Day 16 of war: Iran Guards vow to 'pursue and kill' Israel's Netanyahu

Israel begins 'broad wave of strikes' on Iran

Israel's military said it began a broad wave of strikes on western Iran on Sunday, more than two weeks into the US-Israeli war against the Islamic republic.

"A short while ago, the IDF began a wide-scale wave of strikes targeting infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime in western Iran," the army said in a statement.

Tehran to form investigative committee

Iran's Foreign Minister announced Tehran was ready to form an investigative committee with regional countries to probe into targets that were attacked.

Iranian FM denies attacks on residential areas

Iran's Foreign Minister on Sunday denied targeting any civilian or residential areas in regional countries, Fars news agency stated.

The minister further went on to say that it was possible Israel is behind the attacks on civil targets in Arab countries.

Seyed Abbas Araghchi also claimed US-made drone Lucas may be behind the attacks on regional targets.

Ukraine hopes to not lose US support amid Iran war

Ukraine does not want to lose US support for its struggle against Russia as a result of Washington's war with Iran, President Volodymyr Zelensky told journalists. 

"We don't want to lose the Americans" while they are "without a doubt currently preoccupied with the Middle East", the Ukrainian leader told the press, including AFP reporters, on Saturday. His comments were under embargo until Sunday.

"We are showing our willingness to help the United States and their allies in the Middle East" by offering to share Ukraine's drone expertise, and "we strongly hope that as a result of the Middle East, the United States will not turn its back on the question of the war in Ukraine", he added.  

US embassy in Saudi Arabia encourages citizens to leave

US citizens in Saudi Arabia have been encouraged to leave the Kingdom via commercial flights if they are able to safely.

The US Embassy in Riyadh said the airspace remains open with frequent air traffic restrictions to address continued missile and drone threats

Those who choose to travel by air are advised to check their flight status directly with the airline due to possible delays and cancellations at Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam airports.

For those opting not to leave the country, the embassy advised them to be prepared to shelter in place in a secure location within their residence or another safe building. They must also ensure they have a supply of food, water, medications, and other essential items.

WHO condemns killing of healthcare workers in Lebanon

The Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, confirmed the deaths of 14 health workers in southern Lebanon describing the events as a "tragic development in the escalating Middle East crisis."

In a statement, the WHO chief revealed that 12 medical staff members, including doctors, paramedics, and nurses, were killed during a strike on the Bourj Qalaouiyeh primary healthcare centre late on Friday night.

According to the Director-General, this fatal incident followed another attack just hours earlier, where "two paramedics lost their lives in attacks on a health facility in Al Sowana".

Ghebreyesus emphasised that these latest casualties are part of a broader pattern, stating that these incidents "highlight the ongoing assault on Lebanon's healthcare system, which is crucial for the populations it serves."

Condemning the violence, the ministry asserted that such actions "contradict international humanitarian law", as medical personnel "should never be attacked or militarised."

Emirates allows rebooking within 72 hours

Emirates announced passengers can now amend their bookings and rebook flights online within 72 hours of their original departure date.

The carrier is allowing travellers to do so by visiting the 'manage booking section on the website or the 'Manage Your Booking' on the Emirates app.

Israeli attack on Lebanon's Sidon

An Israeli airstrike targeted Lebanon's southern coastal city of Sidon on March 15.

The attacks comes a day after an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon killed a dozen medical staff at a clinic, after Iran-backed Hezbollah's leader said his group was ready for a long confrontation with Israel.

Israeli drones head towards Iranian airspace

Iran's state agency said on Sunday three "enemy drones" were shot down before breaching Tehran’s airspace, according to the IRGC.

UAE retailers continue Ramadan, Eid offers despite regional tensions

UAE retailers said they’re continuing Ramadan offers and discounts, as they have sufficient supplies and well-stocked shelves to meet customer needs amid the ongoing regional military conflict.

While speaking to Khaleej Times, Retail giant Lulu said there is no panic buying among consumers, but only thoughtful, cheerful preparation for the celebrations ahead.

Carrefour said it remains committed to its Ramadan offers, and it is maintaining prices on key commodities and everyday products to provide stability and reassurance for its customers at a time when it matters most.

ADCoop also confirmed that its supermarkets and supply network are fully prepared to meet customer demand, with strong inventory levels maintained across its branches and logistics centres.

South Korea evacuates citizens from Middle East 

South Korea is evacuating 204 of its citizens and seven other nationals from the Middle East using a military aircraft, the foreign ministry said, calling the operation "unprecedented".

The evacuees are due to arrive in South Korea on Sunday afternoon.

Trump warns of more strikes on Iran's Kharg Island

US President Donald Trump threatened further strikes on Iran's Kharg Island oil export hub and urged allies to deploy warships to secure the Strait of Hormuz, an artery for global energy supplies, as Tehran vowed to intensify its response.

With the US-Israeli war on Iran in its third week, Trump said US strikes had "totally demolished" much of the island and warned of more, telling NBC News on Saturday, "We may hit it a few more times just for fun."

The remarks marked a sharp escalation from Trump, who had previously said the US was targeting only military sites on Kharg, and undercut diplomatic efforts. His administration has rebuffed efforts by Middle Eastern allies to start negotiations, three sources told Reuters.

South Korea to 'carefully review' deployment of warships 

South Korea said it would carefully review whether it would deploy its warships to the Strait of Hormuz.

The country said it would closely communicate with the US regarding Trump's request on the warships, state media reported on Sunday.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump urged countries such as China, France, Japan, South Korea and Britain to send warships to help secure the vital pathway, a critical chokepoint for global oil supplies.

Iran's Isfahan targeted in Israeli attacks

The central Iranian city of Isfahan was targeted by further raids during the early hours of Sunday morning.

Visual evidence from the scene, including videos and images, showed clouds of thick smoke rising over the city as dawn broke, with one particular video clip capturing military jets flying low over the area.

Drones intercepted in Saudi Arabia 

Saudi Arabia's defence ministry said it had intercepted four drones in Riyadh amid ongoing attacks in the region.

Stranded abroad during leave? What UAE law says

As some UAE residents leave to visit their home countries during current regional escalations, there might be those wondering what would happen to their job if they are stranded abroad.

As per UAE law, if an employee is stranded abroad due to extraordinary circumstances such as geopolitical developments, travel restrictions, or suspension of flights, such circumstances may constitute a legitimate reason for being absent from work.

In such cases, dismissal solely based on absence from work may be challenged by an employee if an employee can demonstrate that the absence was unavoidable and properly communicated to an employer.

With respect to remote working arrangements, the employment law is silent on the demand for work-from-home arrangements where an employer has not implemented such a policy.

However, in adverse circumstances the UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation or any other relevant government authority in the UAE issues notifications/advisories for remote working which apply to all employers.

Nevertheless, if an employee remains willing and able to perform their duties and the nature of the role allows the work to be carried out remotely, an employee may request temporary remote work as a practical arrangement during the period they are unable to return to the UAE.

Iran launches missiles towards Israel 

During the early morning hours of Sunday, Iran launched a fresh wave of missiles towards Israel amid the ongoing war with Israel and the US.

Reports of "loud explosions" emerged in central Israel as air raid sirens sounded across the region following a missile strike from Iran.

Debris was seen falling in central parts of Israel with ambulances providing medical assistance to four individuals who sustained injuries while heading to a shelter.

Jordan intercepts missiles

Jordan's military said it had intercepted 79 of 85 missiles and drones launched by Iran at the kingdom.

Lebanon preparing to negotiate

Lebanon is working to form a delegation to negotiate with Israel in a bid to stop the war with Iran-backed Hezbollah, an official told AFP, though Israel has not committed to the initiative.

"Negotiations are on the table and preparations are underway to form a delegation, but... neither the timing nor the location has been determined, with Paris and Cyprus being considered," the official said.

AI fakes about Iran-US war swirl on X

AI-created videos circulating on Elon Musk's X depict American soldiers captured by Iran, an Israeli city in ruins, and US embassies ablaze — a surge of lifelike deepfakes despite a policy crackdown to curb wartime disinformation.

The Middle East war has unleashed an avalanche of AI-generated visuals, dwarfing anything seen in previous conflicts and often leaving social media users unable to distinguish fabrication from reality, researchers say.

In a bid to protect "authentic information" during conflicts, X announced last week that it would suspend creators from its revenue sharing program for 90 days if they post AI-generated war videos without disclosing they were artificially made.

Subsequent violations will result in permanent suspension, X's head of product Nikita Bier warned in a post.

Grok, X's own AI chatbot, appeared to make the problem worse, wrongly telling users seeking fact-checks that numerous AI visuals from the war were real.

Researchers have also warned that X's model — allowing premium accounts to earn payouts based on engagement — has turbocharged the financial incentive to peddle false or sensational content.

Deadly Israeli settler violence surges in West Bank

While the world's attention is focused on the US-Israeli war with Iran, the Israeli-occupied West Bank has experienced a surge in deadly settler violence. 

Since the start of the month, six Palestinians have been shot dead in settler attacks, according to a tally of data from the Ramallah-based health ministry.

Israeli human rights group B'Tselem said the increase in bloodshed "indicates the intensification of Israel's ethnic cleansing efforts under cover of the war with Iran".

That sentiment was shared by Palestinians on the ground. 

In addition to roughly three million Palestinians, more than 500,000 Israelis live in settlements and outposts in the West Bank, which are illegal under international law.

Post-attack effect on sky

A shot of the skyline of Erbil, Iran, after drone strikes on Lanaz Refinery.

Iraq football team to travel to Mexico

Iraq will travel to Mexico for a 2026 World Cup playoff match despite calls for it to be postponed due to the Middle East war, the country's football association said Saturday.

The national team would depart at the end of this week via a private plane ahead of the match scheduled for March 31 in the Mexican city of Monterrey.

20 arrested in Iran for sharing military location

Twenty people were arrested in northwestern Iran for attempting to cooperate with Israel, Tasnim news agency reported on Sunday, citing a statement by the West Azerbaijan province's prosecutor office.

They are accused of sending location details on Iran's military and security assets to Israel.

Israel has launched a new phase of its assault on Iran, targeting security checkpoints based on tip-offs from informants on the ground, a source briefed on Israel's military strategy told Reuters last week.

Iran Guards vow to 'pursue and kill' Netanyahu

Iran's Revolutionary Guards vowed on Sunday to "pursue and kill" Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to their website Sepah News. 

Tehran accuses US, Israel of using rebranded Shahed drones

The spokesman for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters has accused the US 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.

In a formal statement, the spokesman suggested that after facing military challenges and failing to establish political alliances against Tehran, the "enemy has turned to deceptive tactic".

The objective of these manoeuvres, according to the statement, is to "create doubt and accuse the Islamic Republic of Iran" while damaging ties between Tehran and its regional partners, Press TV noted.

Death toll in Lebanon

Since the beginning of the latest war with Hezbollah, Lebanon's health ministry said Israeli strikes had killed 826 people, including 65 women and 106 children.

The authority added 2,009 others had been wounded in the ongoing attacks.

US regulator threatens media outlets over Iran coverage

A top US broadcast regulator threatened media outlets over negative coverage of the Middle East war, after President Donald Trump slammed critical headlines from the "Fake News Media".

The president since his first term has derided mainstream media as "fake news" and has sued major outlets over what he sees as unfair coverage.

Brendan Carr, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) — which oversees US radio, television and internet media — said broadcasters risked losing their licenses over news coverage.

"The law is clear. Broadcasters must operate in the public interest, and they will lose their licenses if they do not," Carr said in a post on X.

"Broadcasters that are running hoaxes and news distortions — also known as the fake news — have a chance now to correct course before their license renewals come up."

Japan says bar high for sending warships to Hormuz Strait

A senior Japanese policy adviser said Sunday the threshold is "extremely high" for Tokyo to send its warships to help protect a shipping lane for oil in the Middle East, hours after US President Donald Trump's call for other countries to do so.

"I regard the threshold as extremely high" for sending Japanese navy ships to the region under existing Japanese laws, Takayuki Kobayashi, the policy chief of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), said Sunday on the public broadcaster NHK's political debate programme.

"Legally speaking, we do not rule out the possibility, but given the current situation in which this conflict is ongoing, I believe this is something that must be considered with great caution," he said.

Sending its Self-Defence Forces abroad is politically sensitive in the officially pacifist Japan, as many voters support the US-imposed, war-renouncing 1947 constitution.

Last week, Takaichi said at a parliament session "nothing has been decided" over whether to send Japanese warships to the Middle East to escort tankers.

Takaichi is expected to visit Washington this week to hold talks with Trump, in which a range of issues including security in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as the Iran war, will likely be discussed.

Indian carriers limit Dubai flights

Indian airlines have scaled back flight operations to Dubai and other UAE destinations after airport authorities imposed restrictions amid the rapidly evolving situation in the Middle East.

Low-cost carrier IndiGo said flight schedules to and from Dubai have been affected due to the restrictions.

“Due to the evolving situation in the Middle East, flight operations have been further restricted in Dubai, leading to changes in flight schedules,” the airline said in a travel advisory on Sunday, urging passengers to check their flight status before heading to the airport.

Air India and Air India Express also confirmed that they had to significantly reduce their services on March 15 following instructions from UAE airport authorities.

Air India said it will operate only one Delhi–Dubai return flight, while four of its five planned services to Dubai have been cancelled.

Air India Express has cancelled five of its six Dubai flights, operating only a single Delhi–Dubai return service.

The airline also announced wider disruptions across the UAE network.

CBSE cancels Class 12 board exams

CBSE announced on Sunday it would be cancelling board exams for Class 12 students across Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Due to the ongoing regional situation, all exams between March 16 and April 10 have been cancelled. Examinations which were earlier postponed have also been cancelled, the education board stated.

CBSE said it would announce the mode of declaration of results in these countries separately in due course.

More Iranian footballers drop asylum bid

Three members of the Iranian women's football team granted asylum in Australia have changed their minds and decided to return home to Iran, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said.

One other team member seeking refuge had a change of heart earlier in the week and left the country, leaving a total of three out of seven asylum seekers from the squad still in Australia.

Russia supplying Iran with Shahed drones, says Zelenskiy

During an interview with CNN, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russia is supplying Iran with Shahed drones to use against the US and Israel.

Zelenskiy told CNN that it is "100 per cent facts" that Iran has used Russian-made Shaheds 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. They first saw mass use in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, where thousands of them have been launched by Russian forces since fall 2022, according to the Ukrainians.

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.

Identities of 6 US crew members killed in Iraq

The Pentagon released the identities of six US crew members killed during the crash of a refuelling aircraft in western Iraq earlier this week, which authorities said was not caused by "hostile fire".

The KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq on Thursday, bringing the number of US troops killed in war against Iran to at least 13. A second aircraft involved in the operation landed safely.

The Pentagon said the six members killed in the crash were: John Klinner, 33, of Auburn, Alabama; Ariana Savino, 31, of Covington, Washington; Ashley Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Kentucky; Seth Koval, 38, of Mooresville, Indiana; Curtis Angst, 30, of Wilmington, Ohio; and Tyler Simmons, 28, of Columbus, Ohio.

The first three were members of the US Air Force, while the latter three were stationed with the US Air National Guard.

Attack on Baghdad military base

A drone attack targeted the Baghdad airport complex, which houses a military base and a US diplomatic facility, two security sources told AFP.

The drones "targeted the military base" but were brought down just outside the complex, one source said, while a second source said a crashed drone sparked a huge fire outside.

Saudi Arabia intercepts 10 drones

Saudi Arabia said it had intercepted 10 drones in Riyadh and Eastern regions on Sunday.

F1 races cancelled in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia

Formula 1 officially cancelled races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia scheduled for April because of safety concerns from the ongoing war in the Middle East.

The Bahrain Grand Prix was scheduled for April 12, while the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix was set for April 19.

"While several alternatives were considered, it was ultimately decided that no substitutions will be made in April," F1 said in a statement.

Non-emergency govt employees ordered to leave Oman

The US State Department said it had ordered non-emergency government employees and the family members of government employees to leave Oman, citing safety risks as the US-Israeli war on Iran continues. 

Fire at Ruwais oil facility under control

Authorities in Abu Dhabi have brought a fire under control that broke out after a drone targeted an oil facility in the Ruwais area on Tuesday.

The Abu Dhabi Media Office announced that response teams contained the fire and are conducting cooling operations.

No injuries were reported in the incident.

Ongoing 'missile threat' in UAE

The UAE's NCEMA said its air defence systems are currently responding to a missile threat.

Residents have been urged to remain in a safe location and follow official channels for warnings and updates.

Air defence interceptions in Dubai 

Authorities in Dubai confirmed at 3.18am that the sounds heard in Marina and Al Sufouh areas were due to successful air defence interceptions.

Sirens sounded in Bahrain

Sirens have been sounded in Bahrain, with citizens and residents being urged to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place.

Overnight attacks in Saudi Arabia

Throughout the night and early morning hours of March 15, Saudi Arabia intercepted drones in parts of the Kingdom.

12.13am: Interception of two drones in the Riyadh and Eastern regions.

1.59am: Interception of two drones in the eastern region.

2.56am: Interception of a drone in the eastern region.

4.37am: Interception of three drones in the eastern region.

5.58am: Interception of seven drones in the Riyadh and Eastern regions.

6.30am: Interception of two drones in the eastern region.

GCC condemns attack on US Consulate General in Iraqi Kurdistan

The GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) condemned in the strongest terms the second blatant attack targeting the Consulate General of the UAE in Iraqi Kurdistan.

The council's Secretary General stressed that the continuation of these "treacherous assaults" on the UAE consulate constitutes a gross violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. 

He further noted that such actions represent a dangerous escalation that threatens the security and safety of diplomats and mission personnel.

UAE arrests 25 for misleading public opinion

The UAE arrested 25 individuals for their involvement in publishing and circulating digital content intended to mislead public opinion, harm national security and stability, and glorify the Iranian aggression.

Investigations into the case revealed that the defendants were divided into three groups that committed various acts.

• Group 1: Publishing authentic footage of attacks and their impact

• Group 2: Publishing fabricated content via artificial intelligence

• Group 3: Promoting a hostile state and glorifying its leadership

The authority shared images of the arrested with the public, while disclosing their nationalities.

Daily updates

Since this war broke out, Khaleej Times has been following up the events and keeping its readers well-informed.

Take a look at developments in this escalating conflict:

• Day 1

• Day 2

• Day 3

• Day 4

• Day 5

• Day 6

• Day 7

• Day 8

• Day 9

• Day 10

• Day 11

• Day 12

• Day 13

• Day 14

• Day 15

Trump warship call

US President Donald Trump urged countries such as China, France, Japan, South Korea and Britain to send warships to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, the critical chokepoint for global oil supplies.

"The Countries of the World that receive Oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage, and we will help — A LOT!" Trump said on social media.

Day 16 of US-Israel-Iran war

As the was enters its 16th day, there has been chatter around keeping the Strait of Hormuz open, with US President Donald Trump urging countries such as China, France, Japan, South Korea and Britain to send warships to help secure the vital pathway, a critical chokepoint for global oil supplies.

As of March 15, the war has killed more than 2,000 people, mostly in Iran, according to reports from governments and state media, since Israel and the United States began air attacks on Iran on February 28.

Meanwhile in the UAE, air defence systems on March 14 engaged 9 ballistic missiles and 33 UAVs launched from Iran, with no new injuries being reported on Saturday.

Stay tuned to Khaleej Times as we bring you the latest developments in the region as they unfold.