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Israel, Hezbollah trade fire: latest developments in Iran war Paris, France, March 2 (AFP) Mar 02, 2026 Israel and Hezbollah traded fire on Monday as the fallout from US-Israeli strikes widened, with attacks in Gulf States and a British base in Cyprus. US President Donald Trump vowed to avenge the deaths of US service members and said the war with Iran could last for weeks. Here are the latest developments:
The Israeli military told residents of about 50 towns and villages in Lebanon to evacuate, and an AFP journalist witnessed South Lebanon residents fleeing by car.
"The Israeli Air Force... has begun an additional wave of strikes against the Iranian terror regime at the heart of Tehran," the military said in a statement.
"Among the targets of this tenth wave were a targeted strike on the Zionist regime's government complex in Tel Aviv, attacks on military and security centres in Haifa, and a strike on east Jerusalem," said a Guards statement carried by state TV.
"The number of martyrs who have fallen over the past two days in the province as a result of Israeli and American attacks reached 27," said Majid Farshi, director general of the East Azerbaijan province crisis management department, as quoted by the official IRNA news agency. Media reported that 35 were also killed in the southern Fars province.
Britain agreed on Sunday to allow the United States to use British military bases to fire "defensive" strikes at Iranian missile systems. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc was "firmly and unequivocally" behind member states following the drone hit.
AFP reporters said they heard several loud blasts in the Qatari and Bahraini capitals, as well as in the United Arab Emirates' most populous city.
"Several US warplanes crashed this morning. Confirming that all crew members survived," a defence ministry spokesman said in a statement, adding that the cause was under investigation. - Iraq strikes -
Since the start of the US-Israel campaign against Iran, drones have repeatedly been intercepted over Erbil, which is also home to a major US consulate complex.
"The most urgent task is a cessation of military operations and preventing a spillover of conflict," foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a news conference, urging "a resolution through dialogue and negotiation".
On Monday morning, the US embassy in Kuwait, where smoke could be seen, said in a statement people should not come to the diplomatic mission: "Take cover in your residence on the lowest available floor and away from windows. Do not go outside."
He said Trump's "delusional fantasies" had plunged the region into chaos.
"I won't be revealing them now. Let's get the job done first," he said.
Dan Caine, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, will also take part, the Pentagon said.
Rubio, Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and military chief Caine "will brief the full membership of both chambers of Congress," White House spokesman Dylan Johnson said.
The Danish group was the latest of several shipping groups to make similar announcements after Iran's Revolutionary Guards declared the strait closed on Saturday.
On Sunday, an Iranian missile attack killed at least nine people and injured dozens more in the central Israeli city of Beit Shemesh, medics said.
Two new French ships will join the EU's Aspides mission, bringing to five the number of warships taking part, the diplomat told AFP.
The US president also called on Iranians to rise up, saying "America is with you." He warned the country's Revolutionary Guards to surrender or face "certain death."
"It's always been a four-week process. We figured it will be four weeks or so," he told British newspaper the Daily Mail during a round of interviews.
Israel's military, meanwhile, said it had "struck dozens of the regime's military command centres", including IRGC headquarters. burs-jxb/ach |
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