US launches new strikes on Iran, Tehran responds in Gulf

By Dannielle Maguire

By Annabel Bowles

Topic:Unrest, Conflict and War

The US launched a barrage of air strikes against Iran on Tuesday, local time, prompting Iranian retaliation against American targets in Gulf states.

It marks the most serious escalation in weeks in a conflict that has driven up global energy prices.

Look back at how the day unfolded below.

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By Dannielle Maguire

We're going to end today's live coverage here.

But the ABC will continue to bring you developments on the Iran war as they unfold.

Thank you for joining us today.

By Annabel Bowles

The IRGC has also claimed this morning its ground forces carried out combined missile and drone attacks on US bases in Erbil in northern Iraq, destroying a repair facility, warehouses for technical equipment and a system used to control a US surveillance balloon.

Neither Iraq nor the US have confirmed the attack.

By Fergus Gregg

US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright has said 17 million barrels of oil transited the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, local time.

He claimed it marked the highest level of crude oil to pass through the waterway since the Iran war began, but data from global commodity markets analytics platform Kpler paints a different picture.

It reported just four vessels entered the Strait of Hormuz early this week and one exited, but none of these were oil tankers.

Of those that entered, one was an empty handy-sized gas tanker which reached the strait via the Iranian route. The other three were laden dry bulk carriers.

It is possible a large number of vessels have turned off their transponders to traverse the strait without detection.

Earlier we reported oil prices have risen to a two-month high, $US95.26 per barrel, and the ASX is likely to tumble as a result.

Reporting with Reuters

By Dannielle Maguire

Here are some images from the Iranian Red Crescent Society of people inspecting the aftermath of a reported attack in Kuhestak (which is referred to as Kuhistik by other outlets) in the Iranian county of Sirik.

The Iranian Red Crescent Society says five civilians were killed in the area, with about 50 people injured.

These images were supplied by the Iranian Red Crescent Society and filed by Reuters.

Reuters said it verified the images by matching them to corroborating eyewitness video, as well as comparing the road layout and electric tower to satellite imagery of the area.

By Fergus Gregg

G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors have said, in a statement, they are concerned about continued disruptions to energy trade and called for "the free, safe, and predictable navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and worldwide".

China objected to the paragraph of the statement.

The meeting in Asheville, North Carolina, concluded recently as the group of financial experts met to discuss the state of the global economy.

"The global economy has remained resilient in the face of multiple shocks, including ongoing wars and conflicts," the group said.

"We urge countries to avoid unnecessary export restrictions to ensure global supply chains continue to function normally."

By Dannielle Maguire

Earlier, we showed you a series of screengrabs from a video of a projectile appearing to strike Jordan.

The clip was obtained by Reuters, filmed by an eyewitness who was located in Eilat, Israel, and looking towards Jordan.

Here's that vision, which was filed by Reuters a short time ago:

Reuters verified the location of this video using buildings and trees that matched archive and satellite imagery of the area.

The location and date were also confirmed by the original file metadata and official reports of projectiles over the area.

By Annabel Bowles

The ABC's global affairs editor, Laura Tingle, says "about a month of quiet" between the US and Iran understates the severity of these fresh strikes.

"It started with an attack by US on Larak Island on the weekend because the US was claiming that troops were being massed there to lay new mines in the strait after the US claimed that it had cleared them," she said.

"Now, I think the thing that's interesting here is that both sides have questions over their continuing stockpiles of weapons.

"So it suits both not to keep fighting, and so we're seeing these sporadic outbreaks."

Tingle said there's been an escalation on the Iranian side, pointing to Iranian counterstrikes against US bases in Jordan, as well as reports about strikes against the UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait.

"There's also a lot of really conflicting information from both sides about what exactly is being hit," she said.

"Whether any US troops were injured or killed in those strikes on the Jordanian bases ... the US bases in Jordan, the Iranians are saying that US troops were killed.

"The Americans are saying there are no casualties. But obviously, that would cause a major escalation in the conflict if that was the case."

By Annabel Bowles

The Australian share market is on track to fall quite sharply after the US military conducted fresh strikes against Iran, driving oil prices to a two-month high.

Brent crude futures jumped 5.3 per cent to $US95.26 per barrel.

The price of this oil benchmark shot up by around $US4.70 in just a few hours.

You can read more from ABC business reporter David Chau in our live markets blog below:

Key Event

By Dannielle Maguire

The US Central Command, which directs the US military, says it has "successfully completed" its latest wave of strikes against Iran.

Here's a statement from the Central Command posted on X:

"US forces struck Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targets including air defense sites, radar systems, maritime assets and facilities, mine laying capabilities, and communications sites.

"The strikes follow recent attempted attacks by the IRGC against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and against American service members.

"More than 50,000 U.S. service members are currently operating across the Middle East and remain vigilant, lethal, and prepared to continue executing operations directed by the Commander in Chief."

By Dannielle Maguire

Last week we asked experts about how this war, which US President Donald Trump said would only take "four weeks or less", might end.

Experts say there is a way out of the war, but it will not be easy.

Both sides will need to make concessions they do not want to make, yet neither side believes the cost for peace is currently worth paying.

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