What we're covering
• US Embassy: Videos geolocated by CNN appear to show air defense systems engaging a projectile around 600 meters from the US Embassy compound in Baghdad early Tuesday. Also, Abu Dhabi has suspended operations at a massive gas field after a drone attack.
• EU rebuffs Trump: European Union decided against expanding its naval operations around the Strait of Hormuz despite President Donald Trump’s criticism of allies for not supporting the US in securing the vital waterway.
• Tanker struck: A tanker reported being struck by an “unknown projectile whilst at anchor” late Monday near the key Emirati oil port of Fujairah, the UK’s maritime agency said.
• Delays and complications: CNN’s Beijing bureau chief says a delay in the Trump-Xi summit might actually be beneficial for both nations. And as Japan’s leader heads to Washington soon, we look at why it’s so complicated for Japan to send naval ships to the Hormuz strait.
Video released by pro-Iranian militia shows drone flying through US Embassy in Iraq
A pro-Iranian militia in Iraq posted nearly two minutes of footage to Telegram showing a drone flying low through the US embassy compound in Baghdad.
The drone is seen weaving between buildings in the heavily fortified compound and passing within meters of a large American flag during daytime. It did not appear to make an impact within the compound.
The video was dated as March 16, but CNN cannot verify exactly when it was recored. In early March the embassy ordered all of its non-essential staff to leave due to security concerns.
The release of the footage came hours after the Al‑Rasheed Hotel, which sits within the Green Zone area where the embassy is located, was struck following a drone attack overnight into Tuesday.
The US Embassy has been targeted in multiple attacks in recent days –– it was struck by two drones on Saturday and air defenses were activated to shoot down incoming projectiles on Monday.
Several pro-Iranian militia groups operating within Iraq have claimed responsibility for various attacks on US targets there since the war with Iran began.
Over the weekend, another militia group also released a video of a drone attack in the vicinity of Victory base, Baghdad, which was the headquarters for US forces during the Iraq war.
Can Japan send warships to help Trump with the Hormuz strait crisis? It’s complicated
US President Donald Trump wants his allies to show more enthusiasm about sending warships to the Strait of Hormuz. Japan has plenty of reasons why it isn’t champing at the bit.
Trump has criticized countries that have pushed back on his calls questioning their loyalty after decades of US security support.
“We’ve protected them from horrible outside sources, and they weren’t that enthusiastic,” he said. “And the level of enthusiasm matters to me.”
Japan is, of course, a beneficiary of that security umbrella and its ties with the US are seen as vital amid ongoing disputes with three nearby powers—China, North Korea and Russia.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will no doubt be reminded of that when she visits Washington this week.
But sending Japanese ships into an escalating conflict in the Middle East will be no easy task.
Japan’s pacifist constitution, written by the US after World War II, strictly limits the use of force to self-defense. While maritime security operations are possible in narrowly defined circumstances, such as when Japanese lives or assets are at risk, they require legal justification and parliamentary approval.
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi has declined to comment on whether the current situation involving Iran would meet that threshold. For now, the bar for Japan to enter any active conflict remains extremely high.
There are also diplomatic considerations. Japan has maintained relatively stable relations with Iran for decades and is in no hurry to act in a way that could put it in direct conflict with Tehran.
Japan does have options though, to appease Trump short of direct involvement in combat. It could deploy minesweepers after the conflict subsides, as it did in 1991 following the Gulf War to clear mines laid by Iraq.
It could also expand logistical or industrial support, including defense-related cooperation with the US at a time when stockpiles are being stretched.
Delayed Trump-Xi summit in China might just suit both Beijing and Washington
President Donald Trump is asking to push back his highly anticipated meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing “by a month or so” because he said he wants to stay in DC while the US-Israeli war with Iran continues.
Any delay to the March 31- April 2 visit comes as China sidesteps calls from Trump to send naval ships to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz – though US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said the delay is due to logistics.
Analysts say a postponement may come as a relief for both sides, as they don’t seem to have been able to finalize any substantive “deliverables” in time for the meeting.
Beijing has never confirmed the Trump-Xi summit and China’s top diplomat recently avoided directly addressing the potential impact on the trip by the ongoing US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
“This year is indeed a big year for China-US relations – the agenda of high-level exchanges with the US is on the table,” Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on March 8, in response to my question.
“What is required is for both sides to make thorough preparations, create a conducive environment, manage existing differences, and remove unnecessary disruptions.”
When Trump and Xi do eventually meet, they are still expected to focus on trade and security issues: tariffs, China’s access to advanced microchips, and Taiwan -– the self-ruled island that Beijing claims as its own and one of the biggest geopolitical flashpoints.
For now, the key takeaway from the likely delayed visit for Beijing is perhaps that the US President is admitting the Iran war – which China has strongly condemned – isn’t ending anytime soon.
One person killed by falling debris from intercepted missile, Abu Dhabi authorities say
A Pakistani national was killed by falling debris from an intercepted ballistic missile in the Baniyas area of Abu Dhabi, the city’s media office said Thursday.
The UAE has come under fire Tuesday, with reports of drone attacks causing fires in the massive Shah gas field outside of Abu Dhabi and the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone (FOIZ) near the city of Fujairah.
Earlier Tuesday, state media reported UAE air defences were responding to missile and drone threats from Iran. The country’s Aviation Authority temporarily closed part of the UAE’s airspace in response to “rapidly evolving regional security developments.”
The fatality comes one day after another person – a Palestinian – was killed after a missile fell on a civilian vehicle in the Al Bahyah area, according to authorities.
US warship believed to be carrying Marine ground troops to Middle East tracked off Singapore
A US Navy warship believed to be carrying thousands of Marines and sailors to the Middle East is nearing the Malacca Strait off Singapore as it makes its way to the region, maritime tracking data showed Tuesday.
The amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli was approaching Singapore, at the southwestern edge of the South China Sea, Tuesday morning, according to AIS tracking data seen by CNN.
US Navy ships often move with AIS transponders turned off. Revealing their positions while transiting areas with heavy maritime traffic, like the waters around Singapore, enables safer operations.
The Tripoli is believed to be carrying troops from the Okinawa-based 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), a rapid-response force of 2,200 personnel, after the Pentagon ordered the unit to deploy, according to three officials familiar with the plans.
CNN has asked the US Navy’s 7th Fleet and 5th Fleet for comment.
Officials told CNN the unit was being sent to the Middle East, without revealing exactly where it would be deployed or what it would be used for.
An MEU consists of four elements: command, ground combat, air combat and logistics combat. MEUs typically have been used for missions like evacuations and amphibious operations that require ship-to-shore movements, like raids and assaults. They also have ground and aviation combat components, and some units are trained for special operations.
Marinetraffic.com showed a track for an “unspecified US warship” departing Okinawa on March 11, through the South China Sea and nearing Singapore Tuesday morning at a speed of about 22 mph.
Based in Sasebo, Japan, the Tripoli, almost 850 feet long and displacing 45,000 tons, is essentially a small aircraft carrier and carries F-35 stealth fighters and MV-22 Osprey transports as well as landing craft to move troops ashore.
It is the lead ship in an amphibious ready group, which would normally include the amphibious transport docks USS New Orleans and USS San Diego. CNN could not confirm the presence of those smaller ships with the Tripoli in maritime tracking sites Tuesday.
Tanker struck near UAE's Fujairah, UK maritime agency says
A tanker has reported being struck by an “unknown projectile whilst at anchor” late Monday near the key Emirati oil port of Fujairah, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) centre said early Tuesday.
The vessel was hit in the Gulf of Oman, 23 nautical miles east of Fujairah, and suffered minor structural damage, said the maritime authority with responsibility for the region. No crew injuries or environmental damage were reported and structural damage is minimal.
Fujairah is a vital oil export route which bypasses the Strait of Hormuz, which has been effectively closed since the war with Iran began. The Fujairah oil terminal port and adjacent Fujairah Oil Industry Zone (FOIZ) have been repeatedly targeted by Iran.
Fujairah authorities said Tuesday they were working to control a fire which had broken out in the FOIZ as a result of a drone strike.
The tanker attacked on Monday becomes the 21st vessel to report an incident in and around the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman since the war began, according to previous UKMTO figures.
Travel disruptions continue as drone strikes force temporary airport and airspace closures in UAE
The war in Iran is continuing to wreak havoc on travel across Gulf, after Iranian drone strikes caused two major air disruptions over the last two days.
Flights at Dubai International Airport were temporarily suspended Monday after a drone hit a fuel tank, sparking a major fire. Large flames could be seen leaping into the air near the airport, before the fire was eventually brought under control. No injuries were reported.
A number of flights were canceled as a result of the disruption, while others were delayed and diverted, when the country’s aviation authority closed the airport. Flights from the UK, Ireland, India, and Pakistan were turned back to their points of origin, Flightradar24 maps showed.
Dubai International Airport is the world’s busiest hub for international travel, handling nearly 100 million passengers per year and a headquarters for Emirates, one of the world’s biggest international airlines.
Tuesday night brought yet another major disruption.
The United Arab Emirates’ Aviation Authority temporarily closed part of the UAE’s airspace as an “exceptional precautionary measure” after the country said it was responding to incoming missiles and drone strikes from Iran.
The airspace was reopened approximately two hours later. The UAE is home to two major regional transport hubs Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the latter of which is the headquarters for Etihad, another major global airline.
Unpredictability: Airlines like Emirates and Etihad have begun to put on more and more flights coming through their hubs but, as the last two days have shown, the threat from the regional conflict is ever present and remains disruptive.
Meanwhile the price of many global air fares that bypass the Middle East are rising as the war with Iran continues, with oil prices soaring and airlines warning of higher fuel costs to come.
South Korea preparing for "worst-case scenarios" as Middle East conflict expands
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said Tuesday that it was time to prepare “worst-case scenario” measures to conserve energy as the situation in the Middle East deteriorates.
His comments came as the country’s defense ministry said it has not yet received a formal request from the United States regarding President Donald Trump’s recent demands for allies, including South Korea, to send ships to the Strait of Hormuz.
Lee said the conflict was expanding beyond initial expectations and the impact on the lives of its citizens is likely to grow.
Possible measures include:
- Mobilizing diplomatic assets to find stable additional oil supplies.
- Promoting energy conservation and possibly reducing vehicles on the road based on license plate numbers.
- Considering export controls and other emergency measures such as expanding the operation of nuclear power plants.
- Rapidly transitioning away from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
Frustrations mount in the White House – and among US allies. Here's the latest
Frustration is mounting in the White House and among US allies, as countries resist US President Donald Trump’s pressure campaign to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, and as Trump rebuffs Iran’s attempts at diplomacy.
Here’s what to know on day 18:
- “Not NATO’s war”: EU foreign ministers decided against expanding their naval operations around the Strait of Hormuz, even as Trump criticized allies who rebuffed his demands for assistance in reopening the critical waterway. On Monday, a spokesperson for the German chancellor said: “It is not NATO’s war.”
- Diplomacy stalled: Iranian officials have reached out to Trump’s Middle East envoy, trying to reopen a diplomatic channel, but Trump said he didn’t want to negotiate now, two senior White House officials told CNN. Part of the reason is because Trump’s administration is not confident that Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, “is actually in charge,” one of the officials said. Iran’s foreign minister denied having any contact with the president’s envoy in recent days, as the White House officials claim.
- Patience runs thin: Some American, European and Asian diplomats are growing increasingly frustrated with the Trump administration’s refusal to use traditional diplomatic channels.
- Alarm over Lebanon: The leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and the UK said they were “gravely concerned” about growing violence in Lebanon, after Israel said earlier it is expanding “limited” ground operations there. More than 1 million people in Lebanon have been internally displaced and at least 850 people killed since the latest conflict began, according to Lebanese authorities.
- Around the region: The US Embassy and a hotel in Baghdad were targeted by drones early Tuesday, with video appearing to show air defenses engaging a projectile near the embassy. The Majnoon oil field in southern Iraq also came under attack. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates temporarily closed its airspace after two separate fires broke out at the Fujairah oil zone and the Shah gas field after drone strikes at both locations.
US embassy and oil facilities targeted as strikes continue around the region
Strikes continued in the Middle East on Tuesday morning, with attacks targeting the US Embassy and a luxury hotel in Iraq’s Baghdad, and the United Arab Emirates temporarily closing its airspace amid attacks on oil facilities.
Catch up on the latest:
Iran: The Israeli military said it had “begun a wide scale wave of strikes” on the capital Tehran, targeting regime infrastructure. The Iranian Red Crescent said early Tuesday that relief workers were trying to reach a Tehran resident trapped under rubble, and the state affiliated Mehr news agency reported an explosion was heard in the capital.
Lebanon: The Israeli military also said it had begun an “additional wave of strikes” on Hezbollah targets in the capital Beirut. It follows Israel launching an expanded ground operation in the country’s south on Monday.
Israel: Emergency services reported missile fire toward Israel, but said there were no reported casualties or impacts. The Israeli military also said its defensive systems were intercepting missiles launched from Iran as sirens sounded in northern Israel.
Iraq: The US Embassy and the Al-Rasheed Hotel in Baghdad were targeted by drones early Tuesday, according to video geolocated by CNN and Iraqi officials. Video appeared to show air defenses shooting down a projectile near the embassy. The Majnoon oil field in southern Iraq also came under attack, the spokesperson for the Commander-in-Chief of Iraq’s armed forces said.
United Arab Emirates: The General Civil Aviation Authority temporarily closed the country’s airspace “amid rapidly evolving regional security developments,” state media reported early Tuesday. Abu Dhabi authorities also suspended operations at the massive Shah gas field following a drone attack which ignited a fire. And authorities in the city of Fujairah said a fire broke out in the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone (FOIZ) as a result of a drone strike. Near Fujairah, a tanker reported being struck by an “unknown projectile whilst at anchor,” according to the UKMTO.
Qatar: Armed forces “intercepted a missile attack” and falling debris from an intercept caused a minor fire in an industrial area, according to Qatar’s defense and interior ministries.
Kuwait: Air defenses were responding to “hostile missile and drone threats” and the armed forces warned citizens that “any explosions” heard “are the result of air defense systems intercepting hostile targets.”
Saudi Arabia: The defense ministry said it had intercepted and destroyed more than a dozen drones in the eastern parts of the country.
This post has been updated with additional details.
Fire burned aboard American aircraft carrier for 30 hours, reports NYT
A fire in the laundry spaces of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford last week burned for more than 30 hours and left dozens of the service members aboard with smoke inhalation, the New York Times reported Monday, citing unnamed sailors and military officials.
The Navy revealed the fire aboard America’s largest warship in a release last week, saying it was contained, not combat-related, and left two sailors with non-life-threatening injuries.
It said combat operations aboard the 100,000-ton ship, deployed in the Red Sea during the war with Iran, were unaffected by the fire.
But conditions for the crew and air wing of about 4,500 aboard the $13-billion ship are far from ideal. The Times reported that some 600 sailors had lost their beds in the fire and are sleeping on tables or floors and many have not been able to do laundry.
CNN has reached out to 5th Fleet, which is responsible for the Persian Gulf and Red Sea, for comment on the NYT reporting.
The Ford’s current deployment, now in its 10th month, has also been plagued by problems with the ship’s toilets. NPR first reported those problems in January, with dozens of calls made for outside plumbing help over the past few years, and at least a dozen made during its current deployment.
Since leaving its Norfolk, Virginia, homeport last June, the Ford has gone across the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, back across the Atlantic to the Caribbean to support operations in Venezuela, and now back to the Middle East.
The Times reported that if the current deployment lasts until mid-April, it will be the longest of a US aircraft carrier since the Vietnam War.
Trump talked about US strikes on Kharg Island. What does that impact?
You may be hearing a lot about the US strikes Friday on Kharg Island, which is an economic lifeline for Iran, handling roughly 90% of the country’s crude exports. CNN’s Erin Burnett and military analyst Col. Cedric Leighton discuss what it means below. You can also learn about
Kharg Island’s significance and the strikes’ impact here.
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How Iranian attacks on this UAE oil hub threaten an important Strait of Hormuz bypass route
The Fujairah oil terminal port in the United Arab Emirates suffered damage from three drone incidents this month, local officials said.
CNN’s Eleni Giokos explains why the site is important:
CNN’s Eleni Giokos reports on the significance of the Fujairah oil terminal port in the United Arab Emirates after local officials say the hub suffered damage from three drone incidents this month.
Air defense systems engage projectile causing a blast near US Embassy in Baghdad
Videos geolocated by CNN appear to show air defense systems engaging a projectile over the Iraqi capital, around 600 meters from the US Embassy compound in Baghdad early Tuesday local time.
In one video, streaks of anti-air rounds consistent those fired from US Counter Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar systems (C-RAM) can be seen. An explosion consistent with an interception of a projectile is then seen in the sky.
“One person on the ground can then be heard saying “Watch out, my brother, for the shrapnel.”
Another video shows the moment a projectile consistent with a drone impacts the area near the US Embassy. In the clip, air defense rounds can be seen streaking through the sky, before what appears to be a drone impacts the ground. A large explosion can then be heard in the video, taken around 1,000 meters from the embassy.
A voice in the background can be heard saying “There it is, there it is. It hit, it hit, it hit, it hit.” The voice then says “what is that? A flying drone?”
The embassy has come under attack before. On Saturday, two drones struck the US Embassy in the capital, a security official told CNN. Video geolocated by CNN on Saturday showed smoke and flames rising from a building in the vicinity of the compound
“Early Tuesday local time, the spokesperson for the Commander-in-Chief of Iraq’s armed forces said that “unjustified attacks” have been “repeated against a number of vital facilities, installations, and diplomatic missions.””
They include the headquarters of the US Embassy in Baghdad, the Majnoon oil field and the Al-Rasheed International Hotel, Sabah al-Numan said in a statement posted by the Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office on X.
Baghdad hotel struck as Iraq says US Embassy and oil field also targeted
Video from social media, geolocated and verified by Reuters news agency, shows smoke and flames rising from the Al‑Rasheed Hotel in Baghdad, following a drone attack.
The hotel is located in Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone, which houses government offices and diplomatic missions, including the US Embassy.
Iraq’s Ministry of Interior confirmed that a drone fell on the Al-Rasheed Hotel early Tuesday local time.
““The ministry wishes to clarify that, after specialized forensic teams conducted an on-site and technical inspection, it was found that a drone had struck the upper fence of the hotel, without resulting in any loss of life or significant material damage,” the interior ministry said in a statement.”
The strike comes as videos, geolocated by CNN, shows an explosion close to the vicinity of the US Embassy in Baghdad. Other videos show a projectile consistent with a drone impacting the area near the embassy, and air defense systems engaging a projectile over Baghdad around 600 meters away from the embassy compound.
Earlier, the spokesperson for the Commander-in-Chief of Iraq’s armed forces Sabah al-Numan said the headquarters of the US Embassy, the Al-Rasheed and the Majnoon oil field in southern Iraq had come under attack.
