The China Mail - Israel targets Hezbollah, Iran: latest developments in US-Iran war

US President Donald Trump vowed to avenge the deaths of US service members and said the war with Iran could last for weeks.

Here are the latest developments:

- Israel and Hezbollah -

Israel said it was striking Hezbollah targets across Lebanon after the militant group said it had launched rockets and drones at Israel.

The Israeli military told residents of about 50 towns and villages in Lebanon to evacuate, and an AFP journalist witnessed South Lebanon residents fleeing by car.

- Israel strikes Tehran -

The Israeli military said it launched "large-scale strikes" on Tehran two days after the start of a US-Israeli campaign against the Islamic republic.

"The Israeli Air Force... has begun an additional wave of strikes against the Iranian terror regime at the heart of Tehran," the military said in a statement.

- Iran retaliates -

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Monday they had launched missile strikes on Israel's government in Tel Aviv as well as security and military centres in Haifa and an attack on east Jerusalem.

"Among the targets of this tenth wave were a targeted strike on the Zionist regime's government complex in Tel Aviv, attacks on military and security centres in Haifa, and a strike on east Jerusalem," said a Guards statement carried by state TV.

- Iranian deaths -

A total of 555 people have been killed across Iran in US and Israeli strikes, the Iranian Red Crescent said Monday.

"Following the Zionist-American terrorist attacks carried out in various regions of our country, 131 cities have been affected to date and, regrettably, 555 of our compatriots have been killed," the humanitarian group said in a post on Telegram.

- Drone hits Cyprus base -

An unmanned Iranian drone crashed into Britain's RAF Akrotiri military base in Cyprus shortly after midnight, Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides said Monday, with British officials saying a drone hit the runway.

Britain agreed on Sunday to allow the United States to use British military bases to fire "defensive" strikes at Iranian missile systems.

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc was "firmly and unequivocally" behind member states following the drone hit.

- Gulf strikes -

Fresh strikes were heard across the Gulf on Monday, including on the cities of Dubai, Doha and Manama, as Iran's army said it had used 15 cruise missiles in attacks on a US air base in Kuwait and vessels in the Indian ocean.

"Missile units of the army's ground and naval forces operating from various locations targeted the US Ali Al Salem air base in Kuwait as well as enemy vessels in the northern Indian Ocean over the past hours," the army said in a statement.

- Saudi attack -

A Saudi oil refinery along the Gulf coast was targeted in an attack on Monday, a source familiar with the incident told AFP, adding that the fire had been put out.

A Saudi defence ministry spokesman said two drones had targeted the refinery and been intercepted, according to a statement posted by the Saudi Press Agency on X.

- US warplanes crash -

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

"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.

- Iraq strikes -

Loud bangs were heard Monday near Iraq's Erbil airport, which hosts US-led coalition troops, an AFP journalist said.

Since the start of the US-Israel campaign against Iran, drones have repeatedly been intercepted over Erbil, which is also home to a major US consulate complex.

- China urges truce -

China called on Monday for a ceasefire and diplomatic talks to end the conflict in the Middle East, as officials in Beijing confirmed one citizen had been killed in Iran.

"The most urgent task is a cessation of military operations and preventing a spillover of conflict," foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a news conference, urging "a resolution through dialogue and negotiation".

- Gas price surge -

European gas prices soared more than 20 percent Monday on fears that the conflict will cut supplies in the Gulf region, notably exports from Qatar.

Despite the surge, the price was below the level it reached in January during the northern hemisphere winter.

- Gulf condemnation -

The United States and its Arab allies earlier issued a joint statement condemning Iran's attacks on Gulf states: "The targeting of civilians and of countries not engaged in hostilities is reckless and destabilising behaviour."

On Monday morning, the US embassy in Kuwait, where smoke could be seen, said in a statement people should not come to the diplomatic mission: "Take cover in your residence on the lowest available floor and away from windows. Do not go outside."

- Iran says no US negotiation -

Iran "will not negotiate with the United States", Ali Larijani, the powerful head of Tehran's Supreme National Security Council said on Monday, denying media reports that Iranian officials had sought to initiate talks.

He said Trump's "delusional fantasies" had plunged the region into chaos.

- Trump: three 'choices' to lead Iran -

Trump told the New York Times on Sunday that he had "three very good choices" for who could lead Iran, but he did not name them.

"I won't be revealing them now. Let's get the job done first," he said.

- Hegseth to hold first Iran presser -

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth will hold a press conference on Monday about the joint US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, the first by a senior US official since strikes began on Saturday.

Dan Caine, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, will also take part, the Pentagon said.

- US officials to make case for war -

Top US officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio will make the case Tuesday to Congress for the attack on Iran.

Rubio, Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and military chief Caine "will brief the full membership of both chambers of Congress," White House spokesman Dylan Johnson said.

- Maersk suspends Hormuz transit -

Container shipping company Maersk said it was halting passage through the Suez Canal and the Strait of Hormuz for "safety" reasons.

The Danish group was the latest of several shipping groups to make similar announcements after Iran's Revolutionary Guards declared the strait closed on Saturday.

- Gulf states vow -

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

- Nine killed in Israeli city -

An AFP journalist heard fresh explosions in Jerusalem on Monday, after the Israeli military said it had "identified missiles launched from Iran", triggering air raid sirens.

On Sunday, an Iranian missile attack killed at least nine people and injured dozens more in the central Israeli city of Beit Shemesh, medics said.

- EU reinforces naval mission -

The EU plans to reinforce its naval mission in the Red Sea with additional vessels as Iran's retaliation to US-Israeli strikes threatens maritime traffic, a European diplomat said.

Two new French ships will join the EU's Aspides mission, bringing to five the number of warships taking part, the diplomat told AFP.

- Trump vows vengeance -

Trump vowed to avenge the deaths of three US soldiers killed during US operations against Iran, while warning that more casualties were likely.

The US president also called on Iranians to rise up, saying "America is with you." He warned the country's Revolutionary Guards to surrender or face "certain death."

- War could last 'four weeks' -

Trump said he envisaged a four-week military operation against Iran, where US and Israeli strikes have killed the country's supreme leader and crippled its defence capabilities.

"It's always been a four-week process. We figured it will be four weeks or so," he told British newspaper the Daily Mail during a round of interviews.

- Revolutionary Guards HQ 'destroyed' -

The US military announced it had destroyed the Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) headquarters, US Central Command saying: "America has the most powerful military on earth, and the IRGC no longer has a headquarters."

Israel's military, meanwhile, said it had "struck dozens of the regime's military command centres", including IRGC headquarters.

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T.Wu--ThChM