The U.S.-Iran war entered its 14th day on March 13, 2026, with two major developments rocking both the battlefield and the political landscape: a deadly KC-135 tanker crash in western Iraq and a Pentagon-ordered investigation into a devastating strike that hit an Iranian elementary school. Meanwhile, Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei issued his first public statement — and it was a fiery declaration of vengeance.
Here’s everything we know as Operation Epic Fury continues into its third week.
KC-135 Refueling Aircraft Crashes In Western Iraq — 4 Crew Dead
At approximately 2:00 PM ET on March 12, a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker — a critical aerial refueling aircraft supporting Operation Epic Fury — went down in western Iraq. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that four of the six crew members on board have been confirmed dead, with search and rescue operations continuing for the remaining two.
“The incident occurred in friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury, and rescue efforts are ongoing,” CENTCOM stated in a press release. A second aircraft was involved in the incident but managed to land safely.
Critically, CENTCOM confirmed the crash was “not due to hostile or friendly fire,” though pro-Iranian militia groups quickly claimed responsibility, alleging a “resistance missile” had brought down the aircraft. U.S. military officials have flatly denied these claims.
The crash brings the total U.S. military death toll to at least 11 service members since Operation Epic Fury began on February 28. The Pentagon confirmed Tuesday that seven service members had been killed in action prior to the KC-135 incident, with approximately 140 wounded — eight of them severely.
Pentagon Orders Independent Investigation Into Iranian School Strike
In what has become one of the most politically explosive incidents of the war, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on March 13 that he has appointed a general officer outside of Central Command to independently investigate the deadly strike on an Iranian elementary school that killed at least 175 people — most of them children.
The strike targeted the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ school in Minab, Hormozgan Province, during the opening hours of the war on February 28. For days, the U.S. government deflected questions about the incident. President Trump initially accused Iran of bombing its own school. Secretary Hegseth told reporters, “We, of course, never target civilian targets. But we’re taking a look and investigating that.”
But the evidence has mounted rapidly. The Associated Press reported on March 12 that outdated intelligence likely led U.S. forces to carry out the strike. New footage analyzed by expert investigative groups shows what appears to be an American Tomahawk cruise missile hitting a compound meters from the school. A preliminary Pentagon investigation, first reported by Reuters on March 6, pointed to “likely U.S. responsibility” for the strike.
The Minab school strike has become a flashpoint in global opinion about the war. Iran’s representative to the United Nations cited the incident while announcing that more than 1,348 Iranian civilians have been killed since February 28, with nearly 10,000 civilian sites hit — including roughly 8,000 residential homes.
Mojtaba Khamenei Issues First Statement As Supreme Leader — Vows Revenge
Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei — the 55-year-old son of Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the opening U.S.-Israeli strikes on February 28 — issued his first public statement on March 12. And it left no room for diplomatic interpretation.
In the fiery address, Mojtaba Khamenei vowed that Iran “will take revenge” for the U.S. and Israeli attacks. He declared that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz — through which roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply flows — must continue as a “tool to pressure the enemy.”
The Assembly of Experts selected Mojtaba as Supreme Leader on March 8, a move that opposition groups have called a “dynastic succession” designed to preserve a regime that has “lost all legitimacy.” Israel had warned beforehand that it “will not hesitate to target” anyone who participates in selecting a successor — a threat that went unheeded.
Mojtaba Khamenei’s ascension and defiant rhetoric signal that Iran has no intention of backing down, despite devastating losses to its military infrastructure. CENTCOM reports that over 5,500 targets have been struck, entire classes of Iranian warships have been eliminated, and approximately 80% of Iran’s air defense systems have been destroyed.
Strait Of Hormuz Crisis Deepens — Oil Markets In Turmoil
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have made good on their threat to choke global oil supplies. Several merchant ships have been struck in and around the Strait of Hormuz in recent days, and the IRGC has declared it will not allow “one litre of oil” to be exported from the Middle East while attacks continue.
Iran has also expanded its targeting beyond the strait. According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Iran launched projectiles targeting civilian and oil infrastructure in the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait on March 12 alone. Hezbollah has claimed 27 attacks targeting Israeli Defense Forces positions in northern Israel in just the past 24 hours.
The U.S. ordered a release from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve this week in a bid to calm markets, but oil prices remain wildly volatile. Global travel has been severely disrupted, with flights in and out of the Middle East halted and shipping rerouted to avoid both the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.
Russia And China Enter The Equation
The geopolitical dimensions of the conflict continue to expand. According to the Washington Post, three unnamed officials confirmed on March 6 that Russia has been providing Iran with the locations of U.S. military assets — including warships and aircraft — since the war began.
China, meanwhile, continues to supply Iran with precursors for solid rocket fuel to support its ballistic missile program. Open-source intelligence analysts reported on March 11 that the Iranian cargo vessel Barzin departed Gaolan Port in China, likely carrying missile fuel precursors, and is now en route to Iran.
Iran has fired over 500 ballistic and naval missiles and nearly 2,000 drones since February 28, according to Iranian state media. However, analysts note the rate of launches has slowed significantly, pointing to depleted missile stores and a possible strategy of rationing for a prolonged conflict.
FBI Warns Of Potential Drone Attacks On U.S. Soil
On the homefront, the FBI issued a startling alert to California law enforcement on March 12 about the possibility of Iranian-directed drone strikes on the West Coast. The warning came amid escalating fears that Iran could activate sleeper agents embedded in the United States to carry out retaliatory attacks on American soil.
Security experts have warned that critical infrastructure — power grids, military bases, and port facilities — could be targeted. The Department of Homeland Security has raised the threat level, and additional security measures are being implemented at sensitive sites across the country.
Where Things Stand On Day 14
Two weeks into Operation Epic Fury, the U.S. and Israel have dealt catastrophic blows to Iran’s military capabilities. The Iranian navy has been effectively destroyed. Air defenses are largely neutralized. Nuclear facilities have been targeted. The regime’s founder is dead, replaced by his untested son.
But Iran is far from defeated. The Strait of Hormuz remains contested. Proxy attacks continue from Hezbollah in Lebanon. Oil markets are in chaos. Civilian casualties are mounting on both sides. And now, the specter of attacks on American soil looms larger than ever.
The question haunting Washington, Tel Aviv, and Tehran alike: how does this end?
Israeli security sources told The Guardian on March 12 that the coalition attacked “with no clear plan for regime change” — a stunning admission that suggests the endgame remains undefined even as the bombs continue to fall.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as the situation evolves.