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The United States and Israel have launched strikes on Iran despite ongoing talks between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear programme.

Iran responded to Saturday’s attacks with missile and air strikes across the region, including in Israel, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq.

Israeli officials said their strikes targeted Iran’s military and nuclear-related infrastructure, while airspace across Israel was closed and emergency measures imposed. Several other countries in the region also announced the closure of their airspace.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump said Washington has begun a “major combat operation” in Iran, aimed at “eliminating threats from the Iranian regime”.

“This regime will soon learn that no one should challenge the strength and might of the United States Armed Forces,” he said.

The strikes came just two days after high-stakes US–Iran nuclear negotiations in Geneva, mediated by Oman, ended without a breakthrough. The US-Israel attack marks the most serious escalation since the brief but intense June 2025 war.

Here is a timeline of the events, including attacks and diplomatic overtures leading up to Saturday’s strikes by the US and Israel, and Iran’s fierce response.

June 13, 2025 — Israel launches major air strikes against Iranian nuclear and military facilities, amid ongoing talks between the US and Tehran. Iran responds within hours with large-scale missile and drone attacks on Israeli cities.

June 22 – The US strikes Iranian nuclear facilities at Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan, with Trump claiming the attacks degraded Tehran’s nuclear programme. Iranian officials said their programme was set back but not destroyed.

June 23 – In retaliation, Iran fires missiles towards Al Udeid airbase in Qatar, housing US soldiers. The missiles are intercepted, and no casualties are reported.

June 24 – After 12 days of fighting, a US-brokered ceasefire takes effect between Iran and Israel, ending all hostilities. Iran says at least 610 of its citizens were killed in the war, while Israel claimed 28 were killed on its side.

July 2 – Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signs legislation halting cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), barring its inspectors from accessing Iran’s nuclear facilities unless specifically authorised by the country’s Supreme National Security Council.

July 22 – Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, says Tehran will not give up its uranium enrichment programme, despite a temporary halt due to “serious and severe” damages.

August 12 – Iranian police arrest as many as 21,000 people related to the 12-day war with Israel, according to state media.

August 22 – Iran agrees to resume nuclear talks later in the month with the United Kingdom, France and Germany, despite the threat of revived sanctions.

August 28 – The three European countries trigger a mechanism reinstating the United Nations’ sanctions on the Islamic republic for the first time in a decade.

November 1 – Oman urges both the US and Iran to go back to the negotiating table as Iran reiterates it will not stop enriching uranium.

November 7 – Trump says Iran has requested that Washington remove its crippling sanctions on Tehran, and that he is willing to talk about the issue.

December 28 – Protests break out in major cities, including Tehran, over soaring prices after the rial plunges against the US dollar.

January 8, 2026 – The internet is shut down across Iran following the outbreak of antigovernment protests, which have now spread beyond cities. The blackout lasts for more than two weeks.

January 13 – Trump tells Iranians to “keep protesting” , claiming that “help is on the way”, and that the US may be preparing for military intervention against Tehran. The US begins to bolster its military presence off Iran.

February 6 – Iran and the US begin indirect nuclear negotiations in Geneva, mediated by Oman, with the aim of reaching a deal to curb Tehran’s nuclear programme.

February 17 – High-level US–Iran nuclear talks resume in Geneva, again with Omani mediation.

February 22 – Oman confirms another round of discussions in Geneva, describing a “positive push” but admits that significant differences remain.

February 26 – A third round of nuclear talks concludes in Geneva, with mediator Oman saying “significant progress” was made and more discussions would be held the following week in Vienna.

February 27 – Oman’s foreign minister says Iran has agreed to degrade its current stockpiles of nuclear material to “the lowest level possible” — effectively to unrefined levels. US President Donald Trump says he prefers diplomacy but warns that “all options” remain available if diplomacy fails.

February 28 – Israel launches coordinated strikes on Iranian targets, including sites in and around Tehran. Iran retaliates by launching air and missile strikes across the region, including Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait.

The race to replace termed-out California Gov. Gavin Newsom is a tight contest between five candidates, according to a new poll released Wednesday.

Three Democrats — former Rep. Katie Porter, Rep. Eric Swalwell and hedge fund founder Tom Steyer — and two Republicans — conservative commentator Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco — are within 4 percentage points of one another, according to the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California survey.

“Three months out from the June primary, the top two slots in the gubernatorial race are up for grabs,” Mark Baldassare, PPIC’s survey director, said in a statement. “Voters feel hammered by cost-of-living realities, so affordability will be a defining issue for them.”

In a crowded field of a dozen prominent candidates, Hilton had the support of 14% of likely voters, Porter 13%, Bianco 12%, Swalwell 11% and Steyer 10%, according to the poll. No other candidate received the support of more than 5% of respondents. One in 10 likely voters were undecided.

The two candidates who receive the most votes in the June primary will move on to the general election regardless of party identification. With nine prominent Democrats in the field, this has led to concerns among party leaders that the Democratic candidates may splinter the vote and the two Republicans could advance to the November ballot. No Republican has been elected to statewide office in California since 2006.

While support for Hilton and Bianco held steady since PPIC’s December poll, backing for Porter and former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra significantly declined as more Democrats entered the contest and Porter dealt with the fallout from videos of her cursing at an aide and scolding a reporter. Porter expressed remorse for her behavior.

Several other races will appear on the November ballot, notably congressional contests that could determine which party controls the U.S. House of Representatives. The state’s 52 congressional districts were redrawn in a rare mid-decade redistricting after voters approved Proposition 50 last year in an effort to counter President Trump’s calls on Republican leaders in Texas and other GOP-led states to reshape their congressional lines.

Likely voters in California overwhelmingly prefer a Democratic congressional candidate over a Republican, 62% to 36%, according to the poll. A proposed 5% tax on the assets of billionaires that largely would be used to fund healthcare services in the state also was supported by 6 in 10 likely voters.

The PPIC poll surveyed 1,657 California adults online in English and Spanish from Feb. 3 to 11. The results are estimated to have a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points in either direction in the overall sample, and larger numbers for subgroups.

This walk near Bridlington boasts a stunning 3km woodland trail leading to a secluded pebble beach with towering white cliffs, creating a tranquil bay perfect for peaceful coastal walks

Stretching across 184 acres, this woodland trail guides you to a stunning beach whilst offering abundant wildlife sightings throughout your journey.

Danes Dyke nature reserve in Bridlington boasts the Headland’s most extensive woodland area, with a pathway leading directly to the coastline.

This distinctive sea and cliff habitat has earned protection as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, whilst the woodland itself gained official Nature Reserve designation in 2002.

Nature Reserve Walk

Visitors can start by using the spacious Pay and Display car park, which accommodates up to 80 vehicles. Located off Flamborough Road in Bridlington, simply follow the brown tourist signs pointing towards Danes Dyke.

Keen ramblers often favour the 3km circular route starting from the car park, though numerous alternative paths and distances are available to suit your preferences.

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After meandering through approximately 1km of woodland, you’ll emerge at the beach, where sweeping vistas of the bay unfold before you.

One visitor shared on TripAdvisor: “You must visit Danes Dyke if you are visiting the area. Even the drive to it is eerie but magical, and the huge dyke itself is spectacular and steeped in history.”

They added: “You can just imagine how the Vikings tried to etch out the area to make it a land of their own. The beach is great too.”

Nestled within the woodland reserve lies a remarkable prehistoric earthwork, comprising a substantial bank and ditch that cuts through the landscape.

While unconfirmed, it’s thought to date back to the Iron Age, serving as a defensive structure that severed the Flamborough Headland.

Beach

Yet the true highlight of this excursion is undoubtedly the final stop, Danes Dyke Beach. The sand is reached via a tarmacked path that’s rather steep and has suffered damage from water and debris, requiring extra care when navigating.

The undisputed showstopper here is the towering white cliffs that dominate the predominantly shingle beach. They enclose the shoreline, confining it to its own sheltered bay, which explains its popularity amongst adventurers seeking solitude and peace.

Its secluded bay is reminiscent of the type of area once used for smuggling contraband, ferried in by vessels from the ocean. The surrounding Flamborough Head area does indeed boast a smuggling heritage, with its famous ‘smuggler’s caves’ situated at neighbouring Thornwick Bay.

One rambler said: “The day that my wife and I visited Danes Dyke, there was not another person in sight, just the two of us, with the waves crashing in and the sea salt from the spray in the air – pure magic.”

Another commented: “Lovely clean beach with a picturesque cliff line and white pebbles. A short walk from the car park. Great place for the dog to run. Hardly anyone about.”

Place to rest

The closest village to Danes Dyke is picturesque Sewerby, which boasts several traditional and welcoming pubs. Following a peaceful and leisurely stroll, you can tuck into hearty pub fare or pause for refreshments at The Ship Inn or The Old Forge, or even treat yourself to highly-rated fish and chips from Blu Savannah along the seafront.

The Ship Inn features a spacious beer garden perfect for summer months, which stretches towards the cliff edges. It’s built quite a name for itself with its range of cask ales and is renowned locally for staging various live music performances and beer festivals, making it an ideal spot to visit following a weekend ramble.

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