Saudi Arabia condemns as Iran targets Gulf energy installations

Saudi Arabia lambasted Iran on Monday, calling Tehran's attacks targeting the kingdom and their Gulf neighbours "reprehensible" as Tehran launched fresh strikes on energy installations in the Gulf including a petroleum complex in Bahrain, as oil prices soared on fears over supply disruptions.

Bahrain's sprawling Al Ma'ameer oil facility was hit, causing a fire and damage, with the country's state-owned energy firm Bapco declaring force majeure -- the latest Gulf producer to activate the legal clause.

Energy producers in Qatar and Kuwait earlier made similar declarations.

Bapco said it "hereby serves notice of force majeure on its group operations which have been affected by the ongoing regional conflict in the Middle East and the recent attack on its refinery complex", according to a statement posted by the company.

Asian stock markets plunged on Monday as oil prices soared, with investors running for the hills as crude rocketed to its highest level since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The market instability came as Iran continued to target the Gulf with missile and drone barrages, hours after Washington ordered embassy staff to leave Saudi Arabia.

On Monday, Bahrain said another Iranian drone attack on the island of Sitra had injured 32 people overnight.

All of the wounded were Bahraini citizens and there were four "serious cases", including children, the health ministry said in a statement carried by the state news agency.

They included a 17-year-old girl who suffered severe head and eye injuries, and a two-month-old baby, according to the ministry.

Bahrain said the attack on its Al Ma'ameer oil facility had caused a fire but the blaze had been brought under control.

Several explosions were also heard Monday in the Qatari capital Doha, AFP journalists said, as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait all reported new attacks.

Doha has been targeted by waves of drones and missiles since Iran launched a retaliation campaign across the Gulf in the wake of US and Israeli attacks against the Islamic republic.

Qatar's defence ministry said on Monday that its forces had intercepted a missile attack.

Saudi Arabia's defence ministry said the kingdom intercepted and destroyed two waves of drones heading towards the Shaybah oil field in the southeast of the country.

In the UAE, authorities said in a statement on X that air defences responded to "a missile threat".

Kuwait, which was targeted by seven missiles and five drones on Sunday according to authorities, announced another missile and drone attack on Monday.

The defence ministry said air defences were working to intercept the attack.

Gulf countries have borne much of Tehran's response after the United States and Israel launched a massive aerial campaign against Iran on February 28.

A total of 21 people had been killed in the Gulf since Iran began its attacks, including 10 civilians and seven US service members.

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has warned that the Islamic republic "will be forced to respond" against its neighbours if their territory is used to attack it.

KSA condemns 'reprehensible' attacks

Saudi Arabia lambasted Iran on Monday, calling Tehran's attacks targeting the kingdom and their Gulf neighbours "reprehensible", according to a statement from the foreign ministry.

Saudi Arabia "renews the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's categorical condemnation of the reprehensible Iranian aggressions against the Kingdom, the Gulf Cooperation Council states, a number of Arab and Islamic countries, and friendly nations, which cannot be accepted or justified under any circumstances," the statement posted on the ministry's official X account read.

- Putin backs new ayatollah -
Russia's President Vladimir Putin pledged his "unwavering support" to Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, appointed after his father and predecessor was killed in US-Israeli strikes.

"At a time when Iran is confronting armed aggression, your tenure in this high position will undoubtedly require great courage and dedication," the Russian leader added.

- One killed in Israel -
Israel's first responders said a man was killed by shrapnel as several blasts rocked central Israel, shortly after the military reported detecting new missiles launched from Iran.

More than 10 explosions were also heard by AFP journalists in Tel Aviv.

- Iran blames Europe -
Iran said European countries including France had created the conditions that led to the United States and Israel attacking the Islamic republic, accusing them of not standing up to Washington's "bullying".

10 ships attacked in Strait of Hormuz

About 10 vessels in or near the Strait of Hormuz have come under attack since Iran blocked the strategic waterway in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes, as Mojtaba Khamenei, the 56-year-old son of Iran's late supreme leader Ali Khamenei, was selected by the country's Assembly of Experts to succeed his father.

The attacks throughout the week following the outbreak of war on February 28 almost completely halted traffic through the strait, a crucial route for oil and other goods.

Britain's maritime security agency UKMTO has issued around 10 alerts for attacks as well as warnings of suspicious activity, but has released few details on the vessels involved.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) listed on its website Friday a total of nine attacks on ships in the strait in one week, including four incidents that killed a total of seven people.

The IMO said one person was killed in each of three attacks on the vessels Skylight, MKD Vyom and the Stena Imperative on March 2, when the Hercules Star was also hit.

Between March 3 and 5 four more vessels were struck: the Libra Trader, Gold Oak, Safeen Prestige and the Sonangol Namibe.

On March 6, four people were killed when the Mussafah 2 was struck.

Indonesia announced Sunday that a vessel whose characteristics and last known position matched those of the Mussafah 2 sank two days earlier, but with a different toll.

Jakarta reported three Indonesian crew members missing, one injured Indonesian survivor and four survivors of other nationalities.

The strait normally sees 20 percent of global oil and liquefied natural gas transit it, but tanker traffic there has dropped by 90 percent in a week, according to analysis firm Kpler, which operates the MarineTraffic platform.

According MarineTraffic data analysed by AFP on Friday, only nine commercial ships -- tankers, cargo vessels and container ships -- had been detected crossing the strait since Monday, with some intermittently masking their position.

Maritime security firm Vanguard said the Mussafah 2 was hit by two missiles as it tried to assist the container ship Safeen Prestige, which had been struck by a missile two days earlier.

"Recent incident reporting... indicates that vessels providing assistance or salvage operations to previously targeted vessels may also face elevated risk of follow-on strikes," the Joint Maritime Information Centre (JMIC), run by a Western naval coalition, warned in a note Saturday.

"The observed pattern of strikes against anchored vessels, drifting ships, and assistance vessels indicates a campaign focused on creating operational uncertainty and deterring routine commercial movement rather than a sustained attempt to sink vessels."

Drone and missile attacks claimed by Iran's Revolutionary Guards are not always confirmed by independent sources -- some are confirmed only after several days, and the vessels involved are not always identified. Casualty tolls can vary.

Drains across the Iranian capital Tehran are continuing to explode after earlier Israeli and US strikes on oil depots and infrastructure.

Medical experts are warning the toxic smoke and runoff has increased the risk of deadly illnesses, including cancer. pic.twitter.com/yJxbH8WDju

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) March 9, 2026

- Khamenei son named successor -

Mojtaba Khamenei, the 56-year-old son of Iran's late supreme leader Ali Khamenei, was selected by the country's Assembly of Experts to succeed his father.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards quickly pledged allegiance to the new supreme leader.

Judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei hailed the announcement as "a source of joy and hope" while top security official Ali Larijani called Khamenei's election "completely legal".

Yemen's Houthi rebels welcomed his appointment, calling it a major blow for the Islamic republic's enemies.

Israel's military had earlier vowed to target "any successor", while US President Donald Trump told told ABC News if the next leader "doesn't get approval from us he's not going to last long".

- Israel, Iran trade fire -

Iran fired its first missiles towards Israel on Monday after the appointment of the new supreme leader, state broadcaster IRIB said.

Israeli medics said one woman was moderately injured.

The Israeli military for its part said it launched a new wave of strikes targeting "regime infrastructure" in central Iran on Monday.

Witnesses have filmed a suspected Iranian missile barrage in the skies south of Tel Aviv.

It's believed to be Iran's first attack on Israel since the election of the new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. pic.twitter.com/YXMI5UtloO

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) March 9, 2026

- East Lebanon fighting, Beirut explosion -

Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah said it was engaging Israeli forces who landed in eastern Lebanon overnight by helicopter across the Syrian border.

Two Hezbollah sources told AFP on condition of anonymity that an Israeli helicopter in the area was downed by the group. There was no comment from the Israeli military.

Meanwhile Israel's military said it struck Lebanese capital Beirut early Monday, targeting Hezbollah infrastructure.

The Lebanese government says more than half a million people have been forcibly displaced as Israel continues to strike more southern towns.

Al Jazeera’s Bernard Smith reports from Beirut, Lebanon. pic.twitter.com/OQdJW8Ch0G

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) March 8, 2026

- Trump says ending war 'mutual' decision with Israel -

US President Donald Trump told news website the Times of Israel that ending the war would be a "mutual" decision taken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but that Washington will have the final say.

Asked whether he would decide when to end the war, Trump told the publication: "I think it's mutual... a little bit. We've been talking. I'll make a decision at the right time, but everything's going to be taken into account."

Israeli and US officials have said their offensive aims to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons, and expressed hope that it would produce regime change.

- 7th American killed -

The US military announced its seventh combat death since the war began, after a service member succumbed to injuries from an attack in Saudi Arabia during Iran's initial wave of retaliatory strikes.

The six others were killed in a drone strike on their base in Kuwait.

- Tehran explosions -
Heavy explosions rocked the Iranian capital, AFP journalists said, though it was not immediately clear what was targeted.

- Qatar arrests 313 -
Qatari authorities have arrested more than 300 people for sharing images and "misleading information" during days of attacks by Iran, the interior ministry said.

- Macron speaks with Iran president -

French President Emmanuel Macron said he spoke with Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian and urged a halt to strikes on other countries in the region.

It is the first known contact by a Western leader with Pezeshkian since the war began.

- European gas spikes -
European gas prices soared as much as 30 percent. The Dutch TTF natural gas contract, considered the European benchmark, jumped to 69.50 euros ($80), before paring gains slightly.

- Asia stocks tumble -
Japan's Nikkei index of stocks closed down more than five percent at 52,728.72 points and South Korea's Kospi by nearly six percent at 5,251.87 points, on the back of the turmoil in the Middle East.