Iranian commander says war will continue until enemy is defeated

At least four people were killed when an Israeli strike hit an apartment in the Ramada hotel building in central Beirut early on Sunday, with Israel saying the attack targeted Iranian commanders operating in the Lebanese capital.

The Israeli military said it was targeting commanders from the Revolutionary Guards’ Quds Force who it said were operating in Lebanon to plan attacks against Israel while also coordinating with the IRGC in Iran.

“The commanders of the Quds Force's Lebanon Corps operated to advance terror attacks against the state of Israel and its civilians, while operating simultaneously for the IRGC in Iran,” the military said in a statement.

Later in the day, sources cited by Saudi-owned Al Hadath said five Iranian members of the Lebanon branch of the Quds Force were assassinated in the strike.

The sources identified the dead as Majid Hosseini, the financial officer of the Lebanon branch of the Quds Force; Ali Biazaar, its intelligence officer; Hossein Ahmadlou, head of what they described as the branch’s “Zionist file”; and Ahmad Rasouli, head of the Intelligence Department in the Palestine Corps.

Lebanon’s health ministry said 10 people were injured in the strike in Beirut’s Raouche district. The attack hit a corner suite on the fourth floor of the hotel building, shattering windows and blackening the facade, according to Reuters.

US President Donald Trump said Britain was giving “serious thought” to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East, but made clear he did not believe Washington needed British help in the war with Iran.

“The United Kingdom, our once Great Ally, maybe the Greatest of them all, is finally giving serious thought to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“That’s OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we don’t need them any longer – But we will remember. We don’t need people that join Wars after we’ve already won!”

Trump’s remarks came after Britain’s defense ministry said it was preparing the aircraft carrier Prince of Wales for possible deployment, although no final decision has been taken.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has defended his earlier refusal to allow US forces to use British bases for initial strikes on Iran, saying he wanted to ensure any action was legal and properly planned.

Responding to Trump’s comments, British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told Sky News: “The thing I’ve learned doing this job is that you have to focus on substance and not on social media posts.”

“We’re not going to do things in terms of the rhetoric or hyperbole. We’re going to do things on really practical, calm, steady decision making. Because I think that actually the British character more widely is to do things in a serious and steady way.”

Mohammad Jafar Montazeri, head of Iran’s Supreme Court, said the country has remained “firm and steadfast” despite the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei a week ago.

Montazeri said Iran had been without a leader for days but insisted the system remained intact, saying the “spirit of the martyred imam is commanding the field.”

He also vowed retaliation for Khamenei’s death, saying Iran’s armed forces were determined to take revenge and warning that the United States would receive what he described as a harsh lesson.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the Middle East’s affairs should be decided by the countries of the region and warned against outside interference or attempts at regime change.

“The people of the Middle East are the true owners of this region, and the affairs of the Middle East should be independently decided by the countries in the region. Plotting color revolution or seeking regime change are not welcomed.”

He said all sides should return to the negotiating table as soon as possible, resolve differences through equal dialogue and work toward what he called common security.

US President Donald Trump praised Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and said she was willing to help the United States and Israel in their war with Iran, according to remarks reported by Italy’s Corriere della Sera.

“I love Italy, I think she is a great leader,” Trump said in a telephone interview with the newspaper, describing Meloni as a friend who “always tries to help.”

Italy has said it plans to send air-defense aid to Persian Gulf countries facing Iranian strikes, while an Italian navy vessel is preparing to sail to Cyprus as part of a European mission to help protect the island after it came under Iranian fire.