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Several countries in the region, such as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, reported dealing with missile and drone attacks originating from Iran. At the same time, Israel intensified its offensive against Hezbollah, resulting in renewed assaults on Lebanon.
In a related development, the United States advised its diplomats and their families to evacuate from Saudi Arabia. Additionally, a seventh American military personnel succumbed to wounds sustained earlier in the conflict.
The second son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been seen as a potential successor to the position of supreme leader even before an Israeli strike claimed his father’s life at the outset of the war. Notably, he has never held any elected or official governmental role.
The influential Revolutionary Guard of Iran, which operates under the direct authority of the supreme leader, will see the younger Khamenei play a pivotal role in determining military strategies.
President Donald Trump, in an interview with America’s ABC, expressed his desire to influence the selection of Iran’s future leadership post-war. He asserted that any new leader would require his endorsement to remain in power successfully.
Saudi Arabia’s Defence Ministry said its forces destroyed four more drones that were attacking the vast Shaybah oil field.
The kingdom sharpened its warnings to Iran, telling Tehran it would be the “biggest loser” if it continues to attack Arab states, and dismissed comments by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday claiming Tehran had halted its attacks on Gulf Arab states.
“The Iranian side has not implemented this statement in practice, neither during the Iranian president’s speech nor afterwards,” Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
“Iran has continued its aggression based on flimsy pretexts devoid of any factual basis.”
It added the Iranian attacks mean “further escalation which will have grave impact on the relations, currently and in the future”.
Attacks in Gulf states continue
Qatar’s Defence Ministry reported a missile attack on the country early on Monday.
Meanwhile, fire broke out at an oil facility in the United Arab Emirates following an attack in Fujairah, one of the UAE’s seven emirates, authorities said.
The fire in the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone was extinguished, they said.
An Iranian drone attack also hit a residential area in Bahrain and wounded 32 Bahraini civilians, including children as young as two years old, authorities said.
The attacks occurred in Sitra Island close to energy infrastructure, the National Communication Centre said.
In Lebanon, videos also show a fire at Beirut’s Ramada hotel and damage to an apartment at the hotel after an Israeli attack.
The Israeli military also said it had destroyed the headquarters of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ air force.
US State Department also issued an order for non-emergency staff and families to leave Saudi Arabia.
The expected order was formally issued on the same day the US military announced an American service member has died of injuries sustained during an Iranian attack on the kingdom.
Family members of Australian officials posted to the United Arab Emirates have been ordered to leave due to the deteriorating security situation.
‘We set the terms’ says Hegseth
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth gave an interview saying Trump will set “the terms of surrender” with Iran.
He didn’t reveal what those terms might be.
Asked on CBS’ 60 Minutes what to elaborate, Hegseth said, “It means we’re fightin’ to win. It means we set the terms.
“We’ll know when they’re not capable of fighting. There’ll be a point where they’ll have no choice but to do that,” he said.
Hegseth said the nation is still investigating a strike on an Iranian school that killed at least 168 children.
“We’re still investigating, and that’s where I’ll leave it today,” he said.
– with CNN, Associated Press
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