WORLD Radio News - WORLD Radio News: 3-17-26 (1/3)

Episode Date: March 17, 2026

The latest headlines in three minutes from WORLD updated three times throughout the day.Sign-up for the daily Sift email at thesift.org.Support sound journalism, grounded in facts and Biblical truth at wng.org/donate.Additional support comes from WatersEdge. Competitive rates and supporting churches. 4.55% APY on a 13-month term investment. WatersEdge.com/invest

With World Radio News, I'm Kent Covington. The war in Iran is likely to be wrapped up soon. That's the word from President Trump speaking to reporters at the White House, but he did not elaborate on what soon might mean. But he stresses that he does not believe Iran is ready to agree to a deal, and he believes that may be tied to questions about the country's new supreme leader, Moshhtaba Khmanai. Many question whether he is truly in charge or even if he is still alive.

Now they think maybe the sun is gone. They're all gone. My biggest problem is I have no idea who we're talking to because nobody ever heard of any of these people. They're all dead. But we did a job for the world, not a job for us, for the whole world. The president has refused to rule out using ground troops in Iran and told reporters that he's not about to tip his hand.

Why would I tell you with that like that? The Pentagon recently deployed some 2,500 Marines to the Middle East. Analysts largely believe their role in the conflict would likely be limited to defensive or deterrence missions. In Israel, Air raid sirens blared in Tel Aviv last night and flashes lit the night sky as Israeli interceptors neutralized in coming Iranian missiles. Israel's foreign minister yesterday accused Iran of targeting civilians of all faiths that after he said shrapnel from ballistic missiles landed just a few meters from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the traditional site of Christ's resurrection. The Iranian regime is targeting holy sites in the old city of Jerusalem. They are targeting Muslims. They are targeting Christians.

and they are targeting Jews. Meantime in southern Lebanon, columns of smoke poured into the sky as Israel continued its military campaign against the Iran-backed terror group Hezbollah, Israeli ambassador to the UN, Danny DeNan. Israel supports diplomacy, but diplomacy only works when agreements are enforced.

Danan added that Hezbollah is not supposed to operate south of the Latani River, yet the group continues to fire rockets into Israel. Afghanistan's Taliban government is accusing Pakistan of bombing a drug rehab hospital in Kabul. World's Benjamin Iker has more. Pakistan denies hitting any civilian site, saying its strikes targeted only militant infrastructure.

Afghan officials say four people were killed and several others wounded in the strike. That comes as cross-border fighting enters a third week, shattering the ceasefire agreement. Pakistan accuses Kabul of sheltering Pakistani Taliban militants who carry out attacks inside its borders, though Kabul denies that. For World, I'm Benjamin Iker.

And I'm Kent Covington. For more sound journalism grounded in facts and biblical truth, visit world radio.news. Additional support comes from Waters Edge, competitive rates and supporting churches, 4.55% APY on a 13-month-term investment. Watersedge.com slash invest.