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Connect the World

Trump Urges Allies to Help Secure Strait of Hormuz; Israeli Continues to Target Hezbollah in Beirut & Southern Lebanon; Drone Causes Fire Near Dubai Airport, Disrupting Flights; Crude Oil Prices Falling Back from Earlier Spikes in Monday Trading; FCC Chair Threatens U.S. TV Networks Amid Iran War Coverage; Kuwait Mourns Service Member Killed in Iranian Drone Strike. Aired 9-10a ET

Aired March 16, 2026 - 09:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[09:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: Well, a live look at the White House. President Trump has said the war with Iran is already won. So why is

he pressuring foreign governments to send warships to help out? It is 09:00 a.m there. It is 05:00 p.m. here in Abu Dhabi in the UAE.

From our Middle East programming headquarters, I'm Becky Anderson. You're watching "Connect the World". The stock market in New York opens about 30

minutes from now. Futures indicating a positive start following decent sessions in Asia and in Europe, as crude prices slip back from their very

recent highs.

Uncertainty still the story as we get set to kick off a new week of trading and the beginning of the third week of this war and Iran's choke hold on

the Strait of Hormuz has the U.S. president under pressure. Donald Trump is now making repeated calls for America's allies to send warships and help

reopen that crucial oil lane. So far, he is getting somewhat of a tepid response.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KEIR STARMER, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: The conflict in Iran and across the Middle East is now entering its third week. So, I want to take a moment to

set out how we are responding to this crisis and standing up for the British people. Our priority is always the national interest, and so we

have been clear and consistent in our objectives throughout this conflict.

First, we will protect our people in the region. Second, while taking the necessary action to defend ourselves and our allies, we will not be drawn

into the wider war.

KAJA KALLAS, EU FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF: Now it is in our interest to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, and that's why we are also discussing what we can do

in this regard from the European side. We have been in touch with the U.S. colleagues on different levels on this but of course, the situation is very

volatile.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well Iran says the Strait of Hormuz is not closed, but operating under, quote, special conditions, saying that vessels that have not been

involved in what it calls military aggression can get permission to pass through. Well, that is as Gulf states report new Iranian attacks here in

the UAE, a fuel tank caught fire near Dubai's airport after a drone related incident, temporarily disrupting flights.

And while Israel continues bombing targets in Iran, it says it's launched a new ground operation against Iran backed Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon.

Right, we're covering this from all points right across the region and globe. CNN Politics Senior Reporter Stephen Collinson with us from

Washington this hour. Oren Liebermann is in Jerusalem. Paula Hancocks is here in Abu Dhabi.

And Oren, as I understand it, the sirens have just gone up off. So, if you need to move, feel free, of course, Israel has announced what it calls

limited and targeted ground operations against Hezbollah strongholds in Southern Lebanon and this second front's been expanding.

There are those signs of diplomatic efforts this week. So, let's start there. What can you tell us?

OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN JERUSALEM BUREAU CHIEF: First, we did get the alert just a few moments ago that there are incoming missiles from Iran. So, if I

have to duck out in just a moment here, you'll know why we are waiting to hear the sirens here behind us in Jerusalem.

Notably, this would be the second time we have heard incoming into Jerusalem. Just today, there were similar sirens and an alert just a couple

of hours ago, after not having any alerts here over the past couple of days, Tel Aviv, very different story. They have had repeated alerts

throughout the day and the night here.

When it comes to Lebanon, we are seeing Defense Minister Israel Katz announce a ground operation. This is an escalation of what we've seen so

far. Until now, Israel had acknowledged ongoing ground raids, so effectively commando raids. But this is larger than that, and there is the

siren warning of incoming missiles here.

So, we'll step away here. There are diplomatic efforts. When it comes to Lebanon, Israel will send one of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu closest

confidants to those. But, Becky, there are no specific dates or locations for those, so we'll keep an eye on that as we head to the shelter here to

be safe for those incoming sirens, Becky.

ANDERSON: Thank you, Oren. And we'll chat with you once this moment is over. Thank you. Stephen, let me bring you up. Then no letup, as you can

see in attacks from Iran or indeed from Israel on Iran. And we've seen huge waves of attacks from Israel overnight into Tehran and the surrounding

countryside, and promises of more to come.

[09:05:00]

And no firm commitment yet from U.S. allies on securing the Strait of Hormuz, President Trump putting pressure on NATO to come to help. But that

comes after he said that the war was basically already won. Look caveat. We do see efforts to build consensus for the Strait of Hormuz, both from the

UK and the GCC together with a meeting in the past couple of days.

And we heard from the Europeans saying it is in their interest to get this, strait open. But what is your take on the mixed messaging that we are

hearing?

STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN POLITICS SENIOR REPORTER: I think it reflects the difficulty of the task and the difficult position that President Trump has

put allies in politically, in coming to help in a war which many of their populations do not believe in.

First of all, just talking to naval experts last week, this is not just a question of sailing a few ships through the Strait of Hormuz and opening it

up. Although that's the impression that the president often seems to give in his public messaging, this is an intensely complex operation.

It could require U.S. ground troops to go in around the shores of the strait, to take out missiles, seaborn drones, mine laying infrastructure.

Some of that is not possible just from the air, even if you had a major international naval flotilla. The idea that you could get all of those

tankers out of the Gulf is not really feasible.

Some people talk about 10 to 20 percent of most daily totals of tankers that you could get out it would be an exceedingly dangerous mission for

naval forces. The U.S. navy, with all its power, has not yet gone through the Strait of Hormuz. And the idea that allied nations will do it

themselves, I think, is a little bit fanciful.

Ultimately, however, it's in such interest. It's in the interests of Europe and countries in Asia, in the Gulf, to get that open, countries in Europe

are reliant on the president for their NATO defense umbrella. So ultimately, they will have to get involved. But I think it's going to take

the U.S. to do most of the grunt work of the military operations, which could be very risky to get that strait open.

ANDERSON: Paula, let me bring you in from the UAE, and we see just how crucial the dateline is when we consider what is going on in the Strait of

Hormuz. Of course, it is the energy infrastructure around this region that has been targeted alongside. Of course, not just military installations,

but civilian sites bearing the brunt of these attacks, and a drone attack near Dubai's International Airport earlier it suspended flights

temporarily. What's the latest?

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, we're told by officials that there was a drone incident in the early hours of Monday morning, there

was a fire, which has since been put out, and there were no injuries. But what it did do is it did stop all operations out of that airport for

several hours.

Now, some there were some diversions to Dubai's second airport, but of course, there have been some knock-on effects to people trying to leave the

region. We understand that there is now an attempt to try and catch up on that backlog. But of course, there was already a significant backlog there,

but flights did resume shortly afterwards.

Now we saw a similar situation in Baghdad as well. Baghdad International Airport once again being targeted. We understand by officials there, they

say that it is a certain area like a diplomatic center, which is within the compound there known to be used, at least in the past, by the U.S. Embassy,

which has come under attack once again.

Now both of these airports, this is not the first time that they have been targeted by Iran. But of course, as you say, it is the energy

infrastructure as well that's being pinpointed. We heard from Iranian officials that it would be a target. We heard from the Head of the Armed

Forces saying that they told people to stay away from ports and to stay away from areas where U.S. military may be based.

We saw that on the East Coast of the UAE this morning as well. This Monday, we saw Fujairah, which has an industrial area, has a very significant oil

industry there, that once again, was targeted, unclear whether it was debris from an interception that caused a fire, but there was a fire at a

depot there, which is being brought under control.

But Iran has been very clear that these are going to be the key targets that they are going to look at going forward, and they have singled the UAE

out as being a particular target.

[09:10:00]

We have seen more missiles and drones hitting the UAE than any other Gulf nation, and certainly it does appear to be a particular target of Tehran at

this point, Becky.

ANDERSON: Yeah, it's good to have you both. Thank you very much indeed. Stephen Collinson is in Washington. Oren, of course, in Jerusalem for us

taking shelter as the sirens go off and Paula Hancocks in Abu Dhabi. Earlier, I spoke to Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, who is a Professor of Political

Science at UAE University. I asked him to assess the UAE response to the continued Iranian attacks. Here is what he told me.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ABDULKHALEQ ABDULLA, PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AT UAE UNIVERSITY: So far, the response has been defensive. As you know, we have not fired one

bullet towards Iran. We go into the third week almost of this and called for massive, vicious attack, bombardment of missiles and drones for the

past 16, 17 days, almost now.

But I think, you know, we have to stayed calm. I think if there is any need to shift from defensive mood to more offensive mood, that is probably being

talked about, but I don't see it coming anytime soon, and if that is to happen, then it has to be collective. It's not going to be Saudi Arabia

alone, or UAE alone, or Kuwait or Oman or whatever.

It has to be GCC. But at this moment, America is doing the job, and let them do what they're doing. And there is nothing more than we could do at

the end of the day, Becky, what is important to us when it comes to Iran, which is public enemy number one, at this moment.

We have to distinguish between the regime and the people of Iran. There is 90 million Iranian there, and we do not want them to remember at any time

in the future that we fire the bullet towards Iran. That is to us, strategic choice. Maybe this regime will fall tomorrow, maybe a year down

the road.

It doesn't matter, but it is eventually going to go away. What it stays is the 90 to 100 million Iranian, and we want them to know this is not the

neighborhood that you feel insecure. This is not the neighbors that you would expect that we will fire a bullet towards Iran and towards them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Abdulkhaleq Abdulla is speaking to me a little earlier. Well, in these past two weeks, restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz have sent crude

oil prices soaring to their highest level since 2022. Brent crude, the global benchmarks are passed $106 a barrel earlier today, but has since

fallen back while the U.S. benchmark is lower.

Still U.S. gasoline prices have risen some 24 percent since the start of the conflict, according to AAA. Well CNN's Eleni Giokos joining me now from

Dubai. And Eleni, you've been watching these markets. Is it your assessment? They are pricing in this sort of uncertainty at this point.

I just wonder if there is an indication how reactors, sorry, how investors are reacting to the possibility of a prolonged conflict at this point?

ELENI GIOKOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, it's such a good question, Becky, because we've got so many headlines. And I think any little piece of

good news, any news of mitigation, any news of getting oil out into the market, that record number of emergency barrels, 400 million barrels, you

know, that moves the markets.

And then you see more vessels being attacked in the Strait of Hormuz. Then that sees the oil price going up again. And so much rhetoric over the

weekend, the big question on naval escorts, whether that will happen, whether, you know, President Trump is going to be able to get allies to

assist with escorts.

But if you just take a step back and you just look at the numbers, because it's important for us to look at the amount of capacity that has been taken

out. You've got 20 million barrels of oil daily that has been removed. Saudi Arabia increasing its East West pipeline by around 2 million barrels

per day.

So, bringing that number to around five to seven, that goes to the Yanbu terminal and through the Strait of Hormuz then through the Red Sea. Then

you've got energy infrastructure here in the in the UAE that was struck this morning at Fujairah, a very key oil depot and loads vessels and

tankers.

But on the Oman side, really fascinating to see just the damage across the board from Oman to Bahrain, Saudi and even Qatar. And if you tally up the

numbers, we're seeing a supply shock. There's no question whatever happens on the oil markets that we're going to start seeing, you know, big

questions about how long this is going to last?

What kind of damage is going to be caused in the overall oil supply chain going forward?

[09:15:00]

And these are the questions everyone now is asking the oil traders that I've been speaking to saying that there's been a mispricing of the risk at

this point and that oil could go to $150 a barrel, that is still plausible in this environment.

ANDERSON: On Sunday, the International Energy Agency said that it's emergency release of some 400 million barrels of oil would soon start

flowing to global markets. I wonder what impacts, if any, have we seen or can expect to see?

GIOKOS: Yeah. So, they're saying by the end of March. You know, we know the United States saying they're going to do it immediately. And some countries

say it's going to be an immediate release. Again, the experts say that it's never immediate. There has to be, you know, something considered, and

that's the flow of oil, the ability, the capacity in the system to actually release that into the market.

History tells us. And you know, we refer back to the Russia-Ukraine war. You know, maximum 2 million barrels of oil per day were released into the

market. Can they do, can they increase that? Is it possible, physically for them to do that? Time will tell, but they're putting them so they're giving

themselves a timeline, by the end of March, to be able to release some of that crude into the industry.

And I also have to say, Becky, you know, there's other risks that have come to the fore. So, it's not just the threats in the Strait of Hormuz, but

potentially what we could be seeing in the Red Sea with new threats coming through from Iran. We haven't really taken that into consideration, but a

lot of the analysts saying, you know, we wonder why the Red Sea has been so quiet.

What does Iran plan to do with that other choke point, a key maritime choke point, and could that cause another supply disruption, which, of course,

would you, know, bring into question any other mitigation factors that we've seen coming through from the Trump Administration and also by the

International Energy Agency?

And you and I've spoken a lot in the last couple of weeks, making the point that it isn't just oil, of course, it's LNG refined fuels that are

impacted, I just wonder what the market looks like and how investors are responding to this wider uncertainty?

So, in terms of price to earnings ratios and just the status of the U.S. stock market. And even in Europe, we were in a really good space. And

equity traders saying, you know, things were looking very strong. We were dealing with quite a strong, you know, corporate environment.

This could change everything. So, if you've got higher inputs of oil and refined products into any industry, that's going to categorically mean

possible demand destruction, because everything is going to be a lot more inflated. But in terms of the pricing on jet fuel, you know, I was looking

at fertilizer, aluminum, for example, as well any refined product, those prices are much higher because we keep talking about oil and gas moving

through the Strait of Hormuz.

But it's also a big chunk of refined products that are moved into the international market, which already is having an effect. The jet fuel side

of things is quite fascinating, because if you look at airline stock prices, they've been under pressure in Europe because there's already feed

through.

And I, you know, everyone sorts of repricing what this new world would look like. It again, depends on the timeline, even any feed stock into, you

know, the petroleum and the fuel that is used to fire up ships. That is also increased in price. What people also very worried about is fertilizer

prices.

You know, a big percentage of fertilizer, specifically urea, which is an input into creating fertilizer, comes through the Strait of Hormuz, in

fact, is created and produced by Qatar, and they've declared force measure on so many of their products. That already is having an impact on

agriculture as far down as Australia, and even farmers in the United States are feeling the impact.

ANDERSON: Right. Eleni Giokos is in Dubai. Eleni, thank you. Well still to come, a top Trump Administration official facing criticism after

threatening to revoke the licenses of U.S. broadcasters with news coverage that he deems as fake. More on that is after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:20:00]

ANDERSON: Well, day 17 of the U.S., Israel, Iran, war. Some of the latest polling shows Americans divided over President Trump's decision to go to

war. CNN's Chief Data Analyst, Harry Enten, breaking down the numbers for you.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST: Yeah, why don't we just talk about President Trump, first of all? Right, I've heard a lot of the president's

critics, you know, say, hey, this is going to basically bring the President Trump's second term to an end. He won't be able to do anything more.

But here's the thing, President Trump is liked as much now as he was before the war started. I mean, just take a look here. Americans who approve of

Trump in late February, just before the war started, it was 41 percent and now it's the exact same 41 percent. There has been no movement in the

average poll.

And I have to say, this doesn't really surprise me very much, because President Trump's approval rating has been just so consistent over his term

that even a war in the Middle East can't seem to move it at least a little bit. OK, so let's talk beyond just the fact that President Trump's approved

rating has been so static, right?

Why don't we talk about how Americans feel about the war itself? And this is where it gets really interesting, because there are a lot of different

polls, and they say a lot of different things. OK, this is the net approval the U.S. military action in Iran. This is the seven most recent national

polls, the net approval rating and percentage points.

Look at this, you can find polls where it's negative, minus 14, minus 13, minus 12, minus 11, minus 11. But then you can also find two recent polls

that where you'll actually see that Americans are either equally divided or actually slightly more likely to approve than disapprove, as is the case in

the most recent "Washington Post" poll.

So, the bottom line is this, while there are plenty of people who dislike the war, there are polls that actually show that Americans are evenly

divided, or slightly more likely to actually favor the war than oppose it, and therefore it's not really much of a surprise that Trump's numbers

haven't moved because the American people seem to be fairly evenly divided.

This, to me, is probably the most fascinating part of this segment, right? Because there are a lot of Americans who really do care, and there are a

lot of people who, of course, have family in the Middle East that really care. But take a look here, OK, Americans who say they care about a lot

about the U.S. economy, 84 percent.

How about the Iranian situation? It's just 45 percent of Americans who say they care a lot about the Iranian situation. So, I would expect that number

to climb if, in fact, gas prices go up and there's an effect on the U.S. economy. But at this point, for a lot of Americans, they simply put, don't

actually care that much.

So, it's not much, that much of a surprise that, in fact, you're not seeing President Trump's numbers move, because at this point, the thing that the

Americans care about is the U.S. economy. They don't necessarily care that much about a situation overseas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Harry Enten reporting for you there. Lawmakers and free speech advocates in the U.S. are lashing out at the Trump Administration for

threatening broadcasters over their news coverage. Over the weekend, the Chair of the Federal Communications Commission, the FCC, said that there

are broadcasters that are, quote, running hoaxes and news distortions, and warned they would lose their licenses unless, as he put it, they correct

their course.

His message on X follow one of President Trump's Truth Social posts complaining about news coverage of the Iran war. Critics have called the

administration's threats authoritarian and unconstitutional. CNN's Chief Media Analyst Brian Stelter joins us now. This is the FCC Chair Brendan

Carr's latest warnings, that we are referring to here, to local TV stations.

[09:25:00]

They didn't come out of nowhere, these calls, it came out of Trump's Mar-a- Lago. What more can you tell us?

BRIAN STELTER, CNN CHIEF MEDIA ANALYST: Yes, that's exactly right. I ran into car at the airport in Florida yesterday morning. He was heading home

from Mar-a-Lago. I was heading home from vacation, but we were able to chat. I was able to get a little sense of what's been going on. From Carr's

point of view, you know, he is Trump's attack dog, and he probably wears that label, his attack dog against the American media.

And Carr is trying with lots of different ways to apply pressure against media outlets. Most of his pressure points are relatively weak. There's

relatively little, Carr in the FCC can actually do against the American news media, but there are some ways Carr does have leverage, and he's

trying to use all the leverage he has in order to reshape the media in ways that are more favorable to Trump.

Now, what's really disturbing, I think in last couple of days, we're seeing Trump and Carr try to really specifically target coverage of the Iran war.

They are trying to soften U.S. coverage and scrutiny of the war. So, on Saturday, when Carr was hanging out with Trump at Mar-a-Lago, he posted a

tweet threatening local station licenses.

And he attached a recent Trump complaint about the war coverage, even though Trump was complaining about "The New York Times" and "The Wall

Street Journal", which are not licensed by the government. So, Carr does have oversight of local stations, not CNN, not Netflix, but local TV and

radio stations. And what he is saying is that if stations do not behave the way he and the president want, then they will lose their licenses.

Now, in reality, that's unlikely to happen. It will be very difficult to actually strip stations of licenses. It would probably cause lengthy legal

battles. It would probably cause a First Amendment fight, and the stations would most likely prevail. But the point might be that Carr just wants to

have the fight anyway.

We've seen these many times from the president and his allies. They want to have the fight even if they're destined to lose. We're seeing that right

now against the Federal Reserve. So that might be what Carr is trying to do here, threatening station licenses.

ANDERSON: Brian, good to have you. Thank you very much indeed, Brian Stelter in the house for you. We are back after this quick break. Stay with

us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: All right, we are going to get to Wall Street and see Ireland INC at the New York Stock Exchange ring in the bell this trading day. The

beginning of the trading week, of course, in New York. This is the beginning of the third week of the U.S.-Israel, war on Iran. We're about 15

seconds away from that bell. We'll get the claps coming in.

[09:30:00]

I think it's St. Patrick's Day tomorrow. So, I'm sure many of those there on the stand ready to ring in the bell will enjoy themselves tomorrow for

St. Patrick's Day celebrations. It is just before 09:30 that is the bell on Wall Street. Futures were indicating a slightly higher open that would

follow a better session across Asia and European indices today, and that off the back of a slight retreat from recent highs on the oil price.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said ahead of the open that there is no plan for the Trump Administration to intervene in the oil futures market to

reduce prices. Speaking to CNBC, added that he wasn't sure, quote, under what authority or what auspices the U.S. government would have to intervene

in the markets anyway, he said.

Well, oil prices, I say, have eased a bit today, after the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz sent them to their highest levels since 2020. Brent

crude, the global benchmark, surpassed $106 a barrel earlier. Right now, it is down from that and is hovering at around 102 bucks on the barrel.

U.S. oil also spiking. As a result, U.S. gasoline prices have risen 94 cents since the start of this conflict. According to AAA auto association,

the WTI crude benchmark there off from its recent highs at present as well. Both those oil benchmarks clearly helping to put a sort of a bottom under

these markets today, but uncertainty really is the story for investors at present.

The war with Iran resulting in the loss of lives, not just in that country, but across other nations in the Middle East, of course. In Kuwait, hundreds

of people mourning the death of one of the country's service members, a 33- year-old father and former professional athlete. CNN's Nic Robertson with the details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Everyone is talking about the cost of this war. Fuel prices going up. Crude oil touching $100 a

barrel as Iran tries to shut down the Strait of Hormuz, but some have already paid a far higher price.

ROBERTSON (voice-over): Fahad Al-Majmad relatives are among them, their loved one buried in a cemetery reserved for Kuwait's heroes. Fahad was 33

years old, a major in Kuwait's Border Force and died instantly. His family says when an Iranian drone struck his vehicle four days ago. His brother

Saud shows me a picture of Fahad, now fatherless, three-month-old daughter, the hardest thing he says, telling my mother.

SAUD AL-MAJMAD, BROTHER OF KUWAITI SOLDIER: I was trying to find a way around it, saying he was injured, but the news was spreading. It was

difficult, sad. I pray we never relive it again.

ROBERTSON (voice-over): Kuwait has become the deadliest place from Iranian attack for service personnel in the Gulf. So far, six U.S. service

personnel killed, and four Kuwaitis in separate incidents, many, many more injured. Fahad's first passion was soccer. Captained his local team, played

on the national squad.

Five days before the war, he retired, played his last game, took his young daughter to see it, got a huge send off from adoring fans and players. He

was a big deal in Kuwait.

AL-MAJMAD: Fahad was passionate about military life. He always wanted to defend his country, and what an honor it was.

ROBERTSON (voice-over): A few nights before the Iranian drone snatched his life, he sent this message to his family, sleep safely and know we have

your back. Kuwait's Interior Ministry immediately made it a national slogan.

AL-MAJMAD: As devastated as I am over the loss of Fahad, I'm also very proud of him. He was brave, ready to sacrifice his life, and he did

sacrifice his life for his country.

ROBERTSON (voice-over): Fahad's funeral was national news. Hundreds came to show their respects, a much-needed morale boost for his battered family,

his mother, the most grievously impacted, they say.

AL-MAJMAD: The Gulf states were thrust into this war, which we had nothing to do with.

[09:35:00]

My message is, stop the war as soon as possible.

ROBERTSON: Long after the drones and missiles stop coming and the sirens fall silent and fuel prices go back to where they were, there will be homes

here full of sadness, an empty place at the family table, knowing that when their nation called them, they paid the ultimate price. Nic Robertson, CNN,

Kuwait.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: You're watching CNN from our Middle East programming headquarters here in Abu Dhabi. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Well, an online community is helping pets in the United Arab Emirates that were abandoned by their owners who had left because of the

Iran war. CNN's Ryan Young with the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RYAN YOUNG, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Milo and Bruno were two beloved family dogs left alone after their owners fled the Gulf in the

early days of the war. But thanks to an online community of pet rescuers, the pair was adopted in Dubai and now are settling into their new home.

Bruno and Milo weren't the only ones left looking for a new home. Strict airline rules and paperwork required to travel with pets has caused many

people fleeing the UAE to leave their pets behind. Now, animal rescuers and shelters in the UAE say they're overwhelmed with the numbers of abandoned

pets.

The days following the first strikes, no pet left behind was created as an online community to help abandoned pets in the United Arab Emirates find

foster homes and adopters after their owners fled the region. The community uses a telegram chat form for advice and discussions among members.

They've also used social media as a way to spread the word, and they now have over 8000 followers on Instagram.

SHIKA BODANI, COFOUNDER OF NO PET LEFT BEHIND UAE: You can actually get a lot of resources from the community in terms of people who've already

relocated with their pets, advice on that. And then, of course, we can also put you in touch with people who have applied to be foster homes or

adoptive homes.

YOUNG (voice-over): No Pet Left Behind, partner with three animal rescuers in the UAE, along with connecting people with local organizations, the

community also provides resources for how to relocate out of the region with your pet.

BODANI: We have some amazing volunteers who've stepped forward to help us, who are just amazing, and they do this on a daily basis. And it's really

incredible to see people band together over their love of animals.

YOUNG (voice-over): When UAE resident Anna saw No Pet Left Behind, photo of Milo and Bruno, she reached out to adopt them.

ANNA JENTGEN, UAE RESIDENT WHO ADOPTED BRUNO AND MILO: The fact that you're incapable of doing anything in the situation makes you kind of lost. So, by

being able to support just in the smallest way, by bringing in a pet in your house and taking care of that animal is I feel like it just gives some

sort of purpose in this whole situation that we have absolutely no control over.

[09:40:00]

YOUNG (voice-over): She said, Milo and Bruno were already feeling at home in her backyard. No Pet Left Behind says about 300 people have already

signed up to foster or adopt animals in need. They say they hope to see many more success stories like this one. Ryan Young, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Well finally, the academy is spoken. Congratulations all around for this year's Oscar winners, the newly crowned best and brightest of the

film industry.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: "One Battle After Another".

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: And that was the big winner, Paul Thomas Anderson's "One Battle After Another". The film won six awards, including Best Picture, Best

Director and Best Adapted Screenplay. It also raked in a win for Sean Penn as Best Supporting Actor. Going into Sunday's award show, Ryan Coogler's

"Sinners" had a record breaking 16 nominations.

It won for Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Score and Best Cinematography. And its star Michael B. Jordan, who plays twin brothers in

the film, took the award for Best Actor. Jessie Buckley was named Best Actress for her emotional performance in "Hamnet". The first time an Irish

actress has won in that category. Congrats to all.

All those forms are fantastic. Well worth a watch. "World Sport" up after this short break.

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[09:45:00]

(WORLD SPORT)

[10:00:00]

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