March 13, 2026 — The United States and Israel continued combat operations against Iran on the 13th day of the Iran war, striking thousands of military targets amid warnings of escalation toward a broader conflict.
The Iran war began on February 28, 2026, when the US and Israel launched surprise airstrikes on multiple sites across Iran, including cities, resulting in the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, according to Wikipedia. By March 13, US and Israeli forces had conducted thousands of airstrikes on Iranian missile bases, air defenses, and naval bases, as reported by Anadolu Agency.
Military Developments
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated that US and Israeli forces had hit 15,000 targets in the Iran war, describing the operations as “decimating the radical Iranian regime’s military” under Operation Epic Fury. Hegseth warned of further actions during a Pentagon briefing, according to Fox News and YouTube reports.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah or face Israeli action “in our own methods,” per CNN. Reports indicated ongoing hostilities, including US air dominance and the sinking of an Iranian naval warship, as covered in Pentagon updates.
Expert Criticisms
Economist Jeffrey Sachs described the Iran war as a US-Israeli “war of choice” and an assault on the UN Charter that could lead to World War III. In a Democracy Now! interview, Sachs criticized the operations:
“U.S.-Israeli ‘War of Choice,’ Assault on U.N. Charter Could Lead to WWIII.”
Retired US Army Col. Peter Mansoor discussed the ongoing US and Israeli combat operations in Iran on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal. Former National Security Adviser John Bolton expressed concerns that the US might “leave the battle before the regime has changed,” according to DW.
Retired Col. Lawrence Wilkerson warned that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu could resort to nuclear options if the Iran war escalates further, in another Democracy Now! segment.
Broader Context
News bulletins from Euronews and Democracy Now! highlighted the Iran war as a top global story, with sirens reported across Israel and operations inside Tehran on day 13, per ILTV News. CNBC noted market reactions, with Jim Cramer calling it an “exquisite” moment to buy stocks amid the conflict.
Hostilities persisted into the 12th and 13th days, with US forces reportedly “picking targets as we choose,” according to Fox News.