US-Israel Attack on Iran: Top Developments

US-Israel attack on Iran LIVE: Iran War Top Developments Here are the latest updates Donald Trump defended his decision to strike Iran on Monday — insisting that this was the "last best chance" available to thwart Tehran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs. "We are ahead of our time projections...will easily prevail. We projected 4 to 5 weeks but can go longer," he warned. US President Donald Trump on Monday warned that Iran was on the verge of developing missiles capable of reaching the United States. Speaking during a Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House, Trump said he had ordered US military strikes to dismantle Tehran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, describing the action as necessary to eliminate what he called a growing strategic threat. According to an update shared by Al Jazeera, the Islamic Resistance has claimed responsibility for 23 drone attacks targeting the US consulate and the airport in Erbil. It is an umbrella group aligned with Iran. Three additional drones were reportedly launched by the groups and were intercepted. Authorities in Iraq have tried to distance themselves from the situation --- warning all countries against using it to launch attacks. According to the Tasnim news agency, a commander with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has said that Iran plans to launch missiles at Cyprus. “The Americans have moved most of their aircraft to Cyprus, and we will launch several missiles at Cyprus to force them to leave from there as well,” Brigadier General Ibrahim Jabari reportedly said. The assertion came hours after two drones were intercepted while heading towards the British military base in the area. An Iranian drone also hit the runway of the Akrotiri base during overnight strikes. Sirens blared and aircraft took off just after midday on Monday — even as a passenger air terminal in neighbouring Paphos was evacuated. “It has become clear that Iran’s outrageous response has become a threat to our interests and our allies, and it cannot be ignored," British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told the Parliament on Monday night. The UK’s leader also said British military bases in Cyprus “are not being used by US bombers” after he agreed to a US request to use its bases for “specific and limited defensive purposes” in the war. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday night that his country would not "join" the US-Israeli offensive against Iran. This came after US President ​Donald Trump ​criticised his ⁠approach and initial reluctance to allow the use of British bases for strikes. The UK said it will continue "defensive actions in the region.” “We are not joining the US-Israeli offensive strikes. The basis for our decision is for the collective self defence of longstanding friends and allies and protecting British lives,” he said. ⁠Trump had criticised Starmer for taking "too ⁠long" ‌to ​allow US use of ‌air 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. ​That is what ⁠I've done, and I stand by ‌it," came the response. Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with four Gulf leaders on Monday --- voicing concern about an expanded regional war. "Both sides expressed serious concern about the real risk of the expansion of the conflict zone, which has already affected the territories of a number of Arab countries and is fraught with catastrophic consequences," the Kremlin said after his conversation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. 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...I say 'probably don't need them,' [or] 'if they were necessary," he told New York Post. "I spoke to our great friend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I spoke to him at length yesterday and thanked him for his standing with Israel, standing for the truth, and for the enormous friendship of the people of India," Netanyahu told NDTV. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said the country had received requests for logistics aid ⁠and supplies from Gulf ⁠countries caught up in the conflict between Iran, ‌Israel and the United States. He also confirmed that Italian troops deployed ⁠in Lebanon, ⁠Jordan and other parts of the region were ‌safe. "We’re knocking the crap out of them. I think it’s going very well. It’s very powerful. We’ve got the greatest military in the world and we’re using it...We haven’t even started hitting them hard. The big wave hasn’t even happened. The big one is coming soon," Trump told CNN. According to reports citing the Bahrain government, its air defence systems have intercepted a new wave of Iranian ballistic missiles and drone attacks. “The total number of hostile projectiles amounted to 70 missiles and 59 drones,” state media quoted the National Communication Centre as saying. According to Iranian state media, loud explosions are being heard from the area near the Isfahan nuclear facility and airbase in central Iran. This comes hours after Iranian officials said the US and Israel had struck the Natanz enrichment facility. That contradicted an assessment by the U.N. nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi who said that “up to now” the agency has "no indication" that nuclear facilities have been hit in Iran. “Again they attacked Iran’s peaceful safeguarded nuclear facilities yesterday. Their justification that Iran wants to develop nuclear weapons is simply a big lie,” Reza Najafi told reporters at the IAEA headquarters earlier today. French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that his country would allow the temporary deployment of its nuclear-armed aircraft to allied nations. Paris has also announced plans to increase its nuclear warhead tally from the current level below 300. The French President did not give a figure for the increase. But it will be the first time France increases its nuclear arsenal since at least 1992. “I have decided to increase the numbers of warheads of our arsenal. My responsibility is to ensure that our deterrence maintains — and will maintain in the future — its assured destructive power,” Macron said at a military base at L’Ile Longue in northwestern France. According to a CNN update, 18 US service members have been seriously wounded during the military operation against Iran. The confirmation came from US Central Command spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkins. CENTCOM also announced on Monday that four US service members had been killed in action. Sources told the publication that all four died from the same attack in Kuwait — and 18 total were considered seriously wounded. "In the sixth wave since the start of Operation 'Roar of the Lion': The Air Force strikes targets of the Iranian terror regime in Tehran The Air Force, guided by Military Intelligence, has now launched a broad wave of strikes against targets of the Iranian terror regime in the heart of Tehran," the Israeli Defence Force wrote on X. "If you are in the country, the Department of State urges US citizens to depart Lebanon now while commercial flight options remain available. The security situation in Lebanon is volatile and unpredictable. Airstrikes have occurred throughout the country, especially in the south, the Beqaa, and parts of Beirut. We urge US citizens not to travel to Lebanon. We recommend that U.S. citizens who choose not to leave prepare contingency plans for emergency situations and be prepared to shelter in place should the situation deteriorate further," read an official alert. The US mission in Baghdad has sounded a nationwide security alert. "US Mission Iraq advises US citizens to exercise increased caution, keep a low profile, and shelter in place until further notice. U.S. citizens should avoid crowds, as demonstrations may turn violent with little warning. Iran-aligned terrorist militias continue to pose a significant threat to public safety. Reports of missiles, drones, and rockets in Iraqi airspace continue," began the update shared via X. According to an Al Jazeera report, huge plumes of smoke can be seen rising into the sky across the Lebanese capital. The Israeli army said that its forces have begun striking “Hezbollah terror targets throughout Lebanon”. “Further details to follow,” it said in a statement published on Telegram. Iranian state media confirmed on Monday evening that Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh has died after being wounded in the US-Israeli strikes on Saturday that also killed her husband. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed during the initial strikes in Tehran along with his daughter, grandchild, daughter-in-law and son-in-law. Russia has urged an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East --- voicing concerns about the ongoing military campaign. The foreign ministry described the situation as “aggression by the US and Israel". It also opined that the conflict went beyond regime change and was an attempt to "collapse" the normalisation of ties between Tehran and its Arab neighbors. Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke separately on Monday with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. According to the Kremlin, Putin told the UAE leader Moscow has worked to promote a peaceful resolution on Iran’s nuclear program and to find “mutually acceptable compromises.” He also thanked the UAE for supporting Russian nationals in country. The Kremlin said Putin and the Qatari Emir voiced concern about the conflict widening and drawing in third countries and expressed hope for a “rapid de-escalation” of hostilities. "Discussed the evolving situation in West Asia with Crown Prince and PM of Saudi Arabia, HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman. India condemns the recent attacks on Saudi Arabia in violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. We agreed that earliest restoration of regional peace and stability is of utmost importance. I thanked him for looking after the well-being of the Indian community in these difficult times," PM Modi wrote on X. "Had a productive telephone conversation with the King of Bahrain, His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa. India condemns the attacks on Bahrain and stands in solidarity with its people in this difficult hour. I thank him for the steadfast support extended to the Indian community in Bahrain," he wrote on X. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine said during a press briefing on Monday that US forces had intercepted "hundreds of ballistic missiles" targeting the country and its partners. “This is not a single, overnight operation. The military objectives that CENTCOM and the Joint Force have been tasked with will take some time to achieve, and in some cases, will be difficult and gritty work,” Caine said at the Pentagon on Monday. “We will fiercely defend ourselves and our six thousand years old civilization regardless of the costs and will make the enemies sorry for their miscalculation,” Ali Larijani wrote on X. He is the powerful head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. Larijani had also insisted earlier today that Tehran would not negotiate with the United States. Pete Hegseth issues sharp warning during the press briefing, saying Washington would track down and kill those responsible for the deaths of American citizens. According to him, the ongoing military campaign, Operation Epic Fury, is aimed at dismantling Iran’s missile capabilities, targeting missile stockpiles, production facilities, naval assets and key elements of the country’s security infrastructure. The press briefing by the US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has started, Hegseth outlined the administration’s justification for the strikes on Iran, saying that Tehran was developing advanced missiles and drones to build what he described as a conventional shield for its “nuclear blackmail ambitions”. President Donald Trump has similarly cited Iran’s nuclear programme as a key reason behind the decision to carry out the strikes. At the same time, Hegseth insisted the conflict was not aimed at toppling Iran’s leadership. “This is not a so-called regime change war,” he said, adding, “but the regime sure did change, and the world is better off for it.” US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, prepare to deliver a fresh update on Operation Epic Fury. The briefing will be their first public account since the United States and Israel launched their coordinated strikes on Iran. Behind the scenes, however, the narrative appears less unified. Key congressional staff were told during a Pentagon briefing yesterday that there was no intelligence indicating Iran was preparing attacks on U.S. forces, according to a person with direct knowledge who spoke to NBC News. The assessment contrasts with what senior administration officials had told reporters just a day earlier, hinting at differing signals within Washington as the operation unfolds. The presser is scheduled to begin soon. According to data from FlightRadar24, eight passenger flights have managed to take off from Abu Dhabi since 2:00 pm local time. Eithad Airlines had earlier announced that all scheduled commercial flights to and from Abu Dhabi remained cancelled. "Some repositioning, cargo and repatriation flights may operate in coordination with UAE authorities and subject to strict operational and safety approvals," a spokesperson just told Reuters. Ben Gurion Airport said Israeli ⁠airspace ​was set to reopen as early ​as ​Monday evening for ⁠civilian flights in an "extremely limited ‌format". the country's main international gateway near Tel Aviv will "gradually expand" flight operations from Tuesday --- "depending on the security ⁠situation". It added that only Israeli carriers were expected to operate flights. The airspace was closed ‌on ​Saturday ​at ​the start of US-Israeli strikes ​on Iran, which ⁠have triggered retaliatory missile barrages from ‌Iran ⁠against Israel. Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri reviewed the supply situation for crude oil, LPG, and other petroleum products with senior officials on Monday afternoon. The Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas has assured that India will take all necessary steps to ensure the ⁠availability ​of major petroleum products at affordable ​rates.