West Asia War LIVE: Explosions Rock Dubai and Doha; 'Unknown Projectile' Strikes Tanker Near Oman As Air Defenses Engage Over Baghdad

West Asia War Updates: The communist island has plunged into darkness under a total power blackout linked to a crippling oil embargo imposed by washington

West Asia War Updates: Gulf Arab states did not ask the U.S. to go to war with Iran, but many are now urging it not to stop short by leaving the Islamic ​Republic still able to threaten the Gulf’s oil lifeline and the economies that depend on it. 
 

West Asia War Updates: Tehran has already demonstrated its reach, attacking airports, ports, oil facilities and commercial hubs in the six gulf states with missiles and drones while disrupting shipping through the Strait Of Hormuz - the artery carrying ​about a fifth of global oil and underpinning gulf economies.

West Asia War Updates: Relevant authorities in the emirate of fujairah have confirmed that a fire broke out in the Fujairah Petroleum Industries Zone (FOIZ), caused by a drone attack; no injuries were reported.

West Asia War Updates: Multiple explosions rocked Doha and Dubai on Tuesday morning following a series of urgent missile alerts, prompting regional authorities to issue high-level safety warnings as the conflict continues to expand across the Gulf.

West Asia War Updates: A tanker has been hit by an "unknown projectile" approximately 23 nautical miles east of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). 

The agency noted in a post on X that the vessel was "at anchor" when the incident occurred. While the strike caused "minor structural damage" to the tanker, the vessel's integrity remained stable.

West Asia War Updates: The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has declared that air navigation has returned to normal across the UAE's airspace, as reported by the WAM news service. This follows the stabilisation of the situation and the lifting of the "temporary precautionary measures" that had been previously implemented. 

According to the authority, the decision to resume standard operations was reached following a "comprehensive assessment of operational and security conditions." This process was conducted in close coordination with relevant authorities to ensure the safety of the region's flight paths.

West Asia War Updates: The commander of the Iranian Navy has issued a stern warning following a fatal incident in the Indian Ocean, stating that the nation's adversaries will encounter "deadly retaliation" after several sailors were killed off the coast of Sri Lanka, according to Iranian state broadcaster Press TV.

Rear Admiral Shahram Irani addressed the loss of life, asserting that Tehran remains committed to responding to the attack. "We will not forget the enemy's crime, and we will exact retribution for the blood of our martyrs," the commander was quoted as saying.

West Asia War Updates: The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has initiated the 57th phase of 'Operation True Promise 4', launching strikes against strategic locations within what it claimed to be "occupied territories" and a primary US air installation in Qatar, as reported by Iranian state broadcaster Press TV. 

Citing a statement from the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, the broadcast noted that the military action was dedicated to Mojtaba, a three-day-old infant killed earlier today. 

The child reportedly died in his mother's arms, alongside his family, during recent hostilities.

West Asia War Updates: Several people, including two teenagers, were wounded in a rocket attack in northern Israel. Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group said it had launched rockets and attack drones targeting the city of Nahariya. 

West Asia War Updates: Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said wars are decided on the battlefield, not on social media, in response to comments by US President Trump.

He also derided the US campaign name “Epic Fury” as better described as “Epic Fear”.

West Asia War Updates: Israeli warplanes conducted a series of dawn strikes across Beirut and southern Lebanon on Tuesday, targeting residential buildings and Hezbollah infrastructure as ground forces pushed further toward the Litani River.

West Asia War Updates: While the IRGC has claimed to have destroyed several U.S. fighter jets across the region using a combination of missiles and drones, these reports are demonstrably false.

In reality, no U.S. fighter aircraft have been struck or lost to Iranian action. On the contrary, U.S. Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps jets continue to maintain total air superiority, demonstrating unmatched lethality during ongoing strike operations throughout Iranian airspace.

West Asia War Updates: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday extended greetings to the people of Iran on the holiday season, expressing hope for the triumph of good over evil amid ongoing regional tensions. 

In a video message shared on X, Netanyahu said, "To the brave people of Iran, I wish you, as I do every year, a happy holiday season, beginning with the Festival of Lights. It signifies the age-old belief of the Iranian people that light will triumph over darkness, that good will triumph over evil."

West Asia War Updates: Iran warned US against deploying troops on its soil, saying it would drag them into a "Quagmire."

Deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said, "Even suggesting that a foreign country can put boots on the ground of another country… is very much wrong, very reckless, illegal."

West Asia War Updates: US Vice-President JD Vance said, “Had I not sent this incredible machine times numerous others to hit iran at midnight with no moon, dead dark, every single bomb was dropped right down the chute that it was supposed to hit. How they do it; who knows? Nobody else can figure. No other country can do it. No other country has our military or even close. And I think we probably proven that with Venezuela…” 

West Asia War Updates: Amid escalating tensions, US President Donald Trump said, “So, China is a great example. They get 91% of their oil from the Hormuz Strait, which we've protected for years. And it always bothered me that we have these countries - Japan gets 95% of its from the straits, the Hormuz Straits - and it always bothered me that we're protecting and we don't need them….”

West Asia War Updates: Rockets and at least five drones were launched at the US embassy in Iraq's Baghdad early on Tuesday from areas around the city, Iraqi security sources said, describing the attack as the most intense since the start of the US-Israel war with Iran.

West Asia War Updates: US President Donald Trump on Monday (local time) said that the ongoing conflict involving Iran would end soon, saying the situation would be "wrapped up" shortly and would ultimately result in a safer world. 

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said that the war could be "wrapped up soon", adding, "It won't be long. And we're going to have a much safer world when it's wrapped up. It'll be wrapped up soon. We're going to have a much safer world. I had an obligation to do this. I didn't want to" Trump said.

West Asia War Updates: A drone attack has once again sparked a fire at an oil tank farm in Fujairah, a UAE emirate on the country’s east coast along the Gulf of Oman. 

No injuries have been reported following the blast.

West Asia War Updates: The General Civil Aviation Authority has announced the temporary and full closure of the United Arab Emirates airspace, Al Jazeera reported. 

As per Al Jazeera, State media said the move was "an exceptional precautionary measure" aimed at ensuring the safety of flights and air crews, as well as safeguarding the UAE's territory. 

Earlier, the UAE's Ministry of Defence stated that it was responding to a new wave of missile and drone attacks launched by Iran, Al Jazeera reported.