By Open Chronicle Staff with Agencies | Monday, March 10, 2026
Rising military tensions in the Middle East continue to dominate global headlines as the war between the United States, Israel and Iran escalates, raising concerns about regional stability, civilian casualties, and disruptions to global energy markets.
Trump says Iran war could be a “short-term excursion”
US President Donald Trump said the ongoing war with Iran could prove to be a “short-term excursion,” while emphasizing that joint military operations with Israel will continue until Iran is “totally and decisively defeated.”
Speaking at a Republican conference in Florida, Trump claimed that US and Israeli forces are rapidly weakening Iran’s military capabilities, including its drone and missile programs.
“We took a little excursion because we felt we had to do that to get rid of some evil,” Trump said, arguing that military action was necessary to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
Trump also asserted that much of Iran’s naval fleet had been destroyed during the campaign and said senior Iranian leaders had been repeatedly targeted during the ongoing strikes.
Deadly strike in Tehran
Meanwhile, the conflict has continued to take a heavy toll on civilians. According to the semi-official Tasnim news agency, US and Israeli forces bombed residential blocks near Resalat Square in Tehran, killing around 40 people.
The latest strike adds to a rapidly rising casualty toll since joint US-Israeli operations against Iran began on Feb. 28. Iranian authorities say more than 1,200 people have been killed so far, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Iran has responded with drone and missile attacks targeting Israel as well as countries hosting US military infrastructure across the region, including Jordan, Iraq, and several Gulf states.
Türkiye warns Iran over airspace violation
Regional tensions intensified further after a missile launched from Iran briefly entered the airspace of Türkiye.
During a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned that violations of Turkish airspace “cannot be excused for any reason whatsoever.”
Türkiye’s National Defense Ministry said the missile was intercepted by NATO air defense systems deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Erdogan emphasized that Türkiye is being negatively affected by conflicts in which it is not directly involved and said Ankara will continue to take all necessary measures to protect its territory.
News in brief
Diplomatic efforts and military developments across several regions continued to shape the global security landscape.
Trump warned Tehran that any attempt to disrupt oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz would trigger a response “twenty times harder” than previous US strikes.
The Kurdish Regional Government in Erbil said three drones were shot down after explosions were reported in the area.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said several countries, including China, Russia, and France, have contacted Tehran regarding possible ceasefire efforts.
Russian President Vladimir Putin also held a phone call with Trump to discuss the conflict and broader geopolitical issues, including negotiations related to Ukraine.
Elsewhere, the death toll from Israeli attacks on Lebanon rose to 486, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry, with more than 1,300 people injured.
In South Asia, the Rastriya Swatantra Party is expected to form a new government in Nepal after securing a commanding majority in parliament.
Business and economy
The war has also begun to ripple through global energy markets and regional industries.
Bapco Energies in Bahrain declared force majeure on some of its operations after Iranian attacks damaged refinery infrastructure.
At the same time, oil prices surged past $100 per barrel for the first time since 2022, driven by fears that the escalating conflict could disrupt supply routes across the Middle East.
Energy analysts warn that further instability around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil transit corridors, could trigger additional volatility in global markets in the weeks ahead.
As military operations continue and diplomatic channels remain uncertain, the war between the US, Israel, and Iran is increasingly shaping both regional security dynamics and the global economic outlook.