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Global Dispatch Saturday, 14 March 2026  ·  Special Report The Worldat War A comprehensive dispatch on every major armed conflict raging across the globe, from the burning streets of Tehran to the rubble of Gaza, the trenches of eastern Ukraine, and the forgotten catastrophe of Sudan. Researched and written 14 March 2026  ·  All figures sourced from live reporting US and Israel vs. IranDay 14 of strikes Gaza and LebanonCeasefire collapsing Russia and UkraineDay 1,478 SudanNearly 1,000 days of war Editor’s Brief Four wars. Hundreds of thousands dead. A planet’s attention fractured beyond precedent. March 2026 stands as one of the most dangerous months in recent memory. A two-week-old US-Israeli military campaign against Iran has ignited the broader Middle East, disrupted global energy flows, and pulled diplomatic oxygen away from every other crisis on Earth. In Gaza, a ceasefire that was supposed to end the bloodshed lies in ruins. Lebanon burns again. Ukraine quietly records its first territorial gains in years, even as Russian missiles kill children in Kharkiv. And in Sudan, a war that has displaced more people than any other on the planet, drone strikes are now hitting hospitals and schools, largely unseen by a world consumed elsewhere. What follows is a clear-eyed account of each theatre: what is happening, why it matters, and what comes next. 01 Middle East  ·  Active since 28 February 2026 The US and Israel Take the Fight to Iran Killed in Iran1,444Iran Health Ministry, Mar 13 Injured in Iran18,551+Ages from 8 months to 88 years US Fatalities11Including a refuelling crash in Kuwait Displaced in Iran3.2MUNHCR estimate, Mar 12 Oil price surge+40%Since strikes began On 28 February 2026, the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iran with the declared aim of regime change and the elimination of Tehran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. The opening salvo killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, a development that sent shockwaves through the Islamic Republic and across the entire region. Two weeks on, the conflict shows no sign of slowing down. Heavy Israeli strikes have repeatedly hit Tehran, with explosions reported near a pro-government rally attended by senior officials. Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was elected by the Assembly of Experts on 8 March to succeed his assassinated father. He issued his first formal statement warning that attacks on US military assets will continue unless bases hosting American forces are closed. President Trump called him a “lightweight” and suggested he “would not last long” without Washington’s approval. Iran’s retaliation has been sweeping. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps says it has launched attacks on at least 27 US military bases across the Middle East, as well as Israeli military installations. Kuwait, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman have all faced Iranian drone and missile strikes. At least 16 oil tankers and cargo ships have been attacked in and around the Strait of Hormuz, the Arabian Gulf, and the Gulf of Oman, effectively shutting down one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. The human cost inside Iran is staggering. Tehran’s representative to the United Nations says US and Israeli forces have struck nearly 10,000 civilian sites. The World Health Organization has warned of toxic “black rain,” polluted rainfall formed when smoke from burning fuel depots mixes with cloud cover, posing acute health risks to populations across the country. Internet connectivity inside Iran dropped to just 4 percent of normal levels in the conflict’s opening days, making independent verification extraordinarily difficult. “Russia is giving Iran specific advice on drone tactics, helping Tehran to hit US and Gulf nation targets. This is a new level of support that goes beyond general intelligence sharing.” Western intelligence official, quoted by CNN, 11 March 2026 The geopolitical realignment accelerated by the conflict is stark. Russia, which deepened ties with Tehran after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine and later cemented a 20-year Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty, is now providing specific tactical drone advice to Iranian forces. Ukraine, by contrast, has positioned itself firmly on the other side of this fight. President Zelenskyy announced that counter-drone teams have been deployed to protect US and allied bases in the region, and that 11 countries have formally requested Ukraine’s anti-drone expertise and interceptor technology. The economic fallout is spreading globally. Oil prices have surged more than 40 percent since February 28. The International Energy Agency agreed to release a record 400 million barrels of crude oil in response. US average petrol prices reached a 22-month high. Qatar Airways temporarily suspended operations before launching emergency repatriation flights. Dubai International Airport was struck by Iranian drones. Australia ordered all non-essential officials to leave the UAE and Israel. Iran has outlined three conditions for ending hostilities: recognition of its “legitimate rights,” payment of reparations, and firm international guarantees against future aggression. The US Defense Secretary has said joint strikes have “significantly diminished” Iran’s military capacity, a claim Tehran flatly contests. Political pressure is mounting in Washington, where lawmakers are demanding hearings on the war’s objectives as US casualties rise and civilian strike investigations multiply. Feb 28US and Israeli strikes begin. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is killed in the opening salvo targeting the Leadership House compound. Mar 1Iran launches a ballistic missile strike on Beit Shemesh in central Israel, killing 9. Iranian drones hit Abu Dhabi port infrastructure. Mar 3 to 4Iran has now fired over 500 ballistic missiles and nearly 2,000 drones since the war began. The rate of launches slows as missile stocks deplete. Mar 8Mojtaba Khamenei is elected as Iran’s new supreme leader. IRGC commanders and top officials pledge allegiance. Mar 11Iran and Hezbollah carry out a joint five-hour sustained strike on more than 50 targets across Israel. The IEA releases a record 400 million barrels of crude oil. Mar 13Israel destroys a bridge in Lebanon and drops leaflets over Beirut threatening Gaza-scale destruction. The death toll in Lebanon reaches 773 since March 2. 02 Middle East  ·  Ongoing since October 2023 Gaza, Lebanon and the Ceasefire That Never Held Killed in Gaza72,123+Since