US-Iran war live updates: Israeli attacks on Lebanon spark humanitarian crisis; one Iranian soccer player reverses asylum decision and will return home

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Thank you for reading our ongoing coverage of the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Here’s a look at the most recent happenings:

• One member of the Iranian women’s soccer team who accepted a humanitarian visa to stay in Australia changed her mind and asked to return home, said Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke. In all, six Iranians accepted the government’s offer to remain in Australia on humanitarian grounds. There are now concerns that those who are returning.
• Israel’s attacks on Lebanon continue to cause a humanitarian crisis. Almost 700,000 people have been displaced since the latest Israeli incursion across Lebanon’s southern border.
• Two Iranian drones struck near Dubai International Airport, wounding four people, officials said. Commercial flights are continuing.
• Three ships in the Strait of Hormuz were attacked. The critical oil choke point has remained largely closed, causing the price of oil to swing wildly.
• Speculation remains over the health of Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. References in state media suggest that Khamenei was wounded in the initial US-Israeli strikes.
• The Australian dollar emerged as an unlikely haven, buoyed by elevated oil and gas prices and growing bets that the central bank may raise interest rates as early as next week. The Aussie climbed to its highest level since June 2022 – US71.68¢ – and reached more than a 35-year high against the yen.

Stay with us as we follow these developments and others.

The biggest local story today has been the departure of the Iranian women footballers who did not take up the offer of asylum.

In case you missed it earlier, here is Amber Schultz’s report from Kuala Lumpur after she flew on the plane out of Australia with the delegation.

Our Europe correspondent David Crowe and chief photojournalist Kate Geraghty are in Beirut, witnessing first-hand the destruction being caused in Lebanon as Israel wages war on Hezbollah, the militant group that acts as an Iranian proxy.

“With every missile, more carnage is being unleashed on civilians,” writes David.

“The targets are meant to be the Hezbollah fighters who have fired rockets into northern Israel to show their support for Iran. But Israel’s target list has expanded to include financial agencies that are linked to Hezbollah and lend money to families, helping the militant group maintain community support.

“Those killed include a Maronite priest, Father Pierre al-Rai, who died on Monday when struck by Israeli tank fire in his community in southern Lebanon.”

You can read more from David and Kate here.

The Asian Cup has been in focus here in Australia due to the participation of the Iranian women’s team and the threats to their welfare after they refused to sing the Iranian anthem before their first game.

More news now from the world game. Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, the sport’s governing body, says he has met with US President Donald Trump ahead of the 2026 men’s World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19.

“President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States,” Infantino said in a post on his official social media account. “We all need an event like the FIFA World Cup to bring people together now more than ever, and I sincerely thank the president of the United States for his support, as it shows once again that football unites the world.”

Iran secured qualification by topping Group A in the third round of Asian qualifying last year. The Iranians are with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand in Group G. Their matches are scheduled to take place in Los Angeles and Seattle. If both the US and Iran finish second in their groups, they could meet in a July 3 elimination match in Dallas.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said today would be “yet again [America’s] most intense day of strikes inside Iran”.

A short time ago, the Israeli military said it had begun another wave of extensive attacks on both Iran and Beirut, where it claims to be focusing on Hezbollah targets.

Here is our latest map showing all the targets so far.

Thank you for reading our ongoing coverage of the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Here’s a look at the most recent happenings:

• One member of the Iranian women’s soccer team who accepted a humanitarian visa to stay in Australia changed her mind and asked to return home, said Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke. In all, six Iranians accepted the government’s offer to remain in Australia on humanitarian grounds. There are now concerns that those who are returning.
• Israel’s attacks on Lebanon continue to cause a humanitarian crisis. Almost 700,000 people have been displaced since the latest Israeli incursion across Lebanon’s southern border.
• Two Iranian drones struck near Dubai International Airport, wounding four people, officials said. Commercial flights are continuing.
• Three ships in the Strait of Hormuz were attacked. The critical oil choke point has remained largely closed, causing the price of oil to swing wildly.
• Speculation remains over the health of Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. References in state media suggest that Khamenei was wounded in the initial US-Israeli strikes.
• The Australian dollar emerged as an unlikely haven, buoyed by elevated oil and gas prices and growing bets that the central bank may raise interest rates as early as next week. The Aussie climbed to its highest level since June 2022 – US71.68¢ – and reached more than a 35-year high against the yen.

Stay with us as we follow these developments and others.