Image source, Royal Thai Navy

As we've been reporting, three more cargo ships were attacked in the region overnight, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Centre.

Since the war began on 28 February, there have now been 16 reported attacks on vessels in the Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman, according to its latest update.

There have also been four reports of "suspicious activity" during the conflict, the UKMTO says.

It's "really rough right now," the UN's humanitarian chief tells the BBC, as the organisation continues in its response to the war in the Middle East and conflicts elsewhere.

Tom Fletcher tells BBC Radio 4's Today programme that he lost three colleagues on Wednesday, describing it as "an incredibly tough day for our humanitarian colleagues". He doesn't specify where they were working.

"We're outraged, we're grieving for them, and in their honour we're getting on with it. We'll meet the moment but it's really really rough right now," he says.

Fletcher adds: "The UN was built for moments like this so we will get out there and we'll deliver, but we're doing at a time when we're under-resourced, over-stretched and when they're literally killing us."

The Bahrain interior ministry says alarms in the country have been activated.

In a post on X it says: "We urge citizens and residents to remain calm, head to the nearest safe place, and follow the news through official channels."

It is not clear what area the siren is being sounded in or why. In our previous post we shared a picture of smoke rising over the country's capital, Manama - while a picture earlier this week showed damage to a high-rise tower.

Image source, Reuters

We can now share some pictures taken across the Middle East today, after the region saw a wave of strikes overnight.

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

Image source, Reuters

Hugo Bachega
Middle East correspondent reporting from Erbil, northern Iraq

Italy’s defence ministry says a missile struck an Italian base in the city of Erbil, in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of Iraq, overnight, without causing any casualties.

The ministry did not say who it believed it was behind the attack. Italy has about 300 soldiers in Erbil, training Kurdish forces.

Erbil, where a US military base is also located, has been a key target of Iran’s retaliatory strikes and Iranian-backed militias since Israel and the US launched a war against Iran.

Israel has issued an urgent warning for residents in Qasr Naba, in Lebanon's Baalbek region, to evacuate the area.

The Israeli military "will attack military infrastructure belonging to the terrorist Hezbollah in the near time frame," Israel's Arab media spokesperson Avichay Adraee says.

The warning comes after the Israeli military carried out a series of strikes on Beirut overnight. During this wave of strikes, it says it hit 10 Hezbollah buildings in southern Beirut.

Our correspondent in Beirut, Wyre Davies, reported earlier that eight people had been killed in a strike on Beirut's seafront.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

A high-rise building in Dubai has been pictured with a large hole on Thursday morning, after the local government reported a drone "fell on a building".

It's not clear where the reported drone came from.

On Wednesday night, the Dubai government media office said it was responding to the incident near Dubai Creek Harbour. Video verified by the BBC shows flames inside the building where it appears to have been hit.

In an update in the early hours of Thursday morning, the Dubai government media office said a fire had been brought under control and no injuries have been reported.

Image source, Telegram

Image source, Reuters

As we just reported oil prices are up again, having already increased during the US-Israeli war with Iran.

But speaking to his supporters in Kentucky yesterday, US President Donald Trump said yesterday's decision by 32 countries to release oil reserves would "substantially reduce oil prices".

Earlier in the day, whilst touring a business in Cincinatti, Trump called fluctuations in oil prices a "matter of war".

"Prices are coming down very substantially," he said.

"Oil will be coming down. That's just a matter of war that happens. You can almost predict it. I would say it went up a little bit less than we thought. It's going to come down more than we, than anybody understands."

He later said the US would "look very strongly" at the Strait of Hormuz, adding: "The straits are in great shape. We've knocked out all of their boats. They have some missiles, but not very many."

Osmond Chia
Business reporter

Energy prices have come down slightly after Brent crude topped $100 (£74.73) a barrel earlier on Thursday in Asian trading - even after news that countries have agreed to release record amounts of oil reserves.

Brent is now trading by around 6% higher at $97.48, while New York-traded oil is up by about 5.5% at $92.09 a barrel.

Energy prices have soared since the start of the war with huge swings, coming close to $120 on Monday.

Traders are expecting this conflict to be "prolonged" - which explains why the release of oil reserves has provided little relief and serves as a "temporary buffer", says Martin Ma from the Singapore Institute of Technology.

Three more civilian ships were attacked overnight, according to UK Maritime Trade Operation, which is continuing to advise ships to "transit with caution".

Two ships attacked off Iraqi coast:

At 01:30 local time (22:30 GMT), a third party reported that two tankers had been "struck by an unknown projectile" five nautical miles off the coast of Iraq, in the northern Gulf.

Both ships reported fires on board after being struck, the UKMTO says, adding all crew members have been evacuated.

The Iraqi News Agency reports 38 crew members were rescued and one person has died, citing a military official.

The Director General of the General Company for Ports of Iraq (GCPI) says operations at oil terminals have been suspended but commercial ports remain functional, it reports.

One ship attacked off coast of UAE:

At 06:19 local time (02:19 GMT), the UKMTO says it received a report of a container ship "struck by unknown projectile causing a small fire onboard", around 35 nautical miles off the coast of the UAE - close to the Strait of Hormuz. All the crew were reported as being safe.

The cause of both strikes is still being investigated.

Image source, UKMTO

Barbara Plett Usher
Reporting from Doha

Continued Iranian attacks have started fires around the region.

As we've reported, two tankers were set ablaze near Iraq’s southern port of Basra, forcing a halt of operations at the country’s oil terminals. Most of the crew members were rescued but one died.

In Bahrain, there’s a major fire after Iran targeted oil and fuel tanks near the international airport. The smoke is so thick the authorities are urging people to keep their windows closed.

In Oman fire crews are still working to contain a blaze at fuel storage tanks from yesterday’s strike on the port of Salalah - separately Oman has now ordered an evacuation of vessels at its oil export terminal as a precautionary measure.

It’s clear that Iran intends to impose a prolonged economic shock.

Its Revolutionary Guard Corps has also warned that western financial institutions are now a legitimate target, after a strike on an Iranian bank.

International banks have been closing their Gulf offices – HSBC here in Qatar, Citi and Standard Chartered in Dubai – telling employees to stay home.

Wyre Davies
reporting from Beirut, Lebanon

Image source, EPA

Several people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon including at least eight in attacks on Beirut's seafront area, well away from the Hezbollah stronghold which was the main focus of Israel's bombardment.

Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets across the border into Israel in an apparently co-ordinated attack with its Iranian allies. It was a night of heavy bombing across the city, with loud explosions being heard from the Dahia area of southern Beirut, a Hezbollah stronghold from where thousands of people have already fled because of the intense attacks.

Some airstrikes also hit other parts of Beirut, including along the city's Corniche seafront at Ramlet al-Baida.

Lebanon's health ministry said at least eight people were killed in what appeared to be a direct hit on a car, with reports of a second attack after people had gathered to help, causing further casualties.

There were no specific warnings about the strike at the beachfront, where hundreds of people displaced from homes elsewhere in Lebanon by the conflict were sleeping in makeshift shelters.

As Israel threatened to step up its bombing campaign against Hezbollah, the militant Shia organisation said it had launched more than 100 rockets at Haifa and other parts of northern Israel.

Reports said the attack appeared to have been a co-ordinated operation between Hezbollah and Iran - described as the first joint action against Israel since the war began.

Oil release is significant but doesn't answer crucial question for traderspublished at 05:53 GMT

05:53 GMT

Nick Marsh
Asia Business Reporter, Singapore

Oil prices have continued to rise in morning trade in Asia, despite major countries agreeing to release a record amount of oil from their emergency reserves as they try to curb the impact of the Iran war.

Brent crude has been hovering around $100 a barrel, even after all 32 members of the International Energy Agency (ISE) said they would release 400 million barrels - roughly what the world consumes in four days - in response to supply concerns.

The intervention from the IEA was significant but it's not something it can do often. And for traders, it didn't answer the crucial question of how long the Strait of Hormuz will remain a danger zone for oil tankers.

Iran's revolutionary guards has warned the country's enemies that they "will not be able to artificially lower the price of oil" and to soon expect it at "200 dollars per barrel".

US President Donald Trump, whose words have managed appease markets previously, is now under more pressure than ever to explain to Americans how this conflict won't have an impact on the cost of living.

Yolande Knell
Middle East correspondent, in Jerusalem

The latest Iranian attacks on shipping – including on vessels travelling through the crucial Strait of Hormuz – are deeply worrying for global trade and for Arab Gulf countries – which continue to be directly targeted with missiles and drones.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military, which is closely coordinating with US forces, says it again launched an "extensive" wave of air strikes targeting the regime in Tehran overnight.

It also says it struck 10 Hezbollah headquarters in Beirut within 30 minutes.

The Israeli airstrike on Beirut killed seven people and injured 21 others, the Lebanese Health Ministry announced in a statement.

At the same time, Hezbollah continued to fire missiles at northern Israel, and Israel intercepted incoming Iranian rocket fire.

Image source, intogrey/Jack Seikaly/via REUTERS

Image source, Reuters

A total of 13 ships have been attacked in and around the Arabian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman between 28 February and 11 March, UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported yesterday.

Overnight, off the coast of Iraq, a further two ships were struck near the port of Umm Qasr, near the city of Basra. The attack killed one person and injured 38 others, the head of the General Company for Iraqi ports said.

And just a moment ago, the UKMTO announced another incident north of Jebel Ali, UAE, writing that "the Master has reported the container ship was struck by unknown projectile causing a small fire onboard."

A full damage assessment has been "impaired by darkness", it adds.

Osmond Chia
Business reporter

Within the last few hours the price of Brent crude hit $100 (£74.79) a barrel, rising by 9% on Thursday in Asia.

Oil prices have not eased as even after dozens of countries, including the US and the UK, announced they would release record amounts of emergency reserves.

Iran has also continued its threat against ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a transit point for a fifth of the world's oil.

US-traded crude has jumped by 9% at $95.27.

Oil prices crossed $110 a barrel on Monday and have fluctuated heavily since.

Image source, Getty Images

In some breaking news overnight, authorities say two foreign tankers were hit by explosions near the port of Umm Qasr, in the Iraqi city of Basra.

The head of the General Company for Iraqi ports says it has rescued 38 crew members from the vessels, and one person has died, in comments cited by the Iraqi news agency.

Ship tracking websites show the two tankers suspected of being attacked surrounded by rescue boats.

It's unclear at this stage what caused the explosions. An initial investigation from Iraqi security officials showed explosive-laden boats from Iran had hit the two tankers, Reuters and CNN reported.

The UK's maritime monitor also said it has received similar reports, while Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organisation expressed "deep regret" over the incident.

Operations at all terminals have been suspended, authorities added.

Image source, Reuters

Attacks on ships in the Gulf have intensified. Iraqi authorities say one person has died and another 38 have been rescued near the port of Umm Qasr, in the city of Basra, while Oman has rescued 20 sailors from a Thai-flagged vessel, some of whom had been injured, according to the Oman News Agency.

Oil prices continue to rise despite major countries agreeing to release a record amount of oil from their emergency reserves as they try to curb the impact of the war.

Brent crude rose by almost 9% to top $100 ($74.79) a barrel in Asia trading even after all 32 members of the International Energy Agency (IEA) said they will release 400 million barrels in response to supply concerns.

On Wednesday, Iran warned that oil could reach $200 a barrel as its attacks on ships intensify in the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for energy shipments.

Overnight the Israeli military launched "a large-scale wave of strikes" on Hezbollah infrastructure. In Beirut, BBC's Samantha Granville reported seeing orange flashes light up the night sky in what she described as the "loudest night" for the city since the war began.

Israel also said it intercepted rockets fired by Iran and Hezbollah.

Meanwhile, Iran's foreign minister announced that the country's national infrastructure was under attack, including the oldest bank "while full of employees" and pledged revenge.

In the Gulf, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and the UAE have reported intercepting aerial attacks overnight.

Image source, Reuters

We're resuming our live coverage of the war in the Middle East, where drone and missile strikes have continued overnight.

The economic shock of the conflict is being felt around the globe - rattling financial markets and again sending the price of Brent crude oil above $100 a barrel amid fears about energy supplies.

Attacks on ships in the Gulf have also intensified, with large explosions reported on two foreign tankers, according to authorities. At least one person has been killed, reports say.

The Israeli military has continued strikes in Lebanon overnight, saying it hit 10 Hezbollah structures in Beirut. Iranian missiles were also intercepted heading to Israel, the military said.

Meanwhile attacks in the Gulf have continued, with Saudi Arabia and Qatar reporting aerial strikes.

Stay with us as we bring you the latest updates.