As it happened: US, Israel and Iran continue attacks; Kuwait shoots down US warplanes in 'friendly fire'; 115,000 Aussies in Middle East as travel warnings raised; Trump says more American deaths likely

This is where we will wrap up our live coverage for now.

The latest wrap on the past 24 hours in the Middle East can be found here.

We will return in the morning with more live coverage on 9News.com.au as the conflict continues to develop.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth says the war against Iran is not comparable to the Iraq War — adding the United States will not be caught in the same nation-building quagmire that it found itself in two decades ago.

"This is not Iraq," Hegseth said from the Pentagon.

"This is not endless. I was there for both. Our generation knows better, and so does this president. He called the last 20 years of nation building wars dumb, and he's right."

"This is the opposite," he added. "This operation is a clear, devastating, decisive mission: Destroy the missile threat, destroy the Navy, no nukes."

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is giving an update on Operation Epic Fury.

He said the US strikes on Iran are not meant to be "regime change", while he acknowledged that the leadership in the country has changed.

"This is not a so-called regime change war, but the regime sure did change and the world is better off for it," Hegseth said.

Hegseth also argued that the US didn't start the war, claiming Iran has carried out attacks for decades in a "one-sided war against America".

"We didn't start this war, but under President Trump, we are finishing it," Hegseth added.

The latest figures compiled by CNN:

Iran: At least 555 people have been killed in Iran since the joint US-Israeli strikes began, according to the Red Crescent Society. At least 168 students were killed in a strike at a girls' elementary school, according to Iranian state media, with another three students being killed in separate attacks in the capital and northern Iran, state media said. A Chinese national was also killed in Iran, China's foreign ministry said.

Lebanon: At least 31 people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon and Beirut, the country's Ministry of Public Health said.

Israel: At least 10 people have been killed and more than 200 injured in Israel since it began military operations against Iran, according to Magen David Adom. Nine of the fatalities were reported from the city of Beit Shemesh, where a missile hit a bomb shelter.

Iraq: Four members of Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces, an Iran-backed paramilitary group, were killed in a US-Israeli strike that targeted one of its headquarters, the militia's Media Directorate announced.

United Arab Emirates: Three people in the UAE have been killed in Iran's retaliatory strikes, the country's defence ministry said. Those killed were nationals of Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh who died after Iranian drones that made it through the UAE's air defences, it said.

Kuwait: Three US service members were killed in a suspected drone strike early Sunday in Kuwait, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. Prior to this, Kuwait's health ministry said separately that one person had been killed in Iranian strikes.

Bahrain: One person was killed after debris from an intercepted missile sparked a fire on a "foreign vessel" in Bahrain's Salman Industrial City, Bahraini state media reported.

A fourth US service member has died after suffering injuries during Iran's "initial" attack, the US military has announced.

"As of 7:30 am ET, March 2, four US service members have been killed in action," US Central Command said in a post on X.

"The fourth service member, who was seriously wounded during Iran's initial attacks, eventually succumbed to their injuries."

The service member was killed in the same attack in Kuwait that earlier killed three others, one US official and a source familiar with the situation told CNN.

The identities of those killed will be withheld for 24 hours after next of kin is notified, CENTCOM said in the post.

More on the reports of drones over Cyprus. A government spokesman posted on X ​that two more "unmanned aerial vehicles" that were heading towards the British air force base of Akrotiri were intercepted.

Sirens sounded at the base soon after midday local time on Monday (9pm AEDT).

The US embassy in Cyprus had warned of possible drone activity and the terminal at Paphos airport on the west of the island was evacuated.

A drone struck Akrotiri on Sunday night.

Incredible footage shared earlier by US Central Command shows targets being bombed on a third day of strikes in Operation Epic Fury.

The black and white footage appears to show the point of view from fighter jets as they launch missiles that destroy their targets.

"US forces are taking bold action to eliminate imminent threats posed by the Iranian regime," CENTCOM said on X.

"Strikes continue."

CENTCOM didn't specify where the targets were that were struck in the footage.

Three US fighter jets went down "due to an apparent friendly fire incident", US Central Command has announced.

Kuwaiti air defences accidentally shot the F-15 Strike Eagle fighter jets down late today.

"During active combat—that included attacks from Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles, and drones — the US Air Force fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defences," the statement said.

"All six aircrew ejected safely, have been safely recovered, and are in stable condition. Kuwait has acknowledged this incident, and we are grateful for the efforts of the Kuwaiti defence forces and their support in this ongoing operation."

The cause of the incident is under investigation, according to CENTCOM. The jets were flying in support of the military operation against Iran, dubbed Operation Epic Fury.

Kuwait's Minister of Defence said in the early hours of Monday morning that "several" US fighter jets crashed.

An update on the US warplanes that have crashed in Kuwait.

Videos geolocated by CNN appear to show a fighter jet pilot on the ground in Kuwait after ejecting from an aircraft.

In one of the videos, a man in a full flight suit and helmet can be seen kneeling on the ground next to an orange and white parachute and a parachute cord in a desert area near a fence line.

CNN has geolocated the video about 30 kilometres from the Ali Al Salem Air Base, which hosts US forces.

In another video, the pilot is seen standing up as bystanders look on, with thick black smoke billowing in the distant background.

It's unclear what caused the crashes of the aircraft.

"The American aircraft was shot down by their own missile. We came here thinking it was an Iranian jet. It turned out to be American. Come on, guys, get in the car. Let's go," a bystander is heard saying in one of the videos being run by CNN.

It is also not clear what aircraft the pilot ejected from. Kuwait's Ministry of Defence said "several United States military aircraft crashed" and that "all crew members survived".

CNN had previously verified video showing a fighter jet in a tailspin and a pilot parachuting through the air over Al Jahra, Kuwait.

Donald Trump has returned to Washington for the first time since the US and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran.

The president has been at his Mar-a-Largo property in Florida, where he uses a makeshift situation room.