US & ‘Israel’ at war with Iran | Day 13 coverage

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard intelligence reportedly stated that the United States is seeking to use Arab countries as human shields and warned that Americans in the region could be monitored and targeted.

The report, carried by Tasnim news agency, advised Arab nations against hosting US personnel in hotels or being near their locations, urging caution amid rising regional tensions.

United States Embassy in Iraq has warned American citizens of increasing security risks in the country, urging them to review their safety measures.

In a statement, the embassy said many citizens face a real threat of kidnapping and advised them to avoid areas that could make them targets. Officials emphasized that leaving Iraq may be the safest option for many Americans amid rising tensions and security concerns.

Alert period ends in Jordan minutes after warning sirens were sounded.

Sirens sound in Jordan amid tensions.

The ‘Israel’ military announced the start of a new and intensive wave of airstrikes targeting Iran’s capital, Tehran.

In a statement, a military spokesperson said the large-scale attack aims to strike vital facilities linked to the Iranian government as part of a significant military escalation intended to undermine the country’s strategic capabilities.

The development comes as tensions continue to surge, with loud explosions reported across the capital amid reports that command centers and weapons depots were among the targets.

'Israeli' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the ongoing operation against Iran is continuing, describing the moment as “historic days” for the region.

In his remarks, Netanyahu said 'Israel' has achieved major gains that could shift the balance of power in the Middle East.

He also warned that the greatest threat facing 'Israel' originates from Iran, accusing Tehran of planning to destroy the country using ballistic missiles while attempting to develop a nuclear bomb.

Netanyahu added that Hezbollah would “pay a heavy price” for what he described as its aggression against 'Israel' as tensions across the region continue to rise.

Iranian air defenses intercepted aerial targets over the capital Tehran, according to Iran’s Tasnim news agency.

The Ministry of Interior in Bahrain has sounded the siren, warning citizens and residents to remain calm and proceed to the nearest safe location. Authorities are advising the public to follow safety protocols as precautionary measures amid regional tensions.

The United Arab Emirates’ air defenses intercepted 10 ballistic missiles and 26 drones coming from Iran on March 12, 2026, the Ministry of Defense reported.

Since the start of the ongoing Iranian assault, UAE defenses have neutralized a total of 278 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and 1,540 drones.

The attacks have resulted in six deaths, involving Emirati, Pakistani, Nepali, and Bangladeshi nationals, and 131 injuries ranging from minor to moderate among citizens of more than 25 nationalities, including Emirati, Egyptian, Sudanese, Ethiopian, Filipino, Pakistani, Iranian, Indian, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Azerbaijani, Yemeni, Ugandan, Eritrean, Lebanese, Afghan, Bahraini, Comorian, Turkish, Iraqi, Nepali, Nigerian, Omani, Jordanian, Palestinian, Ghanaian, and Indonesian.

The Ministry of Defense emphasized that UAE forces remain fully prepared to respond to any threats, ensuring national security, protecting sovereignty, and safeguarding critical infrastructure and resources.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense reported that it intercepted and destroyed a drone in the Rub’ al Khali desert that was headed toward the Shaybah oil field.

US President Donald Trump said Thursday that Iran should not participate in the upcoming World Cup in North America, just days after telling FIFA's chief they would be welcome despite the Middle East war.

"The Iran National Soccer Team is welcome to The World Cup, but I really don't believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety," Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Thursday called on regional countries to shut down any US bases that they host.

"I recommend that they close those bases as soon as possible, because they must have realised by now that the claim of establishing security and peace by America was nothing more than a lie," Khamenei said in a statement read by a news anchor on state TV.

A new analysis by the viral Professor Jiang Xueqin uses game theory to break down the confrontation between Iran, the US, and ‘Israel’. 

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps says it has carried out the 42nd wave of its Operation True Promise 4 under the slogan “At your service, Khamenei.” 

It added that it used Emad, Qadr, Kheibar Shekan, and Fattah missiles along with suicide drones.

The commander of the IRGC Navy also declared that Iran will keep the Strait of Hormuz closed in response to orders from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, warning that the force will deliver what he described as the “strongest strikes” against the attacking enemy.

Iran supreme leader said that vengeance is priority 'until fully achieved'.

Handout footage released by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) shows what it says was the "launch of wave #41 of Iranian missiles".

Handout footage released by the US Central Command (CENTCOM) on its X account shows what it says are US forces striking several Iranian planes.

Massive destruction after heavy overnight ‘Israeli’ strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs. The ‘Israeli’ military claimed it had carried out strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs overnight against Hezbollah, which had announced a major new operation against ‘Israel’.

Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said Thursday that they “have foiled attempts to divide the country,” in his first statement since assuming the leadership role following his father’s death in US-‘Israeli’ strikes.

Mojtaba Khamenei called for keeping Hormuz Strait closed, and called on regional countries to close US bases.

"We believe in friendship with neighboring states, but we are compelled to continue targeting US bases located there."

"We were attacked from enemy bases in neighboring countries, and we are forced to respond,” Mojtaba Khemenei said.

All-clear sirens sound across Jordan

Sirens activated in Jordan amid danger

Authorities in Dubai reported a "minor drone incident" on Thursday, as Iran continued its campaign against the Gulf in response to US-‘Israeli’ attacks.

"Dubai authorities are responding to a minor drone incident in the Al Bada'a area. No injuries have been reported," the Dubai government's media office said in a post on X.

The Gulf has borne the brunt of Iran's attacks since the Middle East war began on February 28, with 24 people killed in the region including seven US service members and 11 civilians.

Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei will issue his first message since his appointment "in a few moments", his official Telegram channel said, without specifying if it will be a recorded message or written statement.

"The first message of Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, the supreme leader of the Islamic revolution, will be released in a few moments," the channel said.

The message will address "the martyred leader of the revolution (Ali Khamenei), the role and duties of the people, the armed forces, executive bodies, the resistance front, as well as the countries of the region and dealing with enemies."

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Thursday they had targeted ‘Israel’ as well as US sites in the United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Kuwait.

"The gathering place of American forces on Sheikh Zayed Road (Dubai) and the location of American forces at Ahmad Al-Jaber Airport (Kuwait) were targeted," said the Guards' Sepah News website.

"The residence of American marines at Al-Dhafra base (UAE) and the mobile American bases in Iraq, along with the gathering place of Zionist executioners in Tel Aviv have been struck," it added.

Iran's foreign ministry spokesman accused the European Union on Thursday of "complicity" in the US-‘Israeli’ attacks on the Islamic republic.

"The European Union's indifference and acquiescence in the face of US and Israeli aggression, brutalities and atrocities amounts to nothing less than complicity," Esmaeil Baqaei said in a post on X.

‘Israel's’ military said Thursday that it had struck a site in Iran it claimed was being used by the Islamic republic to develop nuclear weapons.

"The Israeli Air Force, acting on precise IDF intelligence, struck an additional Iranian nuclear programme site," the military said, claiming the "Taleghan compound was utilised by the regime to advance critical capabilities for developing nuclear weapons".

The Taleghan compound likely refers to a facility in Parchin, southeast of Tehran, where US-based think tank the Institute for Science and International Security, which has been monitoring Iran's nuclear programme, recently claimed the Islamic republic conducts covert military activities.

Video posted on social media showing two oil tankers on fire off the coast of Iraq.

A series of explosions hit the Iranian capital on Thursday, Iranian state media said, with the war against ‘Israel’ and the United States in its 13th day.

Smoke was seen rising from western Tehran, and air defense systems were activated, according to Iranian media.

Iran's powerful parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned on Thursday that Tehran will "abandon all restraint" if the United States and ‘Israel’ attack any of its islands in the Gulf.

"Any aggression against soil of Iranian islands will shatter all restraint. We will abandon all restraint and make the Persian Gulf run with the blood of invaders," said Ghalibaf in a post on X.

It was not immediately clear which islands he was referring to, but a recent Axios report cited US officials as saying that capturing Kharg was on the table as the war in the Middle East spirals.

Police inspect the wreckage of an Iranian drone that crashed onto a street near the financial district of Dubai as people take shelter in a car park, a day after many companies evacuated following Iranian threats to bomb US and ‘Israel’-linked economic targets.

Dubai has reported a drone attack and fallen debris in two locations while Kuwait's airport was damaged in yet another strike on the facility during Iran's Gulf campaign in the Middle East war.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Thursday they had struck a Marshall Islands-flagged ship, which they claimed was US-owned, in the northern part of the Gulf.

On their website Sepah News, the Guards said the ship Safesea was "one of the assets of the US terrorist army" and that it "was hit in the northern Gulf after ignoring and not complying with warnings and alerts".

‘Israel's’ military said it began a new "wide-scale" wave of strikes across Iran on Thursday, on the 13th day of the US-‘Israeli’ war with the Islamic republic.

"The IDF has begun a wide-scale wave of strikes targeting Iranian terror regime infrastructure across Iran," the Israeli military said in a statement.

Authorities in Dubai reported a "minor drone incident" on Thursday after an AFP correspondent heard explosions in the city's downtown, as Iran continued its campaign against the Gulf in response to US-‘Israeli’ attacks.

"Dubai authorities are responding to a minor drone incident in the Al Bada'a area. No injuries have been reported," the Dubai government's media office said in a post on X.

Small clouds of smoke rose above the residential neighbourhood of Al Bada'a, which dissipated shortly after.

The Gulf has borne the brunt of Iran's attacks since the Middle East war began on February 28, with 24 people killed in the region including seven US service members and 11 civilians.

Drone strikes caused damage at Kuwait's international airport, authorities said Thursday, after the facility came under fire again during Iran's attacks against the Gulf.

"The civil aviation announces that Kuwait International Airport was targeted by several drones, resulting only in material damage," authorities said in a statement, adding that there were no casualties.

Plumes of smoke rise over Bahrain's Muharraq governorate after an Iranian attack targeted fuel tanks at a facility in the Bahraini governorate.

Bahrain told residents to stay home after an Iranian attack on fuel tanks on Thursday as Tehran carries out a campaign in the Gulf to disrupt global energy markets.

A huge blaze rages after an attack on fuel tanks in Bahrain that was blamed on Iran.

"The blatant Iranian aggression targets fuel tanks at a facility in Muharraq Governorate," Bahrain's Ministry of Interior posted on X.

Iran's army said Thursday it had targeted’ Israeli’ military bases and the security service Shin Bet as the war entered its 13th day.

"The Palmachim and Ovda air bases of the Zionist regime as well as the headquarters of Shin Bet were targeted by drones from the Islamic Republic of Iran's army," the military said in a statement carried by state television.

Jordan on Thursday strongly condemned the Iranian drone attack that targeted Salalah Port in the Sultanate of Oman. The strike caused material damage to fuel storage tanks at the port, posing a direct threat to energy supplies and maritime navigation.

Full solidarity with Oman

In an official statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said the Kingdom rejects and denounces these attacks, describing them as a blatant violation of Oman’s sovereignty and a dangerous escalation for regional security.

The ministry affirmed Jordan’s full support for Oman in all measures it takes to protect its territory and ensure the safety of its citizens.

Blasts were heard over Jerusalem on Thursday, after the ‘Israeli’ military detected missiles fired from Iran.

"A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran towards the territory of the State of Israel. Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat," the military posted on Telegram.

All-clear sirens sound across Jordan

Authorities in Dubai reported a "minor drone incident" on Thursday after an AFP correspondent heard explosions in the city's downtown, as Iran continued its campaign against the Gulf in response to US-‘Israeli’ attacks.

"Dubai authorities are responding to a minor drone incident in the Al Bada'a area. No injuries have been reported," the Dubai government's media office said in a post on X.

Small clouds of smoke rose above the residential neighbourhood of Al Bada'a, which dissipated shortly after.

The Gulf has borne the brunt of Iran's attacks since the Middle East war began on February 28, with 24 people killed in the region including seven US service members and 11 civilians.

Sirens activated in Jordan amid danger

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Thursday there had been an "attack" on an Italian base in the Iraqi Kurdish city of Erbil, but there were no injuries.

"I strongly condemn the attack on the Italian base in Erbil," Tajani said on X, without giving details. 

"I just spoke with the Italian ambassador to Iraq. Fortunately, all our soldiers are well and safe in the bunker," he said. Italy has soldiers in Erbil training Kurdistan security forces as part of an international coalition force.

The aftermath of a drone strike on a residential building in southern Kuwait, according to a statement by authorities.  

Video showing the immediate aftermath of an airstrike on an apartment building in the town of Aramoun, Lebanon, as the ‘Israeli’ military ramps up its attacks amid escalation with Hezbollah. 

‘Israel’ still has a broad range of targets it can strike in Iran, the military says, even as US President Donald Trump suggested there was little left for American forces to hit.

Plumes of smoke were seen rising from the vicinity of Bahrain Airport, Reuters reported.