The stories that matter, when they happen.
Iran's conflict with the US and Israel entered its ninth day with a major leadership transition in Tehran, new strikes across the country, and oil markets swinging violently — from $117 to $100 in a single session.
Leadership: The Assembly of Experts named Mojtaba Khamenei — son of the late Supreme Leader — as Iran's new Supreme Leader. Thousands rallied in Tehran. Putin offered "unwavering support" within hours; Trump said he was "not happy" with the appointment.
Military: The IDF launched new wide-scale strikes on Tehran, Isfahan, and southern Iran, with the US Air Force conducting simultaneous operations. An Iranian ballistic missile struck near US troops at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, causing minor injuries and forcing evacuation of air tankers. Pentagon officials confirmed the first week of the war cost $6 billion — with Iran having launched over 3,000 missiles and drones at Gulf states. Israel's military assessed the campaign could last at least five more weeks.
Casualties: The US identified its first confirmed Army death: Sgt. Benjamin Pennington, 26, of Kentucky, killed in the March 1 strike at Prince Sultan Air Base. One Israeli was killed and two seriously injured by an Iranian missile strike in central Israel.
Markets & Energy: Oil surged 30% to $117 a barrel before crashing $17 on reports of possible G7 reserve releases — which were ultimately deferred. Analysts at Macquarie warned oil could reach $150 if Hormuz stays closed for weeks; Iran warned of $200 if strikes on its energy infrastructure continue. Bahrain's BAPCO refinery — the country's largest — was struck and declared force majeure. Asian markets opened sharply lower: South Korea −7.7%, Japan −6.4%.
Diplomacy: France's Macron pledged to deploy the Charles de Gaulle carrier group and organize a naval escort through the Strait of Hormuz — Britain declined. Lebanon's president called for a total ceasefire with Israel. NATO intercepted an Iranian ballistic missile heading toward Turkey over the Eastern Mediterranean. The UAE successfully intercepted 12 of 15 ballistic missiles and 17 of 18 drones. US intelligence intercepted an encrypted Iranian communication potentially signaling sleeper assets abroad.
Israel · Iran · Breaking
The Israeli Prime Minister made the most sweeping military claim of the conflict as Israeli aircraft simultaneously struck around 30 large Iranian oil storage tanks — the first attacks on state energy infrastructure since the war began. Iran struck back at Haifa.
Read more →Energy · Markets
How one night of military operations turned into the most violent week ever seen in crude oil markets — and what happens if the Strait of Hormuz becomes a battlefield.
Read more →Gulf · Defense
With Iranian ballistic missiles targeting the Gulf for the first time in this conflict, the island hosting America's most critical naval base has become both symbol and target.
Read more →Asia · Energy · Analysis
The Iran conflict has pushed Asia — which depends on Gulf oil far more than the West — toward the edge of an energy emergency that could rewrite the economics of the world's fastest-growing economies.
Read more →US Policy · Energy
The President says short-term crude price hikes are worth the cost of eliminating Iran's nuclear capability — a statement with major implications for how long this conflict may last.
Read more →Iran · Leadership
The Assembly of Experts bypassed Iran's constitution to install Ali Khamenei's son within hours of his father's death. The message to Washington and Tel Aviv is deliberate: hardliners intend to fight this to a conclusion.
Read more →France · Navy · Hormuz
By deploying France's sole carrier group and pledging to escort ships through Hormuz, Macron is making the most significant French military commitment in the region in a generation — without American coordination.
Read more →Israel · Iran · Breaking
The Israeli Air Force announced a new wave of attacks against Iranian regime infrastructure across Tehran, Isfahan, and southern Iran. US Air Force assets are conducting simultaneous strikes. Reports of explosions in Tehran are confirmed.
Iran · Leadership
Iran's Assembly of Experts formally appointed Mojtaba Khamenei — son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — as the Islamic Republic's third Supreme Leader. Putin offered unwavering support within hours. Trump said he was "not happy" with the appointment.
US · Saudi Arabia · Defense
US Department of Defense identified the soldier killed in the March 1 Iranian strike on Prince Sultan Air Base as Sergeant Benjamin N. Pennington, 26, of Kentucky. US is now evacuating air tankers from the base as defenses in the region weaken.
Bahrain · Energy · Breaking
A large fire broke out at Bahrain Petroleum Company's main refinery near Manama after a combined Iranian drone and missile attack. Bapco declared force majeure on shipments, confirming the Gulf's oil infrastructure is now an active target.
NATO · Turkey · Defense
NATO air defenses, including a US Navy destroyer in the Eastern Mediterranean, intercepted several Iranian ballistic missiles targeting Turkey. Debris fell in Gaziantep province with no casualties. Iran's foreign minister denied the launches — Azerbaijan and others condemned Tehran.
UAE · Defense · Breaking
UAE air defenses intercepted 12 of 15 ballistic missiles, with three falling into the sea, and 17 of 18 drones. One drone crashed inside the UAE. Two people were injured by falling interceptor debris over Abu Dhabi.
Energy · Markets · G7
Brent crude hit $117 — up 30% — before falling sharply on reports G7 finance ministers would discuss releasing emergency reserves. After meeting, ministers agreed only to monitor markets and defer a decision on reserve releases. Macquarie warns $150 is possible if Hormuz stays closed for weeks.
France · Navy · Breaking
French President Emmanuel Macron announced the deployment of warships including the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to the Eastern Mediterranean. He pledged to lead a naval escort mission to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Britain confirmed it will not send a carrier.
Lebanon · Israel · Diplomacy
Lebanon's president publicly called for a total ceasefire with Israel, informing the UN and international community. France simultaneously called for an emergency Security Council meeting and released €6 million in emergency aid for Lebanon's civilian population.
US · Iran · Intelligence
US officials intercepted encrypted communication believed to have originated in Iran. Preliminary signals analysis suggests it could serve as an operational trigger for sleeper assets abroad, officials said, without disclosing targets or geography.
Sudan · Breaking
Sudan's Rapid Support Forces targeted a student dormitory in Kosti city with drones, injuring seven students in one of the latest attacks on civilian infrastructure in the ongoing conflict.
US · Israel · Diplomacy
US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner's planned trip to Israel has been postponed, according to an Israeli official. The visit had been scheduled for Tuesday as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Lebanon · Israel
Lebanon's Health Ministry confirmed two medical workers were killed in Israeli airstrikes on south Lebanon, adding to civilian casualty figures as strikes on the country continue.
Saudi Arabia · Energy · Markets
Saudi Aramco is reducing oil output at two oilfields, according to two sources with knowledge of the matter. The move comes as the regional conflict creates uncertainty over Gulf energy infrastructure.
Lebanon · Israel · Diplomacy
Lebanon's president said he has informed the United Nations and the international community of Lebanon's readiness to resume diplomatic negotiations aimed at halting the Israeli military escalation in the country.
EU · Iran
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the Iranian people deserve freedom and the right to determine their own future, even acknowledging the risks of instability during and after the ongoing war.
Spain · UAE · Diplomacy
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez telephoned UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed to offer support to both Emirati and Spanish citizens following attacks that caused civilian casualties in the country.
Iran · Energy · Markets
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that expanding the war to target infrastructure would have vast and long-lasting economic impacts, likely keeping oil prices above $100 per barrel and paralyzing global economies.
Iran · Strait of Hormuz · Energy
Iran continues to move significant oil volumes through the Strait of Hormuz. TankerTrackers data shows Iran has moved at least 11 million barrels of oil via the strait since the conflict began, despite ongoing military tensions in the waterway.
Switzerland · Crime
The prosecutor's office in the Swiss canton of Valais has placed new individuals under investigation over the fatal fire in the ski resort town of Crans-Montana. A legal document confirms that Mayor Nicolas Feraud is among the new defendants.
Israel · Kazakhstan · Diplomacy
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar briefed his Kazakhstani counterpart on the ongoing war against Iran and Iran's attacks on neighboring states, with both sides pledging to strengthen bilateral relations.
EU · Markets · Banking
Banks deposited 2.4 trillion euros with the European Central Bank overnight, a sign that financial institutions are holding excess liquidity amid market uncertainty tied to the Middle East conflict and global energy disruption.
Markets · Tech
Amazon Pay is expanding its vehicle insurance portfolio as the tech giant pushes further into financial services. The move marks another step in Amazon's strategy to become a major player in the broader consumer finance market.
Greece · Cyprus · France
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis arrived in Cyprus ahead of a scheduled meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron. The talks are expected to cover regional security, the Eastern Mediterranean, and the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Lebanon · Israel · Breaking
Hezbollah's military wing said it successfully engaged an Israeli helicopter flying over the mountains east of Lebanon. The IDF has not confirmed the claim.
Iran · Israel · Breaking
Iran launched a new wave of missiles toward Israel, with the IDF confirming it had identified the launches and that air defense systems were responding. Sirens sounding across Israeli cities.
US · Iraq · Defense
US Central Command confirmed airstrikes against Iran-linked militia infrastructure in Iraq following a wave of drone and rocket attacks on American military installations in the country.
UK · Breaking
A fire starting at a vape shop on Union Street engulfed a historic building adjacent to Scotland's busiest train station. Over 60 firefighters responded. No injuries reported; 15 appliances remain on scene.
Markets · Asia-Pacific
Both Pacific markets dropped sharply as the Iran conflict's economic consequences weighed on regional sentiment, driven by oil price uncertainty and fears over Gulf supply disruption.
US · New York
New York police safely removed a suspicious device for forensic testing and allowed residents to return after a precautionary evacuation. The area remains closed to vehicles.
Kuwait · Breaking
A fire broke out near Kuwait's only international airport following a drone attack, as Kuwait's armed forces reported actively intercepting hostile targets across the country with air defense systems.
Saudi Arabia · Iran · Defense
Saudi Arabia's Defense Ministry confirmed it targeted and intercepted an Iranian drone approaching from the east of the capital — the second drone incident near Riyadh in 24 hours.
Lebanon · Israel · Breaking
A drone attack targeted a specific room in the Ramada hotel in Beirut, with the IDF reportedly behind the strike. The attack signals a precision targeting operation in Lebanon's capital.
Kuwait · Defense
Kuwait's military confirmed its air defense systems are engaged and intercepting hostile drones and missiles, as the Gulf state faces its most direct military threat since the 1990 Iraqi invasion.
Saudi Arabia · Energy
Saudi Aramco began rerouting crude shipments to its Red Sea terminal at Yanbu, signaling that the world's largest oil exporter considers Persian Gulf export routes no longer reliable.
Iran · Israel · Breaking
Iran's Revolutionary Guards launched a new salvo of ballistic missiles targeting Israeli territory, activating air raid sirens across multiple cities for the third time in 48 hours.
Iran · Politics
Iran's Revolutionary Guards and hardline factions publicly condemned President Pezeshkian's expression of regret over damages to Gulf states, exposing a dangerous internal fracture at a moment of existential military pressure.
Iran · US · Israel
Iran's senior political figure Ali Larijani accused the US-Israeli campaign of deliberately striking civilian institutions to incite internal unrest, claiming the strategy has backfired.
Turkey · Iran · Defense
Turkey's Foreign Minister issued a formal warning to Tehran following the March 4 incident in which an Iranian ballistic missile landed on Turkish soil — the first time a NATO member's territory has been struck in the conflict.
Iran · Military
Iranian state television broadcast statements from IRGC commanders asserting full operational readiness for a sustained conflict — a signal calibrated for both domestic and international audiences.
Iraq · US
The Iraqi Prime Minister directed security forces to identify and apprehend those responsible for a rocket attack on the US embassy compound in Baghdad's Green Zone.
UAE · Dubai · Breaking
A residential tower in Dubai sustained damage from debris believed to be fragments of an intercepted Iranian ballistic missile — the first physical impact of the conflict in the UAE's urban core.
Iran · Israel · Energy
Iran's Revolutionary Guards confirmed a strike on the Haifa refinery complex — the first direct Iranian attack on Israeli civilian energy infrastructure — after Israeli aircraft hit approximately 30 Iranian oil storage tanks on the same day.
Israel · Iran · Energy
Israeli aircraft hit approximately 30 crude oil storage facilities in Iran, the first attacks on Iranian state-owned petroleum infrastructure since the war began, marking a significant escalation of the economic dimension.
Bahrain · Iran · Breaking
Bahrain's Interior Ministry confirmed fires and structural damage to houses and surrounding buildings in Manama following the latest wave of Iranian strikes on Gulf targets.
Saudi Arabia · Defense
Saudi Arabia's Defense Ministry confirmed an Iranian ballistic missile landed in an uninhabited area after being launched toward Prince Sultan Air Base, a key US-Saudi military installation.
Kuwait · Energy · Markets
KPC invoked force majeure — a legal clause suspending contractual obligations due to extraordinary events — as the regional conflict threatens oil infrastructure and shipping routes.
Iran · Regional
The Iranian parliament speaker accused a country to Iran's south of allowing its air bases to be used to strike Iranian civilian infrastructure — a direct accusation pointing toward the Gulf states.
Israel · Lebanon · Defense
Both soldiers sustained moderate injuries in a Hezbollah anti-tank missile strike in southern Lebanon, as Israeli ground operations in the area continue into their second day.
Iran · Tehran
New fires and visible smoke were reported near Mehrabad Airport on Saturday morning, suggesting continued strikes or secondary fires from the original attack on the facility.
Israel · Military
Israel had reportedly used the cover of the broader Iran campaign to attempt a covert operation targeting intelligence on Ron Arad, the IAF navigator missing since 1986. The mission came up empty.
UAE · Defense
The UAE's defense minister held discussions with counterparts from multiple friendly nations as Gulf states coordinate a collective security posture in response to the expanding regional conflict.
US Policy · White House
A limited ground presence in Iran would mark an entirely new phase of American warfare, with no clear precedent and acute constitutional questions.
Geopolitics · Intelligence
Moscow's public calls for restraint contradict Western intelligence reports that Russian advisors are providing Iran with real-time missile targeting data.
US · Army
The abrupt cancellation of a major Fort Bragg exercise for America's most ready rapid-deployment division has set off intense speculation about where the 82nd may be heading.
Saudi Arabia · Pakistan · Iran
Riyadh's defense minister has spoken directly with Pakistan's army chief about halting Iranian aggression — bringing a nuclear-armed state into the diplomatic effort for the first time.
US · Weather
While the world watches the Middle East, two American states are under active tornado emergency. The storms are moving east.
US · Israel · Congress
Invoking rarely used emergency authority, Secretary Rubio approved an immediate ammunition transfer, cutting off a review process that lawmakers from both parties have demanded.
Global · Economy
The conflict is severing key transit corridors for fertilizer precursors. Global farmers may face the worst input cost crisis in decades.
Global · Shipping
Multiple vessels are transmitting false AIS signals to appear Chinese-flagged. The tactic reveals how profoundly Iran's targeting doctrine has reshaped commercial navigation.
US · Military
The Dignified Transfer puts a human face on a conflict that has until now been measured in missile counts and oil prices. Six flag-draped transfer cases will arrive tomorrow morning.
Iran · Strait of Hormuz
An IRGC general says Iranian forces are targeting only vessels linked to the US and Israel. The statement is simultaneously a de-escalation signal and a direct threat to global shipping.
US · Iran
A federal jury returned a guilty verdict in a case prosecutors called the most brazen Iranian assassination scheme ever brought to trial on American soil.
US · Defense
New imagery suggests a key US missile defense radar was hit. If confirmed, it marks the first time American strategic defense infrastructure has been physically degraded in this conflict.
Lebanon · Military
Opening a second front while conducting the largest air campaign against Iran in history is a military gamble of historic proportions. Israel is making it anyway.
Iraq · US
A massive fire at America's largest military contractor signals a deliberate expansion of Iran's proxy strategy — targeting economic infrastructure, not just military personnel.
US Policy · Iran
President Trump clarified American war aims, saying the United States is not pursuing regime change toward democratic governance but rather a leadership that will deal fairly with US and Israeli interests.