"Tensions are rapidly escalating across the Gulf after Iran warned of “uncontrollable consequences” following strikes on its South Pars gas field. The UAE activated air defenses against missiles and drones, while Qatar expelled Iranian officials and reported attacks on energy sites. Saudi Arabia intercepted drones as regional leaders warn of widening conflict and threats to global energy security.
President Donald Trump threatened to destroy Iran's key South Pars gas field if there were further attacks against Qatar's main gas plant.
Trump confirmed on his Truth Social platform that Israel had struck the South Pars field but said the United States "knew nothing" of the attack, which spurred Iran to launch an attack on Qatar's Ras Laffan facility.
"NO MORE ATTACKS WILL BE MADE BY ISRAEL pertaining to this extremely important and valuable South Pars Field unless Iran unwisely decides to attack a very innocent, in this case, Qatar - In which instance the United States of America, with or without the help or consent of Israel, will 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 US president wrote." GulfNews
"A strong magnitude 5.1 earthquake occurred in the South Atlantic Ocean near Bristol Island island, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, shortly after midnight at 12.07 am local time (GMT -2). The quake had a shallow depth of 35 km (22 mi) and was not felt (or at least not reported so)." VD
"At least 71 people have died in flood-related incidents across Kenya since March 6, 2026, with Nairobi the hardest-hit area, as the Kenya Meteorological Department issued a Heavy Rainfall Advisory warning that rainfall will intensify again across most parts of the country." W
"Sean Penn visited Ukraine's 157th Separate Mechanized Brigade on the front lines of Donetsk Oblast, accompanied by former Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak, the unit reported on March 18.
Penn, who skipped the 98th Academy Awards in Los Angeles to travel to Ukraine despite receiving the prize for Best Supporting Actor, met with President Volodymyr Zelensky on March 16.
The 157th Separate Mechanized Brigade on March 18 published photos of Penn visiting the brigade's combat unit in Donetsk Oblast. Pictured with the actor is Andriy Yermak, Zelensky's former chief of staff." KI
"Spain announced a 1 billion euro ($1.2 billion) military aid package for Ukraine for 2026 onMarch 18, coinciding with President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to the country.
The tranche, partially funded by the EU's SAFE Program, will focus on joint production with the Ukrainian defense industry.
With the latest package, "Spain's assistance in this war will reach 4 billion euros ($4.6 billion)," Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said during a joint press conference with Zelensky." KI
"Ukraine’s air defense forces intercepted and neutralized 109 out of 133 drones used by Russian forces in attacks on Ukraine since the evening. Russia launched 133 strike drones, including Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas, and other types, from directions including Oryol, Shatalovo, Bryansk, Millerovo, Primorsko-Akhtarsk (Russia), and Hvardiiske (temporarily occupied Crimea), with roughly 70 of them being Shahed drones." Ukrin
"An Iranian missile struck near the Al Minhad airbase in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), damaging a facility that houses Australian military personnel. No injuries were sustained during the attack, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced.
Australian outlets reported the Al Minhad base, owned by the UAE, presently houses more than 100 Australian military personal in addition to British and American personnel." Breitbart
"286 combat clashes were recorded between the Ukrainian Defense Forces and Russian invaders.
The Russian army carried out airstrikes, particularly near the settlements of Orestopil, Prosiana, Mechetne, and Ivanivka in the Dnipropetrovsk region; Vozdvyzhivska, Yehorivka, Kopani, Huliaipilske, Zelena Dibrova, Svitla Dolyna, Liubytske, Barvinivka, Lisne, Veselianka, and Orikhiv in the Zaporizhzhia region.
The Air Force, Rocket Forces, and Artillery of the Defense Forces struck three drone control centers and three areas where Russian invaders had concentrated their forces.
Four clashes took place in the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk sectors; the enemy carried out one airstrike using two aerial bombs and conducted 121 shelling attacks, 18 of which involved the use of multiple launch rocket systems.In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna sector, Russian forces attempted 13 times to break through Ukrainian defensive lines in the areas of Vovchansk, Starytsia, Lyman, and Pishchane, as well as toward Okhrimivka and Bochkove.
In the Kupiansk sector, the enemy attacked 18 times in the areas of Petropavlivka, Kurylivka, Novoosynove, Hlushkivka, and Novoplatonivka.
In the Lyman sector, Russian forces attacked eight times. In particular, they attempted to breach Ukrainian defenses toward the settlements of Lyman and Chervonyi Stav, as well as in the areas of Kolodiazi and Drobysheve.
In the Sloviansk sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled eight attempts by the invaders to advance in the areas of the settlements of Yampil, Platonivka, Zakitne, and toward Rai-Oleksandrivka.
In the Kramatorsk sector, the Defense Forces repelled two Russian assaults in the areas of the settlements of Minkivka and Novomarkove.
In the Kostiantynivka sector, the enemy carried out 46 attacks near the settlements of Kostiantynivka, Oleksandro-Shultyne, Sofiivka, Pleshchiivka, Ivanopillia, Illinivka, Rusyn Yar, Stepanivka, and Novopavlivka.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled 72 assaults by the Russian Federation’s army in the areas of the settlements of Bilytske, Dorozhnie, Nove Shakhove, Rodynske, Novooleksandrivka, Myrnohrad, Shevchenko, Hryshyne, Pokrovsk, Kotlyne, Udachne, Muravka, Novopidhorodne, Molodetske, Novopavlivka, Filiia, and Dachne.
In the Oleksandrivka sector, the enemy launched three attacks in the areas around the settlements of Zlahoda, Zelenyi Hai, and Krasnohirske.
In the Huliaipole sector, Russian forces carried out 31 attacks in the areas around Zaliznychne, Huliaipole, Myrne, Olenokostiantynivka, Huliaipole, Zelene, and Dobropillia.
In the Orikhiv sector, two clashes with the enemy occurred near Stepove.
In the Prydniprovske sector, Ukrainian forces repelled one Russian attack." Ukrin
"Israel claimed Wednesday that Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmaeil Khatib was “eliminated”
in a precision overnight strike, adding another name to the increasingly long list of senior Iranian government figures to be assassinated." Breitbart
"Iran says upstream oil and gas assets are under attack for first time since war began, readiesretaliatory action against oil/gas assets in Gulf area, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, & UAE Iraq reroutes some flows through Ceyhan Pipeline to Turkey.
Iran reiterates new rules in place for Hormuz transit as traffic remains de-minimus, sparking reports that "the blockade is now the worst disruption to oil flows ever..."
President Trump issues posts musing whether US should 'finish off' Iran,
Iran to Iraq gas flows halted following South Pars gas field attack." Zerohege
"As proof, the organization cited one of the contracts, under which OJSC Planar delivered four installations to the Kremniy El plant worth nearly $4 million in 2023 and 2024.BelPol noted that Kremniy El is only one of the enterprises receiving equipment from the Belarusian company OJSC Planar.
The Belarusian enterprise also supplies equipment to Moscow, Kaluga, Tomsk, Novosibirsk, Nizhny Novgorod and other Russian cities.
Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed that the Ukrainian Defense Forces struck the Bryansk microelectronics plant Kremniy El with air-launched Storm Shadow missiles." msn
"A strong magnitude 5.3 earthquake occurred in the Bering Sea near Buldir Island island, USA, in the morning at 7.21 am local time (GMT -9). The depth of the quake could not be determined, but is assumed to be shallow. The quake was not felt (or at least not reported so)." VD
"Ukraine has deployed 201 specialists experienced in countering Iranian-made Shahed-type attack drones to the Middle East and Gulf region, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced.
Kyiv has developed extensive expertise in countering Iranian-made Shahed-type attack drones since Russia began using them widely in attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure in 2022.
"Right now, there are 201 Ukrainians in the Middle East and Gulf region, and another 34 are ready to deploy," Zelensky said during an address to the British parliament. "These are military experts, experts who know how to help, how to defend against such drones." KI
"A sailor of the Maritime Guard of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine has been exposed for cooperating with Russia’s FSB.It was established that, on instructions from the Russians, the border guard identified combat positions of mobile fire groups, radar stations, and anti-aircraft batteries protecting the skies over Odesa.
Using the data collected by the agent, the invaders had hoped to prepare a new series of missile and drone strikes on the city while bypassing air defenses.
Among the enemy’s main targets were locations where Ukrainian troops involved in combat operations on the southern front are concentrated." Ukrin
"Russian forces have attacked Ukraine with 178 Shahed, Gerbera and Italmas attack UAVsand other types of drones since the evening. Ukrainian air defenses have downed 154 UAVs, but hits have been recorded at 12 locations. The attack is ongoing.
The drones were launched from the Russian cities of Bryansk, Oryol, Kursk, Millerovo and Primorsko-Akhtarsk as well as from Hvardiiske and Cape Chauda in temporarily occupied Crimea.
About 110 of the UAVs were Shahed loitering munitions.
Aircraft, anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare assets, unmanned systems units and mobile fire groups from Ukraine's defense forces have been involved in repelling the attack." msn
