We are entering the tenth day of war in Iran, which yesterday elected and announced the new Supreme Leader: Mojtaba Khamenei succeeds his father Ali , to whom the Pasdaran immediately swore allegiance, "ready for total obedience and sacrifice to fulfill the divine commandments" .

The Iranian armed forces also announced their support for Khamenei, calling him "just, competent, pious, and enterprising."

Tehran "celebrated" the election by launching a series of missiles against Israel, and beyond. Overnight, there were new attacks against Kuwait, heavy explosions in Doha, and a drone strike that injured 32 civilians in Sintra, Bahrain . Among them, four were seriously injured, including children, the Health Ministry reported.

Donald Trump has already threatened: "The new Supreme Leader will not last long, we want to have our say on the new leader."

Meanwhile, Israel's war against Hezbollah continues in Lebanon. Heavy fighting erupted overnight in the eastern part of the country, near the Syrian border, where Israeli troops landed aboard helicopters.

Human Rights Watch has accused Israel of "illegally" using white phosphorus, prohibited by the Geneva Convention, on populated residential areas in southern Lebanon . "The Israeli army unlawfully used artillery-fired white phosphorus munitions on residential areas on March 3, 2026," the organization said in a statement, reported by the Belgian agency, "in the southern Lebanese city of Yohmor." The NGO said it "verified and geolocated seven images showing white phosphorus munitions exploding" over a residential area. Human Rights Watch "identified the shape of the smoke cloud caused by the airbursts in the image as entirely consistent with the blast produced by the expulsion and bursting charges of the 155 mm M825 series artillery shell containing white phosphorus." "The incendiary effects of white phosphorus," the organization recalls, "can cause death or serious injury resulting in permanent suffering."

NEWS OF MARCH 9

10:00 a.m. – Zelensky: "We've sent drones and experts to protect US bases in Jordan."

Ukraine has sent interceptor drones and a team of drone experts to protect US military bases in Jordan, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with the New York Times. According to the Ukrainian leader, the United States requested assistance on Thursday, and the Ukrainian team departed the next day. "We responded immediately," Zelensky said Friday evening during a train ride with him from eastern Ukraine to the capital, Kiev. "I said yes, of course, we will send our experts." The White House did not respond to a question about whether the United States had requested assistance from Ukraine.

9:50 a.m. – New attacks from the US and Israel on Tehran

The United States and Israel have resumed their attacks on the capital Tehran. Explosions can be heard, ANSA reports on the scene.

9:35 a.m. – Tehran: "The US offensive against Iran is all about oil."

"It's all about oil." Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei wrote this in X regarding the true motivation behind Washington's stance and its ongoing war against Iran. Specifically, Baghaei's words refer to statements made by US Senator Lindsey Graham, who, speaking to Fox News, said that after US military action against Venezuela and Iran, the United States will have "a partnership with 31% of the world's oil reserves," calling Donald Trump "a man of peace and business."

9:20 a.m. – IDF raids southern Beirut suburbs

The Israeli army carried out another airstrike in the southern suburbs of Beirut about an hour after the last warning of planned attacks against the offices of al-Qard al-Hasan, Hezbollah's financial arm, L'Orient Le Jour reported. Journalists observed a plume of smoke rising from the targeted area.

8:50 AM – IDF warns of new attacks in south Beirut in the coming hours

The Israeli army has again called on residents of Beirut's southern suburbs to flee, warning of imminent attacks on buildings belonging to the Al-Qard al-Hasan financial association, which it claims is involved in financing Hezbollah's activities. "I again call on residents of the southern suburbs to evacuate their homes, according to the evacuation routes we have published," wrote the Israeli army's Arabic-language spokesman, Avichay Adraee, in a post on X. "Remaining in the area puts your life at risk," he wrote.

8:15 a.m. – Turkey deploys six F-16 fighter jets and air defense to Northern Cyprus

Turkey has announced the deployment of six F-16 fighter jets to Northern Cyprus to strengthen the Turkish community's defenses. "As part of the phased approach to strengthening the security of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in light of recent developments in our region, six F-16 fighter jets and air defense systems were deployed to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus today. Further measures will continue to be taken based on further developments, if deemed necessary," the Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

7:50 a.m. – Tokyo Stock Exchange sinks

The Tokyo Stock Exchange recorded its biggest daily drop since April last year on fears of an escalation of the Middle East conflict, with oil prices settling above $105 a barrel for the first time since 2022, following the US and Israeli attack on Iran. The Nikkei fell 5.20% to 52,728.72, a loss of 2,892 points. On the currency market, the yen weakened again against the dollar, to 158.40, and against the euro, to 183.30. Japan is heavily dependent on Gulf crude.

7:35 a.m. – Bahrain: Fire and damage after Iranian raid on oil facility

An attack on Bahrain's sprawling Al Ma'ameer oil facility caused a fire at the complex, as well as material damage, state media reported. "A fire broke out due to Iranian aggression against a facility in Al Ma'ameer, with material damage reported but no casualties, and the relevant authorities have initiated firefighting procedures," the Bahrain News Agency said in a post on X. Shortly thereafter, Bahrain's state-owned energy company, BAPCO, declared "a state of force majeure on its group's operations, which have been impacted by the ongoing regional conflict in the Middle East and the recent attack on its refinery complex."

(Unioneonline)

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