Dubai, Abu Dhabi News Live Updates: IEA to release 400 million barrels of oil in largest such strategic move
Dubai, Abu Dhabi, UAE War Today News Live Updates: Two drones fell in the vicinity of the Dubai International Airport (DXB), wounding two Ghanaian nationals, one Bangladeshi national and one Indian national.
Earlier in the day, several blasts were heard across Doha as Iran’s retaliatory strikes in the Gulf intensified, AFP reported, citing witnesses and correspondents. “The security threat level is high,” the interior ministry said, urging “everyone to adhere to staying at home, not going out, and staying away from windows and open areas to preserve public safety”.
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UAE air defences, on Wednesday, said that they were responding to incoming missile and drone threats launched from Iran, with the Ministry of Defence confirming that sounds heard across parts of the country are caused by interception operations. “UAE air defences are currently responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran. MOD asserts that the sounds heard are the result of the Air Defence Systems intercepting missiles and drones,” UAE Ministry of Defence said in a post on X.
US-Israel vs Iran War Live Updates: Check Today Latest News Here
Saudi Arabia intercepts and destroys drones, missiles: Saudi Defence Ministry issued separate statements, announcing that it has downed 4 drones in the Eastern Province, 2 drones in the Empty Quarter on their way to Shaybah field, 2 drones in the Eastern Province, 3 drones in the Empty Quarter on their way to Shaybah field, 2 drones in the Empty Quarter on their way to Shaybah field, 2 drones in the Eastern Province, 5 drones east of Al Kharj Governorate, 2 drones in Hafr Al Batin, 6 ballistic missiles launched towards Prince Sultan airbase, 1 ballistic missile launched towards the Eastern Province, and 2 drones in the Empty Quarter on their way to Shaybah field.
One Week of War: Key Events — Feb 28 to March 9, 2025
Chronology of the U.S.-Israel attack on Iran and its escalating regional fallout
U.S. and Israel launch coordinated attack on Iran — war begins
American and Israeli forces strike Iran in a coordinated military operation. Iranian counter-attacks begin almost immediately across multiple theatres.
Day 1 · War Begins
Missile hits Minab primary school — 175 schoolgirls & staff killed
A strike on a primary school in Minab, southern Iran, kills 175 schoolgirls and staff on the war’s first day — the single deadliest civilian attack of the opening week, per Iranian Red Crescent Society.
Civilian Deaths · Iran
Iranian missile strikes Sweida, Syria — 4 killed
An Iranian missile hits a building in the southern Syrian city of Sweida, killing four people, according to Syrian state news agency SANA.
Regional Spillover · Syria
Iranian missile hits Beit Shemesh near Jerusalem — 9 civilians killed
Nine of Israel’s 11 civilian deaths in the first week come from a single Iranian missile strike on Beit Shemesh, a city near Jerusalem, per Israel’s Magen David Adom ambulance service.
Civilian Deaths · Israel
Iran strikes Gulf states hosting U.S. military bases — 15 killed
Iranian missiles and projectiles hit UAE (4 dead), Saudi Arabia (2), Bahrain (2, incl. Manama residential building), Kuwait (6, incl. a child), and a tanker off Oman’s coast (1) — drawing all U.S. base-hosting nations in the Gulf into the conflict.
Gulf Escalation · 5 States Hit
U.S. airstrike kills Islamic Resistance in Iraq commander
A commander of the Iran-backed Islamic Resistance in Iraq — an umbrella group of armed factions — is killed in a strike on his vehicle, per Reuters sources. Iraq’s overall death toll stands at 15.
Targeted Strike · Iraq
Hezbollah re-enters conflict; IDF reports first soldier deaths
Lebanon’s Hezbollah resumes attacks on Israel in solidarity with Iran. Israeli strikes in Lebanon kill at least 486. Two Israeli soldiers are killed in southern Lebanon — the first IDF fatalities since hostilities with Hezbollah resumed.
Lebanon Front · 488 Killed
U.S. submarine sinks Iranian warship off Sri Lanka — 104 killed
The Iranian army reports 104 deaths after a U.S. submarine sinks an Iranian warship in waters off Sri Lanka’s coast. These deaths are additional to the Red Crescent Society’s 1,230+ toll for Iran.
War at Sea · Indian Ocean
Confirmed death toll reaches 1,770+ across 11 countries
More than ten days after the war began, confirmed deaths span Iran, Lebanon, Iraq, Israel, the U.S., Kuwait, Syria, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman. Reuters has not independently verified the figures.
Toll Update · March 9
UAE air defences intercept 8 ballistic missiles, 26 UAVs: UAE air defences on Tuesday detected 9 ballistic missiles, of which 8 were destroyed, while 1 missile fell into the sea. A total of 35 UAVs were also detected, with 26 intercepted, while 9 fell within the country’s territory. Since the start of the Iranian attacks, 262 ballistic missiles have been detected, out of which, 241 were destroyed, 19 fell into the sea, and 2 hit within the country. The Ministry of Defence stated that a total of 1,475 Iranian UAVs have also been detected, of which 1,385 were intercepted, while 90 fell within the country’s territory. Eight cruise missiles were also detected and destroyed.
As misinformation regarding “missile alerts” circulates on social media, The Indian Express Global Desk adheres to rigorous verification standards. Our reporting is grounded in direct updates from the UAE National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA), the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), and the Saudi and Bahraini Ministries of Defence.
Follow our live blog below for real-time tracking of Operation Epic Fury, regional airspace status, and diplomatic efforts to contain the escalation.
Live Updates