The US Department of Defense has reported that the country spent more than $11.3 billion during the first six days of the ongoing war in the Middle East. According to US media reports, Pentagon military officials presented this preliminary estimate to American lawmakers during a closed-door meeting on Tuesday.

Reports from The New York Times and NBC News, citing unnamed sources, stated that the figure covers only direct expenses incurred during the first six days of the conflict. The reports also noted that the estimate excludes pre-war expenditures such as the deployment of additional troops and military equipment.

As a result, the actual cost of the war is expected to be significantly higher than the initial estimate, according to the same reports.

Bahrain’s Interior Ministry announced on March 12, 2026, that four Bahraini citizens aged between 22 and 36 have been arrested on charges of spying for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). According to the ministry’s statement, the first detainee was allegedly following organizational instructions to photograph key sites in Bahrain with assistance from others. The collected information was reportedly transmitted to the IRGC through software channels.

The ministry also reported that Iran carried out an attack targeting a fuel tank at a facility in Bahrain’s northern Muharraq Governorate early Thursday morning. In a post on social media platform X, the ministry described the incident as Iranian aggression and said relevant authorities were taking necessary measures in response.

These developments come amid heightened regional tensions, with Bahrain directly accusing Iran of hostile actions on its territory and pursuing legal action against alleged domestic collaborators.

Air New Zealand has announced the cancellation of 1,100 flights over the next two months due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The airline’s chief executive, Nikhil Ravishankar, said the cancellations represent about five percent of its total flights, potentially affecting around 44,000 passengers. Most of the canceled flights are on domestic routes, though some international services will also be impacted.

Flights between New Zealand and the United States will continue as planned, as demand for that route has increased with travelers using it as an alternative path to Europe. Ravishankar explained that the conflict has caused unprecedented volatility in jet fuel prices, prompting airlines worldwide to adjust fares and schedules to manage rising costs.

The airline’s decision highlights the broader disruptions facing global aviation as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East continue to affect fuel markets and flight operations.

The United Nations Security Council has adopted a resolution condemning Iran’s attacks in the Gulf region and calling on Tehran to immediately cease hostilities. The resolution passed with 13 votes in favor, while Russia and China abstained. Iran criticized the measure as one-sided. The vote took place at the UN headquarters in New York, according to Al Jazeera’s correspondent Gabriel Elizondo, who noted that China and Russia could have used their veto powers but chose not to.

The resolution follows escalating hostilities that began on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched attacks inside Iran. In response, Iran has been firing missiles and drones targeting Israeli positions and U.S. military sites across the Arab Gulf region. The situation has heightened tensions around the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, where several ships have also been attacked.

The Security Council’s decision signals growing international concern over regional stability and maritime security, though Iran’s rejection of the resolution suggests continued friction in the near term.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has outlined three conditions for ending the ongoing war. In a post on social media platform X on Wednesday, he stated that Tehran demands recognition of its legitimate rights, compensation, and firm international guarantees against future aggression. The announcement comes as Iran seeks to define its stance in the conflict.

Amid escalating regional tensions, Pezeshkian held telephone conversations with the leaders of Russia and Pakistan as part of diplomatic efforts. He reportedly emphasized Iran’s position during these discussions. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump told Axios that the war would end 'soon' and claimed there was 'nothing left to strike' in Iran, asserting that it would end whenever he decided.

The statements from both sides highlight contrasting narratives about the conflict’s trajectory, with Iran focusing on conditions for peace and the United States projecting control over the war’s timeline.

Iran has launched a new missile attack on Israel, according to a statement from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Thursday. The IDF announced through its official Telegram channel that missiles fired from Iran toward Israeli territory were detected, and Israel’s defense systems were actively working to intercept the threat.

The report also noted that an Iranian security official, speaking to Al Jazeera on condition of anonymity, warned that the ongoing conflict could soon enter a new phase due to continued U.S. and Israeli attacks. The official reiterated that Iran had previously cautioned against such actions, suggesting that further escalation could make the situation more complex.

The renewed missile strike follows a series of recent attacks and rising tensions in the region, including incidents in the Persian Gulf and Hormuz Strait, where multiple ships have been targeted.

Iraq has temporarily suspended operations at all its fuel ports following an attack on oil tankers off the country's coast. A government official confirmed that commercial ports remain open. The head of Iraq’s General Company for Ports, Farhan al-Fartousi, told local media that one crew member was killed and 38 others were rescued. The state news agency INA reported that search operations continue for missing individuals.

According to Iraqi port security officials, two foreign fuel tankers were attacked by explosive-laden boats, causing fires on both vessels. Al-Fartousi said one of the tankers was struck while loading fuel and that a smaller Maltese-flagged tanker suffered an explosion. It remains unclear whether the blast resulted from a direct strike or a remotely controlled explosive boat. The tankers were about 30 miles, or 48 kilometers, from Iraq’s coast at the time of the incident.

Iraq’s government media cell described the incident as a sabotage attack, and investigations are ongoing to determine the method and perpetrators.

Eight Arab and Muslim countries have jointly condemned Israel for keeping Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque closed for 12 consecutive days during the holy month of Ramadan. In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, Pakistan, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Qatar denounced the closure and related restrictions.

The ministers stated that the security restrictions and discriminatory bans on prayers and worship in Jerusalem and its mosques constitute a grave violation of international law and humanitarian norms. They rejected Israel’s actions against worshippers at Al-Aqsa and asserted that Israel holds no sovereignty over occupied Jerusalem or its Islamic and Christian holy sites. The statement emphasized that the Al-Aqsa compound is exclusively for Muslims and that its administration belongs solely to Jordan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs through the Jerusalem Endowments and Al-Aqsa Affairs Department.

The countries urged Israel to immediately reopen the mosque gates and allow Muslim worshippers access, calling on the international community to pressure Israel to end these violations.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has reported that more than 1,100 children have been killed or injured since the outbreak of intensified fighting in the Middle East involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. In a statement released on Thursday, UNICEF said the violence began on February 28 and has created a “catastrophic situation” for children across the region.

According to UNICEF, around 200 children have been killed in Iran, 91 in Lebanon, four in Israel, and one in Kuwait during this period. The agency warned that the number of child casualties could rise if the conflict continues to escalate. It also noted that millions of children are unable to attend school, and hundreds of thousands of people, including many children, have been displaced by ongoing bombardments.

UNICEF emphasized that there is no justification for killing or maiming children or for destroying essential services they rely on. The organization said nearly 200 million children in the Middle East are now looking to the global community for urgent action.

Saudi Arabia announced that it intercepted three additional drones, bringing the total number of downed drones to 21 within a few hours. The country’s Ministry of Defense reported that after destroying 18 drones in the eastern region, three more attempted attacks were thwarted. According to multiple posts on social media platform X, two of the drones were shot down over the Empty Quarter desert as they approached the Shaybah oil field.

The ministry further stated that two more drones were destroyed in the eastern airspace around the same time. The report did not specify who launched the drones or the exact timing of the incidents. The announcement comes amid a series of regional security concerns, including recent attacks on ships in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, and reports of Iranian strikes on Israel.

The developments highlight ongoing instability in the Gulf region, where drone and maritime attacks have raised alarm over energy infrastructure and shipping security.

A residential apartment building in Dubai Creek Harbour, United Arab Emirates, caught fire after being struck by a drone, according to a report published on March 12, 2026. Authorities confirmed that all residents of the building are safe and no one was injured in the incident.

Dubai’s Government Media Office stated on social media platform X that emergency teams acted swiftly to bring the fire fully under control. The situation has since returned to normal, and no residents suffered any damage or harm.

Officials have not yet disclosed where the drone originated from or how the incident occurred, leaving key details about the cause and source of the strike unclear.

Iran has claimed that more than 200 US troops have been killed or injured during ongoing hostilities with the United States across the Middle East. According to Reuters, around 150 American soldiers were reported injured within the first ten days of the conflict. The Pentagon initially confirmed only eight serious injuries but later revised the figure to about 140, noting that most were minor and 108 soldiers had already returned to duty. The clashes intensified after an Iranian drone strike on March 1 killed seven US soldiers in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

The conflict began after a joint US-Israeli attack on Iran on February 28, prompting Tehran to launch retaliatory strikes on American military bases, embassies, and infrastructure across the region. The New York Times identified at least 17 US installations damaged by Iranian attacks, supported by satellite imagery and verified videos. Iran reportedly fired thousands of missiles and drones, while US officials claimed to have intercepted most of them.

Pentagon officials stated that US forces continue to target Iranian missile sites, reducing the frequency of attacks. However, both sides remain engaged in sustained military exchanges across the Gulf region.

Iran has intensified its confrontation with the United States and Israel, employing a saturation strategy that overwhelmed regional defense systems and exposed their limitations. According to multiple international reports, Iran launched extensive drone, ballistic, and cruise missile attacks across Gulf states following US-led strikes. These assaults targeted military bases, airports, and energy infrastructure, severely affecting civilian areas and disrupting the global energy market.

In the United Arab Emirates, drone strikes near Dubai International Airport injured civilians and damaged shipping routes, while attacks in the Strait of Hormuz disrupted one of the world’s key oil transport corridors. The United Nations Security Council urged Iran to halt its operations, but Tehran rejected the pressure and continued coordinated strikes. Amnesty International expressed concern over the humanitarian and environmental risks, and European leaders warned of long-term threats to energy security and international law.

Analysts cited by the Atlantic Council and other outlets noted that Iran’s modular and decentralized strike tactics are reshaping modern warfare, forcing Gulf nations to reassess defense costs and strategic stability amid volatile oil markets.

U.S. President Donald Trump told Axios that the ongoing war with Iran would end soon, asserting that there is “nothing left to strike” in the country. He added that the conflict would conclude whenever he decided. The statement follows a series of joint U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran that began on February 28.

According to Axios, Trump’s remarks contrast with those of Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, who said last Wednesday that the war would continue without a set timeline. Citing Reuters and The Times of Israel, Katz stated that the joint operation would persist until all objectives were achieved.

The report also referenced recent escalations, including attacks on six ships in the Persian Gulf and Hormuz Strait, and Iranian strikes that injured 179 people in Israel. The situation remains volatile as both nations signal differing expectations for the conflict’s duration.

Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for a new attack on Israel, saying it targeted the northern city of Shtula. The Lebanese armed group stated that the assault was carried out in retaliation for recent Israeli airstrikes in Beirut, which had struck the Lebanese capital multiple times.

According to the report, Hezbollah’s rocket barrage coincided with Iran’s recent missile attacks on Israel. Israeli sources claimed that at least 100 rockets were launched jointly by Iran and Hezbollah. The escalation follows a series of heavy strikes by Israel on Beirut and broader regional tensions involving Iran.

The latest exchange marks another surge in hostilities between Israel, Hezbollah, and Iran, raising concerns of a wider regional conflict if the attacks continue.