US sends massive Iranian warship up in flames in mission to sink nation's ENTIRE Navy as Middle East sees drones and missiles pound region

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The American and Israeli war with Iran today entered its seventh day as violence continues to spread across the Middle East.

If you're just joining us, here are the main developments:

• Donald Trump told the Iranian regime's besieged military force to surrender or face 'guaranteed death' as his Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned the US has 'only just begun'.
• Trump added he was not currently considering sending US ground troops into Iran after saying he would 'have to be involved' in choosing Iran's next leader
• US forces sent a massive Iranian drone carrier up in flames last night as part of its effort to sink the entire Iranian Navy
• Israel has declared a 'next phase' in the conflict with more airstrikes in Tehran while its military issued an unprecedented warning in Beirut, telling residents 'save your lives and evacuate your residences' immediately
• Iranian missiles struck two hotels in Bahrain with footage showing one on fire in the capital Manama
• Saudi Arabia said it destroyed three drones east of Riyadh today as Iran presses on with attacks across the Gulf
• The first government chartered repatriation flight leaving from the Middle East arrives back in the UK after the first attempt was delayed because of pilot working hours

by Olivia Christie

Four people have been arrested on suspicion of spying for Iran following a police probe into surveillance of members of the Jewish community in London.

The suspects, one Iranian and three dual British-Iranian nationals were taken into custody by the Metropolitan Police at around 1am this morning.

The force said the men, aged 22, 40, 52 and 55, were arrested at addresses in Harrow, Watford and Barnet.

They were detained as part of a Counter Terrorism Policing investigation into suspected National Security Act offences.

The probe relates to suspected surveillance of locations and individuals linked to the Jewish community in the London area.

• Read more here

Residents of Dubai have this morning received an alert on their phones urging them to shelter from potential missile threats, the AFP news agency is reporting.

According to reporters, Emirtati officials have instructed: 'Due to the current situation, potential missile threats, seek immediate shelter in the closest secure building and steer away from windows, doors and open areas.'

Yesterday, alerts were issued across the UAE after it confirmed it was struck with an Iranian ballistic missile and six drones following a barrage of 131 suicide drones in a furious 'revenge' attack by Iran.

Influencers had been captured posting videos of alarms ringing out of the city from rooftop bars, inside bomb shelters and even from a bubbling jacuzzi amid the deadly strikes

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has insisted he was not embarrassed by the UK's response to the Middle East crisis.

The UK has been criticised for failing to have air defence measures in place to sufficiently protect RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, which was hit by a drone.

Air defence destroyer HMS Dragon is not expected to sail to the eastern Mediterranean until next week.

Asked if he was embarrassed, Mr Lammy told Sky News: 'Absolutely not.... we have F-35s, Typhoons in the sky taking down missiles as we speak and that has happened over Jordan, it's happened over Qatar and of course, we will support nationals in the region.

'It's also right to say that we co-ordinate with allies, the French, the Germans. Cyprus is a Nato ally, so we coordinate also with other teams and other close allies on how we equip the area.

'HMS Dragon will be in the region in the coming weeks to further bolster and further support our air defences.'

David Lammy has said he is pleased that a flight from Oman arrived back in the UK overnight.

'It is our intention and hope to see more charter flights out of Oman and commercial flights out of the region,' the Deputy Prime Minister told the BBC this morning.

Mr Lammy added: 'This is a technical operation, and we've got more people to evacuate than in Afghanistan... this is a pretty big feat.'

The Middle East has been plunged into chaos after a joint US and Israeli strike on Iran killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday.

In the days since, Tehran and its allies have retaliated across the region, targeting Israel, US bases in neighbouring Gulf states, and sites critical to global oil and gas production.

Governments, including the UK's Foreign Office and the US State Department, have updated travel advice, warning citizens to avoid travel or limit it to essential journeys across large parts of the region.

Read the full story below:

Threat levels assessed in every nation after war broke out in Iran

Governments, including the UK's Foreign Office and the US State Department, have updated travel advice, warning citizens to avoid travel across large parts of the region.

Sri Lanka has begun transferring more than 200 sailors from an Iranian vessel to shore today as tensions mount in the Indian Ocean.

Navy spokesman Cmdr. Buddhika Sampath said the sailors of the IRIS Bushehr were being brought first to the port of Colombo and the ship will later be moved to an eastern port on the island.

'The disembarkation is in progress,' he said, adding the sailors would be taken to the naval base at Welisara, about 12 miles north of Colombo, after medical exams and immigration procedures.

The move by the Sri Lankan government to take over the vessel came after the US sank the Iranian warship IRIS Dena off Sri Lanka's coast Wednesday.

The strike marked one of the rare instances since World War II in which a submarine sank a surface warship, and highlighted the expanding scope of the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran.

By Jason Groves, Political Editor

Keir Starmer was branded delusional on Thursday night after insisting he has a grip on the Middle East crisis.

At an emergency press conference, the Prime Minister claimed he was delivering 'calm, level-headed leadership'.

But his relationship with Britain's most important ally hit a new low as Donald Trump branded him a 'loser'.

Read the full story below:

Trump's frozen him out... but Starmer insists he IS in control...

Sir Keir Starmer urged Donald Trump to 'de-escalate' the crisis and negotiate with what is left of Iran's leadership but admitted that pair had not spoken for almost a week.

Mojtaba Khamenei, a son of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has long been considered a contender to the post of the country's next paramount ruler, even before an Israeli strike killed his father at the start of the war last week and despite never having been elected or appointed to a government position.

A secretive figure within the Islamic Republic, Mojtaba Khamenei has not been seen publicly since Saturday, when the Israeli airstrike targeting the supreme leader's offices killed his 86-year-old father.

Also killed were the younger Khamenei's wife, Zahra Haddad Adel, who came from a family long associated with the country's theocracy.

Khamenei is believed to still be alive and likely has gone into hiding as American and Israeli airstrikes continue to pound Iran, though state-run Iranian media have not reported on his whereabouts.

The first Brits stranded in the Middle East to arrive back in the UK on a government chartered flight landed at Stansted Airport in the early hours this morning, some 'traumatised' by the ordeal.

After long waits on buses in the desert, dangerous border crossings, and many having panic attacks during the delays on board, the British citizens who were caught up in the Middle East conflict spoke about their horrific journey home.

While many were overjoyed to be reunited with their families, passengers also noted the apparent emptiness of the plane - supposed to have 400 people on board - which apparently saw only around 80 people getting off the plane.

Read the full story below:

Brits arrive home after 'traumatic' government flight from Middle East

Passengers noted the apparent emptiness of the plane - supposed to have 400 people on board - which apparently saw only around 80 people getting off the plane.