UAE briefly halts flights amid Iranian attacks, oil facility hit

2026-03-17 - 06:25

The United Arab Emirates briefly suspended air traffic on Tuesday after missile and drone threats linked to Iran triggered explosions over Dubai, marking a sharp escalation in regional tensions. Authorities confirmed that the temporary closure of UAE airspace was a precautionary measure as the military responded to incoming threats. Flights resumed shortly after, with officials stating that the situation had stabilized. However, residents in Dubai later received missile warning alerts, underscoring the continuing volatility, dw.com reports. In a separate incident, a drone strike ignited a fire at an oil storage facility in Fujairah along the Gulf of Oman coast. No casualties were reported, but the attack highlighted the growing risks to critical energy infrastructure in the region. The developments come amid intensifying conflict following US and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets, alongside Israeli operations against Iran-backed militants in Lebanon. Against this backdrop, Donald Trump has called on multiple countries to deploy warships to secure the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil transit route. He urged swift and “enthusiastic” participation, warning that failure to act could endanger global energy supplies and strain alliances. Despite the appeal, several European nations have shown reluctance to join the effort. Germany, among others, indicated that the conflict does not fall under NATO’s mandate, raising questions about the scope of international involvement. As military tensions rise and diplomatic divisions deepen, concerns are mounting over potential disruptions to global trade and energy markets, with the Strait of Hormuz once again at the center of geopolitical risk.