live U.S. Embassy in Baghdad targeted by rockets and drones: Middle East conflict - 17 March

Cooperation between countries to secure Strait of Hormuz is more important than ever, U.S. Secretary of State says 

Marco Rubio told his South Korean counterpart that coordination between nations to ensure safe passage for ships through the Strait of Hormuz was more important than ever in a conversation on Monday (17 March).

Seoul's Foreign Minister Cho Hyun later declined to say whether Washington had asked South Korea to deploy a naval ship to the strait, despite intense questioning by members of parliament, some of whom suggested such a move could breach domestic laws.

"The question of how we're going to respond to an ally's demand is a very important one," Cho said. "As we make a decision, I assure you we will act according to the constitution and the law," he told a parliament committee hearing.

U.S. President was warned attacking Iran could trigger retaliation against Gulf allies, sources say 

Donald Trump was warned that launching strikes on Iran could result in Gulf allies, such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, being targeted by Tehran, a U.S. official and two sources with U.S. intelligence reports told Reuters on Monday (16 March).

The President said twice on Monday that Iran’s retaliatory strikes against Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Kuwait were a surprise, the first time at a Kennedy Center board meeting in the White House.

"They (Iran) weren’t supposed to go after all these other countries in the Middle East," he said. "Nobody expected that. We were shocked," he said. 

Projectile hits tanker off Fujairah, United Arab Emirates 

A tanker has been struck by a projectile while at anchor east of the UAE's city of Fujairah, according to the UK Royal Navy's maritime security authority. No crew sustained injuries and only minor structural damage was reported, UK Maritime Trade Operations said. There was no environmental impact reported. 

Rockets and drones launched at U.S. Embassy in Baghdad

Multiple rockets and at least five drones were fired at the U.S. Embassy in the Iraqi capital, according to Iraqi security sources.

A witness told Reuters that one of the drones struck inside the embassy compound, from which fire and smoke could be seen to be rising. A further two drones were shot down by a C-Ram air defence system, the witness added. 

Iranian backed militias have been attacking Washington's interests in Iraq in retaliation for U.S. strikes on Iran which began on February 28.

Iraqi security forces have been deployed across parts of the capital and have closed Baghdad's fortified Green Zone, which houses government buildings and diplomatic missions including the U.S. Embassy.

Smoke and fire rise during reported drone and rocket strikes at the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, in this still image obtained from a social media video released March 17, 2026.

Reuters