US & ‘Israel’ at war with Iran | Day 14 coverage

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called on Saturday for neighbouring countries to expel US forces from the Middle East.

The US security umbrella in the region "has proven to be full of holes and inviting rather than deterring trouble," the top diplomat posted on X, adding that Iran called on its neighbors "to expel foreign aggressors".

Sirens blare in Jordan amid ongoing regional tensions.

An 'Israeli' official told the state broadcaster that ‘Israel’ intends to carry out attacks on Iranian nuclear sites soon. The remarks, reported by the 'Israeli' Broadcasting Corporation, indicate a possible intensification of military operations against Iran amid ongoing regional tensions.

A commercial vessel reported hearing the sound of an explosion near Sharjah port in the United Arab Emirates, according to maritime sources.

Former US special envoy Elliot Abrams said President Donald Trump could end the war on Iran in about two weeks if he chooses, during an interview with CNN. Abrams, who also served as senior fellow for Middle Eastern studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, outlined two possible scenarios for concluding the conflict: an uprising against the Iranian regime or Trump declaring the operation over after achieving military objectives.

“I think it’s more likely that he will just call it off,” Abrams said, arguing that once planned targets are hit, Trump may conclude the campaign rather than prolong it. He added that while many Iranians oppose their government, it is unclear how quickly any internal change would occur.

Turkey announced on Friday that NATO intercepted a third ballistic missile from Iran over its territory, hours after sirens sounded at Incirlik air base, a NATO facility near Adana hosting US troops.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Ankara’s “top priority” is to avoid being drawn into the Middle East conflict. “We are acting very cautiously against plots, traps and provocations that seek to drag our country into war,” he said, pledging an “appropriate and measured” response. “Keeping our country out of this fire pit is our top priority.”

The Defence Ministry confirmed the missile was neutralized by NATO air and missile defence assets. Residents reported hearing sirens at 3:25 am local time, and footage circulated online showing a fast-moving object in the sky. Analysts noted that visible fragments could be from the missile or its interceptor.

'Israeli' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has tasked former minister Ron Dermer with managing the Lebanon file during the ongoing war, according to US and ‘Israeli’ sources.

Dermer is expected to oversee communications with the US administration and handle negotiations with the Lebanese government if talks begin in the coming weeks.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has released footage showcasing the launch of its 45th major wave of missiles as part of "Operation True Promise 4".

The video depicts various medium and long-range ballistic missiles being launched from underground silos and mobile platforms across Iran. According to state media, this latest barrage is a direct response to the ongoing US-led aerial campaign and recent strikes on Iranian sovereign territory.

The United Arab Emirates has restored about 44 percent of its pre-war aviation traffic, the country’s General Civil Aviation Authority said.

The authority reported that airports across the UAE handled 1.4 million passengers between March 1 and March 12 as flight operations gradually resumed.

Airlines operating in the country have returned to roughly 44.6 percent of their pre-war capacity, the authority added, as aviation activity slowly recovers amid ongoing regional disruptions.

'Israeli' military sources reported that an Iranian ballistic missile launched overnight targeted central ‘Israel’ and was equipped with a cluster warhead.

The US State Department announced Friday a $10 million reward for information that leads to the location of Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Iran’s Supreme Leader. The initiative is part of Washington’s broader strategy to target key figures within Iran’s leadership amid escalating regional conflicts.

Iraq’s prime minister pledged to prevent further attacks after a French soldier was killed, according to official sources.

The prime minister emphasized that security forces will take all necessary measures to protect personnel and maintain stability amid ongoing war.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) has released unclassified thermal footage documenting a series of precision strikes conducted against military infrastructure across Iran. The footage shows the targeting of Iranian ballistic missile launchers, weapons storage facilities, and naval assets.

According to military officials, these strikes are part of an "overwhelming and unrelenting" campaign ordered by President Trump to neutralize threats to regional stability and international shipping lanes.

CENTCOM reports that as of today, approximately 15,000 targets have been struck since the war began on February 28. The latest operations focused on degrading the IRGC's ability to disrupt the Strait of Hormuz, which remains effectively closed.

Despite the heavy bombardment, the Pentagon maintains that AI-guided munitions are being used to ensure precision and minimize civilian impact, though independent reports continue to cite significant damage to non-military infrastructure in cities like Tehran and Shiraz.

A US–‘Israel’ strike on the Buin Zahra area in Qazvin province, west of Tehran, killed two people and injured five others, the Iranian Mehr News Agency reported.

Speaking from the heart of a massive demonstration in Tehran, Iranian official Ali Larijani delivered a sharp rebuke to both 'Israel' and President Donald Trump.

Larijani addressed the recent escalations, stating that the "Zionist regime" is acting out of terror and desperation rather than strength. He emphasized that the Iranian nation’s will only grows stronger under pressure, dismissing Trump's rhetoric as a failure to comprehend the "noble and powerful" nature of the Iranian people.

All six crew members aboard a US KC-135 refueling aircraft that crashed in western Iraq on March 12 have been confirmed deceased. The aircraft was lost while flying over friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury.

Officials said the circumstances of the incident are under investigation, but preliminary information indicates the loss was not caused by hostile or friendly fire.

The identities of the service members are being withheld until 24 hours after their next of kin have been notified.

Airstrikes carried out by US and 'Israeli' forces targeted the Javadiyeh area in southern Tehran, destroying seven buildings and damaging approximately 100 others, the Iranian Mehr News Agency reported.

An explosion was reportedly heard in Dubai, AFP correspondent on the ground said.

Sheikh Hassan Ghandour, an imam from the southern Lebanese town of Nabatieh al-Fawqa, has died after being injured in an Israeli strike, the National News Agency reported.

The agency said Ghandour succumbed to his injuries following Thursday’s attack on his home, part of ongoing Israeli military operations in the region.

Airlines around the world have either cancelled or limited flights to several Middle Eastern destinations as security concerns continue to disrupt regional air travel.

Airlines still operating (limited schedules)

A small number of major carriers continue to operate flights, though with reduced capacity or limited routes:

• Emirates – Operating a reduced flight schedule.

• Royal Jordanian – Flights will proceed provided the airspace is safe. 

• Etihad Airways – Running a limited schedule from Abu Dhabi to key destinations.
• Qatar Airways – Operating a limited flight schedule to and from Doha.
• Air India & IndiGo – Both carriers are maintaining heavy flight schedules to link Gulf countries (such as Jeddah, Dubai, Riyadh, and Muscat) with the Indian subcontinent, bypassing many of the regional disruptions.
• Ethiopian Airlines – It is currently serving as a strong alternative for long-haul travel, providing consistent routes to Dubai, Jeddah, and Riyadh via its hub in Addis Ababa.

Airlines that suspended or cancelled flights

Many international carriers have temporarily halted services to multiple destinations across the region:

• Aegean Airlines – Cancelled Tel Aviv, Beirut, Erbil and Baghdad flights until March 29; Dubai until March 28; Riyadh until March 14.
• airBaltic – Tel Aviv flights cancelled until March 28; Dubai until March 30.
• Air Canada – Tel Aviv cancelled until May 2; Dubai until March 28.
• Air Europa – Tel Aviv cancelled until March 20.
• Air France–KLM – Tel Aviv and Beirut cancelled through March 15; Dubai and Riyadh until March 14.
• Cathay Pacific – Dubai and Riyadh flights cancelled until March 31.
• Delta Air Lines – New York–Tel Aviv flights cancelled until March 31, with the route paused until Aug. 4.
• El Al ‘Israeli’ Airlines – Regular flights cancelled until March 19.
• Finnair – Doha and Dubai flights cancelled until March 29.
• ITA Airways – Tel Aviv suspended until April 2; Dubai until March 28.
• Japan Airlines – Tokyo–Doha flights suspended until March 21.
• Malaysia Airlines – Doha flights suspended until March 20.
• Pegasus Airlines – Flights to several regional destinations cancelled until March 31; Riyadh until March 23.
• Saudia – Flights to Amman, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Bahrain suspended until March 12.
• Turkish Airlines – Flights to Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Bahrain and Dammam cancelled until March 19; Iran until March 20.
• Wizz Air – Flights to ‘Israel’ suspended until March 29; Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Amman and Jeddah routes from Europe suspended until mid-September.
• Norwegian Air – Planning to resume Tel Aviv and Beirut flights on June 15.

Kuwait’s Interior Ministry announced a ban on plays, concerts, and wedding celebrations during the upcoming Eid al-Fitr holiday, citing precautionary security measures amid ongoing regional tensions.

In an official statement, the ministry said the decision comes in light of the “current circumstances the country and the region are going through” and as part of continued monitoring of security developments.

The ministry said the temporary ban aims to reduce large gatherings and strengthen public safety measures during the current period.

Video posted on social media on Friday shows an explosion near a Quds Day rally in support of Palestine in Tehran, Iran.

At least one person was killed on Friday in an explosion that went off close to the rally, Iran's official IRNA news agency said.

The United Arab Emirates said its air defense systems intercepted seven missiles and 27 drones launched from Iran on Friday, according to a statement from the country’s Ministry of Defence.

The ministry said the projectiles were detected and “dealt with” by Emirati air defense forces during the day, as the Gulf state remains on high alert amid escalating regional hostilities.

Iranian State TV shows President Masoud Pezeshkian greeting supporters and having selfies taken on the rain-spattered streets of Tehran at annual Quds Day rally in support of the Palestinian cause.

Other key officials attending in an open show of defiance included judiciary chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei, national police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, according to state TV images.

The United States and ‘Israel’ have struck more than 15,000 targets since the start of the Iran war late last month, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Friday.

"Between our air force and that of the Israelis, over 15,000 enemy targets have been struck. That's well over 1,000 a day," Hegseth told a news conference, adding that Friday would mark the highest volume of strikes yet in the campaign.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said Friday he believes Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei is wounded.

"We know the new so-called, not-so-supreme leader is wounded and likely disfigured," Hegseth told a press conference.

Khamenei issued a written statement on Thursday but has remained in hiding since taking over from his father Ali Khamenei, who was killed in bombing at the start of the US-‘Israeli’ war against Iran on February 28.

Iranian officials have confirmed the new leader is wounded but have given no further detail.

Iran launched a fresh salvo of missiles at ‘Israel’ on Friday, according to state television, on the 14th day of the Middle East war sparked by US-‘Israeli’ strikes on the Islamic republic.

Without providing details, state television announced "the start of a new wave of Iranian missile strikes on the occupied territories", a reference to ‘Israel’, which Tehran does not recognise.

US President Donald Trump tells Fox News on Friday that the United States is “going to be hitting Iran very hard over the next week”.

At least one person was killed on Friday in an explosion that went off close to an annual pro-government rally in Tehran marking support for the Palestinian cause, Iran's official IRNA news agency said.

No further details were given but the ‘Israeli’ army earlier called on people to evacuate two areas in the city centre of Tehran close to the site of the rally, on the 14th day of a war that is engulfing the Middle East.

Images of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Innovation One building in central Dubai after it was hit by debris from an intercepted attack, the government media office said.

Iran's national security chief Ali Larijani on Friday openly attended a mass rally in Tehran, dismissing the latest ‘Israeli’-US attacks on the capital as being "out of desperation".

"These attacks are out of fear, out of desperation. One who is strong wouldn't bomb demonstrations at all. It's clear that it has failed," Larijani told state TV while marching for the annual Quds Day rally in support of the Palestinian cause.

The attendance by Larijani was one of the most high-profile public appearances by an Iranian official since the February 28 strike that killed supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other top officials.

National police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan also attended, state TV pictures showed.

Turkey's defence ministry on Friday said a ballistic missile from Iran had been shot down in Turkish airspace by NATO defences, in the third such incident in just over a week.

"A ballistic munition launched from Iran and entering Turkish airspace was neutralised by NATO air and missile defence assets deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean," a ministry statement said.

Four US crew members were killed when an American KC-135 aerial refuelling aircraft crashed in western Iraq, the US military said Friday, adding that the incident was not caused by "hostile fire".

"Four of six crew members on board the aircraft have been confirmed deceased as rescue efforts continue," US Central Command (CENTCOM), which is responsible for American forces in the Middle East, said in a statement on X.

An investigation was underway into Thursday's crash, it added. "However, the loss of the aircraft was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire," it said.

US President Donald Trump said during a virtual G7 meeting on Wednesday that Iran is "about to surrender," crediting his Operation Epic Fury for eliminating a "cancer that was threatening us all,” according to a report by Axios.

He further remarked that "nobody knows who is the leader, so there is no one that can announce surrender," while previously mocking Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, as a "lightweight."

Khamenei issued his first public statement on Thursday, vowing to avenge Iran's "martyrs," open new fronts against enemies, and persist in threats to the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has intensified efforts to disrupt the vital waterway, with attacks on tankers driving oil prices above $100 per barrel and sparking fears of a global economic downturn - on day 14 of the war.

G7 leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and French President Emmanuel Macron, pressed Trump to swiftly end the war and secure the Strait.

Trump claimed the situation is improving and urged commercial ships to resume operations, but remained vague on US objectives, stating "we need to finish the job" to prevent another war with Iran in the next five years.

Massive explosions were heard in Central Tehran, according to state TV, shortly after the ‘Israeli’ military warned it would strike two areas in the Iranian capital Tehran, Villa and Moniriyeh, and told residents to evacuate.

A cloud of black smoke hangs over a central district of Dubai.

A building in central Dubai was hit by debris from an intercepted attack, the government media office said on Friday, after blasts shook the Middle East financial hub.

His Majesty King Abdullah II and the United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan discussed, in a call, the repercussions of the dangerous escalation in the region.

His Majesty expressed his condolences over the death of two UAE army personnel killed in the line of duty, and affirmed Jordan’s solidarity with the UAE, according to the Royal Hashemite Court (RHC) statement.

The ‘Israeli’ military on Friday warned it would strike two areas in the Iranian capital Tehran, Villa and Moniriyeh, and told residents to evacuate.

"In the coming hours, the IDF will operate in these areas, as it has in recent days across Iran, to strike military infrastructure belonging to the Iranian regime. Dear citizens, for your safety and well-being, we ask that you immediately evacuate the marked area," the army posted on its Persian-language account on X, attaching maps of the affected neighbourhoods.

هشدار فوری به کلیه افراد مستقر در نقاط ذیل:
• ناحیه صنعتی لیا در شهر قزوین
• منطقه ویلا در تهران,
• منطقه منیریه در تهران,
بر اساس ناحيه مشخص شده قرمز رنگ بر روی نقشه ضمیمه

 ارتش اسرائیل همچنان که در روزهای اخیر در منطقه تهران برای حمله به زیرساخت های نظامی رژیم ایران… pic.twitter.com/iVYGwBc9iy

— ارتش دفاعی اسرائیل | IDF Farsi (@IDFFarsi) March 13, 2026

Sri Lanka is repatriating on Friday the remains of 84 Iranian sailors killed when their frigate was sunk nine days ago by a US submarine, the Foreign Ministry said.

The seamen were killed when IRIS Dena was torpedoed on March 4 just off the coast of Sri Lanka, in a move that extended the Middle East war to the Indian Ocean.

"All domestic procedures have been completed, and the Iranians are bringing a chartered aircraft for the repatriation," spokesman Thushara Rodrigo told AFP.

"The 32 sailors who were rescued by our navy will remain in Sri Lanka."

The embalmed remains, in sealed boxes, are to be flown out of Sri Lanka from the Mattala International Airport in the south of the country, officials said.

The first batch of 46 bodies was already at the airport by Friday afternoon awaiting an Iranian chartered cargo plane, an official told AFP.

The bodies, which were plucked from the Indian Ocean, were taken to the Karapitiya Hospital in Galle, 115 kilometres (72 miles) south of the capital, where autopsies were carried out.

A local magistrate ordered that the bodies be handed over to the Iranian embassy in Colombo to be sent back to the next of kin.

There was no immediate comment from the Iranian embassy when contacted by AFP.

‘Israeli’ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that the joint US-‘Israeli’ campaign was "crushing" Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah. 

"We are crushing the terrorist regime in Iran, we are striking and crushing its agent Hezbollah in Lebanon," Netanyahu said in a televised media briefing.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards, the ideological arm of the country's military, warned on Friday that any new protests against the authorities would be met with a stronger response than in January, when several thousand people were killed.

"The evil enemy, failing to achieve its field battle goals, is once again pursuing the instillation of fear and street riots," the Guards said in a statement broadcast on TV, promising "a stronger blow than on January 8" in the event of new unrest.

The ‘Israeli’ military said it launched a new wave of strikes in Tehran on Friday morning, on the 14th day of its war against the Islamic Republic.

"The IDF has just begun a wide-scale wave of strikes targeting infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime across Tehran," the military said.

Large explosions shake Tehran: AFP

Two people died after security forces intercepted a drone in northern Oman, state media said on Friday, without giving further details.

Both victims in the incident at Al Awahi industrial area were expatriates, the Oman News Agency said, adding that other people were injured.

Saudi forces intercepted a drone targeting Riyadh's Diplomatic Quarter housing foreign embassies, the defence ministry said on Friday.

The "hostile drone" was downed "during an attempt to approach the Diplomatic Quarter", the ministry posted on X. 

Three more drones were intercepted elsewhere in Saudi Arabia around the same time, the ministry said.

‘Israel's’ military said Friday it had struck more than 200 targets in western and central Iran in the last day, including missile launchers and defence systems.

It said fighter jets carried out "20 wide-scale strikes" that targeted "ballistic missile launchers, defense systems, and weapon production sites."

A building in central Dubai was struck by debris from an intercepted attack, the Dubai Government Media Office said Friday, after explosions shook the Middle East’s financial hub.

An AFP correspondent reported hearing two blasts that rattled nearby buildings and sent a large cloud of black smoke rising above a central area of the city.

Siren were heard early on Friday at Turkey's Incirlik airbase, a key NATO facility where US troops are stationed near the southeastern city of Adana, state news agency Anadolu reported.

There was no immediate official comment on the incident, which took place four days after NATO air defences shot down a ballistic missile in Turkish airspace that was fired from Iran, the second in five days.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense reports the successful interception and destruction of three drones over the eastern and central regions.

The UAE’s Emergency and Crisis Management Authority reports that air defense systems are actively responding to a missile threat.

Dubai authorities report a minor incident after debris from an aerial interception struck the facade of a building in central Dubai; no serious injuries were reported.

Explosions rattled buildings in Dubai and a large cloud of smoke hung over a central area of the Middle East financial hub on Friday, AFP correspondents said.

According to 'Israeli' media, a rocket hitting the Zarzir area in northern Galilee has left 30 people injured, due to the latest wave of strikes launched by Iran. 

The IRGC announced that Wave 44 of its operation deployed precision and heavy missiles such as Khorramshahr, Khaibar Shikan, Fattah, and Emad.

The IRGC announced that the 44th wave of the ‘True Promise 4’ operation was carried out in memory of what they called "the martyrs of the Jerusalem path", including Qasem Soleimani, Hassan Nasrallah, Hachem Safieddine, Ismail Haniyeh, and Yahya Sinwar.

The operation targeted U.S. and 'Israeli' bases in northern occupied territories, including Kiryat Shmona, Khodira, Haifa, the U.S. Fifth Fleet, and other American military bases in the region."

'Israeli' emergency services say they are treating eight people with minor to moderate injuries following a rocket strike on the Zarzir area in northern Galilee.

'Israel' said on Friday that Iran fired a new wave of missiles toward 'Israel', instructing those 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 'Israeli' military wrote on its official Telegram channel.

Saudi Arabia intercepted 12 drones entering its airspace, the defence ministry said on 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 spokesperson for the defence ministry posted on X.

The CENTCOM spokesperson says the USS Abraham Lincoln is continuing its mission in the region, supporting operations against Iran, dismissing recent IRGC targeting claims as false.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier was targeted and is now retreating toward U.S. waters, according to their statement.

Iran’s Khatam‑al‑Anbiya, the central military engineering and strategic command of the IRGC that oversees Iran-backed forces and regional operations, claims responsibility for striking a U.S. aircraft in western Iraq, with reports indicating the crew has been killed.

CBS reports that six crew members were on board the U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft that crashed in western Iraq on Thursday. The condition of those aboard remains unknown.

The KC-135 went down in friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury, and rescue efforts are ongoing.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said a second aircraft involved in the incident landed safely, and the crash was not caused by hostile or friendly fire.

This is at least the fourth U.S. military aircraft to crash since the start of the U.S.-'Israeli' operations against Iran, following the accidental downing of three F-15 jets over Kuwait by friendly fire.

U.S. Central Command reports one KC-135 refueling aircraft went down in friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury in western Iraq. A second aircraft involved landed safely, and the loss was not caused by hostile or friendly fire.

French army confirmed that six of its soldiers were injured in an attack by Iranian suicide drones on a joint base near Erbil, Iraq.

The military said the personnel received immediate medical attention and that operations at the base continue.

About 47,000 Americans have returned to the United States since the outbreak of war in the Middle East, a U.S. State Department official said on Thursday, adding that roughly 50 flights had been organized to repatriate U.S. citizens.

The State Department has faced criticism over what observers described as a significant lack of planning after the United States and Israel carried out unprecedented strikes on Iran on Feb. 28. The department has since stepped up efforts to facilitate the return of Americans from the region.

According to the State Department, around 32,000 people were directly assisted in returning to the United States through dedicated government flights or commercial routes after the creation of a crisis response cell.

A department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the number of available seats on the special flights exceeded demand, noting that many Americans in the region opted to arrange their own travel back to the United States.

“We offered travel options to nearly every American in the region who reached out to us,” the official said.

In a departure from usual procedures, Americans were able to travel on the State Department–organized flights without paying the costs upfront. The department is funding the flights through an emergency fund.

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump had urged Americans to leave the Middle East quickly following the strikes, but faced criticism for not initially providing rapid means for citizens to return home.

In a separate statement on Thursday, the United States Department of State also advised U.S. citizens not to travel to Azerbaijan, citing concerns including terrorism, armed conflict and the risk of anti-personnel landmines.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry said an 'Israeli' airstrike on the southern town of Arki killed nine people, including five children, and wounded seven others.