Live. Iran-Krieg: Erneut Alarm in Zypern – Zwei Drohnen auf dem Weg zu Militärbasis abgefangen

Countries across the world are scrambling to bring citizens home who are stranded in the Middle East.

Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways said flights remain suspended, with its next update planned for Tuesday morning, while Jordan announced a partial closure of its airspace.

About 30,000 German tourists are currently stranded on cruise ships, in hotels or at closed airports. Air France cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv, Beirut, Dubai and Riyadh, while carriers from Air India to KLM suspended flights and issued advisories.

The Czech Republic is sending two planes to Egypt and Jordan to bring home Czech nationals, Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said. Four more planes are heading to Muscat and Salalah in Oman to fly home Czech tourists.

In Asia, thousands of travellers were stranded on Indonesia’s tourist island of Bali because international flights were cancelled. Bali’s international airport said at least 15 flights, including eight departures and seven arrivals, on routes to Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi were cancelled as of Monday afternoon.

But the international flight tracking resource Flightradar 24 reported that eight flights had taken off from Abu Dhabi on Monday afternoon.

The question of whether the EU should activate its mutual assistance clause to defend Cyprus, the member state closest to the Middle East, has not yet been addressed, says the European Commission.

The island country has reported several incursions of unmanned aerial vehicles, which have triggered sirens and flight disruption. Cyprus insists the targets were the British military bases on its territory.

"For the moment, no such discussion has taken place on the activation of the mutual defence clause," said Paula Pinho, the Commission's chief spokesperson. "We'll have to see if this is the case in the coming days."

The mutual assistance clause is enshrined in Article 42.7 of the EU treaties, which says that if a country is "the victim of armed aggression on its territory", the other member states will have an "obligation of aid and assistance by all the means in their power" in accordance with the right of collective self-defence recognised by the UN Charter.

The article does not spell out what measures qualify as "aid and assistance" in practice. According to an explanatory memo from the Commission, member states should have ample margin to decide their support, which could be of a diplomatic, technical, medical or civilian nature. Military assistance is also envisioned.

The clause, which has been activated only once, came to the fore last month after Donald Trump threatened tariffs to seize Greenland.

During today's briefing with journalists, the European Commission dodged repeated questions from journalists on whether the US-Israeli strikes on Iran were in line with international law.

The Commission called for a diplomatic solution to the conflict, "maximum restraint" and "full respect" of international law, but avoided saying whether the US and Israel had breached any norms by launching the attack without involvement of the UN Security Council.

"We're speaking about one of the most oppressive regimes in the world that only recently killed its own people who were protesting in a peaceful way," said Paula Pinho, the Commission's chief spokesperson.

"That's what we're talking about here."

The Commission insisted its position was "crystal clear", which only prompted more questions from journalists who argued the position was not clear at all.

Iran fired a new salvo of missiles at Israel on Monday, state television said, in response to US-Israeli strikes that killed supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

"The 11th wave of Operation Honest Promise 4 is underway with missile and drone strikes on targets in Beersheva," Iranian state TV said, citing a statement from the Revolutionary Guards.

A passenger terminal at Paphos Airport in Cyprus was evacuated on Monday after radar systems detected a suspicious object, according to the state broadcaster Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation.

The airport, located on the island’s western coast within the Republic of Cyprus, is around 60 kilometres from the British military base at RAF Akrotiri, which was reportedly struck by an unmanned drone overnight.

Sirens sounded at the base shortly after midday on Monday and aircraft were seen taking off soon after.

The war on Iran has exposed the "horrendous costs” of fossil fuel dependence, as climate groups call for a swift transition to clean energy.

Global oil prices skyrocketed on Sunday as Iran continued to launch strikes across the Middle East amid its escalating conflict with the US and Israel.

Could this conflict be the catalyst that encourages the world to move to greener forms of energy? Liam Gilliver explains in the article below.

‘Chained to fossil fuels’: Iran war ignites calls for green transition

After Iran warned that the Strait of Hormuz was closed for navigation, climate groups have urged governments to focus on clean energy.

After reports of Israeli strikes on Hezbollah on Monday morning, the spokesperson of the Israeli Mission to the EU told Euronews that Israel was "not interested in involvement vis-à-vis Lebanon."

"The Lebanese government made clear to Hezbollah its expectation that it would not drag the country into escalation," the spokesperson added.

"Hezbollah once again chose the interests of the mullahs in Tehran over those of Lebanon ... Israel will act to remove the threat," the spokesperson said.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned on Monday the Tehran-backed militant group's missile and drone attacks on Israel.

"We will not allow the country to be dragged into new adventures, and we will take all necessary measures to stop the perpetrators and protect the Lebanese," Salam said.

France has a sovereign naval base and an aerial base in the United Arab Emirates with roughly 900 civilian and military personnel. An Iranian strike on the port of Abu Dhabi over the weekend caused "limited" damage to a warehouse on the French naval base. The country also has a military base in Djibouti with some 1,500 personnel.

Italy also has a military support base in Djibouti, and another in Kuwait that hosts about 300 personnel and which was hit by an Iranian strike over the weekend.

The UK, meanwhile, has two sovereign bases on the island of Cyprus. It also maintains a permanent naval presence in Bahrain, with the Navy also keeping a permanent maritime base in Oman. The Royal Air Force also makes use of facilities in Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia in participation with the host countries.

But many European countries that do not have sovereign bases still have military personnel deployed across the region as part of multinational missions, such as in Iraq and Lebanon. This includes Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and Poland among others.

The European Commission says there is "no immediate security of supply concern" for the European Union after the conflict in the Middle East sent oil prices soaring and Iran threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz.

"We have asked our member states to share their national assessments with us by the end of today," a Commission spokesperson said on Monday afternoon.

Additionally, the executive will convene a meeting of the Oil Coordination Group, which consists of experts from all 27 EU countries, on Wednesday to assess the fast-moving situation and the impact on the oil market. If needed, the Commission could also call a meeting of gas experts.

Around 40 senior leadership and defence figures were killed in the Saturday strikes that took out Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The Israeli military said chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) General Mohammad Pakpour was among the dead, as was defence minister Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh.

While Iran has scrambled to replace those defence figures, for example Ahmad Vahidi has been named the new commander in chief of the IRGC, Khamenei’s death leaves something of a power vacuum.

The 86-year-old ayatollah left behind no obvious successor but the Interim Leadership Council said on Sunday that the country’s next leader would be chosen within days.

The graphic below shows which senior leadership figures were killed in fighting that broke out on Saturday. 

Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun said Hezbollah's rocket attacks on Israel were “illegal” acts, adding that such activities give Israel a pretext to destroy the country.

The government held a five-hour Cabinet meeting to discuss the Hezbollah action that triggered massive Israeli retaliation and the displacement of tens of thousands of people.

Information Minister Paul Morcos cited Aoun as saying that what happened overnight “was not to defend Lebanon or protect the Lebanese people. What are witnessing is building collapsing on their residents as they sleep.”

Britain is not at war, the government said on Monday, despite saying it would allow the US to use British bases during the ongoing conflict with Iran and after a Royal Air Force base in Cyprus was struck by an Iranian-made drone.

Sirens sounded again at RAF Akrotiri on Monday and around 70 cars were seen leaving the base area on the southern coast of the Mediterranean island, eyewitnesses said, adding that most of them bore civilian license plates.

British warplanes were also scrambled.

In addition to British and other military personnel, the base also houses civilians working there.

More than two decades after Britain followed the United States into a devastating war in Iraq, it is trying to avoid being drawn into a new Middle East conflict with unpredictable consequences.

Saudi Aramco temporarily shut down its Ras Tanura oil refinery near Dammam on Monday after it was targeted by Iranian drones.

Saudi state television reported the decision, citing what it described as an “official source.” It added there were no casualties from the fire and its decision was a precautionary one.

The refinery has a capacity over half a million barrels of crude oil a day.

Iran's president appointed on Monday Revolutionary Guards general Majid Ebnelreza as the country’s acting defence minister after his predecessor was killed in Israeli-US strikes.

"By order of President Masoud Pezeshkian, Revolutionary Guards general Majid Ebnelreza has been appointed as acting defence minister," said deputy for presidential communications Mehdi Tabatabaei in a post on X.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that a long Iran war could have an impact on the deliveries of air defence ammunition from the United States, key to protecting critical Ukrainian infrastructure.

"If there are prolonged hostilities in the Middle East, it will certainly affect supplies. I am sure of that," Zelenskyy told reporters.

Ukrainian forces have been fighting off a full-scale invasion launched by Russia in February 2022.

The US military said on Monday that Kuwait “mistakenly shot down” thee American F-15E Strike Eagles during a combat mission as Iran attacked the country.

The US military’s Central Command said the combat included attacks from Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles and drones, the first time Iran’s aging combat fleet has been engaged in the war.

“The US Air Force fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defences,” it said.

“All six aircrew ejected safely, have been safely recovered, and are in stable condition.

Kuwait has acknowledged this incident, and we are grateful for the efforts of the Kuwaiti defence forces and their support in this ongoing operation.”

An Etihad A380 flight EY67 took off from Abu Dhabi bound for London on Monday morning, quickly becoming the number 1 tracked flight worldwide on Flightradar24.

Etihad has decided to resume operations to some destinations, a source at the Zayed International Airport told Euronews. Buses are collecting passengers from hotels, and other passengers have checked out.

Planned departures include Amsterdam, London, Paris, and other destinations in the Middle East and Asia. Passengers must check in with their airlines for updates.

Iran must "immediately stop" its "illegal and indiscriminate attacks" against countries in the Gulf and return to "diplomacy and dialogue", Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has just said in a post on X.

Sánchez emphasised he "stongly" condemns the Iranian attacks against Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Cyprus, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait and Oman, as well as "Hezbollah's missile launches and Israel's attack on Lebanon".

"Violence only begets more violence. Bombs hit military targets, but also streets, airports, schools, and the homes of innocent civilians. They must immediately stop this spiral and return to the framework of diplomacy and dialogue," he wrote.

Reminder: Sánchez is the only EU leader to have openly condemned Saturday's US-Israeli strikes on Iran, which have triggered a spiralling conflict in the region.

Qatar's Ministry of Defence said that Iranian missiles struck two energy facilities in the country.

“One targeted a water storage tank belonging to the Mesaieed Energy plant, and the other targeted one of the energy facilities in the industrial city of Ras Laffan affiliated with QatarEnergy ,” it said.

“All damages and losses resulting from the attack will be assessed by the relevant authorities, and official statements will be provided later,” the ministry added.

A bomb-carrying drone boat exploded against a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman on Monday, killing one mariner on board, Oman's Maritime Security Centre said.

The state-run Oman News Agency said the attack occurred in the Gulf of Oman off Muscat, the sultanate’s capital. It identified the vessel as the MKD VYOM. It said the dead crew member was from India.

Iran has been threatening vessels approaching the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf.

One of the vessels of the Royal Navy of Oman is monitoring the tanker’s condition, and navigational warnings have been issued to ships transiting the maritime area.

Another oil tanker hit by drone boat as Strait of Hormuz tensions rise

An oil tanker has been struck near the Strait of Hormuz, marking another attack in the area that triggered an explosion and left one crew member dead.

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković insisted on Monday that the European Union's position on the events unfolding in the Middle East was "very clear and unified" despite the negative reaction that greeted a statement released by Brussels on Sunday.

"We shall continue consultations," Plenković told Euronews' flagship morning programme Europe Today. "I think that all the statements which were issued so far, but for maybe one or two (member states) were very, very clear and unified."

Plenković argued that the lead on the topic was rightfully taken by the so-called E3 countries – France, Germany, and the UK – because of their key role in nuclear negotiations with Iran.

The three countries released a joint statement of their own late on Sunday in which they warned they stand ready to take "defensive action to destroy Iran’s capability to fire missiles and drones at their source".

Read the full write-up of our interview with him below:

Plenković defends EU’s ‘clear, unified’ Iran stance as rifts emerge

Croatia Prime Minister Andrej Plenković told Europe Today that his country stands ready to assist neighbouring member states who might be impacted by higher en…

The question of international law is splitting the largest EU countries as the bloc scrambles to respond to the US-Israeli strikes on Iran and the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

On Sunday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told reporters that "categorising the events under international law will have relatively little effect. This is especially true when these classifications remain largely inconsequential".

"Therefore, this is not the time to lecture our partners and allies. Despite our reservations, we share many of their goals without being able to actually achieve them ourselves," he added.

But on Monday, Spain's Foreign Affairs Minister José Manuel Albares offered a remarkably different perspective, arguing that the United States and Israel's "unilateral action" in Iran "doesn't have backing from the United Nations' Charter or international law".

"Through violence, there will be no peace, but there will be no democracy or stability either," Albares told Euronews. "Therefore, we really will foster de-escalation and going back to the negotiation table."

His French counterpart, Jean-Noël Barrot, took on a similar stance.

"Only by confronting the Security Council could such operations have acquired the legitimacy of international law," Barrot said in Paris, adding his country was ready to protect countries targeted by Iran's retaliatory strikes "in accordance with the principles of collective self-defence as enshrined in international law."

The disparate opinions are reminiscent of the cacophony that emerged in early January after Donald Trump removed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from power. Back then, Spain and France were vocal about legal breaches, while Berlin was circumspect.

Credit: Associated Press

Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto returned to Rome early on Monday morning on a military plane after being stranded for two days in Dubai.

Crosetto was stuck in the Emirati city on Saturday following the US-Israel attack on Iran and the Iranian missile strikes launched at the UAE in response.

According to Italian media, he had joined his family in Dubai on a "personal" trip which was not reported to the secret services or other members of the government.

Before boarding, Crosetto wrote on X that he had paid the Italian Army an amount three times higher than the rate set for passengers on state flights "to avoid any possible attack for having returned using a state flight".

The news comes with Italian opposition parties in uproar that the Italian government was kept in the dark by the US regarding the strikes, to the point where one of its ministers got stuck abroad.

Crosetto will address the Italian Parliament today together with Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.

Sirens went off at Britain's RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus shortly after midday, Cypriot state TV CyBC reported.

In a live broadcast CyBC reported sirens going off at the base, and aircraft taking off from the facility close to the southern city of Limassol.

It comes after Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides said a Shaheed-type drone caused “minor material damage” to military installations inside the airbase in the early morning. Britain's foreign minister said the Iranian drone had hit a runway.

The "only lasting solution" to the events in Iran is a "diplomatic one", Ursula von der Leyen has just said.

"This means a credible transition for Iran, the definitive halt to both nuclear and ballistic programmes, and an end to destabilising activities in the region," the president of the European Commission said on Monday morning as she signed a new agreement with Switzerland.

"From energy to nuclear, from transport to migration to security, we must be prepared for the fallout from these recent events."

Von der Leyen said she spoke with nine leaders from the Middle East over the weekend and will continue her outreach to other partners.

"There is a renewed hope for the oppressed people of Iran, and we strongly support their right to determine their own future," she said. "We must work hard to de-escalate and stop the conflict from spreading."

She also denounced Iran's retaliatory strikes, which hit a British military base in Cyprus, an EU country, and an oil facility in Saudi Arabia.

"I condemn in the strongest terms these reckless and indiscriminate attacks by Iran and its proxies against sovereign territories in the region," she said. "The stability of the region is of the utmost importance. The only lasting solution is a diplomatic one."

International law confers Britain the right to use force to defend its position in the region and to support the self-defence of allies, the office of Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said in a statement.

"The UK and its allies are permitted under international law to use or support force in such circumstances where acting in self-defence is the only feasible means to deal with an ongoing armed attack and where the force used is necessary and proportionate," the statement reads.

Reminder: A British military base in Cyprus was hit by a drone strike on Sunday night.

The UK has military assets flying in the region to intercept drones or missiles "targeting countries not previously involved in the conflict," the statement also says. It has also granted the US access to its military bases in the region for "defensive action".

"The UK’s actions and related support to its allies is solely focussed on ending the threat of air and missile attacks against regional allies unlawfully attacked by Iran and who have not been involved in hostilities from the outset. It does not signal the UK having any wider involvement in the broader ongoing conflict between the US, Israel and Iran," the statement said.

"The Spanish government, which is standing with all the tyrants of the world, as it stood with Venezuela, is now standing with Iran", Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar told Euronews' Maria Tadeo during the Europe Today morning show.

Sa'ar criticised Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who on Saturday "rejected the unilateral military action by the United States and Israel" on Iran, claiming it "represents an escalation and contributes to a more uncertain and hostile international order".

Sánchez then said in a statement on Sunday that it is possible "to oppose a hateful regime and, at the same time, oppose an unjustified and dangerous military intervention" and strongly criticised the actions of the Iranian regime and the Revolutionary Guard.

Sa'ar considers Spain's position a minority stance in Europe.

"I spoke during the last two days with most of the EU foreign affairs ministers and a significant number of them shared the same view," he told Euronews, because the EU has lately designated the Revolutionary Guards of the Iranian regime as a terrorist organisation. [...] They might want it to be successful, but they're not part of this operation."

He also defended the strikes on Iran as "justified by international law", despite the condemnation expressed by UN Secretary General António Guterres.

"International law justifies self-defence. If someone wants to eliminate another state, this state shouldn't wait until it happens."

Israeli Foreign Minister also said that his country didn't set any timeline for the war, and is working hand in hand with the United States to achieve the same goal.

"If some European states want to join us in the military operation, they will know how to convey the message to us."

Iran’s ambassador to the UN’s nuclear watchdog Reza Najafi said US-Israeli airstrikes targeted Iran’s Natanz nuclear enrichment site.

Israel and the US have not acknowledged strikes at the site, which the United States bombed during the 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel in June.

Najafi told journalists he condemned what he called the “unlawful, criminal and brutal” attacks by the US and Israel against Iran at a ⁠meeting of the International ⁠Atomic Energy ⁠Agency’s 35-nation board of governors.

“Again they attacked Iran’s peaceful safeguarded nuclear facilities yesterday,” he said. “Their justification that Iran wants to develop nuclear weapons is simply a big lie.”

World Shipping Council President and CEO Joe Kramek said the escalation of conflict in the Middle East is disrupting global liner shipping, with many ocean carriers pausing or rerouting services as they assess the evolving security situation.

“Ocean carriers are making operational decisions based on the best available information and their individual risk assessments,” Kramek said in a press statement on Monday. "Our thoughts are with the seafarers currently in and around the affected region."

The Middle East sits at the crossroads of major global trade routes, and when services across the region are suspended or diverted, the impact is not limited to the immediate area, Kramek explained. He noted that to stay safe, ships are having to take longer trips and adjust network rotations, leading to delays and scheduling adjustments across connected trade routes worldwide.

“The industry has recent experience navigating disruption, including during increased hostility in the Red Sea," Kramek concluded. "While rerouting is complex and can extend transit times, it has enabled trade to continue moving under difficult conditions."

Saudi Arabia's energy ministry said some operations at its massive Ras Tanura refinery on the Gulf coast had been halted following an attack that caused a fire at the complex.

"Some operational units at the refinery were shut down as a precautionary measure, without any impact on the supply of petroleum products to local markets," an official source at the ministry said in a statement published by the Saudi Press Agency.

Israel's military said Monday it struck a senior Hezbollah operative in Beirut, with the defence minister saying the Lebanese group's chief Naim Qassem is "a marked target".

"A short while ago, the (Israeli military) precisely struck a senior Hezbollah terrorist in Beirut," the military said.

Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz said on X that Iran-backed Hezbollah's chief was now "a marked target for elimination".

The United States and Israel's "unilateral action" in Iran "doesn't have backing from the United Nations' Charter or international law," Spain's Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares has told Euronews' flagship morning programme Europe Today.

Speaking live on Monday morning, Albares also condemned Iran's retaliatory strikes against several other nations in the Middle East as "unjustified", calling on the European Union to be a "voice of reason" amid a dangerous escalation.

"We have condemned every human rights violation from the Iranian regime and we are with the people of Iran. We want to protect them, we want to protect their freedom," Albares said.

But he added that as the conflict spills over into the wider region, Spain and the European Union "must be a voice of reason, a voice that tries to put some balance into what's happening, that speaks of de-escalation and going back to diplomacy and negotiation."

‘Unilateral’ attack on Iran not backed by international law - Spain FM

Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares tells Europe Today that the US and Israel’s military intervention in Iran is not backed by the UN Treaties or internationa…

A spokesperson for Qatar's Foreign Ministry said "Iran has to pay a price for this blatant attack on our people."

"An attack like this cannot be left without retaliation," the statement added.

Gulf states vowed to defend themselves against Iranian attacks, including by "responding to the aggression" if need be, after the Gulf Cooperation Council convened via video-link on Sunday to formulate a unified response.

The foreign ministers of the six GCC states -- the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait, all of which have experienced Iranian strikes -- "reviewed the extensive damage resulting from the treacherous Iranian attacks" and discussed steps for restoring stability in the region.

The crisis in the Middle East 'must not divert the international community's attention' from Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the presidents of Estonia and Lithuania have said.

"Europe must remain united and continue its consistent political, economic, and military support for Ukraine," Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda wrote on X following a phone call with his Estonian counterpart, Alar Karis.

Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, will gather her College of Commissioners at 1 pm CET for an extraordinary meeting dedicated to the US-Israeli strikes on Iran and the consequences that the conflict might have for the wider region.

This format, known as Security College, was introduced by von der Leyen at the start of her second mandate to reflect the geopolitical shifts rapidly altering the world order and enhance the collective preparedness of the Commission, which has often been caught off guard by global events in the past.

The rotating presidency of the EU, which is currently held by Cyprus, has postponed the informal meeting of the General Affairs Council (GAC), which was planned for Monday and Tuesday in Nicosia, following a drone strike on a British military base on the island.

The move follows a night-time drone strike on RAF Akrotiri, the United Kingdom’s main military air base in the eastern Mediterranean. The drone — reportedly a Shahed-type UAV — caused minor structural damage but resulted in no injuries.

"The exact origin of the UAV is currently under verification, but it has been confirmed that the Republic was not the target of an attack," a Cypriot presidency spokesperson said.

The strike disrupted air traffic to and from Cyprus, prompting the presidency to defer the GAC gathering to a later date.

The United Kingdom maintains two military bases on Cyprus, RAF Akrotiri and Dhekelia, both of which operate under British jurisdiction.

The UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Mariano Grossi said that “up to now” the International Atomic Energy Agency has “no indication that any of the nuclear installations, including the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, the Tehran Research Reactor or other nuclear fuel cycle facilities” in Iran have been damaged or hit.

Addressing a special session of the IAEA Board of Governors in Vienna, he said that the IAEA continues to try and contact the Iranian nuclear regulatory authorities via the IAEA’s own Incident and Emergency Centre “with no response so far,” given the limitations in communications caused by the conflict.

Grossi urged military restraint, warning that Iran and many other countries in the region that have been targeted militarily have “operational nuclear power plants and nuclear research reactors, as well as associated fuel storage sites,” which increases the threat to nuclear safety.

"Let me underline that the situation today is very concerning. We cannot rule out a possible radiological release with serious consequences, including the necessity to evacuate areas as large or larger than major cities," he said.

So far, he added, “no elevation of radiation levels above the usual background levels has been detected in countries bordering Iran.”

The agency was trying to contact the Iranian nuclear regulatory authorities "with no response so far."

Nearly 400,000 French nationals are residents or visitors in the dozen countries in the region directly affected by the situation, France's foreign minister just said.

"To our knowledge, there are no French victims to report at this stage," Jean-Noël Barrot said.

Fifteen diplomatic posts, embassies and consulates are "fully mobilised" to assist French nationals and ensure their safety with the foreign ministry's crisis and support centre having received 5,000 calls since the start of the military operations.

"Our system is already organised locally to facilitate land travel where possible, which is not the case in all the countries concerned," Barrot said.

Jean-Noël Barrot also told reporters that Paris "stands ready" to participate in the defence of allied countries targeted by Iranian strikes.

"To our friends who have been deliberately targeted by missiles and drones from the Revolutionary Guards and drawn into a war they did not choose - Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Jordan - France expresses its full support and solidarity," Barrot said.

"It stands ready, in accordance with the agreements binding it to its partners and the principle of collective self-defence provided for by international law, to participate in their defence," he added.

The damage to a French hangar in a naval base in the Emirates caused by an Iranian drone targeting the port of Abu Dhabi was meanwhile described by the minister as "limited".

The "unilateral" intervention of the US and Israel against Iran "should have been debated" in a collective forum with the UN Security Council most apt to give "necessary legitimacy" to such action, France's Foreign Minister just told reporters.

"The intervention decided unilaterally by Israel and the United States of America should have been debated in the collective forums provided for this purpose. Everyone could then have assumed their responsibilities, because it is only by going before the Security Council that the use of force can acquire the necessary legitimacy," Jean-Noël Barrot said during a press conference.

"It is deeply regrettable that this situation could not be resolved within the framework of international institutions, which are the only ones capable of laying the foundations for lasting peace and stability. But as everyone knows, the veto wielded by certain permanent members of the United Nations Security Council has paralysed collective action, including in cases where the use of force would have been necessary to enforce the law," he added.

European stocks opened lower on Monday, as global markets slump, jolted by military strikes by the US and Israel on Iran over the weekend. 

Oil prices surged on supply concerns, with Brent futures jumping as much as 13% in early trading to $80 a barrel. Crude futures are up nearly 7%, also surpassing the $70 a barrel mark.

Iran has warned ships not to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial international shipping route. While the waterway has not been completely shut, at least three vessels have been attacked, raising concerns over sharp increases of charter rates. 

On Wall Street, futures indicate a drop of around 1% for all major indices. Gold prices and the Japanese yen, which are considered safe haven stocks, have gotten a boost. 

Meanwhile, the UAE has announced a two-day closure of both Dubai Financial Market and Abu Dhabi Securities Exchanges. The UAE Capital Markets Authority said in a statement, “The Authority will continue to monitor developments in the region and assess the situation on an ongoing basis, taking any further measures as necessary." 

Kuwait has also temporarily closed its stock market, citing “exceptional circumstances”.

The Iranian Red Crescent Society said on Monday that the US-Israeli airstrike campaign targeting Iran has killed at least 555 people so far in the Islamic Republic.

The society added that 131 cities have come under attack so far in the war.

Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura oil refinery came under attack from drones, the kingdom’s defence ministry said, with authorities downing the incoming aircraft.

A Saudi military spokesman made the announcement on the state-run Saudi Press Agency.

Online videos from the site appeared to show thick black smoke rising after the attack. Even successfully intercepted drones cause debris that can spark fires and injure those on the ground.

Ras Tanura, near Dammam, has a capacity over half a million barrels of crude oil a day.

Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides said a Shaheed-type drone caused “minor material damage” to military installations inside the UK’s RAF Akrotiri air base on the island’s southern coast.

Christodoulides said in a brief national address that the drone struck just past midnight Monday.

He said all relevant authorities have been put on alert and that he has called a meeting of the country’s national security council to take stock of the situation.

“I want to be clear: our homeland is not participating in any way, nor is its intention to take part in any military operation,” Christodoulides said in his address.

He said Cyprus remains focused on the humanitarian role that it plays in the region and that it seeks to be “part of the solution and not the problem,” adding that his primary concern remains the safety and security of the country and its people.

Britain's foreign minister said the drone had hit a runway.

"This is an unmanned drone strike specifically on the airport runway... we're not able to provide further information and detail at this point, but obviously all of the precautionary measures are being taken around the base," Yvette Cooper told Sky News.

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen on Monday said the bloc was solidly behind member states following the report of the crash.

A US Air Force F-15E Fighter Eagle has crashed in northwest Kuwait on Monday morning. Unconfirmed reports say the jet was downed in an apparent “friendly fire” exchange.

Photos and videos on social media appear to show the pilot and weapons system officer ejecting from the fighter jet before the crash.

No official statements on the incident have been made by US CENTCOM so far.

Kuwait's defence ministry said several American warplanes crashed in Kuwait on Monday morning but their crew survived.

"Several US warplanes crashed this morning. Confirming that all crew members survived," a defence ministry spokesman said in a statement, adding that the cause was under investigation.

"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.

Fire and smoke rose from inside the US embassy compound in Kuwait City and an alarm wailed after an Iranian attack.

The embassy did not announce it had been hit, but issued a security alert urging people to stay away. There were no immediate reports on damage or casualties.

"There is a continuing threat of missile and UAV attacks over Kuwait. Do not come to the embassy," the statement said.

"US Embassy personnel are sheltering in place," it added.

Kuwait's interior ministry said it intercepted an unspecified number of drones targeting the small, oil-rich country at dawn.

Iran's continued and unprecedented bombardment of the Gulf has hit military bases but also civilian infrastructure including residential buildings, hotels, airports and sea ports.

Iran "will not negotiate with the United States", Ali Larijani, the powerful head of Tehran's Supreme National Security Council said.

In a post on X, Larijani denied media reports that Iranian officials had sought to initiate talks with the Trump administration following US-Israeli strikes on Iran over the weekend, which came after Tehran and Washington held nuclear negotiations.

The Foreign Ministers of the European Union said they are taking all necessary steps to ensure the safety of EU citizens in the Middle East and warned that further escalation could threaten the region.

The ministers participated in a video call with High Representative Kaja Kallas and released a joint statement after the three-hour-long conversation.

An unknown number of European nationals are struck in Iran and in the wider region. Thousands of flights have been cancelled in major hubs, like Dubai or Abu Dhabi.

"The EU and its member states are taking all necessary steps to ensure the safety of EU citizens in the region, including by activating the EU Civil Protection Mechanism if necessary" the EU's joint statement said.

The ministers also warned that the events in Iran should not lead to escalation, which could bring unpredictable consequences for the economy. The EU called to avoid disruption at the Strait of Hormuz, a major sea corridor for seaborne oil. The joint statement did not endorse US-Israeli aspirations for regime change in Iran.

"The EU reiterates its solidarity with the Iranian people and strongly supports their fundamental aspirations for a future where their universal human rights and fundamental freedoms are fully respected," the statement said.

On Sunday, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for regime change in Iran.

"A credible transition in Iran is urgently needed," Ursula von der Leyen said in a social media post.

Earlier, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said his Federal Government shares the "relief" of many Iranians that the "mullah regime" may be coming to an end.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for regime change in Iran, in a social media post published on X.

"The risk of further escalation is real. This is why a credible transition in Iran is urgently needed," von der Leyen said.

She added that this transition of power would pave the way for a lasting solution.

Von der Leyen also said this would reflect and support the democratic aspirations of the brave people in Iran.

It's the first statement from the EU's executive that supports regime change in Iran. Earlier, the US and Israel signalled that the military raids on Iran could pave the way to bring down the existing regime.

The Iranian theocracy oppressed civilians and violated human rights, with a religious Supreme Leader overseeing all aspects of life. The supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed in an airstrike on Saturday.

Earlier, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that his Federal Government shares the "relief" of many Iranians that the "mullah regime" may be coming to an end.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a post on X that Trump had spoken to the leaders of all three countries, but didn’t provide further details.

Trump has spoken to leaders throughout the region since the start of U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran.

The European Commission activated the EU's Local Consular Cooperation networks, a Commission spokesperson told Euronews.

The network, which operates through EU delegations, is aimed at facilitating Member States coordination in the provision of consular assistance.

EU member states discussed offering consular help for thousands of European nationals in the war zone and in the wider region.

Currently, thousands of flights have been cancelled in the Middle East.

The Israeli military says it is increasing its attacks on Iranian government targets in Tehran.

Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said at a briefing that 100 fighter jets simultaneously struck government targets in the Iranian capital on Sunday.

He said the targets included buildings belonging to Iran’s air force, its missile command and its internal security force, which violently quashed anti-government protests in January.

“Our message to the Iranian regime is clear,” he said. “No one is immune.”

Defrin also said Israel has activated an additional 100,000 reservists to fortify Israel’s borders. He said there was a special focus on the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which so far has stayed on the sidelines of the latest war.

“We are keeping a close eye on Hezbollah,” he said.

US President Donald Trump says that nine ships in the Iranian navy have been sunk.

Trump said on social media that nine ships in the Iranian navy had been “destroyed” and sunk, “some of them relatively large and important.”

Trump said the rest of Iran’s fleet of military vessels “will soon be floating at the bottom of the sea, also!”

The president said that in a separate attack that Iran’s naval headquarters was “largely destroyed.”

The extraordinary Foreign Affairs Council has concluded, and a statement will follow soon. For the moment, it is not clear whether the ministers reached a joint position on Iran.

Earlier, diplomats told Euronews that Spain and Slovenia had reservations. The reasons behind their opposition were not clear.

Both countries were among the most vocal critics of Israel within the EU during the war in Gaza, and both recognised Palestine as a state in 2024.

Ministers were discussing the situation in Iran and in the wider region via video call since 17,00. The meeting was called by EU High Representative Kaja Kallas.

The ministers also discussed the situation of EU nationals in Iran and in the region and considered options for repatriating them.

A senior White House official says that “new potential leadership” in Iran has suggested they are open for talks with the United States after U.S. and Israeli forces launched a major attack on Iran, killing its supreme leader and other high-ranking officials.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss internal administration deliberations, said President Donald Trump says he is “eventually” willing to talk, but for now the military operation “continues unabated.”

The official did not say who the potential new Iranian leaders are or how they made their alleged willingness to talk known.

Trump told The Atlantic in an interview on Sunday that he planned to speak with Iran’s new leadership.

“They want to talk, and I have agreed to talk, so I will be talking to them,” he said, declining comment on the timing. 

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will travel to Washington to have talks with President Donald Trump on Tuesday. Merz announced this on his social media account.

The German Chancellor added he is in close contact with his European partners, with Israel and the wider region.

"This is not the moment to lecture our allies, but to stand together in unity," Friedrich Merz said.

The CIA had been tracking the movements of senior Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, for months.

That’s according to a person familiar with the operation who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke Sunday on condition of anonymity.

The intelligence was shared with Israeli officials, and the timing of this weekend’s strikes was adjusted in part because of that information, the person said. The New York Times earlier reported about the CIA’s efforts ahead of the Israeli-U.S. strikes.

A diplomat familiar with the discussions underway between the EU's 27 member states told Euronews that there is hope to reach a joint statement.

The source said that there are no operational decisions foreseen, and member states need to coordinate on the repatriation of EU citizens.

Earlier, another EU source told Euronews that the ministers will aim to release a joint statement, but said that member states had not revealed their positions yet ahead of the meeting.

Ministers are also discussing questions related to the energy market. Iran exports a significant amount of crude oil and also controls a main shipping route at the Strait of Hormuz.

French Defence Minister Catherine Vautrine confirmed that a French military base in the United Arab Emirates was hit in an Iranian drone attack targeting the port of Abu Dhabi.

"The damage is limited and only material. No injuries have been reported" the minister said in a post on social media, adding that French forces are maintaining maximum vigilance.

Iran launched counterstrikes against American and Israeli targets in the region after Israel and the US launched strikes over Iran, killing its supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.

France opened the military base in 2009, after reaching an agreement with the authorities of the Emirates.

Israeli police say they are still searching for 11 people following an Iranian missile strike in central Israel.

The missile slammed into a synagogue in the town of Beit Shemesh on Sunday, and police confirmed nine deaths and 45 injured.

It’s the deadliest attack on Israel since it launched attacks on Iran jointly with the U.S. on Saturday.

France is postponing an international conference meant to bolster Lebanon’s security because of the widening conflict in the Middle East.

''Conditions are not met’’ to hold the conference as scheduled in Paris on Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron’s office said. It said Macron spoke Sunday with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and they jointly decided to delay it until April.

The conference is meant to strengthen international financial and technical support for the Lebanese army.

Macron is holding an emergency security meeting later Sunday about U.S-Israeli strikes on Iran and Iran’s retaliatory attacks.

Top diplomats from Russia and China slammed Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran as a gross violation of international law.

Sergey Lavrov and Wang Yi “condemned the massive military strikes by the U.S. and Israel on Iranian territory, carried out despite Tehran’s openness to dialogue,” according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

The ministers said they would coordinate actions at the U.N. Security Council, the International Atomic Energy Agency and other bodies. They did not specify steps that Moscow and Beijing plan to take.

The Foreign Minister of Cyprus, Nikos Christodulides, denied reports that Iran targeted the island with rockets.

Earlier, UK Defence Secretary John Haley said that two missiles were fired from Iran towards Cyprus. Haley said this shows how indiscriminate Iranian missile attacks are.

Christodulides, in his response on social media, said he called UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who confirmed that Cyprus was not a target.

The foreign ministers of all 27 EU member states have convened an extraordinary meeting via video call to discuss the war in Iran.

The emergency session of the Foreign Affairs Council was opened by EU High Representative Kaja Kallas, with the participation of all member states.

Ministers are expected to address the political dimensions of the latest developments in the Middle East and to seek a common EU position, Euronews has learned. The regional implications of the conflict, with a particular focus on energy markets, are also on the agenda.

Earlier, ambassadors held a preparatory meeting at COREPER level, where member states expressed solidarity with the Iranian people and raised concerns over respect for international law. Ambassadors also voiced support for the broader region and called for de-escalation.

Consular matters are also expected to feature prominently in the discussions, as thousands of European nationals remain stranded in Iran and across the region amid widespread flight cancellations at major regional airports.

On that front, the EU convened a Working Party on Consular Affairs meeting earlier on Sunday, where member state representatives exchanged information and coordinated their response regarding the situation of European citizens on the ground in Iran and the wider region.

All EU member states are urging their citizens to avoid travel to the region and to seek shelter where necessary.

Identified as a pragmatic hardliner, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had a place in the upper echelons of Iran since the early 1980s.

All of that came to an end early on Saturday when he, along with dozens of other senior leaders, were killed in joint US-Israeli air strikes on Tehran.

Omid Lahabi takes a look at his slow rise and sudden fall in the article below.

Decades of absolute rule over Iran: Who was Ayatollah Ali Khamenei?

The most powerful man in Iran was killed on Saturday in US and Israeli air strikes on Tehran and his death leaves a power vaccum in the country. But how did Al…

Three members of the US military have been "killed in action" and five "seriously wounded" in the operation against Iran, the Pentagon said on Sunday, without providing further detail.

These were the first casualties of any kind among US personnel to be announced since the United States launched massive bombardments against Iran and killed its supreme leader on Saturday.

The US military says it struck an Iranian warship at a port on the Gulf of Oman.

Central Command said in a statement on X that US forces attacked an Iranian Jamaran-class corvette.

“The ship is currently sinking to the bottom of the Gulf of Oman” at the southern port of Chahbahar, the statement said.

There was no immediate comment from Iran.

Italy blamed Iran for provoking the US and Israeli attack, saying its hardening position about its nuclear and long-range missile aspirations had “posed a threat to everyone.”

“The obvious issue was the atomic bomb and the increase in the production of long-range missiles that posed a threat to everyone,” Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Sunday.

“This is the key element. Without any clear sign that Iran intended to take a step back, it’s obvious that the situation degenerated.”

Tajani strongly condemned Iran’s retaliatory strikes as “senseless” and said they had only served to further isolate Tehran.

He said those countries hit by Iran had the right to respond. “I hope the situation doesn’t worsen but I sensed a strong irritation of all the ministers and leaders of countries hit by Iran about the Tehran regime.”

Iran’s foreign minister says he has appealed to his Persian Gulf counterparts for understanding following Tehran’s retaliatory strikes, which he says are only intended to target US military bases and personnel.

Iran has struck several countries in the Middle East as US and Israeli jets pounded the Islamic Republic, including US bases in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

But the attacks have also hit outside of military installations, including a Dubai hotel and Kuwait’s international airport.

Oman, which has mediated nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington, said Duqm Port was struck by two drones.

“I wish they would understand what is going on in the region it is not our fault,” Abbas Aragchi said in an interview with Qatari news network Al Jazeera. He said that his counterparts were largely “not happy.”

Aragchi also said that Iran’s military units are “somehow isolated and they are acting based on general instructions given to them in advance.”

“I have talked to our military leaders and commanders to be careful about the targets they choose,” Aragchi said.

The US embassy in Baghdad warned on Sunday of threats against US interests in Iraq and said protests near its compound could become violent.

The embassy said on X that it is "tracking active threats to US interests in Iraq including restaurants, businesses and individuals."

US "citizens should remain alert to their surroundings and avoid large crowds, as demonstrations may turn violent," it said.

Saudi Arabia intercepted Iranian missiles targeting Riyadh's international airport and the Prince Sultan Airbase, which houses US military personnel, a Gulf source briefed on the matter told the AFP news agency on Sunday.

"Air defences successfully intercepted Iranian missiles near Riyadh airport and Prince Sultan Airbase on Sunday afternoon," the source said, requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, adding that the interception did not disrupt navigation or cause any human or material losses.

An eyewitness near the airport said they "saw and heard the air defence intercept the missile in the sky".

Residents and AFP correspondents earlier reported hearing explosions in eastern Riyadh.

Maersk, one of the world’s biggest container shipping companies, said on Sunday it was halting passage through the narrow Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf next to Iran, for "safety" reasons.

"We are suspending all vessel crossings in the Strait of Hormuz until further notice," the Danish group said in an online advisory.

"The safety of our crews, vessels and customers' cargo remains our key priority," it said.

It made the announcement after Iran's Revolutionary Guards declared the strait closed, and state media in Oman, which sits on the other side of the strait, said on Sunday an oil tanker off its coast was targeted and four of its crew hurt.

The US Central Command and the Pentagon have denied claims by Iran that it hit the USS Abraham Lincoln with four ballistic missiles in the Gulf.

"The Lincoln was not hit. The missiles launched didn’t even come close," Central Command said in a post on X.

"The Lincoln continues to launch aircraft in support of CENTCOM’s relentless campaign to defend the American people by eliminating threats from the Iranian regime."

Earlier on Sunday, Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said that they had attacked the Lincoln after US and Israeli strikes killed the country's supreme leader.

"The US aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln was struck by four ballistic missiles," the Guards said in a statement carried by local media, warning that the "the land and sea will increasingly become the graveyard of the terrorist aggressors."

The USS Abraham Lincoln is one of America’s nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, which the Navy calls “the largest warship in the world.” In a statement, the Pentagon denied it had been hit.

It makes up the ten nuclear-powered aircraft carriers in the US, known as the Nimitz-class.

Nimitz-class carriers are 333 metres long, can move approximately 100,000 tons of equipment, including 65 aircraft and multiple missile mounts, according to the US Navy.

The USS Abraham Lincoln was sent to the Gulf towards the end of January as part of what President Donald Trump called an “armada” which was moved to the region “just in case” as tensions spiked over Iran’s crackdown on protesters angry about the country’s economy.

The Israeli military said on Sunday it had destroyed roughly half of Iran's missile stockpiles in the previous conflict in June 2025, adding the Islamic republic had been producing dozens of surface-to-surface missiles each month.

"During the operation (in June 2025), we destroyed approximately half of the Iranian regime's missile stockpiles and prevented the production of at least 1,500 additional missiles," military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said in a televised statement.

"The regime had recently been producing dozens of surface-to-surface missiles per month and intended to increase production to hundreds per month."

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Sunday that an interim leadership council established after the killing of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has begun its work.

"The interim leadership council started its work...we will continue with all our strength along the path set by Imam Khomeinei," the founder of the Islamic republic, Pezeshkian said in a recorded video statement broadcast on state TV.

He added that the Islamic republic's military "will forcefully crush the enemy's bases."

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told the Qatar-based media network Al Jazeera on Sunday that a new supreme leader would be chosen within one to two days. 

Israel intercepted an Iranian missile over Syria on Sunday, a Syrian interior ministry source told the AFP news agency, causing a loud explosion which was heard across Damascus.

"The loud explosion in Damascus was an Israeli interception of an Iranian missile," the source said, requesting anonymity.

A US-Israeli attack on Iran on Saturday triggered a retaliation from Tehran, which has been firing rockets at Israel and at US military assets in countries across the Persian Gulf since then.

Debris from missiles fell in southern Syria, which borders Israel, on Saturday according to state media.

Syria, whose new authorities are hostile to Tehran, extended the closure of its airspace on Sunday for 24 hours, the official SANA news agency reported.

Its national carrier suspended all flights to and from the Damascus and Aleppo international airports on Saturday until further notice.

Israel struck and destroyed much of the Syrian army's infrastructure including its air defences after the fall of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in 2024, fearing it would fall into the hands of the new Islamist authorities.

One person has been killed and 32 others injured in Kuwait, the health ministry said on Sunday, since the start of Iran's retaliation campaign against US and Israeli strikes that killed its supreme leader.

Health ministry spokesman Abdullah al-Sanad said 32 people, all of them foreigners, had been injured since Saturday, and "one death was reported."

Euronews journalists in Dubai are reporting heavy bombardments in the city with explosions every 10 seconds and jets flying overhead.

UAE officials said on Sunday that three people have been killed in Iranian attacks on the country.

The UAE Defence Ministry also said that Iran had launched 165 ballistic missiles targeting the country, of which 152 were destroyed.

Thirteen fell into the sea, it added. Iran also launched 541 bomb-carrying drones at the UAE, of which 506 were destroyed.

Another 35 struck the country, killing three people from Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh. Another 58 have been wounded.

Afghanistan said on Sunday that the war in neighbouring Iran would negatively impact the whole region and expressed "deep regret" over the violence flaring in multiple countries.

The Iranian flag was lowered to half-mast at the country's embassy in Kabul, an AFP journalist said, and a black cloth hung over the entrance following the killing of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a US-Israeli attack on Saturday.

"The recent political and security developments in the region have created unprecedented tensions that will have long-term negative effects on the entire region," foreign ministry spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi wrote on X.

"The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan expresses its deep regret over the attack on Iran launched by Israel and the United States, and expanded by Iran to target the Gulf countries," he added.

Balkhi condemned "the killing of innocent civilians" and called for diplomacy "preventing further escalation of the conflict."

Iran shares a more than 900-kilometre border with Afghanistan and the countries have considerable economic ties.

Gulf countries will convene on Sunday evening to discuss a unified response to Iran's attacks, two regional diplomats said, as Tehran presses on with a second day of strikes after US and Israeli attacks killed its supreme leader.

"It will be an online meeting of GCC foreign ministers due to the airport closures," a Gulf diplomat told the AFP news agency, requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.

He said the discussions will revolve around "Iranian attacks on Gulf states and coordination on a unified response". Another Gulf diplomat confirmed the information.

A barrage of missiles launched from Iran killed at least eight people in central Israel on Sunday, Israel's emergency service said.

"Four people were killed in a direct hit on Beit Shemesh," Magen David Adom spokesman Zaki Heller said in a televised statement.

Saudi Arabia has condemned in the strongest terms Iran’s attacks on its capital, Riyadh, and the eastern region, which it said were successfully intercepted.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sunday the attacks came “despite the Iranian authorities’ knowledge that the Kingdom had affirmed it would not allow its airspace or territory to be used to target Iran.”

A Saudi diplomat told the Associated Press news agency that a message had been delivered to Iran’s leadership in a bid to avert potential Iranian missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia.

The same message was delivered to Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, the diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the person wasn’t authorised to discuss the matter publicly.

The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, says there is “renewed hope” for the people of Iran following the death on Saturday of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

“We must ensure that the future is theirs to claim and shape. At the same time, this moment carries a real risk of instability that could push the region into a spiral of violence,” von der Leyen wrote in a post on X.

“We are engaging closely with all key actors, as well as with our regional partners, to safeguard stability and security and to protect civilian lives.”

Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Sunday that Israel will have “a nonstop air train” of strikes against military and leadership targets in Iran.

Israel launched massive strikes that rocked Iran’s capital of Tehran on Sunday morning. Iran simultaneously launched multiple projectiles toward Israel.

France can only "be satisfied" with the killing of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes, government spokesperson Maud Bregeon said on Sunday.

"Khamenei was a bloodthirsty dictator who oppressed his people, degraded women, young people and minorities and was recently responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians in his country and in the region. We can therefore only be satisfied with his demise," Bregeon told the French broadcaster RTL.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said on Sunday that he hopes the ongoing confrontation with Iran will usher in a "new era" for the entire Middle East, including Iran.

"This is a historic effort to change the trajectory in the Middle East to a different future, a future of peace," Herzog said while inspecting a site in Tel Aviv where an Iranian missile had struck the previous day.

"We shall overcome and hopefully bring a new era to the Middle East and Iran," he added.

Serbia says its embassy building in Tehran was damaged in military strikes on Sunday but there are no casualties.

Footage aired by state broadcaster RTS showed shattered windows and glass. The report said the apparent target was a military base located in the area.

Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić said that the embassy staff was pulling out and moving to Azerbaijan’s capital Baku.

Pope Leo XIV on Sunday called for an end to the "spiral of violence" in the Middle East, after the US and Israel began an attack on Iran that prompted retaliatory strikes.

"Faced with the possibility of a tragedy of enormous proportions, I appeal to the parties involved to assume the moral responsibility to stop the spiral of violence before it becomes an irreparable chasm," the pope told a crowd of faithful in St Peter's Square.

Iranian missile and drone strikes on Oman are an “attack on the very principle of mediation,” the official spokesperson for the foreign ministry said on Sunday.

“This attack represents a dangerous pattern that threatens the role of mediators and undermines one of the most important tools for containing crises & preserving peace & stability,” Majed Al Ansari said in a post on X.

Oman has mediating talks between the US and Iran as Washington pushed for a deal to limit Tehran’s nuclear activities.

The international flight tracker Flightradar24 said that more than 3,400 flights have been cancelled across seven airports in the Middle East on Sunday.

The affected airports include Hamad International Airport in Qatar, Zayed International Airport in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait International Airport.

The cancellations come as the situation in the region remains unpredictable as Iran continues to launch retaliatory drone and missile strikes on US military assets in countries across the Persian Gulf.

Iran has selected a 66-year-old cleric to join the three-member leadership council that will govern the country until a new supreme leader is selected.

Ayatollah Ali Reza Arafi has been a member of both constitutional watchdog Guardian Council and the Assembly of Experts that will choose the next leader.

He was handpicked by late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as a member of the Guardian Council in 2019.

Arafi joins President Masoud Pezeshkian and head of judiciary cleric Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejehei on the council.

The EU’s foreign policy chief has called the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei a “defining moment” in the history of Iran.

“What comes next is uncertain. But there is now an open path to a different Iran, one that its people may have greater freedom to shape,” Kaja Kallas wrote in a post on X.

“I’m in contact with partners, including those in the region that bear the brunt of Iran’s military actions, to find practical steps for de-escalation.”

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shared a video on his X account in which he told the people of Iran, “Do not let this opportunity slip away. This is an opportunity that comes only once in every generation.”

The video was published in Persian and produced with artificial intelligence.

“The moment when you must take to the streets, come to the streets in your millions to finish the job, to overthrow the regime of terror that has embittered your lives. Your suffering and sacrifices will not be in vain,” he said.

“The help you have longed for has now arrived. Help has arrived, and now the time has come to unite for a historic mission.”

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi has warned that the Middle East could slide into chaos as the conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran entered a second day.

He called for “dialogue and peaceful means” to settle the region’s crises, saying that the escalation has serious consequences that could push the region into chaos.

El-Sissi’s comments came in a phone call Sunday with Oman’s leader, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, according to the Egyptian leader’s office.

Kuwait says its air defences repelled “a number of hostile aerial targets” on Sunday.

The Defence Ministry said that targets were monitored and intercepted south of the Persian Gulf nation. It did not say if there were casualties or damage.

Iran has targeted US military installations in Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar in response to US and Israeli strikes which killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Qatar’s Defence Ministry says the air force and air defence systems intercepted missiles and drones fired from Iran on Sunday, adding there were no casualties.

Iran has launched missiles and drones targeting both Israel and US military installations in Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar, in response to US and Israeli strikes.

The US military has reported no American casualties and minimal damage at its bases.

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Sunday that avenging the killing of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes was a right and obligation of the Islamic republic.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran considers it its legitimate duty and right to avenge the perpetrators and masterminds of this historic crime," said Pezeshkian in a statement carried by state TV.

He also called Khamenei’s killing a "declaration of war against Muslims."

UK Defence Secretary John Healey said on Sunday that "few people will mourn" Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in the British government's first public response to the Iranian supreme leader's death in US-Israeli strikes.

"Iran and the regime he's led for so long, it's a source of evil, murdering its own citizens and sponsoring and exporting terror, including to countries like Britain," Healey told Sky News in an interview.

He added that "the concern now, of course, is this regime is lashing out...in an increasingly indiscriminate and widespread way, and people will be really concerned that it's not just military targets."

Healey also said that around 300 UK armed forces personnel were "within several hundred yards" of drones and missiles that Iran fired at a US military base in Bahrain, while two ballistic missiles were "fired in the direction of Cyprus" on Saturday.

"It demonstrates how our bases, our personnel, military and civilians at the moment are at risk with a regime that is increasingly indiscriminate, widespread and uncontrolled in the attacks it's mounting," he said.

Air France cancelled its scheduled flights to Beirut, Dubai and Riyadh on Sunday as a result of Israeli-US strikes on Iran and Tehran's retaliation, the airline said in a statement.

Those suspensions came on top of the previously announced cancellation of its flights to Tel Aviv in Israel.

"Air France will provide further information on its flight schedule to these destinations for the following days at a later date," the French flag carrier said in a statement.

Oman said an oil tanker in the strategic Strait of Hormuz came under attack on Sunday, wounding four mariners on board.

The attack targeted a Palau-flagged vessel called Skylight, the state-run Oman News Agency said.

It described the crew as Indian and Iranian.

It wasn’t clear who attacked the vessel, but it came as authorities have said Iran has been threatening ships traveling the strait via radio since the United States and Israel launched its attack on Iran.

Oman, which had served as a mediator between Tehran and Washington in recent nuclear talks, also said its port at Duqm was targeted in a drone attack.

Oman has generally stayed out of the fray in years of tensions gripping the region.

First oil tanker attacked in the Strait of Hormuz according to Oman

An oil tanker was attacked off the coast of Musandam in the Strait of Hormuz. Four people were injured and all 20 crew members were evacuated, according to Oma…

Footage from social media showed people celebrating in the streets of the Iranian city of Kiraj late on Saturday after it was announced that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been killed in an air strike earlier in the day.

The 86-year-old Ali Khamenei has no known successor and his death is almost certain to create a leadership vacuum in Iran, given that he had final say on all major policies.

Video. Iranians take to the streets to celebrate Khamenei’s death

Video. Footage from social media showed people celebrating in the streets of the Iranian city of Kiraj late on Saturday after both the US and Israel claimed Su…

The Israeli military's Home Front Command said on Sunday it had mobilised around 20,000 reservists to assist civilians following Iranian missile attacks.

"The command has called in approximately 20,000 reservists" who have joined over the past 24 hours the Home Front Command forces across the country, it said on its website.

Home Front Command

Homepage

A top Emirati official said on Sunday that Iran's attacks across the Gulf had isolated the country, warning Tehran not to target its neighbours, as its retaliatory campaign in the region entered its second day.

"The Iranian aggression against the Gulf states was a miscalculation and it isolated Iran at a critical juncture. Your war is not with your neighbours," said presidential adviser Anwar Gargash.

"Return to reason, to your surroundings, and deal with your neighbours rationally and responsibly before the circle of isolation and escalation widens."

The Israeli military said on Sunday that it had begun striking targets deep inside Tehran, a day after a joint US-Israeli attack killed Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

"The IDF is striking targets that belong to the Iranian terror regime in the heart of Tehran," the military said.

"Over the past day, the Israeli Air Force conducted large-scale strikes in order to establish aerial superiority and to pave the path to Tehran."

A massive explosion was reported in Tehran earlier on Sunday although it wasn’t immediately clear what the target was.

The blast appeared centered in a neighborhood that is home to the country’s police headquarters and Iranian state television.

A nearly total internet blackout continued in Iran on Sunday morning, the second day of a conflict between Tehran and the US and Israel, a monitoring group said.

NetBlocks said connectivity has flatlined at 1% of its ordinarily levels.

Internet communication and international phone calls in Iran have frequently been disrupted since nationwide anti-government protests started in December last year. 

At least nine people were killed during pro-Iran protests at the United States consulate in the Pakistan megacity of Karachi on Sunday, a rescue service spokesman told the AFP news agency.

"We have moved at least eight dead bodies to Karachi's civil hospitals, while 20 others were injured in the consulate incident," said Muhammad Amin, a spokesman for the Edhi Foundation rescue service, adding most had bullet wounds.

Hundreds of pro-Iranian protesters had tried to storm the consulate following the US-Israel strikes on Iran.

Drones targeted a port in Oman, injuring one worker, official media said on Sunday, marking the first such attack on the sultanate since Tehran began its retaliation campaign in the Gulf.

"A security source reported that the commercial port of Duqm was targeted by two drones. One drone struck a mobile workers' accommodation, injuring one foreign worker, while debris from the other landed near fuel tanks, causing no casualties or material damage," the Oman News Agency said in a post on X.

After the US and Israel launched air strikes on Iran early on Saturday, Tehran’s retaliatory air campaign saw it target American military assets in all countries in the Gulf with the exception of Oman.

Oman has mediated nuclear talks between the US and Iran and on Saturday expressed dismay at the US military campaign.

Tens of thousands of people in Indian-controlled Kashmir staged massive demonstrations on Sundy to denounce Khamenei’s killing by the US and Israel.

Since early Sunday, mostly Shiite Muslims took to the streets in the region as they chanted “Death to America” and “Death to Israel.”

Some wailed in mourning while carrying Khamenei’s portrait.

The Iranian leader enjoyed a significant following in Kashmir among Shiite Muslims and his portrait adorned several streets prominently across the region.

Kashmiris have long supported Palestinian and other Muslim causes and have often staged large solidarity protests.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, a prominent Kashmiri religious leader, voiced deep sorrow and outrage over what he termed the “brutal killing” of the Iranian leader.

In a statement, he said the killing “has shaken the Muslim world” and called for a protest strike in Kashmir on Monday against the killing.

Dubai authorities said two people were injured when debris from Iranian drones shot down by air defences landed in the courtyards of two homes in the city.

The Dubai Media Office also said the booms heard in the emirate were “the result of successful interception operations” by air defences.

After explosions in Dubai, smoke could be seen rising in the area of Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest for international travel, and the city-state’s Jebel Ali port.

Some airports across the Middle East remained closed on Sunday as the conflict between Israel, the US and Iran moved into its second day.

Emirates Airlines has suspended all flights to and from Dubai until at least Sunday afternoon.

The Qatar airport is closed until at least Monday morning, according to Qatar Airways.

Israeli airspace also remains closed.

The closures have stranded tens of thousands of travelers around the world.

The Israeli military said it has identified another round of missiles headed toward Israel from Iran.

There were repeated barrages of missile fire across Israel, including Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, early on Sunday.

According to Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue services, one person has been killed and 121 were injured in the first 24 hours of the conflict.

Iranian state media confirmed on Saturday night that the Ayatollah had been killed in US-Israeli strikes early on Saturday, confirming an announcement by US President Donald Trump.

It brought an end to hours of speculation about the supreme leader's whereabouts after his silence throughout the tit-for-tat exchange of air strikes throughout Saturday.

You can read more about how Khamenei's death was announced and what comes next for Iran in this article by Aleksandar Brezar.

Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed, Tehran confirms

Iran’s Khamenei was killed in joint US-Israeli strikes on Tehran on Saturday morning, state-run media confirmed, after US President Donald Trump said “one of t…

Iraq announced on Sunday a three-day mourning period after the death of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Government spokesman Bassem al-Awadi said in a statement that "with deep sorrow, we extend our condolences to the noble people of Iran and the entire Muslim world" after Khamenei was killed in "a blatant act of aggression."

He said the government had announced three days of mourning, while urging an immediate cessation of military operations that "are driving the region to unprecedented levels of violence."

Iran wields a significant influence in Iraqi politics and also backs armed groups, whose power has grown both politically and financially.

Iraq has for decades been a proxy battleground between the US and Iran.

The Coordination Framework, a ruling coalition of Shiite groups with varying degrees of links to Iran, said "with deep sorrow and profound grief, we mourn the passing of the martyred leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei."

His "blood will remain a guiding light for all generations" and "the curse will continue to haunt the murderous Zionists for all time", the coalition added.

Influential cleric Moqtada Sadr meanwhile said in a statement "we extend our condolences to the Islamic world."

The US Embassy in Bahrain said on Sunday that family members and non-essential personnel were authorised to leave Bahrain.

The US has large military installations in Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar.

Bahrain said a missile attack targeted the US Navy’s 5th Fleet headquarters in the island kingdom and three buildings were damaged in the capital, Manama.

About 500 Shiite Muslims stormed the US Consulate in Pakistan’s port city of Karachi on Sunday, smashing windows hours after a major US and Israeli attack killed Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, police said.

Police and paramilitary forces used batons and fired tear gas to disperse the crowd, said Mohammad Jawad, a police official.

At least one protesters was killed and several others were wounded in clashes between protesters and security forces, he said.

The United Nations' nuclear agency will hold an extraordinary meeting on Iran on Monday in the wake of the US-Israeli strikes on the Islamic republic, aimed in part at Tehran's atomic programme.

In a statement late on Saturday, the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said the meeting was at the request of Russia, a key ally of Tehran.

Iran had made the same request in a letter to IAEA chief Rafael Grossi on Saturday following the strikes, which led to the death of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

As a result, the agency will hold a "special session of the IAEA Board of Governors on matters related to military strikes of the United States and Israel against the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran", the IAEA said in a statement.

That extraordinary meeting will precede an already scheduled session of the board, which represents 35 countries.

Following the strikes, the IAEA said it was "closely monitoring developments in the Middle East, and urges restraint to avoid any nuclear safety risks to people in the region."

Western countries led by the United States and Israel, Iran's arch-enemy, accuse the Islamic republic of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons.

Tehran denies having such military ambitions, but insists on its right to this technology for civilian purposes.

Iran's security chief Ali Larijani warned on Sunday against attempts to divide Iran following the killing of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US and Israeli strikes.

"Groups seeking to divide Iran should know that we will not tolerate it," said Larijani, head of the Supreme National Security Council, in an interview broadcast on state TV, calling on Iranians to unite.

He also said the transition process to select a new supreme leader would begin later on Sunday but it is unclear how long this will take.

The commander of the US Central Command says his forces are taking part in military operations in the region during the first 24 hours of “Operation Epic Fury.”

“The President ordered bold action, and our brave Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Guardians, and Coast Guardsmen are answering the call,” a statement quoted the head of US Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper, as saying.

The United States has thousands of military personnel stationed at bases all across the Persian Gulf and beginning on Saturday, these installations have been the targets of Iranian missile strikes.

Qatar’s Interior Ministry said eight people were injured early Sunday in Iranian strikes on the country, bringing the total number of wounded since the attacks began the previous day to 16.

The ministry added that the assaults caused “limited” material damage.

Officials urged residents to remain at home unless absolutely necessary and to keep roads clear for ambulances and emergency services.

US President Donald Trump warned Iran against escalating its attacks in a post on his social media platform Truth Social, after Tehran issued threats following its acknowledgment of the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

You can read more about the US president's remarks and what could happen next in the article below by Marina Stoimenova.

Trump: We will hit them with a force that has never been seen before

Trump warned Iran against escalating attacks, while Iran’s parliamentary speaker vowed “devastating blows” in response to the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei…

Hundreds of Iraqis tried to breach Baghdad’s heavily guarded Green Zone, home to the US Embassy, after the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, a security source told AFP.

Footage shared on social media shows demonstrators hurling stones at security personnel, who responded with tear gas. An AFP reporter on the scene saw hundreds of people waving the flags of a pro-Iran armed faction.

The deaths of Admiral Ali Shamkhani, Secretary of the Supreme Defence Council, and Major General Mohammad Pakpour, Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), in Saturday’s US and Israeli attack on Tehran have been officially confirmed by state television.

An intelligence and a military source told CBS News late on Saturday that around 40 senior Iranian officials were killed in the strikes.

Iran's security chief Ali Larijani said the transition process following the killing of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will begin on Sunday.

"An interim leadership council will soon be formed. The president, the head of the judiciary and a jurist from the Guardian Council will assume responsibility until the election of the next leader," said Larijani, the head of Iran's top security body, the Supreme National Security Council, who was an adviser to Khamenei.

"This council will be established as soon as possible. We are working to form it as early as today," he said in an interview broadcast by state TV.