Middle East war updates: Trump says Iran will ‘pay the price’ after nation hits back after US strikes

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has said it has struck the US Fifth Fleet naval base in Bahrain.

“IRGC Navy forces launched a drone attack at 2.30am against the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain,” it said via Tasnim News Agency.

the Bahrain Interior Ministry posted: “The siren has been sounded. Citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place.”

Australia’s Jewish community have welcomed reports that the royal commission into anti-Semitism and social cohesion will call ABC, SBS, major media organisations and social media giants to give evidence.

The next hearing block, which will mark the third, is expected to kick off later this month and focus on “institutions and industries”.

The Australia-Israel and Jewish Affairs Council executive director Colin Rubenstein said that broadcasters had an important role to stop the “tidal wave of anti-Semitic abuse”.

He accused the ABC of having a “long-term, systematic and institutional anti-Israel bias” and social media platforms of “failing” to adequately address the “relentless proliferation of antisemitic hate, misinformation and incitement”.

“When reporting is distorted, context is omitted, or antisemitic narratives are amplified and allowed to spread unchecked, the consequences can be profound, and even lead to violence,” Dr Rubenstein said.

“Equally, social media companies must answer for their repeated failure to effectively curb the tidal wave of antisem.”

It comes after the ABC has faced scrutiny over platforming advocate and former Australian of the Year Grace Tame for a new autism podcast.

Speaking on Radio National yesterday, ABC managing director Hugh Marks had said the podcast had been commissioned before Ms Tame’s infamous “globalise the Intifada” chant at a Sydney pro-Palestine rally.

The US military has announced that its forces have “completed self-defence strikes against Iran”.

In a brief update shared on social media, CENTCOM again said the attacks were in response to the “downing of a US Army Apache helicopter”.

It also described the attacks on Iran as “a proportional response to recent attacks on US forces and international commercial ships transiting regional waters”.

“CENTCOM forces struck Iranian air defence, ground control stations and surveillance radar sites near the Strait of Hormuz with precision munitions from US Air Force and Navy fighter jets,” it said.

“US forces remain vigilant and postured to defend against unjustified Iranian aggression.”

Iran’s semi-offical Fars news agency has reported that two water tanks in the Bemani district of Sirik were struck and destroyed about an hour ago amid escalating military activity in southern Iran.

The reported strike came as a wave of explosions rocked areas near the Strait of Hormuz, with powerful blasts heard in Bandar Abbas and air defence systems activated in Jask, Qeshm Island and Bandar Abbas.

Iranian media also reported projectile strikes and multiple explosions in parts of Hormozgan province.

The developments come as US forces continue strikes against targets in southern Iran, further raising tensions in the strategically vital region

US forces have launched a third wave of strikes against Iran, escalating tensions in the Middle East after what US President Donald Trump said was the downing of an American helicopter by Iranian forces.

According to Axios, citing a US official, the latest attacks targeted Iranian air defence and radar systems near the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.

A series of explosions were earlier reported along Iran’s southern coastline, although Iranian state media later claimed the situation had “returned to calm”.

The fresh strikes mark a significant escalation in the conflict, with Washington reportedly expanding its military response in the region.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has since vowed retaliation, raising fears the confrontation could widen further.

Angus Taylor has indicated he’s open to striking preference deals with One Nation as concerns grow inside Liberal ranks that Pauline Hanson’s rising popularity could see the Opposition Leader lose his own outer Sydney seat at the next election.

Closer cooperation between the rival right-wing parties is also being endorsed by new Liberal Party President and former prime minister Tony Abbott as he prepares to embark on a nationwide listening tour aimed at boosting support for the ailing Coalition.

In a message emailed to Liberal party supporters on Tuesday, Mr Abbott said he wanted to speak to hear their ideas and declared the new Federal executive “will support Angus and his team to continue to be bold and resolute”.

Read the full story here.

US officials have reportedly told Israeli TV network N12 that a second wave of strikes has just been launched on Iranian targets.

The US calls the strikes “self defence” over the downing of a US military helicopter, however, Iran has vowed to respond to any and all attacks.

The dangerous escalation is pushing fears of a return to all-out war, as US-Iran peace talks appear to be put on hold.

Asked about the polling numbers that have shown One Nation is the most popular party in the country, Anthony Albanese has a new spin on the old politicians’ line that the only poll that counts is on election day.

“You know what? Primary votes are when people actually put numbers on ballot papers. That’s when a primary vote matters,” the PM told ABC.

“We were successful in the last election. I’m convinced that we will continue to be successful.”

He went on to say that the reality is that people are frustrated and insisted that he and his government are “always” listening to people.

“When everyone seems to acknowledge that the housing system is broken for people, and young people don’t have the same opportunity for home ownership that you and I had when we were younger, then you’ve got to do something about it. We’re doing something about it,” he said.

Back at home, Anthony Albanese said this morning the government has to cut the NDIS back because “you cannot have any program increasing costs by 22 per cent” annually, as it was when Labor took power.

The Prime Minister spoke to ABC TV ahead of the second day of an inquiry into the NDIS cuts.

That inquiry has had more than 4000 submissions, many from people concerned about what the cuts would mean for them or their children.

Mr Albanese said the plans are “sensible changes that go to the heart of what the NDIS was for”.

“I’m really proud being a part of a government that introduced the NDIS. It needs to, though, be sustainable if it’s going to have a future, and what we want to make sure is that those people who need support get support,” he said.