The United States aircraft carriers USS Ford and USS Lincoln are urgently withdrawing from the Persian Gulf, amid multiple strikes by the Iranian army against the two most valuable assets of the American navy, which are forcing the Pentagon to move them toward Oman and Saudi Arabia, at a distance greater than 1,100 kilometers from Iran, while previously they were located 350 kilometers away, as emphasized by Russian media.
At the same time, an Iranian barrage of missiles and drones at the Al Dhafra base of the United Arab Emirates reportedly destroyed a Saab Global Eye early warning and control aircraft.
Specifically, on 16/3, within the framework of the 56th phase of Iran’s operation True Promise 4 against the United States and Israel, the Revolutionary Guards launched fierce strikes against missile depots in Israel, while for the first time they launched a barrage of attacks against Kurdish positions in the western part of the country.
What Trump had announced as a “walk in the park” is now turning into a costly war deadlock, which is becoming an ever larger trap for the American Israeli alliance, mainly because of the proverbial resilience of Iranian forces in asymmetric warfare tactics.
The two US aircraft carriers urgently withdraw to safe positions
Specifically, the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln hastily left the Iranian coast and is now sailing near Salalah in Oman, covered behind coastal mountain ranges.
Chinese satellite images confirm that the ship is at a distance greater than 1,100 kilometers from Iran, whereas previously it was at 350 kilometers.
At the same time, the nuclear powered USS Gerald R. Ford also moved away, finding refuge off Saudi Arabia near Jeddah, outside the range of Iranian missiles.
The Pentagon appears to have chosen not to test its luck, recognizing that Tehran possesses the weapons capable of sinking the United States’ “floating airports.”
As a result, American aircraft are now forced to follow detour routes through Saudi Arabia to strike Iran, putting the mission of Donald Trump regarding the Strait of Hormuz on the brink of failure.
Barrage of strikes against Israel and Kurdistan by Iran
Overall, within the framework of the 56th phase of the operation True Promise 4, Iran launched fierce strikes against missile depots in Israel, an American base in Qatar, and positions of anti Iranian organizations in Iraqi Kurdistan, as announced by the Revolutionary Guards.
According to the state television of Iran, ultra heavy precision systems Khorremshahr, Emad, and Ghader were used for precision strikes against the Southern Supply Command of Israel, at a strategic missile depot of the company Rafael in the north, and at the American military base Al Udeid in Qatar.
At the same time, unmanned aerial vehicle units of the Revolutionary Guards carried out a series of strikes against anti government armed organizations in Erbil.
It is noted that we are now in the 17th day of the war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran, and despite American claims about the alleged destruction of Tehran’s ballistic program, the Guards continue to strike with intensity both American bases in the Middle East and Israel itself.
The Revolutionary Guards blinded the US flying eye Saab Global Eye
However, the most impressive news from the front was the Iranian missile and drone strike on the Al Dhafra base of the United Arab Emirates, which reportedly destroyed a Saab Global Eye early warning and control aircraft.
This specific aircraft, worth 460 million dollars, is based on the Bombardier Global 6000/6500 and is capable of detecting stealth targets at distances up to 650 kilometers thanks to the AESA radar it carries.
The loss is enormous, as the system could simultaneously monitor movements in the Persian Gulf down to individual trucks on the ground.
The countries of the Gulf now appear to bitterly regret their billion dollar investments in defense cooperation with Washington, which failed disastrously to protect its allies from Iranian fury and the loss of many billions of dollars.
New war adviser to Khamenei, the experienced Mohsen Rezaei
At the same time Tehran appears to be entering a new phase of its war planning, as the new Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei, appointed the former head of the Revolutionary Guards, Mohsen Rezaei, as his military adviser.
This move, reported by the agency Mehr, signals the rallying of the old guard around the new leadership of the country under the orders of the new Supreme Commander.
Alarm in Israel: Hezbollah mobilizes the elite Radwan unit - IDF Hermes 450 drone destroyed
The conflict in southern Lebanon is also entering a new dangerous phase, as the Secretary General of Hezbollah, Naim Qassem, reportedly ordered the Radwan forces to deploy and begin operations against IDF troops.
The Radwan units constitute the elite strike forces of the organization, having been specially trained for cross border attacks and high intensity combat.
? HEZBOLLAH ORDERS RADWAN FORCES INTO ACTION
— Mossad Commentary (@MOSSADil) March 16, 2026
Hezbollah Secretary-General Naeem Qassem has reportedly ordered Radwan forces to move out and begin operating against IDF troops in southern Lebanon.
Radwan units are Hezbollah’s elite assault force, trained for cross-border attacks… pic.twitter.com/Bpx2K0aO1Q
At the same time, tension is reaching a “red line” in the air, with the Shiite militia announcing through an official statement the downing of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) of the Israeli air force above the city of Bint Jbeil, in the province of Nabatieh.
According to the statement, fighters of the organization struck an Israeli drone of the Hermes 450 type after it violated airspace and flew over the border towns Bint Jbeil and Aytarun.
Hezbollah notes that the Israeli air force rushed to destroy the reconnaissance aircraft as it approached the ground in order to prevent it from falling into the hands of opponents.
This is the third UAV shot down since the start of the military escalation in southern Lebanon, with the Hermes 450 being one of the most advanced multi role aircraft for reconnaissance.
Iraq - Fierce battles with Delta Force and the new Al-Qari missile
Developments are rapid on the Erbil front, with the Delta Force unit of the United States entering an area of “responsibility” of the Iranian army and more specifically positions of pro Iranian militias in Iraq, reveals the Iranian agency Tasnim.
On its side, the local “resistance unit” Saraya Awliya al-Dam, publishing a video, revealed a large underground missile city which demonstrates the high level of organization and operational infrastructure of this organization.
In this operation the new Al-Qari missile was used for the first time, which appears to be a solid fuel short range ballistic missile with a range of about 200 kilometers, and with it the Victoria base was targeted.
At the same time, the group Ashab al-Kahf, issuing evacuation warnings before the attack, identified targets including the base of the King Khalid brigade in eastern Riyadh and the Dedeman hotel in Erbil.
These developments demonstrate the operational capability and the broad intelligence oversight of Iranian militias over the movements of American forces in the region, emphasizes Tasnim.
Russia warns the United States and Israel: You are spreading unprecedented chaos across the Middle East
The United States and Israel launched an unprecedented spiral of violence in the Middle East that shows no prospect of de escalation, emphasized the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in an official statement.
“With their treacherous and unprovoked attack against Iran, the United States and Israel ignited an unprecedented cycle of violence. The death toll from American Israeli aggression is counted in hundreds and thousands, irreparable damage is being caused to non military infrastructure, neighboring countries are suffering from Iranian retaliation, while navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for the global economy, has been paralyzed,” the diplomatic mission states.
The ministry added that the once stable and prosperous region of the Persian Gulf is rapidly sinking into chaos.
The economic consequences of the adventurist policy of Washington and Tel Aviv are being felt far beyond the conflict zone, on a global scale.
Russia is making an urgent appeal for the immediate cessation of hostilities and the transfer of the situation to a political and diplomatic framework, calling for an end to strikes on civilian targets and the prevention of further suffering for civilians both in the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf and in Iran.
Merz bombshell: The war against Iran does not concern NATO - The United States and Israel should deal with it alone
The war launched by Israel and the United States against Iran does not concern NATO and is not its war, stated German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
At the same time, Friedrich Merz clarified that the issue of Germany’s participation in ensuring security in the Strait of Hormuz is not on the table of discussions, setting clear limits on Berlin’s involvement in developments in the Persian Gulf.
It is noted that on 14/3 Donald Trump had called on European countries to ensure navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, amid sweeping strikes by Iran on Western and Israeli tankers.
Many analysts interpreted the call of the American president as a sign of weakness on the part of the Pentagon to independently secure control of the vital oil corridor.
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