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World News Today Live Updates: US watchdog tallies Iran war’s hit to weapons stockpiles, military bases

US watchdog's first report on the Iran war details advanced weapons shortfalls and reveals damage to American aircraft, bases and diplomatic outposts across the Middle East.

Pedestrian walk past a billboard depicting a Persian legendary hero and flying figure hitting U.S. aircraft carriers alongside the message in English and Farsi: "From the Persian Gulf a new power rises" "The army of Satan will be drowned in the Persian Gulf, " at Islamic Revolution square in downtown Tehran, Iran. (Photo: AP)

A US government watchdog released its first report on the impact of the Iran war on Monday, acknowledging the military’s advanced weapons shortfalls and offering the first public look at the damage to American aircraft, bases and diplomatic outposts in the Middle East. The Pentagon inspector general’s report, covering April 1 to June 30 and drawing on findings from watchdogs at the Defense and State departments as well as USAID, offers the fullest official picture so far of the conflict’s toll in American lives, taxpayer dollars and physical destruction.

Ongoing Tensions: Even as the report was released, new flashpoints emerged. CENTCOM disputed an IRGC claim that the Panama-flagged oil tanker El Gaia struck a naval mine in the Strait of Hormuz, saying instead that the vessel was hit by an Iranian missile last month and struck again by a drone this weekend while off the coast of Oman. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump again suggested Iran wants to reach a deal, though he said he would “determine whether or not” Washington chooses to engage.

Key world developments:

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Weapons shortfalls: The report confirms “strategic inventory shortfalls” in advanced munitions and industrial bottlenecks slowing resupply, with experts estimating roughly three years to restore prewar stockpile levels.
Base and diplomatic damage: Iranian strikes destroyed or damaged hundreds of buildings across US bases in eight countries and dozens of aircraft and drones, while previously undisclosed damage to US diplomatic posts is now put at $184 million.
War costs top $37.5 billion: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Congress in late July that total war costs had reached that figure, with State’s own conflict-related costs at $113 million.
Mass evacuations: About 9,000 US citizens were evacuated from the Middle East and Europe after the US and Israel first struck Iran on February 28, costing more than $11 million, with the costliest route running from the UAE through Istanbul and Athens to Washington.
Tanker dispute and Trump’s deal remarks: CENTCOM contradicted Iran’s account of the El Gaia tanker incident in the Strait of Hormuz, while Trump signaled Iran may want to negotiate but said the US had yet to decide whether to engage.

Follow the latest world news and major international developments here. This live blog is a rolling curation of the day’s key global stories, with updates added as events unfold and the news agenda changes. The headline, introduction and Top Developments section will be refreshed throughout the day to reflect the stories that matter most at that moment.

Live Updates

Sep 15, 2026 12:33 PM IST

Oil climbs as Saudi pipeline outage, fresh attacks heighten supply concerns

Oil prices rose nearly 2% on Tuesday as concerns over supply disruptions lingered after attacks on Saudi Arabian energy infrastructure left the kingdom's East-West pipeline offline and cast doubt on efforts to ease shipping risks in the Gulf.

Brent crude futures rose $1.87, or 1.77%, to $107.55 a barrel at 0633 GMT, while US West Texas ⁠Intermediate futures were up $1.88, or 1.85%, at $103.27 a barrel. Both benchmarks rose more than 1% in the previous session.

Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen launched fresh attacks on Saudi Arabia on Monday, while Gulf Arab states postponed planned discussions with Iran, fuelling concerns that the Middle East conflict could widen and further disrupt global oil supplies.

Sep 15, 2026 12:03 PM IST

Muslim region in southern Philippines holds first elections

A predominantly Muslim region in the southern Philippines held its first elections for a regional parliament Monday and Tuesday following years of delays, moving it closer to self-rule after decades of insurgency and violence.Officials said turnout was over 80%, even as five people were killed in election-related violence in the regional capital and polling was extended to a second day in some precincts over a suspected effort to cheat. More than 20,000 soldiers and police officers were deployed to provide security for the election.

Sep 15, 2026 11:08 AM IST

As the last US troops pack up in Iraq, militias signal their weapons will stay

Two deadlines are looming for Iraq at the end of the month: the end of a decades-long US military presence and the disarmament of non-state armed groups.

The US withdrawal is underway, and officials say the hundreds of troops remaining in northern Iraq will be out by the Sept. 30 deadline.

The Iraqi government has linked the US withdrawal to an ultimatum for militias to lay down their weapons. But most have indicated they have no plans to do so.

Sep 15, 2026 10:50 AM IST

‘Columbia didn’t care’: Student leader who led Gaza talks sues University over deportation fallout

For months, Mahmoud Khalil was the student both protesters and Columbia administrators turned to the go-between trying to keep talks open during the Gaza war demonstrations. Now he is suing the university, accusing it of standing by while he and other Palestinian students were targeted.

Khalil is a US green card holder of Palestinian background. He was studying at Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) when federal immigration agents arrested him at his university flat in March 2025 the first of several foreign students the Trump administration has since tried to detain and deport over their support for Palestinian rights. He missed the birth of his first son while behind bars.

Read the full story here.

Sep 15, 2026 10:04 AM IST

Saudi pipeline hit by drones will be out of service for weeks, further restricting oil flow

A major Saudi oil pipeline struck by drones last week will stay mostly out of service for weeks while repair work continues, regional officials said Monday. The shutdown comes as Yemen's Houthi rebels seize more islands along Red Sea shipping routes, adding fresh pressure on Saudi Arabia's ability to move its oil to market. Oil prices rose more than 2 percent on the news, as traders weigh growing risk to global crude supply.

Key points:

Pipeline damage: The East-West Pipeline, which carries Saudi crude 1,200 kilometres from Gulf ports to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, was shut down after a Thursday attack Saudi Arabia blamed on Iranian-backed militia drones from Iraq. Repairs, including to a major pumping station, could take three to five weeks, with only partial flow possible in the meantime.

Houthi gains at sea: Houthi forces have captured the Greater and Lesser Hanish islands, extending their control over waters near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait a key route to Saudi Arabia's Asian markets — and bringing them closer to the US military base in Djibouti.

Wider fallout: Saudi oil output has already dropped sharply since the war with Iran began, and a prolonged pipeline closure would force a major shift in global crude flows. Meanwhile, fighting in Yemen is worsening fast, with more than 500 deaths reported in the past week and tens of thousands of people displaced.

Sep 15, 2026 09:29 AM IST

‘A sick conspiracy’: Trump dismisses AI danger warnings as a hoax

US President Donald Trump has dismissed warnings about the dangers of artificial intelligence, saying claims that AI could turn against humans are not true. He said people calling for limits on AI are part of what he called a “sick conspiracy.”

Trump made the comments on social media on Monday. He said the idea of AI taking over the world and harming people is false, and compared it to warnings about climate change, which he also does not believe. Read more

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— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 14, 2026

Sep 15, 2026 09:06 AM IST

Drone attack damages industrial facility in Russia's Samara region, governor says

A drone attack has damaged ⁠an industrial facility in the Russian Samara region ⁠on the ‌Volga River, Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev said ⁠on ⁠Telegram, without ⁠naming ‌the facility.

The region ‌is home ‌to a number of large oil refineries.

Sep 15, 2026 08:38 AM IST

Hormuz traffic dwindles after Middle East attacks intensify

Shipping traffic at the Strait of Hormuz dwindled further at the start of this week after attacks intensified in the Middle East, shipping data showed.

Commodity vessel transits at Hormuz totalled four on Monday, down from 10 during the previous day, preliminary data from Kpler showed on Tuesday.

Two dry bulk carriers ⁠exited the waterway, including one laden and one ballast vessel, while two oil tankers entered the strait, both in ballast mode.

The figures exclude some vessels that might have crossed the strait with their Automatic Identification System transponders turned ⁠off to avoid detection.

Sep 15, 2026 07:50 AM IST

Saudi pipeline hit by drones to be out of service for weeks, further restricting oil flow

A crucial Saudi oil pipeline that was struck in an attack will be mostly out of service for weeks as the damage is repaired, two regional officials said Monday, as Yemen's Houthi rebels seized more islands along Red Sea shipping routes in a new blow to Saudi Arabia's oil exports.

Oil prices gained more than 2 per cent amid growing worries about global petroleum supplies and the effect of the new developments on the ability of the world's biggest exporter to get its crude to market. The Iran war has forced the kingdom to shift its exports away from the Persian Gulf, since Iranian attacks have stifled shipping through the gulf's sole exit, the Strait of Hormuz.

Sep 15, 2026 07:21 AM IST

Saudi civil defence issues emergency alerts for Abha, Jazan and Jeddah

Saudi Arabia's Civil Defence issued emergency alerts for the cities of Abha and Jazan early on Tuesday, state television reported, followed shortly after by a separate alert for Jeddah posted on its account on X. The authorities did not immediately specify the nature of the danger in either case, and residents were urged to follow official instructions and move to safe locations until further notice.

Sep 15, 2026 07:18 AM IST

Iran’s FM tells Lebanon’s speaker regional coordination is vital against ‘Israeli aggression’

Iran’s Press TV reports that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has held a phone call with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to discuss regional developments and the need for greater coordination against “Israeli aggression and warmongering.”

During the call, Araghchi reaffirmed “Iran’s commitment to Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity” while stressing the Islamic Republic’s “full support for Lebanon’s resistance,” Press TV said.

In response, Berri thanked Iran for its support and briefed Araghchi on the situation in southern Lebanon, emphasising the “legal and moral responsibility of the international community and Islamic countries” to stop “Israeli violations and hold perpetrators accountable.”

Sep 15, 2026 06:56 AM IST

US lawmaker submits amendment naming India in Russia sanctions act

Racing against time, US lawmakers submitted amendments to the Russia sanctions bill, with one seeking to name its top trading partners -- including India -- in the legislation, and another proposing to scrap the section imposing tariffs altogether.

The Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, passed by the US Senate by an overwhelming 86-11 vote last month, seeks to impose sanctions not only on Russia's leadership and energy sector, but also on the "shadow fleet" of vessels that enable Moscow to evade sanctions on oil deliveries.

Sep 15, 2026 06:23 AM IST

Trump calls AI risks 'hoax', says there is a 'SICK conspiracy' against AI, data centres

President Donald Trump on Monday lashed out against concerns about rogue artificial intelligence, claiming that any efforts to limit the technology are part of a "SICK conspiracy." "AI taking over the World, destroying Humanity, and all other things bad, is a HOAX," Trump posted on social media, later suggesting that those calling for guardrails on the technology had also warned about climate change, which he also called a hoax.

The president was pushing back against calls by tech leaders such as Anthropic's Dario Amodei, OpenAI's Sam Altman and SpaceXAI's Elon Musk to have greater government oversight of AI.

Sep 15, 2026 06:19 AM IST

In loss for Trump, US Supreme Court won't let Postal Service restrict mail ballots

The US Supreme Court declined on Monday to let the US Postal Service enforce a rule targeting mail-in ballots, dealing a setback to President Donald Trump's effort to restrict voting by mail ahead of November's midterm elections that will determine control of Congress.

The justices denied the Justice Department's request to lift a ruling by Boston-based US District Judge Indira Talwani that blocked the Postal Service from enforcing the measure while legal challenges by states and voting-rights groups proceed. The agency adopted the measure after Trump issued a March executive order aimed at tightening rules governing mail voting.

Sep 15, 2026 06:08 AM IST

Oil prices rise as Saudi pipeline outage, fresh attacks raise supply concerns

Oil prices rose on Tuesday as concerns over supply disruptions persisted after attacks on Saudi Arabian energy infrastructure left the kingdom's East-West pipeline offline and cast doubt on efforts to ease shipping risks in the Gulf.

Brent crude futures rose $1.24, or 1.18%, to $106.93 a barrel at 0026 GMT, after climbing 1% previously, while US West Texas Intermediate futures were up $1.29, or 1.24%, at $102.65 a barrel, after gaining 1.3% in the previous session.

Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen launched fresh attacks ⁠on Saudi Arabia on Monday, while Gulf Arab states postponed planned discussions with Iran, fuelling concerns that the Middle East conflict could widen and disrupt global oil supplies.

The Houthis carried out a missile and drone attack on the Khamis Mushait military airbase in southern Saudi Arabia, hitting aircraft hangars, radar systems, runways and ammunition depots ⁠in retaliation for Saudi strikes in Yemen.

Sep 15, 2026 05:58 AM IST

Oil tanker exploded after colliding with mines in Hormuz: Fars

An oil tanker exploded and caught fire after colliding with mines in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's IRGC said, Reuters cited Fars, without saying when the incident occurred.

Sep 15, 2026 05:58 AM IST

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