Iran’s capital erupted into flames as Israel and the US launched a fresh wave of devastating strikes last night as the Middle East conflict rages on.
The skies over Tehran turned a disquieting red and filled with acrid smoke after several oil and fuel depots were blown up across the Iranian capital.
Huge fireballs could be seen erupting across the city’s skyline, while residents complained of a lingering burning smell in the air, as both the US and Israel doubled down on their pledge to fight until the ‘eradication’ of the Iranian regime.
Iran continued to mount its own attacks on Saturday, launching drones and missiles at Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Dubai – where one man was killed by falling shrapnel from an ‘aerial interception’ and two skyscrapers were damaged.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that it had struck ‘several fuel storage complexes’ in Tehran as part of a ‘significant strike’ against the regime.
One resident in Tehran said it looked as if ‘night had turned into day’ as the sky was lit up by explosive orange flames from intense overnight infernos.
Saturday’s attack on the Iranian regime’s infrastructure came as US President Donald Trump raised the possibility of the war against Iran ending when there was no longer a functioning military or any remaining leadership in power.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said: ‘At some point, I don’t think there will be anybody left maybe to say “We surrender”.’
The president also warned Sir Keir Starmer that he will remember the lack of support from ‘our once great ally’ for a war he has ‘already won’ – as he told the British PM he doesn’t need Britain to send aircrafts to the Middle East in an extraordinary attack.
In other developments:
The skies over Tehran turned a disquieting red and filled with acrid smoke after US and Israeli forces struck several oil depots in the Iranian capital
A huge fireball could be seen from miles away, while residents complained of a lingering burning smell in the air following the aerial military strikes
The IDF confirmed it had carried out strikes on the Iranian regime’s infrastructure on Saturday night. Pictured: Flames erupt near to Mehrabad International Airport
Trump’s sentiments were echoed by his Israeli counterpart, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said Israel will continue its war with Iran ‘with all our force’. He added that Israel has a ‘systematic plan to eradicate the Iranian regime’.
Alongside the United States, Netanyahu said Israel had gained near-total control of the skies over Tehran after a week of strikes, while the IDF has ‘many surprises’ for the next phase of the war.
‘Citizens, you are telling me, the government and our heroic soldiers to continue until victory, and I thank you. I can assure you that we will continue with all our force,’ Netanyahu said in a televised address last night.
Speaking to the Iranian people, he said the ‘moment of truth’ was coming as Israel was seeking to help liberate them from the ‘yoke of tyranny’.
He said that Israel had managed to ‘transform the Middle East’ and shift the balance of power in the region.
‘Together, we will roar like a lion. And with God’s help – together, we will ensure the eternity of Israel,’ he added.
The IDF said it had targeted Tehran’s oil and fuel depots because Iranian forces make ‘direct and frequent use of [them] to operate military infrastructure’, the IDF said in a statement.
Despite the strategic assaults on Tehran, Iran’s Deputy Defence Minister unrepentantly insisted reserves of bombs, drones and missiles ‘are fully ready and intact’ and the country will ‘confront any threat’ over the long term.
Depots in Tehran and Alborz provinces were among those struck, according to a statement by the National Iranian Oil Company.
State media blamed ‘an attack from the US and the Zionist regime’ at one of the facilities, which supplies the capital and neighbouring provinces in the north.
Earlier in the day, the IDF said it had also struck two Iranian sites producing ballistic missiles for the regime.
The IDF said the two compounds, in Parchin and Shahrud, were used for the research, design and production of the deadly weapons.
On a message posted to X, the IDF said: ‘Over the past week, hundreds of IAF fighter jets struck the Iranian regime’s production industries, which are used for the development and production of missiles and weapons.’
Israel’s military said earlier that it had carried out around 3,400 strikes on Iran during the first week of the war, with around 7,500 munitions dropped.
While Trump has heaped support and praise on Netanyahu, he had less complimentary words for UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, after he pointedly said on Saturday: ‘We don’t need people that join wars after we’ve already won’.
President Trump pointedlytold Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer: ‘We don’t need people that join wars after we’ve already won’. Pictured: The leaders in September last year
The Ministry of Defence said it was increasing the preparedness of HMS Prince of Wales and reducing the time it would take to set sail (file photo)
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has faced fierce criticism for not acting fast enough to protect Cyprus from enemy drones and missiles. RAF Akrotiri was hit by an Iranian drone attack last Sunday. Pictured: Flashes in the sky over the base on Monday, when further drones were intercepted
Trump revealed his thoughts on the UK’s role in the conflict so far during a post to his Truth Social account, referring to the ‘serious thought’ Starmer is now giving to sending two aircraft carriers to the region.
But the US President was quick to rebuff such help.
He wrote: ‘The United Kingdom, our once Great Ally, maybe the Greatest of them all, is finally giving serious thought to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East.
‘That’s OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we don’t need them any longer – But we will remember. We don’t need people that join Wars after we’ve already won!’
Earlier on Saturday, four American bombers landed in the UK and the US started using British bases for ‘specific defensive operations’.
The US president was referring to reports that the UK was preparing an aircraft carrier in response to the Middle East crisis.
The Ministry of Defence said it was increasing the preparedness of HMS Prince of Wales and reducing the time it would take to set sail, but that no decisions have been taken to deploy the warship.
Sir Keir’s decision not to grant permission for the first wave of military action prompted a raft of criticism from Mr Trump in recent days, including a personal attack on the Prime Minister as being ‘not Winston Churchill’.
He has also called Britain’s response ‘very disappointing’ and that it should be allowing America to use its bases ‘without question or hesitation’.
Sir Keir later granted permission for ‘defensive’ US action against Iranian missile sites from UK bases.
The Prime Minister has sought to play down the rift and, after Mr Trump’s latest rebuke, Downing Street pointed back to Sir Keir’s earlier comments that the special relationship is ‘in operation right now’ as the two countries share intelligence and work together.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed the US started using British bases for ‘specific defensive operations to prevent Iran firing missiles into the region’ after American bombers landed at a Gloucestershire base.
A first 146ft B-1 Lancer arrived at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Friday evening and three more followed on Saturday morning.
A Merlin helicopter is also being sent to the region to help with surveillance from the air and RAF Typhoon and F-35 jets are continuing air operations over Jordan, Qatar and Cyprus.
Questions linger over the UK’s future role in the conflict, with Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy suggesting RAF jets could legally strike Iranian missile sites being used to attack British interests in the Middle East.
Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, has signalled that the UK could join more proactive strikes in future, saying ‘campaigns and conflicts evolve over time’.
The Iranian ambassador to the UK told the BBC the UK should be ‘very careful’ about becoming further involved in the war.
Britain has faced further criticism from allies over the defence of Cyprus, where a UK base was struck by a drone earlier this week.
Air defence destroyer HMS Dragon is not expected to sail to the eastern Mediterranean until next week while France and Greece have already deployed military assets to defend the island.
One reason it is taking some time to prepare the Type 45 destroyer is because it is being equipped to remain at sea for several months if required, rather than rushed into the eastern Mediterranean for a short period.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch meanwhile accused the Prime Minister of being ‘too scared to make foreign interventions’ and said the UK is ‘in this war whether Keir Starmer likes it or not’ in a speech on Saturday.
Sir Keir has defended his decision not to permit the US to use British bases in the opening assault against the Tehran regime, suggesting it could have been unlawful and arguing the Government must keep a ‘cool head’.
The Prime Minister agreed on Sunday to allow the US to strike Iran defensively from Fairford and Diego Garcia, an island in the Indian Ocean.
Writing in the Sunday Mirror, Sir Keir said at moments like this the country needs ‘seriousness, not political games’.
He said: ‘While opposition parties seek to undermine Britain on the world stage, my Labour Government is focused on protecting British people at home and abroad.’
Sir Keir was not backed however by his predecessor Tony Blair, who rebuked the Prime Minister for his lack of support for Donald Trump‘s war on Iran, telling him: ‘We should have backed America from the very beginning’.
Amid mounting diplomatic tensions between London and Washington over the conflict, Sir Tony, who appeared at a private event hosted by Jewish News, warned his successor: ‘If they are your ally and they are an indispensable cornerstone for your security… you had better show up’.
The Lib Dems however urged Sir Keir to stand up to the US and accused Mrs Badenoch and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage of wanting Britain to ‘blindly follow Trump into his reckless war’.
‘The Prime Minister must stand firm against Trump’s bullying and avoid getting sucked further into this illegal and damaging war,’ Sir Ed Davey said.
Amid the political posturing over the situation, Saturday also saw the wider region feeling the impact of the conflict.
In Dubai, a luxury residential skyscraper was struck by debris from a suspected Iranian drone that was intercepted by the UAE.
Photographs and footage showed smoke rising from the 23 Marina tower, which stands 88-storeys tall and comprises more than 280 units. There were no reported casualties.
In a separate incident, a man was killed on Saturday night in Dubai after debris from an ‘aerial interception’ fell onto his car, officials said.
‘Authorities confirm that debris from an aerial interception fell onto a vehicle in the Al Barsha area, resulting in the death of an Asian driver,’ authorities said without providing additional details.
It is understood the debris came from a drone attack on the 19-storey Azayez Tower in upmarket Al Barsha area, near the well-known Lulu’s Hypermarket.
The night assault was one of two on residential skyscrapers in Dubai, which were both seen in flames.
Initially the UAE government claimed there were no injuries, but the dramatic sight of the buildings with huge palls of smoke coming from threatened to undermine the authorities’ mantra that the Emirate was safe.
Earlier on Saturday, Dubai’s airport was evacuated and completely closed following explosions and a fire close to the complex around 8am local time (4am GMT).
Dubai authorities were quick to claim that there had been ‘no incident’ at the airport, but confirmed there had been a successful interception of a drone, with no injuries reported.
Damage likely from debris shot down in the drone attack was visible after the small fire began on the side of the passenger walkway at the busy Terminal 3, which handles Emirates flights.
The drone strikes occurred as the Foreign Office confirmed that a commercial flight from Dubai for Brits stranded in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) could depart early next week.
British nationals, their spouse or partner and children under 18 are eligible to register for the flight, which is available for a charge.
The flight will be in addition to commercial routes operating out of the UAE.
More than 140,000 British citizens have been left unable to return home since the outbreak of the conflict last Saturday.
The latest strikes occurred just hours after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologised for assaults on regional neighbours and pledged to cease its retaliatory attacks.
Pezeshkian also described the American demand for an ‘unconditional surrender’ as a ‘dream that they should take to their grave’.
Iranian aggression against Israel continued unabated however.
Sirens were heard across the country on Saturday night, amid warnings of a simultaneous Hezbollah rocket attack and ballistic missiles fired by Iran.
Footage showed Israel’s Iron Dome system going into action for the 12th time in less than 24 hours as scores of projectiles rained down on towns in northern Israel, including Haifa and Kiryat Shmona.
Elsewhere, Trump said he had ruled out having Kurds join the Iran war.
Trump said Kurdish fighters in the region are willing to assist in efforts to topple the Iranian government, but their involvement would make the conflict more complicated.
‘The war is complicated enough without having – getting the Kurds involved,’ Mr Trump told reporters on board Air Force One.
He was speaking after joining grieving families at Dover Air Force Base for the dignified transfer of the six US soldiers killed in the war in the Middle East.
The dignified transfer, a ritual that returns the remains of US service members killed in action, is considered one of the most sombre duties of any commander in chief.
‘It’s a very sad day,’ Trump told reporters on Air Force One as he returned to Florida later Saturday afternoon, saying that he was ‘glad we paid our respects’.
His presence at the transfer came as he threatened that Iran would be ‘hit very hard’ and more ‘areas and groups of people’ would become targets, without elaborating.
Already, the conflict has rattled global markets and left Iran’s leadership weakened by hundreds of Israeli and American air strikes.
Pezeshkian’s message, seemingly filmed in a hurry, underlined the limited powers exercised by the theocracy’s leaders over the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which controls the hundreds of ballistic missiles targeting Israel and other countries.
It answered only to Khamenei and appears to be picking its own targets.
Pezeshkian’s statement said Iran’s leadership council had been in touch with the armed forces over the attacks.
‘From now on, they should not attack neighbouring countries or fire missiles at them, unless we are attacked by those countries. I think we should solve this through diplomacy,’ he said.
The US strikes have not been coming from the Gulf Arab governments under attack, but from US bases and vessels in the region.
But hard-line judiciary chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, another member of the three-man leadership council, suggested that war strategy will not change.
‘The geography of some countries in the region – both overtly and covertly – is in the hands of the enemy, and those points are used against our country in acts of aggression. Intense attacks on these targets will continue,’ he posted on X.
‘As long as the presence of US bases in the region continue, the countries will not enjoy peace,’ Iran’s parliament speaker and a former Revolutionary Guard general, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said on X. He called defence policies in line with the late supreme leader’s guidance.
Iran’s UN mission later suggested, without offering evidence, that strikes on non-military sites ‘may have resulted from interception by US electronic defence systems’.
Earlier on Saturday, Israel revealed it had struck a Tehran airport it said was used to transfer weapons and cash to militant groups.
The US and Israel have battered Iran, targeting its military capabilities, leadership and nuclear programme.
The war’s stated goals and timelines have repeatedly shifted as the US has at times suggested it seeks to topple Iran’s government or elevate new leadership from within.
The fighting has killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, more than 290 in Lebanon and 11 in Israel, according to officials in those countries. Six US troops have been killed.
In Lebanon, Israel carried out a commando raid to search for clues about a navigator who went missing 40 years ago that left dozens of people dead and dozens more wounded on Saturday.
Incoming missiles from Iran had people heading to bomb shelters again across Israel. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
Three Iraqi security officials said a missile landed on the helicopter landing pad in the US embassy complex in Baghdad. There were no reports of casualties.
It was the first reported strike to land in Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone since the Iran war began. Iran and allied Iraqi militias have launched dozens of attacks on US military bases and other facilities in Iraq since then.
Iraq’s caretaker prime minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, called the embassy attack a ‘terrorist act’ carried out by ‘rogue groups’.
Sirens also sounded early on Saturday in Bahrain as Iran targeted the island kingdom.
Saudi Arabia said it destroyed 14 drones headed towards its vast Shaybah oil field and shot down a ballistic missile launched towards Prince Sultan Air Base, which hosts US forces.
Eight drones were intercepted in the country’s airspace and a further six were intercepted and destroyed ‘east of Riyadh’, the ministry said in separate posts on its official X account.
Kuwait’s defence ministry meanwhile said on Sunday that fuel tanks at the Gulf nation’s international airport were targeted in a drone attack.
‘The fuel tanks of Kuwait International Airport were attacked by drones in a direct targeting of vital infrastructure,’ an official defence ministry spokesman said, according to a post by the Kuwaiti military on X.
The spokesman added the country’s forces were ‘responding to a wave of hostile drones’ that penetrated the country’s airspace.
