Updated on: Mar 13, 2026 7:19:31 AM IST
US-Iran war live updates: A plume of smoke covers the city skyline following reported Israeli strikes in the southern suburbs of Beirut, after an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, Lebanon,
US-Iran war live updates: A US military KC-135 aircraft on Thursday went down in Iraq, the Central Command said in a statement. Rescue operations have been launched to locate the plane and its crew. As per US Central Command, the incident took place in Iraq’s friendly airspace as part of military movement in Operation Epic Fury. “Two aircraft were involved in the incident. One of the aircraft went down in western Iraq, and the second landed safely,” said CENTCOM in a statement.
Iran’s new Supreme Leader defiant
Iran’s new leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, issued his first public statements Thursday, resolving to keep fighting, promising more pain for Gulf Arab states and threatening to open “other fronts” in a war that has already disrupted world energy supplies, the global economy and international travel.
The stance revealed by the Supreme Leader came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country’s attacks were creating conditions for the Iranian population to topple the government.
“It is in your hands,” Netanyahu said at a news conference, addressing the Iranian people. “We are creating the optimal conditions for the fall of the regime.”
Since the start of the war, US and Israeli strikes have targeted security checkpoints in Iran to undermine the government’s ability to suppress dissent, according to Armed Conflict Location and Event Data, the US-based independent monitoring group known as ACLED.
Saudi Arabia intercepts drones
Saudi Arabia intercepted dozens of drones entering its airspace, the defence ministry said Friday, as Iran carries out attacks on oil-rich Gulf countries in response to US-Israeli strikes.
“Twelve drones were intercepted and destroyed after entering Saudi airspace,” a ministry spokesperson posted on X, after authorities reported at least 16 other drones were also shot down.
Oil prices down
Oil prices dropped on Friday morning after the US issued a 30-day license for countries to buy Russian oil and petroleum products currently stranded at sea, easing supply concerns.
Brent futures dropped 71 cents, or 0.71%, to $99.75 a barrel by 0123 GMT, and U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was down 88 cents, or 0.92%, to $94.85.
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Iran’s new Supreme Leader defiant
Iran’s new leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, issued his first public statements Thursday, resolving to keep fighting, promising more pain for Gulf Arab states and threatening to open “other fronts” in a war that has already disrupted world energy supplies, the global economy and international travel.
The stance revealed by the Supreme Leader came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country’s attacks were creating conditions for the Iranian population to topple the government.
“It is in your hands,” Netanyahu said at a news conference, addressing the Iranian people. “We are creating the optimal conditions for the fall of the regime.”
Since the start of the war, US and Israeli strikes have targeted security checkpoints in Iran to undermine the government’s ability to suppress dissent, according to Armed Conflict Location and Event Data, the US-based independent monitoring group known as ACLED.
Saudi Arabia intercepts drones
Saudi Arabia intercepted dozens of drones entering its airspace, the defence ministry said Friday, as Iran carries out attacks on oil-rich Gulf countries in response to US-Israeli strikes.
“Twelve drones were intercepted and destroyed after entering Saudi airspace,” a ministry spokesperson posted on X, after authorities reported at least 16 other drones were also shot down.
Oil prices down
Oil prices dropped on Friday morning after the US issued a 30-day license for countries to buy Russian oil and petroleum products currently stranded at sea, easing supply concerns.
Brent futures dropped 71 cents, or 0.71%, to $99.75 a barrel by 0123 GMT, and U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was down 88 cents, or 0.92%, to $94.85.
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Mar 13, 2026 7:19:31 AM IST
US-Iran war live updates: Qatar condemns Israeli attacks in Lebanon
The State of Qatar strongly condemns the Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon, considering them a blatant violation of international humanitarian law and UN Security Council Resolution 1701, the foreign ministry said in a statement on Friday.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls on the international community to fulfil its responsibilities by compelling the Israeli occupation authorities to cease their repeated attacks on Lebanon and to respect international conventions and laws,” the statement said.
“The Ministry affirms the State of Qatar’s unwavering stance towards the Republic of Lebanon, its unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and its full support for all efforts that enhance its stability and prosperity,” it added.
Mar 13, 2026 7:15:44 AM IST
US-Iran war live updates: US says it hit 6,000 targets in Iran
The US has struck 6,000 targets in Iran during Operation Epic Fury, according to new numbers released by US Central Command.
They included about 60 ships and 30 minelaying vessels, the US said it had damaged or destroyed.
Other targets were command centres, weapons production facilities, ballistic missile sites, submarines and air defence systems in Iran.
Mar 13, 2026 7:11:50 AM IST
US-Iran war live updates: Fire on USS Gerald Ford leaves two sailors injured in Red Sea, US Navy says
A fire in the main laundry area of the US Navy’s newest and largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R Ford, has left two sailors injured, the Navy’s 5th Fleet said in a statement Thursday.
The fire is contained and not combat-related, and the 100,000-ton carrier remains fully operational, the statement said.
The injured sailors are in stable condition and being treated for non-life-threatening injuries, the Navy said.
Mar 13, 2026 7:04:12 AM IST
US-Iran war live updates: Oil prices drop after US nod on Russian crude
Oil prices dropped on Friday morning after the U.S. issued a 30-day license for countries to buy Russian oil and petroleum products currently stranded at sea, easing supply concerns.
Brent futures dropped 71 cents, or 0.71%, to $99.75 a barrel by 0123 GMT, and U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was down 88 cents, or 0.92%, to $94.85.
Mar 13, 2026 7:00:29 AM IST
US-Iran war live updates: Saudi Arabia says it intercepted dozens of Iranian drones
Saudi Arabia intercepted dozens of drones entering its airspace, the defence ministry said Friday, as Iran carries out attacks on oil-rich Gulf countries in response to US-Israeli strikes.
“Twelve drones were intercepted and destroyed after entering Saudi airspace,” a ministry spokesperson posted on X, after authorities reported at least 16 other drones were also shot down.
Mar 13, 2026 6:58:30 AM IST
US-Iran war live updates: New missile wave launched at Israel
The Israeli military said early Friday that Iran fired a new barrage of missiles toward Israel, instructing people in affected areas to head to shelters.
“A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel. Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat,” the military posted on Telegram.
Mar 13, 2026 6:56:30 AM IST
US-Iran war live updates: UN rights experts condemn US, Israel actions in Iran and Lebanon
Twelve independent UN human rights experts have issued a joint statement condemning the “ongoing military assaults on Iran and Lebanon by the United States and Israel as flagrant violations of international law”.
“The conflict risks engulfing the wider region in catastrophic armed violence and threatens to set yet another precedent of total impunity for some of the world’s strongest military powers,” the statement said.
Mar 13, 2026 6:54:18 AM IST
US-Iran war live updates: French soldier killed in Iraq’s Erbil, Macron says
France’s President Emanuel Macron has announced that a Chief Warrant Officer died during an attack in Iraq’s Erbil region that also injured “several” other French soldiers, and which he linked to the war with Iran.
Macron said in a post on X: “To his family, to his brothers in arms, I want to express all the affection and solidarity of the Nation”.
“Several of our soldiers have been wounded. France stands by their side and with their loved ones,” he added.
The president said French troops were based in Iraq as part of the fight against the ISIL (ISIS) group.
“The war in Iran cannot justify such attacks,” he added.
Mar 13, 2026 6:52:08 AM IST
US-Iran war live updates: Islamic Resistance in Iraq claims responsibility after US aircraft crash
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed armed factions, has claimed responsibility for downing a US KC-135 refuelling aircraft in western Iraq.
In a statement posted to its official Telegram channel, the group asserted that its fighters targeted the aircraft with air defence systems, causing it to crash.
Mar 13, 2026 6:45:37 AM IST
US-Iran war live updates: US military plane down in Iraq
A US military refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq on Thursday, in an incident US Central Command said involved another aircraft but was not the result of hostile or friendly fire.
The United States has deployed a large number of aircraft into the Middle East to take part in operations against Iran and the incident highlights the risk of operations, even over friendly skies.
In a statement, US Central Command said it was carrying out rescue efforts after the US KC-135 refueling aircraft went down. The second aircraft landed safely.
“The incident occurred in friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury,” the statement said, using the military name of the US operation against Iran.
A US official told Reuters the other aircraft involved in the incident was also a KC-135 and the one that crashed had as many as six service members on board.