Iran strikes Gulf allies again; Nationwide storm brings snow, tornado risk

Iran hits American allies again, drones, missiles, and new attacks across the Gulf.

Iran's foreign minister now firing back at President Trump, plus the straight-of-formu's

choking global oil, Trump now pressuring other countries to send in warships.

And a wild weather whiplash blizzard winds in the plains helping night massive wildfires

while snow and bitter cold slam the Midwest.

The stories that matter clear and credible from across the country to around the world.

These are your unbiased updates from straight-air on news.

Good morning.

I'm Craig DeGrelli.

This morning, Iran is continuing its attacks on U.S. allies across the Middle East.

Officials in the United Arab Emirates say operations at Dubai International Airport,

the world's busiest hub for international travel, are gradually resuming after a drone

struck a fuel tank, sparking a fire, and temporarily halting flights.

The UAE also says a Palestinian civilian was killed in a missile strike early Monday

in the capital of Abu Dhabi.

Officials say the missile hit a vehicle in the Al-Baya area.

Authorities say seven people now have been killed in the United Arab Emirates since

the war began.

Also in the UAE, another drone strike sparked a fire at an industrial oil facility.

Saudi Arabia says it intercepted three drones over Riyadh and its oil-rich western region.

While Bahrain says its air defense systems also responded to attacks Monday morning.

Meanwhile, Iran's foreign minister is pushing back on President Trump's claim, or the weekend,

that Iran is, quote, totally defeated and seeking a deal.

No, we never asked for a ceasefire, and we have never asked even for negotiation.

We are ready to defend ourselves as long as it takes.

And this is what we have done so far, and we continue to do that until President Trump

comes to the point that this is an illegal war with no victory.

His comments come, as the Israeli military says.

It has destroyed about 70 percent of Iran's missile launchers during the first two weeks

of the war.

Israel also says it has sent additional ground troops into Lebanon for what it calls a

limited and targeted operation, aimed at protecting border communities from the Iran-backed

group, Hezbollah.

In a related story, the fight over the Strait of Hormuz is starting to pull in the rest

of the world.

President Trump is urging several major powers to send warships to the region as Iran

targets ships in the narrow waterway that carries about one-fifth of the world's oil.

In a truth social post over the weekend, Trump called on countries, including China,

France, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom, to help keep the Strait open and safe,

saying global shipping cannot be held hostage by Iran's attempts to disrupt tanker traffic.

But so far, there are no firm commitments.

Several governments say they are reviewing the situation or coordinating with allies,

while stopping short of promising to deploy ships.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most critical energy choke points in the world, and the

fighting there is already rattle in global markets.

Trump told reporters last night, these countries should be protecting their own energy lifeline.

Meanwhile, Iran is signaling it still holds leverage over the shipping lanes.

Foreign Minister Abbas Arakshi says Tehran is already fielding requests from other countries

worried about getting their ships through the Strait.

But we have been approached by a number of countries who want to have a safe passage

for Dave Vessels, and this is up to our military to decide, and they have already decided

to let, you know, a group of Vessels belongs to different countries to pass in a safe and secure.

The international response may be starting to take shape.

The European Union says it is now weighing possible naval missions to help reopen the

waterway, including expanding and existing Red Sea escort operation, or forming a coalition

of willing countries.

A powerful coast-to-coast storm system is sweeping across the country this morning, dumping

heavy snow across the Midwest, and pushing dangerous weather toward the eastern half of

the country.

Parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin were buried under more than a foot of snow over the

weekend.

Look at this wall of white here, blizzard conditions making travel nearly impossible in some areas.

This video is from Marshfield, Wisconsin, where they've received more than two feet of snow.

In Minnesota, highways around the Twin Cities were covered in blowing snow and visibility

dropped sharply along 9.94.

More snow is expected through today as the system slowly moves east, but that same storm

is creating bigger problems farther east.

The system is now pushing toward the eastern and south-eastern United States, where forecasters

are warning of strong storms, damaging winds, and possibly tornadoes as the day unfolds.

Behind that front, a blast of frigid air is expected to sweep across much of the east

and southeast, sending temperatures plunging well below normal for this time of year.

By the way, the windshield here in Omaha, Nebraska minus 14 this morning, three inches

of snow on the ground.

We had blizzard conditions yesterday.

Yep, we're in the thick of it.

Meteorologists say more than 100 million people could see severe weather, nor a sharp

temperature drop as this sprawling system moves across the country.

Which leads to this, the largest wildfire in Nebraska history is burning out of control

this morning, combined with three other major fires, more than half a million acres across

central and western Nebraska are on fire.

Powerful planes, winds are fueling the flames.

Governor Jim Pillen says an elderly woman died trying to escape the fire in Moral County

in the state's western panhandle, look at all that smoke.

The Nebraska National Guard has deployed blackhawk helicopters scooping water from a nearby

lake and dropping it on the flames from above.

The largest fire alone has burned more than 450,000 acres.

Investigators believe strong winds knock down power lines, sparking an electrical fire

that quickly spread.

The governor has declared a state of emergency, freeing up additional resources as crews

from Omaha, Lincoln, and other cities had west to help.

As of Sunday, the fires were 0 percent contained.

Forecasters say wind gusts near 60 miles an hour, combined with extremely dry conditions

are helping the flames spread rapidly across the region.

The CEOs of some of the nation's largest airlines are urging Congress to fund the Department

of Homeland Security, the heads of American, Delta, Southwest, and JetBlue are also calling

on lawmakers to pass a bipartisan measure that would guarantee federal aviation workers

get paid during government shutdowns.

In an open letter Sunday, the CEOs said it's quote, difficult, if not impossible, to put

food on the table, put gas in the car, and pay rent when you are not getting paid.

The letter was also signed by the leaders of major cargo carriers, including UPS and

FedEx.

The warning comes as airlines prepare for record spring break travel numbers.

The upcoming FIFA World Cup and a major winter storm moving across the country that could

further strain the airlines, flights, and people's plans this week.

Some airports are already warning passengers to get this, arrive three to four hours early

and expect long security lines, as more than 300 TSA workers have reportedly quit since

the partial government shutdown began on February 14.

Finally this morning, Paul Thomas Anderson's political thriller won battle after another

dominated the 98th Academy Awards.

Film took home six Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay.

In accepting Best Adapted Screenplay, Anderson said he wrote the film for his children,

to say sorry for the housekeeping mess left in the world, and expressed hope that their

generation would bring back common sense and decency.

Senators followed with four wins, including Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan, and Best

Original Screenplay for Ryan Kugler.

K-Pop Demon Hunters won Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for Golden.

Sentimental value took Best International Feature, and Mr. Nobody Against Putin won Best

Documentary Feature.

I have to say, I was already in bed, but congratulations to all the winners.

I did watch the selection show for March Madness, Basketball gonna be big over the next

few weeks.

I think it's what Duke, Arizona, Florida, and Michigan, the top four seats.

I think that got, they got that right.

I hope.

All right.

Gonna be some great basketball between now and April.

No noise, no size, just the story.

News guard gives us a perfect score for reliability.

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We give you facts first, without the spin.

Those who run biased updates for this Monday, we'll see you back here tomorrow.

For all of us here, straight here on News, I'm Craig DeGrali.

Stay warm and have a great day.