Morning update
Good morning Middle East Eye readers,
Iran and the US have continued their fire exchange for a second day amid a collapsing ceasefire.
Tehran targeted several US bases and infrastructure in Bahrain and Kuwait, while Washington said it hit around 90 targets across Iran.
Here are some of the latest developments:
At least 14 killed and 78 others were injured in US attacks across 5 Iranian provinces on Wednesday, the Iranian Health Ministry reported.
Meanwhile US strikes on Thursday killed a firefighter in Iran's southeastern city of Iranshahr as well as three others in the western city of Ahvaz.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf criticised US attacks, asserting that Tehran would retaliate. "America still hasn’t learned that bullying and breaking promises are no longer cost-free," he said in a post on X. "Let me put it plainly: if you strike, you’ll get hit."
Sirens were activated in Bahrain and Kuwait, as well as elevated security threat alerts sent to mobile phones in Qatar.
State media reported that the train line between Tehran and Mashhad has been suspended following US strikes, just hours before the burial of late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in his hometown. His body was expected to be buried late on Thursday in the Shrine of Imam Reza, located in central Mashdad.
