Iran launched a series of intense dawn attacks across the Middle East, with reports indicating that a US F-15 fighter jet was shot down over Kuwait.

Explosions were reported in Bahrain, at or close to a US naval base, and smoke was seen rising near the US embassy in Kuwait, The Caspian Post reports, citing foreign media.

Unconfirmed reports and photos showed a US pilot being rescued after apparently ejecting over Kuwait.

There were claims that his F-15 plane had been accidentally shot down.

There were also reports of explosions in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

US consular chiefs told American citizens in Kuwait to take cover.

“There is a continuing threat of missile and UAV attacks over Kuwait. Do not come to the Embassy.

“Take cover in your residence on the lowest available floor and away from windows.

“Do not go outside.”

The first US casualties of the campaign, including the deaths of three service personnel were confirmed on Sunday.

Two US officials said the three American service members were killed on a base in Kuwait.

Donald Trump promised Washington would “avenge” the deaths of the “true American patriots” - as he warned that there will likely be more casualties.

“Sadly, there will likely be more before it ends,” the US president said in a video message. “That's the way it is.”

Trump also suggested there was no end in sight to the military operations, after signalled he would be open to dialogue with Iran’s new leadership following the death of Khamenei.

“Combat operations continue at this time in full-force, and they will continue until all of our objectives are achieved,” he said in a video message. “We have very strong objectives,” he added, without elaborating.

On a third day of conflict, explosions were reported at or close to the headquarters for the US Navy’s 5th Fleet in Bahrain.

Three drones were reported to have been shot down over Erbil Airport in Northern Iraq where US forces are based, according to security sources.

As the war escalated, oil prices rose by eight per cent.

In Kuwait, the Ministry of Defence said: “The Kuwaiti Air Defense Force confronted a number of hostile aerial targets at dawn today with efficiency and capability, as they were monitored and intercepted within the scope of operations in the central part of the country, as part of the complete readiness to protect the nation’s airspace, with no casualties recorded.”

Around 300,000 British citizens are in Gulf countries attacked by Iran.

Israel launched new air strikes targeting Tehran and expanded its military campaign to include attacks on Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon on Monday.

Israel said it was attacking sites connected to Lebanon’s Shi’ite Muslim Hezbollah militants, one of Tehran’s principal allies in the Middle East, after Hezbollah acknowledged launching missiles and drones toward ⁠Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Israel carried out air strikes on the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut, with more than a dozen explosions rocking the Lebanese capital. Israel said it also struck senior Hezbollah militants near Beirut.

The Hezbollah and Israel tit-for-tat attacks, which follow a US-brokered ceasefire in 2024, widen the conflict that has spread through the Middle East since the United States and Israel attacked Iran on Saturday, sending oil prices soaring and snarling air travel.

The Israeli ​military said ⁠late on Sunday that its air force had established aerial superiority over Tehran, and that a wave of strikes across the capital had targeted intelligence, security, and military command centres.

Sounds of explosions were heard in different parts of the Iranian capital Tehran on Monday morning, according to state media, while Reuters witnesses heard loud blasts in Dubai and the Qatari capital Doha.

A senior White House official said that while ‌Trump would at some point talk with new potential leadership in Iran, the military campaign would go on.

“President Trump said new potential leadership in Iran has indicated they want to talk and eventually he will talk. For now, Operation Epic Fury continues unabated,” the official said.

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday said a leadership council composed of himself, the judiciary head and a member of ‌the powerful Guardian Council had temporarily assumed the duties of Supreme Leader.

In an X post on Monday, Ali Larijani, who was adviser ‌to Iran’s Khamenei, said his country would not negotiate with Trump. He said the U.S. president had “delusional ambitions” and was now worried about US casualties.