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Massive fires on two oil tankers after attack in Iraqi waters

Massive fires on two oil tankers after attack in Iraqi waters
By Zaid Sabah, Lyndal Rowlands, Zaid Sabah, Tim Hume, Elis Gjevori, Stephen Quillen, Virginia Pietromarchi, Christine Maguire, Adam Hancock and Edna Mohamed
Published On 12 Mar 2026

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12 Mar 2026 - 23:59
 (23:59 GMT)

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You can continue to follow all our coverage of the US-Israeli war on Iran here.

Smoke rises as Israeli attacks continue in Beirut, Lebanon on Thursday [Adri Salido/Getty Images]
12 Mar 2026 - 23:50
 (23:50 GMT)

Here’s what happened today

  • An Israeli attack killed nine people, including five children, in Arki, Lebanon. More than 687 have been killed since last Monday, Lebanese officials said earlier on Thursday.
  • A wave of Iranian missiles and drones targeted Gulf countries, including Bahrain, where they hit fuel tanks, causing a large fire.
  • Iraq shut down port operations after an Indian crew member was killed in an attack on a US-owned oil tanker.
  • The US military said a fuelling aircraft crashed in western Iraq in “friendly airspace”.
  • Thick smoke continues to engulf Tehran days after an Israeli-US strike on oil facilities, Al Jazeera’s correspondent reported.
  • The Netherlands and Iceland joined South Africa’s case accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza at the International Court of Justice.
  • Oil prices surged on Thursday with Brent crude settling above $100 per barrel for the first time since August 2022.
12 Mar 2026 - 23:44
 (23:44 GMT)
Houthi

Saudi Arabia says 28 drones intercepted, destroyed

In the past hour, Saudi Arabia’s Defence Ministry says its forces have intercepted and destroyed 28 drones that breached the country’s airspace.

12 Mar 2026 - 23:40
 (23:40 GMT)

Australia orders all ‘non-essential’ officials to leave Israel, UAE

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has ordered all non-essential officials in Israel and the United Arab Emirates to leave due to the “deteriorating security situation”.

In a post on X on Thursday, Wong said that “essential Australian officials will remain in-country to support Australians who need it”.

The Australian government continued to advise that its citizens not travel to Israel and the UAE, she added.

“We urge you to leave the Middle East if you can and if it’s safe to do so,” she said. “Don’t wait until it’s too late. It may be the last chance for some time.”

Canberra has said there are about 115,000 Australian nationals across the Middle East, of whom about 2,600 have returned home.

12 Mar 2026 - 23:30
 (23:30 GMT)

UK foreign secretary visits Saudi Arabia to show support

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has arrived in Saudi Arabia.

She said she was there “to demonstrate the UK’s steadfast support for our regional allies facing reckless Iranian aggression”.

The Foreign Office said she was expected to discuss “cooperation with regional partners to ensure continuity of oil supply” and “highlight the strength of the UK–KSA defence relationship”.

 

12 Mar 2026 - 23:20
 (23:20 GMT)

CAIR welcomes Iceland, Netherlands joining Gaza genocide case

The US-based Council on American-Islamic Relations has welcomed the Netherlands and Iceland joining South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.

The Netherlands and Iceland’s “participation strengthens the global demand for accountability and reinforces the obligation of all nations to uphold the Genocide Convention,” CAIR said in a statement.

“Our own government must listen to the American people and support international law by ending US support for the Israeli government’s crimes, including the genocide in Gaza,” the statement added.

12 Mar 2026 - 23:10
 (23:10 GMT)
Houthi

‘No one can exclude us from World Cup’: Iran’s football team

Iran’s football team has hit back at US President Donald Trump’s comments that it would not be “appropriate” for the team to participate in this year’s World Cup.

“The World Cup is a historic and international event and its governing body is FIFA — not any individual country. Iran’s national team, with strength and a series of decisive victories achieved by the brave sons of Iran, was among the first teams to qualify for this major tournament,” the team said in a statement.

“Certainly no one can exclude Iran’s national team from the World Cup. The only country that could be excluded is one that merely carries the title of “host” yet lacks the ability to provide security for the teams participating in this global event”.

The reference appears to be to the US, which is co-hosting the World Cup with Canada and Mexico.

12 Mar 2026 - 23:00
 (23:00 GMT)

Cyberattack claimed by Iranian group caused widespread disruption, says medical ‌device maker Stryker

Medical ‌device maker Stryker says a cyberattack that hit its computer systems on Wednesday has caused widespread disruption ⁠to its business.

The cyberattack was claimed by an Iranian-linked hacking group called Handala, who said it was in retaliation for a strike ‌on a girls’ school in Minab, southern Iran, which killed an estimated 150 students, according to Iran’s ambassador to the ⁠UN.

According to Stryker, the ⁠incident has not affected ⁠any patient-related services and its connected medical products, but the full-scale and financial impact it has caused is yet to be determined.

The company said its investigation into the cyberattack is still ongoing.

12 Mar 2026 - 22:50
 (22:50 GMT)

US and allies clash with Russia and China at UN over Iran nuclear programme

The US and their Western allies have clashed with Russia and China over Iran’s nuclear intentions at a UN Security Council meeting on Thursday.

Russia and China unsuccessfully tried to block a discussion about a committee established to oversee and enforce UN sanctions on Iran. They were overruled 11-2 with two abstentions.

US envoy to the United Nations Mike Waltz accused Moscow and Beijing of seeking to protect Tehran by blocking the work of the so-called 1737 Committee.

“All member states of the United Nations should be implementing an arms embargo against Iran, banning the transfer and trade of missile technology, and freezing relevant financial assets,” Waltz said.

Russia’s UN ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, accused the US and its allies of whipping up “hysteria surrounding supposed plans Iran had to get a nuclear weapon” that were never corroborated by IAEA reports.

China’s representative, Fu Cong, called Washington the “instigator” of the Iranian nuclear crisis and said it had “resorted to blatant use of force against Iran during the negotiation process, which rendered the diplomatic efforts futile”.

US President Donald Trump has used Iran’s nuclear programme to justify his war on the country.

12 Mar 2026 - 22:40
 (22:40 GMT)

Netherlands, Iceland join South Africa’s ICJ case on Gaza genocide

The Netherlands and Iceland have formally filed declarations of their intent to participate in South Africa’s case accusing Israel of genocide at the International Court of Justice.

Iceland’s written intervention, totalling 24 pages, notes, for example, that factors related to Israel’s forced displacement of Palestinians in Gaza should include the mass destruction of housing and the enclosed nature of the enclave.

The Netherlands’ submission, totalling 10 pages, covers a range of topics, including “starvation and the deliberate withholding of humanitarian aid,” which it says must be “calculated to bring about [the] eventual physical destruction] of a group, in order to be considered as genocidal.

Other countries that have already intervened in the case are: Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Cuba, Ireland, Libya, the Maldives, Mexico, Paraguay, Spain, Turkiye, as well as the State of Palestine.

A protester stands outside the International Court of Justice (ICJ), as it rules on South Africa’s request to order a halt to Israel’s Rafah offensive in Gaza, in The Hague, Netherlands, on May 24, 2024 [File: Johanna Geron/Reuters]
12 Mar 2026 - 22:30
 (22:30 GMT)
Explainer

How will the war on Iran impact the US economy?

By Meg Duff

New York City, United States – Rising prices on the back of US-Israel strikes on Iran are adding to the economic pressure facing US consumers despite efforts by US President Donald Trump to paint the war as a success.

On Wednesday, Trump declared, “We won – in the first hour it was over.”

Trump’s declaration comes even as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, cutting off oil from the Gulf amid warnings from Iran, which continues to strike ships, that oil could reach $200 per barrel.

Oil prices spiked above $100 per barrel on Sunday and again today.

The magnitude of the economic pressure on consumers will depend on how long the war lasts and, crucially, how soon shipping traffic can return to the Gulf.

“If it drags on and especially if it remains at this intensity, prices will be higher, and more volatile for consumers,” said Rachel Ziemba, an adjunct senior fellow at the think tank Center for a New American Security.

Read more here. 

12 Mar 2026 - 22:20
 (22:20 GMT)
Houthi

Israeli air strikes target Ansar in southern Lebanon

Our correspondents are reporting that Israeli air strikes have hit the town of Ansar in the Nabatieh District in southern Lebanon.

12 Mar 2026 - 22:10
 (22:10 GMT)

Khamenei’s speech was one of ‘continuity’

Alex Vatanka, senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, says the fact that Mojtaba Khamenei did not show his face on camera during his first address as ayatollah indicates that he is “not ready for public limelight”.

“In terms of the substance of the message, it’s one of continuity, it’s one of resistance, it’s one of doubling down on his father’s legacy. That’s to be expected as the country’s at war, but … depending on where we go in this war, I think if he wants to be a symbol for [the] change he could [bring] if he survives”, Vatanka told Al Jazeera.

He explained that if he wanted to be the “symbol of change”, it would have to be done with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.

“The IRGC is in this fight for now, but I don’t know where they will be if this war continues for a few more weeks, a few more months, perhaps longer, because they are the main targets,” he said.

12 Mar 2026 - 22:00
 (22:00 GMT)

Iran says only blocking US-, Israel-linked ships from Strait of Hormuz

By Mohamed Vall

Reporting from Tehran, Iran

About the Strait of Hormuz, we have heard the words of the Iranian envoy at the United Nations, but there are also statements here by the deputy foreign minister that the Strait of Hormuz is not closed, per se, but Iran controls it.

And anybody who wants to pass through the Strait of Hormuz has to coordinate with the Islamic Republic of Iran’s army and IRGC regarding that situation.

So that’s a little bit of a clarification about the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. They are categorical that American- and Israeli-linked ships cannot pass there.

And any other country has also to get the permission of Iran before they can cross.

12 Mar 2026 - 21:52
 (21:52 GMT)
Houthi

US military says it has lost a refuelling aircraft in Iraq

The US Army’s Central Command (CENTCOM) says it has lost a KC-135 refuelling aircraft in friendly airspace during its war on Iran, and rescue efforts are ongoing.

Two aircraft were involved in the incident, and one went down in western Iraq, while the other landed safely.

“This was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire,” CENTCOM said in a statement.

“More information will be made available as the situation develops.”

12 Mar 2026 - 21:50
 (21:50 GMT)

Bahrain intercepts 114 missiles, 190 drones targeting the kingdom since war started

Since the start of the war, Bahrain’s Defence Ministry said it intercepted and destroyed 114 missiles and 190 drones targeting the kingdom.

12 Mar 2026 - 21:45
 (21:45 GMT)

Erbil governor reports injury of six French soldiers in Makhmour district attack

Erbil Governor Omid Khoshnaw has told the Rudaw news outlet that six French soldiers were injured in an attack on a joint Peshmerga-French base located in the Malla Qara subdistrict of Makhmour.

According to the governor, no Peshmerga personnel were injured in the incident.

The French military also confirmed the incident moments ago.

12 Mar 2026 - 21:40
 (21:40 GMT)

IRGC intelligence organisation calls for information on US troops across region

The IRGC’s intelligence agency has called on citizens across the region to find the 11,000 US soldiers who are residing in hotels and private accommodations, Tasnim reported.

The call claimed that the US wanted to “use our Arab brothers as human shields”.

“We are forced to identify and target the Americans. Therefore, it is better not to shelter them in hotels and to stay away from their locations,” it said.

“It is your Islamic duty to accurately report the hiding places of American terrorists and send the information to us on Telegram,” it added.

12 Mar 2026 - 21:39
 (21:39 GMT)

Blasts heard near bazaar in central Tehran, Iran remains defiant

By Mohamed Vall

Reporting from Tehran, Iran

Just moments ago, there were blasts here in Tehran, near a Bazaar in downtown Tehran, and also Ahvaz received some bombs.

South of Tehran was also bombarded. And further south in the city of Kashan, some missiles there.

There is a combination during the last few days of drones and missiles, and drones have been used much more heavily and frequently here around Tehran. Some of the security checkpoints were hit yesterday.

So that’s a new development in what’s going on here.

Regarding the other side … the reaction of Iran: there is a 42nd wave of Operation True Promise that has been announced.

And there is a continuation of the same targeting of US airbases and American and Israeli targets, also inside Israel.

So there is no reduction of the level of defiance and the level of power that Iran is using against the Americans and Israelis, either in Israel or in the Gulf region.

12 Mar 2026 - 21:30
 (21:30 GMT)

UN rights expert warns world has entered ‘new dark age of abuses’

UN special rapporteur Ben Saul has said a “new dark age of abuses” has “excused naked aggression and renewed imperialism against Iran and Venezuela, raining death and violating the right to life and making the world less safe”.

The special rapporteur for the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism denounced the UN Security Council’s Wednesday resolution for only condemning Iran and not “Israeli and US aggression”.

“Nobody knows how this is going to end, and when we look at the last series of US-led interventions – Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan – these were all disasters,” Saul said at a news conference in Geneva.