World’s largest oil refinery hit by Iranian drone forcing Saudi Arabia to close it as Tehran launches extra assaults throughout Middle East and US F-15s are shot down – stay updates

Saudi Arabia has dramatically halted operations at its huge Ras Tanura refinery – one of the world’s biggest oil facilities – after an Iranian drone strike earlier today.

Iran has rejected an ultimatum by Donald Trump to lay down its weapons after two days of fighting and launched new attacks on Israel and across the Middle East.

The Saudi defence ministry has confirmed two missiles were intercepted and destroyed at the plant which produces around 550,000 barrels per day and is a cornerstone of the kingdom’s energy sector.

One Middle East expert said the attack marked a ‘significant escalation’ by Iran and meant Saudi Arabia would be drawn closer into joining the US and Israel in military operations against Tehran.

The latest attack comes on as the US-Israel war with Iran enters its third day: Here’s what you need to know:

• Iran rejects Trump’s ultimatum to lay down weapons and launches new attacks on Israel and Gulf states
• Several US warplanes crash near Kuwait embassy but crews survive
• Israel launches new strikes on Tehran and Lebanon’s capital Beirut after Hezbollah fires missiles across the border
• British RAF base in Cyprus is attacked by drone and Dubai rocked by new explosions
• The UK is drawing up rescue plans for up to 300,000 Britons trapped in countries targeted by Iran
• US military insiders have warned America’s stockpile of missiles and interceptors could run dry if his war in Iran is prolonged

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards say their latest missile attacks have targeted the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the headquarters of the Israeli air force commander.

‘The office of the criminal prime minister of the Zionist regime and the headquarters of the regime’s air force commander were targeted,’ the Guards said in a statement carried by Fars news agency.

It said Kheibar missiles were used in the attack but did not say if it was successful.

It comes hours after Netanyahu vowed to intensify air strikes on Tehran in the coming days, declaring that the military had mobilised its ‘full strength’ in the campaign against Iran.

‘I have issued instructions for the continuation of the campaign… Our forces are now striking at the heart of Tehran with intense power, and this will only escalate in the days ahead,’ Netanyahu said in a video statement last night (pictured).

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a new ‘broad strike’ on Tehran today with loud explosions reported across the Iranian capital.

Homes were reportedly shaking in central and eastern parts of the city following the new offensive with smoke seen rising in the skies above.

‘The Israeli Air Force, with the guidance of Israeli Intelligence has begun an additional broad strike on Iranian terror regime targets in the heart of Tehran,’ the military said in a statement, on the third day of the joint US-Israeli operation against Iran.

Air travel remains in turmoil today as the fighting between the US/Israel and Iran for a third day causes flight disruption to thousands of journeys.

Airlines remain grounded with operations suspended in key hubs including Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi.

Here is the latest on the flight situation from some of the world’s biggest airlines:

• Air France and KLM

Air France canceled flights to and from Tel Aviv, Beirut, Dubai and Riyadh through March 3. KLM said its flights to and from Dubai, Riyadh and Dammam may be disrupted through March 6 and flights to and from Tel Aviv were suspended.

The airline suspended all flights to and from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Qatar through March 2. It also canceled some flights to and from Europe on March 2.

• British Airways

IAG-owned British Airways said customers flying between London and Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai or Tel Aviv through March 15 can change their flight date free of charge to travel on or before March 29. Those traveling up to March 8 may also request a full refund.

Emirates said it had suspended all flights to and from Dubai until 1100 GMT on March 2.

The German airline suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv, Beirut, Amman, Dammam, Erbil and Tehran until March 8 and flights to and from Dubai until March 4.

• Singapore Airlines

The Singaporean carrier said it had canceled flights to and from Dubai through March 7. Its low-cost airline Scoot canceled flights to and from Jeddah through March 7.

• Qatar Airways

The airline said it temporarily suspended flights to and from Doha due to the closure of Qatari airspace.

The super-rich are paying up to £260,000 to flee the Middle East on private jets, it has emerged.

Wealthy elites are fleeing to Saudi Arabia to evacuate the Gulf, as Iranian missiles and drones rained over Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Qatar, and Bahrain last weekend – regions inhabited by the rich and previously perceived to be safe countries.

Riyadh is becoming a key exit route for those looking for a safe route out of the Middle East, as the airport in the Saudi Arabia capital is one of few still operating.

But the journey is costly – private security companies are reportedly booking fleets of SUVs to transport people on the 10-hour drive to Riyadh from Dubai and then are chartering private planes.

Among those being evacuated are senior executives at global finance firms and high-net-worth individuals who were holidaying in the region or were there on a business trip, according to Semafor.

The sharp rise in demand for an emergency exit is pushing prices for SUVs and private jets up, as it has been reported that private jets from Riyadh to Europe now cost up to $350,000 (£260,000).

by Martin Robinson and Mark Nicol

The RAF has shot down two attack drones from Iran heading for its base on Cyprus this afternoon.

The Daily Mail understands that the weapons of the Iranian regime were destroyed by RAF Typhoons launched from RAF Akrotiri at just after midday.

Personnel on the UK’s air base in the Mediterranean were already on high alert after it was hit by a ‘kamikaze’ attack drone sent by Tehran overnight.

Paphos Airport was evacuated today and flights were grounded when two suspect objects were picked up on radar approaching Cyprus.

The weapons were heading towards RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus but were intercepted at just after midday, a spokesperson for the Cypriot Government later confirmed.

Donald Trump said he was ‘very disappointed’ Sir Keir Starmer initially blocked the US from using British military bases to target Iran.

In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, Donald Trump said Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer ‘took far too long’ to change his mind and allow the US to allow British bases to target Iran.

He said: ‘That’s probably never happened between our countries before. It sounds like he was worried about the legality.’

He added: ‘All of a sudden [Mauritius] was claiming ownership. He should have fought it out and owned it or make him take it, if you want to know the truth. But no, we were very disappointed in Keir.’

The US has confirmed three F-15E Strike Eagles crashed in Kuwait following what it described as an ‘apparent friendly fire incident’.

The US Air Force fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses near the country’s embassy while flying in support of Operation Epic Fury, United States Central Command (Centcom) said in a statement.

All six air crew ejected safely and have been recovered with no injuries reported.

Centcom says the cause of the incident remains under investigation though added Kuwait had ‘acknowledged’ it.

Paphos International Airport in Cyprus has been evacuated after a suspect object was picked up on radars, the Cyprus state broadcaster reported.

Local media outlets report passengers were ordered to leave the terminal building at around 12:45pm local time following instructions by security officials.

It comes as Cyprus remains on high alert after a British RAF base was struck by a drone.

Paphos airport on the western coast of the island. It is 37 miles from Britain’s RAF Akrotiri, which was hit by an unmanned drone overnight.

Just after midday today, sirens began sounding at Akrotiri and fighter jets were seen taking off this morning from the RAF’s station near Limassol as Iranian missiles exploded all over the Middle East.

It came after the UK’s air base in the Mediterranean was struck by an enemy ‘kamikaze’ attack drone last night, immediately after Sir Keir Starmer U-turned on a US request to use British military bases to hit back at Iran.

Qatar’s Ministry of Defence has said two energy-related sites have been targeted in separate missile attacks by Iran.

Authorities have not reported any injuries or fatalities.

In a statement, the ministry said: ‘One targeted a water storage tank belonging to the Mesaieed Power plant, and the other targeted one of the energy facilities in the industrial city of Ras Laffan affiliated with QatarEnergy.

‘All damages and losses resulting from the attack will be assessed by the relevant authorities, and official statements will be provided later.’

It comes as Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesman Majid al-Ansari confirmed the country was no longer engaging with Iran after civilian infrastructure including the international airport in Doha was targeted in strikes.

by Martin Robinson

The evacuation of Britain’s RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus has been stopped in its tracks today by fears of an imminent new attack by Iran.

Sirens have been sounding and aircraft seen taking off this morning from the RAF’s station near Limassol amid Iranian missiles exploding all over the Middle East.

A memo sent to British forces on the base, seen by the Daily Mail, warned of an ‘ongoing security threat’ and that people on the base should immediately take cover.

‘Please return to your homes and stay inside until further notice’, the warning said at 10.04am.

‘Move away from windows and take cover behind or beneath substantial, solid furniture. Please await further instruction’.

It came after the UK’s air base in the Mediterranean was struck by an enemy ‘kamikaze’ attack drone last night, immediately after Sir Keir Starmer U-turned on a US request to use British military bases to hit back at Iran’s missile sites.

A bomb-carrying drone boat has attacked an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman, authorities in Oman have said.

One person was killed in an attack on an oil tanker off Muscat that also caused an explosion and a fire.

The attack comes as Iran presses on with its Gulf retaliation campaign.

‘The oil tanker MKD VYOM, flying the flag of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, was attacked by an unmanned boat 52 nautical miles off the coast of Muscat Governorate.

‘The tanker was carrying approximately 59,463 metric tons of cargo,’ the Omani maritime security centre said in a statement.

‘The attack resulted in a fire and explosion in the main engine room, killing one crew member, an Indian national,’ it added.