Intelligence feed

Events

Showing 1041–1060 of 1559 events tracked across the Iran conflict

2026-03-13

20 events

IDF launches 'extensive wave' of strikes across Tehran — highest-ever US-Israeli strike day

The IDF announced the start of a new 'extensive wave' of strikes across the Iranian capital Tehran, with more details expected. This aligns with Hegseth's earlier announcement that Friday, March 13 would see the highest number of US strikes against Iranian targets so far in the war. Quds Day marchers were still on the streets of Tehran as strikes commenced. Al Jazeera and Hindustan Times both confirmed the IDF announcement.

Tehran, Iran

HIGHMILITARY·12:30 UTC

IDF issues forced evacuation orders across Beirut — new wave of strikes on Lebanese capital

Israel issued forced evacuation orders across Beirut simultaneous with the new 'extensive wave' of strikes on Tehran. IDF attacks on the Lebanese capital have been expanding progressively — earlier on Day 14 strikes already hit the central government quarter and Lebanese University. The new evacuation orders signal a further widening of the Beirut operational zone. Defense Minister Katz had earlier threatened attacks on Lebanese government infrastructure that supports Hezbollah.

Beirut, Lebanon

HIGHDIPLOMATIC·12:15 UTC

Hegseth: Khamenei 'wounded and likely disfigured' — Iran missile volume down 90%, Friday highest-ever US strikes

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth held a Pentagon briefing claiming: (1) Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is 'wounded and likely disfigured,' noting his first statement was written with no voice or video; (2) Iran's missile volume is down 90% and one-way attack drones down 95% compared to yesterday; (3) Iran's production lines, military plants, and defence innovation centres are 'defeated' and Iran cannot build more weapons; (4) Friday will see the highest number of US strikes against Iranian targets so far. Hegseth said of Hormuz: 'don't need to worry about it — we have a plan for every option.'

Pentagon, Washington D.C.

HIGHDIPLOMATIC·12:00 UTC

UNESCO expresses concern for hundreds of heritage sites in Iran, Israel and Lebanon damaged or threatened by war

UNESCO told AFP on Friday that it was concerned about hundreds of historic sites in Iran, Israel and Lebanon that have been damaged or threatened by the war. The statement follows UNESCO's earlier specific concern about Golestan Palace in Tehran — a World Heritage Site damaged on March 1 when blast waves from airstrikes shattered windows and damaged centuries-old mirrorwork. Iran International and AP documented the damage from March 3 onwards. UNESCO had communicated the geographical coordinates of protected sites to all warring parties.

Paris, France

STANDARDDIPLOMATIC·11:00 UTC

Switzerland refuses two US military overflight requests — reviewing war classification under neutrality law

Switzerland has refused two US military overflight requests since the Iran war escalation, citing procedural reasons and unresolved diplomatic clearance requirements. Switzerland's Federal Council is also assessing whether the US-Israel-Iran conflict should be classified as a 'war' under Swiss neutrality laws — a designation that could broadly prohibit military overflights by belligerent states through Swiss airspace. The refusal signals Switzerland distancing itself from coalition operations and adds to European NATO tensions over the war.

Bern, Switzerland

HIGHMILITARY·10:30 UTC

IDF strikes rock Tehran during Quds Day mass rally — regime march continues amid explosions

Israeli airstrikes struck Tehran as Iran's regime organized mass Quds Day (International Al-Quds Day) rallies across Iranian cities. March 13 is the last Friday of Ramadan — historically Iran's largest pro-regime march day. Explosions were heard during the rally. The regime-organized marches continued in other parts of Tehran despite the strikes, as CNN reported 'blasts rock Tehran during mass rally.' The juxtaposition of pro-regime marching and ongoing IDF strikes offers a striking image of the regime's dual reality: projecting strength publicly while its military infrastructure is targeted overhead.

Tehran, Iran

HIGHMILITARY·10:00 UTC

IDF kills Daoud Alizadeh, Quds Force Lebanon branch commander, in Tehran

Israel reported it killed Daoud Alizadeh, the commander of the IRGC Quds Force's Lebanon branch, in an airstrike on Tehran. Alizadeh was responsible for coordinating Quds Force operations with Hezbollah in Lebanon. His death removes a key link in the Iran-Hezbollah command chain as IDF conducts simultaneous operations in Lebanon and against Iran. This is the highest-profile targeted kill in Lebanon-focused IRGC leadership since the start of the war.

Tehran, Iran

HIGHMILITARY·10:00 UTC

CENTCOM confirms all 6 KC-135 crew dead in Iraq crash — US conflict death toll rises to 13

US Central Command confirmed all six crew members of the KC-135 aerial refuelling plane that crashed in western Iraq on March 12 have been killed. Earlier reporting said 4 of 6 were dead. CENTCOM confirmed the crash was not hostile fire. This is the fourth US aircraft lost since Feb 28. US KIA total: 13 (7 hostile action + 6 KC-135 crash). 150 US troops wounded. Iran death toll: 1,300+ per UN ambassador.

Western Iraq

CRITICALMILITARY·09:30 UTC

Iran fires ballistic missile at Incirlik NATO base — NATO intercepts, debris lands in Dörtyol, Turkey

Iran fired a ballistic missile targeting Incirlik Air Base in southern Turkey — a major NATO facility hosting US nuclear weapons and troops. NATO integrated air defense systems intercepted the missile as it entered Turkish airspace. Debris from the intercept landed in Dörtyol, Hatay Province. Sirens sounded at Incirlik. Turkey asserted its right to self-defense and warned Iran against 'provocative' actions. NATO confirmed it has now shot down two Iranian missiles over Turkish territory. The US suspended its Adana consulate (near Incirlik) and evacuated staff.

Incirlik Air Base / Dörtyol, Hatay Province, Turkey

HIGHMILITARY·09:10 UTC

Hezbollah shells land near Serghaya, Syria — Damascus accuses Hezbollah, Syrian army mobilizes

Artillery shells fired from Lebanon landed near Serghaya, a town approximately 20 miles (32km) west of Damascus, according to Syrian reports. Damascus accused Hezbollah of the shelling. The Syrian Army announced it would coordinate a possible response with the Lebanese government and mobilized forces on the Lebanese border. This marks the first time Hezbollah fire has struck Syrian territory, opening a new geographic front and threatening to pull Syria into the conflict.

Serghaya, Syria (20 miles west of Damascus)

HIGHMILITARY·09:05 UTC

IDF strikes central Beirut government quarter — strikes expand beyond Hezbollah strongholds

Israeli airstrikes hit an area of central Beirut near Lebanon's government headquarters, known for its bars, restaurants and schools — parts of the city previously considered comparatively safe from Israeli operations. IDF stated it was targeting Hezbollah infrastructure. The expansion beyond Dahiyeh and south Beirut into the government quarter heightens fears of broader urban destruction in Lebanon's capital.

Central Beirut, Lebanon

HIGHMILITARY·09:00 UTC

IRGC announces shift to 1,000kg+ payload missiles only — abandoning saturation for high-impact penetration

A senior IRGC commander announced that Iran is now only firing missiles with payloads of 1,000 kg or more. AFP reported Iran's attacks as the "most intense and heaviest" since the start of the war. The shift signals a deliberate doctrinal change: abandoning the earlier saturation strategy (high volume, mixed payloads) in favor of high-impact penetration strikes designed to overwhelm and defeat layered air defenses rather than simply stress-test them. Larger warheads cause greater structural damage to hardened targets and are harder to fully neutralize even when intercepted.

Iran

HIGHMILITARY·09:00 UTC

IDF airstrike hits Lebanese University campus — 2 academics killed

An Israeli airstrike hit the campus of Lebanese University in Beirut, killing two academics, per Lebanon's state news agency. IDF did not immediately comment. The strike is part of a broader expansion of Israeli operations into parts of central Beirut once considered comparatively safe — including an area near the Lebanese government's headquarters known for bars, restaurants and schools. Lebanese University is one of Lebanon's largest public universities with campuses across the country.

Beirut, Lebanon

HIGHDIPLOMATIC·09:00 UTC

Axios: Trump privately told G7 leaders Iran is "about to surrender" — as Marines deploy and war escalates

Axios reported on Friday March 13 that President Trump told G7 leaders in a private virtual meeting on Wednesday March 11 that Iran is "about to surrender," citing three officials from G7 countries briefed on the call. Reuters confirmed the report. The private claim — made two days before the highest-ever US strike day and the deployment of 2,200 Marines — contradicts the ongoing military escalation and signals Trump believes the war is close to a decisive outcome, though Iran's new Supreme Leader continues to vow continued resistance.

Washington D.C. / G7 virtual

STANDARDMILITARY·08:41 UTC

Two drones crash near major Iraqi oil field — no casualties

Two drones crashed near a major Iraqi oil field on Day 14. No casualties reported. The incident follows Iran sustained campaign targeting Iraqi energy infrastructure including the Basra tanker attack that shut all oil terminals on Day 13.

Southern Iraq

HIGHDIPLOMATIC·08:30 UTC

US issues 30-day waiver on Russian oil sanctions to counter Hormuz-driven price surge

The Trump administration issued a 30-day waiver on Russian oil sanctions, applying only to sanctioned Russian oil already loaded on vessels at sea. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called it 'unfortunate' but necessary to counter the Hormuz-driven price surge. Sky News and others headlined this as a 'victory for Putin.' The move effectively benefits Russia economically while the US fights Iran — a strategic paradox driven by the Hormuz closure.

Washington D.C., USA

CRITICALMILITARY·08:00 UTC

Iran laying mines in Strait of Hormuz — confirmed by US officials and UK Defence Secretary

US officials confirmed Iran has begun laying naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz. UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated 'the reports have become clearer and clearer — the Iranians may have started mining in the strait.' Iran uses smaller boats for the operation, not naval vessels. Trump had earlier said 'we don't think so' when asked, but US intelligence sources and now the UK have confirmed the mining operation. The last time Iran mined Hormuz was during the 1980s Iran-Iraq War, when a mine struck USS Samuel B. Roberts.

Strait of Hormuz

HIGHMILITARY·08:00 UTC

Saudi Arabia intercepts 28 drones — breached airspace over eastern region and Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defense confirmed its air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 28 drones after they entered Saudi airspace — targeting the kingdom's eastern and central regions. A separate drone was also destroyed approaching the Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh. This is the second major Saudi intercept of Day 14, following the overnight 12-drone intercept. Saudi Arabia also destroyed ~10 drones over its eastern region in a third separate action.

Eastern Saudi Arabia / Riyadh

CRITICALMILITARY·07:40 UTC

IDF wide-scale wave strikes Tehran, Shiraz, Ahvaz — weapons facilities and IRGC command center

The Israeli military launched a wide-scale wave of strikes across three Iranian cities: Tehran and Shiraz targeted for weapons production and storage facilities; Ahvaz targeted for an IRGC command center. Evacuation warnings were issued for parts of Tehran and Qazvin. Loud explosions shook Tehran residential areas. IDF declared the wave complete at approximately 08:44 CET (07:44 UTC).

Tehran / Shiraz / Ahvaz, Iran

HIGHMILITARY·06:30 UTC

IRGC claims USS Abraham Lincoln struck by ballistic missiles — US denies, carrier operational

Iran's IRGC Navy claimed its ballistic missiles struck the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), causing 'heavy damage' and forcing the carrier to 'retreat from Gulf waters.' The US military rejected the claim, stating the Abraham Lincoln remains fully operational and continues to support Operation Epic Fury. The claim — verified or not — marks the first IRGC assertion of a direct carrier hit in the conflict.

Persian Gulf