Fresh Iranian missile and drone strikes were reported across parts of the Middle East on Monday, including in Saudi Arabia where an oil refinery caught fire, as tensions spiralled following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader in joint US-Israeli strikes.
Saudi authorities said the refinery blaze was “under control,” while a joint statement by Gulf states and the United States condemned what they described as Iran’s “indiscriminate and reckless missile and drone attacks.”
The regional flare-up follows coordinated strikes by Israel and the United States on Saturday that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Israeli military said it had since launched additional operations targeting sites in Tehran.
“The operation continues,” an Israeli military spokesperson said, adding that further strikes were aimed at degrading Iran’s military infrastructure.
In Iran, authorities warned citizens against gathering in the streets for protests amid heightened security concerns, according to local reporting. Officials cautioned that public demonstrations could expose civilians to danger during ongoing military activity.
The conflict has also spilled into Kuwait, where several US fighter jets crashed in what American officials described as “an apparent friendly fire incident.” Video circulating online showed one aircraft plummeting to the ground in a fireball, though the US military has not confirmed casualty figures.
Meanwhile, the Lebanese health ministry said Israeli strikes in Beirut and southern Lebanon killed at least 31 people. Israel said it was responding to rocket fire and attacks by Hezbollah.
On Sunday, an Iranian missile strike hit the Israeli city of Beit Shemesh, killing nine people, according to Israeli emergency services.
In Cyprus, a British Royal Air Force base was targeted by what officials described as a “suspected drone strike,” prompting the relocation of family members from the facility as a precaution.
Diplomatic efforts to contain the crisis appear limited, as regional actors brace for further escalation.
Analysts warn the expanding theatre of operations — now spanning Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Cyprus — raises the risk of a broader regional war.
