Infrastructure

Trump steps up threats after US strike on Iran’s largest bridge, as Tehran launches attacks across the region.

Thick, black smoke rose from Kuwait International Airport Saturday after suspected Iranian drone strikes damaged radar systems and fuel storage facilities, state media said. No fatalities were reported. The airport has been repeatedly targeted since the US-Israeli war on Iran erupted.

SACRAMENTO — Cori Close’s candid remarks about the growing challenges of coaching in modern college athletics sparked a reaction nationwide among her peers.

On Thursday, the UCLA women’s basketball coach was asked about the rapid changes shaping college sports ahead of her Bruins’ Sweet 16 matchup against Minnesota on Friday night. The No. 1-seeded Bruins (33-1) entered the Sweet 16 round considered a strong Final Four contender, powered by one of the deepest starting lineups in the nation.

“I’ve never been as tired as I’ve been in the last two years, and it’s made me think how much longer I can do this,” Close said. “And I’m just being transparent with you about that. There are so many things that are harder, and we keep losing incredible people on the men’s and the women’s side.”

UCLA has dominated throughout the season, entering the Sweet 16 on a 27-game winning streak that dates to late November. Three starters — Lauren Betts, Charlisse Leger-Walker and Gianna Kneepkens — began their college careers elsewhere before transferring into the program.

“How do we now figure out this transfer portal? Let’s not complain about it,” Close said. “Let’s have solutions about what’s right and what adjustments need to be made. … I’m a huge advocate for NIL. It should have happened 20 years ago. And we need boundaries. We need infrastructure. We need competitive equity. We need transparency.”

In contrast, Louisville coach Jeff Walz offered a more critical perspective when addressing the same topic during a NCAA news conference in Fort Worth, Texas.

UCLA guard Kiki Rice points across the court while talking with Bruins coach Cori Close during an NCAA tournament win over California Baptist at Pauley Pavilion on March 21.

(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)

“I’m friends with Cori,” Walz said. “My favorite line, I would tell her, if you don’t like your job, find a new job. I mean, I’m listening this morning at 4:20 as the workers outside my window at the hotel in the street are working. I mean, you choose your profession. If you don’t like it, find a new profession.”

No. 3-seeded Louisville will face No. 2 Michigan on Saturday after falling short against Duke in the ACC championship game.

Close, who has spent 33 years in coaching, including 15 at UCLA, has navigated an evolving landscape shaped by name, image and likeness compensation policies and the transfer portal, just like everyone else. Last season, she earned national coach of the year and led the Bruins to the program’s first Final Four. UCLA has now reached at least the Sweet 16 during four consecutive seasons and eight times during Close’s tenure in Westwood.

This year, the Bruins swept through Big Ten play undefeated and once again secured a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.

“I mean, of course, it’s a lot of work, but we chose to do it and we get compensated for it,” Walz said. “I don’t think anybody is going to feel too sorry for us that you might be tired. I’m tired, too, but who is not?”

Several longtime coaches have stepped away from the game in recent years, amid, though not always directly attributed to, the sport’s ongoing transformation. Hall of Fame Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer retired in 2025, while Georgia Tech’s Nell Fortner, Iowa’s Lisa Bluder and Harvard’s Kathy Delaney-Smith stepped down during the past three seasons.

“It’s ever-changing, and that’s the frustrating part, because you can never get a grasp on any of it,” Kentucky coach Kenny Brooks said. “You think that you have it. Then all of a sudden, it’s like somebody pulls a rug out and says, ‘No, we’re changing it,’ and now it’s going to be this way now. We want to get out ahead of everything, but we can’t. We always seem like we’re one step behind because there are so many changes.”

Ultimately, Close’s message centered on the need for structural support in a rapidly shifting environment.

“If there’s one thing I would ask of our governing bodies and the NCAA and our administrations is please develop infrastructure and boundaries that create an opportunity to have sustained excellence and sustainable pace,” she said. “Otherwise, we are going to continue to lose some of our best coaches, and I do not think our game can afford to do that.”

March 23 (UPI) — President Donald Trump said Monday that the United States will postpone its military strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure amid talk of a resolution but Iranian state media denies such talks have taken place.

The president told CNBC’s Joe Kernen that the United States is “very intent on making a deal with Iran.” Earlier Monday he posted on social media that he will hold off on strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure for five days because the United States and Iran have had “very good and productive conversations” about a resolution to end hostilities in the Middle East.

Trump said the positive talks with Iran took place “over the last two days” following his threat to target Iran’s energy infrastructure on Friday.

“Based on the tenor and tone of these in depth, detailed and constructive conversations, which will continue throughout the week, I have instructed the Department of War to postpone any and all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five day period, subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions,” Trump posted.

Iranian state media disputed Trump’s claim of conversations about a drawdown of fighting, citing an unnamed “senior security official.”

“There has been no negotiation and there is no negotiation and with this kind of psychological warfare, neither the Strait of Hormuz will return to its pre-war conditions nor will there be peace in the energy markets,” Iranian state media posted on Telegram, citing an unnamed source.

The unnamed source told the media outlet that Trump has backed down on his threat to target energy infrastructure. Trump had warned that he would target power plants and infrastructure if Iran did not fully open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.

Transportation of oil on the Strait of Hormuz has largely halted since the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran on Feb. 28. Iranian officials urged that they will continue to threaten vessels on the strait as long as hostilities continue, leveraging the economic impact of doing so.

The global oil market continues to respond to activity on the Strait of Hormuz and the ongoing war, with the price per barrel exceeding $100 at different points in the past week.

US President Trump, who cut off oil supplies to Cuba after abducting Venezuela’s President Maduro, has threatened to take over the island-nation.

The Cuban government has said it is prepared for any potential United States attacks as the island-nation begins to recover from yet another blackout under a punishing oil blockade imposed by Washington that has pushed its economy to the brink.

Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio responded on Sunday to US President Donald Trump’s threats this week to take over Cuba, insisting that it had “historically been ready to mobilise as a nation for military aggression”.

“We don’t believe it is something that is probable, but we would be naive if we do not prepare,” de Cossio told NBC’s Meet the Press.

His comments were aired a day after the latest collapse of the country’s ageing nationwide grid that had left millions of people in the dark. Saturday’s outage was the second in the past week and the third in March.

The state-run Electric Union and the Ministry of Energy and Mines said some 72,000 customers in the capital, Havana, including five hospitals, had electricity again early on Sunday. But the number represented only a fraction of Havana’s total population of approximately two million.

The Cuban Electric Union, which reports to the Ministry of Energy and Mines, said the total disconnection of the national system was caused by an unexpected shutdown of a generation unit at the Nuevitas thermoelectric plant in Camaguey province, without providing details on the specific cause of the failure.

Trump, who started blocking oil from reaching the island after abducting Cuba’s ally, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, early this year, has warned potential oil exporters that they could face high tariffs.

According to President Miguel Diaz-Canel, Cuba has not received oil from foreign suppliers for three months. The country produces barely 40 percent of the fuel it needs to power its economy.

On March 16, Trump escalated his rhetoric against Cuba, arguing the leadership was on the verge of collapse and saying he expected to have the “honour” of taking the country.

De Cossio denied that the nature, structure, or makeup of the Cuban government was up for negotiation in what Havana has called a “serious and responsible” dialogue with Washington launched earlier this month. He added that a change of the ruling system was “absolutely” off the table in discussions.

This week, General Francis Donovan, head of the US Southern Command overseeing armed forces in Latin America, told lawmakers at a US Senate hearing on Trump’s military action in the region that troops were not rehearsing for an invasion of Cuba or actively preparing to take over the Communist-run island.

But, he added, the US stood ready to address any threats to the US embassy, to defend its base at Guantanamo Bay, and aid US government efforts to address any mass migration from the island, if needed.

The Cuban government reportedly refused a request by the embassy in Havana to allow it to import diesel for its generators in response to the oil blockade, The Associated Press reported on Saturday, citing two US officials.

March 19 (UPI) — Iran on Thursday attacked major energy facilities in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates after vowing to retaliate for Israel striking its gas field a day earlier, escalating a war that is driving up energy prices and rattling global markets.

Qatar said Iranian ballistic missiles struck its Ras Laffan Industrial City, the centerpiece of the nation’s LNG production and export, while the United Arab Emirates said its Habshan gas facilities and Bab field had come under attack.

Several liquefied natural gas facilities at the Ras Laffan Industrial City, which is responsible for about one-fifth of global LNG supplies, were struck early Thursday, igniting what state-owned QatarEnergy said in a statement were “sizeable fires.” Extensive damage was reported.

Two of three fires that ignited from the attack were contained as of 5 a.m. local time Thursday, according to a statement from Qatar’s Ministry of the Interior.

Iran attacked the complex’s Pearl gas-to-liquids facility late Wednesday, which was dealt “extensive damage” and prompted emergency teams to be deployed to the site.

Rockets launched at the UAE facilities were successfully intercepted, but falling debris prompted Abu Dhabi authorities to respond to unspecified incidents at the Habshan gas facilities and the Bab gas field, the Abu Dhabi Media Office said in a statement.

The facilities have been shut down in response, it said, adding that no casualties were reported.

Iran also targeted gas facilities in eastern Saudi Arabia, but all projectiles and drones were intercepted, its Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

The attacks mark an escalation in the war, and come after Israel attacked Iran’s South Pars gas field, one of the world’s largest resources of natural gas.

Israel’s attack was condemned by several countries, including Qatar. Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari said it was “a dangerous & irresponsible step amid the current military escalation in the region.”

“Targeting energy infrastructure constitutes a threat to global energy security, as well as to the peoples of the region & its environment,” he said in a statement.

Following Iran’s attack on Wednesday night, Qatar gave Tehran’s embassy officials 24 hours to leave the country.

The targeting of Persian Gulf energy facilities is expected to further drive surging energy costs. On Thursday, Brent crude reached nearly $110 a barrel, up sharply from $71 before the war began in late February.

Iran had vowed to attack the region’s energy facilities after Israel attacked its South Pars gas field.

Oil facilities “associated with America are now on par with American bases and will come under fire with full force,” Alireza Tangsiri, chief of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Navy, said on X.

“You have heard a lot about #hell; we will paint its picture for you,” the IRGC said Thursday in a social media statement.

“Stay away from energy facilities…”

Following the attacks, U.S. President Donald Trump said on his Truth Social platform that there would be no more Israeli attacks on the South Pars field.

Trump claimed the United States “knew nothing” about Israel’s plan to attack the gas site and that Qatar was also neither involved.

He said Iran was unaware of that, but warned that if it again attacks Qatar, the United States will join Israel and “massively blow up the entirety of the South Pars gas field at an amount of strength and power that Iran has never seen or witnessed before.”

The energy war in the Middle East heated up on Wednesday with an Israeli attack on the South Pars gas field Iran shares with Qatar. The strike, which exacerbates the diminishing of oil exports already experienced during the war, was reportedly carried out in coordination with the United States.

“The Israeli Air Force struck a natural gas processing facility in southwestern Iran,” Axios reported, citing two senior Israeli officials. The attack “was coordinated with and approved by the Trump administration,” the outlet noted, adding that a U.S. defense official confirmed that.

Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported that several facilities in the South Pars gas field near Bushehr were targeted. According to the report, emergency teams were on the scene and trying to extinguish the fire. The extent of the damage is not yet known.

Things are taking a darker turn.

Israeli airstrikes have hit Iran’s massive South Pars gas field, along with key infrastructure, including the Asaluyeh petrochemical complex.

In response, Tehran has issued an urgent warning, calling for the evacuation of petrochemical sites… pic.twitter.com/KGEjEIgKtl

— Egypt’s Intel Observer (@EGYOSINT) March 18, 2026

There are suggestions that the attack on South Pars could interfere with Iran’s refinery capabilities for a long time to come.

I think these are Sulfur Recovery Units (CRUs) in the 6th refinery of the Iranian South Pars onshore fields.
The targets are selected to be limited but effective enough to stop to the entire process of the refinery for a long time. https://t.co/XvYj5vC3L9

— Mehdi H. (@mhmiranusa) March 18, 2026

Qatari officials decried the attack, calling it “a dangerous & irresponsible step amid the current military escalation in the region.”

The Israeli targeting of facilities linked to Iran’s South Pars field, an extension of Qatar’s North Field, is a dangerous & irresponsible step amid the current military escalation in the region.

Targeting energy infrastructure constitutes a threat to global energy security, as…

— د. ماجد محمد الأنصاري Dr. Majed Al Ansari (@majedalansari) March 18, 2026

In the wake of the attack on South Pars, “Iran issued an evacuation ‌warning for several oil facilities across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, saying they would ​be targeted by strikes ‘in the ​coming hours,’” Reuters reported, citing Iranian media.

“The warning was directed at Saudi ​Arabia’s Samref Refinery and Jubail Petrochemical Complex, ​the United Arab Emirates’ Al Hosn Gas Field, and Qatar’s Mesaieed Petrochemical Complex, Mesaieed Holding Company ​and Ras Laffan Refinery,” the outlet added.

“These centers have ​become direct and legitimate targets and will be ‌targeted ⁠in the coming hours. Therefore, all citizens, residents, and employees are requested to immediately leave these areas and move to ​a safe ​distance without ⁠any delay,” the warning said.

Tehran Warns of Retaliation After Attacks on Key Oil and Gas Infrastructure

Iranian officials say U.S. and Israeli strikes damaged parts of the South Pars field one of the world’s largest gas reserves while the IRGC reportedly ordered personnel in regional petrochemical sites to… pic.twitter.com/e4dSYQcEDQ

— EuroPost Agency (@EuroPostAgency) March 18, 2026

This event marks a new and dangerous escalation after the U.S. said it would not attack Iran’s energy infrastructure, notes Bismarck Analysis senior analyst Marko Jukic.

Until yesterday, we were assured the U.S. was leaving Iran’s energy infrastructure untouched to prevent escalation or more global energy shocks. Iran pledged to wipe out the Gulf’s energy if its own was attacked.

Today, the U.S. and Israel bombed Iran’s natural gas facilities. https://t.co/rHmnbcDQhn

— Marko Jukic (@mmjukic) March 18, 2026

Now that Israel has crossed the line into hitting Iranian energy infrastructure, Kharg Island could be added to the target list. The facility handles 90% of Iran’s oil exports. The U.S. already attacked the island’s military facilities on March 14, but spared hitting any energy-related targets. That could change and doing so would likely leave Iran with a years-long rebuilding process, crippling the government’s economic lifeline.

The attack on the Iranian gas field adds to concerns about the flow of energy from the region already interrupted by Tehran’s attacks on infrastructure around the Middle East and its closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday hinted that America end its role protecting the Strait after Epic Fury ends. Meanwhile, Gulf nations are watching events unfold and have expressed fears that they will be left to defend the Strait on their own.

“I wonder what would happen if we ‘finished off’ what’s left of the Iranian Terror State, and let the Countries that use it, we don’t, be responsible for the so called ‘Straight?’” Trump postulated on his Truth Social site. “That would get some of our non-responsive ‘Allies’ in gear, and fast!!!”

Trump: “I wonder what would happen if we ‘finished off’ what’s left of the Iranian Terror State, and let the Countries that use it, we don’t, be responsible for the so called ‘Straight?’ That would get some of our non-responsive ‘Allies’ in gear, and fast!!! President DJT” pic.twitter.com/pwbF1lYELS

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 18, 2026

As we previously reported, the U.K., Germany, Luxembourg, Japan and Australia rejected Trump’s demand while other countries were on the fence. In a post on X, Axios reported that the U.K. has drafted a plan for a Strait of Hormuz coalition and shared it with the U.S. and several other countries.

After the allies pushed back, Trump on Tuesday said he no longer wanted their help.

BREAKING: Trump now says he doesn’t need any help for Iran & Strait of Hormuz:

The United States has been informed by most NATO “Allies” that they don’t want to get involved in our military operation against Iran, despite agreeing that Iran must not have a nuclear weapon.

I’m… pic.twitter.com/hm7HqKsciV

— Clash Report (@clashreport) March 17, 2026

Before Trump’s latest statement on the Strait, a key waterway through which 35% of global crude oil and 20% of global liquefied natural gas used to flow, Gulf Arab nations stated their desire that Iran be “neutered, if not dismantled, when the conflict ends—so the ordeal is never repeated,” The Wall Street Journal reported.

Iran’s decision to interrupt Strait traffic “represents an attack on the entire world rather than just the Gulf states, and will hit low-income nations especially hard,” Sultan al-Jaber, the U.A.E. minister of industry and advanced technology, told the newspaper.

“By taking Hormuz hostage, Iran is committing global economic warfare,” he said. “This is a global economic issue. It is not a regional problem. The disruption is going to increase inflation, it will slow economies, it will affect everyday lives. Families will end up paying more for food.”

Leaving Iran in control of the Strait of Hormuz after the U.S. ends Epic Fury would be a disaster for the Gulf states, said Muhanad Seloom, a professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies in Qatar.

“The Iranian regime has crossed every red line,” he told the Journal. “Now it is in everyone’s interest, and this includes the Gulf countries, to have the U.S. finish the job. Imagine if the war stops now, and Iran declares victory saying that the U.S. has been defeated? Iran would hold the whole region hostage, and every time Iran would be under pressure, it would hit the Gulf countries—because that taboo has been broken, and hitting them worked.”

Leaving Iran in control of the Strait of Hormuz once the guns fall silent would be a disaster for the Gulf states, said Muhanad Seloom, a professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies in Qatar.
“The Iranian regime has crossed every red line,” he said. “Now it is in… https://t.co/aFlAql6vcL

— Yaroslav Trofimov (@yarotrof) March 18, 2026

A maritime industry official confirmed to us that the Egyptian-owned, Maltese-flagged container ship SAFEEN PRESTIGE was struck again overnight and is burning following an initial attack in the Strait on March 4. The last previous attack on shipping in the region took place on March 11, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) office. UKMTO has received 20 reports of incidents affecting vessels operating in and around the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman since Epic Fury began on Feb. 28. That includes 15 reported attacks and five reports of suspicious activities.

BREAKING: Although we can’t say for sure, it appears that the Egyptian-owned, Maltese-flagged container ship SAFEEN PRESTIGE (9593517) may have been struck again overnight as she is suddenly burning following the initial strike on 2026-03-04 in the Strait of Hormuz. pic.twitter.com/jwCYmRYhUe

— TankerTrackers.com, Inc. (@TankerTrackers) March 18, 2026

Though Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, some oil tankers are making a safe transit, The Associated Press reported.

About 90 ships, including oil tankers, have crossed the Strait since Epic Fury was launched and Iran “is still exporting millions of barrels of oil at a time when the waterway has been effectively closed,” the wire service reported, citing maritime and trade data platforms.

“Many of the vessels that passed through the strait were so-called ‘dark’ transits evading Western government sanctions and oversight that likely have ties to Iran, maritime data firm Lloyd’s List Intelligence said,” AP noted. “More recently, vessels with ties to India and Pakistan have also successfully crossed the strait as governments stepped up negotiations.”

89 ships got through Hormuz March 1st-15th. “More than one-fifth of the 89 vessels were believed to be Iran-affiliated, while Chinese and Greece affiliated ships are among the rest, it said.” https://t.co/c7DzauV8ya

— Shashank Joshi (@shashj) March 18, 2026

The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz following Iranian strikes and fears of Houthi attacks in the Red Sea “have prompted shipping lines to suspend bookings and reroute goods,” Financial Times reported.

There was a bit of positive news when it comes to Iranian attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure. Saudi Arabia’s biggest oil refinery “restarted operations after an attack forced its closure earlier this month,” Bloomberg News reported, citing a person familiar with the matter.

“State oil giant Saudi Aramco, which operates the 550,000-barrel-a-day Ras Tanura plant, shuttered production on March 2 as a precaution after a drone strike in the area,” the outlet added.

Saudi Arabia’s biggest oil refinery has restarted operations after being halted due to a drone attack earlier this month https://t.co/5955jHVM5q

— Bloomberg (@business) March 18, 2026

The growing energy war is taking a hit on the global economy, with reduced exports adding to existing problems with limited global spare capacity, the Kpler global trade intelligence firm explained.

“The implications for oil markets are profound,” it stated.

Global oil markets under pressure: Inside the US–Iran supply shock

Day 19 of the US–Iran conflict and the impact on global energy markets is intensifying. From mounting disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz to significant supply shut-ins, we are witnessing one of the largest… pic.twitter.com/blH7pjA46r

— Kpler (@Kpler) March 18, 2026

In just one example of the war’s impact, Brent Crude, a leading indicator for the oil industry, was trading at nearly $110 per barrel as of Wednesday morning Eastern Standard Time, according to OilPrice.com. While the price has fluctuated wildly, dipping to about $95 per barrel on March 12, it still represents a major increase since the start of Epic Fury. All this has a cascading effect on trucking and shipping, meaning the costs of food and goods are rising as well.

UPDATES

Our coverage has ended for the day. Stay tuned for more.

UPDATE: 5:15 PM EST –

Oil prices shot over $110 per barrel as the energy war in the Middle East heats up.

The publication also reported that Trump doesn’t want any more attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure, saying it got the message. However, the president is not ruling out future attacks, depending on Iran’s actions in the Strait.

Trump knew of South Pars attack and approved of it. But now he’s against strikes on Iranian energy sites, believing Tehran received the message that it must reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump open to future attacks on Iranian energy facilities depending on Iran’s SoH actions. pic.twitter.com/rHfOgtQf6d

— Alex Ward (@alexbward) March 18, 2026

Iran’s Masoud Pezeshkian is reportedly resigning over the IRGC freezing him out of all decision making and even access to the new Supreme Leader.

BREAKING 🔴

Channel 14 reports Pezeshkian is weighing resignation. He told aides:
“The IRGC blocks me from all military and strategic decisions and won’t even let me speak to the Supreme Leader. I feel useless.” pic.twitter.com/ZmYKYGPxKO

— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) March 18, 2026

Explosions from either missiles or interceptors were reported in the Saudi capital of Riyadh as the first meeting of Gulf foreign ministers convened since Epic Fury was launched, CNN reported.

“We witnessed the interceptors taking off and we could hear the explosions of the intercepts or the missiles coming down. It’s unusual Iran would make the targeting here when this first high level, face to face meeting is happening.”@NicRobertsonCNN reports from Riyadh pic.twitter.com/xDxGQDANGR

— CNN International PR (@cnnipr) March 18, 2026

Fabian Hoffman shared some of the wildest interception video you will ever see.

One of the wildest intercept videos I have ever seen.

First glowing projectile: very likely a Stunner interceptor launched from David’s Sling, climbing toward the incoming MRBM warhead.

Second glowing projectile: the incoming MRBM warhead descending toward the ground, evading… pic.twitter.com/0yltugPA8J

— Fabian Hoffmann (@FRHoffmann1) March 18, 2026

The bodies of five Iranians were found in a house hit by a U.S. airstrike in the Jadriyah section of Baghdad, according to local media. One of the Iranians reportedly supervised attacks on U.S. interests.

In Baghdad, 5 Iranian bodies found at a destroyed house at the site of yesterday’s airstrike on the Jadriyah area. 1 of the Iranians was the adviser to Iranian aligned Iraqi militias. His role was not just advising; he supervised attacks on US interests. https://t.co/lBGGp4RxmX

— David M. Witty (@DavidMWitty1) March 18, 2026

More footage emerged of Iranian cluster munitions attacking Israel.

UPDATE: 4:32 PM EST –

In addition to the attack on the Qatari refinery, Iran is also striking a liquified natural gas (LNG) refinery in Bahrain, according to the official Iranian FARS News Agency.

IRGC-affiliated Fars News Agency claims that a missile attack is ongoing against the LNG refinery in Bahrain

FARS also suggest that the bridge connecting Bahrain and Saudi Arabia has been destroyed or damaged. Google data shows traffic is normal.https://t.co/uilbUgeLAf pic.twitter.com/guQvXubVOg

— Faytuks News (@Faytuks) March 18, 2026

The FBI announced that it found “possible energetic material” in a suspicious package found outside the MacDill Air Force Base visitor center on March 16. That discovery, as we previously noted, caused the main gate of the base and the visitor center to be shut for several hours. Since then, security at the base was raised to Force Protection Condition Charlie, the second-highest level possible. On Wednesday, the base was on lockdown for several hours after “a threat was made,” according to the base.

MacDill, it should be noted, is the home of CENTCOM, which is running the war in Iran, as well as U.S. Special Operations Command, many other mission partners and two Air Force refueling wings that have been instrumental in supporting Epic Fury.

This is an #FBI Tampa investigative update to the suspicious package found on March 16 outside MacDill AFB Visitor Center: Field screening was conducted on the contents of the package and identified possible energetic materials. Final lab analysis is not yet complete. The… pic.twitter.com/IcMO4fvlME

— FBI Tampa (@FBITampa) March 18, 2026

A top Russian official today honored Larijani’s role in boosting Iran-Russia relations.

Meanwhile, the country’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, took to X to offer his condolences.

With deep sorrow, I received the grievous news of the martyrdom of Dr. Ali Larijani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council and the Leader’s Representative in that Council, along with the martyrdom of his worthy son and several of his colleagues.

— Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei (@MKhamenei_ir) March 18, 2026

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a group of Iranian proxies who have battled U.S. forces there for years, released a new video claiming to show a swarm of Murad-5 drones hitting American installations in that country.

Islamic Resistance in Iraq releases coordinated strike footage showing a swarm deployment of Murad-5 drones targeting U.S. installations, with mapped objectives including the Victoria base near Baghdad Airport and additional airbase infrastructure pic.twitter.com/U3qfnCfMcL

— Thomas Keith (@iwasnevrhere_) March 18, 2026

Kuwaiti police reportedly uncovered a second Hezbollah cell in the country planning terror attacks.

Kuwait’s Police uncovered a second Hezbollah cell planning terror attacks against vital facilities in the country. The Kuwaiti Interior Ministry said it apprehended 10 citizens belonging to Hezbollah, who sought to spy on its behalf to provide them with coordinates of critical… https://t.co/WgnBK4nbNF pic.twitter.com/Gq5gp4kvet

— Ariel Oseran أريئل أوسيران (@ariel_oseran) March 18, 2026

UPDATE: 3:17 PM EST –

ABC News was given rare access to one of Israel’s Arrow anti-ballistic missile defense batteries. You can read more about Arrow in our deep dive into Israel’s vaunted integrated air defense system here.

A proposal from the UN’s shipping agency on Wednesday ‌calls for a safe maritime corridor to free some 20,000 seafarers stranded in the Gulf by the war, Reuters noted.

“The proposal submitted by Bahrain, Japan, ⁠Panama, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates and backed on Wednesday ​by the United States called for ‘a framework such as a safe ​maritime corridor,’” the outlet added.

It was submitted at a meeting of the UN’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) governing council in London.

“The purpose of this framework would be to facilitate the ​safe evacuation of merchant ships,” it said. “This measure aims to ​protect the lives of seafarers.”

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian “strongly” condemned the attack on South Pars.

I strongly condemn attacking Iran’s energy infrastructure. Such aggressive acts will yield nothing for the Zionist–American enemy & their supporters. This will complicate the situation & could have uncontrollable consequences, the scope of which could engulf the entire world. https://t.co/FGtTZZjA6Y

— Masoud Pezeshkian (@drpezeshkian) March 18, 2026

The South Pars attack was designed as a warning to Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz, the Times of Israel reported.

“Israel assisted operationally in order to send an American message,” a senior Israeli official tells Channel 12. “Either…Hormuz will be opened and the mines will be removed…or the entire [natural gas] facility will be destroyed, as will other[s]”https://t.co/hc6DtgfGDj

— Shashank Joshi (@shashj) March 18, 2026

CENTCOM released more video of its attacks on Iranian targets.

Israel attacked Iranian missile boats in the Caspian Sea, Axios reporter Barak Ravid reported on X. It should be noted that the Caspian Sea is also an important shipping route between Iran and Russia.

🚨Israel conducted strikes against Iranian navy missile boats in the Caspian sea, Israeli official says. More than five vessels were targeted

— Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) March 18, 2026

UPDATE: 2:58 PM EST –

Trump arrived at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware this afternoon for the dignified transfer of six airmen killed in the March 12 crash of a KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling jet in Iraq.

This is the second time the president attended this solemn ceremony. He was there for the dignified transfer of six U.S. service members who were killed by a drone strike at a command center in Kuwait.

FOX: We should point out that at the request of the families, the dignified transfer is going to remain private. There will not be any cameras. pic.twitter.com/y0ivcJuPp6

— Acyn (@Acyn) March 18, 2026

QatarEnergy confirmed that its Ras Laffan Industrial City was struck by Iranian missiles. As we noted earlier in this story, Iran threatened to hit energy infrastructure in the region after its South Pars gas field was attacked by Israel.

QatarEnergy Statement on Missile Attacks on Ras Laffan Industrial City

QatarEnergy confirms that Ras Laffan Industrial City this evening has been the subject of missile attacks.

Emergency response teams were deployed immediately to contain the resulting fires, as extensive…

— QatarEnergy (@qatarenergy) March 18, 2026

The following video shows the immediate aftermath of that attack, with the refinery engulfed in flames.

Reports that Iranian forces successfully struck the Ras Laffan refinery in Qatar this evening, causing large fire.

Iran warned that it would strike the facility just a few hours ago pic.twitter.com/m8NLRKXyCr

— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) March 18, 2026

The Qatari Foreign Affairs Ministry condemned the attack.

بيان | دولة قطر تدين وتستنكر الاستهداف الإيراني الغاشم لمدينة رأس لفان الصناعية

الدوحة | 18 مارس 2026

تعرب دولة قطر عن إدانتها واستنكارها الشديدين للاستهداف الإيراني الغاشم الذي استهدف مدينة رأس لفان الصناعية، وتسبب في حرائق نتجت عنها أضرار جسيمة في المنشأة، وتعدّ هذا الاعتداء… pic.twitter.com/IFFccWEsFt

— الخارجية القطرية (@MofaQatar_AR) March 18, 2026

UPDATE 2:18 PM EST –

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that a structure 350 meters from Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant reactor was hit and destroyed. ​​There was no damage to the reactor or injuries to personnel.

Following information from Iran of a projectile incident on Tuesday evening, the IAEA can confirm that a structure 350 metres from the Bushehr NPP reactor was hit and destroyed.

“Although there was no damage to the reactor itself nor injuries to staff, any attack at or near… pic.twitter.com/HtNXQntEgU

— IAEA – International Atomic Energy Agency ⚛️ (@iaeaorg) March 18, 2026

However, the IAEA does not know the status of the new Iranian enrichment facility in Isfahan that is in an underground nuclear complex, agency chief Rafael Grossi said on Wednesday.

“Grossi said because the inspectors had to cancel their visit, the agency does not know ‘whether it is ‌simply ⁠an empty hall’ or hosts concrete pads awaiting the installation of centrifuges – the machines that enriched uranium for power plants and nuclear weapons – or whether…

— Andrea Stricker (@StrickerNonpro) March 18, 2026

The U.K. Defense Ministry offered its latest war update.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia was hit by Iranian missiles.

Researcher Tal Inbar shared dramatic video of an Iranian Khrramshahr missile with about 80 bomblets exploding near his home in Israel.

More images and videos are emerging of damage caused by Iranian attacks to U.S. facilities in the region.

A hangar on the apron area used by the U.S. Air Force at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia was hit.

The U.S. Navy Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain appears to have been heavily damaged.

New images show heavy damage inside NSA Bahrain, headquarters of the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet, after weeks of pummeling by Iranian drone and missile attacks. pic.twitter.com/NUevp2lfvp

— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) March 18, 2026

There is also new imagery of damage to Iranian facilities.

The loud brrrrrt of an A-10 Warthog close attack jet’s GAU-8 Avenger 30mm cannon

can be heard as it strafes Iranian-backed militias in Kirkuk, Iraq.

During her testimony to the Senate, Gabbard reminded that the U.S. intelligence community last year warned that Iran had the capacity to shut down the Strait.

Wyden to Gabbard: “Last year, your agencies testified that ‘Iran’s large conventional forces are capable of inflicting substantial damage to an attacker, executing region strikes and disrupting shipping, particularly energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.’ In other words,… pic.twitter.com/mjHZvpt3Ce

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 18, 2026

Gabbard also said that the “regime in Iran appears to be intact but largely degreated by Operation Epic Fury.”

“The regime in Iran appears to be intact but largely degraded by Operation Epic Fury.” – DNI Gabbard in opening testimony

— Alex Ward (@alexbward) March 18, 2026

At the same hearing, CIA Director John Ratcliffe testified that Iran has been a constant threat and “posed an immediate threat at this time.”

In prepared written remarks for the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee hearing into the war, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard wrote that as “a result of Operation Midnight Hammer, Iran’s nuclear enrichment program was obliterated. There has been no efforts since then to try to rebuild their enrichment capability.”

She added that “the entrances to the underground facilities that were bombed have been buried and shuttered with cement. We continue to monitor for any early indicators on what position the current or any new leadership in Iran will take with regard to authorizing a nuclear weapons program.”

‼️ Tulsi Gabbard: Even if the regime remains intact, the IC is that internal tensions are likely Tom increase as #Iran’s economy worsens .. If a hostile regime survives, it will likely seek to begin a years long effort to rebuild its military, missiles and UAVs. pic.twitter.com/SdgCmh3GX7

— Hiba Nasr (@HibaNasr) March 18, 2026

A day after killing two top Iranian officials, Israel claimed it killed another one in an airstrike on Wednesday.

“Overnight (Wednesday), the Israeli Air Force, acting on IDF intelligence, eliminated the Iranian terrorist regime Minister of Intelligence, Esmaeil Khatib, in a targeted strike in Tehran,” the IDF stated. 

Khatib had been appointed Minister of Intelligence by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in 2021, the IDF explained. In his role, Khatib oversaw the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence, the regime’s primary intelligence organization.

There was no immediate response from Iran and The War Zone cannot independently verify this claim.

🔴ELIMINATED: Esmaeil Khatib, the Iranian terrorist regime Minister of Intelligence, in a targeted strike in Tehran.

Khatib played a significant role during the recent protests throughout Iran, including the arrest & killing of protestors and led terrorist activities against… pic.twitter.com/654lpYCZ1c

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 18, 2026

The killing of two top Iranian leaders in an Israeli airstrike on Tuesday. won’t affect the regime, say officials in Tehran who confirmed the deaths and vowed revenge.

As we reported yesterday, Israel killed Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and the regime’s effective leader as well as Gholamreza Soleimani, commander of the Basij paramilitary unit for the past 6 years.

“Iran’s response to the assassination of the secretary of the supreme national security council will be decisive and regrettable,” Iranian Army commander Amir Hatami said after Tehran confirmed Larjani’s death.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Al Jazeera that the Islamic Republic is built to withstand shocks and no single figure can destabilise the system.

Iran’s FM Abbas Araghchi is pushing back after the killings of top officials Ali Larijani and Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani, saying the Islamic Republic is built to withstand shocks and no single figure can destabilise the system.

Full interview ➡️ https://t.co/YnwMAQZUhP pic.twitter.com/gKJjAXlvfG

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) March 18, 2026

Israel said it will ramp up attacks on Iranian leaders.

“We have authorized the IDF to eliminate any Iranian official once a “targeting circle” has been closed on them, without the need for additional approval,” said Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz.

Israeli Defense Minister Katz:

Significant surprises are expected today across all fronts that will escalate the war to a new level.

We have authorized the IDF to eliminate any Iranian official once a “targeting circle” has been closed on them, without the need for additional… pic.twitter.com/MqyrTsHskS

— Clash Report (@clashreport) March 18, 2026

Bloomberg News posited that Iran “is running on autopilot” in the wake of attacks on its leadership.

Larijani’s funeral drew huge crowds in Tehran.

Iran’s Basij paramilitary forces, whose leader was recently assassinated by Israel as we noted above, continues to hide under bridges, according to a video submitted to Iran International, the London-based, Persian language media outlet.

A Basij checkpoint on the Karaj-Tehran highway was operating under a bridge in western Tehran over fears of Israeli strikes, a citizen said in a video sent to Iran International. pic.twitter.com/J2TWO5d4Xd

— Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) March 18, 2026

Israel also said it killed a Hamas commander in Gaza.

The IDF says it killed a Hamas commander in the Gaza Strip yesterday who advanced the terror group’s “precision missile project.”

The strike killed Yahya Abu Labda, a commander in Hamas’s supply and logistics department.

The military says Abu Labda was responsible for the… pic.twitter.com/aWCnyFnCss

— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) March 18, 2026

With future Iranian threats in mind, NATO is deploying a second Patriot missile-defense system to Turkey’s Incirlik Air Base to bolster the alliance’s air defenses.

“In addition to the measures taken at the national level to ensure the security of our airspace and citizens, another Patriot system assigned by the Allied Air Command in Ramstein/Germany to the existing Spain Patriot system stationed in Adana is being deployed in Adana,” Turkey’s Defense Ministry announced. Adana is the home of Incirlik.

Since March 4, NATO air-defense systems in the eastern Mediterranean have intercepted three missiles launched from Iran toward Turkish airspace, Bloomberg News noted. “The attacks were likely designed to test the alliance’s capacity to respond,” people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg earlier.

“NATO can confirm that it has deployed another Patriot air defence system to Türkiye. It joins two others, including one Spain has deployed there for over a decade,” a NATO official told us. “While we cannot provide additional details about the deployment for operational security purposes, the system provides additional capability to further strengthen NATO’s defensive posture against any potential threat, as Iran continues its indiscriminate attacks across the region.”

Hava sahamızın ve vatandaşlarımızın güvenliğini sağlamak amacıyla millî düzeyde alınan tedbirlerin yanı sıra Adana’da konuşlu mevcut İspanya Patriot sistemine ilave olarak Ramstein/Almanya’daki Müttefik Hava Komutanlığı tarafından görevlendirilen bir Patriot sistemi daha Adana’da… pic.twitter.com/FmO8NuK0ti

— T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı (@tcsavunma) March 18, 2026

CENTCOM released its latest update on Epic Fury. The command said that so far, it has struck more than 7,800 targets, flown more than 8,000 combat sorties and destroyed or damaged more than 120 Iranian ships.

CENTCOM released video showing targeting pod footage of a U.S. combat aircraft dropping bombs on the entrance of an Iranian missile base tunnel.

Targeting pod footage of an American fighter dropping a stack of bombs into the entrance of an Iranian missile base tunnel last Friday night. pic.twitter.com/c4MKweiRD1

— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) March 18, 2026

Dubai officials confirmed the nation’s air defenses carried out an undisclosed number of “interception operations, with no injuries reported.”

Authorities in Dubai confirm the success of all air interception operations, with no injuries reported. Please rely on official sources for updates.

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) March 18, 2026

The U.S. Navy’s America class amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli and San Antonio class amphibious warfare ship USS New Orleans were most recently spotted off the coast of Malaysia near Port Klang, according to open source investigator MT Anderson.

The ships were “pushing NW through the Strait of Malacca completely unescorted,” he noted.

As we previously reported, the Tripoli was ordered by the Pentagon to head toward the Middle East. The vessel is the centerpiece of an Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) that typically includes an assault ship, two transport docks, and a support vessel that carries an embarked Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) of at least 2,200 Marines.

THE NAKED SPRINT: Tripoli ARG Transits Malacca Unescorted

OSINT Update (MAR 17): The USS Tripoli (LHA-7) and USS New Orleans are currently off the coast of Malaysia near Port Klang, pushing NW through the Strait of Malacca completely unescorted.

If current AIS tracks are to be… https://t.co/eUvfSHz7pZ pic.twitter.com/kObU2LPzCi

— MT Anderson (@MT_Anderson) March 18, 2026

Though the deployment of the Tripoli has sparked speculation that the U.S. could invade Iran’s Kharg Island or attempt to recover enriched uranium from Pickaxe Mountain, officials in Jerusalem are downplaying such possibilities.

“Despite numerous reports in recent days about a potential imminent and multi-sided US invasion of parts of Iran, including plans to retrieve 60% enriched uranium, The Jerusalem Post understands that these reports are exaggerated,” the publication reported. “It is still possible that the US could use ground forces in some fashion. But the images of a large-scale invasion and specifically the idea of an extended mission in Isfahan to retrieve the 60% enriched uranium, which is part of Iran’s nuclear program, do not appear to be in the cards, the Post has learned.”

EXCLUSIVE: Reports of large US invasion to seize Iran’s 60% enriched uranium buried under rubble at Isfahan which could be potentially used for nuclear weapons likely overblown: https://t.co/319qC42nn0

— Yonah Jeremy Bob (@jeremybob1) March 18, 2026

An Iranian strike “impacted an area at the Al Minhad Air Base in the United Arab Emirates, where the Australian Defense Force (ADF) has a long‑standing presence,” Australia’s Defense Ministry announced on X. “No ADF personnel were injured in the incident, and all ADF personnel deployed to the Middle East are safe and accounted for. The strike resulted in minor damage to an accommodation block and medical facility in the Australian section of the base.”

Statement on strikes on Al Minhad Air Base

On the morning of 18 March 2026 (AEDT), an Iranian strike impacted an area at the Al Minhad Air Base in the United Arab Emirates, where the Australian Defence Force (ADF) has a long‑standing presence.

No ADF personnel were injured in… pic.twitter.com/mNdcfOYgPx

— Defence Australia (@DefenceAust) March 18, 2026

Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com

The president of the United Arab Emirates spoke for the first time on the widening war in the Middle East as Iran continues to strike Gulf countries hosting US military assets with drones and missiles.

“The UAE has thick skin and bitter flesh – we are no easy prey,” said Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in comments aired by Abu Dhabi TV on Saturday as he visited wounded patients in a hospital.

He added the UAE is in “a period of war” but would “emerge stronger”.

In a social media post, Sheikh Mohamed said the UAE, which has seen attacks affecting hubs such as airports, tourist attractions, and the US consulate in Dubai, is prepared to confront “threats” against the “security and the protection of all citizens”.

One driver was killed when debris from an intercepted projectile slammed into his vehicle, Dubai’s Media Office said, describing the victim as Asian but providing no further details.

Sheikh Mohamed’s comments were aired as the region entered a second week of war sparked by a major US-Israeli attack on Iran.

Earlier, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian offered an apology to neighbouring nations for launching strikes on their countries housing US military bases. His comments were swiftly contradicted by Iranian judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, also a member of the interim leadership council.

“Evidence from Iran’s armed forces shows that the geography of some countries in the region is openly and covertly at the disposal of the enemy,” he said. “The heavy attacks on these targets will continue.”

Pezeshkian himself rolled back on his remarks that Gulf countries would not be targeted unless attacks originated from their territories, caveating that while his country emphasised “the preservation and continuation of friendly relations,” Iran still has an “inherent right” to defend itself against US-Israeli aggression.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also clarified the leader’s comments on X, saying, “President Pezeshkian expressed openness to de-escalation within our region – provided that our neighbours’ airspace, territory, and waters are not used to attack the Iranian people.”

Iran retaliates after attack on water supplies

All the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations – Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman – have been targeted because of the presence of US assets within and around their borders.

In the Gulf, the deadly attacks have caused major disruption to flights, closure of airspace, and heavy knock-on impacts on oil-and-gas production reverberating across the world.

On Saturday, Iranian state media reported the country’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targeted US forces at Bahrain’s Jufair airbase in retaliation for an attack on a freshwater desalination plant on Qeshm Island.

Araghchi called the US attack on the plant a “dangerous move with grave consequences”, accusing the US of committing a “blatant and desperate crime”, which affected the water supply to 30 villages.

Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, later said the attack was carried out with support from one of the airbases in a southern neighbouring country, stressing nations will not enjoy peace as long as the US has bases in the region.

Harlan Ullman, a senior adviser with the Atlantic Council, told Al Jazeera that attacks on water supplies could bring “greater chaos” to the Gulf.

“About 95 percent of all water in the Gulf comes from desalination,” he said. “If Iran wants to target desalination and water installation plants, they can bring the Gulf to a halt.”

Other attacks on Gulf

The UAE, a US ally and home to US military installations, has been the most heavily targeted nation in the Gulf during the war.

The Emirati Ministry of Defence said on Saturday it was targeted with 16 ballistic missiles and more than 120 drones.

Hours after Pezeshkian’s apology, the IRGC said their drones struck a US air combat centre at al-Dhafra airbase near Abu Dhabi, capital of the UAE.

Later, an unidentified object was intercepted near Dubai airport, the world’s busiest for international traffic, forcing it to briefly suspend operations.

Iranian attacks also hit Abu Dhabi airport, the upmarket Palm Jumeirah development, and the Burj Al Arab luxury hotel over the past week, while drone debris caused a fire at the US consulate in Dubai.

Also on Saturday, Qatar’s armed forces intercepted a missile attack, according to the Ministry of Defence. No immediate details were released about possible damage or casualties.

In Saudi Arabia, the defence ministry said a ballistic missile landed in an uninhabited area after being launched towards Prince Sultan Air Base, southeast of Riyadh, which hosts US troops.

Kuwait also reported intercepting a drone while the country’s national oil company announced a “precautionary” cut to its production of crude because of Iranian attacks and threats to the Strait of Hormuz, a key transit point for Gulf hydrocarbons.

Iran to select new supreme leader

Posting on social media on Saturday, US President Donald Trump warned his country would hit Iran “very hard” and threatened to expand strikes to include new targets.

Speaking at an event hosting Latin American leaders in Miami, Florida, Trump said on Saturday his country’s forces sank 42 Iranian navy ships in three days.

Israel launched what its military described as a new wave of strikes on Tehran and Isfahan. The military said on Saturday that more than 80 fighter jets completed a wave of strikes on Iranian army sites, missile launchers and other targets.

In a statement, the army said targets hit in Iran included missile storage sites, ballistic missile launchers and military facilities linked to Iran’s security forces.

Among the attacks, it said it struck 16 aircraft at Tehran’s Mehrabad airport, which belonged to the Quds Force branch of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard overseeing its foreign operations.

The Israeli military reported missiles were fired from ‌Iran at Israel on eight different occasions on Saturday, setting off air raid sirens in parts of the country and actioning air defences.

Iranian state media reported Saturday that the IRGC hit a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker in Hormuz.

Iran’s Assembly of Experts will be meeting in the next 24 hours to choose a new supreme leader, according to assembly member Ayatollah Mozafari.

Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, has rejected Trump’s demands to have a say in selecting Iran’s new supreme leader.