US‑Israel war on Iran, Day 18: Iran confirms security chief Ali Larijani killed

Day 17:  Trump urges allies to secure Strait of Hormuz,

Day 16: Trump calls for allies on Strait of Hormuz security

Day 15: Trump threatens Iran’s oil infrastructure after US bombs Kharg

Day 14: Trump vows intense strikes against Iran in coming days

Day 13: US refueling aircraft crashes in Iraq

Day 12: Donald Trump says Iran near point of defeat

Day 11: US says today will be the 'most intense' of attacks

Day 10: UAE intercepts 15 missiles and 119 drones

Day 9: Gulf nations face fresh attacks

Day 8: US forces hit Iran hard, Trump touts battlefield gains

Day 7: Thousands being evacuated from Middle East: Trump

Day 6: Spring break for schools, moved up; some exams cancelled

Day 5: UAE waives overstay fines caused by airspace closure

Day 4: Dubai contains fire near US Consulate

Day 3: Trump lists 'clear' Iran war objectives

Day 2: UAE airlines extend flight cancellations

Day 1: UAE intercepts missiles; regional airspaces closed

Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior announced on the arrest of members of a terrorist group affiliated with the banned terrorist organisation Hezbollah that aimed to destabilise security in the State of Kuwait and recruit individuals to join the terrorist organisation.

The cell consisted of 14 Kuwaiti nationals and two Lebanese nationals.

In a statement carried by the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), the ministry said that security investigations and inquiries revealed an organised sabotage plan carried out by members of this terrorist group.

Qatar’s Ministry of Defence announced on Monday (March 16) that the State of Qatar was targeted by 14 Iranian ballistic missiles and several drones.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence announced on Monday that seven drones were intercepted and destroyed in the Eastern Region.

The Education, Human Development, and Community Development Council has announced three regulatory measures aimed at ensuring the continuity of the educational process across the country while safeguarding the safety of students and the wider educational community, in coordination with the relevant entities within the national education system and the federal government work ecosystem.

The Abu Dhabi Media Office (ADMO) announced that the relevant authorities responded to a fire that broke out at a facility at the Shah field following a drone attack.

The Council of the European Union today, March 16, decided to impose restrictive measures on an additional 16 individuals and 3 entities responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. The listings, published on Monday, target a diverse group of individuals and entities that played a key role in the suppression of street protests in January 2026, which resulted in thousands of civilian casualties.

Dubai: Air India and Air India Express will together operate 44 scheduled and non-scheduled flights to and from the West Asia region today, March 17, the airlines said.

Both carriers will continue operating scheduled services to Muscat and Jeddah on the same day as part of their regional network operations.

The UAE Ministry of Interior has reported that the UAE air defence systems are currently dealing with a missile threat.

"Please remain in a safe place and follow warnings and updates on the official news channels," the ministry stated in a social media post.

Dubai: Authorities here have confirmed that the sounds heads overhead in various parts of the due are due to successful aerial interceptions of airborne threats in the early hours of Tuesday, March 17.

Traffic has returned to normal on all roads leading to Airport Road following the earlier closure of Al Amiri Airport Intersection, including the route for vehicles coming from Al Khawaneej Street toward Al Rashidiyah, according to the Dubai Police.

The competent authorities in the Emirate of Fujairah confirmed that a fire broke out in the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone as a result of a drone attack, with no injuries reported.

Civil Defence teams in the emirate immediately began responding to the incident and are continuing their efforts to bring the fire under control.

The authorities urged the public not to circulate rumours and to obtain information only from official sources.

Air traffic operations have returned to normal across the UAE's airspace, the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has announced.

Earlier in the day, UAE authorities temporarily closed the country's airspace as an exceptional precautionary measure aimed at ensuring the safety of flights and air crews, and safeguarding the UAE’s territory, amid rapidly evolving regional security developments.

Sri Lanka has introduced a four-day work week for state institutions, schools, and universities to conserve scarce fuel reserves as the country braces for a prolonged Middle East crisis. The measures take effect Wednesday and will remain in place indefinitely.

Commissioner-General of Essential Services Prabath Chandrakeerthi said state institutions will operate only four days a week starting Wednesday.

"We are also asking the private sector to follow suit and declare every Wednesday a holiday from now on," Chandrakeerthi told reporters after an emergency meeting chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

Essential services, including hospitals, ports, and emergency services, will continue to operate as usual. The government has also suspended all public ceremonies and encouraged civil servants to work from home where possible to reduce fuel consumption.

Incoming fire targeted the US Embassy in Baghdad early Tuesday, with the facility’s air defences shooting down the projectiles, two security officials said.

The Iraqi officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, said the embassy’s C-RAM air defense shot down all four drones targeting the facility. However, shrapnel hit the embassy.

The Saudi Ministry of Defence confirmed that six drones were intercepted and destroyed in the Eastern Region. The ministry’s spokesperson said the operation ensured the safety of the region and its residents.

Earlier reports noted three drones had already been intercepted, bringing the total to six. The Ministry of Defense continues to monitor the situation closely.

The UAE Air Defense Systems are currently responding to a missile threat. Authorities have urged residents to remain in safe locations and to follow official channels for real-time warnings and updates.

Officials emphasised that all necessary measures are being taken to ensure public safety and minimise disruptions to daily life.

Australia's central bank hiked its key interest rate Tuesday, pointing to "sharply higher fuel prices" driven by the US-Israel war on Iran.

The Reserve Bank of Australia became one of the first major central banks to lift rates in response to the turmoil, raising its key cash rate 25 basis points to 4.10 percent.

Iran's football federation is "negotiating" with FIFA to relocate the country's first-round matches at the World Cup to Mexico from the United States, citing the conflict in the Middle East, Iran's embassy in Mexico said Monday.

"When (US President Donald) Trump has explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America," Iranian football chief Mehdi Taj said in remarks posted on the embassy's X account.

"We are currently negotiating with FIFA to hold Iran's matches in the World Cup in Mexico."

Qatar's Ministry of Defence announced that the Armed forces intercepted a missile attack. Civil Defence is dealing with a fire in the Industrial Area, resulting from falling debris.

No injuries were reported.

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defense Spokesperson says 12 drones were intercepted and destroyed in the past few hours in Eastern Region.

Authorities in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi responded to an incident caused by falling shrapnel in the Bani Yas area following the interception of a ballistic missile by air defence systems.

The incident resulted in the death of a Pakistani national, according to officials.

Authorities have urged the public to rely only on official sources for information and to avoid spreading rumours or unverified reports.

The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has announced the immediate suspension of all recreational and sports aviation permits, warning of strict legal consequences for violations.

In an official advisory, the regulator said that operating any such aircraft without a valid permit during this period will expose individuals to immediate legal accountability. The GCAA stressed that the directive is part of efforts to ensure safety and maintain regulatory control.

All operators and aviation enthusiasts have been urged to comply with the suspension and avoid undertaking any unauthorized flights until further notice.

The Israeli military said early Tuesday it had begun a "wide-scale wave of strikes" across Iran's capital and was also stepping up strikes on Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.

Israel also reported two incoming salvos before dawn from Iran at Tel Aviv and elsewhere and said Hezbollah targeted Israel's north.

Gold prices in Dubai moved up on Tuesday morning, with 24K rising to Dh607 and 22K to Dh562, marking a slight recovery after recent declines. The uptick follows a volatile run this month, with prices easing from early March highs, while global factors including inflation concerns and geopolitical tensions continue to shape demand.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Tuesday their forces had arrested 10 'foreign spies' as the war with Israel and the US continued.

"Ten mercenary, treacherous elements were identified and arrested," the Guards intelligence organisation in the northeastern Razavi Khorasan province said, according to ISNA news agency, without identifying their nationalities.

The Guards said fours among them were gathering information "on sensitive sites and economic infrastructure" while others were linked to a "monarchist terrorist group."

The price of oil jumped more than five percent Tuesday as several countries pushed back against Donald Trump's demand that they help secure the key Strait of Hormuz, while Iran targeted crude-producing neighbours.

At around 0615 GMT, US benchmark West Texas West Texas Intermediate was up 5.16 percent at $98.32 a barrel while Brent Crude also rose above five percent before easing back.

Britain and Ukraine are set to sign a defence partnership aimed at addressing the threat of low-cost drones, Downing Street announced ahead of a visit from Ukraine's leader on Tuesday.

Since the start of the US-Israeli war with Iran late last month, Tehran has mainly used ballistic missiles to attack Israel but has relied on drones to strike targets in Gulf states.

The UK-Ukraine agreement will "boost global defensive capability against the proliferation of low-cost, high-tech military hardware, including drones", British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's office said in a statement.

It seeks to leverage Ukraine's "expertise" in fending off drones from its years-long war with Russia, as well as Britain's industrial base, "to manufacture and supply drones and innovative capabilities".

Loud explosions shook Iran's capital on Tuesday, an AFP journalist said, after a night of bombing in the war with the United States and Israel.

It was not immediately clear what the targets were but the blasts were heard in Tehran city centre, and followed a night of heavy explosions mixed with thunder and rain across the city, the reporter said.

China said on Tuesday it will provide humanitarian assistance to Middle Eastern countries, including Iran and Lebanon, targeted in US and Israeli strikes in the now three-week conflict.

"China has decided to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to Iran, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq. It is hoped this will help alleviate the humanitarian plight faced by the local populations," foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian told a press conference.

Israel reportedly targeted Ali Larijani, head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, in a strike on Tehran on Monday night, though it is unclear if he was killed, according to an Israeli source cited by CNN.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) are awaiting a battle damage assessment to confirm the results.

On Tuesday, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said the strikes achieved “significant” results. The IDF carried out simultaneous attacks on Tehran, Shiraz, and Tabriz, officially targeting missile production sites and command centres, while also acting against elements of the Revolutionary Guards and Iran’s repression apparatus.

Iraq is in talks with Iran to allow some oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz after output dropped sharply amid ongoing disruptions, according to Oil Minister Hayyan Abdul Ghani. Production has fallen to about 1.2 million barrels a day from 4.4 million earlier, with storage filling up and alternative export routes now being explored.

Two paramedics were injured when shrapnel struck an ambulance station in Kuwait, the Ministry of Health (MoH) said. Their conditions were reported as stable, according to the Kuwait News Agency.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday that Iran's powerful national security chief Ali Larijani was "eliminated last night", along with the commander of Tehran's Basij paramilitary force.

"I have just been updated by the Chief of Staff that Larijani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, and the head of the Basij - Iran's central repression apparatus - (Soleimani), were eliminated last night," Katz said in a statement released by his ministry.

The Embassy of Pakistan in Abu Dhabi is gathering information on Pakistani nationals currently stranded in transit in the United Arab Emirates due to flight disruptions and airport closures.

In a notice, the embassy urged Pakistani citizens who are presently in transit to complete an online form with accurate details. The information will help officials coordinate with relevant authorities and airlines to provide assistance.

Authorities emphasised that the survey is strictly for Pakistani nationals who are currently in transit in the UAE. Individuals who are UAE residents or not presently in transit have been asked to fill out a separate general survey issued earlier by the embassy.

The embassy also advised applicants to ensure all details are correct before submitting the form.

The Red Cross says civilians in Iran are paying “a heavy price” as the U.S. and Israel war against the Islamic Republic shows no sign of abating.

Vincent Cassard, head of the Red Cross delegation in Iran, said the war has placed “heavy strain” on Iranians.

“The heavy loss of life is alarming,” he said. “Daily life in Tehran has been profoundly disrupted.”

He said damaged schools and hospitals, as well as facilities of the Iranian Red Crescent, show “the heavy price that civilians are paying as a result of hostilities.”

China is offering emergency humanitarian assistance to Iran and three other countries because of the war.

“The ongoing conflict has caused a grave humanitarian disaster for the people of regional countries, including Iran,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said in Beijing.

He did not provide any details on the amount or nature of the assistance.

China earlier said it would provide $200,000 to support the parents of the students killed in a missile strike that hit an elementary school in Iran.

If the Middle East war continues through June, an extra 45 million people could face acute hunger, swelling the number worldwide to a "terrible" high, the United Nations warned Tuesday.

"If the Middle East conflict continues through June, an additional 45 million people could be pushed into acute hunger by price rises," Carl Skau, the deputy executive director of the UN's World Food Programme, told a press conference in Geneva.

"This would take global hunger levels to an all-time record, and it's a terrible, terrible prospect," he said, with 319 million people - already an historic high - currently acutely food insecure.

The UAE air defence systems on 17th March 2026 engaged 10 ballistic missiles and 45 drones, launched from Iran.

Since the onset of Iranian aggression, UAE air defences have engaged 314 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles and 1,672 UAVs. These attacks have resulted in the deaths of two members of the armed forces while performing their national duty, as well as six fatalities of Pakistani, Nepali, Bangladeshi and Palestinian nationalities. A total of 157 people were also injured, with injuries ranging from minor to moderate and severe.

The Kingdom of Bahrain announced that the air defence systems of the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF) intercepted and destroyed 129 ballistic missiles and 233 drones that targeted the Kingdom since the onset of the Iranian aggression.

The Qatari Ministry of Defence announced on Tuesday that the Armed Forces have intercepted a second wave of missile attacks targeting the country, according to a statement carried by Qatar News Agency (QNA).

Across Dubai, residents and citizens have just received an alert. The message calls for no panic and gentle action to ensure safety. It reads: "Air defence systems are currently dealing with a missile threat. Please remain in a safe place and follow warnings and updates on the official channels."

The Ministry of Defence assured that the sounds heard across the city are the result of the Air Defence Systems intercepting missiles and drones.

The UAE Ministry of Interior sent out an alert on mobile phones soon after another notification on defence ops across Dubai. The new alert explained that the situation had been resolved and one could go back to their normal activities.

A senior US counterterrorism official resigned on Tuesday to protest the US-Israeli war against Iran.

"I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran," Joseph Kent, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, said in his resignation letter to President Donald Trump.

Joe Kent, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, announced his resignation on Tuesday, saying he "cannot in good conscience" back the Trump administration's war in Iran.

Kent said on social media Iran "posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby."

Kent, a former political candidate with connections to right-wing extremists, was confirmed to his post last July on a 52-44 vote.

Authorities in Fujairah have apprehended an individual (A.M., an Arab national) after he trespassed and carried out filming in restricted areas without obtaining the necessary official permits, in clear violation of the laws and regulations in force in the country.

The authorities stated that the individual had secretly infiltrated these sites.

During questioning, it was revealed that he works for a media organisation; however, he did not have any authorisation permitting him to access these locations or conduct filming activities there.

France is ready to help escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz but only once the situation has become "calmer", said President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday.

"We are not a party to the conflict and therefore France will never take part in operations to open or liberate the Strait of Hormuz in the current context," Macron said following US President Donald Trump's demand that allies help secure the waterway effectively shut by Iran in response to US-Israeli strikes.

"However, we are convinced that once the situation becomes calmer... we are ready, alongside other nations, to take responsibility for an escort system."

‏The UAE’s Ministry of Interior warned of fraudulent messages sent to mobile phones under the name “MOI” requesting the immediate reporting of concerning security incidents.

‏The ministry confirms that these messages are fake and should be ignored, and no response should be made to them.

‏The ministry also urges the public to obtain information only from officially approved channels

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that US forces "no longer need" military help in the Iran war, after his calls for assistance from allies to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to oil traffic were largely rebuffed.

The American president has spent recent days griping about how world powers have so far declined to send warships to escort tankers through the narrow waterway in and out of the Gulf and key to the transit of crude.

With the war in its third week, Trump has repeatedly stressed that US and Israeli air strikes have decimated Iran's leadership, military facilities, and weapons manufacturing capacity.

"The United States has been informed by most of our NATO 'Allies' that they don't want to get involved with our Military Operation against the Terrorist Regime of Iran, in the Middle East," Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.

"Because of the fact that we have had such Military Success, we no longer 'need,' or desire, the NATO Countries' assistance - WE NEVER DID! Likewise, Japan, Australia, or South Korea," Trump said, adding: "WE DO NOT NEED THE HELP OF ANYONE!"

Air India and Air India Express will together operate 50 scheduled and non-scheduled flights to and from the West Asia region on March 18.

Both carriers will continue operating their respective scheduled services to and from Jeddah and Muscat on March 18, including 14 flights between India and Jeddah. Of these, Air India will operate one return service each from Delhi and Mumbai, while Air India Express will also operate one flight each from Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Mangalore and two flights from Kozhikode.

Air India Express will also operate 12 scheduled flights to and from Muscat, including services from Delhi, Kannur, Kochi, Lucknow, Mumbai, Thiruvananthapuram

In addition to the scheduled services, Air India and Air India Express will operate 24 non-scheduled flights to and from the UAE and Saudi Arabia, subject to availability of slots and other prevailing conditions at the departure stations at the time.

Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health announced that the number of victims from Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon since 2 March has risen to 912 killed and 2,221 wounded, according to the National News Agency.

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defence spokesperson said, "Seven drones were intercepted and destroyed in the past few hours in the Eastern Region."

Several loud explosions were heard Tuesday evening in Iraq's capital Baghdad, AFP journalists reported, with a security official reporting a drone and rocket attack on the US embassy.

In a restaurant in the city, where diners did not react to the initial sounds of the blasts, a witness told AFP he saw detonations caused by the embassy's air defences intercepting projectiles.

Another witness saw a fire on the edge of the embassy grounds from her balcony, with the blaze also reported by the security official, who said it was caused by a drone.

"The embassy was the target of a drone and rocket attack," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday that 201 Ukrainian anti-drone military experts were in the Middle East to help defend the region against Iranian-designed Shahed drones, and another 34 were "ready to deploy".

"These are military experts, experts who know how to help, how to defend against Shahed drones. Our teams are already in the Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and on the way to Kuwait," Zelensky told British lawmakers during an address in the UK parliament.

Iran is selecting ships from friendly countries to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial trade waterway cut off by the Middle East war, data trackers indicated Tuesday.

Tehran's forces have closed off the waterway, through which a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas passes in peacetime, with deadly hits reported on vessels since the war began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28.

But at least five ships exited the Strait via Iranian waters on March 15 and 16, maritime intelligence firm Windward said in an analysis report on Tuesday.

"The new route illustrates how Iran's selective blockade has evolved to allow allies and supporters to transit", it said, citing its tracking as "rising evidence that Iran is exerting permission-based transit and control of the strait".

Natasha Kaneva, a commodities analyst at JPMorgan bank, said in an analysis on Monday that at least four ships had been tracked exiting the strait via the Larak-Qeshm Channel, near the Iranian coast, over the previous two days.

UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan today received a phone call from Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of the Republic of India, during which they discussed developments in the region amid escalating military actions and their serious implications for regional and international security and stability.

During the call, Modi reiterated India’s condemnation of the blatant Iranian attacks targeting the UAE and other countries in the region and affirmed India’s solidarity with the UAE regarding the measures it is taking to uphold its security, sovereignty, and the safety of its people.

Both sides underscored the need for an immediate halt to the escalation while prioritising dialogue and diplomacy to address regional issues in a way that prevents further crises and preserves regional and international peace and security.

Dr. Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the President of the United Arab Emirates, said on Tuesday that the UAE may join international efforts led by the United States to ensure the safety and security of the Strait of Hormuz. He noted, however, that no formal plan has yet been agreed upon and that discussions are still ongoing.

Speaking during an online event hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations, with remarks reported by Reuters and Sky News Arabia, Gargash stated: “We all share the responsibility of ensuring the continued flow of trade and energy.”

He added that once the ongoing US-Israeli war with Iran comes to an end, there will be a need for an agreement to ensure that Iran cannot use its nuclear, missile, or drone programs “to intimidate the region.”

Concerns over maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz have intensified, as navigation has been disrupted by military operations. At the same time, US President Donald Trump has sought to rally countries to deploy naval vessels to escort oil tankers through the strategic waterway.

Commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has nearly come to a halt as the US-Israeli war with Iran enters its third week.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards on Tuesday confirmed the death of the commander of the affiliated Basij paramilitary force in an US-Israeli strike.

"Commander Gholamreza Soleimani, head of the Basij Organisation, has been martyred," the Guards said on their Sepah News website, after Israel said it had killed him in an air strike.

Iran has officially announced the death of Ali Larijani, a prominent political figure and former parliament speaker, according to state media reports. Larijani was widely regarded as an influential voice in Iranian politics, having held several senior roles over decades.

According to Fars News Agency, Larijani was killed along with his son, one of his aides, and several others after his daughter’s home in the Pardis area was targeted.

The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned, in the strongest terms, the terrorist plot that targeted the State of Kuwait.

The Council affirmed its unequivocal rejection of all forms of extremism, terrorism, and criminal plots aimed at undermining the security and stability of Gulf and Arab states and commends the competence, vigilance, and professionalism of the relevant security authorities in the State of Kuwait for their success in dismantling a terrorist cell affiliated with Hezbollah organisation that was planning to destabilise security and stability and recruit individuals for the organisation.

The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a strong statement condemning Iranian attacks, warning that the country is fully prepared to respond to any threats against its territory and people.

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated: "Amid the unprovoked Iranian terrorist attacks, the United Arab Emirates unequivocally rejects any aggression targeting its security or sovereignty, and affirms that it remains steadfast and fully prepared to respond decisively to any threat. The UAE will not tolerate any attempt to compromise its security or territorial integrity, and will act with absolute resolve to protect its citizens, residents, and visitors, and defend its national interests."

Air defenses in the United Arab Emirates are actively intercepting incoming missile and drone threats launched from Iran, according to the country’s Ministry of Defence.

The ministry said the loud sounds heard across parts of the UAE are the result of air defense systems engaging and destroying incoming projectiles, confirming they are interceptions rather than direct strikes.

UAE authorities have announced that the emergency alert has been lifted and the situation is now safe.

In an official update, government agencies confirmed that all necessary precautionary measures had been carried out and there is no longer any immediate threat. Residents and visitors were advised that normal activities can resume, while authorities continue to monitor the situation closely.

Officials also urged the public to stay informed through official channels and avoid spreading unverified information, emphasising that the country’s security systems remain fully operational and ready to respond to any future developments.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, expressed his sincere condolences and deep sympathy to the families of the victims of Iran’s unprovoked terrorist attacks targeting the UAE.

The victims, who lost their lives as a result of these blatant attacks are: Alaa Nader Awni from the State of Palestine; Murib Zaman Nizar, Muzaffar Ali Ghulam, and Ismail Salim Khan from the Islamic Republic of Pakistan; Ahmed Ali from the People’s Republic of Bangladesh; and Dibas Shrestha from the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal.

Sheikh Abdullah underscored the UAE’s continued commitment to the safety and security of all citizens, residents, and visitors.

He condemned in the strongest terms the continued Iranian missile and drone attacks, which have persisted for 18 consecutive days and involved more than 2,000 ballistic and cruise missiles and drones targeting critical civilian infrastructure, airports, residential areas, and civilian sites across the UAE.

Bahrain on Wednesday said it has so far intercepted 129 missiles and 233 drones since the beginning of the US-Israel war on Iran more than two weeks ago.

Qatar Airways has announced that it will resume operating a limited number of flights during the period from March 18 to 28.

In a statement, the airline said that passengers can book flights through its official website or the Qatar Airways mobile application.

Saudi Arabia has intercepted a ballistic missile near Prince Sultan Air Base, which houses US military personnel, the defence ministry said on Wednesday as Iran continues strikes on Gulf nations.

We are closing coverage for now. Follow our live updates for the latest developments here.