Extract from ABC News
Donald Trump has added to the speculation around the condition of the Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. (AP: Vahid Salemi)
G'day, Middle East correspondent Matthew Doran in Beirut here.
Here's today's daily update, to get you up to speed with the latest happenings in the region.
Here's what you need to know today:
- Iranian retaliatory strikes across the Middle East have continued for another day. A drone attack on Dubai International Airport hit a fuel tank, and shut down operations for hours, causing cascading delays across the region.
- Iranian missiles have also been fired at Israel, with part of one landing on a house in occupied East Jerusalem.
- Donald Trump has said he doesn't know if Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamanei is dead or alive. His father, Ayatollah Ali Khamanei, was killed in the first few hours of the strikes. The only public statement from his successor so far has been a written statement read out on state television.
- President Trump also said there would be new details in coming days about which countries would join efforts to open shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz.
- The death toll has now reached 886, including more than 100 children, in the fortnight since Israel launched its intense bombardment of southern Lebanon and the capital, Beirut. The grim figure comes as Israel announces it has begun its invasion of southern Lebanon, carrying out what it describes as "limited and targeted ground operations" against claimed Hezbollah targets in the region.
What's the fallout?
The guessing game about Mojtaba Khamanei's condition continues, with the US president not exactly helping with any clarity there — not that you’d necessarily expect Mr Trump to provide that. During remarks in Washington, he's cited the varying reports about the new Iranian supreme leader's well-being, ranging from suggestions he's injured, perhaps seriously, to the suggestion that he is dead.
One report on Sunday suggested he may have been taken to Russia for medical treatment. Ultimately, there is a feeling that while the supreme leader is an important part of the Iranian machine, it's the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps calling the shots and coordinating the retaliatory attacks against Israel and the United States.
Part of that response is choking the Strait of Hormuz, blocking shipping through the area. The Reuters news agency has crunched the numbers and said oil exports from the Middle East have dropped by 60 per cent as a result of the action.
That's why you're hearing a lot from people like Mr Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron about the potential for military missions to reopen the Strait and effectively escort ships through. The US president said some countries weren't that enthusiastic about helping, before launching another less-than-flattering character assessment of British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Overnight, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said his country wouldn't be joining the war.
Iran's foreign minister said countries, particularly the Gulf states, needed to clarify their stance on whether they're supporting ongoing military action by the US and Israel on Iran. Abbas Araghchi posted on X that some neighbouring countries were "actively encouraging this slaughter", as he said hundreds of civilians had been killed in Iran — including more than 200 children.
That's a reminder that Iranian strikes on the gulf will continue — one shut down Dubai International Airport again on Monday morning. Missile barrages on Israel also continue, with several people rushed to hospital after some had an impact across the country, and occupied East Jerusalem. The death toll in Israel is 12, while 259 have been injured.
To the north, however, the result of Israel's intense bombardment of Lebanon is getting worse. Lebanon's health ministry said 886 people had been killed in the past fortnight — 111 of them are children.
Israel's ground invasion of Lebanon has begun — even though the IDF is labelling it "targeted and limited" operations against claimed Hezbollah targets — after the Iranian-backed group fired upon Israel in solidarity with Iran.
In conjunction with air strikes across the south, and in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, the Lebanese Red Cross said more than 900,000 people had been displaced.
If you want more today, try this …
- ABC News Daily: The global supply of oil is disrupted and petrol and diesel prices in Australia are soaring. This morning's episode looks at whether it's time to start rationing fuel (🎧 15m48s).
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