US-Israel vs Iran War Live News Updates: The conflict in the Middle East has intensified on multiple fronts Friday as the US military confirms a fatal aircraft crash in Iraq and Israel launched a fresh wave of strikes across the Iranian capital.
The US Central Command reported that a KC-135 Stratotanker crashed in western Iraq, resulting in the deaths of four crew members. While an umbrella group of Iran-backed factions claimed to have downed the aircraft, US officials maintain the crash was an accident involving two aircraft in “friendly airspace” and not the result of hostile fire.
Story continues below this ad
In Tehran and Karaj, the sounds of explosions and fighter jets echoed as the Israeli military confirmed it had struck over 200 targets in western and central Iran, including missile launchers and production sites. These strikes coincide with Quds Day rallies across Iran, where the country’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, vowed to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed in defiance of US and Israeli pressure.
$200
Per barrel (peak)
13
Airlines impacted globally
📋 Airline-by-Airline Response — Swipe to Explore
March 12, 2025
Aegean Airlines
🇬🇷 Greece
Warned of a “notable impact” on first-quarter results due to suspended Middle East flights and sharp spike in fuel prices.
⚠ Q1 Earnings Warning
March 12, 2025
Air France-KLM
🇫🇷 France
Plans to increase long-haul ticket prices to address surging jet fuel costs. Cabin fares to rise by €50 per round trip.
↑ €50 per round trip
March 10, 2025
Air New Zealand
🇳🇿 New Zealand
One of the first to raise prices broadly and suspend its FY2026 earnings forecast due to unprecedented fuel market volatility. Domestic fares up NZ$10; long-haul up NZ$90.
⚠ FY2026 Forecast Suspended
March 12, 2025
Cathay Pacific Airways
🇭🇰 Hong Kong
Raising fuel surcharges on all routes from March 18, citing a doubling of jet fuel prices since the start of March. Previous surcharges were $72.90 for Europe/North America routes.
↑ Surcharges from Mar 18
March 13, 2025
Cebu Air
🇵🇭 Philippines
Acknowledged the ongoing Middle East crisis and flagged fuel prices as a key concern. Will continuously review pricing and network strategies to mitigate the escalating cost impact.
🔄 Reviewing Pricing Strategy
March 12, 2025
Hong Kong Airlines
🇭🇰 Hong Kong
Raised fuel surcharges by up to 35.2% from March 12. Sharpest hike on Maldives, Bangladesh & Nepal routes — from HK$284 to HK$384 per flight.
↑ 35.2% surcharge hike
March 10, 2025
IAG (British Airways)
🇬🇧 UK
Not planning immediate ticket price hikes, as it had hedged much of its fuel for the short to mid-term. Taking a wait-and-watch approach unlike its peers.
✔ Fuel Hedging Protection
March 12, 2025
Pakistan Int’l Airlines
🇵🇰 Pakistan
Raising domestic fares by $20 and international fares by up to $100, citing higher fuel surcharges driven by the ongoing global crisis.
↑ Up to $100 on intl. fares
March 9–onwards
Qantas Airways
🇦🇺 Australia
Hiking fares on international routes for the week of March 9 and considering adding capacity on existing Europe routes in the coming months to meet demand.
↑ International Fares Raised
March 10, 2025
SAS — Scandinavian Airlines
🇸🇪 Nordics
Implemented a temporary price adjustment across routes in response to rising jet fuel prices. Dominant carrier across Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
⏳ Temporary Price Adjustment
March 11, 2025
Thai Airways
🇹🇭 Thailand
Raising fares across its network by 10–15% to address the sharp rise in fuel costs. One of the more significant percentage-based hikes announced by any carrier.
↑ 10–15% Fare Hike
March 6, 2025
United Airlines
🇺🇸 USA
CEO Scott Kirby warned investors of a “meaningful” hit to the carrier’s first-quarter results from surging fuel prices — one of the earliest major US airline statements on the crisis.
⚠ “Meaningful” Q1 Impact — CEO
March 2025
Vietnam Airlines
🇻🇳 Vietnam
Requested government help to remove an environmental tax on jet fuel. Operating costs for Vietnamese airlines have surged by around 70% due to the fuel price spike, per local officials.
🏛 Seeking Govt Tax Relief
On the economic front, US President Donald Trump has issued a 30-day waiver for countries to purchase sanctioned Russian oil currently at sea, a strategic move intended to cool global energy prices. Despite this, Brent crude remains volatile, hovering around $101 per barrel as the war—now entering its third week, continues to disrupt nearly a fifth of the world’s oil supply.
What’s happening in the Middle East? 5 latest developments:
US casualties: Four airmen confirmed dead in the KC-135 refueling tanker crash in Iraq; an investigation is underway.
Escalation in Lebanon: Israel continues to strike Hezbollah targets in Beirut as regional spillover worsens.
Energy crisis: The IEA labels the current conflict the “biggest oil supply disruption in history,” with US gas prices hitting a nearly two-year high.
Rhetoric intensifies: President Trump stated the US is “totally destroying” the Iranian regime, while Israeli PM Netanyahu hinted at efforts to topple the leadership from within.
European losses: France has confirmed the death of a soldier in northern Iraq following an attack on an international coalition base.
