Top U.S. & World Headlines — March 9, 2026

The United States and Israel are conducting widespread bombing and missile strikes across Iran. In a 24-hour period, hundreds of attacks were reported, leading to significant damage. Specifically, Israeli attacks on fuel depots in Tehran caused massive explosions and fires, resulting in a thick cloud of toxic smoke and 'oil rain' containing toxic hydrocarbon compounds, sulfur, and nitrogen oxides. The Iranian Red Crescent Society reported 10,000 damaged civilian structures, including homes, schools, and medical facilities.

Hundreds of attacks reported in the last 24 hours. Israeli attacks on fuel depots caused fires to burn for hours, spawning a thick cloud of toxic smoke over Tehran. Officials warned the precipitation contains toxic hydrocarbon compounds as well as sulfur and nitrogen oxides. The Iranian Red Crescent Society reports 10,000 civilian structures have been damaged.

A school in Minab, southern Iran, was struck by bombs on the first day of US-Israeli attacks, killing 175 people, predominantly children and mainly girls. President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegath denied US responsibility, claiming Iran was behind the attack. However, a New York Times investigation presented video evidence showing a US Tomahawk missile damaging the school concurrently with a US attack on an adjacent naval base.

Among the dead are 175 people, the majority children, mainly girls, killed when bombs struck a school in the southern city of Minab. President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegath denied the US was responsible for the bombing of the girls school. A New York Times investigation found direct video evidence contradicting Trump's claims. The video shows a US tomahawk missile damaged the school at the same time as a US attack on an adjacent naval base.

Iran's military is actively launching missiles and one-way attack drones at Israel and US military bases across the Middle East. These strikes have killed two people in Israel and destroyed radar, communications, and air defense systems in Qatar, UAE, Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. Attacks included a drone strike on a compound housing foreign oil workers in Basra, Iraq, and damage to a water desalinization plant in Bahrain, which supplies drinking water to 100 million people.

Iran's military continues to launch missiles and one-way attack drones at Israel, as well as US military bases across the Middle East. Iranian strikes killed two people in Israel. Iranian strikes have destroyed radar, communications, and air defense systems in Qatar, the UAE, Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. An Iranian drone attack in Basra targeted a compound housing workers of foreign oil companies. Bahrain's government reports an Iranian drone attack damaged a water desalinization plant.

The ongoing conflict has caused global oil prices to surge past $110 per barrel, the largest spike since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. This is attributed to Iran's attacks on fossil fuel facilities and the standstill of tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Analysts warn oil could reach $150 per barrel, with the Wall Street Journal calling it the most severe shock to energy markets since the 1970s. Concurrently, the US economy lost 92,000 jobs in February, and the unemployment rate rose to 4.4%.

The price of oil has surged past $110 per barrel as Iran continues to attack fossil fuel facilities across the Middle East while bringing tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz to a standstill. Some analysts warning oil could hit $150 per barrel within weeks. The Wall Street Journal is calling this the most severe shock to energy markets since the 1970s. The US economy lost 92,000 jobs in February with the unemployment rate ticking up to 4.4%.