Iran live updates: White House calls on other nations to secure Strait of Hormuz

Dubai officials earlier said a drone impact had started a fire near the airport.

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Last updated: Monday, March 16, 2026 6:10PM GMT
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President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Feb. 28, with massive joint U.S.-Israel strikes attack targeting military and government sites, officials said.

Iranian state television confirmed that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was among those killed in Tehran on the first day of strikes. His son Mojtaba Khamenei was chosen on Sunday to succeed him.

Iran is responding to the operation with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel, regional U.S. bases and multiple Gulf nations. Israel is also intensifying its long-running strike campaign against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.

Smoke rises on the skyline after an explosion in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.
Smoke rises on the skyline after an explosion in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.

Mar 14, 2026, 8:14 PM GMT

US says strikes on Kharg Island destroyed Iranian military sites

The U.S. "executed a large-scale precision strike" on Kharg Island, Iran, destroying "naval mine storage facilities, missile storage bunkers, and multiple other military sites," U.S. Central Command said in a post on X.

"U.S. forces successfully struck more than 90 Iranian military targets on Kharg Island, while preserving the oil infrastructure," CENTCOM said.

Mar 14, 2026, 8:14 PM GMT

Trump calls on other countries to send assistance for Strait of Hormuz, says US will bomb shoreline

As the Trump administration continues to face an escalating crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, which facilitates the transport of about one-fifth of the world's oil supply, President Donald Trump is turning to other countries for assistance.

In a social media post on Saturday, Trump claimed that "many countries" will be "sending War Ships" to assist with keeping the Strait of Hormuz "open and safe." He later called out specific countries and said they will "hopefully" send ships to the critical waterway.

"Many Countries, especially those who are affected by Iran's attempted closure of the Hormuz Strait, will be sending War Ships, in conjunction with the United States of America, to keep the Strait open and safe," the president said. He later wrote, "hopefully China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and others that are affected by this artificial constraint, will send Ships to the area."

The president added that "in the meantime," the U.S. will be "bombing the hell out of the shoreline," as well as shooting Iranian ships "out of the water."

Trump continued to insist that Iran's military capabilities are "destroyed 100%," but said they still pose a threat "no matter how badly defeated they are."

"We have already destroyed 100% of Iran's Military capability, but it's easy for them to send a drone or two, drop a mine, or deliver a close range missile somewhere along, or in, this Waterway, no matter how badly defeated they are," he wrote.

"One way or the other, we will soon get the Hormuz Strait OPEN, SAFE, and FREE!" the president promised.

ABC News has reached out to the White House for clarification on whether countries have formally agreed to send ships.

-ABC News' Emily Chang

Mar 14, 2026, 1:24 PM GMT

Israel congratulates US on Kharg Island strikes

Israel Defense Minister Israel Katz congratulated President Donald Trump "on the severe blow that the US military dealt last night" to Kharg Island.

Katz said that Israel is "continuing a powerful wave of attacks on Tehran and throughout Iran."

Trump posted a video of the U.S. strikes on Kharg Island, showing projectiles striking the airport and other sites on the island.

The deputy governor of Iran's Bushehr Province, where Kharg Island is located, told Iranian state media that "activities of oil companies at this export terminal are normal," and that export activities are ongoing, after the strike on the island's airport by the US military.

-ABC News' Dorit Long and Victoria Beaule

Mar 14, 2026, 1:24 PM GMT

Israel airstrikes kills healthcare workers in Lebanon, Health Ministry says

Twelve healthcare workers were killed in an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon, the Ministry of Health said in a statement.

"Twelve doctors, paramedics and nurses who were on shift at the center were martyred, in addition to the injury of a health worker," the statement continued.

The ministry condemned the attack in Burj Qalawia on the town's "primary health care center," saying violence against healthcare workers "contradicts all international humanitarian laws."

The Ministry of Health's statement added that paramedics in Al-Sawana were also killed in an Israeli attack hours earlier.

A post from the spokesperson for the Israeli Defense Forces to Arab media on Saturday said, "as part of its terrorist activities, Hezbollah is making extensive military use of ambulances."

"We warn that the military use of medical facilities and ambulances must be stopped immediately, and we emphasize that if this approach is not halted, Israel will act in accordance with international law against any military activity carried out by the terrorist Hezbollah using those facilities and ambulances," the post said.

The health center in Burj Qalawia is reportedly run by the Islamic Health Society and allegedly has ties to Hezbollah.

-ABC News' Othon Leyva, Ghazi Balkiz and Rashid Haddou