NATO Relocates Iraq Mission To Europe Amid Rising Security Risks
NATO's top commander said the Western military alliance is relocating its mission in Iraq to Europe due to the tense security situation in the Middle East in the midst of the war in Iran.
"I would like to thank the Republic of Iraq and all the Allies who assisted in the safe relocation of NATO personnel from Iraq," General Alexus Grynkewich, NATO supreme allied commander Europe, said on March 20.
The statement did not specify how many people would be transferred to the NATO operational headquarters in Naples, Italy. However, Reuters quoted sources as saying several hundred personnel were affected.
Following the launching of the US-Israeli air campaign against Iran, violence has spilled over to other countries in the region. Both pro-Iran and anti-Iran groups based in Iraq have suffered attacks, although the origin of most strikes are not yet known.
NATO's primary mission in Iraq, which began in 2018, is to prevent a resurgence of the Islamic State (IS) extremist group in the country. NATO forces have helped train Iraqi military personnel in the fight against terrorism.
With reporting by Reuters and dpa
Britain Lets US Use Its Bases In Bid To Open Strait Of Hormuz, Romania Signs On
Britain has given the US the green light to use its bases to strike Iranian missile sites that are launching attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial corridor for oil shipments from the Persian Gulf to global markets that Iran has essentially blocked amid the US-Israeli strikes, causing prices to rise.
Ministers meeting on March 20 "confirmed that the agreement for the US to use UK bases in the collective self-defense of the region includes US defensive operations to degrade the missile sites and capabilities being used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz," the British government said in a statement.
Britain and other Western nations have voiced concern about being drawn into the war, and the reluctance of many to get involved in operations to free up the strait has drawn sharp criticism from US President Donald Trump. In a social media post on March 20, he suggested NATO nations refusing to join the efforts were “cowards.” Reuters reported the same day that Trump said the UK should have acted faster in offering help to the US.
Despite their concerns, on March 19, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Japan voiced readiness “to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the strait." Romanian President Nicusor Dan announced on March 20 that his country would join that group, saying it is “ready to participate in the efforts of the international community that will lead to maintaining prices at a bearable level for the population."
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer initially rejected a US request to use UK bases for strikes on Iran, saying he needed to be sure that any military action was legal. After Iran targeted British allies across the Middle East, Starmer said the US could use an air force base in England and Diego Garcia, a joint US-UK base in the Indian Ocean.
Fears Spread Of More Executions After Iran Hangs 3 Over Protests
Human rights groups have condemned Iran's hanging of three men in the first executions over January protests and warned they fear more executions to come.
Authorities in Iran are trying "to frighten the public" and keep them in line in order to remain in power, says Mahmoud Amiry-Moghaddam of the Oslo-based Iran Human Rights organization.
Trump Says ‘There’s Nobody To Talk To’ In Iran
President Donald Trump said the United States has “nobody to talk to” in Iran after three weeks of US-Israeli strikes killed the country’s longtime supreme leader and several other top figures in the government and security apparatus.
“Their leaders are all gone. The next set of leaders are all gone, and the next set of leaders are mostly gone. And now, nobody wants to be a leader over there anymore,” Trump said at a White House event attended by senior military officers and others on March 20.
“We’re having a hard time: We want to talk to them and there’s nobody to talk to,” he said. “We have nobody to talk to -- and, you know what, we like it that way.”
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed on the first days of the strikes, February 28, and senior figures including Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, have subsequently been killed.
Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, chosen to replace his father as supreme leader, has not appeared in public since his appointment. Trump said on March 16 that the US did not know whether he was still alive.
Trump also told his White House audience that Iran’s “navy’s gone, their air force is gone, their anti-aircraft is all gone…their radars are all gone.”
Supreme Leader Delivers Norouz Message, Says Iran's Enemies Have Been Defeated
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said Tehran has dealt a "dizzying blow" to the country's enemies in a written address to the nation for the Persian New Year, Norouz, as Iran's military continued to launch attacks across the Middle East.
"At the moment, due to the particular unity that has been created between you our compatriots -- despite all the differences in religious, intellectual, cultural and political origins -- the enemy has been defeated," his message said on March 20.
Newly appointed as supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared in public after his father Ali Khamenei was killed in a wave of US-Israeli air strikes at the start of the war on February 28.
His written message for Norouz marks the second time he has communicated with the public in his new position.
Khamenei also denied that Iranian forces were behind recent attacks on Oman and Turkey, instead blaming Israel, though he provided no evidence. He further claimed that Tehran seeks to strengthen relations with its Middle Eastern neighbors.
Czechs Investigate Fire At Arms Producer They Say Is 'Likely' Terror Attack
Czech authorities have launched a probe into a fire that broke out at an arms producer's warehouse they say may be part of a terror attack over links the firm has to Israel.
The March 20 blaze broke out at a facility owned by arms producer LPP Holding in the city of Pardubice some 100 kilometers east of Prague. The company develops and produces drones and other military equipment.
No one was injured in the fire.
"We are dealing with all available information. There is a probable connection with a terrorist attack," Interior Minister Lubomir Metnar said in a post on X.
LPP said in 2023 that it would be cooperating with the Israeli firm Elbit Systems.
A group called Earthquake Faction said on Telegram that it was responsible for the fire, which it called a "key production center for Israeli weapons."
The claim could not be immediately verified.
Read more here.
Ground Operation In Iran Currently ‘Not Worth Pursuing,’ Says Analyst
- By Current Time
Nikita Smagin, an expert on Iranian foreign and domestic policies, has told Current Time that a ground operation in the Iran conflict seems unlikely for now, despite speculation driven by reports of troop movements.
“Of course, a ground operation seems like a natural next step to many in the current situation if you truly want to bring about a change in power,” he said on March 20. “However, it’s clear that this is a very complex scenario, and for now, it’s probably not worth pursuing.”
“It seems to me that the idea of a ground operation is not currently on the agenda,” Smagin added. “However, that does not mean it won't appear on the agenda at some point in the future. In theory, it is still possible."
Smagin also said Iran’s strikes in the region have decreased but remain “quite painful,” with a shift toward softer targets such as oil facilities.
“Even with limited capabilities, Iran is still capable of causing serious destruction and can quite effectively block the Strait of Hormuz,” he said.
Ukraine Says It Has Deployed Anti-Drone Units In 5 Middle Eastern Countries
Ukraine’s national security chief said the country has deployed military units in five Middle Eastern countries to counter Iranian drones and protect critical and civilian infrastructure.
Rustem Umerov wrote on X on March 20 that Ukrainian units had been stationed in these countries and that further steps had been outlined for “developing long-term security cooperation” with each of them, including "preparing practical solutions for air defense based on Ukraine's experience."
“Work is also underway to expand coverage areas,” he added.
Umerov visited the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan this week.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had previously said the country was ready to help counter Iranian loitering munitions, or so-called kamikaze drones.
Following its war with Russia, where Moscow has made extensive use of Iranian-designed drones. Ukraine has developed capabilities to counter such systems.
Swiss Government Halts Export Permits For Weapons Headed To US
The Swiss government says it is halting the issuance of licenses for weapons that are bound for export to the United States, citing the country's neutrality doctrine.
"On 20 March, the Federal Council examined the implications of applying the principle of neutrality to exports to the states involved in the Iran conflict," the government said in a statement.
"The export of war materiel to countries involved in the international armed conflict with Iran cannot be authorized for the duration of the conflict," it added. "Existing licenses and exports of other goods will now be regularly reviewed by an interdepartmental group of experts, particularly with regard to their compatibility with neutrality."
UAE Says It Intercepted Missiles And Dozens Of Drones In Latest Attacks
The United Arab Emirates said its air defense systems intercepted four ballistic missiles and 26 drones launched from Iran on March 20 as regional tensions continue.
Since the start of what it described as "blatant Iranian aggression," the UAE said it has intercepted 338 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles and 1,740 drones.
The UAE Foreign Ministry said in a post on X that the attacks have killed two members of the armed forces and six foreign nationals, while 158 people have been injured.
It added that the country's defense systems "remain fully prepared and ready to deal with any threat" and vowed to protect the country’s sovereignty and security.