Iran War Widens: Hezbollah, Israel Trade Fire as Drone Hits UK Base in Cyprus

Israel has carried out attacks against sites affiliated with Hezbollah in Lebanon, after the Iranian-backed group launched missiles and drones toward Israel, as the US-Iran conflict widens.

Meanwhile, a UK airbase in Cyprus was hit by a suspected Iranian drone shortly after London gave the US permission to use British bases for strikes on Iran.

As the war on Iran entered its third day on Monday, US and Israeli strikes have continued to pound Iranian cities, while Tehran’s retaliatory missile and drone attacks have targeted the Gulf region, hitting sites in Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and the UAE.

While the Gulf countries have successfully intercepted the vast majority of the Iranian missiles, they have maintained their right to respond to these blatant aggressions against their sovereignty.

Hezbollah Joins the Fray

In retaliation for the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed by a joint US-Israeli attack on Saturday, Hezbollah fired missiles and drones toward Israel early Monday.

“The resistance leadership has always emphasized that the continuation of Israeli attacks and the assassination of our leaders, youth, and people gives us the right to defend ourselves and respond at the appropriate time and place,” Hezbollah said in a statement.

The group also said its missile attacks on Israel are “in defense of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the repeated Israeli attacks.”

In response, Israel launched strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, killing at least 31 people and wounding 149 others, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.

“Hezbollah is operating on behalf of the Iranian regime, opening fire against the Israeli civilians, and bringing ruin to Lebanon,” the Israeli military said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the Israeli Defense Minister, Israel Katz, said that the group’s leader, Naim Qassem, has now become a target for “elimination,” vowing that Hezbollah will “pay a heavy price for shooting toward Israel.”

UK Base Hit

In another development, an unmanned Shahed drone hit the UK’s RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus, causing minor damage with no casualties reported, according to Cypriot authorities and the British Defense Ministry.

“Our armed forces are responding to a suspected drone strike at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus at midnight local time. Our force protection in the region is at the highest level and the base has responded to defend our people,” a spokesperson for the Defense Ministry said.

The attack came shortly after the UK agreed to allow the US to use two British military bases to strike Iranian missile sites, although the UK has not been involved in the US-Israeli war on Iran, the Guardian reported.

In a televised statement on Sunday night, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stressed that British forces would not be directly involved in the strikes. He also clarified that the bases would only be used for the “specific and limited defensive purpose” of targeting missile storage depots and launchers used in Iran’s attacks on its neighbors.

E3 Warning to Iran

The leaders of France, Germany and the UK – collectively known as the E3 – have warned Iran of a “proportionate defensive action” against its attacks on the region, in an indication that the conflict could drag other countries.

In a joint statement, they condemned Iran’s indiscriminate and disproportionate missile attacks against countries in the region, including countries that were not involved in the US-Israeli assault. “Iran’s reckless attacks have targeted our close allies and are threatening our service personnel and our civilians across the region,” the leaders said.

“We call on Iran to stop these reckless attacks immediately. We will take steps to defend our interests and those of our allies in the region, potentially through enabling necessary and proportionate defensive action to destroy Iran’s capability to fire missiles and drones at their source,” the statement said.

In conclusion, the E3 leaders said: “We have agreed to work together with the US and allies in the region on this matter.”

US Casualties

The US military announced that three service members have been killed in action and five others are “seriously wounded” as part of Operation Epic Fury.

“Several others sustained minor shrapnel injuries and concussions — and are in the process of being returned to duty. Major combat operations continue and our response effort is ongoing,” the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said.

Although CENTCOM did not disclose where or how those casualties took place, two US officials told Reuters that the three personnel were killed on a base in Kuwait.

US President Donald Trump appeared in a video address lamenting the deaths. However, he acknowledged that there could be more. “Sadly, there will likely be more before it ends.”

“But America will avenge their deaths and deliver the most punishing blow to the terrorists who have waged war against, basically, civilization,” he added.

In Iran, the Red Crescent Society has put the death toll at 555 people since the beginning of the US-Israeli attacks across more than 130 Iranian cities.