Iran-Israel war LIVE: Fire breaks out in UAE's Fujairah oil industry zone after drone attack; Israel launches new strikes on Tehran, Beirut
Kartavya Desk Staff
#### Key Updates
• Two killed in strike on house in Baghdad with 'Iranian advisers': report
#### WATCH | Trump urges allies to help secure Strait of Hormuz
#### Israel doesn’t seek ‘perpetual war’ with Iran, says Envoy, suggests diplomatic options remain
Israel is not seeking a “perpetual war” with Iran, and would discuss a diplomatic way out of the war if Iran “changes course”, said Reuven Azar, Israel’s Ambassador to India.
He, however, denied that Israel’s goals had changed due to Tehran’s retaliatory strikes. Addressing a press conference here as the war in West Asia entered its third week, Mr. Azar said there was no timeline on ending the war, but that the U.S. and Israel, which jointly launched the war with strikes killing Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khameini on February 28, had anticipated it lasting a “few weeks”.
Israel doesn’t seek ‘perpetual war’ with Iran, says Envoy, suggests diplomatic options remain
Israel's envoy states the nation seeks diplomatic solutions with Iran, not perpetual war, amid ongoing regional tensions.
• March 17, 2026 08:22 Israel strikes three areas of Beirut: Lebanese state mediaLebanese state media said on Tuesday (March 17, 2026) that Israel carried out dawn airstrikes on three Beirut neighbourhoods, hitting a residential building.“A series of raids and artillery shelling targeted southern towns at dawn,” Lebanon’s National News Agency reported.“Israeli warplanes carried out two airstrikes targeting the Kafaat and Haret Hreik areas. In another raid, the aircraft struck a residential apartment on the upper floors of a building located at the end of Venice Street in the Doha Aramoun area.”AFP
Lebanese state media said on Tuesday (March 17, 2026) that Israel carried out dawn airstrikes on three Beirut neighbourhoods, hitting a residential building.
“A series of raids and artillery shelling targeted southern towns at dawn,” Lebanon’s National News Agency reported.
“Israeli warplanes carried out two airstrikes targeting the Kafaat and Haret Hreik areas. In another raid, the aircraft struck a residential apartment on the upper floors of a building located at the end of Venice Street in the Doha Aramoun area.”
• March 17, 2026 08:19 Projectile hits tanker off UAE's Fujairah: UKMTO An unknown projectile struck a tanker 23 nautical miles east of Fujairah in the UAE causing minor structural damage, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Tuesday (March 17, 2026).There were no injuries reported to the crew, the agency said in an advisory, adding no environmental impact was reported.Reuters
An unknown projectile struck a tanker 23 nautical miles east of Fujairah in the UAE causing minor structural damage, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Tuesday (March 17, 2026).
There were no injuries reported to the crew, the agency said in an advisory, adding no environmental impact was reported.
• March 17, 2026 07:59 Death toll in Baghdad house strike revised to four: security officialA strike on a house in Baghdad killed four people early Tuesday (March 17, 2026), two Iraqi security officials said.Another source from an Iran-backed faction confirmed that four people were killed in the strike on a house hosting Iranian advisers in al-Jadiriyah neighbourhood.The sources were revising an earlier death toll of two.AFP
A strike on a house in Baghdad killed four people early Tuesday (March 17, 2026), two Iraqi security officials said.
Another source from an Iran-backed faction confirmed that four people were killed in the strike on a house hosting Iranian advisers in al-Jadiriyah neighbourhood.
The sources were revising an earlier death toll of two.
• March 17, 2026 07:24 Israeli forces launch fresh wave of strikes on Tehran, BeirutIsrael’s army said on Tuesday (March 17, 2026) it had launched a “wide scale wave of strikes” in the Iranian capital Tehran, as well as strikes against Hezbollah in the Lebanese capital Beirut.“The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) has begun a wide scale wave of strikes against Iranian terror regime infrastructure across Tehran,” the military posted on Telegram.“Additionally, the IDF has begun an additional wave of strikes on Hezbollah terror infrastructure in Beirut.”AFP
Israel’s army said on Tuesday (March 17, 2026) it had launched a “wide scale wave of strikes” in the Iranian capital Tehran, as well as strikes against Hezbollah in the Lebanese capital Beirut.
“The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) has begun a wide scale wave of strikes against Iranian terror regime infrastructure across Tehran,” the military posted on Telegram.
“Additionally, the IDF has begun an additional wave of strikes on Hezbollah terror infrastructure in Beirut.”
• March 17, 2026 07:20 Vance says he trusts Trump on war with Iran, plays down differencesU.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance on Monday (March 16, 2026) expressed support for the way President Donald Trump was handling the war in Iran and said he trusted him to make sure that “the mistakes of the past” are not repeated.Mr. Vance’s comments appeared to be an effort to counter questions about whether his well-known anti-war and isolationist views put him at odds with Mr. Trump. Since the war began on February 28, Mr. Vance had not publicly offered unequivocal support for it.Vance says he trusts Trump on war with Iran, plays down differencesVice-President J.D. Vance expresses trust in Trump’s Iran strategy, aligning on nuclear concerns despite previous anti-war stance.
U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance on Monday (March 16, 2026) expressed support for the way President Donald Trump was handling the war in Iran and said he trusted him to make sure that “the mistakes of the past” are not repeated.
Mr. Vance’s comments appeared to be an effort to counter questions about whether his well-known anti-war and isolationist views put him at odds with Mr. Trump. Since the war began on February 28, Mr. Vance had not publicly offered unequivocal support for it.
Vance says he trusts Trump on war with Iran, plays down differences
Vice-President J.D. Vance expresses trust in Trump’s Iran strategy, aligning on nuclear concerns despite previous anti-war stance.
• March 17, 2026 07:15 Two killed in strike on house in Baghdad with 'Iranian advisers': report A missile strike on a house in Iraq’s capital Baghdad on Tuesday (March 17, 2026) killed two people, with initial reports suggesting they are “Iranian advisers” to Tehran-backed groups, a security official told AFP.Another two sources from Iran-backed factions confirmed that a strike hit a house hosting Iranian advisers in the al-Jadiriyah neighbourhood, killing at least two people.AFP
A missile strike on a house in Iraq’s capital Baghdad on Tuesday (March 17, 2026) killed two people, with initial reports suggesting they are “Iranian advisers” to Tehran-backed groups, a security official told AFP.
Another two sources from Iran-backed factions confirmed that a strike hit a house hosting Iranian advisers in the al-Jadiriyah neighbourhood, killing at least two people.
• March 17, 2026 07:04 Air India, AI Express to operate 44 West Asia flights today Air India and Air India Express will operate 44 scheduled and non-scheduled flights to and from the West Asia region on Tuesday (March 17, 2026).Amid the ongoing West Asia conflict, Dubai airport has imposed restrictions on operations by foreign carriers. As a result, IndiGo, Air India group and SpiceJet have suspended their services to Dubai.Read full report here
Air India and Air India Express will operate 44 scheduled and non-scheduled flights to and from the West Asia region on Tuesday (March 17, 2026).
Amid the ongoing West Asia conflict, Dubai airport has imposed restrictions on operations by foreign carriers. As a result, IndiGo, Air India group and SpiceJet have suspended their services to Dubai.
• March 17, 2026 07:00 Drone, rocket attack targets U.S. embassy in Baghdad: security sourcesA fresh drone and rocket attack targeted the U.S. embassy in Baghdad early Tuesday (March 17, 2026), a security official said.An AFP journalist reported seeing black smoke rising after an explosion in the Embassy complex, as well as air defences intercepting another drone. The security official said that “three drones and four rockets attacked the Embassy, with at least one drone crashing inside it.” Hours earlier, air defences thwarted a rocket attack at the Embassy.AFP
A fresh drone and rocket attack targeted the U.S. embassy in Baghdad early Tuesday (March 17, 2026), a security official said.
An AFP journalist reported seeing black smoke rising after an explosion in the Embassy complex, as well as air defences intercepting another drone.
The security official said that “three drones and four rockets attacked the Embassy, with at least one drone crashing inside it.” Hours earlier, air defences thwarted a rocket attack at the Embassy.
• March 17, 2026 06:55 UAE says air traffic normal after temporarily closing airspace amid Iranian missile 'threat'The United Arab Emirates’ General Civil Aviation Authority said the air traffic was normal, shortly after announcing the temporary and full closure of the country’s airspace, as “an exceptional precautionary measure” early Tuesday (March 17, 2026).UAE’s defence ministry said it was responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran. Reuters
The United Arab Emirates’ General Civil Aviation Authority said the air traffic was normal, shortly after announcing the temporary and full closure of the country’s airspace, as “an exceptional precautionary measure” early Tuesday (March 17, 2026).
UAE’s defence ministry said it was responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran.
• March 17, 2026 06:53 Fire breaks out in UAE's Fujairah Oil Industry ZoneA fire broke out in the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone in the United Arab Emirates following a drone attack, the emirate’s media office said on Tuesday (March 17, 2026) citing authorities, adding that no injuries had been reported.Civil defence crews were working to bring the fire under control, the media office said in a statement. Reuters
A fire broke out in the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone in the United Arab Emirates following a drone attack, the emirate’s media office said on Tuesday (March 17, 2026) citing authorities, adding that no injuries had been reported.
Civil defence crews were working to bring the fire under control, the media office said in a statement.
• March 17, 2026 06:44 Iran and U.S. have been in direct contact in recent days: reportA direct communications channel between U.S. Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has been reactivated in recent days, Axios reported on Monday (March 16, 2026), citing a U.S. official and a source with knowledge of the matter.Axios said it was not clear how substantive the messages passed between Mr. Araghchi and Mr. Witkoff had been, adding it was the first known direct communication between the parties since the United States and Israel launched their war on Iran.Iran and U.S. have been in direct contact in recent days: reportRecent reports reveal renewed direct communication between U.S. Envoy Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi amid ongoing tensions.
A direct communications channel between U.S. Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has been reactivated in recent days, Axios reported on Monday (March 16, 2026), citing a U.S. official and a source with knowledge of the matter.
Axios said it was not clear how substantive the messages passed between Mr. Araghchi and Mr. Witkoff had been, adding it was the first known direct communication between the parties since the United States and Israel launched their war on Iran.
Iran and U.S. have been in direct contact in recent days: report
Recent reports reveal renewed direct communication between U.S. Envoy Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi amid ongoing tensions.
Published - March 17, 2026 06:40 am IST
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