Middle East war news highlights: Indian, Pakistani nationals killed in Abu Dhabi missile interception incident

• Iraq condemned the targeting of the Gulf states and Jordan, a day after these countries issued a joint statement demanding Baghdad act to prevent attacks from its territory.

• India confirmed the death of an Indian national in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. As per information provided by authorities in Abu Dhabi, the Indian national died due to falling debris during a missile interception in the region.

• As per the official statement from the UAE's defence ministry, air defences intercepted 15 ballistic missiles and 11 UAVs (drones) on Thursday.

Middle East war news LIVE: Ukraine has no indication that the US plans to redirect weapons intended for Kyiv to the Middle East, the Ukrainian ambassador to NATO told AFP Thursday.

The Washington Post reported the Pentagon was considering whether to divert kit as the war in Iran depletes US stocks.

The equipment was reported to include air-defence interceptor missiles ordered under a scheme allowing allies to buy US weapons for Ukraine.

"We have received no signals -- either from NATO or from the United States -- that weapons allocated to Ukraine under the PURL programme could be redirected to the Middle East," Ukraine's envoy to NATO Alyona Getmanchuk told AFP.

(via AFP)

Middle East war news LIVE: Iraq on Thursday condemned the targeting of the Gulf states and Jordan, a day after these countries issued a joint statement demanding Baghdad act to prevent attacks from its territory.

The Iraqi foreign ministry "affirms the government's categorical condemnation of any aggression or targeting of the Gulf countries and the Kingdom of Jordan", it said in a statement, adding it was prepared to "work jointly to address them (attacks) responsibly and swiftly".

Iraq was committed to taking the "necessary measures to manage the security challenges", it added.

Middle East war news LIVE: Explosions were heard in Iran’s capital Tehran and the nearby city of Karaj, with heavy air defence activity reported Iran state media.

More details regarding the nature of the blasts are awaited.

Middle East war news LIVE: India has confirmed the death of an Indian national in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. As per information provided by authorities in Abu Dhabi, the Indian national died due to falling debris during a missile interception in the region.

“Embassy of India expresses its deepest condolences at the tragic demise of an Indian national due to falling debris in Abu Dhabi today. The Embassy is closely coordinating with the UAE authorities to render all possible support and assistance,” the Indian embassy in Abu Dhabi wrote in a statement on X.

Middle East war news LIVE: As per the official statement from the UAE's defence ministry, air defences intercepted 15 ballistic missiles and 11 UAVs (drones) on Thursday.

Since the start of the war on Feb 28, the UAE has engaged with 372 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles and 1,826 drones from Iran.

"The attacks resulted in the martyrdom of 2 members of the armed forces while performing their national duty, in addition to the martyrdom of a Moroccan civilian contracted by the Armed Forces, as well as 8 fatalities of Pakistani, Nepali, Bangladeshi, Palestinian and Indian nationalities," the statement added further.

Middle East war news LIVE: US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has described the ongoing conflict with Iran as “stuff for the history books” and “pure American success”.

In a cabinet meeting with US President Donald Trump, he said the United States is “ahead of pace” in its mission.

Hegseth also claimed Iran now has “no navy, no navy leader” and the US’s use of slower, low-flying aircraft is proof it has no air defences left.

The US “prays” for a peace deal and welcomes any agreement with Iran, he said, adding “war is negotiation by other means”.

Middle East war news LIVE: Yemen’s Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi on Thursday warned that the group could launch a “military response” if developments in the Middle East conflict demand it. Speaking amid escalating regional tensions, he said the Houthis were prepared to act in solidarity, stressing that any necessary response would be carried out promptly.

The Iran-backed group, part of what is often referred to as the “axis of resistance,” has so far stayed out of the war triggered by US-Israeli strikes on Iran. However, al-Houthi signalled that the situation could change, saying Yemen would “repay loyalty with loyalty” and respond as it has in previous conflicts if required.

(AFP)

Middle East war news LIVE: A rocket fired from Lebanon killed a man in northern Israel on Thursday, according to Israeli emergency services, as cross-border hostilities with Iran-backed Hezbollah continued to intensify. The Magen David Adom (MDA) said a man in his 30s was pronounced dead at the scene in the Nahariya area, while another man, around 50 years old, was left seriously injured and is receiving treatment.

The Israeli military said Hezbollah has been launching rockets into northern Israel since joining the broader Middle East conflict earlier this month.

(AFP)

Middle East war news LIVE: US President Donald Trump is set to headline a high-profile Saudi-backed investment conference in Miami Beach this week, even as the ongoing Iran war casts a shadow over the event. The three-day, invitation-only summit – linked to Saudi Arabia’s $1 trillion Public Investment Fund – aims to showcase the kingdom’s economic influence and attract global business and political leaders. Key figures including Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are also expected to attend, underlining the event’s geopolitical significance.

The conference comes at a sensitive time, with tensions in the Middle East intensifying and affecting global markets. Trump has recently warned Iran to engage seriously in negotiations, while questions remain over stalled diplomatic efforts involving US envoys.

(Bloomberg)

Middle East war news LIVE: Iran has rejected a proposal put forward by the United States, calling it “one-sided and unfair,” according to a Reuters report citing an Iranian official. The proposal, which was reportedly delivered to Tehran via Pakistan, was said to favour US and Israeli interests, leading to its dismissal by Iranian authorities.

Despite the rejection, Iran indicated that diplomatic efforts are still ongoing and a resolution may be possible if Washington adopts a more balanced approach. The official added that formal talks between the two sides do not appear realistic at this stage, though countries such as Turkey and Pakistan are continuing mediation efforts to ease tensions.

(Reuters)

West Asia war news LIVE: Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement has said it is prepared to join the ongoing conflict in support of Tehran if needed, a move that could further disrupt global trade and oil supplies. A Houthi leader told Reuters the group is “militarily ready” and monitoring developments, though no final decision has been made on entering the war.

Analysts warned that if the Houthis step in, they could target the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a key global shipping route linking the Red Sea to the Suez Canal. The group has previously attacked vessels in the region, causing major disruption to maritime traffic. Any renewed action could deepen the economic impact of the conflict, especially as tensions already threaten other critical routes like the Strait of Hormuz.

(Reuters)

West Asia war news LIVE: Qatar Airways is taking steps to conserve cash as the Iran conflict continues to disrupt operations and ground a large part of its fleet. The airline is in talks with aircraft lessors to defer or reduce lease payments and has scaled back activities, including withdrawing from events. It has cancelled thousands of flights since late February and is currently operating only a fraction of its usual schedule due to airspace restrictions.

The crisis has hit the airline harder than many regional peers, with several aircraft parked outside Qatar and operations recovering more slowly than rivals like Emirates and Etihad. Other Middle East carriers, including Gulf Air, flydubai and Air Arabia, are also reviewing costs as the prolonged disruption leads to heavy revenue losses, signalling broader financial strain across the region’s aviation sector.

(Bloomberg)

Air travel across the Middle East has been heavily disrupted as the escalating Iran conflict forces the closure or partial shutdown of major aviation hubs such as Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi. Leading regional carriers including Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways have all reduced operations, running limited or revised schedules as airspace restrictions and safety concerns persist, Reuters reported.

IndiGo has halted services to multiple Gulf cities, while Flynas and Pegasus Airlines have extended widespread suspensions across the Middle East. Major global carriers such as British Airways, Lufthansa Group, Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific have also cancelled or delayed flights to hubs like Dubai, Doha and Riyadh.

Airlines affected include: Emirates, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, IndiGo, Flynas, Pegasus Airlines, British Airways, Lufthansa Group, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Air France-KLM, Finnair, Malaysia Airlines, Japan Airlines, Air Canada, Delta, Wizz Air, Turkish Airlines, Qantas, Norwegian Air, LOT, Aegean Airlines, airBaltic and Air Europa.

Middle East war news LIVE: Oil prices climbed more than 4 per cent on Thursday, recovering from the previous session’s losses as fears of a prolonged conflict in the Middle East raised concerns about supply disruptions. Brent crude rose to around $107 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) climbed to about $94, after both benchmarks had fallen over 2 per cent a day earlier, reported Reuters.

Analysts said the rebound reflects growing worries that the conflict could escalate further and impact oil flows, particularly through the critical Strait of Hormuz.

Middle East war news LIVE: The UAE Air Defence Forces said they intercepted 15 ballistic missiles and 11 drones launched from Iran on March 26, as part of continued aerial threats targeting the country. Since the beginning of the attacks, the UAE has intercepted a total of 372 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles and 1,826 drones.

The attacks have resulted in multiple casualties, including two armed forces personnel killed in the line of duty and a Moroccan civilian contractor. Eight civilians of various nationalities, including Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Palestinian, were also killed, while 169 people sustained injuries of varying severity, the Ministry of Defence said.

It added that it remains on high alert and is prepared to counter any threats.

Middle East war news LIVE: The United States has dismissed claims that it targeted Iraqi security forces as 'categorically false', reported AFP

Middle East war news LIVE: Abu Dhabi has confirmed that the two people killed during the missile interception incident on Thursday were an Indian and Pakistani national.

“In the context of the ongoing follow-up to the previously announced incident resulting from the fall of debris following the successful interception of a ballistic missile by air defenses, which resulted in the deaths of two individuals of Pakistani and Indian nationality,” read the statement issued by the Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Authority.

The authorities further added that three individuals of Emirati, Jordanian, and Indian nationality were injured in the incident.

Middle East war news LIVE: Jordan’s military says Iran has fired three missiles at the country in the past 24 hours, all of which have been shot down by the air force.

As per the statement from Jordan’s Public Security Directorate, falling shrapnel caused some material damage in the country but no casualties have been recorded.

Middle East war news LIVE: Gulf countries on Thursday said they want to be included in any negotiations between the United States and Iran. Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem AlBudaiwi said it was essential for member states to be part of any discussions or agreements aimed at resolving the crisis.

In a televised address, AlBudaiwi stressed that while GCC nations reserve the right to defend themselves, they continue to favour diplomatic solutions over conflict. He added that involving the bloc in talks would help ensure long-term stability and security in the region.

(AFP)

Middle East war news LIVE: The United States has denied carrying out a strike on a medical facility in Iraq after reports emerged of a deadly attack on a military clinic in Anbar province. A US defence official said the military was aware of the incident but insisted that American forces did not target a medical clinic. The clarification comes amid rising tensions and scrutiny over military actions in the region.

Iraqi authorities, however, reported that the number of wounded in the strike has increased to 23. Baghdad has strongly condemned the attack as a violation of international law.

(AP)

Middle East war news LIVE: The number of personnel wounded in a strike on a military clinic in Iraq’s western Anbar province has risen to 23, Iraqi officials said, revising earlier figures that reported seven soldiers killed and 13 injured. Journalists were taken to the site of the destroyed facility on Thursday, where Defence Ministry spokesperson Maj Gen Tahsin al Khafaj confirmed the updated casualty count.

Iraq’s defence ministry condemned the attack as a violation of international law and asserted its right to respond. Caretaker Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has directed the foreign ministry to summon the US Embassy’s Charge d’Affaires over the incident.

(AP)

Middle East war news LIVE: The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has accused Iran of imposing fees on vessels for safe transit through the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz, marking the first such allegation by a senior regional official. GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi made the claim during a press conference in Riyadh, stating that ships are being charged to pass through the narrow waterway.

The Strait of Hormuz, located at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, has historically handled around 20 per cent of the world’s traded oil, making any disruption or added cost a major concern for global energy markets. The GCC, which includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, has not detailed the scale or mechanism of the alleged charges, and there has been no immediate response from Iran.

(PTI)

Middle East war news LIVE: The death toll from the ongoing conflict has climbed sharply, with reports indicating that more than 1,500 people have been killed in Iran and over 1,000 in Lebanon, as fighting continues to intensify across the region. Casualties have also been reported in Israel, though in smaller numbers, along with deaths in other affected areas.

In addition, US military losses have been reported, with over a dozen personnel killed since the start of the conflict. The war has triggered a massive humanitarian crisis, displacing millions of people in Iran and Lebanon and placing severe strain on infrastructure, healthcare systems, and aid resources.

(AP)