The president called these countries \u201cterrific\u201d, adding that \u201cthey got shot at unnecessarily.\u201d When talking about Iran\u2019s decision to target them, Trump said it was \u201cthe biggest surprise I had of this whole thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/8448.jpg\")
A damaged building in the aftermath of a drone strike in the Seef district of Manama, Bahrain on 10 March. Photograph: AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
For decades, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Oman have allowed US military bases, infrastructure or access on their soil, and have been among the largest buyers of American weapons and technology. In return, the US has stood as the Gulf\u2019s closest and most significant military partner and protector.<\/p>\n
Now many of these countries have growing concerns<\/a> over the relationship, analysts say, as they are pulled deeper into a war that they did not start and had diplomatically tried to prevent.<\/p>\n While the Gulf expected to be caught in the backlash, the scale of Iran\u2019s campaign of revenge has left many shocked. Gulf states had assured Tehran that none of their bases would be used for attacks but that has not stopped Iran launching thousands of drones and missiles targeting airports, military bases, oil refineries, ports, hotels and office buildings.<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a023.29 EDT<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n Israel says it has identified missiles that were launched from Iran a short while ago, towards its territory.<\/p>\n In a post online, the military said defence systems are \u201coperating to intercept the threat\u201d, while warning citizens to enter protective spaces.<\/p>\n \u05e6\u05d4”\u05dc \u05d6\u05d9\u05d4\u05d4 \u05db\u05d9 \u05dc\u05e4\u05e0\u05d9 \u05d6\u05de\u05df \u05e7\u05e6\u05e8 \u05e9\u05d5\u05d2\u05e8\u05d5 \u05d8\u05d9\u05dc\u05d9\u05dd \u05de\u05d0\u05d9\u05e8\u05d0\u05df \u05dc\u05e2\u05d1\u05e8 \u05e9\u05d8\u05d7 \u05de\u05d3\u05d9\u05e0\u05ea \u05d9\u05e9\u05e8\u05d0\u05dc. <\/p>\n \u05de\u05e2\u05e8\u05db\u05d5\u05ea \u05d4\u05d4\u05d2\u05e0\u05d4 \u05e4\u05d5\u05e2\u05dc\u05d5\u05ea \u05dc\u05d9\u05d9\u05e8\u05d8 \u05d0\u05ea \u05d4\u05d0\u05d9\u05d5\u05dd. \u05d1\u05d3\u05e7\u05d5\u05ea \u05d4\u05d0\u05d7\u05e8\u05d5\u05e0\u05d5\u05ea \u05e4\u05d9\u05e7\u05d5\u05d3 \u05d4\u05e2\u05d5\u05e8\u05e3 \u05d4\u05e4\u05d9\u05e5 \u05d4\u05e0\u05d7\u05d9\u05d9\u05d4 \u05de\u05e7\u05d3\u05d9\u05de\u05d4 \u05d9\u05e9\u05d9\u05e8\u05d5\u05ea \u05dc\u05d8\u05dc\u05e4\u05d5\u05e0\u05d9\u05dd \u05d4\u05e0\u05d9\u05d9\u05d3\u05d9\u05dd \u05d1\u05d0\u05d6\u05d5\u05e8\u05d9\u05dd \u05d4\u05e8\u05dc\u05d5\u05d5\u05e0\u05d8\u05d9\u05d9\u05dd.<\/p>\n \u05d4\u05e6\u05d9\u05d1\u05d5\u05e8 \u05de\u05ea\u05d1\u05e7\u05e9 \u05dc\u05d2\u05dc\u05d5\u05ea \u05d0\u05d7\u05e8\u05d9\u05d5\u05ea \u05d5\u05dc\u05e4\u05e2\u05d5\u05dc \u05e2\u05dc \u05e4\u05d9 \u05d4\u05d4\u05e0\u05d7\u05d9\u05d5\u05ea – \u05d4\u05df \u05de\u05e6\u05d9\u05dc\u05d5\u05ea \u05d7\u05d9\u05d9\u05dd.<\/p>\n \u05d9\u05e9 \u05dc\u05d4\u05d9\u05db\u05e0\u05e1 \u05dc\u05de\u05e8\u05d7\u05d1\u05d9\u05dd\u2026<\/p>\n \u2014 \u05e6\u05d1\u05d0 \u05d4\u05d4\u05d2\u05e0\u05d4 \u05dc\u05d9\u05e9\u05e8\u05d0\u05dc (@idfonline) March 15, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Edward Helmore<\/p>\n The Trump administration<\/a>\u2019s communications licensing tsar fired a warning shot over the US broadcasting industry Saturday, threatening to cancel the spectrum permits of broadcasters pushing what he termed \u201choaxes and news distortions\u201d.<\/p>\n Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chair Brendan Carr posted on social media that broadcasters running \u201cfake news \u2013 have a chance now to correct course before their license renewals come up. The law is clear. Broadcasters must operate in the public interest, and they will lose their licenses if they do not.\u201d<\/p>\n Carr\u2019s warning comes amid sustained complaints from Trump and members of the administration over its treatment by what it derisively terms \u201cthe mainstream media\u201d and what it considers unflattering or unpatriotic coverage of the conflict in Iran<\/a>.<\/p>\n In his post, Carr copied a Truth Social post by Trump complaining about \u201cmisleading\u201d coverage on Iran.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Zelenskyy claims Russia is supplying Iran with drones<\/p>\n Russia is supplying Iran with Shahed drones to use against the US and Israel<\/a>, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy told CNN in an interview excerpt aired on Saturday.<\/p>\n Zelenskyy told CNN\u2019s Fareed Zakaria that it is \u201c100% facts\u201d that Iran<\/a> has used Russian-made Shaheds to attack US bases.<\/p>\n Shahed drones have been linked to other attacks on countries in the region, although their manufacturers are not always clear.<\/p>\n Iran pioneered the Shahed drone, a much cheaper alternative to expensive missiles. They first saw mass use in Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine, where thousands of them have been launched by Russian forces since fall 2022, according to the Ukrainians.<\/p>\n Although Iran initially provided the drones, Russia now manufactures its own Shaheds. The armed forces of other countries have since adopted Shahed-type drones, including the US military, which has said they are part of the current campaign against Iran.<\/p>\n A resident touches a Russian-Iranian Shahed-136 (Geran-2) kamikaze drone installed in front of Saint Michael\u2019s Cathedral in Kyiv. Photograph: Valentyn Ogirenko\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a023.22 EDT<\/p>\n Britain is reportedly considering sending minehunting drones to unblock Iran\u2019s stranglehold over the strait of Hormuz, as Donald Trump<\/a> called for allied warships to protect tankers in the region.<\/p>\n The UK Ministry of Defence said \u201ca range of options\u201d were being considered to secure shipping through the strait, where some 20% of the world\u2019s oil ordinarily passes through each day.\u201d<\/p>\n The Sunday Times, which first reported the proposals, said the minehunting drones could be deployed from the Royal Navy\u2019s Mine and Threat Exploitation Group, which is currently in the Middle East.<\/p>\n But the newspaper said it is not known how many drones are in service and which could be deployed.<\/p>\n The Sunday Telegraph meanwhile reported that interceptor drones, made in the UK for Ukraine to use against Russia, could also be used against Iran\u2019s aerial Shahed drones.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Iran\u2019s attacks on Gulf countries are \u201calmost unhinged\u201d the UAE\u2019s minister for international cooperation Reem Al Hashimy has told Australia\u2019s ABC news.<\/p>\n Iran has fired over 1,800 missiles and drones at the Emirates, more than any other country targeted by Tehran in the conflict, upending its aura of tranquillity despite its air defence intercepting a vast majority of the projectiles.<\/p>\n Al Hashimy called it \u201cunprecedented\u201d.<\/p>\n double quotation markWe\u2019ve borne the brunt of most of the missiles and drone attacks, and it\u2019s really quite surprising for us that Iran has taken such an irrational path to fight the Gulf states and act in this quite unlawful, quite unacceptable manner.\u201d<\/p>\n Smoke rises from the direction of a major UAE energy installation on Saturday. Photograph: AFP\/Getty ImagesA steeplejack assesses the damage after a building was in Dubai\u2019s Creek Harbour. Photograph: AFP\/Getty ImagesA view of the damaged part of one of the buildings of Dubai International Financial Centre on Friday. Photograph: EPA\/STRINGERShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a023.23 EDT<\/p>\n The US State Department has ordered \u201cnon-emergency US government employees\u201d and the family members of US government employees to leave Oman, citing \u201csafety risks\u201d in the country.<\/p>\n It did so on Friday, according to a update published by the US Embassy in Oman.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Trump ‘surprised’ US allies in the Gulf have been targeted<\/p>\n Donald Trump has said he is \u201csurprised\u201d that US allies in the Gulf have been targeted by Iran, in an interview with NBC News<\/a>.<\/p>\n The president called these countries \u201cterrific\u201d, adding that \u201cthey got shot at unnecessarily.\u201d When talking about Iran\u2019s decision to target them, Trump said it was \u201cthe biggest surprise I had of this whole thing.\u201d<\/p>\n A damaged building in the aftermath of a drone strike in the Seef district of Manama, Bahrain on 10 March. Photograph: AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>\n For decades, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Oman have allowed US military bases, infrastructure or access on their soil, and have been among the largest buyers of American weapons and technology. In return, the US has stood as the Gulf\u2019s closest and most significant military partner and protector.<\/p>\n Now many of these countries have growing concerns<\/a> over the relationship, analysts say, as they are pulled deeper into a war that they did not start and had diplomatically tried to prevent.<\/p>\n While the Gulf expected to be caught in the backlash, the scale of Iran\u2019s campaign of revenge has left many shocked. Gulf states had assured Tehran that none of their bases would be used for attacks but that has not stopped Iran launching thousands of drones and missiles targeting airports, military bases, oil refineries, ports, hotels and office buildings.<\/p>\n Smoke rises from a high-rise building following a drone attack in Kuwait City. Photograph: AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a023.29 EDT<\/p>\n Welcome summary<\/p>\n Hello and welcome to our continuing coverage of the US-Israel war on Iran<\/a> and the widening crisis in the Middle East that it\u2019s causing.<\/p>\n Donald Trump has said that the US may carry out more strikes on Iran\u2019s Kharg Island oil export hub, saying that while Tehran appears ready to make a deal to end the conflict, \u201cthe terms aren\u2019t good enough yet\u201d.<\/p>\n He said the US strikes had \u201ctotally demolished\u201d most of Kharg Island, telling NBC News that \u201cwe may hit it a few more times just for fun\u201d.<\/p>\n The comments marked an escalation in rhetoric from the president, who had previously said the US targeted only military sites on Kharg.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what else has been happening.<\/p>\n Lebanon\u2019s health ministry said Israeli strikes have killed 826 people, including 65 women and 106 children, since the start of the war. In a statement today, the ministry said 31 paramedics were among those killed. Local health authorities reported this morning that an Israeli strike killed 12 medical staff at a clinic in the southern town of Burj Qalaouiya.<\/p>\n At least 15 people were killed when a strike by Israel and the US hit a factory in the central Iranian city of Isfahan, the semi-official Fars news agency said. There were workers inside the factory, which produces heaters and refrigerators, when the strike hit, Fars reported.<\/p>\n Iran issued an evacuation warning for three major ports in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday, including the busiest in the Middle East, the Associated Press reported. Iran claims the US had used \u201cports, docks and hideouts\u201d in the UAE to launch strikes on Iran\u2019s Kharg Island. It urged people to evacuate areas where it said US forces were sheltering.<\/p>\n Trump renewed his call for other nations to help secure the strait of Hormuz and said the US will coordinate with them amid the US-Israeli war on Iran. \u201cThe United States of America has beaten and completely decimated Iran, both Militarily, Economically, and in every other way, but the Countries of the World that receive Oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage, and we will help \u2013 A LOT,\u201d Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.<\/p>\n The Trump administration rebuffed efforts by Middle Eastern allies to start diplomatic negotiations aimed at ending the Iran war that started two weeks ago with a massive US-Israeli air assault, according to reporting from Reuters.<\/p>\n The Israeli military says it killed two senior officials in Iran\u2019s Khatam al-Anbiya Emergency Command in an airstrike on Tehran. In a post on X, army spokesperson Avichay Adraee said Abdullah Jalali-Nasab and Amir Shariat, described as senior figures in the command\u2019s intelligence branch, were killed in the attack.<\/p>\n Israel informed the US this week that it is running critically low on ballistic missile interceptors as the conflict with Iran continues, Semafor reported on Saturday, citing US officials familiar with the matter.<\/p>\n The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chair Brendan Carr accused news broadcasters of \u201crunning hoaxes and news distortions\u201d amid the war in Iran in a post on X. \u201cBroadcasters that are running hoaxes and news distortions – also known as the fake news – have a chance now to correct course before their license renewals come up,\u201d Carr wrote.<\/p>\n Formula One has cancelled the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia grands prix because of the war, underlining the disruption across the Middle East. The races were due to take place on 12 April in Bahrain and 19 April in Saudi Arabia but the sport was approaching the point at which a decision on cancellation<\/a> needed to be made to prevent more freight being sent to Bahrain.<\/p>\n![\"Smoke](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/3600.jpg\")
Smoke rises from a high-rise building following a drone attack in Kuwait City. Photograph: AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n