Latest News Headlines for Monday March 9, 2026
Mounting strikes, shifting alliances, and a new supreme leader in Tehran are shaking capitals worldwide.
Iran’s leadership named Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei as the new supreme leader after the death of his father, even as U.S. and Israeli forces continued heavy air and missile strikes across the country on Monday. Oil prices have spiked sharply as the conflict threatens global supplies from the Persian Gulf. U.S. officials are also investigating a deadly strike on an Iranian school as footage emerges that appears to contradict earlier denials of American involvement.
Across the Gulf region, new missile and drone attacks linked to the Iran war are battering cities, oil hubs, and vital infrastructure.
Officials in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia reported civilian casualties and damage after fresh Iranian drone and missile strikes on residential areas and industrial sites on Monday. A fire at Bahrain’s main oil refinery and damage to a desalination plant have raised worries about fuel supplies and drinking water for millions.
Israel’s campaign against Iran-linked forces is widening, with new strikes reported in Lebanon and beyond.
The Israeli military said it hit targets tied to Iran-backed militants in southern Lebanon and Beirut, including an operation that killed several senior Revolutionary Guard Quds commanders. Lebanese sources reported at least four deaths in one hotel strike. Humanitarian agencies and UN officials are warning that the broader conflict is displacing large numbers of civilians.
While waging an intense air war in the Middle East, the United States is also kicking off a major joint military drill with South Korea.
South Korean defense officials say about 18,000 South Korean troops are taking part in the Freedom Shield exercise, which runs through March 19 and focuses on defending against large-scale attacks. U.S. Forces Korea has not publicly released the number of American personnel involved in the drills.
In Washington, questions are growing over the cost, scope, and legal basis of President Trump’s expanding war.
Lawmakers are weighing war powers measures that could limit the president’s authority, following private briefings where officials laid out their case for continued joint U.S.-Israeli operations. Supporters of the campaign, including key Republican leaders, say Iran is facing the consequences of its actions and back the strikes.
Americans are starting to feel the punch from soaring oil prices linked to the Iran conflict, with warnings of broader economic fallout.
Energy analysts say the war has triggered one of the biggest oil disruptions in decades as Persian Gulf producers cut exports and tankers face higher risks. Prices at the pump and for heating fuel are moving higher, raising concerns for lower-income households and small businesses.
