Closing summary
… and on that note, it’s a wrap for today!
French president Emmanuel Macron has said France would increase the number of nuclear warheads and allow for temporary deployment of its nuclear-armed aircraft to allied countries for exercises as part of its new nuclear strategy seeking to “Europeanise” its deterrence programme (15:29, 15:50).
In a major speech at the nuclear submarines Navy base of Île Longue, Macron said Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Sweden, the Netherlands, Poland, and the United Kingdom are expected to be involved in the programme, with London and Berlin playing particularly important roles (15:47, 16:00).
Several EU leaders confirmed their plans to engage with France on the details of the programme (16:44, 16:51, 17:04).
The president repeated his warnings that Europe needed to urgently step up its defence posture to respond to new, emerging threats and disintegration of rules on the use of nuclear weapons.
In other news,
Four Greek F-16 have landed in Cyprus as part of the Greek government’s response to overnight drone attacks on the island amid worsening security situation in the region and further threats from Iran (17:09, 18:12).
The European Commission said it will focus on helping member states with evacuating their citizens from the region, as several EU countries started their rescue missions today (9:58), and on monitoring broader energy, transport disruptions arising from the conflict (17:51).
15 US aircraft have left the military bases in southern Spain since the US and Israel launched weekend attacks on Iran after the Spanish government publicly criticised the strikes (11:29, 13:48, 14:23).
And that’s all from me, Jakub Krupa, for today.
For continued live coverage of the Middle East crisis, you can follow our live blogs here:
If you have any tips, comments or suggestions, email me at jakub.krupa@theguardian.com.
I am also on Bluesky at @jakubkrupa.bsky.social and on X at @jakubkrupa.
Iran warns about further attacks on Cyprus
Fears that Cyprus is now the target of sustained attack by Iran appear to have been reinforced by statements made by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
General Sardar Jabbari has been quoted this afternoon as saying:
“The Americans have relocated most of their fighter jets to Cyprus. We will launch attacks on Cyprus until the Americans are forced to leave it too.”
[For what it’s worth, Cypriot officials insist that no US planes are present in the UK bases targeted by drones.]
Media in Greece, where the threat has made headlines, reported that the country’s defence minister Nikos Dendias with the commander in chief of the armed forces, Dimitris Choupis will be flying to Cyprus on Tuesday to coordinate defence efforts.
Athens has announced the deployment of two state-of- the-art frigates and two (13:09) – later changed to four (17:09) – F-16 fighter jets following the overnight drone strikes against RAF Akrotiri on the island.
European Commission to step up evacuation efforts, monitor transport, energy disruption
The European Commission’s “security college” – a format convened to specifically face major defence and security threats – met in Brussels.
In a short statement, the commission said that in its response to the Iran crisis, it will be “guided by two priorities: supporting Member States and protecting EU citizens from the adverse consequences of the events unfolding in Iran and the Middle East.”
It said:
“The Commission is stepping up support for Member States’ evacuation and repatriation efforts, including through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and the Emergency Response Coordination Centre, working closely with EU Delegations.
The Commission is also reinforcing monitoring of transport disruption risks, notably around the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, and intensifying coordination with airlines, shipping companies and national authorities.”
It said the EU would also “closely track both price and supply developments and will convene an energy taskforce with Member States, in liaison with the International Energy Agency, with a first meeting this week.”
The commission will also “maintain heightened vigilance and close cooperation with Europol and Member States regarding potential internal security risks,” and monitor potential migration flows.
'Most significant update to French nuclear deterrence policy in thirty years,' expert says
Deputy director of the French FRS thinktank, Bruno Tertrais, has offered a very helpful analysis of Macron’s speech on nuclear deterrent, saying it amounted to “the most significant update to French nuclear deterrence policy in thirty years.”
“A major step forward: ‘forward’ deterrence with the possibility of deploying strategic forces (including, but perhaps not limited to, Rafale fighter jets) to the east of mainland France as part of a reassurance and/or deterrence manoeuvre, in partnership with willing countries,” he said.
UK continues to focus on 'defensive actions' regarding Iran, Starmer insists
UK prime minister Keir Starmer has been speaking about the UK’s response to Iran and the attacks against its airbase on Cyprus too.
Here are the key lines from his address to the House of Commons:
The UK was not involved in the initial wave of attacks on Iran, and will not join any offensive strikes, but focus on “defensive actions.”
“It is clear that Iran’s outrageous response has become a theat to our people, our interests and our allies and it cannot be ignored.”
Starmer insisted “our bases in Cyprus are not being used by US bombers,” minutes after UK defence secretary said the government was moving families who live at RAF Akrotiri to temporary accommodations in Cyprus as a precaution.
For more details, check our live blog following the UK debate:
Four Greek F-16s land in Cyprus to bolster air defence, deter drone attacks
Going briefly back to Cyprus, four Greek F-16 have landed in the country over the last half hour as part of the Greek government’s response to overnight drone attacks, the Cypriot government’s spokesperson said.
Sweden's Kristersson confirms talks with France, stresses need to deter Russia
Swedish prime minister Ulf Kristersson also confirmed Sweden’s intention to take part in the discussions on broadening the nuclear deterrence programme, as per Macron’s speech.
In a five-minute video on X, he said:
“On behalf of the Swedish government, I have informed president Emmanuel Macron that Sweden is ready to participate with others in the important talks, and we will do so in good company with close allies and neighbours, such as Denmark. …
Strengthening Europe’s overall defence capability has not been as important since the second world war as it is right now. Secondly, we are keen to keep all Nato countries together. That is why we appreciate that France has prepared these talks in dialogue also with the United States and with the Nato system of the United States. …
Sweden’s nuclear doctrine does not change as it was formulated when we entered the alliance. It rests on the principle that we fully participate in all Nato planning, including the one dealing with nuclear weapons, but that in peacetime we see no reason to have nuclear weapons on Swedish soil. …
Of course, we would prefer to see a world completely free of nuclear weapons. But as long as Russia has these weapons and threatens its neighbors, democracies must be able to deter attacks and safeguard our own security and freedom.”
Updated
Concrete plans to advance French-German nuclear cooperation by end year, Merz says
German chancellor Friedrich Merz also confirmed the plans.
Remember, Macron said that Germany was a “key partner” in the programme, and both leaders had previously hinted at their cooperation in this area, most recently in their Munich Security Conference speeches.
Merz said on X:
“[Emmanuel Macron] and I have established a nuclear steering group in which we coordinate on deterrence issues. We intend to take concrete steps before the end of this year, including conventional German participation in French nuclear exercises.”
Updated
Poland involved in talks with France, others regarding advanced nuclear deterrence programme, Tusk confirms
Poland’s prime minister Donald Tusk has just responded to Macron’s speech, confirming Poland’s involvement in the proposed new doctrine.
In a post on X, he said:
“Poland is in talks with France and a group of closest European allies on the programme of advanced nuclear deterrence. We are arming up together with our friends so that our enemies will never dare to attack us.”
Updated
French government will turn Macron's principles on 'advance deterrence' into actions, PM Lecornu says
On the back of Macron’s speech, the French prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, said his government will “translate” the principles outlined by the president into actions in terms of “budgetary allocations, modernised capabilities, and increased support for our industrial and technological defence base.”
He says the new proposal on “advanced deterrence” will define the new framework, which “strengthens collective security while maintaining the ultimate decision at the national level.”
Major moment for European defence cooperation as France seeks to increase number of nuclear warheads, work with more EU partners - snap analysis
This is an important moment for European deterrence, and one which will have significant domestic consequences for a number of European countries which Macron said want to be a part of this new “advance deterrence” strategy.
To remind you, that’s Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Poland, Sweden, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom.
There will be many questions as to how exactly all of this is going to mean and how it is going to work, so expect to hear more in the coming weeks.
For one, the Danish government – despite technically being fully in the campaign mode ahead of next month’s parliamentary elections – has just called an emergency press conference to discuss the implications for Denmark.
Updated
France to work with UK, Germany on 'very long-range missile projects' as part of 'advanced' deterrence
Macron also says that France will work with the UK and Germany on “very long-range missile projects” as part of this closer, enhanced cooperation.
He also laments Europe “becoming accustomed to their security depending on rules made by third parties.”
He makes a point warning about the dramatic changes regarding the use of nuclear deterrent, saying “everyone has taken liberties,” with the US and Russia withdrawing from some treaties or letting them lapse, and Iran and North Korea seeking to establish their own programmes.
He ends a speech with a strong call to act, saying that France needs to keep alive the “precious legacy” of nuclear deterrence and make it fit to today’s challenges, before ending with his customary:
Long live the Republic, long live France!
The audience then proceeds to sing the French national anthem.
By the way, it’s quite a backdrop for his speech, as he stands in front of the Triomphant-class ballistic missile submarine of the French Navy, Le Temeraire.
Number of European allies could participate in nuclear deterrence exercises, Macron says
Macron says that France leads discussions on how the French nuclear system could work more broadly to protect Europe as part of what he defines as “advanced deterrence”, with other countries potentially involved in relevant exercises and temporary deployment of France’s nuclear-armed aircraft on their territory.
He says the work on this is being conducted in “full transparency” with the US and “in coordination” with the UK.
He lists a number of countries involved in discussions, including Germany – “a key partner” – but also Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Sweden, the Netherlands, Poland.
The ultimate decision for using the system would still at all times remain with the French president, he says.
Updated
Macron repeats that 'to be free, one must be feared' as he speaks of need to step up defence spending, readiness
In his remarks, drawing among other on Russia’s activities in Ukraine and Europe, Macron also stressed the need to improve France’s – and the continent – broader ability to detect threats and acts against them as he says that “to be strong in our nuclear deterrence, we must be strong in our conventional capabilities.”
He stresses his regular point that Europe needs to step up its defence capabilities.
“To be free, one must be feared, and to be feared, one must be powerful. This increase in our arsenal is proof of that.”
France to increase the number of nuclear warheads, Macron says
In his speech, Macron warns that since the last speech in 2020, “our competitors have evolved, as have our partners,” and this requires a change in the French nuclear doctrine.
He says the deterrent element needs to be “strengthened,” brought “forward” in a more preventative way, and considered in the European context, while respecting the French sovereignty and that the ultimate responsibility for its use will always lie with the French president of the day.
But he says that in recognition of the new challenges, France will need to increase the size of its nuclear arsenal.
He says he has ordered the increase in the number of warheads available to France, but will not reveal the exact number.
Updated
Macron speaks about France's nuclear doctrine
French president Emmanuel Macron is speaking in Île Longue, the naval base of the French nuclear programme, outlining his thinking on how France could use its nuclear deterrence programme in the future.
I will bring you all the key lines here.
Nato secretary general Mark Rutte has been speaking to BBC in the last half hour.
He said the Europeans were “stepping up” their political support for the US, specifically pointing to German chancellor Friedrich Merz’s trip to Washington tomorrow and UK prime minister Keir Starmer’s decision to allow US military to use UK bases for defensive operations.
He repeatedly declined to say if he had known about the US plan to attack Iran in advance, saying he was bound by confidentiality of his engagement with the US.
He said he did not expect Nato forces to be involved, as it continues to be a US-Israeli operation, but he said that the alliance’s view remained that the Iranian regime was a “threat.”
US defence secretary Hegseth briefing media on US operations in Iran
US defence secretary Pete Hegseth is now briefing the media on the US operations in Iran.
Here are his key points:
“We didn’t start this war, but under president Trump, we are finishing it.”
“The former regime had every chance to make a peaceful and sensible deal, but Tehran was not negotiating,”
“This is not Iraq. This is not endless. I was there for both. Our generation knows better, and so does this president”
If you want more detail on his presser, it’s here:
US aircraft leave Spain after government says bases cannot be used for Iran attacks
We are also hearing more from Spain, with the country’s foreign minister José Manuel Albares saying the country would not allow its military bases to be used for attacks on Iran, which Spain has condemned.
15 US aircraft have left the Rota and Moron military bases in southern Spain since the US and Israel launched weekend attacks on Iran, maps by flight tracking website FlightRadar24 showed, as reported by Reuters.
“Spanish bases are not being used for this operation, and they will not be used for anything not included in the agreement with the United States or for anything that is not in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,” Albares said, speaking to Spanish broadcaster Telecinco.
Evacuation of Paphos airport in Cyprus over, authorities say
In the meantime, the Cypriot government has confirmed that the evacuation of Paphos airport is now over, but the airport continues to report disruptions in its flight schedule for this afternoon with delays and divertions.
Spain's Sánchez warns against 'spiral of violence' in Middle East
in Madrid
Spain’s Pedro Sánchez has warned against “spiral of violence” in the Middle East.
In a post on X, he said:
“In the past few hours, Iran has attacked Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Cyprus, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, and Oman. We forcefully condemn all illegal and indiscriminate attacks against the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and other countries in the region. We also condemn Hezbollah’s missile launch and Israel’s attack on Lebanon.
Violence only leads to more violence. Bombs hit military targets, but also streets, airports, schools, and the homes of innocent civilians.
This spiral of violence must be stopped immediately, and there must be a return to the framework of diplomacy and dialogue.”
Updated
Greece to send frigates, F-16 fighter jets to support Cyprus
Greece will send two frigates and two F-16 fighter jets to Cyprus “to contribute to its defense against the threats it faces,” Greek defence minister Nikos Dendias has confirmed.
He said he will also travel to Cyprus tomorrow.
The move was also confirmed by the Cypriot government, saying the decision was made after a phone call between the Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the Cypriot president, Nikos Christodoulides.
Updated
Aktoriti area, Paphos airport being evacuated, Cyprus says
The Cypriot interior ministry has just confirmed that “instructions have been issued for the evacuation of the Akrotiri municipal district and Paphos airport,” with residents in another area told to “limit unnecessary movements” and “remain in their homes.”
Updated
Larnaka airport in Cyprus reporting disruptions
Civilian Larnaka airport in southern Cyprus also appears to be facing disruptions amid warnings over Cypriot airspace with three flights – from Belgrade, Rome and Heraklion in Greece – redirected to either Athens or back to Heraklion and dozens more cancelled this afternoon.
Two unmanned drones headed to RAF Akrotiri 'intercepted in time,' Cyprus says
A Cypriot government spokesperson has just confirmed that two unmanned drones headed to RAF Akrotiri were intercepted before reaching the base.
“Two unmanned aerial vehicles that were moving towards the direction of the British Bases at Akrotiri were confronted in time,” Konstantinos Letymbiotis said.
Updated
Another security alert at UK base in Cyprus, evacuation at civil airport in Paphos - media reports
Cypriot media are now reporting another security alert at the British airbase RAF Akrotiri and a separate order to evacuate the civil airport in Paphos.
Politis and Cyprus Mail have both reported that there was a fresh security warning with alarm sirens going off early afternoon, followed by extensive traffic out of the base, without going into the details of what caused it.
Both outlets also reported that Paphos airport was evacuated after a suspicious object was spotted on the airport’s radars, with first flights getting redirected to other airports.
The US Department of State for Consular Affairs has separately posted a warning about “information about a possible drone threat to Paphos region.”
Updated
EU's von der Leyen calls for lasting 'diplomatic' solutions as she urges de-escalation of conflict in Middle East
The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, called for a lasting “diplomatic” solution to the crisis in Iran, as she said the bloc would work hard to prepare “for the fallout from these recent events.”
Speaking at a press conference on trade with Switzerland, she said the situation remained “volatile,” but welcomed “a renewed hope for the oppressed people of Iran,” stressing the EU “strongly supports their right to determine their own future.”
She continued:
“We must work hard to de-escalate and stop the conflict spreading. In the last hours, we have witnessed numerous attacks, including a drone attack targeting the British airbase in Cyprus. We also saw a strike on the Saudi Aramco oil facility, and I condemn in the strongest terms these reckless and indiscriminate attacks by Iran and its proxies against sovereign territories across the region.”
Von der Leyen insisted that “the only lasting solution is a diplomatic one,” calling for “a credible transition for Iran, the definite hold to both the nuclear and ballistic programs, and an end to destabilising activities in the region.”
“This afternoon we will discuss the overall situation in a meeting of the Security College here in the European Commission. Because from energy to nuclear, from transport to migration to security, we must be prepared for the fallout from these recent events,” she said.
Spain calls for US-Iran talks, warns against further destabilisation in Middle East
in Madrid
Spain has stepped up its calls for a return to negotiations between the US and Iran, warning that the current military strikes risk further destabilisation in the Middle East, and urging the EU to press for an urgent deescalation.
On Saturday, the country’s socialist prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, said the US and Israel’s “unilateral military action” was contributing to “a more hostile and uncertain international order” and called for a lasting political solution to the conflict.
He returned to the theme in a speech in Barcelona on Sunday, in which he defended Spain’s position.
“Today, more than ever, it’s vital to remember that you can be against a hateful regime – as Spanish society is as a whole when it comes to the Iranian regime – and, at the same time, against an unjustified and dangerous military intervention that is outside international law,” he said.
“We should be against a war that was begun without the authorisation of the US congress or the UN security council, and which, as I’ve said, violates international law. There’s always room for a negotiated solution instead of yielding to the devastation caused by weapons as the only possible way out.
“As we have from the beginning, I would like to call for an immediate deescalation, for the full respecting of international law in all the conflicts we’re sadly seeing, and urgent return to dialogue as soon as possible. That’s where Spain is going to be – and that’s where I think the European Union should be as a whole.”
King Felipe of Spain has echoed Sánchez’s calls for a diplomatic solution, saying:
“As we speak, the Middle East slides again into a critical juncture, with a clear risk of regional escalation and unpredictable consequences. We call for maximum restraint in the use of force; respect for the lives of civilians and the search for a diplomatic way out of this current logic of confrontation. We call to do so in order to prevent a chaotic situation and outright repression, and to restore dialogue for an honest quest towards peace.”
Others have been more forthright. An unnamed Spanish minister has told El País that the strikes on Iran suggested that Donald Trump was unravelling and that his actions would have global consequences:
“It seems Trump is self-destructing. There have already been American casualties. We warned that the precedent set by the intervention in Venezuela was very dangerous. Well, now we have it. This will leave greater animosity towards the West in the Middle East from the Arab world, with the risk of increased terrorism and instability.”
Italy's opposition calls for sacking of defence minister after he getting stranded in Dubai hours before war
Italy’s opposition parties have called for the resignation of defence minister Guido Crosetto after he was left stranded while in Dubai with critics alleging he was on holidays with his family just as Iranian bombardments were under way in the United Arab Emirates.
Opposition parties rounded on the government, arguing that Italy had been left exposed at a moment of acute international tension.
The defence minister’s presence in Dubai during a major military escalation, they said, was evidence that Rome had not been properly informed of key developments. Critics claimed the episode laid bare a government seemingly caught off guard by events unfolding above its head.
Crosetto returned yesterday on an Italian state flight, which sparked further criticism, as hundreds of other Italians remain stuck in Dubai while he was evacuated alone.
To avoid further backlash, he left his family in Dubai and flew back by himself. He has said he paid for the flight out of his own pocket. “I paid triple with my own money,” he said, citing he had to Dubai ‘‘for personal reasons.’’
Several opposition figures called for Crosetto’s resignation, describing the affair as either a serious institutional failure or a lapse of judgment by a minister responsible for national security who happened to be abroad as tensions spiralled.
“Stranded in Dubai like an ordinary tourist,” quipped Giuseppe Conte, the former prime minister and leader of M5S. Stefano Patuanelli, the party’s vice-president, called the matter “not personal but institutional,” branding the government “politically inadequate” and urging Crosetto to step down.
Reached by the Guardian, Crosetto said: “I am in my office dealing with far more serious matters, and I do not think that having been stranded, like thousands of other people, is an important issue.”
Updated
Hundreds more flights cancelled as world faces worst travel chaos since Covid pandemic
Hundreds more flights were cancelled on Monday, extending the turmoil in global air travel caused by the US-Israel war on Iran, with hundreds of thousands of passengers already stranded.
Leading airline stocks came under pressure after days of disruption, with Donald Trump indicating that the US military action could last another four weeks.
Major Middle Eastern airports, including Dubai – the world’s busiest international hub – closed for a third consecutive day amid the most acute aviation shock since the Covid-19 pandemic paralysed the industry.
Flights across the Middle East have been cancelled, disrupting thousands of services so far, as international carriers continued to suspend their services.
Early on Monday, 1,239 flights had already been cancelled. Emirates Airlines, based in Dubai; Etihad Airways, based in Abu Dhabi; and Qatar Airways, based in Doha; have collectively cancelled hundreds of flights.
Other carriers cancelled services across the region. Air India cancelled flights on Sunday departing from Delhi, Mumbai and Amritsar for major cities in Europe and North America.
Almost 2,800 flights were cancelled on Saturday, and 3,156 cancelled on Sunday, according to the tracking platform FlightAware.
“For travellers, there’s no way to sugarcoat this,” said Henry Harteveldt, an airline industry analyst and the president of Atmosphere Research Group. “You should prepare for delays or cancellations for the next few days as these attacks evolve and hopefully end.”
Airspace over Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Israel, Bahrain, the UAE and Qatar was still virtually empty as of Monday, according to the flight tracking website Flightradar24.
The impact spread far beyond the Middle East, with passengers stranded from Bali to Frankfurt.
Stay in place, Ireland tells its citizens, as land evacuation routes not recommended
Meanwhile, the Irish European affairs and defence minister Thomas Byrne said that the advice for Irish people in the Gulf region remains to stay sheltered and not attempt to leave the area via land routes.
He said land routes are not recommended, “because of the sheer number of Irish people that are there,” RTÉ said.
“You may get to another country, but the question would be, would you be able to fly out of that country? So that’s not something that we can recommend, and that’s why the advice very clearly has to be to shelter in place,” he added.
Meeting of EU ministers in Cyprus delayed after last night's drone incident
In the last few minutes, Cyprus has confirmed that a planned meeting of EU ministers in Lefkosia has been postponed after last night’s drone incident at the British military base RAF Akrotiri.
Czech Republic, Slovakia looking to run limited evacuation flights from Middle East
The Czech Republic is among the EU countries actively looking to take some of its citizens out of the region, with the prime minister, Andrej Babiš, confirming plans to run first flights in the coming hours.
Speaking to reporters after this morning’s security council meeting, Babiš confirmed plans for three evacuation flights, two from Egypt’s Sharm El-Sheikh and one from Amman in Jordan.
Foreign minister Petr Macinka said the first plane could take off from Prague “within the next two hours,” as it’s waiting for final clearances.
Czech airline Smartwings is also expected to run four flights to take their customers out from Moskat and Salalah in Oman, neighbouring with the United Arab Emirates, he said, which are expected to depart for Prague, Bratislava, and Warsaw, Babiš said.
As of Sunday morning, over 3,500 Czechs had registered for evacuation from the UAE, with another 900 in Oman, “hundreds” in Jordan and Israel, and about a hundred in Saudi Arabia, iDnes reported.
Neighbouring Slovakia is also working on an evacuation flight from Aqaba in Jordan, which is also expected to pick up some Czech tourists.
But the Slovak prime minister, Robert Fico, warned on Sunday that further evacuation flights could be difficult to organise given airspace closures.
Updated
Morning opening: EU meets to consider its response as countries look at feasibility of evacuation plans
A so-called “security college” of the European Commission is set to meet today as the European Union is considering its options given the escalating situation in the Middle East.
The bloc’s foreign ministers spoke at an online emergency meeting last night, with the EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, warning later about the prospect of further escalation in the region. She also stressed the importance of keeping critical waterways, like the strait of Hormuz, open.
But several countries will also be drawing up their plans to evacuate some of their citizens out of the region, with hundreds of thousands believed to be stuck either in transit or on holidays in the broader affected area.
I will keep an eye on their plans, as we could see some countries team up and work together to take their citizens out of the area.
The life also does not stop across Europe and so I will bring you all the key updates from across the continent, including from Emmanuel Macron’s much-awaited speech on nuclear deterrence this afternoon.
For our main coverage of the Middle East, you can follow this blog:
It’s Monday, 2 March 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
