Middle East SitRep: 18th March 2026 (PM)

Executive Summary

The current phase of conflict is expected to continue in a similar manner for the immediate future. Iran will seek to leverage access through the Strait of Hormuz to obtain diplomatic concessions. The US and Israel will seek to degrade Iranian missile facilities and state institutions, but may escalate by seizing islands in the Persian Gulf. Operations to secure highly enriched uranium can also not be ruled out.

• Israel has carried out strikes on gas infrastructure at the South Pars field, Asaluyeh
• Funerals were held in Iran for sailors on the Dena ship and high-profile figures
• Gulf states have reported interceptions from Iranian attacks. Iran has warned that energy facilities in Gulf states will be targeted
• Missile debris has caused damage to planes at Ben Gurion Airport
• In south Lebanon, Israel has targeted Amana fuel stations and warned it will target bridges over the Litani River
• A PMF site was targeted in western Iraq, and Kurdish troops were targeted by drones in Erbil and Sulaymaniyah 

Iran and Gulf

Israel has conducted airstrikes on Phases 4 and 5 of the South Pars gas field in Asaluyeh, Bushehr Province. Israeli media has claimed the attack was coordinated with the US, which would be a departure from the US’s reluctance to strike energy infrastructure in Gulf states. Iran has released a threat to energy facilities in Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar, with all the named targets featuring investments from US companies Exxon, Chevron, Dow or Oxy. One of the sites, Qatar’s Ras Laffan, has evacuated personnel. Iran will likely escalate attacks as a result, and targets may not be limited to energy infrastructure. Intense missile and drone attacks on Gulf states are likely to be reported in the coming hours. Iran has held funerals for sailors killed on the Dena ship sunk by the US in the Indian Ocean, and has recently killed high-profile figures such as Ali Larijani. While it is hard to determine the extent of genuine support, thousands of people appear to have attended. 

Israel and Lebanon 

Three are reported wounded in an Iranian missile attack that impacted in Petah Tikva. Further impacts have been reported in central Israel, and an attack in the south of the country resulted in sirens near Ramon Airport, Eilat. An impact was reported in the Krayot suburbs of Haifa in an attack in the north. Three private planes were damaged by missile debris near Ben Gurion Airport (TLV). One of the planes caught fire and suffered extensive damage, while the others are reported to have suffered minimal damage. In Lebanon, Israel has been carrying out strikes on Al Amana fuel stations, alleging they are being used by Hezbollah. At least two bridges across the Litani River have been destroyed after Israel said they had been used by Hezbollah to transport fighters to the south. 

Iraq

Iraq has reported that its gas supplies from Iran have been halted as a result of the attack on the South Pars field. Iran provides Iraq with around a third of its energy. A US airstrike was carried out in the Al Qaim area near the Syrian border, with three PMF fighters reportedly killed. An unspecified attack has been reported at Camp Victory, Baghdad airport. Drone attacks appear to have been carried out against Peshmerga forces in Erbil and Sulaymaniyah, with casualty figures unknown at this time.