Iran military says to hit US, Israeli economic targets in region

This live blog follows updates for Day 12 of the US-Israel war on Iran

• US and Israel intensify strikes across Iran, targeting military bases and airports

• Iran launches missiles at Israeli cities and United States bases across the region

• Israel begins new airstrikes on Tehran and Hezbollah infrastructure in Beirut

• The United States destroys sixteen Iranian mine-laying boats near the Strait of Hormuz

• Gulf states intercept Iranian drones and missiles as the conflict spreads regionally

Iran military says to hit US, Israeli economic targets in region
Published: March 11, 2026 | 08:59 GMT

Iran's military vowed on Wednesday to launch strikes against US and Israeli economic targets in the region, including banks, after overnight attacks reportedly hit an Iranian bank.

"The enemy has given us free rein to target economic centers and banks belonging to the United States and the Zionist regime," said the military's central operational command, Khatam Al-Anbiya, in a statement carried by state TV.

Iranian media said US and Israeli strikes hit a bank in Tehran overnight, killing an unspecified number of employees.

Israeli airstrikes hit Beirut's southern suburbs
Published: March 11, 2026 | 8:51 GMT

Israeli airstrikes hit Beirut's southern suburbs on Wednesday, state media said, after Israel issued evacuation warnings.

Images from AFPTV showed thick black smoke rising from the targeted areas.

The new raids came after a dawn strike on a building in central Beirut.

Iran military says to hit economic targets, banks in region after strikes on Iran bank
Published: March 11, 2026 | 8:38 GMT

Iran military says to hit economic targets, banks in region after strikes on Iran bank.

Israeli strike on east Lebanon town kills 7: health ministry
Published: March 11, 2026 | 08:36 GMT

An Israeli air strike killed seven people and wounded 18 others in an east Lebanon town on Wednesday, the Lebanese health ministry said, as Israeli attacks on Lebanon entered its 10th day.

"The Israeli enemy's air strikes this morning on the Bekaa resulted in the following toll in Tamnin al-Tahta: seven martyrs and 18 wounded," the ministry said.

State media reported that the raid targeted "a building... inhabited by a Syrian family".

Drones fall near Dubai airport, injuring four: government
Published: March 11, 2026 | 7:52 GMT

Drones fell near Dubai airport on Wednesday, injuring four people, but air traffic continued as normal, Dubai's government said.

"Authorities confirm that two drones fell in the vicinity of Dubai International Airport a short while ago, resulting in minor injuries to two Ghanaian nationals and one Bangladeshi national, and moderate injuries to one Indian national. Air traffic is operating as normal," said a statement from the Dubai Media Office.

Trump said Iran 'welcome to compete' in World Cup: FIFA Chief
Published: March 11, 2026 | 7:38 GMT

US President Donald Trump has said that Iran is "welcome" to play at the upcoming World Cup in North America, despite the ongoing war in the Middle East, FIFA chief Gianni Infantino said Wednesday.

During a meeting to discuss preparations for the competition, "we also spoke about the current situation in Iran," the head of the world football governing body, wrote on Instagram.

"During the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States," he wrote.

Vessel hit by projectile off UAE coast: UK maritime agency
Published: March 11, 2026 | 7:29 GMT

A second container ship was hit off the coast of the UAE by an unidentified projectile on Wednesday, a British maritime security agency said, as Iran presses attacks on the Gulf and Strait of Hormuz.

"The master of a bulk carrier has reported their vessel being hit by an unknown projectile. There is no report of any environmental impact. The crew are reported safe and well," said the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations.

It said the incident took place 50 nautical miles northwest of Dubai.

Iran's new supreme leader 'safe and sound' despite war injury reports: president's son
Published: March 11, 2026 | 6:43 GMT

Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei is "safe and sound" despite reports of an injury during the war with Israel and the United States, said the son of the Iranian president on Wednesday.

"I heard news that Mr Mojtaba Khamenei had been injured. I have asked some friends who had connections. They told me that, thank God, he is safe and sound," said Yousef Pezeshkian, who is also a government adviser, in a post on his Telegram channel.

State television had called Khamenei a "wounded veteran of the Ramadan war" but never specified his injury.

Cargo ship hit in Strait of Hormuz, crew evacuating: UK maritime agency

Published March 11, 2026 | 06:30 GMT

An unknown projectile hit a cargo ship in the strategic Strait of Hormuz abutting Iran, causing a fire and forcing the crew to evacuate, a maritime security agency said on Wednesday.

"It has been reported that a cargo vessel has been hit by an unknown projectile in the Straits of Hormuz which has resulted in a fire onboard," the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said.

Several loud explosions heard across Doha: AFP journalists

Published March 11, 2026 | 05:35 GMT

Several blasts rang out across the Qatari capital Doha on Wednesday, AFP correspondents said, as Iran's retaliatory strikes on the Gulf entered a twelfth day.

"The security threat level is high," the interior ministry posted on X, urging "everyone to adhere to staying at home, not going out, and staying away from windows and open areas to preserve public safety".

Israeli strike hits central Beirut: state media

Published March 11, 2026 | 04:41 GMT

An Israeli strike hit an apartment in central Beirut on Wednesday, state media reported, the second targeting the heart of the Lebanese capital since the start of the latest war with Iran.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency said that "the enemy targeted an apartment in the Aisha Bakkar area" in central Beirut.

North Korea says respects Iran's choice of new supreme leader: Report

Published March 11, 2026 | 02:25 GMT

North Korea respects Iran's choice of a new supreme leader, state media said, accusing the US and Israel of undermining regional peace.

Pyongyang, a longstanding US adversary, has previously condemned the US-Israeli attack on Iran as an "illegal act of aggression."

Iran's Guards say targeted US base in Kuwait

Published March 11, 2026 | 02:25 GMT

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said that at least two missiles targeted a United States base in Kuwait, according to Iranian news agencies Fars and Mehr.

"The American base in Arifjan was ... hit by firing 2 missiles by the IRGC Ground Force missile unit," the Guards said, Fars and Mehr reported, referring to Camp Arifjan located south of Kuwait City.

Iran says no ceasefire

Published March 11, 2026 | 02:25 GMT

The speaker of Iran's parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said on social media, "we aren't seeking a ceasefire" and declared the United States and Israel must be "taught a lesson that will deter them from attacking Iran again."

Iran says it carried out strikes on US, Israeli targets: Report 

Published March 11, 2026 | 01:25 GMT

Iran has launched new strikes on Israeli and American targets in the Middle East, state broadcaster IRIB said on Wednesday.

The barrage was "the most intense and heaviest since the start of the war", lasting three hours, the broadcaster said, citing a statement from Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards.

It targeted Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv and Haifa, as well as "West Jerusalem", referring to the area of the contested city that sits under full Israeli control.

IEA proposes record oil reserve release over Iran war: WSJ

Published March 11, 2026 | 00:50 GMT

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has proposed its largest ever release of oil reserves to counter soaring crude prices driven by the US-Israeli war with Iran, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday, citing officials familiar with the matter.

The release would exceed the 182 million barrels IEA member countries put on the market in 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the paper said.

The proposal was circulated at an emergency meeting of energy officials from the IEA's 32 member countries on Tuesday, with a decision expected Wednesday, according to the Journal.

UAE says air defenses responding to Iran missile, drone attack

Published March 11, 2026 | 00:40 GMT

The United Arab Emirates said that its air defense systems were trying to intercept missiles and drones launched from Iran, after Tehran said it had fired a new salvo against US targets in the region.

"UAE air defences are currently responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran," the UAE defense ministry said in a post on X, adding sounds of explosions were a result of the systems "intercepting missiles and drones".

UN expert warns oil price shocks could cause ‘global devastation’

Published March 11, 2026 | 00:25 GMT

Balakrishnan Rajagopal, the UN special rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, has expressed concern over oil price shocks causing school closures in Pakistan and Bangladesh, Al Jazeera reported.

“All due to the illegal Iran war,” he wrote in a post on LinkedIn.

He said he was also worried by “historical parallels”.

Rajagopal noted that oil price rises in the 1970s in the Middle East led to “massive borrowing” by developing countries. The borrowing, “accompanied by US stagflation, a global recession and high interest rates,” caused a debt crisis with developing countries unable to service their loans, he wrote.

This scenario “sounds eerily possible,” again, Rajagopal said.

“Global devastation ahead unless this war ends soon,” he added.

Israeli military says missiles launched from Iran towards Israel

Published March 10, 2026 | 23:30 GMT

Israel's military said that it detected missiles heading towards the country from Iran and had activated air defences, as it pressed a "wave" of strikes against Iran and Lebanon.

"A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel. Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat," the military said on its official Telegram account.

AFP journalists heard air raid sirens sounding in Jerusalem and the sound of explosions in the distance.

A short time later, Israel's military said it was permitted to leave shelters.

Israel's Magen David Adom emergency services reported no immediate injuries following the missile fire, but said its teams were treating "a small number of people who were injured on their way to protected areas".

Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 reported several injuries from the Iranian strikes near Tel Aviv.