Saudi Arabia says six drones intercepted Saudi Arabia’s Defence Ministry said its forces intercepted and destroyed six drones, including five in the kingdom’s eastern region and another over the Empty Quarter desert. The drones were shot down as Iran continues launching missile and drone attacks across the Gulf region, targeting US assets, military bases and commercial sites.
Israel says Iran launched missile barrage, sirens blaze The Israeli military said it identified missiles launched from Iran toward Israel, triggering the activation of defensive systems to intercept the threat. The Israel Defence Forces said the Home Front Command sent precautionary alerts to mobile phones in affected areas, urging residents to enter protected spaces and remain there until further notice. “The public is asked to act responsibly and follow the instructions—they save lives,” the military said.
Israel plans to expand operations south of Litani River, Axios says Israel is planning to expand its military operations in Lebanon with the aim of controlling the entire area south of the Litani River, according to Axios, which cited US and Israeli officials. The report said the move would be part of the ongoing military escalation in the region. An Israeli official told Axios that the army intends to carry out operations in Lebanon similar to those conducted in the Gaza Strip, saying the military could pursue a broader campaign to target Hezbollah positions in the south.
US bombs Iran’s Kharg Island The US has bombed military installations on Iran’s Kharg Island, close to the Strait of Hormuz, US President Donald Trump has announced. “The United States Central Command executed one of the most powerful bombing raids in the History of the Middle East, and totally obliterated every MILITARY target in Iran’s crown jewel, Kharg Island,” Trump said in a Truth Social post. "For reasons of decency, I have chosen NOT to wipe out the Oil Infrastructure on the Island," Trump added.
Six killed by Israeli missile attack in central Iranian village Six people have been killed in an Israeli missile attack on a village in the central Markazi province, Iran’s Fars news agency is reporting. Seven people were also injured in the attack, Fars reported.
'Suez moment': US missteps in Iran echo across East Asia to the Gulf and Europe US air defence systems and troops have been withdrawn from East Asia. Pleas for missile interceptors in the oil-rich Gulf have been " stonewalled ". Even an air base in Romania has been roped into the US-Israeli war on Iran .
Israeli strike on south Lebanon health centre kills 12 medics An Israeli strike on a health centre in southern Lebanon has killed 12 medical workers, the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health reported.
Qatar temporarily evacuates some areas Qatar’s Ministry of Interior has said that “a number of specified areas” are being evacuated “in the interest of public safety until the threat has subsided. ” In a post on X, the ministry urged “everyone to rely on official sources for information and to adhere to the issued instructions. ” The Ministry of Interior announces that the relevant authorities are evacuating a number of specified areas as a temporary precautionary measure, in the interest of public safety until the threat has subsided.
'Suez moment': US missteps in Iran echo across East Asia to the Gulf and Europe Submitted by Sean Mathews on Fri, 03/13/2026 - 20:57 The US is taking from allies in the Gulf, Europe and Asia to wage an ill-defined war that has raised questions of 'competence,' experts say The Royal Thai Navy shows smoke rising from the Thai bulk carrier 'Mayuree Naree' near the Strait of Hormuz after an attack on 11 March (Handout/Royal Thai Navy/AFP) Off US air defence systems and troops have been withdrawn from East Asia. Pleas for missile interceptors in the oil-rich Gulf have been "stonewalled". Even an air base in Romania has been roped into the US-Israeli war on Iran .
Friendship with UAE ‘stands strong’, Israel says Israel’s Foreign Ministry has thanked the UAE for its “invaluable assistance” in aiding the return of Israeli citizens from the country amid the war. “The friendship between Israel and the United Arab Emirates stands strong, proving its worth in times of peace and in times of war,” the ministry added.
Trump rejected Putin's offer to move Iran's uranium to Russia: Report US President Donald Trump rejected an offer by Russian President Vladimir Putin to move Iran's enriched uranium to Russia, as part of a deal to end the US and Israel's war against Tehran, Axios reported on Friday. Putin made the proposal in a phone call with Trump this week.
Closure of Strait of Hormuz could impact humanitarian operations, UN official warns Tom Fletcher, the United Nations undersecretary general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, warned on Friday that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route in the Middle East, could have an "immense impact" on humanitarian operations. "When ships stop moving through that Strait, the consequences travel fast. Food, medicine, fertilizer and other supplies become harder to move and more expensive to deliver," Fletcher said in a statement.
Hezbollah leader says Israeli threats to assassinate him are 'worthless' Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said in a speech on Friday that Israeli threats to assassinate him were “worthless”. "We have prepared ourselves for a long confrontation and they will be surprised in the field", he added. Israel launched an offensive against Iran-backed Hezbollah after it opened fire on 2 March to avenge the killing of Iran's supreme leader at the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran.
Up to 5,000 US marines and sailors dispatched to Middle East: Report Submitted by Yasmine El-Sabawi on Fri, 03/13/2026 - 18:32 The move suggests the US is not seeking to wind down its war on Iran, despite boasting of success US President Donald Trump, left, and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth arrive in Dover, Delaware, to receive the remains of American soldiers killed in Kuwait, on 7 March 2026 (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) Off A dispatch of up to 5,000 more American marines and sailors is headed to the Middle East, The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing unnamed US officials. US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is said to have approved a request from US Central Command (Centcom), the Pentagon's Middle East hub, for an amphibious ready group and an attached Marine expeditionary unit , which includes three warships and some 2,500 US Marines. The unit, per its dedicated website, contains F-35B Lightning II jets and also MV-22B Ospreys.
Explosions heard in western Tehran Explosions have been in western Tehran as the Israeli army announces it had begun “a wave of attacks against Iranian regime facilities throughout Tehran,” Al Jazeera is reporting. Iran’s Tasnim news agency also reported that explosions have been heard around Azadi Square, Nobonyad and other areas.
Israeli strike kills three in Gaza An Israeli air strike in Gaza killed three Palestinians, including two 17-year-olds, Palestinian medics said on Friday. As Israel expands its offensive across the region, violence continues in the West Bank and Gaza. Over the past 24 hours, Israel has used lethal force in Iran, Lebanon, Gaza, and the occupied West Bank.
Two gas tankers sail to India through Strait of Hormuz Iran has allowed two Indian-flagged liquefied petroleum gas carriers to sail through the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported, citing sources with direct knowledge of the matter. The incident is a rare exception, as the Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has prevented more than 1,000 cargo ships, mainly oil and gas tankers, from transiting the key maritime passage, disrupting global energy supplies. The Indian-flagged LPG tanker Shivalik crossed the strait under escort from the Indian Navy, two of the sources said, and the second vessel, Nanda Devi, was expected to clear in the next few hours.
Erdogan: Turkey will not get dragged into war after Iranian missile incidents President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that Turkey would not get dragged into the war between Iran, Israel and the United States, but that it was prepared for all threats after a third Iranian ballistic missile fired towards Turkey was intercepted, Reuters is reporting. "During this process, we are engaging in all preventative actions against any threats towards our air space, just as we did last night," Erdogan said at a Ramadan fast-breaking dinner. "Our main priority is to keep our country away from this pit of fire," he added.
Hegseth says Gulf states 'going on offensive' against Iran US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said that Gulf countries are “going on the offensive” as he argued that the US’s war on Iran is going in Washington’s favour. “The only thing that is widening is our advantage. Not to mention our Gulf allies stepping up even more now, going on the offence,” Hegseth said at a press conference on Friday.
Six Americans killed after US refuelling jet crashes in Iraq Submitted by MEE staff on Fri, 03/13/2026 - 15:58 The US has lost 13 soldiers since its joint war with Israel began on Iran US Air Force members conduct a pre-flight brief outside of a KC-135 Stratotanker, before an aerial refuelling mission at al-Udeid Air Base, in Qatar, in this undated handout picture released on 1 August 2019 (Chris Drzazgowski/US Air Force via Reuters) Off The US announced on Friday that all six of its soldiers aboard a KC-135 refuelling aircraft that crashed in western Iraq a day earlier have been killed. "The aircraft was lost while flying over friendly airspace March 12 during Operation Epic Fury," US Central Command, the Pentagon's Middle East hub, said on X. "The circumstances of the incident are under investigation.
