US refueling aircraft goes down in Iraq, Israel targets building in Beirut

A U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft went down in western Iraq, U.S. Central Command said Thursday, reported Xinhua.

"Two aircraft were involved in the incident. One of the aircraft went down in western Iraq, and the second landed safely," the command said on X.

"The incident occurred in friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury, and rescue efforts are ongoing," said the command, adding that it was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire.

In another development, British media reported earlier on Thursday that some U.S. troops were injured in drone strikes at a base in Erbil in northern Iraq that hosts both British and U.S. troops, citing British military officials.

Iraqi authorities said Thursday that two oil tankers were attacked within Iraqi territorial waters, prompting a suspension of operations at the country's oil terminals.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military announced on Thursday afternoon that it launched a new series of airstrikes in Beirut targeting Hezbollah targets.

Warnings were issued urging residents to evacuate specific buildings in the Bachoura and Zkak al-Blat areas before the strikes. The targeted building in the latter houses a branch of Al-Qard Al-Hassan, which Israel claims Hezbollah uses as a financial arm to fund weapons purchases and pay its fighters.

The warnings and subsequent strikes caused panic among residents and displaced families who had fled earlier Israeli attacks and taken refuge in central Beirut.

Meanwhile, Lebanon's Public Health Ministry reported Thursday that the death toll from Israeli attacks in Lebanon has risen to 687 since March 2, with 1,774 injuries.

It added that the number of paramedics killed reached 18, with 45 others injured.

Also on Thursday, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said the government is working to halt the ongoing war and ensure the safe return of displaced residents.

"We will work around the clock to stop this war and enable you to return to your homes as soon as possible, to a safe and dignified return," Salam said in a speech addressing the country's worsening humanitarian situation.

He also thanked Lebanese communities for hosting displaced families and expressed appreciation to friendly countries for providing humanitarian assistance to ease civilians' suffering.

Hezbollah announced the launch of rockets from Lebanon toward Israel at dawn on March 2 for the first time since a ceasefire was declared on Nov. 27, 2024.

Israel subsequently launched what it described as an "offensive military campaign" against the group, including heavy airstrikes targeting Beirut's southern suburbs and areas in southern and eastern Lebanon, as well as border ground incursions.

Meanwhile, Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said on Thursday its Navy has hit the headquarters of the U.S. Fifth Fleet in Bahrain's Mina Salman port with missiles and drones.

Announcing in a statement on its official news outlet Sepah News, the IRGC said it conducted two waves of attacks early Thursday, dealing "crushing blows" to the U.S. base.

It added that it carried out precision strikes with its kamikaze drones as well as cruise and ballistic missiles against an anti-drone system and a depot of remotely operated underwater vehicles, among others.

On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities, killing Iran's then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded by launching waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and U.S. bases and assets in the Middle East.

Iran's new supreme leader urges continued closure of Hormuz Strait

Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Thursday called for the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz and pledged to open new fronts in his country's conflict with the United States and Israel.

He made the remarks in his first message published on his website since Sunday's announcement of his appointment as Iran's supreme leader.

"The demand of the masses of people is the continuation of the effective and regret-inducing defense. Also, the lever of blocking the Strait of Hormuz must definitely continue to be used," Khamenei said, addressing the country's people and armed forces.

"Studies have been conducted on the opening of other battlefronts where enemy has little experience and will be extremely vulnerable, and their activation will take place if the war situation continues and based on considering the interests," he said.

Khamenei extended condolences over the "heartbreaking martyrdom" of his father, former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, saying he learned of the Assembly of Experts' decision to select him as Iran's new leader, like other Iranians, through state-run IRIB TV.

The new supreme leader praised the country's "brave" armed forces, who "have blocked the enemies' path with their crushing blows, and have dispelled their illusion of being able to dominate or possibly divide Iran."

He vowed to avenge the "blood Iran's martyrs," and said Iran will seek compensation from its "enemies." If refused, "we will take as much of their property as we determine, and if that would not be possible, we will destroy the same amount of their property," he said.

Khamenei said Iran is willing to have "warm and constructive" relations with all the 15 countries with which it shares land or water borders. However, due to the presence of the "enemy's" military and financial bases in some, Iranian strikes on those facilities will continue without attacking the neighbors themselves, he said.

He advised Iran's neighbors to shut down U.S. bases in their territories as soon as possible, "as they must have realized by now that the U.S. claim of establishing security and peace was nothing more than a lie."

On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities, killing Iran's then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded by launching waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and U.S. bases and assets in the Middle East.

U.S. and Israeli officials said they are preparing for at least two more weeks of strikes in Iran, with no internal directive on when fighting might stop, according to a Wednesday Axios report.

Iranian air force commander killed in targeted attack

Sardar Esmail Dehghan, the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force, was killed along with his wife and two children in a targeted attack in the central city of Arak, Iranian media reported on Thursday.

Daily brief about U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran: Day 13

The U.S.-Israeli-Iran conflict entered its 13th day on Thursday. Tensions escalate across the Middle East as Iran's new supreme leader threatens to widen the conflict, Israel prepares for expanded operations, and the United States describes its military action as both a "war" and a preventative "excursion."

Here is a brief overview of the latest developments and the regional crisis that has affected nearly all neighboring countries and beyond.

The United States

U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday the U.S. military operation in Iran is both a war and a short-term "excursion."

"You just said it is a little excursion and you said it is a war. So, which one is it?" Trump was asked by one of the reporters traveling with him in the U.S. state of Ohio.

"Well, it's both," Trump answered. "It's an excursion that will keep us out of a war, and the war is going to be, I mean for them it's a war."

Israel

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had instructed the military to "prepare to expand IDF (Israel Defense Forces) operations in Lebanon." He said the goal was to "restore peace and security to the northern communities."

-- The Israeli military said it had struck the Taleghan facility in Tehran, describing it as a site used in Iran's efforts to advance its nuclear capabilities.

It also struck Basij Force roadblocks and soldiers in Tehran. "The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) recently identified that soldiers of the Basij Unit had established roadblocks in several locations across Tehran," the military said.

The Israeli army also launched a new series of airstrikes in Beirut targeting Hezbollah targets.

Iran

In his first message as supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei has called for the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz and pledged to open new fronts in his country's conflict with the United States and Israel. He also pledged that his country will take revenge for the people killed in the Israeli-U.S. strikes and that all U.S. bases in the region will be targeted.

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) said that a Marshall Islands-flagged vessel linked to the United States had been struck in the Gulf after ignoring warnings from Iranian naval forces. The IRGC said U.S. "aggression" had created insecurity in the waterway.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said in a report that up to 3.2 million people are now temporarily displaced inside Iran as a result of the ongoing conflict.

Iraq

Iraqi Oil Minister Hayan Abdel-Ghani said the country will keep crude oil production at around 1.4 million barrels per day, less than a third of the level before the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.

Bahrain

Bahrain's Interior Ministry said four citizens have been arrested on suspicion of spying for Iran's IRGC.

The United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates (UAE)'s Ministry of Defense said a total of 278 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles and 1,540 drones have been intercepted since Feb. 28. To date, the attacks have killed six people and injured 131 others, it added.

The UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation said the country's labour market remains stable despite ongoing regional tensions, supported by an integrated work system, advanced digital infrastructure and government services.

Lebanon

Lebanese health authorities report that the death toll from Israeli strikes has risen to 687 since the outbreak of cross-border fighting.

Türkiye

In a speech at the presentation of the Ataturk International Peace Award to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Türkiye is engaged in "intense" diplomatic efforts to prevent a spillover in the war in the Middle East.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Iran's territorial integrity must not be questioned, warning against pursuing "regime change" in Iran.

Türkiye's Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources said the country will release 11.6 million barrels of crude oil from its strategic reserves as part of the International Energy Agency's largest-ever coordinated stockpile release.

Egypt

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held phone calls with his counterparts from Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, and Germany, urging a new comprehensive vision for regional security and efforts to end the U.S.-Israel war on Iran and Tehran's retaliatory attacks through continuous communication.