Conflict spreads to Lebanon

• In the early hours of Monday, Israel began launching strikes on what it said were Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, after it accused the militant group of firing rockets at Israel

• Israeli strikes on Beirut and southern Lebanon have killed at least 31 people and injured 149, according to Lebanon's health ministry

Apparent Iranian strikes around the region continue

• Explosions have been reported in Bahrain and Dubai, and an oil refinery on fire in Saudi Arabia
• In a joint statement, the US and six allied Gulf states said Iran's actions in the region represent a "dangerous escalation", which threatens stability in the Middle East

• Earlier, the Kuwaiti military said "several" US fighter planes had crashed in Kuwait, with the crew unharmed
• The cause is being investigated, with verified footage showing the apparent moment a fighter jet fell from the sky and crashed near Kuwait City

Latest between Iran, the US and Israel

• The Iranian Red Crescent Society says 555 people have been killed in Iran following attacks by the US and Israel across more than 130 cities
• On Sunday, an Iranian missile strike killed nine people in the Israeli city of Beit Shemesh

Meanwhile, in Cyprus

• UK military base RAF Akrotiri was targeted by "a suspected drone attack" just after midnight
• The British Ministry of Defence said it was moving family members who live at the base to alternative accommodation as a "precautionary measure"

Iran's actions in the region represent a "dangerous escalation", which threatens stability in the Middle East, a joint statement from the US and six allied Gulf states says.

"Targeting civilians and non-combatant states is reckless behaviour that undermines stability," the statement - shared by Kuwait's foreign ministry - reads.

The statement - published originally in Arabic - was issued jointly by Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, the UAE and the US.

They say they "reaffirm our right to self-defence" as apparent Iranian strikes around the region continue.

It says attacks have taken place in Bahrain, Iraq (including the Kurdistan Region of Iraq), Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

In a new statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says it's killed Sayed Yahya Hamidi, Iran's deputy minister of intelligence for Israel affairs.

Jalal Pour Hossein, head of the espionage division at the ministry of intelligence, was also killed, along with other "regime officials", it says.

It does not detail how, when or where they were killed.

It also adds that Iran's ministry of intelligence headquarters in Tehran was struck "a short while ago".

Saudia Arabia's energy ministry says a "limited fire" at the Ras Tanura refinery - which is run by the country's state oil company, Aramco - has been brought under control.

The statement - shared by the Saudi Press Agency - says the refinery sustained "minor damage from falling debris" due to the interception of "two drones in the refinery's vicinity". It adds that the fire was "immediately dealt with" by emergency services, with no injuries or fatalities.

Video verified by the BBC shows a fire and large plumes of smoke billowing from the refinery.

Saudia Arabia has long hosted US and western military forces, and on Saturday its government issued a statement condemning "blatant and cowardly Iranian attacks".

These attacks were "successfully intercepted" and targeted the Riyadh Region and Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia said.

Image source, Social media

Ghoncheh Habibiazad
Senior reporter, BBC Persian

Based on screenshots of two messages sent from inside Iran to the BBC, Iranians have been warned by the intelligence unit of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) not to go out onto the streets to protest.

The messages describe any upcoming protests as “street riots” that are “planned by the enemy”, and warn that “any movement that disrupts security is considered an example of direct cooperation with the enemy".

In another text message, the IRGC has asked citizens to report “anti-security” incidents by calling them.

Since the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the BBC has verified videos from several cities showing gatherings of celebration in the streets.

At the same time, Iranian outlets have reported on groups of mourners in Tehran and other cities.

Meanwhile, the internet is still down for most people in Iran, so it’s very difficult to see a clear picture of what is going on inside, while some are able to connect through methods such as the satellite internet service, Starlink.

Bethany Bell
Reporting at the IAEA in Vienna

Image source, NurPhoto via Getty Images

The head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, says there is no indication that any of Iran’s "nuclear installations, including the Bushehr nuclear power plant, the Tehran research reactor or other nuclear fuel cycle facilities have been damaged or hit" after recent US and Israeli strikes.

In a statement to its board of governors, he says the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) was trying to contact the Iranian nuclear regulatory authorities but had "no response so far".

He calls for “utmost restraint in all military operations" given the nuclear sites in Iran and other countries in the region, including Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Iran’s ambassador to the IAEA, Reza Najafi, told the BBC that the Natanz nuclear site was hit on Sunday. He gave no further details.

Chris Partridge
Weapons analyst

The video footage of what looks very much like an F-15E Strike Eagle - or a variant - shows the aircraft in a flat spin after a catastrophic failure, the cause of which is unknown.

No word yet from US Central Command, which controls US military operations in the area, but the Kuwaiti Ministry of Defence says several US jets crashed in Kuwait, with the pilots ejecting, during a period of intense Iranian fire targeting the country.

F-15E Strike Eagles are air-to-air and air-to-ground multirole aircraft. We don’t yet know exactly what role they are carrying out in this conflict, but it seems highly likely they would be involved in defensive counter air operations to help intercept Iranian missiles and drones.

They may use onboard heat-seeking missiles to do this, longer-range missiles or even “guns” if close enough. There are other weapons available, too, such as laser-guided rockets.

It’s not clear whether any lost jets were brought down by friendly or hostile fire in this latest incident near the Iraqi border. But in a combat environment - with much "hot metal" flying around - incidents become more likely.

Shock, fury and tough choices for Lebanon's governmentpublished at 09:37 GMT 2 March

09:37 GMT 2 March

Carine Torbey
BBC Arabic, in Beirut

Image source, Reuters

One can only imagine the heated discussions happening behind closed doors in an emergency meeting of the Lebanese cabinet this morning.

Hezbollah’s decision to attack Israel after more than a year of inaction from its side is a great source of shock, fury and worry for the government and the population.

The authorities have ordered the arrest of people who launched the rockets and their instigators.

With Hezbollah openly announcing it’s behind the operation, there is no doubt about the identity of the “instigators”.

Although the authorities in Lebanon have started implementing a plan to disarm Hezbollah, they have adopted a soft policy towards the group in the last few months, in order to avoid any confrontation on the ground between the Lebanese army and Hezbollah.

It was feared this could lead to a civil war.

But after Hezbollah’s attacks yesterday and the country finding itself facing the fallout another potential full-blown war, the government is pressed more than ever to review its tactics and calculations.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says it has "precisely struck" a senior Hezbollah member in Beirut.

It says it will share more details shortly.

Footage verified by the BBC shows the moment an apparent US fighter jet falls from the sky and crashes to the ground near Kuwait City.

It was filmed from the west of the city on the edge of the Al Jahra area.

Earlier, the Kuwaiti military said "several" US fighter planes had crashed in Kuwait, with the crew unharmed.

Samantha Granville
Reporting from Beirut

The humming of drones has taken over Beirut this morning.

Israeli drones (including surveillance UAVs like the Hermes 450) have been spotted and heard over the city and its southern suburbs of Dahieh, a Hezbollah stronghold.

These are primarily Israeli reconnaissance/surveillance drones supporting the ongoing "offensive campaign" against Hezbollah targets, amid explosions, evacuations and heavy Israeli air activity.

It follows Israel's airstrikes overnight in response to Hezbollah firing drones and rockets to the northern city of Haifa.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, EPA

In Israel, a spokesperson for the military is briefing reporters. Asked by one if the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is preparing for ground operations in Lebanon following fresh exchanges of fire, he says "all options are on the table".

Hezbollah "will pay a heavy price" for striking Israel, he says, adding: "We are prepared — well prepared.

"We have mobilised close to 100,000 reservists; dozens of battalions, brigades, divisions, deployed in defence of the northern border, and prepared for all possibilities, in defence and in attack.

"We are holding situation assessments and all options are on the table."

Ghoncheh Habibiazad
Senior reporter, BBC Persian

The Iranian Red Crescent Society says 555 people have been killed in Iran following attacks by the US and Israel across more than 130 cities.

Image source, Reuters

Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides has shared more detail on the drone strike on a UK military base on British territory in southern Cyprus.

Just after midnight, "a Shahed unmanned aerial vehicle" crashed into the UK military facilities in Akrotiri "causing minor material damage", says the update on X. Shaheds are Iranian drones.

The president says that he is "constant contact" with Europe's leaders, and those of other countries. He adds that Cyprus "does not intend to be part of any military operation".

This follows the latest statement from the British Ministry of Defence, saying that it was moving family members out of the Akrotiri base.

Hezbollah's attack on Israel puts Lebanon in precarious situationpublished at 08:25 GMT 2 March

08:25 GMT 2 March

Lina Sinjab
Middle East correspondent, in Beirut

Image source, EPA

Hezbollah's attack on Israel is widely described here as a suicide attempt for the group and for the country.

The action is dragging the country into a new war with Israel where Lebanon will be the loser.

The country has not recovered yet from the prolonged war that crippled Hezbollah 18 months ago, and left many of their strongholds destroyed.

People here feel that the group has prioritised the Iranian interests over the national ones. The ones who are most affected are Hezbollah's followers whose homes, villages and towns are under fire.

Once again, they are fleeing and taking to the streets as shelter.

More now from UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, who estimates there are 300,000 British citizens in the Gulf region.

She says 102,000 of them have "registered their presence" with the UK Foreign Office, meaning they will receive direct updates on travel advice and safety.

Many countries currently have closed their air space closed, meaning Brits are facing difficulties returning to the UK.

Cooper calls the situation "deeply stressful" and says the government - who are taking the issue "so seriously" - are working "immensely hard" to help people return home safely.

As the situation develops, the foreign secretary says Brits abroad will be given instructions "as we go along" and that her team are "looking at every possible option" regarding travel.

Some breaking news from Kuwait - "several American fighter aircraft came down this morning", says Kuwait's Ministry of Defence.

The crews "survived unscathed", and were evacuated and transferred to hospitals for health checks, it adds, and confirms the conditions of the crews as "stable".

The Ministry of Defence adds that it is coordinating with its US ally regarding the "circumstances of the incident", and is continuing investigations into the "causes of the incident".

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper is talking to BBC Breakfast now about the apparent Iranian drone strike on RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.

She says there has been Iranian strikes on countries across the Gulf, and other places that were not involved in strikes on Iran.

This "shows seriousness of the reckless way the Iranian regime is operating", she says. The UK has not been involved in attacks on Iran, she adds.

(Although British planes did not attack Iran, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said last night the UK would allow the US to use UK bases for "defensive" strikes on Iranian missile sites).

Asked where the strike on Akrotiri was launched from or by whom, Cooper says she doesn't have the full information, but that the MoD will release more detail as soon as it's able.

We'll bring you any more key lines from Cooper shortly.

Image source, Reuters

The future of the Middle East depends on the outcome of the US-Israel war on Iran, Israel's president tells our colleagues on BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

Isaac Herzog says: "We are in a historic juncture where the future of the Middle East depends on the success of this operation."

He describes the Islamic Republic as "the empire of evil" that wants to "wipe us off the map".

Pressed on the legality of Israel's attacks, Herzog says that Iran has "tried to attack Israel from all corners of the Earth".

He says: "We have huge amount of proof which we are sharing of course with our British allies and every other allies.

"We want to make sure that there is a real change in the region."

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

New pictures show plumes of smoke rising over Kuwait City.

This follows reports of a possible attack near the US embassy there. The embassy has issued a warning to US citizens in Kuwait not to come to the embassy, and to take shelter at home.

One person had been reported as killed in Kuwait yesterday, as Iran launched strikes across the Middle East. Kuwait - a US ally with a US military base - also said it had intercepted missiles fired towards it.

Image source, AFP via Getty Images