Situation Reports

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered the deployment of the USS Tripoli, an America-class landing helicopter amphibious assault ship, and its attached 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, which is comprised of about 2,200 marines, to the Middle East, Axios reported on March 13.

The Afghan Taliban said Pakistan targeted civilian homes and private airline Kam Air's fuel depots, killing at least six civilians and wounding more than a dozen others, AP reported on March 13.

Nepal's Election Commission announced on March 12 that the three-year-old Rastriya Swatantra Party, or RSP, won 182 of 275 parliamentary seats in the country's March 5 election, Nepal's first since popular anti-government protests helped oust the country's previous government in September 2025, Reuters reported on March 13.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury issued a 30-day license authorizing the delivery and sale of Russian crude oil and petroleum products loaded onto vessels on or before March 12 and currently at sea, Reuters reported on March 13.

Polish President Karol Nawrocki vetoed legislation that would have allowed Poland to access roughly 44 billion euros ($50.5 billion) from the European Union's 150 billion euro Security Action for Europe (SAFE) defense loan program, TVP World reported on March 12.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa approved the deployment of 2,200 military personnel to the provinces of the Western Cape, Gauteng, Free State, Eastern Cape and Northern Cape to tackle violent crime and illegal mining, Reuters reported on March 13.

Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko said a government review showed that British major BP's contract to develop the Grand Tortue Ahmeyim's natural gas project was unfair and "one-sided," Reuters reported on March 12.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that Israel could destroy Lebanese national infrastructure allegedly used by Hezbollah if the group is not disarmed, The Times of Israel reported on March 13.

The Cuban government has engaged in talks with the United States, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel confirmed in a TV broadcast on March 13.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on March 12 that Israel would create the "optimal conditions" for Iran's regime to fall, though he acknowledged that he was uncertain that Iranians would overthrow the government, the Times of Israel reported March 13.