Iran war updates: Dubai airport struck by drones as death toll from Israel’s attacks on Lebanon rise

That’s all for tonight’s coverage of the Middle East conflict. Please join us tomorrow for live updates.

A report published by the US Congress in 2025 says Iranian forces have between 5,000 and 6,000 naval mines, CNN is reporting.

The cache of mines is thought to include limpet, moor, and bottom mines.

According to CNN’s reporting, sources say Iran has begun setting the Strait of Hormuz with mines, which has been the site of three vessel strikes so far on Wednesday.

The Thai cargo ship Mayuree Naree has been struck and set alight in the Strait of Hormuz, AP is reporting.

Three crew members are missing, according to Thai officials, after 20 others were rescued by the Omani navy.

The Mayuree Naree was the vessel hit earlier today north of Oman, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre.

570 people have been killed in Lebanon since Israel and Hezbollah resumed fighting on March 2, according to the country’s health ministry.

The death toll includes 86 children and 45 women, the ministry says.

1,444 people are believed to have been wounded.

The Israeli Defence Force is reporting it has launched “extensive strikes” in Beirut and Lebanon “in parallel”.

“The IDF has now launched a wave of extensive strikes targeting infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime across Iran,” a statement said.

“The IDF has now launched another wave of strikes targeting infrastructure of the Hezbollah terror organization in Beirut.”

The International Energy Agency is planning to release the “largest ever” swathe of emergency oil reserves recorded, Bloomberg is reporting.

Between 300 million and 400 million barrels from the stockpile could be released by the Agency as energy prices continue to rise as a result of the Israel-US-Iran war.

French finance minister Roland Lescure says the release will be discussed at a meeting of Group of 7 leaders on Wednesday.

The G7 have previously expressed support for “proactive measures” against the price spike, which has been caused by conflict in and around the Strait of Hormuz.

In comparison, the IEA released 182 barrels when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.

It is believed the IEA, which comprises 32 members, has more than 1.2 barrels in its emergency stockpile.

Iranian Armed Forces spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaqari says Iran is set to target “economic and banking interests” associated with the US and Israel across the Middle East.

“Following their failed campaign, the terrorist US army and cruel Zionist regime [Israel] have targeted one of the country’s banks,” Zolfaqari said.

“With this illegitimate and uncommon action, the enemy is forcing our hand ⁠to target economic centres and banks linked to the US and ⁠Zionist regime in the region.”

The Albanese government has refused to reveal if Australia will agree to a Trump administration request for military support in the war against Iran or if it will leave our oldest ally hanging.

Defence Minister Richard Marles disclosed the American request in a television interview on Tuesday night before jetting off to Indonesia for a diplomatic trip.

It came after he faced questions over Australia’s decision to send an E-7A Wedgetail surveillance aircraft to the United Arab Emirates and an unspecified quantity of medium-range missiles, known as an AMRAAM.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese the UAE requests had come after he spoke with president Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the phone last Tuesday and received a “written” request.

Mr Marles said Australia had received a range of defensive capability-based requests since the US and Israel launched their attack on Iran late last month - including from America.

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The Tasnim News Agency is reporting “at least” nine people have been killed by a US-Israeli attack on the city of Aligudarz in western Iran.

Among the dead is Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps colonel Ebrahim Mousavian, according to the news agency.

A Sri Lankan court has ordered a hospital in the country’s south to release the bodies of the 84 Iranian soldiers who were killed by a US submarine on March 4.

Galle National Hospital director Ranga Sabapathige says he was ordered to hand the bodies over to Iranian officials as per a court order from a Galle magistrate.