LPG carrier Jag Vasant is seen at Mumbai Port in India after clearing the Strait of Hormuz, on April 1, 2026. Photo Rafiq Maqboo/AP/AlJazeera
Doha, Qatar: More ships are passing through the Strait of Hormuz, says the maritime intelligence firm Windward.
It said the number of transits through the critical waterway increased to 16 on Wednesday – the third consecutive daily rise.
Meanwhile, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have come under Iranian missile attacks, with strikes reportedly causing damage to an oil refinery in Al Ahmadi operated by the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation.
Stay tuned for more updates
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9:15pm Doha Time
One killed, several injured in fire at UAE’s Habshan gas facilities
One Egyptian national has been killed in a fire on the UAE’s Habshan gas facilities that was caused by debris from an intercepted attack, according to the Abu Dhabi Media Office. It added that four others – two Pakistanis and two Egyptians – were injured.
5:53pm Doha Time
Qatar successfully intercepts drones launched from Iran: MOD
The Qatari Ministry of Defense announced that the State of Qatar was targeted today, Friday, by a number of drones launched from Iran. "Our Armed Forces, by the grace of God, successfully intercepted and neutralized all incoming drones," it added in its statement.
5:36pm Doha Time
UAE Air Defenses intercept missiles and drones amid ongoing attacks
The United Arab Emirates has intercepted a fresh wave of missile and drone attack launched from Iran, the country's defense ministry announced. A ministry statement on Friday said the air defense systems shot down incoming 18 ballistic missiles, four cruise missiles and 47 drones. Read more
5:33pm Doha Time
Qatar and China hold talks on regional tensions, Strait of Hormuz risks
Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs HE Dr Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Khulaifi has discussed escalating regional tensions with Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Qatar HE Cao Xiaolin.
Friday's talks in Doha focused on developments related to the ongoing military escalation in the region and its serious implications for regional and international stability. Read more
4:05pm Doha Time
Pakistan announces free public transport as energy crisis bites
State-run public transport in Pakistan's capital and most populous province will be free for the coming month, officials said on Friday, after the government drastically raised fuel prices due to spiking global energy prices caused by the Middle East conflict.
The announcement follows a late-night decision to impose a 42.7-percent rise in the price of petrol and 54.9 percent on diesel, which prompted several street protests. Read more
2:49pm Doha Time
Bahrain intercepts hundreds of missiles, drones
General Command of Bahrain's Defense Force stated that air defense systems have intercepted and destroyed 188 missiles and 445 drones since the start of Iranian attacks targeting the kingdom. The Defense Force condemned, in a statement, the strikes on civilian areas as a serious violation of international law and a direct threat to regional security.
1:48pm Doha Time
UK sending Rapid Sentry air defence system to Kuwait
Britain is sending an air defence system to Kuwait.
The announcement of the deployment of the Rapid Sentry system followed a call between Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Kuwait’s emir Sheikh Mishal al-Ahmad Al Sabah after strikes on the oil refinery port of Mina al-Ahmadi.
“The Prime Minister began by condemning the reckless overnight drone attack on a Kuwaiti oil refinery,” his spokesperson said.
“He reiterated that the UK stands with Kuwait and all our allies in the Gulf.”
10:58AM Doha Time
Kuwait says Iranian strike hits desalination plant
Kuwait said an Iranian strike damaged parts of a power and desalination plant on Friday, adding that emergency teams are working under contingency plans to maintain operations and secure the facility, Al Jazeera reports.
9:55am Doha Time
Tracking data shows more ships passing Strait of Hormuz
More ships are passing through the Strait of Hormuz, says the maritime intelligence firm Windward.
All 16 vessels used a route via Larak Island. Windward said that’s a sign that more countries are “negotiating with Iran to get ships through” and “suggesting the pace of transits could rise in coming days.”
While the number of transits has increased, traffic in the critical waterway remains a fraction of normal levels.
Before the start of the war on February 28, about 130 vessels transited the strait daily, according to UN Trade and Development.
9:44am Doha Time
Saudi Arabia downs six drones, defence ministry says
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence says it has intercepted and destroyed six drones.
The drones were intercepted “during the past hours,” a ministry spokesperson said on Friday morning.
The ministry did not attribute responsibility for the attacks.
9:23am Doha Time
UAE says responding to new wave of missile, drone attacks
The ministry of defence of the United Arab Emirates has said that it is currently battling a wave of new missile and drone attacks.
9:15am Doha Time
Drone attack damages Kuwait oil refinery
Kuwait’s state news agency said an oil refinery in Al Ahmadi, operated by the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, was attacked in an early morning drone strike on Friday.
The post on X said that the drone attacks led to the outbreak of fires in a “number of operational units,” but no employees were injured.
Emergency and firefighting teams have been sent to the scene. An earlier post on X warned that “hostile missile and drone attacks” on Kuwait were underway.
