Middle East conflict widens: Iran rejects US talks, Israel strikes Beirut, explosions continue in Kuwait

The Middle East conflict deepened on Monday as Iran rejected negotiations with Washington, Israeli air strikes killed at least 10 people in Beirut’s southern suburbs, and air raid sirens sounded across Kuwait for a third straight day amid continued Iranian retaliation.

Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani said Tehran would not engage in talks with the United States, signaling a hardened stance as hostilities intensify. His remarks come at a time of acute uncertainty in Iran following the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, whose killing has reshaped the country’s leadership structure and triggered retaliatory actions by Iran and its regional allies.

Israel widened its military campaign overnight, launching strikes on targets in Lebanon after the Iran-backed group Hezbollah acknowledged firing missiles and drones toward Israeli territory. The group described its attacks as retaliation linked to recent events in Iran.

Lebanese medical sources said at least 10 people were killed in Israeli strikes on Hezbollah-controlled areas in Beirut’s southern suburbs. A series of explosions rocked the capital before dawn, prompting residents to flee and causing heavy traffic congestion. The Israeli military said it targeted infrastructure and senior militants associated with Hezbollah, warning that the group would bear responsibility for any further escalation. Residents in parts of southern and eastern Lebanon were urged to evacuate.

The cross-border exchanges mark a sharp deterioration despite a US-brokered ceasefire in 2024 that had ended more than a year of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.

The broader confrontation has spread beyond Lebanon. Kuwait’s state news agency, citing civil defense authorities, said drones had been intercepted and that no injuries were reported. However, loud explosions and air raid sirens were heard across Kuwait on Monday for the third consecutive day, according to a Reuters witness, underscoring the growing reach of the conflict.

The escalation follows large-scale US and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets over the weekend. US President Donald Trump said operations could continue for weeks until military objectives are achieved. The first confirmed US casualties were reported Sunday, including three service members killed at a base in Kuwait.

Air raid sirens also sounded in Israel, including in Tel Aviv, as Iran launched additional missile barrages.

Meanwhile, Iran’s leadership announced that a temporary council had assumed the duties of the supreme leader, highlighting uncertainty at the top of the Islamic Republic.