As it happened: Israeli strikes kill 31 in Lebanon after renewed attacks on Iran following death of Khamenei; Three US troops killed as death toll rises among Iranian civilians

Thank you for reading our coverage of events across the Middle East after the US and Israel launched an attack on Iran at the weekend. This blog is now closed, but our live coverage continues here.

Here is a look at the latest headlines from the region:

• US and Israeli forces have hit more than 2000 targets, sinking nine Iranian naval ships and killing 48 of the country’s leaders. Iran has struck 27 targets across eight countries.
• In Iran at least 201 people are dead and 747 injured, according to the Red Crescent. Some 165 of those are children and adults killed in a US-Israeli strike on a girls’ school in southern Iran. In Israel at least nine have died, while three American soldiers were killed in Kuwait.
• The Israel military has killed at least 31 people in Lebanon, after launching strikes aimed at Iran-back terrorist group Hezbollah. Hezbollah fired missiles at Israel earlier today. Iran has also continued to retaliate against Israel. Israel is keeping “all options on the table” for a possible ground operation in Lebanon, according to Israeli military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin.
• A new leader of Iran could be chosen in the coming days, the Islamic Republic’s foreign minister said. Slain supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had reportedly named Iran’s security chief, Ali Larijani, as his successor. In an interview with America’s ABC News, US President Donald Trump claimed the initial US-Israel attack killed the three most likely replacements for Khamenei.
• Iran will not negotiate with the US, the Islamic Republic’s security chief said, as Tehran continued to suffer strikes from US.
• Iran’s retaliatory attacks on Israel and US government buildings in the region are proof the Islamic Republic remains “a threat to peace and stability”, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told the ABC’s 7.30 program.
• Motorists face the threat of rising petrol prices as the widening conflict in Iran rattles global energy markets and ignites warnings that oil prices could blow past $US100 ($140) a barrel for the first time in years.
• A US pilot was forced to activate his parachute after his fighter jet was shot down over Kuwait in a suspected incident of friendly fire, regional media report. The Kuwait Ministry of Defence appeared to confirm the reports in a statement acknowledging a number of US fighters were downed and that the pilots were safe.
• A UK defence base in Cyprus was hit in a drone attack, shortly after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer allowed US forces to use the base. Some reports suggested the explosions might have been caused by missiles fired from Lebanon, meaning the attack is likely to have been orchestrated by Hezbollah.
• Any mosques holding ceremonies honouring Iran’s slain leader should be investigated by police for supporting terrorist group the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry said. “We cannot allow terrorists to be glorified in our country or for such actions to occur without consequence,” Alex Ryvchin said on X.
• Flights in and out of the Middle East region have been halted or cancelled due to the conflict, with more than 20,000 flight delays and disruptions reported.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has criticised a small number of Islamic centres in Australia that mourned the death of Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.

“I don’t think they’re appropriate, and certainly, I think that, overwhelmingly, people won’t be participating,” he told the ABC’s 7.30 program.

“We are a country that believes in human rights, that believes in democracy, that believes in freedom, and we of course want to see that right around the world. It is up to the people of Iran now determine their future. And over coming days and weeks and the period ahead, we await what comes.”

At least one Islamic Centre in Melbourne’s west offered its condolences over Khamenei’s death on social media and planned to honour him at a service last night.

NSW Premier Chris Minns also condemned plans of a Sydney prayer hall to host a vigil for Khamenei.

Iran’s retaliatory attacks on Israel and US government buildings in the region are proof the Islamic Republic remains “a threat to peace and stability”, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told the ABC’s 7.30 program.

“We’ve seen, even in hours, attacks on a British base in Cyprus, on French forces stationed in Abu Dhabi, and on the Gulf,” Albanese said. “Right across the board a seemingly endless series of attacks, including in residential areas, in areas that are frequented by tourists in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and Qatar.”

Asked if Australia was concerned by the US appearing to break international law by attacking Iran, Albanese said the government was supportive of the White House “stopping the role that Iran has played in undermining peace and security in the region” and that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was a leader who “will not be mourned”.

Israel is keeping “all options on the table” for a possible ground operation in Lebanon, according to Israeli military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin.

Defrin said on Monday that Israel has called up more than 100,000 reservists since the war with Iran began on Saturday.

Hezbollah launched missiles and drones towards Israel overnight, and Israel responded by striking dozens of targets in Beirut and southern Lebanon, killing at least 31.

“Hezbollah will pay a very heavy price for this,” Defrin said.

AP

A US pilot was forced to activate his parachute after his fighter jet was shot down over Kuwait in a suspected incident of friendly fire, regional media report.

The Kuwait Ministry of Defence appeared to confirm the reports in a statement acknowledging a number of US fighters were downed and that the pilots were safe.

The ministry said the pilots had been taken to a hospital for check-ups and their condition was stable, AP reported.

Video widely shared by regional media – but not able to be verified by this masthead – show an American F-15 jet falling through the sky after being shot down.

The White House has not acknowledged the reports.

China’s Foreign Ministry has urged all parties involved in the Iran conflict to cease military actions and prevent an escalation of the conflict.

The United States and Israel’s strikes against Iran violated international law and China is deeply concerned about spillover effects on neighbouring countries, Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the ministry, told a press briefing.

China believes that the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of the Gulf states should be fully respected and supports countries to strengthen communication, Mao said.

Reuters

Welcome to our rolling coverage of events across the Middle East after the US and Israel launched an attack on Iran at the weekend.

Here is a look at the latest headlines from the region:

• US and Israeli forces have hit more than 2000 targets, sinking nine Iranian naval ships and killing 48 of the country’s leaders. Iran has struck 27 targets across eight countries.
• In Iran at least 201 people are dead and 747 injured, according to the Red Crescent. Some 165 of those are children and adults killed in a US-Israeli strike on a girls’ school in southern Iran. In Israel at least nine have died, while three American soldiers were killed in Kuwait.
• The Israel military has killed at least 31 people in Lebanon, after launching strikes aimed at Iran-back terrorist group Hezbollah. Hezbollah fired missiles at Israel earlier today. Iran has also continued to retaliate against Israel.
• A new leader of Iran could be chosen in the coming days, the Islamic Republic’s foreign minister said. Slain supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had reportedly named Iran’s security chief, Ali Larijani, as his successor. In an interview with America’s ABC News, US President Donald Trump claimed the initial US-Israel attack killed the three most likely replacements for Khamenei.
• Iran will not negotiate with the US, the Islamic Republic’s security chief said, as Tehran continued to suffer strikes from US.
• Motorists face the threat of rising petrol prices as the widening conflict in Iran rattles global energy markets and ignites warnings that oil prices could blow past $US100 ($140) a barrel for the first time in years.
• A UK defence base in Cyprus was hit in a drone attack, shortly after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer allowed US forces to use the base. Some reports suggested the explosions might have been caused by missiles fired from Lebanon, meaning the attack is likely to have been orchestrated by Hezbollah.
• Any mosques holding ceremonies honouring Iran’s slain leader should be investigated by police for supporting terrorist group the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry said. “We cannot allow terrorists to be glorified in our country or for such actions to occur without consequence,” Alex Ryvchin said on X.
• Flights in and out of the Middle East region have been halted or cancelled due to the conflict, with more than 20,000 flight delays and disruptions reported.

Read more on the US-Israel-Iran war:

• • Analysis: JD Vance’s silence on the Iran strikes is starting to get very loud
  • What we know so far: Why have Israel and the US attacked Iran?
  • How it unfolded: Within 12 hours of the first strikes, Khamenei was dead
  • Opinion: The day started with a cupcake. It ended sheltering with my baby in a basement car park