The military operation entered its tenth day on Monday. Iran's new leader is settling into the role, but is reportedly already wounded.
The post **Livewire** Operation Epic Fury Day Ten: The Latest News From Iran and the Middle East appeared first on Breitbart.
The military operation against Iran entered its tenth day on Monday. Iran’s new supreme leader is settling into the role, but is reportedly already wounded.
****
**Monday’s live updates below. All updates in Eastern time**
09:30 AM: Hezbollah backs new Supreme Leader
The Iranian-backed Islamist terror group Hezbollah said on Monday that it supports Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of slain Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as the new Supreme Leader. Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel last week in the wake of the strikes that killed the former Iranian leader.
“We in Hezbollah extend our warmest congratulations and blessings on this occasion. We renew our pledge of loyalty to this blessed approach and our steadfastness on the path of allegiance,” they said in a statement reported by the Times of Israel.
09:10 AM: Ukraine in demand
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, 11 countries have now reached out to Kyiv over its expertise in dealing with Iranian drones, which Vladimir Putin’s Russia have been using for years in the Eastern European conflict.
Zelensky said that interest in Ukrainian know-how extended from countries neighbouring Iran, to Europe and the United States.
“There is clear interest in Ukraine’s experience in protecting lives, relevant interceptors, electronic warfare systems, and training,” he said.
Zelensky said on Sunday that Ukrainian experts would be deployed to the Middle East this week.
08:45 AM: Second missile shot down heading to Turkey
Another Iranian attempted attack on American ally Turkey was thwarted on Monday after a ballistic missile launched from Iran was intercepted and destroyed by NATO air defense systems on its way to Turkish airspace. This marks the second time in less than a week that Turkey has been targeted by an Iranian missile.
Ankara said that while it favours “good neighbourly relations and regional stability,” it is willing to act “without hesitation” against any threat, saying that “it is in everyone’s interest” to heed the warning.
Meanwhile, Turkey deployed six F-16 fighter jets and air defense systems on Monday to Northern Cyprus, a de facto state on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus only recognised by Ankara.
08:15 AM: Was the explosion outside the U.S. embassy a terror attack?
There was a blast at the front door of the U.S. Embassy in Oslo in the early hours of Sunday morning; fortunately, nobody was seriously injured. But coming when it does and after concern in Europe about the potential for long-feared Iranian sleeper cells to be activated in our cities, the question is begged: was this an attempted terror attack? The Norwegian authorities certainly think it may be, as reported by our Kurt Zindulka.
TOPSHOT – Security forces deploy to guard a rally in support of Iran’s new Supreme Leader at Enghelab Square in central Tehran on March 9, 2026. Iran marked the appointment of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei to replace his father as its supreme leader with a new barrage of missiles against Israel and the Gulf states on Monday, as the Middle East war sent oil prices soaring. (Photo by Atta KENARE / AFP via Getty Images)
08:00 AM: This isn’t Iraq
Urban warfare scholar John Spencer told Breitbart News that there have been “lazy comparisons” between the Iran strikes and the Iraq war, and the opening “decapitation strike” last week was historic. He told our correspondent: “Taking out leadership after leadership creates what we call cognitive paralysis”. It’s an interesting interview, and you can read more here.
06:30 AM: The new Supreme Leader is wounded already
Well, that didn’t take long. Khamenei junior is said to have been wounded already. Read the full report from our Simon Kent here.
FILE – Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, center, attends the annual Quds, or Jerusalem Day rally in Tehran, Iran, on May 31, 2019. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi, File)
06:20 AM: Putin congratulates Mojtaba Khamenei
As we reported yesterday, Iran’s ‘Assembly of Experts’ has chosen the son of the old Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to succeed him as supreme leader. While Iran’s friendship with Russia may have done it precious little good this past week, President Vladimir Putin was nevertheless quick to offer his congratulations to Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei this morning.
In a statement published by The Kremlin, President Putin said:
Please accept my sincere congratulations… At a time when Iran is confronting armed aggression, your tenure in this high position will undoubtedly require great courage and dedication.
I am confident that you will honorably continue your father’s work… I would like to reaffirm our unwavering support for Tehran and solidarity with our Iranian friends. Russia has been and will remain a reliable partner of the Islamic Republic.
I wish you success in solving the difficult tasks facing you, as well as good health and strength of spirit.
AHVAZ DRONE BASE, KHUZESTAN PROVINCE, IRAN — MARCH 08, 2026: 01 — Vantor satellite image shows an overview of the Ahvaz Satellite base in Khuzestan Province. Please use: Satellite image (c) 2026 Vantor.
For earlier Livewire updates from Saturday, please click here
