President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that a second US military pilot has been located in Iran following a high-risk search-and-rescue mission. The pilot had been missing after his F-15E Strike Eagle jet was shot down on Friday, the first US aircraft to crash in Iranian territory since the conflict began in late February.

Trump described the operation on social media, saying, “This brave Warrior was behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran, being hunted down by our enemies, who were getting closer and closer by the hour.” He added that the aviator is injured but “will be just fine,” noting that the rescue involved dozens of aircraft and around-the-clock monitoring of the pilot’s location. A second crew member was rescued earlier.

The conflict, which began with joint US-Israel strikes on February 28, has killed thousands, disrupted global markets, cut key shipping routes, and pushed fuel prices higher. Trump warned last week that the United States had “decimated” Iran and intended to end the war quickly, while Iran has demonstrated the ability to strike back, shooting down multiple US aircraft, including an A-10 attack jet. The status of that crew remains unclear.

Drone attacks have also targeted Gulf energy infrastructure. In Kuwait, an Iranian drone damaged two power plants and a water desalination station, though no injuries were reported. In Bahrain, a fire broke out at a storage facility operated by the national oil company, which has since been extinguished. Authorities said the extent of damage is still being assessed.

Trump renewed threats for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz by Monday, a critical route for global energy shipments, or face severe consequences. In response, Gen. Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi of Iran’s joint military command warned that “the doors of hell will be opened” against any US infrastructure in the region. Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, later issued a veiled threat to disrupt traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which links the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean and carries a significant portion of the world’s seaborne oil and container traffic.

Diplomatic efforts are ongoing. Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt are mediating negotiations to bring the US and Iran to the table. Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said efforts to broker a ceasefire are “right on track,” while Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, confirmed that Tehran has not refused to engage in talks. Officials indicate that a proposed compromise could include a cessation of hostilities to allow for diplomatic resolution.

The war has caused widespread casualties. In Iran alone, more than 1,900 people have died. In Gulf Arab states and the occupied West Bank, over two dozen people have been killed. Israel has reported 19 deaths, the US 13, and Lebanon has seen more than 1,400 fatalities and over one million displaced. Ten Israeli soldiers have also died in the conflict.

At least 15 people were killed in a wave of Russian strikes across Ukraine from Friday into Saturday, as Kyiv renewed calls for a temporary Easter ceasefire and launched retaliatory drone attacks deep into Russian territory.

Ukrainian officials described the assault as “massive,” involving a combination of missiles and drones targeting multiple regions, including areas near the capital. Authorities said the attacks reflect a shift in Russian tactics aimed at increasing pressure on civilians.

“The Kyiv region is once again under a massive Russian missile and drone attack,” said Mykola Kalashnyk, head of the regional military administration, in a statement. He reported that one person was killed and at least eight others were wounded in strikes on satellite towns around Kyiv, including Bucha, Fastiv and Obukhiv.

Elsewhere, a guided aerial bomb hit an apartment building in the northern Sumy region, killing one person, according to local officials. Casualties were also reported in Kherson, Zhytomyr, Kharkiv and Donetsk regions as attacks continued throughout the day. Overnight, five more people were killed in Nikopol, west of Zaporizhzhia, local authorities said.

Ukrainian officials warned that Russia may be intensifying daytime strikes after months of primarily night-time bombardments. They said such a shift could increase the risk to civilians, particularly in densely populated areas.

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said nearly 500 drones and cruise missiles were launched during the latest wave of attacks. “This is how Moscow responds to Ukraine’s Easter ceasefire proposals — with brutal attacks,” he wrote on social media.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has indicated that Ukraine remains open to a truce during the Easter period, which will be observed next week by Orthodox Christians in both countries. He said the proposal had been communicated to Moscow through US channels, though no clear response has been received.

The Kremlin has previously expressed scepticism about temporary pauses in fighting. Earlier this week, spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia was seeking a lasting settlement rather than a short-term ceasefire. Last year, a brief unilateral truce declared by Moscow during Easter was marred by mutual accusations of violations.

Meanwhile, Ukraine continued its counterattacks with drones targeting sites inside Russia. The Russian Defence Ministry said it shot down 192 Ukrainian drones overnight across the country and in occupied Crimea.

Regional officials in Russia reported damage and injuries. Two people were hospitalised after a drone strike in the Leningrad region, more than 1,000 kilometres from the Ukrainian border, while another attack in Belgorod left 12 people injured, including several soldiers. Authorities also reported intercepting drones near Moscow, with no casualties recorded.

The escalation on both sides comes as the conflict shows no signs of easing, with continued attacks raising concerns about civilian safety and the prospects for any near-term ceasefire.

Dubai was shaken by at least five explosions on Tuesday morning as residents rushed to underground shelters, Euronews journalists reported. The attacks, carried out using missiles and drones, were confirmed by Iran’s IRGC-affiliated Tasnim news agency.

The UAE’s Defence Ministry said in a statement on X that the country’s air defences were “actively engaging with missiles and UAV threats.” Four people were injured by debris from an interception that fell on residential areas in southern Dubai, authorities said.

The Dubai Media Office added that the incidents caused property damage and minor injuries to four Asian nationals. Authorities confirmed that firefighters had extinguished a blaze on a Kuwaiti oil tanker at Dubai Port, which was also targeted in the strike. No oil spill was reported, and all 24 crew members on board were reported safe.

Reports first emerged of residents rushing to shelters as the blasts were distinct from previous air defence intercepts, sonic booms, or prior Iranian strikes on the city. The scale and intensity of the explosions prompted emergency services to respond quickly to secure affected areas.

The attack comes amid escalating tensions between Iran and the UAE. On Monday, Iran’s judiciary announced the revocation of residency permits for 1,200 Emirati nationals living in Iran, citing a “hostile action” by the UAE and giving those affected one week to leave the country.

Tehran’s Tasnim news agency confirmed the missile and drone strikes, signaling a direct escalation in the ongoing dispute. The UAE authorities emphasized their readiness to respond to the threat and continue assessing the situation.

Security experts say the incident highlights the growing risk of regional spillover from the Iran conflict. Dubai, a key financial and commercial hub, has previously avoided direct military attacks, but this strike marks a significant escalation. The UAE government and emergency services have been coordinating to contain any additional risks and ensure civilian safety.

The blasts disrupted morning routines across southern Dubai, with residents seeking immediate shelter and local authorities deploying emergency personnel to manage the aftermath. Initial reports indicate the damage was limited to residential buildings and the targeted tanker, with no large-scale casualties reported.

Analysts note that the UAE’s air defence systems successfully intercepted most of the incoming missiles and drones, but falling debris remains a hazard in densely populated areas. The government has urged residents to stay vigilant and follow instructions from emergency services as investigations into the attacks continue.

The strike underscores heightened tensions in the Gulf region and raises concerns about the security of critical infrastructure in major urban centers like Dubai.