US, ISRAEL STRIKE IRAN

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday defended his decision to keep Britain out of the US and Israel's initial strikes against Iran following criticism from President Donald Trump.

"President Trump has expressed his disagreement with our decision not to get involved in the initial strikes, but it is my duty to judge what is in Britain's national interest. That is what I have done, and I stand by it," Starmer told parliament.

The premier also said that British military bases in Cyprus "are not being used by US bombers", after he agreed to a US request to use UK bases for "specific and limited defensive purposes" in the war.

US President Donald Trump on Monday told the New York Post he would not rule out sending ground troops into Iran if necessary.

"I don't have the yips with respect to boots on the ground — like every president says, 'There will be no boots on the ground.' I don't say it," Trump told the Post in one of several brief interviews he has given since launching the Iran operation on Saturday.

"I say 'probably don´t need them,' [or] 'if they were necessary,'" he said.

President Emmanuel Macron said that France would increase the number of its nuclear warheads and cooperate with eight European countries to help protect the continent as the clock ticks on his presidency.

His speech at France's Ile Longue nuclear submarine base came after US and Israeli attacks against Iran in a campaign that risks destabilising the Middle East.

Macron updated France's nuclear doctrine as Russia's war against Ukraine grinds into a fifth year and Nato allies worry about Washington's wavering commitment to Europe.

"We must strengthen our nuclear deterrent in the face of multiple threats, and we must consider our deterrence strategy deep within the European continent, with full respect for our sovereignty," Macron said.

He announced "the gradual implementation of what I would call advanced deterrence".

Israel’s military said it was extending the closure of educational establishments and workplaces until 8pm (1800 GMT) on Saturday, as the US and Israel continued striking targets in Iran for the third consecutive day.

"The Home Front Command has updated the defensive guidelines until Saturday, March 7, 2026, at 20:00," the military said, extending an earlier advisory.

"The IDF emphasises that, in accordance with these guidelines, gatherings, educational activities, and workplace operations are prohibited, with the exception of essential sectors."

Iran’s retaliatory strikes have so far targeted 500 sites linked to the United States and Israel in the Middle East, the Revolutionary Guards said on the third day of fighting Monday.

"Since the start of the conflict, the brave soldiers of the Iranian armed forces have attacked 60 strategic targets and 500 American military targets and targets of the Zionist regime (Israel)," the Guards said in a statement. It added they had launched more than 700 drones and hundreds of missiles.

One of the United Arab Emirates' flag carriers, Emirates announced on Monday that it will resume a limited number of flights from the evening of March 2.

Global air travel remained severely disrupted on Sunday as ongoing air strikes forced the closure of major Middle Eastern airports, including Dubai — the world's busiest international hub — marking one of the sharpest aviation disruptions in recent years.

In a post on X, the airline said it would prioritise passengers with existing bookings. Travellers rebooked on the limited services will be contacted directly by Emirates.

All other flights remain suspended until further notice, the airline said, urging passengers not to travel to the airport unless formally notified. It added that operations will be adjusted in line with developments on the ground.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards has said their missile attacks have targeted the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the headquarters of the Israeli air force commander.

"The office of the criminal prime minister of the Zionist regime and the headquarters of the regime's air force commander were targeted," the Guards said in a statement carried by Fars news agency.

It said Kheibar missiles were used in the attack.

Iranian news sites reported that loud explosions were heard in the central city of Isfahan, coming from the area of a nuclear facility and air base.

Britain took far too long to let the United States use its air bases in operations against Iran, US President Donald Trump told the Daily Telegraph, adding he was disappointed in Prime Minister Keir Starmer's approach to the vital Diego Garcia base.

Britain did not let the US use joint bases for Washington's initial air strikes against Iran, but on Sunday evening, Starmer said he was accepting a US request for their use in any "defensive" strikes against Iranian targets.

In an interview published on Monday, Trump said Starmer appeared to be "worried about the legality" of the strikes.

"That's probably never happened between our countries before," Trump said of the disagreement, adding Starmer's shift in stance took "far too much time".