US‑Israel war on Iran, Day 20: Trump vows to destroy Iran gas field; UAE intercepts threats

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Israel says a 'massive' wave of military strikes targeting Tehran has been launched.

UAE air defences are currently responding to incoming aerial threats from Iran.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) asserts that the sounds heard are the result of the air defence systems intercepting missiles and drones.

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

An missile manufacturing and assembly facility in Iran had been razed to the ground following strikes as part of "Operation Epic Fury", as per the US Central Command. In the missile factory hit, satellite imagery shows a before-and-after videos.

The United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and Japan have strongly condemned Iran’s attacks on civilian infrastructure, including oil and gas facilities in Gulf states, as well as the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the targeting of commercial vessels.

The UAE has welcomed a resolution adopted by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council strongly condemning Iranian threats and attacks on shipping, and the purported closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

The decision was adopted during the council’s 36th extraordinary session, with the IMO warning that such actions endanger lives, particularly those of seafarers, and pose serious risks to the marine environment.

The council also condemned Iranian attacks on Gulf Cooperation Council states and Jordan, describing them as violations of international law.

The General Command of the Bahrain Defence Force announced that its air defence systems, since the onset of the hostile Iranian aggression, have intercepted and destroyed 139 ballistic missiles and 238 drones targeting the Kingdom of Bahrain

In a statement carried by Bahrain News Agency (BNA), the General Command emphasised that the use of ballistic missiles and drones to target civilian areas and private property constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and the United Nations Charter.

The UAE’s State Security Department has announced the dismantling of a terrorist network funded and directed by Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Iran, with its members arrested.

Authorities said the group had been operating within the country under the cover of a fictitious commercial front, seeking to infiltrate the national economy and carry out external agendas that threaten the country’s financial stability.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Iran had been stripped of its ability to enrich uranium or manufacture ballistic missiles.

"We are taking action to destroy the industries that make it possible to build missiles. Iran no longer has the capacity to enrich uranium and manufacture ballistic missiles," Netanyahu said at a televised press conference.

"We are winning and Iran is being decimated."

US President Donald Trump said Thursday he had told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to strike any more Iranian gas fields, seeking to distance himself from an attack by a key ally that has shaken world energy markets.

Trump insisted on social media overnight that he "knew nothing" about Wednesday's strike by Israel on the South Pars gas field in Iran, which retaliated to the attack by hitting Qatari energy sites.

Asked in the Oval Office whether he had talked to Netanyahu about attacking Iranian gas fields, Trump replied: "I did. I told him, don't do that, and he won't do that.

"You know, we're independent. We get along great. It's coordinated, but on occasion, he'll do something, and if I don't like it...and so we're not doing that anymore."

Trump's comments come despite the fact that US sources said on Wednesday that Washington was aware of the attack, although it had not participated in it.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun renewed his call for a truce and the opening of negotiations with Israel to stop the war between it and Hezbollah, as he received France's foreign minister.

Earlier, Lebanon's health ministry said that Israeli attacks have killed 1,001 people in the country since the war erupted, including 79 women, 118 children and 40 health workers, with 2,584 other people wounded.

Dr Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE President, said statements by some Iranian officials justifying attacks on Gulf states represent a serious breach of international law and pose a direct threat to regional stability.

“The justification by some Iranian officials of their country’s aggression against the Gulf states, including the extremist parliamentarian Hamid Rasai, through baseless and irresponsible claims, and the explicit threats and justification of military targeting of civilian and economic facilities, represents not only a violation of international law, international humanitarian law and the principles of good neighbourliness, but also reflects a dangerous approach that undermines the foundations of the international order and threatens regional stability”, Gargash said in a post on social media platform X.

He added that such statements constitute a clear breach of the United Nations Charter, particularly the prohibition on the threat or use of force. They also represent an irresponsible escalation that rises to the level of international crimes, placing the region at serious risk.

Gargash said the continuation of such escalatory and inciteful rhetoric targeting civilian populations is unacceptable, stressing the need for the immediate cessation of Iranian aggression against neighbouring states, a halt to the use of force, and full adherence to international law.

Gold prices in Dubai have dropped by over Dh30 by Thursday evening, and more than Dh80 from their March highs, opening a window for last-minute Eid shoppers looking to buy jewellery at relatively lower rates after weeks of elevated pricing.

By 7 pm on Thursday, 24-karat gold was priced at Dh554.25, down more than Dh30 from Dh588 a day earlier and Dh87 below the Dh641 level seen on March 2. The 22-karat variant followed a similar trend, standing at Dh513.25 compared to Dh544.50 on Wednesday and Dh80.25 below its Dh593.50 peak earlier this month.

The pullback comes just ahead of Eid, a period when jewellery demand typically surges across the UAE.

The Kuwaiti Ministry of Defence announced on Thursday that Kuwait's air defence systems have detected and engaged 18 drones in the last 24 hours amidst the current regional military escalation, Kuwait News Agency reported.

In the media briefing conducted by the Government Communication Centre, Ministry of Defence Spokesman Col. Saud Al-Atwan confirmed that the Kuwaiti Armed Forces effectively intercepted the hostile targets within the designated operational zones.

Thirteen drones were destroyed, three others were out of the danger zone, while two targeted two operational units of Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC), resulting in limited fires with no injuries.

US President Donald Trump said Thursday he was not sending ground troops to Iran, weeks after he launched massive missile and bombing attacks alongside Israel.

"If I were, I certainly wouldn't tell you. But I'm not putting troops," Trump told reporters as he met Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

The United States on Thursday announced the approval of $16.46 billion in military sales to the UAE and Kuwait, two Gulf states that have been hit hard by fallout from the Iran war.

Iran responded to the massive US-Israeli air campaign launched late last month with barrages of missiles and drones that have caused deaths and damage in various Gulf countries, which have been forced to expended significant military resources to counter attacks.

Qatar's prime minister said on Thursday Iran's attack on the world's largest gas facility in Qatar was "clear proof" against Tehran's claims of having targeted only US interests in the Gulf.

There were "persistent Iranian claims that these attacks are against American interests... and this claim is rejected and cannot be accepted," Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said.

"The clear proof of this is the attack that took place yesterday that targeted a natural gas facility in the State of Qatar," he added.

The Israeli military said on Thursday that its fighter jets had struck several Iranian naval vessels in the Caspian Sea the previous day.

The targets included ships equipped with missile systems, support vessels and patrol craft, the military said, adding that a port command centre was also hit in the operation.

UAE air defences are currently responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran, said the Ministry of Defence on X. It added that the sounds you may be hearing are the result of the Air Defence Systems intercepting missiles and drones.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Thursday that Tehran will not excercise any restraint if energy facilities were attacked in the war with United States and Israel again.

"Our response to Israel's attack on our infrastructure employed FRACTION of our power. The ONLY reason for restraint was respect for requested de-escalation," said Araghchi.

Soon after a notification calling on residents of the UAE to find and stay in a safe place as it conducted defence ops against Iranian aggression, they got another one assuring them the op was over.

Six Western allies, including Britain, France, Germany and Japan, said in a joint statement Thursday they were ready "to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz".

"We welcome the commitment of nations who are engaging in preparatory planning" the grouping, which also includes Italy and the Netherlands, added, as they condemned "in the strongest terms recent attacks by Iran on unarmed commercial vessels in the Gulf".

The statement came as around 20,000 seafarers remained stuck on approximately 3,200 vessels west of the Strait of Hormuz, according to the International Maritime Organization, due to an effective Iranian blockade of the crucial maritime chokepoint.

The European Central Bank (ECB) has urged EU banks to strengthen their preparedness for geopolitical shocks, calling on them to conduct internal stress tests to assess the impact of conflicts and trade tensions on their capital positions and take preventive measures to mitigate potential risks.

Claudia Buch, Chair of the ECB's Supervisory Board, told the European Parliament's Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs that banks should identify geopolitical risk events that could cut Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) capital by at least 300 basis points and set out what preventive measures they would take to reduce the impact.

She noted that eurozone banks are entering a phase of "rising geopolitical uncertainty", while maintaining strong capital levels. She noted that significant institutions had an aggregate Common Equity Tier 1 ratio of around 16 per cent, while the share of non-performing loans remained stable at around 2 per cent. Even so, Buch cautioned that vulnerabilities remained in areas including commercial real estate and lending to small and medium-sized enterprises.

UAE air defences are currently responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran, said the Ministry of Defence on X. It added that the sounds you may be hearing are the result of the Air Defence Systems intercepting missiles and drones.

Meanwhile, the UAE's Ministry of Interior tweeted: "Air defence systems are currently dealing with a missile threat. Please remain in a safe place and follow warnings and updates on the official."

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Thursday there is no "time frame" for ending the US-Israeli war against Iran, which was launched three weeks ago.

"We wouldn't want to set a definitive time frame," Hegseth told a news conference, adding that "we're very much on track" and that President Donald Trump will be the one to decide when to stop.

"It will be at the president's choosing, ultimately, where we say, 'Hey, we've achieved what we need to.'"

Hegseth also addressed a report that the Pentagon has requested more than $200 billion in additional funding from Congress to pay for the conflict.

"As far as $200 billion, I think that number could move. Obviously it takes money to kill bad guys," Hegseth said.

"We're going back to Congress and folks there to ensure that we're properly funded for what's been done, for what we may have to do in the future," he said.

Top US military officer General Dan Caine, who spoke alongside Hegseth, provided details on weapons being used against Iran and its allied forces in the region.

Caine said A-10 Warthogs - a type of aircraft designed for providing close air support - are "hunting and killing fast-attack watercraft" in the key Strait of Hormuz waterway, which Iran effectively closed to maritime traffic following the start of the war.

He also said AH-64 Apaches are being used in Iraq to target Iran-aligned militia groups there, and that some US allies have begun using the attack helicopters to counter one-way drones launched by Tehran's forces.

Oman has expressed its condemnation of the attacks targeting energy facilities in the UAE and Qatar, as well as other strikes that have targeted Saudi Arabia.

According to Oman News Agency, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement issued today that the Sultanate of Oman affirmed the necessity of adhering to international laws and norms, and refraining from targeting civilian facilities and global energy supplies. It called for de-escalation, an end to military operations, and the prioritisation of diplomatic solutions to address differences in a manner that safeguards security and stability and preserves the interests of the region and the entire world.

The Sultanate of Oman expressed its solidarity with fellow Arab nations in the legitimate measures they undertake to preserve their security and stability. It also called on the United Nations Security Council to assume its responsibilities and take the necessary actions to halt this war and its repercussions,

UAE air defence systems intercepted 7 ballistic missiles and 15 drones on 19th March 2026 coming from Iran.

Since the start of the blatant Iranian attacks, UAE air defences have intercepted 334 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles and 1,714 UAVs.

French President Emmanuel Macron warned Thursday of a "reckless escalation" as Iran struck a series of Gulf energy sites after an Israeli attack on its South Pars gas field.

Speaking on arrival at EU talks in Brussels, Macron warned that if Middle Eastern energy "production capacities themselves are destroyed, this war will have a much more lasting impact," calling for "direct talks between the Americans and Iranians on this matter."

The United States Embassy in Riyadh has urged American citizens to leave Saudi Arabia immediately, citing heightened security risks across the region.

In a security alert issued on March 19, the embassy said it is closely monitoring the situation in the Middle East and advised citizens to make decisions about their safety, including departing the country if possible.

The embassy encouraged Americans to use commercial flights while they remain available and safe. Saudi airspace is still open, although authorities have imposed intermittent restrictions due to ongoing missile and drone threats.

Airports in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam continue to operate, but travellers have been warned to check directly with airlines for possible delays or cancellations.

The statement added that the US government stands ready to assist citizens by providing up-to-date information on departure options. It stressed that the safety and security of American nationals remains a top priority.

For those choosing to stay in the Kingdom, the embassy advised following guidance from Saudi Arabia’s early warning system, while noting that it may not always provide timely alerts.

Iranian lawmakers have proposed a plan to impose tolls and taxes on ships passing through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, local media reported on Thursday.

"We in parliament are pursuing a plan under which countries will pay tolls and taxes to the Islamic republic if the Strait of Hormuz is used as a secure route for transit, energy and food security," Tehran lawmaker Somayeh Rafiei was quoted as saying by the ISNA news agency.

Iran’s football chief Mehdi Taj has said they will not boycott the FIFA World Cup, but they also will not travel to the United States for the competition.

Iran are scheduled to face New Zealand on June 16 and Belgium on June 21 in Inglewood, before completing their group stage against Egypt on June 26 in Seattle.

An AFP journalist heard three blasts over the Tel Aviv area on Thursday, after the Israeli military announced it had detected missiles fired from Iran.

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

A drone crashed into the Saudi oil refinery Samref in the industrial zone of the Red Sea port of Yanbu, the defence ministry said, adding that a damage assessment was underway.

Earlier Thursday, the ministry said on X that it had intercepted a ballistic missile targeting the port.

The Samref refinery is owned by the Saudi state energy giant Aramco and the Mobil Yanbu Refining Company, a subsidiary of US company ExxonMobil.

Kuwait Petroleum Corporation announced that the fires that broke out in two operating units at the Mina Al Ahmadi and Abdullah Port refineries as a result of them being subjected to two attacks by unmanned aerial vehicles have been extinguished.

These two attacks did not result in any injuries, and they were handled professionally and in accordance with the highest adopted safety standards

The FBI has opened an investigation into a senior US counterterrorism official who quit in protest of the Iran war for allegedly leaking classified information, US media reported Wednesday.

Joseph Kent served as director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) until his resignation on Tuesday, writing to President Donald Trump that he could not "in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran."

"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," said Kent, a 45-year-old former special forces member.

The FBI investigation into Kent predated his departure, according to reports by outlets including the New York Times and CBS, both citing unnamed sources with knowledge of the situation.

A source told news website Semafor that the investigation was "months-long".

The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A fire erupted at a second refinery owned by Kuwait's national oil company after a drone attack, the information ministry said.

"One of the operational units of the Mina Abdullah refinery, belonging to the Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) was targeted by a drone attack, triggering a fire at the site," the ministry said on X.

The company's other oil refinery, Mina Al-Ahmadi, was also struck by a drone on Thursday, sparking a small blaze.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence said on Thursday it had intercepted and destroyed six drones in Riyadh and the Eastern Region.

The announcement was made in a statement by Defence Ministry spokesperson Major General Turki Al-Malki, carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

UK police have charged two men in relation to spying for Iran on individuals and places linked to the Jewish community.

UK police, the domestic intelligence service MI5 and members of parliament have long warned about a growing threat from Iran, which is currently locked in a war with the United States and Israel.

"The charge relates to carrying out activities in the UK such as gathering information and undertaking reconnaissance of targets," said Frank Ferguson, head of the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) special crime and counter-terrorism division.

"We fully recognise that the public - and in particular the Jewish community - will be concerned but I hope this investigation reassures them that we will not hesitate to take action if we identify there may be a threat to their safety," added Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans.

Nematollah Shahsavani, 40, a dual Iranian and British national, and Alireza Farasati, 22, an Iranian national, were late Wednesday charged with engaging in contact likely to assist a foreign intelligence service between July 9 and August 15 last year.

The CPS said Iran was the country the charges related to.

Both men are due to appear before a court in London later Thursday.

In October 2025, MI5 chief Ken McCallum said that British security agencies had tracked "more than 20 potentially lethal Iran-backed plots" in the previous year.

China condemned on Thursday the killing of Iranian national security chief Ali Larijani by an Israeli air strike, calling it "unacceptable".

"We have always opposed the use of force in international relations. The acts of killing Iranian state leaders and attacking civilian targets are even more unacceptable," China's foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian told a press conference, when asked about Larijani's death.

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European gas prices soared as much as 35 per cent on Thursday as fresh strikes hit energy infrastructure in the Middle East, including Qatar's main gas facility.

The Dutch TTF natural gas contract, considered the European benchmark, jumped to 74 euros, before paring gains slightly.

Two waves of Iranian strikes caused "extensive damage" at Ras Laffan in Qatar, the world's largest liquefied natural gas hub, raising fresh concerns over energy supplies.

Strikes killed two fighters from the former paramilitary coalition Hashed al-Shaabi in northern Iraq early Thursday, according to two statements from the group.

The two attacks targeted their positions in the Nineveh region, where Mosul city is located, and a military airport in Salah al-Din province, according to the statements from the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), now part of Iraq's regular armed forces.

The group blamed the attack on Israel and the United States.

Kuwait Petroleum Corporation announced one of the operational units at the Mina Al Ahmadi Refinery, affiliated with the Kuwait National Petroleum Company, was subjected to an attack by a drone, which resulted in a limited fire breaking out.

The attack did not result in any injuries, and the fire was handled in accordance with the highest adopted safety standards

The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) reminds residents on the need to cease all drone operations to avoid legal violations.

Any updates will be shared in due course.

Gold prices in Dubai have fallen more than Dh50 from their early March peak, with 24-karat rates easing from Dh641 to around Dh584.50 and 22-karat dropping from Dh593.50 to Dh541.25, marking a steady decline after holding above Dh620 levels in the first half of the month. The correction gathered pace in recent sessions, pulling prices below Dh600 and bringing buyers back into the market after weeks of elevated rates. The move reflects global pressures, including a stronger dollar, firm interest rate expectations, and volatility linked to rising oil prices, all of which have weighed on bullion and triggered a shift from recent highs.

The Philippine peso has dropped to record lows, giving UAE-based Filipino expats stronger value on remittances, with the dirham steadily gaining through March after starting the month near 15.6 levels and climbing past 16.3 by Thursday morning. The weakness comes amid rising global oil prices and pressure on energy-importing economies like the Philippines, while the central bank signals it will limit intervention to smoothing volatility. For senders, the move translates into higher peso returns per transfer, though the trend reflects broader inflation risks and currency volatility rather than a short-term spike.

Iranian missile attacks have killed three Palestinian women in the occupied West Bank and a foreign worker in central Israel, medics said Thursday.

Falling shrapnel struck a hair salon in the West Bank town of Beit Awa near Hebron late Wednesday, killing the three women, according to the Palestine Red Crescent Society, marking the first Palestinian deaths from Iranian attacks in the ongoing Middle East war.

The victims include a teenager, 17-year-old Mays Ghazi Masalmeh, according to the official Palestinian news agency, Wafa.

The Red Crescent said at least eight others were injured, including one woman in critical condition.

Brigadier General Jadaan Fadhel, Spokesperson of the Kuwait National Guard, announced the downing of five drones at dawn today in areas under their jurisdiction.

In a statement carried by Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Fadhel said the action comes within ongoing efforts to enhance security, protect vital sites and counter any potential threats, calling on all to adhere to safety and security instructions issued by the competent authorities.

He affirmed that the Kuwait National Guard, in cooperation with the army, police and Kuwait Fire Force, remains on high alert and fully prepared to deal with any threats and firmly confront anything that seeks to undermine the country’s security.

Qatari civil defence teams have contained fires that erupted at a major gas facility in the Gulf state's north following an Iranian attack, the interior ministry said Thursday.

"Civil Defence has fully brought all fires under control in the Ras Laffan Industrial Area without any reported injuries. Cooling and sites-securing operations are still ongoing," the ministry said in a post on X.

Saudi Arabia has not ruled out military action in response to repeated missile and drone attacks from Iran, Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters following a meeting in Riyadh of foreign ministers from the region, Prince Faisal said that Iran "tries to pressure its neighbours" with attacks.

"The kingdom is not going to succumb to pressure, and on the contrary, this pressure will backfire... and certainly, as we have stated quite clearly, we have reserved the right to take military actions if deemed necessary," he said.

UAE residents have received a new mobile alert from authorities confirming that the situation in the country is currently safe following earlier warnings about potential missile threats.

 The Air Defence Systems responded to the threat, and authorities had urged residents to remain in safe locations and follow official channels for real-time updates. 

The Ministry of Defence confirmed that the loud sounds heard across parts of the country were caused by air defence systems intercepting missiles and drones.

Authorities have advised residents to move to the nearest secure building, avoid windows, doors, and open areas, and await official instructions. They emphasised the importance of staying in safe locations, following official channels for real-time updates, and remaining vigilant as the situation develops.

Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific has cancelled all flights to and from Dubai until April 30, as tensions in the Middle East continue. The airline said the decision was taken due to the “developing situation” in the region. It added that safety remains its top priority.

The airline said passengers affected by the cancellations are being contacted. Cathay Pacific is also offering flexible options to travellers. Customers booked to fly between Hong Kong and Dubai up to May 31 this year can change their travel dates, choose a different route, or request a full refund without extra fees.

US President Donald Trump threatened to destroy Iran's key South Pars gas field if there were further attacks against Qatar's main gas plant.

Trump confirmed on his Truth Social platform that Israel had struck the South Pars field but said the United States "knew nothing" of the attack, which spurred Iran to launch an attack on Qatar's Ras Laffan facility.

"NO MORE ATTACKS WILL BE MADE BY ISRAEL pertaining to this extremely important and valuable South Pars Field unless Iran unwisely decides to attack a very innocent, in this case, Qatar - In which instance the United States of America, with or without the help or consent of Israel, will massively blow up the entirety of the South Pars Gas Field at an amount of strength and power that Iran has never seen or witnessed before," the US president wrote.

Qatar's state-run energy firm said new strikes on the Gulf nation's main gas hub on Thursday caused "extensive" damage.

QatarEnergy said in a statement that early Thursday "several of its Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facilities were the subject of missile attacks, causing sizeable fires and extensive further damage" after a previous attack.

The company noted that the earlier attack on the Ras Laffan Industrial City on Wednesday had already caused extensive damage to a gas-to-liquids facility.

The State of Qatar has strongly condemned the Iranian targeting of energy facilities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates over the past two days.

It considers these actions a blatant violation of international law.

Qatar further warns that such attacks pose a serious threat to global energy security, maritime navigation, and the environment.

Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement posted on X, said Iran’s attacks in the region have "crossed all red lines".

Saudi Arabia has intercepted and destroyed five drones targetting the Eastern Province, according to authorities.

Qatar's Civil Defence authorities are currently dealing with fire at Ras Laffan industrial facility caused by an Iranian missile attack.

The UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism denied the accuracy of reports and claims circulated on certain platforms regarding the imposition of restrictions by the UAE on capital movement or preventing foreign investors from transferring or disposing of their funds in accordance with the relevant regulations.

The ministry has stressed the UAE’s firm commitment to policies of economic openness and the free movement of capital, in line with international best practices and in a manner that enhances a stable and attractive investment environment.

Energy commodities are surging early on Thursday (March 19), with spreads between key benchmarks widening:

As of approximately 7.58 am Tokyo (Thursday, March 19), corresponding to 10:58 pm GMT Wednesday (March 18).

Classes will resume via online learning in Kuwait after the Eid Al Fitr holiday if current conditions persist, the Ministry of Education said. In a statement, the ministry said the move aims to ensure continuity of education within a structured framework, while monitoring student attendance, engagement and commitment to maintain quality standards.

The competent authorities in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi are handling two incidents of shrapnel fallout resulting from a successful interception operation against missiles that targeted the Habshan gas facility and the Bab field. Operations at the facility have been suspended and no injuries have been recorded. The authorities have urged the public not to circulate rumors and to obtain information solely from official sources.

Ten people were arrested in Kuwait following a foiled Hezbollah-linked terror plot targeting key facilities.

Iran's intelligence minister Esmail Khatib has been killed, the country's president has confirmed.

Masoud Pezeshkian said the "cowardly assassination" had left Iran "in deep mourning", after Israel said on Wednesday it had killed Khatib in an air strike.

The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs delivered an official note to the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Doha, stating that Qatar considers both the military attache and the security attache at the embassy, in addition to the staff of the two attache offices "persona non grata", and requests that they leave the country within a maximum period of (24) hours.

Qatar News Agency (QNA) said this decision came during a meeting held Wednesday between Director of Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ibrahim Yousif Fakhro and Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the State Ali Salehabadi.

The ministry explained that this decision comes in response to repeated Iranian targeting and the blatant aggression against the State of Qatar, which violated its sovereignty and security, in a flagrant breach of the principles of international law, United Nations Security Council Resolution No. (2817), and the principles of good neighborliness.

The ministry stressed that the continuation of this hostile approach by the Iranian side will be met with additional measures by the State of Qatar, in a manner that ensures the protection of its sovereignty, security, and national interests.

The ministry affirmed that the State of Qatar reserves the right to take all necessary measures to protect its sovereignty and security, in accordance with the provisions of international law.

The UAE has issued a new safety alert early this morning, about an hour-plus after another other notification informing residents about defensive ops being carried out against Iranian aggression. This time, the message was more cheerful. It read: "Thank you for your cooperation. We assure you that the situation is currently safe."

UAE has issued a safety alert via phone across Dubai that calls for people to seek a safe place and shelter. Stay away from windows, it added.

The UAE's air defences are currently dealing with missile and drone attacks coming from Iran, and the Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the sounds heard in the various areas of the country are the result of the interception by air defence systems of ballistic missiles, and by fighter jets of drones and loitering munitions.

Iran's president warned on Wednesday of the risk of "uncontrollable consequences" of attacks on energy infrastructure, after facilities in the giant Iranian South Pars gas field were targeted in the US-Israeli war against the Islamic republic.

"This will complicate the situation and could have uncontrollable consequences, the scope of which could engulf the entire world," Masoud Pezeshkian wrote on X, adding that such attacks "will yield nothing" for Iran's foes the US and Israel.

Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf added in a separate post on X that after the attacks on energy facilities "an eye-for-an-eye sum is in effect, and a new level of confrontation has begun".

Day 19: Iran warns of 'consequences' after gas field hit

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