Trump threatens to 'strike Iran hard'; Iran president says resuming hostilities with US not in country’s interest | LIVE

Israel carries out large-scale airstrike and demolition operation in Mayfadoun

In Mayfadoun (Nabatieh), an Israeli air strike was carried out simultaneously with a major demolition operation, the explosion from which was heard throughout the region, reports our correspondent in South Lebanon, Mountasser Abdallah. A fire broke out at the scene.

Meanwhile, the Israeli air force carried out four air raids on Mansouri (Tyre), which was also targeted by artillery, as well as two raids on Dohat Kfar Remmane (Nabatiyeh).

Trump’s post on Kharg Island being ‘reduced to rubble’: ‘A message for Iran’, according to JD Vance

U.S. President Donald Trump is seeking to send a message to Iran with his social media post referring to the destruction of Kharg Island, U.S. Vice-President JD Vance said on Monday, according to Reuters.

“The President likes to mix things up a bit on social media. He’d be the first to say he doesn’t announce military operations on social media, but I think he’s sending a message to the Iranians,” said JD Vance, when asked on Monday about Donald Trump’s post.

The post, published on Sunday and consisting of a single sentence, was accompanied by an AI-generated video showing Kharg Island “reduced to rubble."

However, a U.S. official told Reuters that the U.S. military had not targeted Kharg Island during the overnight strikes, whilst an Iranian official described Donald Trump’s post as “laughable.”

An attack on Kharg, which accounted for around 90 per cent of Iran’s oil exports before the war began in late February, would severely disrupt the Islamic Republic’s energy trade and put considerable pressure on its economy.

Earlier on Monday, a U.S. official stated that U.S. forces had targeted two Iranian launchers on the island of Larak overnight, in what constituted the first U.S. strikes against Iran since late July.

Israeli artillery fire on Haddatha

Israeli artillery shelled Haddatha (Bint Jbeil) late in the day, according to our correspondent in southern Lebanon.

Meanwhile, the explosion of a submunition in Habboush (Nabatieh) injured two people.

Israel carries out series of explosions in Houla

Israel is carrying out a series of explosions in Houla (Marjayoun), according to our correspondent in southern Lebanon.

In Qantara, successive Israeli demolitions alter natural landscape

The successive demolitions carried out in recent days by Israel in Qantara (Marjayoun) have profoundly altered the landscape, reports our correspondent in southern Lebanon.

Where once lay a wild expanse dotted with houses, there is now nothing but a stretch of red sand, according to a video sent to our correspondent.

As both residents and journalists have been barred from visiting the site, it is impossible to determine the number of homes that have been damaged, destroyed, or blown up, or even to establish precisely how many demolition operations Israeli forces have carried out in the village, our correspondent explains.

Iranian official vows strong retaliation to any US attack

“Any U.S. attack on Iran will result in a response dozens of times stronger,” threatened an Iranian official, who refers to a “limited” confrontation with Washington

The hostilities that resumed overnight between the United States and Iran remain, at this stage, a “limited and contained” confrontation, a senior Iranian source told Reuters on Monday, whilst warning that Tehran was prepared to respond forcefully in the event of a further U.S. attack.

“For every U.S. attack on Iran, Tehran will respond with an intensity dozens of times greater,” the source said. They also stated that Iran’s retaliation against the U.S. strikes on Larak had demonstrated that “no target in the region is beyond Tehran’s reach.”

The Iranian official also warned that “conditions in the Strait of Hormuz will deteriorate for ships that breach the rules imposed by Tehran,” whilst tensions persist over the rules governing navigation in the strait.

Trump claims 'Iran is collapsing' amid renewed hostilities between warring nations

Donald Trump wrote Monday on his social network Truth Social that: “IRAN IS COMPLETELY COLLAPSING!!!"

The self-assured declaration mirrors statements made Friday regarding Tehran’s economic and military condition in which Trump called Iran "officially a Failed Nation" and claimed that "Iran no money, they have no navy, they have no air force, they are not paying their soldiers, they're not paying their police. They have 350% inflation."

Trump had also suggested that the U.S. maintains "complete control" of the region surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, including the crucial waterway and its surrounding land area in southern Iran.

Speaking to Fox News, Trump assured that the United States was preparing to deal a "harsh blow" to the Islamic Republic, although just days ago he said he was prioritizing economic pressure on Tehran.

Read more on the latest U.S.-Iran standoff, and what this means for the region, here.

Trump vows to 'respond' to Iran’s attacks on US targets by striking “hard”

U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to “respond” to Iranian attacks on U.S. targets in Jordan in an interview with Fox News.

“We’re going to hit them hard,” Trump told journalist Trey Yingst during a phone interview. “There will be retaliation,” he insisted.

The U.S. president nevertheless offered a glimmer of hope that negotiations with Iranian officials could be possible. “They want so much to meet with us,” he said, while adding that he “simply [doesn’t] know if we can count on them to reach a deal.” “The sanctions are beginning to have a very strong impact,” he continued.

Trump: Iran is officially a failed nation

U.S. President said in a new post on his Truth Social account that Iran is "officially a failed nation," noting that the country has "no Navy, no Air Force, and no currency."

"IT IS DEAD. They are not paying their soldiers or police, Inflation is at 300%, and their leadership is in total disarray and incapable of properly representing the country," the U.S. President said.

"The only thing they have is FAKE NEWS from the USA, a willingness to kill their protesters (now over 100,000 people dead. They must be tried for war crimes against humanity!)," he added.

Protests that erupted in January against the Iranian regime were met with a crackdown that foreign rights groups said killed thousands of people. However, these groups reported casualty figures far below 100,000. Trump did not provide a source for his announced toll.

Iranian president says resuming hostilities with the US is not in his country’s interest

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said continuing the war with the United States was not in his country’s interest, as hostilities resumed between the two countries after a month of calm, AFP reports.

“We continue to strive to find a path toward agreement and understanding, and we believe that continuing the war is not in our interest, nor in the interest of the region,” the Iranian president said during a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Kyrgyzstan.

“We believe that the solution to existing problems lies in dialogue and understanding, and all capabilities must be mobilized to prevent the spread of insecurity and conflict,” he added, according to a statement from the Iranian presidency.

Israeli explosion between Qantara and Taybeh

(Credit: Photo sent by Muntasser Abdallah)

The Israeli army has carried out an explosion between the villages of Qantara and Taybeh (Marjayoun disrict).

Araghchi accuses Netanyahu of tricking US into war

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of tricking Washington into going to war on Iran, calling him a "serpent," according to AFP.

"In Hebrew, Netanyahu openly crows that he suckered the U.S. Administration into a war on Iran on behalf of Israel. Netanyahu explicitly laughs about how he 'influenced' America through 1,000 hours of airtime on U.S. networks," Araghchi said in a post on X. "In English, he praises POTUS' leadership. Serpent."

UAE says Iran drone attack 'dangerous escalation'

The United Arab Emirates condemned an Iranian drone attack intercepted over its territorial waters, calling it a "dangerous escalation."

The foreign ministry said in a statement relayed by AFP that it "strongly condemned the hostile Iranian attack on the country involving a drone that was intercepted by air defence systems over UAE territorial waters," adding that the UAE reserved the "full and legitimate right to respond."

Israeli sniper fire targets Nabatieh Fawqa, new detonation reported in Byout al-Siyad

Israeli sniper fire with medium machine guns has targeted the Dayaa neighborhood in Nabatieh Fawqa. The Israeli army has also carried out a new detonation in the village of Byout al-Siyad (Sour district).

Iran’s policy of targeting the Gulf and Jordan 'has failed,' says Emirati adviser Anwar Gargash

Iran’s policy of targeting the Gulf and Jordan, as Tehran did this morning following U.S. strikes on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz, “has failed,” Emirati presidential adviser Anwar Gargash said on X. “A situation that is neither war nor peace cannot constitute a lasting solution,” he added. He stressed that any “realistic political solution” should begin with de-escalation and the restoration of normal maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

South Lebanon: Houses set ablaze in Houla, drone flies over Saida

Israeli drones have been flying over Saida, the administrative center of South Lebanon, since around 10:30 a.m., our correspondent in the region, Mountasser Abdallah, reports.

Meanwhile, Mansouri (Sour district) continues to come under Israeli artillery fire. Furthermore, in the same area, an explosion was heard at around 5:50 a.m. at dawn, and the Israeli military carried out bulldozing operations after 10 a.m.

In Houla, Marjeyoun, the Israelis set houses on fire and shelled the area, while also carrying out movements inside the village.

UAE says it intercepted drone coming from Iran

The United Arab Emirates said it had intercepted a drone over its territorial waters coming from Iran, after Tehran claimed an attack on a U.S. base in the Gulf country.

"The Ministry of Defense announced that the UAE Air Force responded to a UAV detected over the country's territorial waters, approaching from Iran," the ministry said in a statement on X.

South Lebanon: Phosphorus shelling targets Ali Taher ridge, four Israeli detonations in Sarbine

In southern Lebanon, Israeli attacks have continued last night. The outskirts of the Ali Taher ridge and the village of Nabatieh Fawqa were subjected to Israeli phosphorus shelling last night, according to our correspondent in the South.

Israeli airstrikes also targeted the villages of Mansouri, Byout al-Siyad (Sour district), Dohat Kfar Roummane, and the outskirts of Qantara (Marjayoun).

Furthermore, the Israeli army carried out four detonations in Sarbine and one in the outskirts of Braasheet (Bint Jbeil).

Moreover, Israeli artillery shelling targeted the villages of Haddatha (Bint Jbeil), Wadi Slouqi toward Touline (Marjayoun), the Ali Taher ridge, and Dohat Kfar Roummane (Nabatieh).

Israeli gun-fire was also reported toward the village of Haddatha.

Iranian retaliation against Jordan and the United Arab Emirates

In retaliation, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had attacked U.S. military facilities at two air bases in Jordan using ballistic missiles and drones. It later said it had targeted a base in the United Arab Emirates where the United States reportedly has troops and helicopters. It also said it had shot down a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone, which can be used for both surveillance and attacks, in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Jordanian military said it had shot down eight drones that entered its airspace, without specifying their origin. The U.S. military did not comment on the attacks.

Iran condemns new US attacks, says it retaliated in 'self-defense'

Iran said it retaliated in “self-defense” against the new U.S. attacks, the first in a month, denouncing them as an “act of aggression.”

Tehran “strongly condemns the U.S. military aggression against Larak Island,” Iran’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement, adding that Iranian forces retaliated “in accordance with the right to self-defense” after targeting bases used by the United States in the region, in Jordan and the UAE.

Hormuz: Tehran says a vessel caught fire after being struck by mines

Iran said that a ship had been struck by mines while attempting an “illegal” passage through the Strait of Hormuz, causing a fire on board.

“A rogue supertanker attempting to use the illegal route south of the Strait of Hormuz was engulfed in a massive fire after striking two naval mines and was completely immobilized,” the Navy of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said, according to the Iranian official news agency IRNA.

On Sunday, the U.S. military had justified its strikes on Iran, on Larak Island, by saying that Iranian forces were preparing to “launch rockets loaded with naval mines into the Strait of Hormuz.” The U.S. military said it had “completed the clearance of international shipping lanes” of mines.

First exchange of strikes between US and Iran in a month

Iran said on Monday morning that it had attacked U.S. military targets in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates in response to strikes carried out by the United States. It was the first exchange of strikes in a month, threatening to undermine several weeks of relative calm in the war in the Middle East.

As the conflict has just passed the six-month mark, these attacks contrast with recent statements from Donald Trump’s administration, which has said it prefers to focus on economic pressure on the Islamic Republic.

“U.S. forces struck two Iranian launchers on Larak Island,” located in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, said Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for the U.S. military’s Central Command for the Middle East (CENTCOM), in a statement to AFP.

The strikes were carried out after “Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces were observed preparing to launch rockets loaded with naval mines into the Strait of Hormuz,” he said.

The attack killed two people and wounded two others, according to the Iranian news agency Tasnim.

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of developments in the region, amid the first exchange of strikes between the U.S and Iran in a month.

We will also follow developments in South Lebanon, where the Israeli army continues its systematic demolition of homes and infrastructure in villages within the occupied villages and appears to be seeking to advance toward several nearby localities.