[ad_1]
EU stands with member states in face of any threat, von der Leyen says
The EU stands with its member states in the face of any threat, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in response to the drone strike that hit Britain’s Royal Air Force base of Akrotiri in Cyprus overnight.
“While the Republic of Cyprus was not the target, let me be clear: we stand collectively, firmly and unequivocally with our Member States in the face of any threat,” von der Leyen said in a post on X.
Explosions heard near Iraq’s Erbil airport
Loud bangs were heard Monday near Iraq’s Erbil airport, which hosts US-led coalition troops, an AFP journalist said.
An AFP photographer said that air defence systems downed drones near the airport.
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.
Israel army chief says Lebanon fighting could take ‘many’ days
Israel’s military chief Eyal Zamir said fighting against Lebanese militant group Hezbollah could take “many” more days.
“We have launched an offensive campaign against Hezbollah,” Zamir said in a video shared by the military on Monday, hours after rocket fire claimed by Hezbollah prompted a wave of Israeli strikes on Lebanon. “We must be prepared for several days of fighting, many.”
🎥 More than 200 dead reported dead in Iran after US, Israel launch major attacks
Iranian leaders say more than 200 people have been killed in the country since the start of the strikes early on Saturday, including at least 148 in an attack on a girl’s elementary school in Minab in the south of the country.
⬇️ FRANCE 24’s Reza Sayah reports from Tehran.
Britain’s RAF base in Cyprus targeted by Shahed drone, Cyprus President says
A drone strike hit Britain’s Royal Air Force base of Akrotiri in Cyprus overnight, causing limited damage and no casualties, the island’s president and Britain’s defence ministry said.
The first attack on the British military facility since a rocket attack by Libyan militants in 1986, the incident represents a marked escalation in the conflict.
“All the competent services of the republic are on alert and in full operational readiness,” President Nikos Christodoulides said in a speech.
“I want to be clear: Our country does not participate in any way and does not intend to be part of any military operation,” Christodoulides said.
It was not immediately clear from where the Iranian-made Shahed had been fired. Two sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the British bases intercepted a second drone.
While the bases are regarded as British sovereign territory, Cyprus itself is an EU member, now holding the bloc’s rotating presidency.
Three killed in strikes on Iran’s west, state media says
At least three people were killed in Iran’s west, Iranian state media reported, as conflict with the United States and Israel continues for the third day.
Residential buildings in the western city of Sanandaj (📍) were hit by air strikes, according to governor Gharib Sajjadi as quoted by the official IRNA news agency.
He said “three people were killed and several others injured in the attacks”, adding that the death toll is expected to rise.
Smoke seen rising from US embassy vicinity in Kuwait, witness says
Smoke was seen rising from the vicinity of the US embassy in Kuwait, and fire fighters and ambulances were seen in the area, a witness said.
Israel launches retaliatory strikes on Beirut
In Lebanon, Israel launched strikes on Beirut after Hezbollah fired missiles across the border early Monday.
It was the first time in more than a year that the Lebanese militant group has claimed a strike against Israel. The Israeli military said Hezbollah had “joined the campaign” alongside Iran.
Hezbollah said in a statement that its strikes were carried out in retaliation for the killing of Khamenei and for “repeated Israeli aggressions”.
Lebanese officials urged Hezbollah not to back Iran
Associated Press journalists in Beirut were jolted awake by a series of loud explosions that shook buildings and caused windows to shatter. Warplanes could be heard flying low overhead.
Lebanese government officials had urged Hezbollah not to enter the fray in support of Iran, fearing another war. The country has not recovered from the last Israel–Hezbollah war, which nominally ended with a US-brokered ceasefire in November 2024.
Since then, Israel has continued to launch near-daily strikes in Lebanon aimed at stopping Hezbollah from regrouping.
Habitants of Beirut fled as strikes hit the Lebanese capital
Israel carried out air strikes on the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut on Monday, with more than a dozen explosions rocking the Lebanese capital. Israel said it also struck senior Hezbollah militants near Beirut.
People fled on foot and by car in Beirut, clogging the roads, after the series of strikes began around 2:40am (0040 GMT).
One dead in Iranian attacks, Bahrain interior ministry says
Bahrain’s interior ministry said Iranian strikes killed one person, the island nation’s first fatality since the start of Iran’s campaign.
Israeli strikes on Lebanon kill 31 and wound 149, ministry says
Israeli air strikes on Lebanon after Hezbollah attacked Israel have killed at least 31 people, Lebanon’s Health Ministry said.
The Health Ministry said that the strikes also wounded 149 people. It said about two thirds of the dead were in southern Lebanon.
[ad_2]
Source link
