The Latest: Trump calls for help to reopen the Strait of Hormuz

U.S. President Donald Trump said that he has demanded about seven countries send warships to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, as Iranian strikes continued to rain down on Gulf countries early Monday.

Dubai International Airport — the world's busiest — suspended operations after a drone struck a fuel tank, starting a fire. Authorities said it was quickly contained and no injuries were reported.

Tehran has accused the United States of using “ports, docks and hideouts” in the United Arab Emirates to launch strikes on Kharg Island, home to the main terminal handling Iran’s oil exports, without providing evidence, as oil prices soared.

Trump said the U.S. is negotiating with countries heavily reliant on Middle East crude to join a coalition to police the waterway where about one-fifth the world’s traded oil normally flows, but declined to name them.

Meanwhile, Israeli strikes have deepened Lebanon's humanitarian crisis, with more than 850 people killed and over 850,000 displaced.

Here is the latest:

Saudi Arabia says it intercepted three drones Monday morning over the capital Riyadh and the nation’s oil-rich western region.

The Saudi Defense Ministry says no casualties or damage were reported.

The ministry reports more than 60 drones attacked the Gulf country within a few hours.

United Arab Emirates officials say Dubai International Airport has gradually resumed some flights at hours after a drone strike.

Dubai Civil Aviation Authority announced flights are operating to selected destinations, according to the Dubai Media Office.

Emirates airline says limited operations have resumed at the airport.

A drone struck a fuel tank at the airport early Monday, causing a fire and forcing the temporary suspension of flights.

Brent crude oil is trading near the $105 per barrel level on Monday.

A barrel of Brent, the international standard, was up 1.6% at $104.73, dipping slightly after opening above $106 per barrel. It’s up more than 40% since the war began.

Share prices in Asia were mixed and U.S. futures advanced.

Hours after a drone strike sparked a fire at Dubai’s main airport, Emirates says in its latest update that all of its flights there “remain suspended until further notice.”

The airline says it is working with authorities to restart operations when possible. It urged passengers not to travel to the airport.

Dubai International Airport is the world’s busiest airport for international travel and a key hub for many routes linking the East and West.

The United Arab Emirates’ Defense Ministry said forces were intercepting Iranian missiles and drones Monday morning.

Earlier, a drone hit a fuel tank at the Dubai International Airport.

Trump is suggesting he may delay his much-anticipated visit to China at the end of the month as he seeks to ramp up the pressure on Beijing to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz and calm oil prices.

In an interview Sunday with the Financial Times, Trump said China’s reliance on oil from the Middle East means it ought to help with a new coalition he is trying to put together to get oil tanker traffic moving through the strait after Iran’s threats have throttled global flows of oil.

Trump said “we’d like to know” before the trip whether Beijing will help.

“We may delay,” Trump said in the interview.

Trump’s new comments came as U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was meeting with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng on Monday in Paris for a new round of trade talks that were meant to pave the way for Trump’s Beijing trip.

Mohammed bin Salman and Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan discussed the latest regional developments in a phone call, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement early Monday.

The two leaders said the continued “Iranian attacks against Gulf Cooperation Council countries represent a dangerous escalation that threatens regional security and stability,” adding that GCC states will continue efforts to defend their countries

Emirati authorities have closed the main road and tunnel leading to Dubai International Airport.

Dubai Police urged drivers to use alternative roads.

Authorities said earlier a drone hit a fuel tank at the airport, causing fire with no casualties.

Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry said early Monday it downed an additional large barrage of 35 drones in the country’s eastern region, one of the kingdom’s least dense, close to Iran and home to major oil installations.

This brings the total number of drones intercepted to at least 60 in the last few hours.

The ministry did not immediately report casualties or damage.

The Australian government says a warship won’t be sent to the Middle East to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to international shipping.

U.S. President Donald Trump said that he has demanded about seven countries send warships to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, as Iranian strikes continued to rain down on Gulf countries.

Australia’s Transport Minister Catherine King told Australian Broadcasting Corp. on Monday she was not aware of Australia receiving such a request.

“We won’t be sending a ship to the Strait of Hormuz. We know how incredibly important that is, but that’s not something that we’ve been asked or that we’re contributing to,” King said.

Australia said last week it was providing the UAE with an air force surveillance jet and air-to-air missiles to defend against Iranian attacks.

But a government statement said Australia was “not taking offensive action against Iran.”

Israeli security forces inspect damage at the site of an Iranian missile strike in Holon, central Israel, Sunday, March 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

A bulldozer clears debris from the rubble of buildings destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in Dahiyeh, Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon, Sunday, March 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Debris litters the street as smoke rises from buildings damaged in an Israeli airstrike in Dahiyeh, Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon, Sunday, March 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

A woman displays a poster of the Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei as she waves her country's flag during a campaign in support of the government at the Enqelab-e-Eslami, or Islamic Revolution, square in downtown Tehran, Iran, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

A cargo ship sails in the Arabian Gulf towards Strait of Hormuz in United Arab Emirates, Sunday, March 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

MIAMI (AP) — Dylan DeLucia pitched four scoreless innings against Puerto Rico to help boost Italy to its first World Baseball Classic semifinal and immediately was aware of the impact created by a team celebrating home run shots with shots — of espresso.

“I opened my phone after the game to like 60 DMs and it was in words ... I didn't know how to say,” the pitcher explained Sunday of his direct messages. "So definitely going to have to do some Google translate, for sure."

Italy plays Venezuela on Monday night for a berth in the championship against the United States or the Dominican Republic.

Just three players listed on Italy’s roster were born in Il Bel Paese: Los Angeles Angels left-hander Sam Aldegheri; Gabriele Quattrini, a 29-year-old right-hander who has pitched in the Italian Serie A; and Claudio Scotti, a 27-year-old right-hander released from a minor league contract by the New York Mets in 2023.

Italy's roster also includes Philadelphia All-Star pitcher Aaron Nola, who would start Tuesday's final, and Kansas City All-Star first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino, the team captain, who gives his each home-run hitting teammate a kiss on each cheek.

Long ball hitters cut a bella figura, honored with a Giorgio Armani jacket during the dugout celebrazione,

Following each win in a 5-0 start, the team luxuriated la dolce vita, with pitchers and players each given a bottle of wine, a suggestion of team publicist Jason Zillo of the New York Yankees. Pedigree increases with each win, and selections have included Francesco Rinaldi Barolo, Barbaresco Montefico, Antinori Prunotto: Bric Turot and Bertani Amarone della Valpolicella Classico.

“Last night I forgot to take the brown paper bags off of them when I handed them out. so it looked like I was passing 40s around to guys on the team after we won,” Pasquantino said after he became the first player with a WBC three-homer game, in the group stage win over Mexico.

In a soccer-mad nation where calcio is omnipresent, the baseball Azzurri have managed to make some impact.

Sunday's front page of La Gazzetta Sportiva was dominated by Inter Milan, AC Milan and Juventus but included a small box at the bottom featuring baseball with the headline “CHE ITALIA” followed by a subhead that started “Altra impresa” (What an Italy ... another feat)."

“In the south of Italy they don’t play that much baseball and yesterday everyone was watching the game,” Italy manager Francisco Cervelli said. “They send me pictures all the time. It’s like the family reunion watching baseball."

A big league catcher from 2008-20, Cervelli was born in Venezuela to an Italian father, and he played for the Azzurri in the 2009 and 2018 WBCs. He moved to Florence, Italy, last year after he replaced Hall of Famer Mike Piazza as manager.

A Juventus fan, he of course follows Serie A.

“If you watch the newspaper, it’s going to be five, six pages about soccer,” he said. “And now we’re in. Yesterday I think was the first time for the national team on TV.”

Pasquantani was born in Richmond, Virginia, and says he became eligible for the Azzurri because his paternal great grandfather was from Italy.

Home runs are celebrated this year with sips from a Lavazza Classy Mini, and Pasquantino is the current barrista. He took over from Piazza, who had a Nespresso machine in the dugout at the 2023 WBC.

“I think it kind of comedically worked out that they were too hot the first day. So people were spitting them out,” Pasquantino said. “But it is just coffee. I’m not spiking it with anything other than coffee.”

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Italy catcher JJ D'Orazio celebrates a victory over Puerto Rico following a World Baseball Classic quarterfinal game, Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)

Italy's Andrew Fischer celebrates after hitting a two-run double during the fourth inning of a World Baseball Classic quarterfinal game against Puerto Rico, Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)

Italy manager Francisco Cervelli (29) removes starting pitcher Sam Aldegheri as catcher JJ D'Orazio (28) watches during the second inning of a World Baseball Classic quarterfinal game against Puerto Rico, Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)

Italy first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino celebrates a home run with an expresso in the second inning of a World Baseball Classic game against Mexico, Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Puerto Rico pitcher Eduardo Rivera celebrates after striking out Italy's Vinnie Pasquantino during the second inning of a World Baseball Classic quarterfinal game, Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)