Trump says 'we no longer need' help to reopen Strait of Hormuz

This live blog follows updates for Day 18 of the US-Israel war on Iran. For a recap of Day 17, go here

• Baghdad Green Zone targeted in attack, leaving hotel roof on fire
• Israel army says ground assault against Hezbollah underway in Lebanon
• Israel army says begun 'limited targeted ground operations' against Hezbollah in south Lebanon
• Flights temporarily suspended at Dubai's airport following nearby drone incident
• Trump says NATO faces 'very bad' future if allies don't help open Hormuz

  
  

Iran speaker says Hormuz won't return to pre-war norm

Published March 17, 2026 | 18:43 GMT

Iran's parliament speaker on Tuesday warned that maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz would not resume on the same terms even after the current conflict is over.

"The Strait of Hormuz situation won't return to its pre-war status," Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said, in an English-language social media post.

Iran vets friendly ships for Hormuz passage: trackers

Published March 17, 2026 | 18:25 GMT

Iran is selecting ships from friendly countries to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, data trackers indicated Tuesday.

At least five ships exited the Strait via Iranian waters on March 15 and 16, maritime intelligence firm Windward said in an analysis report on Tuesday.

"The new route illustrates how Iran's selective blockade has evolved to allow allies and supporters to transit", it said, citing its tracking as "rising evidence that Iran is exerting permission-based transit and control of the strait".

Kataeb Hezbollah demands every ‘foreign soldier’ leave Iraq: statement

Published March 17, 2026 | 18:15 GMT

Kataeb Hezbollah in Iraq demanded late Tuesday that every "foreign soldier" leave the country, its security chief said.

"Iraq's instability is due to the malicious American presence, and security will not be achieved until the last foreign soldier leaves Iraqi territory," the group's new security chief Abou Moujahed al-Assaf said in a statement.

Over 200 Ukrainian anti-drone experts deployed in Middle East: Zelensky

Published March 17, 2026 | 17:45 GMT

President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday that 201 Ukrainian anti-drone military experts were in the Middle East to help defend the region against Iranian-designed Shahed drones, and another 34 were "ready to deploy".

"These are military experts, experts who know how to help, how to defend against Shahed drones. Our teams are already in the Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and on the way to Kuwait," Zelensky told British lawmakers during an address in the UK parliament.

Trump accuses NATO of 'foolish mistake' over Strait of Hormuz

Published March 17, 2026 | 16:45 GMT

 US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that NATO was making a "foolish mistake" on Iran, after the military alliance's members largely rebuffed his calls to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz to oil traffic.

"I think NATO is making a very foolish mistake," Trump told reporters as he hosted Ireland's prime minister in the Oval Office. "When they say it (Iran) was a threat, but we're not going to help, I think they're very foolish."

Turkish FM to visit Middle East states to seek end to Iran war rewrite

Published March 17, 2026 | 16:44 GMT

"Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan says he will visit countries around the Middle East to seek an end to the US-Israeli war on Iran," Aljazeera reported.

“Speaking in Ankara, Fidan said he will share Turkiye’s view on how to ensure a lasting peace,” Aljazeera said.

“Turkiye has strongly opposed the US-Israeli war, condemning it as a violation of sovereignty and a “circle of fire” threatening regional stability,” according to Aljazeera.

Trump says to make delayed China trip in 'five or six weeks'

Published March 17, 2026 | 16:33 GMT

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday he expected to travel to China in a bit over one month, after delaying the trip due to his war on Iran.

"We have a very good working relationship with China, so we're making it in about five or six weeks," Trump told reporters.

Mideast war could trigger 'permanent' refugee crisis: Turkey

Published March 17, 2026 | 16:31 GMT

If the Middle East war spreads, it could create a "permanent" refugee crisis, Turkey's top diplomat warned Tuesday as Lebanon said Israel's bombardment had displaced over a million people.

"If the war... spreads, there is a possibility this will turn into a permanent refugee crisis with refugees seeking shelter outside the borders of their countries," Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told a news conference.

"This needs to stop as soon as possible."

Trump says Britain's Starmer made 'big mistake' not supporting US in Iran

Published March 17, 2026 | 16:25 GMT

US President Donald Trump said UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has made the wrong choice in not supporting Washington over war in the Middle East.

"He hasn't been supportive, and I think it's a big mistake," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. "I'm disappointed with Keir -- I like him, I think he's a nice man, but I'm disappointed."

Resignation of US intel official over Iran 'good thing': Trump

Published March 17, 2026 | 16:18 GMT

A senior US counterterrorism official who resigned to protest the Iran war was "very weak on security" and it's a "good thing" that he stepped down, President Donald Trump said Tuesday.

Joseph Kent, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), resigned on Tuesday saying he "cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran."

"I always thought he was weak on security, very weak on security," the president told reporters in the Oval Office.

He said that when he saw Kent's resignation statement "I realized that it's a good thing that he's out."

Trump says 'we no longer need' help to reopen Strait of Hormuz

Published March 17, 2026 | 16:02 GMT

President Donald Trump, whose call for assistance from allies to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to oil traffic has largely been rebuffed, said Tuesday that US forces "no longer need" military help in the Iran war.

"Because of the fact that we have had such Military Success, we no longer 'need,' or desire, the NATO Countries' assistance -- WE NEVER DID! Likewise, Japan, Australia, or South Korea," Trump posted on his Truth Social network, adding: "WE DO NOT NEED THE HELP OF ANYONE!"

Lebanon says Israeli strikes killed 912 people since March 2

Published March 17, 2026 | 15:28 GMT

Lebanon's health ministry said Tuesday that Israeli attacks have killed 912 people in the country since war erupted between Israel and Hezbollah on March 2, raising a previous toll of 886 a day earlier.

The new ministry statement said the toll included 67 women, 111 children and 38 health workers, with 2,221 other people wounded.

France ready to join Hormuz ship escorts once situation 'calmer': Macron

Published March 17, 2026 | 15:25 GMT

France is ready to help escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz but only once the situation has become "calmer", said President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday.

"We are not a party to the conflict and therefore France will never take part in operations to open or liberate the Strait of Hormuz in the current context," Macron said following US President Donald Trump's demand that allies help secure the waterway effectively shut by Iran in response to US-Israeli strikes.

"However, we are convinced that once the situation becomes calmer... we are ready, alongside other nations, to take responsibility for an escort system."

Senior US counterterrorism official resigns to protest Iran war

Published March 17, 2026 | 14:00 GMT

A senior US counterterrorism official resigned on Tuesday to protest the US-Israeli war against Iran.

"I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran," Joseph Kent, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, said in his resignation letter to President Donald Trump.

Israel conducts air strike near Beirut airport: state media

Published March 17, 2026 | 12:28 GMT

The Israeli military launched an air strike near Beirut's airport, in the city's southern suburbs, on Tuesday, according to state media, after several raids hit the area earlier in the day.

"Israeli warplanes launched a raid, the third today on the southern suburbs, targeting the old airport road near the Ansar Stadium in the Burj al-Barajneh area," a short distance from Beirut International Airport, state media reported.

The Lebanese civil aviation authority, in a statement to state media, said the airport continued to operate normally and that the road leading to it remained passable.

Blasts heard from Jerusalem after warning of Iran missiles in north Israel: AFP

Published March 17, 2026 | 12:08 GMT

A series of distant blasts were heard on Tuesday from Jerusalem after sirens sounded in northern Israel following a warning that Iran had fired missiles, AFP journalists said.

"The IDF identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel. Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat," the Israeli military said.

Note published on Larijani’s social media account

Published March 17, 2026 | 10:25 GMT

A handwritten note has been posted on the X account of Iran’s top security official, Ali Larijani, whom Israel’s military says it has killed, while Iran has not confirmed this news.

The note, also shared by Iranian state-linked media, commemorates Iranian sailors killed in a recent US attack, whose funeral was expected to take place today.

Originally in Persian, the note is titled: “On the occasion of the funeral ceremony for the brave members of the Navy of the Islamic Republic of Iran."

It further states, "Their memory will always remain in the hearts of the Iranian people, and these martyrdoms will strengthen the foundations of the Islamic Republic’s army within the structure of the armed forces for years to come. I ask Almighty God to grant these dear martyrs the highest ranks.”

The note was published moments after Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported Larijani would release a message soon.

“Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani is going to release a message on Tuesday, March 17,” the agency reported.

“The message from Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani will be made public within the next few minutes,” it said.

Israel defense minister says Iran national security chief Larijani killed

Published March 17, 2026 | 09:45 GMT

Israeli Defesce Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday that Iran's powerful national security chief Ali Larijani was "eliminated last night", along with the commander of Tehran's Basij paramilitary force.

"I have just been updated by the Chief of Staff that Larijani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, and the head of the Basij -— Iran's central repression apparatus -— (Soleimani), were eliminated last night," Katz said in a statement released by his ministry.

Israel military says killed Iran's Basij paramilitary chief in strike

Published March 17, 2026 | 09:00 GMT

Israel's military said on Tuesday it had killed the head of Iran's Basij paramilitary force in a strike, while Israeli media reported Tehran's national security chief was also targeted for assassination.

"In a precise strike in Tehran: The IDF eliminated the Commander of the Basij Unit," The Israeli military said.

"Yesterday (Monday), the Israeli Air Force, acting on IDF intelligence, targeted and eliminated Gholamreza Soleimani, who operated as commander of the Basij unit for the past six years," it said.

Loud explosions heard in Iran's capital: AFP journalist

Published March 17, 2026 | 07:35 GMT

Loud explosions shook Iran's capital on Tuesday, an AFP journalist said, after a night of bombing in the war with the United States and Israel.

It was not immediately clear what the targets were but the blasts were heard in Tehran city centre, and followed a night of heavy explosions mixed with thunder and rain across the city, the reporter said.

Iran Guards say 10 spies arrested; 57th wave of missile strikes launched

Published March 17, 2026 | 06:32 AM GMT

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Tuesday their forces had arrested 10 "foreign spies" as the war with Israel and the United States continued.

"Ten mercenary, treacherous elements were identified and arrested," the Guards intelligence organization in the northeastern Razavi Khorasan province said, according to ISNA news agency, without identifying their nationalities.

The Guards said four among them were gathering information "on sensitive sites and economic infrastructure," while others were linked to a "monarchist terrorist group."

Separately, the IRGC announced the 57th wave of missile strikes was carried out, Iran's semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported.

"The IRGC has launched Zolfaqar, a precision-strike mid-range missile running both on solid and liquid fuel, and Qiam missiles." 

According to the statement, targets include the Israeli command, control, and communication infrastructures as well as missile defense systems. 

Oil price up more than five percent on Iran War

Published March 17, 2026 | 06:40 GMT

The price of oil jumped more than five percent Tuesday as several countries pushed back against Donald Trump's demand that they help secure the key Strait of Hormuz, while Iran targeted crude-producing neighbours.

At around 0615 GMT, US benchmark West Texas West Texas Intermediate was up 5.16 percent at $98.32 a barrel while Brent Crude also rose above five percent before easing back.  

New attack on UAE's Fujairah oil facilities

Published March 17, 2026 | 06:18 GMT

A new drone strike hit the Fujairah oil complex on the UAE's east coast on Tuesday causing a fire but no injuries, local authorities said.

"Civil defence teams from the emirate intervened immediately on site and are continuing their efforts to bring the situation under control" the authorities said in a statement on X.

The facility, which sits on the Gulf of Oman and enables the UAE to bypass the Strait of Hormuz for some exports, was already hit on Monday with a source telling AFP that oil loading into storage tanks was suspended.

Missile debris kills one in Abu Dhabi: govt statement

Published March 17, 2026 | 05:40 GMT

Falling shrapnel from an intercepted missile killed a Pakistani national in Abu Dhabi, the government media office said Tuesday.

The incident took place in the Bani Yas area "following the interception of a ballistic missile by air defences", the Abu Dhabi Media Office said.

Several explosions heard in Doha: AFP Journalist

Published March 17, 2026 | 04:12 GMT

Several explosions were heard in Doha on Tuesday, an AFP journalist said, a day after several blasts resounded across the Qatari capital.

Qatar, like several Gulf nations, has been targeted by drones and missiles in the last days as Tehran presses a retaliatory campaign over attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran.

Tanker struck by 'unknown projectile' near Oman: UK maritime agency

Published March 17, 2026 | 04:00 GMT

An "unknown projectile" struck a tanker off the coast of Oman, a UK maritime agency said Tuesday, noting there were no reported injuries.

"A Tanker has reported being struck by an unknown projectile whilst at anchor," UK Maritime Trade Operations said in a post on X.

"Minor structural damage reported. No injuries to crew."

Explosions heard in Dubai after missile alert: AFP correspondent

Published March 17, 2026 | 03:45 GMT

Three explosions echoed across Dubai after a missile alert early on Tuesday, according to an AFP correspondent.

The blasts followed a mobile phone alert to residents to "immediately seek a safe place" over "potential missile threats". 

Lebanese state media says Israel struck three areas of Beirut

Published March 17, 2026 | 02:55 GMT

Lebanese state media said Tuesday that Israel carried out dawn airstrikes on three Beirut neighbourhoods, hitting a residential building.

"A series of raids and artillery shelling targeted southern towns at dawn," Lebanon's National News Agency reported.

"Israeli warplanes carried out two airstrikes targeting the Kafaat and Haret Hreik areas. In another raid, the aircraft struck a residential apartment on the upper floors of a building located at the end of Venice Street in the Doha Aramoun area."

Israeli army says begun strikes on Tehran, Beirut

Published March 17, 2026 | 01:52 GMT

Israel's army said Tuesday it had launched a "wide-scale wave of strikes" in the Iranian capital, Tehran, as well as strikes against Hezbollah in the Lebanese capital, Beirut.

"The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) has begun a wide-scale wave of strikes against Iranian terror regime infrastructure across Tehran," the military posted on Telegram.

"Additionally, the IDF has begun an additional wave of strikes on Hezbollah terror infrastructure in Beirut."

Strike on Baghdad house kills four: security official

Published March 17, 2026 | 01:35 GMT

A strike on a house in Baghdad killed four people early Tuesday, two Iraqi security officials said, with initial reports suggesting that two of those killed are Iranian advisors.

Another source from an Iran-backed faction confirmed that four people were killed in the strike on a house hosting Iranian advisors in al-Jadiriyah neighbourhood.

Drone, rocket attack targets US embassy in Baghdad: security source

Published March 17, 2026 | 01:13 GMT

A fresh drone and rocket attack targeted the US embassy in Baghdad early Tuesday, a security official said.

An AFP journalist reported seeing black smoke rising after an explosion in the embassy complex, as well as air defences intercepting another drone.

The security official said that "three drones and four rockets attacked the embassy, with at least one drone crashing inside it."

Hours earlier, air defences thwarted a rocket attack at the embassy.

Qatar said it was targeted by 14 missiles

Published March 17, 2026 | 00:22 GMT

AFP journalists heard explosions in the Qatari capital Doha, where foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari told reporters that talks with Iran were only possible if it stops its Gulf attacks.

Neighbouring Saudi Arabia's defence ministry also reported intercepting more than 60 drones since midnight on Monday in the east of the country.

Qatar said later that it was targeted by 14 missiles and a number of drones launched from Iran on Monday, adding that it intercepted all but one missile, which "landed in an uninhabited area without causing any losses".

Trump demands allies help secure Strait of Hormuz

Published March 17, 2026 | 00:08 GMT

President Donald Trump on Monday criticized the lukewarm response to his call for world powers to send warships to escort tankers through the strait, which normally carries a fifth of global crude oil, demanding a more enthusiastic response.

"We strongly encourage the other nations to get involved with us and get involved quickly and with great enthusiasm," Trump told reporters at a White House event.

Trump demanded that US allies help secure the Strait of Hormuz, but European powers pushed back on a possible mission to reopen the vital waterway shut by Iran in response to US-Israeli attacks.

Trump said he thought Britain and France would get involved in efforts to secure the Strait of Hormuz -- but only reluctantly.

Japan, Australia, Poland, Spain, Greece, and Sweden also distanced themselves from any military involvement in the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump told The Financial Times on Sunday that it would be "very bad for the future of NATO" if the allies refused to help, and said Monday that he had asked to delay a summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping by a "month or so" over the issue.