<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/usa" rel="" target="_blank" title=" US"><span>US</span></a><span>-Israel joint air assault on </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/iran" rel="" target="_blank" title="Iran"><span>Iran</span></a><span> is nearing its 13th day, having hit more than 5500 targets with no indication of any end in sight.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-attack-iran-live-updates-march-12-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headline/79946bbf-76ad-4c59-bebb-6a2a092ad4e9" rel="" target="_blank" title="Iran's retaliatory strikes on the Gulf region"><span>Iran's retaliatory strikes on the Gulf region</span></a><span> also escalated following a fresh wave of missiles and drones in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq and Bahrain.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Iranian attacks against commercial ships, including a Thai cargo ship set ablaze in the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-attacks-iran-strait-of-hormuz-explained-oil-gas-prices/f8e7c1ed-f6d9-4fe5-8277-6a11c09d8de6" rel="" target="_blank" title="Strait of Hormuz"><span>Strait of Hormuz</span></a><span>, foreign oil tankers in Iraq's port of al-Faw and drones targeting Dubai International Airport, have intensified an offensive of squeezing the oil-rich region as global energy concerns mount.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-iran-school-missiles-tomahawk-explosion-usa-responsibility/2f613d33-f9fe-40e9-8cb8-1e9e88564e73" target="_blank"><strong><span>Trump denies knowledge of report blaming US for school bombing</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/keilor-downs-newborn-baby-found-in-north-west-melbourne/cc8d002d-bfda-4010-a807-f811be21c0c8" target="_blank"><strong><span>Police investigating after newborn baby found in Melbourne backyard</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There are also Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) reports of an ongoing onslaught of Iranian strikes directed at Israeli territory.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Meanwhile, the ongoing war has resulted in surging global oil prices due to Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, with Brent crude oil reaching $US100 ($139) per barrel for the second time this week.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-attack-iran-conflict-escalates-saudi-arabia-oil-tankers-targeted-trump-sidesteps-blame-for-strike-on-iran-school/b321addd-c4de-4272-b8e5-947a6732d4eb" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>As a result, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has agreed to release the largest volume of emergency oil reserves in its history to calm surging </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/petrol-prices" target="" title="petrol prices"><span>petrol prices</span></a><span> around the world.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australian motorists are still being hit hard at the bowser – despite repeated assurances from the federal government that Australia has healthy oil reserves.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The federal government said it has addressed a supply shortage in regional Australia by relaxing its fuel standards for 60 days, allowing an extra 100 million litres to flow through the economy.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>Australians assured there is plenty of fuel amid supply concerns</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Tensions have flared on both sides of politics over the supply of fuel in Australia, however the federal government repeated the same point it has continued to make during the war: there is no shortage.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I understand that people are worried about this. I can assure people that we have enough fuel in total," Treasurer Jim Chalmers said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We are incredibly well-placed as a country and as an economy to deal with the worst the world can throw at us."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>PM Anthony Albanese also urged Australians "not to panic" and said the reserves were healthy.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The big message for every Australian is don't panic, the supplies are there," Albanese said today.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/atlassian-job-losses-aussie-software-company-blames-ai-cutting-1600-jobs/e45e3983-1e46-4430-b699-031a4b7c6c9f" target="_blank"><strong><span>Aussie software giant Atlassian cuts 1600 jobs in push to AI</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/sydney-mt-pritchard-kidnapping-man-charged/88c7e307-ff04-48e4-83c3-800b357023a5" target="_blank"><strong><span>Second person charged after alleged kidnapping in south-west Sydney</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"What the minister has said is this: on the minimum stock holding obligation, petrol: 36 days. Jet fuel: 29 days. Diesel: 32 days.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But the domestic market is not immune to the global price surges.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Iranian military has warned the world should prepare for the price of crude oil to reach $US200 per barrel, as it reached $1US00 per barrel again this week.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This is despite dozens of countries agreeing to release a record amount of oil from emergency reserves to ease soaring prices and buffer potential shortages.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>CBA economists believe the war will last for months rather than weeks, and global energy markets have yet to realise this.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/gus-lamont-search-resumed-oak-park-station/4ec902c5-ca16-48e3-ae7d-889bcf156de0" target="_blank"><strong><span>Police to continue Gus Lamont search as rain could expose fresh ground</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>Expats in Middle East urged to come home</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Flights are now regularly touching down in Australia from Middle Eastern transit hubs, carrying passengers stuck in the region when the conflict began.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>About 3600 Australians have returned from the Middle East, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Wong also said Australian expats living in the Middle East should return home.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Our advice is that you should, if you can secure a seat, you should leave," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Please don't wait until it is too late.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We don't want to see a situation where commercial flights – which are operating but obviously on a limited schedule – where they dry up."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><span>Trump sidesteps blame over Iran school bombing</span></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-iran-school-missiles-tomahawk-explosion-usa-responsibility/2f613d33-f9fe-40e9-8cb8-1e9e88564e73" rel="" target="_blank" title="US President Donald Trump denied any knowledge of a Pentagon report"><span>US President Donald Trump denied any knowledge of a Pentagon report</span></a><span> confirming the US was responsible for a missile strike on a primary school in Iran.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>An investigation found the US military was attempting to target an adjacent Islamic Revolutionary Guards base in the town of Minab.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But using outdated information, the Tomahawk missile struck the school instead, killing 175 people, mostly children.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>When asked about the report, the president told reporters: "I don't know about that".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Trump had previously claimed Iran itself had struck the school.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>Fresh wave of missile, drone strikes in Gulf region</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Iran launched a fresh round of drones and missiles in the Gulf region today.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>Iraq</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Underwater drones targeted two foreign oil tankers in Iraq's territorial waters.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>One person was killed and 38 others were rescued in the attack, for which Iran claimed responsibility.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Social media footage shows huge flames and smoke billowing from the damaged tankers.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Iraq's military group Saraya Awliya al-Dam later claimed seven attacks targeted US military bases across the country.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/fuel-prices-australia-stefanovic-confronts-chalmers-over-shortage-price-rise/47bc48fa-e0cd-4619-b442-bc065878ccda" target="_blank"><strong><span>Stefanovic confronts Chalmers over shortage, price rise</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="tweet" data-tweet-id="2031856121208525170" data-user="9NewsAUS"></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>United Arab Emirates</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Earlier today, a drone fell on a building in the Dubai Creek Harbour area, causing a small fire.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>No injuries were reported, Dubai's media office said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/joe-rogan-donald-trump-iran-insane-betrayed-usa-news/749817fd-6b65-4363-aa45-e78fdd01762a" target="_blank"><strong><span>Joe Rogan pans Donald Trump's 'insane' actions in Iran</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>Saudi Arabia</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Ministry of Defence in Saudi Arabia said it intercepted and destroyed over 20 drones launched from Iran in the country's east.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The drones targeted parts of Saudi Arabia's oil fields.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>Bahrain</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Bahraini authorities said it responded to an Iranian attack on fuel tanks in the Muharraq Governorate, in the country's north-east.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Residents in the area were urged to remain indoors after the incident caused a small fire.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>Kuwait</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Authorities in Kuwait said it had responded to "hostile missile and drone threats" from Iran today.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>Attacks in Lebanon and Israel</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In Lebanon, eight people were killed in an airstrike on Beirut's Ramlet Al-Baida coast early Thursday, according to Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Israel said it launched another large-scale "wave of strikes" across the country, targeting Hezbollah launchers and infrastructure in the southern Beirut suburb of Dahieh.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>CNN teams on the ground in Beirut heard and felt explosions overnight.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>And Israel said it identified missiles launched from Iran toward its territory. Sirens sounded in central and northern Israel.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Iran confirmed it launched a "new wave of missiles" at Israel, according to state media, which claimed Hezbollah also joined in the attacks.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span> </span><em><span>-- Reporting with CNN</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>