Middle East war news highlights: Two Kuwait ports damaged in drone attacks; UAE willing on Strait of Hormuz force

Middle East war news LIVE updates: Iran has effectively kept the Strait of Hormuz closed, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran,

Middle East war news highlights: The Houthis' Humanitarian Operations Coordination Centre (HOCC) – which manages the Houthis' maritime security in the Red Sea – has told maritime intelligence company Lloyd’s List that there is no reason for concern regarding oil tankers transiting the waterway via the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. “There is no cause for concern in this regard, and at present there is no reason to prevent this trade from continuing,” the HOCC was quoted as saying in a Lloyd’s report on Friday.

“As you can see, dozens of vessels, including oil tankers, transit the Bab al-Mandeb Strait every day. In this context, the Republic of Yemen remains committed to safeguarding navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab-al-Mandeb Strait, as well as ensuring the free flow of trade,” the centre said.

Bab al-Mandeb has become an increasingly important sea route for crude oil exports leaving Saudi Arabia due to the de facto shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz to most vessels amid the US-Israel war on Iran.

Iranian attacks in the Middle East continue

The Iranian attacks across the Middle East haven't died down as Tehran continues to strike targets across the region.

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) announced the launch of the 83rd wave of Operation True Promise 4 in the early hours of Friday, which targeted key American and Israeli military installations across the region with advanced missiles and drones, as reported by Press TV.

As per Press TV, the targets included storage tanks and the oil depot in Ashdod, a military personnel site in the Modi'in settlement, and a US military information exchange centre in the region.

It further reported that the IRGC also struck American military bases at Al-Dhafra and Al-Udeiri, along with maintenance and storage hangars for transport aircraft and drones at Ali Al-Salem Air Base.

In addition to these targets, other assets attacked by Iran included fuel tanks for jets and fighter aircraft of American forces, as well as the maintenance and repair hangar for the Patriot missile system at Sheikh Isa Base.

Early on Friday, the Sharjah Media Office in the UAE posted on Instagram that air defence systems were responding to a missile threat.

In Kuwait, the National Guard has said that two drones have been shot down to ensure security and protect vital sites.

Pentagon sending more ground troops to the Middle East, report says

The Pentagon is looking at sending up to 10,000 additional ground troops to the Middle East to give President Donald Trump more military options, even as he weighs peace talks with Tehran, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing Department of Defence officials with knowledge of the planning.

Oil prices fall

Oil prices fell on Friday after Donald Trump again pushed back a deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, though most equities also dropped as traders shrugged at the news following a series of conflicting messaging from the White House.

Brent crude is down 1.5 per cent at 0230 GMT, selling at $93.07 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate is down 1.8 per cent at $106.12.

Spot premium for Dubai crude slumped by more than half to hit its lowest level in three weeks as more sellers emerged and piled on offers while TotalEnergies remain the sole bidder, according to traders and data collated by Reuters.

The premium for the Middle East benchmark, which prices millions of barrels of crude that Asia imports, dropped sharply to about $17 a barrel at the market close on Thursday, down more than 60% from $51.20 a barrel in the previous session, underscoring severe price volatility.

Indian killed in UAE

An Indian national was among two killed in the UAE on Thursday when debris of missiles intercepted by the country's air defence system fell on a street in Abu Dhabi, local media reported.

Jordan has strongly condemned the Iranian attack on the UAE, which resulted in two deaths. Several others were injured, including a Jordanian citizen, an Emirati national, and an Indian national, following the fall of debris in Abu Dhabi.

The Indian Embassy in the UAE expressed "deepest condolences" on the tragic demise of an Indian national in the incident.

"The Embassy is closely coordinating with the UAE authorities to render all possible support and assistance," it posted on X.

The second person killed in the incident is a Pakistani national, while the three injured also include an Indian, Abu Dhabi Media Office reported.

UAE's air defences are responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran at regular intervals, according to the Ministry of Defence of the United Arab Emirates.

Trump extends deadline

Trump said on Thursday he’ll extend his deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz until April 6, pulling back on his earlier threat to bomb Iran’s energy plants if Tehran didn’t open the critical waterway.

Iran had threatened to retaliate against the region’s vital infrastructure, like desalination facilities, if Trump followed through.

Trump said he was holding off on carrying through his threat because talks aimed at ending the conflict are going “very well.”