Netanyahu appears in a video posted on social media, sipping coffee and displaying both his palms with five fingers. (Photo: X/@Netanyahu)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a video on Sunday as rumours of his death began spreading on social media and Iran’s Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) vowed to “pursue and kill” him.
In a video posted on social media, Netanyahu was seen drinking coffee and showing both his palms with five fingers, rejecting reports that he had been seen in a previous video with six fingers on his hand, which indicated AI manipulation or generation.
“What do they say I am?” Netanyahu filmed the video at a café near Jerusalem. He is seen ordering coffee and responding to rumours of his death.
“I’m dying for coffee. I’m dying for my people. How are they behaving? Fantastic. Do you want to count the number of fingers?” Netanyahu said, before raising his hand and counting his fingers.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, this evening, at a press conference:
“Citizens of Israel, my brothers and sisters,
We are in historic days— days that will go down in the history of Israel. Our roar is growing.
Social media discussion about Netanyahu’s death was amplified by Iran’s state news agency, in which officials iRNA The news agency posted on Twitter that the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) have vowed to kill Netanyahu “if he is still alive”, and Tasneem The news agency reported “pressure on Netanyahu to dispel rumours of his death or injury”.
Revolutionary Guards vow to ‘pursue and kill’ Netanyahu
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards called Netanyahu a “child-killing criminal” and said the group would continue targeting the Israeli prime minister with full force if he lived.
“If this criminal who murders children is alive, we will continue to pursue and kill him with all our might,” the IRGC said. AFP The news has been reported with reference to the Iran Constable news agency.
The threat from the Revolutionary Guards comes after Netanyahu issued a warning to kill Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.
The standoff between Ten Hag and Sancho lasted four months before Sancho joined Dortmund on loan for the remainder of the season and helped them reach the Champions League final.
But they could not afford to keep him, and although United’s sporting director Dan Ashworth was credited with brokering a truce that allowed Sancho to join United in the 2024 pre-season, it was a temporary situation, which Chelsea resolved by agreeing to a loan that committed him to a permanent transfer at the end of the season.
Nevertheless, after five goals in 41 matches, Chelsea preferred to pay a £5 million fine to send Sancho back to Old Trafford.
This time, there was no reconciliation. Sancho was placed in Ruben Amorim’s ‘Bomb Squad’ and had to train away from the first team until joining Villa on 1 September.
United have the option to introduce an additional year on Sancho’s contract, which would otherwise expire in the summer. He is securing his place among the public. No one expects such a turnaround to happen.
At 25, Sancho still has a lot to offer.
Sancho has shown flashes of quality at Villa, but it’s unclear if he’ll stay there for the rest of the season.
Current Manchester United interim head coach Michael Carrick said, “Watching Jadon closely, technically, he’s got a lot of potential.”
His natural ability is evident in and around the box, including his ball-carrying skills, short plays, connections, creativity, and how he handles the ball.
“He’s always moving forward in every way. It’s a part of football.
“But – and I’m not talking about Jadon personally on this topic – it’s just how it is and how it should be.
“You cannot assume that everything will go smoothly. It has been proven that such an outcome is not always the case.
“You have to discover a way through it. If you’re playing on a successful team with good players and good depth, that’s part of the challenge of staying on top.”
A top security expert has warned that escalating conflict could push Britain towards a modern world war, with rising oil prices, economic pain and even a return to selective recruitment.
An expert has warned that recruitment will be needed in Britain (Image: Getty Images)
As the conflict intensifies in the Middle East, experts have warned that the consequences could extend far beyond the battlefield – potentially altering daily life in Britain.
Professor Anthony Glees says that if the current crisis continues to escalate, it could bring the world closer to a modern version of World War Three. But what will the outcome actually mean for Britain?
From the economy and energy prices to hiring prospects, its impact can be felt in homes, workplaces and communities across the country. According to Gleizes, modern war will look very different from the world wars of the 20th century.
Read more: Concerns have increased about the health of Donald Trump, who is struggling with ‘memory lapse’ on live TV.
Middle East war continues after joint attack by US and Israel against Iran
Instead of vast armies clashing on European battlefields, 21st-century global conflict will likely be fought largely with drones, missiles and cyber attacks.
He warned that the current conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel risks turning into a much broader conflict if it continues.
“What started as an air campaign could easily spread,” Gleizes told the Mirror, warning that it could draw in major powers and allies around the world.
He believes the conflict already shows the hallmarks of a new kind of global war: largely non-nuclear but highly technological and potentially long-lasting.
One of the quickest impacts for ordinary Britons will be economic. If fighting disrupts shipping routes such as the Strait of Hormuz—a vital channel for global energy supplies— oil prices could rise even more dramatically than before.
US is using some UK RAF bases
The waterway transports approximately 25% of the world’s oil supply, indicating that any blockade could have a significant impact on global markets.
Gleizes warned that continued price rises could send oil above £75 ($100) a barrel, fuelling inflation across the West and derailing hopes of interest rate cuts.
Such developments could mean higher fuel bills, rising food prices and more pressure on household budgets. Such an outcome will hit inflation everywhere in the West and put the UK economy’s growth plans into a tailspin,” he warned. Its impact could also increase mortgage costs and slow economic growth.
Britain already maintains military bases in the region, including RAF Akrotiri and RAF Dhekelia in Cyprus. These bases are major hubs for intelligence and military operations in the Middle East. If the conflict escalates, British forces may find themselves directly involved in the fighting, whether through protecting Allied bases or supporting international operations.
It is being said that Trump is worried about oil prices.
Gleizes says more profound involvement from attacks on Western installations or allies in the Gulf may be inevitable. One of the most dramatic changes may be the return of recruiting.
The expert believes Britain will need to dramatically expand its armed forces if a prolonged global conflict emerges. “It would be necessary to at least double the size of our armed forces,” he said.
However, he believes that a modern system would likely look very different from the mass conscription seen during World War II. Instead, it could follow the model used in countries such as Sweden and Norway, where all young men must register for potential military service but only a few are selected.
The government can also provide significant incentives to encourage people to serve. During World War II, returning soldiers were promised sweeping social reforms, including the creation of a National Health Service and the construction of “homes for heroes.”
In the modern equivalent, Gleizes suggests that incentives might include student loan cancellation, free university education or subsidised mortgages. Such policies could be used to encourage voluntary recruitment, creating a larger reserve force.
If the crisis escalates, Britain will likely work closely with its European partners and NATO allies.
Keir Starmer stands by his decision not to engage in military strikes against Iran (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
The professor says European NATO members, together with Ukraine, could muster about 1.5 million troops – equivalent to the size of Vladimir Putin’s armed forces.
However, he warned that dependence on the United States alone may no longer be realistic. “Regardless of Brexit, we must work together with our European partners,” he said.
For most people in the UK, the impact of the wider conflict will be felt first in their wallets. Rising energy prices, inflation and economic uncertainty can quickly impact living standards.
But if the situation escalates, the impact could be far more personal – from new national service schemes to a larger military presence across the country.
Although a full-scale global war is still not certain, experts warn that the current conflict highlights how quickly international crises can reshape domestic life.
A US military refuelling plane crashed in western Iraq on Thursday, killing four of the six crew members on board. The tanker was involved in ongoing US operations against Iran and was one of two aircraft involved in the incident.
General Dan Cain, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs, said at a press conference on Friday that the plane had crashed “while the crew was on a combat mission”.
His father was stripped of his titles and honours by the king the previous year, and his humiliating fall from grace reached its peak last month, when he was arrested on his birthday on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Andrew was detained for 11 hours before being released under investigation. He has always denied any wrongdoing.
Beatrice and her sister, Princess Eugenie, were said to be unaffected by their father’s scandal.
Last Christmas, the sisters joined the rest of the royal family at Sandringham, earning praise for King Charles’s kind nature.
However, this year, according to a royal commentator, things will be different for the York sisters, who will likely spend the special day away from Norfolk.
daily Mail The diary editor, Richard Eden, claimed that “it is very difficult to imagine” that Beatrice and Eugenie would receive a Christmas invitation to Sandringham this year.
He said on the Palace Confidential podcast: “Personally, I find it hard to imagine them at Sandringham, and certainly not on that traditional walk to church where they’re greeting the public, because, you know, that’s when they’re saying, This is the royal family, you know, we’re on display.
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“And it’s very difficult to imagine. I mean, remember they were invited last year. That the king was trying to embrace them and show that he supported them.”
Mr Eden said the most likely scenario for this year would be that Beatrice and Eugenie announce they will spend Christmas with their husbands’ families to avoid conflict.
Hundreds of tankers sit idle on both sides of the Strait of Hormuz as Iran effectively closed the waterway, sending oil prices above $100 — the highest since 2022 after the start of the Russia-Ukraine war.
Oil tanker traffic in the strait, through which a fifth of global oil passes, has collapsed after Israel and the United States launched attacks on Tehran on February 28. Asian countries, including India, China and Japan, as well as some European countries, obtain the bulk of their energy needs from the Gulf. The global economy will collapse due to supply disruptions.
To avoid shock, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has decided to release 400 million barrels of oil from emergency reserves, the largest coordinated drawdown in the agency’s history. But it has failed to push down prices.
The agency had released about 182 million barrels of oil to stabilise oil prices after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
According to the agency, oil shipments through the strategic waterway have fallen to less than 10 per cent of pre-war levels, threatening one of the most vital arteries in the global energy system.
IEA members collectively have about 1.25 billion barrels in government-controlled emergency reserves, as well as about 600 million barrels in industry stocks linked to government obligations.
Big numbers in a big market
This figure may appear huge, but it is shrinking rapidly compared to the scale of global energy demand.
“It feels like a small bandage on a big wound,” said energy strategist Naif Aldandeni, describing the world’s largest coordinated emergency oil release as governments scramble to stabilise markets shaken by the war.
The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that world consumption of petroleum and other liquids will average 105.17 million barrels per day in 2026. At that rate, 400 million barrels would theoretically cover only four days of global consumption.
Even when compared to normal traffic through the Strait of Hormuz—about 20 million barrels per day— the oil released is only equivalent to 20 days of normal flow.
Eldandeni told Al Jazeera that emergency reserves could calm jitters in markets but could not replace the lost function of disrupted shipping corridors.
“The release may provide temporary relief and alleviate concerns,” he stated, “but its effectiveness will be limited as long as the underlying issue – the freedom of supply and tanker movement through the Strait of Hormuz – remains unresolved.”
Oil prices reflect those concerns. Brent crude traded at $103.14 per barrel on Friday, after rising to around $120 earlier, due to fears of production and shipping disruptions.
geopolitical risk premium
Oil expert Nabil al-Marsoumi stated that supply fundamentals alone could not explain the price rise.
“The closure of the Strait of Hormuz resulted in the geopolitical risk premium rising to almost $40 a barrel relative to market fundamentals,” he told Al Jazeera.
From that perspective, issuing strategic reserves serves primarily as a temporary tool to reduce that premium rather than fundamentally rebalancing the market.
Prices above $100 a barrel are uncomfortable for major consumer economies that are already struggling to curb inflation and protect economic growth.
Recent EIA estimates show that global demand has not yet declined significantly due to the war, remaining around 105 million barrels per day. Therefore, market pressure stems less from declining consumption and more from fears of supply shortages and delays in deliveries to refineries and consumers.
Threat to oil infrastructure
The latest increase could deepen those fears.
United States President Donald Trump said on Friday that US Central Command (CENTCOM) “carried out one of the most powerful bombing strikes in the history of the Middle East and completely destroyed every military target in Iran’s crown jewel, Kharg Island”.
He said that “for reasons of decency” he “chose not to destroy the oil infrastructure on the island” but warned that Washington might reconsider that restraint if Iran continued to disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
CENTCOM confirmed the operation, saying that US forces had “struck more than 90 Iranian military targets on Kharg Island, while preserving oil infrastructure”.
Meanwhile, Iranian officials have warned that if there is a direct attack on Iranian oil infrastructure, they will target US-linked energy facilities across the region.
Kharg Island is not just a military location. It serves as the primary export terminal for Iranian crude oil, making it a vital node in the country’s oil supply network.
If attacks move from disrupting shipping to targeting export infrastructure, the crisis could shift from a chokepoint disruption scenario to one linked to direct loss of production and export capacity.
In such circumstances, oil drawn from emergency reserves will only serve as a temporary bridge rather than a permanent solution to lost supplies.
Major oil companies such as QatarEnergy, the world’s largest producer of liquefied natural gas (LNG), Kuwait Petroleum Corporation and Bahrain state oil company Bapco have halted production and declared force majeure, while Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest oil producer and the state oil company of the United Arab Emirates, ADNOC, have closed their refineries.
emergency reserve limit
Even in a less severe scenario – where maritime disruption persists but infrastructure remains intact – the ability of strategic reserves to stabilise markets remains constrained by logistics.
The US Department of Energy stated that the US strategic petroleum reserves as of February 18, 2026, were 415.4 million barrels. Its maximum extraction capacity is 4.4 million barrels per day, and oil requires approximately 13 days to reach US markets after the President’s release order.
This means that even the world’s largest emergency reserve cannot immediately flood the market with crude oil. Releases must pass through pipelines, shipping networks and refining capacity before reaching consumers.
Eldandeni said the current intervention would likely produce only a temporary stabilisation effect, while Al-Marsoumi warned that a prolonged disruption in the Strait of Hormuz – or the spread of threats to other chokepoints such as the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea – could send prices rising sharply and further.
When President Trump posts Truth on Social, you don’t have to read between the lines.
The bombing of Kharg Island had a huge purpose – literally – to its, to some extent, end.
The tone was performative, the wording absolute, almost cinematic, and geared towards multiple audiences.
His first audience was Iran. He highlights the thoroughness of the attack and the vulnerability of the island.
image: A satellite image shows an oil terminal on Kharg Island, Iran. Image: Planet Labs PBC/Reuters
image: Kharg Island is approximately five miles long and 2.5 miles wide
In the Persian Gulf, close to all major shipping routes, it handles 90% of Iran’s oil exports.
Follow the latest information on the war in Iran
Trump sent a signal that the country’s “crown jewel”, in terms of its economy, was within reach.
The underlying signal was inhibition. If military sites can be attacked, oil terminals can also be attacked “should Iran, or anyone else,” disrupt shipping.
Trump says Iran war will last ‘as long as necessary’
His second audience: global oil traders. He claimed that the US had “completely destroyed every military target”. Pay attention to caps.
He stressed that he had decided not to “eliminate” the oil infrastructure on the island.
His reasoning is because he knows that Kharag could send crude oil prices skyrocketing, with some analysts predicting it could reach $150 per barrel.
This development makes the island even more important than the economic heart of Iran. It is a pressure valve for the global economy.
A single surge could spread from the waters of the Gulf to petrol stations in Europe, Asia and the Americas.
Read more:
‘Trump is doing humanity a favor’: Scenes from ‘Tehrangeles’
All crew members killed in US plane refueling crash in Iraq
Oil tankers will be transported through the Strait of Hormuz
Iran War Day 14: Video on the ground
And there’s a third audience: households. Brief, powerful language.
Declaring the US military “deadly, powerful and effective”, he claimed the end of the bombing was historic.
It turns a complex geopolitical move into a simple narrative for an already nervous base about this war.
We understand targeted help for the poorest households that rely on heating oil is coming, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves due to make an announcement as soon as Monday.
It follows calls from rural Labour MPs, who have warned constituents living in fuel shortages are unable to heat their homes, have their supplies restored, or afford the rising price.
“It may be a small proportion for the country overall, but where there are large groups of people using heating oil, it’s a big issue,” Labour MP Terry Jeremy told Sky News.
The MP for South West Norfolk said he had spent weeks warning ministers: “I have had people literally turn off their heating because their tank has gone empty.
“If we’re not careful and if we don’t take action, the situation could be a public health issue. We have elderly, vulnerable people who are literally not able to turn on their heating and not able to cook their food in some cases. The government has no choice; we have to take action.”
Beyond help for oil customers, Rachel Reeves Just blocking anything else right now.
Along with the authorities, they hope that times will become easier conflict in the Gulf. And, along with that, there will be an impact on cost here. It’s a defiant stance and one he hopes will pay off.
image: A tanker is seen listing after being attacked in Iraqi waters. Photo: Reuters
Read more:
What the Iran War Could Mean for Your Bills
What can be done to protect shipping from Iran?
Opposition parties are continuously putting pressure on what will happen after the current situation: the price cap on energy bills ends in June and fuel duty increases in September. Politically, this is a terrible time for the Labour Party.
Ministers felt their ‘£150 discount on energy bills’ was a concrete example of efforts to reduce the cost of living and put more money in people’s pockets. Normal gas and electricity bills will see reductions from April as a result of changes announced by the Chancellor in last November’s Budget.
By scrapping some green levies and shifting others to general taxation, Labour says the changes will reduce the typical bill by around £150. Ofgem says the reduction would be as much as £117 Because the cost of running and maintaining the network has increased.
But Reeves is nonetheless committed to fiscal discipline.
We are determined not to resort to an extremely expensive package of sovereign support, as we saw in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In an interview with The Times, she does not criticise a package but makes it clear that it is a package we are still paying for.
In the same interview, he highlighted that the government now has the benefit of better data. Therefore, if needed in the future, any further financial assistance can be means-tested.
Five ways the Iran war is impacting your finances
This is a significant ‘if’, but it could be very costly, even with more targeted support.
Labour will have to spend the coming weeks considering its options.
Not only the financial cost, but also the political one. For a government that has made economic growth and high living standards its priorities, it faces an unforgiving electorate if there is no sign of improvement in the next election – even if it is due to events beyond its control.
