Israel vows to assassinate Iran's new leader: Dubai under assault again, CIA station hit as Tehran's new Khameini's son rains missiles and drones on Middle East - live updates

Israel vows to assassinate Iran's new leader: Dubai under assault again, CIA station hit as Tehran's new Khameini's son rains missiles and drones on Middle East - live updates
By: dailymail Posted On: March 04, 2026 View: 60


Israel has vowed to assassinate Iran's new supreme leader who will succeed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as new strikes were launched on military targets across Tehran.

Israeli defence minister Israel Katz said the new leader will be a 'certain target' for the US and Israel amid reports the Ayatollah's son Mojtaba is the favourite to take over.

Katz said: 'Any leader selected by the Iranian terror regime to continue leading the plan for Israel's destruction, threatening the United States, the free world and countries in the region, and suppressing the Iranian people, will be a certain target for assassination, no matter his name or where he hides.'

It comes as Israel launched new strikes on military targets in Tehran after an Iranian drone sparked a fire at the US consulate in Dubai on another night of chaos.

Iran carried out retaliatory attacks on Middle East Gulf states, targeting US bases including a CIA station at the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia, while the US Consulate in Dubai was also rocked by a drone strike.

Follow the latest updates on the US-Israel war with Iran 

Trump mocks Starmer as 'no Churchill' in major blow to Special Relationship

epa12792710 US President Donald Trump holds a bilateral meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (not pictured) in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 03 March 2026.  EPA/SAMUEL CORUM / POOL

Donald Trump last night launched another withering attack on Keir Starmer, dismissing him as 'no Churchill'.

In a major blow to the Special Relationship, the US President said he was 'not happy with the UK' and branded it 'very, very uncooperative' over his assault on Iran.

Sir Keir was also under fire closer to home as Britain yesterday scrambled to protect its RAF base on Cyprus, which was hit by a suicide drone thought to have been fired by Tehran's proxies late on Sunday night.

The UK was left embarrassed as military minnow Greece will have warships in position to protect RAF Akrotiri days before the Royal Navy will be anywhere near the danger zone.

And Sir Keir announced that Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon, along with helicopters with counter-drone capabilities, would head to the Mediterranean only after Emmanuel Macron ordered a French frigate to the region.

Spain hits back at Trump after President vows to cut off trade over Iran row

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has shot back at Donald Trump after the President said the US could cut off all trade amid a row over Iran.

Trump called Spain 'terrible' and 'unfriendly' after it refused to allow America to use its military bases in its opening attack on Iran at the weekend

But Sanchez told his nation Spain will not be 'complicit' in a conflict that is against its interests.

'The position of the government of Spain can be summed up in four words: no to war," he said in a televised address.

'We will not be complicit in something that is harmful to the world and contrary to our values and interests, simply out of fear of retaliation.'

Iran insists it won't negotiate with US and war can continue 'as long as we want'

A senior Iranian adviser to the late Ayatollah Khamenei has declared there will be no negotiations with the US and the war can continue 'as long as we want'.

Mohammad Mokhber told Iranian state television there is 'no trust in the Americans'.

He said: 'We have no basis for any negotiations with them: We can continue the war as long as we want.'

Donald Trump has also suggested the war could be protracted as he previously boasted about US weapon stocks.

Cyprus shuts its airspace after suspicious object identified

The airspace above Larnaca has closed as a precaution

Larnaca, Cyprus - March 02, 2019: Blue Air airplane in Larnaca airport. Blue Air is a Romanian airline headquartered in Bucharest. Since 2016, it has become the largest Romanian airline by scheduled passengers flown. In 2017, Blue Air carried over 5 million passengers, a 40% increase over the 3.6 million passengers flown the previous year

Cyprus has closed its airspace above Larnaca airport after a suspicious object was identified.

';For precautionary reasons, all appropriate measures have been taken by the competent authorities to investigate the incident,' a government spokesman said.

Reuters is reporting the airspace above Larnaca has been shut.

Yesterday, Sir Keir Starmer announced the UK will deploy the Royal Navy warship HMS Dragon and helicopters with anti-drone capabilities to Cyprus to protect British interests.

It comes after RAF Akrotiri was attacked by an Iranian drone which caused minimal damage and did not result in any injuries.

UK charters emergency evacuation flight from Oman for tonight

by Arthur Parashar

The Government has announced its first emergency evacuation flight to help stranded British nationals escape the war-torn Middle East.

A repatriation flight is currently scheduled to leave Oman's Muscat International Airport at 11pm local time (7pm GMT) tonight and will prioritise the most vulnerable Brits first as attacks continue to explode across the region.

British nationals and their spouse or partner, and their children under the age of 18, with a valid travel document are all eligible.

The Foreign Office said it would contact British nationals to secure them a way out of the Middle East, and urged people not to travel to the airport unless they have been officially called.

British expats have been increasingly frustrated by the lack of urgency over getting them out of the Middle East - with British Airways running an emergency evacuation flight with more than 100 empty seats.

Israel orders Lebanese towns to evacuate as it launches new attacks on Hezbollah

TOPSHOT - Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the Al Lailaki neighbourhood in Beirut's southern suburbs, with the city's International Airport visible in the background, on March 4, 2026. Israel launched fresh strikes on Iran and Lebanon, where state media reported a residential building was hit on March 4, as Iran's Guards said they had sealed off one of the world's most vital shipping routes for energy. (Photo by IBRAHIM AMRO / AFP via Getty Images)

The Israeli military called on people to 'immediately' leave 13 towns and villages across southern Lebanon today ahead of strikes against Hezbollah

A similar evacuation warning had earlier been issued for 16 other southern towns and villages.

Hezbollah carried out a series of strikes against Israel yesterday, claiming to have targeted sites including the northern Haifa naval base in retaliation for Israeli strikes in southern Beirut.

Since Monday, Israeli strikes have killed at least 50 people and wounded 335 in Lebanon, the health ministry said before the overnight strikes.

Lebanese authorities on Monday recorded the displacement of more than 58,000 people from areas targeted by strikes.

The Israeli military has said it will continue to strike Hezbollah until the Lebanese group disarms.

Sri Lanka rescues 32 sailors as Iranian frigate sinks near island

Sri Lanka has today rescued 32 sailors aboard the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena, which sank just outside the island's territorial waters.

Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said no information was immediately available on the cause of the explosion that sank the vessel.

He told parliament that the 'critically wounded' sailors were taken to a hospital in the island's south.

The 180-crew frigate had issued a distress call at dawn.

Sri Lanka's defence ministry said it was searching for the other crew of the IRIS Dena, which went down about 40 kilometres (25 miles) south of the island.

Herath said two Sri Lankan navy vessels and an aircraft were deployed for the rescue operation, but did not say what caused the Iranian warship to sink.

An opposition legislator asked in parliament whether the vessel had been bombed as part of the ongoing US-Israeli attacks against Iran, but there was no immediate response from the government.

Pictures: Israel launches new airstrikes in Beirut

These pictures show the aftermath of more Israeli airstrikes in Beirut which took place overnight.

A hotel in the capital's eastern suburb of Hazmieh was completely destroyed in the latest attack.

It comes as Israel targets Hezbollah militants in the Lebanese capital alongside its airstrikes in Tehran

This frame grab from AFPTV video footage taken on March 4, 2026 shows people standing at the lobby of Comfort Hotel after it was hit by an Israeli strike in Beirut's eastern suburb of Hazmieh. Israeli strikes hit a Beirut hotel and residential complex in Lebanon's east, Lebanese state media said on March 4, as Israel announced broad strikes in response to Hezbollah missile and drone launches. (Photo by AFPTV / AFP via Getty Images)
This frame grab from AFPTV video footage taken on March 4, 2026 shows first responders inspecting the damage at Comfort Hotel after it was hit by an Israeli strike in Beirut's eastern suburb of Hazmieh. Israeli strikes hit a Beirut hotel and residential complex in Lebanon's east, Lebanese state media said on March 4, as Israel announced broad strikes in response to Hezbollah missile and drone launches. (Photo by AFPTV / AFP via Getty Images)
A man carries his belongings as he leaves a damaged hotel that was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Hazmieh,  east of Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, March 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Israeli military carries out 'broad wave' of attacks in Tehran

Airstrikes have caused widespread destruction in Tehran

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Xinhua/Shutterstock (16723323a) This photo taken on March 3, 2026 shows damaged buildings and debris after airstrikes by the United States and Israel in Tehran, Iran. Iran Tehran Airstrikes Aftermath - 03 Mar 2026

The Israel Defence Forces has declared it is now carrying out a 'broad wave' of attacks in Tehran.

The IDF says the 'terrorist infrastructure' will be targeted in what it highlighted was the 'tenth wave' of attacks on the Iranian capital.

Girl, 11, killed by falling shrapnel in Kuwait

Kuwait's health ministry has announced an 11-year-old girl was killed after being hit by falling shrapnel following waves of Iranian attacks across the Gulf.

The Gulf has borne the brunt of much of Tehran's response since the US and Israel launched a massive air campaign against Iran over the weekend with at least nine people killed in the region in the fallout.

At least four US soldiers have also been killed in Kuwait and the US embassy there was targeted by drones, while its energy infrastructure has also been hit in recent days.

'Resuscitation was performed in the ambulance while the girl was being transported to the hospital, and attempts continued for nearly half an hour upon arrival at Al-Amiri Hospital.

'However, she passed away due to her injuries,' said the ministry in a statement posted on X.

Canadian PM Mark Carney suggests US-Israel strikes are 'inconsistent with international law'

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carneyduring an address at the Lowy Institutewhile visiting Australia, Sydney, Wednesday, March 4, 2026. (AAP Image/Pool, Ayush Kumar) NO ARCHIVING

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney has suggested the US and Israel's war with Iran is 'inconsistent with international law' during a visit to Australia.

Mr Carney has called for de-escalation in the Middle East and said all countries engaged in hostilities must respect international rules of engagement.

When asked about previous comments he made supporting the United Nations Charter's prohibition of the use of force, he said 'it appears that these actions are inconsistent with international law'.

'It's a judgement for others to make. I'm not a lawyer, let alone an international legal expert,' he told reporters in Sydney.

He added it was up to the US and Israel to make the case whether they were consistent with international law.

Saudi Arabia intercepts two Iranian cruise missiles

The Saudi defence ministry said two cruise missiles have been intercepted over Riyadh while a separate drone attack was also thwarted.

Two cruise missiles were intercepted and destroyed in Al-Kharj district, a defence ministry statement said.

While the official Saudi Press Agency cited a ministry spokesman as saying 'nine drones were intercepted and destroyed immediately upon entering the Kingdom's airspace'.

On Monday, the CIA station at the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia was hit on Monday by a suspected Iranian drone.

Key Updates
  • Cyprus shuts its airspace after suspicious object identified
  • UK charters emergency evacuation flight from Oman for tonight
  • Israel orders Lebanese towns to evacuate as it launches new attacks on Hezbollah
  • Trump mocks Starmer as 'no Churchill' in major blow to Special Relationship
  • Israel vows to assassinate successor to Iran's Ayatollah
  • Ayatollah Khamenei's funeral to be held today
  • Iran's new supreme leader is named as Ali Khamenei's son Mojtaba
  • Top story: Iran strikes CIA base in Saudi Arabia
  • Israel launches new strikes in Iran as conflict enters fifth day

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