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Special Series Middle East conflict Conflict in the Middle East has been escalating. These stories provide context for current developments and the history that led up to them. By Jane Arraf , Jawad Rizkallah Motorists drive along a street as smoke rises from a reported Iranian strike in the area where the U.S. Embassy is located in Kuwait City on Monday.
− AFP/Getty Images hide caption AMMAN, Jordan – The war over Iran engulfed more of the Middle East and beyond on Monday as Lebanon's militant group Hezbollah responded to the killing of Iran's spiritual leader with its first attack on Israel in more than a year. Kuwait said Monday 'several' U.S.
+ AFP/Getty Images hide caption AMMAN, Jordan — The war over Iran engulfed more of the Middle East and beyond on Monday as strikes intensified, Iran-backed groups stepped up attacks and a fourth U.S.
− fighter aircraft had crashed in its territory. The U.S. Central Command said three U.S. F-15E fighter jets "went down over Kuwait due to an apparent friendly fire incident." "During active combat—that included attacks from Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles, and drones — the U.S. Air Force fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses," it said in a statement posted on X.
+ service member was killed in action.
− The Command said all six members of the crew were "ejected safely, have been safely recovered, and are in stable condition." Middle East conflict 3 American troops killed, and Trump says more 'likely,' in war against Iran It added that Kuwait acknowledged the incident and said that "the cause of the incident is under investigation." Iran claimed responsibility for one downed jet. Lebanon's health ministry said Israeli airstrikes in retaliation for the attack by Iran-backed Hezbollah killed at least 31 people and wounded at least 149 – most of them in south Lebanon. The Lebanese government, facing being drawn into another devastating war, said it planned to arrest those responsible for the rocket attack on Israel. Powerful Iran-backed militias in Iraq have also entered the fighting.
+ Middle East conflict Hegseth: 'We didn't start this war but under President Trump we're finishing it' U.S.
− They fired at a U.S.
+ Central Command (CENTCOM) said Monday the fourth U.S.
− base in Erbil in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and claimed responsibility for a drone attack targeting U.S.
+ service member died after being wounded during Iran's initial attacks in response to U.S.
− forces at Baghdad airport. Iran increased attacks on Kuwait, a key U.S.
+ and Israeli strikes across Iran Saturday.
− military ally.
+ A U.S.
− The Mediterranean island nation of Cyprus said a drone targeted a British base.
+ official not authorized to speak publicly told NPR that the troops who were killed were ground-based forces stationed in Kuwait.
− The Iranian Red Crescent Society, a humanitarian organization, said at least 555 Iranians have been killed since the beginning of the U.S.
+ "We expect to take additional losses, and as always, we will work to minimize losses," Gen.
− and Israeli attacks on Saturday. They included Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and members of his family. Iran said more than 165 schoolgirls were killed in a direct hit on a school.
+ Dan Caine, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on Monday.
− Three U.S.
+ President Trump on Sunday had pledged that the U.S.
− troops were killed in an Iranian attack in Kuwait, according to a Defense department official speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to disclose the location of the deaths. President Trump pledged that the U.S.
would "avenge" the deaths of American troops.
− "Sadly, there will likely be more before it ends," he said.
+ In a separate incident, CENTCOM said three U.S.
− "That's the way it is." The U.S. Embassy in Kuwait warned Americans there to take cover indoors and warned them not to come to the embassy. A photo from the Agence France-Presse and Getty Images showed smoke rising in the distance with the caption describing it as smoke rising from the embassy. An attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission could not be immediately confirmed.
+ F-15E fighter jets crashed in Kuwait "due to an apparent friendly fire incident" Sunday night.
− Separately, CNN said it verified video that showed a fighter jet crashing near a U.S.
+ Middle East conflict 3 American troops killed, and Trump says more 'likely,' in war against Iran "During active combat—that included attacks from Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles, and drones — the U.S.
− base in Kuwait. The Kuwaiti ministry of defense said several U.S.
+ Air Force fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses," it said in a statement.
− military aircraft crashed on its territory Monday morning but that the crews were safe.
+ CENTCOM said all six members of the crew were "ejected safely, have been safely recovered, and are in stable condition." It added that Kuwait acknowledged the incident and said that "the cause of the incident is under investigation." Meanwhile, the Iranian Red Crescent Society, a humanitarian organization, said at least 555 Iranians have been killed since the beginning of U.S.
− The U.S. Central Command did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
+ and Israeli attacks on Saturday.
− Iran's military said it shot down a U.S.
+ They include Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and members of his family.
− F-15 fighter jet. It also said it fired 15 cruise missiles at the huge Ali al-Salem U.S. air base in Kuwait and what it called enemy vessels in the Indian Ocean. It did not mention fighter aircraft.
+ Iranian officials also said more than 168 schoolgirls were killed in a direct hit on a school.
− Gulf countries have so far largely left the fighting to U.S. forces stationed on their territory but increasing Iranian attacks are raising the specter of direct involvement by those states.
+ Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group in Lebanon, said it launched attacks in Israel in revenge for the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as well as in response to continued Israeli attacks in Lebanon since a ceasefire more than a year ago.
− Saudi Arabia said Monday that it shot down two drones targeting one of its major refineries.
+ Israel said it intercepted one of the missiles while others fell into open areas, and responded to the attacks with airstrikes.
− It said the debris started what it called a limited fire at the Ras Tanura refinery but no civilian injuries.
+ Lebanon's Health Ministry said Israeli airstrikes killed at least 31 people and wounded at least 149 — most of them in southern Lebanon.
− In Lebanon, Hezbollah said the attacks were vengeance over Khamenei's killing and continued Israeli attacks since a ceasefire was signed between Israel and Lebanon more than a year ago. Israel said it intercepted one of the missiles while others fell into open areas.
+ Middle East conflict Oil prices surge and stocks fall amid fears over Iran war The Lebanese government, facing being drawn into another devastating war, said it planned to arrest those responsible for the rocket attack on Israel.
− In Beirut, residents leaving south Lebanon and Beirut's southern suburbs streamed into shelters set up in schools, which have been closed by the government.
+ In the capital Beirut, residents leaving southern Lebanon and Beirut's southern suburbs streamed into shelters set up in schools, which have been closed by the government.
At the Renee Mouawad public school in central Beirut, many of those arriving had been displaced two years ago during fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. Families arrived in cars piled high with mattresses and other belongings.
− Abu Ali, a taxi driver who did not want to give his full name out of fear of being ostracized in his pro-Hezbollah neighborhood, said he left Dahiya, the Beirut suburb that is a Hezbollah stronghold, with his family at three in the morning after hearing air strikes "I spent the morning looking for a school and then I found this," he said.
+ Abu Ali, a taxi driver who did not want to give his full name out of fear of being ostracized in his pro-Hezbollah neighborhood, said he left Dahiya, a Beirut suburb that is a Hezbollah stronghold, with his family at three in the morning after hearing air strikes. "I spent the morning looking for a school and then I found this," he said.
He and his family were last displaced during the war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2024. "Last time I stayed in the streets," he said. "The schools were all full, and I couldn't pay rent for a house." "The Israeli enemy is an enemy in the end. But enough — we also want to live," he said.
− In Israel, the government urged civilians to evacuate villages in the east and south of the country.
+ Israel continued a wave of strikes across the Iranian capital overnight that it said were aimed at security targets.
− Trump at the start of the U.S.
+ Since Israel launched surprise attacks in Iran this weekend, Iran has been launching missiles at Israeli cities — killing at least 10 people. Nine of those killed were at a public shelter that was hit by a missile in a city outside Jerusalem on Sunday. Another missile attack in Tel Aviv killed a caregiver from the Philippines. Shay Shor, an Israeli in Tel Aviv, said he wants Iranians to be free but is concerned Israel's killing of Supreme Leader Khamenei might not achieve that. "We killed their leader, but the leadership in Iran is not completely destroyed and within a few months they're just going to come back," Shor says.
− attacks urged Iranians to "take over" their government and has signaled he would be open to dialogue with any new leadership.
+ "Next year is going to be the same thing, same story, same kind of war." Iran-backed militias in Iraq have also entered the fighting.
− But he made clear there were more attacks coming.
+ They fired at a U.S. base in Irbil in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and claimed responsibility for a drone attack targeting U.S. forces at Baghdad airport.
− "Combat operations continue at this time in full force, and they will continue until all of our objectives are achieved," he said in a video message.
+ A drone strike hit a British air force base on the Mediterranean island nation of Cyprus, according to Britain's Defence Ministry.
− "We have very strong objectives," Trump said, without elaborating.
+ There were no casualties reported. Middle East conflict Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is killed in Israeli strike, ending 36-year iron rule Iran's military said it shot down a U.S.
− Trump told the New York Times on Sunday that the U.S.
+ F-15 fighter jet.
− military intends to sustain its assault on Iran for "four to five weeks" if necessary.
+ It also said it fired 15 cruise missiles at the huge Ali al-Salem U.S. air base in Kuwait and what it called enemy vessels in the Indian Ocean. It did not mention fighter aircraft.
+ Gulf countries have so far largely left the fighting to U.S. forces stationed on their territory but increasing Iranian attacks are raising the specter of direct involvement by those states. Saudi Arabia said Monday that it shot down two drones targeting one of its major refineries. It said the debris started what it called a limited fire at the Ras Tanura refinery but no civilian injuries.
The U.S. military said it had hit an Iranian warship, which was sinking Sunday in an Iranian port.
− Trump said on social media that the U.S.
+ Trump said in a video on social media that the U.S.
had sunk nine Iranian warships and "largely destroyed" Iran's naval headquarters. The U.S. military's Central Command said it could not confirm those claims.
− The attacks widened beyond the Middle East Monday as a drone strike hit a British air force base on the Mediterranean island nation of Cyprus, according to Britain's defense ministry.
+ Middle East conflict Oil prices surge and stocks fall amid fears over Iran war Global crude oil prices surged and stocks fell as the war with Iran entered its third day.
− There were no casualties reported. Israel continued a wave of strikes across the Iranian capital overnight that it said were aimed at security targets. Middle East conflict Oil prices rise sharply in market trading after attacks in Middle East disrupt supply Oil prices were expected to rise sharply after Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had hit three U.S.
+ Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had hit three U.S.
and U.K. oil tankers in the Gulf.
− On Saturday it closed the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway vital to the global oil trade.
+ On Saturday Iran said it was closing the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway vital to the global oil trade.
− After Israel, Gulf countries, long seen as prosperous havens for Western expatriates, have received the brunt of Iranian attacks. After airport attacks and widespread flight cancellations, Britain foreign minister Yvette Cooper told Sky News Monday that her government was considering arranging evacuation if needed for hundreds of thousands of citizens in the region.
+ After Israel, Gulf countries that have long been considered as prosperous havens for Western expatriates have received the brunt of Iranian attacks.
+ After airport attacks and widespread flight cancellations, British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told Sky News Monday that the government was considering arranging evacuation if needed for hundreds of thousands of citizens in the region. Daniel Estrin contributed reporting from Tel Aviv, Israel.
Jawad Rizkallah reported from Beirut. Sponsor Message Become an NPR sponsor