CNN 5 Things More Mideast Drone Strikes , Trump on Cuba’s Future, UT Mom Guilty, and more
Mar 17, 2026
Escalating drone and rocket strikes around Baghdad raise tensions in the Mideast. Cuba faces an islandwide blackout and fuel shortages amid heated remarks about its future. A Utah mother is convicted in a fentanyl poisoning case. A judge blocks major vaccine policy changes. Disney unveils a lifelike Olaf robot powered by AI.
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Drone Attacks Intensify Near U.S. Embassy
- The conflict with Iran is escalating with drone and rocket attacks near the U.S. embassy in Baghdad.
- An air defense system fired 4,500 rounds a minute and stopped a drone about 600 meters from the embassy, showing high-intensity strikes without casualties.
Mixed Signals From Trump On War Strategy
- President Trump projects quick resolution and refuses negotiation despite reported Iranian outreach.
- He alternates between asking allies to help secure shipping lanes and saying the U.S. doesn't need help, creating mixed signals about coalition plans.
Cuba Blackout Deepens Humanitarian Strain
- Cuba suffered a near-total grid collapse leaving 10 million people without power amid U.S. cuts to oil flow.
- President Trump suggested he might 'take' Cuba after the Iran conflict, and fuel now costs up to $34 a gallon on the black market.