U.S. intelligence indicates that Iran's leadership is still largely intact and is not at risk of collapse any time soon, after nearly two weeks of relentless bombardment by Israel and the United States, according to three sources familiar with the matter who spoke to Reuters.

The UK Office of Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) is reporting an attack on a container ship in the Persian Gulf, 35NM north of Jebel Ali in the United Arab Emirates, with the ship’s Master telling the UKMTO that the vessel was stuck by an unknown projectile causing a small fire onboard. All crew reported as safe.

A U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet with the “Blacklions” of Strike Fighter Squadron 213 (VFA-213), assigned to Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8) onboard the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), receives fuel from a U.S. Air Force KC-135R Stratotanker over the Middle East in support of Operation Epic Fury, March 8, 2026.

The Head of Russia’s Direct Investment Fund, Kirill Dmitriev, left Miami, Florida, today following talks with U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and envoy Jared Kushner, according to the Kremlin Press Service. The talks were largely centered on increased economic cooperation, as reports abound that the Trump Administration is mulling a potential walk back of sanctions on Russian oil exports due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

According to a release from the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs Dylan Johnson, 43,000 American citizens have now been returned to the U.S. from the Middle East, amidst the escalating conflict between Iran and the U.S./Israel. Per the release, citing the incremental increase in regional commercial flights, the assistant secretary said that efforts by the U.S. State Department will be scaled down as commercial flights continue to be scaled up.

Video reportedly shows the moment the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker, M/T SAFESEA VISHNU, was struck by an Iranian unmanned surface vehicle last night off the coast of Basra, Iraq.

Smoke seen rising from near the U.S. Consulate in Erbil, Northern Iraq, following a significant drone attack earlier by Iran.

According to the Iranian state-run Fars News Agency, Iran's Supreme Leader Mojataba Khamenei will release a statement shortly.

Reopening the Strait of Hormuz, military analysts say, may require a ground operation to seize the Iranian coastline along the vital waterway between the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. Such an operation would mark an open-ended escalation, potentially leading to much higher casualties among U.S. and Allied Forces, according to the Wall Street Journal.

After a video call with Heads of State for all members of the G7 on Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron declared publicly what others had said privately: “No one can tell what U.S. President Donald J. Trump wants from this ongoing war with Iran.”

Israeli officials tell Axios their impression is that Trump is not planning to end the war in the next two to three weeks - but are accounting for the possibility he makes an abrupt decision if he concludes his objectives have been met against Iran.

Both Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had hoped the opening strike last Saturday - which killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and 40 top government, military, and security officials - would rapidly destabilize the regime in Tehran. However, thirteen days later, both understand that has not happened. Both still hope the cracks will soon begin to widen within the Iranian Government.

U.S. President Donald J. Trump said in a post earlier on TruthSocial: “The United States is the largest Oil Producer in the World, by far, so when oil prices go up, we make a lot of money. BUT, of far greater interest and importance to me, as President, is stoping an evil Empire, Iran, from having Nuclear Weapons, and destroying the Middle East and, indeed, the World.”

The Israel Defense Force’s Military Advocate General, Maj. Gen. Itai Ofir, has ordered the cancellation of an indictment filed against five reserve soldiers who were accused of severely abusing - physically, mentally, and sexually - a Palestinian detainee at the Sde Teiman Detention Facility, who was hospitalized with severe injuries, including a torn rectum, broken ribs, and a punctured lung in July 2024.

Strikes reported against the Saqr Camp, a major weapons depot and military installation to the south of Baghdad, Iraq, which is primarily used by the Iranian-backed Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF).

According to a statement from the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet, headquartered at Naval Support Activity Bahrain, the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) had a fire that originated in the laundry spaces and was non-combat related and is contained. Two sailors are being medically treated and are in stable condition. The statement goes on to say that there is no damage to the propulsion plant and the ship remains fully mission capable. The Ford's last known position was in the Northern Red Sea.

U.S. President Donald J. Trump will issue a temporary waiver of the Jones Act in response to climbing oil prices, according to a report from Bloomberg. The Jones Act restricts the shipment of cargo between U.S. ports to only U.S.-flagged vessels. The 30-day waivers would allow foreign-flagged vessels to transport petroleum products from the U.S. Gulf Coast to ports on the East and West Coasts of the United States.