Image source, EPA/Shutterstock

Developments in the Middle East have been fast-moving today, with multiple countries in the region affected. Here's the latest.

Lebanon:

• There have been numerous Israeli strikes across Lebanon's capital, targeting what are believed to be Hezbollah positions
• The country's death toll has risen to 52 people
• The Lebanese government has banned the military activities of Hezbollah, after they undercut the government by firing rockets towards Israel without state consultation

Qatar:

• Qatar's Ministry of Defence says it shot down two air crafts coming from Iran, as well as seven missiles and five drones
• The country's state-owned energy company, QatarEnergy, has halted the production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) earlier after strikes on some of its energy facilities

Kuwait:

• The US says three US fighter planes that crashed earlier, while involved in US operations against Iran, went down "due to an apparent friendly fire incident"

Iran:

• Iranian state media report that the wife of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in Israeli strikes on Saturday, has also been killed

Israel:

• Prime Minister Netanyahu visited the site of a fatal Iranian ballistic missile strike that killed nine Israelis on Sunday - he told reporters Iran would threaten "all of humanity" if they acquired nuclear weapons

A former CIA director says forcing regime change in Iran will be difficult, but the US will still have achieved something significant.

Donald Trump has said the war could give the Iranian people a chance to rise up against the current regime. But David Petraeus, the former director, told BBC Radio 4's PM programme: "The problem there is that it's pretty tough to take control of a country if there are still hundreds of thousands of armed and organised regime security force members."

Petraeus also points out that Trump has already made it clear there will not be boots on the ground.

He says, even without regime change in Iran, the US will have achieved valuable objectives in this operation.

Ghoncheh Habibiazad and Sarah Jalali
BBC Persian and BBC Monitoring

Image source, IRINN

Iran's state TV was showing rallies held in different Iranian cities today, including northeastern Mashhad, the birthplace of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Iranian news agencies had published a list of 22 locations in the capital today where people should gather, following the evening prayers, to mourn the death of the Supreme Leader.

The crowds could be heard chanting "death to Israel" and "death to America" in the videos.

Khamenei was killed on Saturday by a US-Israeli strike, and the Iranian government has announced 40 days of public mourning.

Meanwhile, BBC Persian has seen a text message from inside Iran that told the citizens rallies will be held in "squares in the cities and mosques all over the country” today and in the next few days.

While these state-organised rallies are being held, the BBC had previously seen text messages warning Iranians not to go out onto the streets to protest.

Since the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the BBC has verified videos from several cities showing gatherings of celebration in the streets.

Sarah Jalali
BBC News

Iran's IRGC-affiliated Tasnim news agency has published a list, for the first time, confirming the death of seven commanders of the armed forces. The list is as follows:

• Brigadier General Mohammad Shirazi, head of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief

• Brigadier General Saleh Asadi, Deputy for Intelligence of the Armed Forces General Staff

• Major General (Air Force) pilot Mohsen Darehbaghi, Deputy for Logistics and Support of the Armed Forces

• Brigadier General Akbar Ebrahimzadeh, Deputy Head of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief

• Brigadier General Gholamreza Rezaeian, Head of the Intelligence Organization of Faraja (Law Enforcement Command)

• Brigadier General Bahram Hosseini Motlagh, Head of the Planning and Operations Department, Operations Deputy of the Armed Forces General Staff

• Brigadier General Hassan-Ali Tajik, Head of the Logistics Department of the Armed Forces General Staff

Satellite images shows damage at two US Middle East basespublished at 18:30 GMT

18:30 GMT

By Alex Murray

Satellite imagery of a US naval base in Bahrain and an air base in Kuwait used by the US show both facilities have been struck several times in Iranian attacks.

New images of Ali al-Salem air base in Kuwait show two aircraft shelters have been destroyed and two others were damaged in recent strikes.

There is also a damaged area near the base’s southern runway which may be the result of an explosion. Other buildings in the south of the base also appear to have been hit.

Samantha Granville
Reporting from Beirut

Sirens sounded near Beirut’s American Embassy in the early hours of Monday morning as Israel launched a barrage of attacks against Hezbollah positions in the Lebanese capital.

Here in Beirut and in parts of southern Lebanon, which is also regarded as a Hezbollah stronghold, initial reports from the health ministry said at least 31 people were killed.

Residents in Beirut’s southern suburbs said the Israeli airstrikes came without warning and they fled for their lives.

Israel has continued to hit targets in Beirut and further afield throughout the day, hitting Hezbollah’s financial structures as well as senior figures in the pro-Iranian Shia militia, which had earlier fired missiles into Israel, risking a wider, regional conflict.

That is the one thing other political factions in Lebanon are desperate to avoid after the damaging yearlong conflict with Israel.

Other political factions here have condemned Hezbollah’s actions but that is unlikely to placate Israel which has vowed to continue the strikes, even naming senior Hezbollah figures which it now considers legitimate targets.

Lebanon's Disaster Management Unit has just announced that, following the Israeli attack, 52 people have been killed and 154 wounded.

Earlier, the Lebanese health ministry said 31 people had been killed and 149 injured.

Wyre Davies
Reporting from Lebanon

Throughout the day in the Lebanese capital, there have been numerous Israeli airstrikes targeting what are believed to be Hezbollah positions. In the past hour, we’ve heard several more strikes, one of which may have been aimed at a senior figure in the Islamic Jihad movement, an ally of Hezbollah.

After Hezbollah fired a small barrage of rockets into northern Israel, Israel responded with a significantly broader military operation. It has struck Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon and in Beirut, particularly in the southern suburbs, long considered a Hezbollah stronghold.

Given the intensity of the strikes over the past couple of hours, that figure has almost certainly risen.

Israeli officials argue the response was necessary after Hezbollah expanded the conflict by firing rockets into northern Israel. We’ve heard repeated statements from the Israeli defence minister and the Israel Defense Forces justifying today’s operations, both in the Lebanese capital and in southern Lebanon.

Image source, Getty Images

Trump offers few clues on his long-term goals for Iranpublished at 17:51 GMT

17:51 GMT

Daniel Bush
Washington correspondent, reporting from the White House

Image source, Getty Images

US President Donald Trump's first live remarks in public about the US war in Iran offered few clues on his longer-term goals for Iran once the war ends.

Trump outlined his military objectives, which include destroying Iran’s ballistic missile programme, navy and ability to develop nuclear weapons. He also gave an update on his thinking about how long the war might last, saying the administration had initially projected it could take "four to five weeks".

But at the same time, Trump suggested a longer-term commitment if needed. "Whatever the time is, it's OK. Whatever it takes," Trump said.

The president didn't address Iran’s political future, a major question now that the US has killed supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and it's unclear who will replace him. Trump also didn’t offer an explanation of how the US plans to respond should the war widen into a broader regional conflict.

Trump's communications strategy around the war represents a break from precedent. In the past, US presidents have made major addresses to the nation to explain their rationale for going to war. Trump hasn't done that yet – and gave no indication on Monday that such an address may be coming in the days ahead.

Trump sticks to the scriptpublished at 17:37 GMT

17:37 GMT

Sarah Smith
North America editor, reporting from the White House

It's unusual to see President Trump using a teleprompter. The fact that he was reading from one as he made his first live remarks since the attack on Iran began suggests he knew it was important to stick to the script.

As he outlined the objectives of this war – wipe out Iran's ballistic missiles, annihilate Iran’s navy, prevent the regime ever getting a nuclear weapon and stop them from sponsoring terrorists – he did not repeat his call for the Iranian people to rise up and overthrow the government.

There was no mention of regime change at all.

The president said it was projected the war would last four to five weeks. But that it will take whatever time it takes.

Referring to a suggestion he’d heard in the media that he might get bored – he said there is "nothing boring about this".

There was then some nervous laughter in the room as he went off script and started praising the rooms curtains which he chose in his first term and describing the ballroom he is constructing at the White House.

Image source, Reuters

In the first time Trump spoke since the US launched attacks on Iran on Saturday, the president called the operation their "last best chance to strike".

Here's what else he mentioned:

• Iran ignored prior warnings from the US, Trump said, and "refused to cease their pursuit of nuclear weapons"
• The president said the objectives of the operation in Iran are "clear", including "destroying Iran's missile capabilities", "annihilating their Navy" and preventing them from ever having a nuclear weapon
• With an initial projection of four-five weeks, the mission is "substantially ahead" of time, Trump said, and the US has the "capability to go far longer"
• After thanking American service people, many of whom were in the room, Trump moved on to his plans for the new White House ballroom

Samantha Granville
Reporting from Beirut

Image source, Reuters

Incredibly loud explosions were heard just a little while ago over a eerily silent Beirut.

At least five powerful blasts echoed across the city’s empty streets, each one so close it felt as though it had detonated directly overhead. My apartment's windows rattled violently with the shock waves.

Friends and colleagues messaged within seconds - all of us convinced the strikes had landed just above us.

Local media say the explosions once again targeted the neighbourhood of Dahieh.

On a normal evening, Beirut hums with the sound of traffic honking and the hustle and bustle of restaurants.

But tonight, many of those restaurants are shuttered. The streets are largely deserted. The city feels suspended in an uneasy quiet, more ghost town than Mediterranean metropolis.

Trump then moves on to discuss his plans for the new ballroom set to feature in a renovation of part of the White House.

As building work continues, Trump says it'll be a "very very beautiful building", and describes how it is expected to cost "$400 million or less".

Soon after, the president begins to talk about the military personnel being honoured at today's medal ceremony.

We'll continue to listen in, just in case Trump resumes talking about Iran.

Trump says today the country grieves for the four US serviceman who were killed in action.

"In their memory we continue this mission with ferocious, unyielding resolve to crush the threat this terrorist regime imposes on American people," the president says.

Trump says the US is already "substantially ahead" of its time projections. He says they projected four-five weeks at the beginning, but adds they have "capability to go far longer".

He then thanks American service people, which gets a large applause in the East Room.

Trump says the objectives of the operation in Iran are "clear", including "destroying Iran's missile capabilities" and "annihilating their Navy" in addition to preventing them from ever having nuclear weapons.

He adds that the country "cannot continue to arm, fund and direct terrorist armies outside their borders".

The US president then says that Iran's missile programme was intended to shield nuclear weapon development.

Trump says that while the US was the country that wanted this to stop, "everybody was behind us".

He says an Iranian regime armed with nuclear weapons and long-range missiles would be an "intolerable threat" to the Middle East, as well as the American people.

Trump says he took the decision to launch the war because it was "our last, best chance to strike" and to eliminate the "intolerable threats posed by this sick and sinister regime".

President Trump begins the ceremony with a "brief update" on "Operation Epic Fury".

The US continues to carry out "large-scale combat operations" in Iran, the president says, to eliminate threats posed by the Iranian regime.

He says Iran ignored US warnings and "refused to cease their pursuit of nuclear weapons".

After a delayed start, President Trump is now in the East Room.

He's set to speak at a Medal of Honor ceremony, but we're listening out for comments on Iran.

You can follow along live the top of this page.

Sarah Smith
North America editor, reporting from the White House

Image source, POOL

The audience here in the East Room is made up of smartly dressed service personnel in dress uniforms.

It's an event originally intended to honour three US service members posthumously with the US Medal of Honor for "acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty" in conflicts ranging from 1945 Germany to Vietnam to Afghanistan.

But this ceremony’s purpose may be overtaken by the significance of Trump's first remarks since the US began military combat operations in the Middle East.

Press are squeezed in the back.

There is much anticipation among the journalists here about whether we will get to ask why he felt it necessary to launch this war now. Or if he knows what victory in Iran would look like.

Nine ballistic missiles, six cruise missiles and 148 drones were successfully intercepted by the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) air defences, according to its Ministry of Defence (MoD).

Since the beginning of the Iranian attacks, the UAE's MoD says 174 ballistic missiles launched toward the country have been detected, 161 of which were destroyed, while 13 fell into the sea.

A total of 689 Iranian drones were also detected, with 645 intercepted, while 44 landed within the country’s territory, it adds.

Three people have died and 68 have suffered minor injuries during the incidents, according to the Ministry.

The MoD also says that the sounds heard in various parts of the country are as the result of air defence systems intercepting ballistic missiles, and fighter jets intercepting drones and cruise missiles.

"These interceptions led to minor to moderate material damage to a number of civilian properties", it adds.