US Iran war highlights: Israel launches ‘broad wave of attacks’ across Iran; Khamenei's son ‘elected’ Supreme Leader

US Iran war news LIVE updates: A plume of smoke rises following a U.S.-Israeli military strike in Tehran, Iran.

US Iran war news highlights: Israel’s military said it has begun a ‘broad wave of attacks’ across Iran, hitting missile launch sites, air defence systems and other key infrastructure linked to the Iranian “terror regime". Meanwhile, Iran’s Assembly of Experts has reportedly chosen Ali Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba, to be the next Supreme Leader.

Days after the US and Israel launched joint strikes against Iran, the conflict continues to escalate, bringing the West Asia region to the brink of an all out war. After joint US-Israeli strikes killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Tehran launched retaliatory attacks on US-related installations in Gulf countries.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday told reporters that the “worst case” would be new leader “as bad as” late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. “I guess the worst case would be, we do this, and then somebody takes over who's as bad as the previous person, right?” he told reporters.

Trump further claimed that Iran was “hitting civilian areas”, adding that it was carrying out strikes on “countries which have nothing to do with what's going on.” The US President alleged that he felt Tehran would attack first, revealing that he “might have forced Israel's hand” on Iran strikes.

As the countries continue to exchange fire and strikes, fresh explosions were heard in Iran's Capital Tehran, and the northwestern cities of Tabriz and Urmia, Reuters reported citing Iranian news agencies.

Israel hit Tehran's Mehrabad airport, after sounding evacuation warnings in several parts of the Iranian Capital. An Iranian air carrier was destroyed on the ground in an Israeli attack on the airport in Bushehr.

Iran also launched strikes in the Tel Aviv area of Israel, the latter's military said. First responders said they were treating 12 people who were injured, with police identifying several impact sites.

Iran's foreign ministry has rejected talks with the US and Israel, saying it is “standing against evil.” Iran earlier targeted the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia with drones early Tuesday. The attack from two drones caused a “limited fire” and minor damage in the US Embassy in Riyadh, according to Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry.

Trump says ‘too late’ for Iran to seek talks, attacks to go on

US President Donald Trump in a post on Truth Social said it was “too late” for talks. “Their air defence, air force, navy, and leadership is gone. They want to talk. I said: ‘Too late!’” Trump said. The US President earlier said that the operations in Iran are likely to last for another four to five weeks, adding that he was prepared “to go far longer than that.”

Briefing Congress members about ‘Operation Epic Fury,’ Secretary of State Marco Rubio was also quoted as saying that the “hardest hits are yet to come from the US military".

Meanwhile, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has also stated that the strikes will continue, but it will not be an “endless war”.

Israel ups offensive in Lebanon

Apart from ‘striking the heart of Tehran’, Israel has renewed its strikes on Lebanon after Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah launched a drone attack towards Haifa following the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Following the renewed attacks, which come after the November 2024 ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, Lebanon has placed a ban on all Hezbollah military activities in the country as residents fled the south Lebanon. As Hezbollah and IDF exchange fire, the Israeli military has been ordered to seize posts in Lebanon as Tel Aviv ups its offensive in the neighbouring country.

West Asia conflict leaves many dead

The death toll across West Asia has increased. The death toll in Iran from the joint US-Israeli strikes is now nearing 800. As per the latest update from the Iranian Red Crescent, the total death toll from the strikes now stands at 787.

Of this, around 180 deaths have been reported in Minab when a girls' school was targeted by the US-Israeli military strike.

Meanwhile, four American service members were killed and four others seriously injured during the US attacks on Iran, the US military announced on Monday.

In Lebanon, 52 people have been killed due to Israeli strikes in the southern part of the country. The health ministry has added that around 154 people were injured due to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

In the UAE, three people, one Pakistani, one Nepalese and one Bangladeshi were killed in the attacks in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. 58 others have also been injured due to the Iranian strikes.

In Israel, around 10 people have been killed due to Iranian strikes across the region. In Iraq, two people have been killed.

One person has also been killed in Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain, each. Meanwhile, at least 16 people have been injured in Qatar due to Iranian strikes.