US-Israel war on Iran, day 9: New strikes hit Tehran; Gulf nations face fresh attacks; UAE intercepts missile threat

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

Amid surging global oil prices triggered by escalating Mideast conflict, US President Donald Trump said the "short-term" spike is worth the cost if it eliminates Tehran's nuclear threat.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump argued that oil prices would "drop rapidly" once Iran's nuclear capabilities are destroyed, adding that "only fools would think differently."

Trump wrote, "Short term oil prices, which will drop rapidly when the destruction of the Iran nuclear threat is over, is a very small price to pay for U.S.A., and World, Safety and Peace. ONLY FOOLS WOULD THINK DIFFERENTLY!"

As of March 9, 2026, global crude oil prices have surged dramatically, reaching levels not seen in years amid escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, particularly the ongoing conflict involving Iran.

This has disrupted supply routes, including partial closures or threats to the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for Gulf oil exports.

Latest prices (sourced from oilprice.com, with minor delays as of recent updates):

• WTI Crude: 107.1 +16.20+17.82%

• Brent Crude: 107.8 +15.06+16.25%

• Murban Crude:103.2 +8.73+9.24%

(As of 8.10AM Japan time March 9, 2026, 11.10 GMT, March 8, 2026)

Oil prices across the Gulf have jumped sharply, rising above global and US oil prices as concerns grow over shipping routes in the region amid escalating tensions with Iran.

Authorities in the Emirate of Fujairah are responding to a fire that broke out in the Fujairah Oil Tanks area after debris from successful air defence interceptions fell in the vicinity.

No injuries have been reported, and the public will be informed of any developments as they arise.

The competent authorities also stressed the importance of the public refraining from circulating rumours and obtaining information only from official sources.

Iran's Assembly of Experts has announced Mojtaba Khamenei as new supreme leader. He is the second son of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Hamad International Airport announced on its official account on the platform X that flight operations remain temporarily suspended due to the closure of Qatar’s airspace by the competent authorities.

Kuwait has exempted government employees stranded abroad from work duties after regional airspace closures disrupted travel, allowing the period of absence to be counted as official working time until they are able to return to the country.

The Civil Service Commission announced the measure on Sunday, saying it had contacted government ministries, public authorities and institutions to address the situation of employees unable to return to Kuwait because of exceptional regional circumstances.

In a statement posted on the social media platform X, the commission said the decision aims to support employees stranded outside the country due to the ongoing disruptions.

Under the directive, the period during which employees are unable to return will be treated as actual working time until they are able to travel back to Kuwait after the reopening of airspace or by other available means.

The United States embassy in Baghdad has issued a strong security alert advising American citizens in Iraq to leave the country as soon as it is safe to do so, citing rapidly evolving security developments in the region.

In a statement released on Sunday, the embassy said US nationals should consider departing via land routes to neighboring countries, including Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye. However, it warned that border crossings could close without notice.

The advisory urged Americans who remain in Iraq to prepare for the possibility of staying in secure locations for extended periods. It recommended that citizens stock up on essential supplies such as food, water and medications.

The embassy also cautioned people to avoid areas where protests or security disturbances could occur.

French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with his US and Iranian counterparts Sunday ahead of a trip to Cyprus aimed at reinforcing security during the US-Israeli war with Iran.

The first Western leader to speak with Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian since the outbreak of the war, Macron said on X that he "stressed the need for Iran to immediately cease its strikes against countries in the region".

He also urged Iran to guarantee freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, he added. He gave no details of his conversation with US President Donald Trump.

The permanent representatives of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states to the United Nations in New York met with Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, to discuss the repercussions of the treacherous Iranian aggression targeting GCC countries.

During the meeting, participants reviewed the latest developments resulting from the Iranian attacks targeting civilian facilities, vital infrastructure, energy installations, as well as airports and ports, in a clear violation of the United Nations Charter, international law and the principles of good neighbourliness.

The permanent representatives also provided briefings on the scale of the attacks faced by GCC countries and the serious repercussions of these assaults on the security and stability of the region.

In the same context, the GCC permanent representatives also met with the permanent representatives of the United States of America, the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China.

Iran's military warned on Sunday it would target oil sites in the region if Israel continued to strike energy infrastructure in the Islamic republic.

"The governments of Islamic countries are expected to warn the criminal America and the savage Zionist regime of such cowardly, inhumane actions as soon as possible," Ebrahim Zolfaghari, a spokesman for Iran's central military command, told state TV.

"Otherwise, similar measures will be taken in the region, and if you can tolerate oil at more than $200 per barrel, continue this game."

French President Emmanuel Macron will visit Cyprus on Monday, his office said, as France deploys warships to the Mediterranean following a drone attack on the island EU member days ago.

Macron will meet his Cypriot counterpart Nikos Christodoulides and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Paphos to show "solidarity" and detail moves to "strengthen security around Cyprus and in the eastern Mediterranean", the Elysee said on Sunday.

The visit will take place as the war pitting the US and Israel against Iran is in its second week.

Cyprus on Monday was targeted by Iranian-made drones, leading Macron to order France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier to the Mediterranean and a frigate and air defence units to Cyprus.

A projectile killed two people and injured 12 more in Saudi Arabia's Al Kharj governorate south of Riyadh, the kingdom's civil defence said on Sunday, as Iran continued to launch missiles and drones at its Gulf neighbours.

The civil defence agency said an Indian and a Bangladeshi national were killed by an unspecified "military projectile" that hit a residential area, according to the statement, which did not mention Iran by name.

Al Kharj governorate is home to a massive air base and has been targeted repeatedly over the past week as Tehran struck the Gulf after Israel and the US launched a campaign against the Islamic republic.

Teams from the Sharjah Civil Defence Authority are operating around the clock to ensure public safety and respond to any emergency situations, the authority’s Director General said.

Brigadier Yousef Obaid Harmoul Al Shamsi, Director General of the Sharjah Civil Defence Authority, confirmed that all civil defence teams are maintaining full operational readiness as part of a coordinated national system led by the relevant authorities to ensure community safety and the continuity of daily life.

He said the authority has raised operational readiness levels across its field centres and operations rooms, while strengthening rapid response plans to ensure immediate handling of any reports or potential incidents according to the highest standards of efficiency and professionalism.

“Human safety remains our top priority in all operational plans and procedures,” Brigadier Al Shamsi said.

Israel struck a hotel in central Beirut on Sunday, the first attack on the city centre since the start of the new war with Hezbollah, as Lebanon said nearly 400 people were killed over the past week.

Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war on Monday, when Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah attacked Israel in response to the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during US-Israeli strikes.

Israel, which has kept up strikes targeting Hezbollah despite a 2024 ceasefire, launched multiple waves of strikes this week across Lebanon and sent ground troops into border areas.

Hezbollah said on Sunday that it repeatedly targeted northern Israel, including attacking a naval base in Haifa and sending a swarm of drones towards the city of Nahariya.

Israel's military, meanwhile, said that two of its soldiers were killed in combat in southern Lebanon, the first of its troops to have died since the latest offensive began on March 2.

Lebanon's health minister Rakan Nassereddine on Sunday said that Israeli strikes on Lebanon killed 394 people over the past week, including 83 children and 42 women.

Iran's foreign minister said Sunday that the Iranian people, not Donald Trump, will elect their new leader and demanded that the US president apologise for starting the war with Iran.

"We allow nobody to interfere in our domestic affairs. This is up to the Iranian people to elect their new leader," Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told NBC's "Meet the Press," after Trump on Thursday asserted he should have a role in picking Iran's next supreme leader.

Araghchi also said Trump "should apologise to people of the region and the Iranian people for the killings and destruction they have done against us."

Stay updated: Get the latest faster by downloading the Gulf News app - it's completely free. Click here for Apple or here for Android. You can also find it on the Huawei AppGallery.

The Israeli military said on Sunday it had struck what it described as the "space force headquarters" of Iran's Revolutionary Guards in Tehran.

"As part of the strikes, the IDF targeted and dismantled the Iranian terror regime's IRGC Space Force headquarters," the military said.

"The headquarters served as a reception, transmission and research centre for the Iranian Space Agency, which is affiliated with the regime's military," it said.

UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Sunday received a phone call from Sir Keir Starmer, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, during which they discussed regional developments amid the escalating military situation and its serious implications for security and stability in the region.

Dr Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President, stressed that the UAE is in a state of self-defence in response to Iranian aggression that targeted its territory, population and civilian infrastructure.

In a post on X, he said: “The UAE is in a state of self-defence in the face of Iranian aggression that targeted its land, its people and its civilian infrastructure.”

He added that any defensive measures taken by the UAE would be public and clear, and would not rely on press leaks or anonymous narratives.

Gargash said the UAE’s objective is to stop the continuing aggression against the UAE and the Gulf countries, stressing that the aim is not to be drawn into escalation.

The UAE has affirmed that it is acting in self-defence in response to the unprovoked and brutal Iranian attack, which included the launch of more than 1,400 ballistic missiles and drones targeting infrastructure and civilian sites.

Pakistani nationals in the UAE have been reassured that their safety and wellbeing remain a top priority, as regional developments continue to affect travel and movement.

Read the whole story here.

The Arab League's secretary-general said Sunday that Iranian attacks on several member states were "reckless", urging Tehran to reverse what he called a "massive strategic mistake".

Addressing an emergency videoconference of Arab foreign ministers in Cairo, Ahmed Aboul Gheit said the strikes "cannot be justified under any pretext or excuse", and repaid peace efforts by Gulf countries with "treacherous rockets and drone strikes".

 Iran struck key infrastructure across the Gulf on Sunday, hitting fuel tanks at Kuwait’s international airport and damaging a desalination plant in Bahrain, as Tehran pushed its missile and drone campaign against neighbouring countries into a second week of a widening regional conflict.

Kuwait said two border guards were killed “while performing their national duty”, though authorities did not elaborate on the circumstances.

Soon after messages rung out calling for those in Abu Dhabi to find a safe spot and hunker down while authorities dealt with a defence threat, another message went out today: The threat had been once again averted.

The UAE’s air defence systems are currently responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran.

In a statement, the Ministry of Defence confirmed that loud sounds heard across several areas of the country are the result of air defence systems intercepting ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.

Authorities have urged the public to follow safety and security instructions issued by the relevant authorities.

At least 10 explosions were reported over Israel's commercial hub Tel Aviv on Sunday, according to AFP journalists, following the Israeli military's announcement that it had detected new missiles launched from Iran.

"A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran towards the territory of the State of Israel. Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat," the military said.

In a separate media briefing, military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani said Iran's "firepower has dropped dramatically all across the region, not only towards Israel".

UAE air defense systems detected 17 ballistic missiles on Sunday, March 8, successfully intercepting 16 of them, while one missile fell into the sea, according to official figures.

Authorities also detected 117 drones, with 113 intercepted, while four drones fell within the country’s territory.

The Ministry of Defense said it remains on high alert and fully prepared to respond to any threats, stressing that all necessary measures are being taken to safeguard the country’s sovereignty, security, stability, and national interests.

The body tasked with selecting Iran's new supreme leader has reached a decision, members said Sunday, although the name has yet to be announced.

"The most suitable candidate, approved by the majority of the Assembly of Experts, has been determined," said Mohsen Heydari, a member of the selection body who represents Khuzestan province, according to Iran's ISNA news agency.

Another member, Mohammad Mehdi Mirbagheri, confirmed in a video carried by Iran's Fars news agency that "a firm opinion reflecting the majority view has been reached"

The General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers in Bahrain has confirmed that up to 70% of employees in each entity may continue working remotely, with priority given to mothers and persons with disabilities, while maintaining all work requirements.

The remaining 30% of employees are required to work from their offices starting Monday, March 9, 2026, until further notice.

Bahrain Ministry of Interior said Sunday a desalination plant in Bahrain sustained material damage following what it described as a hostile Iranian drone attack. The Ministry added the attack targeted civilian facilities randomly, causing damage to the water desalination station.

Bahraini authorities have confirmed that water supplies remain uninterrupted.

“The Iranian attack on a water desalination facility has had no impact on water supplies or water network capacity,” the Electricity and Water Authority told CNN, reassuring residents that operations continue normally.

Kuwait’s Jazeera Airways announced it will soon begin operating flights from Qaisumah Hafar Al Batin International Airport in Saudi Arabia, following approvals from both Kuwaiti and Saudi authorities.

Passengers arriving at Qaisumah Airport, around two and a half hours from Kuwait, can continue by road, while departing travellers may reach the airport by land to board flights across Jazeera Airways’ network. The airline is also exploring bus partnerships to expand land transport options.

CEO Barathan Pasupathi said the airline has activated emergency response plans and is preparing crews and aircraft to reconnect travellers with their homes safely. Jazeera Airways continues to coordinate closely with authorities to support passengers and restore connectivity responsibly.

Ministry of Defence confirms successful defence as residents urged to remain calm

The Ministry of Defence announced that Qatar was targeted on Saturday by 10 ballistic missiles and two cruise missiles launched from Iran.

Qatari armed forces successfully intercepted six ballistic missiles. Two others fell in Qatar’s territorial waters, and two landed in uninhabited areas without causing any casualties. The two cruise missiles were also intercepted.

The ministry stressed that the Qatari Armed Forces have the full capabilities and resources to protect the state’s sovereignty and territory, and to confront any external threat.

Citizens, residents, and visitors were urged to remain calm, follow instructions from security authorities, avoid rumours, and rely only on official statements.

The Israeli Ministry of Health says at least 1,929 people have been evacuated to hospitals since the start of Iran’s retaliatory strikes triggered by joint U.S.–Israel military action against Tehran. Of those, 157 were admitted in the past 24 hours, according to the ministry.

The ministry reported that nine people are in serious condition, 42 are in moderate condition, and 70 have minor injuries. Medical teams continue to treat patients as emergency services respond to the fallout from ongoing attacks in the region.

Iran’s president has threatened to step up attacks on American targets throughout the Middle East as the US and Israel press ahead with their air campaign.

“When we are attacked, we have no choice but to respond. The more pressure they impose on us, the stronger our response will naturally be,” President Masoud Pezeshkian said in video comments Sunday. “Our Iran, our country, will not bow easily in the face of bullying, oppression or aggression — and it never has.”

Israel’s military has warned that it will target the successor of slain Iranian ruler Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as well as those involved in selecting the new leader.

Iranian state media, quoted by CNN, reported that Tehran is nearing a decision on its next supreme leader.

IDF warning

“After the elimination of the tyrant Khamenei, the Iranian terrorist regime is attempting to regroup and choose a new Supreme Leader,” the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said. “The long arm of the State of Israel will continue to pursue the successor and anyone who tries to appoint him.”

Direct caution to selectors

The IDF warned those participating in the selection process: “We will not hesitate to target you as well. Consider yourselves warned.”

Israel military vows to target Khamenei’s successor

Fuel distribution in the Iranian capital has been "temporarily interrupted" after US and Israeli strikes on oil depots in and near the city, an official said on Sunday.

"Due to damage to the fuel supply network, distribution has been temporarily interrupted," said Tehran's governor Mohammad Sadegh Motamedian, as quoted by the official IRNA news agency.

"The problem is being resolved," he added.

U.S. and Israeli strikes in Iran have killed 200 children and around 200 women, the Iranian Health Ministry said Sunday.

They are among more than 1,200 people killed in the war, spokesman Hossein Kermanpour said in a social media post.

He said more than 1,000 others, including about 400 women, have been injured since Feb. 28.

Oman Air has announced the cancellation of several flights amid ongoing airspace closures. Affected routes include flights to and from Amman (AMM), Dubai (DXB), Bahrain (BAH), Doha (DOH), Dammam (DMM), Kuwait (KWI), Copenhagen (CPH), Baghdad (BGW), and Khasab (KHS). These cancellations will be in effect from Monday, 9 March through Sunday, 15 March 2026, and travelers are advised to review their itineraries and plan accordingly.

Additional flights have been scheduled to accommodate affected passengers. Travelers are advised to check Oman Air flight updates for the latest schedule information.

Passengers can manage their bookings and rebook via Oman Air’s website and mobile app.

Passenger advisory

The airline apologises for any inconvenience and appreciates passengers’ understanding and cooperation during this period.

The Pakistan Embassy in the UAE has confirmed that a Pakistani national was killed in Dubai’s Al Barsha area after debris from an aerial interception struck his vehicle.

The Consulate General of Pakistan in Dubai is coordinating with local authorities to assist the family and facilitate repatriation.

Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Explosions hit Iran's central Yazd province on Sunday, state media reported, as war raged with the United States and Israel.

It was not immediately clear what was hit in the strikes but the official IRNA news agency said the blasts occurred on the periphery of Yazd city.

Earlier explosions were reported in other parts of the country including the Iranian capital Tehran and the central Isfahan province.

The Ministry of Interior has issued an emergency alert advising residents to take immediate action due to a potential missile threat. Citizens and residents are instructed to move to the nearest secure building, stay away from windows, doors, and open areas, and await further official instructions.

Authorities emphasise following safety guidance closely and monitoring official channels for updates.

Strikes by Israel’s Air Force hit an unspecified number of Iran’s F-14 fighter jets at Isfahan Airport on Saturday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed.

According to CNN, the Israeli Air Force also targeted Iran’s detection and air defense systems, the IDF added.

The Israeli military stated it will “continue to target all systems of the Iranian terror regime across Iran and will expand its aerial superiority.”

This latest round of strikes follows Saturday’s attack on 16 aircraft belonging to the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps at Mehrabad Airport in Tehran, according to the IDF.

The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) is fully operational as employees, clients, and visitors return following recent regional developments.

All Authority services, retailers, and food and beverage outlets are open, while activities across the district continue to resume.

DIFC urges its community to follow company business continuity plans, regulatory updates via the DFSA portal, and government guidance. Safety and wellbeing remain the highest priority, with the DIFC Security Hotline available for any security concerns.

The centre thanked the community for their continued cooperation and professionalism during this period.

The United States and Israel hit five oil facilities in overnight strikes in and near the Iranian capital, an official told state TV.

"Last night, four oil depots and a petroleum products transport centre in Tehran and the Alborz were attacked by enemy aircraft," the CEO of the National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company Keramat Veyskarami told state TV.

He added that the five facilities "were damaged" but the "fire was brought under control".

An Iranian drone attack caused material damage to a water desalination plant in Bahrain, the Ministry of Interior confirmed.

The incident comes a day after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claimed the US had attacked a desalination plant on Qeshm Island in southern Iran, calling it a “precedent.”

There was no immediate comment from Iran regarding Bahrain’s statement. Gulf countries rely heavily on desalinated water for domestic consumption, making such attacks particularly critical.

Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior reported that three people were injured and a university building in Muharraq sustained damage following an Iranian attack.

The casualties were caused by falling missile debris, the ministry said in a post on X. Muharraq is Bahrain’s third-largest city.

Sri Lanka is playing a crucial humanitarian role after the recent sinking of the Iranian warship IRIS Dena by a US submarine near its waters. Officials confirmed that 22 sailors rescued from life rafts have been discharged from Karapitiya Hospital in the southern port city of Galle, where they received urgent medical care.

An additional 10 sailors remain under treatment, while the bodies of 84 crew members recovered from the Indian Ocean are being handled at the hospital. The discharged survivors have been moved to a local beach resort for further monitoring and support.

Sri Lankan authorities emphasised that all measures are being taken in accordance with international humanitarian law, and the International Committee of the Red Cross has been contacted to assist in the ongoing efforts.

The island nation is also providing safe haven to 219 Iranian sailors from a second ship, IRIS Bushehr, which arrived a day after the Dena was sunk.

The Ministry of External Affairs says it is closely monitoring developments in West Asia and the Gulf to safeguard Indian nationals stranded during transit or short visits.

Key updates:

• Citizens are urged to follow local authority guidelines and embassy advisories. Helplines are operational 24x7 for assistance.

• A Special Control Room has been set up to address queries from affected individuals and families. Details: MEA Helplines

• Following partial reopening of regional airspace, over 52,000 Indians have returned safely between March 1–7, 2026, with 32,107 travelling on Indian carriers. More flights are planned.

• Nationals in countries without commercial flights are advised to contact their local embassy or consulate for guidance.

The government emphasises the safety and welfare of Indians abroad remains a top priority.

Air raid sirens sounded across Israel early on Sunday, warning of incoming missiles from Iran, with no reports of damage or casualties.

Israeli military statements said air defences were responding to at least four waves of "missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel" within about five hours.

Alerts were activated across much of northern, southern and central Israel including in major cities like Tel Aviv, Haifa and Beersheba, according to the army's Home Front Command, which ordered residents to go into shelters or safe rooms.

The alerts were later lifted, with the military saying, "it is now permitted to leave protected spaces in all areas of the country."

Israeli media reported that several missiles were launched and most had been intercepted.

In coordination with relevant authorities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman has facilitated the safe return of Omani citizens abroad.

Today, another group arrived home after being transferred from Iran, with the process coordinated through Omani embassies in Tehran and Ankara, and with support from Azerbaijani authorities. The return included organised land and air transfers to ensure safety and smooth movement.

Additional citizens arriving from Gulf Cooperation Council countries have safely reached Oman via land borders.

The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to continue facilitating the sequential return of citizens, prioritising their security and well-being.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said his country "will be forced to respond" to any attack or invasion attempt from a neighbouring country, in remarks aired by state TV on Sunday.

If Iran's enemies "try to use any country to attack or invade our land, we will be forced to respond to that attack. Responding does not mean we have disputes with that country or wish to harm its people - we would be responding out of necessity," said Pezeshkian.

On Saturday the president apologised to neighbouring countries hosting US military bases for attacks on their territory.

Authorities in Bahrain urge residents to head to nearest safe location

Sirens are sounding in Bahrain Sunday morning and authorities say residents should head to the nearest safe location.

Three people were killed and four others injured in an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon.

The Emergency Operations Center of Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health said in a statement that the strike targeted the town of Jebal Al Botm in the Tyre district, resulting in the killing of three citizens and the injury of four others in a preliminary toll.

Earlier, the Israeli military carried out an airstrike on an apartment inside a hotel in the heart of the Lebanese capital, Beirut, killing four people and injuring ten others.

IndiGo is resuming flights across Europe and continuing operations to eight Middle East destinations amid evolving regional circumstances.

Passengers are advised that flight schedules may change at short notice and should check their status online before heading to the airport: http://bit.ly/31paVKQ

IndiGo will continue sharing updates via its website and social media channels to keep passengers informed.

The Israeli military said it launched a wave of strikes "across Iran" on Sunday, targeting military sites.

A military statement said it had "initiated a wave of strikes targeting the Iranian terror regime military infrastructure across Iran".

Air India and Air India Express are operating additional flights from the UAE and Gulf cities to bring stranded passengers back to India amid ongoing flight cancellations in West Asia. Scheduled flights to Jeddah and Muscat continue as normal, while services to other Gulf destinations remain affected.

Passengers with existing bookings are eligible for free rebooking or full refunds. Airlines recommend checking flight status online before travelling and staying updated via registered mobile numbers.

Additional flights cover Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al-Khaimah, and Sharjah, prioritising passengers with active bookings. Air India’s services to Europe and North America are operating through safe alternative routes, with technical stops at Rome or Vienna as needed.

Air defense systems are currently responding to a missile threat. Residents and travellers are advised to stay in a safe location and follow official channels for real-time warnings and updates.

The Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi has issued an urgent advisory to Indian nationals in the UAE, warning them to refrain from filming or sharing images of incident sites on social media amid the ongoing regional crisis.

The advisory, comes after UAE authorities cautioned that strict legal action would be taken against anyone found filming restricted areas, incident sites, or airport premises without authorisation.

The Embassy urged Indian nationals to move immediately to a safe location upon hearing any warning alert and remain there until the all-clear is issued and to resist the urge to go outside to photograph or record videos during alerts.

It also warned against sharing or posting images of damage caused by projectiles or shrapnel on any digital or social media platform, and reminded residents not to film inside airports during arrival or departure.

In the event of shrapnel or suspicious objects being found nearby, the advisory instructed nationals to report the discovery immediately to UAE authorities, keep their distance, and not touch or approach any debris.

Kuwait's military said air defence systems were intercepting missile and drone attacks on Sunday, as Iran continues its strikes across the region.

"Kuwaiti air defences are currently engaging hostile missile and drone attacks," the military said in a post on X, adding that explosion sounds were the result of interceptions by air defence systems.

Air raid sirens sounded across Israel early on Sunday, warning of incoming missiles from Iran, with no reports of damage or casualties.

Israeli military statements said air defences were responding to at least two waves of "missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel".

Alerts were activated across much of northern Israel including the port city of Haifa, according to the army's Home Front Command, which ordered residents to go into shelters or safe rooms.

Iran can fight an intense war against the United States and Israel for at least six months, the Revolutionary Guards said in a statement carried by the Fars news agency on Sunday.

"The Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran are capable of continuing at least a 6-month intense war at the current pace of operations," said Guards spokesperson Ali Mohammad Naini, according to Fars.

The Guards, Iran's elite force, also said they had targeted "more than 200" locations related to American and Israeli bases and facilities across the region.

The Israeli military has struck multiple areas in Beirut’s southern suburbs after it said it was launching a series of strikes on Hezbollah infrastructure.

No injuries were immediately reported in the strikes early Sunday. Tens of thousands of people had already fled the area following Israel’s evacuation notice for all of the city’s southern suburbs.

Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior has announced the death of two security personnel who were killed while performing their national duty in the early hours of today.

In an official statement, the ministry expressed its deep sorrow and grief over the loss, paying tribute to the two officers for their dedication and service.

The Ministry of Defense announced that Qatar was targeted on Saturday by 10 ballistic missiles and two cruise missiles launched from Iran.

According to the ministry, Qatari armed forces successfully intercepted six ballistic missiles. Two missiles fell in Qatar’s territorial waters, and two others landed in uninhabited areas, causing no casualties. The two cruise missiles were also intercepted.

The ministry emphasised that the Qatari Armed Forces are fully capable of protecting the country’s sovereignty and territory and confronting any external threats. Citizens, residents, and visitors were urged to remain calm, follow official instructions, and rely on verified sources for information.

The Saudi Ministry of Defence reported that attempted attacks with three drones were thwarted after being shot down in Riyadh, and another drone was intercepted and destroyed east of the city, the Saudi Press Agency said.

The Bahrain Ministry of Interior reported that a facility near Mina Salman was targeted in an attack attributed to Iranian forces. Civil Defence teams are actively controlling the fire. Interior Minister General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa inspected homes in the Juffair area damaged by Iranian attacks on residential and civilian areas. He conveyed the greetings and concern for citizens’ safety from His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. The minister praised the professional efforts of police and Civil Defence personnel in responding to the attacks and warned that anyone assisting the aggressors—such as sharing images of vital sites on social media—will be treated as an accomplice and punished under the law.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense reported intercepting multiple drones targeting key areas across the kingdom on Sunday. A drone heading toward the Shaybah oil field was intercepted and destroyed in the Empty Quarter. Three drones were downed east of Riyadh, and six more were intercepted further east of the city. In the city of Riyadh, attempted attacks with three drones were thwarted following their shootdown. An attempted drone attack targeting the Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh was also stopped, with no material damage or civilian casualties reported. Authorities continue to monitor the situation to protect strategic sites and civilians.

Brigadier General Saud Al Otaibi, the official spokesman for Kuwait’s Ministry of Defense, confirmed that Kuwaiti air defense systems are currently intercepting hostile missile and drone attacks targeting the country.

In an official statement, Al-Otaibi said that any explosion sounds heard in certain areas are the result of air defense systems successfully intercepting incoming threats.

He urged citizens and residents to remain calm and strictly follow the security and safety instructions issued by the competent authorities, emphasizing the importance of relying on official updates during the ongoing developments.

Norwegian police reported on Sunday an explosion near the US embassy in the capital Oslo, but said there were no casualties.

The explosion occurred around 1 am local time (0000 GMT), the Oslo police department said in a statement, adding they had no information about the blast's cause or who was behind it.

The police said it was in contact with the embassy about the incident and that a large number of resources were on site.

US embassies have been placed on high alert in the Middle East over American military operations in Iran and several have faced attacks as Tehran hits back at industrial and diplomatic targets.

But police gave no indication the incident near the embassy in Oslo was connected to the conflict.

The Saudi defence ministry said Sunday it had intercepted a drone attack targeting the diplomatic quarter in the capital Riyadh, reporting no casualties or damage.

"An attempt to target the diplomatic quarter in Riyadh with a drone was thwarted; no material damage or civilian injuries resulted from shooting down the drone," the ministry said in a statement posted on X.

The Public Institution for Social Security (PIFSS) announce that its headquarters had been targeted, which results in material damage to the building.

Lebanon's health ministry said Sunday that an Israeli strike on a hotel in central Beirut killed at least four people and wounded 10 others.

An AFP photographer at the bombarded seafront hotel saw one room with shattered windows, while security forces cordoned off the area.

The Israeli military earlier announced it had "begun an additional wave of strikes in Beirut", but said it was targeting the Lebanese capital's southern suburbs, a stronghold of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

The United States Central Command (CentCom) said their forces are operating alongside regional allies to counter threats from Iran, warning that Tehran’s actions are destabilising the Middle East.

In a statement posted on X, CentCom said American troops are “standing shoulder to shoulder with regional partners” to defend against what it described as deliberate and indiscriminate threats linked to the Iranian regime.

The command said the operations are aimed at protecting US personnel, allied forces, and key infrastructure across the region. CentCom's statement, posted on X, belied claims by the Iranian regime recently stated (through their verified U.N. X account) that it has only tried to target military sites, and that Iran's missiles and drones were thrown off course by US "Jedi mind tricks".

US officials have repeatedly said the mission focuses on defending American forces, supporting allies, and deterring further attacks that could threaten regional stability.

CentCom, which oversees US military activities across the Middle East, including critical sea lanes used for global trade and energy shipments, said operations will continue as directed by US leadership.

Kuwait's defence ministry said on Sunday that fuel tanks at the Gulf nation's international airport were targeted in a drone attack, as Iran continued its strikes across the region.

"The fuel tanks of Kuwait International Airport were attacked by drones in a direct targeting of vital infrastructure," an official defence ministry spokesman said, according to a post by the Kuwaiti military on X.

The spokesman added the country's forces were "responding to a wave of hostile drones" that penetrated the country's airspace.

The Kuwaiti army said the explosions heard recently were the result of air defense systems intercepting hostile targets, urging the public to follow safety and security instructions issued by the relevant authorities.

US President Donald Trump evoked Saturday the idea of sending ground troops into Iran to secure the country's stockpiles of enriched uranium, as part of efforts to dismantle Tehran's nuclear program.

"At some point maybe we will. That would be a great thing," he told reporters during a briefing aboard Air Force One.

"We haven't gone after it but it's something we could do later," he said.

Some critics of the US-Israeli war on Iran, launched last Saturday, have said air strikes alone are unlikely to achieve the stated goals of destroying Iran's military capacity and preventing it from developing a nuclear bomb.

Asked about the use of ground troops in general, Trump did not rule it out, saying: "Could there be? Possibly, for a very good reason - it'd have to be a very good reason."

"And I would say if we ever did that, they would be so decimated that they wouldn't be able to fight at the ground level," he said.

Saudi Arabia's defence ministry said Sunday it had intercepted and destroyed 14 drones that entered the kingdom's airspace, as Iran presses on with attacks across the Gulf.

Eight drones were intercepted in the country's airspace and a further six were intercepted and destroyed "east of Riyadh", the ministry said in separate posts on its official X account.

Qatar's defence ministry said on Sunday that Iran had fired a dozen missiles at the country a day earlier, as Tehran continued its strikes across the Gulf.

"Qatar's Ministry of Defense announced that the State of Qatar was subjected yesterday, Saturday, to an attack involving 10 ballistic missiles and 2 cruise missiles launched from the Islamic Republic of Iran," the ministry posted in a statement on X.

It said the Gulf nation's military intercepted six ballistic missiles, while two fell in the country's territorial waters, and two landed in an "uninhabited area", adding that it intercepted two cruise missiles.

Israeli airstrikes on several targets in southern Lebanon Saturday killed eight people, according to a toll released by the health ministry.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported that a series of Israeli airstrikes had targeted more than 20 towns and villages in southern Lebanon.

"Six people were killed by an Israeli airstrike on the town of Kherbet Selm," the health ministry reported. A second strike killed at least two people in Kfar Rumman near the city of Nabatiyeh, it added.

US President Donald Trump on Saturday blamed Iran for a deadly strike on an elementary school in the southern Iranian town of Minab.

"We think it was done by Iran. Because they are very inaccurate, as you know, with their munitions. They have no accuracy whatsoever," Trump told reporters following a New York Times investigation that found the US military was most likely responsible.

Neither Israel nor the United States has claimed responsibility for the attack, which Iranian officials say killed at least 150 people. AFP has been unable to reach the location to independently verify the toll or the circumstances of the attack.

Iran's security chief Ali Larijani said on Saturday that the United States and Israel were seeking to break the Islamic republic apart.

"Their issue was... the fundamental disintegration of Iran," said Larijani in a pre-recorded interview broadcast on state TV.

He said the US was seeking to replicate in Iran a scenario similar to Venezuela, where interim president Delcy Rodriguez has cooperated with him under threat of violence after Washington ousted her boss, Nicolas Maduro.

"I think the most important problem the Americans have is that they do not understand the context of West Asia, especially Iran," said Larijani.

"Their perception was that it would be like Venezuela - they would strike, take control, and it would be over - but now they are trapped."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that Israel would continue its war with Iran "with all our force", and alongside the United States had gained near-total control of the skies over Tehran after a week of strikes.

"We have a systematic plan to eradicate the Iranian regime and achieve many other objectives," Netanyahu said in a televised address.

"Citizens, you are telling me, the government and our heroic soldiers to continue until victory, and I thank you. I can assure you that we will continue with all our force," Netanyahu said.

The Israeli leader said that thanks to the bombing campaign by Israeli and American pilots "we have gained almost complete control of the airspace" over Iran's capital.

Speaking to the Iranian people, he said the "moment of truth" was coming as Israel was seeking to help liberate them from the "yoke of tyranny".

He said that Israel had managed to "transform the Middle East" and shift the balance of power in the region.

Israel's military said earlier that it had carried out around 3,400 strikes on Iran during the first week of the war, dropping roughly 7,500 munitions.

US and Israeli strikes hit an oil depot in Tehran on Saturday, Iranian state media said, marking the first reported attack on the Islamic republic's oil infrastructure.

"An oil depot in southern Tehran was targeted by the US and Zionist regime," the official IRNA news agency said.

The depot was in an area close to a key oil refinery but the ILNA news agency reported that the refinery's facilities "were not damaged in the military attacks".

Strikes hit another oil depot in northwestern Tehran, according to an AFP journalist who saw flames and smoke rising from the site.

On February 28, the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran that killed its supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and triggered a war in the Middle East.

Iran responded with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel as well as US interests across the region.

Dubai Airports has partially resumed operations from 7 March, with limited flights operating from Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC). Travellers are advised not to go to the airport unless contacted by their airline with confirmed flight details, as schedules may continue to change.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, prioritising safety, security, and wellbeing of passengers and staff, and thank travellers for their patience and understanding.

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, universities 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