Iran-Israel war LIVE: Explosions reported across Dubai, Doha; 'unknown projectile' hits tanker off UAE's Fujairah

Fire and plumes of smoke rise after a drone struck a fuel tank forcing the temporary suspension of flights. near Dubai International Airport on March 16, 2026.

As Israel and Iran exchanged a fresh wave of strikes, several explosions echoed across Dubai and Qatari capital Doha early on Tuesday (March 17, 2026), according to AFP. The blasts in Dubai followed a mobile phone alert to residents to “immediately seek a safe place” over “potential missile threats”.

An unknown projectile ‌struck a tanker 23 ⁠nautical miles east of ‌Fujairah in ‌the ‌United ‌Arab ‌Emirates (UAE) ⁠causing minor structural damage, the ‌United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said ‌on Tuesday (March 17, 2026). A fire also broke ‌out in the ⁠Fujairah Oil Industry Zone ⁠following a Iranian ⁠drone attack. No injuries were reported in both incidents.

Also read | Neighbourhood diplomacy and its West Asia challenge

A wave ‌of drone and ⁠rocket attacks targeted the U.S. ‌Embassy in ‌Baghdad ‌on Tuesday (March 17, 2026), Iraqi ⁠security sources said, describing it ‌as the most intense assault since ‌the attacks began, with at ⁠least five drones ‌used.

Also read | Iran and U.S. have been in direct contact in recent days: report

With the war in its third week, Israel said on Monday (March 16, 2026) it had drawn up detailed plans for at least three more weeks of war as it pounded sites across Iran overnight and stepped up bombardments of Hezbollah in Lebanon. Iran also vowed at the United Nations that it would not submit to “lawless aggression”, and said its citizens were in “grave danger” from U.S. and Israeli strikes.

WATCH | Trump urges allies to help secure Strait of Hormuz

Israel doesn’t seek ‘perpetual war’ with Iran, says Envoy, suggests diplomatic options remain

Israel is not seeking a “perpetual war” with Iran, and would discuss a diplomatic way out of the war if Iran “changes course”, said Reuven Azar, Israel’s Ambassador to India.

He, however, denied that Israel’s goals had changed due to Tehran’s retaliatory strikes. Addressing a press conference here as the war in West Asia entered its third week, Mr. Azar said there was no timeline on ending the war, but that the U.S. and Israel, which jointly launched the war with strikes killing Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khameini on February 28, had anticipated it lasting a “few weeks”.

Israel doesn’t seek ‘perpetual war’ with Iran, says Envoy, suggests diplomatic options remain

Israel's envoy states the nation seeks diplomatic solutions with Iran, not perpetual war, amid ongoing regional tensions.

March 17, 2026 10:20

Tell war's story way we see it: Trump to U.S. media

Through lectures, scoldings and outright threats, President Donald Trump and his aides are ratcheting up the pressure on journalists to cover the war in West Asia the way the administration wants.

The president has fumed on social media about stories he doesn’t like and berated a reporter on Air Force One. The government’s top media regulator has warned that broadcasters risk losing their licenses if they don’t stay away from “fake news.” Mr. Trump and his defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, have both questioned the patriotism of news outlets because of their reporting.

Mr. Trump has complained about war coverage in both specific and general ways. In a social media post, he said news reports exaggerated the damage to planes that were attacked by Iran at an airport in Saudi Arabia. He attacked “Corrupt Media Outlets” for falling for AI-generated false reports created by Iran and said the media “hates to report” how well the U.S. military has performed.

AP

March 17, 2026 10:00

Qatar forces intercept missile attack: ministry

Qatar said on Tuesday (March 17, 2026) it had intercepted a missile attack as Iran presses its retaliatory campaign over strikes by the United States and Israel that killed its supreme leader.

“The Ministry of Defence of State of Qatar announces that armed forces intercepted missile attack which targeted State of Qatar,” the defence ministry posted on X.

AFP

March 17, 2026 09:36

Several explosions heard in Doha: report

Several explosions were heard in Doha on Tuesday (March 17, 2026), an AFP journalist said, a day after several blasts resounded across the Qatari capital.

Qatar, like several Gulf nations, has been targeted by drones and missiles in the last days as Tehran presses a retaliatory campaign over attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran.

AFP

March 17, 2026 09:26

Explosions heard in Dubai after missile alert: report

Three explosions echoed across Dubai after a missile alert early on Tuesday (March 17, 2026), according to an AFP correspondent.

The blasts followed a mobile phone alert to residents to “immediately seek a safe place” over “potential missile threats”.

AFP

March 17, 2026 09:18

Unclear if Mojtaba Khamenei 'dead or not': Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump said late that he does not know whether Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei is still alive, adding that Washington was unclear whom it could negotiate with in Tehran.

“We don’t know... if he’s dead or not,” Mr. Trump told reporters at the White House.

“A lot of people are saying that he’s badly disfigured. They’re saying that he lost his leg -- one leg -- and he’s, you know, been hurt very badly. Other people are saying he’s dead. Nobody’s saying he’s 100 percent healthy. You know he hasn’t spoken.”

“We don’t know who we’re dealing with” in Iran, Mr. Trump said. “We don’t know who their leader is.”

AFP

March 17, 2026 09:04

Iran soccer players who claimed asylum in Australia train with local club

The two players from the Iranian women’s soccer squad who chose to remain in Australia after seeking asylum have been pictured training with ‌a local A-League club as they begin their new lives in the country.

Midfielder Fatemeh ⁠Pasandideh and defender Atefeh Ramezanizadeh were among seven members of Iran’s delegation granted humanitarian visas amid fears of possible persecution ‌if they returned home after competing in the women’s Asian Cup in Australia.

Five members of the group, however, subsequently changed their minds about Australia’s asylum offer and decided to return home.

Queensland-based A-League club ‌Brisbane Roar announced on social media the remaining two players, Pasandideh and Ramezanizadeh, had joined a training session with its women’s team ⁠on Monday (March 16, 2026).

Reuters

March 17, 2026 08:47

Trump was warned of likely Iranian retaliation on Gulf allies: report

President Donald Trump was warned that attacking Iran could trigger retaliation against U.S. Gulf allies despite his claims on Monday (March 16, 2026) that Tehran’s reaction ‌came as a surprise, said a U.S. official and two sources familiar with U.S. intelligence reports.