United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned Friday "unlawful attacks" across the Middle East and warned that the situation could spiral out of control as the conflict spreads to multiple countries.

US and Israeli forces launched a massive air campaign against Iran on February 28. Iran has retaliated with strikes against Israel and Gulf countries.

Washington said it aimed to curb nuclear and missile threats from Tehran but it has also decapitated the country's government, and President Donald Trump is now demanding "unconditional surrender."

Only nine oil tankers, cargo and container ships, some of which at times concealed their position, have been recorded crossing the Strait of Hormuz since Monday, according to MarineTraffic data analysed by AFP.

After three ships were attacked on Sunday, at least three tankers and a vessel carrying gas have crossed this chokepoint, a key shipping lane virtually shut by the war in the Middle East.

Nearly 20 percent of the world's crude oil and about 20 percent of liquefied natural gas (LNG) usually transit through the Strait of Hormuz.

March 6 (Reuters) - The United States will respond to Iranian attacks on civilians throughout the Middle East, the leader of the U.S. Central Command, Brad Cooper, said on Friday.

Cooper said that Iran has attacked 12 different countries since the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on the Islamic Republic last week, including firing seven attack drones at civilian, residential neighborhoods in Bahrain on Thursday night.

"This is unacceptable and will not go unanswered," Cooper said in a statement.

From Kurdistan in western Iran to the shores of the Gulf and in Tehran, AFP reporters have spoken to Iranians throughout the week to build a picture of their lives under daily US and Israeli bombardment.

Most spoke of anxiety, but also frustration about rising prices and, for opponents of the government, fear about a crackdown that has seen checkpoints and armed security forces patrol the streets.

Ukraine is preparing to despatch military drone specialists to Gulf states to help them fend off Iranian-designed drones -- something the Ukrainian army has been doing since the start of Russia's invasion.

The military assault launched in February 2022 spawned a cat-and-mouse game of aerial drone warfare that has forced both sides to constantly innovate -- or perish.

Moscow has dramatically scalled-up the production and sophistication of its drones, based on Iranian-designed Shaheds drones that Tehran has launched at Israel and Gulf states over the last week.

As US and Israeli war planes pummel Iran with daily strikes, witnesses say that civilian deaths, damage to infrastructure and anxiety are mounting while security forces remain an intimidating presence on the streets.

Millions of Tehran residents spent another stressful night on Thursday-Friday as huge explosions shook the city and lit up the sky, making it impossible for many to sleep, AFP correspondents said.

Planet Labs PBC, a leading provider of high resolution images taken from space, said Friday it would hold back for 96 hours images of Gulf states targeted by Iranian drone attacks.

The satellite images produced by the California-based company are normally available almost immediately to its clients, who include AFP, as well as other media, companies, researchers -- and potential enemies of the United States.

STOCKHOLM, March 6 (Reuters) - Denmark's government said on Friday that the ongoing turmoil in the Middle East may prevent some overseas votes in the country's March 24 general election from arriving in time to be counted.

Global air travel remains severely disrupted after the war in Iran forced the closure of key Middle Eastern hubs including Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi, leaving passengers and cargo stranded.

The United States and France have promised to secure oil shipping threatened by the Middle East war, but experts warn warship availability and Iran's wide range of weaponry could make this complicated.

US-Israeli attacks on Iran since Saturday and Iran's fiery response have caused global economic turmoil as shipping avoids the Strait of Hormuz near Iran, one of the world's most vital shipping lanes.

Around a fifth of the world's crude and liquefied natural gas from the Gulf, must pass through this chokepoint.

WASHINGTON, March 6 (Reuters) - The United States has removed Russia-related sanctions on United Arab Emirates-based freight and logistics company Globe Trekkers, a notice on the U.S. Treasury's website showed on Friday.

(Reporting by Katharine Jackson and Susan Heavey)