This live blog follows the latest developments across the Middle East crisis, including regional diplomacy, maritime security, ceasefire negotiations, and economic fallout.
Catch up on Tuesday's top developments here:
- Rubio says US will continue to hit Iranian tankers
- UK says Palestinians facing ‘ethnic cleansing’ in West Bank
- Saudi civil defense sends ‘potential danger’ warning for three areas near Yemen
- Pakistan condemns Houthis' ‘reprehensible’ attack against Saudi Arabia
- 12 countries, including France and UK, to sanction Israeli settlement trade
Oil prices climb as Mideast war flares
Published: Sept 9, 2026 | 01:30 GMT | by AFP
Oil prices climbed to near $100 a barrel in early Asia trade, as war in the Middle East threatened to further choke supply from the crude-rich region.
The price of Brent Crude, the benchmark international contract, rose to $99.38 per barrel, while the main US contract West Texas Intermediate was at $94.51 per barrel.
UN ‘deeply concerned’ by Israeli aggression in southern Lebanon
Published: Sept 9, 2026 | 01:30 GMT | by Web Desk
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said that he was deeply concerned by the escalation of Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon.
"I condemn the mounting civilian casualties, the distress & displacement caused by the evacuation orders, and the scenes of massive destruction & devastation," he said in a post on X.
"Civilians and civilian objects must be protected at all times," he said, adding that civillians were not a target and attacks directed against them were "unacceptable."
"I appeal for an immediate cessation of hostilities," he said.
Jordan army says shot down missiles from Iran: Statement
Published: Sept 9, 2026 | 00:25 GMT | by AFP
Jordan's army said it shot down 18 missiles from Iran targeting the US-allied kingdom.
"Jordan's air defense systems engaged 20 ballistic missiles launched toward Jordanian territory, successfully intercepting and destroying 18 of them, while two missiles fell in unpopulated areas," the army said in a statement, adding that they came from Iran.
Tuesday at a glance
Published: Sept 9, 2026 | 00:00 GMT | by Web Desk
World oil prices climbed on Tuesday once more closing in on $100 a barrel, owing to a flare-up in Middle East after US and Iran traded strikes.
Price of Brent crude, the benchmark international contract, rose to $97.92 per barrel, meanwhile, major US indices spent most of the day in the red before closing firmly lower.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said they would continue to target Iranian tankers in retaliatory strikes, as US authorities said five vessels had already been hit.
Separately, Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they struck a US military base in Jordan with missiles in retaliation for US strikes on Tehran's vessels.
Meanwhile, UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said that the government concluded "that there is ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in areas of the West Bank," and banned import of goods from illegal settlements.
Twelve countries including Britain, Canada and France also announced they would sanction trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank, after increasing attacks by settlers against Palestinians in the occupied territory.
For earlier developments, read our Sept 8 live blog here