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PDB Afternoon Bulletin | March 20th, 2026: Report: U.S. May Launch Ground Operation Inside Iran & Ukraine Deploys Drone Defense Teams To Middle East
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It's Friday the 20th of March. Welcome to the PDB Afternoon Bulletin. I'm Mike Baker, your eyes and ears on the world stage. All right, let's get briefed. First up, a risky new option is now under discussion at the White House, seizing Iran's primary oil export hub, that would be Kharg island, to break its grip on the Strait of Hormuz. We'll walk through what's being discussed and the potential consequences later in the show. Ukraine is now exporting its battlefield experience against Iranian drones to the Middle east, deploying military specialists across five countries to help defend against the Iranian regime's attacks. We'll break down what this means for the broader conflict and how Ukraine is trying to turn their unique expertise into into leverage with Washington. But first, today's afternoon spotlight. The White House is now weighing one of the most aggressive moves yet in the conflict with Iran, and it could put American troops directly on Iranian territory. According to new reporting, the Trump administration is actively considering plans to seize or blockade Kharg Island. That's a small but critical piece of land sitting just off Iran's southern coast in the Persian Gulf. And while it may not look like much on a map, Kharg island is the beating heart of Iran's oil industry, processing roughly 90% of the country's crude exports. Which means if the US takes it or even cuts it off, it would strike directly at Iran's economic lifeline. The goal here would be to force Tehran's hand in reopening the Strait of Hormuz. But, and this may come as no surprise, the operation would be complicated and risky, sources tell Axios. Any operation would likely come in two possible forms, either a direct ground seizure of the island by U.S. forces or a naval blockade designed to prevent tankers from reaching it either way, it would mark a significant escalation, putting more American troops well within range of Iranian missiles, drones, and fast attack boats. And this isn't just theoretical planning. The Pentagon is already moving assets into position. As we reported earlier this week, a 2,500strong Marine Expeditionary Unit is expected to arrive in the region within days, with two additional Marine units also en route. And officials say more reinforcements are under discussion. At the same time, the US has already begun shaping the battlefield. Last week, American forces launched large scale airstrikes on dozens of military targets on Karg island, strikes that officials describe as both a warning shot and a preparatory step for a potential ground invasion. Behind the scenes, the debate is now centered on risk versus reward. Some inside the administration believe that controlling Clark island would give Washington enormous leverage in forcing Iran back to the negotiating table. But others warn that the move could expose US Troops to unnecessary danger without guaranteeing the desired outcome. Reportedly, there's also a less risky alternative on the table. Rather than seizing territory, the US could move to escort commercial tankers through the strait using naval and air power, essentially breaking Iran's blockade without putting boots on the ground. For now, no final decision has been made, but what is clear is that Washington is preparing for a scenario that just weeks ago seemed far less likely, a direct confrontation on Iranian soil. Meanwhile, the broader energy fight across the Gulf is continuing to spread. Overnight, Iran launched another wave of missile and drone attacks targeting energy infrastructure across multiple Gulf states. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates say they intercepted incoming strikes, while Bahrain reported a fire at a warehouse. And in Kuwait, officials were forced to shut down several units at the massive Al Hamadi refinery following multiple hits. The latest strikes come even as Israel signals that it may be stepping back after striking Iran's massive South Pars gas field earlier this week, one of the largest energy sites in the world. Israeli officials now say they'll stop targeting Iran's energy infrastructure. That decision follows both Iranian retaliation across the region and pressure from Washington, which is increasingly concerned about the impact on global energy markets. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu says his forces will instead focus on supporting U.S. efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and suggested the conflict could wrap up sooner than some expect. But for now, Iran's continued attacks tell a different story. Rather than easing off, Tehran appears to be expanding the fight, using strikes on regional energy targets to raise the cost of the conflict, and not just for Israel or the US but for the broader global economy. Coming up next, Kyiv deploys military teams to the Middle east to help allies defend against Iranian attacks and pitches Washington on a broader drone partnership. I'll be right back. Hey, Mike Baker here. Let me take a moment to talk about personal finances and the importance of diversifying your assets. So here's the question. Do you own physical gold? In today's world, with its ups and downs and general instability, and I suspect there is some general instability out there, owning gold is something that everyone should consider. And here's the top tip. Acre Gold makes it simple. That's Acre. Acre. With Acre Gold, you pick a plan that fits your budget, you make monthly payments, and when you've saved up enough, they ship you a beautifully designed 24 karat Swiss gold bar. 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Welcome back to the PDB Afternoon Bulletin. We've been tracking how Ukraine's war with Russia is shaping the fight against Iran's drone arsenal. And now, after years of defending against those attacks, Kyiv is beginning to export that battlefield experience to the Middle East. On Friday, Ukrainian Security Council Secretary Rustem Umarov revealed that Kyiv has now deployed military units to five countries in the region, the uae, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan to help defend military and civilian infrastructure from Iranian drone and missile attacks. As our regular listeners know, several of these countries have come under fire from Iran since the war began, attacks that have damaged critical energy infrastructure and sent ripple effects, of course, through the global economy. More than 200 Ukrainian specialists are now reportedly operating across those countries, applying the same battlefield tactics and technologies developed during Russia's invasion. Ukrainian officials say the teams are focused on intercepting aerial threats and strengthening local defenses, in some cases helping protect facilities linked to U.S. military operations. Umarov added that further steps for, quote, long term security cooperation have been outlined with these nations, but did not elaborate. According to a Reuters report, President Zelensky framed the effort as part of a broader push to expand Ukraine's role in global security, saying Kyiv is working to ensure its, quote, global significance in ensuring security is recognized by partner nations. At the same time, he emphasized that any support abroad must not come at the expense of Ukraine's own defenses at home. Now, while Gulf states operate advanced U. S made air defense systems, the missiles used to fire them are expensive and in limited supply, especially compared to the relatively cheap shahed drones that Iran continues to deploy. Ukraine, by contrast, has spent years adapting to that exact challenge as Russia has launched nearly 60,000 Iranian designed drones and similar systems at Ukrainian targets since they began their invasion in 2022. Over the course of the war with Russia, Ukraine has developed a range of counter drone tactics and technologies, most notably their relatively inexpensive interceptor drones designed to specifically hunt and destroy shahed aircraft. Ukrainian engineers and defense firms have developed systems that can cost as little as $1,000, which is dramatically cheaper than the missile based air defense systems traditionally used to to intercept aerial threats. Those technologies could prove invaluable to nations caught in the crosshairs as the war against Iran continues. But Ukraine's growing role in the Middle east isn't just about defense. It's also about leverage. The Kyiv Independent reports that a Ukrainian delegation headed to Washington Friday with a broader drone proposal aimed at turning their battlefield experience into a more formal partnership with the U.S. the idea, according to the report, is to offer drone technology, interceptor tactics and operational expertise in exchange for more robust American support, including additional air defense assistance and other badly needed military aid. Ukraine floated a similar idea last summer, but a comprehensive agreement never materialized, according to sources that recently spoke with Axios. U.S. officials now view last year's decision to pass on a deal for Ukrainian anti drone technologies as a missed opportunity, particularly as Iranian drone attacks have expanded across the Middle East. But despite Zelensky's eagerness to strike a deal, there remains a major layer of political friction. President Trump publicly brushed off the idea of needing Ukrainian help last week, saying, quote, the last person we need help from is Zelensky. We don't need Ukraine's help. We know more about drones than anybody, end quote. Okay. Still, Zelensky continues to strike a more diplomatic tone, telling the Kiev Independent, quote, I am very interested in signing this agreement with our close partner, the U.S. so when President Trump is ready, I will definitely be ready, end quote. Now whether there will be a breakthrough agreement with the US Remains unclear, but Middle east allies under siege from Iranian drones, well, they appear to already be embracing Keeves unique expertise. And that, my friends, is the PDB Afternoon bulletin for Friday 20th March. If you have any questions or comments, and I hope you do, please reach out to me at pdb@the first tv.com and be sure to check out our latest episode of the PDB Situation Report. That's our expanded weekend show. It airs this evening at 10pm on the first TV and as always can be found on our YouTube channel. Just go to YouTube and search up at President's daily Brief and podcast platforms everywhere. I'm Mike Baker and I'll be back over the weekend with the PDB Situation Report. Until then, stay informed, stay safe, stay cool. Hey, Mike Baker here Let me take just a moment of your time to talk about security, specifically your online security, and to tell you about a great company out there working hard to make people safer online. And that, of course, would be the company. Delete Me. Delete Me makes it easy, quick and safe to remove your personal data online at a time when surveillance and data breaches are common enough to make everyone vulnerable. Look, it's easier than ever to find personal information about people online. You know that. 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