US-Israel War on Iran Highlights: Around 1,000 ships stuck near Hormuz; UEFA cancels Spain vs Argentina Finalissima match in Qatar

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Around 1,000 vessels are currently waiting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, including nearly 200 oil tankers carrying supplies destined for markets worldwide, according to Al Jazeera. Oil markets have reacted sharply, with prices surging and fuel costs rising across several countries, as the Iranian military continues to maintain control over the strategically vital waterway.

There have also been multiple threats issued by Iran’s military toward vessels attempting to make the passage or approach the entrance of the Strait of Hormuz.

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has announced that the Finalissima match between Euro 2024 champions Spain and Copa América 2022 winners Argentina has been cancelled. The game had been scheduled to take place in Qatar on March 27 but was called off due to the ongoing war in the region.

In a statement, UEFA said it was a “source of great disappointment” for both the governing body and the organisers that circumstances and timing had prevented the teams from competing for the prestigious trophy in Qatar.

UEFA added that the match was cancelled after efforts to find a new date for the fixture failed.

The UAE’s Ministry of Defence said its air defence systems intercepted several ballistic missiles and drones launched from Iran.

In a statement posted on social media, the ministry said UAE air defences had shot down four ballistic missiles and six drones.

It added that since the start of the US-Israel war on Iran on February 28, the country’s air defence systems have intercepted 298 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles and 1,606 drones.

According to the ministry, at least six people have been killed and 142 injured in Iranian attacks in the UAE since the conflict began.

A rocket has struck the Bnei Brak and Ramat Gan areas in the greater Tel Aviv region, according to Al Jazeera. Israeli police said they are investigating multiple locations where rockets and projectile shrapnel are believed to have fallen.

Local media outlet The Times of Israel reported that one man sustained minor injuries after being hit by shards of glass. Police had earlier said there were no injuries.

The report added that the latest rocket fired toward Israel made an impact in a central city, while what appeared to be cluster munition debris or other falling fragments caused damage to a residential apartment building.

In another notable development, Dozens of people accused of sharing sensitive information with Israel have been arrested in several areas of Iran, local media reported on Sunday, as Israeli and U.S. fighter jets continue to target the country.

In northwestern Iran, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on ⁠Sunday ​that 20 people were arrested on accusations by the provincial prosecutor's office of sending location details on Iran's military and security assets to Israel.

"As the Zionist enemy (Israel) and the U.S. are attempting to invade Iran, they simultaneously activate mercenaries and spies to carry out riots as the next step," a provincial branch of the Revolutionary Guards' intelligence organisation said, according ⁠to Tasnim.

The UK is “intensively looking” at ways to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, British Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said, after Iran effectively blocked the key shipping route, triggering a spike in global energy prices.

Speaking to Sky News, Miliband said Britain is in discussions with its allies to explore options for restoring maritime traffic through the strait. “We are talking to our allies. There are different ways in which we can make maritime shipping possible. We are intensively looking with our allies at what can be done, because it’s so important that we get the strait reopened,” he said, responding to a question on whether the UK might deploy mine sweepers or mine-hunting drones to the area.

He added that the UK has several options on the table, including the possible use of autonomous mine-hunting equipment, but declined to comment on how advanced those plans are.

Miliband also rejected claims that Britain’s military is too stretched to handle both its existing commitments and the emerging crisis.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said Tehran has not targeted civilian or residential areas in the Middle East, asserting that Iran is willing to work with neighbouring countries to determine who is responsible for such strikes.

According to a statement posted on Araghchi’s Telegram channel, the minister said in an interview with the Al-Araby Al-Jadeed website that Iran remains in contact with Gulf states and would support any initiative aimed at bringing an end to what he described as the US-Israeli war against Iran.

However, several Gulf countries have urged Tehran to halt its attacks on their territories, saying the strikes have not only targeted US military assets but have also damaged energy infrastructure and residential areas.

The spokesman for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters has accused the United States and Israel of conducting a false-flag campaign using a rebranded version of Iran's Shahed-136 drone, known as "Lucas," state broadcaster Press TV reported on Sunday.

The official claimed these drones are being deployed against civilian infrastructure across the region to deliberately frame the Islamic Republic.

The latest incident involved a strike on the Lanaz refinery in the Iraqi Kurdistan region on Saturday. Iranian military sources have stated the attack was not connected to Iran or its allies.

Iran's foreign minister denied on Sunday that Iran has targeted civilian or residential areas in the Middle East and said ⁠Tehran ​is ready to form a committee with its neighbours to ​investigate the ​responsibility for such ⁠strikes.

Gulf countries have called upon Iran to ‌cease its attacks on their territories, which have not only sustained strikes on U.S. military bases but ⁠also ⁠damage to energy facilities and residential areas.

Abbas ⁠Araqchi's Telegram ‌channel ​quoted him as ‌saying in an interview with Al-Araby al-Jadeed ‌website that ​Tehran ​was ​in communication with various Gulf capitals and ​would welcome any initiative ⁠that could guarantee a complete end to ‌the U.S.-Israeli ⁠war on Iran.

Israeli military says “a short while ago” its forces began “a wide-scale wave of strikes targeting infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime in western Iran”.

The Fars news agency quoted the Iranian Foreign Minister as insisting that Tehran had not targeted any civilian or residential areas in regional countries. He claimed it was possible that Israel was behind these attacks. Iranian media quoted him as suggesting that US-made Lucas drones may be behind the attacks.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed that he is "fine," following a surge of social media posts suggesting his demise.

The clarification was issued after a correspondent from the Anadolu Agency questioned his office regarding widespread claims on digital platforms that "Netanyahu has been assassinated." In a direct response, Netanyahu's office dismissed the reports, stating, "These are fake news; the Prime Minister is fine." The rumours gained momentum after the Israeli PM posted a video of a press conference on Friday discussing the ongoing conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran. Some social media users alleged that the footage was AI-generated, claiming to have identified six fingers on the Prime Minister's right hand.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard said it had launched 10 missiles and an unidentified number of drones against US forces at the al-Dhafra airbase in the UAE. The statement was carried by Iranian news agencies.

South Korea's presidential office said on Saturday that ⁠it ​would carefully review U.S. President ​Donald ​Trump's calls ⁠on allies to send ‌warships to secure the Strait of Hormuz.

"We ⁠will ⁠communicate closely with ⁠the ‌U.S. ​regarding this matter ‌and make a ‌decision ​after ​careful ​review," the ​office said in a ⁠statement.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps has promised to target PM Netanyahu as the war with Israel and the US continues.

“If this child-killing criminal is alive, we will continue to pursue and kill him with full force,” state media quoted the IRGC as saying.

According to a Bloomberg update, Oil-loading operations at a key port in the United Arab Emirates have now resumed after a drone strike and fire on Saturday forced a halt to exports. Operations at Fujairah — which sits outside the Strait of Hormuz — were paused following a drone strike.

Al Jazeera reported on Sunday that the Iranian Space Research Centre was reduced to rubble in an US-Israeli strike.

The Iranian Space Research Centre, a key scientific body responsible for advancing space technology and research in Iran, operated under the Iranian Space Agency. It focused on satellite development, space science, and aerospace engineering. The centre conducted research on satellite design, remote sensing, telecommunications, and space exploration technologies. It also collaborated with universities and research institutions to train scientists and engineers in the field of space science. Through its projects, the centre aimed to strengthen Iran's technological capabilities and expand its presence in space research and satellite-based applications.

Clouds of toxic smoke unleashed into the atmosphere by U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iranian oil facilities made a dangerous return to Earth in the form of “black rain,” prompting international health officials to warn of serious risks to the public. Residents in Tehran complained last week of burning eyes and difficulty breathing when the dark and oily precipitation fell near the Iranian capital after several fuel oil depots and a refinery were struck. Plumes of dark smoke have also been seen across other parts of the region over two weeks of war,

Saudi Arabian authorities said they had intercepted a fresh barrage of drones surrounding Riyadh and the eastern regions of the country on Sunday morning. Iran has denied responsibility for the strikes.

“This attack has no connection to the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the Saudi government should seek to discover the origin of the attacks,” the IRGC said in a statement.

According to an Al Jazeera update, the Lebanese prime minister and president have expressed openness to direct talks with Israel. This will be a significant step because Lebanon has been officially at war with Israel for decades.

The development comes as Israel threatens what could be its largest ground invasion of Lebanon since the 2006 War.

According to Al Jazeera, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has assigned his close adviser, Ron Dermer, to lead the Israeli side of the Lebanon diplomatic track. From the US side, the talks could reportedly involve Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump.

The discussions could begin within days and may take place in Paris or Cyprus, potentially involving direct, head-to-head negotiations, Al Jazeera reported.

There have also been reports that France proposed a peace plan that would require the disarmament of Hezbollah and Lebanon's recognition of Israel as conditions to end the war. However, the French Foreign Ministry has denied those reports, according to Al Jazeera.

Lebanese officials have indicated they are willing to engage in talks, but Nabih Berri, Lebanon's parliamentary speaker and a leader of the Amal Movement, said a ceasefire must be implemented before negotiations can begin.

President Donald Trump has increasingly has been knocked on his political heels as the war continues. He's grown more agitated with news coverage and has failed to find a way to explain why he started the war - or how he will end it - that resonates with a public concerned by American deaths in the conflict, surging oil prices and dropping financial markets. Even some of his supporters are now questioning his plan and his overall poll numbers are declining.

Meanwhile, Moscow is getting a boost from the war's early days after Trump eased sanctions on some Russian oil shipments. That, combined with rising oil prices, undercut the yearslong push to crimp President Vladimir Putin's ability to wage war in Ukraine.

According to an AFP update, explosions rang out over Bahrain’s capital of Manama early on Sunday. Al Jazeera reported that air raid sirens were also blaring in the Jordanian city of Aqaba, which sits opposite Eilat in southern Israel.

The Saudi Ministry of Defence said it had intercepted and destroyed 10 more drones in the Riyadh and eastern regions. The statement came a mere hour after the government said it had destroyed seven drones over the same region. The Ministry had also said earlier that it intercepted three drones in the eastern parts of the country.

This comes after Saudi Arabia intercepted nearly 60 drones on Saturday.

The US Department of Defence has now identified the six service members who died earlier this week when a military refuelling aircraft crashed in Iraq.

According to US Central Command, the crash followed an unspecified incident involving two aircraft in “friendly airspace". The other plane landed safely.

The service members were Maj. John A. Klinner, 33; Capt. Ariana G. Savino, 31; Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34; Capt. Seth R. Koval, 38; Capt. Curtis J. Angst, 30; and Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons, 28

"Ballistic missile attacks from Iran right now are down 90%. Their drone capabilities are down 95%. We have sunk more than 65 of their naval ships. We've hit more than 6,000 targets... We are totally eradicating this threat," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said during an interview with Fox News.

Air raid sirens have been activated in Bahrain. The Interior Ministry has urged residents to remain calm and head to the nearest safe location.

Meanwhile the UAE’s Ministry of Defence sats its air defences are “responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran”.

It said the sounds being heard are the result of interceptions.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is considering deploying thousands of interceptor drones to the Middle East, according to a report by The Telegraph published on Saturday.

The newspaper indicated that UK defence officials are evaluating the possibility of redirecting cutting-edge equipment initially intended for Eastern Europe to meet new regional demands.

Specifically, military experts are assessing if the "Octopus" interceptor anti-drone system, produced in the UK to support Ukraine in countering Russian threats, could be repurposed to strengthen British protections against Iran's Shahed drones.

This consideration for advanced drone deployment comes as US President Donald Trump has issued a call to the United Kingdom and other international partners to deploy naval forces to assist in maintaining the passage of the Strait of Hormuz.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told CNN that it was "100% facts" that Iran has used Russian-made Shahed drones to attack US bases.

Shahed drones have been linked to other attacks on countries in the region, although their manufacturers are not always clear.

Iran pioneered the Shahed drone -- a much cheaper alternative to expensive missiles that first saw mass use amidst the invasion of Ukraine. Although Iran initially provided the drones, Russia now manufactures its own Shaheds. The armed forces of other countries have since adopted Shahed-type drones, including the US military, which has said they are part of the current campaign against Iran.

“We warn the American regime to evacuate all American industries in the region. We ask people living near industrial factories in which Americans hold shares to leave those areas so they are not harmed," reports quoted the Revolutionary Guards as saying.
An accompanying graphic circulated by the IRGC listed various American industrial, tech, energy, and financial firms operating in Jordan and the UAE, including specific office locations. Companies named in the lengthy list include

Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Microsoft, Oracle, ExxonMobil, Citigroup, Amazon Web Services, NSO Group, KKR, Boston Consulting Group, Bain & Company and Trafigura.