Dubai, Abu Dhabi News Live Updates: 45 Arrested Over War Misinformation; Iran Threatens To Hit US‑Linked Oil Sites

Iran’s armed forces on Saturday threatened to destroy oil and energy infrastructure linked to the United States after President Donald Trump said American forces had bombed Iran’s oil hub, Kharg Island.

In a statement cited by Iranian media, the military’s Al-Anbiya Central Headquarters warned that infrastructure belonging to companies cooperating with the United States would be “immediately destroyed and turned into a pile of ashes” if Iran’s energy facilities were attacked.

The announcement, reported by Fars and Tasnim news agencies, came in response to Trump’s remarks that US strikes had “obliterated” military targets on Kharg Island.

Trump also threatened to target the island’s oil infrastructure if Iran blocked ship passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

Police in Abu Dhabi said on Saturday they had arrested 45 people, including foreigners, for spreading misinformation and filming sensitive locations during ongoing events as Iran continued to carry out strikes across the Gulf.

According to Abu Dhabi Police, the Criminal Investigation Department detained the individuals after they filmed different locations during the events and shared the footage on social media platforms.

Authorities said the suspects were also accused of circulating inaccurate and misleading information online.

Police warned that such actions could incite public opinion and spread rumours within the community.

The arrests come amid heightened tensions in the region as security authorities continue to monitor the situation closely.

A senior minister from the United Arab Emirates said on Friday that Iran must stop its attacks on neighbouring countries if diplomatic efforts are to move forward.

The minister said that continued strikes in the region make it difficult for countries to push for dialogue and mediation. She stressed that stopping the attacks would be an important step toward allowing diplomacy to take place.

IndiGo has announced that it will introduce a fuel charge on both domestic and international flights starting from March 14, 2026, citing a sharp rise in aviation fuel prices.

In a statement released on March 13, the airline said the additional charge will apply to all new bookings made from 00:01 hours on March 14. The decision comes amid increasing fuel costs linked to ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

Iran continued its attacks across the Gulf region as tensions escalated following joint strikes by the United States and Israel.

Authorities in Oman said two people were killed after security forces intercepted a drone near an industrial area in the northern part of the country. State media reported that the casualties occurred during the interception operation.

Meanwhile, in Saudi Arabia, air defence systems shot down a drone that was heading towards the diplomatic quarter in Riyadh. The area hosts several foreign embassies and diplomatic missions. The development was reported by AFP.

The incidents come as Iran continues its retaliatory strikes on oil-rich Gulf nations after the US and Israel carried out attacks targeting Tehran, raising concerns about wider instability in the region.

Iran’s recent attacks on parts of the Gulf region, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi, come after joint military strikes carried out by the United States and Israel on Tehran on February 28.

The strikes reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei along with several members of his family. Following the attack, Iranian authorities vowed a strong response and warned that American interests across the region would be targeted.

As part of that retaliation, Iran began launching attacks on locations linked to US military presence in the Gulf. These reportedly included sites across Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait, along with areas in the UAE.

At least eight people were killed in an Israeli strike on a village in southern Lebanon, the country’s health ministry said on Friday.

According to the ministry, the casualties were reported after the attack targeted a village in the southern part of the country. The details of the strike and the identities of those killed were not immediately known.

An Emirates flight travelling from Dubai to Chennai reached Chennai Airport early on Friday after its departure was delayed by around an hour, according to reports.

Passengers on flight EK 0542 said the aircraft took off later than scheduled due to air clearance procedures. The delay came at a time when heightened tensions in the West Asian region have led to stricter aviation checks and precautions.

Despite the brief delay, the flight landed safely in Chennai, ANI reported.

As the conflict in Middle East continues, oil prices jumped on Thursday and for the first time since 2022 settled above $100 per barrel. The price of Brent crude surged 9.2 percent.

Authorities in Dubai reported a “minor drone incident” on Thursday as Iran continued its campaign against the Gulf in response to US-Israeli attacks. “Dubai authorities are responding to a minor drone incident in the Al Bada’a area. No injuries have been reported,” the Dubai government’s media office said in a post on X.