Gulf countries report new attacks after Iran warns major UAE ports to evacuate
- Mar 16
- 5 min read
Source: AP News
Video:
Today’s live updates have ended. Follow more live coverage on the Iran war.
Gulf countries reported new attacks Sunday morning, a day after Iran called for the evacuation of three major ports in the United Arab Emirates, threatening for the first time a neighboring country’s non-U.S. assets.
Tehran accused the United States of using “ports, docks and hideouts” in the UAE to launch strikes on Kharg Island, home to the main terminal handling Iran’s oil exports, without providing evidence, as the war showed no signs of ending.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he hoped allies would send warships to help secure the vital Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, Israeli strikes have deepened Lebanon’s humanitarian crisis, with more than 800 people killed and over 850,000 displaced.
Major developments we’re following:
Trump suggests other countries may provide military support to reopen Strait of Hormuz: The president posted, “Many Countries, especially those who are affected by Iran’s attempted closure of the Hormuz Strait, will be sending War Ships, in conjunction with the United States of America, to keep the Strait open and safe.” None responded with firm commitments by Sunday, though some said they were considering action.
Iran threatens UAE: Iran on Saturday threatened for the first time to attack infrastructure of a neighboring country, urging people to evacuate three major ports in the United Arab Emirates that Tehran claimed were “legitimate targets” because the U.S. military used them for attacks.
U.S. identifies 6 killed in military aircraft crash: The U.S. Department of Defense on Saturday identified six service members who died when the military refueling aircraft they were aboard crashed Thursday while supporting operations against Iran.
8:27 PM MST
Emirates tells passengers to avoid Dubai International Airport
By ADAM SCHRECK
Emirates is telling passengers to avoid going to Dubai International Airport after flights were temporarily suspended.
The Middle East’s largest airline sent the update on X and said it will share updates as they’re available.
Dubai authorities earlier said flights at the major international travel hub were halted after a drone struck a fuel tank and started a fire.
The Dubai Media Office said some flights are being diverted to Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International.
DWC sits on the southern end of Dubai and typically handles cargo, charter and seasonal flights.
It handles a small fraction of the traffic at Dubai’s main airport, the world’s busiest hub for international travel.
8:18 PM MST
Japan says ‘nothing decided’ on Trump request for warship dispatch to Strait of Hormuz
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said her government “has not heard anything” from Washington about U.S. President Donald Trump’s calls for countries including Japan to send ships to help protect the Strait of Hormuz.
Takaichi told a parliamentary session that officials have been discussing everything Japan can do to protect Japanese ships in the region within its legal limitations “regardless of a U.S. request.”
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said he has no plans to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz under the current safety conditions.
“What we can technically do and whether we should do it under the current circumstances is a different story,” he said.
7:39 PM MST
Trump says Iran first, Cuba next
“We’re talking to Cuba, but we’re going to do Iran before Cuba,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel confirmed talks on Friday.
Trump said his supporters in south Florida are eager to see change after decades of animosity.
He has been talking about the island since January, when the U.S. military ousted former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and brought him to the U.S. to face drug charges.
Before that, Venezuela had long supported Cuba financially.
“I think we will pretty soon either make a deal, or do whatever we have to do,” Trump said.
7:24 PM MST
Crew members rescued from stricken Thai cargo ship return to Bangkok
Rescued crew members from a Thai cargo ship that was struck and set ablaze near the Strait of Hormuz arrived in Bangkok from Oman on Monday.
Three crew members from the Mayuree Naree ship remain missing after the vessel was hit by a projectile just north of Oman last week.
Thai officials said they are in close coordination with Iranian and Omani authorities as search and rescue efforts continue.
The 20 crew members who returned to Bangkok were reported to be in good health and good spirits, officials said.
After landing at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, the crew were escorted by officials to a waiting bus and did not speak to the media.
7:01 PM MST
Flights suspended at Dubai airport after drone sparks fire
Flights were temporarily suspended at Dubai International Airport after a drone struck a fuel tank and sparked a fire, authorities said.
Civil defense crews later contained the blaze, the Dubai Media Office said, adding that no injuries were reported.
The Dubai Civil Aviation Authority said the flight suspension was taken as a precaution.
The incident comes as Iran has fired hundreds of missiles and drones toward Gulf countries hosting U.S. military assets since the war began, including strikes toward the United Arab Emirates.
Emirati authorities say most have been intercepted by air defenses, though debris and some drones have fallen inside the country.
Iranian officials have recently accused the UAE of allowing its territory to be used for attacks against Iran, allegations Emirati officials have rejected as misleading, saying the country’s actions have been defensive.
6:37 PM MST
Trump defends use of dignified transfer photo in fundraising
CNN reported on Friday that a political action committee tied to Trump had used a photo in a fundraising email of the president saluting during last Saturday’s dignified transfer for six soldiers killed in Kuwait.
Asked whether he thought that was appropriate, Trump said: “I do,” saying that he was very popular with the military.
“I didn’t see it — I mean, somebody puts it out — we have a lot of people work here for us,” Trump said.
“But there’s nobody that’s better to the military than me.”
6:36 PM MST
Trump supports federal review of TV station broadcast licenses over Iran coverage
Trump said in a social media post sent from Air Force One that he is “so thrilled” that his federal broadcast regulator is looking at the licenses of outlets the president has criticized over their Mideast War coverage.
Brendan Carr, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, had urged broadcasters in a separate post Saturday to “correct course before their license renewals come up.”
“The law is clear. Broadcasters must operate in the public interest, and they will lose their licenses if they do not,” Carr warned.
Trump, answering reporters’ questions during Sunday’s flight to Washington, said Iran “is known for a lot of fake news” and claimed without proof that U.S. television networks are working with Iran to broadcast that material.
“It’s a very dangerous thing for our country,” Trump said.
He said the broadcasters “could be in serious jeopardy.”
