Iran-US war latest: Israel strikes major Tehran airport as US warns of ‘biggest bombing campaign’ yetnewsline24

Explosions sent up clouds of dark smoke in the Iranian capital city early on Saturday and Tehran retaliated by firing missiles at Israel,

The latest bombardments come as the United States warned of a bombing campaign that officials said would be the most intense yet in the week-long conflict.

Donald Trump’s administration also approved a new £112 million arms sale to Israel after the US president said he would not negotiate with Iran without its “unconditional surrender”.

Iran’s UN ambassador said the country would “take all necessary measures” to defend itself as Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said on X more than 80 fighter jets had targeted Tehran and central Iran.

The IDF said targets included ballistic missile storage facilities and Imam Hossein military university, which it said was used for training by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard.

Associated Press video showed explosions flashing and smoke rising over western Tehran as Israel said it had begun a broad wave of strikes.

Also early on Saturday, the Israeli military said it was moving to intercept a new salvo of missiles launched from Iran.

In a sign of the widening nature of the conflict, sirens sounded early on Saturday in Bahrain as an Iranian attack targeted the island kingdom.

Saudi Arabia said it destroyed drones headed toward its vast Shaybah oil field and shot down a ballistic missile launched toward Prince Sultan Air Base, which hosts US forces.

The US and Israel have battered Iran with strikes, targeting its military capabilities, leadership and nuclear programme.

The stated goals and timelines for the war have repeatedly shifted, as the US has at times suggested it seeks to topple Iran’s government or elevate new leadership from within.

Meanwhile, Russia has provided Iran with information that could help Tehran strike the US military, according to two officials familiar with US intelligence on the matter.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had a call on Friday with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, expressing his condolences over the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Kremlin said.

In other developments, evidence emerged suggesting that an explosion which killed scores of Iranian students at a school was likely caused by US airstrikes that also hit an adjacent compound associated with the regime’s Revolutionary Guard.

Qatar’s energy minister Saad al-Kaabi warned in an interview with the Financial Times that the war could “bring down the economies of the world,” predicting a widespread shutdown of Gulf energy exports that could send oil to £111 a barrel.

The price for a barrel of benchmark US crude rose above $90 (£67) on Friday for the first time in more than two years.

The airline said on X: “All flights to and from Dubai have been suspended until further notice.

“Please do not go to the airport.

“Emirates will share updates when available. We would like to thank our customers for their understanding and patience.

“The safety of our passengers and crew is our highest priority and will not be compromised.”

Passengers waiting for flights at the Dubai international airport, the world’s busiest for international travel, found themselves ushered down into train tunnels at the sprawling airfield after missile alert sounded.

Earlier on Saturday morning, mobile phone alerts were issued in Dubai about “potential missile threats”.

Emirati authorities urged the public to seek immediate shelter.

Emirati air defences had activated over the missile threat, the government said.

Massive explosions have been reported this morning at Iran’s Mehrabad airport, with video footage showing a burning plane and large plumes of smoke rising into the sky.

Mehrabad in Tehran serves Iran as its busiest airport and main domestic hub. It also serves as a facility for Iran’s air force.

Videos shared on social media confirmed the attack on the airport. Hours earlier, satellite imagery of the airport showed multiple aircraft on the premises.

Gulf countries said they have intercepted more ballistic missiles and drones this morning as Iran launched another wave of retaliatory strikes.

Saudi Arabia said early on Saturday it stopped four drones attacking the country’s massive Shaybah oil field, the second attack within hours.

In Dubai, people heard several blasts in the morning, with Emirati authorities saying there had been “a minor incident resulting from the fall of debris after an interception”.

Meanwhile, Israeli warplanes hammered Beirut and Tehran. The death toll continued to rise on Saturday with at least 1,230 people killed in Iran, more than 200 in Lebanon and around a dozen in Israel, according to officials.

At least six US troops have been reported killed in the war so far.

The president reportedly floated the idea while talking about his larger vision of stopping Iran from enriching uranium that could be used in a nuclear weapon and ensuring Iranian cooperation with U.S. oil producers, the sources said.

“This story is based on assumptions from anonymous sources who are not part of the President’s national security team and are clearly not read into these discussions,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to the outlet.

“President Trump always, wisely keeps all options open, but anyone trying to insinuate he is in favor of one option or another proves they have no real seat at the table.”

Defence secretary Pete Hegseth has said the US is “tracking everything” and factoring it into battle plans, in response to reports of Russia aiding Iran with intelligence.

Russia has provided Iran with information that could help Tehran strike American warships, aircraft and other assets in the region, according to two officials familiar with US intelligence on the matter.

“The American people can rest assured their commander in chief is well aware of who’s talking to who,” he said in a CBS’ “60 Minutes” interview.

“And anything that shouldn’t be happening, whether it’s in public or back-channeled, is being confronted and confronted strongly,” he said.

A ‘minor incident’ has been contained, officials in Dubai said, stating that it was caused by falling debris from an interception.

No injuries have been reported, they said, reported BBC.

At the same time, more than half a dozen flights preparing to land at Dubai airport are in a holding pattern, flight tracking websites showed.