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, banned under the Geneva Convention, on populated residential areas in southern Lebanon . "The Israeli army unlawfully used white phosphorus munitions fired from artillery shells on homes on March 3, 2026," the organization said in a statement, cited by the Belgian agency, "in the southern Lebanese city of Yohmor." "The incendiary effects of white phosphorus," the organization recalls, "can cause death or serious injury resulting in permanent suffering."

NEWS OF MARCH 9

10:24 PM – IDF launches new wave of attacks on Tehran

The Israeli military announced it had launched a wave of "large-scale strikes" on Tehran, the second of the day. "For the second time today, the IDF launched a large-scale strike in Tehran... against terrorist targets," the military said in a statement.

10:16 PM – Trump: "Let's continue until we reach victory."

In the operation in Iran, "so far so good," and "we will not give up until the enemy is totally and decisively defeated." Donald Trump said this, reporting that American forces destroyed 46 Iranian ships in three and a half days. "We are more determined than ever to achieve final victory," the US president emphasized. He added: "In a certain sense, we have already won, but not enough."

9:40 PM – Australia grants asylum to Iranian female soccer players

Five Iranian national soccer players have sought and been granted asylum in Australia while participating in the Asian Cup, fearing retaliation after refusing to sing the national anthem before a match. Captain Zahra Ghanbari and Zahra Sarbali, Fatemeh Pasandideh, Atefeh Ramezanizadeh, and Mona Hamoudi managed to escape the hotel where the team was staying and sought help from the Australian government.

9:11 PM – The Pope: "Deep sorrow for the victims"

Pope Leo XIV expresses "deep sorrow for all the victims of the bombings in recent days in the Middle East, for the many innocent people, including many children, and for those who helped them, such as Father Pierre El-Rahi, the Maronite priest killed this afternoon in Qlayaa. The Pope is following the events with concern and prays for a swift end to all hostilities." This was reported by the Vatican Press Office.
8:46 PM – WSJ: "Trump open to killing Mojtaba if he doesn't give in to US demands."

Donald Trump told his advisers that he would support the assassination of Iran's new supreme leader if he was unwilling to yield to US demands, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources. The president said he was "not happy" with the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as supreme leader.

8:30 PM – Trump: "The war in Iran is practically over, it will end soon."

"I think the war with Iran is basically over. It will be over soon. The United States is much further ahead than the four- to five-week period," Donald Trump said in an interview with CBS. "They have no ships, no communications, and no air force," he emphasized.

8:29 PM – MSC Suspends Exports from the Gulf Due to War Risks

Shipping giant MSC has announced that it has formally suspended some export shipments from the Gulf due to the war in the Middle East and that "all affected cargo will be unloaded." "In light of the current exceptional security situation in the Middle East... it is necessary to declare 'end of voyage' for certain export shipments" from Gulf ports, "whether onshore or already on board," the shipping giant stated in a notice to customers.

7:51 PM – Missile in Türkiye, Erdogan warns Iran

"No action should be taken that casts a shadow on our age-old ties of neighborliness and brotherhood with Iran or harms our nation," said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, regarding the missile from Iran to Turkey. Despite "our sincere warnings, extremely wrong and provocative steps continue to be taken that will severely test Turkey's friendship," Erdogan added.

7:20 PM – Lebanon-Israel: "Beirut seeks US mediation."

"Lebanon has asked the Trump administration to broker direct peace talks with Israel to end the fighting," journalist Barak Ravid said in a live broadcast from the US on Channel 12.

6:55 PM – Missile in Türkiye: Ankara summons Iranian ambassador

Ankara has summoned the Iranian ambassador to Turkey to the Foreign Ministry, expressing its protest over the ballistic missile launched by Iran that entered Turkish airspace. Anadolu Agency reports.

6:30 PM – Trump: "Motyaba Khamenei? He won't last."

Donald Trump reiterated his disappointment with the choice of Iran's new supreme leader, Motyaba Khamenei. "I think they made a huge mistake. I don't know if it will last," the US president told NBC.

5:35 PM – Mattarella convenes the Defense Council

The President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, has convened the Supreme Defense Council at the Quirinale Palace for Friday, March 13, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. with the following agenda: the war in Iran and the Middle East. Analysis of the international situation and the effects of the ongoing crisis. This is reported in a statement from the Quirinale Palace.

5:20 PM – Putin: "We're ready to guarantee oil and gas supplies to the EU."

Russia is ready to guarantee EU countries the oil and gas supplies needed to stabilize markets in the emergency situation caused by the war in the Persian Gulf, but for this to happen, a "signal" from the Europeans is needed. President Vladimir Putin said this, quoted by TASS, at a meeting in the Kremlin dedicated to the market situation.

5:00 PM – G7 Finance Ministers: "Ready to release energy reserves"

"We will continue to closely monitor the situation and developments in energy markets and will meet as needed to exchange information and coordinate within the G7 and with international partners. We stand ready to take necessary measures, including to support global energy supply, such as releasing stocks." This was stated in the statement by the G7 finance ministers, following their meeting with the presidents of the IMF, World Bank, OECD, and IEA to discuss the conflict in the Middle East, its impact on regional stability, and global economic conditions.

4:31 PM – Parish priest killed in bombing

In Lebanon, Father Pierre El Raii, 50, the parish priest of Qlayaa, was killed in a bombing. Father Toufic Bou Merhi, a Franciscan of the Custody of the Holy Land and parish priest of the Latins in Tyre and Deirmimas, reported the news to Vatican media. The first attack hit a house in his area, in the mountains of the southern part of the country, and Father Pierre had gone to help a wounded parishioner. In a subsequent attack, at the same location where help had arrived, the priest was also injured, "but he did not survive."

4:00 PM – Iranian President: "Khamenei Jr. is the will of the people."

"The precious election of Ayatollah Sayyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei is a manifestation of the people's will to govern," Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated on X. "The solution to the country's problems can be achieved with his wise leadership and by creating a climate based on trust and the people's participation. I ask God to preserve sacred unity and build a progressive and independent Iran," Pezeshkian added.

3.45pm – London denies aircraft carrier departure

The United Kingdom has denied media reports of an imminent deployment of the British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales to the Mediterranean or the Middle East in light of the escalation in the conflict waged by the US and Israel against Iran. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's spokesman stated that "no decisions have been made regarding any new deployments."

3:30 PM – Macron: "Mission to escort ships to Hormuz"

From Cyprus, Emmanuel Macron said he and his partners are preparing a future "purely defensive" mission to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and escort ships "after the end of the hottest phase of the conflict" in the Middle East, in order to allow the circulation of oil and gas.

2:50 PM – Iran: Pro-regime crowd gathers in the square with photos of Mojtaba Khamenei.

A pro-regime crowd in Tehran held signs with images of Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, alongside the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, during a rally to show support for the ongoing war between Iran and Israeli and U.S. forces, Iran International reports.

2:35 PM – Rubio: "Tehran's government is terrorist."

Iran "is a terrorist government, a terrorist regime. We have seen how they conduct acts of terrorism using weapons like missiles and drones, and the goal of this mission is to destroy their ability to continue doing so," said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

"The objectives of the mission in Iran are clear: to destroy the missiles," he added, stressing that "the world will be a safer place when the conflict in Iran is over."

2:30 PM - Macron: "The attack on Cyprus is an attack on all of Europe."

French President Emmanuel Macron said that an attack on Cyprus is tantamount to an attack on all of Europe. He made the statement during a visit to Cyprus. "When Cyprus is attacked, Europe is attacked," Macron said. "The defense of Cyprus is obviously a key issue for your country, for your neighbors, partners, and friends—Greece, but also France, and with it, the European Union," he added.

2:20 PM – Save the Children: "One child dies every hour due to the war in the Middle East."

Ten days after the start of Israeli and US attacks on Iran, the response by Tehran's armed forces, and the spread of the conflict to Lebanon, "nearly 300 children have been killed across the region, the equivalent of more than one every hour," Save the Children reported in a statement. The organization therefore calls for an "urgent cessation of hostilities to protect children from further harm," highlighting in particular the situation in Lebanon, where "over 700,000 people, including over 200,000 children, have been displaced," according to local government data.

2:14 PM – The emergency for Italian tourists is over.

The emergency for Italian tourists wishing to return to Italy from the Gulf region is over. Foreign Minister Tajani stated this after his daily meeting with the region's ambassadors, emphasizing that the problem remains for Italians returning from Malé, while we have resolved the issue in Colombo. "There are no longer any Italians wishing to return to Italy from the Gulf countries. What remains are the residents, for whom we have sent reinforcements to various embassies and consulates to assist Italians should the situation worsen."

1:40 PM – Iranian missile intercepted in Türkiye

The Turkish Defense Ministry announced that an Iranian-launched ballistic missile was shot down in Turkish airspace. The missile was destroyed by NATO defenses deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean, Ankara said, adding that munition fragments fell into empty fields in Gaziantep, southeastern Turkey. "We emphasize once again that all necessary measures will be taken resolutely and without hesitation against any threat to our country's territory and airspace," the Defense Ministry stated.

1:20 PM – Ankara: "NATO shoots down a ballistic missile from Iran."

The Turkish Defense Ministry announced that an Iranian-launched ballistic missile was shot down in Turkish airspace. The missile was destroyed by NATO defenses deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean, Ankara said, adding that munition fragments fell into empty fields in Gaziantep, southeastern Turkey. "We emphasize once again that all necessary measures will be taken resolutely and without hesitation against any threat to our country's territory and airspace," the Defense Ministry stated.

1:10 PM – Macron in Cyprus: aboard the Charles de Gaulle this afternoon

The French President's plane has just landed in Paphos, Cyprus. Emmanuel Macron will meet with Nikos Christodoulidis, President of Cyprus, and Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Greece, for talks followed by a visit to a command post and press conferences. This trip aims to "demonstrate France's solidarity" with Cyprus, where a British military base was struck by a drone shortly after the start of the Israeli-American offensive against Iran on February 28, the Elysée Palace stated. The Elysée Palace confirmed that the President will visit the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier this afternoon. The ship is currently in the Eastern Mediterranean, off the coast of Crete. "This visit will offer the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, the opportunity to speak with sailors serving in the naval task force and to be briefed on the military deployment," the Elysée Palace stated.

12:50 PM – Mojtaba Khamenei to deliver his maiden speech today

Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, will deliver his first speech within hours, Iran International reports, citing Iranian media.

12:20 PM – UNICEF: At least 83 children killed in Lebanon since March 2

The continued escalation of hostilities in Lebanon and the devastating toll it is taking on children are cause for grave concern. According to the latest reports, at least 83 children have been killed and 254 injured since March 2, as hostilities intensified. On average, more than 10 children have been killed every day in Lebanon over the past week, with approximately 36 children injured each day. Over the past 28 months, 329 children have been killed and 1,632 injured in Lebanon. In the past six days alone, the number of children killed has increased by 25 percent, with a devastating 412 children killed. UNICEF wrote in a statement.

11:45 a.m. – Lebanese government: "Ready for peace negotiations with Israel."

The Lebanese government is ready to consider any negotiating proposal with Israel to reach a "solid, lasting, and effective" peace based on the "land for peace" formula, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stated in an interview published by the newspaper L'Orient-Le Jour.

11:20 a.m. – Putin congratulates Mojtaba: "He will continue his father's work with honor."

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a congratulatory message to Mojtaba Khamenei on his election as Iran's new leader, expressing his confidence that he will continue "with honor" his father, Ali Khamenei, as the country faces "armed aggression," RIA Novosti news agency reported.

11:05 AM – One dead in the latest rocket attack on central Israel

Magen David Adom rescuers report that one of those wounded in the Iranian rocket fire into central Israel has died.

10:50 AM – Media reports: 11 people killed in Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon

At least eleven people were killed and dozens were injured in a series of Israeli airstrikes that occurred at dawn and in the early hours of the morning in several towns in southern Lebanon, between the regions of Tyre and Bint Jbeil. The Lebanese National News Agency (NNA) reported that the bombings hit the towns of Juwayya, Tayr Dibba, and Maarake, causing severe destruction to homes, infrastructure, and essential service networks.

According to the NNA, several neighborhoods in Juwayya were hit by intense missile bombardment that destroyed the town's market and numerous homes, some of which were reportedly razed to the ground.

In nearby Tayr Dibba, raids hit the main road and entire residential blocks, destroying homes and shops and damaging electricity and water networks.

Other bombings targeted the localities of Dbaal, Bint Jbeil, Tayri, Qlawe, Srifa, Aita al Shaab and Kherbet Selm.

10:40 a.m. – Tehran: "We're ready to defend our homeland, but the US has scuttled talks."

"The Iranian people are fully prepared to defend their homeland," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said at a press conference, according to Al Jazeera. Baghaei accused the United States of "sinking" ongoing diplomatic talks: "They started a war while we were fully engaged in diplomatic dialogue."

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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