Middle East war updates: Israel retaliates, striking Iran as ‘full force’ threat issued and fighting erupts

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.”

Israel has confirmed it has struck multiple targets in Iran, just hours after Iran reignited war between the two nations.

“The Israeli Air Force struck military targets belonging to the Iranian terror regime in western and central Iran a short while ago,” the IDF said in a statement online.

The retaliation comes hours after Iran targeted northern Israel over military strikes on Hezbollah targets in Beirut over the weekend.

US President Donald Trump said just hours ago that he was going to speak to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to make a case for the IDF not to retaliate.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has told Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan to “suck it up” after a targeted “ditch the witch” campaign against her.

The minor party leader brutally mocked Ms Allan’s complaints about a paid misogynist billboard campaign which depicted her as a witch.

“Suck it up, sweetheart,” Ms Hanson told Sky News on Monday, after countless personal attacks throughout her political career,

“If you’ve seen what’s happened to me over the years, I remember years ago, (former Nationals leader) Tim Fischer called me a witch and (said) I should be burned at the stake.”

“So I’ve been tagged that long before you … Besides, Jacinta, I’ll tell you something, I’ve heard on the grapevine, you won’t be there in a couple of weeks.”

“Don’t worry about the billboard anymore … it’ll be blank because you won’t have your photo up there, you’ll be gone.”

The same “ditch the witch” slogan was used against former Prime Minister Julia Gillard 15 years ago.

Australia’s Prime Minister has reiterated his call for “deescalation” as the Israel-US-Iran conflict reaches its 100-day mark and highlighted the global economic strain it has caused.

Since joint strikes by the United States and Israel on Tehran on February 28, killing Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, more than a fifth of the world’s oil supply has been disrupted.

Talks have repeatedly collapsed after frequent violations of a tentative initial agreement to halt the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Anthony Albanese dismissed questions about whether Australia regretted its swift backing of the US-led actions against Iran, standing by his initial claim that it was to stop nuclear build-up.

It comes as Israel overnight launches airstrikes on the Lebanese capital of Beirut, hitting two buildings in the southern suburbs.

“Iran can’t be allowed to get a nuclear weapon. That was the position that we took,” he said.

“That’s the right position. We’ve called for de-escalation.

“We’ve called for a clear exit plan out of this, and we’ve done that consistently for a long period of time.

“This needs to conclude.

“This is having a devastating impact on the global economy, not the least is here in Australia, but it’s having an impact as well on countries which aren’t protagonists in this war, such as the United Arab Emirates and other countries in the Middle East.”

Anthony Albanese has been strident in his remarks about a “ditch the witch” depiction of Victorian Premier Jacinta Allen ahead of the State’s election.

The Prime Minister on Monday said that the Australian public and the media need to “dial the temperature down” or accept the consequences.

“The sexist campaign targeting the Victorian premier is totally unacceptable and has no place in public life,” he said.

“It should be a contest of ideas, not personal attacks.

“But it comes in a context as well, as I’ve stood in this courtyard so many times and said, turn the temperature down. We all have a responsibility.

He also reminded people of a string of cases before the courts about threats made against politicians.

Anthony Albanese has been asked if “Pauline Hanson is fit to be the Prime Minister”.

It comes after a Newspoll overnight claimed One Nation has overtaken Labor for the first time in its history, as Mr Albanese’s popularity plunged to a record low amid a major party slump.

“I vote Labor, so that’s the position that I take,” he told reporters in Canberra on Monday.

“I will continue to vote Labor for the rest of my life, the way I came out of the womb.

“It’s how I’ll continue. It’s up to others to determine what way they vote in our great democracy.”

The Prime Minister says he respects the judgments of Australian voters following the latest Newspoll, which has recorded One Nation as the most popular party in the country.

The latest survey shows Pauline Hanson’s party rising from 24 per cent support before the Federal Budget to 31 per cent, with both Labor and the Coalition facing criticism from voters struggling with housing affordability, cost-of-living pressures and migration concerns.

“Well, those are matters for the Australian people, effectively, and I respect the Australian people, and the judgments that they make,” Mr Albanese told reporters.

Asked about immigration levels and what sort of Australia he wanted to see, Mr Albanese insisted his government was reducing the number of new arrivals into the country.

“I want an Australia that is united, one that has social cohesion at our core, one that respects people for who they are, but is patriotic about all of us being Australians, and we will reduce the net overseas migration over the next couple of years down to 225,000.

“We think that’s the right number,” Mr Albanese said.

Israel has announced, following Iran’s latest strikes, that multiple crossings into the Gaza Strip were being closed immediately for “security measures”.

“Following the missile attacks launched by Iran against the State of Israel, a number of necessary security measures have been implemented, including the closure of the crossings into the Gaza Strip, among them the Kerem Shalom Crossing and the Rafah Crossing, until further notice,” COGAT (Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories) said on X.

“It should be emphasised that the closure of the crossings will not affect the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.

“The substantial quantities of food that have entered the Strip since the beginning of the ceasefire significantly exceed the nutritional needs of the population, according to UN methodologies.”

The Prime Minister says a state funeral will be held for cancer researcher and former Australian of the Year Richard Scolyer, following his death at aged 59.

Anthony Albanese says he’s spoken to Richard’s wife Katie this morning, who has accepted the offer of a state funeral.

“He was a personal friend, a neighbour of mine in Camperdown for many years, a proud inner Westie, a great Australian,” Mr Albanese told reporters in Canberra.