LIVE US-Israeli strikes batter Iranian ships as oil prices soar

The US-Israel war with Iran has entered its ninth day with mayhem continuing across the Middle East since the fighting began last month.

If you’re just joining us, the US Naby has reportedly attacked three Iranian oil tankers in the Persian Gulf.

Meanwhile, oil prices are surging worldwide as global markets slid today and Donald Trump has declared he and Benjamin Netanyahu will make a ‘mutual’ decision on when to end the war.

Here are the key developments on Monday afternoon.

• Three Iranian merchant ships have reportedly been attacked by the US Navy during airstrikes on the port city of Bandar Abbas
• NATO have shot down a second Iranian missile in Turkish airspace
• Oil prices rise to above $100 a barrel for first time in four years
• Donald Trump says he and Benjamin Netanyahu will make ‘mutual’ decision on when to end Iran war
• Vladimir Putin offers ‘unwavering support’ to Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei
• Bahrain’s only oil refinery has been struck by an Iranian missile as Tehran targets energy installations across the Gulf
• Pete Hegseth, the US Defense Secretary, last night guaranteed Iran will ‘surrender’ and President Donald Trump will set the terms of their defeat
• Mojtaba Khamenei, the 56-year-old son of Iran’s late supreme leader Ali Khamenei, was selected by the country’s Assembly of Experts to succeed his father
• The US military has confirmed a seventh service member has killed following an Iranian attack in Saudi Arabia

Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised the US military for its action in Iran.

‘Heroic things are happening all the time. Some that won’t make it to the headlines,’ he said.

‘I want everyone to know your military is getting the job done. Every single day, this regime in Iran has less missiles, has less launchers, their factories work less and their Navy is being eviscerated, and the world is going to be a safer and better place when this mission is accomplished.’

The UAE has announced two of its soldiers have been killed in a helicopter crash earlier today.

In a statement, the country’s defence ministry said a ‘technical malfunction’ caused the aircraft to go down while defending the nation from Iranian missiles and drones.

The statement on X reads: ‘The Ministry of Defense announces the martyrdom of 2 members of the armed forces following the crash of a helicopter due to a technical malfunction while performing their national duty in the country today, Monday, March 9, 2026.

‘The Ministry of Defense extends its deepest condolences and sympathies to the families of the two martyrs, asking Almighty God to envelop them in His vast mercy and to inspire their loved ones with patience and solace.’

Earlier the UAE announced it had detected 15 ballistic missiles in its airspace today with none landing in the country. Twelve missiles were destroyed and three landed in the sea.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated the goals of the military operation in Iran on Monday.

‘American men and women in uniform are conducting an extraordinary mission with efficacy, efficiency and impact,’ he said.

‘The goals of this mission are clear, and it’s important to continue to remind the American people why it is the greatest military in the history of the world is engaged in this operation.’

Rubio continued, ‘It is to destroy the ability of this regime to launch missiles, both by destroying their missiles and their launchers, destroy the factories that make these missiles and destroy their Navy.

‘I think we’re seeing, right now, the threat this clerical regime poses to the region and the world. They are trying to hold the world hostage.

‘They are attacking neighboring countries and embassies. It is a terrorist government. A terroristic regime, and we’re seeing them conduct terrorism using nation-state elements. Using weapons like missiles and one-way attack drones, and the objective of this mission is to destroy their ability to continue do that, and we’re well on our way to achieving that objective every day with overwhelming force, with overwhelming precision.’

Secretary of State Marco Rubio honored the seven soldiers killed in Operation Fury while speaking at a ceremony on Monday.

‘The United States is currently engaged in an operation targeting one of the world’s leading hostage taker, the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism, the regime in Iran,’ he said.

‘We would all take a moment both to offer our thoughts and prayers and our condolences and to honor the families of those who have fallen, the seven Americans who have lost their lives in the initial hours of this operation, incredibly brave Americans.

‘You saw six of them dignified return over the weekend, and we are all in awe of their service and bravery and courage, and our hearts and support extend out to their families in this very difficult moment, and the families of these incredible heroes.’

Many British holidaymakers use the Easter break as an opportunity to jet off to catch some sun – but this year could look very different.

Popular destinations in the Middle East including Dubai look like remaining affected by the ongoing Iran conflict – while bookings to Cyprus slump, although Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary says business to elsewhere in Europe is booming.

Easter falls on April 5 and it is unknown what the situation in the region and surrounding space could look like by then.

At the moment the UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to parts of Turkey ‘within 10km of the border with Syria due to fighting and a heightened risk of terrorism’.

As for Dubai, which has seen several missile and drone attacks, the government is advising against all but essential travel to the United Arab Emirates.

Donald Trump is furious after Israel targeted Iran’s oil depots in a blitz that shocked the White House amid soaring oil prices.

A planned summit between the US and Israel was scrapped on Monday in the first open disagreement between the allies since the war broke out.

Thirty Iranian fuel depots were obliterated over the weekend with apocalyptic images showing fires leaping into the sky, huge columns of smoke, and black oily rain falling from the sky.

Anti-Iran war protesters gathered in New York City’s Union Square on Saturday.

French President Emmanuel Macron said that an attack on Cyprus was an attack on all of Europe as visited the island after it was targeted by Iranian-made drones.

‘When Cyprus is attacked, it is Europe that is attacked,’ Macron said in Paphos alongside the leaders of Cyprus and Greece.

‘The defence of Cyprus is obviously a key issue for your country, for your neighbour, partner and friend, Greece, but also for France and, with it, the European Union,’ he added.

Last week, Italian defence minister Guido Crosetto said Italy, ​Spain, France ​and the Netherlands will send naval ​assets ‌to ⁠protect Cyprus after a drone attack on British RAF base at Akrotiri.

The UK has been criticised over its response and has pledged to deploy HMS Dragon which is expected to leave for the Mediterranean this week.

The EU insisted Monday there was ‘no imminent oil supply’ shortage in Europe as the Middle East war sent energy prices soaring.

The benchmark price for a barrel of crude has soared beyond $100 for the first time since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine four years ago.

‘There is no imminent oil supply shortage in Europe. Per our rules, all member states must have the 90 days emergency stocks,’European Commission spokeswoman Anna-Kaisa Itkonen said.

It comes as G7 finance ministers meet this afternoon to discuss the possible release of emergency oil reserves.

Iran has entered day 10 of its internet blackout, according to cybersecurity tracker NetBlocks.

‘Iran’s internet blackout has entered its tenth day with connectivity at one percent of ordinary levels after the 216th hour,’ NetBlocks wrote on X.

‘As regional hostilities intensify, some 90 million Iranians are silenced and cut off from the global internet under a state-imposed shutdown.’

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said 11 countries had asked Kyiv for help in how to counter Iranian drones.

Tehran has consistently launched Shahed-type drones across the Middle East as retaliation for US-Israeli strikes on February 28.

‘As of now, there are 11 requests from countries neighbouring Iran, European states, and the US. There is clear interest in Ukraine’s experience in protecting lives, relevant interceptors, electronic warfare systems, and training,’ Zelensky said.

Ukraine touts itself as having world-class drone defense capabilities, built up through fending off nightly barrages of Iran-style attack drones launched by Russia.