The US Central Command has released a video showing US destroyers launching guided missiles, as well as missiles making impact on an undisclosed location.
- US President Donald Trump has said he expects the war with Iran to last four weeks and has claimed the country’s “entire military is gone”.
- On Saturday, Israel and the US launched an “all-out” missile attack on Iran in an operation dubbed Epic Fury.
- The strikes killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
- Three US service members have been killed in action and five seriously wounded.
- Iran has launched retaliatory strikes against Middle Eastern neighbours, including the UAE, Bahrain and Qatar.
- The actions have caused multiple airlines to cancel flights to and from the region, with many countries closing their airspace. Kiwis are among those stranded.
- Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters issued a joint statement condemning “in the strongest terms” Iran’s “indiscriminate” retaliatory attacks.
- The Government has urged New Zealanders in affected countries to shelter in place or leave if they are safe to do so.
- There are 23 New Zealanders registered with MFAT in Iran and 62 in Israel.
- Former Prime Minister Helen Clark called the Government’s response to the US-Israeli actions a “disgrace” but Luxon said this morning a regime that “kills its own people” was disgraceful.
He watched the first strikes in Operation Epic Fury from his Florida resort, Mar-a-Lago, over the weekend.
Human Rights lawyer Kenneth Roth says smaller countries like New Zealand depend on the rule of law to be upheld.
Roth says the US-Israel attack on Iran is an example of how nations like New Zealand could be left vulnerable.
The former head of Human Rights Watch says sovereignty being respected is how small countries can exist.
Roth says the Israeli-US attack on Iran is no different to Vladimir Putin’s attack on Ukraine.
01:30 pm
The price of gold rose around 2% on Monday on the back of turmoil in the Middle East after US and Israeli strikes on Iran.
In early trade in Asia, gold – a safe haven for investors in volatile times – was up 2% at US$5384.52 per ounce.
– AFP
Oil prices have surged on fears that Donald Trump’s war with Iran will disrupt supply from the Middle East.
Brent crude jumped 13% to around US$82 a barrel when oil markets opened on Sunday night, as airstrikes on Iran continued for a second day. The jump took prices to a seven-month high.
Investors are concerned about disruption from one of the world’s most crucial oil-producing regions. Missile and drone attacks hit fuel ships in the Middle East on Sunday (local time), while more than a hundred other ships were effectively stopped by the troubles.
Trump has suggested problems could drag on for at least a month, saying he expected war with Iran to last for four weeks.
– Daily Telegraph
An explosion has been reported at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.
Unconfirmed reports suggested the incident, which took place at at around midnight local time, may have been caused by a drone.
A “small drone” had “impacted the airfield” in Limassol, the Cyprus Mail reported.
Other reports suggested the explosion was caused by a missile, with the Sun citing unconfirmed claims that as many as seven missiles were inbound and may have been launched from Lebanon.
If launched from Lebanon, the potential attack is likely to have been orchestrated by Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy group.
RAF Akrotiri is home to thousands of military personnel and their families.
Personnel were apparently told to “move away from windows and take cover behind or beneath substantial, solid furniture”.
Earlier on Sunday (local time), Defence Secretary John Healey said missiles had been fired in the direction of UK bases in Cyprus, although this was denied by the Cypriots.
The incident comes after Sir Keir Starmer granted the United States permission to use British military bases to carry out strikes on Iran.
– Daily Telegraph
The Airports Council International (ACI) today called on governments in affected countries to extend all possible support to airports and protect airport personnel, passengers and facilities.
“We stand in solidarity with our colleagues at airports across the region, who in the face of uncertainty and operational pressure, continue to respond with professionalism and compassion to support affected passengers, airlines, personnel and communities,” the ACI said.
“We reiterate that airports are like any other civilian infrastructure and must never be targets of military action.”
Two Auckland students stranded in Dubai awoke to house-rattling explosions this morning yet remain “cautiously optimistic” they can leave Dubai on their scheduled flight home in two days.
Source:rnz