Oman
Missile strikes on Tehran fuel depots creates toxic smoke cloud, headed for Central Asia
Missile strikes on fuel storage facilities in and around Tehran on March 8 triggered massive fires and sent toxic smoke across the Iranian capital, raising health concerns for millions of residents, as the cloud drifts towards Central Asia.
Ukraine sends interceptor drones to Jordan
Ukraine has begun deploying its hard-won battlefield expertise in drone warfare beyond Europe, sending its interceptor drones and specialist teams to help defend US military installations in the Middle East as regional tensions escalate.
US running out of explosives due to Tennessee plant bottleneck
The US is running out of munitions for the Iran campaign, reports the Wall Street Journal. The bottleneck isn't the lack of missiles. It's a lack of explosives.
US intelligence reports casts doubts on military strikes toppling Iran’s government
A US intelligence assessment has concluded that even a major American-led military assault on Iran would be unlikely to overthrow the country’s leadership.
Iran turns to China’s BeiDou satellites to outfox Israeli anti-drone electronic warfare defences
Iran dumped reliance on the US GPS satellite network to guide drones and missiles and switched to China’s BeiDou satellite navigation system to neutralise Israel’s electronic warfare defences.
The Straits of Hormuz have closed, but a trickle of tankers still getting through
Iran’s military declared the Straits of Hormuz were shut on March 2 and traffic fell to nearly zero within a day. But it is not at zero. At least five ships have traversed the passage since the blockade began.
BEIRUTER: Hezbollah pushes Lebanon into the path of “Peace by Force”
Lebanon is once again paying the price for being drawn into a regional confrontation. Tehran’s reliance on Hezbollah’s remaining missile arsenal as its own stockpile dwindles has pulled Lebanon deeper into the war and vulnerable to Israel.
BEIRUTER: History is repeating itself in Lebanon
Israel’s latest strikes on Beirut risk repeating the logic of the 1982 invasion of Lebanon — a moment when a single attack gave Israeli leaders the opportunity to escalate a war they were already prepared to fight.
Gulf states ask for Ukrainian interceptor drones as Patriot stocks dwindle
Ukrainian drone manufacturers are preparing to supply interceptor drones to Gulf states seeking cheaper ways to counter Iranian Shahed attacks, as heavy use of US air defence systems in the Middle East raises concerns about missile shortages.
Azerbaijani airspace becomes critical transit route as Gulf conflict disrupts flights
Corridor narrows further when drone attack on Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan airport forced partial airspace closure.
Iran denies striking Turkey, Azerbaijan and Cyprus, says 'false flag'
Iran denies launching strikes against Turkey, Azerbaijan and Cyprus, suggesting the attacks were staged provocations while also accusing the US of seeking to seize Iranian oil resources.
COMMENT: Iran conflict energy shock to dampen eurozone outlook, says Oxford Economics
The escalating conflict involving Iran risks delivering a fresh energy shock to the eurozone, potentially lifting inflation while slightly slowing economic growth, according to Nicola Nobile, chief Italy economist at Oxford Economics.
Dubai has ten days of fresh food left
Dubai has only ten days of fresh food left after the closure of the Straits of Hormuz has cut the United Arab Emirates (UAE) off from all its imports, including food. In Abu Dhabi real estate prices are also collapsing.
"Now it's business, not friendship." Russia ends discounted oil sales to India
Russian President Vladimir Putin told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, “No more Mr Nice Guy. It’s just business now,” after the US softened sanctions on India’s purchase of Russian oil to alleviate a growing supply side squeeze.
Europe looks on in disbelief as US appropriates its weapons for Iran war
European allies are looking on in disbelief and growing concern as the US appropriates weapons they've paid for use in the Operation Epic Fury that started on February 28.
US weighs special forces mission to secure Iran’s enriched uranium programme
The US and Israel are mulling a special forces operations in Iran to secure the country’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium and end its nuclear missile ambitions, Axios reported on March 7
UAE mulls freezing billions of dollars in Tehran’s shadow banking network
As the war in Iran escalates, Tehran's shadow banking sector is coming into focus as a possible weakness that could bring the regime down and quickly halt the conflict.
US targets Iranian desalination plants
The CIA considers drinking water a "strategic commodity" in the Middle East, where countries rely on desalination plants for water supply. Now they are started to be targeted by both the US and Iran.
Iran war sulphur-shortage will have a world-wide impact
With the focus on the halt in exports of oil and gas from the gulf, the disruption in sulphur transport will have major knock on effects. Sulphuric acid is the most widely produced chemical in the world and 44% comes from the Gulf.
Saudi tells Iran to stop attacks, warns of possible retaliation - Reuters
Saudi Arabia has warned Iran that continued attacks on the kingdom or its energy infrastructure could prompt a military response and lead Riyadh to allow US forces to launch operations from Saudi bases.