Israeli drone strikes Ramada Hotel in Beirut as Iranian attacks hit Kuwait

Over a week after the US and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran, the conflict across West Asia has intensified. As UAE airlines resume limited flights to and from the country, the Ministry of Defence asserted that the armed forces are prepared to counter any threats to national security.

Amid rising reports of blasts across Dubai, Doha, and other Gulf states over the weekend, several nations reported the successful interception and destruction of aerial threats originating from Iran. Dubai's main airport was notably affected on Saturday, as a drone attack near the main terminal temporarily suspended operations, despite Iran previously announcing it would no longer target neighbouring countries.

Here are the key developments from March 8:

Air travel updates: Air India and Air India Express will operate extra UAE flights on March 8, as airspace over Saudi Arabia and Oman remains open. Air India continues its scheduled flights connecting Delhi and Mumbai with Jeddah, while Air India Express operates services linking Muscat with Delhi, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mangaluru, Mumbai, and Kannur, along with flights connecting Jeddah with Bengaluru, Kozhikode, and Mangaluru.

Incidents in Dubai: Authorities confirmed that debris from an aerial interception fell onto a vehicle in Al Barsha, killing a Pakistani driver. Additionally, debris caused minor damage to the facade of a tower in Dubai Marina.

Attack near Bahrain: Early Sunday, an Iranian strike targeted a facility near Port Salman. Bahrain's Interior Ministry confirmed that civil defence teams were controlling the resulting fire.

UAE leadership response: UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, breaking his silence on the Middle East conflict, said in a televised address, "The UAE has thick skin and bitter flesh – we are no easy prey." He noted the country is in a "period of war" but affirmed that it would "emerge stronger."

Beirut strike: An Israeli attack on a Beirut hotel killed at least four people and injured ten others, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry.

Qatar missile attack: Qatar's Ministry of Defence confirmed it was targeted by ballistic and cruise missiles launched from Iran on Saturday. Its armed forces intercepted six of the ten ballistic missiles and both cruise missiles.

Indian evacuation: India's Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that more than 52,000 Indians were safely evacuated from the Gulf region between March 1-7, 2026.

Escalation threats: US President Donald Trump threatened further escalation, saying the US will strike Iran "very hard" as the conflict entered its ninth day. In response, Iran's top security official, Ali Larijani, vowed retaliation, stating Iran "will not let Trump go" and that he "must pay the price."

As the crises in West Asia continue to spiral, the ongoing US-Israel conflict has heavily impacted countries including Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Lebanon.