Iran War LIVE Updates: Saudi Arabia's defence ministry says it downed 3 ballistic missiles

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has suggested that rerouting energy pipelines toward the Mediterranean could serve as a long-term solution to the vulnerabilities surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, according to an interview with Newsmax. "Long-term solutions include rerouting energy pipelines westward, across Saudi Arabia to the Red Sea and Mediterranean, bypassing Iran's geographic choke point," Netanyahu told Newsmax, stressing the need to reduce reliance on the Strait.

Pakistan's Ambassador to the US, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, in an interview with Fox News has said that the efforts to facilitate US-Iran peace talks are underway, but cautioned that the process will be complex and time-consuming. Speaking on the network's programme "Special Report", Sheikh highlighted initial confidence-building measures as a step towards negotiations.

A broker representing US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth sought to invest in a major US defence-focused fund in the weeks leading up to the US-Israeli military action against Iran, the Financial Times reported, citing sources familiar with the matter, as quoted by Reuters. According to Reuters, citing the Financial Times report, which cited three people familiar with the discussions, the broker, working with Morgan Stanley, contacted BlackRock in February regarding a potential multimillion-dollar investment in the Defence Industrials Active ETF (IDEF). The inquiry was flagged internally at BlackRock, the sources added.

Asian nations are increasingly competing for Russian crude oil as an energy crisis mounts amid the month-old war by the US and Israel against Iran, which has choked off roughly a fifth of the world's oil supply. Much of the oil from the mostly shut Strait of Hormuz was headed for Asia, hit hardest by recent energy shocks. Over the weekend, Iran-backed Houthi rebels entered the conflict, further threatening shipping. To shore up global crude oil supplies, the US has temporarily eased sanctions on Russian oil shipments already at sea - first for India, then for the rest of the world.

The US military is building a massive complex under a privately funded ballroom being built in the White House, a move that has run foul with President Donald Trump's detractors. The underground facilities at the White House include a Presidential Emergency Operations Centre (PEOC) which dates back to the Second World War. This facility has been upgraded at regular intervals.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the ongoing US-Israel military operation against Iran amid the West Asia conflict is "beyond the halfway point", with the current focus of the coalition being to secure or remove Tehran's enriched uranium stockpile. In an interview with Newsmax, Netanyahu expressed confidence in the progress of the joint military campaign, emphasising that significant steps have been taken to dismantle Iran's military and nuclear capabilities.

A drone struck a Kuwaiti oil tanker sailing in the waters of Dubai, sparking a fire on board, according to the Dubai Media Office. Emergency teams quickly responded and managed to bring the blaze under control before fully extinguishing it. Authorities confirmed that all 24 crew members are safe and that no injuries have been reported. Further assessments of the incident are underway.

The Israeli army said that it is aware of reports regarding two instances in which United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon peacekeepers were killed. The army said and is reviewing them to determine whether the deaths resulted from Hezbollah activity or Israeli fire, noting that "these incidents occurred in an active combat area," The Associated Press reported. 

Two Indonesian United Nations peacekeepers have died while on escort duty in support of UNIFIL operations in southern Lebanon. The Indonesian Ministry of Defense said in a written statement on Tuesday that two other soldiers were also seriously injured amid intensifying hostilities in the area. The statement added that the exact cause of the incident is still under investigation by UNIFIL in accordance with established procedures.

Emergency crews rushed to an abandoned house in the Al Badaa area of Dubai today morning after debris from an air defence interception triggered a fire, injuring four people, according to the Dubai Media Office. Officials said the injured were provided immediate medical assistance at the scene. In neighbouring Bahrain, authorities confirmed that warning sirens were activated as precautionary measures. More updates are awaited.

Saudi Arabia's Defence Ministry has confirmed that its forces successfully intercepted three ballistic missiles launched towards the capital city of Riyadh. The ministry said its air-defence systems neutralised the incoming threat, preventing any reported damage or casualties. More details are awaited as security agencies continue to assess the situation.