The Foreign Minister says another three Australia-bound flights are scheduled to leave from the United Arab Emirates today, as countries around the world try and get their citizens out of the Middle East.

The Federal Government estimates more than 100,000 Australians are currently stuck in the region during the ongoing conflict.

Overnight an Emirates flight from the Dubai touched down in Sydney, and passengers had emotional reunions with loved ones.

The bombardment of gulf states seems to have subsided and details are emerging of a backchannel deal with Iran to open safe flight corridors from those busy airport hubs.

Now the focus has shifted to intense fighting between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah, which is aligned with Iran, and a large part of the population in Lebanon is being forced to evacuate.

The French president's urging Hezbollah to stop attacking Israel and the country's military to refrain from any ground offensive into Lebanon.

The US has also torpedoed an Iranian warship in the Indian ocean and the Trump Administration says it along with Israel will have complete control of Iran's airspace within a week.

While that's going on, stories are emerging of Australians panic buying fuel due to fears the conflict will cut supplies.

The federal treasurer is warning petrol stations not to use the chaos as an excuse to rip off motorists.

The government's asked the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to monitor prices at the bowser during the ongoing war.

War in the Middle East is dominating headlines again this morning.

There have been cheers and tears of relief at Sydney airport last night, as the first passengers to escape the conflict zone touched down on home soil on a commercial flight from Dubai.

The first of six Federal Government crisis teams are on their way to the Middle East to assist thousands of stranded Australians.

The government won't say where the teams are travelling due to security concerns.

The Trump Administration says the Iranian regime is 'toast' and the secretary of war has also been talking up the torpedoing of an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean, killing a large number of sailors on board.

Israel's demanding the total evacuation of southern Lebanon as it expands strikes against Hezbollah which initially fired rockets at Israel in solidarity with Iran.

NATO's shot down an Iranian ballistic missile which entered Turkish airspace, marking the first time a member of the alliance has been drawn into the conflict.

Heavy rain is set to drench communities across parts of North Queensland, as a potential cyclone looms over the Coral Sea.

The system's currently hundreds of kilometres east north east of Cairns.

The weather bureau says there's a moderate chance it'll strengthen into a cyclone, before making landfall tomorrow.

Forecasters are warning of severe impacts such as strong winds and flash flooding.

There have been emotional scenes at Sydney Airport after the first flight from the Middle East to Australia arrived safely late last night.

Thousands of Australians remain stranded in the region. A second commercial flight is expected to leave Abu Dhabi later today.

The federal government's also sending crisis teams to the region to help the thousands of Australians.

Countries around the world are chartering repatriation flights from the Middle East, in an enormous logistical exercise that's likely to take days.

There have been other developments relating to the conflict...

Sri Lankan officials say at least 87 people have been killed after the United States torpedoed an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean.

The latest figures show about 200 international oil tankers are stuck after traffic through the Strait of Hormuz ground to a halt, as owners wait to see if it's safe to cross through.

The Australian treasurer's warning of big economic consequences impacting oil and gas prices as well as inflation.

In other news, the alleged attempted bombing of an Invasion Day rally in Perth has sparked a federal parliamentary inquiry into racism, hate and violence directed at Indigenous people.

Police allege Liam Alexander Hall threw a homemade bomb into the crowd in Perth's CBD on January the 26th.

The Labor-dominated committee is expected to explore the role of social media, and discuss ways to combat racism.

Parts of North Queensland are on cyclone watch.

The weather bureau says there's a moderate chance of a tropical low developing into a cyclone before making landfall between Cairns and Innisfail tomorrow.

Heavy rain's forecast and winds are expected to pick up tomorrow.

Former Jetstar pilot Greg Lynn will today learn if he'll be bailed as he awaits a retrial for the murder of Carol Clay in a remote campsite in Victoria's High Country.

Mr Lynn's conviction for the murder of Ms Clay was overturned last year.

Last week, Mr Lynn's defence team argued "exceptional circumstances" of the case meant their client should be released on bail to live with his son.

Listen to the latest updates from ABC News

Listen to the latest updates from ABC News

Listen to the latest updates from ABC News

Listen to the latest updates from ABC News

Explosions are sounding in Tehran, as the US and Israel's joint military campaign on Iran enters day five.

The US military says it's struck more than two thousand targets, while Iran has launched over 500 ballistic missiles, and more than two thousand drones, in retaliation.

President Donald Trump says America has knocked out much of Iran's military and killed senior figures of its regime

human rights activists report more than one thousand civilians have died in Iran since the start of the conflict.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is surging consular capacity in response to the escalating Middle East war.

Six crisis response teams are being sent to the middle east to help the thousands of Australians who are stranded in the region.

Meanwhile, more than 200 Australians are on board a flight from Dubai to Sydney, the first since planes were grounded.

WA's two AFL clubs have paid tribute to the sport's iconic commentator Dennis Cometti, who's died at the age of 76.

Known for his one-liners and and expert timing, Cometti also called some of Australia's greatest moments at three Olympic Games.

The West Coast Eagles say the club is deeply saddened by the news of his passing, reflecting on his memorable call of the team's 1992 Grand Final win.

The Fremantle Dockers say the club's thoughts are with Cometti's family, remembering the commentator as a "true icon who saw and called the game like no other." 

US President Donald Trump says his country has knocked out much of Iran's military and killed senior figures of its regime.

Both the US and Israel are conducting fresh strikes on Iran.

Israel is also warning residents in parts of Lebanon to leave their homes ahead of what it says will be further attacks against Iran-backed group Hezbollah.

Human rights activists say more than 1,000 civilians have been reported killed in Iran since the war began.

The federal government is sending crisis teams to the Middle East to help Australians who are stuck in the region.

It's estimated more than 115,000 Australians are stranded due to the ongoing conflict.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has revealed six new response teams will be deployed to  provide extra consular support.

The minister wouldn't say how or where the teams were travelling due to security reasons.

South Australia Police says "members" of Gus Lamont's family are "not cooperating" with investigations.

The four-year-old disappeared from Oak Park Station in the state's mid north in September last year.

Authorities have previously said a person residing at the Station is no longer cooperating and that police considered them a suspect.

The war in the Middle East is continuing to intensify with Israel and Iran trading more airstrikes on day four of the conflict.

The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency says more than one-thousand civilians have been reported killed in Iran since the 28th of February.

The Israeli military says it's launched another broad wave of strikes on Iran while Hezbollah sites have also been targeted in Lebanon where authorities there say 50 people have been killed.

The federal government is sending six crisis response teams to the Middle East to help the thousands of Australians stranded in the region.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong won't reveal exactly where the teams will be going but she says they'll be assisting diplomats on the ground.

Senator Wong says she's pleased one flight has taken off from Dubai and is on its way to Sydney.

However, she says there are "many thousands" of Australians in the Middle East who need help.

Legendary West Australian sport commentator Dennis Cometti has died, at 76.

A former player and coach of WAFL club West Perth, Cometti began broadcasting in 1968.

After 13 years at the ABC he joined Channel Seven in 1986, and became an icon of Australian broadcasting.