Israeli air defences intercepted three waves of Iranian missile fire early Thursday, with several people lightly injured in the Tel Aviv area. The attacks, coming hours after a US presidential address, triggered widespread sirens and raised fears of further escalation in the intensifying regional conflict. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.
Oil prices jump after Trump signals continued strikes on Iran
Oil prices climbed more than $4 on Thursday after President Donald Trump said the United States would continue to attack Iran, including energy and oil targets over the next few weeks, and did not commit to a specific timeline to end the war.
Brent crude futures rose $4.88, or 4.8%, to $106.04 per barrel by 0200 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures were up $4.17, or 4.2%, to $104.29 per barrel.
The gains come after both benchmarks had fallen more than $1 earlier on Thursday ahead of Trump’s speech and had settled lower in the previous session.
Australian PM questions endgame of Iran war after objectives ‘realised’
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Thursday the original objectives of the war in Iran had been met and it was not clear what more remained to be achieved.
“Now those objectives have been realised it is not clear what more needs to be achieved or what the end point looks like,” he said.
Israeli air defences intercept multiple Iranian missiles
Israel’s military said air defences responded to three waves of Iranian missile fire early Thursday, with media reporting several light injuries in the Tel Aviv area.
The third reported salvo came shortly after US President Donald Trump delivered an address to the American public about the Middle East war.
After the first attack, police said officers were called to “several” impact sites in central Israel, with media reports putting the number at nine.
Four people were lightly wounded, the reports said, citing medics.
Within just over three hours of the first attack, the military announced it had again “identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel”, triggering air raid sirens across much of northern and central Israel.
The military’s Home Front Command later said residents were “permitted to leave protected spaces in all areas of the country”.
The latest developments:
President Donald Trump defended US operations in Iran Wednesday night, pledging to “finish the job” as military objectives near completion.
Trump has said he is strongly considering pulling the United States out of NATO after allies failed to back US military action against Iran.
Iran said that Washington’s demands were “maximalist and irrational” and denied negotiations were taking place on a ceasefire to stop the war in the Middle East.
