US troops LIVE: Trump sends ‘hundreds’ of Marines to Middle East as tensions rise
Donald Trump has ordered US Marines to the Middle East amid rising tensions as Iran steps up attacks in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Pentagon is deploying a Marine expeditionary unit along with additional warships to the region in response to the escalating situation.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth approved a request from US Central Command for part of an amphibious ready group and its attached Marine expeditionary unit, which usually comprises several warships and roughly 5,000 Marines and sailors, according to three US officials.
Death tolls rise as attacks across the Middle East continue
Multiple countries are reporting an increased death toll amid ongoing attacks in the Middle East, including:
- Lebanon: 773 people have been killed and 1,933 have been injured, the Lebanese health ministry says.
- Iran: At least 1,858 people have been killed, including 1,286 civilians and 199 military personnel, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reports.
- Israel: As of 10 March, 12 people have been killed by Iranian missile fire. Two Israeli soldiers have died in combat in Lebanon, the IDF said.
- US: 13 US soliders have died, including six crew members on a US military refuelling aircraft which crashed in western Iraq.
- Iraq: 27 people have been killed in airstrikes in Iraq since the start of the month, the country’s Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) says, the BBC reports. A French soldier was also killed in a drone strike in Erbil, which left six other service members injured.
- UAE: Six people have been killed since the start of the attacks across the Middle East.
- Oman: Two Indian nationals were killed in a strike in Sohar, according to India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
US sends huge warship, thousands of Marines and F-35 jets to Middle East
The US is sending a massive warship to the Middle East, according to a senior US official.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is sending the USS Tripoli and its Marine expeditionary to the region. It will bring thousands of marines, several assault ships, and F-35 fighter jets to back up American troops already stationed in the Middle East, the US official confirmed to Axios on Friday.
The move comes amid ongoing Iranian attacks targeting shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, which have driven up global oil, shipping, and insurance costs. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Thursday that US Navy escorts for commercial vessels could begin “soon,” noting that the disruptions have already cost the US $11 billion (£8.24).
Read more: Trump deploys thousands of US Marines to Middle East
US issues reward of up to $10 million for information on Iranian leaders
The US Department of State’s Rewards for Justice programme is asking for information on “Iranian terrorist leaders” – including new leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei. A reward of up to $10 million has been issued by the State Department, with those offering information also eligible for “relocation”.
“These individuals command and direct various elements of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which plans, organises and executes terrorism around the world,” the poster says.
The US has asked for information on:
- Minister of Intelligence, Esmail Khatib
- Deputy Chief of Staff, Ali Asghar Hejazi
- Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi
- Brigadier General Eskandar Momeni
- Secretary to the Supreme Council, Ali Larijani
Huge blaze breaks out near Tel Aviv after Iranian strike
A massive fire has erupted on the outskirts of Tel Aviv after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it launched joint missile attacks on Israel with Hezbollah, according to Iranian state media.
Images from the scene show fire crews working to extinguish the fire as black smoke billows from the site.
‘Our leaders are with the people, the US’s leaders are on Epstein’s island’
An Iranian official has hit back at Pentagon chief Hegseth’s claim that Iranian leaders are hiding “like rats”.
Ali Larijani, Iran’s national security chief, said several top officials, including President Pezeshkian, made public appearances at a rally in Tehran today.
“Mr. Hegseth! Our leaders have been, and still are, among the people. But your leaders? On Epstein’s island!” he wrote on X.
Mr. Hegseth! Our leaders have been, and still are, among the people. But your leaders? On Epstein’s island! https://t.co/iywavTegyv pic.twitter.com/rxFhzsWoq5
— Ali Larijani | علی لاریجانی (@alilarijani_ir) March 13, 2026
MoD: Britain shot down ‘multiple drones overnight’
The Ministry of Defence says Britain shot down “multiple drones overnight” following strikes on coalition bases in Iraq.
On Wednesday, a base housing UK and US forces in Iraq’s Erbil region came under attack. A French soldier was killed in a drone attack in the area last night.
The ministry said UK Typhoon jets flew air defence operations over Bahrain for the first time. “British Typhoon and F-35 jets are now flying in defence of British interests and allies across Qatar, Cyprus, UAE, Jordan, and Bahrain,” it said.
Trump is ‘not smart enough,’ says Iranian leader at Al Quds protests
Iranian leaders have attended today’s Al Quds Day protests in Tehran, Iran’s state TV reports. Among the crowds were foreign minister Abbas Araghchi and national security chief Ali Larijani.
Responding to reports of a US-Israeli attack near the protests, Larijani said the alleged “attack on the march route” indicated Israel’s “desperation”.
“Trump is not smart enough to see that the Iranian nation is mature, strong and determined,” he added. “The more pressure the US exerts, the stronger the people’s will becomes.”
Iran launches joint attack on Israel with Hezbollah
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have launched a joint attack on Israel with Hezbollah, Iranian state-linked news agency Tasmin reports.
It comes after air alerts rang through Tel Aviv, central Israel and parts of the occupied West Bank.
“You must enter the protected areas upon receiving the warning, and remain there until further notice,” the IDF warned earlier.
Zelensky: Easing sanctions ‘strengthens Russia’s position’
Volodymyr Zelensky has said that the US’ decision to ease sanctions on Russian oil will only “strengthen” Russia’s position.
“It spends the money from energy sales on weapons, and all of this is then used against us,” he said. “We hear signals that this is meant to stabilise the situation, but in my view, the logic is completely different. The reality is that Russia spends this money on weapons – primarily on drones, which are being used massively against Ukrainians.”
He said intelligence reports show “these same drones are also being used against Iran’s neighbours, countries in the Middle East, as well as against Europeans and Americans whose forces are present at various bases there.
“Therefore, ultimately lifting sanctions only so that more drones will later be flying at you is, in my opinion, not the right decision.”
Switzerland refuses US military overflight
Switzerland has rejected two requests from the US military to fly through its airspace amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
The Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation said the applications were refused for “procedural reasons”, as they required further clarification and could not be approved within the required timeframe. The country’s Federal Council is still examining whether the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran legally qualifies as a war under its neutrality law.
Foreign militaries must obtain diplomatic clearance to send flights through Swiss airspace.
Lebanon’s president says Israel has ‘not responded’ to a request for negotiations
Joseph Aoun, the president of Lebanon has said he has not received a response to his proposal for direct negotiation with Israel.
“I expressed my readiness to negotiate, but until now we have not received a response from the other side,” says Joseph Aoun in a statement after meeting with UN Secretary General António Guterres in Beirut.
Mr Aoun slammed “Israeli aggressions” and says they “must be halted”.
UN chief Guterres has called on Israel and Hezbollah to “stop the war” at the start of a visit to Beirut, saying it is “no longer the time of armed groups”.
“My strong appeal to those parties, to Hezbollah and to Israel, is for a ceasefire to stop the war and … allow Lebanon to become a country independent … where its authorities have the monopoly on use of force,” Guterres said in English from the presidential palace, as Lebanon entered its 11th day of war.
“This is no longer the time of armed groups,” Guterres said, in reference to pro-Iran group Hezbollah. “This is the time of strong states.”
All six US crew members confirmed dead
US Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees military operations in the Middle East, has confirmed that all six crew members on board a KC-135 refuelling aircraft that crashed in western Iraq on Thursday have been confirmed dead.
All Crew Members of U.S. KC-135 Loss in Iraq Confirmed Deceased
TAMPA, Fla. – All six crew members aboard a U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft that went down in western Iraq are now confirmed deceased. The aircraft was lost while flying over friendly airspace March 12 during…
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 13, 2026
Explosion reported in Dubai
An explosion has been heard in Al Muraqqabat in Deira, Dubai, according to local reports.
UAE responding to ‘missile and drone threats from Iran’
The UAE Ministry of Defence has said that its air defences are “currently responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran”.
تتعامل حالياً الدفاعات الجوية الإماراتية مع اعتداءات صاروخية وطائرات مسيرة قادمة من إيران وتؤكد وزارة الدفاع أن الأصوات المسموعة في مناطق متفرقة من الدولة هي نتيجة اعتراض كل من منظومات الدفاع الجوي للصواريخ البالستية، والمقاتلات للطائرات المسيرة والجوالة.
UAE air defences are… pic.twitter.com/qKpdpOtej1
— وزارة الدفاع |MOD UAE (@modgovae) March 13, 2026
Another cargo ship is burning in the Strait of Hormuz
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Centre reports another cargo ship is on fire in the Strait of Hormuz after being hit by an “unknown projectile”.
The news comes after earlier reports today of an oil rig ablaze off the coast of the UAE.
UKMTO WARNING 019-26 UPDATE 002
Click here to read the full warninghttps://t.co/Oc36nBhjaf#MaritimeSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/ENNpicDJaq
— UKMTO Operations Centre (@UK_MTO) March 13, 2026
Two crew members injured in fire on US aircraft carrier
Two crew members on the USS Gerald R Ford aircraft carrier have been injured in a fire, the Pentagon has said.
General Dan Caine, chair of the US joint chiefs of staff, confirmed the injuries at a news conference this afternoon.
“We’re thinking about the crew there who were injured in the fire,” he told reporters.
The US Navy said the vessel remains “fully operational” after the non-combat fire which broke out aboard the world’s largest aircraft carrier.
Mojtaba Khamenei ‘injured, possibly disfigured’ – Hegseth
Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has been “injured, possibly disfigured,” United States Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth has said.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth made the commnets while speaking to the press assembled in the Pentagon today.
His words come after days of speculation over Khamenei’s health, amid reports that Iran’s new supreme leader was in a coma.
Brits face jail if caught sharing images of Dubai missile damage as man arrested
The warning to Brits in the UAE comes as a 60-year-old man from London was arrested in Dubai on Monday accused of breaking strict laws against ‘spreading rumours’ after allegedly filming Iranian missiles
At least 1,444 killed by US-Israeli attacks on Iran
At least 1,444 people have been killed and 18,551 injured by US-Israeli attacks on Iran since February 28, Iran’s Health Ministry says.
Explosion near pro-establishment rally in Tehran
Iran’s national security chief, Ali Larijani, was on the way to attend the protests when he gave a comment on the latest strike. The “attack on the march route” indicated Israel’s “desperation,” he said.
“Trump is not smart enough to see that the Iranian nation is mature, strong and determined,” he said, according to state broadcaster IRIB.
“The more pressure the US exerts, the stronger the people’s will becomes.”
Video shows Iranians burning US flags
Video shoes demonstrators in Tehran burning a US flag during a pro-Palestinaian Quds Day march.
Turkey chaos as NATO intercept ballistic missile heading for holiday hotspot
Turkey’s defence ministry said a missile launched from Iran had been destroyed by NATO “assets”, after it entered Turkish airspace this morning
US CENTCOM confirms four dead
The US Central Command has confirmed that four of the six aircrew have died after their refueling plane went down over Iraq.
Four Confirmed Deceased in Loss of U.S. KC-135 Over Iraq
TAMPA, Fla. – At approximately 2 pm ET on March 12, a U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft went down in western Iraq. Four of six crew members on board the aircraft have been confirmed deceased as rescue efforts continue.
The…
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 13, 2026
US flag engulfed in flames during Al-Quds day amid ongoing conflict
Thousands-strong crowds gathered in the Iranian capital chanting “death to America” and “death to Israel” while flags were burned by the cheering masses
Russia and Iran are trying to ‘hijack the global economy’
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has said Russia and Iran are trying to “hijack the global economy”, amid Tehran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
Yvette Cooper has accused Russia and Iran of attempting to “hijack the global economy” as Tehran continued to blockade a key oil shipping route.
Iran’s new supreme leader has vowed to continue attacking shipping in the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for ongoing US-Israeli strikes on his country.
Dubai financial centre struck by drone debris
Debris from Iranian kamikaze drones has struck Dubai’s financial district this morning as the war continues to wreak havoc on the popular holiday city. Images show
The Emirati city’s skyline was covered by thick plumes of black smoke on Friday morning after flames broke out in an industrial area of the city.
At least 2,975 people in Israel injured in attacks
At least 2,975 people have been injured in the attacks since the US-Israel war on Iran started on February 28, according to Israel’s Health Ministry.
Israel and Iran trade strikes this morning
Israel said it had started its latest “wide-scale wave of strikes” on Iran at 7am, targeting regime infrastructure.
The IDF said they have “just begun a wide-scale wave of strikes targeting infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime across Tehran”.
The Israeli military said it had spotted missiles launched from Iran toward Israeli territory at around 6am this morning.
Trump calls it ‘a great honour’ to be killing Iranian regime members
Trump has said it is a “great honour” to be killing members of the Iranian regime in a ranting post on social media.
“We are totally destroying the terrorist regime of Iran, militarily, economically, and otherwise,” he wrote on Truth Social this morning.
“Iran’s Navy is gone, their Air Force is no longer, missiles, drones and everything else are being decimated, and their leaders have been wiped from the face of the earth.
“We have unparalleled firepower, unlimited ammunition, and plenty of time – Watch what happens to these deranged scumbags today.
“They’ve been killing innocent people all over the world for 47 years, and now I, as the 47th President of the United States of America, am killing them. What a great honor it is to do so!”
‘Iran war could end in one of three different ways – and all involve more bloodshed’
As US President Trump claims victory in Iran Motjaba Khamenei has spoken out, warning US bases will be targeted even more and neighbouring countries will pay – here’s three outcomes of the war, writes Defence and Security Editor Chris Hughes.
