What we know on day four of US-Israeli attacks on Iran 

The Middle East is facing a sharp escalation after a series of coordinated attacks by the United States and Israel against Iran triggered retaliatory strikes and widening violence across the region.

In Iran, key government and symbolic sites in Tehran have been struck, including the state broadcaster and a UNESCO World Heritage landmark, while the death toll has topped 600 people, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Washington has warned that “harder hits” are still to come, as Tehran escalates retaliatory attacks by closing the Strait of Hormuz and launching attacks on US and allied targets across the region, including attacks on energy facilities.

Here’s where things stand.

In Iran

• Key sites damaged in Tehran: Recent strikes in the capital have hit the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) complex. The strikes have also damaged the historic Golestan Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Further escalation expected: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned that the “hardest hits” on Iran are “yet to come”.
• Ongoing military actions: Trump stated that attacks on Iran will persist until all US objectives are met.
• US and Israeli justifications: US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the strikes, stating they are designed to cripple Iran’s navy and end its nuclear and missile ambitions.
• Strait of Hormuz: Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps have declared the Strait of Hormuz closed, threatening to set fire to any vessel attempting to pass.
• Death toll: More than 600 people have been killed in Iran, notably including Supreme Leader Khamenei. Additionally, Iranian state media reported that a US-Israeli strike hit a girls’ school in southern Iran, killing at least 165 people.

In Gulf nations

• Qatar: The Gulf country has faced direct military spillover, intercepting dozens of Iranian ballistic missiles and drones.
• While most were stopped, two missiles struck the Al Udeid Air Base, which houses US forces, and a drone hit an early warning system.  Additionally, Qatar’s air force shot down two Iranian jets that were heading towards the country, and multiple explosions have been heard in the skies over Doha.
• On Monday, QatarEnergy, the world’s largest producer of LNG, said it had halted production after Iranian attacks.
• Kuwait: Three US fighter jets crashed in Kuwait. The US military claimed the jets were “mistakenly” shot down. Videos that emerged on Monday showed a US F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet spinning and spiralling downwards with its tail on fire and smoke trailing behind it.
• Saudi Arabia intercepted eight drones near Riyadh and Al-Kharj. Additionally, the US Embassy in Riyadh was hit by at least two drone attacks, causing a limited fire. The US Embassy is closed on Tuesday, and all routine and emergency services have been cancelled.
• Widespread US evacuations: The US Department of State has urged its citizens to immediately depart several Gulf nations, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, via commercial means due to the escalating violence.
• Ongoing threats to US assets: More broadly, Tehran is continuously carrying out raids against US military and strategic assets located throughout the Gulf region.
• UAE resumes limited flights: Dubai’s airport authority said on Monday that it had authorised a “small number” of flights to operate from Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest gateway for international passengers, and Dubai World Central airport.

In Israel:

• Defending against Iranian retaliation: The Israeli military has confirmed that it has identified incoming missiles launched from Iran. Israeli air defence systems are actively operating to intercept these strikes.
• Israel successfully intercepted two drones launched from Lebanon. Hezbollah has defended its own recent missile attacks on Israel as a legitimate response to 15 months of “Israeli aggression” and a violation of a 2024 ceasefire agreement.

• Netanyahu defends military action in Iran: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, asserting that Iran’s new underground bunkers would have become “immune within months”. He also told Fox News that “this is going to be a quick and decisive action” and “it’s up to the people of Iran in the final count to change the government.”

In the US

• Death toll: Six US service members have been killed and 18 injured. Trump said the US will retaliate “soon” for the attack, though he does not believe “boots on the ground” may be necessary.
• Clear objective, but no “multi-year conflict”: Vice President JD Vance emphasised that the president’s primary objective is to fundamentally change the Iranian regime’s mindset and ensure Iran can “never have a nuclear weapon”.
• Evacuation warnings: The US State Department is urging Americans to immediately depart much of the Middle East using commercial means due to “serious safety risks”.

In Lebanon and Jordan

• Intensified operations in Lebanon:  The Israeli military has issued “urgent” evacuation orders for 59 areas in Lebanon, primarily in the south, warning residents to stay at least 1,000 metres (0.6 miles) away from their villages due to “Hezbollah activities”.
• Widespread evacuation warnings: As a result of the escalating regional conflict, the US State Department has issued an urgent directive calling on American citizens to immediately depart Israel, along with the occupied West Bank, Gaza, and several other Middle Eastern nations.
• US Embassy evacuation in Jordan: The US Embassy in the capital, Amman, temporarily evacuated all of its staff from the compound due to an unspecified security threat.