Iran news and live updates: Iran’s presidential offices hit as Hezbollah to fight ‘open war’ with Israel
RECAP: Israel says the Iranian regime’s leadership compound has been ‘dismantled’ as defence minister Israel Katz claims the IDF has been authorised to ‘advance and seize’ strategic areas in Lebanon.
THE NIGHTLY: Read the recap of events below.
Key events
03 Mar 2026 - 06:51 PM
Iranian missiles launched to Israel, military claims
03 Mar 2026 - 06:50 PM
IDF: Iranian regime has been ‘dismantled’
03 Mar 2026 - 06:47 PM
Hezbollah willing to fight ‘open war’ with Israel
03 Mar 2026 - 06:32 PM
Oil and natural gas prices spike again
03 Mar 2026 - 06:29 PM
Hezbollah’s ‘centres of gravity’ hit in Beirut strike, Israel claims
03 Mar 2026 - 06:18 PM
Death toll in Iran more than 780, society reports
03 Mar 2026 - 06:13 PM
Israel claims it has hit Iranian regime compound
03 Mar 2026 - 05:13 PM
Defence prepares for evacuation flights
03 Mar 2026 - 05:02 PM
Aussies stranded in Dubai could face huge fines, jail
03 Mar 2026 - 04:52 PM
PM engages UAE President on evacuation flights
03 Mar 2026 - 04:41 PM
UK to continue its ‘defensive’ action
03 Mar 2026 - 04:05 PM
‘Not been helpful’: Trump blasts Starmer
03 Mar 2026 - 03:49 PM
Israel vows troops will ‘seize’ areas of Lebanon
03 Mar 2026 - 03:42 PM
WATCH: Explosions as Iranian missile hits Israel
03 Mar 2026 - 03:32 PM
Islamic group could lose funding over mourning Ayatollah
03 Mar 2026 - 03:19 PM
Israel ‘not likely’ to deploy troops to Iran
03 Mar 2026 - 03:14 PM
Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon, IDF says
03 Mar 2026 - 03:07 PM
The countries most affected by Strait of Hormuz blockade
03 Mar 2026 - 02:58 PM
US expands evacuation list to Kuwait and Qatar
03 Mar 2026 - 02:56 PM
Mass funeral held in Iran for 165 killed in US-Israeli strikes
03 Mar 2026 - 02:21 PM
Americans in Saudi urged to avoid embassy after strike
03 Mar 2026 - 02:17 PM
WATCH: US bombers take off from Arabian Sea amid Iran attack
03 Mar 2026 - 02:11 PM
Iran issues threat to shipping through Strait of Hormuz
03 Mar 2026 - 01:58 PM
Known locations of US-Israeli strikes in Iran
03 Mar 2026 - 01:49 PM
Evacuations amid ‘simultaneous’ strikes on Tehran and Beirut
03 Mar 2026 - 01:41 PM
Chalmers asks ACCC to monitor fuel prices amid spike
03 Mar 2026 - 01:30 PM
Trump makes disturbing ‘unlimited’ weapons claim
03 Mar 2026 - 01:05 PM
Iran says US air base attacked and destroyed
03 Mar 2026 - 12:50 PM
Netanyahu says war against Iran may take ‘some time’
03 Mar 2026 - 12:49 PM
WATCH: Saudi oil refinery up in smoke
03 Mar 2026 - 12:16 PM
Beirut hit by Israeli strikes
03 Mar 2026 - 12:06 PM
Surging diesel prices spell trouble for economy
03 Mar 2026 - 11:40 AM
Foreign Minister: US involvement a ‘war of choice’
03 Mar 2026 - 11:21 AM
Netanyahu denies Israel ‘dragged’ US into war
03 Mar 2026 - 11:00 AM
Israel claims Iran was on cusp of developing nuclear weapons
03 Mar 2026 - 10:21 AM
‘You’ll find out soon’: Trump responds to US embassy drone strike
03 Mar 2026 - 10:06 AM
Death toll in Iran climbs to 555 amid US-Israeli strikes
03 Mar 2026 - 10:02 AM
At least 15 flights from Dubai to evacuate stranded passengers
03 Mar 2026 - 09:52 AM
What you need to know about Iran conflict today
03 Mar 2026 - 09:03 AM
US embassy in Riyadh issues urgent ‘shelter in place’ alert
03 Mar 2026 - 08:57 AM
US embassy in Saudi Arabia reportedly hit by suspected Iranian drones
03 Mar 2026 - 08:10 AM
Wong says Middle East transport hub strikes hurting ability to get people home
03 Mar 2026 - 08:03 AM
Israel claims Islamic Jihad commander killed in Beirut strikes
03 Mar 2026 - 07:55 AM
Moment a US F-15 fighter pilot is rescued by Kuwaiti locals
03 Mar 2026 - 07:31 AM
Don’t cancel your flights, minister warns stranded Australians
03 Mar 2026 - 07:29 AM
US State Department issues ‘leave now’ warnings for citizens
03 Mar 2026 - 06:48 AM
‘Another missile’: Stranded Aussie’s plea from Middle East
03 Mar 2026 - 06:46 AM
‘Set those ships ablaze’: Iran shuts down Strait of Hormuz
03 Mar 2026 - 06:20 AM
Marles confirms airbase used by ADF hit by Iranian drones
03 Mar 2026 - 05:40 AM
US soldier death toll mounting
03 Mar 2026 - 05:33 AM
Reserve Bank chief says Middle East conflict could worsen inflation
03 Mar 2026 - 04:25 AM
‘Last best chance’: Trump says he seized moment to strike
03 Mar 2026 - 04:07 AM
US embassy in Kuwait hit by missile strike
Marles confirms airbase used by ADF hit by Iranian drones
Defence Minister Richard Marles has confirmed a large airbase used by the Australian military was struck by Iran over the weekend.
A military source told The Nightly that the Al Minhad airbase outside Dubai received “multiple impacts” from suspected ballistic weapons.
Mr Marles confirmed on Tuesday that the airbase was hit, adding that all Australian military personnel are safe and accounted for.
“I can confirm both of those things. And so there was some drones which did attack that base on the first night, I think,” he told Sunrise.
“We have a number of Australians who operate from a headquarters that we’ve had at Al Minhad now for many, many years - it’s just outside of Dubai, about half an hour outside of Dubai.
“They are all accounted for, they are all safe. We’ve got north of 100 serving personnel actually across the Middle East in a range of countries, but most are in the UAE and that base is very important for us. But they are all safe and accounted for.”
US soldier death toll mounting
The US Central Command (Centcom) has updated the death toll for service members to six.
A statment released on Monday says US forces discovered “two previously unaccounted for service members from a facility that was struck during Iran’s initial attacks in the region”.
“Major combat operations continue,” the update added.
Reserve Bank chief says Middle East conflict could worsen inflation
Reserve Bank Governor Michele Bullock has suggested the Middle East conflict could worsen Australia’s inflation problems.
“The past few days have seen a significant escalation in conflict and instability in the Middle East, which is deeply concerning,” she told a business summit in Sydney.
“A supply shock could, for example, add to inflation pressures. And the potential implications for inflation expectations are something we are very alert to.”
Crude oil prices soared by double-digit figures on Sunday after US and Israeli air strikes on Iran killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with the West Texas Intermediate price hitting an eight-month high of $US72 a barrel on Monday.
Australian motorists were already paying $2 a litre for unleaded before the air strikes so an escalation in the conflict could push prices even higher, with economists equating every $US10 increase in crude oil to a 10-cent-a-litre price at the bowser.
Ms Bullock said a global slowdown because of a Middle East could also have the opposite effect on inflation.
“But at the same time, a prolonged impact on energy markets could have adverse effects on global economic activity and result in downward pressure on inflation,” she said. “It is not obvious how this might play out.”
‘Last best chance’: Trump says he seized moment to strike
US President Donald Trump says the US and Israel could not wait any longer before striking Iran.
“Everybody was behind us,” Mr Trump explained in the US when asked about the timing for the strikes.
Iran achieving their nuclear weapons goals has been decribed as an “intolerable threat” to the Middle East by Mr Trump.
The attack on Iran was “our last, best chance to strike” and to eliminate the “intolerable threats posed by this sick and sinister regime”, Mr Trump added.
US embassy in Kuwait hit by missile strike
US officials have confirmed their embassy in Kuwait has been hit by a missile.
The US state department said the missile was a suspected Iranian drone that had struck the embassy causing damage and a fire.
A statement published by The Washington Post says “there is a continuing threat of missile and UAV attacks over Kuwait.”
The state department messaging added there had been no casualties but warned people they should ”not come to the embassy.”
