Saudi oil refinery shut after it was targeted by drones
Saudi Aramco has temporarily shut down its Ras Tanura oil refinery near Dammam after it was targeted by Iranian drones.
Saudi state television reported the decision, citing what it described as an "official source," and adding that there were no casualties from a fire and that its decision was precautionary.
The Saudi defense ministry said incoming aircraft had been intercepted.
The refinery has a capacity over half a million barrels of crude oil a day.
Iran's decision to target it further expands the war gripping the Middle East, directly targeting the lifeblood of the kingdom's economy.
Already, Iran has been threatening ships in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which a fifth of all oil trade passes. Several ships have been attacked there.
"The attack on Saudi Arabia's Ras Tanura refinery marks a significant escalation, with Gulf energy infrastructure now squarely in Iran's sights," said Torbjorn Soltvedt, an analyst at the risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft.
"An extended period of uncertainty lies ahead as Iran seeks to impose a heavy economic cost by putting tankers, regional energy infrastructure, trade routes and U.S. security partners in the crosshairs," he said.
U.N. nuclear watchdog chief: No signs any nuclear installations in Iran have been hit
The U.N.'s nuclear watchdog chief, Rafael Mariano Grossi, said Monday that "up to now," the International Atomic Energy Agency has "no indication that any of the nuclear installations, including the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, the Tehran Research Reactor or other nuclear fuel cycle facilities" in Iran have been damaged or hit.
Iran's IAEA ambassador claimed U.S. and Israeli forces had attacked the Natanz nuclear enrichment complex south of Tehran on Sunday.
Addressing a special session of the IAEA Board of Governors in Vienna, he said the IAEA continues to try to contact the Iranian nuclear regulatory authorities via the IAEA's Incident and Emergency Center "with no response so far," given the limitations in communications caused by the conflict.
Grossi urged military restraint, warning that Iran and many other countries in the region that have been targeted militarily have "operational nuclear power plants and nuclear research reactors, as well as associated fuel storage sites," which increases the threat to nuclear safety.
So far, he said, "no elevation of radiation levels above the usual background levels has been detected in countries bordering Iran."
But, he added, "We cannot rule out a possible radiological release with serious consequences, including the necessity to evacuate areas as large or larger than major cities," Reuters reported.
555 killed in Iran since war began, Red Crescent says
A total of 555 people have been killed across Iran in US and Israeli strikes that began two days ago, the Iranian Red Crescent said Monday.
"Following the Zionist-American terrorist attacks carried out in various regions of our country, 131 cities have been affected to date and, regrettably, 555 of our compatriots have been killed," the humanitarian group said in a post on Telegram.
Several U.S. fighter jets crash in Kuwait, but all pilots survive, Kuwait says
Several U.S. warplanes crashed in Kuwait Monday, but all crew members survived, that country's defense ministry said on social media.
A ministry spokesperson said authorities launched search and rescue operations and evacuated the crews to hospitals, adding that they were in stable condition.
He said the U.S. and Kuwait are conducting a joint investigation into the cause of the crashes.
Earlier, the spokesperson said Kuwaiti Air Defense Forces had intercepted several "hostile aerial targets."
IDF says safe to leave bomb shelters
The IDF said on social media that "following a situational assessment," it was safe for people in Israel to exit bomb shelters. It noted, however, people were still required to stay near shelters in case of further attacks.
Fire, smoke seen rising from U.S. Embassy compound in Kuwait
Fire and smoke rose from inside the U.S. Embassy compound in Kuwait after an Iranian attack on the small Mideast nation on Monday. Video obtained by The Associated Press showed the smoke with an alarm wailing, and a correspondent for French news agency AFP saw smoke rising from the diplomatic mission.
The U.S. had earlier issued an urgent warning to Americans there to take cover and remain indoors. It said: "Do not come to the Embassy. Take cover in your residence on the lowest available floor and away from windows. Do not go outside."
"U.S. Embassy personnel are sheltering in place," it added.
At least 31 dead in Israeli strikes on Lebanon, health ministry says
Lebanon's Health Ministry said at least 31 people were killed and 149 wounded in Israeli strikes that followed Hezbollah firing missiles into Israel early Monday. About two thirds of the dead were in southern Lebanon, the ministry said.
After its initial strikes on Beirut, Israel urged civilians in nearly 50 villages in eastern and southern Lebanon to evacuate ahead of more possible attacks, sending people fleeing.
Hezbollah said its salvos into Lebanon were in response to the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and "repeated Israeli aggressions."
It was the first attack the Lebanese militant group has claimed in more than a year. There were no reports of injuries or damage, and Israel said it had intercepted one projectile while several fell in open areas.
Iran launches another round of missiles toward Israel, IDF says
Iran launched another wave of missiles toward Israel on Monday morning, the IDF said on social media, adding that its defense systems were trying to intercept the missiles.
The Israeli military said civilians have been alerted and urged them to move to bomb shelters and not come out until told it's safe to do so.
Iran's security chief: "We will not negotiate with the United States"
Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said Sunday night on social media, "We will not negotiate with the United States."
