US-Iran live: Israel launches fresh dawn strikes at Tehran and Beirut as Trump warns the hardest hits are yet to come

Israel has launched fresh strikes on the Iranian capital Tehran and Lebanese capital Beirut.

  • 03 марта 2026, 09:31

Israel has launched fresh strikes on the Iranian capital Tehran and Lebanese capital Beirut.

The strikes came after the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) warned citizens to evacuate from Beirut and avoid buildings linked to Hezbollah.

US President Donald Trump warned that the hardest hits were yet to come.

In a statement on Truth Social, the President boasted about US weapon stocks, saying wars could be fought forever with the countrys current supplies.

He wrote: We have a virtually unlimited supply of these weapons. The United States is stocked, and ready to WIN, BIG!!!

The US embassy in Riyadh hit by two drones overnight and Iranian state media claimed a command and staff building in Bahrain had also been destroyed. 

The conflict has continued to escalate following the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday.

Many countries deemed safe havens in the Mideast have been hit by Iran in retaliation for the U.S. and Israeli strikes, with recent targets including two Amazon data centers in the United Arab Emirates and a drone impact near another in Bahrain 

The U.S. State Department urged U.S. citizens to leave more than a dozen Middle Eastern countries due to safety risks.

President Trump said operations are likely to last four to five weeks but that he was prepared to go far longer than that.

06:28

'Very limited options' for Americans to evacuate

The United States Ambassador to Israel has warned that there are 'very limited options' for Americans to evacuate from the country.

Mike Huckabee advised citizens to use a tourist shuttle bus to travel to the Egyptian city of Taba, or carrying on to the capital Cairo to organise a flight to the US.

He advised against US citizens trying to evacuate via Jordan.

He wrote: 'All of our personnel from embassy are sheltering in place, but I realize you may need to get people out and back home and not continue to incur hotel costs.  I’m adding what we are recommending for now. 

'Not sure when Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv will reopen. Hopefully soon, but even when it does, there will be VERY limited flights with priorities to those who already were ticketed by El Al. 

'Doubtful that other airlines will fly in/out for a while. 

'The Ministry of Tourism is operating buses to Taba. 

'That crossing is further away but it’s open 24/7. 

'There are some flights from Taba, but there are also options to get to Cairo and it’s operating normally except to Middle Eastern countries. 

'To get out, it’s the best option for now. 

'If not already enrolled in STEP program, do so as you will be emailed updated information from the embassy and State Department.'

06:24

Keir Starmer accused of 'hand-wringing'

Last night The Pentagon vented its fury at Keir Starmer on Monday for his 'pearl-clutching' over the US attacks on Iran.

The Prime Minister was accused of undermining the Special Relationship by banning American bombers from using British bases to launch Saturday's assault on Tehran.

Sir Keir risked aggravating the White House further by suggesting that the attack, which killed Iran's Supreme Leader, was illegal and set to unravel.

In an outspoken intervention, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth praised Israel for its central role in the offensive – but savaged the legalistic approach taken by Britain and other European allies.

'Israel has clear missions for which we are grateful,' he said. 'Capable partners are good partners. Unlike so many of our traditional partners who wring their hands and clutch their pearls, humming and hawing about the use of force.'

ONE EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO SALES. NO ARCHIVING. NO ALTERING OR MANIPULATING. NO USE ON SOCIAL MEDIA UNLESS AGREED BY HOC PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICE. MANDATORY CREDIT: House of Commons Handout photo issued by the House of Commons of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer making a statement in the House of Commons, London, on the situation in the Middle East. Sir Keir Starmer has allowed the US to strike Iranian missile sites from British bases as officials plan an unprecedented rescue operation for UK citizens in the Gulf. Reports have also suggested the US could use RAF Fairford which can handle American heavy bombers. Picture date: Monday March 2, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: House of Commons/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.

Pentagon lambasts 'hand-wringing, pearl-clutching' Starmer over Iran
The Prime Minister was accused of undermining the Special Relationship by banning American bombers from using British bases to launch Saturday's assault on Tehran.

06:19

Conflict may go 'far longer' than five-week time frame - Trump

US President Donald Trump said the U.S. has "the capability to go far longer" than its projected four-to-five-week time frame for its military operations against Iran.

In a statement on Truth Social, the President boasted about US weapon stocks, saying wars could be fought 'forever' with the country's current supplies.

He wrote: 'As was stated to me today, we have a virtually unlimited supply of these weapons. Wars can be fought "forever", and very successfully, using just these supplies.

'At the highest end, we have a good supply, but are not where we want to be.

'Much additional high grade weaponry is stored for us in outlying countries.

'The United States is stocked, and ready to WIN, BIG!!!'

TOPSHOT - This official White House photograph taken on March 1, 2026 and released on March 2, 2026 on the White House X account shows US President Donald Trump overseeing

06:12

US Embassy in Saudi Arabia hit with Iranian drones

Iran struck the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia's capital with a drone early Tuesday as it kept hitting targets around the region

The attack from two drones on the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh caused a 'limited fire' and minor damage, according to Saudi Arabia's Defense Ministry, and the embassy urged Americans to avoid the compound.

It followed an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait, and the U.S. State Department on Tuesday ordered the evacuation of non-emergency personnel and family in Bahrain and Jordan as a precaution.

Across Iran's capital, explosions rang out throughout the night into the early morning, with witnesses describing hearing aircraft overhead.

06:05

IDF strikes hit Tehran and Beirut

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has confirmed it has launched strikes on Tehran and the Lebanese capital of Beirut.

In a statement, the military said: 'The IDF is currently conducting simultaneous targeted strikes against military targets in Tehran and Beirut.'

An hour earlier the IDF issued an 'urgent warning' for people to evacuate Beirut's southern suburbs and villages.

It urged for its citizens to stay away from buildings associated from Hezbollah.

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