U.S. launches rescue operation after aircraft goes down in Iraq, military says

8 killed in Israeli drone on walk out on seaboard country in Beirut

On the ground after deadly Israeli strike at popular Beirut walkway

‘Life has come to a stop’: Canadian with family in Lebanon reacts to Israeli strikes

Israeli strike hits southern suburb of Beirut

3 cargo ships hit by 'projectiles' in Strait of Hormuz

Trump dismissive about 'easy' Iran war but won't commit to exit timeline

Trump repeated some of his usual rhetoric on the war at a women's history month event in Washington, D.C., this afternoon. 

He told the crowd during his opening remarks that the U.S. Mission against Iran is "moving along very rapidly" and his administration is "doing what has to be done." 

"They [Iran] really are a nation of terror and hate and they are paying a big price right now," he added. 

Oil prices had another day of ups and downs, and U.S. Markets responded to the swings accordingly. 

The Nasdaq closed down 1.7 per cent, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 739 points, or 1.5 per cent. The S&P 500 had slipped 1.5 per cent by the end of the trading day.

Brent Crude, the international standard for oil prices, is currently around $100 US per barrel. West Texas Intermediate, the U.S. Standard, is sitting at $96 US. Both crept back up today, but are still nowhere near the peaks they reached on Monday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a veiled threat to kill Iran's new supreme leader as he sought to use his first news conference since the start of the war to defend his joint military assault with the U.S.

Netanyahu said Iran was "no longer the same" after nearly two weeks of U.S.-Israeli air bombardment and that Tehran had suffered blows to its elite Revolutionary Guards Corps and Basij paramilitary force.

Standing between two Israeli flags and taking questions via video link, Netanyahu vowed to keep hitting Lebanon-based Hezbollah militants after the Iran-backed group opened fire on March 2 to avenge the killing of Iran's supreme leader at the start of the war.

Asked about what actions Israel might take against Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem, Netanyahu said: "I wouldn’t issue life insurance policies on any of the leaders of the terrorist organization … I don't intend to give an exact message here about what we are planning or what we are going to do."

The Israeli leader said Iran and Hezbollah no longer pose the same threats they once did.

Netanyahu also said he and Trump speak daily and their conversations are free and open in nature.

The Associated Press

Pro-Iranian hackers are targeting sites in the Middle East and starting to stretch into the U.S., raising the risk of American defence contractors, power stations and water plants being swept into a wave of digital chaos that could expand if Tehran’s allies join the fray.

Hackers supporting Iran claimed responsibility for a significant cyberattack yesterday against U.S. Medical device company Stryker. A group known as Handala said the attack was in retaliation for suspected U.S. Strikes that hit an elementary school in Iran. 

Since the war began Feb. 28, pro-Iranian hackers have also reportedly tried to penetrate cameras in Middle Eastern countries to improve Iran’s missile targeting. The hackers openly discuss their plans in Telegram and other online message boards. 

Experts say the hackers and their allies will aim for quick victories by targeting the weakest links in American cybersecurity. They could be local water plants or health-care facilities that lack the funds and know-how to install the latest software patches, for example.

"Iran and especially the proxies don't care how big or smart you are. This is about making an impact, about creating chaos," said James Turgal, a cybersecurity expert who spent 22 years as an FBI agent.

Why U.S. Cost of living could end the war against Iran

Gas prices in the U.S. Have skyrocketed since its attacks on Iran began. As the country barrels toward midterm elections, it could be a big factor in U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision on when to end the war.

The U.S. National average price of a gallon of gas today hit $3.60 US, according to automotive and travel services company AAA. That's the most it's cost to fill up here in nearly two years. 

AAA's records show the average price last hovered above the $3.60 mark for six weeks in April and May 2024, peaking at $3.67 per gallon. 

With the cost of living ranking as a top concern for U.S. Voters, and midterm elections for control of Congress looming, the price of gas could be a factor in how long Trump is willing to continue the war. Here's a short video I put together about that. 

This afternoon, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and Secretary of State Randeep Sarai announced $37.7 million in funding for critical assistance in Lebanon.

The funds will go towards several urgent needs for Lebanese civilians, including shelter, food and access to clean water.

"Canada stands with the people in Lebanon who are bearing the brunt of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah," Anand said, adding it has "placed enormous strain on the Lebanese people, who have unwillingly been drawn into this conflict."

The announcement comes as the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon worsens amid fighting between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah. As we reported earlier, 800,000 Lebanese people have been displaced and nearly 700 have been killed by Israeli strikes, according to Reuters.

"Canada urges all parties to the conflict to prioritize the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure and to take urgent steps toward de‑escalation," Global Affairs Canada said in an accompanying statement.

"Canada continues to call for an end to the hostilities in Lebanon and urges all parties to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law," Anand said in the same statement.

Since the conflict began on Feb. 28, 16 civilian ships have been attacked by Iran while sailing through the Strait of Hormuz, according to data from the Institute for the Study of War and the AEI Critical Threats project. Those ships include tankers and container vessels.

Iran's supreme leader says he intends to keep the strait closed, targeting any vessels deemed hostile.

This map below tracks the strikes in what has become perhaps the most dangerous body of water on the planet.

Russia also stands to gain in other ways.

With the U.S. And Europe focused on the war in the Middle East, attention is off Russia's war in Ukraine. There's currently no talk of ceasefire negotiations. 

France's sole aircraft carrier was redeployed from the Baltic Sea, where it was sent to deter Russian military aggression, and is now en route to the Middle East. 

The U.S. Also used at least $5 billion in munitions in the opening week of its war. Those  weapons would otherwise be in a stockpile, the size of which would act as deterrence for further Russian moves in Europe. In fact, some U.S. Weapons systems have been moved from South Korea to the Middle East, changing the calculus on the Korean peninsula as well.

Russia, meanwhile, is providing real-time intelligence to Iran on the location of U.S. Ships and combat forces, which Iran uses to target them. Of course, the U.S. And European allies have done the same for Ukraine in its counter-attack on Russia.

Russian oil could make a comeback thanks to war in the Middle East

Attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and strikes on energy infrastructure have helped drive a global energy shock, lifting oil prices — including for Russia’s heavily sanctioned exports.

Russia is raking in new revenue, as a result of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran sparking a surge in the price of oil.

The Russian economy is highly dependent on exporting oil. Every dollar increase in the price of a barrel of Brent crude adds $150 million US ($204 million Cdn) to their coffers each month. 

That's money Moscow will use to prosecute its own war in Ukraine.

Just a month ago, Trump was threatening nations that buy Russian oil with sanctions. Now, he's floating sanctions relief for those nations.

With Iranian missile, drone and drone-boat attacks on ships and oil infrastructure in the region, oil is more than 60 per cent more expensive than before the conflict began.

Israeli strike hits southern suburb of Beirut

A plume of smoke rose over the Lebanese capital's southern suburbs on Thursday after an Israeli strike. Israel's military has said it is targeting Hezbollah infrastructure as it ramps up its attacks in the area.

The Israeli war machine has signalled plans to rachet up up its violative in lebanese republic as component of its fight against Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. 

Last week, Israel launched its air-and-ground military operations in Lebanon. Hezbollah has fired retaliatory strikes at Israel every day since, including its largest barrage of attacks yet last night.

Today, Israel's defense minister said the military has been ordered to expand its operations in the country. Strikes have continued to batter Lebanon today — and they're expected to escalate as Lebanese residents continue to receive more evacuation orders. 

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