Iran attacked and set ablaze a large Kuwaiti oil tanker off Dubai overnight, raising fears of an oil spill. Dubai officials later said the blaze was extinguished and there were no injuries or spill reported. The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Defense said early Tuesday it was defending the country against missiles and drones launched by Iran. Saudi Arabia also reported overnight drone attacks.
Iran’s foreign minister insisted the strikes were aimed at U.S. targets, not “brotherly” Gulf states. Meanwhile, a wave of attacks struck central Israel; the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said rescuers were responding to impact sites and Israeli media reported injuries. The IDF also said it had completed strikes on government infrastructure in Tehran and continued operations against Iran-backed Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, destroying weapon warehouses, headquarters, underground shafts and a rocket launcher. Israel reported additional losses in Lebanon, announcing three more soldiers killed.
The United Nations Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting after three U.N. peacekeepers from Indonesia were killed in Lebanon. One was reportedly killed by indirect artillery fire and two died when an explosion destroyed their vehicle. Indonesia has called for a swift, transparent investigation; Israel is investigating whether its troops or Hezbollah were responsible. Fighting in Lebanon has intensified, with strikes reported in Beirut’s southern suburbs and the Bekaa Valley. Lebanese officials reported at least nine civilian deaths in recent attacks; Israel reported four soldiers killed.
On the diplomatic and military fronts, the Pentagon planned a briefing by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs chairman Dan Caine. U.S. Central Command said Commander Adm. Brad Cooper met with Israel’s Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir to discuss progress in operations to degrade Iran’s ability to project power. Cooper also visited U.S. troops supporting “Operation Epic Fury” and recognized service members for performance during the operation’s first weeks.
At home and abroad, tensions over allied support surfaced. Spain closed its airspace to U.S. planes involved in the conflict, prompting sharp criticism from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who accused Spain of “bragging” about the move. Spain’s government confirmed the closure and has sought to distance itself from the war, a stance its prime minister has emphasized domestically ahead of future elections. After the initial U.S.-Israel strike on Iran, flight records showed multiple in-flight refueling planes leaving joint bases in southern Spain when they were not permitted to provide support.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his military’s objectives in Iran were more than halfway complete and that Israel is expanding its invasion of Lebanon. Casualties and destruction continue on multiple fronts.
Inside Iran, authorities said they arrested 46 people for selling Starlink satellite internet connections, one of the few means Iranians have used to reach the global internet amid a government-imposed blackout that NetBlocks said had entered its 32nd day. The monitor warned of mounting technical and security problems from prolonged isolation. Iran also said it executed two people linked to opposition activities and two accused of spying for the U.S. and Israel.
President Trump reiterated claims that Iran wants a deal but warned the U.S. might seize Iran’s oil and Kharg Island or take other severe measures if Tehran did not comply with U.S. demands, including opening the Strait of Hormuz. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration still seeks a deal before an April 6 deadline, and that private communications with Iran differ from public statements.
President Trump posted a video of explosions on social media that the Associated Press said likely showed a U.S. attack on Isfahan. The post included no caption.
Global and religious leaders appealed for an end to violence. The Dalai Lama called for dialogue, diplomacy and mutual respect, echoing a recent plea by the pope for the laying down of arms.
Reporting contributions came from Beirut, Washington, Van (Turkey), Seville (Spain) and Johannesburg.
