This picture, taken a position in northern Israel, shows an Israeli Air Force fighter jet flying over the border area with southern Lebanon on March 13, 2026.
Jalaa Marey/AFP via Getty Images
Jalaa Marey/AFP via Getty Images
In recent developments, President Trump declared the U.S. military has “totally obliterated every MILITARY target in Iran’s crown jewel, Kharg Island.” This statement came amidst escalating tensions in the region.
Trump further stated on Truth Social that the decision to spare the oil infrastructure on Kharg Island was made “for reasons of decency,” but warned of reconsideration if Iran interferes with shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Situated 15 miles off Iran’s coast, Kharg Island is pivotal to Iran’s oil economy, with 90% of its crude oil exports passing through this location.
En route to Mar-a-Lago, the President remarked on the progress in Iran, noting significant “big hits” and “big wins” but remained non-committal about the war’s duration. He acknowledged the dire situation in Iran, describing it as “collapsing.”
Friday also marked the announcement from the U.S. military regarding the loss of a KC-135 refueling aircraft in Iraq, resulting in the death of all six crew members, elevating the U.S. death toll in the conflict to 13.
Operation Epic Fury, as described by the administration, has faced media scrutiny, yet Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth highlighted the success of joint U.S.-Israeli strikes, claiming more than 15,000 targets hit and injuries to Iran’s new supreme leader.
Trump’s online statements emphasized the comprehensive dismantling of Iran’s regime, both militarily and economically.
A woman looks at a building where an apartment was targeted by an Israeli airstrike in the Burj Hammoud area on the northern outskirts of Beirut on March 14, 2026.
Ibrahim Amro/AFP via Getty Images
Ibrahim Amro/AFP via Getty Images
The human cost has been severe, with more than 1,300 fatalities reported in Iran, 773 in Lebanon, and 12 Israeli civilians, alongside two Israeli soldiers in Lebanon. The aircraft crash over Iraq adds to the U.S. military’s toll, now at 13, with eight severely injured.
Displacement figures have soared, with millions affected by the ongoing fighting in Iran and Lebanon.
For more details, refer to the following updates on the conflict:
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U.S. casualties | More war ahead
U.S. casualties rise and additional Marines head to Mideast
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the loss of six crew members in a refueling aircraft incident over Iraq, unrelated to enemy fire, raising the U.S. death toll to 13. Concurrently, 2,200 U.S. Marines are set to deploy to the region.
The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, based in Okinawa, Japan, will join the conflict aboard the USS Tripoli, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.
— NPR’s National Security Desk
Officials brace for an end without a deal — and the risk of a “war routine”
With no signs of a negotiated settlement, a senior regional official anticipates another week of conflict. Concerns mount that Iran and its allies might adopt a sporadic attack strategy, leading to an ongoing “war routine” for Israel.
Israel is contemplating a broader ground operation in southern Lebanon but refrains from targeting civilian infrastructure, respecting U.S. views of Lebanon as a partner.
— Daniel Estrin, Carrie Kahn
Arezou Rezvani contributed to this report from Erbil in Iraq’s Kurdish region.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
