Israel said on Monday it has drawn up operational plans for at least three more weeks of fighting as its forces carried out overnight strikes across Iran. Meanwhile, Iranian drone attacks briefly halted operations at Dubai airport and struck a major oil facility in the United Arab Emirates.
The conflict involving the United States and Israel against Iran has now entered its third week with no clear resolution in sight. The fighting has also led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route through which about 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments pass, driving up oil prices and fuelling concerns about a fresh surge in global inflation. U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday urged a coalition of nations to help reopen the key shipping corridor and warned that the NATO alliance could face a “very bad” future if members fail to support Washington.
Speaking at a briefing on Monday, Israeli military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani said detailed operational plans are in place for the next three weeks of the war with Iran, with additional strategies mapped out beyond that period.
Israel’s military said its objectives remain focused on weakening Iran’s ability to threaten the country by targeting ballistic missile infrastructure, nuclear facilities and elements of its security apparatus. Shoshani said the goal is to significantly degrade the regime’s capabilities across all parts of its security establishment.
The military, which has mobilised more than 110,000 reservists, added that thousands of potential targets remain inside Iran.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Tehran has neither sought a ceasefire nor exchanged messages with the United States, according to Iran’s semi-official Student News Network.
Strikes across Iran
Iran’s Mehr news agency reported that overnight attacks in Markazi province in central Iran killed five people and injured seven. The strikes reportedly hit a residential area on the outskirts of Arak city and a residential building in Mahallat county.
In Khomeyn city, also in Markazi province, a boys’ school was targeted, causing damage in the surrounding area, although no casualties were reported. Israel’s military said it had carried out air strikes in Tehran, Shiraz and Tabriz against what it described as infrastructure linked to the Iranian regime.
A Tehran resident identified as Shahnaz told Reuters via WhatsApp that internet services had been unavailable overnight. She said she managed to connect through Starlink at a friend’s home but felt cut off from the outside world as the conflict intensified. With the Iranian New Year, Nowruz, approaching on March 20, she said people were not in a celebratory mood and were instead anxious about when the violence would end.
Air raid sirens sounded across Israel after Iranian missiles were launched toward the country. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said their forces targeted areas in Tel Aviv, including air-refuelling support facilities. They also claimed attacks on the U.S. Al-Dhafra air base in Abu Dhabi, a U.S. naval base in Bahrain, and Bahrain’s Sheikh Issa air base.
Disruption to energy and transport
Energy markets faced further disruption after an Iranian drone strike forced the suspension of oil loading operations at the UAE’s Fujairah port.
Located on the Gulf of Oman, Fujairah serves as a key export route for about one million barrels per day of the UAE’s Murban crude, roughly equivalent to 1% of global oil demand.
Flights at Dubai International Airport, one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs, were also suspended for several hours after a drone strike hit a nearby fuel storage facility, sending thick black smoke into the air. Authorities said the fire was brought under control.
Saudi Arabia said its air defences intercepted 34 drones in its eastern region within an hour, though no injuries were reported.
Oil prices rose on Monday, with Brent crude climbing more than 1% to above $104.50 a barrel, highlighting growing economic pressure for Trump as gasoline prices in the United States rise ahead of mid-term elections later this year.
Speaking aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said countries heavily dependent on Gulf oil should help protect the Strait of Hormuz.
Calls for international support
In a social media post over the weekend, Trump suggested that countries including China, France, Japan, South Korea and Britain should join efforts to secure the shipping route.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the United Kingdom would not enter a wider war with Iran but would cooperate with allies to reopen the strategic waterway, acknowledging that doing so would be difficult.
Japan said it had no plans to send naval vessels to the strait. Australia, which earlier said it would deploy a surveillance aircraft and missiles to help defend the UAE against Iranian attacks, added that it would not send its navy.
Germany’s Defence Minister Boris Pistorius also ruled out any German military involvement in the conflict or operations to reopen the strait, saying the war was not Germany’s.
Trump told the Financial Times that he might postpone a planned meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping later this month if Beijing does not help restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
European Union foreign ministers were expected to discuss strengthening a small naval mission in the Middle East, though diplomats said a decision on extending its role to the blocked strait was unlikely for now.
Meanwhile, Israel continued strikes in Lebanon and Gaza targeting militants linked to the Iran-backed groups Hezbollah and Hamas. The Israeli military said its forces had also begun limited ground operations against Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon.
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