Speaking after a consultative meeting of Arab and Islamic foreign ministers in Riyadh, bin Farhan accused Tehran of premeditated hostile actions against its neighbours, both directly and through regional proxies, and urged it to halt further escalation.

“This pressure from Iran will backfire politically and morally and certainly we reserve the right to take military actions if deemed necessary,” he told a news conference.

Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry said it intercepted and destroyed four ballistic missiles targeting Riyadh, with debris falling near a refinery south of the capital. Interceptors were seen launched near the venue hosting the diplomatic gathering as ministers from countries including Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Qatar and Syria convened.

The strikes marked a significant moment in the conflict, with residents in Riyadh reporting blasts and receiving warning alerts for the first time since hostilities began.

Saudi authorities say the kingdom has faced hundreds of missiles and drones since the start of the conflict, the vast majority of which have been intercepted.

The escalation follows Iran’s vow to target oil and gas infrastructure across the Gulf after what it described as an Israeli strike on its facilities in the South Pars gas field.

Attacks on Wednesday affected energy sites in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, raising concerns over global supply disruptions.The widening conflict, now in its third week, has already driven oil prices higher and unsettled energy markets as critical infrastructure comes under repeated threat.

Saudi Arabia and Iran restored diplomatic relations in 2023 after years of rivalry that saw them support opposing factions across the region.

Bin Farhan said Riyadh still preferred diplomacy but warned that continued Iranian actions could eliminate any remaining basis for trust.

“If Iran doesn’t stop immediately, I think there will be almost nothing that can re-establish trust,” he said.

The escalation comes in the third week of the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, which has left at least 2,000 people dead and disrupted critical energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz.

Gulf targets hitIranian strikes hit oil and transport infrastructure in the UAE, where a drone struck a facility in Fujairah for a second consecutive day and debris from an intercepted missile fell in Abu Dhabi, killing one person, authorities said.

Rockets and drones also targeted the U.S. embassy in Baghdad in what Iraqi security sources described as the most intense such assault since the conflict began, though U.S. officials said no injuries were reported.Iran’s attacks have also extended to other Gulf states, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait, signalling a broader regional response.

Trump remarks and intelligence warnings.Trump said the scope of Iran’s retaliation had come as a surprise. “They weren’t supposed to go after all these other countries in the Middle East.

Nobody expected that. We were shocked,” he said.However, U.S. officials and sources familiar with intelligence assessments said the president had been warned before the conflict that strikes on Iran could provoke retaliatory attacks against Gulf allies, particularly if Tehran perceived them as supporting U.S. operations.

There was no pause in hostilities, with Iran launching overnight missile strikes on Israel, demonstrating continued long-range strike capability despite sustained bombardment.

Israel said it carried out a fresh wave of strikes on targets in Tehran and positions linked to Hezbollah in Beirut, and signalled plans for several more weeks of military operations.

Energy and market impactThe widening conflict has kept the Strait of Hormuz largely constrained, as U.S. allies declined to join efforts to secure the waterway.

The disruption has raised concerns over energy supplies, pushed up oil prices and intensified fears of inflation globally.

The conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran has entered its third week, with the Strait of Hormuz — a corridor for roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows effectively constrained by Iranian drones and naval mines.

Several U.S. partners, including Germany, Spain and Italy, said they had no immediate plans to send warships to secure the passage, citing legal and political constraints.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Berlin lacked a mandate from the United Nations, the European Union or NATO, and added that Germany had not been consulted prior to the launch of military operations.

Trump, speaking in Washington, said some countries had expressed willingness to assist but criticised others for what he described as a lack of enthusiasm despite long-standing U.S. support.

The disruption in the Strait of Hormuz has heightened fears of supply shocks and inflationary pressure, as energy markets react to restricted flows through one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints.Iran has targeted oil infrastructure across the Gulf, including facilities in the United Arab Emirates.

Drone strikes hit an oil facility in Fujairah for a second consecutive day, while operations at key sites, including the Shah gas field in Abu Dhabi, were suspended.

Airspace closures and temporary halts at major hubs, including Dubai’s international airport, underscored the wider economic and logistical impact.

There was no pause in hostilities, with Israel saying it struck Iranian infrastructure in Tehran and positions linked to Hezbollah in Beirut. Israeli officials have indicated plans for at least three more weeks of military operations.

Iran launched overnight strikes on Israel, demonstrating continued long-range capabilities, while warning it would target energy assets in any country facilitating attacks on its territory.

Tehran has also accused the UAE of serving as a launch point for recent U.S. strikes on Kharg Island, a major Iranian oil export hub, signalling a potential widening of the conflict’s geographic scope.

Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Abdullah II made the remarks during a meeting in Abu Dhabi on Monday, where they discussed intensifying military activity and its implications for regional security, according to the Jordan News Agency.

The two leaders condemned what they described as Iranian aggression, saying recent attacks targeted their countries and violated sovereignty as well as international law. Their statements were also carried by the Emirates News Agency.

They warned that continued escalation posed risks not only to regional stability but also to global peace and security.Arab stance on conflictBoth leaders reiterated that Arab countries had neither initiated nor participated in the conflict, which they said began on Feb. 28.

Instead, Gulf and broader Arab states have focused on containing the crisis and preventing it from widening.They pointed to ongoing diplomatic efforts by the Gulf Cooperation Council and other regional actors aimed at reducing tensions.

The leaders stressed the need to halt military escalation and prioritise dialogue, urging a return to diplomatic channels to address the crisis.

Their meeting comes amid growing concerns over the spillover effects of the conflict, including threats to national sovereignty and disruptions to regional security dynamics.

The aviation authority had briefly closed the country’s airspace as regional security risks escalated, after the defence ministry said it was responding to incoming aerial threats from Iran.

The suspension of air traffic was described by officials as a precautionary step amid rapidly evolving developments in the region. No timeline was provided for the duration of the closure, but operations were restored within hours once the situation stabilised.

Authorities did not disclose details on the scale or origin of the threats beyond confirming missile and drone activity, nor did they indicate any damage or casualties linked to the incident.

The General Civil Aviation Authority said the measures were implemented to ensure the safety of airspace users and aligned with standard protocols during security contingencies.

The reopening signals that risk levels were assessed to have subsided sufficiently for normal operations to resume.

The UAE is a major global aviation hub, and even brief airspace closures can affect regional and international flight schedules, though no specific disruptions were detailed in the official statements.

The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, where cross-border threats involving drones and missiles have increasingly prompted rapid defensive responses and precautionary restrictions on civilian infrastructure, including aviation corridors.

Officials have not issued further advisories following the resumption of air traffic.

The Dubai Media Office said emergency services were dealing with the blaze after what it described as a “drone-related incident” near the airport. In a post on X, the office said authorities were taking necessary steps to secure the area and ensure public safety.

Videos circulating on social media showed a large column of smoke rising from the area near the airport, though officials did not immediately report casualties or provide details on the extent of the damage.

The attack occurred hours after Iran issued warnings calling for the evacuation of three major ports in the United Arab Emirates, signaling an expansion of threats to infrastructure in neighboring Gulf states.

Iranian officials accused the United States of using facilities in the UAE, including ports and docking areas, to launch strikes against Kharg Island, which hosts Iran’s primary oil export terminal.

Tehran did not provide evidence to support the allegation.

The drone strike comes amid an intensifying regional confrontation following the outbreak of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran on Feb. 28.Officials say Gulf Arab states have faced more than 2,000 missile and drone attacks since the conflict began, targeting U.S. diplomatic facilities, military bases and key civilian infrastructure including oil installations, ports, airports and commercial areas.

The UAE, which normalized relations with Israel in 2020 under the Abraham Accords, has experienced a significant share of the attacks, though governments across the Gulf have reported incidents and have condemned Iran over the strikes.

Saudi Defense Ministry spokesperson Turki Al-Maliki said the attacks began shortly after midnight, with 48 drones launched in roughly two hours.

In a series of posts on X starting at 2:22 a.m. local time, he said Saudi air defenses intercepted and destroyed all the drones before they reached their intended targets.The strikes form part of a broader pattern of nightly drone operations attributed to Iran, which Saudi officials say have intensified in recent weeks.

The drone barrage came hours after Iran’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Alireza Enayati, shared a notice attributed to Iran’s military command asserting that the aircraft being used in attacks were not Iranian systems.

According to the statement cited by Enayati, “the enemy” was deploying drones disguised as Iranian-made Shahed drone under the name “Lucas drone,” an allegation that appeared aimed at deflecting responsibility for the strikes.

Saudi authorities did not comment on the claim.

Saudi defense officials said the latest attacks raised the number of drones intercepted in the kingdom to more than 230 since the campaign began.

Defense Ministry statements also show that more than 30 missiles have been shot down during the same period.Other Gulf states have reported similar increases in aerial threats.

Authorities in Bahrain said their air defenses had intercepted 125 missiles and 203 drones, with two people killed there and 24 others across the region.

The United Arab Emirates said its military had engaged 294 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles and approximately 1,600 drones during the conflict, reporting six fatalities.

Officials across the Gulf say the attacks have followed a recurring pattern of overnight drone launches followed by relative calm during daylight hours.

Speaking in Kyiv, Zelenskyy said Ukrainian specialists have already been deployed to several countries in the region to help assess defenses against kamikaze drones used by Iran.

Each Ukrainian team consists of dozens of experts tasked with analyzing local air-defense capabilities and demonstrating effective counter-drone strategies.

According to the Ukrainian leader, teams have been sent to Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, while specialists have also visited a U.S. military base in Jordan. The deployments come as Gulf states face growing threats from Iranian “Shahed” kamikaze drones and have expended significant numbers of air-defense missiles trying to intercept them.

Ukraine has gained extensive experience countering such drones during its war with Russia. Ukrainian forces regularly intercept drones using a mix of air-defense systems, electronic jamming equipment, and smaller interceptor drones that provide a cheaper alternative to expensive missile systems.

Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine’s assistance does not mean involvement in military operations against Iran. Instead, he described the mission as a defensive effort focused on sharing knowledge and conducting detailed evaluations of regional air-defense strategies.

“This is not about participating in operations. We are not at war with Iran,” Zelenskyy said, stressing that Ukraine’s role is limited to technical advice and strategic assessments on how to counter the Iranian-made Shahed drones.

He added that nearly a dozen countries worldwide have approached Ukraine seeking guidance on defending against drone attacks, reflecting Kyiv’s growing reputation in drone warfare and electronic defense.However, Zelenskyy made clear that Ukraine expects tangible benefits from its assistance.

“Honestly, for us today, both the technology and the funding are important,” he said, noting that discussions about what Ukraine will receive in return are still ongoing.

The Ukrainian president also said it remains uncertain whether Kyiv and the United States will finalize a long-discussed agreement on drone cooperation, negotiations for which have been underway for months.

As drone warfare becomes an increasingly central feature of modern conflicts, Ukraine’s battlefield experience is now positioning the country as an emerging global source of expertise in counter-drone defense.

The 60-year-old visitor from London was detained on Monday night and charged alongside approximately 20 other individuals accused of sharing videos, images, or online commentary related to recent Iranian missile attacks targeting the emirate.

Authorities say the suspects circulated content that could “disturb public security,” an offense that carries a maximum prison sentence of two years under the UAE’s cybercrime laws.According to reports, the British tourist filmed missiles striking the city during the latest wave of Iranian attacks. When confronted by authorities, he reportedly deleted the footage immediately and insisted that he had no intention of violating local laws.

Despite this, prosecutors charged him with “broadcasting, publishing, republishing, or circulating rumours or provocative propaganda,” a serious offense in the UAE’s tightly regulated digital environment.The case has quickly drawn attention both in Britain and internationally, underscoring the risks faced by residents and visitors who share content related to security incidents in the Gulf state.

The UAE government has made it clear that the dissemination of unverified or sensitive information online will not be tolerated, particularly during periods of heightened tension.Officials in the Emirates have warned that anyone spreading information which could “incite panic among people” or undermine public order may face prosecution. The government argues that strict regulation of online content is necessary to maintain stability and prevent the spread of misinformation during a volatile security situation.

The arrests come at a time when Dubai, long celebrated as one of the safest and most stable cities in the Middle East, has been thrust into an unprecedented security crisis. Over the past two weeks, the emirate has become one of several Gulf targets struck by Iranian missiles and drones amid escalating regional hostilities.

Several missiles have struck buildings in Dubai, including areas near the city’s international airport and the iconic Fairmont hotel on Palm Jumeirah, a luxury landmark known worldwide for its opulence and tourism appeal. The attacks have shaken confidence in a city that has spent decades cultivating a reputation as a secure global hub for finance, trade, and tourism.

For years, Dubai has marketed itself as a tax-free sanctuary for business leaders, expatriates, and vacationers seeking stability and luxury in the Gulf region. The recent strikes, however, have punctured that carefully curated image, exposing the city to the same geopolitical risks that have long plagued other parts of the Middle East.

Across the Gulf states, Iranian strikes in the current escalation have reportedly killed at least twelve civilians. In the United Arab Emirates, every civilian casualty recorded so far has been a migrant worker, many of whom form the backbone of the country’s construction, service, and logistics sectors.The attacks have not only caused physical destruction but have also sparked an intense effort by the UAE authorities to control the narrative surrounding the crisis.

Government officials appear determined to prevent images or videos of missile impacts from spreading widely online, fearing that such footage could damage the country’s reputation as a secure destination for global investors and tourists.In response, the government has launched a sweeping crackdown on social media activity.

Authorities are monitoring platforms for posts that depict the attacks or discuss the security situation in ways officials believe could cause public alarm.Under the UAE’s cybercrime legislation, publishing or sharing information deemed harmful to national security or public order can lead to significant fines and prison sentences.

Even forwarding content created by others can potentially expose users to prosecution if the material is considered misleading or destabilizing.The British tourist’s case illustrates how easily visitors unfamiliar with local regulations can find themselves entangled in legal trouble.

In many Western countries, recording and sharing footage of major events including disasters or military incidents is generally protected as a form of citizen journalism. In the UAE, however, such actions can be treated as criminal offenses if authorities believe they threaten public stability.

Diplomatic officials in the United Kingdom are likely monitoring the situation closely, particularly given the large number of British nationals living and working in Dubai.

The emirate hosts an estimated 240,000 British expatriates, making it one of the largest overseas British communities in the world.Many Britons are drawn to Dubai by its lucrative job opportunities, tax-free income policies, and high standard of living. The city’s cosmopolitan culture, luxury shopping districts, and world-class entertainment have also made it a popular holiday destination for British tourists.

However, the ongoing conflict and the government’s strict enforcement of cybercrime laws have raised concerns among expatriates and visitors about what they can safely post onlineAt the same time, a contrasting trend has emerged on social media within the UAE.

Influencers and content creators based in Dubai have increasingly shared posts praising the government and emphasizing the leadership of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai and vice president of the UAE

Many of these posts highlight Dubai’s resilience and portray the city as continuing to function normally despite the attacks. Videos showing luxury hotels, bustling shopping malls, and calm beaches have been widely circulated, often accompanied by messages affirming confidence in the government’s ability to maintain security.

Critics, however, argue that the government’s aggressive control over online narratives risks suppressing legitimate reporting and public discussion during a time of crisis. Human rights advocates have long criticized the UAE’s cybercrime laws for their broad language, which allows authorities considerable discretion in determining what constitutes harmful or destabilizing content.

Supporters of the policy counter that strict information control is necessary to prevent panic and to protect national security during periods of military threat.For the British tourist now facing prosecution, the consequences could be severe.

If convicted, he could receive a prison sentence of up to two years, a penalty that would serve as a stark warning to residents and visitors alike about the boundaries of digital expression in the Emirates.The unfolding case reflects the complex intersection of geopolitics, digital media, and national security in an era when nearly every major event is instantly recorded and shared online.

As missiles continue to fall across parts of the Gulf and governments struggle to manage both physical threats and information flows, the incident in Dubai demonstrates how even a short video clip can become entangled in the broader battle over narratives, security, and global perception.

The Kurdistan region’s counter-terrorism service said late on Monday that it had shot down three drones over Irbil, with debris from one of the aircraft falling near the UAE consulate. Officials said no casualties were reported.

Saudi Arabia issued a statement through its foreign ministry expressing what it described as its strongest condemnation of the attack targeting the Emirati diplomatic mission.

The ministry said the targeting of diplomatic facilities was unacceptable and reaffirmed Riyadh’s support for measures aimed at maintaining security and stability in the region.

Earlier, the UAE’s foreign ministry said the incident represented a “dangerous escalation” and warned that such actions threaten regional stability.

The ministry said attacks on diplomatic missions and premises constitute a violation of international norms and laws governing the protection of diplomatic facilities.

The UAE urged the Kurdistan Regional Government to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, identify those responsible and hold them accountable.

Security authorities in Irbil said the drones had been intercepted before causing casualties, though investigations into the origin of the aircraft and the intended targets were ongoing.