Iran-Israel War enters day 14: What we know so far
A strike on a base occupied by a former paramilitary coalition killed at least two fighters from an Iran-backed group in the suburbs of the Iraqi capital, two faction officials told AFP.
Here are the latest events in the Middle East war yesterday (12 March):
New missile wave launched at Israel
The Israeli military said early Friday that Iran fired a new barrage of missiles toward Israel, instructing people in affected areas to head to shelters.
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"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 military posted on Telegram.
Saudi Arabia intercepts drones
Saudi Arabia intercepted dozens of drones entering its airspace, the defence ministry said Friday, as Iran carries out attacks on oil-rich Gulf countries in response to US-Israeli strikes.
"Twelve drones were intercepted and destroyed after entering Saudi airspace," a ministry spokesperson posted on X, after authorities reported at least 16 other drones were also shot down.
US refueling plane crashes in Iraq
An American KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq while a second plane involved in the incident landed safely, the US military said.
"One of the aircraft went down in western Iraq, and the second landed safely. This was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire," said US Central Command, which is responsible for American forces in the Middle East.
Six French soldiers hurt
A drone attack wounded six French soldiers in Erbil, in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, France's military said Thursday.
The troops were "engaged in training activities on counterterrorism with Iraqi partners", a member of the general staff told AFP, adding that the personnel were taken to the nearest medical facility.
Iran vows vengeance
Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, whose father and other family members were killed in the opening strikes of the war on February 28, -- vowed Thursday to avenge the Iranian casualties in the conflict against the United States and Israel, according to a statement read by a presenter on state TV.
Khamenei himself was wounded in the strikes, according to some Iranian officials and state television, and his whereabouts and details of his physical condition are unknown -- leading Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu to call on him to "show his face."
Trump: war moving 'rapidly'
US President Donald Trump told reporters the war against Iran was moving "very rapidly."
"It's doing very well, our military is unsurpassed," he said at the White House, not directly responding to the latest comments from Iran's new supreme leader.
Israel strikes Basij force
Israel's military said it had struck checkpoints set up in Tehran by the Basij paramilitary force of Iran's Revolutionary Guards as part of efforts to undermine control by the authorities.
Later the Israeli military said it launched a new broad wave of strikes in Tehran on Thursday evening, pressing ahead with its campaign against Iran for a 13th day.
Two Iran-backed fighters killed in Iraq
A strike on a base occupied by a former paramilitary coalition killed at least two fighters from an Iran-backed group in the suburbs of the Iraqi capital, two faction officials told AFP.
Hormuz mines
Iran is not laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, its deputy foreign minister said, after Trump said US forces had struck 28 Iranian mine-laying vessels in the waterway.
He told AFP that Iran was allowing ships from some countries to cross the narrow shipping lane that has remained effectively closed during the war.
Beirut strikes
Israel continued striking Beirut as it threatened to expand operations and seize territory in Lebanon if the militant group Hezbollah did not stop its attacks.
AFPTV footage showed dark smoke rising into the sky above Bashoura, in the heart of Beirut.
IEA: biggest oil shock ever
The war "is creating the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market", as Iran's chokehold on regional supplies forces Gulf producers to slash production, the International Energy Agency said.
An IEA market report said crude oil production was currently down by at least eight million barrels per day.
Israel moves deeper into Lebanon
The Israeli military moved further into southern Lebanon, telling residents to "move immediately north of the Zahrani River", 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the Israeli border.
It said the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah had launched "approximately 200 rockets" towards it overnight, in what it said was the biggest barrage of the war so far.
