Iran war day 3: Trump says Iran operation could last weeks; Israel begins new wave of attacks in Tehran

03/03/26 00:18

Canada’s defence minister defends Ottawa’s backing of air strikes

-Steven Chase

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Iran’s deceased leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was “a force for evil,” Defence Minister David McGuinty said Tuesday as he defended the Liberal government’s decision to back U.S. and Israeli air strikes on Iran.

Mr. Khamenei, 86, was killed in U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran Saturday.

Prime Minister Carney’s government issued a strong statement in support of the Saturday attacks only hours after air strikes began, saying Tehran is the main source of instability in the Middle East and must never be allowed to possess nuclear weapons.

Speaking to reporters in Sydney during Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to Australia, Mr. McGuinty said Canada’s position toward Iran has been toughening for years.

In 2012, former prime minister Stephen Harper cut off formal diplomatic ties with Tehran and shuttered its embassy there. Justin Trudeau became a vocal and persistent critic of Iran’s 2020 shooting down of a jet filled with Canadian citizens and residents and its failure to account for its actions.

“The government of Canada has been very clear about its position on Iran for some time,” Mr. McGuinty said, noting in 2024 Ottawa designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist entity. He said Canada has been “following very carefully the kinds of human rights abuses, the terror inflicted upon the population in Iran, the suffering of women, in particular in Iran.”

Mr. McGuinty said Canada is well aware of Tehran’s support for terror groups. “We know where funding and financing has been coming from. We know the extent of the involvement of the Iranian regime in, for example, organized criminal syndicates.”

At the same time Mr. McGuinty was careful to distance Canada from the military operations in the Middle East, saying Canada’s armed forces “were not involved in the preparation, nor the execution of that particular decision by the Israelis and the Americans to attack.”

Read the full story here

03/02/26 23:28

Israeli air strikes hit Beirut after Hezbollah targets air base

Israeli airstrikes hit the Lebanese capital Tuesday morning.

The Israeli military said it was targeting “Hezbollah command centers and weapons storage facilities in Beirut.”

Hezbollah also said it launched drones targeting an Israeli air base.

- The Associated Press

03/02/26 22:53

Netanyahu claims Iran was rebuilding to make ‘atomic bomb program immune’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is defending the decision to go to war with Iran alongside the United States.

Netanyahu, speaking on Fox News Channel’s Hannity, contended that Iran was rebuilding “new sites, new places” that would make “their ballistic missile program and their atomic bomb program immune within months.”

He did not offer evidence to support his claim.

Satellite photos analyzed by The Associated Press showed limited activity at two nuclear sites in Iran before the war, with analysts saying it was likely Tehran was trying to assess damage from American strikes in June and possibly salvage what remained there.

“We had to take the action now and we did,” Netanyahu said. “Otherwise the Iranian mass murder regime would have immunity from future action.”

Echoing a Trump administration point, he repeated that the war would create the conditions for the Iranian people to form a democratic government.

However, there’s been no sign of any mass uprising against Iran’s theocracy since the war started.

- The Associated Press

03/02/26 21:55

Satellite imagery shows apparent attack on Iranian nuclear site: report

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Commercial satellite imagery has captured what appear to be the first known strikes on an Iranian nuclear site since the start of the U.S.-Israeli air operation, an independent policy institute said Monday.

The Institute for Science and International Security said imagery produced by Colorado-based Vantor showed two strikes on access points to the underground uranium enrichment plant at Natanz, which was hit by the United States in June, 2025.

David Albright, a former UN nuclear inspector and founder of the institute, said the strikes appeared to have occurred between Sunday afternoon and Monday morning local time, based on the satellite imagery his group reviewed.

He could not identify which military hit the Natanz complex, one of the main facilities of Iran’s nuclear program.

Albright’s findings appeared to corroborate an earlier statement by Reza Najafi, Iran’s envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency, that Natanz was hit Sunday.

– Reuters

03/02/26 21:48

Netanyahu says this is ‘not an endless war’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that the United States and Israel’s war against Iran will not be endless, and that it will involve quick and decisive action.

“This is not an endless war, this is the gateway to peace,” Netanayahu said on Fox News’ Hannity program.

He rejected the idea of the conflict lasting years, like previous wars in the region.

Asked if he saw a lasting path to peace in the Middle East, Netanyahu replied, “Yes, I do.”

- Reuters

03/02/26 21:39

Gold and oil on the rise again

Gold prices rose for a fifth consecutive session early Tuesday, as investors sought safe havens amid the escalating U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict.

Spot gold was up 1 per cent at US$5,377.21 an ounce, as of 1:22 a.m. GMT (8:22 p.m. ET Monday). In the previous session, bullion climbed to its highest point in more than four weeks.

The U.S. dollar hovered close to a more than five-week high reached on Monday, supported by firm demand and cautious market sentiment.

Spot silver rose 1.4 per cent to US$90.67 an ounce on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, oil prices rose for a third day as the widening conflict and threats to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz heightened fears of supply disruptions from the key Middle East producing region.

Brent crude futures were at US$78.83 a barrel, up US$1.10, or 1.4 per cent, by 1:07 a.m. GMT (8:07 p.m. ET).U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude jumped 74 US cents, or 1 per cent, to US$71.97 a barrel.

- Reuters

03/02/26 20:42

Australia says Iranian drones struck military facility in UAE

Iranian drones struck an Australian military facility in the United Arab Emirates, but there were no injuries, Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles said.

On the first night of the U.S.-Iran-Israel conflict, the drones struck the Al Minhad Air Base, Marles said Tuesday. The base serves as a logistics hub for Australia’s Middle East operations near Dubai.

“We have a number of Australians who operate from a headquarters that we’ve had at Al Minhad now for many, many years,” Marles told Seven Network television.

“They are all accounted for, they are all safe. We’ve got north of 100 serving personnel actually across the Middle East in a range of countries, but most are in the UAE and that base is very important for us,” he added.

Associated Press journalists have heard multiple explosions near Al Minhad during the war, as well as many aerial interceptions.

– The Associated Press

03/02/26 20:33

Canadians may pay more for gas, but oil glut could curb war-driven price hikes

- Mariya Postelnyak

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Canadians could pay as much as six cents more a litre at the gas pumps this week after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, though an oversupply of oil will likely provide a buffer from the worst price shocks, analysts say.

While Canada is a net exporter of energy, growing tensions across the Middle East are hitting commodity markets and hiking the price of heavy crude, the raw material refined to create gasoline and diesel.

The price of regular gas across Canadian provinces hovered at around $1.43 on average Monday, according to data from En-Pro, up roughly four cents from the previous week.

Still, “with respect to what we paid a year ago,” the prices are “fairly low,” said Normand Mousseau, scientific director of the Trottier Energy Institute at Polytechnique Montréal.

But that’s the view for the short term. If the Middle East conflict continues well into the spring, experts say, consumers should expect higher prices for other goods and services, and gas as well.

Read the full story here.

03/02/26 20:11

Iran detains at least 6 Americans, raising concerns for thousands of others

Iran is detaining at least six U.S. citizens or permanent residents, according to detainee advocates, raising fears they and thousands of Americans believed trapped in the country could be used as bargaining chips in the escalating war with the United States and Israel.

The detainees are among what some experts estimate are possibly thousands of dual U.S.-Iranian nationals and green-card holders who have remained in Iran despite repeated U.S. warnings not to travel there because of the threat of arrest.

“The regime’s history of seeking to leverage Americans for political aims is long established,” said Ryan Fayhee, a board member of the Foley Foundation advocacy group. “I would have to imagine that any American is potentially at risk.”

“There are hundreds, if not thousands, if not more, of dual nationals that are back there that still have familial ties despite the risks,” said Kieran Ramsey, a former FBI assistant director now with the Global Reach advocacy group.

Iran does not recognize dual citizenship, meaning that other governments cannot provide diplomatic protection or consular services to their citizens who also hold Iranian nationality.

– Reuters

03/02/26 19:50

Gulf states say they will retaliate if Iran continues attacks

– Melanie Swan

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The Gulf Cooperation Council states have warned that they will take “all necessary measures” to counter Iranian aggression as drone and missile attacks continue to hit the tiny countries, increasing the risk of an all-out regional war in the Persian Gulf.

On Monday, a joint statement from the body, which represents Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman, said they will do whatever they must to defend their security and territories, reserving the right to respond to what they described as “heinous” and “treacherous Iranian attacks.”

The countries, located across the narrow Persian Gulf waters from Iran, had previously said they would not allow their territories to be used for attacks against Iran.

Home to millions of expatriates from all over the world, they value their reputations as havens of stability in a turbulent region and have so far held back from attacking Iran. But as the U.S.-Iran-Israel war continues, and Iran strikes at critical infrastructure and energy-export facilities in the Gulf states, they risk entering the conflict.

Read the full story here.

03/02/26 19:34

Drone strike targets U.S. embassy in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia said early Tuesday that the U.S. embassy in Riyadh came under attack from two drones, which caused a “limited fire” and minor damage.

A loud blast was heard and flames were seen at the embassy early Tuesday morning, three people familiar with the matter said, with one person describing the fire as minor.

Two of the people described black smoke rising over Riyadh’s diplomatic quarter, which houses foreign missions.

– The Associated Press and Reuters

03/02/26 19:32

How the Iran war could affect your wallet

From shuttered airports to rising oil prices and volatile stock markets, the global economy is feeling ripple effects after the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran, and Iran retaliated on targets across the Middle East.

Here are the main ways the recent military conflict – and the risk of a prolonged standoff – could affect Canadian consumers and investors.

Read the full story about how the Iran war could affect your wallet.

03/02/26 19:29

More Israeli strikes hit Beirut, including TV studio

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Israeli military struck a building housing the studios of broadcaster Al-Manar in Beirut’s southern suburbs after an evacuation warning, the channel said, while Israel said it targeted “Hezbollah command centers and weapons storage facilities in Beirut.”

Plumes of smoke were seen billowing over the skyline. No immediate details on casualties were available.

The strike followed Hezbollah missile and drone attacks on northern Israel shortly after midnight Sunday, prompting waves of Israeli air strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs and southern Lebanon, which killed at least 52 people and wounded 154, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry.

In a statement early Tuesday, Hezbollah said that “confrontation is a legitimate right,” describing its firing of rockets toward Israel as “a reaction to the aggression.” It said it had repeatedly warned that Israeli attacks “could not continue without a response.”

– The Associated Press

03/02/26 19:24

Canadian stuck in Dubai calls on Ottawa to do more

– Jill Mahoney

Airspace closings upended Omer Khan’s plans to fly home from Dubai to Toronto. He hasn’t seen his wife and three young children since mid-January.

Khan arrived at the Dubai airport for his flight early Sunday, but was instead greeted by chaos as the facility was being evacuated. He hasn’t been able to reach Emirates since to rebook his flight.

A Canadian citizen who grew up in Saudi Arabia, Khan said he registered with Global Affairs Canada and was “a little bit surprised” the federal government is not helping Canadians leave the region. He called on Ottawa to prepare evacuation plans if commercial flights do not resume soon.

“I do hope that if it comes to that, they’re able to assist me more,” said Khan, a 40-year-old banker. “They definitely should have a contingency plan if things escalate.”

Read more about flight cancellations and airspace closings.

03/02/26 19:05

Rubio says U.S. would not intentionally target school after UNESCO condemns air strike

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States “would not deliberately target a school” after Iranian state media reported more than 160 were killed in a strike on a girls’ elementary school on the first day of the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran.

The reported strike in the town of Minab in southern Iran on Saturday is the deadliest incident in the conflict so far.

United Nations culture and education agency UNESCO and Nobel Peace Prize-winning education activist Malala Yousafzai have condemned the incident. Deliberately attacking an educational institution, hospital or other civilian structure is a war crime under international humanitarian law.

“The Department of War would be investigating that if that was our strike, and I would refer your question to them,” Mr. Rubio told reporters on Monday.

The Pentagon and the U.S. Central Command did not respond to a request for comment. Over the weekend, Central Command told media outlets it was “looking into” reports of “civilian harm resulting from ongoing military operations.”

– Reuters

03/02/26 17:57

How many people have been killed in the conflict so far?

At least 555 people have been killed in Iran so far by the U.S.-Israeli campaign, the Iranian Red Crescent Society said, and more than 130 cities across the country have come under attack.

In Israel, 11 people have been killed, along with 31 in Lebanon, according to authorities.

The U.S. military announced Monday that two previously unaccounted-for service members were confirmed dead, bringing the total number of American casualties during the operations against Iran to six.

– The Associated Press

03/02/26 17:50

Analysis: Trump’s promises to avoid foreign wars meet the reality of office

– David Shribman

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So much for that Nobel Peace Prize.

Unless, of course, the following argument – being mobilized by the Trump administration – starts gaining traction: that it is Donald Trump’s two military operations against Iran that will secure the regional and global peace for which the world has yearned.

The President, who has never done any military service, has taken pains to portray himself as something of a modern-day peacenik. He opposed George W. Bush’s war in Iraq, portrayed Barack Obama as trigger-happy in his willingness to launch hostilities against Libya, and ran for president three times as an anti-war candidate.

He abandoned the Mahatma Gandhi persona over the weekend and by Monday was speaking in the argot of General George S. Patton.

Speaking at the White House, the President said American air strikes were “destroying Iran’s missile capability, and we’re doing that hourly.” He said U.S. forces were “annihilating their navy,” adding that the goal was to assure that Iran’s “sick and sinister regime” wouldn’t be able to obtain nuclear weapons or spread terror in the Middle East.

Read the full analysis of Trump’s actions in Iran here.

03/02/26 17:18

Conflict puts Iran’s FIFA World Cup spot in doubt

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Iran’s place at the men’s World Cup in three months’ time was put in doubt Monday amid an escalating Middle East conflict sparked by the soccer tournament’s co-host the United States.

Iran is due to play its three group stage games in the U.S. – two in Inglewood, Calif., then in Seattle – from June 15-26.

The U.S. and Israel’s co-ordinated attacks provoked an Iranian response that aimed missiles at U.S. allies including 2022 World Cup host Qatar and Saudi Arabia, which FIFA has picked to stage the 2034 edition.

“What is certain is that after this attack, we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope,” said Iran’s top soccer official Mehdi Taj, a vice-president of the Asian Football Confederation.

It is unclear if the state-backed Iranian soccer federation could refuse to send its team to the 48-nation tournament that starts June 11, or the U.S. government could effectively block the team.

FIFA has declined comment since Saturday, when secretary-general Mattias Grafström said it would “monitor developments around all issues around the world.”

Read more about how the conflict could impact the World Cup here.

- The Associated Press

03/02/26 17:06

U.S. urges citizens to immediately leave more than a dozen Middle Eastern countries

The U.S. Department of State on Monday called on Americans to immediately depart more than a dozen countries in the Middle East amid U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran.

Americans were urged to depart using commercial means from Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen, according to Mora Namdar, the department’s assistant secretary of state for consular affairs.

– Reuters

03/02/26 17:04

S&P/TSX hits record high as conflict buoys oil prices

Canada’s energy-linked main stock index rose to a record high Monday, led by energy shares as oil prices rose after the weekend’s attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel.

Stocks were also helped by upbeat domestic manufacturing-sector data. The S&P/TSX Composite Index rose 201.28 points, or 0.6 per cent, at 34,541.27, surpassing the record close posted Thursday.

Oil and gas prices surged, the U.S. dollar gained and some major stock indexes around the world fell as the U.S.-Israeli air war against Iran widened. The conflict appeared set to last for weeks, threatening to upend global economic growth and perhaps reignite inflation.

The energy sector, which has a roughly 18-per-cent weighting on the TSX, gained 1.8 per cent to reach its highest level since September, 2008.

“When we see the markets react to something like Iran, it’s not always a bad thing for Canadian investors because our market is so leveraged to oil,” said Philip Petursson, chief investment strategist at IG Wealth Management.

U.S. crude oil futures settled 6.3 per cent higher at US$71.23 a barrel.

– Reuters

03/02/26 17:00

Israel to reopen Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza as fuel runs low

Israeli government agency COGAT said it will reopen the Kerem Shalom crossing starting Tuesday for the gradual entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.

The agency had said Saturday that crossings into the Gaza Strip, vital for the delivery of humanitarian aid and the movement of patients needing medical evacuation, were closed as Israeli and U.S. forces attacked Iran.

Gaza is rapidly running out of its limited fuel supply and stocks of food staples may become tight, officials say.

The strip is wholly dependent on fuel brought in by trucks from Israel and Egypt and a lack of fresh supplies would put hospital operations at risk and threaten water and sanitation services, local officials say. Most Palestinians in Gaza are internally displaced after Israel’s two-year war with Hamas militants.

“I expect we have maybe a couple of days’ running time,” said Karuna Herrmann, the Jerusalem director of the United Nations Office for Project Services, which manages fuel distribution in Gaza.

Israeli authorities previously said the crossings could not be operated safely during war.

– Reuters

03/02/26 16:51

Israel announces new wave of strikes on Tehran, says it has targeted state broadcaster

The Israeli military said late Monday it has begun a new wave of strikes on Tehran and targeted Iran’s state broadcaster.

The strikes started after Israel issued an evacuation warning for residents in the city, particularly those residing near the headquarters of state broadcaster IRIB.

Iranian media reported that two explosions have been heard in the area of IRIB headquarters.

- Reuters

03/02/26 16:31

Rubio says U.S. will take action to mitigate spiking oil prices

The United States will take action to mitigate rising energy prices resulting from a spike in the price of oil caused by the Iran conflict, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said today.

Speaking to reporters at Capitol Hill, Mr. Rubio said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Energy Secretary Chris Wright would announce the plans Tuesday.

“Starting tomorrow, you will see us rolling out those phases to try to mitigate against that. … We anticipated this could be an issue,” Mr. Rubio said.

Oil and gas prices surged today after Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran and retaliation by Tehran, which forced shutdowns of oil and gas facilities across the region and disrupted shipping in the crucial Strait of Hormuz.

– Reuters

03/02/26 16:24

Total of 6 U.S. troops killed in Iran conflict, Central Command says

The U.S. Central Command said today that a total of six American service members have been killed in the conflict with Iran.

- Reuters

03/02/26 16:19

Melania Trump presides at UN Security Council meeting on children in conflict

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U.S. first lady Melania Trump presided over a UN Security Council meeting today focusing on children in conflict, one of her signature issues, and acknowledged she was doing so at “challenging times” as the United States has joined Israel in attacking Iran.

“The U.S. stands with all of the children throughout the world,” she said, making clear she was speaking generally and not about the new war in the Middle East. “I hope soon peace will be yours.”

Hanging over today’s meeting was what Iranian state media reported as an air strike that hit a girls’ school in southern Iran, killing at least 165 people and wounding dozens more. The Israeli military said it was not aware of strikes in the area. The U.S. military said it was looking into the reports.

Shortly before today’s session began, Iran’s ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, said it was “deeply shameful and hypocritical” for the U.S. to convene a meeting on protecting children during conflict while launching air strikes on Iranian cities.

“For the United States, ‘protecting children’ and ‘maintaining international peace and security’ clearly mean something very different from what the UN Charter provides,” he told reporters.

Ms. Trump is the first spouse of a world leader to take the president’s seat at the United Nations’ most powerful body, which is charged with ensuring global peace and security, according to the UN.

– The Associated Press

03/02/26 16:04

IRGC commander says Strait of Hormuz closed, warns ships trying to pass will be set on fire

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Iran’s Revolutionary Guard commander says the Strait of Hormuz is closed and any ship trying to pass will be set on fire, Iranian media report.

The announcement was made after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in an Israeli strike. The move to close the strait between Iran and Oman threatens to choke a fifth of global oil flows and potentially send crude prices sharply higher.

Maritime insurers have ceased voyages through the strait as Iran retaliated against U.S. and Israeli strikes.

Container ships account for roughly 100 of the 750 ships currently backed up around the strait, according to Jeremy Nixon, chief executive officer of container carrier Ocean Network Express.

“About 10 per cent of the container ship global fleet is caught up in this,” Mr. Nixon said at a container shipping industry conference in Long Beach, Calif.

– Reuters

03/02/26 15:42

Alberta’s premier says war in Iran highlights need for new pipeline

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Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says the war in Iran underscores the need for a new pipeline connecting her province’s oil reserves to the West Coast.

Ms. Smith said any disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil choke point at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, only emphasizes the need for infrastructure that could bring her province’s pivotal export to Pacific shipping lanes.

She said if the uncertainty continues, it demonstrates that the world and Canada’s trading partners need a stable source of supply.

Depending on how much market volatility is to come with one month left in Alberta’s current fiscal year, Ms. Smith says her government’s expected $4.1-billion deficit could shrink.

Last week, her United Conservatives projected a $9.4-billion deficit for the coming year based largely on sluggish oil prices.

– The Canadian Press

03/02/26 15:17

Are you a Canadian traveller affected by what’s happening in the Middle East?

Are you a tourist or business traveller whose plans have been affected by the conflict in the Middle East? Have you been dealing with travel delays or suspended flights? Share your story below for a future Globe story, or e-mail audience@globeandmail.com. If you’d like to submit a photo, use this link.

03/02/26 15:06

Image of missile trails over Tel Aviv is AI-generated

– Patrick Dell

An AI-generated image showing missile trails over Tel Aviv has been seen hundreds of thousands of times on platforms such as X, Facebook and Threads.

The Hive AI content detector indicated the image was made using Google’s Gemini system.

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A reverse image search using TinEye also shows the image is not new, with it first appearing online in mid-2025 when Iran was launching missiles at Israel after strikes on its nuclear program.

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03/02/26 15:04

EU president backs Lebanon’s decision to end Hezbollah military activities

European Council president António Costa said he welcomed the Lebanese government’s decision to end Hezbollah’s military activities and its demand that those responsible for firing at Israel be brought to justice.

“It is now important for Israel and Lebanon to resume security coordination, so the Lebanese Armed Forces can disarm Hezbollah and ensure the security of all Lebanese people,” Mr. Costa said in a post on X, after he spoke with Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun.

In a separate post, Mr. Costa said he spoke to Cyprus’ President Nikos Christodoulides to convey the European Union’s support after an Iranian Shahed drone, most likely fired by the Iran-backed Hezbollah, hit a British military base on the island.

Mr. Costa also expressed “appreciation” toward Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis for Greece’s military support provided to Cyprus.

– Reuters

03/02/26 14:41

Iranian drones buzz across the Persian Gulf after their pivotal use by Russia in Ukraine

The distinctive buzz of Iranian-designed Shahed drones has become a familiar sound in Ukraine over the past four years. Now, it’s heard across the Persian Gulf as Tehran strikes back with the cheap but effective weapons.

The Shahed drones have made a transformative impact on modern warfare, with Russia sending swarms of the deadly weapons into the skies above Ukraine on nightly missions.

While ballistic and cruise missiles fly much faster and pack a bigger punch, they cost millions and are available only in limited quantities. A Shahed drone costs only tens of thousands of dollars — a tiny fraction of a ballistic missile.

Available in large quantities, the drones have shown their capability to oversaturate air defences and inflict painful damage at a very low cost.

Officials in Dubai said Sunday that air defences had dealt with 165 ballistic missiles, two cruise missiles and more than 540 Iranian drones over two days. While officials said they intercepted all air attacks Saturday, debris from the knocked-down weapons sparked blazes at some of the city’s most iconic locations.

Some Iranian drones flew as far as a British military base in Cyprus, when the runway at the Royal Air Force base in Akrotiri was struck Sunday, according to British officials, and sirens blared there again Monday when two more drones heading toward the base were intercepted.

Many observers noted the U.S. and its allies could tap the experience that Ukraine gained in dealing with Russian drone attacks.

“Our military must do more ASAP to institutionalize defensive lessons from Ukraine,” said Dara Massicot, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment, posting on X.

– The Associated Press

03/02/26 14:27

Air Canada stops flights to parts of the region, trying to fly back stranded crew

– Eric Atkins

Air Canada has suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv and Dubai until March 23.

“If you are in either of these regions, please do not head to the airport,” Air Canada said on its website on Monday. “Your safety is our top priority.” The airline said on Sunday it planned to resume flights to Israel on March 8 and Dubai flights on March 5.

Air Canada also said it is trying to fly back crew members stranded in Tel Aviv and Dubai. The 14-member crew in Dubai were scheduled to fly home to Toronto on Saturday, but that flight was cancelled.

“They are safe and we are working to bring them home,” said the airline’s spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick. All but two crew members on layover in Tel Aviv have left Israel. The two remaining behind are in a “safe location,” he said, declining to provide details because of safety concerns. “We have also been in contact with members of our global sales team based in the region to confirm that they too are safe.”

Qatar Airways, meanwhile, said its Toronto-to-Doha route remains suspended. “Qatar Airways will resume operations once the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority announces the safe reopening of Qatari airspace,” the airline told The Globe and Mail.

Emirates began a small number of flights on Monday night, local time, in the Gulf region but warned customers most flights were halted and the schedule could change on a moment’s notice.

A small number of flights operated by regional carriers appeared to be operating, according to flight tracking website Flightradar24, including Kuwait Airways and flydubai.

03/02/26 14:21

Spain says joint U.S. bases were not used in attack on Iran

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called the U.S. attack an “unjustifiable” and “dangerous” military intervention.

The country’s Defence Minister, Margarita Robles, also said, “No assistance of any kind, absolutely none,” had been provided from the Rota and Morón bases in southern Spain, which are shared with the U.S. but remain under Spanish command.

“There is a deal with the U.S. over these bases, but our understanding of the deal is that operations have to comply with international legal frameworks and that there has to be international support for them,” Ms. Robles said.

The U.S. and Israel were acting “unilaterally without the support of an international resolution,” she said.

Flight map data from Flightadar24 showed that several U.S. military aircraft had left the bases in southern Spain since the weekend attack, including nine tankers that departed Sunday from Morón for Germany.

– The Associated Press

03/02/26 13:38

Police investigating after shots fired at Ontario gym displaying Iranian flags

York regional police say they are investigating after multiple shots were fired at a building in Thornhill, Ont., that houses a boxing gym displaying prerevolutionary Iranian flags.

Police would not say which business was targeted, but several videos and photos posted on social media show the shattered front window of Saliwan Plus boxing gym.

Iranian flags were displayed in the window and the front of the business.

The incident occurred after thousands of Iranian Canadians rallied in nearby Richmond Hill, Ont., on Saturday in support of a regime change in Iran.

York police say patrols will continue to be deployed in the area, including near faith-based institutions, community centres, schools and other public gathering places, with the goal of deterring any potential criminal or hate-motivated activity prompted by the conflict.

– The Canadian Press

03/02/26 13:30

What to know about the Strait of Hormuz

Oil prices jumped Monday as the widening war in Iran disrupted tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting how important the passageway is to the world’s oil supply.

The Strait of Hormuz is the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which about a fifth of the world’s oil passes. Tankers travelling through the strait, which is bordered in the north by Iran, carry oil and gas from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Iran.

Any disruption to traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is highly disruptive to the oil trade.

Critical choke point

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps bases

Maritime

boundary

Tehran

IRAN

Bandar-e-Abbas

Larak Island

Bahrain:

HQ of U.S.

5th Fleet

Qeshm

Deepwater

shipping lane

IRAQ

IRAN

KUW.

OMAN

SAUDI

ARABIA

Strait of

Hormuz

U.A.E

Sirri

OMAN

Abu

Musa*

Jask

IRAN

U.A.E

Persian Gulf

Fujairah

Abu

Dhabi

UNITED

ARAB

EMIRATES

Shipping lanes are

2,700m wide, separated

by buffer zone

OMAN

40 km

*Occupied by Iran, claimed by U.A.E.

the globe and mail, Source: graphic news; iran

international; reuters

Critical choke point

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps bases

Maritime

boundary

Tehran

IRAN

Bandar-e-Abbas

Larak Island

Bahrain:

HQ of U.S.

5th Fleet

Qeshm

Deepwater

shipping lane

IRAQ

IRAN

KUW.

IRAN

SAUDI

ARABIA

Strait of

Hormuz

U.A.E

Sirri

OMAN

Abu

Musa*

Jask

IRAN

U.A.E

Persian Gulf

Fujairah

Abu

Dhabi

UNITED

ARAB

EMIRATES

Shipping lanes are

2,700m wide, separated

by buffer zone

OMAN

40 km

*Occupied by Iran, claimed by U.A.E.

the globe and mail, Source: graphic news; iran

international; reuters

Critical choke point

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps naval bases

Tehran

Maritime

boundary

Bandar-e-Abbas

Larak Island

IRAN

Qeshm

Deepwater

shipping lane

Bahrain:

HQ of U.S.

5th Fleet

IRAQ

IRAN

KUW.

SAUDI

ARABIA

Strait of

Hormuz

U.A.E

Sirri

OMAN

Abu

Musa*

Jask

IRAN

U.A.E

Persian Gulf

Fujairah

Abu

Dhabi

UNITED

ARAB

EMIRATES

Shipping lanes are

2,700m wide, separated

by buffer zone

OMAN

40 km

*Occupied by Iran, claimed by U.A.E.

the globe and mail, Source: graphic news; iran international; reuters

Here’s what to know about the strait.

A key waterway for global shipping

The Strait of Hormuz is a bending waterway, about 33-kilometres wide at its narrowest point. It connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman. From there, ships can then travel to the rest of the world. While Iran and Oman have their territorial waters in the strait, it’s viewed as an international waterway.

The strait long has been important for trade

The Strait of Hormuz has been historically important for trade, with ceramics, ivory, silk and textiles moving from China through the region. In the modern era, it is the route for supertankers carrying oil and gas, most of which goes to markets in Asia, including Iran’s only remaining oil customer, China.

While there are pipelines in Saudi Arabia and the UAE that can avoid the passage, the U.S. Energy Information Administration says, “most volumes that transit the strait have no alternative means of exiting the region.”

Is the strait closed?

The strait is not officially closed, but tanker traffic has dropped sharply as satellite navigation systems were disrupted, data and analytics firm Kpler said on X on Sunday. The U.K. Maritime Trade Operations Centre reported attacks on several vessels in the area on either side of the strait and warned of elevated electronic interference to systems that show where ships are.

A bomb-carrying drone boat struck a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman, which leads into the strait from the east, killing one mariner, Oman said.

Iran has been threatening vessels approaching the Strait of Hormuz and is believed to have launched multiple attacks.

– The Associated Press

03/02/26 13:06

Prediction market bets on Iran strikes stoke insider trading, ethics scrutiny

Bets on the potential death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have cast fresh scrutiny on prediction markets such as Polymarket and Kalshi, and sparked threats from U.S. lawmakers to outlaw the controversial fast-growing wagers.

According to a Reuters review of Polymarket’s website, US$529-million was laid on a series of contracts tied to the timing of attacks, and US$150-million was bet on two “Khamenei out” contracts on the removal of Khamenei as Supreme Leader. Analytics firm Bubblemaps said on X that six accounts made a US$1.2-million profit from Polymarket bets funded in the hours before Saturday’s raids. Rival Kalshi also ran a market on “Khamenei out.”

“It’s insane this is legal ... I’m introducing legislation ASAP to ban this,” Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said on X on Sunday in response to Bubblemaps’ post.

California Congressman Mike Levin, a Democrat, also took to X on Saturday to flag a Polymarket bet placed shortly before the Iran strikes.

“Prediction markets cannot be a vehicle for profiting off advance knowledge of military action. We need answers, transparency, and oversight,” he wrote.

Read the full story.

– Reuters

03/02/26 13:01

NATO’s Rutte praises military action against Iran but says alliance won’t be involved

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Monday praised U.S. and Israeli military action against Iran, saying it was degrading Tehran’s ability to get its hands on nuclear and ballistic missile capability, but he said NATO itself would not be involved.

“It’s really important what the U.S. is doing here, together with Israel, because it is taking out, degrading the capacity of Iran to get its hands on nuclear capability, the ballistic missile capability,” he told Germany’s ARD television in Brussels.

He added that there were “absolutely no plans” for NATO members to be involved, “other than individual allies doing what they can to enable what the Americans are doing together with Israel.”

03/02/26 12:42

Pakistan deploys troops and imposes curfew after deadly protests over Iran strikes

Pakistani authorities deployed troops and imposed a three-day curfew before dawn Monday in the northern cities of Gilgit and Skardu after several people died and dozens were injured in violent protests after the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, officials said.

Thousands of Shiite demonstrators on Sunday attacked the offices of the UN Military Observer Group, which monitors the ceasefire along the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir, and the UN Development Program in Skardu city. Protesters also burned a police station and damaged a school and the offices of a local charity in Gilgit, according to officials. At least 12 people were killed and 80 others injured, said police in the Gilgit-Baltistan region.

Meanwhile, Shabir Mir, a Gilgit-Baltistan government spokesperson, said Monday the situation was under control and that the curfew would remain in place until Wednesday. Police chief Akbar Nasir Khan urged residents to stay indoors, citing “deteriorating law and order conditions.”

Demonstrators in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi stormed the U.S. Consulate on Sunday, smashing windows and attempting to burn the building. Police responded with batons, tear gas and gunfire, leaving 10 people dead and more than 50 injured.

One person was also killed in clashes in Islamabad during an attempted march by Pakistan’s minority Shiites toward the U.S. Embassy. They were protesting in support of Iran, which is majority Shiite.

On Monday, the U.S. diplomatic mission in Pakistan said its consulate in northwestern Peshawar city would close temporarily, while the embassy in Islamabad would continue providing all routine and emergency consular services for U.S. citizens.

– The Associated Press

03/02/26 12:31

Trump says Starmer took far too long to allow U.S. use of British air bases in Iran operations

Britain took far too long to let the United States use its air bases in operations against Iran, U.S. President Donald Trump told the Daily Telegraph, adding he was disappointed in British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s approach to the vital Diego Garcia naval and air base.

Britain did not let the U.S. use joint bases for Washington’s initial air strikes against Iran, but on Sunday evening Mr. Starmer said he was accepting a U.S. request for their use in any “defensive” strikes against Iranian targets.

In an interview published on Monday, Mr. Trump said Mr. Starmer appeared to be “worried about the legality” of the strikes.

“That’s probably never happened between our countries before,” Mr. Trump said of the disagreement, adding Mr. Starmer’s shift in stance took “far too much time”.

Mr. Trump said Mr. Starmer should have immediately approved the American use of Diego Garcia - a strategically important U.K.-U.S. base in the Indian Ocean - saying Iran was responsible for killing “a lot of people from your country.”

– Reuters

03/02/26 12:21

Established U.S.-Iran diplomatic channel remains open, Switzerland says

Switzerland said that its diplomatic channel between the United States and Iran has remained active since the war began on Feb. 28.

“It is available to both parties and operates in both directions,” the Swiss foreign ministry said in an e-mail to Reuters, without providing details.

Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution when Washington and Tehran cut ties, Switzerland has had a mandate of a neutral “protecting power” representing U.S. diplomatic interests in Iran.

The foreign ministry said that all its embassies in the region remained operational and that it is offering support to its nationals there seeking assistance.

– Reuters

03/02/26 12:16

Trump says U.S. campaign could last four to five weeks

– Adrian Morrow

Open this photo in gallery:

U.S. President Donald Trump says the attack on Iran was planned to last “four to five weeks” but could go “far longer.”

In his first public appearance since launching Operation Epic Fury on Saturday, Mr. Trump also outlined four U.S. goals for the war: destroying Iran’s missile capabilities, sinking its navy, ensuring it does not obtain a nuclear weapon, and stopping it from arming and funding proxy groups in the region.

“Today, the United States military continues to carry out large-scale combat operations in Iran to eliminate the grave threats posed to America by this terrible terrorist regime,” the President said Monday at the White House, as he hosted a Medal of Honor ceremony for U.S. military personnel.

Read more here.

03/02/26 12:00

Fuel tanker burning in vital shipping lane after drone strike, Iran says

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said a fuel tanker was burning in the Strait of Hormuz after being hit by two drones, Iranian news agencies reported.

The strait is one of the world’s most vital oil export routes, connecting the biggest Gulf oil producers, such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates, with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.

– Reuters

03/02/26 11:54

Turkey’s Erdogan tells NATO’s Rutte diplomacy needed for regional peace

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in a phone call that diplomacy must be given an opportunity to achieve lasting and sustainable peace in the Middle East.

In a statement, the presidency added that Mr. Erdogan told Mr. Rutte that Ankara was closely following the conflict between Iran, Israel and the United States.

– Reuters

03/02/26 11:43

Major sports could be disrupted

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Organizers of Formula 1 and major soccer games face deciding within weeks whether they can go ahead as scheduled with events.

Middle Eastern nations have become crucial to the world sports landscape over the last decade as event hosts, financial backers and employers for some of the world’s top athletes.

There’s the “Finalissima” soccer game on March 27 between Spain and Argentina, the champions of Europe and South America. That match would offer Lionel Messi a chance to win yet another trophy in a glittering career but it’s uncertain if it will take place.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s soccer team, Saudi club Al Nassr, has already been affected by a wave of cancellations of Asian Champions League games. His team was scheduled to play Wednesday in Dubai.

Formula 1 has races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia next month. F1 and its teams typically start to fly in staff and freight weeks in advance, limiting the time to make a decision on whether to go ahead. Governing body FIA says its priority is “safety and wellbeing.”

As for the World Cup, Iranian soccer federation president Mehdi Taj has said, “We cannot be expected to look forward to [it] with hope.”

Read more here.

– The Associated Press

03/02/26 11:21

Trump says the ‘big wave’ in war with Iran is yet to come

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The “big wave” is yet to come in the war with Iran, Mr. Trump told CNN.

“We haven’t even started hitting them hard. The big wave hasn’t even happened. The big one is coming soon,” Mr. Trump said, telling CNN it was unclear who was now leading Iran.

“We don’t know who the leadership is. We don’t know who they’ll pick,” he said.

– Reuters

03/02/26 11:14

Putin offers to use links to Iran to help restore Middle East calm

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Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone to leaders of three Arab Gulf states, offering to use Moscow’s ties to Iran to try to help restore calm to the Middle East.

In a series of calls with the leaders of the UAE, Bahrain and Qatar, Mr. Putin criticized the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, which the Kremlin described as “unprovoked aggression”.

According to the Kremlin readout of Mr. Putin’s call with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Russian leader offered to act as a conduit by conveying the UAE’s complaints about being attacked to Tehran.

During the call, “both sides emphasized the need for an immediate ceasefire and a return to the political and diplomatic process,” the Kremlin added.

In Mr. Putin’s call with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Kremlin said both leaders had spoken of their concern about the conflict widening and the risk of third countries becoming involved. Mr. Putin told Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa that Russia was ready to do all it could to stabilize the situation in the region.

– Reuters

03/02/26 11:04

Starmer says Iran stepping up ‘reckless’ strikes

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has led Iran to strike military and economic targets in a more “reckless” manner in the region.

The death of Ayatollah Khamenei “will not stop Iran from launching these strikes,” Mr. Starmer told parliament. “In fact, their approach is becoming even more reckless and more dangerous to civilians.”

– Reuters

03/02/26 10:50

UAE airports to open in limited capacity

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In Dubai, Emirates, flydubai and Etihad Airways will resume a limited number of flights on Monday, mainly to help repatriate stranded passengers.

The UAE civil aviation authority will begin operating “special flights” across the country’s airports, state news agency WAM reported, to help some of the tens of thousands of passengers stranded in the region leave.

Dubai Airports said a small number of flights will be permitted from Dubai International and Al Maktoum International. Dubai International, which handled nearly 100 million passengers last year, sustained minor damage on Sunday after it was hit along with other hubs by Iranian retaliatory attacks that have extended beyond U.S. bases and interests.

In a statement, Abu Dhabi-based Etihad said, “Some repositioning, cargo and repatriation flights may operate in coordination with UAE authorities and subject to strict operational and safety approvals,” adding that all scheduled commercial services to and from Abu Dhabi remained cancelled.

The airline’s website showed several flights had departed from Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport on Monday for destinations including London and Paris, with more scheduled. Etihad did not specify which flights were being used for repatriations.

Earlier, the airline said all flights to and from Abu Dhabi were suspended until 10 a.m. GMT on Tuesday.

– Reuters

03/02/26 10:17

Canadians in Middle East should prepare contingency plans: Global Affairs

- Ian Bailey

Global Affairs Canada is increasing staff to help Canadians caught up in the Middle East conflict but also urging them to fend for themselves.

In a statement issued Monday morning, the department said its ability to provide consular services to Canadians during an active conflict is limited.

The priority is given to providing such essential services as processing travel documents.

“If you are in an affected country, prepare contingency plans that don’t rely on the Government of Canada’s assistance for departure,” said the statement.

The statement said the department is not aware of any Canadians who have been killed or injured owing to hostilities.

It advises against any travel to Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates as well as non-essential travel to Jordan, Oman and Saudi Arabia.

Read more here.

03/02/26 10:13

Israel’s main airport to open in ‘extremely limited format’

Israel’s main international gateway, Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, said on its WhatsApp channel that it expects to reopen as early as Monday evening in an “extremely limited format” after the conflict with Iran shut Israeli airspace.

The airport said that starting on Tuesday, “flight operations will gradually expand depending on the security situation,” although only Israeli carriers are expected to resume flights.

Flag carrier El Al Israel Airlines said on Monday it was seeking approval to operate charter flights from Europe to destinations bordering Israel to bring back passengers stuck abroad.

The airline is considering flights to Taba in Egypt, which borders the Israeli Red Sea resort city of Eilat, and Aqaba in Jordan, which is also adjacent to Eilat.

Israeli airlines have so far cancelled flights through Tuesday. El Al said it has halted the sale of tickets until March 21 to allow its customers whose flights were cancelled to be accommodated as soon as the airspace opens.

El Al said it was planning rescue flights from more than 20 cities, including New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Bangkok, London, Paris and other cities in Europe to bring back an estimated 40,000 of its passengers stranded abroad.

Another 34,000 tourists are also currently in Israel.

- Reuters

03/02/26 10:06

Amazon’s AWS reports outage after UAE data centre struck by ‘objects’

Amazon’s cloud-computing facilities in the Middle East faced power and connectivity issues on Monday after unidentified “objects” struck its data centre in the United Arab Emirates.

The objects had triggered a fire on Sunday that forced authorities to eventually cut power to two clusters of Amazon data centres in the UAE, with restoration expected to take at least a day, according to Amazon Web Services’ status page.

Localized power issues impacted AWS services in both the UAE and neighbouring Bahrain, according to the page. Financial institutions that use AWS services have been affected by the outage, said one person with direct knowledge of the situation, who was granted anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

While Amazon did not identify the objects, the incident happened on the same day Iran fired a barrage of drones and missiles at Gulf States in retaliation for U.S. and Israeli strikes that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

A strike, if confirmed, on the AWS facility in the UAE will mark the first time a major U.S. tech company’s data centre has been knocked offline by military action. It could also raise questions around Big Tech’s pace of expansion in the region.

- Reuters

03/02/26 09:53

U.S. Defense Secretary Hegseth insists Iran conflict is ‘not endless’

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U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday spoke to widening concerns that the U.S.-Israeli strikes in Iran could spiral into a protracted regional conflict by declaring, “This is not Iraq. This is not endless.”

Mr. Hegseth, along with Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, held the Trump administration’s first news briefing since Saturday’s strikes.

Mr. Hegseth said the operation had a “clear, devastating, decisive mission” to “destroy the missile threat” from Iran, destroy its navy and “no nukes.”

“No stupid rules of engagement, no nation building quagmire, no democracy building exercise, no politically correct wars. We fight to win, and we don’t waste time or lives,” he said.

Asked if there are currently boots on the ground in Iran, Mr. Hegseth said, “No, but we’re not going to go into the exercise of what we will or will not do.”

He said it was “foolishness” to expect U.S. officials to say publicly “here’s exactly how far we’ll go.”

He also suggested the U.S. was not seeking to change the Iranian regime with the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

“This is not a so-called regime change war, but the regime sure did change and the world is better off for it,” Hegseth said.

- The Associated Press

03/02/26 09:49

Lebanon bans Hezbollah military actions after attack on Israel

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Lebanon’s government on Monday banned military activities by Hezbollah after it opened fire on Israel to avenge the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, a move likely to fuel tension with the Tehran-backed Lebanese group as it faces a new Israeli offensive.

Israel launched heavy air strikes on the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut and more widely in Lebanon, in response to the Hezbollah drone and rocket strike, killing 31 people, according to the Lebanese health ministry.

In a statement after a cabinet meeting, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Hezbollah’s attack showed disregard for “the will of the majority of Lebanese” and that Lebanon rejected being dragged into the regional conflict.

The state, he said, rejected any military actions launched from Lebanon “outside the framework of its legitimate institutions and affirmed that the decision of war and peace is exclusively in its hands.”

- Reuters

03/02/26 09:29

Gold climbs as war sparks safe-haven demand

Gold prices rose on Monday after the U.S. and Israel launched major strikes on Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, escalating geopolitical tensions and deepening global economic uncertainty.

Spot gold was up 1.37 per cent at US $5,349.44 an ounce, as of 4:39 a.m. GMT, after hitting its highest point in more than four weeks. Earlier in the session, bullion prices climbed as much as 2 per cent.

U.S. gold futures rose 2.21 per cent to US $5,362.60 per ounce.

“Unlike previous escalations in this conflict, there is fairly strong incentive here for both sides to continue to escalate potentially - and that runs the risk of leading to a pretty chaotic, uncertain and therefore volatile environment for more than just a few days ... the dynamic for gold is pretty positive” said Kyle Rodda, senior financial market analyst at Capital.com.

However, the U.S. dollar index rose 0.27 per cent, making gold more expensive for overseas buyers and capping the metal’s gains.

Bullion, a traditional safe-haven asset, has hit successive record highs already this year due to heightened global political and economic uncertainty.

The latest rally builds on a 64 per cent surge in 2025, driven by strong central bank buying, robust inflows into exchange-traded funds and expectations of U.S. monetary policy easing.

- Reuters

03/02/26 09:26

Kuwait intercepts drones

Kuwait intercepted hostile drones on Monday, the third consecutive day of Iranian retaliatory strikes on neighbouring Gulf states in response to U.S. and Israeli attacks on the Islamic Republic.

No injuries were reported after Kuwait air defences intercepted the majority of the drones near the capital’s Rumaithiya and Salwa neighbourhoods, the state news agency cited the director-general of the civil defence as saying.

Loud bangs and sirens were heard earlier in Kuwait, according to a Reuters witness.

Tehran said it would target U.S. bases in the region after the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran on Saturday.

It has also hit a range of civilian and commercial areas across Gulf cities, widening the conflict’s impact on key regional aviation and trade hubs.

- Reuters

03/02/26 09:25

Etihad and Emirates start limited flights

Long-haul carriers Etihad and Emirates began limited flights Monday after halting them for the ongoing war.

The carriers, based in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, launched flights Monday afternoon. Flight-tracking data showed Etihad flights moving first.

Dubai’s government said it would have a “limited resumption of operations,” telling passengers only to come to the airport if they had been contacted directly.

– The Associated Press

03/02/26 09:21

Governments scramble to bring stranded travellers home

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Global air travel chaos intensified on Monday as the U.S. and Israel continued to bombard Iran, which struck back at targets across the Middle East, leaving airports closed and stranding travellers including those in faraway areas who were scheduled to transit through the region.

Governments were scrambling to help their citizens get home after the conflict erupted on Saturday, throwing travel plans into turmoil.

Tourists, business travellers and religious pilgrims found themselves stuck unexpectedly in hotels, airports and on cruise ships, with no word on when many airports would reopen or when flights to and through the Middle East would resume. Governments told stranded citizens to shelter in place.

Airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha, which are important hubs for travel between Europe, Africa and the West to Asia, remained closed after they were all directly hit by Iranian strikes.

Emirates, based in Dubai International Airport, one of the busiest in the world, has suspended its flights until at least 3 p.m. local time Tuesday.

Doha-based Qatar Airways said Monday its flights remain suspended, with its next update planned for Tuesday morning.

Read more here.

– The Associated Press

03/02/26 09:11

Britain says it’s not at war after a drone strikes its Akrotiri base in Cyprus

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Britain is not at war, its government said Monday, despite saying it would allow the U.S. to use British bases during its war with Iran and after a Royal Air Force base in Cyprus was struck by an Iranian-made drone on Sunday.

Sirens sounded again at the Cyprus base, RAF Akrotiri, on Monday and British Typhoon and F-35 warplanes were scrambled. Cyprus government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis posted on X that two drones heading toward the British base had been intercepted.

British officials say an attack drone hit the runway at RAF Akrotiri late Sunday. There were no injuries and “minimal” damage, but the strike brought the conflict onto European soil.

Akrotiri is Britain’s main air base for operations in the Middle East and in recent years has been used by British warplanes on missions against the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq, and to strike Houthi targets in Yemen.

British officials have refused to say whether the U.K. supports the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. They have said that Iran should not be able to have a nuclear weapon and called for an end to Iranian strikes and a diplomatic solution.

– The Associated Press

03/02/26 08:53

Etihad Airways resumes some operations, commercial flights still halted

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Abu Dhabi carrier Etihad Airways resumed some limited flight operations on Monday, the airline told Reuters, as global airlines including Middle East carriers adapt to the disruption caused by the escalating Iranian conflict since Saturday.

The Israeli and U.S. attacks on Iran and Tehran’s military response forced the closure of airspace in various countries across the Middle East, including the United Arab Emirates, along with key airports such as Dubai and Doha.

“Some repositioning, cargo and repatriation flights may operate in coordination with UAE authorities and subject to strict operational and safety approvals,” the airline said in a statement to Reuters, adding that all scheduled commercial flights to and from Abu Dhabi remained cancelled.

The airline’s website showed several flights had departed from Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport on Monday for destinations that included London, Paris, Moscow and Amsterdam. It also showed more flights scheduled for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Kochi, India among others.

Etihad did not specify which flights were being used for repatriations of people stranded by the conflict.

The airline had said earlier in a travel note on its website that all its flights to and from Abu Dhabi were suspended until 10:00 GMT on Tuesday.

– Reuters

03/02/26 08:37

Chinese foreign minister speaks to Iranian counterpart

- James Griffiths

Wang Yi, China’s foreign minister, spoke to his Iranian counterpart Monday, in Beijing’s first official communication with Tehran since its ally was attacked by the U.S. and Israel on Saturday.

Beijing has repeatedly called for an immediate end to hostilities and warned of the risk a wider conflagration poses both to the region and the world at large.

According to a Chinese readout, Mr. Wang “reaffirmed China’s principled stance on the current situation in Iran, noting that China highly values the traditional friendship between China and Iran.”

“China has publicly stated its position of fairness and justice, and hopes to continue playing a positive role in preventing the escalation of regional tensions,” he added. “China supports Iran in safeguarding its sovereignty, security, territorial integrity and national dignity, and in defending its legitimate rights and interests.”

Mr. Wang, whose first call amid the crisis was to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, in which both voiced opposition to the strikes, said Beijing was “confident that amid the current grave and complex situation, Iran will maintain national and social stability, take into account the legitimate concerns of neighboring countries, and ensure the safety of Chinese citizens and institutions in Iran.”

At least 3,000 Chinese nationals have evacuated Iran while one was killed as a result of the bombing, the Chinese foreign ministry said earlier.

03/02/26 08:26

Pentagon says Iran will not be ‘endless war’

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U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Monday that military operations against Iran would not lead to an “endless war” and that the aim was to destroy Tehran’s missiles, Navy and other security infrastructure.

“We’re hitting them surgically, overwhelmingly and unapologetically,” Mr. Hegseth said during a press conference at the Pentagon.

– Reuters

03/02/26 08:00

Watch: U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to hold news conference

– Globe staff

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will give a news conference at 8 a.m. ET, the Defense Department posted on X.

It will be their first news conference since the U.S.-Israeli operation against Iran began on Saturday.

03/02/26 07:49

Anand won’t say if Canada views strikes on Iran as legal

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Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand faced repeated questions about the conflict in the Middle East while taking part in a media scrum in New Delhi, but would not say whether or not Canada sees U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran as a violation of international law when asked by reporters.

The minister was filling in for Prime Minister Mark Carney, who abruptly cancelled his scheduled meeting with reporters.

Anand says Canada was not involved in the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran Saturday that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had no advance notification and will not participate in any military action.

The minister added that Canada would like to see a diplomatic solution when that’s possible.

Carney and Anand issued a joint statement Saturday saying that Canada supports the U.S. “acting to prevent” Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

– The Canadian Press

03/02/26 07:31

Fourth U.S. service member dies of injuries in Iran operation, U.S. military says

A fourth U.S. service member has died of injuries sustained in the U.S. operation in Iran, Central Command said on Monday.

The service member had been seriously wounded during Iran’s initial attacks and eventually succumbed to their injuries, Central Command said in a statement.

- Reuters

03/02/26 07:17

More than 300 people have fled Iran via Azerbaijan, source close to government says

A total of 312 people have been evacuated from Iran via Azerbaijan since Saturday, including 101 Azerbaijanis and others from 19 countries including China, Russia and Pakistan, a source close to the government in the capital city of Baku said on Monday.

The 312 entered Azerbaijan between 8 a.m. local time on February 28, and 10 a.m. local time on March 2, amid U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran over the weekend, the source said.

Iran and Azerbaijan share a 689-km border, and Iran has a large ethnic Azerbaijani population.

Russia’s embassy in Baku said on Sunday that about 500 Russian nationals were preparing to evacuate from Iran to Azerbaijan via the Astara crossing on the Caspian Sea, with 39 having crossed by the end of Sunday.

Moscow has advised its citizens to move to safer areas in Israel and Iran and recommended that those in Iran leave via Armenia or Azerbaijan.

- Reuters

03/02/26 07:06

Oil prices jump as Iran conflict escalates

03/02/26 07:01

Qatar halts LNG production as Saudi refinery, Iraqi and Israeli oil and gas fields shut

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Qatar halted production of liquefied natural gas on Monday and Saudi Arabia shut its biggest domestic oil refinery after a drone strike, a source said, as Israeli and U.S. strikes and Iranian retaliation triggered precautionary shutdowns of oil and gas facilities across the Middle East.

A wave of attacks on the region stretched into a third day, resulting in the suspension of most oil production in Iraqi Kurdistan and several major Israeli gas fields, throttling exports to Egypt.

Oil prices surged 13 per cent to above $82 a barrel, the highest since January, 2025, as the conflict ground shipping to a near halt in the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of global oil supply flows.

State oil giant Saudi Aramco’s Ras Tanura refinery, which was shut as a precautionary measure, is part of an energy complex on the kingdom’s Gulf coast that also serves as a critical export terminal for Saudi crude oil.

The situation at the Ras Tanura refinery is under control, the source said. Two drones were intercepted at the facility, with debris causing a limited fire, the Saudi defense ministry’s spokesperson said on Al Arabiya TV, adding there were no injuries.

Qatar’s government said an energy facility belonging to gas giant QatarEnergy was attacked by two Iranian drones on Monday, with authorities still assessing the damage.

In Iraqi Kurdistan, which exported 200,000 barrels of oil per day via pipeline to Turkey’s Ceyhan port in February, companies including DNO, Gulf Keystone Petroleum, Dana Gas and HKN Energy have stopped output at their fields as a precaution, with no damage reported.

The Israeli government instructed Chevron to temporarily shut down the giant Leviathan gas field offshore Israel,where it is in the process of expanding capacity to around 21 billion cubic metres a year as part of a $35-billion export deal to Egypt. A spokesperson for Chevron, which also operates the Tamar gas field offshore Israel, said its facilities were safe.

- Reuters

03/02/26 06:53

U.N. nuclear watchdog chief says no indication Iran nuclear sites were hit

U.N. nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi said on Monday that his agency stands by its assessment that there is no indication Iran’s nuclear facilities were damaged or hit in the U.S. and Israeli military strikes on the country.

Iran’s ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency said earlier on Monday a nuclear facility at Natanz had been attacked. So far the agency has seen nothing comparable to the attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites that Israel and the United States carried out in June, Grossi told a press conference.

- Reuters

03/02/26 06:50

Kuwait shoots down U.S. jets in friendly-fire incident, U.S. Central Command says

Kuwait’s air defences mistakenly shot down three U.S. F-15 fighter jets during active combat on Monday, U.S. Central Command said, describing it as an apparent friendly‐fire incident during the conflict with Iran.

All six crew members ejected from the aircraft safely, were recovered and are in stable condition, Central Command said.

“During active combat – that included attacks from Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles, and drones – the U.S. Air Force fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses,” Central Command said.

It said that Kuwait had acknowledged the incident and that an investigation was under way.

Video images showed a U.S. warplane falling out of the sky over Kuwait early on Monday, while a person could be seen parachuting. The location was verified by Reuters as filmed in the Al Jahra area of Kuwait.

In a separate incident, smoke was seen rising from the vicinity of the U.S. Embassy compound in Kuwait City, and fire trucks and ambulances were in the area, a witness told Reuters.

There were no responses to requests for comment on the embassy incident from the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait, or from the U.S. State Department.

Read more here.

- Reuters

03/02/26 06:41

Asia’s jet fuel, diesel cash premiums hit multi-year highs on Mideast concerns

Asia’s jet fuel and diesel cash differentials soared to multi-year highs on Monday as the markets priced in the risks of supply disruption because of the widening conflict in the Middle East, multiple regional trade sources said on Monday.

Jet fuel cash differentials ended the trading session at a premium of $4 a barrel, LSEG pricing data showed, more than $2 higher than the previous close and at levels last seen in September, 2022.

Diesel cash differentials were at premiums of around $4.25 a barrel, levels last hit in November, 2022, according to the data.

Refining margins for both 10ppm-sulphur gasoil and jet fuel edged up to around $30 a barrel or more, close to nearly four-month highs.

Markets today: North American stock futures slide as Middle East conflict escalates

The biggest market driver was concern about the disruption of middle distillates supplies loading from the Strait of Hormuz, with possible knock-on effects for demand for Asia-loading cargoes, the trade sources said.

In particular, they said Europe may need to seek replacement supplies from Asia if the conflict and disruption are prolonged, they said.

Nearly 600,000 metric tons of diesel flows per month from exporters in the Strait of Hormuz went to Europe last year, according to Kpler ship tracking data. Jet fuel flows on this route averaged 1.1 million tons per month.

Around 40 per cent of jet fuel exported from refiners via the Strait of Hormuz were bound for Europe last year, according to the data.

- Reuters

03/02/26 05:25

Israel targets Hezbollah in fresh strikes on Beirut

-Mark MacKinnon

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Israel continued to carry out strikes across Lebanon on Monday, targeting the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia in a further expansion of the war that the United States and Israel launched against Iran on Saturday.

Israel launched a fresh airstrike on the southern suburbs of Beirut on Monday, saying it had target a “senior” Hezbollah official. That attack followed an overnight bombardment of the same area, as well as an intense series of strikes targeting Hezbollah strongholds in southern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa Valley.

The Lebanese government said 31 people were killed in the overnight strikes, while 149 others were injured. Israel also dropped leaflets warning residents of 53 villages to move at least one kilometre away, saying “anyonewho is near Hezbollah operatives, facilities, and weapons is putting their life at risk.”

In the aftermath, long traffic jams formed on the highways towards Beirut and northern Lebanon.

The Israeli campaign started after Hezbollah launched a barrage of rockets at the Israeli port of Haifa, an attack the group said was revenge for Saturday’s assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran who was also revered as a religious leader by many Shia Muslims outside the country.

The exchange of cross-border fire was the largest since a two-month war in 2024 that left Hezbollah badly weakened.

Beirut remained tense on Monday, with the military deployed outside the country’s lone airport and at major intersections, as internal refugees began to arrive in the city centre. An Israeli reconnaissance drone buzzed overhead throughout the day.

03/02/26 05:16

Oil and gas leap and stocks slump as war in Iran intensifies

-Eric Reguly

Oil and natural gas prices jumped Monday morning, on the third day of U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, as tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz shipping lanes virtually disappeared. Global stocks fell.

By mid-morning London time, Brent crude, the effective international benchmark, had climbed almost 10 per cent over Friday’s close, taking the price to US$80 a barrel. In early January, before rumours of war hit the market, the price was US$60.

European gas prices climbed about 25 per cent. Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are the source of about one-fifth of the global liquefied natural gas (LNG) and much of the supplies pass through Hormuz on their way to Europe.

While oil’s rise was expected, the price has not reached crisis levels.

In previous global emergencies, oil went far higher. Brent crude breached US$100 in late February, 2022, after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine and reached US$130 a month later. In 2008, just ahead of the financial crisis, oil went to US$145, then crashed to US$40, when the deep recession hit.

It appears oil traders and investors are gambling that the narrow Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 per cent of the world’s oil passes, taking shipments from the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and onto the Indian Ocean, won’t stay effectively shut for long. Meanwhile, the global oil markets appear to be brimming with surplus oil and stockpiles, providing some price cushion.

Read more here.

03/02/26 05:02

Kremlin says it is in contact with Iranian leaders

The Kremlin said on Monday that Russia was in constant contact with the Iranian leadership about what it called the “outright aggression” against Tehran and was deeply disappointed by how events had unfolded.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday condemned the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as a “cynical” murder and the Russian Foreign Ministry has accused the U.S. and Israel of plunging the Middle East “into an abyss of uncontrolled escalation.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that Russia was analysing the situation and drawing its own conclusions after Washington opted to launch strikes at Iran despite what Moscow thought had looked like promising talks.

“Despite reports of significant progress in these negotiations, the situation has nevertheless deteriorated into outright aggression,” Peskov told reporters.

He said that Putin was due to make an Iran-related international phone call later on Monday, but did not disclose to whom.

- Reuters

03/02/26 04:46

U.S. fighter jets crash in Kuwait, country’s Defence Ministry said

Several U.S. military aircraft crashed in Kuwait early on Monday, but all crew members survived and were in stable condition, Kuwait’s Ministry of Defence said.

The Kuwait Defence Ministry statement, which was carried by the state news agency, said the crews from the crashed aircraft were evacuated and transferred to hospital and were in stable condition. It added that the response was carried out in coordination with U.S. forces.

Iran’s state media cited the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as saying Iranian armed forces hit a U.S. plane that crashed in Kuwait.

Online video verified by Reuters as being taken in the Al Jahra area of Kuwait showed a military aircraft falling from the sky and a person parachuting in the same shot.

The Kuwaiti statement did not specify how many aircraft were involved.

Two workers were slightly injured by falling debris at Kuwait’s Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery, Kuwait’s National Petroleum Company said on X.

- Reuters

03/02/26 04:09

Dubai under fire as Iranian missiles target the UAE

03/02/26 03:39

Beijing warns expanded war threatens global economic stability

-James Griffiths

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Beijing has warned the expanding conflict around Iran could threaten the “vital” Strait of Hormuz, through which some 20 per cent of the world’s oil and gas supply passes en route from the Persian Gulf into the Arabian Sea.

Speaking to reporters in the Chinese capital Monday, foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said “the Strait of Hormuz and its adjacent waters are vital international routes for cargo and energy trade.”

“Safeguarding security and stability in this region serves the common interests of the international community,” Ms. Mao said. “China urges all parties to immediately cease military actions, prevent further escalation of tensions, and avoid regional turbulence inflicting greater damage on global economic development.”

As with heavily sanctioned Venezuelan oil, China was a major buyer of Iranian crude, and disruptions to this supply could hurt small scale Chinese refiners specializing in oil that cannot go to market in much of the world. But the broader Chinese economy should be resilient to any immediate shocks from the war in Iran, said Wang Yiwei, a professor of international affairs at Renmin University in Beijing.

“China already has massive petroleum reserves, plus new energy sources now account for about one-third of our structure,” he said. “On land, Russia is stable, and combined with our large petroleum reserves and new energy, I feel we’ve already made preparations for the worst-case scenarios.”

Read more here.

03/02/26 03:13

Kuwait says hostile drones intercepted, U.S. embassy hit

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Iran and Iranian-backed militias fired missiles at Israel and Arab states, apparently hitting the U.S. Embassy compound in Kuwait.

As fire and smoke rose from inside the embassy compound in Kuwait City, the country’s defense ministry said “several” American warplanes had also crashed in the country.

The Kuwaiti Defense Ministry did not elaborate on what caused the crashes or how many aircraft were involved, but said the pilots had been taken to a hospital and were in stable condition. The U.S. military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Kuwait said its air defences intercepted hostile drones while the U.S. embassy issued a warning to take cover due to the threat of missile and hostile drone attacks.

Witnesses saw a heavy presence of security, ambulances and fire trucks near the U.S. embassy, while a video showed black smoke rising from the surrounding area.

- Reuters and The Associated Press

03/02/26 03:07

U.K. sending rapid teams to help citizens leave Gulf

British foreign minister Yvette Cooper said on Monday that Britain was setting up support systems to help evacuate its citizens from the Gulf with an estimated 300,000 people living in the region.

“We are looking at a wide range of options, working, crucially with the travel industry and with government evacuation if necessary,” Cooper told Sky News.

The British government wanted airspace to be re-opened and it was sending rapid deployment teams to the region to work with the travel industry, she said.

- Reuters

03/02/26 02:30

China urges halt to military actions in Iran conflict

China’s Foreign Ministry on Monday urged all parties involved in the Iran conflict to cease military actions and prevent an escalation of the conflict.

The United States and Israel’s strikes against Iran violated international law and China is deeply concerned about spillover effects on neighbouring countries, Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the ministry, told a regular press briefing.

China believes that the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of the Gulf states should be fully respected and supports countries to strengthen communication, Mao said.

- Reuters

03/02/26 02:27

U.S. futures, Asian shares open lower, oil prices soar

The U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran rattled world markets on Monday, with U.S. futures falling more than 1% and oil prices soaring, though gains for defense contractors and oil companies helped limit losses in Asian trading.

The future for the S&P 500 sank 1.4% while the contract for the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 1.2%.

Shares did fall in most Asian markets but they rose in Shanghai, where higher oil prices lifted some oil company stocks such as CNOOC, China Petroleum & Chemical and PetroChina to the 10% limit.

The Shanghai Composite index climbed 0.5% to 4,185.29, while in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng lost 2% to 26,102.53.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 index initially fell more than 2%. It closed 1.4% lower at 58,057.24. Offsetting other losses, shares in defense-related stocks including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and IHI Corp. advanced.

The price of gold, which usually is viewed as a safe haven for investment in times of uncertainty, rose 2.7% to about $5,392 per ounce.

Traders are betting the supply of oil from Iran and elsewhere in the Middle East will slow or grind to a halt.

The price of a barrel of U.S. benchmark crude oil initially surged about 8%. By mid-afternoon Tokyo time it was up 7.5% at $72.06 per barrel. Brent crude jumped 8% to $78.69 per barrel.

- Reuters

03/02/26 01:49

Oil spikes as widening Iran conflict disrupts supply flow

Oil prices surged by as much as 13% on Monday after shipping in the crucial Strait of Hormuz was disrupted by retaliatory Iranian attacks following initial bombing by Israel and the United States that killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Brent crude futures rose to as much as $82.37 a barrel, the highest since January 2025, before retreating to be up $5.41, or 7.4%, to $78.28 by 0605 GMT.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude climbed to an intraday high of $75.33, up over 12% and the highest since June, though it later pared gains and was up $4.74, or 7.1%, at $71.76.

Both benchmarks jumped as a sustained exchange of counterattacks damaged tankers and sharply disrupted shipments in the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway between Iran and Oman that connects the Gulf to the Arabian Sea.

“Markets are acknowledging the seriousness of the conflict, but are also signalling that, for now, this is a geopolitical shock, not a systemic crisis,” said Priyanka Sachdeva, senior analyst at Phillip Nova.

03/02/26 01:39

Suspected drone strike hits British air base in Cyprus

A drone strike hit Britain’s Royal Air Force base of Akrotiri in Cyprus overnight, causing limited damage and no casualties, the island’s president and Britain’s defence ministry said on Monday.

The first attack on the British military facility since a rocket attack by Libyan militants in 1986, the incident represents a marked escalation in the conflict.

“All the competent services of the republic are on alert and in full operational readiness,” President Nikos Christodoulides said in a speech.

The Shahed-type unmanned aerial vehicle caused minor damage when it crashed into the military facilities at 12:03 a.m., he added.

“I want to be clear: Our country does not participate in any way and does not intend to be part of any military operation,” Christodoulides said.

It was not immediately clear from where the Iranian-made Shahed had been fired. Two sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters the British bases intercepted a second drone.

While the bases are regarded as British sovereign territory, Cyprus itself is an EU member, now holding the bloc’s rotating presidency.

- Reuters

03/01/26 22:40

Attacks upend safe haven status of Persian Gulf countries

– Tim Kiladze, Clare O’Hara and Nicolas Van Praet

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Missile attacks across the Middle East are throwing the safe haven status of Persian Gulf countries into question, upending the investment thesis that lured wealthy foreigners and a growing number of Canadian companies to the region.

Cities such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates and Doha in Qatar have blossomed into global commerce hubs over the past two decades, backed by oil-rich governments that have funded modern infrastructure and gleaming skyscrapers.

As they blossomed, they also offered something many countries in the Middle East could not: political calm. The likes of Qatar, Oman and the UAE have developed reputations for being politically neutral, much like Switzerland, and that has made them less likely to be roped into regional wars.

Read more here.

03/01/26 21:44

Who are the three men on Iran’s interim leadership council?

– Justine Hunter and Andrea Woo

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Three men have been appointed as Iran’s interim leadership council while the country’s religious leaders choose who will succeed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The trio are not natural allies, nor is it immediately clear who will outrank the others.

Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, 67, is a senior cleric and member of the Guardian Council that vets candidates for president and has veto power over legislation, to ensure loyalty to and conformity with Sharia law. He leads prayers in Iran’s most important religious centre, Qom, and oversees education for religious leaders nationwide, notes the news organization Al Jazeera.

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President Masoud Pezeshkian, 71, is broadly seen as a reformist. A former heart surgeon, he took office on July 28, 2024. The president is the second-highest-ranking official in Iran, acting as the head of government that handles daily administration, economic policy and implements the Supreme Leader’s decrees. The Economic Times of India describes Mr. Pezeshkian as a technocrat known for his calm demeanour in turbulent times, including during nationwide protests over the rising cost of living in January.

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Chief Justice Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, 69, is considered an ultra-conservative who has been sanctioned for human rights abuses by Canada, the U.S., Switzerland, the European Union and others. He was appointed to the post in 2021 by Ayatollah Khamenei.

Read more here.

03/01/26 21:31

Strikes against Iran involved AI, cyberattacks and drones

– Sean Silcoff

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The U.S.-Israeli military attack that killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and members of his high command involved widescale deployment of several cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence and the first use by U.S. military forces of a weapon inspired by Iranian technology.

U.S. Central Command said Saturday that it had “employed low-cost one-way attack drones for the first time in combat.” The LUCAS drones cost US$35,000 each and were modelled after Iran’s Shahed-136s, which hit several Gulf state sites in response to the attacks on Tehran.

The drones complemented other technologies that have increasingly shaped recent military actions, including the capture by U.S. forces of deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in January.

Reuters reported Sunday a wave of cyberattacks took place alongside the U.S.-Israeli attacks. News websites were hacked and a religious calendar app called BadeSaba displayed messages telling users, “It’s time for a reckoning,” and urged armed forces to give up weapons and join the people. There was also a near-total internet blackout in Iran Saturday.

The U.S. military is a customer of Palantir Technologies Inc., a Denver-based data and analytics giant whose flagship products allow the use of virtual digital twins of physical locations to inform real-time decision making. Palantir’s AI-based software is also used by U.S. military intelligence to analyze drone and sensor data to pinpoint targets.

Read more here.

03/01/26 20:36

A look at Iranian attacks on countries in the region

– Meera Raman

Following the U.S. and Israeli military strike on Iran on Saturday morning, Tehran responded with a wave of retaliatory missile and drone attacks across the Gulf region, home to several U.S. military bases.

Here’s a look at where those strikes have occurred.