Airline pilots say the widening conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran is making flights more dangerous across busy airspace. The war has filled skies near several major airports with missiles and attack drones. Some Iranian strikes have also targeted airports, forcing flight operations to pause in cities such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Tanja Harter, president of the European Cockpit Association, said pilots are not trained for such threats. “We are not military pilots. We are not trained to deal with these kinds of threats in the air,” she told Reuters. She added that many pilots feel uneasy flying near conflict zones and “don’t want to share airspace with missiles.” (PC: X)

A drone strike linked to Iran hit Dubai International Airport on Saturday, briefly disrupting flight operations at the major global travel hub.   Videos on social media showed a large cloud of smoke rising near the airport after the strike. According to reports, passengers inside the airport moved into train tunnels after alerts were issued.   Airline Emirates said flights to and from Dubai were suspended “until further notice”, but operations resumed shortly after.   Dubai authorities said air defence systems were activated after several explosions were heard in the city.   Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian later said Tehran would pause strikes on Gulf countries and apologised, saying Iran had “no intention of invading other nations”.

India on Saturday said it continues to import Russian crude oil and does not need permission from any country to do so. The statement came after the United States issued a 30-day waiver allowing Russian oil already loaded on ships to be sold to India during the Middle East conflict. “India has never depended on permission from any country to buy Russian oil,” the government said. Officials said Russia remains India’s largest crude oil supplier. Imports increased after 2022 because of discounted prices. The government also said India buys oil from wherever it is cheapest. “In the national interest, India purchases oil from wherever the most competitive and affordable rates are available,” it said.

US President Donald Trump on Saturday claimed Iran has “lost” and “surrendered” to its Middle East neighbours after recent tensions in the region.   Trump made the remarks on Truth Social after Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian apologised to neighbouring countries and said Iran would not attack them unless it was attacked first.   “Iran… has apologized and surrendered to its Middle East neighbors,” Trump wrote.   He said Iran made the promise only because of “relentless U.S. and Israeli attack”.   Trump also claimed Iran is “no longer the bully of the Middle East”.   His comments came as strikes and air raid alerts continued in parts of the Gulf region. (PC: X)

The war in Ukraine is seeing growing use of armed ground robots called uncrewed ground vehicles (UGVs). Both Ukrainian and Russian forces are deploying them on the battlefield. Some UGVs carry machine guns or explosives and are used to attack enemy positions. Ukrainian troops say these robots have helped repel Russian assaults and protect frontline areas. “Robot wars are already happening,” said Maj Oleksandr Afanasiev of Ukraine’s K2 brigade. He said the machines can move and detect targets, but humans still decide when to fire. Russia is also building similar systems. Experts say clashes between combat robots from both sides may soon take place. (PC: BBC)

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it targeted a US air combat centre and a satellite communications hub at Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates amid the escalating US-Israel-Iran conflict. The base near Abu Dhabi hosts American military forces and is a key facility for regional air operations. Iranian officials described the strike as retaliation for US and Israeli attacks on Iran. Gulf states have heightened air defences, with several missiles and drones intercepted in the region. The attack marks a significant escalation, as Iran expands its strikes against US military installations across the Middle East during the ongoing conflict. (PC: India Today)

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has apologised to neighbouring countries for missile and drone strikes launched from Iranian territory during the ongoing Middle East conflict. In a televised address, he said Iran holds no hostility toward regional nations and announced that the country will halt attacks on neighbouring states unless they initiate aggression against Iran. The decision was approved by Iran’s interim leadership council amid escalating tensions involving the United States and Israel. Pezeshkian also rejected calls from the U.S. for Iran’s unconditional surrender, asserting that the country will defend itself if provoked. The statement is seen as an attempt to ease regional tensions. 

Operations at Dubai International Airport partially resumed after a brief suspension triggered by security alerts linked to the escalating Iran–Israel conflict. Flights were temporarily halted as missile alerts and regional tensions disrupted airspace across the Gulf. Authorities confirmed that safety protocols were activated before gradually allowing aircraft movements to restart. Meanwhile, Emirates issued updated flight schedules, advising passengers to check their flight status due to possible delays and rerouting. Several flights to and from Dubai were affected, as airlines closely monitor security conditions and airspace restrictions across the Middle East. (PC: Reuters)

At least seven civilians, including two children, were killed after a Russian missile struck a residential building in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city. The ballistic missile hit a five-storey apartment block, causing major structural damage and trapping residents under rubble. More than ten people were injured, including several children, while emergency teams launched rescue operations to search for survivors. The attack was part of a broader overnight Russian assault involving dozens of missiles and hundreds of drones targeting Ukrainian infrastructure across multiple regions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the strikes and urged international allies to strengthen air-defence support for Ukraine.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced that Tehran will halt military strikes on neighbouring countries unless attacks against Iran originate from their territory. The statement came after Iranian missile and drone strikes targeted several Gulf states hosting U.S. military assets during the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. Pezeshkian also apologised to neighbouring nations for the recent attacks, stressing that Iran does not seek confrontation with regional countries. However, he warned that Iran would respond forcefully if those nations allow their territory to be used for strikes against Iran, signalling a conditional attempt to de-escalate tensions. (PC: Reuters)