Iran war updates: Dubai airport struck by drones as death toll from Israel’s attacks on Lebanon rise

Defence Minister Richard Marles says while Australia’s recent deployment of military assets to the Middle East was in response to UAE’s call for support, the United States has also made requests during the conflict with Iran.

It comes after Anthony Albanese’s commitment on Tuesday to send the E-7A Wedgetail surveillance aircraft and an unspecified quantity of medium-range missiles, known as an AMRAAM.

Mr Marles said Australia had received a range of defensive capability-based requests since the US and Israel launched their attack on Iran late last month.

“The request that we’ve responded to is the UAE,” Mr Marles told ABC’s 7.30.

“I spoke to my counterpart in the UAE over the course of the weekend, and they were gratefully receiving the offer that we’ve made.

“A number of other countries, including the US have made requests which are centred on helping to provide for the defence of the Gulf countries.”

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British Airways has confirmed it is pulling flights to and from the Middle East, with a domino effect expected to cause chaos for flight routes around the world.

“Due to the continuing uncertainty of the situation in the Middle East and airspace instability, we’ve had to temporarily reduce our flying schedule in the region,” a statement said.

“We’ve cancelled all flights to and from Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai and Tel Aviv until later this month and to and from Abu Dhabi until later this year.

British Airways did not share further details about those two frames.

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Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has confirmed US strikes have been unleashed on multiple boats over fears Iran was laying underwater mines in the Strait of Hormuz.

“At the direction of President Trump, @CENTCOM has been eliminating inactive mine-laying vessels in the Strait of Hormuz—wiping them out with ruthless precision,” he wrote on X.

“We will not allow terrorists to hold the Strait of Hormuz hostage. To the weakened Iranian regime: you have officially been put on notice!”

President Donald Trump says that within “the last few hours”, the US has destroyed 10 mine-laying boats.

It comes after he threatened to unleash an unseen force on Iran if mines were laid in the Strait of Hormuz.

“I am pleased to report that within the last few hours, we have hit, and completely destroyed, 10 inactive mine laying boats and/or ships, with more to follow!” he wrote on Truth Social.

The US Central Command says it is now “degrading” Iran’s ability to “project power at sea”, releasing a new unclassified video of multiple strikes on smaller vessels.

The escalation comes amid growing reports that Iran was “taking steps” to unleash its underwater mine stockpile, planting the dangerous weapons throughout the Strait of Hormuz.

“U.S. forces are degrading the Iranian regime’s ability to project power at sea and harass international shipping,” it said on X.

“For years, Iranian forces have threatened freedom of navigation in waters essential to American, regional and global security and prosperity.”

The White House confirmed on Tuesday that no oil tankers had been escorted through the key waterway yet, something that could cause global panic as oil stockpiles dwindle.

After Iran vowed not to let a single drop of oil flow through the Strait of Hormuz, reports have now emerged claiming mines are being laid in the key water way that was sink ships that attempt to traverse it.

CNN and CBS have claimed multiple sources have confirmed mines are and have been laid in recent days.

The US has sunk over 50 Iranian Navy ships, however, the regime has smaller boats.

An IRGC source told CNN the Strait of Hormuz was a “death valley” in its current state due to the amount of mines that could explode ships.

Exact numbers are not known, however, intelligence suggests Iran may have stockpiles of 2000 - 6000 mines, and the regime is reportedly “taking steps” to unleash the new threat.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong says Australia was already a target for Iran before Australian military assets and personnel were deployed to the Gulf.

Senator Wong said Australia was engaging in “collective self-defence”, helping Gulf countries defend themselves from Iran’s attacks, something that was also helping to keep Australians in the region safe.

“Australians are already in countries that are being targeted by Iran,” Senator Wong told Sunrise.

“Iran has not needed provocation. Iran has already directed attacks on Australian soil”, mentioning the Government’s move in 2025 to expel the Iranian ambassador.

“While we still had a diplomatic relationship with Iran, Australia was already a target,” Senator Wong added.

“I think we all understand what kind of regime we are dealing with here.”

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has warned Iran that today will be the “most intense day of strikes” of the war so far.

“Today will be yet again our most intense day of strikes inside Iran,” he said.

“The most fighters, the most bombers, the most strikes...

“On the other hand, the last 24 hours have seen Iran fire the lowest number of missiles they have been capable of firing.

“This is not 2003. This is not endless nation-building.

“Those days are dead. Instead, we are winning decisively.”

Speaker for Tehran’s Parliament has said Iran seeks an “eye for an eye” in response to US-Israel attacks, to teach them “a lesson”.

“We believe we must strike the aggressor (Israel and US) in the mouth so that it learns a lesson and never again even thinks of aggressing against our dear Iran,” Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf wrote on X.

“The Zionist regime sees its ignoble existence in perpetuating the cycle of ‘war-negotiation-ceasefire, and then war again’ in order to consolidate its domination.

“No malice will go unanswered, and today we decree the rule of ‘an eye for an eye,’ without exception. If they initiate war on infrastructure, we will undoubtedly target their infrastructure.”

US President Donald Trump has told Iran it will unleash unseen aggression if it discovers mines in the Strait of Hormuz, telling the regime to remove them immediately.

“If Iran has put out any mines in the Hormuz Strait, and we have no reports of them doing so, we want them removed, IMMEDIATELY!” he wrote on Truth Social.

“If for any reason mines were placed, and they are not removed forthwith, the Military consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before.

“If, on the other hand, they remove what may have been placed, it will be a giant step in the right direction!

“Additionally, we are using the same Technology and Missile capabilities deployed against Drug Traffickers to permanently eliminate any boat or ship attempting to mine the Hormuz Strait.

“They will be dealt with quickly and violently. BEWARE!”