US-Israel Iran war updates: Kuwait oil refinery hit again as Australia slammed as ‘absent’ from Hormuz pact

Israeli air strikes are hitting the Iranian capital of Tehran on the first day of Nawruz, which is the the Persian new year, the BBC is reporting.

Iranian forces also launched missiles at Israel overnight, with explosions heard in Jerusalem.

Israeli police have arrested an Israeli reservist who worked on the country’s Iron Dome defence system on suspicion of passing secrets to Iran, AFP are reporting.

“Raz Cohen, a 26‑year‑old resident of Jerusalem who served in the reserves in the Iron Dome system, was recently arrested on suspicion of committing security offenses involving contact with Iranian intelligence,” a statement from Israeli police said.

“Over the course of several months, the citizen maintained contact with Iranian intelligence operatives and, under their instructions, was asked to carry out various security missions, including passing on including passing on sensitive security information.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says proposed US use of UK military bases is “participation in aggression”, the BBC is reporting.

In a phone call with UK Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper, Araghchi said any offer of use to the US would result in “an escalation of the situation” of the war.

Araghchi then took aim at the UK and Europe, saying the countries had a “biased approach” when dealing with the US and Israel’s “blatant aggression” towards Iran.

The UK government is yet to comment on the report.

The state-imposed internet blackout in Iran is “now the longest recorded shutdown” in the country’s history as it enters its 20th day.

According to internet watchdog NetBlocks, the shutdown surpassed the length of the blackout, which was imposed during protests against the regime in January, on Thursday.

Iran is set to enter Nowruz — Persian New Year — in “digital darkness” according to NetBlocks, after 21 days of blackout.

“With international connectivity cut and domestic service limited, many families are unable to contact loved ones when it’s most needed,” a NetBlocks statement said.

The major Al Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem has been closed for “security” during the Islamic celebration of Eid for the first time since the 1967 Mideast War.

Muslims are due to celebrate Eid-al-Fitr — acknowledging the end of the holy month of Ramadan — but worshippers in Israel will not be able to visit the Mosque.

The Mosque is sacred to both Muslims and Jews, who refer to the site as Temple Mount, and access to it has been a point of conflict since Israel captured East Jerusalem in the 1967 war.

Iranian Revolutionary Guard spokesperson Gen. Ali Mohammad Naeini has been killed by an airstrike in Iran early on Friday morning, AP is reporting.

The General “was martyred in the criminal cowardly terrorist attack by the American-Zionist side at dawn”, according to a statement on the Sepah News website.

Less than an hour ago, The Nightly reported Gen. Naeini’s comments claiming Iran is still producing missiles despite Israel’s reports to the contrary.

The newly-elected Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, says the “security” of enemies to Iran must be taken away, according to AP.

Supreme Leader Khamanei made the statement “on his behalf” to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Friday morning.

The new leader, who took over after his father Ali Khamenei was killed by an Israeli airstrike on February 28, has not been seen in public as rumours swirl about being injured in the war.

A spokesperson for the Iranian Revolutionary Guard says it is still building missiles, despite claims from Israeli president Benjamin Netanyahu that the regime no longer had the capability, AP is reporting.

“We are producing missiles even during war conditions, which is amazing, and there is no particular problem in stockpiling,” Gen. Ali Mohammad Naeni said.

Gen. Naeni also claimed the war has no expected end date from Iran’s perspective.

“(The Iranian) people expect the war to continue until the enemy is completely exhausted,” he said.

“This war must end when the shadow of war is lifted from the country.”

Lebanese state media is reporting an Israeli fighter jet has been struck down during an airstrike on multiple locations in southern Lebanon on Friday, according to AFP.

“Israeli enemy fighter jets struck at dawn, targeting the towns of Bafliyeh and Hanine in the Tyre and Bint Jbeil districts,” the National News Agency said.

The Israel Defence Force says its airstrikes have hit “a command centre and weapons” belonging to the Syrian regime on Friday.

The IDF says the strikes were in response to regime attacks on Druze civilians in the southern Syrian city of Sweida.

“The IDF will not tolerate harm towards the Druze population in Syria and will continue to operate to defend them,” a statement said.

“The IDF continues to monitor developments in southern Syria and will operate in accordance with directives from the political echelon.”