The Israel–US–Iran conflict entered its third day on Monday, with fresh escalations reported across the region.
The United States said that Kuwait mistakenly shot down three of its F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets. According to the US military, Kuwait’s air defense system misidentified the aircraft as hostile targets and opened fire. The jets caught fire mid-air, circled briefly, and then crashed to the ground. All American pilots ejected safely and survived the incident.
Meanwhile, Iran launched a drone attack on the British Royal Air Force (RAF) Akrotiri base in Cyprus. The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed that the late-night attack caused minor damage to the base but resulted in no casualties. British forces are reportedly responding to the attack.
The development comes after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer allowed the United States to use the Akrotiri base for launching strikes on Iranian missile sites.
Iran Targets US Bases Across Four Countries
On Monday, Iran attacked six American military bases located in four Middle Eastern countries. Several US fighter jets also reportedly crashed in Kuwait amid the escalating tensions, although no fatalities were reported in those incidents.
In a separate statement, Iran’s top national security official Ali Larijani said that Tehran would not engage in any negotiations with the United States. His remarks came in response to reports suggesting that Iran had sought to resume talks with Washington.
Heavy Casualties Reported in Iran
According to Al Jazeera, joint US and Israeli forces have carried out strikes on more than 1,000 targets across Iran. Over 2,000 bombs were reportedly dropped within the first 30 hours of the offensive.
So far, at least 555 people have been killed and more than 700 injured in Iran. In one of the deadliest incidents, a missile struck a school, killing 180 schoolgirls and injuring 45 others.
The conflict began on February 28. On the first day of bombardment, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was reportedly killed. Additionally, three American soldiers were killed on Sunday amid the ongoing hostilities.
