Middle East War Day 13 LIVE: Oil Tankers Attacked, Indian National Killed

March 12, 2026 - Middle East Conflict LIVE Update

6:00 pm: Turkey’s Foreign Minister Fidan has called on Israel to halt its bombardment of Lebanon, warning that the country risks collapse if the attacks continue.

Israel claims to have "eliminated" Iran's operations commander Abu Dharr Mohammadi, the operations commander in the IRGC’s missile unit within Hezbollah in Beirut.

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright says the US Navy is not yet ready to escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz.

5:00 pm: Qatar’s Ministry of Defence has said the country’s military has intercepted a new missile attack aimed at the Gulf nation.

More than 50 crew members were rescued after an attack on the two oil tankers in Iraq's territorial waters, port authorities told AFP.

A series of powerful explosions hit the Iranian capital on Thursday, according to an AFP journalist.

3:00 pm: The governor of Iran’s capital Tehran has said public transport will be provided free of charge in the city during the war, says Tasnim news agency.

Israeli military says it carried out a “wave of extensive strikes” targeting Iranian government infrastructure.

Bahrain Defence Force says it has intercepted more than 112 missiles and nearly 186 drones since the start of the war on February 28.

An attack on an Italian base in Iraqi Kurdistan causes damage but no injuries, according to Italian authorities on Thursday.

2:00 pm: Explosions were heard in downtown Dubai on Thursday, according to an AFP correspondent who saw small clouds of smoke rise above a residential neighbourhood. Authorities in Dubai are “responding to a minor drone incident in the Al Bada’a area”, as per its media office. No injuries have been reported.

Citibank will shut its branches in the UAE from March 12 to 14 calling it a precaution as the war in the region continues.

Kuwait International Airport was hit by several drones causing material damage, as per reports citing civil aviation authorities.

1:00 pm: A Japanese-flagged container ship One Majesty was damaged while anchored in the Persian Gulf, according to Mitsui OSK Lines on Thursday. All crew members on board are safe and the ship is operational.

Kuwait Energy Ministry said on Thursday that six power transmission lines of the country are out of service after debris from intercepted drones fell on them, say reports.

Bangladesh requests US to allow it to purchase oil from Russia, says an AP report.

Israel’s Health Ministry says 179 people have been injured in the last 24 hours, with the majority in “mild condition”.

10:00 am: Strait of Hormuz is in the crosshairs of the ongoing conflict as the US-Israel war with Iran enters the 13th day. Two foreign oil tankers have been attacked in Iraq’s port of al-Faw. 

An Indian national was reported killed in attack by an Iranian "suicide boat" against the Marshall Islands-flagged and US-owned oil tanker Safesea Vishnu in Iraqi waters. The identity of the deceased Indian has not been disclosed yet. The remaining 27 crew members and personnel aboard the vessel were rescued.

The strikes mark the first time Iran has directly targeted oil tankers. The tankers were believed to be carrying as much as 400,000 barrels of Iraqi crude.

A container ship off Dubai in the Persian Gulf came under attack on Thursday (March 12), sparking a small fire, according to reports.

China has ordered refiners to stop exports of gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel, in March with immediate effect, to manage potential domestic fuel shortages, as per sources.

Kuwait, Qatar, UAE and Saudi Arabia are continuing to be targetted by more Iranian missiles and drones which are being intercepted.

Two persons were wounded in a drone attack on a Kuwait residential building early Thursday, according to the Ministry of Defence.

Saudi Arabia says it has shot down several waves of drones heading towards its Shaybah oilfield 

Three crew members are "believed to be trapped" aboard a Thai bulk carrier that was hit by two projectiles on Wednesday (March 11) while passing through the Strait of Hormuz, as per reports.

All oil terminal operations have been completely suspended, while commercial ports continue to function normally, reports quote the head of Iraq’s General Company for Ports, Farhan al-Fartousi, as per Al Jazeera.

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has put forth three conditions to end the war - recognition of Tehran’s legitimate rights, payment of reparations and international guarantees against future aggression.

US President Donald Trump has vowed to “finish the job,” arguing that most major Iranian military targets have already been struck.

Israeli officials say the campaign is far from complete and that they still have a broad list of targets inside Iran.