Us israel iran war live updates march 20 donald trump latest world news headlines 20260320 p5qs8y.html – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
Advertisement
Advertisement
This was published 5 months ago

AS IT HAPPENED: More than 100 service stations in NSW without diesel; Missile lands metres from journalist reporting live; Israel to pause strikes on gas fields

Richard Wood, Jorge Branco and Yashee Sharma

Updated . First published

Powered by

What you need to know

Hello and welcome to our live rolling coverage of the war in the Middle East this Friday March 20.

Israel says it has paused strikes on Iranian gas fields, at the urging of US President Donald Trump.

The targeting of energy infrastructure by all sides triggered a spike in the price of Brent crude oil, triggering falls on global stock markets.

Here in Australia, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese denied he is out of step with key global allies on the Strait of Hormuz as Foreign Minister Penny Wong speaks to her US counterpart. 

READ MORE: Trump compares Iran attack to Pearl Harbor in front of Japan's PM

CRISIS ESCALATES AT HOME: Petrol stations across NSW run out of fuel

READ MORE: Experts warn of 50 per cent food price spike as fuel crisis deepens

Latest posts

We'll wrap up here. Thanks for reading

Yashee Sharma

We'll conclude our rolling coverage here.

Thanks for sticking with us for another day covering the impacts of the war in Iran.

The conflict will head into its fourth week tomorrow.

9news.com.au will be here providing you with all the updates.

Until next time!

Israel strikes command centre and targets in Syria

Yashee Sharma

The Israeli Defence Forces said it has struck a command centre and weapons in military compounds belonging to the Syrian regime in the southern parts of the country.

This was in retaliation for attacks on the Druze community in Syria yesterday.

"The IDF will not tolerate harm towards the Druze population in Syria and will continue to operate to defend them," the IDF said on X.

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

The Druze are an ethnoreligious minority primarily located in Syria, Lebanon and Israel.

There are about 700,000 to 1,000,000 people who identify as Druze in Syria.

Global energy watchdog urges nations to adopt fuel-saving measures

Yashee Sharma

Fatih Birol, the head of the International Energy Agency, has shared 10 ways governments and residents can help lower fuel consumption. These are:

1. Increase public transport use

2. Work from home where possible

3. Lower highway speed limits

4. Increase car-pooling

5. Avoid air travel where possible

6. Switch to alternate cooking methods

7. Free up LNG from transport for cooking

8. Alternate car access in big cities

9. Make commercial vehicles more efficient

10. Be flexible with petrochemical feedstocks

Advertisement

Good news for Sydney's Northern Beaches motorists

Yashee Sharma

Earlier, we reported that the Ampol petrol station at Sydney's Neutral Bay had completely run out of fuel.

Locals will know just how busy the station typically is as it is a favourite for motorists in the area.

Ampol has just informed us that a truck is on site refuelling the station. Just in time for peak hour!

Iranians prepare for Persian New Year

Yashee Sharma

Meanwhile in Tehran, Iranians shop at a market ahead of Nowruz celebrations.

Nowruz, known as the Persian New Year, is a festival celebrated across the world.

A vendor sells flowers at a market as people shop in preparation for Nowruz celebrations on March 19, 2026 in Tehran, Iran.

A vendor sells flowers at a market. Getty images

People shop for flowers at a market ahead of Nowruz celebrations on March 19, 2026 in Tehran, Iran.

People shop at the market. Getty images

A vendor sells flowers at a market as people shop in preparation for Nowruz celebrations on March 19, 2026 in Tehran, Iran.

People gather ahead of the celebrations. Getty images

Kuwait refinery hit by drone attacks

Yashee Sharma

Kuwait Petroleum Corporation's Mina al-Ahmadi refinery was struck by several drone attacks, according to the state Kuwait News Agency.

Fires broke out and some units were shut down. No injuries have been reported so far.

Emergency services were deployed to the scene.

Four-day work week and no suits: How Asia has been faring

Yashee Sharma

Asia gets almost 90 per cent of its oil from the Middle East and has been badly hit by the war in Iran shutting the Strait of Hormuz.

So, how have the countries been managing?

Sri Lanka's government declared every Wednesday a holiday to conserve fuel, creating a four-day work week.

Similarly in the Philippines, staff must now work from home at least one day a week.

Thailand has urged residents to swap suits for short-sleeved tees to reduce the reliance on air conditioning.

And Vietnam has encouraged its people to work from home where possible.

Top Iranian soccer player reportedly expelled over Instagram post

Yashee Sharma

Sardar Azmoun, one of Iran's top men's soccer players, has been expelled from the national team for a perceived act of disloyalty to the government, according to Reuters.

The striker upset Iranian authorities after posting a since-deleted image on Instagram of a meeting with Dubai's ruler Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

"Meeting one of the most successful minds in the world was a pleasure and an honour," he reportedly wrote in the caption.

Iran has been retaliating against the United Arab Emirates and its neighbours after the US and Israel launched their joint war on Iran.

This means Azmoun will likely not play in the upcoming World Cup.

Sardar Azmoun reacts during the group B match between Iran and Portugal at the World Cup. (AAP)

Sardar Azmoun reacts during the group match between Iran and Portugal at a previous World Cup. AAP

Eerie scenes as typically busy petrol station completely out of fuel

Yashee Sharma

An Ampol petrol station in Neutral Bay, a favourite for motorists on Sydney's Northern Beaches, has been run dry.

A staff member told 9news.com.au they are completely out of fuel.

Prices are not being displayed and each bowser contained a sign reading "temporarily out of order".

An Ampol petrol station in Neutral Bay, a favourite for motorists on Sydney's Northern Beaches, has been run dry.

No prices were being displayed. Supplied

An Ampol petrol station in Neutral Bay, a favourite for motorists on Sydney's Northern Beaches, has been run dry.

Bowers were out of order.  Supplied

It was quiet at the station today.

If you're from the area, you know just how unusual that is. The station is typically always busy, with cars often lining up to refuel.

An Ampol petrol station in Neutral Bay, a favourite for motorists on Sydney's Northern Beaches, has been run dry.

Quiet scenes at the Ampol Neutral Bay station. Supplied

9news.com.au has reached out to Ampol for further comment.

Foreign minister speaks with US counterpart about Strait of Hormuz

Yashee Sharma

Foreign Minister Penny Wong spoke to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio this morning about the Middle East conflict and its global impacts.

They discussed ways to ensure the safe passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has essentially cut access to.

"Secretary Rubio and I discussed the conflict in the Middle East and the Iranian regime's escalating reprisal attacks, particularly on civilian and energy infrastructure," Wong said in a statement.

"I expressed Australia's condemnation of Iran's deliberate attacks on merchant vessels in and around the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's actions have triggered severe global energy shocks, causing oil and fuel prices to surge, which is putting pressure on households, industries and supply chains.

"We agreed that the international community must keep working together to ensure critical waterways are not held hostage by the Iranian regime.

"Australia does not want to see the conflict continue to escalate."

The US has called for countries to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz but Australia denied being formally asked to do so.

The prime minister earlier today said he was not out of step with his key allies after Australia was not a signatory on a joint statement by the UK, European countries and Japan on the Strait of Hormuz.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at a meeting in January 2025. AP

email icon

Contact us

Share a tip-off, video or photo with us

Most viewed in Middle East

More to explore