Global Security and Defense Developments - 16 March 2026

Executive Summary

The military confrontation between the United States, Israel, and Iran continues to intensify through sustained air operations, expanded regional deployments, and growing maritime instability around the Strait of Hormuz. The United States is reinforcing its presence through both air and naval forces, including the planned deployment of an Amphibious Ready Group led by USS Tripoli and a Marine Expeditionary Unit of more than 2,200 personnel to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. Long range strike operations remain central to the campaign. U.S. Air Force B-1B bombers operating from RAF Fairford have conducted strike missions against targets in Iran, while logistical airlift missions using C-17 and C-5 aircraft continue to support regional deployments. Following the crash of a KC-135R tanker aircraft in Iraq, aerial refueling operations have been partially rerouted through Jordanian and Saudi airspace, with additional tanker aircraft redeployed to sustain operational continuity. The conflict is also placing pressure on regional air and missile defense networks. Iranian kamikaze drone attacks damaged AN TPY 2 radar systems, prompting preparations to redeploy elements of a THAAD battery from South Korea to the Middle East. The United States has also reinforced its regional airpower posture by deploying additional F-35A fighter aircraft, while Iranian drone attacks resulted in the loss of an Italian MQ-9 Reaper UAV. The maritime dimension of the conflict is becoming increasingly critical. The Strait of Hormuz has effectively become a high risk operational zone, with commercial shipping traffic declining significantly amid Iranian threats to target vessels linked to the United States or Israel. U.S. forces have intensified operations against Iran’s naval mine laying capabilities, although intelligence assessments indicate that Iran retains the ability to conduct additional mining operations. The crisis is also producing broader geopolitical and economic effects. With approximately one fifth of global oil and LNG flows passing through the Strait of Hormuz, disruptions to tanker traffic are directly affecting global energy markets. In response, the International Energy