Anderson Cooper 360 Second Night Of Attacks On U.S. Embassy In Iraq
Mar 18, 2026
Brett McGurk, former senior U.S. national security official who served under multiple administrations, provides context on coalition timelines and operational tradeoffs. He outlines the military campaign timeline and explains asymmetric threats in the Strait of Hormuz. Short, clear takes on mine countermeasures, Karg Island’s strategic role, and regional escalation risks involving the Houthis.
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US Struck Hardened Iranian Missile Sites With Bunker Busters
- The U.S. used 5,000-pound GPS-guided deep-penetrator bombs to destroy hardened Iranian anti-ship missile sites near the Strait of Hormuz.
- CENTCOM emphasized these munitions target deeply buried, reinforced sites, indicating a focus on neutralizing long-range maritime strike capability.
Iran Uses Cluster Submunitions To Spread Damage
- Iran has adapted by using ballistic missiles fitted with cluster submunitions to spread damage and bypass some air defenses.
- Jeremy Diamond described strikes using Khorramshahr missiles with up to 80 bomblets causing multiple impacts around Tel Aviv.
Drones Can Penetrate Fortified Embassy Defenses
- Drones and small projectiles can penetrate fortified compounds, as the U.S. embassy in Baghdad was targeted by multiple projectiles including drones two nights in a row.
- Adam Smith noted drones' low cost and ubiquity make them hard to eliminate even after degrading a state's conventional forces.