DUBAI, MAR 2: The war in the Middle East intensified on Monday as Israel and the US launched strikes on Iran, prompting Tehran and its allies to retaliate against Israel, neighbouring Gulf states, and key energy infrastructure.
The killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the lack of any apparent exit plan suggest that the conflict is likely to continue with far-reaching consequences. Safe havens like Dubai have come under threat, hundreds of thousands of airline passengers are stranded globally, oil prices surged, and U.S. allies pledged support to counter Iranian missiles and drones.
A bomb-carrying drone boat struck a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman, killing one mariner on board, according to Oman. Iran has threatened vessels approaching the Strait of Hormuz and is believed to have carried out multiple attacks.
Amid the chaos, the US military reported that Kuwait accidentally shot down three American F-15E Strike Eagles while Iranian attacks were ongoing. All six pilots ejected safely and are in stable condition.
Israel and the US targeted Iranian missile sites and naval assets, claiming destruction of multiple warships and military headquarters. Tehran's top security official, Ali Larijani, declared on X: "We will not negotiate with the United States."
The death toll is rising: the Iranian Red Crescent Society reported at least 555 deaths from US-Israeli operations. In Israel, Iranian missiles killed 11 people, while Hezbollah strikes on Israel prompted retaliatory attacks in Lebanon, killing over two dozen. Four American troops, and three in the UAE and one each in Kuwait and Bahrain, also lost their lives.
Saudi Aramco temporarily shut down its Ras Tanura refinery near Dammam following Iranian drone attacks, further escalating the conflict and directly targeting a major source of the kingdom's revenue.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the US strikes, stating they aimed to reduce Iran's navy and curb its nuclear and missile ambitions, following weeks of stalled negotiations.
European natural gas futures spiked 42 per cent after Qatar Energy halted production of liquefied natural gas, citing the war as the reason.
Hezbollah fired missiles into Israel for the first time in over a year, prompting Israeli strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, killing more than two dozen, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. The Lebanese government condemned Hezbollah's actions as illegal.
The US Embassy in Beirut has urged American citizens to leave Lebanon immediately, warning that commercial flights may soon be unavailable. All consular services are suspended until further notice, and the embassy cannot currently provide assistance to US citizens in Lebanon.
Al Jazeera's ZeinBasravi, reporting from Doha, said footage suggested at least two separate instances in which warplanes crashed in Kuwait. There were also reports of smoke coming from the direction of the US Embassy in Kuwait City, with videos showing rescue crews at the scene.
The Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson has said that ?Qatar ?has intercepted Iranian attacks that targeted ?civilian infrastructure, ?including the international airport. In an interview with CNN, Majed Al ?Ansari said that ?Qatar was ?not ?engaging with Iran at the moment.
Tehran said it ?would target US military assets in the region after the ?US-Israeli ?strikes on Iran continued for the third day on Monday.
Iran has hit a range of civilian and commercial areas across Gulf cities, widening the conflict's impact on key regional aviation and trade hubs.
Meanwhile, Bahrain's Ministry of Interior said it activated air raid alerts and urged residents to head to the nearest safe place.
It said the Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Bridge linking the capital, Manama, to nearby towns was closed and urged "residents to use main roads only when necessary".
The US Embassy in Bahrain warned "terrorist groups and those inspired by such organizations are intent on attacking US citizens abroad" and encouraged US citizens to avoid hotels in Manama, saying they could be targeted.
