An Iranian drone strike on an oil facility in Fujairah, UAE, showcases Iran's ability to destabilize its neighbors and Israel despite facing military pressure. The attack, alongside broader regional tensions, causes economic repercussions like soaring oil prices. The article explores Iran's strategic use of insurgent tactics to survive the conflict and its potential vulnerabilities.
A fire and plume of smoke rise after, according to authorities. debris from an intercepted Iran ian drone struck an oil facility in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, March 14, 2026., the United States and Israel find themselves confronting an opponent that fights more like an insurgency than a nation — using increasingly limited resources to inflictMinnesota to host ‘No Kings’ flagship rally, headlining Springsteen amid tensions over ICE and warDespite being battered daily by airstrikes from two of the world’s most sophisticated militaries, Iran has shown it can still torment its Gulf Arab neighbors and Israel with missiles and drones andis its biggest strategic advantage.
And, in fact, it’s a tactic that Iran’s very own proxies have adopted for years under decades of its tutelage as the leader of the self-described “Axis of Resistance.” Meanwhile, Iran’s economy, long ago cut off from the global markets because of sanctions, is broadly insulated from the The chokehold on the strait is causing oil prices to skyrocket, stock markets to plunge, and the cost of many basic goods to rise,While Iran has found some success with cutting off the strait, it has its own problems lurking at home that the U.S. and Israel may be able to exploit the longer the war goes on. But its theocracy’s path to victory through insurgent-like tactics remains fairly simple — just survive. “The Islamic Republic understands that it cannot defeat the United States militarily,” wrote Shukriya Bradost, a Mideast security analyst. “Instead, its objective is both simpler and more strategic: Survive the war long enough to claim victory.” First responders inspect a residential building hit in an earlier U.S.-Israeli strike in Tehran, Friday, March 27, 2026. Rubble covers the furniture of a destroyed living room in a residential building hit in an earlier U.S.-Israeli strike in Tehran, Iran, Monday, March 23, 2026. People take cover in a bomb shelter as air raid sirens warn of incoming Iranian missile strikes in Bnei Brak, Israel, Wednesday, March 25, 2026. Oil tankers and cargo ships line up in the Strait of Hormuz as seen from Khor Fakkan, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. A fire and plume of smoke rise after, according to authorities. debris from an intercepted Iranian drone struck an oil facility in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, March 14, 2026.First responders inspect a residential building hit in an earlier U.S.-Israeli strike in Tehran, Friday, March 27, 2026. through which a fifth of all oil and natural gas once passed, now finds itself largely devoid of traffic. The Islamic Republic allows through only the shipments it wants and at. Even with nearly all of its navy destroyed, Iran can hold the waterway hostage through an arsenal of missiles and drones built up over decades. Countries in Asia, the primary customers for oil that passes through the strait, are feeling the pinch most acutely — but the market for oil is global, so drivers in Europe and the U.S. are also seeing price hikes. And since oil is so fundamental to the world economy — its cost is baked into the manufacture and transport of many goods — it’s If that fails, the U.S. and Israel would either have to decide they have achieved enough and walk away from the war — or dramatically escalate the conflict to force the strait open. Trump has already ordered thousandsinto the region. And he has set a new deadline — already delayed twice — of 8 p.m. Eastern time April 6 for Iran to reopen the strait. Otherwise, he’s threatened to begin bombing power plants in Iran. “Trump’s preference remains ‘escalate to de-escalate,’” the risk advisory Eurasia Group said in an analysis Thursday. “The U.S. is moving more ships and ground troops into the region and will be better prepared to escalate in mid-April.”Iran maintains its ability to cause havoc despite being hit hard Trump on Thursday night said about 9% of Iran’s missile arsenal remains. There was no way to independently verify that figure — but even if accurate, Tehran still has ways to wreak havoc. With its aircraft broadly destroyed and its air defenses at their weakest, Iran still maintains a vast network of air and sea bases, many built up decades ago. It also has more recently built underground bases, which along with missile launchers disguised as commercial trucks, allow it to hide its launch sites until the last minute. Keeping mobile launchers on the move can protect them from airstrikes. That strategy, known as “shoot and scoot,” is a mainstay of many insurgent groups, including Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The Iran-backed group itself successfully disrupted international shipping, in the Red Sea. Shiite militias in Iraq, also backed by Iran, used similar tactics against U.S. troops there. Both have survived if not thrived while being repeatedly targeted. Iran’s geography and terrain — a mountainous nation about the size of America’s largest state, Alaska — also give it the space and features to hide like an insurgent force.Iran faces an angry population and leadership questionsearlier this year that saw thousands killed and tens of thousands detained. The Revolutionary Guard’s all-volunteer Basij force, which was key to that crackdown,despite repeatedly being targeted in the war, with social media videos showing their armed fighters roaming streets, blaring propaganda from loudspeakers. In a sign that Iran is feeling the pressure on its forces, Guard official Rahim Nade-Ali said it has begun to recruit children as young as 12 for the Basij. He described it as responding to public demand — but it is also a way to fill out its ranks as its checkpoints come under attack., with U.S. officials saying he’s been wounded in the war. The Guard and other military units appear to be operating without any central command. And any ceasefire deal that doesn’t give the Guard and hard-liners what they want could fracture the country’s political leadership.“Washington seems to believe that an overwhelming display of military power will force the Iranians to the negotiating table,” the New York-based Soufan Center said in an analysis Friday. “But … the U.S. can’t expect to gain in peace what it was not able to take in war.”What to know about the planned Saturday, March 28 ‘No Kings’ protests in Southern CaliforniaUCLA faces questions after falling short of the Sweet 16Things to do in the San Fernando Valley, LA area, March 26-April 3Mayor Bass announces initiative to install 60,000 solar-powered street lights citywide
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