{"id":335136,"date":"2026-03-08T09:13:13","date_gmt":"2026-03-08T09:13:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/335136\/"},"modified":"2026-03-08T09:13:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-08T09:13:13","slug":"latest-chartered-flight-to-ireland-arrives-from-oman-israel-and-iran-trade-attacks-the-irish-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/335136\/","title":{"rendered":"Latest chartered flight to Ireland arrives from Oman; Israel and Iran trade attacks \u2013 The Irish Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

Main Points<\/p>\n

Key Reads<\/p>\n

\u2018This is a war that should not have happened,\u2019 China\u2019s foreign minister<\/p>\n

China\u2019s foreign minister has called for an immediate ceasefire in the\u00a0Iran war\u00a0to prevent further escalation and warned against any attempt at regime change, reports Denis Staunton. <\/p>\n

Although Iran and\u00a0China enjoy a strategic partnership, Wang Yi struck a neutral tone as he called on all sides to return to the negotiating table.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a war that should not have happened. It is a war that does no one any good. The history of the Middle East tells the world time and again that force provides no solution, and armed conflict will only increase hatred and breed new crises,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cChina calls for an immediate stop to military operations to avoid the spiralling escalation of the situation and prevent the conflict from spilling over and spreading.\u201d<\/p>\n

For more, read here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Oman Air has cancelled flights to and from Amman, Dubai, Bahrain, Doha, Dammam, Kuwait, Copenhagen, Baghdad and Khasab \u201cdue to ongoing regional airspace closures\u201d.<\/p>\n

Huge fire engulfs tower in Kuwait after drone strikes <\/p>\n

Flames engulfed Kuwait\u2019s Public Institution for Social Security high-rise headquarters after it was hit by a suspected drone amid a wave of Iranian aerial strikes on the country. pic.twitter.com\/7zslUZVOQA<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Al Jazeera Breaking News (@AJENews) March 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

A huge fire engulfed a tower in Kuwait city following drone strikes in the early hours of Sunday morning. <\/p>\n

It is reported to have broken out at a government site operated by the Public Institution for Social Security in Kuwait.<\/p>\n

In a social media post, the department said: The main building of the organization was targeted, resulting in material damage to the building. The fire appears to be under control now.<\/p>\n

Drones launched at British military bases in Cyprus\"AA Lockheed U-2 spy plane is seen above RAF Akrotiri on March 7th, 2026 in Akrotiri, Cyprus. Photograph: Alexis Mitas\/Getty Images <\/p>\n

Cyprus\u2019 foreign minister Constantinos Kombos has told the Guardian that explosive-packed drones directed at British military bases on the island were launched from Lebanon.<\/p>\n

\u201cRight now it\u2019s a fact that we have to be looking towards the Lebanese front,\u201d said the minister, confirming the drones\u2019 provenance for the first time. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe cannot exclude anything from the broader direction of the north-east. We have to be very careful\u2026we have to make sure that the systems in place are covering all possibilities of threat.\u201d <\/p>\n

Cypriot officials are adamant it is the British bases, not the republic, that have been singled out for attack since the onset of the US-led offensive against Iran. – Guardian<\/p>\n

Irish chartered flight lands in Dublin<\/p>\n

Pleased to confirm that the government charter flight from Oman arrived in Dublin this morning. <\/p>\n

We are continuing to work to assist our citizens in the Gulf and I would encourage any citizen in the region who needs assistance to contact the Consular Crisis Team on +35314082000 pic.twitter.com\/ZEBrX3Euo1<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Helen McEntee TD (@HMcEntee) March 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

The chartered flight from Muscat in Oman landed just before 5am, several hours after its scheduled midnight arrival.<\/p>\n

It was delayed on Saturday due to the \u201chighly challenging operational context for aviation in the region\u201d.<\/p>\n

It made a stop in Cairo and was carrying around 194 people.<\/p>\n

The flight was chartered to bring stranded, vulnerable Irish citizens home amid escalating scenes of hostilities between Israel, the United States and Iran.<\/p>\n

Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee said it had been a challenging journey.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am pleased to confirm the arrival into Dublin of a chartered repatriation flight from Oman. I want to welcome home all those who travelled on the flight we have chartered to assist those stranded in the Gulf region,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know their return will be an enormous relief for themselves and for their families and friends.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a challenging journey, in particular for those who travelled over land to Muscat, but I am glad that we have been able to directly facilitate the return of nearly 200 people, including a number of children and infants.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hundreds of Irish citizens returned recently from the region via commercial Emirates flights from Dublin. Another is due to land at 6.55pm on Sunday.<\/p>\n

\"FamilyFamily members wait for their loved ones to arrive at Dublin Airport following an Irish Government chartered flight from Oman, which stopped at Cairo, before touching down in Dublin in the early hours of Sunday. Photograph: Evan Treacy\/PA Wire \"PassengersPassengers are welcomed by family members as they arrive at Dublin Airport following an Irish Government chartered flight from Oman, which stopped at Cairo, before touching down in Dublin in the early hours of Sunday. Photograph: Evan Treacy\/PA Wire US and Israel strikes damage five oil sites around Tehran\"SmokeSmoke billows after an explosion from fuel storage and energy complexes after a U.S.-Israeli airstrikes in Tehran, Iran, on Saturday, March 7th, 2026. Photograph: Arash Khamooshi\/The New York Times <\/p>\n

The United States and Israel hit five oil facilities in overnight strikes in and near the Iranian capital, an official told state TV. <\/p>\n

\u201cLast night, four oil depots and a petroleum products transport centre in Tehran and the Alborz were attacked by enemy aircraft,\u201d the CEO of the National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company Keramat Veyskarami told state TV. <\/p>\n

He added that the five facilities \u201cwere damaged\u201d but the \u201cfire was brought under control\u201d. <\/p>\n

On Saturday, an Israeli attack hit an oil storage facility in Tehran.<\/p>\n

Majority consensus reached on Iran\u2019s next supreme leader<\/p>\n

A majority consensus over a successor \u200cto Iran\u2019s slain supreme leader \u200bAyatollah Ali Khamenei has more or less been \u200breached, assembly of experts member Ayatollah \u2060Mohammadmehdi Mirbaqeri said \u200con \u200cSunday, \u200baccording to Mehr news agency.<\/p>\n

He said, \u2060though, \u200bthat \u201csome obstacles\u201d need \u200bto be \u200cresolved regarding the process, according \u200bto the report.<\/p>\n

Iranian \u2060media said \u2060the \u200bbody tasked with appointing Iran\u2019s supreme leader had a minor disagreement over whether their \u200cfinal decision must \u2060follow an in-person meeting or instead \u200cbe issued without adhering to \u200bthis formality.<\/p>\n

The \u200cIsraeli military warned \u200cit would continue pursuing every \u200bsuccessor of Iran\u2019s next supreme \u200bleader.<\/p>\n

In a post \u2060on X, \u200cthe \u200bIsraeli military also \u2060warned \u200bit would pursue \u200bevery person \u200cwho seeks to \u200bappoint a successor \u2060for Ayatollah \u2060Ali \u200bKhamenei, referring to the clerical body charged with choosing \u200cthe Islamic \u2060Republic\u2019s supreme leader.\u00a0<\/p>\n

12 more people killed in Lebanon\"SmokeSmoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in Dahiyeh, Beirut\u2019s southern suburbs, Lebanon Photograph: Hussein Malla\/AP <\/p>\n

Israel struck southern Lebanon and Beirut again early on Sunday and killed 12 more people, the Lebanese health ministry said.<\/p>\n

The deaths come on top of at least 47 others killed on Saturday in Israeli strikes.<\/p>\n

The fighting has killed more than 290 in Lebanon, so far.<\/p>\n

Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian apologised on Saturday for attacks on \u201cneighbouring countries\u201d, even as his country\u2019s missiles and drones flew toward Gulf Arab states and hardliners asserted that Tehran\u2019s war strategy would not change. – Press Association <\/p>\n

Two Kuwaiti officers killed<\/p>\n

Kuwait authorities said two officers were killed when a swarm of missiles and drones hit the Gulf country. <\/p>\n

The interior ministry said only that the officers were killed \u201cwhile performing their national duty\u201d. – Press Association<\/p>\n

Kuwait\u2019s military said it was still intercepting \u201chostile missile and drone attacks\u201d on Sunday. <\/p>\n

Kuwait\u2019s national oil company announced a \u201cprecautionary\u201d cut to its crude production, as the country\u2019s military said Sunday it had responded \u201cto a wave of hostile drones that penetrated the country\u2019s airspace\u201d. <\/p>\n

Fuel tanks at Kuwait\u2019s international airport were targeted in a drone attack, the military added. – Guardian<\/p>\n

Israel initiated \u2018wave of strikes\u2019\"SmokeSmoke rises from Tehran’s oil refinery following last night airstrike in Tehran, Iran, March 8th, 2026. Photograph: EPA \"RubbleRubble of destroyed buildings is pictured at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted Rweiss neighbourhood in Beirut’s southern suburbs, on March 8th, 2026. Photograph: AFP via Getty Images <\/p>\n

Israel\u00a0renewed its assault on southern\u00a0Lebanon\u00a0early on Sunday, targeting commanders of the Lebanese branch of Iran\u2019s Revolutionary Guards\u2019 Quds Force, after Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu promised \u201cmany surprises\u201d for the next phase of the conflict.<\/p>\n

The Israeli military said it would \u201cnot allow Iranian terrorist elements to establish themselves in Lebanese territory\u201d.<\/p>\n

The latest strikes in Lebanon followed an Israeli attack on Saturday on an oil storage facility in Tehran.<\/p>\n

It appeared to be the first time a civil industrial facility has been targeted in the war. State media blamed \u201can attack from the US and the Zionist regime\u201d at the site that supplies the capital and neighbouring provinces in the north.<\/p>\n

Israel also launched fresh strikes across Iran.<\/p>\n

The Israeli military said it launched a wave of strikes \u201cacross Iran\u201d on Sunday, targeting military sites. <\/p>\n

A military statement said it had \u201cinitiated a wave of strikes targeting the Iranian terror regime military infrastructure across Iran\u201d.<\/p>\n

Iran launched fresh strikes launched across the Gulf.<\/p>\n

The United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia said its air defence systems were intercepting missiles and drones launched from Iran on Sunday.<\/p>\n

In Bahrain, missile and drone attacks injured three people and damaged a desalination plant on Sunday, the interior ministry said – Press Association<\/p>\n