Middle East Tensions Rise as Trump Pressures Allies Over Strait of Hormuz, Israel Claims Thousands of Targets in Iran

GGS NEWS 

US President Donald Trump called on allies over the weekend to help secure the Strait of Hormuz as Iranian forces continue attacks on the vital waterway amid the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, now in its third week.

Trump said his administration has already contacted seven countries, but declined to identify them. In an earlier social media post, he said that he hoped China, France, Japan, South Korea, Britain and others would participate.

Iran has effectively shut the Strait, a narrow passage of water between Iran and Oman, choking off a fifth of global oil supply in the biggest disruption ever.

Fire near Dubai airport under control after drone attack, flights suspended

March 16, 2026 10:41 am

Dubai authorities brought under control on Monday a fire caused by a drone attack near the city's international airport that forced a temporary suspension of flights, though no injuries were reported, they said. The US-Israel war against Iran has thrown global aviation into turmoil, with flights cancelled, rescheduled and rerouted, as most Middle East airspace stays shut over fears of missile and drone attacks, while the crisis sends fuel prices soaring. Monday's incident is the third at the Dubai airport, one of the world's busiest international travel hubs, since Iran began its attacks on Gulf nations on February 28, with strikes Tehran has said aim at the US presence in the region. While the United Arab Emirates and Gulf countries, as well as Iraq, Jordan and Turkey, host US military facilities, Iran has used missiles and drones to target civilian facilities such as airports, hotels and ports. "A drone incident in the vicinity of Dubai International Airport affected one of the fuel tanks," the Dubai media office said on X. Traffic was temporarily halted on road and tunnel links with the airport, police said, while the Emirates airline suspended flights with Dubai. Some flights were diverted to the Al Maktoum International Airport, the Dubai media office said on X. Reuters

Australia

March 16, 2026 10:04 am

Australia will not send naval ships to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a government minister said on Monday. "We won't be sending a ship to the Strait of Hormuz. We know how incredibly important that is, but that's not something that we've been asked or that we're contributing to," Catherine King, a member of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's cabinet, said in an interview with state broadcaster ABC. Reuters

Japan

March 16, 2026 10:04 am

Japan does not currently plan to dispatch naval vessels to escort ships in the Middle East, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Monday. "We have not made any decisions whatsoever about dispatching escort ships. We are continuing to examine what Japan can do independently and what can be done within the legal framework," Takaichi told parliament. Reuters

Britain

March 16, 2026 10:04 am

Prime Minister Keir Starmer discussed the need to reopen the Strait to end disruption to global shipping with Trump, a Downing Street spokeswoman said on Sunday. Starmer also spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and they have agreed to continue talks on the Middle East conflict at a meeting on Monday, the spokeswoman added. Reuters

South Korea

March 16, 2026 9:46 am

"We will communicate closely with the U.S. regarding this matter and make a decision after careful review," South Korea's presidential office said on Sunday. Reuters

More Iranian missile strikes hit Israel

March 16, 2026 8:36 am

Cairo: Israel’s military said early Monday that Iran launched missiles toward Israel. Earlier, several strikes hit central Israel and the Tel Aviv area, where they caused damage at 23 sites and sparked a small fire. Magen David Adom, Israel’s rescue service, released video showing a large crater in a street and shrapnel damage to an apartment building. Israel’s military says Iran is firing cluster bombs that can evade some air defenses and scatter submunitions across multiple locations. AP

More missile and drone attacks are reported

March 16, 2026 8:36 am

Cairo: Gulf Arab states including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain reported new missile or drone attacks a day after Iran called for the evacuation of three major ports in the United Arab Emirates - the first time it has threatened a neighboring country’s non-US assets. Dubai temporarily suspended flights at its international airport - the world’s busiest - after a drone hit a fuel tank and caused a fire. Civil defense crews contained the blaze and no injuries were reported, authorities said. AP

Countries are cautious after Trump’s call

March 16, 2026 8:36 am

Cairo: US Energy Secretary Chris Wright told NBC earlier Sunday that he has been “in dialogue” with some of the countries Trump had mentioned previously, and said he expected China “will be a constructive partner” in reopening the strait. But countries made no promises. Britain said Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Sunday discussed with Trump the importance of reopening the strait “to end the disruption to global shipping,” and spoke with Canada’s prime minister about it separately. Aboard Air Force One, Trump specifically named Starmer, who he said initially declined to put British aircraft carriers “into harm’s way.” “Whether we get support or not, but I can say this, and I said to them: We will remember,” Trump said. A spokesperson for China’s embassy to the US, Liu Pengyu, said previously that “all parties have the responsibility to ensure stable and unimpeded energy supply” and that China would “strengthen communication with relevant parties” for de-escalation. South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said it “takes note” of Trump’s call and that it “will closely coordinate and carefully review” the situation with the US Expectations are high that Trump will ask Japan directly when Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets him on Thursday at the White House. France previously said it is working with countries - President Emmanuel Macron mentioned partners in Europe, India and Asia - on a possible international mission to escort ships through the strait but has stressed it must be when “the circumstances permit,” when fighting has subsided. AP