By The United States embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, has been targeted in what officials describe as the most intense assault since the recent wave of attacks began, with drones and rockets launched at the diplomatic facility.
Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates has reportedly reopened its airspace after temporarily shutting it due to missile and drone threats linked to Iran.
In Europe, Alexander Stubb, President of Finland, defended UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in an interview with the BBC after US President Donald Trump criticised him, saying he was “not happy” with the UK’s stance on the crisis.
Starmer had earlier indicated that the United Kingdom would not be drawn into a wider war involving Iran.
Trump also renewed his call for greater international involvement, particularly from NATO allies, in securing the Strait of Hormuz — a critical global oil shipping route. He expressed surprise that more world leaders had not shown eagerness to participate.
However, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the conflict “is not a matter for NATO,” even as the alliance noted that member states have already increased security presence in the Mediterranean region.
Amid rising tensions, leaders of the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany and Italy issued a joint statement warning that any large-scale Israeli ground offensive in Lebanon would have “devastating humanitarian consequences.”
Earlier, the Israeli military said it had launched a “wide-scale wave of strikes” targeting key cities in Iran, including Tehran, Shiraz and Tabriz.
