Air travel and regional movement across parts of the Middle East were disrupted early Tuesday after a series of drone and missile incidents affected key locations in Iraq and the Gulf.
Baghdad
In Baghdad, security officials reported that two explosive drones and a rocket were directed toward the US Embassy in Baghdad in the fortified Green Zone.
One drone landed close to the embassy compound, while another caused a fire at a nearby hotel used by foreign visitors and officials. Air defense systems intercepted a rocket before impact.
Smoke was seen rising from the area shortly after the incident. No injuries were reported.
In a separate strike within the city, a residential building in the al-Jadiriyah district was hit, killing four people, including individuals identified by security sources as Iranian advisers.
UAE
In the United Arab Emirates, authorities briefly closed national airspace after detecting incoming missile and drone threats.
Passengers in Dubai reported hearing explosions as air defense systems intercepted projectiles overhead. The country’s aviation authority later confirmed that “the situation stabilized,” and flights resumed.
Debris from intercepted drones caused a fire in the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone, while earlier incidents affected fuel storage areas, including one near Dubai International Airport, one of the world’s busiest international travel hubs.
Operations at the Shah gas field, located about 180 km southwest of Abu Dhabi, remained suspended following a prior drone strike.
No passenger injuries were reported, but authorities confirmed damage to infrastructure and temporary disruption to flight schedules.
The incidents come as movement through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited. The route normally carries about one-fifth of global oil supply, but shipping traffic has slowed due to ongoing threats.
A commercial tanker anchored off Oman reported being struck by an unknown projectile, resulting in structural damage without injuries or environmental impact.
Elsewhere in the region:
- Qatar said it intercepted a missile, with debris causing a small fire in an industrial area
- Kuwait reported two medical workers injured after debris struck an ambulance facility
Oil prices have risen above $100 per barrel, increasing pressure on transport and logistics costs worldwide.
EU Rejects Trump’s Help
In Brussels on Monday, March 16, 2026, European Union foreign ministers discussed a request from Donald Trump to help secure the Strait of Hormuz for commercial and energy shipping.
EU officials said they would not extend their current naval operations into the area.
“This is not Europe’s war,” said Kaja Kallas. “Europe has no interest in an open-ended war.”
Kallas added that there was a “clear wish” to support existing defensive missions, but “no appetite” among member states to expand into the Gulf.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said, “The Americans chose this path, together with the Israelis,” while Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated, “NATO is a defensive alliance… it has no place here.
As a result, U.S. President Donald Trump reacted with clear dissatisfaction.
Speaking to reporters in Washington on Monday, March 16, 2026, Trump said he was “not happy” with the United Kingdom’s position after Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that Britain would not be drawn into a “wider war.”
Trump said the UK “should be involved enthusiastically” in efforts to reopen the strait, which has been disrupted amid ongoing conflict involving Iran.
He added that some allies had “greatly disappointed” him, singling out the UK, which he described as having been considered “the Rolls-Royce of allies.”
He further described the UK’s stance as “terrible”, especially in light of past cooperation between both countries, including joint efforts in Ukraine.
Trump said he was “very surprised” by the UK’s response and suggested that his outreach to allies was partly intended to assess their willingness to support the United States.
“In some cases,” he said, he asked countries for help “not because we need them but because I want to find out how they’re reacting.”
Despite his criticism, Trump indicated he still expected some level of eventual participation, stating: “I think they will be involved, yeah maybe, but they should be involved enthusiastically.”
Authorities across the Gulf say airspace remains open, but warn that conditions can change quickly. Airlines may adjust routes or schedules depending on security developments.
Passengers traveling through major hubs such as Dubai are advised to:
- Check flight updates regularly
- Allow extra time for airport procedures
- Follow official guidance from airlines and local authorities
