Iran–Israel war LIVE: Ukraine's Zelenskyy offers to help UAE protect itself against Iranian drones

The Middle East has plunged into a new era of volatility as Israel and the United States continued intense strikes on Iran on Monday, 2 March 2026, in what U.S. President Donald Trump described as a campaign likely to stretch over several weeks.

Tehran and its allies retaliated across the region, targeting Israel and Gulf states, including energy facilities in Qatar and the American embassy in Saudi Arabia. The escalation has already claimed the life of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, raising fears of a prolonged conflict with unpredictable consequences.

The violence has triggered widespread disruption: safe havens such as Dubai have come under fire, hundreds of thousands of travelers are stranded, and energy markets have reacted sharply. European natural gas prices surged after Qatar halted production at its North Field, the world’s largest LNG reservoir, following attacks on its facilities. Meanwhile, Iran has officially blocked traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for global oil and gas exports.

The Israeli military has issued repeated evacuation warnings for Hezbollah strongholds in Beirut, and missile and drone strikes have targeted urban areas from Tel Aviv to Dubai. The UAE Ministry of Defence reported intercepting a “third wave” of Iranian missiles, while debris caused minor injuries in Dubai. In Saudi Arabia, two drones struck the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, adding to earlier attacks in Kuwait. Diplomatic tensions have intensified, with the UAE closing its embassy in Tehran.

Air travel remains severely disrupted, with Dubai International and Dubai World Central airports suspended, and airlines scrambling to evacuate stranded passengers. As missiles, drones, and strikes continue to sweep the region, the unfolding crisis has no clear exit in sight.

India on Tuesday said its mission in Iran has relocated the majority of Indian students from Tehran in view of the precarious security situation in the Iranian capital city.

India's move came as the conflict in West Asia intensified with the US and Israel carrying out fresh attacks on Iran while Tehran continued to pound several Gulf countries in retaliation.

"Due to the heightened risk perception in Tehran city, the embassy of India has relocated most Indian students who were in Tehran," the Indian mission said. The students were taken to locations outside of Tehran. The embassy said it has made arrangements for the transportation, food, and accommodation of the students. "Only a small number of students who declined the embassy's offer remain in Tehran," it said.

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As many as 37 Indian-flagged ships with over 1,000 seafarers are stuck in the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the adjoining sea areas as the key shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz is closed due to the ongoing military actions involving the United States, Israel and Iran.

While some ships are carrying crude oil and LNG to Indian ports, others are on the way to bring petroleum products from the Gulf nations.

A total of 37 Indian-flagged ships with 1,109 sailors are stuck in the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the adjoining sea areas due to the closure of the key shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, an official privy to the development told PTI.

The Directorate General of Shipping is in regular touch with the shipping companies and is closely monitoring the situation.

At least three Indian seafarers on board foreign-flagged vessels were killed, and one was injured in West Asia due to the current conflict.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he has offered to help the United Arab Emirates protect itself against Iranian aerial attacks.

Ukraine has built significant expertise in countering Iranian-designed Shahed drones that Russia has launched almost daily at Ukrainian targets since Moscow’s invasion more than four years ago.

Zelenskyy said on X that he spoke by phone with the United Arab Emirates president, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and “discussed how we can help” protect lives in the UAE.

On Sunday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that Ukrainian and British experts will work together to help Middle East countries shoot down Iranian drones.

The US Embassy in Saudi Arabia has warned of an “imminent” missile and drone attack on the oil-rich eastern Saudi city of Dhahran.

“Do not come to the US Consulate” in Dhahrab, the embassy advised. “Take cover immediately in your residence on the lowest available floor and away from windows.” It did not provide further details.

The Muslim World League on Tuesday strongly condemned what it described as “treacherous Iranian aggression” targeting the United States Embassy in Riyadh.

In a statement, the MWL said, “The Muslim World League (MWL) has strongly condemned the treacherous Iranian aggression targeting the Embassy of the United States in the city of Riyadh, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as part of its continued criminal attacks against countries in the region.”

As many as 80 international flights were cancelled at the Delhi airport on Tuesday due to operational disruptions for airlines amid the escalating Middle East conflict. Some airlines, including Emirates, have partially started operations to and from the Middle East. An official said 36 departures and 44 arrivals were cancelled at the Delhi airport.

Meanwhile, an Emirates flight, EK513 enroute to Dubai returned to the national capital due to airspace restrictions, as per information available on flight tracking website Flightradar24.com.

"Due to the ongoing political situation in the Middle East, several westbound international flights are causing delays or schedule adjustments," Delhi airport operator DIAL said in a post on X.

India holds sufficient crude and fuel inventories to meet domestic demand for petrol, diesel, and other fuels for six to eight weeks, top government sources said, cushioning the country against any short-term supply disruption amid escalating military conflict in West Asia.

About half of India's crude and LPG imports transit the Strait of Hormuz - the key energy chokepoint that has seen disruptions following US and Israeli attacks on Iranian government, military and nuclear facilities. Iran warned shipping away from the strait, and insurers withdrew coverage, effectively halting tanker movements.

A top oil ministry official, who wished not to be named, said the government is monitoring the situation "on a daily and hourly basis" and is confident of navigating through the crisis that by some estimates may last a week or ten days.

While the country has crude oil stocks to last 25 days and fuel to last a similar duration, contingency plans - including using stockpile in strategic petroleum reserves, commercial stocks, and diversified sourcing from the US, Russia, West Africa, and Latin America - will ensure continuity even if the crisis lasts longer.

The UNESCO has voiced concerns about the Golestan Palace, a world heritage site in the Iranian capital, which was reportedly damaged due to an airstrike in its vicinity. Monday’s strike hit Tehran’s Arag Square in the buffer zone of the palace, the UN agency reported. The palace was damaged by debris and shock waves from the strike, it said.

Saudi Arabia said early Tuesday that the US Embassy in Riyadh came under attack from two drones, which caused a “limited fire” and minor damage.

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Whether the transit passenger or a family enjoying a holiday in Dubai-- the armed conflict in middle east Asia threw a spanner in their plans to return home, with fliers stranded there amid explosions before resuming that long journey back home.

Those who arrived here from the conflict-hit region recollected sounds of explosions, and roads becoming empty during their brief stay in Dubai, after the US-Israel attack on Iran escalated with the latter hitting back at targets in UAE, among others .

Several passengers heaved a sigh of relief over the safe return on Tuesday and thanked the Central and state governments for the arrangements.

Entrances to Iran’s underground and previously bombed uranium-enrichment plant at Natanz have been struck as part of the US-Israeli military attacks on the country, ⁠the ​UN nuclear watchdog confirmed Tuesday.

The underground Fuel Enrichment Plant (FEP) is one of Iran’s three uranium-enrichment plants ​that ​are known to have ⁠been operating when Israel and the United States carried out ‌strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities last June.

“Based on the latest available satellite imagery, IAEA can now confirm some recent damage to entrance buildings of Iran’s underground ⁠Natanz ⁠Fuel Enrichment Plant,” the International Atomic Energy Agency said on ⁠X.

“No ‌radiological consequence expected ​and no additional impact detected ‌at FEP itself, which was severely damaged in the June ‌conflict,” it ​added.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned Tuesday that the ⁠war ​launched by the US and Israel ​against ​Iran could ⁠prompt not only Iran ‌but also its Arab neighbours to seek to acquire ⁠nuclear ⁠weapons.

The widening war in ⁠the ‌Middle ​East increased ‌the risk that nuclear ‌proliferation ​issues ​could ​spin out of control, ​Lavrov said.

The Embassy of the United States, Jerusalem has warned American citizens in Israel that it is currently unable to organise evacuations, urging them instead to take personal responsibility for their safety and travel arrangements as the regional conflict intensifies.

In an advisory issued on Tuesday, the embassy said the security environment remains unpredictable and can deteriorate without notice. It stressed the importance of heightened vigilance, including awareness of the nearest shelter in the event of sirens or red alerts.

“The US Embassy is not in a position at this time to evacuate or directly assist Americans in departing Israel,” the statement said.

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Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Asif called Zionism a driving force behind instability in the Muslim world and a “threat to humanity”, warning that the war on Iran threatens Pakistan’s security.

“From the establishment of Israel on the land of Palestine until today, every catastrophe that has befallen the Islamic world, every war imposed upon it, will show the direct or indirect hand of Zionist ideology and the state,” the defence minister said as he hailed Pakistan’s nuclear capability as a shield against external threats.

Asif argued that the current conflict had been “imposed upon” Iran despite its readiness to reach an agreement in negotiations with the US.

Amid the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday (March 3, 2026) said Prime Minister Narendra Modi must speak up and answer as to whether he supports the assassination of a head of state as a way to define the world order.

He said the unilateral attacks on Iran, as well as Iran’s attacks on other nations in West Asia, must be condemned.

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A fuel tank at Oman’s Duqm commercial port was hit Tuesday when the facility came under attack from several unmanned aircraft, the state news agency said, citing a security source, on the fourth day of US-Israeli strikes ⁠on ​Iran, which has responded by targeting neighbouring countries.

The attack comes a day after Qatar halted its production of liquefied natural gas – about a fifth of ​global supply – ​while Saudi Arabia suspended production ⁠at its largest domestic refinery.

Major Israeli gas fields, including Leviathan, were offline, and most output ‌in the Iraqi Kurdish region had been shut down as Iran continued to target infrastructure, including energy facilities, ports and airports, over recent days.

A magnitude 4.3 earthquake hit Gerāsh in Iran Tuesday, the United States Geological Survey said.

France is ready to defend its partners if they request help after Iranian retaliatory strikes and reserves its right to intervene, ⁠Foreign ​Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Tuesday. “This war… is dragging a number of ​countries ​in the region into ⁠the conflict with which we have relations, ‌defence agreements, and interests, including military bases,” Barrot told French broadcaster BFM TV.

He added that French Rafale fighter jets ⁠carried ⁠out air operations to secure the skies ⁠above France’s ‌bases in ​the region.

Around 400,000 ‌French nationals are currently in the countries ‌affected by ​the ​crisis ​in the Middle East and the French ​government is ready to ⁠fly back those most at risk using both ‌commercial ⁠and military flights, Barrot said.

On the 4th day of the US-Israeli war with Iran, here are the latest developments:

• Israel has launched a fresh wave of "extensive airstrikes" on what it calls "military targets" in Tehran and Beirut

• The US embassy in Riyadh has been hit by two drones, according to the Saudi Ministry of Defense, causing a "limited" fire

• Iranian state media says a command and staff building at a US air base in Bahrain has been destroyed

• An Iranian official has threatened to "set fire" to any ships trying to pass through the Strait of Hormuz - a key route for global energy supplies

• US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said yesterday "the hardest hits are yet to come" from the US military on Iran. He was speaking after Donald Trump called Saturday's strikes "the last, best chance" to eliminate "threats" from Tehran

• Six US service members have been killed since the war began. Three US fighter jets were shot down yesterday in Kuwait an "apparent friendly fire incident" - the crews survived

• Yesterday, UK PM Keir Starmer told MPs he "does not believe in regime change from the skies". But he is allowing the US to use British military bases for "defensive" strikes on Iranian missile sites

Authorities in Srinagar have registered a case against several media outlets and individuals for allegedly circulating fabricated and misleading information linked to protests over the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

According to a police spokesperson, Srinagar Police took serious cognisance of what it described as the deliberate dissemination of false and distorted narratives across electronic and social media platforms. The content, the spokesperson said, was aimed at inciting unrest, disturbing public order, and creating disharmony in society amid heightened tensions in the Kashmir Valley.

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Calling Iran’s nuclear and missile ambitions a danger to global security, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday said Israel’s ongoing military campaign is intended not only to defend the Jewish state but also to shield the wider world from what he described as an existential threat.

Speaking during a visit to Bet Shemesh — a central Israeli city struck by an Iranian ballistic missile a day earlier — Netanyahu said the operation, dubbed “Operation Roaring Lion”, entered its third day with coordinated backing from the United States.

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Protests took place in parts of Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir after the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In Budhal, demonstrators gathered outside the Sheikh-ul-Alam Masjid, condemning the joint U.S.–Israel military action in Iran and calling it a violation of international law. PTI reported that protesters voiced concern over rising tensions in West Asia and appealed for peace and respect for sovereignty.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a phone call with his Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi, expressing support for Iran’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity. Beijing urged the United States and Israel to immediately cease military operations, warning against further escalation and calling for steps to prevent the conflict from spreading across the Middle East.

In a first known case, a Russian LNG carrier has transited the Red Sea openly listing India as its destination, breaking from the usual practice of masking final delivery points before offloading in China. The vessel is sanctioned by the EU but not by the U.S., raising questions over compliance dynamics. While India has historically followed U.S. sanctions but not EU restrictions on Russian energy, the cargo could still ultimately be redirected to China.

Etihad Airways has suspended all scheduled commercial flights to and from Abu Dhabi until 14:00 UAE time (12.30 pm IST) on Wednesday, 4 March. The airline said select repositioning, cargo and repatriation flights may operate in coordination with UAE authorities and subject to strict approvals. Passengers have been advised not to travel to the airport unless contacted directly by the airline.

Fitch Group company BMI has warned that the escalating conflict in West Asia could deter investment flows into India and dilute the growth benefits expected from trade deals with the EU and the US While retaining its FY2026/27 GDP growth forecast at 7 per cent, BMI flagged downside risks and said it is assessing the geopolitical fallout to gauge its potential impact on India’s economy.

US President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that American munitions stockpiles at the medium and upper-medium grades are at their highest levels, claiming the country has a “virtually unlimited supply” to sustain a prolonged conflict if necessary.

Trump added that while high-end weapon reserves are not yet at desired levels, additional supplies are stored overseas, asserting the United States is “stocked, and ready to win.”

Amazon said two of its data centres in the United Arab Emirates were “directly struck” by drones, causing disruptions to cloud services in parts of the Middle East, AFP reported. The incident underscores the growing spillover of the conflict into critical civilian and commercial infrastructure across the region.

The West Indies cricket team’s departure from India following its T20 World Cup exit has been delayed due to international airspace restrictions triggered by US–Israeli strikes on Iran.

Cricket West Indies was quoted by The Hindu as saying it is coordinating with the ICC and government authorities to ensure the players’ safe return. Flight operations across the Gulf remain suspended, with damage reported at Dubai International Airport, one of the world’s busiest hubs.

Amid ongoing Middle East airspace disruptions, special arrangements are being made to move stranded passengers. IndiGo has scheduled 10 relief flights from Jeddah to India on March 3, subject to approvals and airspace conditions, and is coordinating with the Consulate General of India in Jeddah. Other foreign carriers are operating limited services between India and the Gulf. Authorities said passenger safety remains paramount and airlines have been directed to ensure clear communication, refunds, and assistance where required.

The US Mission to Saudi Arabia has issued a shelter-in-place alert for Americans in Jeddah, Riyadh and Dhahran following an attack on its facility. The mission is limiting non-essential travel to military installations and has urged US citizens to avoid the embassy until further notice, review travel plans, and maintain a personal safety plan as it continues to monitor the regional situation.

The Maharashtra government has launched an emergency WhatsApp helpline for hundreds of its residents stranded in West Asia due to airspace closures amid the US–Israel–Iran conflict.

The Chief Minister’s Office said the State is coordinating with the Indian People’s Forum in Dubai and has issued the helpline number +971 50 365 4357 for those needing assistance. Officials said all stranded residents are currently safe.

Emirates flight EK569 to Dubai, which departed Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport at 4.30 a.m. with 56 passengers, was cancelled mid-journey and returned due to regional airspace closures. The flight had been restricted to UAE nationals and resident permit holders. Earlier, EK568 from Dubai landed in Bengaluru as scheduled.

Qatar’s Ministry of Interior has issued a public notice prohibiting people from gathering near accident or strike locations, heading toward incident sites, or filming and publishing videos related to ongoing field developments. Authorities urged residents to follow official updates and prioritise safety amid heightened regional tensions.

After months of painstaking diplomacy and guarded engagement, US President Donald Trump ultimately concluded that only decisive force could prevent Iran from edging to the threshold of a nuclear weapon, vice-president J.D. Vance has said.

In an interview with Fox News on Monday, Vance portrayed a President who believed the sands of time were slipping away despite sustained outreach to Tehran. Citing “Operation Midnight Hammer,” he declared that US forces had struck decisively. “We did destroy the nuclear enrichment facilities during Operation Midnight Hammer over the summer,” he said, framing the move as both necessary and overdue.

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Amid surging oil prices and mounting unease across global markets, the United States has unveiled a strategy to steady energy flows and safeguard vital maritime corridors even as it intensifies military strikes aimed at crippling Iran’s missile arsenal and naval power.

Speaking at the US Capitol, secretary of state Marco Rubio acknowledged that markets were rattled by the escalating conflict but insisted Washington had anticipated the turbulence.

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Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) reports that parts of the IRIB headquarters in Tehran were hit in early morning US–Israeli strikes. Despite the damage, broadcasting remains uninterrupted due to “precautions” taken by the state media organisation.

ISNA also said the Shahid Motahhari government complex near Vali Asr and Imam Khomeini streets was targeted, with multiple blasts heard across central, northern and western Tehran, Al Jazeera reported.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway that carries roughly a fifth of global oil consumption.

Al Jazeera quoted Brigadier General Ebrahim Jabari as saying on state television that IRGC naval forces would target any vessels attempting to pass through the strait and also threaten regional oil pipelines, vowing to halt oil exports to pressure the United States and its allies.

The Israeli military has issued new evacuation orders covering around 50 locations in Lebanon, including warnings for residents in two southern Beirut neighbourhoods to move away from specific buildings ahead of imminent strikes. In a Telegram post, Arabic-language military spokesman Avichay Adraee urged civilians to “evacuate your homes immediately” for their safety, AFP reported.

SpiceJet said it will operate four special flights from Fujairah in the UAE to Delhi, Mumbai and Kochi over the next few days to bring back passengers stranded by widespread airspace closures. PTI said the airline added it is exploring additional flights, subject to demand and regulatory approvals.

Gold prices climbed for a fifth straight session on Tuesday as investors flocked to safe-haven assets amid the escalating US–Israel air campaign against Iran. Spot gold rose 1 per cent to $5,377.21 per ounce, after hitting its highest level in more than four weeks in the previous session, reflecting mounting fears of a prolonged regional conflict.

US President Donald Trump signalled imminent retaliation after two suspected Iranian drones struck the US embassy in Riyadh, causing a limited fire and minor damage. Speaking to NewsNation, Trump said Americans would “find out soon” how Washington would respond, but offered no further details.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the US–Israel campaign against Iran would not drag on indefinitely, describing it as a “gateway to peace.” Speaking to Fox News, Netanyahu said the war would involve quick and decisive action and expressed confidence that it could open a lasting path to peace in West Asia.

Multiple Emirates flights bound for Dubai from Chennai, Delhi and Bengaluru have diverted back to their origin airports in India amid ongoing airspace disruptions. Only EK501 from Mumbai has landed in Dubai so far, while EK525 from Hyderabad remains en route, reflecting the continuing uncertainty in regional aviation operations.

Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday said its silence on the targeted assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is not neutral but an abdication, and raises serious doubts about the direction and credibility of India's foreign policy.

PTI reported that the former Congress president also demanded that when Parliament reconvenes for the second part of the Budget session, the government's "disturbing silence" over the breakdown of international order must be debated openly and without evasion.

Iranian state media report that Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh, the wife of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has died from injuries sustained during the US–Israeli strikes, succumbing to her wounds after being in a coma since the attacks that killed Khamenei. AP reported that her passing marks another significant and personal toll in the escalating regional war.

A limited number of evacuation flights have begun departing the United Arab Emirates, even as most commercial air traffic across West Asia remains suspended amid the widening conflict. The U.S. has urged its citizens in multiple regional countries to leave immediately, but sweeping airspace closures over Iran, Iraq, Israel and parts of the Gulf have left few options. Aviation data firm Cirium estimates that around 13,000 of 32,000 scheduled flights in the region since Saturday have been cancelled, stranding thousands of travellers.

The Israeli military says its air force “struck and dismantled” the headquarters of Iran’s state radio and television broadcaster (IRIB) in Tehran as part of its ongoing campaign against the Islamic Republic. The military described the facility as a key communications centre linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, underscoring the widening scope of the conflict.

President Donald Trump warned Monday that the US-led campaign against Iran could last longer than a month, as Israel bombarded Hezbollah targets in Lebanon and Tehran struck Gulf oil facilities. Explosions shook Tehran early Tuesday as fighter jets flew overhead, while the US urged citizens to leave all of West Asia immediately. Trump outlined key objectives: neutralizing Iran’s missiles, navy, and nuclear program, and curbing support for regional armed groups, without seeking to topple the Islamic republic.

The US Department of State has called on Americans to immediately depart 16 countries in West Asia, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iraq, and Israel, citing serious safety risks following US-Israeli strikes on Iran. The advisory urges citizens to use available commercial transport and comes after recent travel warnings were updated across the region.