Major cities are on heightened alert amid fears that the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group may have sleeper cells in the U.S. that are ready to retaliate.

Australians in the Middle East have been told they should leave now after rising tensions following the killing of an Iranian general by a US drone strike. 

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke to Netanyahu on the phone on Wednesday night, and the following morning the Israeli leader tweeted about 'very, very dramatic things' in the region.

Iran's foreign minister, Javad Zarif, called Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (left) an 'arrogant clown' following the funeral procession for slain Iranian general Qassem Soleimani (right).

The troops are in addition to about 700 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne who deployed to Kuwait earlier this week after the storming of the US Embassy in Baghdad by Iran-backed militiamen.

Mike Pompeo has accused European allies including the UK, France and Germany of 'not being helpful enough' over the attack while heaping praise on regional allies including Israel.

Iran's Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi said: 'In a potential conflict in the future, which I don't think they have the courage to carry out, it will become clear where five and two will belong.'

Speaking for the first time after the killing of General Qasem Soleimani, Boris Johnson said that the UK would 'not lament' his death and called for a de-escalation of threats in the Middle East.

Protesters across the West have gathered today to condemn the US drone strikes following the death of Iran's highest ranking general Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad.

Parliament speaker Ali Larijani compared Soleimani's killing to the 1953 CIA-backed coup that cemented the shah's power and to the U.S. Navy's shootdown of an Iranian passenger plane.

Kataib Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militia in Iraq at the centre of current tensions between Washington and Tehran, has threatened to attack US air bases in the country in revenge for the killing of Soleimani.

Boris Johnson's official spokesman refused to criticise the dramatic drone strike despite threats from Tehran that UK forces could be 'collateral damage' in reprisals.

Benchmark oil prices hit more than $70 per barrel on Monday as the price of gold also soared, with investors looking for safe havens as world markets fall amid fears of a major war in the Middle East.

The 52 F-35A aircrafts, which are worth a whopping $4.2 billion, took off in quick succession from the Hill Air Force Base in Utah on Monday.

Donald Trump has said Iran is 'standing down' in the Middle East after a 'crushing revenge' strike largely failed to materialise Wednesday after the regime launched 22 missiles at US bases.

Iranians prepared for missile strikes on two Iraqi airbases housing U.S. troops by making sure intelligence could detect the plans via satellites and eavesdropping, officials say.

PETER OBORNE: The firing of ballistic missiles at US bases is the biggest and most dangerous military confrontation between America and Iran since the American hostage crisis in 1979.

The State Department warned that Iraq's access to its main account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York could be shut off if the Iraqi government asks American troops to leave.

At the time the attack was launched at 1.35am on January 8, the US Army was flying seven unmanned aerial vehicles over Iraq to monitor bases where US-led coalition forces are deployed.

Taylor Swift has revealed she stayed politically silent for years, fearing that her career would come to a screeching halt like the Dixie Chicks if she spoke out.

Veterans of Foreign Wars said Trump (left) must apologize for saying concussion suffered by troops in the Iraq attack is 'headaches' - as Joe Biden (right) branded comments 'disgusting'.

US-based actor Waleed Zuaiter, 49, takes the lead role in Channel 4's upcoming detective drama Baghdad Central, which is based on a book by American author Elliot Cola.

Rookie cop Henry Solis went on the run in Mexico after shooting dead Salome Rodriguez Jr. after getting into a fight outside a Los Angeles bar in 2015. He was convicted of second-degree murder.

President Donald Trump fired Lt. Colonel Alexander Vindman from the White House on Friday after the war hero testified against him in the House impeachment inquiry.

'Fake News @CNN & MSDNC keep talking about "Lt. Col." Vindman as though I should think only how wonderful he was,' Trump wrote in a tweet on Saturday morning from the White House.

Lance Corporal Bernard Mongan, 33, was found dead in his room at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire. His body was so severely decomposed that his cause of death may never be established.

As part of his bid to become the next Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer has made political capital out of his legal career by highlighting the cases he has pursued on behalf of the 'underdog'.

An Australian street artist has reignited his feud with 50 Cent after painting a giant mural of the rapper's image combined with that of pop star Taylor Swift. 

It's been less than a month since the 22-year-old reality star originally lightened her short raven bob

Kourtney Kardashian revealed in a Q & A with Rose Inc. that she feels most desirable when she's totally naked. The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star appreciated her body, 'Tiger stripes and all.'

The 39-year-old KUWTK reality star simply captioned her slideshow: 'Hey!'

The 35-year-old reality star has been best friends with the 37-year-old new mother since 1999, so she was thrilled to become an 'auntie'

The seven-part docuseries Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness reached No. 1 on Netflix's Top 10 list since dropping Friday

The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star has donated a whopping $1M to help doctors get the face masks, face shields and protective gear they need to help the sick suffering from COVID-19.

Kim Kardashian loves Tristan Thompson 'like a brother' even though he was serially unfaithful to her little sister Khloe Kardashian, she revealed on Twitter after the new premiere of her show.

The Clinton Johnson Band's Vince Johnson said he and his singer Danny Clinton 'recorded three albums worth of songs' before Clinton's death from heart-related issues last October

The drama hit a fever pitch during last week's episode, where the eldest two siblings got into a brawl after Kim questioned the mother-of-three's work ethic.  It seemed that was the final straw for Kourt.

After the 40-year-old got into a physical fight with 39-year-old sister Kim Kardashian last week, she is seen crumbling during a teaser for Thursday's new episode.

Kim Kardashian was the recipient of an ornate Easter house from her mother Kris Jenner. The sweet multicolored treat featured tiny bunnies standing in for each family member.

Kourtney Kardashian won't be watching the drama unfold on her reality TV show on Thursday, opting instead to spend time with her three children, according to a tweet sent by the 40-year-old.

The 34-year-old actress originally paid the 35-year-old Keeping Up with the Kardashians star $5.5M for the Mediterranean-style villa in 2014

The 39-year-old reality star took to her Instagram on Friday morning to share images of some of the personalized goodies she is preparing for her kids on the Sunday holiday.

The 21-year-old model has been dating the Keeping Up with the Kardashians star for almost three years and he's been given the seal of approval by her mother, Diane Alexander.

The 35-year-old reality star will reportedly celebrate with philandering ex-boyfriend Tristan Thompson, and her family will join remotely from neighboring mansions due to the coronavirus

During the raunchy episode, the Justin Bieber tour manager, 39, visited the momager, 64.

Khloé's best friend Malika Haqq tells her: 'Someone just saw Corey Gamble at the [Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel] with a redhead. They rode the elevator together to the 14th floor.'

Due to the coronavirus pandemic the Kardashian clan had to spend Easter apart. And Kourtney Kardashian gave her 89 million followers a little look into her 'quarantine Easter.'

The star and the rapper - who have two-year-old daughter Stormi together - split last year, but have been spending more time together, with several rumours swirling about a possible reconciliation.

Kim and Beyoncé have been plagued with rumors they aren't friends ever since Knowles-Carter declined invites to both Kardashian's 2013 baby shower and 2014 wedding to Kanye West

The power couple have reportedly 'been taking turns caring for the kids' during the COVID-19 quarantine