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

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

If you’re just joining us, the US Navy has reportedly attacked three Iranian merchant vessels 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.

• France has announced two warships will be deployed to the Middle East in a mission to reopen the Strait of Hormuz
• 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 as global markets slid at the start of trading
• 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
• The UAE confirmed two members of its armed forces were killed in a helicopter crash when the aircraft malfunctioned during the defence against Iranian drones
• 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
• Iranian state television has reported Khamenei is ‘wounded’ but did not elaborate on how the injuries were caused

The US military’s terrifying ‘Doomsday planes’ have taken to the skies as fears of a nuclear war inch closer to reality.

Flight-tracking data has captured multiple launches of the Navy’s E-6B Mercury strategic airborne command aircraft since the war in Iran began on February 28.

These giant planes, constructed using the frames of the Boeing 707, are built to survive a nuclear war and coordinate America’s military response from the air.

Specifically, the planes serve as a flying radio station and command center for the president and the Secretary of War, carrying special antennas that can even reach nuclear-armed submarines deep underwater.

Along with being able to talk to satellites, land-based military posts and underground missile facilities, the Mercury fleet is capable of controlling a nuclear strike should World War III break out and the US was already under attack.

The Department of War identified the seventh soldier who was killed during Operation Epic Fury.

‘Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, 26, of Glendale, Kentucky, died of his wounds on March 8, 2026, from injuries sustained during an enemy attack on March 1, 2026, at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia,’ the department said.

‘The Soldier was assigned to 1st Space Battalion, 1st Space Brigade, Fort Carson, Colo. The incident is under investigation.’

Donald Trump blasted Australia for allowing the Iran National Woman’s Soccer team to returned to Iran.

‘Australia is making a terrible humanitarian mistake by allowing the Iran National Woman’s Soccer team to be forced back to Iran, where they will most likely be killed,’ he wrote on Truth Social.

‘Don’t do it, Mr. Prime Minister, give ASYLUM. The US will take them if you won’t.’

French President Emmanuel Macron has announced France and its allies are working to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Macron said the ‘purely defensive’ mission would be aimed at escorting vessels ‘after the end of the hottest phase of the conflict’ in the Middle East to ensure the flow of oil and gas.

He said France will send two frigates as part of the European Union’s naval mission Aspides in the Red Sea

‘We are in the process of setting up a purely defensive, purely escort mission, which must be prepared together with both European and non-European states,’ Macron said after meeting with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Cyprus.

Qatar has announced it has been attacked by 17 missiles and six drones fired from Iran.

The defence ministry said Qatari armed forces successfully intercepted all missiles and drones without any causalities.

Earlier today it was reported several explosions were heard in the capital Doha, as Iran continued its retaliatory strikes across the Gulf.

Doha has been targeted by waves of Iranian drones and missiles since Iran launched a retaliation campaign against US and Israeli airstrikes.

NATO has confirmed it had intercepted a missile headed for Turkey, in the second such incident since the start of the US-Israeli with Iran.

‘NATO has again intercepted a missile heading to Türkiye,’ NATO spokesperson Allison Hart posted on X, using the country’s official name. ‘NATO stands firm in its readiness to defend all Allies against any threat,’ she added.

On March 4, NATO troops intercepted a Turkey-bound ballistic missile launched from Iran, prompting the alliance to strengthen its ‘ballistic missile defence posture’.

Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles said the missile was spotted by Spanish troops manning a Patriot missile battery, who are based at Incirlik.

They had ‘detected and reported the missile attack’, though they were not the ones that shot it down, she said.

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.