Middle East – War Watch

Defense Department | Demonstrations, Protests and Riots | Iran | Iran-Israel War (2025- ) | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East | Nuclear weapons | Oil (Petroleum) and Gasoline | Republican Party | Trump, Donald J | United States Marine Corps | United States Politics and Government | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

Trump Signals Retreat From Goal of Regime Change in Iran
ByDavid E. Sanger March 21, 2026

In the first days of the U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran, Mr. Trump pressed for a popular uprising against Tehran’s government.

Read More Trump Signals Retreat From Goal of Regime Change in Iran
Defense Department | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Kharg Island (Iran) | Middle East | Military Aircraft | Ships and Shipping | Strait of Hormuz | Trump, Donald J | United States Defense and Military Forces | United States International Relations | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

A Look at the Escalating Battle for the Strait of Hormuz
ByLuke Broadwater, Helene Cooper and Eric Schmitt March 20, 2026March 20, 2026

There are several ways the United States could attempt to reopen the waterway, all of which carry substantial risks.

Read More A Look at the Escalating Battle for the Strait of Hormuz
Bahrain | Caine, John Daniel (1968- ) | Defense and Military Forces | Drones (Pilotless Planes) | Eid al-Fitr | Great Britain | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Japan | Joint Chiefs of Staff | Khamenei, Ali | Khamenei, Mojtaba (1969- ) | Kharg Island (Iran) | Kuwait | Middle East | Missiles and Missile Defense Systems | Netanyahu, Benjamin | North Atlantic Treaty Organization | Oil (Petroleum) and Gasoline | Persian Gulf | Ravanchi, Majid Takht | Strait of Hormuz | Trump, Donald J | Turkey | United Arab Emirates | United States | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026) | War and Armed Conflicts

U.S. Attacks Iranian Targets to Try to Open Strait of Hormuz
ByAdam Rasgon, Eric Schmitt, Francesca Regalado and Michael Levenson March 20, 2026March 20, 2026

The Israeli military said it had killed the spokesman for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, and Iran warned that it could target American and Israeli military personnel.

Read More U.S. Attacks Iranian Targets to Try to Open Strait of Hormuz
Defense and Military Forces | Drones (Pilotless Planes) | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East | Persian Gulf | Russian Invasion of Ukraine (2022) | Ukraine | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026) | Zelensky, Volodymyr

Over 200 Ukrainian Experts in Middle East to Help Fight Drones, Zelensky Says
ByCassandra Vinograd March 18, 2026March 18, 2026

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that 11 countries in the region have asked for Kyiv’s assistance. Russia has launched such drones against Ukraine for years.

Read More Over 200 Ukrainian Experts in Middle East to Help Fight Drones, Zelensky Says
Defense and Military Forces | Hezbollah | International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies | International Relations | Iran | Iran-Israel War (2025- ) | Iran's nuclear programme | Iraq | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Khamenei, Ali | Larijani, Ali | Maritime Accidents and Safety | Middle East | National Counterterrorism Center | National Security Council | North Atlantic Treaty Organization | Ships and Shipping | Trump, Donald J | United States | United States International Relations | United States Politics and Government | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026) | War and Armed Conflicts

Here’s What Happened in the War in the Middle East on Tuesday
ByEphrat Livni March 18, 2026

The deaths of two top Iranian officials were announced on Tuesday, while President Trump once again lashed out at NATO allies who refused to aid the U.S. war effort against Iran.

Read More Here’s What Happened in the War in the Middle East on Tuesday
Defense and Military Forces | Hezbollah | International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies | International Relations | Iran | Iran-Israel War (2025- ) | Iran's nuclear programme | Iraq | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Khamenei, Ali | Larijani, Ali | Maritime Accidents and Safety | Middle East | National Counterterrorism Center | National Security Council | North Atlantic Treaty Organization | Ships and Shipping | Trump, Donald J | United States | United States International Relations | United States Politics and Government | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026) | War and Armed Conflicts

Here’s What Happened in the War in the Middle East on Tuesday
ByEphrat Livni March 18, 2026

The deaths of two top Iranian officials were announced on Tuesday, while President Trump once again lashed out at NATO allies who refused to aid the U.S. war effort against Iran.

Read More Here’s What Happened in the War in the Middle East on Tuesday
International Relations | Iran | Iran-Israel War (2025- ) | Iran's nuclear programme | Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Khamenei, Ali | Larijani, Ali | Middle East | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026) | War and Armed Conflicts

Ali Larijani, a Top Iranian Politician and Emissary, Is Dead at 67
ByRavi Mattu March 17, 2026March 18, 2026

Killed in an Israeli attack, he was Iran’s leading national security official and a confidant of the former supreme leader. He led a brutal crackdown on protests this year.

Read More Ali Larijani, a Top Iranian Politician and Emissary, Is Dead at 67
Basij | International Relations | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Kent, Joe (1980- ) | Larijani, Ali | Middle East | National Counterterrorism Center | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026) | War and Armed Conflicts

Ali Larijani, Iran’s De Facto Political Leader, Killed by Israel
ByAaron Boxerman, Ronen Bergman and Farnaz Fassihi March 17, 2026March 17, 2026

The killing, which Iran confirmed, could embolden Iranian hard-liners, as the U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign continues.

Read More Ali Larijani, Iran’s De Facto Political Leader, Killed by Israel
Basij | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East | Tehran (Iran) | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026) | War and Armed Conflicts

What Is the Basij?
ByEuan Ward March 17, 2026March 18, 2026

The large, plainclothes militia group is deeply embedded in Iranian society and has been used to crush dissent, often with brutal tactics.

Read More What Is the Basij?
Assassinations and Attempted Assassinations | International Relations | Iran | Iran-Israel War (2025- ) | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Khamenei, Ali | Larijani, Ali | Middle East | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

What to Know About Ali Larijani, Iran’s Top Security Official
ByFarnaz Fassihi and Amelia Nierenberg March 17, 2026March 17, 2026

One of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s closest confidants, Mr. Larijani emerged as the face of the government after Mr. Khamenei was killed.

Read More What to Know About Ali Larijani, Iran’s Top Security Official