War hits the region

The regional security and economic landscape lurched over the weekend as the US and Israel launched a sweeping attack on Iran and its leadership, prompting Iran to retaliate with drone and missile strikes on both Israel and Arab countries across the region.

Where do things stand this morning? Here’s what we know as of dispatch time this morning:

• Top Iranian military and political officials, including the defense minister and commander of the Armed Revolutionary Corps, were killed in Saturday’s strikes alongside Supreme Leader Khamenei;
• A three-man council including Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will run the country during a transitional period until a new supreme leader is chosen;
• Strikes on Iran will continue “throughout the week or as long as necessary,” US President Donald Trump said, adding he “agreed to talk” to the new Iranian leadership;
• Oman has been dragged into the conflict after its Duqm port was hit by drones;
• Israel targeted Beirut earlier today after Hezbollah fired several missiles at Israel on Sunday.
• A number of commercial vessels around the Strait of Hormuz were attacked yesterday, prompting ships and tankers to stay away for the time being;
• The UK has agreed to let the US use British military bases for “defensive” strikes on Iranian missile sites;
• European powers Germany, France, and the UK have affirmed their readiness to target Iran’s missile and drone launch capabilities;
• Three US troops were killed and five wounded, reportedly in Kuwait, while a missile struck a bunker in Israel, killing at least nine and wounding dozens.

What happened: Joint US-Israeli strikes shook Tehran starting around 9am Saturday, targeting the highest senior Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Both Tehran and Washington confirmed his death Saturday night.

The UAE Defense Ministry said it has intercepted a total of 165 ballistic missiles, two cruise missiles, and 541 Iranian drones as of yesterday afternoon, the majority of which were destroyed upon interception or have fallen into the sea. Most sounds heard in Dubai are a result of successful interception operations, Dubai Media Office confirmed.

The message from UAE officials: The UAE wants to avoid getting dragged into the war, but it won’t “sit idly by” amid attacks on its soil, State Minister for International Cooperation Reem Al Hashimy told CNN. “The ball is in Iran’s court about how they want to [engage] with a neighborhood and neighbor that has been traditionally a very fair and good neighbor to them,” she added.

“We are prepared to [defend ourselves]. We hope it doesn’t come to it, but […] we’re not going to sit idly by as we continue to be recipients of such a barrage of attacks,” the state minister added. Anwar Gargash, the president’s diplomatic advisor, struck a similar tone of threat and caution in a post on X addressing Iran and saying its aggression on the Gulf “missed its target and isolated Iran at its critical moment,” calling on the country to “[engage] with your neighbors with reason and responsibility before the circle of isolation and escalation widens.”

The GCC made a similar statement: Gulf countries have affirmed their “right to respond” to Iran’s strikes, following a meeting of the GCC’s Ministerial Council. The bloc emphasized that it is prepared to take necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty.

The damage so far

• Three people have been confirmed killed in the UAE as a result of fallen debris across the country, while 58 minor injuries were reported ;
• The Fairmont in Palm Jumeirah was damaged on Saturday night as a projectile hit the hotel, causing fire near its entrance, while the facade of the Burj Al Arab was also hit by fallen debris after an interception;
• A berth at Dubai’s Jebel Ali Port caught fire, also the result of falling debris;
• Al Salam naval base in Abu Dhabi was damaged by two Iranian drones, which resulted in a fire;
• Debris falling from an intercepted drone struck an embassy complex in Abu Dhabi where the Israeli embassy is also located. The fallout injured a woman and her child, Reuters reported;
• Amazon’s data center in Dubai was also “hit” by an “object,” sending many websites and online services offline, including EnterpriseAM.com.