Dubai/Beirut, March 16: Massive explosions rocked Beirut and Tehran early Monday as Israel launched airstrikes on Hezbollah infrastructure and Iranian targets, while an Iranian drone hit a fuel tank near Dubai International Airport, forcing temporary closure of the world’s busiest passenger hub.
The UAE contained the airport fire without casualties, but suspended all Emirates flights. Saudi Arabia intercepted 35 Iranian drones targeting its eastern oil fields. Israel reported fresh Iranian missiles including cluster bombs, while over 800,000 Lebanese are displaced and 850 killed in ongoing strikes.
Iran has halted shipping in the Strait of Hormuz—through which 20% of global oil flows—driving Brent crude to $104/barrel, up 45% since US-Israel attacks began February 28. President Trump demanded warships from 7 nations including China, Japan, and Britain to secure the strait but received no commitments.
“I’m demanding these countries protect their own territory—we will remember who helps,” Trump warned from Air Force One. Iran’s FM Abbas Araghchi rejected truce talks: “Our Armed Forces will keep firing until POTUS realizes this illegal war is wrong.”
Casualties mount: 1,300 dead in Iran, 12 in Israel, 13 US troops killed. Japan released oil reserves as Gulf states brace for energy crisis. Trump predicted “prices will tumble soon” despite no plans to cap futures trading.
