The China Mail - Israel says hit Iran nuclear site: Latest developments in Middle East war

Here are the latest developments:

- Israel says hit covert nuclear site in Iran -

The Israeli military announced that it struck an underground nuclear site in Iran where it said scientists were "covertly" developing a key component for nuclear weapons.

"IDF intelligence continued to follow the scientists' activities and located their new location at this site in a manner that enabled a precise strike," the military said, displaying a map showing the facility on the eastern outskirts of Tehran.

- Iran says fired new salvo of missiles at Israel -

Iran fired another salvo of missiles at Israel, the Revolutionary Guards said in a statement carried by the Fars news agency.

"The sixteenth wave of 'Operation True Promise 4' has begun with a large number of missiles and drones launched by the aerospace forces of the Revolutionary Guards against the heart of the occupied territories," the statement said, referring to Israel.

- Drone attack on Dubai's US consulate -

A drone attack caused a fire by the US consulate in Dubai as Iran ramped up its targeting of American diplomatic missions in the Gulf.

Residents told AFP they heard a bang and one said she then saw the blaze. Police cordoned off roads nearby and shooed away passersby trying to see the damage.

- France deploys aircraft carrier -

France is sending its flagship aircraft carrier to the Mediterranean in response to the widening conflict in the Middle East, President Emmanuel Macron announced.

The Charles de Gaulle carrier has been pulled out of a deployment in the North Atlantic to head for the eastern Mediterranean. It made a stopover in the Swedish port of Malmo last week.

- Khamenei to be buried in holy city -

Iran's slain supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will be buried in the holy city of Mashhad, the Fars news agency said.

Khamenei, who led the country for 36 years, was killed at 86 during a wave of US-Israeli attacks on Saturday. He was originally from Mashhad, Iran's second-largest city, where his father is buried at the Imam Reza shrine.

- Charter flights to help Americans leave -

The United States said that it had arranged charter flights to help Americans leave the Middle East.

US officials have helped arrange charter flights from Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates "and will continue to secure additional capacity as security conditions allow," the State Department said.

- Trump threatens to cut all Spain trade -

President Donald Trump threatened to sever all trade with Spain after it refused to let US planes use its bases to attack Iran, while he also lashed out at Britain for not cooperating more.

Spain's left-wing government led by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, one of Europe's most defiant leaders against Trump, has said that bases long used by US forces could only be allowed for activities consistent with the United Nations Charter.

- US escorts through Hormuz Strait? -

Trump said the US navy would escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz if needed amid the Iran war and ordered Washington to provide insurance for shipping.

"If necessary, the United States Navy will begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, as soon as possible. No matter what, the United States will ensure the FREE FLOW of ENERGY to the WORLD," he said on his Truth Social platform.

- Israel's airspace to gradually reopen -

Israel's transport minister said the country will gradually reopen its airspace overnight between Wednesday and Thursday, after it was closed to civilian flights.

The initial approved flights will be to repatriate Israelis, a transport ministry spokesperson told AFP, adding that there will be no departures for now.

- Israel to 'continue attacking Hezbollah' -

Israel's military chief said his forces would keep attacking Hezbollah until the Iran-backed Lebanese group was disarmed.

The latest round of fighting between Hezbollah and Israel started early Monday when Hezbollah launched rockets towards Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei.

- Bushehr airport hit -

US-Israeli strikes caused damage at an airport in Bushehr, a port city in southern Iran that also hosts a nuclear power plant, the Mehr news agency reported.

"Following an enemy attack, a projectile struck an Airbus aircraft... this plane is completely damaged," the agency said. "The shockwave (from the strike) caused damage to the airport terminal."

burs-bgs/msp

K.Lam--ThChM