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Donald Trump has said that US forces have knocked out 28 Iranian mine-laying ships in the Strait of Hormuz
Bel Trew in Beirut, James C. Reynolds, Alex Croft & Rachel DobkinThursday 12 March 2026 02:40 GMT- Bookmark
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Trump claims US has 'won' Iran war
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Donald Trump has claimed the US has “won” the war in Iran but needs to “finish the job”.
The US president claimed the military destroyed Iran's navy and air force in a matter of hours, including all of its radar and anti-aircraft equpment.
"We won," the president told a crowd of supporters. "In the first hour it was over."
It comes following Trump’s claim that US forces knocked out 28 Iranian mine-laying ships in the Strait of Hormuz, after the president warned on Tuesday about Iran placing mines in the crucial waterway.
“They started talking about mine. So we hit 28 mine ships as of this moment,” Trump said, describing the US military as “unbelievable”.
Iranian officials say that at least 175 people were killed in a strike on the Shajarah Tayyebeh elementary school in Minab, southern Iran, on 28 February, the first day of the war.
People briefed on the probe say that early findings suggest that US Centcom was using outdated information from the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) to inform its target coordinates.
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Key Points
- US military has almost 'destroyed Iran' Trump claims
- Trump claims he doesn't know about report into girls' school attack
- Trump says US has knocked out 28 Iranian mine-laying ships
- Iran has deployed a dozen mines in Strait of Hormuz - report
- Two foreign tankers with Iraqi oil on fire
Iraq says at least one killed in Basra port attack: report
Iraqi officials have said at least one person has been killed in an attack in the Basra port on the Persian Gulf, the Associated Press reported.
Farhan al-Fartousi, the director-general of the state-owned General Company for Ports of Iraq, said a vessel engaged in a ship-to-ship oil transfer was hit, the AP reported, citing the Iraqi News Agency.
Iraq’s oil terminals have been shut down, Al-Fartousi said.
Rachel Dobkin12 March 2026 02:40Israeli military prepared to fight Iran as long as necessary, spokesperson says
The Israeli military is prepared to continue its war with Iran for as long as necessary, its spokesperson, brigadier general Effie Defrin, told reporters late on Wednesday.
"We as an army are prepared to continue the campaign as long as necessary," he said.
US president Donald Trump was quoted earlier by Axios as saying that there was "practically nothing left" to target in Iran and that the war there will end "soon."
Alex Croft12 March 2026 02:30Two tankers near Iraq hit by 'unknown projectile': UKMTO
Two oil tankers south of Al Basrah, Iraq, have reportedly been hit by an “unknown projectile”, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center has said.
Rachel Dobkin12 March 2026 02:15UN Security Council adopts resolution condemning Iran's attacks on Gulf nations
The United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution Wednesday, condemning Iran's attacks on Gulf nations.
After the U.S. and Israel began launching strikes on Iran, the Middle Eastern country started attacking several of its neighbours. The resolution names Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan.
Thirteen Security Council members voted in favor of the Bahraini-led resolution, while China and Russia abstained.
The resolution demanded an end to Iran’s attacks against residential areas and other places where civilians would be.
“The international community is resolute in rejecting these Iranian unjust, hostile acts that are targeting sovereign countries and that threaten the stability of their peoples”, Bahrain’s representative said.
Rachel Dobkin12 March 2026 02:00Congress calls for oversight following reports US military is using AI to help determine which sites in Iran to attack
US lawmakers have called for oversight of the use of artificial intelligence in war after reports of the military using AI tools to help determine which sites in Iran to attack.
As the use of AI grows in tandem with conflict in the Middle East, several publications, including The Independent, have reported on the technology’s use in military operations.
NBC News reported Wednesday, citing two people familiar with the matter, that the U.S. military is using AI systems from Palantir to identify potential targets for air strikes in the Iran war.
Palantir’s Maven Smart System is using classified satellite data and surveillance to help provide instantaneous targeting and target prioritization to the U.S. military amid its striking campaign in Iran, The Washington Post reported last week.
Read on...
Congress calls for oversight after reports US military is using AI in Iran War
‘We need a full, impartial review to determine if AI has already harmed or jeopardized lives in the war with Iran,’ says Representative Jill Tokuda of HawaiiRachel Dobkin12 March 2026 01:307 killed and 21 injured in Israeli strike on Beirut: Lebanese officials
Seven people have been killed and 21 more injured in an Israeli strike in Ramlet al-Bayda in Beirut, the Associated Press reported, citing the Lebanese Health Ministry.
The AP says dozens of displaced families were taking shelter in makeshift tents when the strike occurred.
Rachel Dobkin12 March 2026 01:00Bahrain says Iran targeted its fuel tanks
Bahrain’s Interior Ministry said late Wednesday night that Iran targeted fuel tanks in Muharraq Governorate.
During the U.S.-Israeli military strikes that have barraged Iran for over a week, Iran has targeted oil fields and refineries in the neighbouring Gulf nations, according to the Associated Press.
Rachel Dobkin12 March 2026 00:45International Energy Agency to release record oil reserves to calm markets
The International Energy Agency (IEA) says it has agreed to release a record 400 million barrels of oil from its strategic reserves to help stabilise markets.
The UK Government said it will contribute 13.5 million barrels from its own stockpile for the release.
The conflict in Iran has halted shipments through the Strait of Hormuz and pushed the price of oil and gas sharply higher.
The IEA, which includes the UK, said the release – the largest in the 50-year history of the 32-nation alliance – will account for around a third of its 1.2 billion barrel stockpile held for emergencies.
Read more here:
International Energy Agency to release record oil reserves to calm markets
The conflict in Iran has halted shipments through the Strait of Hormuz and pushed the price of oil and gas sharply higher.Alex Croft12 March 2026 00:30Israel strikes 10 'terror structures' in Lebanon: IDF
The Israel Defence Forces has said they have struck 10 structures in Dahieh, a southern suburb of Beirut.
“Over the past hours, the IDF has begun a wide-scale wave of strikes targeting terror infrastructure belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist organization across Lebanon”, the IDF said.
The Israeli military said they hit “10 terror structures in the Dahieh area within 30 minutes, including intelligence headquarters, a headquarters of the Radwan unit, and additional command centers”.
Bel Trew and Rachel Dobkin12 March 2026 00:16'It's both!': Trump refers to Iran conflict as a 'war' and 'a little excursion'
'It's both!' Trump refers to Iran conflict as a 'war' and 'a little excursion'Alex Croft11 March 2026 23:54Newer1 / 5OlderMore about
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