US-Israel-Iran War Live News Updates: Loud 'Booms' Heard In Doha; Tanker Hit By Projectile Off Fujairah

‘Unfair’ War Risk Charges Add To Export Pain, Allege Exporters, Freight Forwarders

• Exporters continue to face sharp rise in shipping costs due to war risk surcharge
• Industry alleges shipping lines not fully implementing govt push on transparent pricing, disclosures.
• In many cases, risk surcharge is as high as or higher than freight, flags freight association 
• Freighters flag waivers not being fully passed on by ports, shipping lines.
• Industry says there is no clarity on how these charges are calculated or applied, leading to disputes.
• Exporters say foreign shipping lines exploiting regulatory gaps, as govt leaves pricing to stakeholder prudence.
• Industry is seeking government intervention for clarity and uniform rules.

Source: Freight Association March 16 letter to Shipping Ministry

Qatar's Civil Defense is handling a minor fire in the Industrial Area caused by shrapnel from an intercepted missile. There are no reported injuries. The Ministry of Interior confirmed that the fire is under control and urged citizens to remain calm.

Sri Lanka announced a four-day working week with every Wednesday a public holiday as a contingency measure for possible fuel shortages in view of the war in the Middle East. "It was decided to declare every Wednesday a public holiday with effect from March 18," Commissioner General of Essential Services Prabath Chandrakeerthi said.

Clarifying that this would not apply to health, ports, water supplies and customs, he said, "It would be applicable to schools, universities and the judiciary." The government expects the private sector to apply the same measure, the commissioner said.

The decision was taken at a special meeting convened by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake with the participation of the full state machinery "to discuss strategies for ensuring the continuity of public services amidst the energy disruption by the Middle East conflict."

(Source: PTI)

Two players from the Iranian women's football team have joined a practice session with a professional club in Brisbane in their first publicly-shared appearance since it emerged they had been granted asylum in Australia. Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh were pictured smiling and wearing the club's colors as they posed alongside a women's elite squad.

The Ministry of Defense of State of Qatar notified that armed forces intercepted missile attack which targeted State of Qatar.

Authorities in Qatar have issued an alert, warning people to remain in their homes and other safe places amid reports of loud 'booms' being heard in the capital, Doha. The Public Safety Alert advised people to stay away from windows, glass facades and exposed areas until the threat has passed, Al Jazeera reported.

The Russian Federation is calling out the US and Israel for sparking chaos in the Persian Gulf, saying their reckless actions are causing global economic repercussions. 

"Once a stable and prosperous region, the Persian Gulf is rapidly descending into a maelstrom of chaos and uncertainty. The economic repercussions of the reckless venture initiated by Washington and Tel Aviv are being felt ever more acutely far beyond the conflict zone – indeed, on a global scale. Meanwhile, instead of seeking paths to de-escalation and a return to negotiations, there is a further intensification of mutual hostility, with increasingly lethal and destructive strikes being carried out. As before, the Russian Federation stands ready, within the scope of its available capabilities, to contribute to a long-term and sustainable resolution of the conflict," Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation said.

(Source: ANI)

Iran's Ambassador to Moscow, Kazem Jalili, has announced that Tehran will seek reparations from the US and Israel for the deadly attack on a girls' school in Minab, southern Iran, which killed over 160 people, mostly children, reports Al Jazeera.

The Ministry of Defence of the United Arab Emirates said that UAE air defences are currently responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran. MOD asserts that the sounds heard are the result of the Air Defence Systems intercepting missiles and drones.

تتعامل حالياً الدفاعات الجوية الإماراتية مع اعتداءات صاروخية وطائرات مسيرة قادمة من إيران وتؤكد وزارة الدفاع أن الأصوات المسموعة في مناطق متفرقة من الدولة هي نتيجة اعتراض كل من منظومات الدفاع الجوي للصواريخ البالستية، والمقاتلات للطائرات المسيرة والجوالة.

UAE air defences are… pic.twitter.com/ARFZrh9LjG

— وزارة الدفاع |MOD UAE (@modgovae) March 17, 2026

The UK’s Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Centre reported that a tanker has been struck by an 'unknown projectile' while at anchor 23 nautical miles (42.5km) east of Fujairah in the Gulf of Oman. The tanker sustained minor structural damage, but no injuries among the crew and no environmental impact have been reported, according to the UKMTO. "Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity," it added.

UKMTO WARNING-ATTACK-023-26

Click here to read the full warning⤵️https://t.co/gGRwo080yv#MaritimeSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/lqLGd2y3lY

— UKMTO Operations Centre (@UK_MTO) March 17, 2026

President Donald Trump said he'd wrangled a confession of sorts from an Oval Office predecessor who he said had expressed regret in a private conversation about not attacking Iran the way Trump has been doing for more than two weeks. But there's just a little problem: Representatives for the four living former presidents — three Democrats and one Republican — said none have been in touch with Trump recently.

Trump declined to name the former president when reporters asked who it was, saying he didn't want to "embarrass him."

(Source: AP)

The Israeli military said early on Tuesday it had begun a “wide-scale wave of strikes” across Iran's capital and was also stepping up strikes on Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. It announced the new strikes as Israel reported two incoming salvos from Iran.

Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Iran's Foreign Minister, criticised the US Secretary of War's statement, saying it shows moral bankruptcy and ignorance of international law.

"When the U.S. Secretary of War declares “no quarter”, he doesn't project strength. He conveys moral bankruptcy and ignorance about law of armed conflict. We advise him to review the Hague Convention and Rome Statute of the ICC, unless he aspires to join Netanyahu as war criminal," he wrote on X.

When the U.S. Secretary of War declares “no quarter”, he doesn't project strength. He conveys moral bankruptcy and ignorance about law of armed conflict. We advise him to review the Hague Convention and Rome Statute of the ICC, unless he aspires to join Netanyahu as war criminal.

— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) March 16, 2026

United Arab Emirates lifts brief airspace closure over Iranian attacks, reports AP.

Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Iran's Foreign Minister, is denying reports of recent direct communication with US envoy Steve Witkoff, stating that his last contact was before the US launched a military attack on Iran. He claims that any claims of ongoing communication are aimed at misleading oil traders and the public.

In a post on X Araghchi wrote, "My last contact with Mr. Witkoff was prior to his employer's decision to kill diplomacy with another illegal military attack on Iran. Any claim to the contrary appears geared solely to mislead oil traders and the public."

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said there will only be a "political solution" to the war in Iran. Speaking after a meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten in Berlin, Merz said that he pointed out the risks of the conflict "from day one" and stressed that "there will be no military solution here; there will only be a political solution."

Responding to US President Donald Trump's calls to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz, Merz said "NATO is a defensive alliance, not an interventionist one." Merz also said he hopes that NATO allies "will treat one another with the necessary respect within the alliance."

A drone attack hit the Roya Tulip Al-Rasheed hotel in Baghdad's Green Zone, causing damage but no casualties. The hotel houses diplomatic delegations and international organisations, including the European Union Advisory Mission in Iraq. Security forces sealed off the area, and no group has claimed responsibility yet. This incident follows recent airstrikes targeting facilities linked to Iraqi militias, and the Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah reported the death of a senior security figure, Abu Ali Al-Askari.

The United Arab Emirates briefly closed and then reopened its airspace Tuesday, temporarily halting flights in a crucial travel hub, as the country's military said it was facing incoming attacks from Iran, reports AP.

The temporary disruption came as war in the Middle East continued to rage. The Israeli military early Tuesday reported a salvo of Iranian missiles as sirens sounded south of the Sea of Galilee. No injuries were reported. The US and Israel had pummeled military targets in Iran's capital a day earlier, with Israel stepping up bombardments of Iran-backed militants in Lebanon.

Several large explosions have been heard in northern Tehran, near the Saadabad Palace complex, within the last few minutes.

According to Al Jazeera's correspondent in Tehran, the exact nature of the most recent blasts remains unclear, though witnesses described the sounds of blast as occurring in close proximity to the former royal palace. A security source has told Al Jazeera Arabic that air defences have responded to a drone attack targeting the US Embassy in Baghdad.

Trump says, "When they say 'Death to America,' you should believe them because...if they had a nuclear weapon, they would've used it." He adds, "Iran is a shell of itself, it’s no longer a bully...it's the bully that got beat up. We beat the crap out of them—and and they deserve that."

"When they say 'Death to America,' you should believe them because...if they had a nuclear weapon, they would've used it," says @POTUS.

"Iran is a shell of itself, it’s no longer a bully...it's the bully that got beat up. We beat the crap out of them—and and they deserve that." pic.twitter.com/lWRJChv7NE

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 16, 2026

US President Trump says, "We have extinguished most of their missiles and drones... We have fully extinguished two layers of leadership and probably a third. We only have one thing to have a little choke point... and they (Iran) have used it very well for years, but it doesn't work. But I think this, if some of these countries that we've been good to for years, get 90 to 95 % of their energy from the Strait of Hormuz..."

#WATCH | Washington DC | US President Donald Trump says, "We have extinguished most of their missiles and drones... We have fully extinguished two layers of leadership and probably a third. We only have one thing to have a little choke point... and they (Iran) have used it very… pic.twitter.com/yDDVuWjKtW

— ANI (@ANI) March 16, 2026

US President Donald Trump said he's taking strong action to end the war quickly, making the world safer. He justified his approach as necessary and effective, suggesting a tough stance is needed to prevent escalation and protect global stability.

.@POTUS: "It'll be wrapped up soon. We're going to have a much safer world. I had an obligation to do this... you want to see a stock market go down? Start letting them hit you with nukes, okay?" pic.twitter.com/dPFLZeVO4H

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 16, 2026