Iran War Live Updates: US strikes target underground military sites inside Iran

Kuwait’s civil aviation authority said Wednesday that the Gulf state’s international airport had come under an Iranian drone attack that led to “a large fire” at fuel tanks.

“Kuwait International Airport has been subjected to blatant attacks by drones launched by Iran and the armed factions it supports,” the official Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) quoted the spokesman of the General Directorate of Civil Aviation as saying.

He added that “fuel storage tanks…” were hit in the incident, leading to a large blaze at the site.

The US’s Central Command says its forces dropped “precision munitions” in the attacks aimed at further degrading Iran’s “ability to project power in meaningful ways beyond its borders”.

CENTCOM made the post on X accompanied by a 13-second video appearing to show an explosion in a mountainous region.

Asian stock markets rallied on Tuesday, led by Japan’s Nikkei, as optimism grew that the Iran conflict could ease following comments from US President Donald Trump suggesting the war may end within two to three weeks.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 3.87 per cent to 53,039.72 by 01:34 GMT, rebounding after recording its worst monthly performance since the 2008 global financial crisis in March. The broader Topix index also gained 3.67 per cent to reach 3,626.33.

Elsewhere in the region, South Korea’s KOSPI jumped 6.26 per cent, climbing 316.27 points to 5,368.73 by 02:15 GMT, while Singapore’s Straits Times Index advanced 1.7 per cent to 4,968.34, reflecting broader investor confidence.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is set to deliver a rare nationwide address across television and radio later today, outlining his government’s response to the West Asia conflict.

The speech is scheduled for 7:00pm Canberra time (0800 GMT) on Tuesday.

Earlier, Albanese said he was seeking greater clarity from US President Donald Trump on the goals of the ongoing war in Iran while also announcing a temporary fuel tax cut to ease pressure on motorists.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has warned that a prolonged conflict could have a deeper impact on Australia’s economy. “Australia didn’t choose this war; they are paying the price for this war at the petrol bowser and more broadly,” he said.

Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior said civil defence teams are working to put out a fire at a company facility following what it described as “Iranian aggression”.

“Relevant authorities are taking their measures at the site,” the ministry added, without identifying the company involved.

Automakers are expected to report a slight decline in first-quarter US sales as West Asia war adds uncertainty to the industry, compared with stronger conditions a year earlier.

The US-Israel offensive on Iran, which began on February 28, has driven oil prices up by more than 50 per cent, pushing petrol prices above $4 a gallon and adding pressure on consumers.

While rising fuel costs could affect affordability, industry experts say it is still too early to fully assess the war’s impact on vehicle demand.

“We’re certainly keeping an eye on this situation,” Toyota said. “At this stage, however, it’s too early to determine how the industry will be impacted.”

Cox Automotive has projected a marginal 0.1 percent decline in Toyota’s US sales for the quarter. Analysts noted that a larger influence may be last year’s market dynamics, when concerns over potential tariffs under President Donald Trump led to a surge in car purchases.

Saudi Arabia has introduced new bus services to help people leaving Kuwait reach nearby airports, as disruptions continue amid ongoing regional tensions.

According to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), the routes will connect travellers to King Fahd International Airport in Dammam and Qaisumah Airport.

Kuwait’s airport has been repeatedly targeted in Iranian attacks, and the country’s airspace has remained closed since February 28.

An American journalist kidnapped in Iraq had recently been warned about potential threats, including abduction, linked to an Iranian proxy group, according to sources cited by CNN.

Shelly Kittleson was abducted in Baghdad on Tuesday, raising concerns about journalist safety in the region.

“An individual with ties to the Iranian-aligned militia group Kataib Hizballah believed to be involved in the kidnapping has been taken into custody by Iraqi authorities,” Assistant Secretary of State Dylan Johnson said in a post on X. The post did not name Kittleson.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the war on Iran is approaching its final phase as the conflict enters its fifth week.

“We can see the finish line. It’s not today, it’s not tomorrow, but it is coming,” Rubio said during an interview on Fox News’s Hannity. He also indicated that a direct meeting with Iranian officials could take place in the future.

His remarks follow US President Donald Trump’s statement that military operations against Iran could conclude within two to three weeks.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington should “re-examine” its relationship with Nato, signalling a potential shift in strategic priorities.

Earlier in March, President Donald Trump slammed Nato allies ⁠over their lack of support for the US-Israel war on Iran.

Nato countries are “COWARDS, and we will REMEMBER!” he posted on his Truth Social platform.

Amid relentless strikes and growing uncertainty, Tehran residents are holding on to fragments of normal life. For Fatemeh, a 27-year-old dental assistant in Tehran, brief moments at a local cafe offer a rare escape from the constant strain of daily US-Israeli strikes that have gripped the city for over a month.

“When I make it to a cafe table, even for a few minutes, I can almost believe the world hasn’t ended,” she said.

“It feels like stepping out of this damn war and into an ordinary day, or at least imagining a world that isn’t filled with the constant fear of losing your life, or where you stay alive but lose a loved one or everything you have,” she told AFP.

She said that on quieter nights, when the bombing subsides enough to allow some rest, she makes an effort to dress up and wear make-up before heading out. “And then I go back home, back to the reality of living through war, with all its darkness and weight,” she added.

Accounts from Tehran residents interviewed by AFP in Paris suggest that while parts of the city continue to function, with cafes and restaurants open and no major shortages reported, life remains far from normal.

Since the war began on February 28, marked by the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior officials, the capital has faced sustained bombardment. Security checkpoints now line previously calm streets, internet access is heavily restricted, and many residents have taped their windows to reduce damage from potential blasts.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has told Al Jazeera there are no formal negotiations with the United States, describing current contacts as limited exchanges of messages, sometimes directly with US envoy Steve Witkoff and at other times through regional intermediaries. He added that Iran has neither responded to the 15 US proposals nor submitted any counter-offer.

Araghchi also said Tehran would not agree to a ceasefire, insisting instead on a complete end to the war across the region, along with guarantees against future attacks and compensation for damages.

He further stressed that the Strait of Hormuz remains open except for parties “fighting Iran”, and said Iran’s actions are focused on US bases and assets rather than Gulf countries. He also warned that Iran is prepared for further escalation, including the possibility of a ground confrontation.

A tanker has been struck by an unidentified projectile north of Doha, Qatar, causing damage to the vessel, according to a warning from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

The incident occurred at about 1:35am local time on Wednesday, roughly 17 nautical miles north of the Qatari capital.

UKMTO said no injuries were reported, and the vessel involved has not yet been publicly identified.

Hezbollah has claimed multiple attacks against Israeli forces in southern Lebanon and northern Israel, signalling an escalation in fighting along the border.

The group said its fighters were engaged in “fierce clashes” with Israeli troops near the town of Shamaa in southern Lebanon, adding that the fighting was ongoing.

It also reported launching rocket attacks targeting Israeli soldiers and vehicles in Al-Qantara in the south.

In addition, Hezbollah claimed it fired rockets at the Yodifat Military Industries site east of Haifa and the Machanayim camp near Safed as part of a broader barrage.

US President Donald Trump has reiterated his opposition to Iran developing nuclear weapons, while expressing support for what he described as a change in leadership.

“They cannot have a nuclear weapon there. They have very sick leaderships. We have a new regime, and the new regime is much better than the past one,” Trump said, commenting on the situation in Iran amid the ongoing conflict.

Iranian state media has reported that Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet network is now considered “among Iran’s legitimate” targets across the region.

The Fars news agency published an infographic highlighting Starlink’s presence in countries including Bahrain, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.

In Iran, the use of Starlink is illegal and can result in up to two years in prison. However, some citizens continue to rely on the service to stay connected during the ongoing government-imposed internet blackout.

US President Donald Trump will deliver a national address on the war with Iran at 9:00pm ET on Wednesday, which corresponds to 6:30am IST on Thursday, the White House said.

“TUNE IN: Tomorrow night at 9PM ET, President Trump will give an Address to the Nation to provide an important update on Iran,” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote Tuesday evening on X.