US attacks Iran: Missile strikes reported across the Middle East

There have been multiple reports of explosions across the Middle East after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran as part of what Donald Trump called a “major combat operation”.

Iran launched retaliatory strikes that targeted Israel and US military bases in the region.

Forty people were killed when a strike hit near a girls' school in southern Iran, the state-run IRNA news agency reported, while one person was killed by debris in Abu Dhabi after air defences intercepted Iranian missiles, local media said.

Qatar intercepted two Iranian missiles over its country, Qatari official said while there were reports of multiple explosions in Abu Dhabi and Qatar, all of which have US bases.

Bahrain said that a missile attack targeted the US Navy's fifth fleet headquarters in the island kingdom.

The UK did not participate in the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, ITV News understands. Keir Starmer chaired a meeting of the government's emergency Cobra committee on Saturday morning. He is expected to consult international allies in the coming hours.

A spokesperson said it was providing consular assistance for British nationals in the region as the Foreign Office warned UK nationals in Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait to "immediately shelter in place".

The advice on the FCDO website said: "Remain indoors in a secure location, avoid all travel and follow instructions from the local authorities."