US-Israel vs Iran War News Live Updates: US strikes Iran’s ‘oil jewel’ as Tehran threatens UAE ports

US-Israel vs Iran War Live News Updates: The conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran has surged into a perilous new phase Saturday, marking the third week of a war that is now rapidly redrawing the security map of the Middle East. In a major escalation, President Donald Trump announced that US forces have “obliterated” military targets on Kharg Island, Iran’s primary oil export terminal. While the President claimed energy infrastructure was spared for “reasons of decency”, he issued a chilling ultimatum: any further interference with the Strait of Hormuz, where one-fifth of global oil transit is currently paralysed, will result in the total “wiping out” of Iran’s oil network. The theatre of war expanded geographically today as Iran’s joint military command issued a direct threat to the United Arab Emirates. Accusing the UAE of allowing US strikes to be launched from its territory, Tehran called for the immediate evacuation of Jebel Ali, Khalifa, and Fujairah ports. This marks the first time since the outbreak of hostilities on February 28 that Iran has explicitly targeted the commercial assets of a neighbouring Arab state. On the ground, the chaos is mounting. A missile strike hit a helipad within the US Embassy compound in Baghdad, while intercepted drone debris sparked fires at an oil facility in the UAE. Meanwhile, the Pentagon is doubling down on its regional footprint; an additional 2,500 Marines and the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli are now steaming toward the Middle East, joining the largest American naval buildup in decades. ## 5 key developments: Kharg Island raid: President Trump confirmed US Central Command destroyed naval mine storage and missile bunkers on Iran’s “crown jewel” export hub. Tehran claims the oil facilities remain functional despite 15 massive explosions. Threats to global trade: Iran has warned it will strike any regional energy infrastructure with “American shares,” specifically naming Dubai’s Jebel Ali, the Middle East’s busiest port, as a potential target. Baghdad embassy strike: A helipad inside the massive US diplomatic compound in Iraq was struck Saturday. While no group has claimed responsibility, Washington has blamed Iran-aligned militias. 15,000 target milestone: US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth revealed that over 15,000 targets have been struck inside Iran since the war began, averaging more than 1,000 strikes per day under Operation Epic Fury. Lebanon’s humanitarian toll: Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah continue to pummel Beirut and the south. Health officials report the displacement of 850,000 people as the “Axis of Resistance” braces for a long war of attrition. The Indian Express Global Desk remains committed to rigorous verification. Follow our live blog below for real-time tracking of Operation Epic Fury, regional airspace status, and diplomatic efforts to contain the escalation. Iran has issued a warning asking residents in parts of the United Arab Emirates to move away from key port areas in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency said people should “immediately” evacuate areas around Jebel Ali port in Dubai, Khalifa port in Abu Dhabi, and Fujairah port. According to the report, the ports have become “legitimate targets” because US military forces are allegedly operating from or hiding among civilian facilities there, and the locations could be struck in the coming hours. India has sought safe passage for 22 of its vessels stranded west of the Strait of Hormuz, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Saturday, after Iran allowed a few Indian ships to sail through, in a rare exception to the blockade. Jaiswal told a press ⁠conference ​that India has stayed in touch with all major parties in the Middle East, including Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Iran, the US and Israel, to convey its priorities, particularly on energy security. Tehran's Ambassador to India, Mohammad ​Fathali, ​confirmed that Iran has allowed some Indian ⁠vessels to sail through the Strait of Hormuz. He was speaking on broadcaster India Today's conclave in New Delhi. Since ‌the United States and Israel launched a bombing campaign on Iran, Tehran has largely halted traffic through the strait, which runs past its coast and through which around 20% of global oil and seaborne liquefied natural gas is supplied. Aseem Mahajan, Additional Secretary (Gulf), Saturday said five Indians had been killed, while one was injured in the conflict in West Asia. He said the missions remain open round the clock and are constantly working in all assistance efforts. Mahajan made the remarks during the inter-ministerial briefing on the recent developments in West Asia in New Delhi. He said, "We have five Indians who have lost their lives and one who is missing in earlier incident. Our missions in Oman, Iraq, UAE remain in touch with the concerned authorities regarding the missing Indian national and for early repatriation of mortal remains of the deceased after completing requisite formalities." He underlined that all support is being rendered to the seafarers in the regionmand the MEA is in close coordination with the Ministry of Ports and Shipping. He shared an update on the attack in Sohar city in Oman which resulted in the death of two Indians and injured 10 others and said that none of them were reported to be seriously injured. Israel’s defence minister Israel Katz said the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran was entering a “decisive’ phase, but cautioned that it would “continue as long as necessary”. “Only the Iranian people can put an end to this through a determined struggle, until the fall of the terror regime and the saving of Iran,” he said during a meeting with Israeli miltiary officials, the Times of Israel, reported. Two Indian-flagged vessels carrying LPG from the Gulf countries safely crossed the war-hit Strait of Hormuz early on Saturday morning, a senior Shipping Ministry official said. LPG carriers Shivalik and Nanda Devi are now headed to Mundra and Kandla ports in Gujarat, Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary in Ministry of Shipping, told a media briefing. The vessels are carrying 92,700 tonne of LPG and are likely to dock at Indian ports on March 16/17, he said. The two vessels were among the 24 ships that were stranded on the west side of the strait since the war broke out in the region. Iranian media have quoted the IRGC’s navy chief, Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, as saying Iranian naval forces launched “several consecutive waves” of attacks against US forces in two military bases in the region. He listed them as Abu Dhabi’s al-Dhafra and Bahrain’s Sheikh Isa. The targets, Tangsiri claimed, included patriot radar systems, planes and aircraft fuel storage tanks. (Al Jazeera) Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said the US, despite "bullying India" to end Russian oil imports, is now begging them to buy crude from Moscow, two weeks after its war with Iran. "The US spent months on bullying India into ending oil imports from Russia," said Araghchi on Friday in a post on social media platform X. "After two weeks of war with Iran, White House is now begging the world - including India - to buy Russian crude," he added. This comes after, on March 5, the US issued a 30-day waiver allowing India to buy Russian oil, having previously imposed heavy sanctions related to the war in Ukraine. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Saturday that US ⁠interests ​in the United Arab ​Emirates, including ​ports, docks ⁠and military locations, ‌are legitimate targets after US forces attacked ⁠Iranian ⁠islands, Iranian state media ⁠reported. In ‌its statement, ​the IRGC ‌urged residents in ‌the UAE ​to ​evacuate ports, ​docks, and ​US military ⁠shelters to avoid civilian casualties. > Iranian Armed Forces Spox to UAE: Iran has 'LEGITIMATE RIGHT to defend its national sovereignty''By targeting origin of US missile launches… in some cities in UAE' https://t.co/O40UEt9eQv pic.twitter.com/HNrO8xowcU— RT (@RT_com) March 14, 2026 Iranian Armed Forces Spox to UAE: Iran has 'LEGITIMATE RIGHT to defend its national sovereignty''By targeting origin of US missile launches… in some cities in UAE' https://t.co/O40UEt9eQv pic.twitter.com/HNrO8xowcU Some oil loading operations have been suspended in the United Arab Emirates' ⁠Fujairah emirate, ​a major bunkering hub, two industry sources said, after a fire broke ​out ​there on Saturday. The ⁠fire occurred after debris fell during ‌the interception of a drone, but no injuries were reported, the emirate's media office said. Civil defence forces are handling ⁠the ⁠incident to contain the fire, it added Authorities did ⁠not ‌provide any ​information about the reported ‌suspension of operations. Bloomberg News earlier reported that ‌some ​oil-loading operations ​in ​the port of Fujairah, outside the ​Strait of Hormuz, had been ⁠suspended after a drone attack and fire. A fire broke out due to falling debris in Fujairah, the emirate's media office confirmed on Saturday. The incident followed the successful interception of a drone by air defences and did not result in any injuries. Fujairah Civil Defence teams are currently responding to the incident to bring it under control. (Khaleej Times) Akasa Air will levy fuel surcharges ranging from Rs 199 to Rs 1,300 on domestic and international flight tickets from March 15 due to the spike in jet fuel prices amid the West Asia conflict. Air India, Air India Express and IndiGo have started levying similar charges on domestic and international flight tickets. In a statement on Saturday, Akasa Air said it would levy a fuel surcharge on each flight, with the amount varying based on the flight duration. "Akasa Air will introduce a fuel surcharge ranging from INR 199 to INR 1300 on our domestic and international routes, for all bookings that are made with effect from 00:01 hrs on March 15, 2026," it said. Japan said it will release stockpiled oil and cap prices as the US-Israeli war on Iran threatens global energy supplies. Japan imports about 95 per cent of its crude oil from the Middle East, making the country particularly vulnerable to instability in key shipping routes such as the Strait of Hormuz. In the fishing town of Misaki, south of Tokyo, rising fuel costs are already putting pressure on fishermen and seafood businesses. Local restaurant managers and fishing crews say higher fuel prices could force them to raise prices or risk shutting down operations. (Al Jazeera) Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday accused the Congress party of attempting to create panic in the country at a time when global conflicts are intensifying, saying the opposition party had failed to act responsibly in the national interest. Addressing a gathering in Silchar, Modi said the government was working to shield citizens from the fallout of ongoing conflicts around the world. > #watch | Silchar, Assam: PM Narendra Modi says, "Nowadays, conditions of war prevail all around the world. Our government is making every possible effort to ensure that the citizens of our country face the fewest hardships possible. Our objective is to minimise the impact of this… pic.twitter.com/gQlE3iivDF— ANI (@ANI) March 14, 2026 #watch | Silchar, Assam: PM Narendra Modi says, "Nowadays, conditions of war prevail all around the world. Our government is making every possible effort to ensure that the citizens of our country face the fewest hardships possible. Our objective is to minimise the impact of this… pic.twitter.com/gQlE3iivDF “Nowadays, conditions of war prevail all around the world. Our government is making every possible effort to ensure that the citizens of our country face the fewest hardships possible. Our objective is to minimise the impact of this war on the nation’s citizens,” the prime minister said. Modi added that at such a critical juncture, it was expected that Congress would behave like a responsible political party, but alleged that it had failed to do so. “The Congress is making every attempt to create panic within the country, hoping the nation gets entangled in difficulties, so that they can subsequently heap endless abuse upon Modi,” he said. Modi further alleged that certain global forces were uncomfortable with India’s rapid development and claimed that Congress was increasingly becoming a “puppet” in the hands of such forces. “The forces across the globe that are unable to digest India’s rapid development — the Congress is increasingly becoming a mere puppet in the hands of these very forces,” he said. Amir Hatami, commander-in-chief of the Iranian army, has warned that the killing of 104 crew members from the IRIS Dena, one of the country’s newest warships, in the Indian Ocean upon returning from a military exercise, “will not go unanswered”. “The crew of the Dena destroyer had completed a peaceful mission and were targeted while on their way back to Iran,” he was quoted as saying by Iran’s IRNA news agency, adding that the sailors were attacked despite not being engaged in a direct battle. “The name of Dena and the sacrifice of its crew will remain a symbol of courage and dedication in Iran’s naval history,” Hatami said. “The army will defend Iran’s maritime borders and strengthen its naval power with even greater determination.” (Al Jazeera) Hamas said it supports Iran’s right to respond to what it called US-Israeli aggression “by all available means in accordance with international norms and laws,” but urged Tehran not to target neighbouring countries. The Palestinian militant group also called on regional nations to cooperate to stop the aggression and preserve “bonds of brotherhood” among them, reported Al Jazeera. At least four people have been killed in an Israeli air raid on Taamir Haret Saida in the country’s south, the Lebanese News Agency has said. (Al Jazeera) No oil infrastructure was damaged in US strikes on Kharg Island, Iranian media reported. Fars News Agency, citing sources on the ground, reported that there has been no damage to oil facilities after US President Donald Trump said the US bombardment of the island had destroyed military targets. An airstrike hit a house in Iraq’s capital, Baghdad, early Saturday, killing at least one person, according to a security official and another affiliated with the Iranian-backed armed groups in the country. The strike in Baghdad’s Karrada district also wounded two people, they said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak to the press. In a statement, the Iraqi military condemned the strike as “a blatant violation of all humanitarian values and a disregard for international conventions.” The strike happened before a missile attack hit the US Embassy compound in Baghdad. • Handles 90% of Iran’s oil exports: Making it the country’s most important oil terminal. • Key supply route for China: A large share of Iranian crude shipped from here goes to Chinese refiners. • Major storage hub: The island can store roughly 30 million barrels of crude oil. • Strategic Gulf location: About 26 km off Iran’s coast in the Persian Gulf, near major shipping routes. • Long seen as a vulnerability: Analysts say any strike on Kharg could severely disrupt global oil supply. President Donald Trump said US forces on Friday "obliterated" targets on Iran's Kharg Island, which is home to the primary terminal that handles the country's oil exports. The speaker of the Iranian Parliament had warned that such strikes would provoke a new level of retaliation. Meanwhile, an American official said 2,500 more Marines and an amphibious assault ship are being sent to the Middle East nearly two weeks into the war with the Islamic Republic. Members of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit are now on their way from their home port in Okinawa, Japan, alongside the USS Tripoli, which is an amphibious assault ship. That’s the vessel from which these Marines would deploy “in theatre”, whether it’s for responding to a crisis or perhaps being deployed to take over some part of Iranian territory. Essentially, they’re being called the first ground troops being deployed in to the US-Israel war on Iran, even though Marines are both on land and on sea. What we’re to make of this is that the US is very slowly increasing its military posture in terms of prosecuting the war, and that it is not intending to wrap things up any time soon. (With inputs from AP) Sri Lanka has repatriated the remains of 84 Iranian sailors who were killed when their frigate was sunk by a US submarine, an official said. Last week on Wednesday, Sri Lanka said it had recovered 84 bodies of Iranian sailors after the US submarine attack sank the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena off Galle on the island's southern coast. The ship was returning to Iran from Visakhapatnam, India, where it had participated in a naval fleet review exercise. "Human remains were sent by the Iranian embassy on Friday - all 84", a foreign ministry spokesman said. Iran is considering allowing oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz if cargo is traded in Chinese yuan, according to an unnamed Iranian official, reported by CNN. This proposal is part of Iran's plan to manage tanker traffic through the strategic waterway amid the Israeli-US war. Currently, most global oil sales are conducted in US dollars, but sanctioned Russian crude has been increasingly traded in roubles or yuan. The Israeli military has issued an evacuation warning for a designated industrial area in Tabriz, in northwestern Iran, saying it will “conduct operations in this area in the coming hours”. The warning, issued on social media, tells citizens to “immediately evacuate”. US president Donald Trump said Friday that Iran has been “totally defeated” in the US-Israeli military campaign against the country and wanted a deal he would not accept, despite Iranian officials pledging to continue the fight. "The Fake News Media hates to report how well the United States Military has done against Iran, which is totally defeated and wants a deal - But not a deal that I would accept!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, without elaborating. President Donald Trump said the US destroyed military sites on an island vital to Iran’s oil network and warned that its oil infrastructure could be next if Iran continues to interfere with the passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump said US forces on Friday “obliterated” targets on Iran’s Kharg Island, which is home to the primary terminal that handles the country’s oil exports. The speaker of the Iranian Parliament had warned that such strikes would provoke a new level of retaliation. A missile struck a helipad inside the US Embassy compound in Baghdad, two Iraqi security officials said. Associated Press footage showed a column of smoke rising Saturday morning over the embassy compound. The sprawling embassy complex, one of the largest US diplomatic facilities in the world, has been repeatedly targeted by rockets and drones fired by Iran-aligned militias. The Associated Press news agency is reporting that Iraqi officials say a helipad at the US embassy in Baghdad was hit by a missile. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence said the latest drone to be intercepted and destroyed was in the east of the country. US President Donald Trump spoke to reporters before boarding Air Force One, saying the war with Iran will last "as long as it's necessary" and that Iran's military has been "decimated". He previously stated the war would end with Iran's unconditional surrender, meaning their navy, air force, and most of their military would be "gone", putting the US in a position of dominance. Trump also acknowledged differences in objectives with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but emphasized the unmatched power of the United States. Qatar’s defence ministry said its military had “intercepted” two missile attacks targeting the country, in statements posted on social media on Saturday. Earlier, the interior ministry said in a statement it was “evacuating several key areas as a temporary precautionary measure, within the framework of ensuring public safety until the danger has passed”. In Doha’s central Musheireb district some residents received phone alerts telling them to evacuate the area immediately. European leaders are criticizing the US decision to temporarily ease sanctions on Russian oil purchases. European Council President Antonio Costa calls it "very concerning" as it impacts European security and could increase Russia's resources for its war in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warns the move could give Russia $10bn, undermining peace efforts. French President Emmanuel Macron disagrees with lifting sanctions, citing the Strait of Hormuz shutdown. Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz labels the decision "wrong", while Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney insists on maintaining sanctions on Russia. US President Donald Trump threatened to order strikes on the petroleum infrastructure of Iran's Kharg Island oil hub unless Tehran stopped attacking vessels in the vital Strait of Hormuz, a warning that could further roil markets already coping with a historic disruption in supply. Trump paired his ultimatum with a social media post saying the United States had "totally obliterated" military targets on the island, the export terminal for 90% of Iran's oil shipments, which lies about 300 miles (483 km) northwest of the strait. A drone hit the US embassy in Baghdad on Saturday, with an official confirming the attack, which comes after two Iran-backed fighters were killed in strikes on the capital. The attack is likely linked to escalating tensions between the US and Iran, with Iran-backed groups targeting US interests in the region. White House AI czar David Sacks said on Friday the US should "declare victory and get out" of its war on Iran, a rare instance of a prominent figure in Donald Trump's administration calling for an exit from the ⁠Iran ​conflict. Here are some details: "This is a good time to declare victory and get out," Sacks, Trump's crypto and AI czar, said ​in ​an appearance on the "All-In Podcast." ⁠Sacks said the US had degraded Iran's military capabilities. "I agree that we ‌should try to find the off-ramp," he added. "If escalation doesn't lead anywhere good, then you have to think about, well, how do you de-escalate? De-escalation, I think, involves reaching some sort of ceasefire ⁠agreement or some ⁠sort of negotiated settlement with Iran," he said. The US and ⁠Israel ‌attacked Iran on February 28. ​Iran and its ally in ‌Lebanon, Hezbollah, have responded with strikes on Israel and other countries in the ‌Middle East. (With inputs from Reuters) About 2,500 US Marines are being deployed to the Middle East as American and Israeli strikes keep pounding Iran and the Islamic Republic keeps attacking Persian Gulf shipping and energy infrastructure. As Iranian threats choke global oil shipments, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said “we have been dealing with it and don’t need to worry about it. Tensions escalate in the Middle East with multiple developments: • An Israeli air strike in southern Lebanon's Nabatieh killed five people and wounded five others. • Six people were killed in an Israeli missile attack on a village in Iran's central Markazi province. • US President Donald Trump announced bombing military installations on Iran's Kharg Island, near the Strait of Hormuz. • The US offers up to $10m for info on Iranian leaders, including Mojtaba Khamenei. • The US deployed 10,000 interceptor drones to counter Iranian drone attacks. • Trump warned of intense strikes against Iranian targets in the coming days. • Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem vows a "long confrontation" with Israel. • Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian and other officials marched in Tehran's al-Quds Day rally. • Brent crude prices soared over 42% since US-Israeli strikes on Iran .