US-Iran war live updates: Flight out of Dubai lands in Sydney, Hegseth confirms US sunk warship with torpedo

A phone call from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to US President Donald Trump reportedly sparked US involvement in strikes on Iran.

US political outlet Axios reported that Mr Netanyahu called Mr Trump on February 23 to advise him of Israeli intelligence: Iran’s supreme leader and his advisors would all be in the same location for a secret meeting on February 28.

Axios reported that Mr Netanyahu told Mr Trump that all the senior Iranian figures could be killed with one airstrike.

The outlet claims that by February 26, the CIA had verified the intelligence tip was correct.

Mr Trump authorised a strike on February 27, following a negative update on nuclear negotiations, with bombs falling on Tehran shortly hours later on February 28.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the safety of Australians in the Middle East remains one of the government’s highest priorities.

“There’s around 115,000 Australians in the region,” Mr Albanese said.

The Prime Minister said commercial flights remain the best option for Australians to get home.

“Our thoughts are with all those caught up in the conflict. We continue to engage,” he added.

“We say, continue to listen to advice, stay safe and we want to see every Australian coming home safely.”

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has announced that six crisis response teams are being sent to the Middle East to help more Australians get home.

Senator Wong would not reveal where the teams were being sent, due to security reasons, however confirmed they were conflict zones.

“We certainly did not know that Iran was going to hit 10 countries in the region,” Senator Wong said on Wednesday afternoon, defending the Albanese Government’s action in keeping Australians safe.

Senator Wong said there was an unprecedented number of Australians in the Middle East who could apply for Government assistance in getting home.

She said “commercial options” remain the best way for Australians to get home.

It comes after US President Donald Trump told US citizens to register with the State Department so they can be brought home. Mr Trump said 9000 US citizens had already been brought home, adding his administration was working on more charter and military flights, offered for free, to get US citizens home.

Australia’s share market is under pressure as the prospect of a lengthy Middle East conflict and subsequent disruption to energy markets weighs on confidence.

The S&P/ASX fell 136.7 points by midday AEDT on Wednesday, down 1.51 per cent, to 8,936.7, as the broader All Ordinaries lost 142.1 points, or 1.53 per cent, to 9,155.1.

The slump followed a weak Wall Street session as investors weighed the potential inflationary impacts of a prolonged war in the Middle East.

Oil prices have surged 15 per cent since the US and Israel began bombing Iran at the weekend.

“Markets are recognising the Iran conflict could be drawn out and more disruptive to the world economy than initially thought,” Moomoo dealing manager Paco Chow said.

“If tensions in the Gulf persist, energy and defence stocks could remain supported while airlines and rate-sensitive sectors stay under pressure.”

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has issued an update on Operation Epic Fury, saying the US armed forces remain focused on eliminating Iran’s ability to threaten Americans.

“We have severely degraded Iran’s air defences and destroyed hundreds of Iran’s ballistic missiles, launchers and drones,” Admiral Brad Cooper said in a video update.

“In simple terms, were focused on shooting at all the things that can shoot at us.

“We are also sinking the Iranian Navy, the entire navy.”

CENTCOM said Iran had launched over 500 ballistic missiles and around 2000 drones, something that was no match for its growing military operations.

Liberal frontbencher Andrew Hastie said “middle powers absolutely have a role” in the diplomatic solutions for situations like the current Middle East conflict, but cautioned that Australia’s capacity and strength were in decline.

“Middle powers are middle powers because they have a level of power. My concern is that Australia’s industrial power and military power is shrinking,” he told ABC radio on Wednesday.

“You can’t just rely upon diplomatic power – they’re just words at the end of the day – you’ve got to back them up.

“My concern is for our country and making sure that we’re resilient and self-sufficient.

“If our shipping lines are cut, then our whole economy could grind to a halt very quickly, never mind the fact that our industrial base is also shrinking, and that makes us vulnerable to world events.”

The IDF have confirmed it struck a “covert” Iranian nuclear facility on the outskirts of Tehran.

Israel’s military claimed that nuclear weapons were being developed at the site.

“The covert ‘Minzadehei’ compound was used by a group of nuclear scientists who operated to develop a key component for nuclear weapons,” the IDF said in a statement on X.

“Using intelligence, the IDF tracked the activities at this new location, removing a key component of the Iranian regime’s capability to develop nuclear weapons.”

No nuclear radiation has been detected yet after the strike.

Video of strikes on the Iranian capital, Tehran, has emerged online, showing a barrage of missiles hitting targets in close succession.

Fiery bursts from the explosions and billowing black smoke could be seen from a distance as the operations against Iran intensified.

Israel’s military forces have started unleashing a “broad wave” of new strikes on Iran, as the conflict intensifies.

Overnight, Iran launched strikes on Israel and Middle East countries, including a suspected attack on the US consulate in Dubai.

In an update, the IDF on Wednesday confirmed it has started the latest attack.

“The Air Force has now begun a wave of extensive strikes against launch sites, defence systems, and additional infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime.”

It comes after US President Donald Trump claimed US strikes had wiped out Iran’s defence systems, eliminating their radar and air protection.

The Pentagon has confirmed the identities of four US Army Reserve Soldiers killed during Operation Epic Fury.

In a statement released on the Department of War website, the Pentagon confirmed the death of Captain Cody A. Khork, Sergeant 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, Sergeant 1st Class Nicole M. Amor and Specialist Declan J.

“Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Fla.; Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Neb.; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minn.; and Sgt. Declan J. Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa, died on March 1, 2026, in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, during an unmanned aircraft system attack,” the statement said.

“All Soldiers were assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, Des Moines, Iowa. The incident is under investigation.”