https://sputnikglobe.com/20260313/live-updates-middle-east-tensions-mount-after-strikes-on-iran--day-14-1123817266.html

LIVE UPDATES: Middle East Tensions Mount After Strikes on Iran – Day 14

Sputnik International

The Middle East remains on edge as the conflict triggered by the February 28 US–Israeli strikes on Iran enters its 14th day.

2026-03-13T05:23+0000

world

middle east

east

iran

israel

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07ea/03/07/1123781339_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_e76467cea954ba3ac7bc7ccae89da63d.jpg

east

iran

israel

Sputnik International

feedback@sputniknews.com

+74956456601

MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“

252

2026

Sputnik International

feedback@sputniknews.com

+74956456601

MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“

252

News

en_EN

Sputnik International

feedback@sputniknews.com

+74956456601

MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“

252

1920

1080

true

1920

1440

true

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07ea/03/07/1123781339_171:0:2902:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_ea764982e3d73931980f5a58c62cfb75.jpg

1920

true

Sputnik International

feedback@sputniknews.com

+74956456601

MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“

252

Sputnik International

the middle east remains on edge as the conflict triggered by the february 28 us–israeli strikes on iran enters its 14th day.

LIVE UPDATES: Middle East Tensions Mount After Strikes on Iran – Day 14

05:23 GMT 13.03.2026

Being updated

The Middle East remains on edge as the conflict triggered by the February 28 US–Israeli strikes on Iran enters its 14th day.

The attacks, which targeted multiple Iranian sites and killed senior Iranian officials, sparked a major regional escalation and a wave of retaliatory missile and drone operations by Iran against Israeli and American positions across the Middle East.

Follow Sputnik's live updates for more!

Table of contents

05:22 GMT 13.03.2026

- Sputnik International, 1920, 12.03.2026

World

LIVE UPDATES: Middle East Tensions Mount After Strikes on Iran – Day 13

Yesterday, 05:04 GMT

New firstOld first

18:45 GMT 13.03.2026

US 'Blitzkrieg' Against Iran Fails, Washington Has No Strategy - Nebenzia

The US has failed in its "blitzkrieg" against Iran and no has no concrete plan for its military operation, Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia said on Friday.

"The blitzkrieg failed. The Iranian 'regime' as they call it, didn't collapse. The people didn't revolt against. It looks like there is no strategy for the US in this game," Nebenzia said in an interview with RT.

The the situation is "really dire," and Russia is calling for a political and diplomatic solution, he added.

18:34 GMT 13.03.2026

Israeli army announces the beginning of strikes on Tehran

16:41 GMT 13.03.2026

Germany, Norway Will Not Join US-Israeli Operation in Middle East - Leaders

Germany and Norway do not plan to join the US-Israeli military operation in the Middle East for the time being, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said on Friday.

"From my point of view, there is currently no grounds to consider military protection of waterways … Germany is not part of this war, and we have no intention of joining. Therefore, all our efforts are aimed at ending the war. This is precisely what we are discussing with both the US and Israeli governments," Merz said during a joint press conference with the Norwegian prime minister.

Merz said that the conflict in the Middle East did not serve anyone but, on the contrary, was harming many economically. He said the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz affected Germany's energy security. Store said that Norwegian shipping was, too, suffering greatly from the security situation in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.

"There are currently no plans for military operations there," the prime minister said.

16:29 GMT 13.03.2026

President Donald Trump attends a joint news conference with Ukraine's Zelensky - Sputnik International, 1920, 13.03.2026

World

Trump Claims US Has 'Virtually Unlimited' Ammunition, Operations Could Continue 'Forever'

15:23 GMT

16:29 GMT 13.03.2026

Hezbollah Says Launched Strike on Israeli Drone Control Base

Lebanese movement Hezbollah said on Friday that it had launched strike on an Israeli drone control base near the city of Safed.

"On Friday, Islamic Resistance fighters launched a rocket attack on the Gifaa drone control base, located east of the occupied city of Safed," the statement said.

12:56 GMT 13.03.2026

UAE Air Defense Intercepts 7 Missiles, at Least 27 Drones in 24 Hours - Defense Ministry

The UAE Defense Ministry said on Friday that its air defense systems intercepted seven missiles and at least 27 drones in the past 24 hours.

"The UAE air defence systems on 13th March engaged 7 ballistic missiles and 27 UAVs launched from Iran," the ministry said on X.

12:45 GMT 13.03.2026

Investigation of Iran School Strike Will Take as Long as Necessary - Hegseth

The US Central Command will continue its investigation of the strike on an Iranian girls school for as long as necessary, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said on Friday.

"The command investigation will take as long as necessary to address all the matters surrounding this incident," Hegseth said at a press conference.

The CENTCOM has designated an investigating officer to complete the investigation, Hegseth noted.

"The investigating officer is from outside CENTCOM and is a general officer," he added.

12:16 GMT 13.03.2026

Hegseth Says US, Israel Struck Over 15,000 Targets in Iran, Over 1,000 a Day

The US and Israel have been conducting over 1,000 strikes on Iran daily, with more than 15,000 targets hit, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said on Friday.

"Between our Air Force and that of the Israelis, over 15,000 enemy targets have struck. That's well over 1,000 a day," Hegseth said at a press conference.

12:09 GMT 13.03.2026

12:05 GMT 13.03.2026

President Donald Trump speaks at the Shield of the Americas Summit, Saturday, March 7, 2026, at Trump National Doral Miami in Doral, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) - Sputnik International, 1920, 13.03.2026

World

United States to Launch Very Powerful Strikes on Iran Over Next Week - Trump

12:04 GMT

12:00 GMT 13.03.2026

Israel Records Another Missile Launch From Iran, Interception Underway - IDF

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Friday that it detected a missile launch, and air defense systems were working to eliminate the threat.

"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 IDF said on Telegram.

11:20 GMT 13.03.2026

Launch of Missiles Intercepted by Turkey Carried Out by Third Parties - Iranian Ambassador

Iran believes that the launch of missiles intercepted by Turkey was carried out by third parties, Iranian Ambassador in Ankara Mohammad Hassan Habibollahzadeh said on Friday.

"It also remains a mystery to us.: how is this even possible? In our opinion, this could have been done by third parties," Habibollahzadeh said, as quoted by the the Yeni Safak newspaper.

Iran awaits the implementation of the proposal to investigate missile incidents in Turkey's airspace, the ambassador added.

11:05 GMT 13.03.2026

At Least One Killed in US, Israeli Airstrikes in Area of Mass Rally in Iran - Reports

At least one person was killed as a result of US and Israeli airstrikes in the area of a mass rally in Iran, the Iranian Press TV channel reported on Friday.

Shrapnel from the airstrikes killed an Iranian man who attended the rally, the broadcaster reported.

10:32 GMT 13.03.2026

Ballistic Missile Launched From Iran Intercepted Over Turkey for 3rd Time - Ankara

Another ballistic missile launched from Iranian territory has been intercepted over Turkey by NATO air defense systems, which is the third time since the start of the recent escalation around Iran, the Turkish Defense Ministry told Sputnik on Friday.

"A ballistic missile launched from Iran that entered Turkish airspace was neutralized by NATO air and missile defense forces stationed in the eastern Mediterranean," the statement read.

Ankara is holding consultations with Tehran to clarify the circumstances of the incident, the ministry said.

"All necessary measures will be taken decisively and without hesitation against any threat to Turkish territory and its airspace," it added.

09:59 GMT 13.03.2026

09:49 GMT 13.03.2026

Iran Strikes US Bases in Jordan, Bahrain, Iraqi Kurdistan Overnight – IRGC

The Iranian armed forces have launched overnight attacks on the US Muwaffaq Salti airbase in Jordan and US facilities in Bahrain and Iraqi Kurdistan, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Friday.

"The Muwaffaq Salti base, along with US bases in Manama and Erbil, were struck by powerful IRGC missiles and drones," the IRGC was quoted as saying by the ISNA news agency.

The Iranian troops conducted the 43rd and 44th waves of Operation True Promise 4 on Friday night, the IRGC added.

09:11 GMT 13.03.2026

Explosion Occurs Near Mass March in Tehran - Reports

An explosion occurred near a mass march in Tehran, Fars news agency reported on Friday.

Demonstrations dedicated to the Palestinian people's struggle against Israel are taking place in Iranian cities on Friday.

08:28 GMT 13.03.2026

Oil Refinery in Iraqi Kurdistan Suffers Limited Damage After Drone Strike - Reports

The Lanaz oil refinery west of Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan suffered limited damage in a drone strike, Reuters reported on Friday, citing security sources.

The refinery's operations continue, Reuters added.

07:50 GMT 13.03.2026

Israel Attacks Iran, Including Underground Facility for Storing Ballistic Missiles - IDF

Israel has simultaneously attacked Tehran, Shiraz and Ahvaz, including an underground facility for storing ballistic missiles, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Friday.

"Yesterday, the Israeli Air Force, acting on IDF intelligence, completed several waves of strikes on Iranian terror regime infrastructure in Tehran, Shiraz, and Ahvaz simultaneously. During the wave of strikes in Shiraz in southern Iran, the Israeli Air Force struck an underground facility used by the Iranian terror regime for producing and storing ballistic missiles, which were set to be launched toward the State of Israel," the IDF wrote on Telegram.

07:22 GMT 13.03.2026

IDF Announces Start of Series of Strikes on Iranian Government Facilities in Tehran

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Friday the start of a series of strikes on Iranian government facilities in Tehran.

"The IDF has just begun a wide-scale wave of strikes targeting infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime across Tehran," the IDF wrote on Telegram.