Washington | As the war in the Middle East intensifies, US President Donald Trump said that the US has "the capability to go far longer" than its projected four-to-five-week time frame for its military operations against Iran.
Across Tehran, the sound of explosions rang out through the night and into the early morning hours on Tuesday, as the US and Israel have continued to pound Iran since killing its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday.
Tehran and its allies have hit back against Israel, neighbouring Gulf states, and targets critical to the world's production of oil and natural gas.
The intensity of the attacks and the lack of any apparent exit plan set the stage for a prolonged conflict with far-reaching consequences. Israel and the US have given conflicting answers about what exactly the war's objectives are or what the endgame might be.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu late Monday defended the decision to go to war, contending in an interview on Fox News Channel's "Hannity" that Iran was rebuilding "new sites, new places" that would make "their ballistic missile program and their atomic bomb program immune within months," without providing evidence.
Satellite photos analysed by The Associated Press showed limited activity at two nuclear sites in Iran before the war, with analysts saying it was likely Tehran was trying to assess damage from American strikes in June and possibly salvage what remained there.
Here is the latest:
China calls for safe passage in the Strait of Hormuz
China, a major importer of oil and natural gas from the Mideast, has called on all sides to stop the fighting and ensure ships can pass safely through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran has attacked several ships in the narrow strait through which a fifth of all oil traded passes, sending oil and gas prices soaring.
"China urges all parties to immediately cease military operations, avoid escalating tensions, safeguard the safety of shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz and prevent greater impacts on the global economy," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said in Beijing.
Israel's military says airstrikes hit Iran's presidential office
The Israeli military said Tuesday it has struck Iran's presidential office and the building of the country's Supreme National Security Council.
It said the airstrikes happened overnight.
"In addition, the gathering site of the regime's most senior forum responsible for security decision-making was targeted, as well as the institution for training Iranian military officers and additional key regime infrastructure," it added.
Iran did not immediately acknowledge the strikes.
Red Crescent Society says at least 787 people in Iran were killed in airstrikes
Airstrikes by the United States and Israel have killed at least 787 people in Iran since the start of the war, the Iranian Red Crescent Society said Tuesday.
The organisation offered the toll in a message on X.
Israeli military says Iran launched missiles
Israel's military said Iran launched missiles at the country, and it was working to intercept them.
Israeli military strikes a building housing the Hezbollah TV and radio station The Israeli military struck a building in a southern suburb of Beirut housing Hezbollah's TV and radio station, causing heavy damage.
The strike after midnight on Monday came after a warning by the Israeli military to evacuate the building. Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV was interrupted for about an hour before the station resumed its programs.
During the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war, Al-Manar TV and al-Nour Radio station were both struck but continued broadcasts from secret locations.
France will dispatch a warship to Cyprus
Cypriot officials say France will dispatch a warship to Cyprus to help bolster the country's anti-drone defences after a Rashed drone struck a British military base on the eastern Mediterranean island.
France will also send additional land-based, anti-drone and anti-missile systems to the country, officials confirmed Tuesday.
Germany also responded positively to a request to send a warship, according to three officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not permitted to provide details publicly.
The equipment will arrive in Cyprus as soon as possible, they said The French military did not respond immediately to a request for information from The Associated Press.
The drone struck the British base, RAF Akrotiri, shortly after midnight on Monday and caused only minor material damage to an aircraft hangar. Another two drones were intercepted by British warplanes around midday Monday after they were scrambled from the air base, officials said.
Greece has sent four F-16 fighter jets to Cyprus while two of its state-of-the-art frigates are on their way.
