War Update: Dubai Flights Halted, Iran Calls Fuel Strikes ‘Ecocide’, NATO Pressed on Hormuz

The Middle East war continues to escalate, with overnight developments spreading the conflict across borders and drawing in international actors.

Dubai Airport Hit

Flights were temporarily suspended Monday at Dubai’s airport, previously one of the world’s busiest, after a “drone-related incident” sparked a fire nearby.

The incident impacted a fuel tank, the Gulf financial hub’s media office said. Authorities extinguished the blaze, and no injuries were reported.

Iran on Fuel Strikes

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Monday that Israeli strikes on Tehran fuel depots constituted “ecocide” due to the long-term risks to residents’ health.

Talks?

US President Donald Trump said Sunday that the United States was in discussions with Iran, but that Tehran was not ready for a deal to end the war.

“But I don’t think they’re ready. But they are getting pretty close,” Trump said.

Iran’s foreign minister denied earlier that any talks were taking place.

Macron’s Warning

French President Emmanuel Macron said he told Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian it was “unacceptable” to target French interests, after an Iranian-designed drone killed a French soldier in Iraq’s Kurdistan region.

Pressure on Hormuz

Trump said Sunday that NATO faces a “very bad” future if US allies fail to help open the Strait of Hormuz, the critical oil transport conduit effectively shut by Iran.

“It’s only appropriate that people who are the beneficiaries of the Strait will help to make sure that nothing bad happens there.”

Japan said it was not considering launching maritime security operations. Australia ruled out sending a navy ship.

Israel Strikes Beirut Again

Israel launched a fresh strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs late Sunday, targeting Hezbollah infrastructure.

An AFP photographer saw empty streets covered with debris and buildings flattened, with smoke still rising from previous days.

‘Thousands’ of Targets

“We still have thousands of targets in Iran, and we are identifying new targets every day,” said Israeli military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin.

Other Developments

• Rafah crossing: Israel said it would partially reopen Gaza’s Rafah crossing with Egypt on Wednesday

• Oil reserves: Strategic reserves will be released “immediately” in Asia and Oceania, and as early as end-March in America and Europe

• Baghdad airport: Five wounded in rocket attack on Baghdad airport complex

• UN force: UN peacekeepers in Lebanon were fired upon three times

• Hezbollah: Claimed to target Israel’s Palmachim air base with “an advanced missile”

• Hamas official killed: Israeli strike in south Lebanon killed Hamas official Wissam Taha

• Lebanon toll: 850 dead, including 66 women, 107 children, and 32 health workers

The Bottom Line

Dubai’s airport. Tehran’s fuel depots. Beirut’s suburbs. Baghdad’s airport. The Strait of Hormuz.

The war is spreadingand the world is feeling it.

{Source: Citizen}

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