Iran-US war latest: Israel using white phosphorous on homes Human Rights Watch warns as new supreme leader appointed

Nato has shot down a second ballistic missile that entered Turkish airspace on Monday, the country’s defence ministry said.

Air defences in the eastern Mediterranean were activated after a weapon was fired from Iran.

The ministry said that it would take all necessary steps without hesitation to protect its airspace.

When a drone struck a Royal Air Force base in Cyprus on the night of 1st March, the UK was forced to reconsider its hands-off approach to America’s war with Iran.

In a recorded TV address earlier that evening, Sir Keir Starmer said he had agreed to a US request to use British military bases for “defensive” strikes on Iranian missile sites, adding “British lives” had been put at risk. By Tuesday, the government decided it would scramble a warship, HMS Dragon, to the eastern Mediterranean.

But the intended display of naval might has yet to take place, with the warship still in Portsmouth where it is expected to remain until later this week. It’s a wait that has left MoD officials “fuming” and exposed the shortcomings of previous financially-motivated decisions – including agreements with contractors to not work out of hours.

Japan’s foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi held a phone call with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Aragchi, on Monday and asked for two Japanese nationals to be released, according to the Jiji news agency.

Leavitt was interviewed by Maria Bartiromo on Fox News’s Sunday Morning Futures about the possibility of seeing American boots on the ground in the Middle East as the campaign develops.

“Mothers out there are worried that we’re going to have a draft, that they’re going to see their sons and daughters get involved in this,” Bartiromo said, seeking assurances and noting that the fight has solely consisted of an exchange of airstrikes so far.

Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei has been referred to as “wounded” on Israeli state media.

The term used to describe a person wounded in war is “janbaz” but reports have not clarified when or how Mr Khamenei sustained the injuries.

His father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in US-Israeli strikes on 28 February. Mojtaba Khamenei’s mother, wife and daughter were also killed in the attack.

Asked by host Major Garrett on the likely duration of the war, Hegseth said: “Oh, we’re very much on track, on plan. We’re not flying a mission accomplished banner – like George W Bush on an aircraft carrier. We’re not doing that and we haven’t done that.

“But we can be clear with the American people that this is not a fair fight. And that’s on purpose. Our capabilities are overwhelming compared to what Iran’s are.”

Two medics have been killed in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon, state media reported on Monday.

Health authorities said that the healthcare workers were killed as part of the ongoing conflict.

Nine health care workers have been killed so far and 16 others wounded including paramedics from the Lebanese Red Cross, according to the country’s health ministry.

His wife Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh and Mojtaba Khamenei’s wife Zahra Adel were also killed in the attacks, according to Iran.

The younger Khamenei, 56, was selected as the supreme leader by Iran’s Assembly of Experts, state media reported.