{"id":518289,"date":"2026-03-04T14:36:09","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T14:36:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/518289\/"},"modified":"2026-03-04T14:36:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T14:36:09","slug":"middle-east-crisis-live-us-submarine-sank-iranian-warship-hegseth-says-israel-launches-fresh-strikes-on-tehran-us-israel-war-on-iran","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/518289\/","title":{"rendered":"Middle East crisis live: US submarine sank Iranian warship, Hegseth says; Israel launches fresh strikes on Tehran | US-Israel war on Iran"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Hegseth confirms sinking of Iranian warship<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Hegseth confirmed that a US submarine sunk an Iranian warship in the Indian ocean as he declared that the Iranian navy \u201crests at the bottom of the Persian Gulf\u201d and that it was \u201cineffective, decimated, destroyed\u2026pick your adjective, it is no more.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">He said that on Tuesday, an American submarine in the Indian ocean \u201csunk an Iranian war ship that thought it was safe in international waters.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cInstead it was sunk by a torpedo, a quiet death \u2013 the first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War II. Like in that war, back when we were still the war department, we are fighting to win.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Middle East crisis live: US submarine sank Iranian warship, Hegseth says; Israel launches fresh strikes on Tehran&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/live\/2026\/mar\/04\/iran-war-live-updates-us-israel-latest-news-strait-of-hormuz-middle-east-crisis?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a832e58f08b1242bc57aba#block-69a832e58f08b1242bc57aba\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Key events<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"?filterKeyEvents=false&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a83cb18f087bc3885fcd4b#block-69a83cb18f087bc3885fcd4b\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 0 of 40\" class=\"dcr-1h9m71a\"><\/p>\n<p>21m ago<\/p>\n<p>China and Russia are \u2018non-factors\u2019 in Iran war, says Hegseth<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?filterKeyEvents=false&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a83bdd8f08b612320698d7#block-69a83bdd8f08b612320698d7\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 1 of 40\" class=\"dcr-1h9m71a\"><\/p>\n<p>28m ago<\/p>\n<p>Hegseth: Iran cannot outlast us<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?filterKeyEvents=false&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a83a7f8f081f92ec6167ea#block-69a83a7f8f081f92ec6167ea\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 2 of 40\" class=\"dcr-1h9m71a\"><\/p>\n<p>36m ago<\/p>\n<p>Hegseth says Iran can no longer shoot volume of missiles as before<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?filterKeyEvents=false&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a8389e8f087bc3885fcd10#block-69a8389e8f087bc3885fcd10\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 3 of 40\" class=\"dcr-1h9m71a\"><\/p>\n<p>39m ago<\/p>\n<p>US is investigating deadly strike on Shajareh Tayyebeh school girls school in southern Iran, Hegseth says<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?filterKeyEvents=false&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a837898f08b612320698a4#block-69a837898f08b612320698a4\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 4 of 40\" class=\"dcr-1h9m71a\"><\/p>\n<p>46m ago<\/p>\n<p>US has &#8216;effectively neutralised&#8217; Iran&#8217;s naval presence, Caine says<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?filterKeyEvents=false&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a836108f087bc3885fcce2#block-69a836108f087bc3885fcce2\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 5 of 40\" class=\"dcr-1h9m71a\"><\/p>\n<p>54m ago<\/p>\n<p>Hegseth: We have only just begun to fight<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?filterKeyEvents=false&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a834ce8f081f92ec616799#block-69a834ce8f081f92ec616799\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 6 of 40\" class=\"dcr-1h9m71a\"><\/p>\n<p>1h ago<\/p>\n<p>Person charged with attempted assassination of Trump killed, Hegseth said<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?filterKeyEvents=false&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a832e58f08b1242bc57aba#block-69a832e58f08b1242bc57aba\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 7 of 40\" class=\"dcr-1h9m71a\"><\/p>\n<p>1h ago<\/p>\n<p>Hegseth confirms sinking of Iranian warship<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?filterKeyEvents=false&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a830ac8f08ec6b9a466af2#block-69a830ac8f08ec6b9a466af2\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 8 of 40\" class=\"dcr-1h9m71a\"><\/p>\n<p>1h ago<\/p>\n<p>Rules of engagement designed to &#8220;unleash American power&#8221;, Hegseth says.<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?filterKeyEvents=false&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a82e9c8f08b1242bc57a68#block-69a82e9c8f08b1242bc57a68\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 9 of 40\" class=\"dcr-1h9m71a\"><\/p>\n<p>1h ago<\/p>\n<p>Hegseth: US and Israel will have &#8216;complete&#8217; control of Iranian skies in &#8216;under a week&#8217;<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?filterKeyEvents=false&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a8203f8f08ec6b9a466a1c#block-69a8203f8f08ec6b9a466a1c\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 10 of 40\" class=\"dcr-1hjg7bf\"><\/p>\n<p>1h ago<\/p>\n<p>Summary of developments so far<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?filterKeyEvents=false&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a82dfa8f082c2919cc828e#block-69a82dfa8f082c2919cc828e\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 11 of 40\" class=\"dcr-1h9m71a\"><\/p>\n<p>1h ago<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;America is winning&#8217; in Iran conflict, Hegseth says<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?filterKeyEvents=false&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a82ab28f08b1242bc57a39#block-69a82ab28f08b1242bc57a39\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 12 of 40\" class=\"dcr-1h9m71a\"><\/p>\n<p>2h ago<\/p>\n<p>IDF launch fresh attacks in southern Lebanon as people urged to flee north<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?filterKeyEvents=false&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a826dc8f08ec6b9a466a75#block-69a826dc8f08ec6b9a466a75\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 13 of 40\" class=\"dcr-1h9m71a\"><\/p>\n<p>2h ago<\/p>\n<p>Nato condemns Iran&#8217;s targeting of Turkey<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?filterKeyEvents=false&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a8205e8f08ec6b9a466a1f#block-69a8205e8f08ec6b9a466a1f\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 14 of 40\" class=\"dcr-1h9m71a\"><\/p>\n<p>2h ago<\/p>\n<p>Iran death toll reaches 1,045, officials say<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?filterKeyEvents=false&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a81ae98f082c2919cc81a5#block-69a81ae98f082c2919cc81a5\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 15 of 40\" class=\"dcr-1h9m71a\"><\/p>\n<p>3h ago<\/p>\n<p>Nearly 150 missing after Iranian warship sinks near Sri Lanka &#8211; report<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?filterKeyEvents=false&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a813428f08b1242bc57924#block-69a813428f08b1242bc57924\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 16 of 40\" class=\"dcr-1h9m71a\"><\/p>\n<p>3h ago<\/p>\n<p>Who is Mojtaba Khamenei? The son of late supreme leader Khamenei seen as potential successor<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?filterKeyEvents=false&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a813de8f08ec6b9a466992#block-69a813de8f08ec6b9a466992\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 17 of 40\" class=\"dcr-1h9m71a\"><\/p>\n<p>3h ago<\/p>\n<p>Iran state funeral for Khamenei postponed &#8211; report<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?filterKeyEvents=false&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a8102e8f08b1242bc57906#block-69a8102e8f08b1242bc57906\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 18 of 40\" class=\"dcr-1h9m71a\"><\/p>\n<p>3h ago<\/p>\n<p>UN &#8216;deeply disturbed&#8217; by reports of Iran school strike that killed 160 children<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?filterKeyEvents=false&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a80e708f08ec6b9a466959#block-69a80e708f08ec6b9a466959\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 19 of 40\" class=\"dcr-1h9m71a\"><\/p>\n<p>4h ago<\/p>\n<p>Donald Trump \u2018really does not care\u2019 if Iran play at World Cup 2026<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?filterKeyEvents=false&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a80bbd8f08551fed591320#block-69a80bbd8f08551fed591320\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 20 of 40\" class=\"dcr-1h9m71a\"><\/p>\n<p>4h ago<\/p>\n<p>Tell us: how have you been affected by the latest events in the Middle East?<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?filterKeyEvents=false&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a8062c8f083ffba587ccc4#block-69a8062c8f083ffba587ccc4\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 21 of 40\" class=\"dcr-1h9m71a\"><\/p>\n<p>4h ago<\/p>\n<p>EU sees no immediate effect of Iran conflict on gas supply security &#8211; report<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?filterKeyEvents=false&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a8006b8f08551fed5912be#block-69a8006b8f08551fed5912be\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 22 of 40\" class=\"dcr-1h9m71a\"><\/p>\n<p>5h ago<\/p>\n<p>Hezbollah says it targeted Israel&#8217;s major aerospace and aviation company<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?filterKeyEvents=false&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a7fd788f08551fed5912b1#block-69a7fd788f08551fed5912b1\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 23 of 40\" class=\"dcr-1h9m71a\"><\/p>\n<p>5h ago<\/p>\n<p>Iran close to choosing new supreme leader &#8211; report<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?filterKeyEvents=false&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a7f89d8f083ffba587cc7a#block-69a7f89d8f083ffba587cc7a\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 24 of 40\" class=\"dcr-1h9m71a\"><\/p>\n<p>5h ago<\/p>\n<p>Senior Khamenei aide says Iran won\u2019t negotiate with US<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?filterKeyEvents=false&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a7f4bc8f085ed1e38a5086#block-69a7f4bc8f085ed1e38a5086\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 25 of 40\" class=\"dcr-1h9m71a\"><\/p>\n<p>5h ago<\/p>\n<p>Trump &#8216;betrayed diplomacy and Americans who elected him&#8217;, says Iran foreign minister<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?filterKeyEvents=false&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a7f2dd8f08551fed59125c#block-69a7f2dd8f08551fed59125c\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 26 of 40\" class=\"dcr-1h9m71a\"><\/p>\n<p>6h ago<\/p>\n<p>IDF says Israeli F-35 fighter jet shot down manned Iranian warplane in Tehran<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?filterKeyEvents=false&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a7eff58f085ed1e38a5071#block-69a7eff58f085ed1e38a5071\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 27 of 40\" class=\"dcr-1h9m71a\"><\/p>\n<p>6h ago<\/p>\n<p>Spain&#8217;s position is &#8216;no to war&#8217;, says Sanchez<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?filterKeyEvents=false&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a7e7ef8f085ed1e38a504b#block-69a7e7ef8f085ed1e38a504b\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 28 of 40\" class=\"dcr-1h9m71a\"><\/p>\n<p>6h ago<\/p>\n<p>Israel-US strikes on Iran appear \u2018inconsistent with international law\u2019, says Canadian PM<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?filterKeyEvents=false&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a7e4aa8f083ffba587cbf6#block-69a7e4aa8f083ffba587cbf6\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 29 of 40\" class=\"dcr-1hjg7bf\"><\/p>\n<p>6h ago<\/p>\n<p>Summary of developments so far<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?filterKeyEvents=false&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a7e4038f08551fed59121e#block-69a7e4038f08551fed59121e\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 30 of 40\" class=\"dcr-1h9m71a\"><\/p>\n<p>7h ago<\/p>\n<p>Loud explosion in Tehran &#8211; report<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?filterKeyEvents=false&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a7df278f08551fed591207#block-69a7df278f08551fed591207\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 31 of 40\" class=\"dcr-1h9m71a\"><\/p>\n<p>7h ago<\/p>\n<p>Dozens rescued from sinking Iranian warship near Sri Lanka<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?filterKeyEvents=false&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a7d9658f08551fed5911f1#block-69a7d9658f08551fed5911f1\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 32 of 40\" class=\"dcr-1h9m71a\"><\/p>\n<p>7h ago<\/p>\n<p>Israel threatens to assassinate Ali Khamenei&#8217;s replacement<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?filterKeyEvents=false&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a7d38a8f085ed1e38a4fdf#block-69a7d38a8f085ed1e38a4fdf\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 33 of 40\" class=\"dcr-1h9m71a\"><\/p>\n<p>8h ago<\/p>\n<p>Iran Guards say launched more than 40 missiles at US, Israeli targets<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?filterKeyEvents=false&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a7d0df8f083ffba587cba0#block-69a7d0df8f083ffba587cba0\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 34 of 40\" class=\"dcr-1h9m71a\"><\/p>\n<p>8h ago<\/p>\n<p>Iranians to bid farewell to late Supreme Leader Khamenei in Tehran<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?filterKeyEvents=false&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a7c3a38f083ffba587cb63#block-69a7c3a38f083ffba587cb63\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 35 of 40\" class=\"dcr-1h9m71a\"><\/p>\n<p>9h ago<\/p>\n<p>UK government charter flight for British nationals in Oman<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?filterKeyEvents=false&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a7bf598f085ed1e38a4f73#block-69a7bf598f085ed1e38a4f73\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 36 of 40\" class=\"dcr-1h9m71a\"><\/p>\n<p>9h ago<\/p>\n<p>Conflicting claims over the strait of Hormuz<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?filterKeyEvents=false&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a7b3008f083ffba587caf1#block-69a7b3008f083ffba587caf1\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 37 of 40\" class=\"dcr-1h9m71a\"><\/p>\n<p>10h ago<\/p>\n<p>Global markets roiled by conflict<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?filterKeyEvents=false&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a79c1a8f083ffba587ca34#block-69a79c1a8f083ffba587ca34\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 38 of 40\" class=\"dcr-1h9m71a\"><\/p>\n<p>12h ago<\/p>\n<p>Six killed in Israeli strikes south of Beirut<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?filterKeyEvents=false&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a78cdb8f085ed1e38a4df2#block-69a78cdb8f085ed1e38a4df2\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 39 of 40\" class=\"dcr-1hjg7bf\"><\/p>\n<p>12h ago<\/p>\n<p>Opening summary<\/p>\n<p><\/a>Show key events only<\/p>\n<p>Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Two Israeli soldiers were injured when they came under anti-tank fire in southern Lebanon, the IDF said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">They are believed to be the first Israeli personnel to be injured since fighting escalated between Israeli soldiers and Hezbollah militants on Monday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cEarlier today, two IDF soldiers were moderately injured as a result of an anti-tank fire toward IDF troops operating in southern Lebanon,\u201d the Israeli military said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Middle East crisis live: US submarine sank Iranian warship, Hegseth says; Israel launches fresh strikes on Tehran&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/live\/2026\/mar\/04\/iran-war-live-updates-us-israel-latest-news-strait-of-hormuz-middle-east-crisis?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a83eb08f08b612320698fc#block-69a83eb08f08b612320698fc\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a>China and Russia are \u2018non-factors\u2019 in Iran war, says Hegseth<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cI don\u2019t have a message for them, and they\u2019re not really a factor here, and our issue is not with them,\u201d Hegseth said of Russia and China, both of whom have longstanding diplomatic and trade ties with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/iran\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Iran<\/a>, while Moscow has military links to Tehran.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The US defence secretary said the US focus on ending what he called \u201cthe nuclear ambitions of Iran\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Both Russia and China have criticised the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, with Moscow saying it had seen no evidence that Tehran was developing nuclear weapons while Beijing called for an immediate halt to the attacks.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Middle East crisis live: US submarine sank Iranian warship, Hegseth says; Israel launches fresh strikes on Tehran&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/live\/2026\/mar\/04\/iran-war-live-updates-us-israel-latest-news-strait-of-hormuz-middle-east-crisis?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a83cb18f087bc3885fcd4b#block-69a83cb18f087bc3885fcd4b\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a>Hegseth: Iran cannot outlast us<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Hegseth finished the briefing by declaring that \u201cwe set the tone and the tempo of this fight\u201d but would not say how much longer the conflict would continue.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cThe only limits we have on this is President Trump\u2019s desire to achieve specific effects on behalf of the American people,\u201d he said. \u201cWe could say four weeks, but it could be six, it could be eight, it could be three. Ultimately, we set the pace and the tempo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">He added: \u201cWhen we say the throttle is going up, the throttle is going up and it\u2019s going to stay on high.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Middle East crisis live: US submarine sank Iranian warship, Hegseth says; Israel launches fresh strikes on Tehran&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/live\/2026\/mar\/04\/iran-war-live-updates-us-israel-latest-news-strait-of-hormuz-middle-east-crisis?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a83bdd8f08b612320698d7#block-69a83bdd8f08b612320698d7\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a>Hegseth says Iran can no longer shoot volume of missiles as before<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Shrai_Popat.png\" alt=\"Shrai Popat\" class=\"dcr-lysqes\"\/>Shrai Popat<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Hegseth noted that the US is able to continue the military action against <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/iran\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Iran<\/a> for as long as it needs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cThe enemy can no longer shoot the volume of missiles they once did \u2013 not even close,\u201d he said. \u201cWe can sustain this fight easily for as long as we need to.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Middle East crisis live: US submarine sank Iranian warship, Hegseth says; Israel launches fresh strikes on Tehran&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/live\/2026\/mar\/04\/iran-war-live-updates-us-israel-latest-news-strait-of-hormuz-middle-east-crisis?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a83a7f8f081f92ec6167ea#block-69a83a7f8f081f92ec6167ea\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a>US is investigating deadly strike on Shajareh Tayyebeh school girls school in southern Iran, Hegseth says<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">When asked, defence secretary Pete Hegseth said that the US was investigating the deadly strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls school in Minab, but provided no further details.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cAll I can say is we\u2019re investigating that,\u201d Hegseth said. \u201cWe, of course, never target civilian targets, but we\u2019re taking a look and investigating that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">According to Iranian state media, up to 168 people were killed by the strike and 95 injured \u2013 figures that the Guardian has not been able to verify.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Read more about the strike here:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Middle East crisis live: US submarine sank Iranian warship, Hegseth says; Israel launches fresh strikes on Tehran&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/live\/2026\/mar\/04\/iran-war-live-updates-us-israel-latest-news-strait-of-hormuz-middle-east-crisis?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a8389e8f087bc3885fcd10#block-69a8389e8f087bc3885fcd10\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a>US has &#8216;effectively neutralised&#8217; Iran&#8217;s naval presence, Caine says<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Dan Caine, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, has taken to the podium to provide more details about the conflict with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/iran\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Iran<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">He supported the statements made earlier by defence secretary Pete Hegseth about the Iranian navy. \u201cTo date, we\u2019ve hit over 2,000 targets. We destroyed more than 20 Iranian naval vessels in addition to the frigate outside of the area,\u201d Caine said adding that the US has \u201ceffectively neutralised Iran\u2019s major naval presence and theatre out there\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cFor the first time since 1945, a United States Navy fast-attack submarine has sunk an enemy combatant ship\u2026This is an incredible demonstration of America\u2019s global reach. To hunt, find and kill an out of area deployer is something only the United States can use with this kind of skill,\u201d Caine said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Read more about the Iranian warship:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Middle East crisis live: US submarine sank Iranian warship, Hegseth says; Israel launches fresh strikes on Tehran&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/live\/2026\/mar\/04\/iran-war-live-updates-us-israel-latest-news-strait-of-hormuz-middle-east-crisis?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a837898f08b612320698a4#block-69a837898f08b612320698a4\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a009.23 EST<\/p>\n<p>Hegseth: We have only just begun to fight<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Hegseth finished his remarks by praising <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/israel\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Israel<\/a> as a \u201csteadfast partner\u201d and \u201ccapable ally\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cTo our steadfast partner, Israel: your mission is being executed with unmatched skill and iron determination. Fighting shoulder to shoulder with such a capable ally is a true force multiplier and a breath of fresh air. We salute your courage and your contribution,\u201d Hegseth said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cWe have only just begun to fight. America fights to win and in Operation Epic Fury, we are.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Middle East crisis live: US submarine sank Iranian warship, Hegseth says; Israel launches fresh strikes on Tehran&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/live\/2026\/mar\/04\/iran-war-live-updates-us-israel-latest-news-strait-of-hormuz-middle-east-crisis?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a836108f087bc3885fcce2#block-69a836108f087bc3885fcce2\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a>Person charged with attempted assassination of Trump killed, Hegseth said<\/p>\n<p>Joseph Gedeon<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Killed in the strikes on Iran is the person who led a plot to assassinate Donald Trump, Pentagon secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed on Wednesday morning.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cThe leader of the unit who attempted to assassinate President Trump has been hunted down and killed,\u201d Hegseth said at a Pentagon briefing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The plot dates back to 2024, when federal prosecutors under the Biden administration charged 51-year-old Iranian national Farhad Shakeri and two New York men with running a murder-for-hire operation on behalf of Iran\u2019s Revolutionary Guard Corps. The aim, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/archives\/opa\/pr\/justice-department-announces-murder-hire-and-related-charges-against-irgc-asset-and-two\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">department of justice said at the time<\/a>, was revenge for Trump\u2019s killing of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in 2020.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Shakeri had been personally directed by an IRGC official to assassinate Trump during the presidential campaign, prosecutors said.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Middle East crisis live: US submarine sank Iranian warship, Hegseth says; Israel launches fresh strikes on Tehran&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/live\/2026\/mar\/04\/iran-war-live-updates-us-israel-latest-news-strait-of-hormuz-middle-east-crisis?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a834ce8f081f92ec616799#block-69a834ce8f081f92ec616799\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a>Hegseth confirms sinking of Iranian warship<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Hegseth confirmed that a US submarine sunk an Iranian warship in the Indian ocean as he declared that the Iranian navy \u201crests at the bottom of the Persian Gulf\u201d and that it was \u201cineffective, decimated, destroyed\u2026pick your adjective, it is no more.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">He said that on Tuesday, an American submarine in the Indian ocean \u201csunk an Iranian war ship that thought it was safe in international waters.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cInstead it was sunk by a torpedo, a quiet death \u2013 the first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War II. Like in that war, back when we were still the war department, we are fighting to win.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Middle East crisis live: US submarine sank Iranian warship, Hegseth says; Israel launches fresh strikes on Tehran&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/live\/2026\/mar\/04\/iran-war-live-updates-us-israel-latest-news-strait-of-hormuz-middle-east-crisis?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a832e58f08b1242bc57aba#block-69a832e58f08b1242bc57aba\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a>Rules of engagement designed to &#8220;unleash American power&#8221;, Hegseth says.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cWe\u2019re playing for keeps,\u201d Hegseth said. \u201cOur war fighters have maximum authorities granted personally by the president and yours truly. Our rules of engagement are bold, precise and designed to unleash American power, not shackle it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">He continued: \u201cThis was never meant to be a fair fight and it is not a fair fight. We are punching them while they\u2019re down, which is exactly how it should be.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Middle East crisis live: US submarine sank Iranian warship, Hegseth says; Israel launches fresh strikes on Tehran&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/live\/2026\/mar\/04\/iran-war-live-updates-us-israel-latest-news-strait-of-hormuz-middle-east-crisis?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a830ac8f08ec6b9a466af2#block-69a830ac8f08ec6b9a466af2\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a>Hegseth: US and Israel will have &#8216;complete&#8217; control of Iranian skies in &#8216;under a week&#8217;<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Hegseth continued his remarks by saying that in under a week, the \u201ctwo most powerful air forces in the world\u201d \u2013 the US and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/israel\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Israel<\/a> \u2013 \u201cwill have complete control of Iranian skies, uncontested air space.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cWe will fly all day, all night, day and night, finding, fixing and finishing the missiles and defence industrial base of the Iranian military,\u201d Hegseth said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cFinding and fixing their leaders and their military leaders. Flying over Tehran, flying over Iran, flying over their capital, flying over the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps), Iranian leaders looking up and seeing only US and Israeli air power. Every minute of every day until we decide it\u2019s over. And Iran will be able to do nothing about it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Middle East crisis live: US submarine sank Iranian warship, Hegseth says; Israel launches fresh strikes on Tehran&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/live\/2026\/mar\/04\/iran-war-live-updates-us-israel-latest-news-strait-of-hormuz-middle-east-crisis?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a82e9c8f08b1242bc57a68#block-69a82e9c8f08b1242bc57a68\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a009.24 EST<\/p>\n<p>Summary of developments so far<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The US and Israel\u2019s strikes against Iran continue, with the Israeli military announcing a \u201cbroad wave of strikes\u201d against Tehran\u2019s security forces.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">A new in the fighting has opened in Lebanon, where the Israeli military says it is targeting Hezbollah strongholds south of the country. It issued an \u201curgent warning\u201d to residents of a large swathe of southern Lebanon urging them to evacuate to the north of the Litani River.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Iran has upped its retaliatory strikes against Israel and US targets across the region. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait all announced Iranian attacks today.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Nearly 150 people could be missing after an Iranian warship sank off the coast of Sri Lanka. Authorities said 32 people were rescued while they search for other survivors. It was not immediately clear what happened or how many people were on board the 180-crew frigate Iris Dena.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Clerics in Iran say they are close to choosing a successor to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to state media. It is widely suggested that his second son, Mojtaba Khamenei, could replace him.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The funeral ceremony for Khamenei that was supposed to take place tonight in Tehran has been postponed. State media, citing officials, reported that the funeral was delayed to allow time for expanded infrastructure due to \u201coverwhelming demand\u201d. No timeframe was given of when the funeral will take place.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The death toll in Iran has reached 1,045 people, according to Iranian officials. Iran\u2019s foundation of martyrs and veteran affairs said the death toll represented the number of bodies that have been identified and prepared for burial, state media reported.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Turkish authorities said a missile launched from Iran and headed towards Turkey\u2019s air space was shot down by Nato air defence systems. The Turkish defence ministry said there were no casualties or injuries in the incident.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez has hit back at Donald Trump after he made scathing comments over Spain\u2019s position that joint military bases could not be used for attacks on Iran.\u201cThe position of the government of Spain can be summed up in four words: no to war [no a la guerra],\u201d Sanchez said in a televised address.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Middle East crisis live: US submarine sank Iranian warship, Hegseth says; Israel launches fresh strikes on Tehran&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/live\/2026\/mar\/04\/iran-war-live-updates-us-israel-latest-news-strait-of-hormuz-middle-east-crisis?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a8203f8f08ec6b9a466a1c#block-69a8203f8f08ec6b9a466a1c\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a>&#8216;America is winning&#8217; in Iran conflict, Hegseth says<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, has taken to the podium at the Pentagon to provide an update on the conflict.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cI stand before you today with one unmistakable message about Operation Epic Fury,\u201d Hegseth said. \u201cAmerica is winning. Decisively, devastatingly and without mercy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Middle East crisis live: US submarine sank Iranian warship, Hegseth says; Israel launches fresh strikes on Tehran&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/live\/2026\/mar\/04\/iran-war-live-updates-us-israel-latest-news-strait-of-hormuz-middle-east-crisis?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a82dfa8f082c2919cc828e#block-69a82dfa8f082c2919cc828e\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a009.24 EST<\/p>\n<p>IDF launch fresh attacks in southern Lebanon as people urged to flee north<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The IDF just announced that it has begun \u201ca wave of attacks in southern Lebanon\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">In an earlier statement, the IDF said it targeted underground weapons depots and headquarters in Beirut belonging to Hezbollah.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cThe IDF attacked in Beirut over the past 24 hours, completing another wave of attacks against infrastructure of the terrorist organisation Hezbollah,\u201d it said in a post on social media.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">It comes as the Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee warned people in southern Lebanon to move north.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">In a message posted on social media, he said:<\/p>\n<p>double quotation markFor your safety, you must evacuate your homes immediately. Anyone who is near Hezbollah operatives, facilities, or weapons is putting their life at risk.<\/p>\n<p>Any house used by Hezbollah for military purposes may be targeted. To the residents of southern Lebanon, you must head immediately north of the Litani river. For your safety, you must evacuate your homes immediately and move north beyond the Litani river.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Middle East crisis live: US submarine sank Iranian warship, Hegseth says; Israel launches fresh strikes on Tehran&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/live\/2026\/mar\/04\/iran-war-live-updates-us-israel-latest-news-strait-of-hormuz-middle-east-crisis?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69a82ab28f08b1242bc57a39#block-69a82ab28f08b1242bc57a39\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Hegseth confirms sinking of Iranian warship Hegseth confirmed that a US submarine sunk an Iranian warship in the&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":518290,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[43,44,41,39,42,40],"class_list":["post-518289","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-headlines","tag-headlines","tag-news","tag-top-news","tag-top-stories","tag-topnews","tag-topstories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/518289","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=518289"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/518289\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/518290"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=518289"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=518289"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=518289"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}