Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukrainian officials are helping five countries in the Middle East and Gulf region counter attacks on their territory by Iranian drones. He also says that the United States and European countries are among others who have requested support. Ukraine is also looking into whether it can have a role in restoring security in the Strait of Hormuz amid the Iran war, according to Zelenskyy. Ukraine has become one of the world’s leading producers of cutting-edge, battle-tested drone interceptors that play a key part in its defense against Russia’s more than 4-year-old full-scale invasion.

Explosions are sounding in Dubai after the United Arab Emirates reopened its airspace following a brief closure amid incoming attacks from Iran. The UAE's military was working early Tuesday to intercept incoming Iranian fire. The war in the Middle East continued to escalate as Israel launched new strikes on Tehran and against Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. The Israel military also faced new salvos of incoming missiles from Iran. Fears of a global energy crisis continue as the war rages on. Tehran has regularly fired on Israel, American bases in the region, and Gulf Arab countries’ energy infrastructure. It has also effectively stopped shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.

Governments are responding with caution after U.S. President Donald Trump asked countries including China and Britain to send warships to help protect vessels in the Strait of Hormuz off Iran. Global oil prices have soared as one-fifth of the world's supply normally transits the strait. Iran's foreign minister says the strait is open to all but the U.S. and its allies and that some countries have already approached Tehran for help in getting safe passage for their vessels. Abbas Araghchi also rejects the idea of talking with the U.S. about finding a way to end the war.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he is ready for the next trilateral peace talks with the U.S. and Russia, but the meeting depends on Washington and Moscow. He says the U.S. offered to host talks, but Russia refused to send a delegation. Zelenskyy warned the new conflict in the Middle East, which led to the postponement of the talks, could drain air defense supplies Ukraine needs. He says he is discussing alternatives to Patriot missile systems with France. He has also disputed President Donald Trump’s claim that the U.S. does not need Ukrainian drone technology.

Iraq is caught in the crossfire of the Iran war and is the only country facing strikes from both sides, threatening to drag the nation that has so far avoided two years of regional turmoil into a full-blown crisis. Disruptions to Gulf shipping and strikes on oil fields and infrastructure have all but halted exports, jeopardizing a state that relies on such trade for the bulk of its revenue. If the shutdown continues, Baghdad could be unable to meet its oversized public‑sector payroll. In the meantime, near-daily drone strikes have targeted American interests across the country, while the U.S. has struck back against militia bases to defend its troops.

Iran’s new supreme leader released his first statement since succeeding his late father. Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said Thursday that Iran would keep up its attacks on its Gulf Arab neighbors and use the effective closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz as leverage against the United States and Israel. Khamenei, 56, who Israel suspects was wounded in the opening salvo of the war, did not appear on camera, as his statement was read by a state TV news anchor. The statement included a vow to avenge those killed in the war, including in a strike on a school that killed over 165 people.