The conflict in the Middle East escalated Monday as the U.S. and Israel conducted strikes on targets in Iran, Israel intensified its campaign against Iran-backed militants in Lebanon, and Iran retaliated with a drone strike that temporarily disrupted operations at Dubai International Airport.
Iran Strikes Dubai Airport, Disrupting Travel
A drone strike near Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest for international passenger traffic, caused a fire Monday morning. Firefighters contained the blaze and no injuries were reported, but all flights were temporarily suspended before resuming a few hours later. A separate missile strike in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, killed one person, according to the Abu Dhabi media office. A fire also broke out at an oil facility in Fujairah, another UAE emirate, following a drone attack.
Israel Intensifies Attacks on Lebanon and Iran
Massive explosions were heard in Beirut as Israel launched new attacks on the Lebanese capital before dawn, targeting infrastructure linked to Hezbollah. The Israeli army has issued evacuation orders for neighborhoods in Beirut and southern Lebanon, displacing over 800,000 people to date. Seven people were killed in Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon, including two paramedics responding to an earlier strike. At least 850 people in Lebanon have been killed by Israeli strikes so far.
Simultaneously, Israel announced new strikes on Tehran, targeting infrastructure, with explosions reported in the Iranian capital and surrounding areas. Information from Iran is limited due to internet outages, airstrikes, and restrictions on journalists.
Rising Oil Prices and Strait of Hormuz Concerns
The conflict is impacting the global economy, particularly through disruptions to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for oil transport. Brent crude remained over $100 a barrel Monday, up nearly 45% since Feb. 28. Iranian strikes on commercial ships and the threat of further attacks have slowed shipping through the strait.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he has requested that about seven countries send warships to secure the Strait of Hormuz, but has received no commitments. Indian-flagged and Pakistani-flagged ships have recently crossed the strait, according to authorities and marine-tracking data. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated the strait is open, but not for the United States, Israel, and their allies.
Military Assessments and International Response
Israel’s military claims to have destroyed 85% of Iran’s air defenses and 70% of its missile launchers in over 7,600 strikes, but acknowledges thousands of targets remain. More than 1,300 people have been killed in Iran, according to the Iranian Red Crescent. In Israel, 12 people have been killed by Iranian missile fire, and at least 13 U.S. military members have also been killed.
Admiral Brad Cooper, the top U.S. military commander in the Middle East, stated American forces are focused on countering Iranian threats to freighters in the Strait of Hormuz. The European Union is considering extending a naval mission protecting ships in the Red Sea to include the Strait of Hormuz, though some member states have expressed reservations. Britain is considering deploying mine-hunting drones but is unlikely to send a warship. Japan and Australia have not been asked to assist and have no current plans to do so.
Trump also suggested he might delay a planned trip to China, a key trade partner of Iran, to pressure Beijing into helping restore shipping through the strait. He added that he “will remember” which allies do not offer assistance.
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