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- US-Israel-Iran War News Live Updates: Iran calls Israeli bombing of fuel depots ‘ecocide’; Trump warns Nato over war fallout
THE TIMES OF INDIA | Mar 16, 2026, 08:08:20 IST
The conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran has intensified into one of the most volatile crises in the Middle East in recent years, with missile strikes, drone attacks and air raids reported across several countries in the region. The confrontation began after coordinated American and Israeli strikes targeted Iranian military infrastructure, triggering a series of retaliatory attacks from Tehran and expanding the conflict beyond the three main adversaries.
Since the initial strikes, the war has rapidly spread across multiple fronts. Iran has launched ballistic missiles and drones targeting Israeli cities as well as US military installations across the Gulf region. Several countries hosting American bases including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait, have reported interceptions of drones or missile threats, highlighting the widening geographical scope of the conflict.
The fighting has also disrupted global energy routes, particularly around the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. The narrow waterway carries a significant portion of the world’s oil shipments, and fears that the conflict could affect tanker traffic have already pushed global energy markets into uncertainty.
Amid the escalating violence, US President Donald Trump has said Washington is in contact with Tehran but believes Iran is not yet ready to reach a deal. At the same time, he claimed US and Israeli strikes have significantly weakened Iran’s military infrastructure, including its air defence systems and drone production capabilities.
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has said that nuclear material at Iranian facilities is currently buried under rubble following recent attacks, adding that it could only be retrieved under supervision from the International Atomic Energy Agency. With missile exchanges continuing and regional states increasingly affected, the crisis has raised global concerns about a wider war and a prolonged disruption to international energy supplies.
- The war began after the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes inside Iran targeting military infrastructure and missile systems.
- Iran responded with large waves of ballistic missiles and drones aimed at Israeli territory and US military bases across the Middle East.
- The conflict quickly expanded across the region, with attacks and interceptions reported in Gulf states including the Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.
- The Lebanese group Hezbollah opened a northern front by firing rockets toward Israel, prompting Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon.
- The conflict has disrupted shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, raising fears of a global energy crisis.
- Oil prices surged amid concerns that tanker traffic through the Gulf could be severely affected.
Iran appointed Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new Supreme Leader following the killing of Ali Khamenei in the opening phase of the conflict.
US President Donald Trump has said Washington is in discussions with Tehran while also claiming Iran’s military capabilities have been significantly weakened.
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said nuclear material at damaged facilities remains buried under rubble following attacks.
Iran War News: Araghchi condemns Israeli strikes on fuel depots on Tehran
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the Israeli strikes on fuel depots on Tehran. He labeled the actions as a violation of international law and a form of ‘ecocide’.
In a post on X, Araghchi said, “Residents face long-term damage to their health and well-being” and that “contamination of soil and groundwater could have generational impacts”.
“Israel must be punished for its war crimes,” he added.
Iran War News: Trump says US ‘hitting’ Iran’s drone manufacturing locations
Donald Trump said that the US is ‘hitting’ locations where Iran is building drones being used to launch attacks against the US and Israel, according to Al-Jazeera.
“Iran has very little firepower left. We have decimated their manufacturing capability,” he said.
“Likewise, the drones are way down, about 20 percent of what they have. As of yesterday, we’re hitting places where they manufacture them,” Trump added.
Iran War News: Drone-related incident sparks fire near Dubai International Airport, blaze controlled
Authorities in the Dubai said emergency services responded to a fire caused by a drone-related incident near Dubai International Airport.
The Government of Dubai Media Office said response teams were working to contain the situation and ensure public safety.
Officials added that all necessary measures were being taken while investigations into the incident continue.
The Dubai Media Office later said that their civil defence teams have “successfully contained the fire resulting from impact to one of the fuel tanks in the vicinity” of the city’s international airport.
“No injuries have been reported,” it said.
The Dubai Civil Aviation Authority said that it was temporarily suspending flights at the airport “as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of all passengers and staff”, according to Al-Jazeera.
Iran War news: Iran says nuclear material buried under rubble after strikes
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said nuclear material at the country’s facilities is currently buried under rubble following recent attacks.
Araghchi said the materials could potentially be recovered in the future but only under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
He also noted that Iran had earlier offered to dilute its stockpile of highly enriched uranium during negotiations with the United States as part of a possible deal.
Israel Iran War: Trump claims Iran ‘essentially defeated’ militarily
US President Donald Trump claimed that American and Israeli military operations have severely weakened Iran’s military capabilities.
According to Trump, Iran’s missile stockpiles have dropped significantly and its drone capacity has fallen to roughly 20 per cent of what it previously had.
He also said the US had destroyed large parts of Iran’s air force and air defence systems, adding that American forces were now targeting locations believed to be manufacturing drones.
Israel Iran War: Trump pushes for global coalition to police Strait of Hormuz
Donald Trump said the United States is speaking with several countries about forming a coalition to secure the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
The waterway is one of the world’s most critical oil shipping routes and has faced disruptions during the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Trump said countries that rely heavily on Gulf oil supplies should help keep the strait open, adding that Washington was receiving a “good response” from potential partners.
Israel Iran War: Middle East War enters day 17, Trump says Tehran not ready to end war
As the war enters third week, there is no signs of backing down from any side. US President Donald Trump said Washington was in discussions with Iran but Tehran is not yet ready to reach an agreement.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One Trump said, “Yes, we’re talking to them. But I don’t think they’re ready. But they are getting pretty close.”
US President further said that he was not sure whether he wanted to make a deal to end the war “because first of all nobody even knows who you’re dealing with, because most of their leadership has been killed.”
This comes after Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khameini and dozens of other Iranian officials were killed on the first day of the US-Israeli attacks on February 28.
Trump insisted however that “they want to make a deal badly”.
The ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran has evolved into a major regional crisis, with military strikes and retaliatory attacks spreading across multiple countries in the Middle East. What began with coordinated American and Israeli strikes targeting Iranian military infrastructure quickly escalated into a broader confrontation involving missile barrages, drone warfare and cross-border air raids.
The opening phase of the war saw extensive attacks on Iran’s air defence systems, missile launch facilities and military installations. Iranian authorities reported heavy damage across several cities, while the strikes also resulted in the killing of the country’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Following his death, Iran appointed his son Mojtaba Khamenei as the new Supreme Leader, signalling a continuation of Tehran’s hardline response to the attacks.
Iran retaliated by launching waves of ballistic missiles and drones targeting Israeli cities and US military facilities across the region. Several Gulf countries hosting American bases soon found themselves drawn into the conflict as missiles and drones crossed their airspace or targeted infrastructure within their territory. Nations including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait reported interceptions of incoming drones and missile threats.
The conflict also expanded beyond the Gulf when the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah opened another front by launching rockets into northern Israel. Israeli forces responded with airstrikes targeting Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, adding another theatre to an already complex war.
A major strategic flashpoint in the crisis has been the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway through which a large share of the world’s oil supply passes. The conflict has disrupted shipping through the corridor, triggering sharp volatility in global energy markets and raising fears of a wider economic shock.
Amid the continuing hostilities, US President Donald Trump has said Washington is in discussions with Tehran but believes Iran is not yet ready to reach a deal. He has also claimed that American and Israeli operations have severely weakened Iran’s military capabilities, including its missile stockpiles and drone production capacity.
Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said nuclear material at Iranian facilities is currently buried under rubble following attacks, adding that any potential recovery would take place only under supervision from the International Atomic Energy Agency.
With missile exchanges continuing, regional states increasingly affected and global markets reacting to the instability, the conflict has raised serious concerns about a prolonged war and its implications for international security and energy supplies.
