US-Iran war updates: Navy primed for Middle East deployment, Trump confirms blockade on Strait of Hormuz

Thanks for joining our rolling live coverage of all updates on the Middle East war.

Check in tomorrow for the latest news, including updates of the naval blockade of Iranian ports.

Australia’s next National Defence Strategy will include up to $15b in funding for new unmanned and autonomous military platforms over the next decade, as the military rushes to catch up with evolving weapons being used on the battlefield.

On Thursday Defence Minister Richard Marles will launch the latest NDS, as well as details of funding for military projects known as the Integrated Investment Program, with a focus on lethal drone technology.

The IIP is expected to include up to $8.1 billion for aviation drones such as the Ghost Bat, up to $4.5 billion uncrewed maritime systems as well as up to $2.4 billion for uncrewed and autonomous systems on land.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the IDF will continue to fight Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, according to AP.

Israel will encroach further into southern Lebanon which Netanyahu claims is a “solid, deeper security zone, which prevents the danger of invasion and keeps the threat of terrorism away”, the Prime Minister said to a cabinet meeting.

The Kremlin has poked holes in US President Donald Trump’s move to impose a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Kremlin spokespeerson Dmitry Peskov said: “Such actions will likely continue to negatively impact international markets. This can be assumed with a high degree of certainty.”

“However, many details remain unclear, so I would refrain from making substantive comments at this time.”

Australia’s top military leadership will be reshaped in July, with three long-serving officers — including the first woman elevated to be Chief of Army — stepping into the most powerful roles in the Defence Force.

Between them, Vice-Admiral Mark Hammond, Lt-Gen. Susan Coyle and Rear-Admiral Matthew Buckley bring more than a century of combined service — from submarines and operational theatres to cyber warfare and strategic command — but also quieter personal lives that offer a glimpse of the people behind the uniforms.

Read the full story here.

Pope Leo has knocked back US President Donald Trump’s bizarre social media lashing of the Church leader.

Responding the Trump’s claims that the Chicago-born Christian is “weak”, Pope Leo told Reuters reporters that he will continue to speak out against the war in the Middle East.

Calling out the violence and claiming, “too many innocent people are being killed”.

“I don’t want to get into a debate with ⁠him,” he told Reuters. “I don’t think that the message of the Gospel is meant to be abused in the way that some people are doing.”

“I will continue to speak out loudly against war, looking to promote peace, promoting dialogue and multilateral relationships among the states to look for just solutions to problems.

“Too many people are suffering in the world today.

“Too many innocent ‌people ⁠are being killed. And I think someone has to stand up and say there’s a better way.

“The message of the church, my message, the message of the Gospel, Blessed are the Peacemakers. I do not look at my role as ⁠being political, a politician.”

Perth drivers can breathe a sigh of relief when ‘cheap Tuesday’ makes a brief return this week with two servos setting prices not seen in more than a month.

A near 50 service stations across WA will have fuel below the painful $2 a litre mark at the bowser on Tuesday, a rare sight since the Middle East war began.

Read the full store here.

The Prime Minister has declared his second trip to Asia in a week to secure fuel supplies for Australia is “very significant” but has sidestepped questions about what deals he hopes to clinch from the leaders of Brunei and Malaysia.

Anthony Albanesehas also defended his government’s “modest” $20m advertising campaign providing motorists with fuel-saving tips, as Energy Minister Chris Bowen confirms more than 200 service stations are now without diesel.

On Tuesday Mr Albanese will fly to the Kingdom of Brunei for a private audience with Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, before meeting his Malaysian counterpart in a visit first revealed by The West Australian earlier this month.

“The trip this week will be very significant and the impacts that are happening on a day-to-day basis with announcements just reinforce the fact that we are living in very uncertain times,” Mr Albanese told reporters.

Read the full story here.

The conflict in the Middle East is now regarded as good for the Commonwealth but bad for the states and territories whose debts have tripled in less than a decade to house population growth fuelled by immigration.

While more government debt during a time of higher inflation means heftier interest payments, the Commonwealth is expected to rake in $30 billion more revenue by 2028-29.

The 2020s, starting with the COVID pandemic, have been an expensive era for governments from financing lockdowns to providing cost-of-living relief during yet another inflation outbreak arising from a global oil crisis.

S&P Global Ratings is now forecasting the states and territories will see their collective gross debt soar to $820 billion by 2028 — triple the $270 billion level of 2019.

​Read the full story here​

The UK will not take part US President Donald Trump’s blockade of Iran’s ports in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the BBC.

British naval ships and personnel will not be deployed to block Iranian ports, but minesweepers and anti-drone capabilities will remain active in the area.

“We continue to support freedom of navigation and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, which is urgently needed to support the global economy and the cost of living back home,” a UK government spokesperson said.