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LAST UPDATE | 11 Mar
THE ISRAELI ASSAULT on Lebanon has killed 634 people and displaced more than 800,000, the Lebanese government said today as Israeli forces began a ground invasion across the country’s southern border, where Irish peacekeepers are stationed.
The US-Israeli war against Iran has raged on, with more missile and drone strikes pounding countries across the Middle East.
Iran claimed responsibilty for an attack on a Thai cargo vessel. Oman’s navy has rescued 20 sailors but the search goes on for three who are still missing.
The economic impacts of the war continued to be felt today as the price of oil rose again and Japan and Germany said they would release some of their reserves.
Israel announced a new “wide scale wave” of strikes across Iran while it also bombed an apartment building in the Lebanese capital of Beirut.
In updated figures, Lebanon’s Health Minister Rakan Nassereddine told a press conference that the death toll includes 91 children, while more than 1,500 people have been wounded.
Israeli tanks and soldiers were seen crossing into Lebanon this morning, an escalation in the country’s conflict with Hezbollah.
Lebanon has since said an Israeli strike in the south killed eight people today, while official media said the attack targeted a building housing displaced families.
“The Israeli strike on the town of Tibnin in Bint Jbeil district lead to an initial toll of eight dead,” a health ministry statement said, while the state-run National News Agency said the toll included five members of one family.
Iran has continued to hit Israel with missile and drone attacks, targeting the country’s military intelligence headquarters in Tel Aviv, a naval base in the city of Haifa and a radar system.
Iran also said it targeted US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain while four people were injured after two drones fell near Dubai’s airport and Saudi Arabia said it intercepted missiles targeting a US-Saudi airbase. Blasts have also been reported in the Qatari capital of Doha.
Defence Minister Helen McEntee today confirmed that a second government-chartered flight has left the UAE and was due to arrive in Dublin this afternoon.
With speculation mounting over the wellbeing of Iran’s newly appointed supreme leader after reports he had been injured, an Iranian official said he was told the new ayatollah was “safe and sound”.
I’m pleased to confirm that the second Government charter flight from Abu Dhabi, assisting Irish citizens in the Gulf region, has departed and will arrive in Dublin this afternoon. Thank you to the UAE authorities for assisting in facilitating this. @dfatirl
— Helen McEntee TD (@HMcEntee) March 11, 2026
Earlier today, the US military said vessels believed to be capable of laying naval mines were struck near the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply passes.
The military intially said 16 vessels were struck but US President Donald Trump later updated the number, putting the total at 28.
“We hit 28 mine ships as of this moment,” Trump told reporters during a trip to Cincinnati, Ohio.
Iran, meanwhile, said the US had targeted a maritime ambulance boat at an island in the in the vital sea corridor, the Mehr news agency reported.
U.S. forces eliminated multiple Iranian naval vessels, March 10, including 16 minelayers near the Strait of Hormuz. pic.twitter.com/371unKYiJs
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 10, 2026
Iran has previously vowed to disrupt regional oil exports, saying not “even a single litre” would be shipped to its enemies.
Despite the threats, Trump later said there were no confirmed reports that mines had actually been deployed in the channel.
“I think you’re going to see great safety, and it’s going to be very, very quickly,” Trump told reporters at the White House today when asked how he was going to ensure security in the crucial waterway for the global oil trade.
France has said it is preparing a mission to escort ships through the strait alongside allies.
Oil prices have surged again after dropping briefly following a claim from Trump that the war with Iran was “very complete, pretty much” and the US energy secretary deleted a social media post that said the US had escorted a ship through the channel.
International benchmark, Brent North Sea crude oil, jumped by 5.1% to $92.23 (€80) per barrel and the price of West Texas Intermediate soared 5.9% to $88.38 (€76) per barrel.
Iranian officials also sought to dismiss reports that the country’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei had been injured during the conflict.
Yousef Pezeshkian, a government adviser and the son of Iran’s president, said he had been told the leader was “safe and sound”.
“I heard news that Mr Mojtaba Khamenei had been injured. I asked some friends who had connections. They told me that, thank God, he is safe and sound,” he said on Telegram.
الشعب الإيراني العاشورائي لا يخشى تهديداتكم الجوفاء؛
— Ali Larijani | علی لاریجانی (@alilarijani_ir) March 10, 2026
فقد عجز الأكبر منكم عن محوه…
فاحذروا أن تكونوا أنتم من يزول. pic.twitter.com/dmxd4kKTmi
Khamenei (56) was declared Iran’s new supreme leader after his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in US-Israeli strikes that triggered the war.
Iranian officials have again ruled out talks with the United States.
With reporting from Andrew Walsh and AFP
Need more clarity and context on what is happening in the Middle East? Check out our FactCheck Knowledge Bank for essential reads and guides to finding good information online.
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