Middle East war updates: IDF ready to strike Iran, Hezbollah with ‘full force’ as fighting erupts

Australia’s Prime Minister has reiterated his call for “deescalation” as the Israel-US-Iran conflict reaches its 100-day mark and highlighted the global economic strain it has caused.

Since joint strikes by the United States and Israel on Tehran on February 28, killing Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, more than a fifth of the world’s oil supply has been disrupted.

Talks have repeatedly collapsed after frequent violations of a tentative initial agreement to halt the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Anthony Albanese dismissed questions about whether Australia regretted its swift backing of the US-led actions against Iran, standing by his initial claim that it was to stop nuclear build-up.

It comes as Israel overnight launches airstrikes on the Lebanese capital of Beirut, hitting two buildings in the southern suburbs.

“Iran can’t be allowed to get a nuclear weapon. That was the position that we took,” he said.

“That’s the right position. We’ve called for de-escalation.

“We’ve called for a clear exit plan out of this, and we’ve done that consistently for a long period of time.

“This needs to conclude.

“This is having a devastating impact on the global economy, not the least is here in Australia, but it’s having an impact as well on countries which aren’t protagonists in this war, such as the United Arab Emirates and other countries in the Middle East.”

Anthony Albanese has been strident in his remarks about a “ditch the witch” depiction of Victorian Premier Jacinta Allen ahead of the State’s election.

The Prime Minister on Monday said that the Australian public and the media need to “dial the temperature down” or accept the consequences.

“The sexist campaign targeting the Victorian premier is totally unacceptable and has no place in public life,” he said.

“It should be a contest of ideas, not personal attacks.

“But it comes in a context as well, as I’ve stood in this courtyard so many times and said, turn the temperature down. We all have a responsibility.

He also reminded people of a string of cases before the courts about threats made against politicians.

Anthony Albanese has been asked if “Pauline Hanson is fit to be the Prime Minister”.

It comes after a Newspoll overnight claimed One Nation has overtaken Labor for the first time in its history, as Mr Albanese’s popularity plunged to a record low amid a major party slump.

“I vote Labor, so that’s the position that I take,” he told reporters in Canberra on Monday.

“I will continue to vote Labor for the rest of my life, the way I came out of the womb.

“It’s how I’ll continue. It’s up to others to determine what way they vote in our great democracy.”

The Prime Minister says he respects the judgments of Australian voters following the latest Newspoll, which has recorded One Nation as the most popular party in the country.

The latest survey shows Pauline Hanson’s party rising from 24 per cent support before the Federal Budget to 31 per cent, with both Labor and the Coalition facing criticism from voters struggling with housing affordability, cost-of-living pressures and migration concerns.

“Well, those are matters for the Australian people, effectively, and I respect the Australian people, and the judgments that they make,” Mr Albanese told reporters.

Asked about immigration levels and what sort of Australia he wanted to see, Mr Albanese insisted his government was reducing the number of new arrivals into the country.

“I want an Australia that is united, one that has social cohesion at our core, one that respects people for who they are, but is patriotic about all of us being Australians, and we will reduce the net overseas migration over the next couple of years down to 225,000.

“We think that’s the right number,” Mr Albanese said.

Israel has announced, following Iran’s latest strikes, that multiple crossings into the Gaza Strip were being closed immediately for “security measures”.

“Following the missile attacks launched by Iran against the State of Israel, a number of necessary security measures have been implemented, including the closure of the crossings into the Gaza Strip, among them the Kerem Shalom Crossing and the Rafah Crossing, until further notice,” COGAT (Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories) said on X.

“It should be emphasised that the closure of the crossings will not affect the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.

“The substantial quantities of food that have entered the Strip since the beginning of the ceasefire significantly exceed the nutritional needs of the population, according to UN methodologies.”

The Prime Minister says a state funeral will be held for cancer researcher and former Australian of the Year Richard Scolyer, following his death at aged 59.

Anthony Albanese says he’s spoken to Richard’s wife Katie this morning, who has accepted the offer of a state funeral.

“He was a personal friend, a neighbour of mine in Camperdown for many years, a proud inner Westie, a great Australian,” Mr Albanese told reporters in Canberra.

Donald Trump claims that the latest strikes have not had “any impact” on a deal between the US and Iran.

The US President claims Israel will not have a choice in accepting his long-promised peace deal, as he calls the shots, not Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“He won’t have any choice,” Trump told the Financial Times on Sunday.

“I call the shots. I call all the shots. He (Mr Netanyahu) doesn’t call the shots.

“We’ll see how it ends up.

“It’s one of those things that’s been going for 3,000 years, or 47 years, depending on how you count.”

Iran claims it launched strikes targeting Israel overnight as a warning over Israel’s increasing military activity in Lebanon.

Israel struck Beirut on Sunday, breaking a US-brokered, days-old deal, with fears growing that all-out war will now resume.

“The Zionist aggressor regime, by repeatedly violating the ceasefire, has been increasing its evils against the oppressed people of Lebanon day by day with the green light and support of the criminal America and the silence of the international community, and has been committing war crimes using banned weapons, including phosphorus bombs, since Friday,” Iran’s armed forces said in a statement.

“Despite the previous warnings of the Islamic Republic of Iran, its child Zionist regime has crossed all red lines and intensified attacks in southern Lebanon, targeting the Beirut suburbs.

“We had previously decided that if the crime in the Beirut suburbs expands, we will bombard targets in the occupied territories.

“The Zionist army must stop its attacks on southern Lebanon and the suburbs, and if it expands its attacks on that region or responds to Iran’s actions, it will face more crushing and regrettable blows and destructive attacks will begin against the regime and its supporters.”

US President Donald Trump has scolded Iran over the latest aggression in the Middle East, saying they need to get back to the negotiating table.

“It’s certainly not going to help negotiations,” Mr Trump told Fox News.

“We’re very close. I would say an agreement would be signed on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday of this coming week. And now this takes place.

“You’ve shot your missiles, that’s enough. Get back to the table and make a deal.”

US President Donald Trump said he would speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to ask him not to retaliate against Iran after the latest barrage of missiles was fired.

“I am going to call Bibi right now and tell him not to retaliate,” Mr Trump told Axios.

“Each of them had their fun.

“Israel had its strike, and Iran had its strike.

“We don’t need another one.”

His comments come as the IDF reportedly stand ready to strike in retaliation with “full force”, throwing Mr Trump’s hopes for an imminent ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran, including a lasting agreement between Israel and Lebanon, into doubt.