President Donald Trump addressed the nation, saying that the U.S. would hit Iran “extremely hard over the next two to three weeks,” but didn’t give a timeline for ending the war.
U.S. troops have already begun arriving in the Middle East, with additional forces potentially on the way. Andres Ilves, Mathew Kaminski, and Leila Bazzi discuss what a U.S. ground war in Iran would mean. Watch in English, Arabic, or Persian. Meanwhile, MBN’s Iran Briefing takes a deep dive into Tehran’s multi-layered defense strategy in case of a land invasion.
Among other stories we’ve lined up for you, the Houthis in Yemen have fired a bombardment of ineffectual missiles against Israel. Their real menace, however, is the threat they pose to disrupting the Strait of Bab El-Mandeb – a gateway through which roughly 12% of global trade passes annually. Next door, skirmishes between U.S. forces and Iran-backed militias have turned Iraq into another low-key war front. And with the Strait of Hormuz still clogged, the World Food Program issued a stark warning of an impending global food crisis due to supply chain disruptions, causing skyrocketing energy, shipping, and fertilizer costs.
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This Week On MBN
Another Strait Under Threat
The Houthis’ attacks in the Red Sea have evolved into a calibrated pressure plan, aiming for disruption with scare tactics rather than full closure of Bab al-Mandeb. MBN’s Ezat Wagdi shows how the group leverages missiles and drones to threaten shipping behavior. Their strategy contrasts with last week’s largely ineffectual barrage of missiles aimed at Israel, underscoring limits in precision and impact.
Read the article here
MBN Iran Briefing Podcast
Expert conversations unpacking the latest developments in Iran and how they are reshaping security, energy markets, and geopolitics across the Middle East.
Why Kharg Island Could Redefine the Conflict
Kharg Island, which handles nearly 90% of Iran’s oil exports, has re-emerged as a central strategic target amid rising U.S. military deployments. Experts tell MBN’s Ezat Wagdy that a ground seizure of the island, while feasible, would be the most costly in terms of potential U.S. casualties.
Read the article here
Hormuz Pressure Drives Reroute Race
There’s a growing push in the Gulf to bypass the Strait of Hormuz amid rising security threats and potential Iranian transit fees. Saudi Arabia and the UAE are already redirecting millions of barrels of oil through alternative pipelines. New proposals, including an Israel-linked westward pipeline network, signal a regional shift in energy logistics. But, as MBN’s Sakina Abdallah notes, high infrastructure costs and political sensitivities—especially normalizing relations with Israel—remain major hurdles.
Read the article here
U.S.– Militia Tensions Surge in Iraq
A deadly airstrike on an Iraqi army base has intensified already rising tensions between U.S. forces and Iran-aligned militias. Washington denied targeting Iraqi troops, insisting strikes are aimed at militia networks threatening U.S. personnel. MBN’s Ghassan Taqi explains that a cycle of drone, rocket, and airstrikes is rapidly escalating, which risks turning Iraq into a primary theater in the broader U.S.–Iran shadow war.
Read the article here
Rockets Over Baghdad Stir Fears of ISIS Prison Break
Daily rocket fire near Baghdad International Airport is raising urgent concerns about a possible ISIS prison break at the heavily guarded Cropper facility. Inside, thousands of hardened ISIS inmates reportedly celebrate nearby blasts, viewing the chaos as a potential window to escape. As MBN’s Mustafa Saadoon reports, intelligence suggests inmates are already discussing how to exploit the security turmoil, prompting calls to relocate high-risk prisoners.
Read the article here
The Gulf Is No Bystander
The U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iran blindsided the Gulf states, many of whom quickly became targets of retaliation. Missile attacks, disrupted energy flows, and stalled trade routes have placed the region at the center of a widening global economic shock. MBN Magazine contributor Abdulaziz Al-Khamis argues that any durable solution—whether on maritime security, Iran’s nuclear program, or regional proxy networks—cannot succeed without Gulf participation.
Read the article here
War Triggers Acute Global Food Crisis
The war in Iran is rapidly escalating into a global food security crisis, with disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz pushing an additional 45 million people toward hunger. In a conversation with Joe Kawly, MBN Agenda editor, Abeer Atifa, spokesperson for the UN World Food Program, says global hunger could surge to 363 million—exceeding levels seen at the onset of the Ukraine war.
Read the article here
Closer
“The world is witnessing the largest supply chain disruption since COVID-19. The impact on global hunger will be significant.”
–Abeer Atifa, spokesperson for the UN World Food Program
