Missile strikes and retaliatory attacks rippled across the Middle East on Monday as Western powers signalled support for Washington, deepening fears that the escalating confrontation between Iran, Israel and the United States could spiral into a full-scale regional war.
The conflict widened sharply after Iran and allied militias launched missiles at Israel and several Arab states.
One apparent strike hit the US Embassy compound in Kuwait City, with fire and smoke seen rising from inside the complex as alarms sounded. There were no immediate reports of casualties. The attack followed a warning from US authorities urging Americans in Kuwait to take cover.
The escalation has drawn key European powers closer to the crisis. Britain, France and Germany indicated their readiness to support efforts aimed at curbing Iran’s attacks, aligning themselves with Washington as hostilities intensify. Although their involvement has been framed as supportive rather than directly combative, the statements underscore how quickly the crisis is pulling in major Western players alongside the United States.
At the same time, Israel and the US continued a sustained air campaign across Iran, targeting missile installations and naval assets.
President Donald Trump claimed that nine Iranian warships had been sunk and that the navy’s headquarters had been largely destroyed. US officials confirmed that B-2 stealth bombers were deployed to drop 2,000-pound bombs on strategic sites.
The fighting has expanded beyond the initial fronts of Israel and Iran.
In Iraq, a pro-Iranian militia said it carried out a drone attack on US troops stationed at Baghdad airport, a day after claiming responsibility for a similar strike on a base in Irbil.
In the eastern Mediterranean, Cyprus reported limited damage at a British air base after it was struck by an unmanned drone, signalling that the conflict’s reach now extends well beyond the core battlegrounds.
Hezbollah opened another front by firing missiles from Lebanon into Israel, describing the move as retaliation for the killing of Ali Khamenei.
Israel said most of the projectiles were intercepted or landed in open areas.
However, retaliatory Israeli strikes on Lebanon killed at least 31 people and wounded 149 others, according to Lebanese officials.
Explosions rocked Beirut overnight as Israeli warplanes flew low over the capital.
Lebanon’s government convened an emergency meeting amid mounting concern that the country is being drawn deeper into a confrontation it is ill-equipped to handle.
Israeli military officials warned that the intensity of their strikes would increase, suggesting further escalation is likely.
Across the Gulf, the fallout has been immediate. Iran’s counteroffensive targeted cities in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain locations long regarded as relatively stable regional hubs.
Authorities reported that most incoming missiles and drones were intercepted, though some penetrated air defences or caused damage as debris fell into civilian areas, resulting in fatalities.
Inside Iran, officials said more than 200 people have been killed since the start of the strikes.
Streets in Tehran were largely deserted as residents sheltered from bombardment.
The paramilitary Basij force established checkpoints across the capital, tightening internal security amid growing uncertainty.
The assassination of Khamenei, who had led Iran for more than three decades, has created a significant power vacuum and heightened instability within the country’s leadership.
Senior Iranian official Ali Larijani adopted a defiant tone, insisting Tehran would not negotiate with the United States under current conditions.
In Israel, missile strikes hit multiple locations, including Jerusalem and a synagogue in Beit Shemesh, where nine people were killed and 28 wounded. Rescue services said the overall death toll in Israel has reached 11.
President Trump warned that further casualties were likely.
“Sadly, there will likely be more before it ends,” he said, urging Iranians to “take over” their government while also hinting at the possibility of dialogue with new leadership in Tehran.
He stressed, however, that US military operations would continue “in full-force” until Washington’s objectives are achieved.
The World Health Organization called for the protection of civilians and healthcare facilities, highlighting the growing humanitarian risks.
With missiles crossing borders, militias activating in multiple countries and Western powers edging closer to direct involvement, the latest escalation threatens to transform an already volatile confrontation into a broader Middle East war, with consequences that could extend far beyond the region.
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