Carine Torbey
BBC Arabic correspondent, in Beirut

Earlier, we visited a school in Beirut that since the very early hours of the morning has turned into a shelter for the large number of displaced people who fled their houses for fear of being killed in the ongoing Israeli military campaign on different parts of Lebanon.

We saw people in their pyjamas, others coming with a small bag containing all they could grab as they left their houses in a rush. A few had also brought their pets along.

"I wouldn’t leave them behind. They are souls," told me a woman who left her house in the southern suburb of Beirut alongside her three children.

As we were there, news came of a new Israeli strike. A man commented: "They want to do the same thing they did in Gaza."

A lot of babies and toddlers were in the main court of the school while their parents tried to find an empty room in the building. But the place was filling up very quickly.

A lot of people were asked to check for shelter in other nearby schools.

Image source, Reuters

The United States has urged its citizens in Lebanon to leave the country immediately.

"We urge US citizens not to travel to Lebanon. If you are in the country, depart Lebanon NOW while commercial flight options remain available," the US Embassy in Beirut writes on X.

"The security situation in Lebanon is volatile and unpredictable. Airstrikes have occurred throughout the country, especially in the south, the Beqaa, and parts of Beirut."

Only a few minutes ago, our colleagues in the Lebanese capital reported hearing a large explosion in Dahieh, a stronghold of Iran-affiliated Hezbollah.

Dubai Airports say "a limited resumption" of flights will begin this evening, with a "small number of flights" from Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC).

But they tell travellers not to travel to the airports unless contacted by their airline with a confirmed departure time.

Emirates airline - based in Dubai - says "we are accommodating customers with earlier bookings as a priority".

Meanwhile, Germany will send planes to evacuate tourists stranded in the Middle East, its foreign minister says.

They will be flown out of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Muscat, Oman, Johann Wadephul tells reporters, according to Reuters.

This morning, UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the government is working "immensely hard" to help people return home. She said around 100,000 British citizens have registered their presence with the UK Foreign Office.

Samantha Granville
Reporting from Beirut

Image source, Reuters

A huge explosion was just heard in Beirut.

The explosion, which was in Dahieh, a Hezbollah stronghold, was so strong it felt as though it had happened in the centre of the Lebanese capital.

Warnings were heard on loudspeakers coming from the US Embassy in Awkar instructing staff to take cover and get away from the window.

Asked by BBC if Nato forces will be involved, Mark Rutte says: "No, this is clearly a campaign led by the Americans and the Israelis."

He adds that what "we are seeing now" is that Nato allies and "friends in the region" are under "indiscriminate attacks" by Iran, so they are doing what they can in this situation.

We can bring you some fresh remarks from Secretary General of Nato Mark Rutte, who's just told BBC News that Europe is "absolutely supportive" of US action in Iran.

Rutte emphasises that Iran is a "threat" to Europe, Israel and its surrounding region - as he adds that Europe is "really stepping up" in the wake of this weekend's operations in Iran.

Asked whether Keir Starmer's decision to allow the US to use UK bases for "defensive" strikes on Iran came too late, he says his understanding is that "legal things" had to be worked through before permission could be granted.

When pushed further on whether he knew about the US-Israeli strikes on Iran ahead of time, Rutte says he does not publicly discuss these details. That said, he insists he has had "many conversations" with US officials, and that Washington and Nato "coordinate closely".

Hegseth left questions unanswered about the scope or duration of operationpublished at 13:58 GMT

13:58 GMT

Daniel Bush
Washington Correspondent

Image source, Reuters

Other than two social media posts and some brief telephone interviews with reporters by the president, the administration was largely silent over the weekend about the US military campaign launched against Iran.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth broke the silence on Monday in a brief news conference where he offered a vigorous defence of Operation Epic Fury.

Hegseth said the US would carry out the attack with “no apologies”, and he pushed back against comparisons to the US war in Iraq, a sign the administration is wary of criticism the operation in Iran could lead to another prolonged Middle East conflict.

But Hegseth offered few details about the operation, leaving questions unanswered about the scope or duration.

He also didn’t provide much information on US plans to respond to Iranian retaliatory attacks that have killed four US troops in the region.

Hegseth also framed the conflict as a “generational” chance to reshape the Middle East.

The rhetoric mirrors President Trump’s argument in social media posts that forcing regime change in Iran represents a victory that has eluded past US presidents for decades.

Later on, a team of BBC correspondents and specialists will answer questions you may have about the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

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Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte is speaking to the BBC now - watch live at the top of the page, and we'll have key lines here.

Image source, Getty Images

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will make a statement on the Middle East in the House of Commons later.

We're expecting that at 15:30 GMT, and will bring you all the key lines here when it happens.

The US embassy in Iraq is advising US citizens in the country to "shelter in place until further notice".

The guidance also says to "exercise increased caution, keep a low profile", and to "avoid crowds, as demonstrations may turn violent with little warning".

"Reports of missiles, drones and rockets in Iraqi airspace continue," it says.

"Do not attempt to come to the Embassy in Baghdad" or the Consulate General in Erbil - which is the US's main diplomatic mission in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, the advisory adds.

All embassy personnel have also been directed to shelter in place, says the statement.

Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, shares further details on the military action the US has taken in Iran so far.

Caine expresses his condolences to the US personnel killed and wounded in the operation.

The US Central Command earlier confirmed a fourth US service member had "succumbed to their injuries" after being wounded during Iran's initial attacks.

"We expect to take additional losses and as always, we will work to minimise US losses," he says.

Caine says that on Saturday, at 01:15 ET (09:45 Tehran time, 06:15 GMT), "Operation Epic Fury" began, adding that it won't be a single overnight mission.

He also says the operation involves the Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force and Coast Guard, working in co-operation with the Israeli military.

"And the flow of forces continues today," he says, adding that additional forces are coming.

The US defense secretary says the country is mourning four armed forces personnel lost so far.

"The absolute best of America," he says.

"May we prosecute the remainder of this operation in a manner that honours them, no apologies, no hesitation, epic fury," he adds.

Addressing soldiers directly, Hegseth tells them: "This is the generational turning point we've been waiting for."

With that, Hegseth finishes his media briefing and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine takes the podium. We'll bring you key lines from his statement in our next few posts.

Hegseth goes on to say that the US "set the terms of this war, from start to finish", and adds, "we hope the Iranian people take advantage of this incredible opportunity".

He also urges the Iranian security forces to "choose wisely".

"We fight to win and we don't waste time or lives," he emphasises.

Pete Hegseth now says that peaceful nuclear ambitions "do not need to be buried underneath mountains".

He references last year's Operation Midnight Hammer, which he says saw the US obliterate Iran's nuclear sites.

The US defense secretary then accuses Tehran of refusing to negotiate a "peaceful and sensible" deal with the US.

"They were stalling, buying time to reload their missile stockpiles and restart their nuclear ambitions," he continues.

"President Trump doesn't play those games."

The US defense secretary continues by saying that Iran has a "conventional gun to our head as they tried to lie their way to a nuclear bomb", and "it almost worked" under Obama and his "terrible deal".

He says the Iran regime was "gifted death from America and death from Israel".

It's "not a so-called regime change war", but the regime "surely changed and the world is better off for it".

Hegseth also says that the operation against Iran will not lead to an "endless war". Instead, he says, the US's aim is to destroy Tehran's missiles and other security infrastructure.

Hegseth says that Donald Trump has drawn the line "after 47 years of Iranian belligerence".

He warns that anyone who kills or threatens Americans will be hunted down by the US "without apology and without hesitation".

Hegseth says it is common sense that regimes like Iran must not have nuclear weapons, and Trump has the "guts" needed to enforce this.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is now speaking.

He starts by saying that the operation on Iran, under direct orders of Donald Trump, is the most lethal, most complex and most precise aerial operation in history.

"We didn't start the war, but under President Trump, we are finishing it," he says.

We're expecting to hear from US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in the next few minutes.

He'll be joined by US Chief of Staff Dan Caine, and you'll be able to watch live at the top of the page as the pair provide an update on US operations against Iran.

We'll be listening in and will bring you all the key news lines here.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has just released a statement saying a Hezbollah leader was killed in a strike in Beirut on Sunday.

"The IDF now confirms that in a precise strike in Beirut last night (Sunday), the terrorist Hussein Makled, who served as the head of Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters, has been eliminated," the statement reads.