This weblog is closing now however we’re persevering with our stay updates from the US-Israel war on Iran in a new live blog here, together with a recap of the newest key developments. Thanks for studying.
Key occasions
Israel launches ‘extensive’ simultaneous strikes Tehran and Beirut
US embassy in Baghdad targeted in air attack – officials
UAE airspace closure lifted
Intense attack on US embassy in Baghdad – report
UAE closes its airspace after Iran attack
Iran missiles fired at Israel, says IDF
No injuries reported after drone hits hotel in Baghdad
The day so far
Trump says he’ll ‘soon’ announce nations helping with strait of Hormuz
Trump says war will be ‘wrapped up soon’
Iran’s Araghchi denies recent contact with US envoy
Trump to delay trip to China because of Iran war
Western leaders ‘gravely concerned’ as Israel launches ground invasion of Lebanon
Vance deflects when asked if he’s ‘completely onboard’ with US war on Iran
Qatar intercepted Iranian missile and drone attack, defence ministry says
Iran and US have been in direct contact in recent days – report
Explosion heard near US embassy in Baghdad, reports say
Drone strike causes fire at Abu Dhabi oil field, officials say
Trump says Israel ‘would never’ use a nuclear weapon on Iran
Missile shrapnel falls in Jerusalem’s Old City holy sites
More than 1 million people displaced in Lebanon amid Israeli strikes and invasion
Could Trump blow up Nato over Iran war? – podcast
Trump says he is ‘not happy’ with UK and ‘very surprised’ by its response to Iran war
Trump says US has struck over 7,000 ‘mostly commercial and military targets’ across Iran
Iran threatens to target US companies in the region
Iran war ‘not a matter for Nato’, says Germany’s Merz
Trump’s meeting with Chinese president could be delayed, White House says
Summary of the day so far…
European countries resist Trump’s request to help clear the strait of Hormuz
Non-Iranian oil tanker transits strait of Hormuz , monitor says
Starmer says UK ‘will not be drawn into wider war’
Iran ‘prepared to continue the war wherever it is’, foreign minister says
Iran says strait of Hormuz is closed only to US, Israel and their allies
Greece will not engage in military operations in the strait of Hormuz, spokesperson says
IDF says it has launched ‘extensive’ strikes across Iran
Fire broke out at UAE’s Fujairah oil industry zone after drone strike – media office
Trump suggests he may delay China visit as he ramps up pressure over strait of Hormuz
Summary
Dubai ‘gradually’ resumes flights after nearby drone incident
Israel military says it has begun ‘limited’ ground operations in Lebanon
US moving troops from Japan to Middle East – reports
Japan starts release of strategic oil reserves
Israel says it still has thousands of targets in Iran
Japan and Australia not planning to send ships to help secure strait of Hormuz
Welcome summary
An “unknown projectile” struck a tanker 23 nautical miles (43km) east of Fujairah within the United Arab Emirates, inflicting minor structural injury, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations company mentioned.
No accidents had been reported among the many ship’s crew, the company mentioned, including that no environmental influence was reported.
As Donald Trump expresses frustration with nations declining to ship warships to reopen the strait of Hormuz, the response stays muted amongst these he instantly known as upon.
South Korea will make any resolution on deploying army forces to the strait in accordance with home regulation and the structure, its overseas minister Cho Hyun mentioned earlier.
Israel launches ‘in depth’ simultaneous strikes Tehran and Beirut
The Israeli army is saying it has launched simultaneous waves of “extensive strikes” on Tehran and Beirut.
The strikes had been concentrating on the Iranian regime’s infrastructure all through the capital, the Israel Defence Forces posted on social media.
It mentioned that on the identical time it had now begun “another wave of strikes” concentrating on Hezbollah infrastructure in Beirut.
US embassy in Baghdad focused in air attack – officers
More now on the reported drone and rocket attack on the US embassy in Baghdad early on Tuesday:
An Iraqi safety official has mentioned that “three drones and four rockets attacked the embassy, with at least one drone crashing inside it”, Agence France-Presse is reporting.
A witness mentioned black smoke was rising after an explosion within the embassy complicated, as nicely as air defences intercepting one other drone.
Hours earlier, air defences reportedly thwarted a rocket attack on the embassy.
Reuters has quoted safety officers as saying the drone and rocket assaults on the embassy had been the essentially the most intense assault because the assaults started and that a minimum of 5 drones had been concerned.
The information company additionally quoted safety sources as saying two airstrikes had focused a home in Baghdad used as a headquarters by the Shia militia umbrella organisation the Popular Mobilisation Forces and that a minimum of two folks had been killed.
The strike occurred within the Iraqi capital’s Jadiriya space, they mentioned.
UAE airspace closure lifted
Air site visitors operations within the United Arab Emirates have returned to regular after the temporary closure of its airspace earlier on Tuesday, the Gulf state’s aviation authority has mentioned, quoted by the state information company.
The UAE’s ministry of defence mentioned earlier that the nation’s air defences had been responding to incoming missiles and drones from Iran.
Intense attack on US embassy in Baghdad – report
A wave of drone and rocket assaults focused the US embassy in Baghdad early on Tuesday, Iraqi safety sources mentioned.
They described it as essentially the most intense assault because the assaults started, with a minimum of 5 drones used, Reuters is reporting.
It quoted a witness as saying a robust explosion was heard within the Iraqi capital.
Jonathan Barrett
In Australia amid hovering petrol costs, the nation’s client watchdog is asking main gas suppliers and retailers to an emergency assembly right now to demand explanations for the current worth surge.
Some retailers in regional areas have even run dry, with prospects panic-buying petrol over issues the Middle East battle will result in shortages.
Representatives of main gas suppliers and retailers, together with Chevron, BP and Ampol, have been known as in to the assembly run by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, mentioned:
Today the regulator will get an opportunity to make the retailers and suppliers justify their costs. I’ve made it very clear that in the event that they discover proof of misconduct, we count on the ACCC to throw the e book at them.
Petrol costs have began to push previous A$2.30 ($1.62) a litre in most state capitals.
Global oil costs have surged by about 40% in March in response to the Middle East battle and closure of the essential strait of Hormuz, prompting fears of a breakout in international inflation.
UAE closes its airspace after Iran attack
The aviation authority within the United Arab Emirates has introduced the “temporary and full closure” of the Gulf nation’s airspace, the state information company is reporting.
The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) had taken the measure “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”, the Emirates News Agency mentioned.
The UAE’s ministry of defence said earlier on Tuesday that the nation’s air defences had been responding to incoming missiles and drones from Iran.
The GCAA urged passengers to contact their respective airways for the newest updates on flight schedules.
On Monday Dubai authorities quickly suspended flights on the metropolis’s worldwide airport after a “drone incident” induced a gas tank hearth within the neighborhood. The suspension was lifted later within the day.
Dubai worldwide airport (DXB) is among the busiest on this planet, with greater than 95 million passengers reportedly transiting via in 2025 alone.
Two explosive drones have focused the US embassy in Baghdad, safety sources are reportedly saying.
More on this quickly.
Air defences within the United Arab Emirates are at present responding to incoming missiles and drones from Iran, the Gulf state’s ministry of defence (MOD) mentioned a short time in the past.
It posted on X:
MOD asserts that the sounds heard are the results of the Air Defence Systems intercepting missiles and drones
Iran missiles fired at Israel, says IDF
The Israeli army is saying missiles had been launched at Israel from Iran a short while in the past and that folks ought to go to shelters.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said on social media that defence programs had been working to intercept the missiles.
It mentioned the Home Front Command had issued a preliminary directive by way of cell phones within the related areas for folks to go to “protected spaces” and keep there till directed.
The IDF submit mentioned:
The public is requested to train duty and act in accordance with the directives – they save lives.
Operations on the Shah oil and gasoline area are suspended following a fire that broke out due a drone attack, Abu Dhabi officers introduced on X.
“Abu Dhabi authorities and relevant response teams have contained and brought under control a fire that broke out at Shah gas field, caused by a drone attack,” the assertion mentioned. “Operations at the facility have been suspended while damage is assessed, and no injuries have been reported.”
No accidents reported after drone hits lodge in Baghdad
We have extra now from Iraq’s inside ministry, which mentioned {that a} drone hit a lodge in Baghdad with out inflicting casualties or materials damages on Monday.
Security sources earlier instructed Reuters a drone hit Al-Rasheed lodge within the Green Zone, which homes governmental buildings and the US embassy, as hearth and smoke had been seen rising.
After examination, it was decided a drone had collided with the lodge’s higher fence, the ministry mentioned, condemning any makes an attempt to focus on diplomatic envoys within the nation.
Security sources had additionally earlier instructed Reuters that two Katyusha rockets had been fired on the US embassy in Baghdad.
The day to this point
Donald Trump mentioned he’ll “soon” announce nations which have agreed to assist the US reopen the strait of Hormuz, as he criticised his many allies, together with Nato and the UK, which have to this point declined to become involved. He instructed reporters within the Oval Office that South Korea, Japan, and China, needs to be serving to the US. He warned that Nato confronted a “very bad” future if it didn’t assist and mentioned he was “not happy” with the UK.
Meanwhile, allies responded by saying “this is not Nato war”, with the EU insisting it has “no appetite” to increase its naval mission to the strait of Hormuz. German chancellor Friedrich Merz earlier mentioned this war “is not a matter for Nato”, whereas Nato mentioned “allies have already stepped up to provide additional security in the Mediterranean”. The UK prime minister Keir Starmer had earlier resisted Trump’s name to ship warships to the strait, saying the UK “will not be drawn into a wider war” however was working “with allies” on a plan to reopen the strait.
Trump additionally mentioned the war can be “wrapped up” quickly, saying it wouldn’t be this week however “it won’t be long”. He additionally advised he would delay his upcoming journey to China, which was scheduled for the top of March, by “a month or so”. His administration has insisted that this was to not strain Beijing to assist reopen the strait of Hormuz.
US vice-president JD Vance deflected and attacked the media when he was requested if he helps Trump’s war on Iran, given his prior criticisms of open-ended US overseas interventionism. It adopted US media experiences that he had privately expressed scepticism and counselled Trump towards placing Iran. Vance accused the media of attempting to “drive a wedge” between him and his president, and repeated Trump’s declare that Tehran was near creating a nuclear weapon. “I trust President Trump to get the job done,” he mentioned.
Iran’s overseas minister Abbas Araghchi denied current contact with US particular envoy Steve Witkoff, and mentioned their final contact was previous to the US attack on Iran. He wrote on X: “My last contact with Mr. Witkoff was prior to his employer’s decision to kill diplomacy with another illegal military attack on Iran. Any claim to the contrary appears geared solely to mislead oil traders and the public.” It adopted an Axios report {that a} direct communications channel between Witkoff and Araghchi had been reactivated in current days, with Araghchi making an attempt to have interaction with Witkoff about ending the war.
The leaders of the UK, France, Germany, Canada, and Italy issued a joint assertion expressing “grave concern” after Israel launched a ground invasion of Lebanon. They known as for significant engagement by Israeli and Lebanese representatives to barter a sustainable political resolution. A major Israeli floor offensive would have devastating humanitarian penalties, they warned, including that it may result in a protracted battle with “devastating humanitarian consequences”.
Earlier on Monday, the IDF had mentioned its troops had begun what it described as “limited and targeted” floor operations – a floor invasion – towards Hezbollah strongholds in southern Lebanon, and instructed a whole lot of 1000’s of Lebanese civilians they can’t return to their properties.
It comes as the newest experiences point out that Israeli strikes have killed a minimum of 850 folks in Lebanon, together with a minimum of 107 youngsters, and have left more than a million displaced.
Elsewhere, explosions had been reported in Baghdad’s closely fortified Green Zone, the extremely safe part of the Iraqi capital that’s house to diplomatic missions together with the US embassy, and worldwide organisations.
Operations on the UAE’s Shah gasoline and oil area are suspended after a hearth that broke out due a drone attack. Abu Dhabi authorities mentioned on Monday evening that the hearth had been introduced beneath management.
Qatar mentioned it intercepted a second wave of missiles from Iran following an attack earlier on Monday.
Trump says he’ll ‘quickly’ announce nations serving to with strait of Hormuz
The US president mentioned he would “soon” announce nations which have agreed to assist the US reopen the strait of Hormuz amid rising international oil costs, as he acknowledged that many allies have to this point declined to take action.
He instructed reporters within the Oval Office:
There are a pair, we’ll be saying some names quickly There are some that basically had been proper up entrance.
Trump added that nations like Japan, South Korea, and China – which get a lot of their oil via the important thing waterway – “should be thanking me”.
And they need to be not solely thanking us, they need to be serving to us. What does shock me is that they’re not keen.
Trump says war can be ‘wrapped up quickly’
Donald Trump additionally claimed his war with Iran can be “wrapped up soon”.
Asked if the US may end the war this week, Trump was imprecise, telling reporters:
I don’t assume so. But it’ll be quickly. Won’t be lengthy. We’re gonna have a a lot safer world when it’s wrapped up. It’ll be wrapped up quickly.
Iran’s Araghchi denies current contact with US envoy
Iran’s overseas minister Abbas Araghchi has mentioned that his final contact with US particular envoy Steve Witkoff was previous to the US attack on Iran.
He wrote on X:
My final contact with Mr. Witkoff was previous to his employer’s resolution to kill diplomacy with one other unlawful army attack on Iran. Any declare on the contrary seems geared solely to mislead oil merchants and the general public.
It follows an Axios report {that a} direct communications channel between Witkoff and Araghchi had been reactivated in current days, with Araghchi making an attempt to have interaction with Witkoff about ending the war.
