The military conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran has entered its sixteenth day, with no reduction in the intensity of hostilities. Iran announced the 51st wave of its "True Promise-4" operation, targeting a U.S. fighter jet equipment base in Al-Kharij, Saudi Arabia. Israel's Defense Minister stated that the war with Iran has reached a "decisive stage," with Israeli forces also carrying out strikes in the northern suburbs of Beirut and southern Lebanon. Meanwhile, the U.S. embassy in Iraq was attacked by a drone. Former U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the U.S. would heavily bomb Iran's coastline and continue to destroy Iranian vessels. Trump also urged other countries to send ships to help secure the Strait of Hormuz. Additionally, Qatar announced it was evacuating several areas as a precaution against potential Iranian attacks, and Hamas issued its first official statement regarding the conflict.
Below are the latest developments as of 8:00 a.m. Beijing Time on March 15:
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced it launched the 51st wave of the "True Promise-4" operation, firing both liquid and solid-fuel missiles to strike a U.S. fighter jet equipment base in Al-Kharij, Saudi Arabia.
According to AFP, the IRGC stated that the base was used to equip F-35 and F-16 fighter jets and also served as a storage site for fuel tankers.
A spokesperson for Iran's Defense Ministry stated that Iran would deploy ballistic and other types of missiles with greater destructive power and higher precision.
Following Trump's statement that the U.S. had bombed Iran's Kharg Island oil hub, Iran's armed forces threatened to destroy U.S.-related oil infrastructure.
The IRGC stated that U.S. interests in the UAE—including ports, terminals, and military sites—are legitimate targets.
Iran's military also urged residents in the UAE to avoid these locations.
A deputy governor of Iran's Bushehr Province stated that oil export operations on Kharg Island were proceeding normally following U.S. attacks.
Iran's ambassador to India confirmed that Iran has permitted Indian vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called on neighboring countries to expel U.S. forces from the Middle East, stating that the U.S. security umbrella in the region "has proven to be full of holes, attracting rather than preventing trouble."
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated that U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran are intensifying and entering a "decisive phase."
The Israeli military ordered residents of an industrial area in western Tabriz, northern Iran, to evacuate, indicating that operations would continue in the area in the coming hours.
Lebanese media reported that Israel struck an apartment building in the northern suburbs of Beirut, with additional attacks reported in southern Lebanon.
Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that Israel and Lebanon are expected to hold direct talks in Paris or Cyprus in the coming days, marking the first negotiations between the two since the conflict began. The talks are expected to focus on hostilities in Lebanon and the disarmament of Hezbollah.
U.S. news outlet Signal News, citing U.S. officials, reported that Israel has informed the U.S. that its stockpile of ballistic missile interceptors is critically low.
A drone attacked the U.S. embassy in Iraq, with smoke seen rising from the compound.
Former President Trump stated that the U.S. would heavily bomb Iran's coastline and continue to destroy Iranian vessels.
The U.S. military stated that its strikes on Kharg Island destroyed mine and missile storage facilities while preserving the island's oil infrastructure. Trump earlier claimed that the U.S. had completely eliminated "all military targets" on the island.
Trump also suggested that the U.S. might strike Kharg Island again, stating that the initial strikes "largely destroyed most of the island," but adding, "we might hit it a few more times, just for fun."
Trump stated that he is not yet ready to reach an agreement with Iran, claiming that "the terms are not good enough."
In a social media post, Trump declared that Iran has been "completely defeated" and "wants a deal, but I won’t accept it!" Several Iranian officials have recently vowed to continue fighting.
Trump announced that four of the five U.S. refueling aircraft attacked at a Saudi base have been returned to service with minimal damage, while the fifth, though more heavily damaged, will soon be back in operation.
Trump urged other countries to send naval vessels to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, adding that the strait "will be open soon, one way or another."
A U.S. official confirmed that 13 American service members have been killed in the conflict with Iran, with approximately 200 wounded, 170 of whom have returned to duty.
Qatar's Interior Ministry stated that it is evacuating several areas as a temporary precautionary measure amid Iran's retaliatory airstrikes against Persian Gulf states.
Hamas issued its first official statement on the conflict, calling on Iran to avoid targeting neighboring countries while affirming Iran's right to self-defense against the U.S. and Israel.
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