The war is being framed as a major U.S.-Israeli offensive that has badly damaged Iran’s military leadership and capabilities without yet toppling the regime. Mojtaba Khamenei is reported wounded, thousands of targets have allegedly been hit, and Tehran is still staging visible displays of political defiance under bombardment. At the same time, the conflict is expanding across the broader region, with casualties in Iraq and Oman, missile and drone activity reaching multiple countries, and rising concern over the Strait of Hormuz. Even with some signs of shipping movement, the risk of wider escalation remains high.
Trump and Hegseth say the U.S. and Israel are hammering Iran, Mojtaba Khamenei is wounded, Tehran is still projecting defiance, Hormuz remains a flashpoint, and the war is spreading across Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and beyond. #Iran #US #Israel #StraitOfHormuz pic.twitter.com/d8TTHhbQgv
— Matthew Brady (@mattbrady775) March 13, 2026
- The U.S.-Israel war with Iran is described as entering day 14, with President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth saying Iran is being heavily degraded militarily and economically.
- Trump is quoted saying the U.S. is “totally destroying” Iran and that Iranian naval, air, missile, and drone capabilities are being decimated.
- Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is reported to be alive but wounded, damaged, and disfigured after the opening phase of the conflict killed Ali Khamenei.
- Hegseth says the U.S. and Israel have struck more than 15,000 enemy targets since the war began.
- Despite U.S. claims that Iranian leaders are hiding, several senior Iranian officials are said to have marched publicly in Tehran while explosions and smoke were visible in the city.
- A KC-135 refueling aircraft went down over western Iraq, and the final update says all six U.S. crew members are dead.
- Israel reportedly launched a new extensive wave of strikes on Tehran, while Iranian attacks are said to have included 11 cluster missiles that penetrated Israeli defenses.
- The conflict is widening across the region: two people were killed in Oman, Saudi air defenses intercepted drones, and NATO reportedly intercepted a ballistic missile headed toward Turkey.
- Oil prices eased slightly after India said one tanker exited the Strait of Hormuz, but strategic danger remains high because Iran is reportedly laying naval mines there.
- France and Italy are said to be in talks with Iran regarding safer Hormuz passage, while Germany says it does not want to join the war.
- In Lebanon, António Guterres called for a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah and urged a stronger Lebanese state monopoly on force.
- Israeli officials are said to believe Iran’s ruling system is unlikely to collapse soon, even after sustained strikes.
