Middle East war updates: Pat Conroy calls for de-escalation as Israel strikes Iran with ‘full force’

Earlier today, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said Iran had launched another wave of missiles towards Israel, with defence systems activated to “intercept the threat.”

Israel’s emergency services have since confirmed that “no casualties are known” at this stage.

An Iranian official has warned that the United States is “responsible for the consequences of any escalation” in the Middle East caused by Israel, according to AP.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei made the comment in a briefing with journalists on Monday in Tehran.

“No one believes that the Israeli regime would take any action without coordination with the United States,” Baghaei said.

“The United States bears responsibility for the Israeli regime’s aggression, and it will also be responsible for the consequences of any escalation in tensions.”

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) has stated that Iran has launched missiles towards Israel “a short while ago.”

“Defense systems are operating to intercept the threat” and members of the public living “in the relevant areas” have been alerted, it added in a statement.

A warning to people in affected areas across Israel has been issued, urging them to take shelter as a third barrage of missiles incoming from Iran.

The Iran-backed rebels said that Israel-affiliated vessels would be a target in the Red Sea according to AP.

The statement from Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree was broadcast on the Houthis’ al-Masirah satellite news channel.

The Houthis have continually attacked Israeli ships travelling through the Red Sea throughout the conflict.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) says it has targeted two Israeli air bases in Nevatim and Tel Nof, according to Iranian state media.

The Islamic Republic News Agency reports the IRGC as saying the operation was carried out in response to missiles Israel had fired “against several radar sites in three locations” in Iran according to the BBC.

Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy has branded the escalation in the Middle East “incredibly unhelpful” after Israel and Iran exchanged fire just days after a US-brokered ceasefire took effect.

“We want the ceasefire to hold and a long term peace to be negotiated and agreed to so that the Strait of Hormuz can be reopened and resources can flow to and from that region,” Mr Conroy told the ABC.

“That’s critical to the global economy. And, all parties need to take a breath, de-escalate and find a solution to what’s occurring there.”

He said it was “very clear that the ceasefire is tenuous and that is challenging for all of us”.

“But we just continue to call for everyone to return to the negotiating table, find a long-term solution, de-escalate,” he said.

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The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched strikes on “several targets” at an Iranian petrochemical facility in in Mahshahr.

The IDF and Iranian state media have both confirmed the attack, with Iranian outlets saying the complex near the northern coast of the Persian Gulf had been partially damaged.

Iranian media stated more details on damage and “possible casualties” will be announced later.

Israel’s ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, has confirmed that Israel is targeting “surface-to-surface” missile launch sites after Iran fired 11 ballistic missiles at Israel, awakening a sleeping war.

“Israel is now targeting Iranian surface-to-surface missile launch sites, as well as infrastructure facilities unrelated to the energy sector,” the ambassador announced on X.

“The people of Lebanon have rejected Iran’s proxy, Hizballah, and have told Iran to get out of their country.

“If Hizballah fires at Israel, its command centers in the Dahiya will be hit hard.

“This has nothing to do with Iran. Everyone has had enough of this maniacal Iranian regime.”

Reports of damage are beginning to emerge after Israel conducted strikes on Iran following Tehran targeting of northern Israel hours ago.

The attacks are a major escalation in the Middle East conflict, as a frail ceasefire, which saw strikes slow since April, appears to crumble away.

The latest strikes by Israel have reportedly hit Tehran and Isfahan.

Billowing smoke could be seen in a video posted online claiming to be from the Isfahan area, a major nuclear city in Iran.

Victorian Opposition leader Jess Wilson has publicly condemned misogynist attacks on Labor State Premier Jacinta Allan after billboards emerged in Melbourne with a “ditch the witch” slogan.

Ms Wilson criticised the advertising against her political rival ahead of the State election as “distasteful” and “not appropriate in politics”.

“People are always going to have criticisms of politicians, and we should do so in a way that is respectful, that is appropriate when it comes to political discourse,” Ms Wilson told a press conference in Melbourne on Monday.

“That sort of language is not appropriate in politics.

“This is a truck that I’ve seen around the streets of Melbourne on a number of occasions, and thought to myself, how distasteful the advertising is, that it is sexist advertising, and I’d like to not see that occurring.”