Al-Qard Al-Hassan is a US-sanctioned financial organisation that Israel has accused of financing the Iran-backed Hezbollah. Hundreds of thousands of Lebanese bank with al-Qard al-Hassan, which became popular<\/a> particularly in areas where Hezbollah operates following a 2019 banking crisis that saw commercial banks freeze accounts.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Here are some of the latest images coming out of Tehran:<\/p>\n The coffin of Mehdi Hossein, a civilian killed in a U.S.-Israeli strike, is carried for burial at Behesht-e Zahra cemetery in Tehran, Iran on 09 March 2026. Photograph: Vahid Salemi\/APPeople attend a funeral ceremony for victims of Israeli and U.S. strikes in Tehran, Iran on 09 March 2026. Photograph: Majid Asgaripour\/ReutersPeople attend a funeral ceremony for victims of Israeli and U.S. strikes in Tehran, Iran on 09 March 2026. Photograph: Majid Asgaripour\/ReutersShare<\/a>Interim summary<\/p>\n In case you\u2019re just tuning in to our live coverage, here\u2019s a snapshot of the latest developments in the US-Israeli war on Iran.<\/p>\n Fresh missile and drone strikes by Israel and Iran reverberated across the Middle East as the war entered its 10th day. The Israeli military said on Monday it had begun a wave of attacks in central Iran and had struck Hezbollah<\/a> infrastructure in Beirut.<\/p>\n A man removes power cables in front of a building destroyed by an Israeli airstrike in Dahiyeh, Beirut\u2019s southern suburbs, on Sunday. Photograph: Hussein Malla\/AP<\/p>\n Iran and its proxies appeared to have launched attacks across the region. Those included reports of strikes targeting a US diplomatic facility near Baghdad\u2019s international airport but being intercepted, a drone interception east of Saudi Arabia\u2019s northern Jawf region, and thick smoke seen rising from the direction of the Bapco oil refinery in Bahrain.<\/p>\n The US military reported a seventh American had died from wounds sustained during Iran\u2019s initial counterattack. The Israeli military said two of its soldiers had been killed in southern Lebanon<\/a>. The US-Israeli attacks have killed at least 1,332 Iranian civilians and wounded thousands, according to Iran\u2019s UN ambassador. Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a003.16 EDT<\/p>\n Turkey plans to deploy six F-16 fighter jets to northern Cyprus on Monday to bolster the defences of the Turkish community there, broadcaster NTV said, citing a civil aviation official from the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.<\/p>\n On Saturday a Turkish defence ministry source said Turkey was considering the deployment of F-16 aircraft to Cyprus, among other steps being taken to ensure the security of the Turkish Cypriot state as conflict spreads in the region, Reuters reported.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Bahrain’s Bapco declares force majeure after oil refinery attack<\/p>\n Bahrain\u2019s state-owned energy company Bapco Energies has declared force majeure on its group operations after Iran<\/a> attacked the country\u2019s only oil refinery, news reports are saying.<\/p>\n A statement from the company said it \u201chereby serves notice of force majeure on its group operations which have been affected by the ongoing regional conflict in the Middle East and the recent attack on its refinery complex\u201d.<\/p>\n Last week Qatar \u2013 the Gulf\u2019s biggest liquefied natural gas producer \u2013 suspended activity at its facilities on Monday and declared force majeure<\/a> on gas exports on Wednesday, freeing it from contractual obligations to its customers.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a002.39 EDT<\/p>\n Hezbollah says it is fighting Israeli forces who landed in east Lebanon<\/p>\n Hezbollah said on Monday it was fighting Israeli forces who landed in eastern Lebanon by helicopter across the Syrian border, the second such operation since the outbreak of the latest conflict with Israel.<\/p>\n Hezbollah said it detected \u201cthe infiltration of approximately 15 Israeli enemy helicopters\u201d from the Syrian side of the border in eastern Lebanon<\/a>, an area where Hezbollah holds sway.<\/p>\n The Iran-backed militant group said in its statement that its fighters \u201cengaged the helicopters and the infiltrating force with appropriate weapons\u201d and that the confrontation was ongoing, the AFP news agency reported.<\/p>\n Lebanon\u2019s state-run National News Agency earlier said there were \u201cfierce clashes… towards the outskirts of the town of Nabi Sheet to repel Israeli forces that carried out a landing by helicopters\u201d in the area.<\/p>\n Two Hezbollah officials in the Bekaa region, where Nabi Sheet is located, told AFP that an Israeli helicopter was downed.<\/p>\n The Israeli army did not immediately comment on the incident.<\/p>\n It was the second such raid after an Israeli commando operation in Nabi Sheet<\/a> and its surrounding areas overnight on Friday failed to find the remains of Ron Arad, an airman missing since 1986. The fighting left three Lebanese soldiers and 41 residents of the Bekaa valley dead, according to the Lebanese army and ministry of health.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a002.13 EDT<\/p>\n Donald Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are planning to travel to Israel<\/a> on Tuesday and meet Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to an Axios reporter.<\/p>\n Barak Ravid\u2019s post on X<\/a> cited a \u201cUS official and a source with knowledge\u201d.<\/p>\n The plan is yet to be officially confirmed.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a003.17 EDT<\/p>\n Saudi Arabia condemns ‘reprehensible’ Iranian attacks on Gulf states<\/p>\n Saudi Arabia has condemned what it calls Iran\u2019s \u201creprehensible\u201d and unjustifiable aggression against the kingdom and other Gulf states. <\/p>\n The Saudi foreign ministry said in a statement on X<\/a>:<\/p>\n double quotation markThe Ministry of Foreign Affairs renews the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia\u2019s categorical condemnation of the reprehensible Iranian aggressions against the Kingdom, the Gulf Cooperation Council states, a number of Arab and Islamic countries, and friendly nations, which cannot be accepted or justified under any circumstances.<\/p>\n The Kingdom affirms its full right to take all measures that ensure the protection of its security, sovereignty, and the safety of its citizens and residents, and to deter aggression.<\/p>\n Share<\/a> More than 2,200 Australians have arrived back home since Middle East conflict started.<\/p>\n As of this morning, more than 2,200 Australians have returned to the country via commercial flights from the Middle East.<\/p>\n Multiple flights from the United Arab Emirates and Qatar are arriving or expected to arrive each day into various Australian airports, after a series of long airspace closures.<\/p>\n The government is still encouraging Australians abroad to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade\u2019s crisis portal if they are in Bahrain, Iran, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar, Lebanon<\/a> or the UAE.<\/p>\n Passengers on a flight from Abu Dhabi arriving at Sydney international airport on Friday. Photograph: Sarah Wilson\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a001.27 EDT<\/p>\n Vietnam is considering a plan to scrap tariffs on fuel imports, the government said, as the US-Israeli war with Iran disrupts oil supplies and pushes prices to their highest level since 2022.<\/p>\n The ministry of finance said it had drafted a decree that would slash import tax rates to zero on some petroleum products to \u201chelp stabilise the domestic market and ensure national energy security\u201d.<\/p>\n It said in a statement on Sunday:<\/p>\n double quotation markIf the conflict continues and the blockade of the strait of Hormuz persists, alternative supplies on the international market will become scarce and risk driving prices up.<\/p>\n The AFP news agency also reports that since the war began more than a week ago with US and Israeli strikes on Iran<\/a>, prices of fuel in Vietnam have risen sharply and the government has implemented emergency pricing protocols.<\/p>\n Vehicles in the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi. Photograph: Abbie Trayler-Smith\/The ObserverShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a001.03 EDT<\/p>\n Thick smoke is rising from the direction of the Bapco oil refinery in Bahrain, a witness has just been quoted as saying.<\/p>\n Earlier on Monday Bahrain said an Iranian drone attack on the island of Sitra injured 32 people<\/a> overnight.<\/p>\n Gulf countries have been reporting new strikes as Iran<\/a> continues retaliatory attacks across the region.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a001.09 EDT<\/p>\n Their forward was once suspended when her head scarf slipped off during a goal celebration. They are the women of the Iran football team, who are at the centre of an international diplomatic incident, even as the US and Israel<\/a> rain missiles down on their family back home.<\/p>\n The team remains in a hotel on Australia\u2019s Gold Coast, where they played their third and final match of the Women\u2019s Asian Cup on Sunday. Their departure from Australia is imminent, even if it\u2019s not clear whether they want to go.<\/p>\n Fears are held for their safety<\/a> if they return to Iran. The players were dubbed \u201cwartime traitors\u201d by a state-linked commentator<\/a>, who called for them to be \u201cdealt with more severely\u201d, after they failed to sing the national anthem in their first Asian Cup game.<\/p>\n In subsequent matches not only have the players sung \u2013 or at least mouthed the anthem\u2019s words \u2013 they have saluted.<\/p>\n Fears are growing over the safety of the Iran women\u2019s football team players with their return to Iran imminent after exiting the Women\u2019s Asian Cup. Photograph: AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Were they to stay in Australia, they face cutting off ties from their family and friends, who may be then vulnerable living under a regime that has already killed tens of thousands<\/a>. Backlash might extend to teammates, other footballers, and out through community networks still living in Iran.<\/p>\n It is a torrid choice, but one the players may have for only hours more.<\/p>\n The full story is here:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.47 EDT<\/p>\n Continued from previous post:<\/p>\n My colleague Rebecca Ratcliffe reported last week<\/a> on efforts by the Philippines to conserve energy. Government offices have been told to adopt flexible work arrangements, and to set air conditioning units no lower than 24 degrees. A presidential palace spokesperson said a four-day working week could also be considered, especially if the Middle East crisis worsened, local media reported.<\/p>\n Other south-east Asian countries are also introducing energy-saving measures, Rebecca noted. In Thailand, the defence ministry advised agencies under its control to cut back on the use of air conditioning, and to use video conferencing to avoid unnecessary travel.<\/p>\n In Myanmar, meanwhile, military rulers have banned half of private vehicles from the roads, announcing that from this weekend even-numbered plates will be permitted to drive only on even dates and odd-numbered plates only on odd dates.<\/p>\n Share<\/a> Why does the massive rise in oil prices<\/a> actually matter? The surge to $100 per barrel might feel a bit abstract \u2013 unless you\u2019re in a country scrambling to deal with an energy supply crunch.<\/p>\n Concerns over the strait of Hormuz, which has now been in effect closed for a week<\/a>, have been compounded by reports of oil production cuts across the Middle East. Asian markets are particularly vulnerable here: they relied on the Middle East for 59% of their crude oil imports last year, according to analytics firm Kpler.<\/p>\n In Bangladesh, Reuters reports that all universities will be closed from Monday, bringing forward the Eid al-Fitr holidays as part of emergency measures to conserve electricity. Officials said the move would not only reduce electricity consumption but also ease traffic congestion, which leads to fuel wastage.<\/p>\n Bangladeshi Muslims attend Eid al-Fitr prayers at a mosque in Dhaka last year. Photograph: Monirul Alam\/EPA<\/p>\n In South Korea, the country\u2019s president has just announced a move to cap domestic fuel prices for the time in almost three decades. The current crisis \u201cis a significant burden on our economy, which is highly dependent on global trade and energy imports from the Middle East\u201d, said Lee Jae Myung.<\/p>\n Continued next post<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.30 EDT<\/p>\n Qatar arrests more than 300 over alleged ‘misleading information\u2019<\/p>\n Qatar says 313 people of different nationalities have been arrested over allegations of inciting public concern amid the US-Israeli war on Iran.<\/p>\n The arrests were carried out as part of \u201congoing efforts to monitor and address the misuse of social media platforms\u201d, the Qatari interior ministry said in a press release posted on X<\/a>.<\/p>\n It said:<\/p>\n double quotation markThe arrests were made for filming and circulating unauthorized video clips, spreading misleading information and rumours, and disseminating content intended to incite public concern, in violation of official directives.<\/p>\n The interior ministry also said it \u201cstresses the importance of refraining from filming, publishing video clips or circulating rumours related to the current situation, and calls on the public to obtain information solely from approved official sources\u201d.<\/p>\n
With agencies<\/p>\n![\"Nick](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1773042549_547_Nick_Visser.png\")
Nick Visser<\/p>\n![\"Jack](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Jack_Snape.png\")
Jack Snape<\/p>\n![\"Callum](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1773042550_492_Callum_Jones.png\")
Callum Jones<\/p>\nCallum Jones<\/p>\n