US President Donald Trump has warned that additional American casualties are likely as US military operations against Iran continue until all objectives are achieved, amid a rapidly escalating regional conflict.
US Central Command earlier confirmed that three US service members have been killed in action, while five others were seriously wounded during the ongoing operations. Trump acknowledged the growing human cost, noting that the campaign would continue despite the risks.
Iranian authorities reported that at least 153 people, including children, were killed after a strike hit a school inside Iran. In Israel, medical services said nine people were killed in a missile strike on the city of Beit Shemesh.
Iran’s foreign minister said a new national leader could be selected within “a day or two” following the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US and Israeli air strikes.
The conflict has also spread beyond Iran and Israel. The British Ministry of Defence said a UK Royal Air Force base at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus was targeted in a suspected drone strike on Sunday night, though no casualties were reported.
In Lebanon, residents of Beirut were woken by explosions after Israel launched strikes on Hezbollah targets in response to rocket fire from the Iran-backed group. Hezbollah said it fired missiles and drones at northern Israel in retaliation for Khamenei’s killing, describing its actions as self-defence. Israel accused Hezbollah of acting on Iran’s behalf and warned it would respond forcefully to further attacks.
Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam urged all sides to refrain from launching rockets from southern Lebanon, warning that such actions threaten national security and risk further Israeli strikes.
Iran has also carried out retaliatory attacks across the Gulf region. Authorities in the United Arab Emirates said they intercepted dozens of Iranian ballistic missiles and drones, while explosions were reported near key facilities in Dubai, Doha and Manama. The Gulf Cooperation Council condemned the attacks, accusing Iran of violating international law and warning it would take necessary measures to defend member states.
Blasts were reported in Tehran as internet access remained restricted, making it difficult to assess the full extent of the damage. Meanwhile, Iran launched strikes on targets in Iraq, including areas near Erbil’s international airport, which US Central Command said was among the intended targets.
The widening conflict has rattled global markets. Oil prices surged when Asian markets opened on Monday, with Brent crude and US benchmark oil jumping by more than 10 percent before easing slightly.
Senior US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, are scheduled to brief Congress on the situation on Tuesday as international concern grows over the risk of a prolonged and wider war in the Middle East.
With inputs from BBC