German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Tuesday backed the aims of the US-Israeli war on Iran but called for its early end, voicing fear for the global economy, as he visited the White Hosue.

Merz, who has been among Europe's more hawkish voices on Iran, became the first foreign leader to see Trump after the United States and Israel began bombing Iran on Saturday.

"This is, of course, damaging our economies. This is true for the oil prices, and this is true for the gas prices as well," Merz told reporters in the Oval Office as he met Trump.

WASHINGTON, March 2 (Reuters) - Top U.S. General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on Monday gave an initial timeline and some details on the start of the U.S. military operation in Iran. So far four U.S. service members have been killed and four others remain seriously wounded, the military has said.

FEBRUARY 27: At 3:38 p.m. ET (2038 GMT), the U.S. Central Command received "the final go order" from President Donald Trump: "Operation Epic Fury is approved. No aborts. Good luck."

Workers stayed home and Ramadan prayers were cancelled in Kuwait on Monday as the tiny Gulf emirate was left on edge following Iranian attacks that marked its biggest upheaval in decades.

Home to a major US military presence, Kuwait has been sucked into Iran's war against the United States and Israel, with the US embassy apparently hit, three American warplanes mistakenly shot down by its military, and a power station struck.

After years of US planning and weeks of military buildup, President Donald Trump gave the order for American forces to strike Iran: "Operation Epic Fury is approved. No aborts. Good luck."

US forces then launched a sweeping campaign of strikes that has smashed Iranian command-and-control sites, destroyed missile infrastructure and sunk navy vessels.

Below, AFP examines key moments in the US operation against Iran.

- The buildup -

LONDON, March 2 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday that the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has led Iran to strike military and economic targets in a more "reckless" manner in the region.

The death of Khamenei "will not stop Iran from launching these strikes," Starmer told parliament. "In fact, their approach is becoming even more reckless and more dangerous to civilians."

(Reporting by William James and Sam Tabahriti, writing by Andrew MacAskill, editing by Alistair Smout)

WASHINGTON, March 2 (Reuters) - The "big wave" is yet to come in the war with Iran, U.S. President Donald Trump told CNN on Monday, adding that Washington did not know who the country's new leader would be following the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

"We haven't even started hitting them hard. The big wave hasn't even happened. The big one is coming soon," Trump said, telling CNN it was unclear who was now leading the country.

"We don't know who the leadership is. We don't know who they'll pick," he said.

By Angelo Amante

ROME, March 2 (Reuters) - Italy has received requests for air defence and anti-drone systems from Gulf countries caught up in the conflict between Iran, Israel and the United States, Rome's defence minister told lawmakers on Monday.

The war against Iran is expanding as Israel has attacked Lebanon in response to strikes by militant group Hezbollah, Tehran has fired missiles and drones at Gulf states, and an Iranian-made drone has hit a British air base in Cyprus.

By Mohammad Yunus Yawar and Asif Shahzad

KABUL/ISLAMABAD, March 2 (Reuters) - Afghanistan and Pakistan said on Monday that their militaries had targeted each other's posts across the border as their fighting entered a fifth day, fuelling instability in a region rocked by U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran's retaliation.

The intensity of the clashes, however, appeared to be lower than when it began although there were no signs that the allies-turned-foes were seeking to step back and make peace.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Monday British military bases in Cyprus will not be used by the United States in its war with Iran, despite criticism from US President Donald Trump.

Starmer's government has been swept up in fallout from the spreading war in the Middle East.

On Sunday, Iranian-made drones hit a British base in Cyprus. Trump meanwhile slammed the UK leader's initial refusal to allow the use of British military facilities.

Starmer announced on Sunday he had agreed to a US request to use British bases for a "specific and limited defensive purpose".

WASHINGTON, March 2 (Reuters) - It will take time to achieve U.S. military objectives in Iran and additional U.S. casualties areexpected, U.S. General Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on Monday.

The U.S.-Israeli air war against Iran expanded on Monday with no end in sight. The U.S. military said Kuwait's air defenses had mistakenly shot down three American F-15E fighter jets during an Iranian attack.