Fire erupts at Tehran’s Mehrabad airport as Israel and Iran trade attacks

The conflict in the Middle East escalated early Saturday after Israeli airstrikes hit the Iranian capital Tehran State media reported explosions and smoke in several parts of the cityVideos circulating online and verified by international media showed fires and thick smoke rising from Mehrabad Airport one of Tehranrsquos main aviation hubs The Israeli military later confirmed it had launched a new wave of attacks targeting government and regime infrastructure in the city reported AFPIran launches retaliatory strikeIn response Iran fired missiles and drones towards Israel and several Gulf countries Explosions were heard in Tel Aviv as Israeli air defence systems intercepted incoming projectilesAir raid alerts were also reported in Jerusalem while Gulf cities including Dubai Manama and areas near Riyadh witnessed heightened military activity as regional defence systems attempted to intercept aerial threatsSaudi Arabia and UAE intercept aerial attacksSaudi Arabiarsquos air defence forces successfully intercepted several incoming threats According to defence officials 16 drones launched in multiple waves were destroyed over the Empty Quarter while heading toward the strategic Shaybah oil fieldIn addition Saudi forces intercepted a ballistic missile and a cruise missile aimed at Prince Sultan Air Base near AlKharj Another drone was shot down east of Riyadh The United Arab Emirates also reported intercepting more than 125 drones and six ballistic missiles within the last 24 hoursStrategic oil facilities under threat as conflicts spread across regionThe Shaybah oil field located deep inside the Rubrsquo alKhali desert is one of Saudi Arabiarsquos largest energy assets The field plays a key role in supplying natural gas liquids to the petrochemical industry The attempt to target the facility is the first major strike since the USIsraeli air campaign against Iran began on February 28As per AFP the war has spread beyond Iran and Israel affecting several countries in the wider region Military activity has been reported in Lebanon Cyprus Turkey Azerbaijan Iraq and other nearby areasIsraeli airstrikes also targeted parts of Beirut and Baalbeck in Lebanon where the Iranbacked group Hezbollah has a strong presence Lebanonrsquos health ministry reported at least 217 deaths from Israeli airstrikes while hundreds of thousands of people have been displacedRising casualties and humanitarian concernsAccording to Iranrsquos health ministry the ongoing USIsraeli bombing campaign has killed over 900 people in Iran though independent verification remains difficultMissile and drone strikes from Iran have also caused casualties in Israel and several Gulf countries Humanitarian organisations warn that the situation could worsen as the conflict continuesOil prices surge over supply fearsThe conflict has triggered global economic concerns especially around energy supply Oil prices surged sharply amid fears that tensions could disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz one of the worldrsquos most important energy routesNearly 20 percent of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas shipments pass through this narrow waterway The US benchmark crude price West Texas Intermediate rose more than 12 percent crossing USD 90 per barrel during the weekGlobal reactionsWorld leaders have begun reacting to the rapidly escalating situation Russian President Vladimir Putin called for an immediate ceasefire during a phone conversation with Iranian President Masoud PezeshkianMeanwhile US President Donald Trump stated that the conflict would only end if Iran agreed to ldquounconditional surrenderrdquo The White House also said the war could continue for several more weeksWith ANI and AFP Inputs