Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.
A pair of Avenger class mine-hunters homeported in Japan have been tracked sailing westward out of the Pacific Ocean in recent days. This comes as President Trump and other officials say an operation is taking shape to clear Iranian mines from the Strait of Hormuz, which will be essential to fully reopening that critical waterway. The United States has also now announced a blockade of all of Iran’s ports.
Until last year, the Navy had four Avenger class ships forward-deployed in the Middle East for exactly this mission. A trio of Independence class Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) configured for minesweeping duties subsequently took their place. However, those ships were redeployed from Bahrain ahead of the latest conflict with Iran, and two of them then emerged unexpectedly in Southeast Asia last month. While getting them out of the Persian Gulf was a prudent security measure, it remains unclear why the decision was made to send them literally to the other side of the globe amid the obvious threat of Iran mining the highly strategic Strait of Hormuz. One of them, the USS Tulsa, was also recently spotted sailing west after weeks in port in Singapore.
The Avenger class USS Chief and USS Pioneer were spotted arriving in Singapore on April 8, and they were seen leaving heading west on April 10. This represents half of the Avenger class ships still in Navy inventory, all of which are forward-deployed in Sasebo, Japan.
USS Chief (MCM-14) and USS Pioneer (MCM-9) Avenger-class mine countermeasures ships leaving Singapore – April 10, 2026 SRC: INST- yplanesonly pic.twitter.com/49unSU9nuf
USS Chief (MCM-14) and USS Pioneer (MCM-9) Avenger-class mine countermeasures ships coming into Singapore – April 8, 2026 SRC: INST- yplanesonly pic.twitter.com/TTxElngGLu
Online ship tracking site MarineTraffic subsequently showed both Avenger class ships heading northwest through the Strait of Malacca. There are unconfirmed reports that Chief and Pioneer arrived at Ao Makham port in Phuket, Thailand, earlier today. Their final destination is unknown, but USNINews had reported over the weekend that they had been “dispatched toward U.S. Central Command.”
A stock picture of USS Pioneer, in front, and USS Chief, behind, sailing together in 2020. USN
USS Tulsa was also tracked sailing northwest in the Strait of Malacca on April 3, which we will come back to in a moment.
USN TRACKING: Pushing MCM Capabilities West Checking in on the US Navy’s LCS footprint using recent imagery and AIS data.
🇸🇬Sembawang: Only the USS Santa Barbara (LCS-32) remains pierside in Singapore. 🇲🇾Reviewing historical AIS, her sister ship, USS Tulsa (LCS-16), went dark on… pic.twitter.com/hiIROvC0QO
“U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces began setting conditions for clearing mines in the Strait of Hormuz,” the command had said in a press release on April 11. The Arleigh Burke class destroyers “USS Frank E. Peterson (DDG 121) and USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) transited the Strait of Hormuz and operated in the Arabian Gulf as part of a broader mission to ensure the strait is fully clear of sea mines previously laid by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.”
US Central Command (CENTCOM) released this picture after announcing that the USS Frank E. Peterson and USS Michael Murphy had sailed through the Strait of Hormuz on April 11. CENTCOM Sgt. 1st Class Michael Hunnisett
Questions have been raised about the exact purpose of sending USS Frank E. Peterson and USS Michael Murphy through the Strait, and whether either ship actually made a full transit. Michael Murphy was tracked online sailing on the Persian Gulf side, at least briefly. Neither of the destroyers are outfitted for mine clearance missions, though they do have powerful sonars that might be able to help spot mines.
If the move not being coordinated with Iran is true, it’d be the geopolitical equivalent of trying to sneak someone in/out the back of a hostage standoff when the hostage-taker is distracted talking to a negotiator.
“Additional U.S. forces, including underwater drones, will join the clearance effort in the coming days,” CENTCOM’s release over the weekend added, but did not further elaborate.
“We’re also bringing in more traditional minesweepers” as part of efforts to clear the Strait of Hormuz, President Trump told Fox News yesterday. He also said several times this weekend that mine-clearing operations were already underway in some form.
U.S. President Donald J. Trump has told Fox News that the UK and a number of other nations are set to send minesweepers to aid in securing the Strait of Hormuz, following his announcement that the U.S. will blockade the strait and interdict all vessels that pay a toll to Iran for… pic.twitter.com/oizgfMqLse
U.S. President Donald J. Trump said earlier that the U.S. is now in the process of clearing the Strait of Hormuz of mines, following reports that U.S. naval vessels transited the strait this morning. According to President Trump, during Operation Epic Fury, 28 Iranian mine laying… pic.twitter.com/fQGHDAmOES
CENTCOM declined to comment when we reached out today for more details about the planned force package for the mine clearance mission. TWZ has also reached out to the Navy’s main headquarters in the Pacific for more information about the movement of the Avenger class ships.
Before the latest conflict with Iran broke out in February, the Navy had three Independence class LCSs outfitted for mine countermeasures missions – Tulsa and Santa Barbara, along with the USS Canberra – forward-deployed in Bahrain. The arrival of those ships last year was tied to the long-planned decommissioning of four Avenger class vessels that had been homeported in that Middle Eastern country for decades beforehand. It is unclear how many LCSs the Navy otherwise has that are currently configured for minessweeping missions.
The Independence class Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) USS Canberra, in the foreground, sails together with the heavy lift ship M/V Seaway Hawk on January 20, 2026. The latter ship is seen here carrying four decomimssioned Avenger class mine-hunters back to the United States. USN
As noted, Tulsa and Santa Barbara subsequently emerged in Southeast Asia, first in Malaysia and then in Singapore, last month. USS Canberra‘s location remains uncertain, but it was reported to be sailing in the Indian Ocean as of March 19.
It should also be stated that the Independence class LCS is a much more modern ship than the Avenger class. When configured for the minesweeping mission, the LCSs also bring new standoff mine countermeasures capabilities, including Common Unmanned Surface Vehicle (CUSV) drone boats and helicopter-borne systems. Still, questions continue to be raised about whether the Independence class vessels are adequate replacements for the older, but purpose-built Avengers. You can read more about this here.
CUSV®
Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS) Video
It is possible that the USS Chief and the USS Pioneer are in Southeast Asia now for exercises or other reasons. Japan-based Avenger class ships have traveled to Thailand, specifically, as well as other countries across the Pacific, to train with allied and partner forces in the past.
USS Pioneer is seen in the background during a controlled mine detonation as part of the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise in Thailand in 2019. USN
That being said, the movements of Chief and Pioneer in the region, as well as Tusla‘s departure from Singapore, did come right around CENTCOM’s explicit statement that more U.S. forces were heading to the Middle East to help with mine-clearing efforts. Furthermore, as already mentioned, the quartet of Avenger class ships in Japan, as well as LCSs that have been in Singapore recently, represent the bulk of vessels specifically outfitted for minesweeping duties that the Navy has available anywhere globally. Any mine-clearing operation in and around the Strait of Hormuz will include other naval vessels, as well.
As an aside, the Navy’s Lewis. B. Puller class Expeditionary Sea Base (ESB) ship USS John L. Canley, which is homeported in the U.S. Pacific territory of Saipan, was also spotted heading west past Singapore on March 23. That ship was subsequently tracked sailing in the Indian Ocean, raising questions about whether it might be headed to the Middle East, as well. None of the Navy’s three other ESBs has been observed heading toward that region recently.
USNS John L Canley and USNS Alan Shepherd passing Singapore just now heading to the Middle East
John L Canley is at Expeditionary Transfer Dock, seemingly carrying an Osprey and 3 Seahawk helicopters on top and then the Alan Shepherd is a dry Cargo vessel
— Singapore Ship Spotting (@sgshipspotting) March 23, 2026
A crisis scenario in and around the Persian Gulf, especially one involving Iran mining the Strait of Hormuz or otherwise threatening that critical waterway, was central to the Navy’s decision to acquire the ESBs in the first place. From the start, a key mission for the sea base ships has been serving, in part, as launch platforms for MH-53E Sea Dragon mine-hunting helicopters. At the same time, the Navy MH-53E fleet has dwindled in recent years to a single squadron, and the type is set to be completely retired by the end of 2027. Canley was seen with an apparent load of V-22 Osprey tiltrotors and MH-60 Seahawk helicopters on its deck as it passed by Singapore last month.
The USNS (now USS) Lewis. B. Puller with four MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopters on its deck. USN
There has been talk in the past about ESBs acting as motherships for Avenger class mine-hunters. Canley be used to launch and recover uncrewed surface vessels (USV) and uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUV) as part of minesweeping and other operations, as well. In the context of the current blockade of Iranian ports, the ship could have a separate role as a valuable platform for staging visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) operations and otherwise supporting the current blockade of Iranian ports.
When it comes to the mission to clear Iranian naval mines, additional warships, as well as aircraft, will be needed just to provide critical force protection. This was already underscored by CENTCOM sending the two Arleigh Burke class destroyers through the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend. In February, before the war with Iran erupted, TWZ also called attention to the importance of force protection in these operations after A-10 Warthog ground attack aircraft conducted an exercise with the USS Santa Barbara in the Persian Gulf. A-10s have been prowling the Strait of Hormuz as part of operations against Iran.
An A-10 flies past the USS Canberra in the Persian Gulf during an exercise in 2026 before the war with Iran erupted. USN
How many naval mines Iran has actually laid, and of what types, is murky. In March, CBS News reported Iranian forces had seeded a number of Maham 3 and Maham 7 mines in and around the Strait of Hormuz. The Maham 3 is a so-called “influence mine,” designed to be triggered by the acoustic and/or magnetic signatures of a passing vessel, and that is moored in place. The Maham 7 is also an influence mine, but that sits on the seabed, and is therefore intended to be employed in shallower waters where it can still be set off by a ship sailing above. Naval analyst H. I. Sutton has more details on these and other Iranian naval mines here. Last Friday, The New York Times reported that Iran had lost track of the disposition of at least some of the mines it had laid, and that this was hampering efforts to reopen the Strait, citing unnamed U.S. officials.
Sweeping for naval mines is a slow-going and complex affair, in general, that carries significant risks even in benign environments. The dangers in case of the Strait of Hormuz are magnified now by the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports and the potential for the full resumption of hostilities with the regime in Tehran. U.S. and Iranian officials met this weekend in Pakistan following the announcement of a ceasefire last week. However, those talks ended after a day without any substantive progress toward a diplomatic resolution of the current conflict.
More about the mission to clear Iranian naval mines, including whether Japan-based Avenger class ships will take part and if the LCSs will finally return from the Pacific Theater, should become clearer in the coming days.
GETTING into Europe for your holiday is now different and there are things you must know.
The EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) started a phased rollout on October 12, 2025 in 29 European countries and is fully operational from today – April 10, 2026.
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The new Entry/Exit System to Europe is fully operational from todayCredit: Alamy
What is EES?
EES is a new automated IT system that has been introduced across airports, ferry terminals and Eurostar stations across the Schengen area.
The system tracks short stays in Europe – up to a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period.
Why has it been introduced?
EES has been introduced to replace the need for passport stamps.
Instead, going forward, visitors will automatically be checked-in when they enter and exit an EU country.
The aim of the system is to tighten border control, prevent illegal immigration and prevent identity fraud.
Is it also designed to make border crossings more efficient in the long run?
What travel does it impact?
No matter how you are travelling, whether that be by train, plane or sea, Brits (as well as all non-EU nationals) visiting Europe will have to follow the new rules.
If you are going on holiday to any of the following 29 countries, you will be required to follow EES.
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Italy
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
How will it work?
All non-EU nationals – which includes Brits – are required to register their details on their first visit to a Schengen area country.
This will be done by using specific EES machines which will be at airports, ferry terminals and the Eurostar terminals.
The machines will log your fingerprints, facial images and scan your passport as well.
From today, every traveller has to register with EES.
Once you have registered (such as taking fingerprints and a photo), it is valid for three years.
It impacts all Brits heading to EuropeCredit: Alamy
Each time you travel within those three years, you must complete a shorter and faster check in, which, for example, usually involves scanning your fingerprints already on the system every time you enter or exit the Schengen Area.
If your passport expires before the three year mark, you will need to re-register with your new passport.
You will also have to re-register when the three years expires.
Will it cost me anything?
EES does not cost anything and is free for all travellers.
It is not a paid visa.
Will it make my journey time longer?
There have already been some reports of delays due to travellers registering for EES, including long queues and lengthy wait times.
Travel Reporter Alice Penwill spent three hours getting through the arrivals hall at Lanzarote Airport last month.
And delays have been reported at other airports like Brussels, Lisbon and Prague.
Some airports have put preparations in place to avoid travel chaos.
For example, Spanish operator, Aena, has said that is adapting security and border control for Brits at Ibiza, Menorca, Malaga and Palma, Majorca airports.
You must register, which includes scanning your fingerprintsCredit: Reuters
Tips to help with EES
The FCDO has recently updated its advice for countries impacted by EES.
On the website it states: “EES may take each passenger extra time to complete so be prepared to wait longer than usual at the border.
“EES is replacing the previous system of manually stamping passports when visitors arrive in the Schengen area for short stays. You may be asked to input biometric details every time you enter or exit.
“If you enter the Schengen area through the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel at Folkestone or Eurostar at St Pancras International, any information will be taken at the border before you leave the UK.
“Your digital EES record is valid for 3 years.”
While you might not be able to beat the long queues, Sun Travel has a few tips to make the process less stressful.
For example, book a seat at the front of the plane – this will help you get off the plane and to border control before the rest of passengers on your flight.
Where possible, booking the first flight of the day may help as they are generally fewer flights scheduled at this time and could mean less disruption.
If you have a connecting flight, try and go to a bigger airport when connecting as they are likely to be better equipped for the introduction of EES.
If travelling with children, think about the entertainment you can take with you, like an iPad.
This could help to keep them occupied and calm in long queues.
If you are disabled, make sure to let the airline know in advance as after landing, staff should escort you straight through to the front of the border control queues.
And last but not least, if you are going to be waiting in line for a while you want to make sure you are comfortable – so ditch the uncomfortable shoes, head to the toilet on the plane before you land and make sure you have some water with you.
What exactly is stagflation, and why do some economists and investors believe the global economy could be heading toward it? Al Jazeera’s Yasmeen ElTahan explains.
Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.
The B-2 Spirit has done what no other asset can do during the war with Iran — flying into dangerous airspace to release heavy weapons capable of penetrating even the most hardened targets. While B-1Bs and B-52Hs have forward deployed to the United Kingdom for their missions over and near Iran, the B-2s have flown smaller numbers of missions from their home at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. At this time, there is no evidence that B-2s are operating out of Diego Garcia or anywhere else for the war effort. Still, they are delivering punishing blows, as represented in art on at least one of their gear doors. Beyond mission markings, some new features that just appeared along the aircraft’s huge leading edges are puzzling to say the least.
U.S. Air Force crew chiefs perform pre-flight checks on a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber during Operation Epic Fury, March 17, 2026. (U.S. Air Force photo) (U.S. Air Force photo)
We spotted these white rectangles with black borders that are sealed onto the B-2’s leading edges in images released today by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), showing a pair of the stealth bombers about to launch from Whiteman on another global airpower mission to Iran on March 17, 2026. The rectangles mirror themselves near the upper and lower leading edges and appear to use the typical tape method of sealing to keep the jet’s radar cross-section as low as possible.
The white squares are very loosely reminiscent of test marks the B-2 has worn at different times during its first decade of flying, when it was deep in trials. Why anything like that would be present on a combat mission, and on two separate aircraft, is puzzling. The possibility that they augment and mask the B-2’s radar signature is also worth bringing up, but the aircraft has other ways of doing that and why would B-2s fly missions without their stealth benefit, especially all the way from the United States, when other platforms are forward deployed for those applications? Delivering the Massive Ordnance Penetrator in permissive airspace is one potential reason, but again, why go through all the trouble when the aircraft can just hit its targets in standard configurations? The threat of losing signature data to threat systems is always a possibility, but whether it would drive such a modification is unclear.
(Public Domain) (Northrop Grumman)
It’s also possible that this is some kind of new sensor or electronic warfare installation, and that these are small apertures for whatever lies beneath. Enhancing the B-2’s ability to sense threats in its combat environment and react in real time to them, including by avoiding, attacking or jamming them, would be very important to its survivability over future battlefields. Also, making the Spirit more capable of communicating with assets even while keeping as stealthy as possible would be key. All these kinds of upgrades are important to making sure the B-2 remains relevant for the rest of its service life.
The byproducts of a new coatings upgrade for the Spirit are another possibility. The B-2’s radar-absorbent material (RAM) coatings are absolutely critical to its success, but are also one of the major drivers of its immense operating costs. Improvements to the coating’s materials and processes of applying them have been constant throughout its life as the USAF seeks to increase its availability rate and lower its cost per flight hour. This has changed the appearance of the B-2 over the decades. New technologies from the B-21 Raider program, for instance, are being applied to the B-2 in order to help address these issues.
So, we just don’t know what these new features are for, or if they will remain a staple on B-2s that receive them going forward.
How the B-2’s leading edge normally looks. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by 2nd Lt. Chris Bishop) 2nd Lt. Christopher Bishop
Also of interest is the aforementioned mission markings on one of the B-2’s nose gear doors. It shows 15 bombs. While we cannot say for certain what exactly this represents, it’s more likely that it denotes combat missions rather than individual weapons dropped. That still seems like way too many long-range strike flights from this operation for this aircraft, especially considering the image was taken a week ago, but it probably includes combat missions from last year, as well.
U.S. Air Force crew chiefs perform pre-flight checks on a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber during Operation Epic Fury, March 17, 2026. (U.S. Air Force photo)
Another possibility some may raise is that it could denote how many GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOP) this B-2 has dropped, but again, this number seems like far too many. In fact, it is not even clear if any MOPs have been employed in this campaign, and 15 would equal more than the total dropped by all the B-2s involved during Operation Midnight Hammer last June.
Like so many things Spirit, we just don’t know what we are looking at. The aircraft is an American icon and has now entered the backend of its operational career, with its successor and legacy, the B-21 Raider, waiting in the wings. At the same time, much about the B-2 remains a secret and likely will for years after it finally flies its last operational sortie.
This is also something of an abstract indicator of just how far ahead of their time Northrop’s engineers were when they gave birth to the world’s first stealth bomber, an aircraft that is more prized now as a national asset than anytime in its three-decades-long career.
A B-2 Spirit stealth bomber prepares to take off to conduct a mission during Operation Epic Fury, March 17, 2026. (U.S. Air Force photo)
Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.
The Pentagon is reportedly sending the Wasp class amphibious assault ship USS Boxer and the rest of its Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), loaded with elements of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). This comes as the Trump administration is reported to be increasingly considering seizing or blockading Iran’s highly strategic Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf as part of a new phase of Operation Epic Fury.
It has now been widely reported that what is described as an “accelerated” deployment of the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and the 11th MEU from the West Coast will be in support of Operation Epic Fury.
#BREAKING#EXCLUSIVE The US military has accelerated the deployment of thousands of Marines and sailors to help reinforce US troops in the Middle East amid the war against Iran.
Four officials tell Newsmax the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and the embarked 11th Marine…
The Boxer Amphibious Ready Group also includes two other amphibious warfare ships, theSan Antonio class USS Portland and the Whidbey Island class USS Comstock. The 11th MEU has roughly 2,500 personnel, in total, and includes air and ground components.
This follows reports last week that the America class amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli and its ARG, carrying elements of the 31st MEU, had also begun moving from the Pacific toward the Middle to support ongoing operations against Iran.
Axios reported today that the Trump administration could be leaning toward establishing a blockade around Iran’s Kharg Island, through which it exports much of its oil, or occupying it, citing unnamed officials. The central goal of doing this would be to step up pressure on the regime in Tehran to, in turn, force it to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Traffic through that waterway has come to a virtual halt, which is causing massive reverberations across global energy markets.
“[Trump] wants Hormuz open. If he has to take Kharg Island to make it happen, that’s going to happen. If he decides to have a coastal invasion, that’s going to happen,” one official said, according to Axios. “But that decision hasn’t been made.”
The U.S. military carried out extensive strikes on Kharg Island this past weekend. A deployment of U.S. ground troops there would be a major escalation that could have significant ramifications, including domestically.
Last night, U.S. forces executed a large-scale precision strike on Kharg Island, Iran. The strike destroyed naval mine storage facilities, missile storage bunkers, and multiple other military sites. U.S. forces successfully struck more than 90 Iranian military targets on Kharg… pic.twitter.com/2X1glD4Flt
“We’ve always had boots on the ground in conflicts under every president, including Trump. I know this is a fixation in the media, and I get the politics, but the president is going to do what’s right,” a second official, who also said no decision has yet been made, said, per Axios.
A senior official told Axios: “We’ve always had boots on the ground in conflicts under every president, including Trump. I know this is a fixation in the media, and I get the politics. But the president is going to do what’s right.” https://t.co/6dbDy9zCHr
Just yesterday, TWZ spoke with Joseph Votel, the former commander of U.S. Central Command, with a particular focus on the tumultuous Strait of Hormuz, through which around 20 percent of the world’s oil passes. You can read that interview here.
In the meantime, publicly available flight-tracking data indicates that the U.S. Navy is using MQ-4C Triton intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance drones to monitor Kharg Island as part of their patrols of the northern Persian Gulf.
A US Navy MQ-4C Triton UAV just completed a reconnaissance mission of the northern Persian Gulf and Kharg Island.
Trump has warned that he might consider targeting oil facilities on the island if Iran or other countries “do anything to interfere” with the safe passage of ships through the strait.
Destroying or damaging oil infrastructure on Kharg could have unintended side effects, however. On the one hand, it would further push up global oil prices. The complex nature of infrastructure might take years to repair, which would compound this. In the long term, there is also the question of whether oil infrastructure here should be preserved for the benefit of a potential new Iranian government.
Any successor to the current regime would lose out on vital oil income, potentially driving further internal strife.
There is also the possibility that seizing the island and cutting off the current Iranian government from its most vital source of revenue could be used as a catalyst to bring about its fall.
Then there is the huge question about the kind of military effort that would be required to seize Kharg. This would require a large-scale, sustained operation and would be brought with risk. The island is only 20 miles from the Iranian mainland, putting whatever U.S. force is there at extreme risk of bombardment of multiple types. Getting amphibious assault ships through the Strait and into the Gulf would be an issue, as well, and those ships would be heavily targeted during transit and especially once inside the Gulf. With this in mind, a longer-range aviation assault would be most likely.
A naval blockade of the island might be easier to achieve in the short term, but it would run the risk of Iranian attacks, likely involving uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), drones, and other asymmetric options, as well as anti-ship cruise missiles, the use of which has been limited up to this point, as you can read about here.
As already noted, additional U.S. forces are headed to the region in the form of the Tripoli ARG and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). While the deployment of the big-deck amphibious assault ship USS Tripolihad already been reported, we now know it is being supported by the amphibious transport docks USS San Diego (LPD-22) and USS New Orleans (LPD-18), thanks to publicly available ship-tracking data.
USS Tripoli (LHA 7) America-class amphibious assault ship westbound in the Singapore Strait – March 17, 2026 SRC: INST- sgshipspotting pic.twitter.com/iC4qBZUZML
What exactly the next phase of Operation Epic Fury will look like could be clearer as the Navy amphibious warfare ships and the thousands of Marines they are carrying get closer to the Middle East.
UPDATES
UPDATE: 6:16 PM EST –
There are some mixed messages coming out of Washington about the future of Epic Fury.
President Donald Trump said he is considering “winding down” the war on Iran. His comments, delivered on his Truth Social account, come even though two Marine Expeditionary Units (MEUs) are steaming toward the Middle East and the Pentagon has reportedly drawn up plans to put American troops into Iran with the president’s approval.
Trump added that the U.S. could end the war effort even with the Iranians still closing the Strait of Hormuz.
“We are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East with respect to the Terrorist Regime of Iran,” Trump proclaimed.
He stated that the U.S. has: “(1) Completely degrading Iranian Missile Capability, Launchers, and everything else pertaining to them. (2) Destroying Iran’s Defense Industrial Base. (3) Eliminating their Navy and Air Force, including Anti Aircraft Weaponry. (4) Never allowing Iran to get even close to Nuclear Capability, and always being in a position where the U.S.A. can quickly and powerfully react to such a situation, should it take place. (5) Protecting, at the highest level, our Middle Eastern Allies, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, and others.”
The Strait, Trump added, “will have to be guarded and policed, as necessary, by other Nations who use it — The United States does not! If asked, we will help these Countries in their Hormuz efforts, but it shouldn’t be necessary once Iran’s threat is eradicated. Importantly, it will be an easy Military Operation for them.”
Since Day One of Operation Epic Fury, President Trump clearly outlined the U.S. Military’s objectives to end the threat of the Iranian terrorist regime.
The President and the Pentagon predicted it would take approximately 4-6 weeks to achieve this mission.
Our coverage has ended for the day. Stay tuned for more.
UPDATE: 5:15 PM EST –
Retired Marine Gen. James Mattis, who served as Defense Secretary and CENTCOM commander, weighed in on the war, saying he doesn’t believe regime change is likely.
Former General Jim Mattis says that it’s “very unlikely” that this Iranian regime falls right now.
“They’ve told the Iranian parents, don’t let your sons and daughters demonstrate because we will shoot them. We will go after them. So no, they’re not going to go away anywhere… pic.twitter.com/gq3RzIpPlZ
— Firing Line with Margaret Hoover (@FiringLineShow) March 20, 2026
Iranian state media warns Iran will target the UAE’s industrial port city of Ras Al-Khaimah if Iranian islands are again attacked from that nation, Arab News reported.
UPDATE: 4:20 PM EST –
Trump ruled out any ceasefire with Iran.
.@POTUS: “We can have dialogue, but I don’t want to do a ceasefire. You don’t do a ceasefire when you’re literally obliterating the other side… we’re not looking to do that.” pic.twitter.com/g2Yjik41GS
He suggested that re-opening the Strait is “a simple military maneuver.”
.@POTUS on opening the Strait of Hormuz: “It’s a simple military maneuver, it’s relatively safe, but you need a lot of help in the sense that you need ships, you need volume. NATO could help us but they so far haven’t had the courage to do so… it would be nice if the countries,… pic.twitter.com/KDOWOI3rgx
The president also declined to say if he will order troops into Iran.
REPORTER: Are you deploying additional troops to the region for deterrence or to optimize your operational capabilities?@POTUS: “I would say this, that if I told you the answer to that question, my military people wouldn’t be very happy — but we have a lot of troops, we have… pic.twitter.com/2jX7t4tgqq
CBS News is reporting that Pentagon officials have made detailed preparations for deploying U.S. ground forces into Iran. The network cited multiple sources briefed on the plans..
“Senior military commanders have submitted specific requests aimed at preparing for such an option as President Trump weighs moves in the U.S.-Israel-led conflict with Iran, the sources said,” according to CBS. The news outlet’s sources do not specify how those troops would be used. Meanwhile, the Trump administration hasn’t committed to any such plan to put boots on the ground, which would greatly escalate the war.
CENTCOM provided us an update of the number of troops wounded so far in Epic Fury. To date there have been 232 wounded, up from about 200 on Monday. Of those troops, 207 returned to duty. The number of seriously wounded has held steady at 10. The Associated Press was the first to report these details.
The command also shared video of what it says was an attack on The Esfahan Khomeynishahr Drone Production Plant that produced Shahed one-way attack drones.
The Esfahan Khomeynishahr Drone Production Plant produced Shahed one-way attack drones that have been used by the Iranian regime to attack targets across the region. The photo dated March 3, 2026, shows the plant before U.S. strikes. The photo taken on March 12, 2026 shows the… pic.twitter.com/nXxYpv2eyw
New video shows another Iranian cluster munition exploding over Israel. There were no reports of injuries from the attack, which was the ninth so far this evening, according to Times of Israel military correspondent Emanuel “Mannie” Fabian in a post on X.
One of the missiles launched by Iran at central Israel a short while ago carried a cluster bomb warhead, footage shows.
There are no reports of injuries in the attack, the ninth from Iran since midnight. pic.twitter.com/pH2IMCmSOq
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) March 20, 2026
NATO provided us a statement about pulling its forces out of Iraq as Iranian-backed militias have carried out several attacks there:
“‘I would like to thank the Republic of Iraq and all the Allies who assisted in the safe relocation of NATO personnel from Iraq,’ said Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, Supreme Allied Commander Europe. “‘ would also like to thank the dedicated men and women of NATO Mission Iraq, who continued their mission throughout this period. They are true professionals.’
The last NATO Mission Iraq personnel departed the country on March 20.
NATO Mission Iraq will continue from Joint Force Command Naples. NMI is a non-combat advisory and capability-building mission to assist Iraq in building more sustainable, transparent, inclusive and effective security institutions and forces, so that they themselves are able to stabilise their country, fight terrorism, and prevent the return of ISIS/Daesh.”
Amidst the conflict in the Middle East, the NATO Mission in Iraq has relocated its personnel from the Middle East to Europe, per a release from NATO’s SHAPE page. pic.twitter.com/lSNZ4tH8Kh
Iraq declared a ”force majeure” on all oilfields developed by foreign oil companies, as attacks in the region have disrupted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz,” Al Arabiya reported on X. This is ”preventing most of the country’s crude exports from moving,” oil ministry sources told the outlet.
A force majeure is a contractual clause freeing parties from liability due to extraordinary, unavoidable events, like the war.
Iraq declares force majeure on all oilfields developed by foreign oil companies, as attacks in the region have disrupted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, preventing most of the country’s crude exports from moving, oil ministry sources say. pic.twitter.com/8mFHXiaRBP
The U.K. Defense Ministry offered its latest update on the war.
The Iranian space program, one of the most advanced in the Middle East, has suffered extensive damage from US and Israeli airstrikes,Bloomberg News reported. The attacks are “potentially driving Tehran to deepen cooperation with China and Russia,” the outlet posited.
The Iranian space program, one of the most advanced in the Middle East, has suffered extensive damage from US and Israeli airstrikes, potentially driving Tehran to deepen cooperation with China and Russia https://t.co/aApWOdfCao
Earlier in our story, we noted that the USS Boxer (ARG) was deploying to the Middle East. Images emerged on line of the Boxer, the Portland and the Comstock departing San Diego.
The USS Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and the 2,500 Marines from the 11th MEU are heading to the Middle East as the US builds up its amphibious assault capabilities in the region.
The USS Boxer, USS Portland, and USS Comstock departed San Diego over the past 48 hours. pic.twitter.com/SKWTleAbG7
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is once again touting a deal to provide drones to the U.S., an arrangement Trump has so far dismissed.
“I am very interested in signing this agreement with our close partner – the United States of America,” Zelensky stated on X. “So when President Trump is ready, I will definitely be ready. Our negotiating team will discuss this issue at the meeting in the United States.”
As early as a year ago, we proposed a Drone Deal to the United States of America, because it is our key partner.
The agreement is not only about interceptor drones. First and foremost, it includes naval drones and long-range drones that have been proven in the war. It also…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 20, 2026
Jerusalem’s Old City, home to some of the most sacred sites in Christianity, Islam and Judaism, was reportedly hit by missile shrapnel that fell near the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. The official Turkish Anadolu news outlet reported that missile fragments also fell in the Jewish Quarter near Jerusalem’s Old City, amid heightened tension and a security alert in the area.
Shrapnel landed in several locations across Jerusalem, with no immediate details available on the extent of the damage, Anadolu added, citing Israeli media.
Another video shows the moment a fragment from an Iranian ballistic missile struck Jerusalem’s Old City this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/qNvTXmRDr6
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) March 20, 2026
Shipping giant Hapag-Lloyd provided us with a statement on the current state of their maritime commerce.
“We are monitoring the situation very closely, but the situation in the Middle East remains very fluid. Based on our current risk assessment, we have suspended all transits through the Strait of Hormuz and the Suez Canal as well as bookings from and to the Upper Gulf region. As a result, schedules and port calls may change at short notice, and some services will be adjusted. We have contingency plans in place, and the safety of our people on ground and ocean remains our top priority. Our teams are working closely together to find the best possible solutions for our customers’ shipments.”
A Greek-owned medium-sized cargo vessel, also known as a panamax, became the first bulk carrier to transit the Strait of Hormuz with its Automatic Identification System on since March 2, according to Lloyd’s List.
A Greece-owned panamax has become the first bulk carrier to transit the Strait of Hormuz with its Automatic Identification System turned on since March 2. pic.twitter.com/gfNjJsz517
Moscow proposed a quid pro quo to the U.S. under which the Kremlin would stop sharing intelligence information with Iran, such as the precise coordinates of U.S. military assets in the Middle East, if Washington ceased supplying Ukraine with intel about Russia, according to a report from Politico. The outlet cited two people familiar with the negotiations.
Moscow proposed a quid pro quo to the US under which the Kremlin would stop sharing intelligence information with Iran – such as the precise coordinates of US military assets in the Middle East – if the US ceased supplying Ukraine with intel about Russia.https://t.co/rpN0x8XqOZ
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Iranian media have both reported the death of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) spokesperson, Ali Mohammad Naeini. The Israeli military said in a post on X that he was killed in an overnight airstrike.
Just before his death, Naeini issued a statement insisting Iran was still able to produce missiles despite the attacks from Israel and the United States.
Naeini made the comment in response to a claim by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Iran could no longer build missiles. Referencing how Iranian schools consider a 20 as a perfect score, Naeini said: “Our missile industry score is 20 and there is no concern in this regard because we are producing missiles even during war conditions, which is amazing, and there is no particular problem in stockpiling.”
Naeini joins a growing list of high-profile Iranian regume figures who have been killed so far in the conflict, others including the former supreme leader Ali Khamenei, the security chief Ali Larijani, head of the paramilitary Basij force, Gholamreza Soleimani, and the intelligence minister, Esmail Khatib.
Tehran has accused the United Kingdom of “participation in aggression,” reflecting the fact that the country has permitted the U.S. Air Force to use its airbases as a launchpad for bombing missions over Iran.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned his British counterpart, Yvette Cooper, and insisted on his country’s right to self-defence. “These actions will definitely be considered as participation in aggression and will be recorded in the history of relations between the two countries. At the same time, we reserve our inherent right to defend the country’s sovereignty and independence,” Araghchi said on his official Telegram channel.
⚡️🇺🇸🇬🇧🇮🇷 Footage of a US Air Force B-52H bomber returning to the UK following a reported strike mission linked to operations against Iran.
US B-52 and B-1 bombers have been deployed to RAF Fairford and are known to be conducting long-range strike missions. pic.twitter.com/m3sj39PHc3
U.S. Central Command says that it has destroyed an Iranian ballistic missile plant in Karaj, to the west of Tehran. The plant was used to “assemble ballistic missiles that threatened Americans, neighboring countries, and commercial shipping,” CENTCOM said.
Prior to Operation Epic Fury, the Iranian regime used the Karaj Surface-to-Surface Missile Plant to assemble ballistic missiles that threatened Americans, neighboring countries, and commercial shipping. The photo dated March 1, 2026, shows the plant prior to U.S. strikes. The… pic.twitter.com/QEs5toZQpX
Satellite imagery from Bandar Abbas suggests that airstrikes have targeted the naval base and port facilities once again. The imagery below shows fires burning at several different structures, although the level of overall damage is not entirely clear.
BDA Update: Bandar Abbas Southern Fleet HQ Mar 18 high-res imagery confirms another wave of strikes near the primary navy piers
➡️Impacts focused heavily on the infrastructure and support buildings just off the waterfront ➡️Active fires with at least 6 distinct structures… pic.twitter.com/KPFAMNacst
Other recent targets of U.S. airstrikes appear to include Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. Satellite imagery shows cratering, but it unclear if the attacks collapsed the IRGC’s tunnel complex that is understood to be on the island. The underground complex is reportedly used to store small boats, missiles, and drones.
A U.S. strike hit the IRGC’s tunnel complex on Qeshm Island, causing visible surface damage (craters, hits on nearby facilities), but failed to destroy or penetrate the hardened underground tunnels, meaning key assets likely survived.
Israel conducted airstrikes on Tehran today, as Iranians marked Nowruz, the Persian New Year. In a statement on X, the Israel Defense Forces said: “The IDF has now begun a wave of strikes targeting infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime in the heart of Tehran.”
Meanwhile, there are growing questions about the degree to which Israel and the United States are on the same page as regards the war against Iran.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel acted alone in the bombing of Iran’s South Pars gas field, one of the largest in the world. He also confirmed that Trump had asked Israel to stop any further such attacks. “President Trump asked us to hold off on future attacks, and we’re holding out,” Netanyahu explained.
Iran is being “decimated” and no longer had the capacity to enrich uranium or make ballistic missiles, but a revolution in the country would require a “ground component,” Netanyahu added.
When asked whether he had dragged Trump into the conflict, Netanyahu responded: “Does anyone really think that someone can tell President Trump what to do?” Netanyahu told reporters, at a press conference. “He didn’t need any convincing,” he added. “I don’t think any two leaders have been as coordinated as President Trump and I. He’s the leader. I’m, you know, his ally.”
Israel, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates today all announced that their air defenses were responding to Iranian missile attacks. Elsewhere in the region, Bahrain’s interior ministry announced an air raid alert, while Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry said it had intercepted a drone in the country’s east.
Kuwait’s state oil firm KPC reported that its Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery was hit by multiple drone attacks early on Friday, causing a fire in some units. No initial casualties were reported, according to the state news agency.
Early this morning, multiple Iranian attack drones hit Kuwait’s Mina Al-Ahmadi oil refinery, setting several areas of the refinery complex ablaze and causing a partial shutdown. pic.twitter.com/9HwqC0fHZi
Iranian attacks on energy infrastructure have taken a toll on Qatar, too. Ras Laffan Industrial City in Qatar has been forced to reduce the country’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) export capacity by 17 percent, according to QatarEnergy, the state-run energy giant. The “extensive damage” could reportedly reduce its annual revenues by $20 billion and take “up to five years” to repair.
Footage shows a fire and the moment of impact of an Iranian ballistic missile in Ras Laffan Industrial City, home to the world’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) production. pic.twitter.com/zIyGJ5p9ue
Iran has also launched strikes against energy infrastructure in Israel.
According to Israel’s energy ministry, an Iranian missile attack — reportedly using cluster warheads — hit oil refineries in the northern port city of Haifa but did not cause “significant damage.” Energy Minister Eli Cohen added that power was disrupted, but electricity was soon restored to most of those who were affected.
The video below purports to show debris from an intercepted Iranian ballistic missile landing on a car in central Israel.
According to the Fars news agency, the Iranian military has reportedly threatened American and Israeli military personnel and officials. In a post on Telegram, the agency quoted a senior spokesperson for Iran’s armed forces as saying: “We are keeping an eye on your cowardly officials and commanders, your wicked pilots and soldiers… From now on, based on the information we have from you, the world’s tourist attractions, resorts, and entertainment centers will not be safe for you either,” the spokesperson reportedly said.
A warning about ‘additional information about existing entry requirements’ has been issued
People travelling to the US have been issued fresh advice
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has released new travel guidance for the USA. The update was released earlier today (Friday, March 13).
The FCDO explained that the amendment pertains to ‘additional information about existing entry requirements and new information on possible travel disruption’. It was posted on the official ‘Foreign travel advice’ page.
The most recent advice also encompasses American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and United States Virgin Islands. The website states: “There could be longer than usual queues at some US airports due to a partial US government shutdown. Check with your travel provider, departure airport or airline for the latest guidance.
“You must have the correct approval prior to travel. This will be either a valid US visa or Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA), depending on your personal circumstances and purpose of travel.
“US authorities enforce entry rules strictly. If you do not have the correct immigration status, or if you breach the terms of your entry, there is a risk you may be detained, refused entry, or removed (deported). Overstaying your permitted time in the US can also lead to detention and future bans on re-entry.
“A valid ESTA or visa does not guarantee you will be allowed to enter the US. Authorities may refuse you entry if, for example, they believe you do not plan to stay longer than permitted or have provided inaccurate or incomplete information. The US may change the conditions to travel to the US at any time without prior notice.”
The US is set to co-host the World Cup later this year, with the tournament running from 11 June to 19 July. If you’re planning a trip to the US during this period, check out the World Cup page for additional details. Further advisories include ensuring your passport is valid for the duration of your intended stay.
If your journey involves transiting through another country en route to or from the US, make sure to verify the entry requirements for that nation. Many countries only permit entry if your passport has at least six months’ validity remaining.
To gain entry or transit through the US, you’ll need either an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) or a visa. More information on visas can be found on the US State Department’s website.
Travellers whose gender on their passport differs from their birth-recorded sex should seek further advice from the US Embassy or a consulate in the UK.
Officials may request to examine your electronic devices, emails, text messages, and social media activity. Refusal could result in delayed or denied entry.
More information on electronic device searches can be found on the US Customs and Border Protection website.
