We want to help Germans get home,” he said in Berlin, adding that the government would only send military aircraft as a last resort.
An estimated 30,000 German tourists are currently stranded in the Gulf region due to the war on Iran.
Saudi Arabia could be pushed into joining war
A major Saudi oil refinery was hit by a drone and set alight in an attack analysts said would push the Kingdom and other Gulf states to consider joining the widening Middle East war.
Saudi Arabia’s state oil giant Aramco shut parts of its Ras Tanura refinery, on the third day of Tehran’s strikes in response to the US-Israeli attack on Iran.
Hours later, Iranian missiles targeting Prince Sultan Air Base near the capital of Riyadh were reportedly intercepted, and witnesses told of explosions over the city of Kharj.
The base hosts United States personnel and has been repeatedly targeted in recent days.
The Ras Tanura oil complex houses one of the Middle East’s largest refineries with a capacity of 550,000 barrels per day and serves as a critical export hub for Saudi crude.
Two drones were intercepted at the facility, with debris causing a limited fire, the Saudi defence ministry’s spokesperson said on Al Arabiya TV, adding there were no injuries.
“The attack on Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura refinery marks a significant escalation, with Gulf energy infrastructure now squarely in Iran’s sights,” said Torbjorn Soltvedt, principal Middle East analyst at risk intelligence firm Verisk Maplecroft.
“The attack is also likely to move Saudi Arabia and neighbouring Gulf states closer to joining US and Israeli military operations against Iran.”
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IDF continues to strike Lebanon
The Israeli military said it had begun striking Hezbollah targets throughout Lebanon, including in the capital Beirut.
The IDF confirmed earlier on Monday that the Iran-backed terror group’s intelligence chief had been killed in a wave of strikes.
Israel attacked Hezbollah on Sunday after the terror group launched a wave of missiles in response to the death of Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.
Dispatch: Iranians flee across border to Turkey
Some Iranians are fleeing to Turkey, while others are returning home, worried about family as war rages on.
“We heard so many bombs exploding. One of them hit near my house in Tehran, and that’s when we decided to come to Turkey,” said one woman. “The war is exactly like what people are seeing on television.”
“I was so afraid, but I’m also so happy and full of hope for the future,” said Fatima, 28, from Tehran. “I hope that there will be regime change. Anything could happen now.”
Groups were also crossing back home, eager to check on relatives.
“I want regime change,” said one man, 40, rushing back to find his young children after a week-long business trip in Europe. “Trump has helped us, but we need more help.”
“A month ago, thousands of people died,” he said, referring to January’s crackdown against mass protests. “I saw this happen. Not to my close friends and family, but it happened.”
Software engineer Mahmoud, 29, was less optimistic: “How can you imagine that somebody from some other country, without [receiving] any benefit will come to your country and change the regime?”
All this “may lead to an endless war in the Middle East; maybe it could bring us into a world war.”
Khamenei’s wife dies
The wife of Ali Khamenei, the Iranian supreme leader who was killed in Israeli strikes, has died.
Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh, 79, had been in a coma since the attack on Saturday, Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported.
Gas prices surge as Qatar shuts down production
Gas prices rocketed at the fastest pace since the outbreak of the Ukraine war after Qatar halted liquefied natural gas production following attacks by Iran.
European wholesale prices surged by 52pc – the steepest jump since March 2022 – after state-run energy giant QatarEnergy said it had “ceased” production following strikes on its facilities.
Qatar’s defence ministry had earlier said one Iranian drone “targeted an energy facility in Ras Laffan Industrial City, belonging to QatarEnergy”, referring to its onshore gas processing base 80 kilometres (50 miles) north of Doha.
The Dutch TTF natural gas contract, considered the European benchmark, jumped to more than €48 per megawatt hours, its highest level in a year, having been below €27 in December.
Airlines begin restarting some flights
Airlines have begun to restart some flights amid the conflict between Israel, Iran, and the United States.
Emirates and Etihad Airways said they had resumed some limited flight operation on Monday.
A limited number of flights are expected to leave Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Iran operation to last more than a week, says Israel
Pete Hegseth may have been coy about how long the Iran operation will last but the Israeli military said it expected the war to last at least one week.
Israel has continued to target ballistic missile launcher and air defence sites in Iran, bombing 131 cities in total.
The IDF also said it had launched a new wave of strikes on Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Hegseth doesn’t rule out boots on the ground
Pete Hegseth confirmed there were no American soldiers on the ground in Iran but refused to rule out sending troops in the future.
“We won’t go into the exercise of what we will or won’t do,” he said. “We’ll go as far as we need to go.”
We expect more losses, says US top general
The United States’ top general said the military expects to take additional losses during the war against Iran.
“This is not a single overnight operation,” Gen. Dan Caine said, adding that the military objectives “will take some time to achieve, and in some cases will be difficult and gritty work”.
“We expect to take additional losses and as always, we will work to minimise US losses.”
US Central Command has so far confirmed the deaths of four soldiers during the 3-day long operation.
Hegseth accuses traditional allies of ‘hand wringing’
The US defence secretary has accused America’s traditional allies of “hand wringing” and “pearl clutching” over the use of force against Iran.
“Capable partners are good partners, unlike so many of our traditional allies who wring their hands and clutch their pearls, hemming and hawing about the use of force,” he said.
“America, regardless of what so-called international institutions say, is unleashing the most lethal and precise air power campaign in history.”
It comes after Donald Trump said he was “very disappointed” in Sir Keir Starmer over his refusal to give the US permission to use British bases to launch their attacks on Iran.
Iran had a chance to make a deal, says Hegseth
Pete Hegseth said Washington had given Iran “every chance” to make a deal over the future of its nuclear programme.
“Iran tried to lie themselves to a nuclear bomb…The former regime had every chance to make a deal….they were not negotiating, they were stalling,” the US defence secretary said.
Mr Hegseth said Iran’s military was growing weaker with every day of the operation.
He added: “We hope the Iranian people take advantage of this incredible opportunity.”
Mr Hegseth also sought to make clear that the conflict would not become a “forever war”.
“This is not Iraq, this is not endless. Our generation knows better and so does this president.”
US defence secretary speaking
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Israel kills Hezbollah’s intelligence chief
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said they have killed Hezbollah’s intelligence chief in a strike on Beirut.
“The IDF now confirms that in a precise strike in Beirut last night (Sunday), the terrorist Hussein Makled, who served as the head of Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters, has been eliminated,” a new IDF statement reads.
US officials to provide update on ‘Operation Epic Fury’
Members of the Trump administration will hold a press conference for the first time since the US went to war with Iran.
Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine are expected to provide updates on the operation in around 10 minutes as the war enters its third day.
Fourth US soldier dies after Iranian attacks
The US military has announced that a fourth soldier has died after sustaining injuries in an initial wave of attacks by Iran.
After the first three deaths were announced on Sunday, Donald Trump vowed to avenge their deaths but warned there would probably be more casualties before the war ended.
US Centcom said: “As of 7:30 am ET, March 2, four U.S. service members have been killed in action. The fourth service member, who was seriously wounded during Iran’s initial attacks, eventually succumbed to their injuries.
“Major combat operations continue and our response effort is ongoing.
“The identities of the fallen are being withheld until 24 hours after next of kin notification.”
What Khamenei’s death means for Russia and China
It took only a minute to change the world. Within the first 60 seconds of Operation Epic Fury, Israeli officials claimed, Iran’s Supreme Leader and his principal henchmen were dead.
But the precision-guided missiles that struck central Tehran in the opening salvo of the war did not merely kill Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and upend half a century of Iranian history.
They also underscored a more basic reality – where true power still lies in the world.
Much has been written in recent years about “multi-polarity” – the idea that emerging powers have wrested back some of the dominance the United States wielded unilaterally after the Cold War.
Such arguments are not without merit. China’s manufacturing heft and its dominance over critical resource supply lines challenge Washington’s economic primacy. Rising middle powers have ensured that the US no longer enjoys uncontested sway in every region.
But when it comes to military might, the US still reigns supreme – a point Donald Trump has sought to emphasise repeatedly since returning to office.
Iran targets Netanyahu’s office
Iran claims to have fired missiles at Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
“The office of the criminal prime minister of the Zionist regime and the headquarters of the regime’s air force commander were targeted,” the IRGC said in a statement by Fars news agency.
It said Kheibar missiles were used in the attack.
Israel said there were no injuries in the strikes.
Ukraine helping Gulf states to shoot down drones
The UK is sending specialists from Ukraine to the Middle East to help allies intercept Iranian attack drones, Sir Keir Starmer announced.
“We will also bring experts from Ukraine, together with our own experts, to help Gulf partners shoot down Iranian drones attacking them,” the Prime Minister said.
Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, confirmed on Sunday evening that Kyiv had offered European allies its expertise in fending off Iranian-designed drones and missiles, which have been used by Russia throughout the full-scale invasion.
“The situation in the Middle East shows how difficult it is to provide 100% protection from missiles and ‘Shahed’ drones, even in the Gulf countries, which have far more advanced air defence systems than those provided to us,” he said.
“Everyone can now see that Ukraine’s experience in defence is, in many respects, irreplaceable,” Mr Zelensky added. “We are ready to share this experience.”
Drones heading for RAF base in Cyprus intercepted
Two drones heading towards the RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus were intercepted on Monday afternoon, the Cypriot government said.
Sirens were heard sounding and aircraft were seen taking off from the base at around midday as it faced a second attack.
Earlier on Monday, an Iranian Shahed one-way attack drone hit the RAF base, according to Nikos Christodoulides, the Cypriot president.
The Cyprus Mail reported that a new “security threat” had been declared at the British base shortly after midday local time (10am in the UK).
Sources told the newspaper that personnel at the base had been told to “return to your homes and stay inside until further notice”.
US warplanes shot down by Kuwait
Three American F-15 fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defences in a case of friendly fire on Monday morning, US Central Command has confirmed.
“All six aircrew ejected safely, have been safely recovered, and are in stable condition,” it adds.
“Kuwait has acknowledged this incident, and we are grateful for the efforts of the Kuwaiti defence forces and their support in this ongoing operation.”
Exclusive: Trump ‘very disappointed’ in Starmer over Iran
Donald Trump has told The Telegraph he is “very disappointed” in Sir Keir Starmer for blocking him from using Diego Garcia to carry out strikes on Iran.
In an exclusive interview, the US president said that the Prime Minister’s initial refusal to let US forces use the Chagos Islands base was unlike anything that had “happened between our countries before”.
Britain had denied the US permission to conduct strikes from bases such as Diego Garcia and RAF Fairford, citing international law. However, the Prime Minister relented on Sunday night and said he would allow the US access to Diego Garcia for “specific and limited defensive purposes”.
Mr Trump said Sir Keir “took far too long” to change his mind.
“That’s probably never happened between our countries before,” he told The Telegraph, adding: “It sounds like he was worried about the legality.”
Pictured: Aircraft leaves RAF base in Cyprus
‘Sirens heard’ at RAF base in Cyprus
Sirens are sounding at Britain’s RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus just hours after an unmanned drone struck it, according to Cypriot state TV.
Aircraft were also reportedly taking off from the facility, which is located near the southern city of Limassol.
The Cyprus Mail reported that a new “security threat” had been declared at the British base shortly after midday local time (10am in the UK).
Sources told the newspaper that personnel at the base had been told to “return to your homes and stay inside until further notice”.
Gulf states continue to bear brunt of Iranian response
The Gulf states are continuing to bear the brunt of Iran’s response to joint US-Israel strikes as the war enters its third day.
An oil refinery in Saudi Arabia was shut after being struck by an Iranian drone, while Iranian missiles targeting a Saudi base near Riyadh were intercepted.
Elsewhere, a vessel in Bahrain was struck by two unknown projectiles on Monday morning, causing a fire. In Kuwait, black smoke was seen rising from the US embassy, while American warplanes also crashed in the country.
Qatar, meanwhile, has cut ties with Iran after Doha was hit in a series of strikes, including on the airport on Monday morning.
“An attack like this cannot be left without retaliation,” a Qatari spokesman said, adding Iran “has to pay a price for this blatant attack on our people”.
Merz to meet Trump in Washington
Friedrich Merz, the German Chancellor, is heading to Washington for a meeting with Donald Trump on Tuesday.
The meeting was arranged before Mr Trump attacked Iran, but may now focus on whether Berlin is willing to join the fray.
The German government, along with Britain and France, issued a joint statement on Sunday which said they were ready to take “defensive action” against Iran.
However, Germany’s foreign minister on Monday appeared to completely rule out any suggestion that Berlin will join the war.
“The federal government has no intention of participating…we also do not have the necessary military resources,” Johann Wadephul said on Monday.
He did stress that “our Bundeswehr soldiers would defend themselves if they were attacked,” opening the door to limited retaliation against Iran.
Pictured: Iranians flee after Israeli strike on Tehran
Israel and US struck Iranian nuclear facilities, says Tehran
Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, Tehran’s ambassador to the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said.
Reza Najafi said Natanz, located in the central Isfahan province, was attacked on Sunday.
“Again they attacked Iran’s peaceful, safeguarded nuclear facilities yesterday,” Mr Najafi told reporters at a meeting of the IAEA.
Israel and the US launched a large-scale attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities last June. At the time, Donald Trump said Tehran’s nuclear capabilities had been “obliterated”.
Death toll from US-Israel strikes rises to 555 across Iran
At least 555 people have been killed in US and Israeli strikes on Iran, with 131 cities bombed across the country, the Iranian Red Crescent reported.
“Following enemy attacks in recent days, so far 131 cities have been involved in the incident,” the Red Crescent said.
“Five hundred and fifty-five compatriots were martyred and rescue, relief, transfer and medical services operations are being carried out continuously,” the organisation said.
“More than 100,000 rescue and relief workers across the country are on full alert,” it added.
Iran’s temporary leadership council holds second meeting
Iran’s temporary leadership council held its second meeting on Sunday night. Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran’s president, declared it would “powerfully continue the path” of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader killed in US-Israeli attacks.
“The temporary leadership council started its work today and by God’s grace and power will continue the path of the late imam and the dear martyred leader and the path of all truth-seekers in the world,” Mr Pezeshkian said in a video message after the meeting.
The council includes Mr Pezeshkian, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the head of the judiciary, and Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, its constitutionally-mandated cleric.
“America and the Israeli regime should know that martyring the supreme leader of the Islamic Revolution will bring them nothing but humiliation,” Mr Pezeshkian said.
The president called on Iranians to demonstrate public support during the crisis.
“Our dear nation is mourning this great martyr today, and all of us, with our presence on the scene and in the field, in mosques and streets, must thwart the enemies’ sinister plans with empathy and hand in hand,” he said.
“The armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran are ready and will be ready to crush the bases of enemies, and will disappoint enemies as always,” he added.
Israel ‘well prepared’ for Lebanon ground invasion
Israel is “well prepared” if it needs to launch a ground invasion of Lebanon, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said this morning.
Effie Defrin, the IDF spokesman, said “all operations are on the table” after Israel launched strikes at Hezbollah overnight.
Mr Defrin said the Iran-backed terror group had “made a very bad mistake” by choosing to strike Israel overnight.
“The IDF will react very swiftly and they will pay a heavy price,” he said.
“Hezbollah opened fire at us last night. It knew exactly what it was doing. We warned them it will pay a very heavy price for that.”
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Jerusalem wakes up to new reality after missile strike
Jerusalem residents woke up to a new reality this morning after an Iranian ballistic missile struck the outskirts of the city late on Sunday evening.
The city, which has a significant Palestinian-Muslim population and includes the al-Aqsa compound, the third-holiest site in Islam, is not thought to have been targeted by Iran before.
But last night, video footage showed a direct hit by a ballistic missile that penetrated Israel’s air defences on a main road near the northern suburb of Ramot.
The blast caused a large crater in the road, partially burying several cars.
There were five non-fatal casualties, including a man with shrapnel wounds and others with concussions.
This was not nearly as bad as a strike earlier in the day on Beit Shemesh, a town down the road, in which nine died.
But it has shattered the illusion that Jerusalem, with its unique historical and religious significance, is a safe haven.
Iran attacks Saudi oil refinery
Saudi Arabia’s state oil company Saudi Aramco has halted operations at one of its refineries following an Iranian drone strike.
A small fire was reported at the facility in the eastern city of Ras Tanura, with plumes of smoke seen billowing into the sky.
Iran also targeted Riyadh and eastern parts of the country in targeted attacks on Sunday.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry issued a statement in response that the attacks “cannot be justified under any pretext”.
The conflict, which is entering its third day, has sent oil prices surging to seven per cent – their highest in months.
Cooper: Not in our interests to join war
Yvette Cooper claimed that it was “not in the UK’s interests” to join Donald Trump’s strikes on Iran over the weekend.
The Foreign Secretary told Times Radio: “I think our guiding issue has been about UK interests and about what we think is the right way forward.
“And our assessment was that it was not in the UK’s interests to provide support for the action that took place over the weekend. But it is in UK interests and it is the right thing to do – given how many British citizens that we have in the region – to support this defensive action now.”
In a later interview with LBC’s Nick Ferrari, Ms Cooper declined to say whether the US had acted in line with international law.
She said: “We don’t routinely comment on the actions of allies. They have to set out their own assessment around the international law of their own actions and the reasons for their action as well, the purposes for it.”
US fighter jets crash in Kuwait during Iranian missile attack
Several American fighter jets crashed in Kuwait this morning but their crew survived, the country’s defence ministry said.
“Several US warplanes crashed this morning. Confirming that all crew members survived,” the Kuwait defence ministry said in a statement, adding that the cause was being investigated.
“Authorities immediately initiated search and rescue operations, evacuating the crews and transporting them to a hospital for medical evaluation and treatment. He noted that their condition is stable,” the statement added.
Pictured: Iranians in London celebrate death of Khamenei
US given ‘limited’ permission to use military bases, says Cooper
Britain has only given the US “limited” permission to use its military bases to strike Iran, the Foreign Secretary said.
Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, backed the war with Iran on Sunday night after Tehran continued to strike allies across the Middle East with missiles and drones.
However, Yvette Cooper insisted that a “specific, limited agreement” had been reached “about the defence of Gulf countries”.
She told Sky News: “Many of those Gulf countries were not involved in any of the strikes on Iran. And so, for example, it doesn’t mean political and economic and infrastructure targets.
“But there is a significant issue about ballistic missiles and launchers that are effectively pointed at the Gulf, pointed at our partner countries and countries where we have so many British citizens.
“So not to provide support, support that the US have specifically asked for, I think would not be the right thing to do, where we have so many British citizens there.”
Government working to evacuate Britons, says Foreign Secretary
Britain is working on “every possible option” including mass evacuations to help about 300,000 Britons in countries targeted by Iran, Yvette Cooper said.
The Foreign Secretary said that in addition to the 94,000 people who had used the Government’s ‘register your presence’ system, there were more than 250,000 in countries that had now been hit by Tehran.
Ms Cooper told Sky News that the “most important thing” for those stranded was to follow local advice, which in most cases was to shelter in place.
Asked whether the Government had drawn up evacuation plans, Ms Cooper told Sky News: “We’re working on every possible option. What we want obviously is for a resolution and for air space to be reopened so people can get normal flights back again.
“But of course we are looking at a wide range of options … We have to recognise the scale of this and also the fact that there are strikes still under way.”
She added: “It is a fast-moving situation and we are doing everything we can.”
Three armed drones shot down near US bases in Iraq
Three armed drones have been shot down above Erbil airport in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, near military bases used by the US.
Smoke was seen rising from the Erbil air base, which hosts US troops, following a series of explosions yesterday.
Seraya Evliya ed-Dem, an Iraqi Shiite group, claimed responsibility for a kamikaze drone attack on military bases in the region.
Erbil, as a part of Kurdistan, is one of the few areas in Iraq that continues to host US forces.
War spreads as Israel strikes Lebanon
Israel attacked Lebanon on Monday after Hezbollah fired retaliatory strikes over the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Iranian supreme leader.
The Israeli strikes targeted Hezbollah terrorists and marked an expansion of the war in the Middle East.
The IDF said it struck “senior terrorists from the Hezbollah terror organisation in the Beirut area” and also hit a central figure from the group in southern Lebanon.
The identities of those killed have not yet been confirmed, however, at least 31 people died in the strikes.
Israel blamed the Iranian proxy group for the escalation in conflict, after it launched a barrage of missiles at Israel after midnight local time.
“Hezbollah opened a campaign against Israel overnight, and is fully responsible for any escalation,” Eyal Zamir, the chief of Israel’s general staff, said in a statement.
If you’re just joining us
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the war in the Middle East. If you’re just joining us, here’s a reminder of what happened overnight.
- Hezbollah launched a barrage of missiles at Israel, in a major escalation
- In response, Israel struck targets in Lebanon, saying it hit senior Hezbollah figures in Beirut and southern Lebanon
- At least 31 people were killed and 149 injured in the Israeli strikes, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. Thousands fled to the north of the country
- Explosions were reported in Jerusalem, Dubai, Doha, Manama and Abu Dhabi
- Smoke was seen near the American embassy in Kuwait City, with reports of minor injuries after debris fell nearby
- An American F-15 was shot down in Kuwait, according to Iranian state media, with both pilots surviving
- Oil prices surged by around 10 per cent
- Britain’s RAF base in Cyprus moved non-essential staff after a suspected drone incident
Iranian drone targeted RAF base
Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides confirmed that the unmanned drone used to attack the RAF base in his country was a Shahed drone.
He said that authorities are on full alert, but stressed that Cyprus is not involved in any military activity in the region.
The Shahed drones, known for their effectiveness in Russia’s war against Ukraine, are a type of kamikaze drone that can act like a guided missile to hit a specific target.
Over the weekend, Iran also deployed Shahed drones against Bahrain, Kuwait and the UAE.
Jerusalem rocked by Iranian strike
Jerusalem residents woke up to a new reality this morning, after an Iranian ballistic missile strike on the outskirts of the city late on Sunday evening.
The city, which has a significant Palestinian Muslim population and includes the al-Aqsa compound, the third-holiest site in Islam, is not thought to have been targeted by Iran before.
But last night, video footage caught a direct hit by a ballistic missile that got through Israel’s air defences on a main road near the northern suburb of Ramot.
The blast caused a large crater in the road, partially burying a number of cars.
There were five non-fatal casualties, including a man with shrapnel wounds and others with concussion.
This was not nearly as bad as a strike earlier in the day on a town down the road called Beit Shemesh, which killed nine.
But it has shattered the illusion that Jerusalem, due to its unique historical and religious significance, is a safe haven.
Smoke rising from US embassy in Kuwait City
Smoke has been reported rising from the US embassy compound in Kuwait City, according to reports.
Witnesses told Reuters they saw smoke near the embassy area following a series of air raid sirens across the Gulf state in recent hours.
Separately, Kuwait’s official news agency said debris fell near the Mina Al Ahmadi refinery, causing minor injuries to two workers.
There have also been reports of explosions in parts of the Gulf, including Bahrain and the UAE.
Oil prices surge
Oil prices surged on Monday as US-Israeli strikes on Iran disrupt supply from the Middle East.
Brent briefly spiked 13pc to around $82 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate nearly 12pc when oil markets opened on Sunday night.
Investors fear escalating disruption in one of the world’s most critical oil-producing regions.
Missile and drone attacks targeted fuel vessels on Sunday, and more than 100 other ships were effectively halted amid the turmoil.
US aircraft shot down in Kuwait
A US F-15 fighter jet has been shot down in Kuwait, Iran state media confirmed.
The plane was shot down early on Monday morning, with footage showing the jet spinning as it dropped from the sky and crashed to the ground.
The US has yet to comment on the attack.
Both pilots were reportedly able to eject themselves and are alive.
The F-15, a highly manoeuvrable and tactical fighter, is considered one of the US’s best fighter jets.
Kuwait hosts the largest US military presence in region, with approximately 13,500 troops stationed in the country, as well as Camp Arifjian, the forward headquarters of US Army Central.
Israeli strikes on Lebanon kill at least 31
At least 31 people have been killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon, Lebanon’s Health Ministry said.
A total of 149 people have also been injured.
The strikes followed a Hezbollah attack on Israel overnight, expanding the war in the Middle East.
Iran fires fresh round of missiles towards Israel
Iran has fired a fresh round of missiles towards Israel, the IDF has confirmed.
“Defense systems are operating to intercept the threat,” the IDF said in a statement, urging the public to remain safe and shelter.
Sirens were heard across central Israel and an alert was issued warning of a suspected drone infiltration in Upper Galilee and Golan Heights, according to local media.
The Iranian strikes come as Israel confirms that it has begun launching an additional wave of strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon, where it has also urged residents to evacuate key villages.
Previous Iranian strikes on Israel killed nine people in Beit Shemesh, the deadliest attack on Israel since the war began.
Explosions rock several cities
Explosions have been reported in several cities across the Middle East within the past 30 minutes.
- Jerusalem: Air raid sirens sounded after the Israeli military said it had identified missiles launched from Iran. There were no immediate reports of direct impacts, and some of the blasts may have been caused by interception attempts.
- Dubai: Blasts were heard, according to AFP reporters.
- Doha: Residents said they heard several loud explosions as air defences appeared to respond to incoming threats.
- Manama: Explosions rang out in Bahrain’s capital.
- Abu Dhabi: Witnesses report hearing explosions.
Kuwait interior ministry also said air defence systems intercepted an unspecified number of drones targeting the country, with no casualties reported.
Meanwhile in Iraq, at least two drones were intercepted near Erbil airport, according to AFP.
We will bring you more details shortly.
Israeli general says strikes on Lebanon will intensify
An Israeli senior general said the military would intensify its strikes on Lebanon following rocket fire claimed by the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, according to AFP.
Rafi Milo, head of the Israeli military’s Northern Command, said Hezbollah had “chosen the Iranian regime over the State of Lebanon” and warned that the group would “pay a heavy price”.
“The strikes continue, their intensity will increase,” he said in a military statement.
Britain’s RAF base in Cyprus relocates staff
Authorities at Britain’s RAF base in Akrotiri, Cyprus, have arranged the temporary dispersal of non-essential personnel as a precaution following an overnight incident involving an unmanned drone, the Sovereign Base Areas Administration said.
It added that other British facilities on the island will continue to operate normally.
This comes after a suspected drone strike on RAF Akrotiri, with the Ministry of Defence confirming it was responding to a live incident overnight and placing the base on high alert.
The suspected strike occurred just hours after Sir Keir Starmer gave the US permission to use its military bases to strike Iran.
Iran strikes were delayed, officials say
The United States and Israel reportedly intended to launch strikes on Iran a week earlier than they did, according to reports.
An Israeli official said the delay was driven mainly by the US side and linked to the need for closer coordination with the Israel Defense Forces, according to Axios.
A Trump administration official described the run-up to the operation as “very back and forth”.
“Some people say it was about the moon or the weather or whatever. But that’s bull,” the official said. “There was a weather thing… There’s no question. And there was a weather issue more in the mind of the Israelis.”
The pause reportedly allowed time for another round of diplomatic efforts before the decision was taken to proceed with the strikes.
Iran not open to US negotiations
Iran’s top security chief Ali Larijani has said Iran is not open to talks with the US.
Disputing a recent report by the Wall Street Journal, which claimed that Mr Larijani had made a fresh push for nuclear talks, the security chief wrote on social media: “We will not negotiate with the United States.”
He also accused President Trump of “plunging the region into chaos with his ‘delusional fantasies’” and turning his “self-made ‘America First’ slogan into ‘Israel First’.”
Mr Larijani is one of the most senior surviving Iranian officials following the strikes over the weekend and is believed to be a top contender to replace Ali Khamenei as supreme leader.
In pictures: Thousands flee from Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon
At least 14 killed in southern Lebanon strikes
At least 14 civilians have been killed in Israel’s strikes in southern Lebanon so far.
According to local media, three civilians have been killed in the town of Shhabiyah, four in al-Sultaniyeh and seven in Toul.
The deaths come as Israel urges civilians to evacuate from more than 50 target areas as it prepares additional strikes against Hezbollah.
Residents told to evacuate in Lebanon
The Israeli military has warned residents across nearly 50 villages in Lebanon to evacuate ahead of possible strikes.
“For your safety, evacuate your homes immediately and move at least 1,000 metres (0.6 miles) away from your village to open areas,” an army spokeswoman said in a statement on X, listing localities in the country’s south and east.
Japan calls for ‘diplomatic solution’
Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi has urged Iran to seek a “diplomatic solution” and stop any action that could “destabilise the region” amid ongoing strikes.
“We will work in coordination with the international community toward an early deescalation of the situation and continue to make every necessary diplomatic effort,” Ms Takaichi said during a parliamentary committee meeting on Monday.
Ms Takaichi did not comment directly on whether she supported the strikes launched by the US, a close Japanese ally, but said that Iran’s nuclear development was “completely unacceptable”.
Japan’s foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi said there have been no reports of Japanese casualties in Iran, but the government was preparing plans to evacuate the approximate 200 Japanese nationals who live in the country.
Drone incident caused ‘limited damage’
The drone incident at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus caused “limited damage”, according to a Cyprus government spokesperson.
The spokesperson also confirmed that the incident involved “an unmanned drone”, based on “information received through various channels”.
A RAF refuelling aircraft was previously seen circling Cyprus’ southern airspace, according to live flight data.
The Airbus KC2 Voyager, one of the RAF’s main air-to-air refuelling tankers, took off from Akrotiri at 12.46am (10.46pm GMT) local time.
It appeared to be part of the military response, however, it is no longer visible.
Welcome
We will be bringing you the latest from the escalating conflict in the Middle East today.
There have been a number of developments overnight, including:
- An RAF base in Cyprus has been hit by a suspected drone strike
- Israel has launched strikes in Lebanon targeted at Hezbollah terrorists
- Hezbollah formally entered the war overnight as it fired missiles at Israel
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