US Iran War Highlights: 4 crew members confirmed dead after US refueling jet crashes in Iraq; large explosion reported near packed protest site in Tehran

Israel Defense Forces said it has detected a fresh wave of missiles launched from Iran toward Israel.

In a statement, the military said its air defence systems were actively working to intercept the incoming threat, while mobile phone alerts were being issued to residents in areas likely to be affected.

Meanwhile, Tasnim News Agency reported that Iran had fired a new salvo of missiles toward Israel.

At least 1,444 people have been killed and 18,551 injured in Iran since February 28 due to US-Israeli attacks, the country’s Health Ministry said.

Donald Trump told leaders of the G7 during a virtual meeting on Wednesday that Iran was “about to surrender”, according to a report by Axios on Friday, citing three officials from G7 countries who were briefed on the call.

Trump reportedly added that “nobody knows who is the leader, so there is no one that can announce surrender”.

Later on Friday, Trump lashed out at Iran’s leadership, calling them “deranged scumbags” and saying it would be his “great honour” to kill them, as the war in the Middle East neared the two-week mark with intense exchanges of drone and missile strikes across the region.

- With inputs from Reuters

US CENTCOM on Friday announced that four out of the six crew on board one of its refuelling aircraft that crashed in western Iraq have died.

Four Confirmed Deceased in Loss of U.S. KC-135 Over Iraq

TAMPA, Fla. – At approximately 2 pm ET on March 12, a U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft went down in western Iraq. Four of six crew members on board the aircraft have been confirmed deceased as rescue efforts continue.

The…

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 13, 2026

Iran’s wartime internet blackout has entered its second week, according to cybersecurity watchdog NetBlocks.

“As authentic voices are silenced and civilians are left without vital updates, a steady flow of regime-approved content fills the void,” the group said in a post on X on Friday.

Iran has previously imposed similar internet shutdowns during periods of unrest, including during recent nationwide protests that were eventually quelled by a deadly government crackdown.

Accoring to the reports by Al Jazeera and NYT, an explosion was reported on Friday near a site in Tehran where large crowds had gathered for a rally marking Quds Day. The videos of the explosions were aired by Iranian state television. The cause of the blast was not immediately known.

Across Iran, people took to the streets on the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan to mark the annual Quds Day in solidarity with Palestinians. Footage released by Fars News Agency showed large crowds gathering in cities including Tehran, Isfahan, Tabriz, Qom, Shahrekord, Rasht, Ardabil, Ahvaz, Qazvin, Yasuj and Birjand.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said the joint US-Israel campaign against Iran was “going better than expected” and claimed Israel was now “stronger than ever”. Netanyahu warned that Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei should not assume his safety is guaranteed.

When asked whether Israel might target Khamenei or Naem Qassem, Netanyahu replied that he “wouldn’t take out a life insurance policy on any of the leaders of the terror organisations”.

A drone struck an industrial area in northern Oman. The strike has resulted in the death of two foreign nationals, NYT cited the state-run Oman News Agency as reporting. Oman has long served as a key intermediary between Iran and the United States. While the sultanate has experienced fewer drone strikes than many of its Gulf neighbours, recent incidents show it has not been entirely spared from the escalating regional conflict.

Shehbaz Sharif has expressed Pakistan’s “full solidarity” with Saudi Arabia as tensions continue to rise in West Asia.

Sharif met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah on Thursday after rushing to the kingdom amid the worsening crisis following US and Israeli strikes on Iran.

According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office shared by spokesperson Mosharraf Zaidi, the two leaders held a restricted meeting and discussed the rapidly evolving situation in the region.

“The Prime Minister expressed Pakistan’s full solidarity and support for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in these challenging times,” the statement said.

Both leaders also exchanged views on the ongoing conflict and agreed to work together for regional peace and stability. Sharif assured the Crown Prince that Pakistan would “always stand firmly with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia” and support efforts aimed at peace.

The UAE government has warned against the spread of misleading content and inaccurate news across digital platforms. Attorney General Khalid Al Madhani, in an interview with Khaleej Times, stressed that information is a responsibility and spreading rumours is a crime.

India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar held a fresh conversation with Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, as tensions linked to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States continue to keep the region on edge.

The two leaders spoke over the phone to discuss the rapidly evolving regional and global situation, marking their fourth conversation since the latest round of tensions began.

During the call, Araghchi briefed Jaishankar about the latest developments, referring to what he described as “aggressions and crimes” carried out by the United States and Israel against Iran.

He said these actions have serious consequences for stability and security not just in the Middle East but globally as well.

Araghchi also emphasised that Iran remains firmly determined to defend itself.

He said the Iranian government, its people, and the country’s armed forces are ready to exercise what he described as their legitimate right to self-defence against any aggressor.

The Iranian foreign minister also called on countries and regional organisations to condemn what he described as military aggression against Iran.

During the discussion, Araghchi highlighted the role of BRICS as an important platform for multilateral cooperation. According to him, the grouping can play a key role in supporting regional stability and security.

More information has also surfaced about one of the early incidents in the war. Reports from Aljazeera say that more than 100 US troops were injured in an Iranian attack on a base in Kuwait at the start of the conflict.

Earlier, it had only been reported that seven members of the National Guard were injured and later died from their wounds. The newly revealed figures suggest the number of injured may be as high as 150.

Many of the wounded were transported to military hospitals in the United States and to Landstuhl. Some of those treated in Germany were said to have suffered very serious injuries, with one person possibly facing an amputation.

Elsewhere in the Gulf region, tensions continued to flare.

In Oman, two expatriate workers were killed after debris from a drone fell in the Sohar area. Authorities said the drone came down in the al-Awahi industrial zone after being intercepted, and another drone was also shot down in the province.

In Saudi Arabia, air defences destroyed a drone that tried to approach the Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh.

Falling debris from an intercepted aerial attack also caused minor damage to a building in central Dubai, though officials said no one was injured.

The wider conflict linked to the war involving Iran continued to ripple across the region.

Air strikes carried out by the United States and Israel have continued in Tehran and other cities including Isfahan, Qom, Kashan and Arak as the war entered its 14th day.

Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had launched what it called “wave 44” of retaliatory strikes against Israeli targets.

The fighting has already taken a heavy toll. Reports say more than 1,400 people have been killed, with many residential areas hit. In Tehran, air defence systems have been activated repeatedly as drones and missiles continue to be detected. Fires at oil depots have also led to heavy air pollution, and a large number of residents have left the city.

Qatar has firmly rejected reports suggesting it stopped liquefied natural gas production to influence energy prices in the United States.

In a statement on Thursday, a senior Qatari official told Al Jazeera that the accusations circulating in parts of the Israeli media were misleading and aimed at creating friction between the two countries.

“Qatar will always prioritise people’s safety over political or economic gain,” the official said.

The official also accused voices close to Benjamin Netanyahu of trying to use the current crisis to stir divisions.

“It is no surprise that unofficial mouthpieces of Prime Minister Netanyahu are attempting to exploit this period of global instability to sow further tension and division across the region,” the official added.

A US Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker refuelling aircraft crashed in western Iraq on Thursday, the US military said, adding that the incident was “not due to hostile fire or friendly fire.”

In a statement, US Central Command said the aircraft went down while flying in friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury.

“The incident occurred in friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury, and rescue efforts are ongoing,” the command said.

Officials said two aircraft were involved in the incident. One aircraft crashed in western Iraq, while the second landed safely. The military again said the crash was not linked to hostile or friendly fire.

At least five crew members were on board the tanker that went down, a US official told CNN. The aircraft that landed safely was also a KC-135 Stratotanker, the official added.

The statement did not say whether any US service members were injured or killed.

US Central Command said more information would be shared as “the situation develops” and asked for patience while authorities gather details “to provide clarity for the families of service members.”

An Israeli drone strike targeted a residential apartment building in Bourj Hammoud, a densely populated suburb northeast of Beirut, according to Lebanon National News Agency. Authorities said the drone attack struck the building in the early hours, though details about casualties or damage were still emerging at the time of reporting. Officials said more information would be released as it becomes available, as tensions continue to rise across the region.

President Donald Trump suggested oil tanker crews should “show some guts” and continue sailing through the Strait of Hormuz despite ongoing attacks linked to the conflict with Iran. Speaking in an interview with Brian Kilmeade on Fox News, Trump said ships should “go through the Strait of Hormuz and show some guts,” adding, “There’s nothing to be afraid of. They have no Navy and we sunk all their ships.”

His remarks come as shipping companies grow increasingly nervous about the risks in the region. Industry executives have repeatedly asked the United States Navy for military escorts, but the Pentagon has so far declined, calling such missions too dangerous.

Since the war began about two weeks ago, at least 16 oil tankers, cargo ships, and other vessels have been attacked across the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations. At least one person has been killed, while 38 others were rescued in recent attacks.

" We are totally destroying the terrorist regime of Iran, militarily, economically, and otherwise, yet, if you read the Failing New York Times, you would incorrectly think that we are not winning. Iran’s Navy is gone, their Air Force is no longer, missiles, drones and everything else are being decimated, and their leaders have been wiped from the face of the earth. We have unparalleled firepower, unlimited ammunition, and plenty of time - Watch what happens to these deranged scumbags today. They’ve been killing innocent people all over the world for 47 years, and now I, as the 47th President of the United States of America, am killing them. What a great honor it is to do so! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP"

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group for various Iran-backed militias (including groups like Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba), has claimed responsibility for "downing" the aircraft. They stated the action was taken in defense of Iraqi "sovereignty and airspace."

Iran has been intensifying its attacks on oil tankers, cargo ships, and other vessels in the Strait of Hormuz as its war with Israel and the United States continues, worsening an already historic global energy crisis. Since the conflict began two weeks ago, at least 16 vessels have been hit in and around the Strait of Hormuz, the Arabian Gulf, and the Gulf of Oman, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Centre, the primary contact point for ships in the region.

The attacks have already claimed eight lives, with four people reported missing and several others wounded, the International Maritime Organization said. Iran has taken responsibility for some of these strikes, which appear aimed at increasing the economic pressure following the US and Israeli offensive earlier this month.

Control of the narrow Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of the world’s oil supply passes, gives Tehran a significant strategic advantage. Reports indicate that Iran has also planted mines in the strait, further discouraging vessels from attempting passage and raising fears of even greater disruptions to global energy markets.

President Donald Trump said Thursday that he is no longer “interested” in winning the Nobel Peace Prize, expressing uncertainty over whether Operation Epic Fury would improve his chances with the committee in Oslo, Norway. Speaking in a phone interview with the Washington Examiner, he said, “I’m not interested in it,” and added that he does not discuss the Nobel Prize in his talks with foreign leaders.

This is a shift from his earlier statements, when Trump frequently highlighted his desire for the award. He had previously claimed credit for ending eight wars and expressed frustration that Norway, a NATO member, had not awarded him the 2025 prize. At the time, Venezuela’s opposition leader, María Corina Machado, the 2025 Nobel laureate, handed her award to Trump during a White House meeting — a move that drew criticism from the Nobel committee.

Trump emphasised that while the prize is no longer on his radar, what matters most, in his view, is that he has “saved millions of lives,” posting the remark on his Truth Social platform.

On March 12, Mojtaba made his first major public address, warning Gulf Arab states hosting US bases, including Qatar, Bahrain, and the UAE, that these installations must be closed immediately. He declared that any base used to facilitate strikes against Iran is a “legitimate target” while claiming that Iran seeks friendship with its neighbours and will only target American personnel and equipment, not the host nations. Since the February strikes, Iran has retaliated with hundreds of drones and missiles against US bases in Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq, and Jordan, and has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, sending global oil prices toward $100 a barrel. The conflict has already resulted in the deaths of over 3,000 Iranian military personnel and 1,300 civilians, highlighting the growing intensity of the regional crisis.

Australia is releasing 762 million liters of petrol and diesel from its reserves to help farmers and regional areas facing fuel shortages.

In Australia, farmers are facing soaring fertiliser prices due to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, caused by the conflict.

Meanwhile, over 250 US organisations have called on Congress to stop funding the US-Israel war on Iran. Robert Weissman, co-president of Public Citizen, said billions spent on war could instead be used to restore vital programs at home.

Groups signing the letter include the ACLU, Oxfam America, National Nurses United, Greenpeace, and several other civil and advocacy organisations.

Qatar Airways announced at least 143 flights between March 13 and March 17 to help stranded residents return home, despite the country’s airspace being officially closed. Destinations include cities across Asia, Europe, North America, and the Middle East.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) announced what it calls its 44th wave of attacks against Israeli and US forces in the region. According to Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency, the IRGC targeted “a multitude of missiles” at locations in the “north of the occupied territories.”

The cities reportedly hit include Kiryat, Shmona, Hadera, and Haifa in Israel. The attacks also targeted US bases in the region and the US Fifth Fleet.

A missile strike in northern Israel early Friday wounded dozens of people and damaged several buildings, authorities said, as Iran launched a fresh wave of missiles toward Israeli territory.

Fire crews responded to a direct hit on a structure in the Arab town of Zarzir, which caused a fire that was later extinguished. Israel’s emergency service, Magen David Adom, said about 30 people were treated, most with mild injuries, including a 34-year-old woman with a shrapnel wound and a 17-year-old girl hurt by broken glass.

“When we arrived at the scene, we saw damage to several homes and shattered glass,” MDA medic Eran Abo told CNN.

The strike came after sirens sounded in northern Israel, and the Israeli military reported missiles fired from Iran. Iran confirmed another wave of missiles toward Israel, while Hezbollah launched a simultaneous attack from southern Lebanon, according to state broadcaster IRIB. Both Iran and Hezbollah have targeted Israel repeatedly in recent days.

The US government issued a temporary license on Thursday allowing countries to buy certain Russian oil products already at sea, aiming to ease global energy shortages as Brent crude prices hover above $100 per barrel. The license applies only to shipments loaded by March 12 and will remain valid through April 11, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said. He stressed the move won’t significantly benefit the Russian government financially but could help increase supply in the short term

A fire broke out aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford, the US Navy’s newest and largest aircraft carrier, in the Red Sea on Thursday, injuring two sailors, the US 5th Fleet said. The blaze started in the ship’s main laundry area and was not related to combat, and it has been contained. Both injured sailors are in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries, and the carrier remains fully operational, Navy officials said