Trump says Russia's Putin helping Iran in war 'a little bit'

This live blog follows updates for Day 14 of the US-Israel war on Iran. For a recap of Day 13, go here.

8 killed in Israeli strike on south Lebanon village: Health ministry
At least one killed in blast during pro-government Tehran rally: State media
Iranian drone killed French soldier in Iraq's Kurdistan: Commanding officer
UN chief makes 'solidarity visit to war-battered Lebanon
US military says aircraft crash in Iraq killed 4 crew members

Heavy blasts heard in Tehran: AFP journalist

Published March 13, 2026 | 18:02 GMT

An AFP journalist reported heavy blasts in the Iranian capital Tehran on Friday, hours after Israel said it had launched a new wave of strikes on the city.

Earlier on Friday at least one person was killed by an explosion near a pro-government rally in Tehran, Iran's official IRNA news agency reported.

Keeping out of Mideast war 'Turkey's top priority': Erdogan

Published March 13, 2026 | 17:21 GMT

Keeping out of the Middle East war is Turkey's top priority, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday.

"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."

Iran military says destroyed 111 drones since start of Mideast war

Published March 13, 2026 | 16:34 GMT

Iran's military has destroyed 111 enemy drones since the start of the Middle East war, the Revolutionary Guard's Sepah News portal reported on Friday.

It said the Guards had destroyed an MQ-9 over Fars province and another aircraft in Tabriz, meaning "the total number of drones destroyed so far is 111 of various types".

It did not provide a breakdown of how many were cheap, one-way explosive drones versus more sophisticated multi-use aircraft such as the MQ-9.

Iran president says Israel, US want to break country apart

Published March 13, 2026 | 14:52 GMT

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said Friday the United States and Israel are seeking to break his country apart in their war against the Islamic republic.

"America and the Zionist regime pursue sinister intentions and goals to weaken and cause Iran and major Islamic countries to disintegrate," he said

Trump says Russia's Putin helping Iran in war 'a little bit'

Published March 13, 2026 | 14:35 GMT

US President Donald Trump said in an interview aired Friday he suspected Russian leader Vladimir Putin was aiding Iran in the war against the United States and Israel.

"I think he might be helping him a little bit, yeah, I guess. And he probably thinks we're helping Ukraine, right?" Trump said in an interview with Fox News Radio.

Air raid sirens in Tel Aviv after warning Iranian missiles fired: AFP

Published March 13, 2026 | 14:32 GMT

Several blasts were heard Friday after air raid sirens sounded in Israel's commercial hub Tel Aviv, AFP journalists said, following a warning from the military that missiles had been fired from Iran.

"The IDF (military) identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel. Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat," the Israeli army said.

Explosion heard in Dubai: AFP correspondent

Published March 13, 2026 | 13:48 GMT

An explosion was heard in Dubai on Friday, an AFP correspondent reported, as the interior ministry sent phone alerts warning of "potential missile threats".

"Air defense systems are currently dealing with a missile threat," the defense ministry later said.

Trump says US will be hitting Iran hard over 'next week'

Published March 13, 2026 | 13:32 GMT

US President Donald Trump said in an interview aired Friday US forces would be carrying out intense strikes against Iranian targets in the coming days, as the war that has cascaded throughout the Mideast region headed into its third week.

"We're going to be hitting them very hard over the next week," Trump told Fox News Radio.

Strait of Hormuz 'tactically complex environment: top US general

Published March 13, 2026 | 13:12 GMT

The Strait of Hormuz is a "tactically complex environment," top US military officer General Dan Caine said Friday, acknowledging the difficulty in acting on plans to escort traffic safely through the strategic waterway.

"It's a tactically complex environment. Before, I think, we want to take anything through there at scale, we want to make sure that we do the work pursuant to our current military objectives," Caine said.

US, Israel hit more than 15,000 targets in Iran war: Pentagon

Published March 13, 2026 | 12:45 GMT

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.

Pentagon chief believes Iranian supreme leader 'wounded'

Published March 13, 2026 | 12:15 GMT

Pentagon chief believes Iranian supreme leader 'wounded,' 'disfigured', AFP reported on Friday.

8 killed in Israeli strike on south Lebanon village: Health ministry

Published March 13, 2026 | 11:57 GMT

An Israeli strike killed eight people in a south Lebanese village near the port city of Sidon on Friday, according to the health ministry, which added that nine others had been wounded.

An AFP photographer on the scene saw paramedics working to evacuate people from the targeted building in the village of Miyeh w Miyeh. The building is part of a complex, most of whose residents are Palestinians.

At least one killed in blast during pro-government Tehran rally: State media

Published March 13, 2026 | 11:55 GMT

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.

Iranian drone killed French soldier in Iraq's Kurdistan: Commanding officer

Published March 13, 2026 | 11:55 GMT

France's first soldier to be killed in the Middle East war was hit by an Iranian drone, his commanding officer said on Friday.

Arnaud Frion, 42, was "killed by a Shahed drone strike on the position where he was located," said Colonel Francois-Xavier de la Chesnay.

President Emmanuel Macron earlier Friday announced the French soldier had lost his life in an attack in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, after France's military said drones on Thursday hit a base where troops were taking part in counter-terrorism training.

UN chief makes 'solidarity visit to war-battered Lebanon

Published March 13, 2026 | 11:55 GMT

UN chief Antonio Guterres said he had arrived in Beirut on Friday for a "solidarity" visit to Lebanon, where the Middle East war has claimed more than 687 lives since March 2.

Guterres is expected to raise awareness of the growing humanitarian needs in the country, with more than 800,000 people displaced since the conflict spread to Lebanon.

"I have just landed in Beirut for a visit of solidarity with the people of Lebanon. They did not choose this war. They were dragged into it," the United Nations secretary-general said on X.

"The UN and I will spare no effort in striving for the peaceful future that Lebanon and this region so richly deserve."

The UN said an emergency appeal for funds is to be launched during his visit.

The UN's migration agency said that it needed $19 million to cover operations over the next three months.

US military says aircraft crash in Iraq killed 4 crew members

Published March 13, 2026 | 11:55 GMT

A US KC‑135 aerial refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq, killing four crew members, the military said Friday, adding that the incident was not caused by "hostile fire."

A second plane involved in the incident, which the military said occurred at 2:00 pm Eastern Time (1900 GMT) on Thursday, landed safely.

"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 the crash, the command said, adding that "the loss of the aircraft was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire."

The deaths bring the number of US service members killed in the ongoing conflict with Iran to at least 11.

Iran's military said in an earlier statement carried by state TV that an allied group in Iraq had downed the aircraft with a missile, killing all its crew.

Iran's Larijani attends Tehran march, dismisses attacks

Published March 13, 2026 | 11:50 GMT

Iran's national security chief, Ali Larijani, on Friday openly attended a mass rally in Tehran alongside other top officials, 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.

Striking a defiant tone, he said US President Donald Trump "doesn't understand that the Iranian people are a brave nation, a strong nation, a determined nation. The more he presses, the stronger the nation's determination will become."

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.

Judiciary chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei and national police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan also attended the rally, state TV pictures showed.

Israel expands strikes on Lebanon, cuts bridge over Litani River

Published March 13, 2026 | 11:50 GMT

Israel expanded its strikes in Lebanon on Friday, targeting multiple areas, including a bridge over the Litani River that it said Hezbollah had been using as a passageway for its fighters.

The raids came after Israel threatened to also carry out a ground operation to disarm Hezbollah if the Lebanese government did not do so.

Hezbollah launched new attacks against Israeli forces on Friday, the 14th day of the Middle East war.

Israel targeted a bridge over the Litani River between the towns of Zrariyeh and Tayr Falsay, according to state media. The river divides southern Lebanon in two.

In a statement, the Israeli army described the river as a "key crossing" for Hezbollah "from northern to southern Lebanon, to build up its power and prepare for combat".

The attack is the first on Lebanese civilian infrastructure to be acknowledged by Israel since new fighting erupted with Hezbollah following US and Israeli strikes on Iran.

Turkey says third ballistic missile from Iran shot down

Published March 13, 2026 | 11:50 GMT

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

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

Four US crew dead after crash of refuelling aircraft in Iraq: US military

Published March 13, 2026 | 11:50 GMT

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".

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.

Islamic nations D-8 summit postponed due to Middle East war

Published March 13, 2026 | 11:40 GMT

An April summit of the D-8 bloc of Muslim-majority developed countries that includes Iran has been postponed due to the war in the Middle East, host Indonesia said Friday.

No new date was announced for the meeting that was to have stretched over four days, culminating in a leaders' summit on April 15.

Apart from Iran and Indonesia, the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation also includes Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey.

Referring to "developments since February 28," when the US-Israeli attacks on Iran started, Indonesian foreign ministry official Tri Tharyat said it was decided to hold the D-8 meeting at a later date.

"It is regrettable that there are still no visible signs of de-escalation," he told reporters in Jakarta.

"Last night, the foreign minister signed a letter addressed to his counterparts announcing the postponement of the D-8 summit," added Tri.

US ambassador to Iraq warns citizens of 'risk of kidnapping'

Published March 13, 2026 | 11:40 GMT

The US embassy in Baghdad has warned of a "risk of kidnapping" for its citizens in Iraq, as the Middle East war threatens American interests across the region.

"Iran and Iran-aligned terrorist militia groups pose a significant threat to public safety in Iraq," the embassy said in a statement on its website Thursday.

"There have been attacks against U.S. citizens, U.S. interests, and critical infrastructure," it said, adding: "Americans also face risk of kidnapping."

Last week, the US urged its nationals to leave Iraq, after it launched strikes with Israel against Iran on Feb. 28.

Massive explosions heard in central Tehran: State TV

Published March 13, 2026 | 11:40 GMT

Huge explosions rocked central Tehran on Friday, according to Iranian state television, which added that strikes had hit an area not far from where a pro-government demonstration was being held.

Earlier, state TV broadcast images of crowds gathering in Tehran and other major cities to mark Quds Day, the last Friday of Ramadan, in support of the Palestinian cause.

Explosion during pro-government rally in Tehran kills at least one person: State media

Published March 13, 2026 | 11:03 GMT

An explosion during a pro-government rally in Tehran killed at least one person, state media reported on Friday

Sri Lanka to repatriate remains of 84 Iranians killed in US attack

Published March 13, 2026 | 09:02 GMT

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 kilometers (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.

US refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq: US military

Published March 13, 2026 | 08:50 GMT

An American KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq while a second plane involved in the incident landed safely, the US military said Thursday.

"One of the aircraft went down in western Iraq, and the second landed safely. This was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire," US Central Command (CENTCOM), which is responsible for American forces in the Middle East, said in a statement.

Iran's military, however, said in a statement carried by state TV that an allied group in Iraq had downed the aircraft with a missile, killing all its crew.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed to have downed a KC-135. They also said they had targeted another plane that escaped.

Australia orders all 'non-essential' officials to leave Lebanon

Published March 13, 2026 | 08:40 GMT

Australia has ordered all non-essential officials in Lebanon to leave, Canberra's foreign minister said Friday, after issuing the same command to diplomats in Israel and the United Arab Emirates.

In a post on X, top diplomat Penny Wong said they had been ordered to depart due to the "deteriorating security situation".

"Essential Australian officials will remain in-country to support Australians who need it," she added.

The warning came hours after Canberra issued the same order to officials in Israel and the United Arab Emirates.

Canberra has said there are about 115,000 Australian nationals across the Middle East, of whom about 2,600 have returned home.

Nepal sells half-filled gas canisters due to war

Published March 13, 2026 | 08:40 GMT

Nepal has started selling half-filled cooking gas cylinders to curb hoarding and panic buying, officials said Friday, following import disruptions caused by the US-Israeli war on Iran.

The landlocked Himalayan nation of 30 million relies almost entirely on India for its fossil fuel needs.

About 90% of India's liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) passes through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic chokepoint where maritime traffic has largely stalled.

As supplies tighten, New Delhi has prioritized households, transport, and other essential sectors such as hospitals.

Nepal, however, said it still has sufficient gas but has reduced cylinder volumes to stretch the available supply.

"A decision was made to begin selling half-filled cylinders," government's Nepal Oil Corporation spokesman Manoj Kumar Thakur told AFP.

"Our supply remains intact but the war in the Middle East, and news of shortages, has caused resourceful consumers to buy more than they need," he added.

"This has meant that people who only have a single cylinder in their homes are not getting to buy. This way, our supply will reach more households."

Israeli army says launched new broad wave of strikes in Tehran

Published March 13, 2026 | 07:15 GMT

The Israeli military said it launched a new wave of strikes in Tehran on Friday morning, on the 14th day of its campaign 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 journalists

Published March 13, 2026 | 07:15 GMT

A series of powerful explosions shook Tehran on Friday, AFP journalists reported, on the 14th day of the United States and Israeli war on Iran.

The unusually intense blasts occurred around 10:00 am (0630 GMT) and shook the homes of two AFP journalists located several kilometers apart in the north and center of the capital.

Two dead as Oman thwarts drone attack: State media

Published March 13, 2026 | 07:15 GMT

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.

Iran Guards vow 'stronger' response than in January if new protests erupt

Published March 13, 2026 | 06:55 GMT

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.

Strikes target Gulf as French soldier killed in Iraq

Published March 13, 2026 | 06:55 GMT

Though France is not taking part in the US-Israeli bombing campaign against Israel, Paris has troops in the Middle East.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced Friday his nation's first soldier was killed during the war, in an attack in the Erbil region of Iraq that also wounded other soldiers.

Macron did not give details on the attack, or who was behind it, but France's military said earlier that drones hit a base where troops were taking part in counter-terrorism training with Iraqi counterparts.

France has said its stance in the war is "strictly defensive."

Saudis down drone targeting Riyadh's Diplomatic Quarter: Defense ministry

Published March 13, 2026 | 06:55 GMT

Saudi forces intercepted a drone targeting Riyadh's Diplomatic Quarter housing foreign embassies, the defense 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 says struck over 200 targets in Iran in past day

Published March 13, 2026 | 06:55 GMT

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 defense systems.

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

Sirens heard at Incirlik air base, key NATO facility in south Turkey: state news agency

Published March 13, 2026 | 05:31 GMT

Sirens 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 defenses shot down a ballistic missile in Turkish airspace that was fired from Iran, the second in five days.

Residents of Adana, which lies 10 kilometers (six miles) away from the base, were woken at around 3:25 am (0025 GMT) by sirens, which sounded for around five minutes, according to the Ekonomim business news website.

It said a red alert sounded at the base.

NATO said it shot down a second ballistic missile fired from Iran on Monday, prompting a stern warning from Turkey to Tehran not to take "provocative steps".

The announcement came shortly after Washington said it was closing down its consulate in Adana, urging all American citizens to leave southeastern Turkey.

Blasts heard, smoke seen over central Dubai

Published March 13, 2026 | 03:39 GMT

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

An AFP correspondent felt the building shake and heard a huge explosion.

Iran-linked Iraq group says French interests in region are targets

Published March 13, 2026 | 03:26 GMT

Iran-linked Iraq group says French interests in region are targets

Iranian media reports several explosions in Tehran

Published March 13, 2026 | 02:41 GMT

US and Israeli strikes hit parts of Tehran, Iranian media reported, adding that homes shook from the blasts.

"The intensity of the explosions was such that residents of these areas reported their houses shaking. No further details have been provided about the extent of damage or possible casualties," Iran's Fars news agency reported.

IRGC says ‘multitude of missiles’ launched in 44th wave of attacks

Published: March 13, 2026 | 02:32 GMT

The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has announced its 44th wave of attacks against Israeli and US forces in the region, Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency reported according to Al Jazeera.

The IRGC said it had targeted with “a multitude of missiles” locations in the “north of the occupied territories”, including the Israeli cities of Kiryat, Shmona, Hadera and Haifa, as well as US bases in the region and the US Fifth Fleet, Fars reports.

Trump says Iran war moving 'very rapidly'

Published: March 13, 2026 | 01:39 GMT

US President Donald Trump said Thursday the war against Iran was moving "very rapidly," even as Tehran's new leader vowed defiance in his first public message.

"The situation with Iran is moving along very rapidly. It's doing very well, our military is unsurpassed," Trump said at the White House.

"They really are a nation of terror and hate, and they're paying a big price right now," added the US leader, who was attending a Women's History Month event with First Lady Melania Trump.

Israeli military says missiles from Iran heading towards Israel

Published: March 13, 2026 | 01:23 GMT

Israel said that Iran fired waves of missiles toward Israel, with emergency services reporting that two were injured in the country's north.

"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 forces down drones after Iran vows to target oil resources

Published: March 13, 2026 | 00:22 GMT

Saudi forces intercepted more than two dozen drones after Iran vowed to attack oil resources in the Middle East and said it would maintain a chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz that has sent crude prices soaring.

Israel also came under attack Friday from missiles launched by Iran, with the Israeli military saying its air defenses were working to intercept them.

The previous day, Iranian security chief Ali Larijani took aim at Trump, saying that the war "cannot be won with a few tweets" and that "we will not relent until making you sorry for this grave miscalculation."

His comments came after Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, issued a defiant statement, his first since being appointed Sunday after the death of his father and predecessor Ali Khamenei in a strike.

Mojtaba Khamenei, who was reportedly wounded in the strike, has yet to appear publicly since his nomination, and his message calling for vengeance was read by an anchor on state television.

"The lever of blocking the Strait of Hormuz must definitely be used," Khamenei said of the waterway through which a fourth of the world's seaborne oil trade usually transits.

The strait, which also normally accounts for a fifth of the world's liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies, lies off Iran and is just 54 kilometres (34 miles) wide at its narrowest point.

Trump says Iran shouldn't come to World Cup for 'own life and safety'

Published: March 13, 2026 | 00:44 GMT

US President Donald Trump warned Iran's football team their "life and safety" would be at risk if they took part in the upcoming World Cup in North America.

Trump's comments came just two days after he told FIFA chief Gianni Infantino the Iranian players 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.

Air raid sirens in Tel Aviv after warning Iranian missiles fired: AFP