by Xinhua writers Wen Xinnian, Zhao DanliangDUBAI, March 12 (Xinhua) -- As regional tensions rise and missile and drone attacks continue, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has seen a display of resilience among its population.The latest wave of tensions follows a late-February U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran, which prompted retaliatory strikes by Iran targeting U.S. military installations across the Gulf, including in the UAE.Since the conflict began, UAE air defenses have intercepted hundreds of ballistic and cruise missiles and more than 1,500 drones, according to official figures. Authorities said attacks have increasingly targeted civilian areas in Dubai, with debris from intercepted drones causing fires near the international airport, hotels, office towers, and residential buildings.Dubai authorities confirmed Thursday that a drone struck the facade of a building along Sheikh Zayed Road, a major city artery. Another minor drone-related incident occurred in the Al Bada'a area, with no injuries reported in either case.Despite the situation, daily life has largely continued. Businesses remain open, schools have shifted to remote learning, and residents occasionally hear fighter jets, missile alerts, and air-defense blasts.In recent days, a speech by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan emphasizing national resilience has circulated widely, appearing on social media, in songs, and on commercial products.For many residents and entrepreneurs, the trend has become a symbol of national solidarity. There is no doubt that war affects the entire world, so naturally Dubai's market may also feel some impact, said media strategist Syed Mudassar Khushnood. He noted that Dubai has repeatedly recovered from major shocks, including the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.Hamad Alhosani, head of the Islamic Studies Department at TRENDS Research and Advisory, said the UAE's reputation for stability and neutrality continues to attract global capi...

Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei says all U.S. bases in region will be attacked

ISTANBUL, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Türkiye will release 11.6 million barrels of crude oil from its strategic reserves as part of the International Energy Agency (IEA)'s largest-ever coordinated stockpile release, the country's energy minister said on Thursday.Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said a national oil stock committee had convened and approved the release, which will be carried out gradually over 90 days.We decided to release 11.6 million barrels from our strategic reserves in support of the IEA's coordinated release of 400 million barrels, Bayraktar told reporters during a visit to a coal mine in the Black Sea province of Zonguldak.The IEA, which has 32 member countries and 13 association countries representing about 75 percent of global energy demand, on Wednesday recommended that members release a combined 400 million barrels from national stockpiles -- the largest coordinated action in the agency's history, Executive Director Fatih Birol said.The move comes as conflict in the Middle East has severely curtailed oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, with crude and refined product exports falling to less than 10 percent of pre-conflict levels, according to the IEA.Bayraktar also said Türkiye was facing no disruptions to natural gas supplies, including imports from Iran, as seasonal demand eased with warmer temperatures.Citizens are not experiencing any shortages, he said.

KUWAIT CITY, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Kuwait International Airport was targeted by several drones early Thursday, resulting in property damage but no casualties, according to the country's civil aviation authority.The situation at the airport has been managed under an emergency plan that had been in place since the ongoing regional crisis began, Abdullah Al-Rajhi, spokesperson for the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, was quoted as saying by the Kuwait News Agency.In a separate incident in the early hours on Thursday morning, a residential building in southern Kuwait was struck by a drone, injuring two people and causing structural damage, according to a statement by the Kuwaiti Ministry of Defense.The ministry did not disclose the drone's origin but noted that Kuwaiti air defense systems had intercepted several hostile drones entering the country's northern airspace earlier in the day.The attacks also affected parts of Kuwait's power network, as debris from intercepted drones forced six overhead transmission lines out of service, causing partial outages in several areas, the Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy said.The incidents come amid rising regional tensions following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran that began on Feb. 28. Iran has responded with missile and drone attacks targeting Israeli and U.S. assets across the Middle East.

Mojtaba Khamenei to release 1st message as Iran's supreme leader