US Iran war highlights: Trump says US may hit Iran's Kharg Island again, loud explosions in Bahrain's Manama

A photograph shows the site of an overnight Israeli airstrike that targeted the Haret Hreik neighbourhood of Beirut's southern suburbs, on March 14, 2026.

US-Iran war live updates: The ongoing conflict in the Middle East shows no signs of abating even as it entered the third week, with Iran announcing fresh attacks at US bases in Saudi Arabia and vowing retaliation against the attack at Kharg Island. Fresh attacks were reported at Kuwait airport and the Baghdad airport complex, which houses a military base and a US diplomatic facility.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had launched a missile salvo at US forces stationed at a major base in Saudi Arabia's Al-Kharj. Meanwhile, Lebanese militant group Hezbollah said it was involved in "direct clashes" with Israeli forces in the southern Lebanese town of Khiam.

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he “hopes” countries affected by Iran’s attempted closure of the Strait of Hormuz – including China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the UK – will send warships to the region to help keep the waterway open and safe. Trump added that, in the meantime, the United States would continue bombing the shoreline and targeting Iranian boats, aiming to make the Hormuz Strait “OPEN, SAFE, and FREE.”

Earlier on Friday, he had said that the United States had heavily bombed military targets on Iran's oil hub Kharg Island and the US Navy would soon begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said military targets on Kharg Island, which handles almost all of Iran's crude exports, had been "totally obliterated" in "one of the most powerful bombing raids in the History of the Middle East."

He said he had chosen not to target oil infrastructure on the island for now.

"However, should Iran, or anyone else, do anything to interfere with the Free and Safe Passage of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider this decision," the US president said.

However, Iran’s Fars news agency reported that thick smoke has been seen rising from Iran’s Kharg Island, but that Iranian forces continue to operate from there despite Trump’s claims that the US “obliterated” military targets on the island.

Trump on Strait of Hormuz

With oil prices spiking, Donald Trump was asked by reporters when the US Navy would begin escorting tankers through the Gulf's critical Strait of Hormuz.

"It'll happen soon, very soon," he said.

Iranian strikes have all but halted maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas normally pass.

What's happening in Iran?

Several top Iranian officials joined a defiant pro-government rally in Tehran, meanwhile, marching alongside demonstrators waving banners reading "Death to America" and "Death to Israel."

As the United States intensified its bombing of Iran, Tehran launched a new wave of drone and missile attacks on Israel and its Gulf neighbours.

The war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon continued to rage, and the Lebanese health ministry said an Israeli strike on a primary healthcare centre in southern Lebanon had killed at least 12 medical personnel on Friday.

According to the Lebanese authorities, at least 773 people have been killed by Israeli attacks in Lebanon aimed at wiping out Iranian ally Hezbollah.

USS Tripoli, with 2,500 Marines, dispatched

The United States and Israel have treaded carefully around Kharg Island until now, but US officials have reportedly said that capturing the island was now on the table.

The Wall Street Journal and New York Times reported on Friday that the Pentagon had dispatched the Japan-based amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli to the region along with its complement of some 2,500 Marines.

Blasts ring West Asia

Heavy blasts shook Tehran late Friday after the United States vowed to step up air strikes and Iranian state media said a fresh round of missiles had been launched towards Israel. Israeli rescue workers said no casualties were reported.

Blasts were heard in Doha early Saturday, and Qatar's defence ministry said its military had intercepted missiles targeting the Gulf state.

Saudi Arabia's defence ministry said its forces had intercepted dozens of drones on Friday, and Turkey said NATO forces shot down a ballistic missile launched from Iran -- the third such interception in the war.

Oil prices

The conflict has sparked chaos in global markets and sent oil prices soaring.

Brent contracts for a barrel of crude have soared more than 42 per cent, leaving markets and governments everywhere skittish about energy supply and higher inflation. On Friday, oil stayed above $100 a barrel.