Iran news and live updates: Pete Hegseth declares America ‘didn’t start this war but we’re finishing it’

‘Several’ US warplanes have crashed in Kuwait on Monday morning, according to the Kuwait Defence Ministry.

All pilots successfully exited the aircraft before impact, according to reports, and are in a stable condition in hospital.

The Defence Ministry did not comment on how the aircraft crashed, although Iranian missiles are reported to have targeted Kuwait “intensely” overnight.

Your latest curation of today’s news is here, with a comprehensive wrap of the Iran conflict so far.

Tonight’s edition covers attacks on Australian personal and overnight explosions in major Golf cities, as well as Australia’s decision to stay out of the conflict.

Plus, revelations that Peter Dutton must “never again” be allowed to run an election campaign following an internal review of the Liberal’s 2025 effort.

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Israeli President Isaac Herzog says Iran has “tried to attack Israel from all corners of the Earth” when asked about the legality of the strikes on Iran by the BBC.

“We have huge amount of proof which we are sharing of course with our British allies and every other allies,” Herzog said.

“We want to make sure that there is a real change in the region.”

NSW Premier Chris Minns has condemned Muslim mosques in Sydney for conducting services mourning Ayatollah Ali Khamanei as a martyr amid speculation Iranian diplomatic staff in Australia had pressured the Shia community to do so.

The Labor leader led the condemnation as mosques in Melbourne and Brisbane also planned a vigils, sparking a call from a Jewish group for Australia to deport those commemorating the late leader of Iran, given the country’s ties to listed terrorist organisations in Australia including Hamas and Hezbollah.

A leading expert in global Islamic politics has suggested Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp, via embassy staff in Australia, had pressured Shia mosques to honour the Supreme Leader.

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A large airbase used by Australian forces in the Middle East was reportedly hit by Iranian missile strikes over the weekend, but Defence Minister Richard Marles insists all military personnel in the area are safe and accounted for.

Dozens of ADF members remain stationed at the Al Minhad Airbase (AMAB) outside Dubai, running Headquarters Middle East (HQME) in support of up to twelve current operations across the region.

Since the United States and Israel launched their coordinated strikes against Iran on Friday evening (Canberra time) there have been numerous reports of retaliatory attacks on bases used by coalition forces across the United Arab Emirates.

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The UK Ministry of Defence says there has been “minimal” damage to RAF Akrotiri, after the air base was attacked by unidentified drones last night.

Operations at the air base are continuing as normal, according to the Ministry.

A “major” oil refinery in Kuwait has been hit by falling shrapnel, according to reports from the Kuwait News Agency, which is state-run.

A fighter jet has crashed near a US air base in Kuwait, although reports say the aircraft has not been identified.

Smoke was also reported near the US Embassy in Kuwait, and emergency services have been seen in the area.

IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir says the Israeli military’s strikes against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon could extend for several days.

“We have begun an offensive campaign against Hezbollah. We are not just on the defensive, now we go on the offence,” Zamir said.

“We need to prepare for several days of fighting, many. We need strong defensive readiness and continuous offensive preparedness, in waves.”

At least 31 people have been killed and more than 140 injured in Israeli airstrikes targeting southern Lebanon and Beirut, according to Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health.

The ministry said roughly 20 people died in the southern suburbs of Beirut, while around 11 were killed in southern Lebanon.

The Israeli military confirmed its strikes hit “senior Hezbollah terrorists in the Beirut area” and a “central Hezbollah commander in southern Lebanon.”

Lebanese state media reported ongoing evacuations after multiple strikes in Beirut’s southern suburbs, including Dahiyeh, a known Hezbollah stronghold.