War returns to Iran with Israel, US strikes

Israel’s military says sirens have been sounded in the north following projectiles launched from Lebanon, reports AFP.

“Sirens sounded in several areas in northern Israel following projectiles launched from Lebanon. The details are under review,” the Israeli military posted on Telegram.

Oil prices has surged more than eight per cent to their highest in months as Iran and Israel step up attacks in the Middle East, damaging tankers and disrupting shipments from the key producing region.

Brent crude futures LCOc1 struck a high of $82.37 a barrel and was at $79.34, up $6.47, or 8.88pc, by 2305 GMT.

US West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 jumped $5.36, or 8pb, to $72.38 a barrel after touching a high of $75.33 earlier.

The Pakistan embassy in Azerbaijan says on Sunday, its team on the ground in Astara facilitated the “safe crossing of 31 Pakistani nationals ensuring onward movement to Baku for return to Pakistan”.

The embassy, in its post on X, also thanked Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry for its support, further mentioning that on the directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, the government has designated Baku as the evacuation base for Pakistani nationals seeking safe transit amid the evolving situation in Iran.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and other top US officials will brief the full membership of both chambers of Congress on Tuesday, reports Reuters, citing the White House.

According to AFP, they will brief the Congress on Iran.

Gulf states have vowed to defend themselves against Iranian attacks, including by “responding to the aggression” if need be, reports AFP.

They reached the consensus after the Gulf Cooperation Council convened via video-link to formulate a unified response.

The foreign ministers of the six GCC states — the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait, all of which have experienced Iranian strikes — “reviewed the extensive damage resulting from the treacherous Iranian attacks” and discussed steps for restoring stability in the region.

Gulf countries “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”, a statement released after the meeting said.

It also called for the “immediate cessation of these attacks”, adding that the stability of the “Gulf region is not merely a regional concern but a fundamental pillar of global economic stability”.

Nurses working at a hospital in Tehran’s Gandhi Street area have begun evacuating patients, two witnesses told Reuters.

The evacuation comes after the hospital was badly damaged in a strike by the US or Israel’s military.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has received a phone call from US President Donald Trump, with the two leaders discussing the “blatant Iranian attacks” on Gulf countries, the UAE’s Wam news agency reports.

“The two leaders also reviewed the developments taking place in the region and their implications for regional and international security and peace, and exchanged views on them,” Wam adds.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, head of the World Health Organisation (WHO), has called reports of the Gandhi Hospital in Tehran being hit by bombardments “extremely worrying”.

“[The WHO] is working to verify the incident. But it serves as a reminder that all efforts must be taken to prevent health facilities from being caught up in the ongoing conflict,” Ghebreyesus said in a post on X.

“Health facilities are protected under international humanitarian law. Health is not a target.”

UK’s Keir Starmer has said the only way to stop the threat was to destroy Iranian missiles “at source in their storage depots or the launchers which are used to fire the missiles”.

“The United States has requested permission to use British bases for that specific and limited defensive purpose.

“We have taken the decision to accept this request, to prevent Iran firing missiles across the region, killing innocent civilians, putting British lives at risk, and hitting countries that have not been involved,” he said.

Seven people have been injured in the Jerusalem area following the latest salvo of missiles fired from Iran, AFP quotes Israeli firefighters as saying.

“Jerusalem District firefighters are currently responding at an impact site located on a highway… in the Jerusalem region,” a statement from the national fire service said.

“According to medical authorities, seven injured people with varying degrees of severity have so far been evacuated from the site to receive medical treatment,” it added.

After the Israeli military said missiles were fired from Iran towards Israel, it has shared an update, saying that it is now permitted to exit the protected space, and to continue to remain in proximity to protected spaces throughout the country.

“Rescue and recovery forces are operating in several incident sites across the country where reports of impacts have been received. Avoid congregating in these areas,” the statement on the Israeli defence forces’ X account said.

The EU is 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 told AFP.

Two new French ships will join the EU’s Aspides mission, bringing the number of warships taking part to five, the diplomat told AFP on condition of anonymity, after foreign ministers from the bloc’s 27 nations held talks on Iran.

At least five explosions were heard in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and surrounding areas following the launch of missiles from Iran toward Israel, reports Anadolu Agency.

A strong explosion was also heard in the northern city of Haifa, according to eyewitnesses.

Israel’s Channel 12 reported that sirens sounded in several areas in southern and eastern Israel after a new barrage of missiles was launched from Iran. Additional sirens were later activated in the northern parts of the country.

Channel 12 also reported that an Iranian missile or its shrapnel fell near Tel Aviv in central Israel. The Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth said material damage occurred and buildings were affected after missile debris fell near Tel Aviv, with no injuries reported in that specific incident.

Sirens later sounded again in Dimona, the Negev, the Dead Sea area and other parts of southern Israel, Channel 12 reported.

US President Donald Trump has urged Iranians to rise up to topple the Islamic republic a day after a joint US-Israeli attack killed the supreme leader.

“I call upon all Iranian patriots who yearn for freedom to seize this moment to be brave, be bold, be heroic, and take back your country. America is with you,” Trump said in a video address.

Trump has also warned Iran’s security forces to surrender or be killed.

“I once again urge the Revolutionary Guard, the Iranian military and police to lay down your arms and receive full immunity or face certain death. It will be certain death. It won’t be pretty,” Trump said.

US President Donald Trump has vowed to avenge the deaths of three US troops in a war he launched on Iran as he acknowledged more casualties are likely, reports AFP.

“Sadly, there will likely be more before it ends,” Trump said in a video address. “But America will avenge their deaths and deliver the most punishing blow to the terrorists who have waged war against, basically, civilisation.”

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has agreed to let the United States use UK bases to fire “defensive” strikes aimed at destroying Iranian missiles and their launchers, AFP reports.

But in a video address posted to social media, he added: “We were not involved in the initial strikes on Iran, and we will not join offensive action now.”

Jordan’s foreign ministry has summoned the Iranian embassy’s charge d’affaires in Amman over attacks targeting Jordan and Arab countries, reports Reuters.

US President Donald Trump has warned that combat operations in Iran will continue until all objectives are achieved, as he confirmed in a video posted on Truth Social that three US service members had been killed and said there would likely be more American casualties, Reuters reports.

Bahrain’s interior ministry says “Iranian aggression” has targeted a maritime facility near the Mina Salman seaport.

“Civil Defence carries out procedures to control the fire,” the ministry’s statement says.

Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency services said they were treating six people with injuries in the Jerusalem area after the latest salvo of missiles fired from Iran.

It followed a series of loud blasts heard above the city by AFP journalists, after the Israeli military said it had detected missiles launched from Iran.