Explosions sounded over Dubai early Tuesday (March 17, 2026) because the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) army labored to intercept incoming Iranian fireplace that triggered the nation to briefly shut its airspace as warfare within the Center East continued to escalate.
The Israeli army mentioned early Tuesday (March 17, 2026) it had begun a “wide-scale wave of strikes” throughout Iran’s capital and was additionally stepping up strikes on Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. It introduced the brand new strikes as Israel reported two incoming salvos from Iran.
Iran-Israel warfare LIVE – March 17, 2026
The U.S. and Israel had pummelled army targets in Iran’s capital a day earlier, with Israel stepping up bombardments of Iran-backed militants in Lebanon.
Fears of a worldwide power disaster loomed whilst a small variety of ships handed by means of the Strait of Hormuz, a significant waterway by means of which a fifth of the world’s oil usually travels.
Iranian strikes on business ships in and across the strait have slowed transport to a trickle, dramatically growing oil costs and pressuring Washington to do one thing to ease the ache for shoppers and the worldwide economic system.
Brent crude, the worldwide normal, remained over $100 a barrel. U.S. President Donald Trump mentioned he had demanded that roughly a half-dozen international locations ship warships to maintain the Strait of Hormuz open. However his appeals introduced no instant commitments.
Talking of the strait, Iranian International Minister Abbas Araghchi mentioned: “From our perspective it’s open” — simply not for america, Israel and its allies. Mr. Araghchi additionally rejected as “delusional” claims that Iran was searching for a negotiated finish to the warfare.
Since america and Israel attacked Iran greater than two weeks in the past, Tehran has frequently fired drones and missiles at Israel, American bases within the area and Gulf Arab international locations’ power infrastructure.
UAE briefly closes airspace
The UAE shut down its airspace early Tuesday (March 17, 2026) as its army reported it was “responding to missile and drone threats from Iran.” The closure was quickly lifted, the state-run WAM information company quoted the UAE’s Basic Civil Aviation Authority as saying.
Authorities mentioned “the state of affairs stabilized,” permitting flights to renew.
The snap announcement confirmed the balancing act Emirati authorities face in making an attempt to maintain their long-haul carriers Emirates and Etihad flying as Iranian assaults proceed to focus on the nation. On Monday (March 16, 2026), an Iranian drone assault set a gasoline tank ablaze at Dubai Worldwide Airport, the world’s busiest for worldwide journey.
In Israel, an intercepted Iranian missile assault sprayed shrapnel on Monday (March 16, 2026) by means of Jerusalem’s Outdated Metropolis, hitting the rooftop of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, simply meters (yards) from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, constructed on what’s revered by many Christians as the positioning of Jesus’ crucifixion, burial and resurrection.
Shrapnel additionally fell close to the Western Wall, the holiest web site the place Jews can pray, and inside the Al Aqsa Mosque compound, the third-holiest web site in Islam. Missile strikes on Jerusalem have been uncommon up to now.
Israel hits Beirut, launches new assaults on Tehran
Large explosions had been heard in Beirut on Monday (March 16, 2026) as Israel launched new assaults on the Lebanese capital, saying it was putting infrastructure associated to the Iran-linked Hezbollah militia. Hezbollah started firing rockets into northern Israel after U.S.-Israeli assaults on Iran started Feb. 28.
The Israeli military has issued evacuation orders for a lot of neighborhoods in Beirut in addition to southern Lebanon.
Israel’s strikes have displaced greater than 1 million Lebanese — or roughly 20% of the inhabitants, — in line with the Lebanese authorities, which says some 850 individuals have been killed. Some Israeli troops have pushed into southern Lebanon, and there are fears Israel is making ready a large-scale invasion.
In southern Lebanon, seven individuals had been killed in Israeli airstrikes, in line with authorities and information stories on Monday (March 16, 2026).
Explosions additionally sounded in Tehran and outlying areas quickly after Israel’s army introduced it had launched new strikes on Iran’s capital.
A Tehran resident mentioned whereas driving he witnessed an airstrike flip a police station to mud and closely injury outlets and vehicles. The person, who spoke on situation of anonymity for concern of retaliation from the federal government, mentioned it “felt like the tip of the world.” Extra particulars weren’t instantly out there with data popping out of Iran severely restricted by web outages, round the clock airstrikes and tight restrictions on journalists.
Greater than 1,300 individuals have been killed in Iran, in line with the Iranian Purple Crescent.
Israel has carried out some 7,600 strikes on Iran, knocking out 85% of its air defenses and 70% of Iran’s missile launchers, Israeli army spokesman Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani mentioned.
In Israel, 12 individuals have been killed by Iranian missile fireplace. At the very least 13 U.S. army members have been killed.
Printed – March 17, 2026 07:54 am IST