标签： Asia

For an unprecedented third consecutive day, Israeli authorities have maintained the complete closure of Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque during the holy month of Ramadan, preventing Palestinian Muslims from accessing one of Islam’s most sacred sites. This extraordinary measure, implemented under what Israel describes as a security emergency following its military engagement with Iran, represents the first such closure during Ramadan in recent history.

The Islamic Waqf, the Jordanian-appointed religious endowment responsible for managing the mosque complex, reports that only essential personnel are permitted limited access, with even basic provisions for guards being restricted. Sheikh Ikrima Sabri, former Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, condemned the decision as an unjustified violation of religious freedom that effectively transfers control from Islamic authorities to Israeli security forces.

Historical context reveals the exceptional nature of this closure. While brief shutdowns occurred in 2014 and 2017 during periods of heightened tension, and during COVID-19 for public health reasons, no prolonged closure has been recorded since Israel’s occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967. The current shutdown affects what would normally be hundreds of thousands of worshippers during Ramadan.

Parallel restrictions have been implemented at the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, another significant religious site, where all prayers have been suspended indefinitely. Palestinian religious authorities report approximately 1,000 Jerusalem residents, including senior imams and Waqf employees, have received orders banning them from the Al-Aqsa site.

Academic and Islamic Waqf Council member Dr. Mustafa Abu Sway characterizes these developments as the materialization of long-feared Israeli changes to the status quo at Islamic holy sites. The measures coincide with recent Israeli governance changes in the West Bank that critics describe as de facto annexation, raising concerns about permanent alterations to the administration of religious sites in occupied territories.

Saudi Arabian and Kuwaiti energy infrastructure came under attack on Monday, raising regional security concerns and triggering significant volatility in global oil markets. According to the Saudi defense ministry, two drones targeted the critical Aramco refinery complex in Ras Tanura. Ministry spokesperson Turki al-Maliki confirmed to Al Arabiya that both unmanned aerial threats were successfully intercepted by defense systems. The ministry attributed a subsequent limited fire at the facility to falling debris from the intercepted drones, emphasizing that no civilian casualties resulted from the incident. Saudi Arabia’s energy ministry quickly assured markets that the fire was contained and confirmed the attack caused no disruption to oil supply chains, though the refinery was temporarily shut down as a precautionary measure. The Ras Tanura complex represents one of the Middle East’s most significant energy hubs, boasting refining capacity of 550,000 barrels per day and serving as one of the world’s largest oil export terminals. Simultaneously, Kuwait experienced security incidents as witnesses reported smoke rising above a power plant in the country’s northern region. The Kuwait National Petroleum Company confirmed that debris fell on the Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery—another major processing facility—resulting in injuries to two workers while maintaining that operations continued uninterrupted. These coordinated events immediately impacted global energy markets, with Reuters reporting oil prices surging approximately 9% amid investor concerns that escalating regional tensions could disrupt Middle Eastern supply flows.

An F-15 fighter jet crashed in western Kuwait near Al Jahra on March 2, 2026, with both pilots successfully ejecting from the aircraft and surviving the incident. Preliminary reports indicate the crash occurred approximately 4.5 miles from Highway 70, though neither U.S. nor Kuwaiti authorities have immediately confirmed details about the aircraft’s origin or the nationality of its crew.

Unverified sources suggest the pilots may have been American or Israeli, but independent verification remains unavailable. Video evidence geolocated by open-source investigators shows one pilot descending by parachute near the crash site, confirming the ejection sequence was successfully activated.

The incident occurs against a backdrop of heightened military activity throughout the Gulf region. Earlier the same day, Kuwait’s Air Defense Force reported intercepting multiple ‘hostile’ drones approaching areas near the capital city. Brigadier General Mohammad al-Mansouri stated that defense personnel neutralized a majority of these drones in the Salwa and Hawally districts.

These developments follow joint U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iranian targets that resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior Iranian military figures, including IRGC commander Mohammad Pakpour and Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh. Iran has vowed retaliation and continues launching missile and drone attacks against Israeli and U.S. assets throughout the region.

European powers have entered the fray, with France, Germany, and the United Kingdom expressing readiness to protect their interests and those of Gulf allies through defensive measures. The UK has specifically authorized the U.S. to utilize British bases for targeting Iranian missile sites ‘at source,’ though British forces have not participated directly in offensive operations against Iran.

Regional analysts warn that prolonged conflict may push Gulf Cooperation Council states toward closer alignment with U.S. military objectives. Firas Maksad of Eurasia Group noted that ‘Iran is forcing the GCC up the escalation ladder,’ potentially necessitating greater operational freedom for U.S. forces operating from regional bases. UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem Al Hashimy similarly suggested potential support for U.S. operations if Iranian retaliatory strikes continue.

The cause of the F-15 crash remains undetermined, with possibilities ranging from mechanical failure to hostile action amid the complex regional conflict.