Morning Briefing: March 15, 2026

ISTANBUL

Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Sunday, including North Korea firing multiple ballistic missiles toward the East Sea; Israel threatening to target medical facilities, ambulances in Lebanon; and Iran saying it has “good cooperation” with Russia, China in political, economic and military fields.

TOP STORIES

• North Korea fires multiple ballistic missiles toward East Sea

North Korea fired around 10 ballistic missiles toward the East Sea, South Korea's military said.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected the missiles launched from the Sunan area in North Korea at around 1.20 pm (0420GMT), according to the Seoul-based Yonhap News.

"Our military maintains a firm readiness posture while closely sharing North Korean ballistic missile information with the US and Japanese sides amid a heightened surveillance posture against additional launches," the military said in a statement.

• Israel threatens to target medical facilities, ambulances in Lebanon

The Israeli army threatened to target medical facilities and ambulances in Lebanon, claiming they are being used for military purposes by the Lebanese Hezbollah group.

The warning came hours after an Israeli strike targeted a health care center in southern Lebanon, killing 12 medical personnel, including doctors, paramedics and nurses.

Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee claimed Hezbollah is making “extensive military use of ambulances” as part of its activities.

• Iran says it has ‘good cooperation’ with Russia, China in political, economic, military fields

Iran's foreign minister said that his country maintains close cooperation with Russia and China across political, economic and military sectors.

Abbas Araghchi described the two countries as “strategic partners” of Iran in an interview with MS Now TV.

Araghchi made the comments when asked about reports suggesting Moscow and Beijing might be providing intelligence or military support to Tehran to attack American sites and facilities in the region.

“Russia and China are our strategic partners, and we have had close cooperation in the past, which is still continuous, and that includes military cooperation as well,” he said.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• US President Donald Trump said “totally defeated” Iran “wants a deal” but not one he would accept.
• Iraqi factions reportedly carried out eight attacks on US bases in Iraq in the last 24 hours, the group known as the Islamic Resistance said in a statement.
• The US Embassy in Baghdad came under a rocket attack, according to media reports, citing a security source.
• An explosion occurred overnight and damaged a Jewish school in the Netherlands, local media reported.
• Bahrain said it has intercepted and destroyed 124 missiles and 203 drones in what it described as “Iranian attacks” on the kingdom that began Feb. 28, according to a statement by the Bahrain Defense Force.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed transferring Iran’s enriched uranium to Russia during a call with US President Donald Trump this week as part of a potential deal to end the war, but Trump rejected the proposal, Axios reported.
• France offered to host talks in Paris between Israel and Lebanon amid escalating tensions along the border.
• Iran warned that ports and some cities in the United Arab Emirates could become targets, claiming they were used by US forces to launch attacks against Iranian territory.
• More than 42,000 civilian structures have been damaged in US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran since the start of the war late last month, the Iranian Red Crescent Society said.
• At least 26 paramedics have been killed and 51 injured in Israeli attacks on Lebanon since March 2, the Lebanese Health Ministry said.
• Israeli soldiers advanced to Tal al-Dhuhur in the countryside of Quneitra Governorate in southern Syria and set up tents at the site, according to Syrian media.
• The Syrian Arab Army has taken control of the Rumeilan Base in the countryside of Al-Hasakah in northeastern Syria following the withdrawal of international coalition forces, the Defense Ministry said.
• US President Donald Trump said countries affected by Iran’s attempted closure of the Strait of Hormuz will send warships, in conjunction with the US, to keep the strait “open and safe.”
• More than 825 people have been killed in Israeli attacks across Lebanon since March 2, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.
• Protesters gathered in central London to condemn Israel's closure of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam's third-holiest mosque, to Muslim worshippers.
• Formula 1 confirmed that the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix will not take place in April due to escalating tensions in the Middle East because of the US-Israeli war with Iran.
• North Korea conducted a 600mm ultra-precision multiple rocket launcher strike drill, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

ECONOMY & BUSSINESS

• Venezuela begins 1st road shipment of LPG to Colombia.

Venezuela’s Acting President Delcy Rodriguez announced that the first shipment of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to Colombia by road has begun.

Rodriguez met a delegation led by Colombian Foreign Minister Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio at the Miraflores Presidential Palace in Caracas.

Rodriguez said the first LPG shipment transported by road between the two countries was carried out between the Colombian city of Cucuta and Venezuela’s Tachira state.

• Iran says oil exports from Kharg Island continue despite US-Israeli attack

Oil exports from Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil export terminal in the Persian Gulf, are continuing normally despite a US-Israeli attack, a provincial official said.

“The activities of oil companies at this export terminal are continuing normally despite the Zionist-American attack early Saturday,” said Ehsan Jahanian, the deputy governor of Bushehr province.

He added that “export and import operations and the activities of companies based on the island are ongoing.”