Donald Trump gestures to reporters, March 20, 2026 (Sky)
UPDATES: US-Israel War on Iran, Day 21 — Israelis Attack World’s Largest Gasfield
EA on TVP World: Ukraine, Europe, and the US-Israel War on Iran
US, Israel, and Iran: What Kind of War Is This Becoming?
UPDATE 0933 GMT:
Iran or its allies launched three drones on the headquarters of Iraq’s intelligence service, killing an Iraqi officer.
The service condemned “a terrorist attack carried out by rogue elements”.
General Saad Maan, head of Iraq’s government security media unit, said the strike was at 10 a.m. in the Mansour district of Baghdad. An Iraqi security official said a “telecommunications building” was targeted.
At least three drones were fired overnight on a US diplomatic and logistics hub that houses American military personnel at Baghdad International Airport.
UPDATE 0742 GMT:
Lebanese healthcare workers and officials say Israel is deliberately targeting medical workers and facilities in south Lebanon to make life in the area impossible.
Since March 2, Israel has struck at least 128 medical facilities and ambulances across south Lebanon, killing 40 healthcare workers and wounding 107, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.
Most of the strikes were carried out as medical personnel were sitting in ambulances or at first aid centers. Israel has also carried out at least five “double tap” strikes, hitting medics and emergency workers as they respond to an initial attack.
The Guardian confirmed the attacks through interviews with nine medical workers, including eyewitnesses of Israeli strikes on three separate medical facilities; visits to three destroyed medical centers; and inspection of two damaged ambulances. None of the sites showed evidence of military use.
Last week the Israeli military accused Hezbollah of using ambulances for military purposes, but provided no evidence for the claim. The Lebanese Health Ministry responded that the Israelis are attempting to provide justification for war crimes.
Abdullah Nour el-Din, the head of Islamic Health Association emergency response in southern Lebanon, said in front of a dozen destroyed ambulances:
The Israeli enemy is trying as much as possible to prevent life in our region and push people to flee. Our role is to help people, to stand by them and to provide services so they can remain on their land.
UPDATE 0732 GMT:
Israel has expanded the war into southern Syria.
The Israelis fired on Syrian Army camps, claiming that it was responding to assaults against the Druze community in Suwayda Province and pledging that it “will continue to act for their protection”.
Since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024 and the ascent of the Sharaa Government, Israel has carried out strikes and used ground forces to expand its zone of occupation in southern Syria. It has used clashes between Druze factions, Bedouin groups, and Government forces as a pretext.
See also How Israel Tries to Undermine Syria’s Government
The Saudi Foreign Ministry condmened the “blatant Israeli aggression…in flagrant violation of international law and Syrian sovereignty”. It joined Turkey in a call on the international community to intervene.
Turkey’s Foreign Ministry called the Israeli attacks “a dangerous escalation”.
UPDATE 0729 GMT:
Iran fired two intermediate-range ballistic missiles at the US-UK base on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.
Multiple US officials said one of the missiles failed in flight, and a US warship fired an SM-3 interceptor at the other.
The officials did not say when the incidents occurred.
ORIGINAL ENTRY: The Trump Administration is putting out contradictory signals as it struggles for “regime surrender” in the US-Israel War on Iran.
With Tehran still controlling the Strait of Hormuz and carrying out retaliatory strikes, three American officials said the US military is deploying thousands of additional marines and sailors.
One official said the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer and the Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard are leaving the US about three weeks ahead of schedule. He did not give an indication of the mission.
“Four sources with knowledge of the issue” said that — despite his declaration yesterday, “I’m not putting troops anywhere” — Donald Trump is considering the use of troops to seize or blockade Kharg Island in the northern Persian Gulf, which handles more than 90% of Iran’s oil exports.
A “senior Administration official” said:
He 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. But that decision hasn’t been made.
But Trump waved late Friday even as he blustered on Truth Social, “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.”
Earlier Friday, Trump insisted to reporters, “I don’t want to do a ceasefire. You know you don’t do a ceasefire when you’re literally obliterating the other side.”
In another sign of the Adminstration’s wavering amid the surge in global oil prices, it lifted sanctions on 140 million barrels of Iranian exports. The US Ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, declared the move was “very temporary”.
However, the step appeared to confirm Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz, through which around 25% of the world’s maritime oil supply and 20% of maritime gas pass.
Treasury Secetary Scott Bessent said earlier this week that the Administration was “fine” with Iranian, Chinese, and Indian ships moving through the waterway.
Iran has given permission for several Turkish, Indian, and Pakistani tankers. On Friday, Lloyd’s List said another vessel had paid Tehran $2 million for passage, without indicating under which nation’s flag it is sailing.
Just after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi visited Trump in the White House, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Iran is willing to help Tokyo’s ships through the Strait.
Around 70% of Japan’s oil uses the route.
Trump Lashes Out at Former Allies
As the Administration signalled its inability for now to open the Strait, Trump lashed out at former allies. He ranted on social media:
Without the U.S.A., NATO IS A PAPER TIGER! They didn’t want to join the fight to stop a Nuclear Powered Iran. Now that fight is Militarily WON, with very little danger for them, they complain about the high oil prices they are forced to pay, but don’t want to help open the Strait of Hormuz, a simple military maneuver that is the single reason for the high oil prices. So easy for them to do, with so little risk. COWARDS, and we will REMEMBER!
He said of Australia, without specifying the nature of the US request they had declined: “I was very surprised. Well, they should get involved, and I was a little bit surprised that they said no, because we always say yes to them.”
European countries have indicated that they will pursue a mission to maintain passage through the Strait but only after “de-escalation” of the war.
Trump railed earlier this week, “We no longer ‘need’ or desire, the NATO Countries’ assistance – WE NEVER DID! Likewise, Japan, Australia, or South Korea.”
A White House official muddled all the Administration’s different signals into a single statement:
As President Trump said, he has no plans to send troops anywhere – but he wisely does not broadcast his military strategy to the media, and he retains all options as commander-in-chief. The United States military can take out Kharg Island at any time.
