Iran allowed ships from some countries to cross Strait of Hormuz

This live blog follows updates for Day 13 of the US-Israel war on Iran. For a recap of Day 12, go here.

• War displaces three million inside Iran: UN
• 51 crew rescued after attack on tankers off Iraq: Authorities to AFP
• Israel army says Hezbollah fired 200 rockets Wednesday night in 'biggest barrage' of war
• US says Iran campaign cost $11 billion in six days: New York Times
• Israel army says struck site it claims Iran 'used for developing nuclear arms'

Iran security chief says will not relent until US 'sorry for grave miscalculation'

Published: March 12, 2026 | 18:30 GMT

Iranian security chief Ali Larijani said Thursday that his country would not give up fighting until the United States came to regret the "grave miscalculation" of launching its war against the Islamic republic.

"US President Donald Trump says he is looking for a speedy victory. While starting a war is easy, it cannot be won with a few tweets. We will not relent until making you sorry for this grave miscalculation," Larijani said on X.

Israel says struck checkpoints of Iran paramilitary force Basij in Tehran

Published: March 12, 2026 | 18:06 GMT

Israel's military said Thursday it had struck checkpoints set up in Tehran by the Basij paramilitary force of Iran's Revolutionary Guards as part of efforts to undermine control by the authorities.

"Over the past day, the Israeli Air Force, acting on (military) intelligence, has targeted the Basij roadblocks and operatives," the army said in a statement.

US says it has struck around 6,000 targets since start of Iran war

Published: March 12, 2026 | 17:40 GMT

The United States has struck around 6,000 targets since the start of the war against Iran late last month, the US military said on Thursday.

Among the targets hit were more than 90 Iranian vessels around 60 ships and 30 minelayers ,US Central Command, which is responsible for American forces in the region, said.

Iran allowed ships from some countries to cross Strait of Hormuz

Published: March 12, 2026 | 16:40 GMT

Iran has allowed ships from some countries to cross the Strait of Hormuz, deputy foreign minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi said on Thursday, as the waterway remained effectively closed during the war with the US and Israel.

"Some countries have already talked to us about passing the strait and we have cooperated with them," said Takht-Ravanchi during an interview with AFP in Tehran.

"As far as Iran is concerned, we feel that those countries that joined the aggression should not benefit from safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz."

Iran not laying mines in Strait of Hormuz: deputy foreign minister

Published: March 12, 2026 | 16:36 GMT

Iran is not laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, deputy foreign minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi said, after US President Donald Trump said US forces had struck 28 Iranian mine-laying vessels in the waterway.

"Not at all. This is not true," said Takht-Ravanchi in an interview with AFP when asked about reports of Iran laying mines in the strategic waterway

Laundry fire on giant US aircraft carrier injures two: US military

Published: March 12, 2026 | 16:01 GMT

Two crew on the USS Gerald R. Ford the world's largest aircraft carrier currently deployed for the war against Iran were injured Thursday in a laundry room fire, the US Navy said.

"Two sailors are currently receiving medical treatment for non-life-threatening injuries and are in stable condition," a statement from US Naval Forces Central Command said.

The Navy said the fire, originating "in the ship's main laundry," was "not combat-related and is contained."

Israel army warns residents it will target building in central Beirut

Published: March 12, 2026 | 15:00 GMT

The Israeli military on Thursday warned it would strike a building in the center of the Lebanese capital that it said was a Hezbollah facility, and told surrounding residents to evacuate.

"You are located near a facility of the terrorist organization Hezbollah, which the Israeli Defense Forces will be targeting," military spokesman Avichay Adraee said on X, warning residents of Beirut's Bachoura neighborhood to immediately move at least 300 meters away from the targeted building and those adjacent to it.

Iran Guards vow to keep Strait of Hormuz closed after Khamenei call

Published: March 12, 2026 | 14:13 GMT

Iran's Revolutionary Guards vowed on Thursday to keep the strategic Strait of Hormuz closed after a call to do so by the Islamic republic's new leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.

"In response to the order of the commander-in-chief, we will deliver the harshest blows to the aggressor enemy while maintaining the strategy of closing the Strait of Hormuz," said Guards navy commander Alireza Tangsiri in a post on X.

Trump says stopping a nuclear Iran more important than oil prices

Published: March 12, 2026 | 14:13 GMT

US President Donald Trump on Thursday said that stopping Iran from getting nuclear weapons was more important to him than controlling oil prices.

"The United States is the largest Oil Producer in the World, by far, so when oil prices go up, we make a lot of money. BUT, of far greater interest and importance to me, as President, is stoping an evil Empire, Iran, from having Nuclear Weapons, and destroying the Middle East and, indeed, the World," said Trump in a post on his Truth Social platform.

Iran supreme leader thanks 'resistance front' in Yemen, Lebanon, Iraq

Published: March 12, 2026 | 14:09 GMT

Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei thanked Tehran's allied armed groups across the region including in Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen on Thursday.

"I also express my sincere gratitude to the fighters of the 'Resistance Front'," Khamenei said in a statement read by a news anchor on state television.

Iran's new supreme leader calls on regional countries to close US bases

Published: March 12, 2026 | 14:01 GMT

Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Thursday called on regional countries to shut down any US bases that they host.

"I recommend that they close those bases as soon as possible, because they must have realised by now that the claim of establishing security and peace by America was nothing more than a lie," Khamenei said in a statement read by a news anchor on state TV.

Iran leader vows retaliation, warns Strait of Hormuz option remains

Published: March 12, 2026 | 13:56 GMT

Iran’s newly appointed supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei has vowed retaliation for those killed in the ongoing conflict, declaring that the country “will not refrain from avenging the blood of its martyrs,” according to a written message broadcast on Iranian state television.

The statement, read by a presenter on state TV, said Iran would keep the option of closing the Strait of Hormuz on the table and could open “other fronts if necessary.” It also said Tehran seeks friendly relations with neighboring countries and would target only bases used to launch attacks against Iran.

The message, Khamenei’s first since assuming leadership after the killing of his father Ali Khamenei, was released without details about his location or condition.

Iran security chief threatens reciprocal attacks in region if US targets electricity

Published: March 12, 2026 | 13:42 GMT

Iran's security chief Ali Larijani threatened on Thursday to target power grids in the region if the United States attacked the Islamic republic's electricity supplies.

"If they do that, the whole region will go dark in less than half an hour and darkness provide ample opportunity to hunt down US servicemen running for safety," said Larijani in a post on X.

US President Donald Trump had said US forces could knock out Iran's electricity supply "within one hour" -- leaving the country with reconstruction that could take a generation.

Iran's new supreme leader to issue first message: official Telegram channel

Published: March 12, 2026 | 11:55 GMT

Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei will issue his first message since his appointment "in a few moments", his official Telegram channel said, without specifying if it will be a recorded message or written statement.

"The first message of Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, the supreme leader of the Islamic revolution, will be released in a few moments," the channel said.

The message will address "the martyred leader of the revolution (Ali Khamenei), the role and duties of the people, the armed forces, executive bodies, the resistance front, as well as the countries of the region and dealing with enemies."

War displaces three million inside Iran: UN

Published: March 12, 2026 | 11:31 GMT

Up to 3.2 million people have been displaced inside Iran since the war erupted, the United Nations refugee agency said Thursday.

"Between 600,000 and one million Iranian households are now temporarily displaced inside Iran as a result of the ongoing conflict, according to preliminary assessments," said Ayaki Ito, who heads UNHCR's emergency support team and is the refugee response coordinator for the Middle East emergency.

That represents "up to 3.2 million people", he said in a statement, warning that "this figure is likely to continue rising as hostilities persist, marking a worrying escalation in humanitarian needs".

The United States and Israel launched the first wave of attacks on Iran on Feb. 28.

51 crew rescued after attack on tankers off Iraq: Authorities to AFP

Published: March 12, 2026 | 11:31 GMT

More than 50 crew members were rescued after an attack on two oil tankers in Iraq's territorial waters, Farhan al-Fartousi of the port authorities told AFP.

Fartousi, from Iraq's General Company for Ports, said "all crew members of the two tankers were rescued," adding that the 51 workers were in good condition.

Israel army says Hezbollah fired 200 rockets Wednesday night in 'biggest barrage' of war

Published: March 12, 2026 | 11:21 GMT

The Israeli military said on Thursday that Hezbollah had fired around 200 rockets at Israel the night before, in what it described as the Lebanese group's "biggest barrage" since the war began.

"Last night, Hezbollah timed a simultaneous attack with Iran, firing rockets and drones at towns and communities across Israel. The numbers (are) about approximately 200 rockets, approximately 20 UAVs (drones) and combine those with ballistic missiles that were being fired from Iran in the same time," military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani told journalists in a briefing.

"This was Hezbollah's biggest barrage" since the start of the war, he said, but added "we had a good aerial defense and rapid response, resulting in minimal casualties, only two or three direct hits... and a few civilians that were lightly injured".

US says Iran campaign cost $11 billion in six days: New York Times

Published: March 12, 2026 | 10:55 GMT

The opening week of the war against Iran cost the United States more than $11.3 billion, lawmakers were told in a Pentagon briefing, according to a New York Times report underscoring the pace at which the conflict is consuming weapons and resources.

The Times, citing unnamed sources familiar with Tuesday's closed-door briefing, said members of Congress were told that the figure excludes many costs connected with the buildup to the strikes -- suggesting the final tally for the first week could rise substantially.

Defense officials had previously told Congress that roughly $5.6 billion worth of munitions were expended in just the first two days of fighting, according to US media -- a burn rate far higher than earlier public estimates.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) independent think tank in Washington estimated that the first 100 hours of Operation Epic Fury cost $3.7 billion -- or more than $891 million per day.

Most of these costs, $3.5 billion, had not already been budgeted, the CSIS said.

The Iran War Cost Tracker website, which estimates the cost of the conflict in real time, showed a figure of more than $17 billion on its counter at around 08:00 GMT on Thursday.

According to the site, the United States is spending $1 billion per day on the war.

Israel army says struck site it claims Iran 'used for developing nuclear arms'

Published: March 12, 2026 | 10:50 GMT

Israel's military said Thursday that it had struck a site in Iran it claimed was being used by the Islamic republic to develop nuclear weapons.

"The Israeli Air Force, acting on precise IDF intelligence, struck an additional Iranian nuclear program site," the military said, claiming the "Taleghan compound was utilised by the regime to advance critical capabilities for developing nuclear weapons".

The Taleghan compound likely refers to a facility in Parchin, southeast of Tehran, where US-based think tank the Institute for Science and International Security, which has been monitoring Iran's nuclear program, recently claimed the Islamic republic conducts covert military activities.

Several explosions hit Iranian capital: AFP journalist

Published: March 12, 2026 | 10:45 GMT

A series of powerful explosions hit the Iranian capital on Thursday, an AFP journalist said, with the war on Iran in its 13th day.

Smoke was seen rising from western Tehran but it was not immediately clear what was targeted, the journalist said.

Israel defense minister says ordered army to prepare for 'expanding' Lebanon operations

Published: March 12, 2026 | 10:45 GMT

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Thursday that he had ordered the military to prepare for expanding operations in Lebanon, where Israeli forces are fighting Hezbollah.

"The Prime Minister and I have instructed the IDF to prepare for expanding IDF operations in Lebanon and for restoring quiet and security to the northern communities," Katz was quoted as saying in a statement.

"I warned the President of Lebanon that if the Lebanese government does not know how to control the territory and prevent Hezbollah from threatening northern communities and firing toward Israel -- we will take the territory and do it ourselves," Katz said in a situation assessment, according to the statement from his ministry.

Lebanon says Israeli strike on Beirut seafront kills 8

Published: March 12, 2026 | 10:45 GMT

An Israeli strike on central Beirut's seafront killed eight people early on Thursday, Lebanon's health ministry said, another attack in the heart of the capital, as Hezbollah launched more missiles at Israel.

The Israeli military said separately it had carried out strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs overnight against Hezbollah.

In a statement, the Lebanese health ministry said "the Israeli enemy strike on Ramlet al-Bayda" in the center of Beirut killed eight people and wounded 31.

Iran Guards say struck Marshall Islands-flagged ship in Gulf

Published: March 12, 2026 | 10:45 GMT

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Thursday they had struck a Marshall Islands-flagged ship, which they claimed was US-owned, in the northern part of the Gulf.

On their website Sepah News, the Guards said the ship Safesea was "one of the assets of the US terrorist army" and that it "was hit in the northern Gulf after ignoring and not complying with warnings and alerts".

Israel army says launched new broad wave of strikes across Iran

Israel's military said it began a new "wide-scale" wave of strikes across Iran on Thursday, on the 13th day of the US-Israeli war with the Islamic republic.

"The IDF has begun a wide-scale wave of strikes targeting Iranian terror regime infrastructure across Iran," the Israeli military said in a statement.

Iran to abandon all restraint if islands attacked: Iranian speaker

Published: March 12, 2026 | 10:08 GMT

Speaker of Islamic Republic of Iran’s Parliament Mohammad Baqer Qhalibaf in a post on X on Thursday stated: "Homeland or Death! Any aggression against soil of Iranian islands will shatter all restraint."

"We will abandon all restraint and make the Persian Gulf run with the blood of invaders."

He stated, "The blood of American soldiers is Trump's personal responsibility."

'Drone incident' reported in Dubai after explosions heard

Published: March 12, 2026 | 08:49 GMT

Authorities in Dubai reported a "minor drone incident" on Thursday after an AFP correspondent heard explosions in the city's downtown, as Iran continued its campaign against the Gulf in response to US-Israeli attacks.

"Dubai authorities are responding to a minor drone incident in the Al Bada'a area. No injuries have been reported," the Dubai government's media office said in a post on X.

The AFP correspondent saw small clouds of smoke rise above the residential neighbourhood of Al Bada'a, which dissipated shortly after.

The Gulf has borne the brunt of Iran's attacks since the Middle East war began on Feb. 28, with 24 people killed in the region including seven US service members and 11 civilians.

Kuwait reports damage after drone attack on airport

Published: March 12, 2026 | 08:40 GMT

Drone strikes caused damage at Kuwait's international airport, authorities said Thursday, after the facility came under fire again during Iran's attacks against the Gulf.

"The civil aviation announces that Kuwait International Airport was targeted by several drones, resulting only in material damage," authorities said in a statement, adding that there were no casualties.

Cathay Pacific roughly doubles fuel surcharge on most routes

Published: March 12, 2026 | 08:30 GMT

Hong Kong aviation giant Cathay Pacific announced new fuel surcharges for most routes Thursday that are roughly double the existing ones.

The company revealed a detailed list of affected routes in a statement titled "Fuel surcharge updates", a day after warning that fuel prices had soared in March with the outbreak of war in the Middle East.

Cathay Group's CEO Ronald Lam told a Wednesday media session the cost of fuel so far this month is double the average of the previous two months.

The hike in fees will apply to tickets from March 18, the statement said.

For example, for flights between Hong Kong and Europe that were purchased in Hong Kong, the surcharge will rise from HK$569 (around US$73) to HK$1164.

Iran army says targeted Israel military bases, security service

Published: March 12, 2026 | 08:30 GMT

Iran's army said Thursday it had targeted Israeli military bases and the country's security service Shin Bet as the war entered its 13th day.

"The Palmachim and Ovda air bases of the Zionist regime as well as the headquarters of Shin Bet were targeted by drones from the Islamic Republic of Iran's army," the military said in a statement carried by state television.

Blasts over Jerusalem after Israel detects missiles fired from Iran: AFP

Published: March 12, 2026 | 08:30 GMT

Blasts were heard over Jerusalem on Thursday, AFP journalists said, after the Israeli military detected missiles fired from Iran.

"A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran towards the territory of the State of Israel. Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat," the military posted on Telegram.

Italy says its military base in Iraqi Kurdistan attacked, no injuries

Published: March 12, 2026 | 06:50 GMT

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Thursday there had been an "attack" on an Italian base in the Iraqi Kurdish city of Erbil, but there were no injuries.

"I strongly condemn the attack on the Italian base in Erbil," Tajani said on X, without giving details. 

"I just spoke with the Italian ambassador to Iraq. Fortunately, all our soldiers are well and safe in the bunker," he said.

Italy has soldiers in Erbil training Kurdistan security forces as part of an international force.

Drones were shot down on Wednesday over Erbil by the US-led international forces, which are based at Erbil airport, a Kurdish security source said.

No casualties were reported, the source said.

Lebanon says 7 killed in Israeli strike on central Beirut

Published: March 12, 2026 | 06:50 GMT

Lebanon said an Israeli strike on central Beirut's seafront killed at least seven people early on Thursday, another attack in the heart of the capital as Hezbollah launched more missiles at Israel.

The Israeli military said separately it had carried out strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs overnight against Hezbollah, which had announced a major new operation against Israel.

Local media aired footage showing smoke rising along the seaside road area after the strike in central Beirut, which state-run National News Agency (NNA) said targeted a car.

"The Israeli enemy strike on Ramlet al-Bayda in Beirut led to an initial toll of seven dead and 21 wounded," the health ministry said in a statement.

Three crew 'believed trapped' aboard Thai ship attacked in Gulf: firm

Published: March 12, 2026 | 06:40 GMT

Three crew members believed to be trapped aboard a Thai bulk carrier hit by projectiles while travelling through the crucial Strait of Hormuz were yet to be rescued on Thursday, the vessel's owner said.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Wednesday they had struck the Thai-registered Mayuree Naree, as well as a Liberia-flagged vessel, in the strait because the ships had ignored "warnings".

The Thai ship was struck Wednesday morning while transiting through the Gulf waterway, after departing Khalifa port in the United Arab Emirates.

The two projectiles damaged the Mayuree Naree's engine room and caused a fire, Thai transport company Precious Shipping said in a statement Wednesday evening.

"Three crew members are reported missing and believed to be trapped in the engine room," it said, adding that authorities were working to rescue them.

"Unfortunately, that remains the case," the firm's managing director Khalid Hashim told AFP on Thursday.

"We still have not been able to get anyone to board our ship, even though the fire has been extinguished," Hashim said in an email.

"We are trying different avenues to get onboard."

The Omani navy rescued 20 of the vessel's sailors on Wednesday, the Thai navy said.

Thailand's foreign ministry said all 23 crew members were Thai.

All Thai vessels have left the Strait of Hormuz and Bangkok had "protested against the violence done to the commercial ships", the ministry's deputy spokesman Panidol Patchimsawat told reporters on Thursday.

"Please be assured that we are on a mission to find the missing three," he added.

Australia to change fuel quality standards to boost supply

Published: March 12, 2026 | 06:30 GMT

Australia will adjust fuel quality standards to allow higher sulfur levels for around two months in a move that will release 100 million litres into the domestic supply, officials said Thursday.

The country -- reliant on oil imports for fuel -- has seen petrol prices spike since the outbreak of the war in the Middle East.

In response, Energy Minister Chris Bowen said one of the country's top refiners, Ampol, has agreed to redirect supply to regions experiencing shortages and the wholesale market.

"This will allow around 100 million litres a month of new petrol supply that would otherwise have been exported to be blended instead into Australian domestic supply," Bowen said.

Farmers, fishers and regional communities were a priority for support, he said.

New Zealand mulls car restrictions if fuel supply stalls

Published: March 12, 2026 | 06:30 GMT

New Zealand officials said Thursday they were considering using decades-old laws restricting vehicle use if fuel supplies dwindled due to the war in the Middle East.

Finance minister Nicola Willis told reporters on Thursday that officials had discussed using legislation introduced to restrict fuel use in the wake of the Iranian revolution in 1979 in response to the crisis.

Under those laws, car owners had to nominate one day per week when they would not use their vehicle and faced hefty fines if caught driving.

They also allowed the government to authorise the sale of coupons to restrict fuel use, and restrict the amount that could be sold.

The so-called "carless days" were in effect from July 1979 to May 1980.

The minister's comments came as oil prices surged back above $100 a barrel on Thursday.

Container ship near UAE struck, causing small fire: UK maritime agency

Published: March 12, 2026 | 06:30 GMT

A projectile struck a container ship near the United Arab Emirates, the UK maritime agency said on Thursday, as Iran carries out a military campaign to disrupt global markets by choking trade in the Gulf.

"The container ship was struck by (an) unknown projectile causing a small fire onboard," the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said in a statement, adding the ship's crew had been reported as safe.

Saudi defense ministry says intercepted drones headed to Shaybah oil field 

Published: March 12, 2026 | 06:30 GMT

Saudi Arabia intercepted two drones headed towards the Shaybah oil field on Thursday, as Iran targets the facility again in its campaign to disrupt global energy markets.

"Two drones heading towards the Shaybah oil field were intercepted and destroyed," a spokesperson for the country's defence ministry posted on X.

It came after Saudi Arabia confirmed on Wednesday that it had prevented several drone attacks against the facility, which is crucial to the country's oil production.

Iran signals it will hit US, Israeli economic and tech targets

Published: March 12, 2026 | 05:07 GMT

Iran's military vowed on Wednesday to launch strikes against US and Israeli economic interests in the region, including banks, while an Iranian news agency listed tech giants as possible "future targets".

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

It urged people across the region to avoid going within one kilometre (around half a mile) of banks.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that "a branch of my country's oldest bank was bombed while full of employees".

"Our Powerful Armed Forces will exact retribution for this crime," he added on X.

Iranian media had reported US and Israeli strikes hit a bank in Tehran overnight Tuesday to Wednesday, killing an unspecified number of staff.

Iran's Tasnim news agency also published a list of potential targets for Iran on Telegram, including the offices of tech giants such as Amazon, Google, Microsoft and Nvidia in Gulf countries and Israel.

"With the expansion of regional war into infrastructure warfare, the scope of Iran's potential targets are gradually expanding," Tasnim wrote, without citing a source for the possible development.

Tech giant Amazon said last week that two of its data centers in the United Arab Emirates were "directly struck" by drones, disrupting cloud services in parts of the Middle East.

Brent crude back above $100 a barrel on Mideast war

Published: March 12, 2026 | 03:12 GMT

Oil prices surged more than 9% Thursday to break back above $100 a barrel after fresh Iranian strikes on supplies and infrastructure in the Middle East overshadowed a record release of stockpiles by the International Energy Agency.

Brent crude jumped 9.3% to $100.50, while West Texas Intermediate was up 8.8% at $94.92 at around 0305 GMT.

Iran’s president hints at return to negotiations

Published: March 12, 2026 | 02:43 GMT

While speaking to the leaders of Russia and Pakistan, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said that Iran was committed to peace in the region.

" The only way to end this war [...] is recognizing Iran’s legitimate rights, payment of reparations, and firm international guarantees against future aggression," he said in a post on X.

Israeli military says more missiles from Iran heading towards Israel

Published: March 12, 2026 | 02:22 GMT

The Israeli military said Thursday that a new barrage of missiles was heading for Israel, following an early wave of strikes that coincided with Israeli strikes on Tehran and Beirut.

"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 channel.

French president calls on Israel, Hezbollah to stop offensives

Published: March 12, 2026 | 01:23 GMT

French President Emmanuel Macron called for Israel to halt its ground offensive in Lebanon and for the fighter group Hezbollah to "immediately" stop attacks.

"Hezbollah made a major mistake in dragging Lebanon into a confrontation with Israel. It must immediately cease its attack," Macron posted on X.

"For its part, Israel must clearly renounce any ground offensive in Lebanon," he added.

Lebanon health ministry says at least 7 dead in new attack on central Beirut

Published: March 12, 2026 | 01:20 GMT

Lebanon said an Israeli attack along the seafront in central Beirut killed at least seven people, hours after another attack in the heart of the capital.

"The Israeli enemy strike on Ramlet al-Bayda in Beirut led to an initial toll of seven dead and 21 wounded," the health ministry said in a statement, referring to a beach area where some displaced people have been sleeping out in the open after the latest conflict erupted between Israel and Hezbollah.

Trump warns US can make Iran 'almost impossible' to rebuild

Published: March 12, 2026 | 00:01 GMT

United States President Donald Trump said that the Islamic Republic was facing imminent defeat, adding that it was "pretty much at the end of the line."

"Doesn't mean we're going to end it immediately, but they are," Trump told reporters.

He said Iran's navy and air force had been destroyed, that it was close to running out of missiles and that US forces could knock out the electricity supply "within one hour" -- leaving the country with a reconstruction that could take a generation.

But the US leader indicated that he would rather show restraint than take actions that would make it "almost impossible for them to rebuild their country."

Iranian state media reports drone hits Dubai building

Published: March 11, 2026 | 23:32 GMT

An Iranian drone struck a building in Dubai, Iranian state media reported.

State broadcaster IRIB said that a "precision-guided drone" had hit a tower in Dubai.

Dubai's media office posted on X that authorities were responding to "an incident involving a drone that fell on a building in the vicinity of Dubai Creek Harbour."