US‑Israel war on Iran, Day 24: Trump and Starmer urge reopening of Strait of Hormuz as Iran threatens closure
Global energy at risk as Strait of Hormuz tensions escalate between US and Iran.
US President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said reopening the Strait of Hormuz is vital for global shipping. Iran warned it could fully close the waterway if its energy infrastructure is attacked. Meanwhile, the Israel Defence Forces prepares for weeks of fighting against Iran-backed forces and Hezbollah in Lebanon. In the UAE, an Indian national was injured by falling debris after a missile incident in Abu Dhabi.
Israel's military said on Monday morning it was working to intercept missiles fired from Iran, and urged people to take cover.
"A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel," Israel's military posted on Telegram, using the official acronym for the country's armed forces. "Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat."
UAE airlines are running a limited flight schedule to key destinations as weather disruptions and regional conditions continue to affect operations. Passengers are advised to check flight status before travelling, follow official airline updates, and only go to airports with confirmed bookings.
Adverse weather is expected to impact flights over the coming days. Airlines including flydubai and Air Arabia recommend allowing extra time for journeys, keeping contact details up to date, and using online booking tools for rebooking or refunds to ensure a safe and smooth travel experience.
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Explosions rang out in Tehran early Monday morning, Iranian media reported, as Israel announced it launched a fresh wave of strikes.
"Explosion heard in Tehran," local media Mehr posted on Telegram, while Fars news agency said airstrikes had targeted five areas of the Iranian capital and that "terrible sounds of explosions have been reported".
"More details on the extent of damage and possible casualties will be announced later," Fars posted.
In its own statement, Israel's military announced it had "begun a wide-scale wave of strikes targeting Iranian terror regime infrastructure in Tehran".
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defense said it detected two incoming ballistic missiles on Monday, as the kingdom and its Gulf neighbours face Iranian strikes.
"Two ballistic missiles were launched towards the Riyadh region, one of which was intercepted and the other fell in an uninhabited area," the ministry posted on social media.
Air defense systems are currently responding to a missile threat. Please remain in a safe location and follow official channels for warnings and updates.
Israel's military said it launched a "wide-scale wave" of strikes on the Iranian capital early Monday morning.
"The IDF has begun a wide-scale wave of strikes targeting Iranian terror regime infrastructure in Tehran," the Israeli military posted on Telegram using its official acronym.
The head of the International Energy Agency said Monday that at least forty energy assets had been "severely or very severely" damaged in the Middle East due to the war in the region.
"At least forty... energy assets in the region are severely or very severely damaged across nine countries," Fatih Birol told the National Press Club in Australia's capital.
Dr Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE President, said the country’s response to Iranian aggression extends beyond an immediate ceasefire, towards securing long-term regional stability.
In a post on X, Gargash said that as the "UAE confronts Iran’s blatant aggression and demonstrate our strength in resilience and steadfastness, our focus goes beyond a ceasefire to solutions that ensure lasting security in the Arabian Gulf, address the nuclear threat, missiles and drones, and put an end to the intimidation of vital waterways."
Abu Dhabi: An Indian national sustained minor injuries after debris fell in the Al Shawamekh area following an incident involving a ballistic missile, according to a statement carried by the Abu Dhabi Media Office.
Relevant authorities said emergency teams responded to the scene after air defence systems dealt with the incoming missile, with debris landing in a residential area.
Authorities urged the public to rely only on official sources for information and to refrain from circulating rumours or unverified reports.
An Iran-backed armed group announced on Monday that it would continue its five-day pause on attacking the US embassy in Baghdad.
Since the start of the war in the Middle East, pro-Iran armed groups have claimed responsibility for near-daily attacks on US interests in Iraq and across the region, while strikes have also targeted these groups.
On Thursday, Kataeb Hezbollah, designated a "terrorist organisation" by Washington, said it would stop attacking the Baghdad embassy under certain conditions, including an end to attacks on residential parts of Iraq and the southern suburbs of Beirut.
Following the successful interception of a ballistic missile by air defence systems, relevant authorities in Abu Dhabi have responded to an incident involving debris falling in the Al Shawamekh area. The incident resulted in a minor injury to an Indian national. The public is reminded to obtain information from official sources only and avoid spreading rumours or unverified information.
Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry offered sincere condolences to the families of Qatar and Turkiye's "martyrs of duty", and to their governments and peoples, after a helicopter crash from technical failure during a routine mission in Qatari waters resulting in the death of Qatari Armed Forces and Qatari-Turkish joint forces crew.
UK PM Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trump agreed in a Sunday call that reopening the Strait of Hormuz is essential for global shipping, BBC reported.
Trump had threatened to "obliterate" Iranian power plants if the Strait stays closed beyond 48 hours. The waterway is vital as it handles ~20% of global oil trade.
Iran claims the Strait is "open" to all except violators of its soil but warns of total closure if its energy sites are hit.
Oil prices rose early Monday after US President Donald Trump gave Iran a 48-hour ultimatum to open the Strait of Hormuz or face decimation of its energy infrastructure and Israel warned the war would continue for several more weeks.
The UAE Ministry of Defence (MOD) has confirmed that its air defence systems responded to incoming missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles launched from Iran, amid rising regional tensions.
The British Ministry of Defence has confirmed that a UK counter-drone unit downed an Iranian drone. The ministry issued an update confirming RAF Typhoons and F-35s are conducting defensive patrols over Cyprus, Jordan, Qatar, and Bahrain. Force protection remains at its highest level as coordination with allies intensifies.
President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has sent a message of condolences to His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, expressing his sincere sympathies over the passing of a helicopter crew following a technical malfunction that led to its crash in Qatari territorial waters.
The US Central Command said they continue to hunt Iranian Shahed-style drones, long accused of raining death on civilians and vital facilities in the region. The command shared a footage showing how US forces continue to eliminate the Iranian regime’s one-way attack drone capabilities, "used to indiscriminately target civilians throughout the region". The clip captures sleek US munitions slamming into Iranian drone launch sites and storage facilities, sending fireballs erupting as the regime’s cheap but lethal “kamikaze” drones are turned into scrap metal before they can ever terrorise another civilian neighborhood. CentCom stated the campaign is ongoing.
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence announced the interception and destruction of seven drones in the Eastern Region on Sunday (March 22).
The statement was made by the Ministry’s official spokesperson, Major General Turki Al Maliki, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency.
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