US-Iran war as it happened: 100 million litres of diesel to arrive in May; Blaze erupts at Geelong oil refinery; Ceasefire extension request ‘not true at this moment’, says White House

This is where we will leave our live coverage for today.

Follow along to tomorrow’s live coverage of the US-Iran war here. 

At least two US-sanctioned, Iran-linked vessels made their way through the Strait of Hormuz and into the Persian Gulf on Thursday, taking what may be a new route from the United Arab Emirates, even as a US blockade enters its third day.

Shipowners, energy traders and investors have been closely monitoring transits through the strait for indications of how Tehran and Washington are exercising control over one of the world’s busiest shipping corridors. Only a handful of vessels have crossed since the US began interdicting traffic – in large part because crews now have to clear not one but two navies to secure safe passage for themselves and their cargoes.

Liquefied petroleum gas carrier G Summer made its way into the Persian Gulf by passing between Iran’s Larak and Qeshm islands late on Wednesday afternoon, ship-tracking data shows. An empty tanker, it was broadcasting that it had Chinese ownership and crew – a frequent safety measure – while indicating Iraq’s Khor Al Zubair port as its destination.

Large crude carrier Hong Lu – which, like G Summer, has been blacklisted by Washington over its ties with Iran – went through the islands shortly afterward. The VLCC, which can carry up to 2 million barrels of crude, isn’t loaded and is now sailing west along Iran’s coastline. It briefly signalled Iraq’s Basrah as a destination, but now indicates it is waiting for orders.

G Summer and Hong Lu arrived off Fujairah, in the United Arab Emirates, earlier this week, before moving north-east across the Gulf of Oman to the Iranian coastline on Wednesday, then northward into Hormuz – an unusually circuitous path.

The owners of the two vessels did not immediately respond to questions sent by Bloomberg.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the government would be open to Santos-led oil drilling projects.

“We would support it if it stacks up environmentally, economically, and in engineering fashion,” he said.
“These are not matters of a culture war, as far as I’m concerned. Some people try and drag us to a culture war ... Obviously, there’s sensible proposals for drilling in Australia, which will replace the imports.”

Energy Minister Chris Bowen has confirmed the two additional tankers carrying 100 million litres of diesel announced by the prime minister earlier today will arrive in May.

The minister also addressed the Geelong refinery fire, saying: “Australians during the day would have been very concerned … to see the footage from Geelong. This fire started around 11pm and was extinguished today.”

The VIVA-run refinery advised the minister the fire would probably impact petrol and aviation gasoline, which is different to jet fuel.

Diesel and jet fuel production was under way, but on reduced levels as a precautionary measure, Bowen said.

Air traffic between Australia and the Middle East plunged more than 75 per cent in March compared with March 2025, in one of the first snapshots of the impact of the Iran war on aviation for the country.

Australia-Middle East traffic fell 77 per cent in the 12 months to March 2026, while direct Australia-Europe traffic slumped nearly a third – 31 per cent – as “some services are rerouted via other hubs”, according to data compiled by Airservices Australia.

The picture of air traffic shows a dramatic pattern in the month following the US and Israeli attack on Iran, which has kicked off volatility in the Middle East and in energy markets, affecting flight capacity, flight safety and fuel prices.

Airservices Australia’s March Aviation Network Overview, which captures arrivals and departure numbers for international flights to and from Australia, shows Asian hubs such as Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Seoul benefited from the “displaced demand” and “may emerge as alternative hubs and travel destinations”.

Airservices Australia, which provides the nation’s air traffic control, said data showed growth in international markets as “mixed” with a rise of 25 per cent to mainland China. It noted that media reported some Chinese airlines were now reducing flights to Australia to focus on higher-yield routes.

Meanwhile, Australians continue to fly to South-East Asia, where demand “remains resilient”.

The Israeli military killed four Lebanese rescue workers and wounded six others in three consecutive, targeted strikes on Wednesday, paramedic groups said

The deaths are a stark illustration of the human cost of the Israeli military campaign against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon a day after the two countries held historic talks in Washington.

The back-to-back Israeli attacks on the southern village of Mayfadoun, near the town of Nabatiyeh, hit the first group of medics responding to a distress call from wounded civilians, a second group trying to assist their wounded colleagues and a third group rushing to aid the first two teams that had been targeted.

The Israeli military did not respond to a request for comment from the Associated Press on the strikes beyond saying it was “looking into” what happened.

It has previously accused the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group of using ambulances as cover for militant activities, without offering evidence.

The Lebanese health ministry condemned the attacks as a “blatant violation” of international law.

Abou Haidar Hayya, an official with the Islamic Health Committee involved in the rescue operation, said he feared such direct targeting of medics meant that “there are no more red lines in this war”.