Trump on Iran: 'US will avenge the deaths of Americans'

Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides has said ​he is in contact with other European leaders Britain’s Akrotiri air base in the country was hit overnight by ‌an unmanned Shahed drone.

The attack caused only minor material ​damage.

"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 in a statement.

It is believed that the air base was targeted with two drones, one of which was intercepted.

Iran security chief Ali Larijani said "we will not negotiate" with the US. 

Larijani's post on X comes in response to a report from the Wall Street Journal that Larijani is pushing to resume nuclear talks with the US as the conflict continues. 

Larijani, along with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, was involved in the earlier negotiations with the US regarding Tehran's nuclear program. 

The US and Israel have accused Iran of pursuing a nuclear bomb, while the Iranian government has defended its atomic enrichment program, saying it is for peaceful purposes.     

The Israeli military ordered residents of about 50 towns and villages in Lebanon to evacuate and move at least 1 kilometer (0.62 miles) away on Monday, as it plans to attack Hezbollah militants.

"For your safety, evacuate your homes immediately and move at least 1,000 metres (0.6 miles) away from your village to open areas," an army spokeswoman said in a statement on X, listing localities in the country's south and east.
 

A British Royal Air Force (RAF) base was hit by a drone in Akrotiri in Cyprus, Sky ‌News
reported on Monday ‌citing theUK's ‌Ministry ​of Defence.

The drone hit the Akrotiri base at midnight, the UK's defense ministry said, adding that its forces were handling a "live situation."

"Our force protection in the region is at the highest level, and the base has responded to defend our people," a Ministry of Defense spokesperson said in a statement.

The incident took place after the UK on Sunday said that it will let the United States use British military bases to fire "defensive" strikes aimed at destroying Iranian missiles and their launchers.

The Royal Air Force Akrotiri base is a British overseas territory near the southern coastal city of Limassol.

There were no ​casualties in the ⁠incident ​at ​the base ​near Limassol, ‌Cyprus, the report by Sky News ​said.
 

US President Donald Trump told the New York Times that he sees "three very good choices" for Iran's next leader.

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

Trump also called on hardened officers in Iran's military forces, such as those in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, to surrender. 

"They would really surrender to the people, if you think about it," Trump said.  

Bahrain's Interior Ministry said that a migrant worker was killed after debris from an intercepted missile sparked a fire.

It said that the fire broke out in the Salman Industrial City area of the city of Al Hidd, which lies on Muharraq Island just east of the capital, Manama.

"A fire broke out on a foreign ship in Salman Industrial City, as a result of falling debris from an intercepted missile," the ministry said in a statement.

"The fire resulted in the death of an Asian worker and serious injuries to two others," it said, without specifying the nationality of the worker killed. "The fire has been brought under control and extinguished."

Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah said it claims responsiblity for a drone and missile attack on Israel earlier. Those attacks led to siren warnings in northern Israel. 

Hezbollah said its missile and drone attack on Israel was in retaliation for the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. 

 "In response to projectile fire towards northern Israel, the IDF is striking Hezbollah targets across Lebanon," the Israel Defense Forces said in a post on X. 

"IDF troops have prepared for such a scenario as part of operation 'Roaring Lion,' and are prepared for an all-fronts scenario," the statement added, referring to the name Israeli authorities use for the latest operations against Iran.

The Israeli military said several of the projectiles fired from Lebanon fell into open areas. 

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam called the "launching of rockets from southern Lebanon" an "irresponsible and suspicious act that endangers Lebanon's security and safety and provides Israel with pretexts to continue its attacks on it." 

Meanwhile, Reuters news agency reported that explosions were heard in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital, Beirut. These  majority Shiite areas of Beirut, known as Dahiyeh, are considered Hezbollah's stronghold and have been frequently targeted by Israel in previous conflicts.  

Members of the Saudi-Arabia led Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) condemned "aggression" from Iran and emphasized their "right to respond" after their foreign ministers met via video link. 

The GCC consists of the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait along with Saudi Arabia. The organization is not just a political and economic bloc, but also a military alliance.   

All six GCC states have been targeted by Iranian attacks after the beginning of the US-Israeli operation on Saturday.  

The statement said that Gulf nations "will take all necessary measures to defend their security and stability and to protect their territories, citizens and residents, including the option of responding to the aggression."

The bloc urged the "immediate cessation of these attacks" and noted the Gulf region is a key pillar of "global economic stability." The wealthy Gulf region is home to financial centers such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh and Doha.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong told the Channel Nine broadcaster that Canberra was not planning to take part in military operations against Iran.

"Australia is not central to the issues ​in the Middle East. We didn't participate in these strikes and ​we wouldn't anticipate ‌participating in the future," she said, referring to joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

She said that any change in the government of Iran must be a "matter of the people of Iran."

"We know from history that we cannot externally impose regime change sustainably unless the people make a decision," she said.

The Israeli military, or Israel Defense Forces (IDF), said it is continuing strikes on Tehran as Iranian media reported fresh blasts in the capital. 

"The Israeli Air Force, guided by IDF intelligence, has begun an additional wave of strikes against the Iranian terror regime at the heart of Tehran," the IDF posted on Telegram.  

Meanwhile, the semi-official Tasnim News Agency in Iran reported explosions in some parts of Tehran. 

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF), or Israeli military, said sirens sounded in parts of northern Israel after projectiles were fired from Lebanon. 

"Sirens sounded in several areas in northern Israel following projectiles launched from Lebanon. The details are under review," the IDF posted on Telegram. 

Lebanon is home to Hezbollah, a Shiite paramilitary and political organization backed by Iran. Hezbollah as a whole is deemed a terror organization by the US, Israel, Germany and several other countries, whereas the EU only deems Hezbollah's military wing as a terror group. 

US President Donald Trump told British newspaper Daily Mail that the conflict with Iran could last for a period of four weeks. 

"We figured it will be four weeks or so," Trump told the paper. "It's always been about a four-week process, so, as strong as it is  — it's a big country — it'll take four weeks, or less." 

Trump said the three US soldiers who were killed by Iran were "great people," while stressing that military casualties are a regular occurrence in war.

"You know, we expect that to happen, unfortunately," Trump said. "It could happen again."   

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other top officials are scheduled to brief the Congress on the US attack on Iran on Tuesday, the White House said.

Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and military chief Dan Ciane are to "brief the full membership of both chambers of Congress on Tuesday," White House spokesman Dylan Johnson said.

Shiites angered by the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei have been protesting around the world. At least nine people were killed when crowds stormed the US Consulate in Pakistan's port city of Karachi. 

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, in her latest statement, said the EU is following "developments in Iran and the Middle East with utmost concern."

She noted that the EU has used sanctions on the Iranian government over its actions towards demonstrators, its missile and nuclear programs and its backing of armed groups in the Middle East. 

"We will continue to protest EU security and interests, including through additional sanctions," Kallas said. 

"We call for maximum restraints, protection of civilians and full respect of international law, including the principles of the United Nations Charter, and international humanitarian law," Kallas said.

"The Middle East stands to lose greatly from any drawn-out war. Iran's attacks and violation of sovereignty of a number of countries are inexcusable. We express our solidarity with partners in the region that have been attacked or affected." 

Kallas said the EU is in "close contact with partners in the region to contribue to deescalation" while adding that "the EU and its member states are taking all necessary steps to ensure the safety of EU citizens in the region."

"The events unfolding in Iran must not lead to escalation that could threaten the Middle East, Europe and beyond, with unpredictable consequences, also in the economic sphere," Kallas said. "The disruption of critical waterways, like the Strait of Hormuz, must be avoided."