Updated by Faith Barbara N Ruhinda at 1309 EAT on Friday 13 March 2026

Britons in the United Arab Emirates could face “fines, imprisonment and deportation” for sharing images of projectile damage or other sensitive incidents, the British embassy has warned.

In a post on X, the embassy said: “UAE authorities warn against photographing, posting, or sharing images of incident sites or projectile damage, as well as government buildings and diplomatic missions.”

The embassy stressed that British nationals are subject to UAE laws and that violations “may lead to fines, imprisonment, or deportation.”

The warning follows reports that a 60-year-old British man was charged under Dubai’s cyber-crime laws after allegedly filming Iranian missiles over the city, according to the BBC.

The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (Hrana) reported that at least 7,000 people have been killed during the ongoing protests in Iran.

On March 8, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the Iranian people directly, urging them to rise against the ruling establishment. However, on March 12, he tempered his statement, saying, “I can’t say with certainty that the Iranian people will bring down the regime.”

The European Union says it will reassess the bloc’s oil and gas security in the event of a “prolonged closure” of the Strait of Hormuz.

Marine traffic through the strategic shipping channel has been restricted since the outbreak of conflict in the region, raising concerns over global oil supply and prices.

In a statement released Thursday, the EU said meetings were held yesterday to coordinate oil and gas strategies. “In case of a prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz or further disruptions, the EU security of oil and gas supply will be reassessed,” the statement said, while stressing that there are currently no immediate risks to supply.

Meanwhile, Australia announced that it will release six days’ worth of petrol and five days’ worth of diesel from its emergency stockpile to help ease potential shortages.

Reuters, citing an unnamed Iranian official, reported that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was “lightly injured” in recent joint US-Israeli strikes, though no further details were provided.

In an interview with Fox News set to air today, former US President Donald Trump responded to Khamenei’s call for Iran to continue using the “lever of blocking the Strait of Hormuz.”

The strategic shipping channel has seen attacks on and stranding of oil tankers, with global crude prices hovering near $100 a barrel.

“They’ve been doing a lot of talking, so he’s going to have to put up. We’ll have to see because we are decimating them,” Trump said.

“We are hitting them harder than anyone has been hit since World War Two.”

The UK Energy Secretary has told the BBC that the government “will not tolerate” energy companies profiteering from rising fuel prices.

Global oil prices have surged since the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East two weeks ago, climbing back above $100 a barrel on Thursday.

Ed Miliband said he and Chancellor Rachel Reeves are “really concerned” about developments in parts of the energy market and had met with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) earlier this week.

“They’re looking at the situation carefully and are willing to intervene,” Miliband added.

State media in Oman reported that two people have been killed in a drone attack in the Sohar region, as Iran continues to strike at its neighbours.

Oman shares control of the strategic Strait of Hormuz with Iran and, until the outbreak of the current conflict, had maintained closer ties with Tehran than most other Gulf states. The government in Muscat has historically acted as a diplomatic mediator between Iran and Western powers, notably the United States.
Earlier this week, fire crews spent hours tackling a blaze at fuel storage tanks at the Port of Salalah following a suspected Iranian drone attack.

In a first statement attributed to Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei said his country still values “friendship” with its neighbours—a stance not reflected in Iran’s continuing regional actions.

In Dubai, another drone was intercepted on Thursday morning, with debris striking a building. No injuries were reported in this incident or in similar attacks over the past 48 hours.

The UAE government, however, reports that six people have been killed and more than 130 wounded nationwide since the conflict began.

Almost two weeks into the conflict, Israel’s military struck Iran overnight, targeting what it described as regime infrastructure.

At the same time, Israel is expanding operations against the Iranian-backed group Hezbollah in Lebanon. The group continued to fire missiles and launch drones toward northern Israel, injuring several people.

In his first news conference since the conflict began, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated that one war aim was to create conditions for the Iranian people to rise up and overthrow the government. There are, however, no signs of that occurring.

Iran continues to target ships, including oil tankers, passing through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, Iran’s neighbours in the oil-rich Gulf, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, were again targeted overnight.

-BBC

Invest or Donate towards HICGI New Agency Global Media Establishment – Watch video here

Email: editorial@hicginewsagency.com TalkBusiness@hicginewsagency.com WhatsApp +256713137566

Follow us on all social media, type “HICGI News Agency” .