- News
- World News
- Middle East News
- US-Israel-Iran War News Live Updates: Gulf energy sites continue to be targeted; Kuwait’s key oil refinery hit again by Iranian drone
THE TIMES OF INDIA | Mar 20, 2026, 11:06:09 IST
Israel Iran War Live: The Iran-Israel-US war is intensifying rapidly, with energy infrastructure becoming a central target and global economic consequences becoming more visible. Iran’s retaliation against Gulf oil and gas facilities following Israeli strikes has disrupted critical supply routes and triggered a sharp rise in global oil prices. The situation has been further complicated by continued missile exchanges, Israeli strikes inside Iran, and expanding conflict zones including Lebanon.
The near shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz has added to fears of a prolonged energy crisis, while global leaders are urging restraint to prevent further escalation. Despite claims from Israel that Iran’s military capabilities have been weakened, Tehran continues to launch attacks, indicating that the conflict is far from over.
Key points
* Iran launched retaliatory strikes on Gulf oil and gas facilities after Israel targeted a major Iranian gas field.
* Israel carried out fresh airstrikes on Tehran, while Iran fired multiple missile barrages at Israeli cities.
* Fighting with Hezbollah in Lebanon has intensified, with over 1,000 deaths and mass displacement reported.
* The US warned of direct escalation, with Donald Trump threatening major strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure.
* International pressure is growing, with UN and EU calling for de-escalation and protection of energy routes.
Israel Iran war news: India calls for maritime safety and de-escalation amid tensions
Indian High Commissioner to UK Vikram Doraiswamy has underlined India’s commitment to the safety of all seafarers, freedom of navigation, maritime security and securing trade and energy supply chains.
Addressing the 36th extraordinary session of the Council of the IMO held on Thursday in London, the Indian envoy said, “India remains deeply concerned about the evolving situation and continues to call for de-escalation through dialogue and diplomacy, with utmost restraint and priority being given to the safety of civilians.”
Israel Iran War News: Germany steps back from backing Israel in ICJ case
Germany is no longer planning to support Israel in a case at the International Court of Justice, where it faces accusations of genocide in Gaza.
According to a foreign ministry spokesperson, Germany has decided not to assist Israel in responding to the case filed by South Africa.
“There will not be an intervention at the International Court of Justice,” Josef Hinterseher, deputy spokesman for the German Foreign Ministry, told reporters, the Jewish News Service (JNS) has reported.
Iran war news: Kuwait refinery hit again by drone attack
Kuwait said its Mina Al-Ahmadi oil refinery was targeted again on Friday by drones, causing fires at several units.
The refinery had also been attacked a day earlier, which had sparked similar fires. Authorities said firefighters are working to bring the latest blaze under control, and no injuries have been reported so far.
Iran war news: DGCA asks airlines to avoid 9 airspaces
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has directed airlines to avoid nine airspaces in the war-engulfed Gulf region and put in place strong contingency plans, citing heightened risks following the ongoing conflict in the region.In an advisory, the DGCA asked carriers to steer clear of the airspaces of Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar and United Arab Emirates.
Iran war news: Kuwait reports airport fire, drone strike and tanker incident
Kuwait said a reported tanker-related incident took place outside its territorial waters, even as multiple security developments were reported across the country. Authorities confirmed that a fire at fuel storage tanks at Kuwait International Airport has been brought under control, with firefighters earlier working to contain the blaze. The aviation authority also said drones struck the airport’s radar system, but no injuries were reported.
Iran War News: Saudi Arabia shoots down two more drones
Saudi Arabia has intercepted and destroyed two more drones over its eastern region, according to the Ministry of Defence.
Authorities said the drones were successfully shot down.
Israel Iran war: US to send more warships and troops
US-based news site Newsmax has reported that US military forces are preparing to send several warships along with 4,000 marines and sailors to “reinforce its troops fighting against Iran”, citing four unnamed officials.
Israel Iran War: UAE president, Trump discuss Iran attacks and regional tensions
Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Donald Trump spoke over a phone call to discuss the situation in the region and its impact on global peace.
According to reports, the two leaders reviewed the ongoing Iranian attacks on the United Arab Emirates and other countries in the region, targeting civilians and infrastructure.
Trump condemned the attacks and said the United States stands with the UAE and other regional countries, offering full support to protect their security and stability.
Israel Iran War: Iran president warns of global fallout after US strike
Iran’s president has strongly criticised the United States and Israel, warning that recent actions could have wider global consequences.
In a statement, he said, “The nature of the Zionist regime is based on state terrorism, but what occurred in the American aggression against Iran and the assassination of the martyr leader represents a new approach in international disputes that will demolish the legal systems of the world. If the international community does not stand firmly against this crisis, the flames of this fire will burn many others.”
US Iran news: Dubai reports successful air interceptions
Dubai said its air defence systems carried out successful interception operations over the city, with no injuries reported, according to the official media office.
Authorities did not share further details about the nature of the operations or the threats involved.
US Iran news: Six nations consider mission to reopen Strait of Hormuz
The United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands and Japan are considering a joint mission to help remove Iran’s blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.
No timeline has been announced yet. Germany and the Netherlands have said they would only take part if there is a ceasefire or at least a pause in fighting.
US Iran News: Explosions heard across Tehran as air defences respond to drone threats
According to Al Jazeera, powerful explosions were heard across Tehran as air defence systems engaged incoming US and Israeli drones.
Iran news: Warning sirens sound in north Israel
Local Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 says Iranian missile attacks on Israel have triggered air raid sirens in the north of the country.
This comes as the Israeli military again reported incoming missile fire from Iran.
Iran war news: Warning sirens activated in Bahrain
Warning sirens are sounding in Bahrain and people have been urged to move to their nearest safe place and remain calm, according to the Interior Ministry.
US Iran news: Hezbollah targets Israeli troops in south Lebanon
Hezbollah said it carried out missile attacks on Israeli soldiers and military vehicles in southern Lebanon.
In separate statements, the group said it struck troops in al-Aadaissah and launched another attack in the border town of Mays al-Jabal. Meanwhile, Israel has increased its ground troop presence in southern Lebanon since escalating its operations earlier this month.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said a proposed framework to halt fighting between Israel and Iran-backed militant Hezbollah was “still on the table”, as he hosted French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on Thursday.
Lebanon was pulled into the regional war on March 2, when Hezbollah fired rockets toward neighbouring Israel in response to the killing of its ally Iran’s supreme leader in Israeli-US attacks.
Israel Iran war: Kuwait faces missile and drone attacks
Kuwait said its air defence systems are responding to ongoing missile and drone attacks.
The military stated that any explosions heard are due to interceptions carried out by defence systems. Authorities have urged residents to follow safety instructions and stay updated through official channels.
Elsewhere in the Gulf, Bahrain’s interior ministry said that shrapnel from an “Iranian aggression” caused a fire at a warehouse, which was brought under control and resulted in no injuries.
The ministry earlier said air raid sirens were activated.
Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry said that in a little over an hour, its forces had “intercepted and destroyed” six drones in the country’s east and another in the north.
Those attacks followed major damage at the world’s biggest gas hub, Qatar’s Ras Laffan, on Wednesday as Iran retaliated for Israeli strikes on its South Pars gas field.
Iran news: UAE activates air defences amid missile threat
United Arab Emirates has activated its air defence systems in response to a possible missile threat, the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority said.
Authorities have advised people to stay in safe locations and follow official channels for further warnings and updates.
Meanwhile, UAE authorities have arrested at least five members of a “terrorist network” linked to Iran and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, state media said Friday.
The alleged network had “sought to infiltrate the national economy and carry out external schemes threatening the country’s financial stability” as part of “a pre-established strategic plan in coordination with external parties linked to Hezbollah and Iran”, the official WAM news agency said, citing the UAE State Security Apparatus. The report included mug shots of five detained suspects.
Iran war news: Saudi Arabia intercepts multiple drones in east
Saudi Arabia has intercepted and destroyed three drones in the eastern part of the country within the past hour, according to its Ministry of Defence.
A spokesperson said earlier that 10 other drones were also shot down in separate incidents over the past several hours. All interceptions took place in the eastern region.
On Thursday, drones struck a Saudi oil refinery on the Red Sea and caused fires at two others in Kuwait, as Iran stepped up attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure.
Those attacks followed major damage at the world’s biggest gas hub, Qatar’s Ras Laffan, on Wednesday as Iran retaliated for Israeli strikes on its South Pars gas field.
US-Iran News: Israel strikes Tehran during Nowruz
Israel carried out airstrikes on Tehran on Friday as people in Iran marked Nowruz, the Persian New Year, during an ongoing war that is impacting the global economy and raising fears of wider regional involvement.
Activists reported hearing multiple explosions around the capital. The strikes came a day after Israel said it would avoid further attacks on a key Iranian gas field, while Iran stepped up its attacks on oil and gas facilities across the Gulf.
In the United Arab Emirates, loud explosions were heard in Dubai early Friday as air defence systems intercepted incoming projectiles. The incident took place as people marked Eid al-Fitr, with morning prayers underway.
Meanwhile, Iran continued its missile attacks on Israel, forcing millions into shelters. Sirens were reported across northern areas, including Haifa and the Galilee region, following more than a dozen missile launches on Thursday, according to the Israeli military.
Israel Iran War: US approves $7 billion more in weapons for UAE, report says
The Trump administration has approved roughly $7 billion in additional arms sales to the United Arab Emirates that are not required to be publicly disclosed under US export rules, the Wall Street Journal reported.
The report said these undisclosed deals come on top of more than $16.5 billion in military sales to three Middle Eastern countries that were formally announced earlier the same day.
According to the report, the unannounced package includes Patriot PAC-3 missile systems worth about $5.6 billion and CH-47 Chinook helicopters valued at roughly $1.32 billion for the UAE. Citing US officials, the report added that the transactions were not publicly announced because they expand on previously approved arms agreements.
Iran news: Crude prices fall after Netanyahu seeks to calm Iran war fears
Crude oil prices fell by more than two percent on Friday after Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran was being “decimated” and the war could end sooner than expected.
Markets also reacted positively after Donald Trump said Israeli forces would not carry out further strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure. Earlier attacks on a key gas field had raised fears of wider retaliation across the Gulf.
However, as the conflict enters its fourth week, most stock markets remained under pressure due to concerns over energy supplies. Oil prices are still around $100 per barrel, while gas prices continue to rise amid disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking at a press conference, Netanyahu said Israel and the United States were “winning” the war and claimed Iran no longer has the ability to enrich uranium or produce ballistic missiles. He also said the conflict could end “a lot faster than people think,” without giving a timeline.
Iran war news: Trump makes Pearl Harbor remark in front of Japan PM
Donald Trump defended keeping US strikes on Iran secret by saying surprise was necessary, but his comments led to an awkward moment during his meeting with Sanae Takaichi.
When asked why allies like Japan were not informed before the attack, Trump said the US did not want to “signal too much” and needed the element of surprise. He then referred to Pearl Harbor attack, saying, “Who knows better about surprise than Japan?”
He argued that the decision not to notify allies preserved the military advantage. “Because of that surprise, we knocked out — the first two days we probably knocked out 50 per cent of what we and much more than we anticipated doing. So, if I go and tell everybody about it, there’s no longer a surprise, right?”
US-Iran News: UAE arrests members of Iran-linked ‘terrorist network’
Authorities in the United Arab Emirates have arrested at least five individuals accused of being part of a “terrorist network” linked to Iran and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, according to state media reports on Friday.
The official WAM news agency, citing the UAE State Security Apparatus, said the group had allegedly attempted to infiltrate the country’s economy and carry out external operations that could threaten financial stability. Authorities said the network was operating under a pre-planned strategy in coordination with external actors linked to Iran and Hezbollah.
The report also released images of five detained suspects.
TheUnited Arab Emirateshas increasingly found itself on the receiving end of attacks as the Iran–Israel–US conflict expands across the region.Iranhas launched multiple missile and drone strikes targeting key locations in the UAE, including areas around Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Israel-Iran war: Netanyahu denies ‘dragging’ US ‘into Iran war’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday asserted Israel’s independent military decision-making even as he emphasised close coordination with the United States amid the ongoing conflict with Iran. However, he denied claims that Israel “dragged” US into a war, during a media briefing.“Does anyone really think that someone can tell President Trump what to do? Come on.President Trump always makes his decisions on what he thinks is good for America,” Netanyahu said on being questioned by reporter.
He confirmed that Israel had carried out a strike on Iran’s Assaluyeh gas compound on its own, while acknowledging Washington’s position on further such attacks. “Fact number one: Israel acted alone against the Assaluyeh gas compound. Fact number two: President Trump asked us to hold off on future attacks, and we’re holding off,” he said.Netanyahu also projected confidence in Israel’s military campaign, saying, “We are winning and Iran is being decimated,” and added, “I also see this war ending a lot faster than people think.”
On Iran’s internal situation, he pointed to signs of strain but stopped short of predicting regime collapse. “A lot of signs… I wish I could divulge all of them,” he said, adding, “We’re working to create the conditions for it to collapse. But it may survive, it may not.”
The ongoing conflict between Iran, Israel and the United States continues, with direct attacks on energy infrastructure and widening regional involvement pushing the war towards a broader geopolitical and economic crisis. What began as a coordinated US-Israel offensive targeting Iranian military and nuclear capabilities has now expanded into a multi-front conflict involving missile exchanges, proxy warfare, and economic disruption.
Iran sharply escalated the situation by launching attacks on oil and gas facilities across the Gulf on Thursday, in retaliation for an Israeli strike on a key Iranian gas field. These strikes have significantly raised the stakes, as energy infrastructure forms the backbone of the global economy. In response, US President Donald Trump issued a stark warning, saying Washington could “massively blow up” Iran’s gas infrastructure if attacks continue. At the same time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that Iran’s ability to enrich uranium and develop ballistic missiles has been effectively neutralised, though Tehran continues to demonstrate its offensive capabilities through sustained missile and drone strikes.
Israeli strikes continued in Tehran, coinciding with Iran’s Nowruz celebrations, while Iran fired multiple missile barrages at Israeli cities, triggering widespread air raid sirens. The battlefield has also expanded geographically. The conflict has spilled into Lebanon, where fighting with the Iran-backed group Hezbollah has intensified. Israeli strikes there have killed over 1,000 people and displaced more than a million, underlining the humanitarian cost of the war.
One of the most critical flashpoints is the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil transit route. The near halt in tanker traffic due to security threats has severely disrupted global supply chains. Oil prices have surged dramatically, with Brent crude rising above $110 per barrel and even briefly touching higher levels, fuelling fears of inflation worldwide. The impact is already being felt by consumers through rising fuel and transport costs, which are expected to push up prices of essential goods globally.
International concern is mounting. The United Nations Security Council has held urgent discussions, while European leaders have called for a halt to attacks on energy infrastructure and the reopening of key shipping routes.
At the same time, divisions are emerging between the US and Israel over strategy, particularly regarding attacks on Iranian energy sites. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday asserted Israel’s independent military decision-making even as he emphasised close coordination with the United States amid the ongoing conflict with Iran. His statement came a day after Trump said he knew nothing about Israel’s strike on Iran’s Assaluyeh gas compound.
