US Iran war highlights (March 2): Israel army says 'struck and dismantled' Iran's state broadcaster HQ

Qatar's military intercepted two ballistic missiles early Tuesday morning, the country's defence ministry said in a statement, after AFP reporters heard loud explosions across Doha.

Qatar was able to "intercept and neutralise two ballistic missiles that targeted several areas within the country," the ministry said in a statement adding the "threat was dealt with immediately upon detection".

Israel's military said Tuesday that it had launched strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon's capital Beirut, after warning it would press ahead with its campaign against the Iran-backed group.

"The IDF is currently striking Hezbollah command centres and weapons storage facilities in Beirut," a statement from the military said.

The State Department on Monday urged Americans to leave much of the Middle East including Egypt and Gulf states due to the US-Israeli war on Iran.

The State Department "urges Americans to DEPART NOW from the countries below using available commercial transportation, due to serious safety risks," Mora Namdar, the assistant secretary of state for consular affairs, wrote on X, listing 14 countries.

Israel's military said just after midnight on Tuesday that it was working to intercept a new wave of missiles launched from Iran, warning residents in multiple locations to seek shelter.

"A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel. Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat," the military said.

Israel's military said it "struck and dismantled" the headquarters of Iran's state radio and television broadcaster, as it pressed on with its campaign against the Islamic republic.

"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.

"The activities taking place at the centre were carried out and directed by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps. Over the years, the Iranian Broadcasting Authority called for the destruction of the State of Israel and for the use of nuclear weapons," the military added.

Four powerful explosions were heard and felt by AFP journalists after midnight in Tehran, as local media reported blasts across the city.

The four explosions were heard at 1:15 am local time Tuesday (21:45 GMT Monday), shaking the windows of apartments. The targets were unclear.

With fighter jets flying over the capital, AFP journalists earlier saw huge columns of smoke rising from Tehran's historic centre and the east of the city. The Mehr and Tasnim agencies reported explosions in these areas.

The Israeli military said on Monday it planned to strike the Evin area in Tehran, warning residents to leave the designated zone.

"The military will soon strike the Evin area of Tehran, in the Broadcasting Authority compound, as marked on the map," the military said in a Farsi-language post on X.

"In the coming hours, the (Israeli military) will operate in the area, as it has in recent days throughout Tehran, to strike military infrastructure belonging to the Iranian regime," it added, showing an attached map of the targeted area.

A general in Iran's Revolutionary Guards threatened on Monday to "burn any ship" seeking to navigate the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for oil and gas shipments.

"We will burn any ship that tries to pass through the Strait of Hormuz," General Sardar Jabbari said in a post on the Guards' Telegram channel. "We will also attack oil pipelines and will not allow a single drop of oil to leave the region. Oil price will reach $200 in the coming days."

The Israeli military issued evacuation warnings for dozens of villages in southern Lebanon on Monday night, saying they would operate against Hezbollah activities in the area.

"Hezbollah's activities are compelling the (Israeli military) to operate against it. The (Israeli military) does not seek to harm you. For your safety, you must evacuate your homes immediately and move north, beyond the line of villages marked on the map and their surrounding areas," the military's Arabic-language spokesman, Avichay Adraee, wrote in an X post which listed more than two dozen villages.

Major US stock indices finished mixed Monday after a rough start as markets digested a surge in energy prices while the war in Middle East expanded.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended down 0.2 percent at 48,904.78, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index advanced 0.4 percent to 22,748.86.

The broad-based S&P eked out a modest gain of less than 0.1 percent at 6,881.62. All three indices finished well above their session lows.

A total of six US military personnel have been killed since the start of the Iran war, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Monday, raising the death toll from four.

"US 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," CENTCOM said in a post on X.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday that the United States would not "deliberately" target a school, after Iran said 168 people died in an alleged US-Israeli strike.

"The United States would not deliberately target a school. Our objectives are missiles, both the ability to manufacture them and the ability to launch them," Rubio told reporters, while adding that the Pentagon was investigating the alleged incident.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio voiced support Monday for toppling Iran's Islamic authorities but said it was not the objective of the US and Israeli war against Tehran.

"We hope that the Iranian people can overthrow this government and establish a new future for that country. We would love for that to be possible," Rubio told reporters.

"But the objective of this mission is the destruction of their ballistic missile capabilities and of their naval capabilities," he said.

The US embassy in the Jordanian capital Amman said it had temporarily evacuated its staff due to an unspecified threat on Monday.

"Out of an abundance of caution, all personnel at the US Embassy have temporarily departed the embassy compound due to a threat," it said in a security alert posted on social media.

Jordan is among countries across the Middle East that have been responding to Iranian counterattacks against a joint US-Israeli campaign that killed its supreme leader.

The United States hit more than 1,250 targets in the first 48 hours of the war against Iran, the US military said Monday -- up from more than 1,000 during the first day of the conflict.

Targets struck included command-and-control centers, ballistic missile sites, Iranian navy ships and submarines, and anti-ship missile sites, according to a fact sheet released by the US Central Command, which is responsible for American forces in the region.

The Israeli military said on Monday that it struck multiple Iranian intelligence offices and other command centres as it pressed ahead with attacks on the Islamic republic.

"The (Israeli military) struck over 10 headquarters belonging to the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence -- the regime's main intelligence body -- as well as numerous Quds Force headquarters," the military said in a statement, referring to the branch of Iran's Revolutionary Guards which oversees its foreign operations

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," Defrin said in response to the question during a televised briefing.

Amid the flight disruptions in the wake of the Israel-Iran conflict from the past few days, the first flight from Abu Dhabi has landed at the Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru.

A passenger says, "... Once we got stuck in the Abu Dhabi airport, Etihad Airways took good care of us. They booked the hotels for all the passengers whose flights were cancelled." -- ANI

Ministry of Information and Broadcasting posted on X, "The Ministry of Civil Aviation is closely monitoring the evolving airspace situation in parts of the Middle East and its impact on international flight operations. Special arrangements are being made to facilitate the movement of stranded passengers. Airlines are deploying additional capacity where required and coordinating closely with foreign aviation authorities and Indian missions abroad to ensure safe and orderly passenger movement."

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.

The U.S. and Israeli air war against Iran widened on Monday, with no end in sight as Israel attacked Lebanon in response to strikes by Hezbollah and Tehran kept up its missile and drone attacks on Gulf states.

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.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday said 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.

A drone struck a fuel tank terminal in the Emirati capital Abu Dhabi Monday, causing a fire though operations were not impacted, authorities said, as Iran struck more oil facilities on its third day of Gulf attacks.

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 Guards 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.

President Donald Trump said Monday that the US attack on Iran is meeting its goals ahead of schedule but also warned the war could go "far longer" than his initial estimates of about a month.

"We're already substantially ahead of our time projections," Trump said at the White House, adding: "From the beginning we projected four to five weeks, but we have capability to go far longer than that. We'll do it."

US President Donald Trump says the US will “avenge” the deaths of US service personnel after Iran “waged war against civilisation”

The U.S. president added that an Iran armed with nuclear weapons would be intolerable to the United States. "This was our last best chance to strike," he said.

"The regime already had missiles capable of hitting Europe and our bases, both local and overseas, and would soon have had missiles capable of reaching our beautiful America," he said.

The Head of Intelligence Headquarters of Hezbollah, Hassan Maklad, has been eliminated in a precise strike in Beirut on Monday, according to the Israel Defence Forces.

The IDF in a post on its official handle of X wrote, "The IDF now confirms that in a precise strike in Beirut tonight, the terrorist Hassan Maklad, who served as the head of the intelligence headquarters of the terror organisation Hezbollah, was eliminated. Additional details to follow."

Italy has received requests for air defence and anti-drone systems from Gulf countries caught up in the conflict between Iran, Israel and the United States, Rome's defence minister told lawmakers on Monday.

The war against Iran is expanding as Israel has attacked Lebanon in response to strikes by militant group Hezbollah, Tehran has fired missiles and drones at Gulf states, and an Iranian-made drone has hit a British air base in Cyprus.

"The Gulf countries are expressing strong concern about the evolution of the crisis and have indicated the urgent need to strengthen their defence capabilities, particularly air defence and anti-drone," Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said.

The minister said requests included the SAMP/T, a Franco-Italian battery also known as MAMBA that can track dozens of targets and intercept 10 at once. It is the only European-made system that can intercept ballistic missiles. -- (Reuters)

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 defenses, 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. -- AFP

US President Donald Trump is set to address the nation shortly as he prepares to present the Medal of Honor to three US Army soldiers during a ceremony at the White House on Monday morning.

The soldiers being honoured are Master Sergeant Roderick (Roddie) W. Edmonds (posthumous), Staff Sergeant Michael H. Ollis (posthumous), and Command Sergeant Major Terry P. Richardson (Retired).

The ceremony recognises their service and acts of bravery, with two of the awards being conferred posthumously.

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that he's not ruling out sending US ground troops into Iran "if they were necessary".

"I don't have the yips with respect to boots on the ground - like every president says, 'There will be no boots on the ground.' I don't say it," Trump said after launching strikes Saturday to decapitate Iran's military and political leadership. "I say 'probably don't need them,' [or] 'if they were necessary," he told NY Post.

US President Donald Trump said this in an interview with CNN

Reports from Iranian news sites say loud explosions were heard in the central city of Isfahan, coming from the area of a nuclear facility and nearby air base. The cause of the explosions has not been independently verified as a strike, but they come against the backdrop of recent military action involving the United States and Israel against multiple targets across Iran, including nuclear-related sites.

French President Emmanuel Macron warned Monday that a widening war between the United States, Israel, and Iran risks spilling over to Europe's borders, as he unveiled a new strategy for France's nuclear deterrence.

The conflict, which began on Saturday, "brings and will continue to bring instability and a possible conflagration to our borders, with Iran's nuclear and ballistic capabilities still intact", he said. -- AFP

US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth said Operation Epic Fury is “laser-focused” on dismantling Iran’s military capabilities. "The mission of Operation Epic Fury is laser-focused. Destroy Iranian offensive missiles, destroy Iranian missile production, destroy their Navy and other security infrastructure, and they will never have nuclear weapons. We're hitting them surgically, overwhelmingly, and unapologetically. With every passing day, our capabilities get stronger, and Iran's get weaker. We set the terms of this war from start to finish. Our ambitions are not utopian. They are realistic... President Trump has been clear- now is wartime..."

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth says, "President Trump has also been very consistent. Crazy regimes like Iran, hell-bent on prophetic Islamist delusions, cannot have nuclear weapons. Many have said it, but it takes guts to actually enforce it, and our president has guts. Iran's stubborn and self-evident nuclear pursuits, their targeting of global shipping lanes, and their swelling arsenal of ballistic missiles and killer drones were no longer, are no longer tolerable risks. Iran was building powerful missiles and drones to create a conventional shield for their nuclear blackmail ambitions... Iran had a conventional gun to our head as they tried to lie their way to a nuclear bomb. It almost worked under President Obama and his terrible deal, but not under this president. Turns out the regime that chanted "death to America and death to Israel" was gifted death from America and death from Israel. This is not a so-called regime change war, but the regime sure did change, and the world is better off for it..."

"We will finish this on America first conditions of President Trump's choosing, nobody else's as it should be," Pete Hegseth, US Defence Chief, said on Monday

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said last June’s Operation Midnight Hammer “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear programme and reduced it “to rubble.” He said the US then told Tehran to make a deal, warning that any attempt to rebuild the programme would be stopped again, “this time far worse.” “They arrogantly refused,” Hegseth said.

Amid escalating tensions in the Gulf region,  Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the King of Bahrain, and with Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia.

During both conversations, the Prime Minister condemned the recent attacks on Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. He also discussed the safety and well-being of the Indian community residing in the two countries.

The Israel Defense Forces announced it killed Hussein Makled, the head of Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters, in a targeted airstrike in Beirut, saying the operation struck senior command amid escalating fighting on the northern front.

Senior Iranian official Ali Larijani declared that, unlike the United States, Iran has readied itself for a long war, signalling Tehran is bracing for sustained military and economic pressure as regional hostilities intensify.

The Israel Defense Forces warned residents in Tyre, Mashgharah and Deir Qanoun al-Nahr to evacuate at least 300 metres from targeted sites before imminent strikes on Hezbollah-linked military infrastructure.

European gas prices soared nearly 45 percent, with the Dutch TTF benchmark topping 46 euros, after QatarEnergy halted LNG production following Iranian attacks, fuelling fears of Gulf supply disruptions.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has said four U.S. service members have been killed, including one who later died of wounds, as major combat operations and response efforts continue.

A concerted attack by Iran on Saudi oil infrastructure could trigger a military response from the kingdom, a source close to the Saudi government tells AFP.

Saudi Arabia would target “Iranian oil facilities if Iran mounts a concerted attack on Aramco,” the source tells AFP, referring to the state oil giant.

Earlier today a drone hit a Saudi refinery, causing a fire and forcing some operations to be shut down.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem he would meet the same fate as Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed in US-Israeli strikes, after a fresh attack by the group.

QatarEnergy halted liquefied natural gas production after Iranian drone strikes targeted facilities in Ras Laffan and Mesaieed. No casualties were reported, but operations at key energy bases were suspended.

Greece deploys two frigates and two F-16 jets to Cyprus after drones hit UK base. Two drones headed towards a British base in Cyprus were intercepted on Monday, a Cyprus government spokesman said. "Two unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) heading toward the British Bases in Akrotiri were dealt with in a timely manner," spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis posted on X.

US-flagged tanker Stena Imperative was hit by two projectiles at Bahrain port, causing a fire that was later extinguished.

Saudi Arabia would respond militarily against Iran if Tehran mounted a concerted assault on its oil infrastructure, a government source told AFP

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Britain will permit US forces to use UK bases for “defensive” strikes on Iranian missile stocks, while ruling out offensive action and stressing lessons from Iraq.

Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan about the worsening Middle East crisis, as fighting involving Iran, Israel and the United States drives urgent diplomatic engagement.

A British sovereign base in Cyprus was evacuated after sirens sounded, with around 70 mostly civilian vehicles seen leaving the Akrotiri site, AFP reported.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Beirut is prepared to resume negotiations with Israel under international backing, while declaring Hezbollah’s military activities “illegal acts” and urging the group to hand over its weapons.

Iran’s president appointed Revolutionary Guards general Majid Ebnelreza acting defence minister after his predecessor was killed in US-Israeli strikes, officials announced Monday.

Israel’s military extended nationwide closures of schools, workplaces and public gatherings until Wednesday evening amid escalating conflict with Iran.

According to a Telegraph report, US President Donald Trump said he is “very disappointed” with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer after Britain initially rejected a US request to use the Diego Garcia base to strike Iran.

US Central Command said three American warplanes were accidentally shot down by Kuwait’s air defence systems during operations, with investigations underway.

Explosions rang out across Tehran on Monday amid the third day of conflict between Iran, Israel and the United States, with the cause of the blasts unclear.

Qatar’s defence ministry said Iranian drones struck a power plant and energy facility, part of a broader wave of attacks in the regional conflict, as its air defences intercepted multiple aerial threats.

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said on Monday that its missile attacks targeted the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the headquarters of the Israeli air force commander.

"The office of the criminal prime minister of the Zionist regime and the headquarters of the regime's air force commander were targeted," the Guards said in a statement carried by Fars News Agency.

It said Kheibar missiles were used in the attack.

Iran’s ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Monday that the Natanz nuclear facility was among the sites affected by recent attacks on Iranian nuclear installations.

Responding to a question about which facilities were struck, envoy Reza Najafi said “Natanz,” confirming that the uranium enrichment site — central to Iran’s nuclear programme — had sustained damage. He did not provide further details on the extent of the impact.

Iranian state media, citing the Iranian Red Crescent Society, reported that at least 555 people have been killed across Iran since the onset of US‑Israeli military strikes on the country, as the conflict entered its third day. Earlier official figures had put the death toll at just over 200, but the latest state media count reflects a significant increase in reported fatalities.

Several American warplanes, including at least one F-15, crashed in Kuwait on Monday morning, though all crew members survived, Kuwait’s defence ministry told AFP. Authorities launched search and rescue operations, and crews were evacuated to hospitals for evaluation. Early reports suggest the aircraft may have been engaged by a MIM-104 Patriot air defense system while in Kuwaiti airspace. (Read more)

Iran’s army said on Monday that it targeted the US Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait and enemy vessels in the northern Indian Ocean following the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US and Israeli strikes.

"Missile units of the army's ground and naval forces operating from various locations targeted the US Ali Al Salem air base in Kuwait as well as enemy vessels in the northern Indian Ocean over the past hours," the statement said. The army added that 15 cruise missiles were used in the attacks.

Strikes in western Iran killed three people in the city of Sanandaj early Monday, Iran’s state‑run news agency reported. According to IRNA, the strikes hit two residential sites, though no further details were provided. Officials said the death toll may rise as information continues to be gathered.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged for peace in the Middle East, stating that India believes in resolving issues through diplomatic means. “India supports a solution through dialogue and diplomacy,” PM Modi said, while reacting to the Iran-Israel conflict. He also assured that India would provide all possible help to stranded Indians amid the West Asia conflict, reiterating his emphasis on dialogue and diplomacy.

The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said she has spoken with the government of Cyprus following a drone attack on the UK military base at Akrotiri.

“While the Republic of Cyprus was not the target, let me be clear: we stand collectively, firmly and unequivocally with our Member States in the face of any threat,” von der Leyen wrote.

A drone strike has hit Saudi Aramco's Ras Tanura oil refinery in Ras Tanura, forcing operations at the facility to be halted, according to sources cited by Bloomberg. The strike occurred early today, and a small fire at the plant was reported to be under control, according to social media posts citing local sources. Bloomberg's sources familiar with the matter said Aramco has suspended operations at the Ras Tanura facility following the incident. Ras Tanura is one of Saudi Arabia's largest oil refining and export hubs, and any disruption there can have implications for regional energy markets. Further official details, including responsibility for the strike and the extent of any damage or impact on oil flows, have not yet been confirmed by Saudi authorities.

Iran's central Yazd province hit by Israeli, US strikes: Iranian official

The president of Iran's soccer federation says he is unsure if the national team will be able to play World Cup matches in the United States following the surprise U.S. and Israeli bombardment of the country. "What is certain is that after this attack, we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope," Mehdi Taj told sports portal Varzesh3, as Iran continued exchanging strikes with Israel amid a widening conflict.

According to CNN, a fighter jet crashed over Kuwait near a United States air base, with video geolocated by the network showing the jet on fire and falling in a tailspin. The footage indicates that the jet came down within about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) of the US Ali Al Salem base in Kuwait. It remains unclear why the aircraft crashed or which air force it belongs to. CNN’s analysis of the video suggests the twin-engine fighter jet is consistent with an F-15E or F/A-18. Kuwait also operates F/A-18 jets. CNN has contacted CENTCOM and Kuwait’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment.

The US Embassy in Kuwait has warned American citizens to remain indoors amid ongoing threats of missile and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attacks in the region.

The US Department of State Consular Affairs office posted on X: "There is a continuing threat of missile and UAV attacks over Kuwait. Do not come to the Embassy. Take cover in your residence on the lowest available floor and away from windows. Do not go outside."

The department added that embassy personnel are currently sheltering in place and urged US citizens to review their security plans in case of an attack.

Ballistic missile from Iran strikes US Navy base in Bahrain, Fifth Fleet HQ engulfed in smoke

Reports indicate that Iranian drone and missile strikes have targeted a French Navy base - Camp de la Paix- in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. France, one of the few nations maintaining ties with the Islamic Republic, had called for a ceasefire and emergency UN sessions over the weekend.

Air raid sirens sounded in Tel Aviv as blasts were reported across the Gulf cities of Dubai, Doha, and Manama, shortly after the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) warned of a new wave of missile attacks from Iran. Explosions have continued to reverberate through the capitals of Qatar and Bahrain, as well as in the UAE’s largest city, since the start of the US-Israel campaign against Iran on Saturday.

On the third day of Tehran’s strikes, several missiles were intercepted over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. AFP photographers observed air defence systems taking down at least two drones near Iraq’s Erbil airport. Correspondents from CNN and BBC also reported loud explosions across multiple Gulf cities.

Amid rising hostilities between Iran and Israel, a video showing an Iranian missile reportedly evading more than 10 interceptor rockets has gone viral.

The clip, which some viewers claim was filmed near Jerusalem, shows the missile narrowly avoiding several interceptors before striking its target.

Captured from a terrace, the timing and exact location of the footage remain unverified. In the background, voices can be heard reacting with shock as interceptor rockets converge on the missile, culminating in a flash before the missile hits.

Although the missile's model has not been confirmed, several observers have suggested it could be the Fattah, a medium-range ballistic missile from Iran. Its highly maneuverable warhead is believed to increase its chances of bypassing air defence systems.

Sirens sounded across the Golan Heights after reports of a suspected drone infiltration. The Israeli Home Front Command later confirmed that the incident had concluded but did not provide further details. Since the onset of the conflict, the Israel Defense Forces has reported shooting down over 50 drones launched from Iran targeting Israel.

Trump plunged the region into chaos with his "delusional fantasies" and now fears more American troop casualties. With his delusional actions, he turned his self-made "America First" slogan into "Israel First" and sacrificed American soldiers for Israel's power-hungry ambition and with new fabrications, it is once again imposing the cost of assassinating its own character on American soldiers and families. Today, the Iranian nation is defending itself. The armed forces of Iran did not initiate the aggression. -  Iran’s top national security official Ali Larijani on X

Reports are emerging that Iranian missiles have struck deep into Jerusalem. Speculations are rife that a critical target may have been hit. This, many, infer can be AL Aqsa Mosque or Western Wall. However, it should be noted that there has been no official confirmation so far.

Rupee slips 27 paise to 91.25 against US dollar at open amid rising geopolitical tensions

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth will hold a press conference on Monday morning about the joint US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, the first by a senior official since strikes began Saturday. The press conference will be held at 8:00 am local time Monday (1300 GMT), the Pentagon announced Sunday on X. Dan Caine, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, will also take part, the Pentagon said. - AFP

Since the launch of Israel's military operation against Iran, at least 10 people have died and more than 200 have been injured, according to Magen David Adom. MDA said in a statement that "since the beginning of Operation 'Roaring Lion,' our teams have provided medical treatment and evacuated 238 casualties to hospitals." The breakdown includes 10 fatalities, 2 seriously injured, 5 moderately injured, and 221 with minor injuries, of whom 175 were hurt while seeking shelter. Nine of the deaths occurred in Beit Shemesh, where a residential building was struck by a missile.

The Israeli military told residents of about 50 towns and villages in Lebanon to evacuate on Monday, warning of imminent attacks against Hezbollah militants, following rocket fire at Israel. "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. - AFP

Videos circulating on social media show thick plumes of smoke rising above Beirut's southern suburbs, known as Dahieh. Clips also capture bumper-to-bumper traffic clogging the airport road and major highways heading north, with long lines of vehicles stretching late into the night. The sound of explosions has given way to relentless honking, but residents appear braced for a tense and prolonged night. Other images shared online show damage along the main road leading to the airport. Cars appear battered and glass is scattered across the street, though the full extent of the destruction remains unclear.