The General Directorate of Civil Aviation of the United Arab Emirates has decided to temporarily close the country's airspace completely.
According to state media, this decision was made as an "exceptional precautionary measure" to ensure the safety of aircraft and their crews, as well as to protect the territory of the UAE.
The UAE Ministry of Defense noted that this measure was a response to a new wave of attacks using Iranian missiles and drones.
The Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, discussed the situation by phone with the UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, the ministers discussed current events in the region, focusing on the "ongoing and unjustified" Iranian attacks on Arab countries in the Persian Gulf and measures to improve regional security.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reports attacks on Israel and the Qatari base Al-Udeid.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced the completion of the "57th operation" called "True Promise 4".
In its statement, the IRGC reported missile strikes on targets in Israel, including command facilities and missile defense systems.
Additionally, the statement mentioned that the Al-Udeid base in Qatar, where American troops are stationed, was attacked with missiles and drones.
The Qatari Ministry of Defense previously reported that its air defense systems successfully intercepted 13 out of 14 launched Iranian ballistic missiles, as well as several drones. One missile fell in a deserted area and did not cause any casualties, the ministry added.
The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad was attacked by a drone.
Agencies Reuters and Agence France-Presse (AFP) report a series of attacks on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad using drones and rockets.
Sources in Iraqi security services described this as "the most intense attack since the beginning of the assaults."
About six hours before the attack, the embassy issued a warning to U.S. citizens in Iraq that "Iran-backed terrorist groups have repeatedly attacked the International Zone" in central Baghdad.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that the country did not initiate a war with the U.S. and Israel, and defending against invasion is "Tehran's natural right, in which we excel."
"The use of American bases to counter Iran in the region must cease," Pezeshkian noted on X, adding that he discussed this issue with French President Emmanuel Macron during a phone call.
"Achieving peace and stability in the region is impossible while ignoring the Zionist-American invasion of our country. The Islamic Republic of Iran will not succumb to intimidation."
He emphasized that Iran expects an international response to the invasion and "urges the invaders to comply with international law," adding that starting a war based on false information is a "medieval act of the 21st century."
"Discussions about ending the war are meaningless until we guarantee that there will be no future attacks on our territory."
U.S. military reports indicate an increase in the number of injured among their personnel to 200. At least 13 people have died.
According to an Iranian organization operating outside the country, more than 3,000 people have died since the conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran began on February 28. According to the human rights agency HRANA, among them are 1,351 civilians and 1,126 military personnel.
In Lebanon, according to the Ministry of Health, 886 people have died, including 67 women and 111 children.
Other countries reporting casualties from the war include the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman.
Senator sharply criticizes Trump for "mess" in the Middle East.
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer expressed dissatisfaction with President Trump's actions, who suggested that China help ensure the security of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz amid the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran.
"Donald Trump talks about hoping for China's help in clearing the Strait of Hormuz. This is a joke!" Schumer wrote on X.
The Democratic senator accused Trump of creating "chaos" in the Middle East without a clear plan to fix it.
Brief overview of the day's main events:
- The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran warned of possible strikes on American facilities in the Middle East and called on local residents to evacuate.
- U.S. President Donald Trump warned that NATO would face a "very bad future" if allies did not help open the Strait of Hormuz by deploying naval forces.
- Japan, Australia, Germany, Greece, the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, and the European Union ruled out participation in the Israeli-American war against Iran.
- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the Strait of Hormuz is open but "closed to enemies," and denied reports of contacts with U.S. envoy Steve Vitkoff.
- Major General of the Iranian army Abolfazl Shekarchi warned against a new attack on the island of Kharg following recent U.S. strikes on military facilities on that island.
According to U.S. Central Command, about 200 American servicemen have been injured during the war with Iran, including 10 who sustained "serious injuries."
Leading powers express concern over the potential threat of an Israeli ground offensive in Lebanon and call for the disarmament of Hezbollah.
Leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom, in a joint statement, expressed "serious concern over the rise of violence in Lebanon" and called for an immediate de-escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
Representatives of these countries urged Israel and Lebanon to "seek a sustainable political solution" through constructive dialogue.
The leaders noted: "Hezbollah's attacks on Israel and assaults on civilians must cease, and this organization must disarm." They condemned Hezbollah's decision to engage in conflicts in alliance with Iran, emphasizing that such actions "exacerbate the threat to regional peace and security."
The leaders also warned against escalating ground operations, noting that "a significant ground offensive by Israel would lead to catastrophic humanitarian consequences and could trigger a protracted conflict that should be avoided."
Additionally, they reiterated their call for all parties to "fully implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701." The leaders confirmed their support for the Lebanese government's efforts to "disarm Hezbollah, prohibit its military actions, and end its armed conflicts," expressing solidarity with the Lebanese people who have been "forcibly drawn into the conflict."
Brigadier General of the Iranian army Abolfazl Shekarchi warned against a new attack on the Iranian island of Kharg following recent U.S. statements about strikes on military facilities on that island.
"U.S. military officials are once again stating their intention to attack the island of Kharg," the statement published by the Iranian news agency Tasnim said.
"We warn that if the U.S. commits aggression and attacks the island of Kharg, its facilities, and oil terminal, we will decisively destroy all oil and gas facilities of the country that has become a source of aggression," Shekarchi added, as reported by Tasnim.
Trump had previously threatened new strikes on the island of Kharg, through which about 90% of Iran's oil exports pass, following attacks on military facilities and the resulting retaliatory actions from Tehran.
"Most of Israel's territory has been affected by the war."
By: Nour Odeh
Report from Ramallah, occupied West Bank.
Israelis are struggling to feel safe, as there is not a moment when they can be sure that sirens warning of an attack will not sound.
Today, sirens were heard in northern Israel, occupied East Jerusalem, West Jerusalem, as well as near the Israeli parliament and the Prime Minister's office.
We also saw shrapnel falling in the vicinity of Tel Aviv. Practically all of Israel has been subjected to attacks.
Now it is very difficult for the Israeli military to assert that restrictions on movement can be eased — this is precisely what mayors of all Israeli cities have raised in the last 48 hours. Their fears have now been confirmed.
Statements from the Israeli army that the conflict with Iran could drag on for several weeks, and the confrontation with Hezbollah in Lebanon could be even longer, bring no comfort.
"Attacking Iran prevented World War III," Trump claims.
In the Oval Office of the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump criticizes Congresswoman Ilhan Omar and then shifts to discussing the conflict with Iran.
Some of his statements:
- Trump stated that if he had not "destroyed" Iran's nuclear program, "they would have had nuclear weapons within a month of that bombing, and they would have used it first against Israel and then against the entire Middle East."
- "A nuclear war that could escalate into World War III, and, more importantly, a war after which nothing would be left," Trump said, adding that "we did a tremendous job."
- "Iran should not have nuclear weapons. They should not have it. They have no fleet, no air force. They have no anti-aircraft weapons. They have no leadership."
"My main problem is that I don't know who we are negotiating with, as no one has heard of these people, and they are all dead."
"We did this for the whole world, not for ourselves, but for the whole world."
Trump's call for sending Chinese warships touches a sensitive topic for Xi Jinping — Bloomberg.
The U.S. President's statement about the need to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz is likely to be sharply rejected by Beijing. Nevertheless, it inadvertently touches on an important discussion among Chinese foreign policy experts — should Xi Jinping use his armed forces to influence the geopolitical situation?
China has not participated in major wars for nearly half a century, and there are no signs that it plans to engage in a risky operation from which even U.S. allies are staying away. Although Trump threatened to cancel the upcoming summit in Beijing if Xi does not make concessions, Chinese state media dismissed his demands as an attempt to shift the risk of "a war that Washington started and cannot finish."
"What if Iran attacks the U.S. Navy but accidentally hits Chinese ships?" asks Wu Xinbo, a scholar who heads the Center for American Studies at Fudan University and previously worked as an advisor in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "Why should we get involved in this? The risk is too great."
Nevertheless, Wu Xinbo and others see a rare strategic opportunity to shape a world order more aligned with China's interests as Trump dismantles the rules-based systems established by the U.S. after World War II.
While most of them advocate for a multilateral system centered on the UN that provides more influence to developing economies, disagreements are starting to emerge among them regarding the extent to which Beijing should use its economic, diplomatic, and military power to protect Chinese interests abroad.
Supporters of a more active role for China urge Xi Jinping to increase military presence abroad, reconsider the long-standing doctrine of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, and intensify efforts to ultimately bring Taiwan under Beijing's jurisdiction.
The material "War in Iran: Trump criticizes NATO, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps threatens to attack American companies in the Middle East, UAE closes its airspace" was published on the K-News website.
