PM says Canada will do 'everything it can' to help global energy market as Iran chokes Persian Gulf oil supply

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

Amir Saeid Iravani, Tehran's ambassador to the UN, told reporters earlier Iran won't close off the critical waterway entirely.

"But it is our inherent right to preserve the peace and security in this water way," he said this afternoon. 

Earlier in the day, Iran's new supreme leader said blocking the strait should be used as leverage in the ongoing war against the U.S. And Israel. 

Iravani blamed Iran's aggressors for the current situation in the waterway, calling it a "direct consequence" of the strikes.

Could the rising price of gas hurt Carney's Liberals?

War in the Middle East has sent oil prices skyrocketing. With no end to the war in sight, how could that affect political priorities here at home? The Power Panel weighs in.

Prime Minister Mark Carney said he's working on "several dimensions" of response to the impact of the U.S. And Israel's war on Iran. 

That includes making sure Canada can supply "everything it can" to the global energy market as the vital Strait of Hormuz remains blocked off, he said, while taking questions in Yellowknife following an announcement about expanding Canada's military footprint in the North. 

The longer the conflict drags on, "the greater the disruptions" to energy markets and the global economy at large, Carney noted. 

"A world where the global economy is slower — that affects us."

The U.S. Military says rescue efforts are underway after a refuelling aircraft went down in western Iraq. 

The incident happened over "friendly airspace" and was not due to hostile or friendly fire, U.S. Central Command said in a news release. 

A second aircraft involved in the incident landed safely, the news release said.

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.

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