The court agreed to hear the case after the Department of Justice appealed a lower court’s ruling. That ruling delayed the end of legal protections that allowed migrants with temporary protected status to live and work in the U.S. For some, that temporary status has stretched across several years.

By agreeing to hear the case, the Supreme Court delayed any change in temporary protected status until after it hears the case in the next few weeks. The court’s action affects an estimated 350,000 people from Haiti and 6,000 from Syria.

Previously, the court allowed the administration to end legal protections for 600,000 people from Venezuela.

This is a breaking news story, and more information will be added as it becomes available.

In a post on X, Cuba’s energy ministry said it was investigating a “complete disconnection” of the electrical grid.  On Friday, President Miguel Díaz-Canel said Cuba had not received oil imports for more than 90 days. Díaz-Canel said the country had switched to solar power and other alternative energy, The Associated Press reported.

About a week earlier, residents in the western part of the country suffered from a widespread blackout, leaving millions in the dark. 

Cuban officials blamed a U.S. oil blockade for the country's energy crisis. In January, President Donald Trump threatened that he would place tariffs on any country that sells or provides oil to Cuba. Venezuela was providing as much as half of Cuba’s oil before January, when U.S. forces captured President Nicolas Maduro.

Díaz-Canel said on Friday that U.S. and Cuban officials began discussions about ending the blockade. However, President Donald Trump has recently said Cuba is about to collapse and was ready to make a deal with the U.S., the Independent reported. 

The ongoing Cuban energy crisis has led to protests in the country. On Saturday, protestors in Cuba damaged a Communist Party building after a rally over blackouts and food costs. Authorities arrested at least five people in Morón, Cuba, after they said protestors damaged offices there.

The Iran War has prevented cargo ships from entering or leaving the strait. The closure has caused a dramatic increase in crude oil prices since about a fifth of the world’s crude oil passes through the strait. Al Jazeera reports that the closure is preventing about 15 million barrels of crude oil from entering the global market every day.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump called on China, France, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom to send warships to the region to keep the Strait of Hormuz “open and safe.” He said the U.S. Navy will continue its attacks on Iranian targets. 

“In the meantime, the United States will be bombing the hell out of the shoreline, and continually shooting Iranian Boats and Ships out of the water,” Trump wrote. 

Why is Trump asking other countries to help?

While speaking with reporters on Air Force One, Trump said the U.S. doesn't get most of its oil from the strait and said these other countries need to help break up Iran’s closure. 

“I’m demanding that these countries come in and protect their own territory, because it is their own territory,” Trump said, The Associated Press reported. “It would be nice to have other countries police that with us, and we’ll help. We’ll work with them.” 

The president singled out China, which he says gets about 90% of its oil through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump declined to discuss whether China agreed to join the coalition. 

It is true that the U.S. only gets a small fraction of its oil supply through the strait, but the closure is still directly affecting Americans. Since global oil prices are fluctuating, oil prices around the world are influenced. So while the U.S. only gets about 8% of its oil through the strait, according to Factcheck.org, every barrel of oil the U.S. buys is still impacted by the strait’s closure. 

Trump has seemingly threatened friendly nations that refused to send their navies to the strait, saying the U.S. would "remember" if NATO counterparts didn't help, NPR reports. 

How have countries responded? 

Japan, Germany and Australia have all ruled out sending warships. In Japan’s case, some legal experts noted that deploying its navy to the strait may not pass strict Japanese laws allowing military deployment. 

"We have not made any decisions whatsoever about dispatching escort ships. We are continuing to examine ‌what Japan can do independently and what can be done within the legal framework," Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told the country’s parliament.

Germany gave a little more pointed response to the idea. The country’s defense minister Boris Pistorius said they would not provide the U.S. with any military support, saying, "this is not our war, we have not started it.” 

Pistorius also questioned what help other countries could provide that the U.S. could not do alone.

"What does … Trump expect from a few European frigates that the powerful U.S. Navy cannot do?" he asked, Newsweek reports. 

Before Trump made his coalition request, French President Emmanuel Macron said he and a few allied nations were preparing a “purely defensive” mission to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz. However, he stressed that the country would do so only once the “most intense phase” of the war was over. According to The Guardian, Macron said it would be a “purely escort mission” by European and non-European allies.

How has Iran responded? 

Iran has made it clear that they intend to continue to use the strait as a weapon against the U.S., Israel and their allies. 

After Iran announced Mojtaba Khamenei would replace his father, Ali Khamenei, as supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei said they would continue to use the passage as a “tool to pressure the enemy,” CNBC reported. 

Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said several countries were reaching out to Iran seeking safe passage for their vessels. He stated safe passage was “up to our military to decide,” but said military leaders allowed a group of vessels to pass through without issue. 

During an interview with CBS News, Araghchi said Iran had no reason to negotiate with the U.S. or Israel since the war began during ongoing negotiations.  

"We were talking with them when they decided to attack us, and that was for the second time," he told CBS. "There is no good experience talking with the Americans. We were talking, so why they decided to attack us? So, what is good if we go back to talk once again?"

The rule, which will bar many noncitizens from getting new commercial licenses or renewing existing ones, creates challenges for the trucking industry, already struggling with high fuel costs and high driver turnover, according to The Washington Post. Existing licenses will continue to be valid until they expire.

Among those affected are asylum seekers, refugees and DACA recipients.

The Transportation Department adopted the rule after several high-profile crashes involving immigrant truckers last summer. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said the government had allowed "dangerous foreign drivers" to abuse truck licensing systems. The administration argues that some noncitizens cannot be fully vetted for overseas driving histories.

What critics dispute

Opponents say the administration has not shown that the targeted groups are less safe drivers than American citizens. 

Wendy Liu, a lawyer with the Public Citizen Litigation Group who is leading a lawsuit against the rule, told The Post that the administration "has conceded that there's no empirical relationship between a person's nation of domicile and safety outcomes."

Before the new rule took effect, immigrants and nonimmigrants alike were required to attend driving schools and pass tests to obtain commercial licenses. Noncitizens also needed work authorization from the government to qualify.

How the impact reaches drivers and the industry

Because current licenses remain valid until they expire, the effect is expected to spread gradually rather than all at once.

Transportation experts told The Post they do not expect major supply-chain disruption, but said a smaller eligible workforce could increase labor costs for carriers and eventually push consumer prices higher. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration data cited by PBS News shows immigrants hold about 5% of all commercial driver's licenses. Trucks move more than 70% of U.S. freight, according to the American Trucking Associations.

“I have not heard any concerns about labor shortages or significant disruption to the supply chain or transportation industry, but this change will be reflected in the cost of doing business,” Gregory Reed, a transportation attorney who specializes in regulatory issues, told The Post.

Higher fuel costs tied to the war in Iran could add to those burdens if labor costs rise at the same time.

What else changed

The licensing rule is part of a broader enforcement affecting immigrant truck drivers. The administration has increased enforcement of English-language requirements for truckers and, in December, moved to revoke the certification of nearly 3,000 driver training centers that officials said failed to meet federal standards.

“Bad actors who exploit loopholes in our regulatory systems are putting everyone at risk. This is unacceptable,” Paul J. Enos, CEO of the Nevada Trucking Association, told The Associated Press in December. “We are focused on solutions and resolute on seeing them implemented.”

What happens next

The lawsuit against the rule is still pending, and some Republicans want Congress to go further. 

The Post reported that after Trump urged lawmakers to restrict immigrant access to commercial licenses,  Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., introduced legislation that would immediately revoke licenses for the same group covered by the rule. The bill is moving through Congress but has not yet reached a vote.

President Donald Trump has said he expects the war to wrap up by the end of the month, but economists say if the conflict drags on longer, grocery prices could start to climb.

“If we’re talking just a few weeks, very likely you’re not going to see this show up in your grocery receipts,” Dr. David Ortega, an agricultural economist and professor at Michigan State University, told Fortune. “But if we’re talking a month or more, a few months, then it’s a different story.”

That warning comes as food prices in the U.S. have already risen 29.4% between March 2020 and December 2025, outpacing increases for the broader market, according to Forbes.

What drives food prices up

Not only is the Strait of Hormuz a key passage for 20% of the world’s oil, it’s also a critical passage for other parts of the global supply chain. 

More than one-third of the global seaborne fertilizer travels through the Strait of Hormuz, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade & Development.

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Unbiased. Straight Facts.^TM

Prior to the war in Iran, the USDA’s Economic Research Service predicted food prices would rise about 3.1% in 2026.

Fortune reports that the price of urea – the nitrogen-rich compound present in most fertilizers – has jumped 35% since the war began just over two weeks ago. 

The timing is particularly sensitive because farmers are beginning to plant their seasonal crops, when fertilizer demand is typically highest. Higher input costs at this stage of the growing season can eventually translate into higher prices for consumers. 

The Middle East also plays a major role in fertilizer production because its natural gas reserves are used to produce ammonia, a key ingredient in nitrogen-based fertilizers.

Countries near Iran that are being impacted by the war – including Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – account for roughly 49% of global urea exports and about 30% of ammonia exports, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.

What oil prices tell us about the future of grocery prices

A recent analysis from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis found a correlation between crude oil prices and the global price of food index.

While researchers caution that correlation doesn’t necessarily equal causation, there is evidence that spikes in oil prices have impacted food prices in the past.

“Taken together, these two graphs suggest that large and sustained oil price movements have historically coincided with changes in both food prices and broader consumer inflation,” the report said.

Right now in the U.S., gas prices are the highest they’ve been since October 2023, sitting at an average of just under $3.72 a gallon, according to AAA.

Since the start of the war on Feb. 28, gas prices have risen 74 cents a gallon. The 26.9% spike in prices over the past month is the largest monthly increase since Hurricane Katrina.

Brent crude, the global benchmark, rose slightly on Monday to more than $103 a barrel, while the U.S. benchmark slipped about 1% to around $98 a barrel.

As of Sunday night, all three fires remain 0% contained.

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen declared a state of emergency and deployed the Nebraska National Guard to help local firefighters. State officials said two Nebraska Army National Guard Blackhawk helicopters have also been working to fight the flames

The Morrill Fire

The largest of the fires, the Morrill Fire, has burned through more than 572,000 acres across Morrill, Arthur and Keith counties. It's now the largest wildfire in Nebraska's history.

That fire killed one person in Arthur County, according to Pillen.

The Omaha Fire Department said it sent eight members, one of its engines, a water tender and a brush truck to Keith County to help fight the wildfires. Omaha Fire Chief Kathy Bossman said in a press release they would be deployed for up to seven days.

Lincoln Fire & Rescue also said it had mobilized an 11-member team to support wildfire response.

And in a Facebook post, the Columbus Fire Department said it sent a crew of six fire and a grass fire rig for at least a 48-hour deployment.

The other wildfires

The Cottonwood Fire in Dawson County near the city of Gothenberg has burned more than 120,000 acres.

The third fire, the Road 203 Fire, spans across Blaine and Thomas counties, near Halsey. That fire has burned more than 35,000 acres.

In an open letter Sunday, the CEOs said it’s “difficult, if not impossible, to put food on the table, put gas in the car and pay rent when you are not getting paid.”

The letter was also signed by the leaders of major cargo carriers, including UPS and FedEx.

Shutdown hinders spring break travel

The warning arrives as airlines gear up for record-breaking spring break travel. Plus, the upcoming FIFA World Cup and major winter storms across the country could further strain airlines, flights and travel plans this week.

Multiple airports have already warned passengers to arrive three to four hours early and to prepare for abnormally long security lines, as over 300 TSA workers have reportedly quit since the partial government shutdown began on Feb. 14.

TSA lines across the country have already faced several hours of delays, including at Fort Lauderdale International Airport, where security lines stretched out the door Sunday morning.

Last week, airports in Houston and New Orleans experienced security wait times of up to four hours, delaying travelers.

Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport issued warnings on social media, urging travelers to arrive up to five hours before their flight. Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport urged travelers to arrive at least three hours before their flight.

TSA agents miss first full paycheck

Funding for DHS expired Feb. 13 after lawmakers hit an impasse over immigration enforcement policies following the deadly shootings of two U.S. citizens by immigration officers.

Democrats are pushing for new restrictions on Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, while Republicans argue changes have already been made after the killings.

TSA officers are considered essential workers, meaning roughly 50,000 agents must continue working without pay until Congress approves new funding. However, the lack of pay is leading many to call out sick.

TSA workers received only a partial paycheck on Feb. 28, and missed their first full paycheck on March 14. President Donald Trump took to social media, thanking TSA agents for working through the shutdown, despite "not being paid."

"Thank you to Johnny Jones and all of our GREAT TSA Agents who are going to work but not being paid because the Radical Left Democrats refuse to honor the deal that was approved and voted on in Congress," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post Saturday.

The president blamed the "Radical Left Democrats" for the ongoing partial shutdown, saying they refuse to honor the deal voted on by Congress.

"Keep fighting for the USA. GO TO WORK! I promise that I will never forget you!!!" Trump wrote to TSA agents.

The funding lapse is also impacting the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Officials in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) said operations at Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest hub for international travel, are gradually resuming after a drone struck a fuel tank Monday morning. The attack sparked a fire and temporarily halted flights.

The UAE also said a Palestinian civilian was killed in a missile strike early Monday in the capital of Abu Dhabi. Officials said the missile hit a vehicle in the Al Bahyah area.

Authorities said seven people have now been killed in the United Arab Emirates since the war began. Also in the UAE, another drone strike sparked a fire at an industrial oil facility in Fujairah. No casualties were reported.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia said it intercepted three drones over Riyadh and its oil-rich western region. And Bahrain said its air defense systems also responded to attacks Monday morning, as well.

Iran not backing down

The new attacks come after President Donald Trump said Friday that Iran "is totally defeated and wants a deal."

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi pushed back against that claim during an interview with CBS on Sunday.

"We never asked for a ceasefire, and we have never asked even for negotiation," Araghchi said. "We are ready to defend ourselves as long as it takes. And this is what we have done so far, and we continue to do that until President Trump comes to the point that this is an illegal war with no victory."

He said the Iranian government doesn't see "any reason" to negotiate with the U.S.

Araghchi said, "We were talking with them when they decided to attack us, and that was for the second time. There is no good experience talking with the Americans."

Trump told reporters Sunday night that the U.S. has been in contact with Iran, reiterating that a deal is in the works.

"I don't know if I want to make a deal because you know what, first of all, nobody even knows who you're dealing with because most of their leadership has been killed, as you know, so I don't even know that we want to make a deal," Trump said.

The latest from Israel

The Israeli military said Monday it has destroyed about 70% of Iran’s missile launchers during the first two weeks of the war. Israel also said it has sent additional ground troops into Lebanon for what it calls a “limited and targeted operation” aimed at protecting border communities from the Iran-backed group Hezbollah.

Meanwhile, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said an Israeli airstrike killed one person early Monday at a home in the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Sir. It said that after first responders got there, another strike killed two paramedics and wounded another person.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry also said an Israeli airstrike on the southern village of Qantara killed four people, including two children.

Plus, President Donald Trump pushes other nations to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz as attacks on tankers squeeze global oil supply.

And blizzard winds collide with wildfire conditions across the Plains. Massive fires spread in Nebraska while snow and bitter cold slam the Midwest.

These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, March 16, 2026.

Iran launches new attacks on US Gulf allies

Iran continues its attacks on U.S. allies across the Middle East.

Officials in the United Arab Emirates said operations at Dubai International Airport — the world’s busiest hub for international travel — are gradually resuming after a drone struck a fuel tank, sparking a fire and temporarily halting flights.

The UAE also reported that a Palestinian civilian was killed in a missile strike early Monday in Abu Dhabi, the capital. Officials said the missile hit a vehicle in the Al Bahyah area.

Seven people have now been killed in the United Arab Emirates since the war began, according to officials.

Also in the UAE, another drone strike caused a fire at an industrial oil facility in Fujairah.

Saudi Arabia said it intercepted three drones over Riyadh and its oil-rich western region, while Bahrain said its air defense systems also responded to attacks Monday morning.

Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign minister has pushed back against President Donald Trump’s claim over the weekend that Iran is “totally defeated” and seeking a deal.

"We never asked for a ceasefire, and we have never asked even for negotiation. We are ready to defend ourselves as long as it takes. And this is what we have done so far, and we continue to do that until President Trump comes to the point that this is an illegal war with no victory."

— Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister

His comments come as the Israeli military said it has destroyed about 70% of Iran’s missile launchers during the first two weeks of the war.

Israel also said it has sent additional ground troops into Lebanon for what it calls a “limited and targeted operation” aimed at protecting border communities from the Iran-backed group Hezbollah.

US seeks allied warships to guard key oil route

The conflict over the Strait of Hormuz is starting to involve the rest of the world. Trump has called on several major powers to send warships to the region as Iran targets ships in the narrow waterway that transports about a fifth of the world’s oil.

In a Truth Social post over the weekend, Trump urged countries including China, France, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom to help keep the strait “open and safe,” saying global shipping cannot be held hostage by Iran’s attempts to disrupt tanker traffic.

But so far, there have been no firm commitments.

Several governments said they are reviewing the situation or coordinating with allies while stopping short of promising to deploy ships.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most vital energy chokepoints, and the conflicts there are already causing instability in global markets.

Trump told reporters Sunday night that these countries should be protecting their own energy lifeline.

"We are demanding that these countries come in and protect their own territory, because it is their territory. It's a place from which they get their energy, and they should come, and they should help us protect it," Trump said.

Meanwhile, Iran has signaled it still holds leverage over the shipping lanes.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran is already receiving requests from other countries concerned about getting their ships through the strait.

“We have been approached by a number of countries that want to have a safe passage for their vessels, and this is up to our military to decide. And they have already decided to let a group of vessels that belongs to different countries pass safe and secure.”

— Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister

The international response may be starting to take shape.

The European Union said it's now considering possible naval missions to help reopen the waterway, including expanding an existing Red Sea escort operation or forming a coalition of willing countries.

Severe storm brings snow, tornado risk across US

A strong coast-to-coast storm system is moving across the country, bringing heavy snow to the Midwest and sending dangerous weather toward the eastern half of the nation.

The system dumped more than a foot of snow on parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin over the weekend, with blizzard conditions making travel nearly impossible in some areas.

In Minnesota, highways around the Twin Cities were blanketed in blowing snow, and visibility along Interstate 94 dropped sharply. More snow is expected through Monday as the system gradually moves east.

The same storm is causing more serious issues further east, heading toward the eastern and southeastern U.S., where forecasters warn of severe storms, damaging winds and the possibility of tornadoes as the day goes on.

Behind that front, a blast of cold air is expected to sweep across much of the east and southeast, dropping temperatures well below normal for this time of year.

Meteorologists forecast that over 100 million people could experience severe weather or a sharp temperature drop as this large system moves across the country.

Nebraska battles record-breaking wildfire, more than 450,000 acres burn unchecked

The largest wildfire in Nebraska's history is spreading uncontrollably Monday morning. Along with three other major fires, over half a million acres in central and western Nebraska are currently burning.

Powerful plains winds are fueling the flames. The largest fire alone has burned more than 450,000 acres.

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen said an elderly woman died while attempting to escape the fire in Morrill County, located in the state’s western panhandle.

The Nebraska National Guard has deployed Black Hawk helicopters, scooping water from nearby lakes and dropping it on the flames from above.

Investigators believe strong winds knocked down power lines, sparking an electrical fire that quickly spread.

Pillen declared a state of emergency, freeing up additional resources as crews from Omaha, Lincoln and other cities head west to help.

As of Sunday, the fires were zero percent contained.

Forecasters said wind gusts approaching 60 miles per hour, combined with extremely dry conditions, are helping the flames spread rapidly across the region.

Airlines urge Congress to end shutdown, warn unpaid TSA agents threaten airport operations

The CEOs of some of the country’s largest airlines have called on Congress to fund the Department of Homeland Security. The heads of American, Delta, Southwest and JetBlue are also urging lawmakers to pass a bipartisan bill that would ensure federal aviation workers get paid during government shutdowns.

In an open letter Sunday, the CEOs said it’s “difficult, if not impossible, to put food on the table, put gas in the car and pay rent when you are not getting paid.”

The letter was also signed by the leaders of major cargo carriers, including UPS and FedEx.

The warning arrives as airlines gear up for record-breaking spring break travel. Plus, the upcoming FIFA World Cup and major winter storms across the country could further strain airlines, flights, and travel plans this week.

Some airports have already warned passengers to arrive three to four hours early and prepare for long security lines, as over 300 TSA workers have reportedly quit since the partial government shutdown began on Feb. 14.

'One Battle After Another' dominates Oscars

Paul Thomas Anderson’s political thriller “One Battle After Another” dominated the 98th Academy Awards. The film won six Oscars, including best picture, best director and best adapted screenplay.

In accepting best adapted screenplay, Anderson said he wrote the film for his children to apologize for the “housekeeping mess” left in the world and expressed hope that their generation would restore “common sense and decency.”

"Sinners" followed with four wins, including best actor for Michael B. Jordan and best original screenplay for Ryan Coogler.

KPop Demon Hunters won best animated feature and best original song for “Golden.”

“Sentimental Value” took home the award for best international feature, and “Mr Nobody Against Putin” won best documentary feature.

More from Straight Arrow News:

IEA details how oil reserves release will play out as prices go over $100 a barrel

The International Energy Agency laid out a timeline for when it expects the 400 million barrels of oil from its emergency reserves to start flowing into global markets.

This comes as U.S. oil prices went over $100 amid the war in Iran. As of Sunday afternoon, U.S. crude oil increased by 2.64% to $101.32 per barrel, according to CNBC.

Individual implementation plans submitted to the IEA by member countries indicate that stocks in Asia-Oceania will be made available immediately. Stocks from the Americas and Europe are set to be made available starting at the end of March. Read the full story now>

“They say I’m what? Watch,” he wrote. The video shows the prime minister at a coffee shop ordering a coffee. At one point he shows his hand to the camera proving he has five fingers.

The comment stems from social media posts that claimed the prime minister's Thursday’s press conference was artificial intelligence and Netanyahu was dead. The internet went wild claiming he appeared to have six fingers so the video must be fake. This was the Israeli leader’s first press conference since the start of the war in Iran.

Reuters reported on Sunday the news organization verified the video's location. The café also posted multiple videos and photos of Netanyahu's visit on Sunday.

Newsweek spoke to Israeli officials on Sunday who confirmed the prime minister is fine. They dismissed the claims calling it “fake news”.

Meanwhile, The Associated Press reported Iranian officials said they will continue to “pursue and kill” Netanyahu. 

“If the criminal Zionist prime minister is still alive, we will continue to pursue and kill him with full force,” the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said in a statement.

Sunday afternoon, Israeli army spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin said Israel will continue to act in both Iran and Lebanon until its operation's goal is achieved.

"We have an orderly, well‑planned combat strategy. We have thousands more targets in Iran, and we generate additional targets every day. The regime is already weakened, and we continue to weaken it more and more each day,” Defrin said.

The military leader said Israel’s military does not aim to topple governments but to "create the conditions" for the people of Iran to "reclaim their country." He adds Iran is being held hostage by a terror regime. 

This comes as U.S. oil prices went over $100 amid the war in Iran. As of Sunday afternoon, U.S. crude oil increased by 2.64% to $101.32 per barrel, according to CNBC.

Individual implementation plans submitted to the IEA by member countries indicate that stocks in Asia-Oceania will be made available immediately. Stocks from the Americas and Europe are set to be made available starting at the end of March.

Countries committed to a total of 271.7 millions of barrels from government stocks,116.6 million from obligated industry stocks and 23.6 million from other sources.

Of these, 72% are crude oil, and 28% are oil products.

According to the IEA, this is the sixth time since the agency's creation in 1974 that countries have made this move to support oil markets.

"The war in the Middle East is creating the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market. This emergency collective action, by far the largest ever, provides a significant and welcome buffer," the IEA said. "But the most important factor in ensuring a return to stable flows is the resumption of regular transit of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz."

The war is causing a chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, a major oil shipping lane under Iran’s and Oman’s control. About a fifth of the world’s oil supply moves through the strait. Since the U.S. and Israel's joint strikes on Iran, which started the war on Feb. 28 vessels in the strait have come under attack.

'No guarantees in wars'

In an interview with ABC News Sunday, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the conflict will "certainly come to the end in the next few weeks," which is when "we'll see a rebound in supplies."

Still, he added: "there’s no guarantees in wars at all."

Speaking to NBC News in another interview, Wright said there's a "very good chance” gas prices could drop below $3 per gallon by summer.

President Donald Trump, who also talked to NBC, dismissed concerns about increasing gas prices, saying "I think they’ll go lower than they were before."

“There’s so much oil, gas — there’s so much out there, but you know, it’s being clogged up a little bit. It’ll be unclogged very soon,” Trump said.

Still, on Sunday, AAA reported that the national average for gas in the U.S. was at $3.699. And GasBuddy analyst Patrick DeHaan said on X gas prices could inch closer to an average of $4 a gallon — and $5 for diesel, in the coming week.

Trump's ask for the Strait of Hormuz

On Saturday, Trump urged China, France, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom and other countries to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz amid attacks on vessels by Iran. These countries did not commit to doing so.

Asked about this by ABC's Martha Raddatz, Wright said "all nations of the world depend on products that come from the Straits of Hormuz."

"China top on that list. Japan, Korea, all the Asian nations is where the energy — energy that comes out of the Straits of Hormuz flows to," Wright said. "So, of course, it's quite logical to have a broad coalition of the nations of the world work to reopen the straits."

French President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday that he discussed the strait with Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian.

"I called on him to immediately put an end to the unacceptable attacks that Iran is carrying out against countries in the region, whether direct or via proxies, as in Lebanon and Iraq," Macron said. "I reminded him that France is intervening within a strictly defensive framework to protect its interests, those of its regional partners, and in favor of freedom of navigation, and that it is unacceptable for our country to be targeted."

She is reportedly “returning to the embrace of the homeland” according to IRNA. This made her the fifth player from the team to change her mind about competing.

In an interview with Fox News, a councillor for the Australian city of Ryde suggested the player’s families were being used as leverage to get the women home.

“I know families have even been detained. I know family members are missing,” Tina Kordrostami said.

Australia granted asylum to six players and a support staff member on the soccer team. They were in the country for the AFC Women’s Asia cup when war broke out in Iran.

The decision comes after Iranian groups in Australia and President Donald Trump urged the government to offer them protection.

The team drew global attention earlier this month when the players refused to sing Iran’s national anthem before their first match in Australia. Iranian state media later branded them “traitors,” calling the move “the pinnacle of dishonor.”

The Iranian soccer team arrived in Australia for the tournament before the Iran war began on Feb. 28. The team was knocked out of the tournament over the weekend and faced returning to a country at war.

Head Coach Marziyeh Jafari said Sunday the players “want to come back to Iran as soon as we can.”

At one point protesters tried to block a bus reportedly carrying members of the team from their hotel. Local media reported the team later boarded a flight from Gold Coast Airport.

Some of the protesters chanted “Save our girls” and “Please act now.”

“One thing I really would like for people in the West to understand is that Iranians within the country have in many ways given up on the West, and they are only relying on one another to survive this regime," Kordrostami said. "So, when we do offer them a way out, it's not often that easy for them to understand that it is in fact a way out. They are more so used to relying on one another and this is survival for them."

The system will move across the central U.S., with over two dozen states experiencing high winds, as well as blizzard conditions in the upper Midwest, according to AccuWeather.

Isaac Longley, a senior meterologist with AccuWeather, told Straight Arrow News there may be much as two to three feet of snow from northern Wisconsin through the upper peninsula of Michigan and into Ontario.

Snow and wind should wind down across the upper Midwest later on Monday, and especially into Monday night, Longley said.

That storm will likely become a bomb cyclone, meteorologists said.

Severe thunderstorms will hit other parts of the Midwest and Mid-South, before going through the east. The highest threat, per the National Weather Service, is across the Mid-Atlantic on Monday.

"[We're] expecting widespread damaging winds and definitely a few tornadoes," Longely said. "Some of those could possibly be on the strong side."

Nearly 200 million people may be affected by wind, rain, thunderstorms, snow or cold air, per AccuWeather's estimations. Some could lose power because of the wind, and flight delays and cancellations are predicted to be "in the thousands" on Monday, AccuWeather said.

"This is one of our classic March-type storms, where it's multi-faceted," Longley said.

Stocking up and staying safe for the storm

Along with food and water, the Federal Emergency Management Agency suggests having these items at home: 

• Prescription medications and first-aid supplies
• Flashlights, batteries, power banks and phone chargers
• Blankets, warm clothing, extra layers, hand warmers
• Baby supplies or pet food
• Rock salt and a working snow shovel.
• Textured grip shoes to reduce falls on slippery surfaces 

If your power goes out, start by turning off and unplugging smaller appliances such as televisions, computer equipment, game consoles, fans and lights, Edison International, a California-based public utility company and parent of SoCal Edison, says. These electronics can be especially vulnerable during an outage, and not taking care of them properly can damage them, and even cause the power to go back out once it's restored.

Larger appliances like refrigerators, on the other hand, shouldn't be unplugged, but fridges and freezers should be kept closed.

Per the Food and Drug Administration, a closed refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4 hours, while a full freezer can keep its temperature for about 48 hours — if it remains unopened. 

If you have any perishable food in there that has been room temperature for at least two hours, though, throw it out.

Longley said people need to be aware of the threats of the multi-faceted storm.

"Keep an eye out for road conditions, and if you don't have to travel, it's probably best not to," he said.

In addition, people should make sure their phone's push notifications are turned on to receive weather alerts, even overnight, and keep checking the weather source of their choice, Longley said.

"It's important and crucial to have multiple ways to receive warnings," Longley said.

The Israel Defense Forces said on Sunday Ayman Muhammad Ghazali’s brother was a Hezbollah commander responsible for managing weapons operations. 

According to the IDF, Ibrahim Muhammad Ghazali was killed in an Israeli Air Force strike last week. Ibrahim Muhammad Ghazali's two children, and another brother, Qassem, were also reportedly killed in that strike.

A Hezbollah official denied to The New York Times that Ibrahim or his family were affiliated with the group.

Authorities said 41-year-old Ayman Mohamad Ghazali rammed his vehicle into the synagogue. A fire started shortly after the crash. Investigators said Ghazali loaded the vehicle with fireworks and an unidentified chemical agent. 

Security guards hired over concerns of potential threats following the Iran War opened fire on Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, killing him. Several officers and security guards needed treatment for smoke inhalation but no one except Ayman Mohamad Ghazali died. One security guard was knocked unconscious after being hit by Ghazali’s vehicle. 

Temple Israel is the largest Reform synagogue in the United States. Besides being a place of worship, the building also hosts a school that teaches pre-K through 12th grade. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said the attack could have been much worse, and it could’ve resembled the Sandy Hook shooting if it weren’t for the quick actions of the security team.

The Michigan attack was the second on March 12. Just before 11 a.m., police say 36-year-old Mohamed Bailor Jalloh walked into Old Dominion University’s Constant Hall. When he got there, he asked someone if he was in an ROTC class, and someone else responded that he was, and then he opened fire, investigators said. 

Jalloh killed one person, Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, an Army lieutenant colonel and ROTC instructor. The shooting left two others injured, one critically. But other ROTC students and officers grabbed Jollah, held him down and allegedly killed him. At least one student stabbed Jollah, but authorities have not released the cause of death. 

FBI special agent Dominique Evans, who oversees the Norfolk field office, said the students showed “extreme bravery and courage” and prevented Jollah from harming anyone else, The Associated Press reported. She said they “rendered him no longer alive,” saying she didn’t know “how else to say it.” Authorities did say police shot Jollah, but didn’t confirm that’s what killed him. 

Jollah was a member of the Virginia Army National Guard but left in 2015. Investigators said that, after he left, he began to listen to extremist Muslim clerics who radicalized him. In 2016, he pleaded guilty to attempting to provide funds and weapons to ISIS. A judge sentenced him to 11 years in prison, but prison officials released him in December 2024, according to CNN.

Jollah was on supervised release when he carried out his attack. 

Three of them were assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at the MacDill Air Force Base in Florida. Their names are: Maj. John A. Klinner, 33, of Auburn, Ala.; Capt. Ariana G. Savino, 31, of Covington, Wash.; and Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Kentucky.

The other three, Capt. Seth R. Koval, 38, of Mooresville, Ind.; Capt. Curtis J. Angst, 30, of Wilmington, Ohio; and Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons, 28, of Columbus, Ohio, were assigned to the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio, according to the Pentagon.

U.S. Central Command said the U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft they were on went down while flying over "friendly airspace" on March 12 during military operations. The other aircraft involved in the incident landed safely.

The aircraft was not lost due to hostile or friendly fire, U.S. Central Command said.

“Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of Alex, Ariana and Ashley,” U.S. Air Force Col. Ed Szczepanik, 6th Air Refueling Wing commander, said in a release Saturday. “To lose a member of the Air Force family is excruciatingly painful, especially to those who know them as son, daughter, brother, sister, spouse, mom, or dad. To lose them at the same time is unimaginable. Our hearts and minds are with the family, friends and loved ones of our fallen Airmen.”

Klinner was married and had 7 month-old-twins, a boy and a girl, and a 2-year-old son, The New York Times reported. His brother-in-law, James Harrill told the outlet Klinner had been deployed to the Middle East for less than a week, and was nearly at the end of his military career.

“You could just hear the excitement in his voice about the possibilities of what was next,” Harrill said.

Simmons' family, in a statement to WCMH in Ohio, said their hearts are "saddened beyond measure,"

"Tyler’s smile could light up any room, his strong presence would fill it," the statement said. "His parents, grandparents, family and friends are grief stricken for the loss of life.”

“Broadcasters that are running hoaxes and news distortions — also known as the fake news — have a chance now to correct course before their license renewals come up. The law is clear. Broadcasters must operate in the public interest, and they will lose their licenses if they do not,” he posted.

The post follows up on a Truth Social post by President Donald Trump. The president criticized media outlets and coverage of the Middle East conflict — specifically Friday’s damage at Prince Sultan air base in Saudi Arabia. Multiple media outlets reported five planes were struck and damaged. Trump said the planes were not actually hit and will be back in service shortly.

“The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (in particular), and other Lowlife 'Papers' and Media actually want us to lose the War,” Trump posted. “Their terrible reporting is the exact opposite of the actual facts!”

The posts continue to spur debate regarding the First Amendment.

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression called Carr's statement "outrageous" on X.

"When the government demands the press become a state mouthpiece under the threat of punishment, something has gone very wrong," FIRE said.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., responded to Carr’s post stating his threat is out of the authoritarian playbook.

“Constitutional law 101: it’s illegal for the government to censor free speech it just doesn’t like about Trump’s Iran war,” she wrote.

Carr responded with the Supreme Court’s decision NBC v. United States: “No one has a First Amendment right to a license or to monopolize a radio frequency; to deny a station license because ‘the public interest’ requires it ‘is not a denial of free speech.’”

Saturday’s social media exchange follows a week of media criticism. On Friday, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth opened his press conference pushing back on mainstream media.

“I’ll start, as we often do here at the Department of War, with the bottom line up front, for the world to hear and the press to actually admit that the United States is decimating the radical Iranian regime’s military in a way the world has never seen before,” Hegseth said.

Straight Arrow News previously examined how White Houses of both parties have managed media coverage during conflicts. No matter the conflict, each administration attempts to use the media to control public opinion.

The next day a colonoscopy revealed devastating news: Stage IV colorectal cancer that had already spread to her liver.

“I was stunned,” Levy said. “All I could think was, ‘I’m 44. This is for people in their 50s and older.’"

Levy’s diagnosis in 2013 came after months of warning signs — persistent pain, fatigue and rectal bleeding — that were initially dismissed by her primary physician as minor or unrelated. By the time doctors identified the cancer, it was advanced and aggressive.

Her experience is increasingly common.

Colorectal cancer rates are rising sharply among Americans under 50, even as cases decline in older adults, according to the American Cancer Society’s 2026 Colorectal Cancer Statistics report. Nearly three out of four patients diagnosed before age 50 are now found at advanced stages, when treatment is more difficult and survival rates are lower.

For Levy, the diagnosis marked the beginning of a five‑year medical battle that included multiple colon surgeries, a liver resection, chemotherapy, radiation and the placement of a permanent colostomy bag. Her cancer recurred several times between 2013 and 2017 before doctors were finally able to remove all detectable disease.

Her final chemotherapy treatment ended in May 2018. Today, she is cancer‑free.

“I never thought about giving up,” Levy said. “I just knew I had to make it.”

Levy’s doctor said her outcome, while remarkable, underscores both the dangers of delayed detection and the power of aggressive treatment.

“Stage IV colon cancer is typically not considered curable,” said Dr. Dean Tsarwhas, an oncologist with Northwestern Medicine. “But in some cases, with the right combination of chemotherapy, surgery, persistence and a bit of luck, long‑term remission — even cure — is possible.”

Tsarwhas said Levy’s case illustrates why earlier screening is critical, especially as colorectal cancer increasingly strikes younger patients. In response to the trend, national screening guidelines were lowered in recent years from age 50 to 45 for people at average risk.

“If you remove a precancerous polyp, you prevent cancer altogether,” Tsarwhas said. “A colonoscopy is both a screening and a prevention tool.”

Yet many younger adults delay testing due to fear, inconvenience or the belief that symptoms are harmless.

Levy said she now urges people to trust their instincts and persist when something feels wrong.

“Rectal bleeding is not something you ignore,” she said. “Neither is a change in bowel habits, ongoing pain or extreme fatigue. You know your body. Someone needs to listen.”

Her message became even more urgent when her younger sister, prompted by Levy’s diagnosis, underwent early screening. Doctors found eight polyps — five of them precancerous.

“She told me, ‘You saved my life,’” Levy said.

Levy’s father was later diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer while she was still undergoing treatment. The two received chemotherapy at the same time, offering each other emotional support during a period she describes as both painful and profoundly bonding.

Survival, Levy said, has permanently changed how she lives. She avoids red meat and processed foods, maintains a strict exercise routine and closely monitors her health. But the mental impact, she said, has been just as significant.

“When I see younger people dying from this disease, I stop and think, ‘Why am I still here?’” she said. “Maybe it’s to make people aware.”

She now shares her story through community outreach and church ministry work, urging people of all ages to take symptoms seriously and pursue screening when appropriate — especially those with family histories of cancer.

Public‑health experts agree that awareness is essential while researchers work to understand what is driving the rise in early‑onset colorectal cancer. Suspected factors include obesity, diet, metabolic disorders, changes in gut bacteria and environmental exposures, though no single cause has been identified.

In the meantime, doctors emphasize that early detection saves lives.

“People are afraid to talk about bowel habits,” Tsarwhas said. “But doctors have these conversations every day. Avoiding them can be deadly.”

Levy said if her story persuades even one person to seek care sooner, it is worth reliving the trauma.

“Say something,” she said. “Stick up for yourself. Colonoscopies aren’t that bad — I’ve had dozens. What’s bad is waiting too long.”

The talks, still in their first phase, are “aimed at finding solutions through dialogue to the bilateral differences between the two nations," he said.

Díaz-Canel's comments were made during a publicly broadcast speech at a meeting in Havana between the top levels of government and Cuban Communist Party, according to The Washington Post.

A day before, Cuba said it plans to release 51 prisoners who were arrested during 2021 anti-government protests. Díaz-Canel called this a sovereign practice, adding that Cuba was not pressured into it.

Shortly after the U.S. captured and arrested Venezuela's former President Nicolás Maduro in January, it gained control over the country's oil exports and stopped deliveries of Cuba. President Donald Trump then threatened tariffs on any country which sells oil to the Caribbean nation.

President Donald Trump, in a previous Truth Social post, urged Cuba to make a deal with the United States “BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE."

A White House official also said Cuban leaders "should make a deal" to the Washington Post in response to Díaz-Canel's Friday remarks.

"Cuba is a failing nation whose rulers have had a major setback with the loss of support from Venezuela and with Mexico ceasing to send them oil," the official told the Post.

Three senators, Tim Kaine, D-Va., Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz. and Adam Schiff, D-Calif., introduced a War Powers Resolution which they said is meant to make sure "any U.S. participation in hostilities against Cuba is explicitly authorized by Congress." They cited Trump's recent comments as their reason for filing the legislation.

“As if the disaster of the Iran War and the resulting spike in oil prices weren’t enough, Trump is now threatening to intervene in Cuba as well,” Gallego said in a statement. “He ran on America First, but now it’s clear he’s become a puppet of the war hawks in his party."

While giving congressional testimony in January, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that though the administration "would love to see the regime change" in Cuba, "that doesn’t mean that we’re going to make a change."

Consequences of oil blockade

Díaz-Canel said Friday that no fuel has gotten into Cuba for the last three months. Blackouts happened regularly in January and February.

“The deficit at this moment is different from what we were dealing with before," Díaz-Canel said. "The impact is tremendous."

An internal cable reviewed by The Washington Post showed that the U.S. Embassy assesses that Cuba's energy deficiency that “hovers around 60 percent."

Per the cable, Cuba, despite domestically producing a quarter of the oil it needs, could get to a “zero hour” moment where water, sewage and electricity stop.

The Embassy was already running with only half its staff because of energy shortages, and generator usage at some residences was limited to four hours a day.

Some places in Cuba, Díaz-Canel said, have had times where they've gone at at least 30 hours without power. This has caused families anguish, he said.

“In this moment in the country, there are dozens of thousands of people waiting for a surgical operation they can’t get because of the lack of electricity," Díaz-Canel said.

Although solutions exist, "the magnitude of the problem is so huge that you can’t see them," he added.

On Saturday, protestors in Cuba ransacked a Communist Party building after a rally about the energy cuts and high food prices. Five people were arrested after offices in the city of Moron were vandalized, the BBC reported.

Although the protest started peacefully, it later escalated, according to Cuba's state-run newspaper Invasor. Along with the Communist party building, a pharmacy and a government-operated market were also targeted by demonstrators.

Rolling blackouts led some in Cuba to protest by banging pots and pans in the streets at night, or in their homes, the BBC wrote, despite there not usually being political dissent in the country.

Article 51 of the UN Charter recognizes the inherent right of individual or collective self-defense if an armed attack occurs against a UN member state. This right exists until the Security Council takes necessary measures to restore international peace, and actions taken must be immediately reported to the Council.

Straight Arrow News reached out to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry for comment.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not immediately respond to the post. However, a short time later, he shared photos on social media of himself meeting with media on Ukrainian military offenses. 

“We discussed our internal situation in Ukraine, some political issues, our positions on the front line and in diplomacy, information from our intelligence, the work of Ukrainian experts on drone defense in the Middle East, as well as relations with key partners,” he wrote.

Earlier this month, Zelenskyy offered to help countering Iranian drones in the Middle East amid the conflict in Tehran, which started Feb. 28 with joint U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.

“We received a request from the United States for specific support in protection against ‘Shaheds’ in the Middle East region,” Zelenskyy said in a statement. “Ukraine helps partners who help ensure our security and protect the lives of our people.”

Zelenskyy said he directed Ukrainian officials to provide the necessary systems and deploy specialists capable of supporting partner nations’ defenses.

Ukraine has spent more than a year accelerating development of low-cost interceptor drones. The systems use cameras and onboard artificial intelligence to identify and track incoming aircraft. Operators then guide the interceptor directly into the target drone to destroy it midair.

The economics are driving interest. Patriot interceptor missiles can cost millions of dollars per launch.

Ukrainian interceptor drones cost a few thousand dollars each. Iranian Shahed drones are estimated to cost roughly $30,000, according to ABC.

Meanwhile, CNN reported on Wednesday that a Western intelligence official said Russia is providing Iran with more detailed advice on drone operations, drawing on tactics Moscow has used in Ukraine.

Iran designed the Shahed drones that Russia mass-produces for use in Ukraine, CNN said. These same systems have proved effective at penetrating Gulf air defenses.

At the same time, The Washington Post wrote that Russian state media and political commentators are using the U.S.-Israeli campaign in Iran to argue that negotiations with Washington are unreliable.

Earlier on Saturday Russian drones struck multiple parts of Ukraine, killing 5 people. Zelenskyy took to social media to offer his condolences to the family. He also reported the magnitude of the attack.

“The Russians launched around 430 drones of various types and a significant number of missiles. There were 13 ballistic missiles alone, and the total number of missiles in this attack was 68,” he posted.

U.S. Central Command said on Saturday morning that the strike destroyed 90 Iranian targets, including naval mine storage facilities and missile storage bunkers, "while preserving the oil infrastructure."

"For reasons of decency, I have chosen NOT to wipe out the Oil Infrastructure on the Island. 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," Trump said on Truth Social.

At least 15 explosions were heard on the Island Friday night, according to Fars News Agency, which is connected to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iran's armed forces confirmed Kharg Island's oil infrastructure was not damaged. However, if it is, "all oil and gas infrastructure in the region in which the U.S. and its allies have interests will be set on fire and destroyed," it added.

Ehsan Jahaniyan, the deputy governor of Iran's southern Bushehr province, said Saturday that oil companies at the export terminal in Kharg Island are "continuing as normal" and there were no casualties, Iranian state media reported.

Kharg Island's terminal ships about 90% of Iran's oil exports. Petras Katinas, a research fellow in Climate, Energy and Defense at the Royal United Services Institute, told NBC News that it "serves as the physical hub enabling Iranian crude exports and the primary gateway for oil revenues." This lets Iran sustain crude oil sales, even with U.S. sanctions, Katinas said.

Also on Saturday, Iran told residents of the United Arab Emirates to evacuate several areas, including Jebel Ali Port, Khalifa Port and Fujairah Port, saying that they have become "legitimate targets due to the presence and sheltering of U.S. military forces among civilian facilities."

The Associated Press said that there's been no sign of an attack on Jebel Ali or Khalifa, but debris from an intercepted Iranian drone hitting an oil facility led to a fire at Fujairah Port.

The war began two weeks ago, with joint strikes by the U.S. and Israel on Iran that killed its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Since then, Iranian and Lebanese health officials, as well as Israeli authorities, have reported more than 1,300 people killed in Iran. That number includes 175 students and staff at a girls school in Minab. Satellite images verified by multiple news outlets show an American-made Tomahawk missile was used in the strike, and an ongoing military investigation determined that the U.S. was responsible for the attack, The New York Times said, citing officials and others familiar with the matter.

Seven U.S. service members were killed in strikes, and six U.S. service members died when a refueling aircraft crashed in Iraq. There have been 773 people in Lebanon and 12 civilians in Israel killed as well as two Israeli soldiers in Lebanon, according to NPR.

On Friday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the U.S. and Israel hit over 15,000 targets and wounded Mojtaba Khamenei, who took over the role of Iran's supreme leader after his father's death.

Traffic at the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for an estimated 20% of the world's oil supply, has been halted, since the war started. U.S. officials have floated the idea of the military escorting oil tankers through the strait, though experts say it would be dangerous due to Iranian attacks on vessels.

Trump on Saturday called for China, France, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom and other countries to send ships to the area "so that the Hormuz Strait will no longer be a threat by a Nation that has been totally decapitated."

"In the meantime, the United States will be bombing the hell out of the shoreline, and continually shooting Iranian Boats and Ships out of the water," Trump said. "One way or the other, we will soon get the Hormuz Strait OPEN, SAFE, and FREE!"

When asked by a reporter Friday how long the war will last, Trump said "I can't tell you that."

"I mean, I have my own idea, but what good does it do? It will be as long as it's necessary," he said. "They've been decimated. The country — their country's in bad shape. The whole thing is collapsing."

Attack on US Embassy in Baghdad

American citizens were urged to leave Iraq Saturday by the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad because of "Iran-aligned terrorist militias" who have "carried out indiscriminate attacks" in the country.

This warning came after an overnight attack on the U.S. Embassy. That marks the second time the facility has come under attack during the war.

In video footage verified by The New York Times, the embassy's roof is on fire.

Commercial flights from Iraq are not currently operating, the U.S. Embassy noted, but added that there are land routes to Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.