March 13, 2026 — LIVE UPDATES
The U.S.-Israel war against Iran, now entering its third week, has suffered a devastating new blow. All six American service members aboard a military refueling aircraft have been confirmed dead after the plane crashed in western Iraq on Thursday. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made a stunning claim at a Pentagon briefing Friday morning — that Iran's newly installed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is "wounded and likely disfigured" from U.S.-Israeli strikes.
Here is a full breakdown of everything you need to know from today's fast-moving developments.
KC-135 Crash: All 6 U.S. Crew Members Confirmed Dead
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed Friday that all six crew members aboard a KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft were killed when the plane went down in western Iraq on Thursday afternoon. The aircraft was operating in support of Operation Epic Fury — the name for the joint U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran launched on February 28, 2026.
"All six crew members aboard a U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft that went down in western Iraq are now confirmed deceased," CENTCOM stated in an official post on X (formerly Twitter). The military said the plane crashed at approximately 2:00 p.m. ET Thursday, near the town of Turaibil, along the Iraqi-Jordanian border.
CENTCOM stressed that the crash "was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire," and that the circumstances are under active investigation. U.S. officials told CBS News they believe the incident may have involved a mid-air collision with another aircraft, which landed safely and is not publicly identified.
Air Force General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, confirmed the crew was on a combat mission at the time, flying over friendly territory when the crash occurred.
America's Deadliest Day Since the War Began
The crash is the fourth publicly acknowledged U.S. aircraft loss since Operation Epic Fury began. The deaths bring the total number of U.S. service members killed since February 28 to at least 13 — six in Thursday's crash, six killed in an Iranian strike on Kuwait earlier in the conflict, and one who died in Saudi Arabia. An additional U.S. service member died from a health-related medical emergency in Kuwait. Another 140 U.S. troops have been wounded, with eight facing severe injuries.
The identities of the six crew members killed Thursday will be withheld until 24 hours after their next of kin have been notified, CENTCOM said.
"War is hell, war is chaos, and as we saw yesterday with the tragic crash of our KC-135 tanker, bad things can happen. American heroes, all of them." — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Pentagon briefing, March 13, 2026
Earlier in the war, three U.S. F-15E Strike Eagles were shot down in a friendly-fire incident involving Kuwait's air defenses, though all six crew members safely ejected in that case.
The KC-135 Stratotanker, which costs approximately $39.6 million, has been a cornerstone of U.S. Air Force refueling operations for more than 60 years. It can carry up to five crew members in standard configuration and more in medical evacuation roles.
Hegseth: Iran's New Supreme Leader 'Wounded and Likely Disfigured'
In one of the most dramatic claims of the two-week-old conflict, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters at a Pentagon briefing Friday morning that Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is "scared, injured, on the run, and lacks legitimacy."
Hegseth cast doubt on a written statement released Thursday purportedly from Khamenei, pointing out that the Iranian leader had not appeared on camera. "Iran has plenty of cameras and plenty of voice recorders," Hegseth said. "Why a written statement? I think you know why."
He went further, stating that the new supreme leader is "wounded and likely disfigured" as a result of U.S.-Israeli military strikes, adding: "His father: dead; he's scared, he's injured, he's on the run, and he lacks legitimacy. It's a mess for them. Who's in charge? Iran may not even know."
Mojtaba Khamenei is the son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the longtime Supreme Leader of Iran who was killed during the early stages of Operation Epic Fury. Mojtaba was rapidly installed as the country's new supreme leader in the chaotic days following his father's death, though his authority has been contested both inside and outside Iran.
Strikes Intensify: 'Highest Volume Yet' Over Tehran
Friday has seen the most intense aerial bombardment of the war so far, according to Hegseth. He told reporters that Friday would "yet again see the highest volume of strikes that America has put over the skies of Iran and Tehran — ramping up and only up."
Israel's military separately announced it had launched "wide-scale waves of strikes" on Tehran Friday morning. Residents of the Iranian capital reported what they described as nonstop explosions overnight, with homes shaking and windows rattling. Explosions were also reported in Dubai, where the UAE government said incoming Iranian missiles and drones were being intercepted. A strike in Tehran killed at least one person near large crowds marking Al Quds Day.
CENTCOM confirmed U.S. forces have now hit more than 15,000 targets in Iran since the conflict began.
Iran's security chief, Ali Larijani, fired back, saying Tehran would make the U.S. "sorry" for starting the war. "Trump says he is looking for a speedy victory. While starting a war is easy, it cannot be won with a few tweets," Larijani posted on X.
Strait of Hormuz: Hegseth Dismisses Concern
Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei declared Friday that the Strait of Hormuz — the critical waterway through which roughly 20% of global oil passes — should remain closed as a "tool to pressure the enemy." He also warned that all U.S. military bases in the Middle East should close immediately and that "those bases will be attacked."
Despite the alarming rhetoric, Hegseth appeared unconcerned. "As the world is seeing, they are exercising sheer desperation in the Strait of Hormuz, something we're dealing with. We have been dealing with it, and don't need to worry about it," he said at the briefing.
Oil prices have nonetheless surged since the conflict began, with Iran warning that prices could climb to $200 per barrel. Russia and the U.S. reached a limited agreement to ease Russian oil sanctions to offset supply disruption — a move condemned by Ukraine and G7 partners.
Trump: War Will End 'When I Feel It in My Bones'
President Donald Trump struck a defiant tone Thursday, posting on Truth Social that the U.S. has "unparalleled firepower, unlimited ammunition, and plenty of time." When asked by Fox News host Brian Kilmeade when the conflict would end, Trump said he would know "when I feel it in my bones."
Trump has previously declared that the U.S. has "won" in Iran, while simultaneously signaling the campaign would continue. Hegseth stated Friday that only Trump "will determine the pace, the tempo and the timing of this conflict."
Al Quds Day Rallies in Tehran Despite Bombs
In a striking show of defiance, hundreds of thousands of Iranians participated in the annual Al Quds Day marches across the country Friday — even as American and Israeli strikes hit nearby. Al Quds Day, observed on the last Friday of Ramadan, has been commemorated in Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution as a day of solidarity with Palestinians.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was filmed walking through the streets of Tehran with rally attendees. The head of Iran's powerful Judiciary, Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, was leading a prayer when a loud explosion was heard nearby. He paused, looked toward the blast, and then continued: "The people are not intimidated by these enemy attacks. They will in no way retreat from resistance."
The Human Cost: By the Numbers
- 🇺🇸 U.S. service members killed: 13
- 🇺🇸 U.S. service members wounded: ~140 (8 severe)
- 🇮🇷 Deaths in Iran: 1,444+ (Iranian Health Ministry)
- 🇱🇧 Deaths in Lebanon: 687+
- 🇮🇱 Israeli civilian deaths: 12+
- 🌍 Displaced persons (Iran + Lebanon): Millions
- ✈️ U.S. aircraft lost: 4 (including 3 F-15s, 1 KC-135)
- 🎯 Total targets hit by U.S.-Israel: 15,000+
What Comes Next?
U.S. and Israeli officials have given mixed signals about how long the conflict will last. A senior official in the region told NPR that Israeli leaders are preparing the public for a longer conflict — and for an end to strikes without a guarantee that the Iranian regime will fall.
Netanyahu acknowledged that toppling Iran's government from the outside is uncertain. "I won't deny that I can't tell you with all certainty that the people of Iran will topple the regime — a regime is toppled from the inside," he said Thursday.
Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pope, appealed Friday for Christian leaders involved in armed conflicts to "make a serious examination of conscience," without naming the Iran war or its leaders directly.
A Quinnipiac University poll from March 9 found that 53% of American voters oppose the military offensive against Iran, reflecting deep public divisions along partisan lines — with Republicans largely supporting the campaign and Democrats calling for an end.
As of Friday afternoon, there is no clear end date for Operation Epic Fury. The war is now in its 14th day with no ceasefire talks confirmed.
📡 Sources: U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), Pentagon briefing (March 13, 2026), CNN, NBC News, NPR, CBS News, Al Jazeera, CNBC, The Washington Post, TIME.
🔄 Last updated: March 13, 2026 — This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
🔖 Tags: Iran War, KC-135 Crash, Operation Epic Fury, US Military Deaths, Pete Hegseth, Mojtaba Khamenei, Strait of Hormuz, Iran War 2026, Breaking News
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