Latest war news. New US attacks in Iran. Explosions in Bahrain. Trump changes planes

Several explosions were heard in Bahrain after the authorities sounded the air-raid sirens across the country, according to an AFP journalist at the scene. The explosions occurred after the Iranian Revolutionary Guards had vowed to retaliate against US air strikes on Iran.

US President Donald Trump left the NATO summit in Turkey and returned to the United States aboard an old Air Force One, rather than completing the journey on the new aircraft donated by Qatar and subsequently modified for presidential use, on which he had arrived. The unexpected change of aircraft took place as the United States and Iran resumed military attacks against each other. Trump offered little explanation for the decision, merely stating that both aircraft would make an unscheduled stop at a military base in the United Kingdom. The President subsequently boarded the new aircraft. The unusual handling of the flight has reignited doubts about the new aircraft’s security. Indeed, some images have shown that the aircraft does not have the same missile detection systems and defensive countermeasures installed on older Air Force One aircraft.

Air-raid sirens have sounded in Bahrain, the Ministry of the Interior has stated, after the Iranian Revolutionary Guards vowed to retaliate against US attacks on the Islamic Republic. “Citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and make their way to the nearest safe place,” the ministry announced in a statement on X.

Donald Trump has not yet made a final decision on the possible withdrawal of US troops from Europe. “A lot will depend on Greenland and Iran,” he pointed out, adding that Europe now wants to help with Iran but “we don’t need it”.

“This is in retaliation for Iran’s bombing of ships yesterday. If it happens again, the situation will get much worse!” Donald Trump said on his social media platform Truth, referring to the new attacks in Iran. The president also posted videos of what appear to be the American attacks.

Around ten explosions have been reported in Chabahar and the nearby town of Konarak, in south-eastern Iran. This was reported by the Iranian news agency IRNA.

Partial power cuts are affecting Chabahar, whilst the authorities are investigating the details of the incident.

The United States has launched new attacks against Iran. This was announced by Central Command. “On the orders of the Commander-in-Chief, US Central Command has launched further attacks against Iran, aimed at further reducing the country’s ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz,” stated US Central Command. “The United States holds Iran responsible for the recent and unjustified attacks on commercial vessels and civilian crews sailing freely along a major international waterway,” it emphasised.

The United States will respond militarily if Iran attempts to close the Strait of Hormuz. This was stated by US Vice-President JD Vance during a press conference in Washington. “If Iran tries to close the Strait, there will be a response from the US military. That is the agreement,” said Vance. “The basic understanding we have reached is this: we will lift the blockade if you stop firing on ships, but if you fire on ships, we will respond,” he added.

According to the vice-president, Tehran can either comply with the agreement or face further military action similar to that carried out last night. “This will continue to happen until they reopen that route and stop firing on ships,” he concluded.

Donald Trump spoke off the cuff at the NATO summit in Ankara. In the morning, he lashed out at European allies – in particular Spain, against which he threatened to cut off trade relations – and described Italy as ‘terrible’. Then, in the afternoon, Italia became ‘good’, the leaders were described as intelligent, and the meeting room was filled with immense love. The US president first announced new military action against Iran, then added that he was not sure he wanted a deal, and finally said that the war was not starting again. Trump thus monopolised attention, particularly on the summit’s final day, which began with US air strikes on Iranian targets and ended with praise for Erdogan – who could have sided with Iran against Israel, but did not – and for American weapons: they are the best, he said; everyone wants them.

Italy did not make any new commitments at the Ankara summit. This was clarified by the Defence Minister, who responded to ANSA regarding speculation that a different approach was planned for 2027 compared to what Parliament had authorised in last year’s DEF. “That is not the case, because an increase of 0.15 per cent had been authorised for 2026 – which did not materialise – and the same for 2027; as things stand, the intention is to provide for exactly what had already been authorised last year for 2027,” said the minister, specifying that the increase will go ahead “if Parliament gives the go-ahead with the 2027 Budget”.

In any case, the increase in the percentage of defence spending in 2027 ‘does not include funding for weapons. It is defence funding and will be used to enhance defence capabilities against increasingly evident threats, ranging from cyber threats to drones, and covering air, naval, submarine and land defence, as well as measures to support personnel and the specific needs of the armed forces, addressing infrastructure and housing issues, and maintaining existing assets. But also to improve the security of our cities’, explains the Defence Minister to ANSA.

Insults directed at the Iranian people do not diminish their greatness and will be met with a response in deeds. This was stated on X by the Iranian Foreign Minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, in response to remarks made today by US President Donald Trump. “Addressing the civilised and courageous Iranian nation in derogatory terms does not diminish its greatness,” wrote Araghchi.

“Iranians are renowned for their civility, their culture and their strong moral values. We do not respond to vulgarity with vulgarity, but with action: fearlessly and with great courage,” the minister added.

“We had a fantastic time in Ankara; it was a great success. We have just concluded a highly successful NATO summit here in Turkey,” said US President Donald Trump at the end of the NATO summit in the Turkish capital. ““I want to thank President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who is truly a great man. He is a great leader. He is a friend of mine, and has been for a long time. He is a strong person with a very strong personality, and that is why he leads such a great country. From a military point of view, he is very powerful. People leave him in peace,” he emphasised. Trump also praised the NATO Secretary-General, Mark Rutte. “Mark,” he said, “is an extraordinary, intelligent person, a great leader. It’s not easy to lead so many leaders of this calibre.” In NATO, “there are many leaders, each with a strong personality. And Mark is doing an incredible job. I couldn’t have found anyone better. I just want to say that there was an atmosphere of immense love in that room. The press were able to attend the sessions, but not the ones where the speakers were speaking. And I said it was a shame that the press hadn’t been able to see all of that,” he concluded.

The government in Islamabad has issued a statement in which it says it “expresses deep concern at the escalation of tensions in the region” and states that it “calls on all parties to exercise restraint”, to “refrain from any action that could further undermine regional peace and stability” and to “uphold their respective commitments under the memorandum of understanding” between the US and Iran. Pakistan has been one of the mediators in the conflict between the two countries.

“Spain has been bad, Italia has been good, and almost everyone has been good – they’ve just had a bad patch.” Donald Trump said this, emphasising that “despite minor disagreements, we love one another”. The US President then reaffirmed the unity within NATO: “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“I’m not sure I want to strike a deal with Iran,” said Donald Trump at a press conference following the NATO summit, describing Iranian leaders as “crazy, out of their minds”. The US President dismissed criticism of the operation against Iran, calling it “a huge military success”. “I went there for one reason: Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. I call it the denuclearisation of Iran. And that is what happened. They will never have a nuclear weapon,” he said. Trump added that the facilities targeted are buried under a mountain of granite that has collapsed on top of them and that it will take months to reach them.

Eight members of the Iranian armed forces were killed in the latest US attacks on Iran, Tehran’s state television announced. “Following the criminal aggression perpetrated this morning by US terrorist military forces against areas in southern Iran, eight valiant members of the Air Force and Navy of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran — in Bandar Abbas (south) and Bushehr (south-west) — were martyred after being struck by enemy fire whilst defending the Islamic homeland,” the broadcaster stated, quoting a military communiqué.

“The press should have seen what we were doing in that room, because these are very intelligent people who have so much goodness in their hearts – not evil, but goodness. And they are doing a brilliant job for their country.” US President Donald Trump said this at a press conference following the NATO summit.

“The Treasury will work with the Office of the US Trade Representative to provide the President with a list of Spanish products that could be subject to an embargo in the coming days,” a US official told the Wall Street Journal.

Iran will close the Strait of Hormuz in the event of further US attacks: this was stated by a security source to Press TV, as reported by Sky News. “Iran’s new strategy is: after every attack, the Strait of Hormuz will be completely closed.” Furthermore, the source promised that Iran would also carry out attacks against “at least twice as many targets” following any US attack.

She doesn’t respond to the meme by Donald Trump regarding the need for a “restraining order” against her, treating her as though she were a stalker to be kept at a distance. She reaffirms the “political investment” made “in the unity of the West”. She assures that Italia is intent on “honouring its commitments” regarding defence spending, but “in a sustainable manner, with us setting the timetable, methods and priorities according to the context”. Italy will also continue to supply military equipment to Kyiv. And it is not changing its stance on refusing to grant the use of military bases for US attacks on Iran. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni spoke on a wide range of issues at the press conference following the NATO summit in Ankara.

“We are trying to work towards the diametrically opposite approach; in other words, I have not lost hope in the possibility of negotiations in Iran. I believe that, so far, the military option in this case has not yielded particularly concrete results, and I think we must continue to focus on the capacity and possibility of negotiations; Italia will, of course, be committed to this end.” This was stated by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during a press briefing on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara.

US President Donald Trump described the meetings he had at the NATO summit as ‘good’ and said he had developed a ‘very good relationship’ with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. ‘It’s hard to believe, isn’t it? Since the Oval Office, I believe we have developed a very good relationship,” said Trump, speaking on the sidelines of a meeting with Zelensky. “This isn’t the end,” added the Ukrainian president. “No, it isn’t the end; perhaps it will be the beginning,” replied Trump.

Ukraine’s attacks on Russia are “an escalation” but “could help bring the war to an end”, commented Trump, who then confirmed that a licence had been granted to Ukraine to manufacture US-made Patriot missiles.

US President Donald Trump has said that the Pentagon is preparing for a new round of strikes against Iran this evening. Speaking to journalists during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump reiterated his criticism of the regime in Tehran, which he claimed had failed to honour its commitments. He added: ‘They will hit them hard again this evening. I’m giving them a little advance warning.”

The final declaration of the NATO summit explicitly recognises that ‘the European Allies and Canada, in partnership with the United States, are taking on greater responsibility for the defence of the Alliance’ in order to make ‘a stronger Europe within a stronger NATO’, the slogan coined a few months ago to characterise NATO’s ‘modernisation’ phase. It is expressly stated that by 2025, the European Allies and Canada will have increased their investment in essential defence requirements by over 139 billion dollars. These investments ‘are providing the capabilities we need, whilst strengthening our industrial base and our resilience’. The 32 member states are committed ‘to expanding collective production capacity and working with industry to accelerate innovation’ and to “work to remove trade barriers in the defence sector amongst allies and to leverage NATO partnerships to maximise industrial depth and cooperation in the defence sector”.

“We, the Heads of State and Government of the North Atlantic Alliance, have gathered in Ankara to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to collective defence under Article 5 of the Washington Treaty and to the transatlantic bond. An attack on one is an attack on all.” These are the opening lines of the brief statement issued by the NATO summit that has just concluded. The text states that ‘our unity, solidarity and collective strength remain the foundation of peace, security and prosperity for the one billion citizens of our Alliance of free and democratic nations. We remain committed to our all-round approach to deterrence and defence’.

Russia poses “a long-term threat” to Euro-Atlantic security, whilst Ukraine “contributes to transatlantic security”, and the Allies stand united in their unwavering support for Kyiv in defending its freedom, sovereignty and territorial integrity. This is stated in the final declaration of the Ankara summit. The Allies emphasise that support must be equitable, predictable and sustainable in the long term; they have committed to providing €70 billion in military equipment, assistance and training by 2026, and reaffirm their sovereign commitment to maintaining at least equivalent levels in 2027.

President Donald Trump told NATO allies that he wanted to keep the US in the alliance during the leaders’ closed-door meeting in Ankara. “We want to stay with you,” a source familiar with the talks reportedly told Reuters. During the summit, the tycoon also stated that the United States is prepared to continue selling arms to its allies and did not announce the end of the provisional ceasefire agreement with Iran. Trump reportedly did not even mention the issue of Greenland, which has caused friction within the bloc, the source added.

According to three sources familiar with the decision-making process, senior US military commanders ignored warnings contained in key databases, which indicated that intelligence on potential targets in Iran was severely out of date, and authorised a number of strikes, including one that hit a school, killing nearly 200 children and adults. This is according to CNN. According to the sources, messages indicating that the intelligence was based on data dating back several years and needed to be reviewed were incorporated into a system used to identify targets and required the approval of a senior officer before a site could be added to the list of targets to be struck. The decision by senior commanders to ignore the warnings was taken for reasons of “convenience”, two of the sources said, in the rush to identify targets at the start of the war. However, the sources added, it also contributed directly to the accidental attack on the school. According to Iranian state media, the attack killed at least 168 children and 14 teachers. The US military launched an investigation in the days following the attack. Months later, the Pentagon has still not published the findings. According to CNN, the 28 February attack on the Shajareh Tayyiba school in Minab took place whilst the US military was attacking a nearby Pasdaran facility. Satellite images from 2013 showed that the school and the base had once been part of the same complex. However, images from 2016 showed that a fence had been erected to separate the school from the rest of the base and that a separate entrance had been built for the school. In December 2025, images showed dozens of people apparently playing in the school playground. The attack took place on the first day of operations, whilst US military officials and intelligence analysts were rushing to update target information for thousands of sites following Trump’s decision to launch combat operations. Given the tight timeframe, military officials and intelligence analysts rushed to update the ‘high-priority’ targets – those most likely to be struck first, such as mobile targets. Fixed sites, such as the one that later turned out to be a school, were considered lower priority.

- Luxembourg and Canada are leading a group of countries seeking to establish a multilateral bank capable of mobilising public and private capital to finance the rearmament of NATO allies and its partners. Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Luc Frieden explained this in an interview with Euractiv. The initiative is still in the development phase, but has brought together a group of around “ten countries, including some large ones” interested in participating. According to Frieden, even countries with high levels of public debt, such as Italia and Greece, could receive funding from the bank: “Of course,” replied Frieden.

“Only diplomacy can bring about solutions to all outstanding issues. It is crucial that all parties respect the ceasefire and refrain from actions that could jeopardise the ongoing diplomatic process.” This was stated by a spokesperson for the European Commission, commenting on recent remarks made by US President Donald Trump regarding Iran.

US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth has cancelled his visit to Israel, where he was due to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today. This was reported by the Israeli website Ynet. Hegseth is currently in Turkey for the NATO summit alongside President Donald Trump.

“Spain is taking these statements in its stride,” made by Donald Trump during the NATO summit in Ankara. “Our country maintains excellent social, cultural and economic relations with the United States, and it is our intention that this should not change.” This is according to sources at Moncloa, quoted by the newspaper El País and the public broadcaster TVE, after US President Donald Trump once again described Madrid as “a terrible partner” in the Atlantic Alliance, due to its repeated refusal to increase military spending to 5 per cent of GDP by 2035.

“Spain is a terrible ally; I don’t want to have any dealings with them; our trade relations are over; they’re a hopeless case: there are a couple of other countries too, but Spain is particularly hostile.” Speaking alongside Mark Rutte before the start of the NATO summit, Donald Trump attacked Madrid for its lack of military support for the US.

“If Iran wants to negotiate, they can do so with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, but they must then report back to me; as far as I’m concerned, it’s just a waste of time because they’re liars. We’d reached an agreement; there’s something wrong with their minds.” This was stated by the US President, Donald Trump, during remarks to the press on the sidelines of a meeting with the NATO Secretary-General, Mark Rutte, in Ankara. “Can negotiations resume? Yes, they can resume. If they want to talk, they can do so, but I consider it a waste of time,” he added.

Donald Trump takes on everyone at the NATO summit in Turkey: he says Greenland is a major problem for the United States, attacks Italia for being ‘terrible when it comes to military bases’, and declares that the ceasefire with Iran is over: ‘They’re scum; as far as I’m concerned, it’s over.’

“At the meeting, I will talk about the issues close to our hearts; Greenland is a major problem. We have spent more than a thousand billion over 10 years to defend NATO countries from Russia, and in return we are being treated unfairly. I am very angry with NATO; we have paid too much.” So said Donald Trump during his meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in Ankara.

The coffins of former leader Ali Khamenei and four members of his family have arrived in the Iraqi city of Karbala, home to the shrine of the third Shia Imam, Hussein, for the funeral service. The public ceremonies began this morning in the city of Najaf. According to reports on social media, hundreds of thousands of people took part in the ceremonies in each of the cities, whilst state media claim that millions attended the funeral. Those attending the funerals in Najaf and Karbala carried red flags (a symbol of vengeance), flags of Iran, Iraq and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah, as well as banners bearing slogans against the United States and Israel and others in support of Khamenei, such as ‘We obey you’ and ‘the man who humiliated the United States’. Another banner read ‘Rise up for God’. President Masoud Pezeshkian, who arrived in Najaf late yesterday evening accompanied by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Quds Force commander Esmaeil Qaani, paid his respects to Khamenei at the Imam Ali shrine in Najaf at midnight and left the city for Tehran shortly afterwards. A number of Iraqi officials, including the pro-Iranian Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, attended a ceremony held at the airport in the presence of Pezeshkian to pay their respects to the former leader. Khamenei’s son, Mostafa, attended the funeral in Iraq. Iranian-backed Iraqi militia groups, including Harakat al-Nujaba, Kata’ib Hezbollah and Hashd al-Shaabi, had urged their forces and the Iraqi people to take part in the procession. Iranian state media and the Iraqi Hashd al-Shaabi militias claimed that millions of people attended the ceremony in Najaf and millions more in Karbala. The Iranian Shia religious leader in Iraq, Ali Sistani, did not lead the prayers for Khamenei, “due to illness”, according to his son. Sistani supports a pro-democratic system and opposes any form of application of Islamic jurisprudence.

Air-raid sirens have sounded in Bahrain for the fourth time since dawn. This was stated by Nabil Al-Ahmar, media adviser to the King of Bahrain, on ‘X’. Manama’s air defences are countering Iranian attacks in Bahraini airspace, Al-Ahmar wrote in a post, adding that the air defences had halted the Iranian “aggressions”.

“Initial estimates suggest that over 2 million Iraqis attended the funeral of the martyred leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, in Najaf alone.” So reported the Iranian state broadcaster IRIB.

Several explosions were heard in the Iranian city of Bushehr and the surrounding areas. This was reported by the Iranian news agency Mehr, which also denied reports of explosions on Kharg Island. Bushehr is situated in the northern part of the Persian Gulf, not far from the island known for its oil facilities.

The latest clashes between the US and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz are fuelling fresh tensions over oil prices, with the August 2026 WTI futures contract rising to $72.77 per barrel, up 3.3 per cent. The September Brent contract on Asian markets rose by 2.9 per cent to $72.48 per barrel.

“I am following developments in Iran and, more generally, across the entire Middle East from Ankara, where I am attending the #NATOsummit. I am in contact with the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Portolano, and with the Commander of COVI, Lieutenant General Iannucci, to receive updates on what is happening. The top priority remains the safety of our military personnel and all Italian staff deployed in international theatres of operations. I wish to reassure you that, as things stand, no Italian defence personnel are involved in the current events. We will continue to monitor developments with the utmost attention, ready to take any necessary measures to protect our compatriots.” So said Defence Minister Guido Crosett

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has announced that it has struck “85 military targets” belonging to the US in Bahrain and Kuwait in response to the US air strikes. “In the initial response to this aggression, the naval and aerospace forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, through joint operations involving missiles and drones, destroyed 85 key US military installations at Port Salman, in the Fifth Fleet region in Bahrain, and at Ali Salem Air Base in Kuwait, whilst also shooting down an enemy MQ-9 drone that was attempting to interfere with the operation”, reads the Pasdaran statement reported by Iranian media.

The funeral ceremony for Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and four members of his family has begun in the holy city of Najaf, in Iraq. Iraqi media, as reported by IRNA, have stated that the funeral procession set off from the airport and arrived at the shrine of the first Shia Imam, Ali, where the coffins were laid to rest, with thousands of people in attendance. The funeral procession will continue today towards the Iraqi city of Karbala, after which the coffins will return to Iran for the burial ceremony to be held in Mashhad tomorrow. Today, the Iraqi government has declared a public holiday across the country.

- The US air strikes in Iran carried out overnight were “absolutely necessary”. This was stated by NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on his arrival at the summit. “Iran is violating the ceasefire by attacking ships; the US had to respond forcefully,” he noted. Rutte went on to say that he expected the allies to reiterate today that Tehran must never be allowed to possess nuclear weapons and that the Strait of Hormuz must be reopened.

The US Central Command has announced that it has begun launching “a series of powerful strikes against Iran” in response to Tehran’s actions against commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. “Iran’s aggression was unjustified, dangerous and constituted a blatant violation of the ceasefire,” reads a post on X by US Central Command.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry has stated that the United States has repeatedly violated the agreed memorandum of understanding and has warned that there will be retaliation following Washington’s attacks on targets in the Strait of Hormuz. “Iran is issuing a serious warning about the consequences of the United States’ breach of the treaty and will take decisive measures to protect its interests and national security,” the ministry said in a statement published on Telegram by Irib News.

The US strikes against Iran that took place a short while ago were, in terms of scale and intensity, four or five times greater than those carried out ten days earlier. This is according to Axios, citing a US official.

“The siren has sounded. Citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and make their way to the nearest safe place.” This is the text of a post on X by Bahrain’s Ministry of the Interior, following the end of the US attacks on Iran

“Serious breaches of the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran by the United States: Breach of regulations in the Strait (of Hormuz, ed.). Persistent threats of further attacks. Reimposition of oil sanctions. Attacks in southern Iran. Ongoing Zionist aggression against Lebanon. The era of bullying and extortion is over. It leads nowhere. We will not bow down.” This was written in a post on his X profile by Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of the Iranian Parliament and Iran’s chief negotiator in talks with the United States, following attacks by the US armed forces on the country.

Kuwait’s air defence systems are engaged in clashes with hostile drones and missiles. This was stated by the Kuwaiti Army General Staff. The explosions, which were heard in some parts of the country, were caused by in-flight interceptions, according to a statement from the General Staff. The public is advised to follow the safety instructions issued by the relevant authorities.

Iran claims to have struck US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain, according to reports on Iranian state television. The Revolutionary Guards have stated that they struck dozens of US military installations in Bahrain and Kuwait in response to American attacks, according to a statement released by the state broadcaster IRIB. “In an initial response to this aggression, the Revolutionary Guards’ Navy and Aerospace Force carried out an operation using missiles and drones, striking 85 key US military installations” in the two countries, and shooting down an MQ-9 drone, the statement reads.