Day: March 20, 2026

3/ Iran Update Special Report, March 19, 2026 w/  @criticalthreats:  isw.pub/IranUpdate031926

— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) Mar 20, 2026

NEW: Israeli strikes on Iranian internal security forces, including decapitation strikes, have likely caused shock and confusion within the Iranian internal security apparatus and disrupted internal security operations to some degree. It remains impossible to assess based on the available open-source evidence to what degree internal security operations have been disrupted. Other Key Takeaways (1/3)

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) struck vessels at a major Caspian Sea port in northern Iran that Iran uses to conduct trade with Russia. The IDF targeted “dozens” of vessels, including the Artesh Navy Moudge-class frigate IRIS Deylaman, at the 4th Artesh Naval District Headquarters at Bandar Anzali Port, Gilan Province, on March 18. The IDF’s March 18 airstrikes on Bandar Anzali follow reports that Russia is providing Iran with Russian-produced and possibly modified Shahed drones.

Israeli strikes on Iranian internal security forces, including decapitation strikes, have likely caused shock and confusion within the Iranian internal security apparatus and disrupted internal security operations.

The combined force has continued to strike Iranian ballistic missile infrastructure and air capabilities to degrade Iran’s ability to conduct retaliatory attacks and maintain air superiority over parts of Iran. Israeli Army Radio, citing the IDF, reported on March 19 that the combined force has destroyed around 85 percent of Iran’s surface-to-air missiles.

Iran continued to conduct drone and missile attacks targeting the Gulf states and Gulf energy infrastructure, including the Ras Laffan Industrial City in Qatar, on March 18 and 19. US President Donald Trump threatened on March 18 to “blow up the entirety of the South Pars Gas Field” if Iran launches another drone or missile attack targeting Qatar following Iran’s missile attacks targeting the Ras Laffan Industrial City.Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar)NEW: The US-Israeli combined force continued to strike naval, military, and internal security sites across Iran on March 18 and 19. The IDF reported that it struck targets in northern Iran for the first time in the war. (1/2)

The combined force targeted the 4th Artesh Naval District Headquarters along the Caspian Sea coast in Gilan Province, northern Iran.

The combined force also targeted an Iranian Mi-17 helicopter at the Sanandaj Airport in Kurdistan Province, the US-sanctioned Shiraz Electronics Industries in Fars Province, the Genu Mountain Missile Base in Hormozgan Province, and an unspecified Basij checkpoint in western Iran.

Iran continued to attack Israel with ballistic missiles containing cluster munition warheads. Iranian cluster munitions impacted in southern and central Israel, including in Neta and Moshav Adanim. An Iranian missile also impacted in Beit Awa, the West Bank, killing four individuals.

Iran also continued to target energy infrastructure in the Gulf states. Iranian ballistic missiles struck LNG facilities at the Ras Laffan Industrial City in Qatar. Iranian drones also struck the Al Ahmadi and Mina Abdullah refineries in Kuwait, and the Samref refinery in Saudi Arabia.

Hezbollah conducted a long-range missile attack targeting southern Israel, marking the group’s longest-range attack since the group was founded in 1982. The attack triggered sirens in Ashkelon and several areas near the Gaza Strip. The missiles impacted open areas in southern Israel.—  https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2034683873922015558

— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) Mar 20, 2026

2/ Israeli media reported that Hezbollah conducted a long-range missile attack targeting southern Israel, marking the group’s longest-range attack since the group was founded. The attack triggered sirens in Ashkelon and several areas near the Gaza Strip, which is located approximately 200 kilometers from the Israel-Lebanon border. Hezbollah has several long-range missiles, including the Fateh-110, Scud, and Zelzal-2, that it could have used in this attack.

— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) Mar 20, 2026