War widens to include Iranian-backed militias as Israeli and American planes pound Iran
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran and Iran-backed militias fired missiles at Israel and Arab states and hit targets in Iran Monday as the war widened with challenges and warnings More losses in the USA.
As American and Israeli airstrikes continued, senior Iranian security official Ali Larijani defiantly promised X that “we will not negotiate with the United States.”
In Iraq, a pro-Iran militia claimed a drone strike targeting U.S. troops at Baghdad airport, a day after it said it had opened fire on a U.S. base in Irbil in the north, and Cyprus said a drone strike targeted a British base in the Mediterranean island nation.
Israel and the United States bombed Iran’s missile sites and targeted its navy, claiming to have destroyed its headquarters and several warships. According to Iranian leaders, more than 200 people have been killed since the attacks began.
While the bombardment continued, Hezbollah announced that it had fired missiles from Lebanon towards Israel in the early hours of Monday. Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and “repeated Israeli attacks”, the first attack claimed by the militant group in more than a year. No injuries or damage were reported, and Israel said one shell was intercepted, while many others fell in open areas.
Israel retaliated by attacking Beirut and urging civilians in about 50 villages in eastern and southern Lebanon to evacuate ahead of further possible attacks, causing people to flee.
Iran has been firing missiles at Israel and Arab countries in a counter-attack since the joint US-Israeli attack on Saturday. Khamenei and many senior Iranian officials.
Gulf states warned they could retaliate against Iran after attacks that hit key sites and killed at least five civilians, and US President Donald Trump vowed Washington would “avenge” the deaths of three American soldiers killed in Kuwait.
“Unfortunately, there will probably be more before it’s over,” Trump said. “This is it.”
Trump called on Iranians to “take over” their government and signaled he would be open to dialogue with new leaders following Khamenei’s death, while suggesting Sunday there was no end in sight to military operations.
“Combat operations are currently continuing at full strength and will continue until all our objectives are achieved,” he said in a video message. “We have very strong goals,” he added, without elaborating.
US military said B-2 stealth bombers It hit Iran’s ballistic missile facilities with 2000-pound bombs. Trump said on social media that nine Iranian warships were sunk and the Iranian navy’s headquarters was “substantially destroyed.”
In an indication that the conflict could draw in other countries, Britain, France and Germany said they were ready to work with the United States to stop Iran’s attacks, while a group of Gulf Arab countries said they reserved the right to respond to Iran’s attacks.
The weekend attacks were the second joint strike by the United States and Israel against Iran in eight months. Attacks by Israel and the USA during the 12-day war last June greatly weakened Iran’s air defense, military leadership, and nuclear program. However, the killing of Khamenei, who ruled Iran for more than three decades, creates a leadership vacuum and increases the risk of regional instability.
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Rising was reportedly from Bangkok, while Abou AlJoud was from Beirut.
