USCentcom, who had earlier today said that only four of the six had died, again made clear that the crash was not caused by hostile fire or friendly fire.<\/p>\n
The identities of the members who died are being withheld their families can be notified, USCentcom said.<\/p>\n
This plane was Ithe fourth US aircraft lost since the US and Israel<\/a> began launching strikes against Iran on 28 February. Three US air force fighter jets were mistakenly shot down in a friendly fire incident by Kuwait air defences earlier this month. All crew members in those jets ejected safely.<\/p>\n Seven US troops have been killed in the conflict, while as many as 150 US troops have been wounded. The death toll in Iran<\/a> is more than 1,300, according to the country\u2019s UN ambassador.<\/p>\n Both Donald Trump and the US defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, have warned that the Iran war would probably claim more American lives before the conflict ends.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.27 EDT<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n Israel has issued evacuation orders for much of southern Lebanon<\/a>, instructing residents within 25 miles of the border between the two countries to head north. The order covers major Lebanese cities and dozens of villages.<\/p>\n The Guardian\u2019s William Christou reports from Nabatieh, a city in south Lebanon hit by Israeli strikes.<\/p>\n Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian also attended the al-Quds Day march in Tehran on Friday, waving and smiling at the other demonstrators at the annual rally in support of Palestinian rights.<\/p>\n Iranian state media released photos of Iran\u2019s senior leadership at the rally in an apparent show of strength. Earlier Friday, US defence secretary Pete Hegseth said Iran\u2019s leadership was \u201cdesperate and hiding\u201d. \u201cThey\u2019ve gone underground. Cowering. That\u2019s what rats do,\u201d Hegseth said.<\/p>\n Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends the al-Quds Day march in Tehran, Iran on 13 March 2026. Photograph: Anadolu\/Getty ImagesIranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends the al-Quds Day march in Tehran, Iran on 13 March 2026. Photograph: Anadolu\/Getty ImagesBlack smoke rises after an airstrike as Iranians take part in the al-Quds rally in Tehran on 13 March 2026. Photograph: AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a>All six crew members confirmed dead in US military refuelling plane crash in Iraq<\/p>\n All six crew members on board a US KC-135 military aerial refuelling plane that crashed in western Iraq yesterday have been confirmed dead, US Central Command said in an update Friday.<\/a><\/p>\n USCentcom, who had earlier today said that only four of the six had died, again made clear that the crash was not caused by hostile fire or friendly fire.<\/p>\n The identities of the members who died are being withheld their families can be notified, USCentcom said.<\/p>\n This plane was Ithe fourth US aircraft lost since the US and Israel<\/a> began launching strikes against Iran on 28 February. Three US air force fighter jets were mistakenly shot down in a friendly fire incident by Kuwait air defences earlier this month. All crew members in those jets ejected safely.<\/p>\n Seven US troops have been killed in the conflict, while as many as 150 US troops have been wounded. The death toll in Iran<\/a> is more than 1,300, according to the country\u2019s UN ambassador.<\/p>\n Both Donald Trump and the US defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, have warned that the Iran war would probably claim more American lives before the conflict ends.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.27 EDT<\/p>\n Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi posted video on X of Iranians reacting to an airstrike in Tehran during the annual al-Quds Day march for Palestinian rights.<\/p>\n He said their reaction \u2013 the video shows them yelling and gesturing defiantly toward the smoke rising in the distance rather than running away \u2013 is \u201cnightmare for aggressors\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cIranians will ALWAYS stand firm and NEVER cower before cowardly attacks,\u201d Araghchi said.<\/p>\n Proud and honored to have accompanied the Strong and Resilient People of Iran to mark International Quds Day. <\/p>\n Iranians will ALWAYS stand firm and NEVER cower before cowardly attacks. <\/p>\n Video: Reaction of demonstrators when Tehran was bombed today is nightmare for aggressors. pic.twitter.com\/0dtcHXMlTE<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) March 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Share<\/a> Oil tankers carrying Russian oil immediately rerouted to India when the US lifted sanctions, according to a senior risk analyst at Lloyd\u2019s List Intelligence, the London-based shipping intelligence publisher.<\/p>\n \u201cWe instantaneously saw ships, shadow fleet tankers, sanctioned ones, nonsanctioned ones, making U turns, diverting course,\u201d said senior risk analyst Bridget Diakun. \u201cThey were initially going towards Malaysia or to China, and they completely turned around and started heading for India. So India is at this point, able to outbid the buyers in China.\u201d<\/p>\n Diakun said the lifting of sanctions is \u201ca godsend for Russia\u2019s shadow fleet\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re in a position where now Russia can make a lot of money because it\u2019s given a pass,\u201d Diakun said.<\/p>\n Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday that the decision to lift sanctions against Russia was not going to help end the war in Ukraine, now in its fourth year, Reuters reports.<\/p>\n \u201cThis single easing by the US could provide Russia with around $10 billion for the war. It certainly does not help (to achieve) peace,\u201d Zelenskyy, who is visiting Paris, said during a joint press conference with French president Emmanuel Macron.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Air defences in the United Arab Emirates have intercepted 27 drones and seven ballistic missiles today, the UAE defence ministry said<\/a>.<\/p>\n Since the start of the conflict, UAE air defences have tallied 285 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles and 1567 drones heading into their territory.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.16 EDT<\/p>\n Israeli attack on bridge ‘is only the beginning’, says defence minister<\/p>\n Israel\u2019s military said it struck the Zrarieh Bridge spanning the Litani River early on Friday, in what appears to be the first time Israel has acknowledged attacking civilian infrastructure in Lebanon<\/a> since the conflict began.<\/p>\n Reuters reports that Israeli defence minister Israel Katz said on Friday that the Lebanese government \u201cwill pay increasing costs through damage to infrastructure and loss of territory\u201d until Hezbollah is disarmed.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is only the beginning,\u201d Katz said.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n During the press conference, Hegseth said there is no clear evidence that Iran<\/a> has placed new mines in the strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n The assessment by Hegseth contrasts with news reports earlier this week suggesting Iran had deployed about a dozen mines in the strait, the conduit for a fifth of the world\u2019s oil.<\/p>\n Asked about the possibility of mines in the strait, Hegseth said:<\/p>\n double quotation markWe\u2019ve heard them talk about it just like you\u2019ve reported recklessly and wildly about it. But … we have no clear evidence of that.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.21 EDT<\/p>\n Hegseth says success in the conflict is defined by \u201creaching the military objectives that we\u2019ve laid out\u201d.<\/p>\n He says the US has internal metrics that look at those objectives that are presented to president Trump, who decides how long he wants the campaign to continue.<\/p>\n The Pentagon chief is now drawing parallels with Bush and Obama, who he says were constantly expanding their mission objectives.<\/p>\n Asked about Tucker Carlson\u2019s comments about the war being \u201cdisgusting\u201d, he says the US will \u201cexecute on the mission, whatever people say about this\u201d.<\/p>\n That\u2019s all from the press conference.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.03 EDT<\/p>\n Asked about the air strike on a girls\u2019 school that left 175 people, mostly children, dead, Hegseth says he will not let \u201creporting lead us \u2026 the truth matters\u201d.<\/p>\n He says Centcom has designated an officer to investigate what happened \u201cfrom outside Centcom\u201d.<\/p>\n Hegseth adds that the fact of the probe taking place \u201cdoesn\u2019t mean anything more than that\u201d and reemphasises that the US does not target civilians, which he says is in contrast to Iran<\/a>.<\/p>\n double quotation markWe don\u2019t target, Iran does.<\/p>\n We will investigate, we will get to the truth and we will share it when we have it.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Hegseth says news reports that Iran<\/a> could launch a drone attack on California was \u201cbad reporting\u201d.<\/p>\n He says:<\/p>\n double quotation markThere\u2019s a lot of thing Iran has said it could for a long time, including engaging their proxies and getting them involved in the fight which they haven\u2019t been able to do.<\/p>\n So, we\u2019re watching that very closely.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.33 EDT<\/p>\n Hegseth asked about when the strait of Hormuz might become operational again<\/p>\n In response, the US defence secretary says \u201cthe only thing prohibiting traffic in the strait at the moment is Iran<\/a> shooting at shipping\u201d.<\/p>\n He says the US \u201chas a plan for every option\u201d and that it will not allow the strait to remain \u201ccontested\u201d.<\/p>\n On denying Iran\u2019s ability to pursue a nuclear weapon, he says that remains a \u201ccore mission\u201d.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.32 EDT<\/p>\n Caine says US artillery forces made history by firing the first precision-strike missiles ever used in combat \u201creaching deep into enemy territory\u201d.<\/p>\n He says he spoke to the crew he fired the first precision-strike missile, including one 20-year-old man who had only been in the army for six months and the unit for two.<\/p>\n \u201cI asked him to walk me through a fire mission, not just what they do but what they feel,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of them just looked at me and said \u2018it\u2019s awesome\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n General Dan Caine, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, starts by appealing for people to keep the airmen who crashed in Iraq \u201cin your thoughts\u201d.<\/p>\n He says more updates will be available throughout the day as the rescue mission continues.<\/p>\n Caine says Iranian combat power has continued to decline as a result of strikes. He says the US has hit 6,000 targets so far.<\/p>\n The Iranian navy has been rendered \u201cineffective\u201d, he says. However, Iran still has the capability to harm \u201cfriendly forces\u201d and commercial shipping, he says.<\/p>\n The US is prioritising targeting Iran\u2019s mine-laying enterprise, he adds.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Hegseth: Mojtaba Khamenei is wounded and ‘likely disfigured’<\/p>\n Hegseth turns to Iran\u2019s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei\u2019s first public statement yesterday and questions its legitimacy.<\/p>\n The defence secretary says:<\/p>\n double quotation markWe know the new so-called not-so-supreme leader is wounded and likely disfigured.<\/p>\n He put out a statement yesterday \u2013 a weak one actually \u2013 but there was no voice and there was no video. It was a written statement.<\/p>\n He called for unity\u2026 apparently killing tens of thousands of protesters is his kind o unity.<\/p>\n Hegseth questions why the supreme leader issued a written statement, adding:<\/p>\n double quotation markI think you know why.<\/p>\n He is now taking shots at media headlines, which he says do not paint a true picture of America\u2019s success in its war on Iran. \u201cWe\u2019re going up, they\u2019re going down,\u201d he says. \u201cPresident Trump holds the cards.\u201d<\/p>\n Friday will see the highest number of US strikes so far against Iranian targets, Hegseth tells the briefing.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.17 EDT<\/p>\n US defence secretary Pete Hegseth claims Iran’s military capability has been dramatically degraded<\/p>\n Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth<\/a> is now speaking to the media, updating on the latest on Trump\u2019s war on Iran.<\/p>\n He says the Iranian regime will only see the stars and stripes of the USA and Israel\u2019s star of David, which he describes as \u201ctheir worst nightmare\u201d.<\/p>\n Hegseth says Iran\u2019s missile volume is down 90%, while its one-way attack drones were down 95% yesterday. Iran<\/a> does not have the ability to build any more weapons, he adds.<\/p>\n The US is \u201cdealing with\u201d Iran\u2019s attacks in the strait of Hormuz and it is something that does not need to be worried about, Hegseth says, adding:<\/p>\n double quotation markTheir production lines, their military plants, their defence innovation centres; defeated. Iran\u2019s leadership is in no better shape.<\/p>\n Desperate and hiding, they\u2019ve gone underground, cowering \u2013 that\u2019s what rats do.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.21 EDT<\/p>\n Today so far<\/p>\n Four of six crew members on board a US KC-135 military aerial refuelling plane that crashed in western Iraq yesterday have been confirmed dead, US Central Command said Friday<\/a>. While the circumstances of the crash<\/a> are still under investigation, USCentcom made clear on Friday that it was not caused by hostile fire or friendly fire.<\/p>\n Donald Trump spoke with Fox News this morning, where he said that the US planned on hitting Iran \u201cvery hard\u201d over the next week, according to Reuters who heard Trump\u2019s comments. The comment echoed an earlier post<\/a> he had on Truth Social on Friday, in which he said: \u201cWatch what happens to these deranged scumbags today\u201d in reference to the Iranian regime. \u201cThey\u2019ve been killing innocent people all over the world for 47 years, and now I, as the 47th President of the United States of America, am killing them,\u201d he wrote. \u201cWhat a great honor it is to do so!\u201d<\/p>\n The Israeli military has launched a new campaign across Iran, the IDF said, with Iranian state TV reporting explosions heard across Tehran. The IDF said it has completed its most recent wave of strikes in Tehran, Shiraz and Ahvaz in Iran. The IDF had earlier issued <\/a>evacuation warnings for parts of Tehran and Qazvin, which is located about 144 kilometres (89 miles) northwest of the capital.<\/p>\n Iran\u2019s Revolutionary Guards have warned that any new protests against the authorities would be met with a stronger response than in January, when several thousand people were killed.<\/p>\n NATO air and missile defence assets have shot down an Iranian missile fired into Turkish airspace, Turkey\u2019s ministry of defence said on Friday<\/a>. \u201cAll necessary are being taken decisively and without hesitation against any threat directed at our country\u2019s territory and airspace,\u201d the ministry said in its statement.<\/p>\n![\"'Ghost](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1773415268_48_1793.jpg\")
‘Ghost town’: Lebanon city deserted amid Israeli airstrikes \u2013 video dispatchShare<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Daniel](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Daniel-Boffey,-L.png\")
Daniel Boffey<\/p>\n