US-Iran-Israel war | ‘No need to panic or pay attention to rumours,’ says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday appealed to the people not to pay attention to rumours or panic in the wake of the LPG supply disruption caused by the ongoing conflict in West Asia and urged that only verified information be disseminated.

The PM's comments come in the wake of the commercial LPG short supply that has affected the hotel industry across the country amid fears of a possible shortage of or spurt in prices of petrol and diesel in the coming days.

Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Fatih Birol has lauded India’s support for its decision of releasing emergency oil stocks.

Birol said in a post on X, “Very pleased to read the Government of India's supportive statement for IEA’s collective action to release emergency oil stocks to address disruptions in global oil markets—and that India stands ready to take appropriate measures to support global market stability.”

Iran has condemned new EU sanctions targeting 19 regime officials and entities over alleged human rights abuses. In a post on X, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei called the measures “absurd, immoral, and utterly unlawful.”

Baghaei said the sanctions seek to punish Iran for what he described as exercising “its right to self-defence” under Article 51 of the UN Charter, and resisting “aggression” by the United States and Israel.

EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas had shared earlier on Wednesday that member states approved new sanctions targeting 19 Iranian officials and entities over serious human rights violations.

India has welcomed the IEA’s decision to release emergency oil stocks amid the prevailing supply disruptions. India is an Associate Member of the International Energy Agency (IEA) and an active participant in international energy cooperation. 

“The Government of India is closely monitoring the evolving situation in global energy markets, particularly in the Middle East. India stands ready to take appropriate measures, as necessary, to support global market stability in alignment with the efforts of the International Energy Agency,” the government said in a statement.

US President Donald Trump said in an interview with Axios that the war with Iran will end “soon” because there is “practically nothing left to target”. “Any time I want it to end, it will end,” Trump said.

The US president later said that the war “is going great”.

“The war is going great,” Trump said. “We are way ahead of the timetable. We have done more damage than we thought possible, even in the original six-week period.

Iran’s military said on Wednesday that any ships belonging to the United States, Israel, or their allies passing through the strategic Strait of Hormuz could be targeted.

“Any vessel whose oil cargo or the vessel itself belongs to the United States, the Zionist regime, or their hostile allies will be considered legitimate targets,” said the military’s central operational command, Khatam Al-Anbiya, in a statement carried by state TV.

It reiterated that Iran’s armed forces “will not allow a single litre of oil to transit” through the strait.

The International Energy Agency has ordered the largest release of government oil reserves in its history in an effort to calm the oil price shock triggered by the US-Israeli attacks on Iran.

All 32 members of the world’s energy watchdog agreed unanimously to release about 400 million barrels of emergency crude, a third of the group’s total government stockpiles and more than double the IEA’s previous biggest release, the IEA said.

Iran is exporting more oil through the Strait of Hormuz than before the war, while shipments from other Gulf producers decline, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing tanker-tracking firm Kpler.

Israel’s defence minister said the US-Israeli campaign against Iran will continue without a time limit until its objectives are achieved. “The operation will continue without any time limit, as long as required, until we accomplish all objectives and achieve victory in the campaign,” Defence Minister Israel Katz said during a meeting with military leaders.

Spain has pulled out its ambassador to Israel and its embassy in Tel Aviv. It will now be led by a chargé d’affaires, the official state gazette and a Foreign Ministry confirmed citing source.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced on Wednesday that the country will start releasing part of its oil reserves from March 16 to address supply concerns. The decision followed after disruptions caused by the blockade of oil and gas passage through the Strait of Hormuz over the West Asia conflict. The prime minister also added that Japan has decided to release 15 days' worth of private-sector oil reserves and one month's worth of state oil reserves, reported Reuters.

Israel’s military announced on Wednesday that it had launched a fresh large-scale wave of airstrikes across Iran while simultaneously targeting Hezbollah-linked infrastructure in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. The attacks, aimed at what the Israeli army described as facilities tied to the Iranian regime, came on the 12th day of the ongoing conflict between Israel, the United States, and Iran.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday stated that the Gulf nations are giving utmost care to working Indians, and added, “I am grateful to them for that. He also said, "India of today does not leave its citizens stranded elsewhere," adding that these nations are working to ensure all required assistance to Indians in West Asia.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Italy is providing anti-aircraft defence systems to Gulf nations, indicating that the country is backing regional security as tensions in the area continue to rise.
 

IRGC-linked Tasnim news agency stated that the US tech firms running offices and infrastructure run with Israeli links, including Google, Microsoft, Palantir, IBM, Nvidia and Oracle, are “Iran’s new targets”. These infrastructures are situated in Israeli cities, as well as in some Gulf nations.

Air strikes overnight Tuesday to Wednesday killed several people in the key eastern Democratic Republic of Congo city of Goma, controlled by the Rwanda-backed M23 militia, sources told AFP. Since taking up arms again in 2021, the M23 has seized swathes of the mineral-rich Congolese east with Rwanda's backing, unleashing a fresh spiral of violence in a region long plagued by fighting.

Despite Rwanda and the DRC signing a peace deal at US President Donald Trump's urging in early December, in the latest attempt to end the conflict, clashes have continued at the front.

Three commercial ships took fire in the Gulf on Wednesday as Iran launched strikes against its oil-exporting neighbours, threatening shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and plunging the global energy economy into crisis. Oil prices have surged and markets have see-sawed since the ends of last month, when the United States and Israel attacked Iran, killed its supreme leader and plunged the Middle East into war.

As the conflict entered its 12th day, all eyes were on the vital sea lane. The leaders of the G7 powers were to hold a video meeting later in the day to discuss opening their strategic petroleum reserves to counter the rising prices. Ahead of the talks, the group's energy ministers said they "stand ready to take all necessary measures".

Iranian protesters will be treated as enemies if they support Tehran's foes, the country's top police officer warned reported news agency AFP.

"If anyone comes forward in line with the wishes of the enemy, we will no longer see them as merely a protester, we will see them as an enemy," national police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan, in comments aired by state broadcaster IRIB.

An unknown projectile hit a cargo ship in the strategic Strait of Hormuz abutting Iran, causing a fire and forcing the crew to evacuate, a maritime security agency said.

Iran's military vowed on Wednesday to launch strikes against US and Israeli economic targets in the region, including banks, after overnight attacks reportedly hit an Iranian bank.

"The enemy has given us free rein to target economic centres and banks belonging to the United States and the Zionist regime," said the military's central operational command, Khatam Al-Anbiya, in a statement carried by state TV.

Iranian media said US and Israeli strikes hit a bank in Tehran overnight, killing an unspecified number of employees.

An Israeli air strike killed seven people and wounded 18 others in an east Lebanon town on Wednesday, the Lebanese health ministry said, as the war in Lebanon entered its 10th day.

"The Israeli enemy's air strikes this morning on the Bekaa resulted in the following toll in Tamnin al-Tahta: seven martyrs and 18 wounded," the ministry said. State media reported that the raid targeted "a building... inhabited by a Syrian family".

Drones fell near Dubai airport on Wednesday, injuring four people, but air traffic continued as normal, Dubai's government said, as Iran presses on with attacks against Gulf countries.

"Authorities confirm that two drones fell in the vicinity of Dubai International Airport a short while ago, resulting in minor injuries to two Ghanaian nationals and one Bangladeshi national, and moderate injuries to one Indian national. Air traffic is operating as normal," said a statement from the Dubai Media Office.

Energy ministers of the G7 said on Wednesday they "stand ready" to take "all necessary measures" in coordination with the International Energy Agency (IEA) to tackle the rise in crude oil prices due to the Middle East war.

After a virtual meeting on Tuesday with the IEA's executive director, they said in a statement: "G7 members will carefully consider the recommendations issued during these discussions. We agreed to stand ready to take all necessary measures in coordination with IEA Members."

The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday, citing officials familiar with the matter, that the IEA had proposed its largest ever release of oil reserves to counter soaring crude prices driven by the US-Israeli war with Iran.

A second container ship was hit off the coast of the UAE by an unidentified projectile on Wednesday, a British maritime security agency said, as Iran presses attacks on the Gulf and Strait of Hormuz.

"The master of a bulk carrier has reported their vessel being hit by an unknown projectile. There is no report of any environmental impact. The crew are reported safe and well," said the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations.

It said the incident took place 50 nautical miles northwest of Dubai.

Iran's UN Ambassador: “1,300+ civilians killed. 9,669 civilian sites destroyed, 32 medical facilities, 65 schools, 13 Red Cross buildings. Fuel strikes causing toxic rain over Tehran. Water plants bombed.”

"Today it is Iran. Tomorrow it could be any other sovereign state."

Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is “safe and sound” despite injuries sustained during the ongoing war, Yousef Pezeshkian, the son of President Masoud Pezeshkian, said on Wednesday (Mar 11). The remarks come amid widespread speculation about the health and whereabouts of the 56-year-old cleric, who has largely stayed out of public view since being named Iran’s leader following the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in US-Israel strikes.

Read more here

Iranian women footballers claiming asylum in Australia evacuated from their safe house on Wednesday after one team member changed her mind and revealed their location to the Iranian embassy, Canberra said.

Seven members of Iran's visiting women's football delegation had sought sanctuary in Australia after they were branded "traitors" at home for refusing to sing the national anthem.

But one member of the group had second thoughts after speaking to other players who had turned down asylum in favour of returning to Iran, Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said.

Why did Iran post a cartoon of Donald Trump labelled “Nobel Cannibal”?

The image shows the US president smiling amid bloodied school bags after reports linked a Tomahawk missile to deadly strike on an Iranian girls’ school. What message is Tehran trying to send? 

Click here to find out

A cargo ship has been struck in the Strait of Hormuz and its crew is evacuating, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said.

"It has been reported that a cargo vessel has been hit by an unknown projectile in the Straits of Hormuz which has resulted in a fire onboard," it said.

Read more here

US President Donald Trump's war secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday (Mar 10) warned Russia that it "should not be involved" in the Iran war. This comes as reports suggest that Moscow may be aiding Tehran by providing intel about US military assets in the Gulf. Russian officials have meanwhile insisted in a call with Trump on Monday that they "have not been sharing" intelligence with Tehran amid the escalating conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran.

Read more here

Several blasts rang out across the Qatari capital Doha on Wednesday, AFP correspondents said, as Iran's retaliatory strikes on the Gulf entered a twelfth day.

"The security threat level is high," the interior ministry posted on X, urging "everyone to adhere to staying at home, not going out, and staying away from windows and open areas to preserve public safety".

Qatar has sent out an “elevated” threat level alert, telling residents to “remain indoors”.

Australian Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke wrote in a post on X, "Later in the evening, they were reunited with their five teammates who had made the same decision the night before. They will be safe here. They will be at home here. They are welcome here in Australia."

Millions of people across northern and central Israel have been forced to seek shelter due to ongoing missile attacks from Iran, according to reports

Al Jazeera reported that Israeli bombs hit the multi-storey building in the Aisha Bakkar area of central Beirut

Iran's top police officer warned protesters who support the positions of the country's enemies that they would be treated as such by authorities, according to footage posted by state broadcaster IRIB reported

Times of Israel reported that Israel has rejected Lebanon's offer to halt its escalating offensive against the Hezbollah, demanding that negotiations only take place “under fire.” The talks, mooted to be held in Cyprus, have not materialised because of disagreements over sequencing, with Beirut demanding there be a “cessation of fire” before any meeting takes place and the Israeli government wanting only to discuss the possibility of a cessation, two of the people added. 

Delhi Airport on Mar 11 issued a new advisory for passengers stating, “Due to the current geopolitical developments in the Middle East, some westbound international flights may see delays or schedule changes. Passengers are advised to check the latest updates with their respective airlines before heading to the airport.”

The Israel Defence forces have revealed that nearly half of the 300 ballistic missiles launched by Iran at Israel carried cluster bomb warheads. The IDF said that most of the missiles were intercepted, but one carrying a large warhead had exploded in an open area outside Beit Shemesh, near Jerusalem. No injuries were reported.

UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a container vessel has sustained damage off the north coast of the United Arab Emirates. The incident was caused by a “suspected but unknown projectile” and the extent of the damage is “under investigation by the crew."

According to the IRGC, the latest wave "was carried out over more than three hours, with continuous, multi-layered missile strikes, including the heaviest type of missiles."

According to the Vatican News, Pope Leo has expressed “profound sorrow for all the victims of the bombings” in the region.

Iran's Ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani has alleged that the Israeli government has assassinated four senior Iranian diplomats in what he describes as a "heinous crime" in the Lebanese capital Beirut. In a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the envoy said that on March 8, the Israeli government had carried out a targeted strike at the Ramada Hotel in Beirut, claiming the lives of the victims. Iravani noted that after the IDF had publicly threatened to target Iranian official representatives in Lebanon, the diplomats had been temporarily relocated to the hotel as a safety measure.

Explosions were reported at Tehran’s Mehrabad International Airport and videos of the incident is doing rounds on social media, CNN reported

A suspected drone infiltration from Lebanon sets off sirens in several Israeli communities near the border.

Atleast 140 United States military personnel have been wounded during the first ten days of the West Asia conflict, according to the Pentagon. The casualties come as military operations expand across the region and both sides signal continued readiness for further escalation, CBS News reported

Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi held a telephone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to discuss the latest regional developments and the security implications arising from what Tehran described as the military aggression of the United States and Israel against Iran.

Israel’s Channel 12 reported that the country has been targeted by a second Iranian missile attack in an hour. The attacks set off alarms across central Israel, but were all intercepted.

Israel's military said on Wednesday that Iran fired a new wave of missiles toward Israel, calling on those in affected areas to head to shelters. "A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel. Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat," the Israeli military said on its official Telegram account.

Saudi Arabia's defence ministry said Wednesday that it intercepted two drones heading towards an oil field in the southeast of the country

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forced through the choice of Mojtaba Khamenei as the new supreme leader, Times of Israel reported citing senior Iranian sources.

Iran official honours IRIS Dena sailors, says “Iranians will neither forget nor forgive this heinous crime”

North Korea respects Iran's choice of a new supreme leader, state media said, accusing the US and Israel of undermining regional peace.

The IRGC said that it has fired four missiles at the headquarters of US forces in Kuwait. These include two missiles targeting Camp Arifjan in Kuwait.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday appealed to the people not to pay attention to rumours or panic in the wake of the LPG supply disruption caused by the ongoing conflict in West Asia and urged that only verified information be disseminated.

The PM's comments come in the wake of the commercial LPG short supply that has affected the hotel industry across the country amid fears of a possible shortage of or spurt in prices of petrol and diesel in the coming days.

Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Fatih Birol has lauded India’s support for its decision of releasing emergency oil stocks.

Birol said in a post on X, “Very pleased to read the Government of India's supportive statement for IEA’s collective action to release emergency oil stocks to address disruptions in global oil markets—and that India stands ready to take appropriate measures to support global market stability.”

Iran has condemned new EU sanctions targeting 19 regime officials and entities over alleged human rights abuses. In a post on X, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei called the measures “absurd, immoral, and utterly unlawful.”

Baghaei said the sanctions seek to punish Iran for what he described as exercising “its right to self-defence” under Article 51 of the UN Charter, and resisting “aggression” by the United States and Israel.

EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas had shared earlier on Wednesday that member states approved new sanctions targeting 19 Iranian officials and entities over serious human rights violations.

India has welcomed the IEA’s decision to release emergency oil stocks amid the prevailing supply disruptions. India is an Associate Member of the International Energy Agency (IEA) and an active participant in international energy cooperation. 

“The Government of India is closely monitoring the evolving situation in global energy markets, particularly in the Middle East. India stands ready to take appropriate measures, as necessary, to support global market stability in alignment with the efforts of the International Energy Agency,” the government said in a statement.

US President Donald Trump said in an interview with Axios that the war with Iran will end “soon” because there is “practically nothing left to target”. “Any time I want it to end, it will end,” Trump said.

The US president later said that the war “is going great”.

“The war is going great,” Trump said. “We are way ahead of the timetable. We have done more damage than we thought possible, even in the original six-week period.

Iran’s military said on Wednesday that any ships belonging to the United States, Israel, or their allies passing through the strategic Strait of Hormuz could be targeted.

“Any vessel whose oil cargo or the vessel itself belongs to the United States, the Zionist regime, or their hostile allies will be considered legitimate targets,” said the military’s central operational command, Khatam Al-Anbiya, in a statement carried by state TV.

It reiterated that Iran’s armed forces “will not allow a single litre of oil to transit” through the strait.

The International Energy Agency has ordered the largest release of government oil reserves in its history in an effort to calm the oil price shock triggered by the US-Israeli attacks on Iran.

All 32 members of the world’s energy watchdog agreed unanimously to release about 400 million barrels of emergency crude, a third of the group’s total government stockpiles and more than double the IEA’s previous biggest release, the IEA said.

Iran is exporting more oil through the Strait of Hormuz than before the war, while shipments from other Gulf producers decline, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing tanker-tracking firm Kpler.

Israel’s defence minister said the US-Israeli campaign against Iran will continue without a time limit until its objectives are achieved. “The operation will continue without any time limit, as long as required, until we accomplish all objectives and achieve victory in the campaign,” Defence Minister Israel Katz said during a meeting with military leaders.

Spain has pulled out its ambassador to Israel and its embassy in Tel Aviv. It will now be led by a chargé d’affaires, the official state gazette and a Foreign Ministry confirmed citing source.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced on Wednesday that the country will start releasing part of its oil reserves from March 16 to address supply concerns. The decision followed after disruptions caused by the blockade of oil and gas passage through the Strait of Hormuz over the West Asia conflict. The prime minister also added that Japan has decided to release 15 days' worth of private-sector oil reserves and one month's worth of state oil reserves, reported Reuters.

Israel’s military announced on Wednesday that it had launched a fresh large-scale wave of airstrikes across Iran while simultaneously targeting Hezbollah-linked infrastructure in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. The attacks, aimed at what the Israeli army described as facilities tied to the Iranian regime, came on the 12th day of the ongoing conflict between Israel, the United States, and Iran.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday stated that the Gulf nations are giving utmost care to working Indians, and added, “I am grateful to them for that. He also said, "India of today does not leave its citizens stranded elsewhere," adding that these nations are working to ensure all required assistance to Indians in West Asia.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Italy is providing anti-aircraft defence systems to Gulf nations, indicating that the country is backing regional security as tensions in the area continue to rise.
 

IRGC-linked Tasnim news agency stated that the US tech firms running offices and infrastructure run with Israeli links, including Google, Microsoft, Palantir, IBM, Nvidia and Oracle, are “Iran’s new targets”. These infrastructures are situated in Israeli cities, as well as in some Gulf nations.

Air strikes overnight Tuesday to Wednesday killed several people in the key eastern Democratic Republic of Congo city of Goma, controlled by the Rwanda-backed M23 militia, sources told AFP. Since taking up arms again in 2021, the M23 has seized swathes of the mineral-rich Congolese east with Rwanda's backing, unleashing a fresh spiral of violence in a region long plagued by fighting.

Despite Rwanda and the DRC signing a peace deal at US President Donald Trump's urging in early December, in the latest attempt to end the conflict, clashes have continued at the front.

Three commercial ships took fire in the Gulf on Wednesday as Iran launched strikes against its oil-exporting neighbours, threatening shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and plunging the global energy economy into crisis. Oil prices have surged and markets have see-sawed since the ends of last month, when the United States and Israel attacked Iran, killed its supreme leader and plunged the Middle East into war.

As the conflict entered its 12th day, all eyes were on the vital sea lane. The leaders of the G7 powers were to hold a video meeting later in the day to discuss opening their strategic petroleum reserves to counter the rising prices. Ahead of the talks, the group's energy ministers said they "stand ready to take all necessary measures".

Iranian protesters will be treated as enemies if they support Tehran's foes, the country's top police officer warned reported news agency AFP.

"If anyone comes forward in line with the wishes of the enemy, we will no longer see them as merely a protester, we will see them as an enemy," national police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan, in comments aired by state broadcaster IRIB.

An unknown projectile hit a cargo ship in the strategic Strait of Hormuz abutting Iran, causing a fire and forcing the crew to evacuate, a maritime security agency said.

Iran's military vowed on Wednesday to launch strikes against US and Israeli economic targets in the region, including banks, after overnight attacks reportedly hit an Iranian bank.

"The enemy has given us free rein to target economic centres and banks belonging to the United States and the Zionist regime," said the military's central operational command, Khatam Al-Anbiya, in a statement carried by state TV.

Iranian media said US and Israeli strikes hit a bank in Tehran overnight, killing an unspecified number of employees.

An Israeli air strike killed seven people and wounded 18 others in an east Lebanon town on Wednesday, the Lebanese health ministry said, as the war in Lebanon entered its 10th day.

"The Israeli enemy's air strikes this morning on the Bekaa resulted in the following toll in Tamnin al-Tahta: seven martyrs and 18 wounded," the ministry said. State media reported that the raid targeted "a building... inhabited by a Syrian family".

Drones fell near Dubai airport on Wednesday, injuring four people, but air traffic continued as normal, Dubai's government said, as Iran presses on with attacks against Gulf countries.

"Authorities confirm that two drones fell in the vicinity of Dubai International Airport a short while ago, resulting in minor injuries to two Ghanaian nationals and one Bangladeshi national, and moderate injuries to one Indian national. Air traffic is operating as normal," said a statement from the Dubai Media Office.

Energy ministers of the G7 said on Wednesday they "stand ready" to take "all necessary measures" in coordination with the International Energy Agency (IEA) to tackle the rise in crude oil prices due to the Middle East war.

After a virtual meeting on Tuesday with the IEA's executive director, they said in a statement: "G7 members will carefully consider the recommendations issued during these discussions. We agreed to stand ready to take all necessary measures in coordination with IEA Members."

The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday, citing officials familiar with the matter, that the IEA had proposed its largest ever release of oil reserves to counter soaring crude prices driven by the US-Israeli war with Iran.

A second container ship was hit off the coast of the UAE by an unidentified projectile on Wednesday, a British maritime security agency said, as Iran presses attacks on the Gulf and Strait of Hormuz.

"The master of a bulk carrier has reported their vessel being hit by an unknown projectile. There is no report of any environmental impact. The crew are reported safe and well," said the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations.

It said the incident took place 50 nautical miles northwest of Dubai.

Iran's UN Ambassador: “1,300+ civilians killed. 9,669 civilian sites destroyed, 32 medical facilities, 65 schools, 13 Red Cross buildings. Fuel strikes causing toxic rain over Tehran. Water plants bombed.”

"Today it is Iran. Tomorrow it could be any other sovereign state."

Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is “safe and sound” despite injuries sustained during the ongoing war, Yousef Pezeshkian, the son of President Masoud Pezeshkian, said on Wednesday (Mar 11). The remarks come amid widespread speculation about the health and whereabouts of the 56-year-old cleric, who has largely stayed out of public view since being named Iran’s leader following the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in US-Israel strikes.

Read more here

Iranian women footballers claiming asylum in Australia evacuated from their safe house on Wednesday after one team member changed her mind and revealed their location to the Iranian embassy, Canberra said.

Seven members of Iran's visiting women's football delegation had sought sanctuary in Australia after they were branded "traitors" at home for refusing to sing the national anthem.

But one member of the group had second thoughts after speaking to other players who had turned down asylum in favour of returning to Iran, Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said.

Why did Iran post a cartoon of Donald Trump labelled “Nobel Cannibal”?

The image shows the US president smiling amid bloodied school bags after reports linked a Tomahawk missile to deadly strike on an Iranian girls’ school. What message is Tehran trying to send? 

Click here to find out

A cargo ship has been struck in the Strait of Hormuz and its crew is evacuating, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said.

"It has been reported that a cargo vessel has been hit by an unknown projectile in the Straits of Hormuz which has resulted in a fire onboard," it said.

Read more here

US President Donald Trump's war secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday (Mar 10) warned Russia that it "should not be involved" in the Iran war. This comes as reports suggest that Moscow may be aiding Tehran by providing intel about US military assets in the Gulf. Russian officials have meanwhile insisted in a call with Trump on Monday that they "have not been sharing" intelligence with Tehran amid the escalating conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran.

Read more here

Several blasts rang out across the Qatari capital Doha on Wednesday, AFP correspondents said, as Iran's retaliatory strikes on the Gulf entered a twelfth day.

"The security threat level is high," the interior ministry posted on X, urging "everyone to adhere to staying at home, not going out, and staying away from windows and open areas to preserve public safety".

Qatar has sent out an “elevated” threat level alert, telling residents to “remain indoors”.

Australian Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke wrote in a post on X, "Later in the evening, they were reunited with their five teammates who had made the same decision the night before. They will be safe here. They will be at home here. They are welcome here in Australia."

Millions of people across northern and central Israel have been forced to seek shelter due to ongoing missile attacks from Iran, according to reports

Al Jazeera reported that Israeli bombs hit the multi-storey building in the Aisha Bakkar area of central Beirut

Iran's top police officer warned protesters who support the positions of the country's enemies that they would be treated as such by authorities, according to footage posted by state broadcaster IRIB reported

Times of Israel reported that Israel has rejected Lebanon's offer to halt its escalating offensive against the Hezbollah, demanding that negotiations only take place “under fire.” The talks, mooted to be held in Cyprus, have not materialised because of disagreements over sequencing, with Beirut demanding there be a “cessation of fire” before any meeting takes place and the Israeli government wanting only to discuss the possibility of a cessation, two of the people added. 

Delhi Airport on Mar 11 issued a new advisory for passengers stating, “Due to the current geopolitical developments in the Middle East, some westbound international flights may see delays or schedule changes. Passengers are advised to check the latest updates with their respective airlines before heading to the airport.”

The Israel Defence forces have revealed that nearly half of the 300 ballistic missiles launched by Iran at Israel carried cluster bomb warheads. The IDF said that most of the missiles were intercepted, but one carrying a large warhead had exploded in an open area outside Beit Shemesh, near Jerusalem. No injuries were reported.

UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a container vessel has sustained damage off the north coast of the United Arab Emirates. The incident was caused by a “suspected but unknown projectile” and the extent of the damage is “under investigation by the crew."

According to the IRGC, the latest wave "was carried out over more than three hours, with continuous, multi-layered missile strikes, including the heaviest type of missiles."

According to the Vatican News, Pope Leo has expressed “profound sorrow for all the victims of the bombings” in the region.

Iran's Ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani has alleged that the Israeli government has assassinated four senior Iranian diplomats in what he describes as a "heinous crime" in the Lebanese capital Beirut. In a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the envoy said that on March 8, the Israeli government had carried out a targeted strike at the Ramada Hotel in Beirut, claiming the lives of the victims. Iravani noted that after the IDF had publicly threatened to target Iranian official representatives in Lebanon, the diplomats had been temporarily relocated to the hotel as a safety measure.

Explosions were reported at Tehran’s Mehrabad International Airport and videos of the incident is doing rounds on social media, CNN reported

A suspected drone infiltration from Lebanon sets off sirens in several Israeli communities near the border.

Atleast 140 United States military personnel have been wounded during the first ten days of the West Asia conflict, according to the Pentagon. The casualties come as military operations expand across the region and both sides signal continued readiness for further escalation, CBS News reported

Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi held a telephone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to discuss the latest regional developments and the security implications arising from what Tehran described as the military aggression of the United States and Israel against Iran.

Israel’s Channel 12 reported that the country has been targeted by a second Iranian missile attack in an hour. The attacks set off alarms across central Israel, but were all intercepted.

Israel's military said on Wednesday that Iran fired a new wave of missiles toward Israel, calling on those in affected areas to head to shelters. "A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel. Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat," the Israeli military said on its official Telegram account.

Saudi Arabia's defence ministry said Wednesday that it intercepted two drones heading towards an oil field in the southeast of the country

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forced through the choice of Mojtaba Khamenei as the new supreme leader, Times of Israel reported citing senior Iranian sources.

Iran official honours IRIS Dena sailors, says “Iranians will neither forget nor forgive this heinous crime”

North Korea respects Iran's choice of a new supreme leader, state media said, accusing the US and Israel of undermining regional peace.

The IRGC said that it has fired four missiles at the headquarters of US forces in Kuwait. These include two missiles targeting Camp Arifjan in Kuwait.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday appealed to the people not to pay attention to rumours or panic in the wake of the LPG supply disruption caused by the ongoing conflict in West Asia and urged that only verified information be disseminated.

The PM's comments come in the wake of the commercial LPG short supply that has affected the hotel industry across the country amid fears of a possible shortage of or spurt in prices of petrol and diesel in the coming days.

Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Fatih Birol has lauded India’s support for its decision of releasing emergency oil stocks.

Birol said in a post on X, “Very pleased to read the Government of India's supportive statement for IEA’s collective action to release emergency oil stocks to address disruptions in global oil markets—and that India stands ready to take appropriate measures to support global market stability.”

Iran has condemned new EU sanctions targeting 19 regime officials and entities over alleged human rights abuses. In a post on X, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei called the measures “absurd, immoral, and utterly unlawful.”

Baghaei said the sanctions seek to punish Iran for what he described as exercising “its right to self-defence” under Article 51 of the UN Charter, and resisting “aggression” by the United States and Israel.

EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas had shared earlier on Wednesday that member states approved new sanctions targeting 19 Iranian officials and entities over serious human rights violations.

India has welcomed the IEA’s decision to release emergency oil stocks amid the prevailing supply disruptions. India is an Associate Member of the International Energy Agency (IEA) and an active participant in international energy cooperation. 

“The Government of India is closely monitoring the evolving situation in global energy markets, particularly in the Middle East. India stands ready to take appropriate measures, as necessary, to support global market stability in alignment with the efforts of the International Energy Agency,” the government said in a statement.

US President Donald Trump said in an interview with Axios that the war with Iran will end “soon” because there is “practically nothing left to target”. “Any time I want it to end, it will end,” Trump said.

The US president later said that the war “is going great”.

“The war is going great,” Trump said. “We are way ahead of the timetable. We have done more damage than we thought possible, even in the original six-week period.

Iran’s military said on Wednesday that any ships belonging to the United States, Israel, or their allies passing through the strategic Strait of Hormuz could be targeted.

“Any vessel whose oil cargo or the vessel itself belongs to the United States, the Zionist regime, or their hostile allies will be considered legitimate targets,” said the military’s central operational command, Khatam Al-Anbiya, in a statement carried by state TV.

It reiterated that Iran’s armed forces “will not allow a single litre of oil to transit” through the strait.

The International Energy Agency has ordered the largest release of government oil reserves in its history in an effort to calm the oil price shock triggered by the US-Israeli attacks on Iran.

All 32 members of the world’s energy watchdog agreed unanimously to release about 400 million barrels of emergency crude, a third of the group’s total government stockpiles and more than double the IEA’s previous biggest release, the IEA said.

Iran is exporting more oil through the Strait of Hormuz than before the war, while shipments from other Gulf producers decline, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing tanker-tracking firm Kpler.

Israel’s defence minister said the US-Israeli campaign against Iran will continue without a time limit until its objectives are achieved. “The operation will continue without any time limit, as long as required, until we accomplish all objectives and achieve victory in the campaign,” Defence Minister Israel Katz said during a meeting with military leaders.

Spain has pulled out its ambassador to Israel and its embassy in Tel Aviv. It will now be led by a chargé d’affaires, the official state gazette and a Foreign Ministry confirmed citing source.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced on Wednesday that the country will start releasing part of its oil reserves from March 16 to address supply concerns. The decision followed after disruptions caused by the blockade of oil and gas passage through the Strait of Hormuz over the West Asia conflict. The prime minister also added that Japan has decided to release 15 days' worth of private-sector oil reserves and one month's worth of state oil reserves, reported Reuters.

Israel’s military announced on Wednesday that it had launched a fresh large-scale wave of airstrikes across Iran while simultaneously targeting Hezbollah-linked infrastructure in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. The attacks, aimed at what the Israeli army described as facilities tied to the Iranian regime, came on the 12th day of the ongoing conflict between Israel, the United States, and Iran.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday stated that the Gulf nations are giving utmost care to working Indians, and added, “I am grateful to them for that. He also said, "India of today does not leave its citizens stranded elsewhere," adding that these nations are working to ensure all required assistance to Indians in West Asia.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Italy is providing anti-aircraft defence systems to Gulf nations, indicating that the country is backing regional security as tensions in the area continue to rise.
 

IRGC-linked Tasnim news agency stated that the US tech firms running offices and infrastructure run with Israeli links, including Google, Microsoft, Palantir, IBM, Nvidia and Oracle, are “Iran’s new targets”. These infrastructures are situated in Israeli cities, as well as in some Gulf nations.

Air strikes overnight Tuesday to Wednesday killed several people in the key eastern Democratic Republic of Congo city of Goma, controlled by the Rwanda-backed M23 militia, sources told AFP. Since taking up arms again in 2021, the M23 has seized swathes of the mineral-rich Congolese east with Rwanda's backing, unleashing a fresh spiral of violence in a region long plagued by fighting.

Despite Rwanda and the DRC signing a peace deal at US President Donald Trump's urging in early December, in the latest attempt to end the conflict, clashes have continued at the front.

Three commercial ships took fire in the Gulf on Wednesday as Iran launched strikes against its oil-exporting neighbours, threatening shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and plunging the global energy economy into crisis. Oil prices have surged and markets have see-sawed since the ends of last month, when the United States and Israel attacked Iran, killed its supreme leader and plunged the Middle East into war.

As the conflict entered its 12th day, all eyes were on the vital sea lane. The leaders of the G7 powers were to hold a video meeting later in the day to discuss opening their strategic petroleum reserves to counter the rising prices. Ahead of the talks, the group's energy ministers said they "stand ready to take all necessary measures".

Iranian protesters will be treated as enemies if they support Tehran's foes, the country's top police officer warned reported news agency AFP.

"If anyone comes forward in line with the wishes of the enemy, we will no longer see them as merely a protester, we will see them as an enemy," national police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan, in comments aired by state broadcaster IRIB.

An unknown projectile hit a cargo ship in the strategic Strait of Hormuz abutting Iran, causing a fire and forcing the crew to evacuate, a maritime security agency said.

Iran's military vowed on Wednesday to launch strikes against US and Israeli economic targets in the region, including banks, after overnight attacks reportedly hit an Iranian bank.

"The enemy has given us free rein to target economic centres and banks belonging to the United States and the Zionist regime," said the military's central operational command, Khatam Al-Anbiya, in a statement carried by state TV.

Iranian media said US and Israeli strikes hit a bank in Tehran overnight, killing an unspecified number of employees.

An Israeli air strike killed seven people and wounded 18 others in an east Lebanon town on Wednesday, the Lebanese health ministry said, as the war in Lebanon entered its 10th day.

"The Israeli enemy's air strikes this morning on the Bekaa resulted in the following toll in Tamnin al-Tahta: seven martyrs and 18 wounded," the ministry said. State media reported that the raid targeted "a building... inhabited by a Syrian family".

Drones fell near Dubai airport on Wednesday, injuring four people, but air traffic continued as normal, Dubai's government said, as Iran presses on with attacks against Gulf countries.

"Authorities confirm that two drones fell in the vicinity of Dubai International Airport a short while ago, resulting in minor injuries to two Ghanaian nationals and one Bangladeshi national, and moderate injuries to one Indian national. Air traffic is operating as normal," said a statement from the Dubai Media Office.

Energy ministers of the G7 said on Wednesday they "stand ready" to take "all necessary measures" in coordination with the International Energy Agency (IEA) to tackle the rise in crude oil prices due to the Middle East war.

After a virtual meeting on Tuesday with the IEA's executive director, they said in a statement: "G7 members will carefully consider the recommendations issued during these discussions. We agreed to stand ready to take all necessary measures in coordination with IEA Members."

The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday, citing officials familiar with the matter, that the IEA had proposed its largest ever release of oil reserves to counter soaring crude prices driven by the US-Israeli war with Iran.

A second container ship was hit off the coast of the UAE by an unidentified projectile on Wednesday, a British maritime security agency said, as Iran presses attacks on the Gulf and Strait of Hormuz.

"The master of a bulk carrier has reported their vessel being hit by an unknown projectile. There is no report of any environmental impact. The crew are reported safe and well," said the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations.

It said the incident took place 50 nautical miles northwest of Dubai.

Iran's UN Ambassador: “1,300+ civilians killed. 9,669 civilian sites destroyed, 32 medical facilities, 65 schools, 13 Red Cross buildings. Fuel strikes causing toxic rain over Tehran. Water plants bombed.”

"Today it is Iran. Tomorrow it could be any other sovereign state."

Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is “safe and sound” despite injuries sustained during the ongoing war, Yousef Pezeshkian, the son of President Masoud Pezeshkian, said on Wednesday (Mar 11). The remarks come amid widespread speculation about the health and whereabouts of the 56-year-old cleric, who has largely stayed out of public view since being named Iran’s leader following the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in US-Israel strikes.

Read more here

Iranian women footballers claiming asylum in Australia evacuated from their safe house on Wednesday after one team member changed her mind and revealed their location to the Iranian embassy, Canberra said.

Seven members of Iran's visiting women's football delegation had sought sanctuary in Australia after they were branded "traitors" at home for refusing to sing the national anthem.

But one member of the group had second thoughts after speaking to other players who had turned down asylum in favour of returning to Iran, Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said.

Why did Iran post a cartoon of Donald Trump labelled “Nobel Cannibal”?

The image shows the US president smiling amid bloodied school bags after reports linked a Tomahawk missile to deadly strike on an Iranian girls’ school. What message is Tehran trying to send? 

Click here to find out

A cargo ship has been struck in the Strait of Hormuz and its crew is evacuating, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said.

"It has been reported that a cargo vessel has been hit by an unknown projectile in the Straits of Hormuz which has resulted in a fire onboard," it said.

Read more here

US President Donald Trump's war secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday (Mar 10) warned Russia that it "should not be involved" in the Iran war. This comes as reports suggest that Moscow may be aiding Tehran by providing intel about US military assets in the Gulf. Russian officials have meanwhile insisted in a call with Trump on Monday that they "have not been sharing" intelligence with Tehran amid the escalating conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran.

Read more here

Several blasts rang out across the Qatari capital Doha on Wednesday, AFP correspondents said, as Iran's retaliatory strikes on the Gulf entered a twelfth day.

"The security threat level is high," the interior ministry posted on X, urging "everyone to adhere to staying at home, not going out, and staying away from windows and open areas to preserve public safety".

Qatar has sent out an “elevated” threat level alert, telling residents to “remain indoors”.

Australian Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke wrote in a post on X, "Later in the evening, they were reunited with their five teammates who had made the same decision the night before. They will be safe here. They will be at home here. They are welcome here in Australia."

Millions of people across northern and central Israel have been forced to seek shelter due to ongoing missile attacks from Iran, according to reports

Al Jazeera reported that Israeli bombs hit the multi-storey building in the Aisha Bakkar area of central Beirut

Iran's top police officer warned protesters who support the positions of the country's enemies that they would be treated as such by authorities, according to footage posted by state broadcaster IRIB reported

Times of Israel reported that Israel has rejected Lebanon's offer to halt its escalating offensive against the Hezbollah, demanding that negotiations only take place “under fire.” The talks, mooted to be held in Cyprus, have not materialised because of disagreements over sequencing, with Beirut demanding there be a “cessation of fire” before any meeting takes place and the Israeli government wanting only to discuss the possibility of a cessation, two of the people added. 

Delhi Airport on Mar 11 issued a new advisory for passengers stating, “Due to the current geopolitical developments in the Middle East, some westbound international flights may see delays or schedule changes. Passengers are advised to check the latest updates with their respective airlines before heading to the airport.”

The Israel Defence forces have revealed that nearly half of the 300 ballistic missiles launched by Iran at Israel carried cluster bomb warheads. The IDF said that most of the missiles were intercepted, but one carrying a large warhead had exploded in an open area outside Beit Shemesh, near Jerusalem. No injuries were reported.

UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a container vessel has sustained damage off the north coast of the United Arab Emirates. The incident was caused by a “suspected but unknown projectile” and the extent of the damage is “under investigation by the crew."

According to the IRGC, the latest wave "was carried out over more than three hours, with continuous, multi-layered missile strikes, including the heaviest type of missiles."

According to the Vatican News, Pope Leo has expressed “profound sorrow for all the victims of the bombings” in the region.

Iran's Ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani has alleged that the Israeli government has assassinated four senior Iranian diplomats in what he describes as a "heinous crime" in the Lebanese capital Beirut. In a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the envoy said that on March 8, the Israeli government had carried out a targeted strike at the Ramada Hotel in Beirut, claiming the lives of the victims. Iravani noted that after the IDF had publicly threatened to target Iranian official representatives in Lebanon, the diplomats had been temporarily relocated to the hotel as a safety measure.

Explosions were reported at Tehran’s Mehrabad International Airport and videos of the incident is doing rounds on social media, CNN reported

A suspected drone infiltration from Lebanon sets off sirens in several Israeli communities near the border.

Atleast 140 United States military personnel have been wounded during the first ten days of the West Asia conflict, according to the Pentagon. The casualties come as military operations expand across the region and both sides signal continued readiness for further escalation, CBS News reported

Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi held a telephone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to discuss the latest regional developments and the security implications arising from what Tehran described as the military aggression of the United States and Israel against Iran.

Israel’s Channel 12 reported that the country has been targeted by a second Iranian missile attack in an hour. The attacks set off alarms across central Israel, but were all intercepted.

Israel's military said on Wednesday that Iran fired a new wave of missiles toward Israel, calling on those in affected areas to head to shelters. "A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel. Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat," the Israeli military said on its official Telegram account.

Saudi Arabia's defence ministry said Wednesday that it intercepted two drones heading towards an oil field in the southeast of the country

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forced through the choice of Mojtaba Khamenei as the new supreme leader, Times of Israel reported citing senior Iranian sources.

Iran official honours IRIS Dena sailors, says “Iranians will neither forget nor forgive this heinous crime”

North Korea respects Iran's choice of a new supreme leader, state media said, accusing the US and Israel of undermining regional peace.

The IRGC said that it has fired four missiles at the headquarters of US forces in Kuwait. These include two missiles targeting Camp Arifjan in Kuwait.