• US and Israeli forces have "severely degraded" Iran's air defences and destroyed "hundreds" of ballistic missiles and their connected infrastructure, the head of the US Central Command Admiral Brad Cooper said. "More than 50,000 troops, 200 fighters, two aircraft carriers and bombers from the US are participating in this operation, and more capabilities are on the way," said Admiral Cooper. Separately, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US would "unleash" on Iran in the coming days and that Washington was "ahead of schedule" in the operation. Follow our live blog for the latest developments.
  • The son of the late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is the frontrunner to succeed his father as the next head of the Islamic republic, according to a New York Times report. It said the announcement could be made as early as Wednesday.
  • Qatar has announced the arrest of two cells it said were operating for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) amid Iranian strikes on the region. Ten suspects were arrested, the Qatar News Agency reported.
  • Israeli strikes hit a Beirut hotel and residential complex in Lebanon's east, Lebanese state media said, as Israel announced broad strikes in response to Hezbollah missile and drone launches. Some of the targeted areas are considered outside Hezbollah’s traditional strongholds.
  • The US has given Lebanon indirect guarantees that Israel will not attack Beirut’s airport and port, Lebanese political sources and western diplomats told The National, but continued Hezbollah attacks could shift those red lines and may widen the military campaign to include Lebanese infrastructure.
  • The UAE has ruled out any military action against Iran, saying its “stance remains measured” while condemning Tehran’s missile and drone attacks and urging the UN to take action. The comments were made during a media briefing by UAE government representatives updating journalists on the situation in the Emirates in the light of the Iranian attacks on the Gulf.
  • Civilian death and destruction mounted across Iran on Tuesday. With weakened air defences and minimal warning systems, residents of Tehran and other Iranian cities reported damage to homes and businesses, as the US and Israel attacked security and military complexes, many within a stone’s throw of people’s homes.
  • The CIA is working to arm Iranian-Kurdish opposition forces to foment a popular uprising inside Iran, CNN reported, citing multiple sources. Iranian-Kurdish opposition forces are expected to take part in a ground operation in western Iran in the coming days, according to the report.
  • Iran’s IRGC said on Wednesday it controlled the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route for oil and gas, and any vessels seeking to pass through the waterway risk damage from missiles or stray drones. US President Donald Trump had suggested earlier that the Navy would help to protect ships passing through the waterway. "If necessary, the United States Navy will begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, as soon as possible," Mr Trump posted on the Truth Social media platform.
  • French President Emmanuel Macron said that a military operation to reopen the Straits of Hormuz is on the table. Iran has effectively closed the strait after threatening to attack ships in the area, forcing them to reroute around South Africa.
  • Iraq said it would resist attempts to drag it into the regional war, amid fears of Iran-linked militants launching attacks from Iraqi territory. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani has told his cabinet that the Iraqi state alone will "decide on war and peace", official media said.
  • Sudan's army-backed government said drones had been launched into the country from neighbouring Ethiopia, the first such accusation since the civil war pitting the army against a paramilitary force began nearly three years ago.
  • Iraq shut down oil production at Rumaila, its largest oil field, and halted crude exports through the Ceyhan pipeline on Tuesday as Iran’s widening regional strikes begin to choke supplies from Opec’s second-largest producer.
  • The escalating security situation in the Middle East has led to flight cancellations, with airlines saying safety concerns and regulatory directives are behind the decision as they monitor developments. Read about flight disruptions in the region here.
  • After much criticism amid a proliferation of AI-generated videos depicting missile strikes across the Middle East, X has said users trying to pass such content off as real could face suspension from the platform.
  • Donald Trump said that Reza Pahlavi looks like a “very nice person” but the US President did not seem enthusiastic about the exiled son of Iran’s last shah taking a leading role in any new Iranian government.
  • Middle East conflict enters fifth day
  • The EU's gas co-ordination group meets to discuss developments related to Iran
  • Senate expected to vote on Senator Tim Kaine's war powers resolution related to US strikes on Iran

This newsletter was compiled by Vanessa Ghanem, Arab Affairs Editor.

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